If you love vegan recipes that are easy to make, super flavorful, and budget-friendly…then this roundup is just for you! We’ve put together a well-rounded list of Easy Vegan Recipes including vegan dinner recipes, vegan pasta recipes, and vegan soup recipes. Although these recipes are vegan, don’t let the title fool you! They are still hearty, full of bold flavors, and would probably impress some omnivores too! ;)
We’re starting things off with this super hearty, rich, and flavorful Lentil Bolognese sauce. The lentils work as a great meat substitute in this pasta sauce along with lots of veggies, herbs, and spices for an incredibly delicious dinner meal.
Switch things up for dinner this week with these easy Sheet Pan Portobello Fajitas! They’re smoky, spicy, and perfect with some avocado and a little lime juice squeezed on top!
Ditch the traditional ramen…this Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen recipe is rich in flavor, includes a delicious broth and comes together in just 15 minutes!
If you love a good breakfast scramble, then you’ve got to try this Southwest Tofu Scramble. It has lots of flavor and comes together in just 15 minutes!
I absolutely love stir-fry recipes and this Vegetable Stir Fry is super simple to make and easy to customize with your favorite veggies or extra add-ins!
This Cold Peanut Noodle Salad is a super simple salad recipe that comes together with just a few ingredients and is topped with a creamy, tangy, peanut-lime dressing.
This fresh Bruschetta Pasta is the perfect summer pasta that’s inspired by the flavors and ingredients in Bruschetta. It makes a great side dish for dinner or you can add other ingredients and make it a meal!
A super scaled back 15-Minute Vegetable Lo Mein recipe that’s simple to make, convenient, and satisfying. It includes crisp veggies, comforting noodles, and an easy salty sauce!
This creamy, cozy, Rosemary Garlic White Bean Soup comes together with just eight simple ingredients and its perfect with homemade croutons or a piece of crusty bread for dipping.
This Cabbage Soup recipe is extremely flavorful, loaded with veggies, and made with a simple herb-filled broth. And this recipe makes a LOT so it’s perfect to enjoy throughout the week or freeze some for later.
If you want a soup that’s super filling, packed with tons of flavor, and vegan…then definitely try this Vegetable Barley Soup recipe. It’s extremely versatile and it makes a huge batch so it’s perfect to freeze and enjoy later.
We love salad recipes over here at Budget Bytes and especially pasta salads! This Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad is a reader favorite…and for good reason! It includes a medley of colorful vegetables, an easy homemade vinaigrette, and it’s easy to customize based on what you have on hand. You really can’t go wrong with this pasta salad so definitely save this one for later!
What’s better than traditional pasta salad??…one with stuffed Tortellini pasta of course! Our Tortellini Salad includes cheese tortellini mixed with summer vegetables, herbs, greens, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.
For all you broccoli lovers out there, this Broccoli Pasta Salad is just for you! It features our tangy homemade tomato vinaigrette and has the perfect flavor-texture combination.
If you love classic, juicy BLT sandwiches, then you’ll also love this creamy, BLT Pasta Salad recipe! It’s one of our newest salads to hit the scene and it’s perfect for summer BBQs, picnics and potlucks.
This scrumptious Panzanella salad is a quick and delicious way to use up day-old bread, ripe tomatoes, and other summer produce. For the ultimate convenience, you can even prep the ingredients ahead of time.
Have fun making this simple Panzanella salad with some day-old bread, your favorite summer fruits and veggies and our easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
This Big Kale Pasta Salad hits all the bases with massaged kale, chickpeas for extra bulk, grape tomatoes for freshness, red onions and of course parmesan cheese!
Spinach and Orzo Salad is another super simple salad that’s packed with flavor. It includes sun-dried tomatoes, creamy-salty feta cheese, and a quick homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
A light, fresh and colorful Summer Sweet Corn Salad is absolutely perfect to enjoy during the hot weather months. This is another one that’s great for cookouts and family gatherings.
This light and fresh Warm Corn and Avocado Salad has cumin, cilantro and lime mixed in and goes perfectly with enchiladas, cilantro lime rice, or even on top of homemade tacos.
I absolutely love a good cucumber salad! Even better if its packed with delicious flavor like this Super Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad. With feta cheese added in and a homemade red wine vinaigrette, it’s an absolute must-have to enjoy all summer long.
Lemony Cucumber CousCous Salad is a simple, delicious summer salad made with just a few easy ingredients like fresh lemon and english cucumber and it stays good in the fridge for days!
This light and fresh cucumber and black bean salad is the perfect summer side dish. It is refrigerator stable so make it once and snack on it all week!
This Cucumber and Black Bean Salad incorporates earthy black beans balanced with fresh cucumbers. This is also a flexible salad and easy to add other vegetables you might have on hand including corn, avocado, diced bell peppers and tomato.
Sesame Cucumber Salad is light, refreshing, and vibrant in flavor. It's the perfect summer side dish or companion to any Southeast Asian inspired meal.
We absolutely love serving this Sesame Cucumber Salad with our favorite Asian-inspired recipes. It’s simple, refreshing and an easy addition to your summer recipes.
If it’s hot, and I mean really hot, in your neck of the woods, then you’ll love cooling down with this Creamy Cucumber Salad. It’s a Budget Bytes favorite and perfect for the summer.
This creamy and delicious Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad includes a mayo-free dressing and can be served as a salad, stuffed into a pita, or piled between two slices of hearty bread.
We’re finishing our list of the best summer salad recipes with one of our favorites – this super easy Classic Three Bean Salad! It has minimal ingredients, a tangy-sweet dressing, and the perfect summer salad for all of your BBQs, potlucks or busy weeknight meals.
Of all the small plate recipes, one of the easiest to prepare and one of my personal favorites is Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The crisp lettuce leaves hold a saucy ground chicken and vegetable mixture and every bite is full of freshness and bold flavor! If you love to make Asian-inspired recipes as much as I do, then you might already have a lot of these ingredients at home, which makes this recipe simple, easy to prepare, and satisfying in every bite!
Ingredients Needed For Chicken Lettuce Wraps
This recipe includes 3 simple elements: a sauce, the chicken and vegetable filling and a dressing drizzled on top. The dressing is optional, but highly recommended :)
Ground Chicken – ground chicken is a very lean meat with not a lot of fat, but it comes to life with this delicious sauce poured on top. You can easily sub the chicken for ground turkey or ground pork if you prefer.
Vegetables – I kept things simple with some chopped water chestnuts and a diced red bell pepper. You can find the water chestnuts usually in the International food aisle.
The Sauce – the sauce is the star of the show in these lettuce wraps! It’s made with a simple mixture of asian sauces, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a little bit of fresh ginger and garlic.
Peanut Lime Dressing – when you order chicken lettuce wraps in a restaurant it’s often served with a dipping sauce, but we decided to pair ours with a half portion of our fav creamy Peanut Lime Dressing! You only need a little bit drizzled on each lettuce wrap and it adds great depth of flavor to these tasty wraps.
What Lettuce Is Best For Lettuce Wraps?
You can use a variety of different types of lettuce for chicken lettuce wraps including bibb lettuce, butter lettuce, green leaf lettuce or even romaine lettuce. We opted for these cute iceberg lettuce boats that we caught on sale, and the chicken filling fits perfectly inside each one. Bibb lettuce will wrap nicely around the filling and looks beautiful plated, but it can also be on the pricier side.
Ingredient Substitutions
I love recipes that you can easily customize with ingredients you already have in your fridge or pantry. Here are few suggestions:
Ground turkey – ground turkey also works well in these lettuce wraps. It’s leaner than beef and tastes great with the sauce! Just make sure you buy 93% lean ground turkey and not ground turkey breast which has almost zero fat in it. You definitely don’t want to make that mistake.
Vegetables – you can easily add or swap out the vegetables with some of your own favorites like diced onions, green bell peppers, or chopped baby bella mushrooms. Just make sure to dice them up into smaller bite size pieces so they fit nicely in the lettuce wraps.
Dressing & Toppings – we paired these lettuce wraps with our creamy peanut lime dressing, which worked beautifully, a few green onions and peanuts for extra texture; but feel free to skip the dressing and top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds or a little sriracha if you wanna add some spice!
What to Serve With Chicken Lettuce Wraps
You can have chicken lettuce wraps as an appetizer or your main dish, but they also taste great paired with some coconut rice, a quick & easy vegetable lo mein, sesame cucumber salad, crispy rice noodles, or this simple cold peanut noodle salad. The noodle salad uses the same sweet & tangy peanut lime dressing so you can easily just make a full batch of the dressing and drizzle it on both!
How To Store Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers, be sure to store the chicken filling and the lettuce separately. You can store the chicken filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Then store any extra lettuce in a food storage bag in the fridge for up to 4 days as well.
First, make the sauce for the chicken lettuce wraps. In a small bowl combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, fresh grated ginger and minced garlic. Set the sauce aside.
Next chop the red bell pepper and water chestnuts into similar size pieces. Then slice the green onions and give the peanuts a rough chop. Set veggies and nuts aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the cooking oil. Once oil is heated, add the ground chicken, crumble and cook until browned.
Add the red bell pepper and water chestnuts to the skillet. Saute for two minutes.
Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet and mix well. Cook for two more minutes to allow the sauce to soak into the chicken and vegetables.
Remove from heat and top with green onions and chopped peanuts. Serve 1/3 cup of the chicken and vegetable mixture inside each lettuce wrap and drizzle a little of the peanut lime dressing on top. Enjoy!
How To Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Step By Step Photos
Start by making the sauce for the chicken. In a small bowl mix 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp rice vinegar, 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger, and 2 garlic cloves minced. Stir well and set aside.
Dice one red bell pepper. Drain and dice one 8oz. can of water chestnuts. Slice 2 green onions and give the peanuts a rough chop. Set these ingredients to the side.
Add 1 Tbsp cooking oil to a large skillet and heat over medium. Once oil is hot, add 1 lb ground chicken, crumble, and cook until browned.
Mix in diced bell pepper and water chestnuts into the skillet and saute for 2 minutes.
Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and mix well. Continue to cook and stir for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and add 2 sliced green onions and 1/4 cup chopped peanuts. Feel free to reserve some of the green onions and peanuts to add on top of the individual lettuce wraps.
Next, make the peanut dressing. In a small bowl combine 1.5 Tbsp natural style peanut butter, 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 tsp grated fresh ginger, 1 lime, 1 tsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp neutral oil. Mix well.
Serve chicken filling inside lettuce with a drizzle of the peanut lime dressing and enjoy!
Cue the fireworks…it’s officially one of the biggest food and grilling holidays of the season! Fourth of July celebrations are always full of good food, grilling, and outdoor fun. We’ve rounded the best 4th of July recipes to make your Independence Day delicious, including easy recipes, side dishes, main dishes, and desserts.
Get ready to make a statement at your next cookout with these super easy Sausage Kebabs! They’re colorful, super tasty, and are the perfect summertime meal.
We’re saving you time and money with this simple Classic Three Bean Salad! It has minimal ingredients, a tangy-sweet dressing, and it’s the perfect side dish for summer BBQs or busy weeknight meals.
I absolutely love a good homemade coleslaw like this Easy Creamy Coleslaw recipe. This creamy-crunchy combo tastes great piled on barbecue sandwiches, hotdogs or even as a side by itself.
Speaking of barbecue sandwiches, this Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwich doesn’t require a grill and helps get dinner on the table fast! And yes we highly recommend topping it with that delicious coleslaw :)
Creamy Cucumber Salad is a classic summer salad made with a simple combination of cucumbers, onions and a quick, creamy dressing. It’s the perfect salad to cool down with on those hot summer days.
And we all know you can’t have a cookout without a big bowl of Classic Southern Style Potato Salad! This very popular BBQ side dish is creamy, tangy and always a crowd favorite!
Homemade Baked Beans are perfect with burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, chicken, honestly almost any grilled meat. They’re rich, sweet, smoky, and flavored with bacon and a homemade BBQ sauce.
Grab a few ears of fresh summer sweet corn while they are in season and make this super simple Oven Roasted Corn with Honey Chili Butter. They can easily be roasted in the oven while still in her husks to keep them ultra sweet and juicy.
You’ll definitely steal the show at this years cookout with this Cowboy Caviar! It’s an easy salsa-type salad that can be served with chips, on top of salads, or as a simple side dish.
If you love a meaty, juicy burger patty with loads of crispy edges and tons of smoky crooks and crannies for your favorite sauce or cheese to sink into, this Smash Burger recipe is for you!
If you don’t have a grill but you still want a tasty, juicy, burger to enjoy this holiday, then this Smash Burger recipe is for you! It’s made with our simple homemade burger seasoning and an easy technique that leaves you with crispy edges and the perfect burger patty.
If there is one food I love to eat each year at our annual 4th of July cookout, it’s most definitely ribs. These BBQ Ribs can be made in the oven and you still end up with juicy, tender ribs the whole family will love.
Vegetarian friends…we didn’t forget about you! These Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers are the easiest and tastiest vegetarian burger option, ever!
No grill needed for this mouth-watering, tender, Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. The pulled pork can easily be made in a slow cooker and then served as a sandwich or if you’re like me, just eaten by itself!
BBQ Chicken Kebabs with a tropical pineapple twist! These chicken kebabs are sweet, savory, tangy, and of course super easy to make. They’re perfect for the summer and they’ll look stunning on your table at the family cookout!
What better way to enjoy the summer season than with a simple Strawberry Shortcake dessert. These strawberry shortcakes are made with a homemade sweet biscuit and a super easy homemade vanilla whipped cream. Add a splash of blue color with some fresh blueberries and you instantly have a red, white and blue dessert perfect for celebrating the 4th!
Lemon Cream Pie is an easy summer dessert that’s made with just a few simple ingredients for the most irresistible, creamy, dessert that’s perfect for any occasion!
No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake for two…or three! Honestly, you can scale this delicious dessert to feed as may as people as you want. And if you’re going for the classic patriotic red, white and blue colors feel free to add some fresh blueberries too :)
This easy-to-make banana pudding has all the things you want in a dessert: honey-like fruit, velvety vanilla pudding, and the crunch of buttery wafers.
I don’t think there is any other classic southern dessert that’s better than Banana Pudding! This super easy dessert is made with creamy vanilla pudding, fresh fruit, crunchy cookies, and sometimes finished with a little whipped cream on top for a little extra pizzazz!
This Texas Sheet Cake is the perfect cake to make to feed a crowd. It’s surprisingly simple to make, easy to slice, and you can even get 25 slices from one cake…WIN!
Let us know which recipe is your favorite and what you plan on bringing to the cookout this year in the comments below! Have a great 4th of July!
So if you haven’t guessed by now, we’re kind of obsessed with chickpeas at Budget Bytes. They’re inexpensive, easy to prepare, full of fiber, and extremely versatile…I mean seriously what’s not to love about them? Chickpeas, a.k.a. garbanzo beans, are also very filling so they work perfectly in soups, one pan recipes, served over rice and one of our personal favorites, chickpea salad recipes! This roundup of easy chickpea recipes is the ultimate go-to list for super quick lunch ideas and simple weeknight dinner meals.
Alright, we’re starting things off with this super easy, creamy, and delicious Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad! This salad is full of gold-star ingredients, is made with a mayo-free dressing and can be served as a salad, stuffed into a pita, or piled between two slices of hearty bread.
If you’re tired of basic salads then you MUST try this Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing! It has warm, smoky flavors from the roasted cauliflower and the spiced chickpeas plus it’s topped with our amazing & slightly addicting lemon tahini dressing.
Chickpea salads are super easy to make and perfect as a quick lunch, appetizer at a party, or simply as a side dish with dinner. This creamy, Pesto Chickpea Salad is one of our favorite flavor combinations and only requires seven simple ingredients!
This Lemony Artichoke and Quinoa Salad is a meal prepper’s dream salad! It’s light, very sturdy, and holds up well in the refrigerator. It’s also super versatile so you can easily swap out some of the ingredients for your favorites or just use what you have on hand.
These crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas are the perfect little snack! They’re inexpensive, high in fiber and protein, and quite honestly addicting! You can season them however you like; they taste perfect on top of your favorite salad.
We’re sharing all the info on how to make simple Homemade Hummus plus four extra flavor combinations to try out. It literally only takes five minutes to make and we promise it tastes wayyy better than store-bought hummus.
If you love quick & easy dinner recipes then you’ll definitely want to add this Beef and Tomato Rice Bowl to your weeknight rotation. It’s super delicious, budget-friendly and you probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry to make this recipe tonight!
Creamy, spicy, and filling, these Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps are an easy option for your brown bag lunch. Customize to use whatever vegetables you have!
Quick lunches that not only taste good but are also good for you are always a win-win in my book. These Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps are fast and easy to make and perfect for lunch during the week.
Why can’t dinner be this easy every day?? These Curried Chickpeas with Spinach are made in under 30 minutes, are super nutritious, and taste great served over rice or with naan bread to soak up all that yummy sauce!
When you’re in the mood for a delicious, creamy curry recipe this Chana Saag Curry recipe will absolutely do the trick! It’s packed with incredible flavor, is very filling, and also tastes great with rice or naan bread.
Let’s just all agree that chickpea salads are one of the best lunch ideas ever! This Curry Chickpea Salad tastes great in a wrap, stuffed into a pita, or served on top of a fresh green salad.
This super easy, ultra creamy, and heavily spiced Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala will be your new favorite weeknight dinner! So much flavor, so little effort.
This Cauliflower and Chickpea Masala is made with an irresistible, spicy-creamy sauce that coats the chickpeas and cauliflower perfectly. It stores well in the fridge so it’s perfect for meal prep – and the best part is it’s very inexpensive and budget-friendly!
Give me a good soup or stew recipe that has lots of veggies in a super flavorful broth and I’m one happy girl! This Smoky Potato Chickpea Stew is definitely a favorite, mainly because I love any type of potato soup recipe, but also because it’s hearty and super simple to make.
Get ready to instantly fall in love with this Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Soup recipe. It’s full of warm spices, and hearty vegetables and simmered on low in a super flavorful broth.
Easy Minestrone Soup – one of my all-time favorite soup recipes! Very customizable and easy to add your favorite veggies. This version is hearty, inexpensive, includes chickpeas in place of pasta, and very meal prep friendly!
If you’re not too familiar with the Juneteenth holiday, don’t worry you’re probably not alone. Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, it took another two years before African American slaves in Galveston, Texas were finally freed.
Juneteenth was recently declared a United States federal holiday in 2021, but some states like Texas have been recognizing this holiday for decades. Now communities all over the country are celebrating this significant moment in history!
Juneteenth is often celebrated with festivals, cookouts, family gatherings and of course good food. Traditionally red foods are enjoyed on this day to symbolize the resilience of enslaved people. But often times people simply celebrate by enjoying classic barbecue recipes and soul food dishes.
So to help you celebrate Juneteenth this year with your family and friends, here are some of our best classic BBQ and Southern recipes!
We’re starting things off with a very popular BBQ side dish that’s perfect for family gatherings and cookouts. Classic Southern Style Potato Salad is creamy, tangy and always a crowd favorite!
Make sure you add a good heaping serving of these homemade Baked Beans to your plate at your Juneteenth cookout. They’re rich, sweet, smoky and flavored with bacon and a simple homemade BBQ sauce.
If you’ve never made your own homemade coleslaw you’re definitely missing out! We’ve got an Easy Creamy Coleslaw recipe that has a simple dressing with the perfect crunch!
No grill needed for this mouth-watering, tender Slow Cooker Pulled Pork. The pulled pork can easily be made in a slow cooker and you can serve it as a sandwich or if you’re like me – just eaten by itself!
Red foods and drinks are a symbolic part of Juneteenth celebrations and these Louisiana Style Red Beans and Rice would be perfect for the menu. It’s rich, flavorful, very filling and a classic comfort food.
Chicken wings are always great to have at celebrations and family get-togethers. These Baked Chicken Wings are simple to make, crispy and they taste great with your favorite chicken wing sauce.
I don’t know about you, but some type of simple salad is always served at my family cookouts. This Cucumber Tomato Salad is the perfect choice! It’s fresh, juicy and made with a simple red wine vinaigrette.
Making these Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are another great option when you don’t have access to a grill. Slap some of our creamy coleslaw on these Chicken Sandwiches and you’ll have a really delicious and satisfying meat option for the cookout!
Deviled eggs always seems to be on the menu at every family potluck or cookout that I go to, but these Nashville Hot Deviled Eggs are next level! They’re a fun twist on the classic recipe…and yes they’re seriously hot!
Now we all know fried chicken is wayyy better when it’s made at home and it’s definitely a favorite at cookouts and family potluck dinners. This Air Fryer Fried Chicken still gives you that crispy, golden skin with juicy chicken on the inside and it tastes great with all of those delicious sides.
I’m pretty sure this Baked Mac and Cheese will be the star at your Juneteenth BBQ. It’s a staple soul food side dish and if you want more of that cheesy goodness with a crunchy flavorful topping then baked mac and cheese is the way to go!
Collard Greens are a classic southern side dish and are perfect to add to the Juneteenth menu. This recipe includes smoked ham hock, chicken broth and lots of aromatics an spices!
This Easy Homemade Cornbread is deliciously sweet, moist and it only uses a few pantry staple ingredients. It always makes the perfect side to go with collard greens or any type of slow cooked beans to help soak up all of that good flavor on your plate.
I’ll spare you all the details behind how much I love sweet potatoes, but Sweet Potato Casserole is a classic southern recipe that will be perfect to serve for this year’s Juneteenth celebrations!
Fresh summer sweet corn is in season so grab a few ears at your local store and make this super simple Oven Roasted Corn with Honey Chili Butter as a great option at your family cookout. And if you are going to be firing up the grill, you can easily make fresh grilled corn as well.
Wanna add something sweet to the cookout menu but without a lot of fuss? This homemade Texas Sheet Cake would be perfect! It’s surprisingly simple to make and it’s perfect for feeding a crowd!
This easy-to-make banana pudding has all the things you want in a dessert: honey-like fruit, velvety vanilla pudding, and the crunch of buttery wafers.
I mean is there any other classic southern dessert that’s better than Banana Pudding? That’s a rhetorical question friends because there is nothing better than a super easy dessert made with creamy vanilla pudding, fresh fruit, crunchy cookies and sometimes finished with a little whipped cream on top for a little extra pizzazz!
We wanted to finish our list with a few red color delicious desserts like this No-Churn Strawberry Ice Cream. Making homemade ice cream is surprisingly easy to do and doesn’t require a fancy appliance. And the result is creamy, velvety smooth ice cream with our choice of seasonal fresh strawberries mixed in.
We’re sure you all will be busy cooking and preparing your other dishes for your family cookout, so if you want a really easy and fresh dessert option make this No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake recipe. It can be made in a small batch or scaled to make a larger serving for a bigger family gatherings.
We’re not going to argue whether or not the Potato is America’s favorite vegetable; but what we can say is that it is certainly one of our favorite budget-friendly, easy to transform vegetables and the star of today’s Easy Potato Recipes roundup! We’ve put together all of our favorite potato recipes from the best potato salads, creamy potato soups and crispy roasted potato recipes. Save this list for the next time you’re looking for a new twist on the ultimate comfort food.
Potato Salad Recipes
Potato salads are definitely the star of the show when it comes to summer cookouts, potlucks and BBQs. Here are our top picks!
If you want a Classic Southern Style Potato Salad recipe then you definitely want to start here! It’s creamy, tangy, rich and has the perfect amount of crunch.
If you prefer mayo-free potato salads, like myself, then you’ll love this German Potato Salad recipe! It includes thick cut potatoes, a good amount of crispy bacon and a tangy mayo-free dressing.
Time to liven up the traditional potato salad with this spicy, flavorful Cajun Potato Salad! It has a little bit of a kick thanks to the cajun seasoning and a dash of hot sauce, but it still maintains that creamy, delicious flavor and texture that we all love.
Calling all pesto lovers! This Pesto Potato Salad combines a super easy and budget-friendly homemade pesto with baby gold potatoes for a vibrant, flavorful potato salad recipe!
Baked Potato Recipes
Baked potatoes are inexpensive and the perfect blank slate for lots of different toppings and loaded potato ideas!
What’s better than a classic Baked Potato? We decided to share all of our favorite tips to make simple, baked potatoes along with some easy topping ideas.
If you’ve never had smashed potatoes before, let’s just say you’re totally missing out! These Loaded Smashed Potatoes are boiled, smashed and baked until crispy and then loaded with all of your favorite toppings.
When you need a simple & easy dinner recipe, this Sheet Pan Kielbasa Potatoes and Green Beans meal is the way to go! You only need six ingredients with very little hands on time.
Potatoes Au Gratin – a truly classic comfort food dish with thinly sliced potatoes in a rich and creamy sauce.
Mashed Potato Recipes
I grew up loving mashed potatoes! My mom made the best homemade mashed potatoes -and still does :) but what I love most is that they can go as a side dish with almost any meal. They’re creamy, buttery and simple to make. Here are a few of our favorite ways to make mashed potatoes.
We can’t think of anything that’s better than a big bowl of buttery Mashed Potatoes. These classic mashed potatoes are fluffy, creamy and easy to make in just a few steps.
No more babysitting a pot of boiling potatoes. These Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes makes cooking creamy, homemade mashed potatoes super easy and convenient.
These Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes are a lighter, but still delicious alternative to the classic mashed potatoes with butter or sour cream. They’re perfect for vegans or those with dairy allergies!
Garlic plus Mashed Potatoes might just be a match made in heaven! These Garlic Herb Mashed Potatoes are infused with an easy garlic herb seasoning and absolutely perfect as a side dish to any meal.
Colcannon is a great budget-friendly recipe that combines two inexpensive vegetables to make a super filling and delicious dish.
Potato Soup recipes
Can we all just agree that there aren’t too many things better than a big, warm and cozy bowl of potato soup? Adding potatoes to any soup recipe instantly elevates it to an entirely new level. Here are our top picks for the best potato soups!
The mother of all potato soup recipes – in my opinion :) Loaded Potato Soup is thick, creamy and has the perfect combination of chunky potato pieces and velvety smooth soup base. Load it with all your favorite toppings for the perfect comfort food.
Our version of Zuppa Toscana includes Italian sausage, kale, creamy potatoes, white beans and a choke full of flavor! It’s a hefty does of vegetables and every bit of delicious.
This hearty and delicious Smoky Potato Chickpea Stew is full of lots of veggies and simmered in a smoky, warm broth that is perfect year-round but especially during the winter season.
This Cheesy Cauliflower and Potato Soup recipe is super creamy and satisfying without being overly heavy. It mixes half potatoes and half cauliflower for extra fiber while still maintaining that delicious potato soup flavor.
Roasted Potato Recipes
We definitely saved the best category for last! Roasted potatoes are easy to make, can usually be made all on one sheet pan and it’s a lot less fuss when it comes to clean up. Roasting the potatoes at a higher temperature also gives the potatoes crispy edges while keeping the inside creamy and soft. You can easily toss these potato recipes in the oven and let them work their magic while you prepare the rest of your meal!
These Oven Baked Steak Fries are slightly addicting – don’t say I didn’t warn you. They’re baked to perfection, perfect for dipping or dunking and can be enjoyed as a simple side dish…or main dish if you’re like us!
These Parmesan Roasted Potatoes are about as easy as it gets when it comes to budget-friendly side dishes. They’re super flavorful thanks to the grated parmesan and a simple seasoning mix and they roast beautifully in the oven. Perfect for snacking, a side for dinner or even the base of a breakfast bowl.
Switch things up with these delicious Rosemary Roasted Potatoes. They’re made with just 6 simple ingredients and oven roasted for an easy dinner side dish!
Pasta Salads are one of my favorite recipes to make during the warm summer months. Primarily because I’m a huge pasta lover, but also because I love the combination of chilled pasta mixed with veggies and covered in a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Pasta salads are extremely versatile, easy to make and they hold up very well in the fridge which makes them perfect for leftovers. And they make pretty large servings, so they’re great for parties and cookouts!
Here we’ve gathered 15 of our Best Pasta Salad recipes for you to enjoy at your next family gathering or simply all by yourself – we’re not judging you. ;-)
This Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad is the perfect recipe to enjoy during the warm summer months. It includes lots of colorful veggies and a tangy homemade vinaigrette dressing!
Who knew it was this easy to make your own version of a Caprese salad with this Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad recipe! This pasta salad is super simple to make and easy to customize to make it your own.
Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad is a simple, delicious summer salad made with just a few easy ingredients like fresh lemon and english cucumber and it stays good in the fridge for days!
This Tortellini Salad is one of our favorite new additions to our pasta salad line up! The vibrant and fresh flavors from the vegetables and Italian dressing match perfectly with the Tortellini pasta.
Fresh sweet corn on the cob is one of the best parts about summer. Take advantage of the season and make this Summer Sweet Corn Salad with a simple, and fresh lemon vinaigrette.
Calling all broccoli lovers! This easy and delicious Broccoli Pasta Salad features a homemade tomato vinaigrette dressing and lots of creamy feta cheese.
You can easily reuse your leftover pizza toppings by making this simple Pizza Pasta Salad. Mix and match with your favorite toppings to make it your own and top it off with a simple Italian dressing.
Turn your pasta salad into a full meal with this Greek Chicken Pasta Salad recipe. The chicken gets marinated in half of the tangy dressing giving it an extra boost of flavor!
This Big Kale Pasta Salad includes lots of fresh kale massaged with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing, pasta, chickpeas and fresh vegetables to cover all the bases!
Throw together meals like this “Sweep the Kitchen” Pasta Salad are my favorite way to use up leftovers in the kitchen. Easy, versatile, and never boring!
Got some leftover veggies in the fridge? Give this Sweep The Kitchen Pasta Salad a try! Use what you already have available and add a simple dressing or diced chicken if you want to make it a complete meal!
Filling enough to serve as a light meal, but light enough to act as an easy side dish, this Italian Orzo Salad is a versatile addition to your weekly meal prep.
A little pasta, a lot of vegetables and maybe some beans make the best combos for pasta salads. This Italian Orzo Salad is no exception. It’s perfect as a side dish and also great as a light meal.
Grilled vegetables have a ton of flavor making this Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad even more delicious. Serve it with some balsamic vinaigrette and it makes the perfect side dish for BBQs and cookouts!
This simple Spinach and Orzo Salad packs in a lot of flavor from the sun dried tomatoes, creamy feta cheese and the homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It works great as a light lunch or the perfect side to those summer BBQ cookouts!
Potlucks are always a great time for families and friends to get together for special occasions, summer BBQs and Sunday dinners. And I’m sure we’ve all worked somewhere where they loved having a potluck to celebrate just about anything, ha! Well if you’re looking for something easy, budget-friendly and delicious to bring to your next potluck, you’re in luck! We’ve put together 30 of the Best Potluck Recipes to impress your friends at your next social gathering!
You’ll definitely steal the show at your next party or BBQ when you make this Cowboy Caviar! It’s an easy salsa-type salad that can be served with chips, on top of tacos or salads or as a side dish with your next dinner meal.
Pinwheels are a classic party item that everyone seems to love. These Turkey Pinwheels are easy to make and extremely versatile. So grab this basic formula then feel free to switch up the ingredient combinations!
If there is one thing I absolutely love it’s definitely homemade cornbread. You can ditch the box stuff and serve this easy cornbread recipe with your soup, chili or as a side with your collard greens and pinto beans.
This chunky chopped Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad is a great fresh salad that can be eaten on its own or turned into several different easy lunch ideas!
When it comes to comfort food, it doesn’t get much better than a deep dish serving of cheesy Homemade Lasagna. This easy lasagna recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleasing food and is perfect for potlucks and Sunday dinners.
This warm and comforting Homemade Chili recipe is great to enjoy all year long. You can serve it at a potluck or dinner party and allow guests to customize it with their own toppings for a super flavorful and hearty meal.
Yes – Baked Spaghetti, because why not? It turns the traditional spaghetti recipe into this delicious casserole topped with a gooey layer of melted cheese. Trust me, it’s worth the extra effort.
These Sloppy Joes are great to make for a big party or get-together. Our version is made with a rich, homemade sauce which makes them extra flavorful. You can easily serve these with mini slider buns to feed a crowd.
You can never go wrong with a creamy, pasta casserole dish at potlucks and Sunday dinners. This Tuna Noodle Casserole recipe is made with a creamy, homemade mushroom sauce. It takes a little more time that using canned cream of mushroom soup – but it’s totally worth it!
You definitely can’t have a summer BBQ or potluck without a big bowl of Southern Style Potato Salad. This classic comfort food is creamy, tangy and has just the right amount of crunch.
I love a good pasta salad during the warm summer months. This refreshing Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad has lots of colorful veggies, an easy homemade vinaigrette and pasta – that’s it! It also stretches well so it’s great for large gatherings.
Your family and friends will love this Tortellini Salad recipe at your next potluck event! It’s a fresh, vibrant and delicious salad made with tortellini pasta, fresh summer vegetables and Italian dressing. Super easy and perfect for big parties!
This fun and delicious Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad is super easy to make and stays fresh in the fridge for days. It’s the perfect side dish for anything you might cook on the grill and it works great for meal prep!
These Cheese Enchiladas are a simple recipe that combines tortillas, cheese, an extra kick of green chiles and of course our homemade enchilada sauce. They’re warm, cheesy and seriously delicious!
These simple, light and refreshing cucumber sandwiches are perfect to make for brunch parties, bridal and baby showers, potlucks and even work gatherings. They’re also really flexible so feel free to play around with the ingredients and make them your own.
Everyone loves a good deviled egg, but have you ever had hot deviled eggs?? These Nashville Hot Deviled Eggs are a fun twist to a classic potluck favorite recipe…and yes they’re seriously hot!
Broccoli Cheddar Casserole is a comforting, classic recipe that is always welcomed at social dinner parties. This homemade version comes together quickly and is a great way to use up some leftover rice!
We love a good side dish that you can pair with almost any meal. This colorful Succotash is simple to make, budget-friendly and a great dish to use up other vegetables in your fridge.
Slow Cooker Potluck Recipes
Slow cooker recipes are perfect for potlucks because if you’re someone like me there are probably a million other things you need to do to get ready for a party – especially if you’re the host. Not only are these slow cooker potluck recipes delicious, but it will also free up some of your time and keep you from having to stand over a hot stove all day!
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is one of my favorite ways to cook tender, flavorful chicken. Chicken breasts are seasoned well and topped with BBQ sauce, then cooked slow which helps make them extra tender and allows them to soak up that yummy sauce.
This Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili is the perfect dump and go recipe. Add all of your ingredients to the bottom of the slow cooker, set your timer and when you come back you’ll have a big batch of hearty, delicious white chicken chili!
You’ll be surprised just how tender and juicy this Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe is after it’s cooked low and slow. It’s perfect for BBQ sandwiches, nachos or any potluck or party meal.
Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew is a simple, budget-friendly take on the classic beef stew recipe. It’s made with ground beef, lots of veggies and is perfect to feed a crowd.
This Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken is always a favorite at potlucks and dinner parties. Our version goes a step further and uses ranch seasoning which adds a huge burst of flavor to the sauce and makes it even more delicious!
Say hello to one of the best chocolate cake recipes you’ll probably every taste. This Texas Sheet Cake can easily feed a crowd and is great for potlucks and large family gatherings.
This easy-to-make banana pudding has all the things you want in a dessert: honey-like fruit, velvety vanilla pudding, and the crunch of buttery wafers.
Is it just me or does it seem like Banana Pudding is always the first dessert to be devoured at potlucks? I suggest making a double batch of this easy Banana Pudding recipe because it’s always a crowd favorite!
If you’re team fudgy brownies with dense, chewy, rich chocolate then these super fudgy homemade brownies are just for you! They’re easy to serve making them great for parties.
You can whip up a batch of these super easy Raspberry Oatmeal Bars when you need a sweet dessert to go with dinner. They’re fun and simple to make with just a few pantry staple ingredients.
This fluffy Lemon Cream Pie is a simple dessert thats perfect for summer gatherings. Make it with a buttery graham cracker crust or vanilla wafers and just a few simple ingredients for a sweet and creamy dessert!
Enjoy all of these delicious potluck recipes at your next party and let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below!
For me nothing says Spring quite like a big serving of Pasta Primavera! This dish is full of fresh seasonal vegetables tossed with pasta in a light lemon and butter sauce. Now I know I’m not the only one who struggles getting their daily veggies, which is why I love this recipe. It incorporates lots of colorful vegetables, is simple to toss together and the leftovers are just as good the next day!
Pasta Primavera
Although the name Primavera stands for “Spring” in Italian, Pasta Primavera is actually a popular American dish that was first introduced in the 1970s. It includes lots of fresh Spring and Summer vegetables that are sauteed and tossed with pasta in a light cream sauce. In this recipe we opted for a fresh lemon and butter sauce.
Ingredients for Pasta Primavera
Pasta Primavera is such a simple and fresh recipe, you’ll only need a few ingredients to make this impressive dish. Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make Pasta Primavera:
Pasta –Choose your favorite medium-sized pasta like penne, rotini or bow-tie pasta.
Lots of Veggies – The variety of fresh vegetables is what gives this pasta recipe lots of color, flavor and texture. Here we use a combination of Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Carrots, Grape Tomatoes, Red Onion and Peas.
Fresh Lemon Juice – The fresh lemon juice helps bring out the flavor of the vegetables.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Butter – Olive oil to saute the vegetables and a little bit of butter to help make the light sauce.
Salt, Pepper & Dried Oregano – A simple seasoning combination.
Parmesan Cheese – A little bit of fresh parmesan cheese added at the end helps finish the sauce.
Can I Use Different Vegetables?
Absolutely! Pasta Primavera is extremely versatile. You could mix and match with other vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, green beans or any fresh vegetables that are in season that will cook in relatively the same amount of time. This is also a great recipe to use up any leftover veggies that may be hanging out in your fridge to help reduce food waste in your kitchen.
What to Serve with Pasta Primavera
This Pasta Primavera is certainly hearty enough to eat on its own as a main dish, but you can also serve it with some of our favorites like:
Start by prepping your vegetables. Wash the vegetables, then cut and slice each vegetable into equal size pieces. Cut the zucchini and yellow squash into half moons, slice the carrots into thin rounds, cut the grape tomatoes in half and slice the red onion into strips.
Next bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions, or until al dente. Reserve some of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta in a colander.
While the pasta is boiling, saute the vegetables. In a large deep skillet add olive oil and saute carrots and onion over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Next add zucchini and yellow squash and saute for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Next add the minced garlic, grape tomatoes and frozen peas. Season the vegetables with salt, pepper and dried oregano. Saute for an additional 1-2 minutes, then turn the heat off.
Add the butter to the skillet along with the fresh squeezed lemon juice and stir well to combine. Either add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet, or transfer the pasta and vegetables to a large bowl. Add grated parmesan cheese and some of the reserved pasta water. Stir the vegetables with the pasta until well combined. Serve with fresh chopped parsley (optional garnish) and enjoy!
Start by prepping your vegetables. Wash the vegetables thoroughly then cut and slice each vegetable into equal size pieces. Cut the one zucchini and one yellow squash into half moons, slice one carrot into thin rounds, thinly slice half of a red onion, cut one cup of grape tomatoes in half, and mince three cloves of garlic.
Next bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to the package instructions to al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta in a colander. Transfer drained pasta to a large bowl.
While the pasta is boiling, start sautéeing the vegetables. In a large deep skillet add olive oil. Sauté carrots and onion over medium heat for 2 minutes. Next add zucchini and yellow squash and sauté for an additional 2 minutes. Now add the minced garlic, grape tomatoes and frozen peas. Season the vegetables with 1 tsp salt (or to taste), 1/2 tsp pepper and 1 tsp dried oregano. Sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes then turn your heat off.
Add 2 Tbsp butter to the skillet along with about 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice. Stir the vegetables well to combine.
Either add the cooked and drained penne to the skillet and stir to combine with the vegetables or transfer both the pasta and vegetables to a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup grated or shredded parmesan cheese and about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Stir until well combined. Add more of the reserved pasta water if needed to create a light sauce.
