Cacio e Pepe Recipe

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…

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A close up of a swirled pile of cacio e pepe.

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.

Block of cheese, cup of grated cheese, and a microplane.

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.

Uncooked bucatini noodles in a pot of water on stovetop.

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.

Cooked bucatini noodles in a skillet with pads of butter.

Toss together.
Add grated cheese and black pepper and continue to toss together until sauce comes together and is smooth and creamy.

Top with more grated cheese and serve.

Tools You Will Need

Cacio e Pepe Variations

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.

A close up of a bowl of cacio e pepe, twirled on a fork.

What to Serve with Our Cacio e Pepe Recipe

This cacio e pepe recipe is a simple but rich dish so we like to pair it with leafy greens tossed in a light dressing. We also like to serve this with some simple Roasted Root Vegetables, our Grilled Avocado Salad and our Balsamic Grilled Baby Carrots.

Reheating Leftovers

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!

Bowl of Cacio e Pepe with a fork and spoon.

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.

More Delicious Pasta Recipes You Will Love

Cacio e Pepe Recipe

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.

Course dinner

Cuisine Italian

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 621kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

8 oz dried bucatini or spaghetti
2 tbsp unsalted butter
½ cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano plus more for garnish
½ tsp cracked black pepper toasted

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

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 Success

Nutrition

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Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

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…

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Hawaiian style macaroni salad in a bowl with serving bowls nearby.

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.

The start of making Hawaiian style macaroni salad.

Stir together.
In a large bowl combine macaroni, celery, carrot, red onion, and mayo mixture.

Hawaiian style macaroni salad ingredients in a bowl.

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.

Hawaiian style macaroni salad in a bowl.

Tools You Will Need

Macaroni salad made in the Hawaiian style in a bowl with a spoon in it.

Why Add Tuna?

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.

Hawaiian style macaroni salad in a bowl with some served.

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:

Close up on a big bowl of Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe.

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Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

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!

Course Side Dish

Cuisine hawaiian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 8

Chill Time 1

Total Time 1 18

Servings

Calories 343kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

½ pound elbow macaroni
1 small carrot peeled and diced
1 celery stalk trimmed and diced
2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
2 1/2 tablespoons canned tuna drained
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

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 Salad

Make Ahead Instructions

Nutrition

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Taco Dip Recipe

We are so excited about our Taco Dip Recipe! This recipe is so simple, makes a great appetizer or snack for a crowd and is always devoured in minutes! We love the free form nature of this dip too -you can see all the delicious layers and it’s still very scoop friendly. How to Make Our Taco Dip Recipe Ingredients Process Ground Beef Chipotle Sour Cream Assembly Why We Love This Taco Dip Recipe We…

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Taco dip on a platter with chips and beer on the side.

How to Make Our Taco Dip Recipe

Ingredients

Process

Ground Beef

Place a skillet over medium heat and add oil. Add beef and brown, breaking apart with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
Add cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika and stir together for 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and stock until bee is evenly coated. Lower heat to medium low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside and slightly cool.

Ground beef cooking in a skillet with spices to make taco dip.

Chipotle Sour Cream

Place sour cream, chipotle peppers and lime juice into a food processor and blend together until smooth.

Sour cream and chipotles combined to make a sour cream for taco dip.

Assembly

Spread chipotle sour cream in a thin layer onto a platter.
Top with an even layer of ground beef mixture.

Sour cream with ground beef on top for taco dip.

Top beef with shredded lettuce, then half the tomatoes.
Top with shredded cheese and finally with remaining tomatoes. Season with black pepper and serve with tortilla chips.

Taco dip with toppings being added to the top.

Taco dip with cheese and tomatoes added to the top.

Why We Love This Taco Dip Recipe

We love this taco dip recipe for so many reasons! The flavors are so good. It’s really like eating a crunchy ground beef taco in dip form. It’s such an easy appetizer to make and you can prep all of it a day or two ahead of time and assemble it right before serving. We also love this dip because it feeds a crowd and doesn’t cost much to get it all together!

Variations and Substitutions

If you want to go the more traditional 7 layer dip route, you can add a layer of guacamole and a layer of refried beans to this dip.
We love substituting the ground beef for carne asada, ground chicken or turkey or even for some crumbled tofu (for a vegetarian option).
For even more flavor, make a batch of pico de gallo to sprinkle on top instead of just diced tomatoes OR spoon some roasted tomato salsa on top!
Swap the shredded cheddar out for shredded pepper jack cheese or crumbled queso fresco.
Add some fresh sliced or pickled jalapeños for a kick.

Taco dip with chips dipped into it on a plate.

Prep Ahead Instructions

All the components can be prepped up to 2 days ahead of time. Keep each component in a separate, airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

When ready to serve, heat taco meat up in a skillet over medium-low heat or microwave for 2 to 3 minutes before assembling.

What to Serve with Our Taco Dip Recipe

There are so many delicious dishes that would go great served with our taco dip and some of our favorites are:

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Taco dip with tortilla chips on the side.

Taco Dip Recipe

A free form Taco Dip Recipe that everyone will love! It tastes just like a crunchy beef taco, but in dip form! We promise it'll be a huge hit at your next party, bbq, picnic, potluck, etc!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine mexican american

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 229kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

ground beef

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons cumin
1/3 cup beef or chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste

chipotle sour cream

1 cup sour cream
2 chipotle peppers in adobo
1 lime juiced

assembly

3 ounces shredded cheddar
2 roma tomatoes seeded and diced
2/3 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

ground beef

Place a skillet over medium heat and add oil. Add beef and brown, breaking apart with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper.
Add cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika and stir together for 1 minute.
Stir in tomato paste and stock until bee is evenly coated. Lower heat to medium low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside and slightly cool.

chipotle sour cream

Place sour cream, chipotle peppers and lime juice into a food processor and blend together until smooth.

assembly

Spread chipotle sour cream in a thin layer onto a platter.
Top with an even layer of ground beef mixture.
Top beef with shredded cheese, then half the tomatoes.
Top with shredded lettuce and finally with remaining tomatoes.
Season with black pepper and serve with tortilla chips.

Notes

Prep Ahead Instructions

All the components can be prepped up to 2 days ahead of time. Keep each component in a separate, airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

When ready to serve, heat taco meat up in a skillet over medium-low heat or microwave for 2 to 3 minutes before assembling.

Variations and Substitutions

If you want to go the more traditional 7 layer dip route, you can add a layer of guacamole and a layer of refried beans to this dip.

We love substituting the ground beef for carne asada, ground chicken or turkey or even for some crumbled tofu (for a vegetarian option).

For even more flavor, make a batch of pico de gallo to sprinkle on top instead of just diced tomatoes OR spoon some roasted tomato salsa on top!

Swap the shredded cheddar out for shredded pepper jack cheese or crumbled queso fresco.

Add some fresh sliced or pickled jalapeños for a kick.

Nutrition

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Baked Eggs (Eggs En Cocotte)

Our Baked Eggs recipe is quickly becoming one of our favorite quick and easy breakfasts! The nature of the dish makes it seem fancy, but it’s not at all! Plus, it’s super delicious and can be made on even the busiest of mornings! Serve it with toast sticks for dipping for the best experience! How to Make Baked Eggs Ingredients Process How Long to Cook Baked Eggs? **Something to keep in mind – the thicker…

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Baked eggs in cocotte with toast on the side.

How to Make Baked Eggs

Ingredients

Process

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Bring a kettle of water to a boil. Divide butter into each cocotte (or ramekin) and evenly grease.
Crack 2 eggs into each vessel.

Cocottes with melted butter rubbed around them.

Top with shredded cheese.
Spoon 1 tablespoon cream over each egg.

Eggs in cocotte with cheese and cream poured in.

Eggs in cocotte in a baking dish surrounded by water.

Cover each cocotte with a lid, or cover each ramekin with foil.
Place vessels into a small baking dish and set onto the middle rack in the oven. Pour boiling water from the kettle into baking dish until halfway up the vessels.

Eggs in cocotte with the tops on to make baked eggs.

Baked eggs in cocotte fresh out of the oven.

Bake eggs en cocotte for 13 to 16 minutes for runny eggs (or 18 to 24 minutes for jammy to hard boiled eggs). Remove baking dish from oven and gently remove vessels from baking dish. Uncover, sprinkle with chives and thyme, if using. Season with salt flakes and cracked black pepper and serve with crusty bread or crostini.

How Long to Cook Baked Eggs?

13 to 15 minutes will result in a runny yolk
16-19 minutes will give you jammy to medium yolks
20-24 minutes for hard-cooked yolks

**Something to keep in mind – the thicker your baking vessel the longer your baking times will be**

Toppings for Baked Eggs

There are so many delicious toppings you can add to bulk up this dish. It’s not necessary, but a delicious way to mix things up! Some of our favorite toppings are:

sautéed mushrooms (we like cremini or shiitake for this recipe) and spinach
crumbled bacon
crumbled goat cheese or feta
fresh chopped tomatoes or thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes and chopped basil
diced and sautéed zucchini and corn

What to Serve with Baked Eggs

Our Crispy and Cheesy Hash Browns taste perfect next to this dish. Pro tip: Try dipping the hash browns into the eggs – you’re welcome!
We would never say no to a side of perfectly cooked Oven Bacon…ever!
Skip the breakfast potatoes and serve them with our Crispy Parmesan Potatoes instead!
We love a sweet and savory combo and think our Strawberry Muffins would be perfect with these baked eggs!
Switch the toast sticks up for the most mouthwatering, flaky buttermilk biscuits ever!

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Baked Eggs (Eggs En Cocotte)

Baked Eggs (or Eggs En Cocotte) is a delicious and simple breakfast that's perfect for any day of the week. It's a protein filled dish that's very satisfying and can be made in under 30 minutes! We love serving this dish with a side of toast sticks for dipping!

Course Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine French

Prep Time 5

Total Time 21

Servings

Calories 338kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Equipment

2 cocottes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
4 large eggs
1 ounces finely shredded gruyere cheese
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons thinly sliced chives
2 teaspoons minced thyme optional
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Bring a kettle of water to a boil.
Divide butter into each cocotte (or ramekin) and evenly grease.
Crack 2 eggs into each vessel and top with shredded cheese.
Spoon 1 tablespoon cream over each egg.
Cover each cocotte with a lid, or cover each ramekin with foil.
Place vessels into a small baking dish and set onto the middle rack in the oven.
Pour boiling water from the kettle into baking dish until halfway up the vessels.
Bake eggs en cocotte for 13 to 15 minutes for runny eggs (or 16 to 24 minutes for jammy to hard boiled eggs).
Remove baking dish from oven and gently remove vessels from baking dish.
Uncover, sprinkle with chives and thyme, if using. Season with salt flakes and cracked black pepper and serve with crusty bread or crostini.

Notes

How Long to Cook Baked Eggs?

13 to 15 minutes will result in a runny yolk

16-19 minutes will give you jammy to medium yolks

20-24 minutes will give you hard-cooked yolks

**Something to keep in mind – the thicker your baking vessel the longer your baking times will be**

Toppings for Baked Eggs

There are so many delicious toppings you can add to bulk up this dish. It’s not necessary, but a delicious way to mix things up! Some of our favorite toppings are:

sautéed mushrooms (we like cremini or shiitake for this recipe) and spinach

crumbled bacon

crumbled goat cheese or feta

fresh chopped tomatoes or thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes and chopped basil

diced and sautéed zucchini and corn

Nutrition

The post Baked Eggs (Eggs En Cocotte) appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

If you’re looking for something quick, easy and delicious to make for dinner. tonight, our Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe is your answer! Our recipe only takes 30 minutes to make, uses just a handful of basic ingredients and is incredibly versatile! Is Tuscan Chicken a Dish from Italy? Tuscan chicken actually didn’t originate from Italy, but was created by the Olive Garden years ago and called Tuscan Garlic Chicken! True story. I’ve never actually ordered…

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Tuscan chicken recipe in a skillet with plates on the side.

Is Tuscan Chicken a Dish from Italy?

Tuscan chicken actually didn’t originate from Italy, but was created by the Olive Garden years ago and called Tuscan Garlic Chicken! True story. I’ve never actually ordered the dish from there, but definitely remember seeing it advertised on tv over a decade ago.

While the original Tuscan chicken recipe uses lightly sautéed strips of red bell peppers, we swapped ours out for thin strips of sun dried tomatoes for a brighter punch of flavor.

How to Make Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Ingredients

Process

Slice each breast in half lengthwise, so you have 4 thinner breasts.
Season with salt and pepper.

Chicken breasts sliced in half for tuscan chicken recipe.

Seasoned chicken breasts to make tuscan chicken.

Dredge each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off any excess.
Melt some butter to a skillet.

Chicken breasts being dredged in flour to make tuscan chicken.

Add coated chicken and sear for a few minutes on each side.
Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

Chicken seared in a skillet with butter for tuscan chicken.

Melt remaining butter and add onion and garlic. Sauté until onions just begin to cook down. Season with salt and pepper.
Add sun-dried tomatoes and continue to sauté.
Pour cream into skillet.

Onions and sun dried tomatoes cooking in a skillet to make Tuscan Chicken.

Cream with onions and sun dried tomatoes in a skillet to make Tuscan Chicken.

Stir together and simmer until cream reduces slightly.
Stir Parmesan into sauce and stir until combined and sauce has slightly thickened.

Making the sauce for Tuscan Chicken in a skillet.

Adding parmesan to sauce in a skillet for tuscan chicken.

Add spinach to skillet.
Gently stir spinach into sauce until wilted. Season with salt and pepper.

Adding spinach to tuscan chicken sauce in a skillet.

Cooking spinach into tuscan chicken sauce.

Add chicken back into skillet. Spoon sauce over chicken pieces and simmer until sauce has thickened and chicken has just cooked through. Serve.

Tuscan chicken in a skillet ready to be served.

Tools You Will Need

Can This Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes! Our recipe can be made up to 3 days ahead of time.

Make Ahead

Fully make tuscan chicken as instructed, except don’t add the Parmesan cheese. Cool and transfer dish to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

Best Way to Reheat

Pour sauce into a skillet and gently simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Stir Parmesan into sauce and continue to simmer until sauce slightly thickens, about 2 minutes. Nestle chicken breasts into the simmering sauce and continue to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken has warmed through.

Tuscan chicken recipe in a skillet ready to be served.

Serving Suggestions

Pasta is most commonly served with this dish, but there are a variety of other serving suggestions that we love:

steamed rice – either white or brown taste delicious.
other grains – some of our favorites are quinoa, farro, bulgar, or a combination!
over a baked potato – that’s right! Give that chicken a quick chop, stir it back into the sauce and ladle everything over the baked potatoes.
steamed or roasted vegetables – and keep it low carb!
a crusty baguette – to soak up all the delicious cream sauce.

Variations

We love the versatility of this recipe. You really can customize it to fit your taste exactly! Some of our favorite variations are:

Sautéed wild mushrooms can be incorporated into the creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach sauce to bulk it up.
Torn kales leaves are a heartier alternative to spinach.
Thinly sliced and sautéed strips of red bell pepper (or roasted red bell pepper) can used used instead of the sun-dried tomatoes.
Fresh diced tomatoes can also replace the sun-dried tomatoes.
Swap the boneless, skinless chicken breasts out for large seared shrimp for a protein alternative for this dish.
Add some heat to the dish with a couple pinches of crushed red pepper flakes.
Make this recipe gluten free by swapping gluten free flour in for the all purpose flour.

Tuscan chicken recipe served onto two plates.

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Check out our Chicken Recipe Collection!

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

The BEST Creamy Tuscan Chicken Recipe you will ever make! Our recipe uses thinly sliced chicken breast, fresh spinach, flavorful sun-dried tomatoes, all swimming in a delicious creamy sauce. Everything comes together in just 30 minutes!

Course dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Italian-american

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 23

Total Time 28

Servings

Calories 643kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 yellow onion diced
2 garlic cloves minced
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil) thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 ounces Parmesan grated
2 1/2 ounces spinach leaves
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Slice each breast in half lengthwise, so you have 4 thinner breasts.
Season each breast on each side with salt and pepper and dredge in flour, shaking off any excess.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter to a skillet over medium heat.
Add coated chicken and sear for about 3 minutes on each side.
Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
Melt remaining butter and add onion and garlic. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes or until onions just begin to cook down. Season with salt and pepper.
Add sun-dried tomatoes and continue to sauté for an additional 3 to 4 minutes.
Stir cream into skillet and simmer until cream reduces slightly, about 4 minutes.
Stir Parmesan into cream mixture until smooth creamy.
Add spinach to skillet and stir until spinach leaves have just wilted. Season with salt and pepper.
Add chicken back into skillet, spoon some sauce over each pieces and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve.

Notes

Make Ahead

Fully make creamy tuscan chicken as instructed, except don’t add the Parmesan cheese. Cool and transfer dish to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

Best Way to Reheat

Nutrition

The post Creamy Tuscan Chicken appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Caprese Salad Recipe

This classic Caprese Salad Recipe is bursting with fresh summer flavor for the perfect summer appetizer. Fresh heirloom tomatoes make this dish as beautiful as it is delicious! This classic, Italian-style Caprese Salad comes to mind when I think of summer. You just can’t beat the combination of fresh heirloom tomatoes, aromatic basil, and delicious fresh mozzarella drizzled with olive oil. While the ingredients are simple, the quality of each ingredient shines through. Take your…

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This classic Caprese Salad Recipe is bursting with fresh summer flavor for the perfect summer appetizer. Fresh heirloom tomatoes make this dish as beautiful as it is delicious!

Caprese salad recipe on a platter with a gold spoon in it.

This classic, Italian-style Caprese Salad comes to mind when I think of summer. You just can’t beat the combination of fresh heirloom tomatoes, aromatic basil, and delicious fresh mozzarella drizzled with olive oil.

While the ingredients are simple, the quality of each ingredient shines through. Take your time picking out the best tomatoes and the freshest basil, and don’t skimp on the fresh whole-milk mozzarella or the quality of the olive oil.

If you’re lucky enough to have a supply of heirloom tomatoes or can find any of these juicy beauties at your local supermarket, add this recipe to your list, along with our heavenly heirloom tomato tarts and heirloom tomato, peach, and burrata summer plate. This salad can be eaten as an appetizer or as a side dish alongside your dinner on any hot summer day!

What is Caprese Salad?

Caprese salad is a simple Italian salad made by layering slices of fresh tomatoes, basil leaves, and fresh mozzarella cheese onto a plate, seasoning with salt and pepper, and drizzling a hefty serving of olive oil over the top.

How to Make Our Easy Caprese Salad Recipe

Ingredients

How to Make Caprese Salad

Wash tomatoes.
Arrange tomato slices onto a large platter.

Tear mozzarella balls into pieces and place them on top of the tomato slices.
Drizzle oil over tomato and cheese and sprinkle with sea salt flakes and pepper.

Finish with fresh basil leaves and serve with a side of crusty bread.

Caprese salad on a platter with mozzarella and basil.

Variations

While this is a classic recipe for Caprese salad, there are several ways you can switch it up to make it your own!

Use cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, or Roma tomatoes if you don’t have heirlooms available or have a surplus of any variety in your garden.

Some recipes call for a balsamic glaze to be drizzled over the top of Caprese salad, along with the olive oil. While this isn’t traditional, it adds a deep splash of flavor to this otherwise light and fresh-tasting dish.

Instead of tearing a large ball of mozzarella cheese, you can purchase the small pre-balled mozzarella and add them straight to the salad.

Caprese salad with olive oil being drizzled onto it.

Can Caprese Salad be Made Ahead of Time?

Caprese salad is best when it’s made just before serving. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2-3 days, but the cheese and basil will begin to take on the juices of the tomato, changing in texture.

To save time, you can pre-slice the tomatoes and the cheese but store them separately until read to serve.

Dishes to Serve with Caprese Salad

Caprese salad is a deliciously versatile dish that goes with such a wide variety of foods, but here are a few of our favorites:

Bruschetta

Garlic Bread

Sausage, Kale, and Spatzle Pesto Bake

Garlic and Lemon Pasta

Bolognese

Grilled Rack of Lamb

Baked Ziti

Spatchcock Chicken

Caprese salad recipe on a platter with bread on the side.

More Fresh Tomato Recipes to Consider

Put your tomato harvest to good use with some of our favorite tomato recipes!

More Delicious and Easy Salad Recipes You Will Love

Caprese Salad Recipe

This simple 4 ingredient fresh Italian salad is packet with bright fresh flavors for a delicious salad or side you'll want to eat all summer long!

Course Appetizer, Salad

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10

Total Time 10

Servings

Calories 312kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

4 very ripe heirloom tomatoes sliced to 1/4" thickness
8 ounces fresh mozzarella
1/4 cup high quality olive oil
sea salt flakes and pepper to taste
fresh basil leaves

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Arrange tomato slices onto a large platter.
Tear mozzarella balls into pieces and top tomato slices.
Drizzle oil over tomato and cheese and sprinkle with sea salt flakes and pepper.
Finish with fresh basil leaves and serve with a side of crusty bread.

Notes

Pre Ahead and Storing Instructions

To save time, you can pre-slice the tomatoes and the cheese but store them separately until read to serve.

Nutrition

The post Caprese Salad Recipe appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Tuna Melt Recipe

Sandwiches are one of our favorite things to eat and this Tuna Melt Recipe is truly our jam. We love the simplicity, versatility and flavor packed deliciousness that is this sandwich. We love adding a little creaminess, a bit of crunch and some herbaceous goodness, for what we think creates the perfect balance for the best tuna melt ever! How to Make the BEST Tuna Melt Ingredients Process Best Canned Tuna to Use for a…

The post Tuna Melt Recipe appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

A classic tuna melt recipe cut in half and stacked.

How to Make the BEST Tuna Melt

Ingredients

Process

In a mixing bowl combine tuna, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, dill, and cornichons. 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.

Tuna melt with butter spread on the bread.

Top each butter side down slice of bread with tuna mixture.
Top with sliced tomatoes.

Tuna salad spread on a piece of bread for tuna melt.

Top with shredded cheese.
Finally top with remaining slices of bread.

Tuna melt with cheese on top of the bread ready to be toasted.

A tuna melt ready to be made in a skillet.

Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Add sandwich and toast for 4 to 5 minutes or until bread is toasted and cheese begins to melt. Flip sandwich, cover with a lid and continue to toast for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until bread has toasted and cheese has fully melted. Uncover.

A tuna melt sandwich being cooked in a skillet.

Remove from skillet, slice in half and serve.

Tuna melt cut in half on a kitchen counter with potato chips.

Best Canned Tuna to Use for a Tuna Melt

There are so many different brands of canned tuna out there it’s hard to figure out which is the best option for you. Our personal favorite canned tuna, especially for tuna melts is Safe Catch. We love this brand because it’s 100% wild and sustainably caught, slow-cooked for the best flavor and best of all it’s the only brand that tests every single fish they use for mercury!

If you can’t find this brand or don’t love the price point (we get it!) some of our other favorite brands are:

Tips and Tricks

We know making a tuna melt recipe is sort of a no brainer, but there are a few things we do to guarantee the best results!

We don’t go overboard with the mayonnaise! We want the melt to be creamy, but if it’s too creamy and ‘wet’ it won’t hold up nicely while being toasted up!
We add onions, celery and cornichons for taste AND texture! We obviously want the melt to taste good, but we’re also huge on texture, and the combination of bits added to our filling really make this melt shine!
Covering the pan once the melt is flipped. This helps the cheese to melt quicker, without burning the melt or making it soggy and you definitely want the cheese to get nice and melty for it to be a proper tuna melt!

Variations

Replace the cornichons with diced pickles or even some pickle relish
Mix up the herbs by adding some thinly sliced chives, minced thyme, or (our personal favorite) minced tarragon
Add a spoonful of chili paste to the filling, a few dashes of hot sauce, or some minced pickled jalapenos for a little kick!

Our Parmesan Crusted Spicy Tuna Melt Variation (as seen on IG/FB/TikTok)

We took our tuna melt a recipe spiced it up a bit. We simply added 1 tablespoon of calabrian chili pepper paste to the filling for some heat. Then we enhanced the bread by turning it into a parmesan crusted garlic bread! Instructions for that below!

Combine 3 tablespoons softened, unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons thinly sliced chives, 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small mixing bowl and whisk together.
Spread 1 1/2 tablespoons butter evenly over each slice of bread.
Spread Parmesan onto a plate in an even layer and press one of the butter smeared bread slices (butter side down) into the parmesan. Gently shake to remove excess parm. Repeat with remaining bread slice.
Place a pan over medium-low heat. Once hot add one slice of bread (parm side down).
Top with tuna mixture, sliced tomato and shredded cheese and gently press the other slice of bread (butter/parm out) over the shredded cheese.
Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until toasted on the bottom and the cheese begins to melt.
Flip the melt, cover with a lid and continue to cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese has melted and bottom is toasted.
Remove from heat, slice and serve.

Prep Ahead Instructions

The tuna filling can be made up to 2 day ahead of time. Once the filling is made, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

More Delicious Sandwich Recipes You Will Love

Tuna melt sandwich on a cutting board with potato chips.

Tuna Melt Recipe

The Perfect Tuna Melt Recipe filled with delicious flavors and textures. Our quick and easy recipe will result in a perfectly made melt that you'll want to make over and over again!

Course lunch

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 8

Total Time 18

Servings

Calories 695kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

tuna salad

5 ounces canned tuna drained
3 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons diced celery
2 tablespoons diced red onion
1 1/2 tablespoons minced dill
4 cornichons finely diced
salt and pepper to taste

sandwich assembly

4 slices bread of choice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 beefsteak tomato (or 1 vine ripe tomato) sliced
2 ounces shredded cheddar
2 ounces shredded mozzarella
salt and pepper to taste

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a mixing bowl combine tuna, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, dill, and cornichons. 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.
Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt butter.
Add sandwich and toast for 4 to 5 minutes or until bread is toasted and cheese begins to melt.
Flip sandwich, cover with a lid and continue to toast for an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until bread has toasted and cheese has fully melted.
Uncover, remove from skillet, slice in half and serve.

Notes

Tips and Tricks

We don’t go overboard with the mayonnaise! We want the melt to be creamy, but if it’s too creamy and ‘wet’ it won’t hold up nicely while being toasted up!

We add onions, celery and cornichons for taste AND texture! We obviously want the melt to taste good, but we’re also huge on texture, and the combination of bits added to our filling really make this melt shine!

Covering the pan once the melt is flipped. This helps the cheese to melt quicker, without burning the melt or making it soggy and you definitely want the cheese to get nice and melty for it to be a proper tuna melt!

Prep Ahead

The filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Transfer filling to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Nutrition

The post Tuna Melt Recipe appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings

We love these Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings. They’re full of flavor, super moist and never disappoint. We love using our air fryers to make chicken wings. They always turn out perfect and this version is no exception. The dry coating mixture is so simple, but still packs a huge flavor punch and we can’t get enough! You won’t believe how easy it is to make these ridiculously delicious chicken wing! How to Make…

The post Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Parmesan dusted chicken wings on a platter.

The dry coating mixture is so simple, but still packs a huge flavor punch and we can’t get enough! You won’t believe how easy it is to make these ridiculously delicious chicken wing!

How to Make Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Ingredients

Process

AIR FRYER CHICKEN WINGS

Pat wings dry with a paper towel. In a resealable combine salt, baking powder, and black pepper. Shake together. Add wings, seal bag and shake until wings are evenly coated.
Spray inside of air fryer basket with cooking spray and preheat air fryer to 400˚F. Place wings in prepared basket and air fry for 10 minutes. Flip wings and continue to air fry for another 10 minutes.

Buffalo wings in an air fryer being cooked.

ASSEMBLY

Combine parmesan, garlic powder chives in a small bowl and whisk together.
In another mixing bowl combine wings and butter and toss together.

Parmesan mixture in a bowl to make chicken wing recipe.

Chicken wings in a bowl with butter tossed into them.

Sprinkle the wings with 2/3 of the parmesan mixture and toss together until evenly coated.

Parmesan dusted chicken wings in a bowl.

Transfer wings to a platter and top with a sprinkle of the remaining Parmesan mixture. Serve.

Parmesan chicken wings made in the air fryer on a platter.

Tips and Tricks for Success

Toss the wings in baking powder, to create an extra crisp texture on the skin.
Leave at least 1/2 inch space between each wing in the air fryer so the wings crisp up, instead of steaming.
Flip the wings halfway through air frying to crisp both sides.
Toss the wings in a little bit of butter, right after air frying to help the garlic-parmesan mixture stick to the wings.
Toss the wings in the butter and parmesan mixture when they’re still hot to also help the mixture stick to the wings.

Our Favorite Dipping Sauces For Air Fryer Chicken Wings

These air fryer chicken wings are delicious on their own. While they don’t really need a dipping sauce, we can’t help but always want to dip chicken wings in sauce, so we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites!

More Chicken Wings Recipes You Will Love

Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Our Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings are packed with flavor, juicy and very addictive! We love making these for game days and general get togethers. They're always a total hit!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 284kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

wings

1 1/2 pounds chicken wings split with tips removed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

garlic-parmesan mixture

1/2 cup finely grated parmesan
1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

air fryer wings

Pat wings dry with a paper towel.
In a resealable combine salt, baking powder, and black pepper. Shake together.
Add wings, seal bag and shake until wings are evenly coated.
Spray inside of air fryer basket with cooking spray and preheat air fryer to 400˚F. Place wings in prepared basket and air fry for 10 minutes.
Flip wings and continue to air fry for another 10 minutes.

assembly

Combine parmesan, garlic powder chives in a small bowl and whisk together.
In another mixing bowl combine wings and butter and toss together.
Sprinkle the wings with 2/3 of the parmesan mixture and toss together until evenly coated.
Transfer wings to a platter and top with a sprinkle of the remaining Parmesan mixture. Serve.

Notes

Tips and Tricks for Success

Toss the wings in baking powder, to create an extra crisp texture on the skin.

Leave at least 1/2 inch space between each wing in the air fryer so the wings crisp up, instead of steaming.

Flip the wings halfway through air frying to crisp both sides.

Toss the wings in a little bit of butter, right after air frying to help the garlic-parmesan mixture stick to the wings.

Toss the wings in the butter and parmesan mixture when they’re still hot to also help the mixture stick to the wings.

Nutrition

The post Parmesan Dusted Air Fryer Chicken Wings appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Best Father’s Day Dinner Ideas

Are you planning an epic day or weekend for Dad? Here are all the Father’s Day Dinner Ideas you need to plan a delicious dinner that Dad (and everyone else) will love! To prepare for Father’s Day, we decided to arm you with some of our meatiest, most delicious, Dad-approved recipes. This guide is mostly geared towards Father’s Day dinner food, but we also included a list of breakfast and brunch recipes because we have…

The post Best Father’s Day Dinner Ideas appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Are you planning an epic day or weekend for Dad? Here are all the Father’s Day Dinner Ideas you need to plan a delicious dinner that Dad (and everyone else) will love!

Roundup of our best Fathers Day Dinner recipes!

To prepare for Father’s Day, we decided to arm you with some of our meatiest, most delicious, Dad-approved recipes. This guide is mostly geared towards Father’s Day dinner food, but we also included a list of breakfast and brunch recipes because we have so many that would be perfect for Dad.

Classic Father’s Day Dinner Ideas

The entree of your Father’s Day meal, with everything Dad will love, from pork chops and smoked brisket to slow cooker BBQ brisket and everything in between.

Carne Asada Fries: Think of delicious nachos, but with fries instead of chips! These Carne Asada Fries have all the toppings you could ever want. A total indulgence for any special dad!

Sticky Hoisin Oven Baked Ribs: This is one recipe the dads in our lives get so excited to see on the table. These ribs are fall-off-the-bone delicious. It’s also a perfect Father’s Day recipe because all the prep is done ahead of time, so you can still spend your day with Dad while they slowly bake in the oven.

Carne asada fries with small portion served on surrounding plate.

Oven baked sticky ribs with sesame seeds and green onions on a cutting board.

Korean Fried Chicken: The sauce is a classic Korean Chicken Wing sauce that’s super spicy and goes perfectly with these incredibly crispy chicken wings.

Panko-Crusted Lamb Chops: These crispy parmesan-crusted lamb chops take only 30 minutes to make and can be served as an appetizer while everyone’s enjoying time together or saved for the main course!

Slow Cooker BBQ Wagyu Beef Brisket: This mouth-watering main dish is super easy to make since the slow cooker does all the work. You’ll be rewarded with perfectly tender meat that’s packed with flavor.

A great recipe for Korean Fried Chicken.

Carnitas: Carnitas are perfect for adding to a build-your-own taco board. Include our Carnitas, Chicken Fajitas, or Carne Asada, and put out tortillas and toppings so everyone can make their own favorite taco combinations!

Spatchcock Chicken: Dry chickens are a thing of the past once you’ve mastered the spatchcock technique. Use a cast iron skillet, and this dish can be made in the oven or on the grill.

Easy carnitas recipe in a bowl next to a plate of tacos.

Spatchcock chicken in a skillet with some dinner rolls on the side.

On the Grill

Father’s Day is the best time to clean off the grill and put it to use. Whether Dad’s the BBQ master or he’s kicking back with his feet up while you do the grilling, he’ll love any of these grilled favorites!

Grilled Shrimp and Steak Surf and Turf: For the Dads who like it all, this recipe can’t be beat. Perfectly done steak and tender juicy shrimp, all done on the grill for the perfect surf and turf cookout.

Mustard Crusted Pork Chops: These chops are a classic Father’s Day dinner idea: easy to grill up, super satisfying, and covered in a delicious and tangy mustard sauce. Pair these pork chops with one of our salad recipes or a classic potato salad.

A close up of mustard crusted pork chops.

Lamb Kabobs: These juicy chunks of lamb skewered on a stick are perfect for snacking on while enjoying time with Dad. Don’t forget to make the mint yogurt dip. The cooling, tangy dip takes the savory seasoned lamb to a mouthwatering level.

Carne Asada Recipe: This one is for all the steak-loving Dads! It’s easy, flavorful, and so juicy. Serve it with a pile of tortillas and toppings for unbeatable tacos.

Bacon Western Double Cheeseburgers: A classic juicy cheeseburger piled high with bacon and onion rings is the ultimate grilled Father’s Day dinner!

Sliced carne asada with a knife, tortillas, cilantro and radishes.

Grilled Tri Tip Sandwiches: Juicy grilled tri-tip topped with melty cheese, lightly caramelized red onions and a creamy horseradish sauce, all sandwiched between grilled bread.

Grilled BLTA Flatbreads: If you need a lighter option for the grill, try these flatbreads piled high with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Grilling everything adds a perfect smoky and charred flavor.

Grilled open face sandwich with tri-tip, cheese and onion.

Grilled Peel n’ Eat Shrimp: Let the shrimp sit in the savory mesquite marinade just before the party, then toss them on the grill for 5-6 minutes for a super quick appetizer that’s sure to impress.

Chicken Satay: This grilled chicken recipe packs a lot of flavor, especially when dipped peanut in peanut sauce. You can make much of this ahead of time, which is perfect when entertaining a big family!

Chicken satay recipe being served onto plates.

Father’s Day Sandwich Recipes

Our dads are such sandwich fanatics; we figured some of yours might be too. Meat, veggies, sauces, and cheese, all gathered between two slices of bread. What’s not to love? Here are some of our favorite sandwich recipes for your Father’s Day celebration!

Baked Nashville Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches: These sandwiches are insanely popular on the blog, and for a good reason! The chicken is breaded, baked, and slathered in a hot honey butter sauce. Your dad will be requesting this one over and over!

Carne Asada Torta: Instead of serving the carne asada recipe above as tacos, try serving it as a torta! With toppings like beans, avocado, lettuce, tomato, onions, and plenty of cheese, we know this will make any Dad super happy!

hot honey chicken sandwiches on a wooden board

Close up of carne asada torta on a cutting board.

Popeyes Chicken Sandwich: You don’t have to show up with greasy drive-thru bags to serve Dad’s favorite fast-food chicken. Our homemade version has the crispy chicken you love with spicy mayo to top it off.

Pork Tenderloin Sandwich: This sandwich is epic. The ultra-crispy coating is made from oyster crackers, while the pork loin is tender and juicy, so every bite is satisfying and delicious.

Pork Katsu Sandwiches: We love this crispy fried pork cutlet sandwich on soft milk bread so much. The fresh shredded cabbage and tangy katsu sauce add the perfect texture and flavor balance to this rich and delicious sandwich!

Popeyes chicken sandwich recipe homemade.

Pork Tenderloin sandwich on a cutting board with potato chips.

Philly Cheesesteak: You can’t beat the combination of thinly sliced, juicy ribeye steak, caramelized peppers and onions, and melty cheese, all wrapped up in a soft and warm hoagie roll!

Grinder Sandwich: The perfect picnic food! This grinder salad sandwich has zesty Italian meats and plenty of fresh and pickled veggies packed in the middle of a thick and hearty Italian roll.

Two Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches on a plate.

Side Dishes

If you’re looking for some side dish recipes to pair with any of the classic Father’s Day dinner ideas, grilled meats, or sandwiches, here are a handful of our favorites:

Classic Creamy Potato Salad: You can’t go wrong with a classic potato salad. It goes with everything from grilled pork chops to BBQ ribs or any sandwich.

Mini Hasselback Potatoes – If Father’s Day is your chance to shine with food presentation, you have to serve these mini hasselback potatoes. They’re as beautiful as they are delicious and will have everyone admiring your culinary skills (even though they’re incredibly simple!).

Creamy potato salad with beers on the side.

Mini cheesy hasselback potatoes on a platter.

Crispy Parmesan Potatoes – While no potato is a bad potato, these crispy parmesan potatoes might be one of our favorites. Each potato has a crispy, cheesy layer and an incredibly soft and tender inside. You’ll never want to make “normal” baked potatoes again!

Beer-Battered Onion Rings: The perfect side for any sandwich, these beer-battered onion rings stay crispy far longer than any other recipe, thanks to our secret ingredient!

Loaded BBQ Chicken Salad – If dad’s not a “salad for an entree” type of guy, serve this BBQ chicken salad as a side dish that can stand in as a full meal for anyone at the table. It’s loaded with juicy chicken and plenty of fresh veggies, all dressed in a luscious BBQ ranch dressing.

Crispy parmesan potatoes sprinkled with chives.

Beer battered fried onion rings with ranch dressing and beer on the side.

Hawaiian Style Macaroni Salad: Add a fresh twist to your classic macaroni salad by adding tuna fish and carrots and a little zip to the mayonnaise dressing. It’s the perfect pair for Carne Asada and beef brisket!

Stovetop Mac and Cheese – This warm, ooey-gooey cheesy macaroni pairs perfectly with any meaty main dish.

Buttermilk Cornbread: Moist and crumbly with chunks of corn and slathered in our craveable bacon lime chili butter. Serve this alongside any meat-based entree.

Our Best Father’s Day Appetizers

Father’s Day appetizers are a must to keep everyone satisfied before dinner is served. All of the recipes below will round out any Father’s Day dinner menu perfectly!

Buffalo Chicken Dip: A classic game day recipe, this appetizer recipe is too good to save for only sporting events. Use our homemade buffalo sauce to whip this delicious creamy dip up!

Korean Corn Cheese: One of the most popular recipes on our blog – and rightfully so because it’s one of the easiest to make and is the perfect combination of sweet, salty, creamy, and gooey! It’s multi-purpose for Father’s Day since you can serve it as an appetizer with chips or as a dip for grilled meat.

Korean cheesy corn in a skillet with chips.

Chicken Fried Potatoes: Thin slices of potatoes battered and fried until they’re super crispy and delicious! Serve with your favorite sauce or our recommended Chick Fil A sauce recipe!

Spinach and Artichoke Dip: Just like at your favorite restaurant, but made at home for everyone to enjoy! Serve with crostini, raw veggies, tortilla chips, or pita chips.

Coconut Shrimp: This tropical appetizer can be baked, fried, or made in the air fryer. Serve it with our mango salsa to bring Dad back to vacations of years past!

Chicken fried potatoes on a platter with ranch.

Sheet Pan Chipotle Chicken Nachos: Sheet pan nachos give you one thin layer of chips, so every chip has melted cheese and toppings the way it should!

Crockpot Beer Cheese Dip: Set out a crockpot full of this decadent beer cheese dip, but don’t blink, because it will be gone before you know it! It’s the perfect dip for everything from pretzels to potato chips, tortilla chips, crackers, and even slices of sausage.

Chipotle chicken sheet pan nachos being served.

Crock pot beer cheese dip with chips and meat for dipping.

Mini Crunchwrap Supremes: This appetizer is a labor of love, but the result is so tasty and perfect for those Taco Bell-loving Dads!

Spicy Honey Butter Air Fryer Wings: These tender, juicy wings are slathered in a hot honey butter sauce that will have your dad licking his fingers and asking for more!

Small plates of mini crunchwrap supremes.

Fried Pickel Chips: Make one of the best bar food appetizers at home. But, unlike many bar fried pickles, these ones are always crispy, never soggy, and can even be made ahead of time and frozen to bring out the day of!

Pizza Wheels: You can make this recipe ahead of time and stuff it with your favorite pizza toppings, but we love good old pepperoni. The wheels bake up super nice and have a delicious crispy crust. Serve with marinara for dipping!

Fried pickle chips on a platter with beer on the side.

A close up of pizza wheels with a ramekin of marinara sauce on a plate.

Breakfast and Brunch Dad Will Love

Although this post is for Father’s Day dinner ideas, we know that some of you are planning breakfast and brunches to celebrate your Dad. Here is a quick selection of our favorite breakfast recipes for Father’s Day!

Chorizo and Egg Breakfast Tacos: These meaty Chorizo and Egg Breakfast Tacos are low maintenance, and you can replace the fried egg with scrambled to make them even easier to make.

Easy Chilaquiles : Crispy tortilla chips baked in a flavorful chipotle-tomato sauce and topped with fried eggs. Our version of Chilaquiles is a slightly simplified version from the classic, making it extra easy to whip up for Dad.

A close up of chorizo and fried egg breakfast tacos.

A recipe for easy Chilaquiles with a fork that has broken an egg yolk.

Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes: Potato skins filled with crispy bacon and eggs, then baked to creamy perfection. It’s a whole meal all in one!

Shrimp and Grits: Classic Shrimp and Grits that are so creamy and delicious. It’s the perfect comfort food recipe to serve for your Father’s Day brunch.

Biscuits and Gravy: Biscuits and Gravy is a classic special occasion breakfast food, and Dad is sure to appreciate the effort. You can’t beat this simple savory gravy spooned over fluffy biscuits!

Loco Moco: This hearty Hawaiian dish is packed with so much flavor and is incredibly filling with rice, hamburger, fried eggs, and savory mushroom gravy. It’s the perfect dish to serve any dad with a big appetite!

Breakfast Casserole: If standing in the kitchen on Father’s Day does not sound like your idea of a good time, prepare the breakfast casserole the night before and toss it in the oven in the morning. Everyone will love this all-in-one breakfast casserole.

Hash Brown Crust Bacon and Cheddar Quiche: An all-in-one breakfast with a crispy hashbrowns crust, salty, savory bacon, and cheddar cheese, all baked into a light and fluffy quiche.

Breakfast casserole with a scoop out and some in a bowl next to it.

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Parmesan Crusted Crostini

We love parmesan crusted ANYTHING and these Parmesan Crusted Crostini are no exception! Modeled after the viral Parmesan Crusted Potatoes, we thought these crostini would surely be a hit! We were right. These are definitely the best crostini we’ve ever made and we might like them even more than the potato version bc of how versatile they are! Not only do they make delicious snacks on their own, but they also make the most delicious…

The post Parmesan Crusted Crostini appeared first on Spoon Fork Bacon.

Parmesan crusted crostini in a baking dish.

These are definitely the best crostini we’ve ever made and we might like them even more than the potato version bc of how versatile they are! Not only do they make delicious snacks on their own, but they also make the most delicious crostini, topped with nearly anything you can imagine!

How to Make Parmesan Crusted Crostini

Ingredients

Process

Preheat oven to 400˚F. In a small bowl combine grated parmesan, garlic powder and black pepper. Mix together.
Brush bottom of a 9”x 13” glass baking dish with 1 tablespoon melted butter.

Parmesan mixture to make parmesan crusted crostini.

Evenly sprinkle parmesan mixture into baking dish.
Top with sliced baguette, leaving space between each piece.

A parmesan mixture sprinkled all over the bottom of a baking dish.

Parmesan crusted crostini over a parmesan mixture ready to be baked.

Lightly brush the tops of each piece of baguette with remaining butter.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until parmesan has browned and crisped and the crostini are lightly toasted on top. Remove baking dish from oven.

Parmesan crostini recipe out of the oven.

Gently break apart crisped parmesan crostini pieces. Top with toppings of choice and serve!

Parmesan crusted crostini in a baking dish ready to be served.

Tips and Tricks for Success

Makes sure the baking dish has a full and even layer of parmesan covering the bottom for maximum crostini coverage.
Once you press the sliced baguette into the baking dish leave it along. Moving the pieces of bread around will prevent the glorious parmesan ‘overhang’ from forming, which is one of the best parts!
Be sure to leave a small amount of space between each slice of baguette, in the baking dish, to ensure even baking. This will also help to create the parmesan ‘overhang’ on each crostini.

Storing Instructions

These parmesan crusted crostini taste best when enjoyed fresh from the oven, but they also store well in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 3 days.

What to Serve with Our Parmesan Crusted Crostini

We mentioned earlier how these make the most delicious snack just on their own, but we also LOVE topping them with a variety of things. They truly are the best crostini ever! Some of our favorite toppings and pairings are:

topped with thinly sliced prosciutto, brie, crushed nuts, and a drizzle of honey
with our Eloté topping
for tomato Bruschetta
with our Grilled Peach, Basil and Burrata topping
as ‘crackers’ for our Baked Garlic Bread Dip
as a base for our Salmon Rillettes

More Delicious Appetizer Recipes You Will Love

Parmesan Crusted Crostini

We guarantee our Parmesan Crusted Crostini will become your new favorite snack and base for all the delicious and yummy things like bruschetta, dips and more!

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 18

Total Time 28

Servings

Calories 51kcal

Author Teri & Jenny

Ingredients

5 ounces baguette sliced into 1/3" thick slices
1/3 cup pre-grated parmesan
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and divided

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400˚F. In a small bowl combine grated parmesan, garlic powder and black pepper. Mix together.
Brush bottom of a 9”x 13” glass baking dish with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
Evenly sprinkle parmesan mixture into baking dish. Top with sliced baguette, leaving space between each piece. Lightly brush the tops of each piece of baguette with remaining butter.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until parmesan has browned and crisped and the crostini are lightly toasted on top.
Remove baking dish from oven and gently break apart crisped parmesan crostini pieces.
Top with toppings of choice and serve!

Notes

**Each serving is 1 crostini**

Tips and Tricks for Success

Makes sure the baking dish has a full and even layer of parmesan covering the bottom for maximum crostini coverage.

Once you press the sliced baguette into the baking dish leave it along. Moving the pieces of bread around will prevent the glorious parmesan ‘overhang’ from forming, which is one of the best parts!

Be sure to leave a small amount of space between each slice of baguette, in the baking dish, to ensure even baking. This will also help to create the parmesan ‘overhang’ on each crostini.

Storing Instructions

These parmesan crusted crostini taste best when enjoyed fresh from the oven, but they also store well in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

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