What makes comfort food even better? Letting the air fryer do all the work! Our Air Fryer Tuna Melt is packed with the creamy cozy flavors you love, sandwiched between two extra toasty slices of buttery bread. With a slight twist from our traditional tuna melt, this recipe gets a massive upgrade, with the air fryer making the bread extra crispy while the cheese and tuna warms and melts inside. From crab rangoon to chicken…
What makes comfort food even better? Letting the air fryer do all the work! Our Air Fryer Tuna Melt is packed with the creamy cozy flavors you love, sandwiched between two extra toasty slices of buttery bread.
With a slight twist from our traditional tuna melt, this recipe gets a massive upgrade, with the air fryer making the bread extra crispy while the cheese and tuna warms and melts inside. From crab rangoon to chicken tenders, the air fryer does a fantastic job at adding all the crispiness of a deep frier without the time, mess, or extra grease.
Pickled red onion, dill, and chives add extra zip to the creamy tuna salad that’s absolutely craveable. The two kinds of cheese melted on top and fresh juicy tomato slices make this one of our favorite toasted sandwiches yet!
How to Make Our Air Fryer Tuna Melt
Ingredients
Process
Add tuna, mayonnaise, celery, pickled red onion, dill, and chives to a medium-sized mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Spread 1/2 tablespoon butter over each slice of bread and turn the two slices butter side down.
Top each butter side down slice of bread with tuna mixture.
Then top with sliced tomatoes, shredded cheese and remaining slices of bread.
Preheat the air fryer to 400˚F (if needed). Spray the air fry basket with cooking spray and place sandwiches in the coated fryer basket.
Air fry tuna melt for 4 minutes. Flip the sandwich and continue to air fry for an additional 3 minutes.
Remove your tuna melt from the air fryer, cut it in half, and serve.
Why We Love the Air Fryer Tuna Melt?
The tuna salad can be made two days in advance. Making the salad ahead of time makes mealtime quick and easy. This irresistible lunch can be ready in less than 10 minutes!
The air fryer makes the bread extra toasty. Unlike toasting the bread on a pan, the air circulation makes the bread incredibly toasty without being greasy.
You can easily customize the tuna salad any way you’d like! If you don’t like the herbs included, leave them out or swap them for something else. Use different cheeses, whole wheat or sourdough bread, or add some lettuce if you’d like. Start with our recipe and make it your own!
Variations and Substitutions
Make this air fryer tuna melt your own with any of these variations!
Swap the vegetables. While we love tomato slices on our tuna melts, you can add cucumbers, lettuce, sprouts, and raw onions.
Change the cheeses. Freshley shredded mozzarella and cheddar add great flavor and an extra cheesy creamy texture, but you can swap the cheese (or leave it out!) for anything you’d like. Try mozzarella, sharp cheddar, pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, Havarti, Swiss, or Colby Jack are all great choices. Try any one of them or a combination!
Bread or no bread. While we love thick slices of sourdough or Italian bread for this sandwich, you can use a tortilla and make a wrap, or make it a low-carb lunch and wrap your tuna salad in a big crunchy romaine lettuce leaf.
Prep Ahead Instructions
To make mealtime as easy as possible, you can prepare your tuna salad up to two days in advance. Just prepare the tuna salad as per the directions, then store it in an airtight container for up to two days in the refrigerator.
When you’re ready to make your sandwich, add the tuna to your bread and proceed with the directions.
Tips and Tricks for the Best Air Fryer Tuna Melt
Go light on the mayo. We want the creamy texture that the mayonnaise adds, but if you add too much, the tuna salad will be wet and soggy, which isn’t what we’re going for!
The onions, celery and chives add taste AND texture. You could add these ingredients powdered for the flavor, but chopping them up and mixing them in the salad adds a fresh crunch that really complements the creamy salad and toasty bread.
Don’t forget the flip! Flipping your tuna melt halfway through will help both sides get equally toasty.
Choose a hearty bread. If you pick a thin or really lightweight bread, it may not hold up to the heavy filling. Thick slices of Italian or sourdough are perfect for this sandwich.
Our Favorite Side Dishes to Serve with Our Tuna Melt
You can’t go wrong with potato chips and pickles, but to make this tuna melt a complete meal, try some of our favorite sides:
This Air Fryer Tuna Melt is the perfect pairing of toasty buttery bread and creamy cheesy tuna salad. You'll love the combination of flavors and texture in this easy and comforting lunch!
In a mixing bowl combine tuna, mayonnaise, celery, pickled red onion, dill, and chives. Season with salt and pepper and stir together.
Spread 1/2 tablespoon butter over each slice of bread and turn two slices butter side down.
Top each butter side down slice of bread with tuna mixture.
Top with sliced tomatoes, shredded cheese and remaining slices of bread.
Preheat air fryer to 400˚F (if needed).
Spray air fry basket with cooking spray and place sandwiches in coated fryer basket.
Air fry tuna melt for 4 minutes.
Flip sandwich and continue to air fry for an additional 3 minutes.
Remove from air fryer, cut in half and serve.
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Go light on the mayo. We want the creamy texture that the mayonnaise adds, but if you add too much, the tuna salad will be wet and soggy, which isn’t what we’re going for!
The onions, celery and chives add taste AND texture. You could add these ingredients powdered for the flavor, but chopping them up and mixing them in the salad adds a fresh crunch that really complements the creamy salad and toasty bread.
Don’t forget the flip! Flipping your tuna melt halfway through will help both sides get equally toasty.
Choose a hearty bread. If you pick a thin or really lightweight bread, it may not hold up to the heavy filling. Thick slices of Italian or sourdough are perfect for this sandwich.
Prep AheadThe filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Transfer the filling to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
This air fryer chicken breast is so simple, incredibly tender, and unbelievably juicy, all without splattering grease or heating up the oven. The air fryer is one of our favorite tabletop appliances, making foods like air fryer salmon, crab rangoon, and chicken tenders easy and fun to get on the table. With a simple seasoning mixture of garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper, these chicken breasts are incredibly flavorful and…
This air fryer chicken breast is so simple, incredibly tender, and unbelievably juicy, all without splattering grease or heating up the oven. The air fryer is one of our favorite tabletop appliances, making foods like air fryer salmon, crab rangoon, and chicken tenders easy and fun to get on the table.
With a simple seasoning mixture of garlic and onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt and pepper, these chicken breasts are incredibly flavorful and take less than 10 minutes to cook through. While you can eat these as an entree for a busy weeknight meal, we recommend making this chicken breast and using it to make a chicken caesar salad, chopped up and used in wraps, or over cherry tomato pasta.
How to Make the BEST Air Fryer Chicken Breast
Ingredients
Process
Combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, cumin, and black pepper in a small bowl.
Sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with the seasoning mixture.
Generously spray each chicken breast with the cooking spray on both sides and place it into the air fryer basket. Preheat the air fryer to 375˚F (if preheating is needed). Air fry the chicken breasts for 6 minutes. Flip and continue to air fry for an additional 4 to 6 minutes. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and transfer it to a cutting board. Allow the breasts to rest for 6 to 8 minutes before slicing and serving.
Why We Love Air Fryer Chicken Breast
It takes only 15 minutes to make from start to finish, making these perfect for any weeknight lunch or dinner.
Air frying helps seal the juices inside the breast for incredibly juicy and tender meat every time.
You don’t have to worry about grease splatter from pan frying or the house heating up from baking in the oven.
The flavor is super easy to customize. We used a basic smoky and savory seasoning, but you can season this chicken any way you’d like!
Is it Necessary to Brine the Chicken Breasts?
Brining is a method of soaking your chicken in a solution of water and salt. This can help increase the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of chicken when it’s baked, and can otherwise dry out.
While you’re welcome to brine your chicken breast before air frying, we find that this method creates tender and juicy chicken even without a brine!
Flavoring and Seasoning Variations
We love the simple, slightly smoky, slightly savory seasoning in this recipe, but there are countless ways you can flavor this air-fried chicken and as many ways to use it!
Let the cooked chicken cool and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. You can also dice and freeze cooked chicken breast by placing in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
To reheat your chicken breast without drying it out, preheat the oven to 300˚F and add a small amount of water to a shallow baking dish. Place the chicken in the dish and cover. Bake for 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through.
Our Favorite Dishes to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Breast
For a complete meal, try serving this juicy chicken breast with these amazing sides:
A simple and delicious recipe for juicy and tender Air Fryer Chicken Breast in under 30 minutes! We promise you will never want to cook chicken breast another way!
2(8 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 inch thick at the thickest point)
Instructions
In a small bowl combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, cumin, and black pepper. Stir together.
Sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with the seasoning mixture.
Generously spray each chicken breast with coming spray, on both sides and place into air fryer basket.
Preheat air fryer to 375˚F (if needed). Air fry breasts for 6 minutes. Flip and continue to air fry for an additional 4 to 6 minutes (or until internal temperature reads 155-160˚F upon pulling from the air fryer and 165˚F after resting).
Remove from air fryer and transfer to a cutting board. Allow breasts to rest for 6 to 8 minutes before slicing and serving.
Want to please a crowd with an appetizer that will fly off the plate as fast as you can serve them? These Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp take less than 30 minutes from start to finish and are sure to please any crowd. The air fryer helps keep the shrimp succulent and tender while crisping up the thin-sliced bacon to absolute perfection. And if you’re worried about time, these are incredibly easy to prep ahead,…
Want to please a crowd with an appetizer that will fly off the plate as fast as you can serve them? These Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp take less than 30 minutes from start to finish and are sure to please any crowd. The air fryer helps keep the shrimp succulent and tender while crisping up the thin-sliced bacon to absolute perfection. And if you’re worried about time, these are incredibly easy to prep ahead, and just toss in the air fryer when you’re ready to serve.
Serve these bacon-wrapped shrimp bites on a platter with a dish of our sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce, and maybe a dish of homemade BBQ sauce or Chick-fil-A Sauce for variety!
Why We Love Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Easy to prep ahead of time and cook just before serving.
They take only 10 minutes to cook!
The air fryer gets the bacon extra crispy in less time than the oven.
Using the air fryer for these bacon-wrapped shrimp keeps the oven open for other foods you may be cooking when hosting a party.
While this is the perfect appetizer, you can also serve it over salads or as an entree.
How to Make Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Ingredients
Process
In a mixing bowl, toss shrimp, garlic powder, oil, and pepper together.
Wrap each shrimp in 1/2 slice of bacon. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and add the shrimp with the bacon seam side down.
Air fry the bacon-wrapped shrimp at 400˚F, for 10 minutes.
Tips and Tricks for Making This Recipe
Choose “large” shrimp, or ones that include 21-25 per pound. If you use smaller or bigger, the shrimp and bacon may not be done at similar times, causing one to become overcooked. If you use larger shrimp, you may be able to use a whole slice of bacon instead of a half, but the cooking time will be longer.
Use only thin-sliced bacon.
There’s no need for toothpicks if you air fry them with the bacon seam down.
We like to leave the tail on the shrimp so that we have something to hold while dipping it into the honey mustard sauce, but feel free to remove the tail first if serving these with a fork.
If you’re making an extra large batch of these, you can bake them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400˚F, line and baking sheet with foil, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
Best Type of Bacon to Use for Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
When wrapping shrimp, the type of bacon you use matters. We recommend choosing regular or thin-sliced bacon that has the least amount of fat per strip as possible.
Choosing thick-cut or turkey bacon leads to the shrimp overcooking while the bacon is still undercooked.
Prep Ahead and Storing Instructions
You can prepare these bacon-wrapped shrimp up to 24 hours ahead of time. Just follow all of the steps until they’re ready to go into the air fryer, place them in an airtight container, and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook.
If you want to make them further in advance, freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. When you’re ready to use, take them out of the freezer, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and continue to cook in the air fryer as directed.
Storing Leftovers and Reheating
Once cooked, store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. These can also be frozen when fully cooked. Just add them to a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
To reheat, we recommend popping them back in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes at 400˚F.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
There are so many ways to enjoy this recipe, whether it’s as an appetizer, side, or main course. Try some of these pairings:
The perfect 30-minute appetizer, this Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Shrimp has tender bites of shrimp wrapped in salty, crispy bacon, all slathered in a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce.
12(21-25 count) shrimppeeled, deveined with tails intact
2teaspoons garlic powder
1teaspoonolive oil
1/4teaspoonblack pepper
6slicesbaconcut in half crosswise (with some of the fat trimmed)
Instructions
honey mustard
Combine honey mustard ingredients into a bowl and whisk together. Set aside.
shrimp
In a mixing bowl toss together shrimp, garlic powder, oil, and pepper.
Wrap each shrimp in 1/2 slice bacon.
Lightly spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and add shrimp, bacon seam side down.
Air fry bacon wrapped shrimp at 400˚F, for 10 minutes.
Remove from air fryer and serve with honey mustard
Notes
**Recipe Makes 12******1 Serving is 3 pieces (Nutritional Information Does Not Include Honey Mustard)***Tips and Tricks for Making This Recipe
Choose “large” shrimp, or ones that include 21-25 per pound. If you use smaller or bigger, the shrimp and bacon may not be done at similar times, causing one to become overcooked. If you use larger shrimp, you may be able to use a whole slice of bacon instead of a half, but the cooking time will be longer.
Use only thin-sliced bacon.
There’s no need for toothpicks if you air fry them with the bacon seam down.
We like to leave the tail on the shrimp so that we have something to hold while dipping it into the honey mustard sauce, but feel free to remove the tail first if serving these with a fork.
If you’re making an extra large batch of these, you can bake them in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400˚F, line and baking sheet with foil, and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon is crispy.
We’re pretty in love with this Air Fryer French Fries recipe. It’s no secret that we love the air fryer and these homemade french fries are PERFECT for making in the air fryer. You get high quality french fries without the mess of the oil, plus they’re way better for you! Not only are these french fries delicious, but they’re also so easy to make and only require a few ingredients. You can also customize…
We’re pretty in love with this Air Fryer French Fries recipe. It’s no secret that we love the air fryer and these homemade french fries are PERFECT for making in the air fryer. You get high quality french fries without the mess of the oil, plus they’re way better for you!
Not only are these french fries delicious, but they’re also so easy to make and only require a few ingredients. You can also customize them and flavor them to your exact liking, which is a huge plus!
How to Make Our Air Fryer French Fries
Ingredients
Process
Garlic Butter
Combine the melted butter, minced garlic and parsley. Set aside.
Fries
Cut potatoes into 1/4 inch thick sticks. Submerge potatoes into cold water and soak for 1 hour. Drain fries and thoroughly dry between two clean towels.
Transfer fries to a clean, dry bowl and toss together with olive oil, cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and line with a single layer of fries.
Air fry French fries at 400˚F for 8 minutes (preheating air fryer prior to using, if needed). Gently toss fries and continue to air fry for an additional 5 to 6 minutes.
Remove from air fryer basket and transfer to a clean bowl. Top fries with garlic butter and toss together. Season with parmesan and salt and toss together.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer French Fries
Allowing the cut potato to soak in water and then drying well will remove some of the starch from the potatoes, allowing them to crisp up better.
Tossing the uncooked fries in a bit of cornstarch will also help to create a crispy exterior.
Try to cut the potato sticks into even sizes to ensure even air frying.
Give the air fryer basket a good shake while air frying to ensure the french fries don’t stick together and get crispy.
Variations and Substitutions
We made our fries into air fryer garlic (and parmesan) fries bc we love the flavors, but you can definitely keep them plain as well! We also love them with:
Super crispy and delicious Air Fryer French Fries are here and absolutely glorious! It's so satisfying making your own homemade french fries, and the air fryer makes it so easy without all the greasy mess! We promise you will never make french fries another way!
1pound(scrubbed clean and dried) russet potatoes(about 2 potatoes)
1 1/2tablespoonsextra virgin olive oil
1tablespoongarlic powder
1 teaspoonsaltplus more for sprinkling
1teaspooncornstarch
1/4 teaspoonblack pepper
2 1/2tablespoonsfreshly grated Parmesanplus more for sprinkling
Instructions
garlic butter
Combine the melted butter, minced garlic and parsley. Set aside.
fries
Cut potatoes into 1/4 inch thick sticks.
Submerge potatoes into cold water and soak for 1 hour.
Drain fries and thoroughly dry between two clean towels.
Transfer fries to a clean, dry bowl and toss together with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and line with a single layer of fries.
Air fry French fries at 400˚F for 8 minutes (preheating air fryer prior to using, if needed). Gently toss fries and continue to air fry for an additional 5 to 6 minutes.
Remove from air fryer basket and transfer to a clean bowl.
Top fries with garlic butter and toss together. Season with parmesan and salt and toss together.
Transfer fries to a plate and top with more grated parmesan. Serve.
Notes
Tips for the Best Air Fryer French Fries
Allowing the cut potato to soak in water and then drying well will remove some of the starch from the potatoes, allowing them to crisp up better.
Tossing the uncooked fries in a bit of cornstarch will also help to create a crispy exterior.
Try to cut the potato sticks into even sizes to ensure even air frying.
Give the air fryer basket a good shake while air frying to ensure the french fries don’t stick together and get crispy.
There are only a few dishes I would consider as comforting and simple as Fettuccine Alfredo and this One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe takes the simplicity factor to the next level. I love this recipe so much. It’s the perfect one pot pasta recipe for a weeknight meal thats easy to throw together after a very long day and with only a handful of basic ingredients. I also love this recipe because it’s a little…
There are only a few dishes I would consider as comforting and simple as Fettuccine Alfredo and this One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe takes the simplicity factor to the next level. I love this recipe so much. It’s the perfect one pot pasta recipe for a weeknight meal thats easy to throw together after a very long day and with only a handful of basic ingredients.
I also love this recipe because it’s a little lighter than the standard version because of the mixture of milk and chicken stock used for the sauce, replacing heavy cream. Although any dry fettuccine will work, I love using this brand! It’s a little more expensive than other brands, but the texture is almost like fresh pasta when cooked.
How to Make Our One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
Ingredients
The beauty of Fettuccine Alfredo is the simplicity of the ingredients. You only need a handful of ingredients to make this indulgent recipe.
Process
Add all of the ingredients, except Parmesan, into a large pot.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once mixture is boiling, reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is al dente. Remove the pot from the heat and add Parmesan.
Stir in the Parmesan until the sauce is thick and creamy.
Season with salt and pepper as needed, top with more Parmesan and serve.
Tips and Tricks for one pot Fettuccine Alfredo success!
Using unsalted chicken stock (or broth) will allow you to control the amount of salt in the dish, ensuring that the final product won’t be too salty.
Using full or partial fat milk will help to ensure a creamy and thick sauce, while still being a little healthier then heavy cream.
It’s important to frequently stir the dish throughout the simmering process so that the pasta cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot or to itself.
FAQs
What is Fettuccine Alfredo?
Fettuccine Alfredo is a simple Italian pasta dish that consists of (ideally fresh) fettuccine noodles tossed with butter and parmesan cheese. When the cheese and butter melt together, it makes a delicious and creamy Alfredo sauce.
Is Alfredo actually a sauce in Italy?
Many people outside of Italy are surprised to learn that ‘alfredo sauce’ doesn’t actually exist in Italy. Although there are many cheese and butter sauces, the term Alfredo sauce only came about when a restaurant owner in Rome, Alfredo di Lelio, who was popular with American tourists decided to name his butter, cheese and linguine dish after himself.
Variations
Broccoli: Stir frozen broccoli (no need to thaw!) into the mixture about 5 minutes before adding Parmesan to sauce.
Chicken: Begin by adding 2 tablespoons oil to the pot. Season 2 thinly sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper and sear on each side for about 5 minutes. Remove from pot and allow chicken to rest. Cook one pot Fettuccine Alfredo in same pot as directed. Once Parmesan has been added, chop chicken into bite sized pieces and toss into pasta.
Peas: About 3 minutes before Parmesan is added to sauce, stir in 1 cup frozen peas (no need to thaw!).
Shrimp: Begin by adding 2 tablespoons oil to the pot. Season 12 large shrimp (already peeled and deveined) with salt and pepper and sear on each side for about 3 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water or stock and cover to steam, about 1 minute. Remove shrimp from pot and set aside. Cook one pot Fettuccine Alfredo in same pot as directed. Once Parmesan has been added, toss shrimp into pasta.
This creamy One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo is the perfect comfort food, that's both delicious and so easy to make! We love one pot pasta recipes because they make weeknight dinners a breeze and this one is at the top of our list!
Place all ingredients, except Parmesan, into a Dutch oven or large skillet.
Place pot over medium-high heat and bring mixture to a boil. Should take about 4 to 5 minutes to reach a boil.
Once liquid is boiling, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta is al dente.
Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan until sauce is thick and creamy. Season with more salt and pepper as needed.
Top pasta with more Parmesan and serve.
Video
Notes
Tips
Using unsalted chicken stock (or broth) will allow you to control the amount of salt in the dish, ensuring that the final product won’t be too salty.
Using full or partial fat milk will help to ensure a creamy and thick sauce, while still being a little healthier then heavy cream.
It’s important to frequently stir the dish throughout the simmering process so that the pasta cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot or to itself.
Our Grilled Skirt Steak Salad with fresh peaches and creamy burrata is one of our favorite things to serve guests during the summer. It’s so fresh, packed with so much flavor, super satisfying, and the best part? -it’s very easy to make! Skirt steak is so underrated because it’s not the most tender cut, but it has so much great flavor! Although with our simple marinade you get even more flavor as well as a…
Our Grilled Skirt Steak Salad with fresh peaches and creamy burrata is one of our favorite things to serve guests during the summer. It’s so fresh, packed with so much flavor, super satisfying, and the best part? -it’s very easy to make!
Skirt steak is so underrated because it’s not the most tender cut, but it has so much great flavor! Although with our simple marinade you get even more flavor as well as a nice and tender grilled piece of meat!
How to Make Our Grilled Skirt Steak Salad
Process
MARINADE
Place all marinade ingredients into a liquid measuring cup and whisk together.
Place skirt steak into a shallow baking dish and pour marinade over steak, flipping to ensure both sides are covered. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hour and up to 24 hours.
VINAIGRETTE
Place all vinaigrette ingredients, except for the oil into the well of a blender or food processor).
With the motor running, slowly begin drizzling the oil into the herb mixture until fully incorporated and emulsified together. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
SKIRT STEAK
Preheat grill to 375˚F (or set grill pan over medium-high heat). Remove steak from marinade, pat dry, and generously season the steak on both sides with salt and pepper.
Place the steak onto the hot grill surface and grill on each side for 6 to 7 minutes for medium doneness.
Remove the steak from heat and transfer to a cutting board. Allow the steak to rest for 8 to 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
ASSEMBLY
Toss arugula or kale with 1/2 of the vinaigrette and spread onto a large platter. Top with sliced steak, sliced peaches, red onion, burrata, red pepper flake, and dill flowers, if using. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the top and lightly season with sea salt flakes and black pepper.
Why We Love Skirt Steak Cut of Beef
Skirt steak is a cut of beef from the plate (between the brisket and flank). It’s often confused for the hangar and flank, mostly due to the location of the cut. Our top three reasons with love skirt steaks are:
We love the great, natural flavor you get from this particular cut of beef.
It’s fairly inexpensive compared to other cuts of beef (for that reason, you can easy feed a crowd without breaking the bank).
It cooks up very quickly!
Why We Prefer Marinating Skirt Steak
Skirt steak is often overlooked because it’s not considered a tender cut of beef. For this reason we always marinate our skirt steaks. Marinating skirt steaks (especially with an acid component, in this case red wine vinegar and whole grain mustard) really helps to tenderize the steak.
We always recommend marinating skirt steak for at least 6 hours for tenderness, but not more than 24 hours. We often find that marinated skirt steak for over 24 hours breaks the muscle tissue down a little too much, creating a a mushy mess.
Why Grilling Skirt Steak is Our Preferred Cooking Method
This mainly comes down to flavor! We love the char-grilled flavor you get from throwing the steak on the grill.
Skirt steak also really benefits from fast, high temperature cooking, which is great for grilling.
Our Grilled Skirt Steak Salad is the perfect summer salad! It's loaded with a simple marinated skirt steak, fresh sliced peaches and creamy burrata, all atop a bed of spicy arugula that's tossed with an herb vinaigrette. Swap the sliced peaches out for thinly sliced apples for a salad you can enjoy all year long!
Place all marinade ingredients into a liquid measuring cup and whisk together.
Place skirt steak into a shallow baking dish and pour marinade over steak, flipping to ensure both sides are covered. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hour and up to 24 hours.
vinaigrette
Place all vinaigrette ingredients, except for the oil into the well of a blender or food processor).
With the motor running, slowly begin drizzling the oil into the herb mixture until fully incorporated and emulsified together. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
skirt steak
Preheat grill to 375˚F (or set grill pan over medium-high heat). Remove steak from marinade, pat dry, and generously season the steak on both sides with salt and pepper.
Place the steak onto the hot grill surface and grill on each side for 6 to 7 minutes for medium doneness.
Remove the steak from heat and transfer to a cutting board. Allow the steak to rest for 8 to 10 minutes before slicing against the grain.
assembly
Toss arugula or kale with 1/2 of the vinaigrette and spread onto a large platter. Top with sliced steak, sliced peaches, red onion, burrata, red pepper flake, and dill flowers, if using. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the top and lightly season with sea salt flakes and black pepper.
Notes
Tips and Tricks for Success
Marinate the steak for at least 6 hour to tenderize, but no more than 24 hours, to prevent the meat from breaking down too much and turning mushy.
Don’t overcook the steak – which will only cause the steak to become tough and chewy.
Allow the steak to rest, loosely covered, for 8 to 10 minutes before slicing into it, so the juices don’t leak out (causing the steak to dry out).
Use high heat cooking, for a short amount of time on each side for the best results!
One-pot dinners are our favorite type of weeknight meal. Like our other one-pot meals, Mulligatawny Soup and Fettuccine Alfredo, cooking is as easy as cleaning up with everything being one in one dish. While any one-pot pasta is a clear winner, we’ve combined savory spicy sausage with fresh zucchini, seasonings, plenty of parmesan cheese, and of course, pasta! We love using bucatini for this recipe since its thicker texture holds up well with the chunky…
One-pot dinners are our favorite type of weeknight meal. Like our other one-pot meals, Mulligatawny Soup and Fettuccine Alfredo, cooking is as easy as cleaning up with everything being one in one dish.
While any one-pot pasta is a clear winner, we’ve combined savory spicy sausage with fresh zucchini, seasonings, plenty of parmesan cheese, and of course, pasta! We love using bucatini for this recipe since its thicker texture holds up well with the chunky sausage and half-moons of zucchini. For an extra special weeknight dinner, serve with a big loaf of garlic bread and a simple side salad.
How to Make Our One Pot Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
Process
Place a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil and sauté the sausage until browned and crumbled, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add onions and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes.
Add the zucchini, garlic and thyme and continue to sauté for 2 minutes, then season with salt and pepper.
Pour stock into the pot and bring to a boil. Add pasta and lower heat to medium.
Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the pasta is al dente, then season with salt and pepper.
Top with freshly grated parmesan and toss together.
Adjust seasonings and serve with more fresh grated parmesan and thyme.
Tips for the BEST One Pot Pasta
Follow these tips for the best sausage and zucchini one-pot pasta dinner!
When browning your sausage, crumble it as it cooks with a wooden spoon. We recommend leaving the crumbles a little larger (like in the pictures) to make it easier to get on the fork while eating.
Use freshly grated parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded parmesan can sometimes have anti-caking agents on it that prevent the cheese from melting into the smooth creamy sauce we’re after with this recipe.
If you’re substituting the bucatini with another type of pasta (might we recommend another long noodle like fettuccine or spaghetti), be sure to follow the directions on the box for how long to boil the particular noodles you’re using to prevent over-cooking them.
Variations
To mix things up a bit or use what you have, try these easy variations:
Use yellow summer squash instead of or in addition to the zucchini.
Along with parmesan cheese, you can also use pecorino romano or mozzarella cheese.
Swap the spicy Italian sausage with mild, or use chicken or turkey sausage instead.
If you don’t have bucatini, use spaghetti or fettuccini noodles instead.
Can swap the chicken stock with vegetable stock if needed.
Delicious Side Dishes to Serve with Our One Pot Pasta
While this dish can absolutely be a one-pot meal with the pasta, veggies, and meat in one dish, it also goes amazingly well with:
To store any leftovers, keep this pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, you can either microwave the pasta in 30-second increments until heated through or reheat it on the stovetop over low-medium heat until warmed through. If the pasta seems a little dry, just add a splash of chicken broth, and be sure to top with more freshly grated parmesan before enjoying your leftovers!
Add this delicious and easy one pot pasta recipe to your weeknight menu (this week!) You'll love how simple and flavorful this dish is with spicy sausage, garden-fresh zucchini, and perfectly al dente bucatini pasta! And with only one pot to wash, clean up is just as easy!
2zucchinisliced lengthwise, then thinly sliced (into 1/2 circles)
2minced garlic cloves
1 1/2tablespoonsminced thyme
2 1/2cupschicken stock
1/2poundbucatini
1/2cupfreshly grated Parmesan
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Place a large pot over medium-high heat. Add oil and sauté sausage until browned and crumbled, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add oninos and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes.
Add zucchini, garlic and thyme and continue to sauté for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour stock into the pot and bring to a boil.
Add pasta and lower heat to medium.
Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and pasta is al dente. Season with salt and pepper.
Top pasta with parmesan and carefully toss until well combined. Adjust seasonings and serve with more fresh grated parmesan and thyme.
Notes
Follow these tips for the best sausage and zucchini one-pot pasta dinner!
When browning your sausage, crumble it as it cooks with a wooden spoon. We recommend leaving the crumbles a little larger (like in the pictures) to make it easier to get on the fork while eating.
Use freshly grated parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded parmesan can sometimes have anti-caking agents on it that prevent the cheese from melting into the smooth creamy sauce we’re after with this recipe.
If you’re substituting the bucatini with another type of pasta (might we recommend another long noodle like fettuccine or spaghetti), be sure to follow the directions on the box for how long to boil the particular noodles you’re using to prevent over-cooking them.
Storing and Reheating LeftoversTo store any leftovers, keep this pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.To reheat, you can either microwave the pasta in 30-second increments until heated through or reheat it on the stovetop over low-medium heat until warmed through. If the pasta seems a little dry, just add a splash of chicken broth, and be sure to top with more freshly grated parmesan before enjoying your leftovers!
Never wonder what to make for dinner again with our ultimate list of 79 Best Dinner Recipes! We have everything from chicken, pasta, soup, vegetarian and vegan dinners, and one pot wonders for you to choose from! The best fact of life is that we need to eat every day. The most stressful can be choosing what to make and eat. You can end the search for a dinner option here with our biggest list…
Never wonder what to make for dinner again with our ultimate list of 79 Best Dinner Recipes! We have everything from chicken, pasta, soup, vegetarian and vegan dinners, and one pot wonders for you to choose from!
The best fact of life is that we need to eat every day. The most stressful can be choosing what to make and eat. You can end the search for a dinner option here with our biggest list yet. Whether you’re looking for an impressive dinner party meal or you want something simple and easy to get on the table any night of the week, we’ve got you covered!
Our Best Easy Dinner Recipes – Perfect for Busy Weeknights!
On a busy weeknight, you need a meal that’s ready fast and takes minimal prep work. These recipes are our favorite low-prep meals that taste amazing with little effort. You don’t have to settle for takeout or bland meals on busy weeknights with this list of ideas!
Pasta with Vodka Sauce is one of our favorite easy dinner ideas! With just a few ingredients and less than 30 minutes, you can ave a piping hot and delicious bowl of pasta ready to go!
Mongolian Beef is a quick, delicious, and better-for-you version of the popular takeout dish! The whole thing takes 15 minutes to make and pairs perfectly with steamed rice and veggies.
One of our regular go-to’s is Cacio e Pepe. It’s incredible how much flavor this sauceless pasta holds. We love adding protein to the pasta like shrimp or chicken, and serving it alongside a simple salad.
If you want to mix things up while maximizing flavor, our Kimchi Fried Rice is the perfect dinner idea! It’s packed with protein, and we love stirring in a handful of spinach to sneak in some extra greens. Leftovers are even better the next day, so you’ll want to make enough for lunch the next day!
Our Garlic Butter Lamb Chops take only a few steps and less than 15 minutes to cook. You’ll love how delicious, flavorful, and tender this lamb is! We love serving this easy dinner recipe with simple roasted baby potatoes and roasted vegetables.
This Romesco Sauce Rigatoni is one you’ll want to keep in your back pocket! The ridiculously delicious sauce comes together by blending roasted red peppers, herbs, and almonds, then tossing it with cooked pasta. Don’t skip the buttered breadcrumb topping, though, it adds an incredible pop to the whole dish!
Our Shrimp Scampi has buttery shrimp that we love to serve with crusty bread, so you can sop up any extra garlic butter sauce. Serve with some lemon wedges on the side for a refreshing garnish.
Pistachio Crusted Pork Chops are one of our favorite dinner ideas when we have just a little more time but still want to keep things simple. We love the texture and flavor pairing of the crusted pistachios with the pork chops…so good!
For a simple, all-in-one dinner, whip up a pan of our Fried Rice! You can add any protein you’d like or keep it simple with just eggs for an easy vegetarian weeknight dinner.
These Panko Crusted Lamb Chops look so elegant and delicious it’s hard to believe they take less than 30 minutes from start to finish. This tender lamb coated in a crunchy herb breading goes great with a fresh side salad and mashed potatoes.
One Skillet, One Pan, One Pot Dinners For Easy Clean Up!
What’s the worst part of cooking dinner at home? If you said the dishes, we agree. That’s why we love these one-dish meals that bring maximum flavor with minimal cleanup!
Beef Stroganoff is a 30-minute dinner we love. Savory beef smothered in a creamy, tangy sauce and tossed together with soft egg noodles makes this dish the ultimate easy comfort meal.
When you can’t decide between tacos or pasta, make our Taco Pasta Skillet! All the flavors of a delicious ground beef taco are tossed together with cavatappi pasta, piled into a skillet, and baked until the cheese is melted and gooey. You can top this pasta with as many or few taco “fixins” as you want, but sour cream is a must!
Our creamy Tuscan Chicken is a reader favorite! It’s super quick and easy to make, absolutely delicious, and can be served in a variety of ways! We love chopping the chicken, adding some pasta, and tossing everything together. We also love serving this dish over a bed of steamed rice or mashed potatoes. The options are endless!
One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo is a dinner that everyone (even the kids) will love. It’s simple to toss together and uses only one pot from start to finish. Add some chicken or shrimp and stir in some spinach or mushrooms for a complete meal!
Sheet Pan Chipotle Chicken Nachos could be an appetizer, but we love them as an easy one-pan dinner! There’s nothing better than piling a bunch of tortilla chips and toppings onto a single sheet pan and calling it a night! We love this nacho recipe just a little more than others because we don’t just melt cheese on the chips. We drown everything in a delicious white cheese sauce! You can even use rotisserie chicken to cut down on your cooking time.
Who doesn’t love Chinese takeout for dinner? Our Cashew Chicken is loaded with so much flavor we recommend doubling the recipe so you have lunch the next day too!
If you love Indian food but have always been intimidated by making it at home, Butter Chicken is the dish to start experimenting with! You will be shocked at how easy it is to make, and we guarantee it’ll become one of your go-to dinner recipes!
Chicken Dinner Recipes
Chicken dinners don’t have to be boring, especially when you can choose from any one of our incredible dinner recipes featuring chicken as the star!
Our Honey Garlic Chicken has a sweet and sour flavor that’s completely addictive. We love serving this dish over steamed rice with roasted broccoli on the side.
We’re making Spatchcock Chicken at least twice a month, if not more. It makes enough to use as three meals, which makes it the perfect meal prep dinner. Serve it with some roasted vegetables and a side of mac and cheese and call it a day!
Our Loaded BBQ Chicken Salad is a hearty dinner salad that’s filled with so many delicious ingredients like bbq chicken, creamy black beans, crunchy jicama, bright tomatoes, sweet corn, and so much more!
We couldn’t be more obsessed with these Chicken Lettuce Wraps! They’re low-carb, but incredibly satisfying with mushrooms, chicken, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts all dressed in a savory salty sauce.
Crispy Chicken Thighs in Creamy Mushroom Sauce never disappoints! The skin on these thighs gets incredibly crispy, the meat stays super moist and juicy, and the creamy mushroom sauce is made with yogurt, not cream, for a lighter but equally delicious sauce.
Garlic and Ginger Braised Chicken is another flavor-packed dinner recipe that has earned its place in the regular dinner rotation. The chicken soaks in all the delicious garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and brown sugar for some of the most incredible chicken you’ll ever taste.
Our Baked Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich is the perfect recipe for those times when you are in a bit of a rut. Juicy chicken breasts are covered in a crisp and flavorful coating and baked for a healthier chicken sandwich.
These Honey-Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls are perfect for an assemble-yourself type of dinner. If you have picky eaters on your hand, this recipe is great because people can build their own bowls with the abundance of toppings we recommend including!
Our Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings are coated in a delicious dry coating and air-fried to perfection for a crispy and juicy wing everyone will love.
Pasta and Noodle Dinner Recipes
Everyone should have a pasta dinner at least once a week (in our opinion)! Our roundup of pasta and noodle dishes has no shortage of flavors and cuisine, so you’re sure to find your next favorite, no matter your taste!
Our Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe is everything we love thrown into a decadent pasta dish with plump, buttery shrimp, a creamy sauce with a kick, and bright cajun flavors! It’s pretty unconventional, but that’s one of the reasons it’s one of our favorite pasta dinner ideas.
We love our hearty Bolognese Sauce tossed with pappardelle. It’s a simplified version of the classic but with all the delicious flavors you’d expect. Our recipe makes enough to feed 6 to 8 people, and it makes the best leftovers!
These Garlic Noodles are simple to make and filled with so much umami goodness. While you can eat them on their own, throw some broccoli florets and chicken into the mix to make it a complete meal!
Cacio e Pepe Pasta Pie is another carb-loading dinner we adore. We took our favorite caio e pepe pasta and baked it for slice after slice of delicious cheesy pasta flavor.
Our Chile Oil Garlic Noodles are full of flavor and so simple to make. Eat plain or add a protein like tofu, chicken, or beef and a veggie. Either way, this noodle recipe is a real winner!
When we realized how easy it is to make Chow Mein we couldn’t believe it! This popular takeout noodle dish can be customized exactly how you like it and enjoyed on its own or with your favorite protein.
One of our favorite Thai dishes is this Pork Pad See Ew. The slightly chargrilled flavor that comes from caramelizing the noodles in the savory-sweet garlic sauce adds a special element to this dish you can’t find anywhere else!
We love a good stir-fry dish, and our Singapore Noodles with Shrimp hit the spot every single time. The combination of curry-infused noodles, sautéed shrimp, snow peas, and bell peppers make this a complete and delicious meal.
When craving pasta but also wanting something simple with maximum flavor, we turn to our Capellini with Garlic, Lemon, and Parmesan. It’s the deliciously low-maintenance diner idea that everyone loves!
This Garlic Lemon Pasta is the perfect example of when simple is best. In just 20 minutes, you’ll have a deliciously flavorful pasta dish to eat on its own or pair with diced chicken or sauteed shrimp!
The Best Soups To Eat For Dinner
Soup doesn’t just belong on the lunch menu, especially when it’s this hearty with this much flavor. Enjoy any of our soups or stews for an easy dinner that can be enjoyed all week long.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup is so hearty and one of our favorite chilly-weather soups to enjoy! All you need is a handful of basic ingredients and 30 minutes to whip up a batch of this weeknight soup.
Our Creamy Chicken and Farro Soup is a rift from Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. We love the pop of texture the farro provides in this ridiculously delicious and creamy soup!
Spicy Red Curry Noodle Soup with Shrimp is super cozy, warming, and packed with bright flavor. We like to switch it up occasionally by swapping the shrimp with shredded chicken or even tofu for a simple vegetarian-friendly, healthy dinner idea.
This Loaded Baked Potato Soup has all the toppings you love to pile on your baked potatoes, wrapped into a creamy and hearty soup.
Our Corn Chowder tastes incredible when fresh, but gets even better the next day. If fresh corn isn’t in season, frozen works just fine, so you can enjoy this hearty soup for dinner all year long!
Cheese-filled pasta in soup?! Sign us up! Our simple Tortellini Soup is hearty and filling, but the broth-based soup adds an element of lightness that we love.
Our Hearty White Bean and Kale Soup is a broth-based soup filled with creamy white beans, torn kale leaves, cubes of ham, and diced white sweet potatoes. Want to make this a vegetarian meal? Just leave out the ham!
Budae Jjigae is an inexpensive kitchen sink type of Korean stew with deep, rich flavors. It’s packed with protein from spam, lil smokies, and tofu, all simmering in a spicy hot pepper sauce.
Creamy Tomato Soup is a classic childhood soup that we’re happy to continue to make and eat. It gets a significant upgrade as the fresh tomatoes are roasted to perfection, adding a deep richness to this soup. Pair it with your favorite grilled cheese sandwich for a bit of comfort and nostalgia.
Clam Chowder, especially when served in a crusty bread bowl, is a surprisingly easy dinner recipe for the family to enjoy.
Our Zuppa Toscana is a hearty broth-based soup piled high with Italian sausage, bacon, potatoes, and kale, then topped with shaved Parmesan and crushed red pepper flakes.
Chicken Noodle Soup is another soup that can double as a hearty dinner. We love making a big batch over the weekend to enjoy throughout the week, especially on chilly nights.
The Best Healthy Dinner Recipes
Looking for something lighter and healthier to serve for dinner? These recipes are packed with vegetables, protein, whole grains, and other goodness for a meal that tastes amazing and will have you feeling just as good!
Pozole Verde with chicken is one of my favorite healthy, quick, and easy dinners to make all year long. It’s a flavor-packed soup that’s loaded with vegetables and tastes even better the next day, making it a great soup for meal prep.
Our Turkey Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups are the perfect low-carb dinner version of our more classic lasagna sheet-filled version, but equally as delicious. Swapping turkey for beef and loading on the zucchini makes this a lighter and nutrient-rich dinner.
Soba Noodles with Shrimp is not only an easy dinner recipe but a recipe you can also enjoy for lunch. Make sure to follow our little trick to help keep the dish saucy and prevent the noodles from clumping up.
We love a good Buddha Bowl with all the veggies, whole grains, and ridiculously delicious cashew cream sauce. This dish is a vegetarian and vegan dinner recipe that everyone can get on board with!
Our Turkey Bolognese with 50/50 Spaghetti and Zucchini Noodles is for when you’re craving that big, hearty bowl of pasta bolognese but also want to try and keep things just a little lighter. The 50/50 pasta-to-zucchini split will satisfy your pasta cravings without weighing you down.
Our Spicy White Bean Chili is a lighter take on the more classic thick, tomato, and spice-based chili. We still load ours with beans but give it a more soupy vibe with the broth base and shredded chicken. It’s a great healthy dinner idea that makes incredible leftovers!
We have a soft spot for delicious falafel, and our Falafel Salad Hummus Bowls always hits the spot. They’re simple, filling, delicious, and healthy!
Easy Dinner Ideas the Whole Family will Love
Is dinner a family affair? Our family-friendly dinners are perfect for adults and kids alike, so everyone can sit down and enjoy a tasty meal and good company.
Browned Butter Fettuccine Alfredo is an extra savory and nutty version of a classic fettuccine alfredo. It’s such a simple swap from regular butter to browned, but it takes this dinner to the next level! Everyone will be running back for seconds.
Chicken and Dumplings are our go-to cozy, comfort food to feed our families and ourselves. With fluffy dumplings swimming in the creamy chicken soup, everyone loves this classic winter meal!
Our Honey Garlic Cauliflower will make even the pickiest meat eater happy, and you’ll feel good knowing that your family is being fed a vegetable-heavy meal!
Our Oven Baked Chicken Thighs deserve a spot in your regular dinner rotation. Once you try them, you’ll agree! It’s such an easy dinner to make, and the chicken is infused with the most delicious honey mustard flavor. Serve it with some roasted potatoes and broccoli for a complete meal your family will be asking for again and again.
If you’re looking to spice things up from the typical weekly dinners, try our Korean Beef Bulgogi. Thinly shaved ribeye steak is marinated in a sweet and savory sauce and grilled or sautéed to mouthwatering perfection. It’s a dinner idea that will keep everyone’s tastebuds excited and wanting more!
Swedish Meatballs over Mashed Potatoes is an incredibly comforting meal filled with mini flavor-packed meatballs, nestled into creamy, buttery mashed potatoes and swimming in a savory gravy.
If your family loves fast-food fish sandwiches, give them a real treat by making our Filet o Fish at home! The flaky fish and light crispy breading is better than anything you’ve ordered through a drive-thru and make the best sandwiches.
Baked Pasta Dinners
Pasta is great, but baking it adds another element of heartiness that we love. Serve any of our favorite thick and creamy baked pasta dishes to cozy up on a cool night.
Chicken Alfredo Lasagna Roll Ups are delicious carb-filled spirals that are incredibly delicious and are perfect for meal-prepping as they freeze incredibly well.
Our Baked Ziti is a cozy dinner idea that we love making on busy weeknights. This dish uses store-bought sauce to make it even simpler and quicker to toss together. We recommend making two – one to enjoy now and one for the freezer for a night you just don’t have time to cook!
We couldn’t have a baked pasta section without including our Sausage and Kale Baked Gnocchi. The soft and pillowy gnocchi swims in a cream sauce balanced out by the salty turkey sausage and hearty kale. Use your favorite store-bought gnocchi, or make your own!
Chicken Tetrazzini is a deliciously retro dinner recipe with spaghetti, shredded chicken, mushroom, and peas tossed together in creamy bechamel and baked until everything is bubbling and hot!
Our Baked Turkey and Mascarpone Stuffed Shells are ultra-rich and creamy and balanced out with the sweet and acidic tomato sauce. It’s a stuffed shell dish everyone will love!
Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly Dinner Ideas
While we have a few vegetarian dinners sprinkled through our list, these vegan and vegetarian dinners are some of our most popular dishes for those who skip animal products. But don’t worry, we’ve packed so much flavor into these dinners, anyone will love them!
This Vegetable Loaded Vegan Korma is truly a dish for everyone! We love the bold flavors, smooth and creamy texture of the sauce, and wide variety of vegetables it features. Serve it over a bed of steamed white or brown rice and a side of grilled naan bread.
Our baked Buffalo Cauliflower is a vegetarian-friendly version of the incredibly popular buffalo chicken. While we love snacking on these little bites, we also love eating them for dinner over a salad or putting them into tacos or in a grain bowl. So many possibilities and easy dinner ideas can be made with this recipe.
Spaghetti Squash and Broccoli Alfredo is a lower-carb, vegetarian0-friendly, vegetable-heavy dish that’s as healthy as it is flavorful. This meal will satisfy all of your creamy pasta alfredo cravings without the pasta!
We love our Mini Swedish Meatballs so much that we decided to make an equally delicious vegan version! Our Vegan Swedish Meatballs over Mashed Potatoes and Gravy are just as good as the meat and dairy version but slightly healthier. It’s a vegan dinner idea that we promise even non-vegans will love.
Our Roasted Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are a simple and filling dinner that you’ll feel good about. Just don’t forget the cilantro cashew sauce– it takes this meal to a whole new delicious level!
With so many meat alternatives out there these days, we wanted to go back and highlight an old classic and favorite of ours, our Spicy Black Bean Burgers! These black bean patties have so much flavor, a great ‘meaty’ texture that will satisfy any burger craving. You can also crumble it for vegan ground “beef” and toss it into tacos.
Date Night Dinners
Need an elegant dinner idea to serve for date night? These fancy-ish dinners take a bit more time to put together, but the outcome is so impressive, full of flavor, and completely worth the extra effort.
Our Roasted Rack of Lamb with Rhubarb- Sour Cherry Gastrique dinner recipe sounds way more complicated than it is, we promise. While there are a few different components to this dish, it’s all very well worth it for the tremendous flavors this easy and elegant dinner has.
Chicken and Tarragon Poached Yolk Stuffed Ravioli is our go-to for a fancy-ish dinner we all love. Cutting into the giant ravioli and seeing the oozing yolk will impress everyone. Your guests won’t be able to resist the creamy chicken and tarragon filling too! It’s one of our favorite special occasion dinner ideas to make!
We like to think of our Beef Ragu over Polenta as a mix of a comforting and elegant dinner recipe. It’s not something you would make all the time, but it’s well worth the time it takes to braise and simmer into a soft, savory sauce. Don’t have the time but want to make this dish? We’ve included instant pot instructions to cut down on cooking time!
We love this Capellini with Smoked Salmon Cream Sauce. It’s such an easy dinner recipe to make that’s also incredibly delicious. Throw a little caviar on top, and you’ve instantly fancied up a simple dish!
Maple Balsamic Roast Duck is definitely an indulgent, special occasion dinner recipe that yields super crispy skin and juicy meat. Replace your turkey or ham over the holidays with this roast duck for an impressive holiday meal.
My parents request I make them this Seared Scallops over Roasted Butternut Squash Purée recipe almost every time they’re in town. The perfectly seared scallops are salty and delicious and pair well with the creamy squash puree. Add the “couldn’t be easier to make” pickled mustard seeds to almost any dish for an instant flavor boost!
I’ve been on such a simple pasta kick lately and this Cacio e Pepe Recipe is high on that list. I love everything about this pasta – the simplicity, minimal ingredient list, how delicious it is, and how fast it comes together! I promise you’ll love this no brainer, delicious, super quick recipe for your next weeknight dinner! What is Cacio e Pepe? Cacio e Pepe (pronounced ca-cho ee pepe) is a Roman pasta dish…
I’ve been on such a simple pasta kick lately and this Cacio e Pepe Recipe is high on that list. I love everything about this pasta – the simplicity, minimal ingredient list, how delicious it is, and how fast it comes together! I promise you’ll love this no brainer, delicious, super quick recipe for your next weeknight dinner!
What is Cacio e Pepe?
Cacio e Pepe (pronounced ca-cho ee pepe) is a Roman pasta dish that translates to “cheese and pepper”. The simple dish consists of spaghetti, black pepper and Pecorino Romano (and in our case a little butter too!)
How to Make Our Cacio e Pepe Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients to Note:
Pecorino Romano: We love using a microplane to grate the cheese. It’s fine grate helps the cheese to melt into the dish really evenly. See our Cacio E Pepe Variations below for alternatives to this cheese.
Pasta: Bucatini is kind of like spaghetti, except it’s slightly thicker and is in the form of a tube.
Process
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and generously season with salt. Add pasta and cook until al dente.
Drain pasta in a colander.
Reserve some pasta water.
Place skillet (or same pot used to cook pasta) over medium heat and add pasta back into pot.
Add reserved pasta water and butter.
Toss together.
Add grated cheese and black pepper and continue to toss together until sauce comes together and is smooth and creamy.
Pecorino Romano is a hard, Italian sheep’s milk cheese. It has sharp, rich nutty flavor, making it the perfect cheese for this simple pasta dish. If you don’t have it or can’t find it Parmigiano-Reggiano is a totally acceptable alternative.
Make this recipe gluten free by swapping out your favorite gluten free pasta.
Add a protein to the pasta like sautéed shrimp or grilled chicken.
Keep it vegetarian friendly, but bulk it up with some vegetables like steamed peas or steamed/sautéed broccoli.
Bring some heat to the dish with a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
Add some texture to the dish by topping it off with some butter toasted breadcrumbs.
Tips and Tricks for Cacio e Pepe Success
This is such a simple recipe, we’re confident anyone can successfully make this dish! The one issue we see people running into when making this dish is the cheese clumping up when tossing it together with the pasta. The addition of warm pasta water is the answer! The starchy water helps to create a creamy, saucy consistency that perfectly coats the pasta.
We rarely have any leftovers with this dish because we tend to inhale the entire thing in one sitting, but if you do happen to have leftovers, we have a couple of easy ways to reheat them to ensure it’s just as good as when you made it fresh! Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Reheat on Stovetop
Place your leftover pasta in the skillet with a splash of water to help loosen things up. Cook on medium low – and just long enough to heat through. You don’t want to dry out the pasta. Top with more cheese if you have it and serve.
To Reheat in a Microwave
Place your leftover pasta in a microwave safe bowl. Splash a little water into the bowl and microwave for 45 seconds. Take it out and give it a little stir. Don’t worry if it’s still a little watery, this will help steam the pasta back to life. Return to microwave and head for another minute or until fully cooked through. Make sure you don’t overheat this dish, or you will dry the pasta out!
This cacio e pepe recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner to throw together, especially if you’re in a pinch for time and ingredients. I love using this brand of pasta, but you can use any pasta of your choice.
We love this Cacio e Pepe Recipe because it requires only 4 ingredients! It's also really quick to make which makes this perfect for weeknight dinners. This dish is truly indulgent and packs a ton of flavor.
Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat.
Add a small handful of salt and pasta to boiling water.
Cook pasta, stirring occasionally until al dente, 6 to 8 minutes.
Drain pasta, reserving 2/3 cup pasta water.
Pour pasta back into pot or into a large skillet and place over low heat.
Add pasta water and butter and toss together until butter just melts.
Add grated cheese and black pepper and continue to toss together until cheese melts and a creamy sauce forms.
Top with more grated cheese and serve.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks for SuccessThis is such a simple recipe, we’re confident anyone can successfully make this dish! The one issue we see people running into when making this dish is the cheese clumping up when tossing it together with the pasta. The addition of warm pasta water is the answer! The starchy water helps to create a creamy, saucy consistency that perfectly coats the pasta.
I love Hawaiian Macaroni Salad so much! It’s delicious, creamy and so simple to make! It’s the perfect side dish to bring to a bbq or picnic. It also holds and transports really well and can be made ahead of time! Ours is extra special because we add a small scoop of canned tuna into our mac salad, giving it an extra special, delicious flavor. Trust us, it’s the key ingredient in our simple and…
I love Hawaiian Macaroni Salad so much! It’s delicious, creamy and so simple to make! It’s the perfect side dish to bring to a bbq or picnic. It also holds and transports really well and can be made ahead of time!
Ours is extra special because we add a small scoop of canned tuna into our mac salad, giving it an extra special, delicious flavor. Trust us, it’s the key ingredient in our simple and very delicious Hawaiian macaroni salad!
How to Make Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
Process
Fill a large pot with water, place over high heat and bring to a boil. Add some salt and the macaroni and stir. Boil macaroni for about 7 to 8 minutes stirring occasionally. Drain and set aside.
Place mayonnaise, tuna and vinegar in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Stir together.
In a large bowl combine macaroni, celery, carrot, red onion, and mayo mixture.
Fold together until thoroughly mixed together. Season with salt and pepper. Place mixture in the refrigerator for at least an hour and season with more salt and pepper, as needed, before serving.
I know the addition of canned tuna might sound strange, but it adds a really nice touch of savory, delicious yet subtle umami flavor to the overall dish – without making the macaroni salad taste fishy at all (I promise!). It’s what makes our Hawaiian macaroni salad truly special!
Variations for our Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
If you want a more authentic version, you can omit the celery and red onion and grate the carrot instead.
Sometimes I like to add bonito flakes, instead of tuna, to the mayo mixture for an even more savory and umami flavor. If replacing the tuna for bonito flakes, just add 1 1/2 teaspoons.
You can swap out the mayo for Kewpie, which is a Japanese mayonnaise. It has a richer, more eggy and slightly sweeter flavor than American mayonnaise and is delicious!
For a vegan version, replace the mayonnaise with veganaise and either omit the tuna or replace it with a tuna alternative, like Good Catch.
Healthier Macaroni Salad
Yes, there’s a lot of mayo in this recipe. It’s what makes the salad extra creamy and delicious, but if you’re looking for a healthier version you can sub some or all of the mayo with plain greek yogurt or some whipped cottage cheese!
Make Ahead Instructions
Our macaroni salad can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If making ahead of time, reserve 2/3 cup of the may mixture and fold it into the macaroni salad before serving.
What to Serve with Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
The creamy side dish goes really well with a variety of dishes. Some of our favorite dishes to serve our mac salad with are:
A rich and creamy Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe that only requires a handful of ingredients and couldn't be easier to make! It's a delicious side dish that pairs so well with so many different dishes, like Carne Asada, Bulgogi, and BBQ Beef Brisket!
Fill a large pot with water, place over high heat and bring to a boil. Add some salt and the macaroni and stir. Boil macaroni for about 7 to 8 minutes stirring occasionally. Drain and set aside.
Place mayonnaise, tuna and vinegar in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper and stir together.
In a large bowl combine macaroni, celery, carrot, red onion, and mayo mixture.
Fold together until thoroughly mixed together. Season with salt and pepper.
Place mixture in the refrigerator for at least an hour and season with more salt and pepper, as needed, before serving.
Notes
Healthier Macaroni SaladYes, there’s a lot of mayo in this recipe. It’s what makes the salad extra creamy and delicious, but if you’re looking for a healthier version you can sub some or all of the mayo with plain greek yogurt or whipped cottage cheese!Make Ahead InstructionsOur macaroni salad can be made up to 3 days ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If making ahead of time, reserve 2/3 cup of the may mixture and fold it into the macaroni salad before serving.
