Ham And Cheese Sliders

These easy Ham and Cheese Sliders are a must-have for parties! They’re buttery, sweet, salty, gooey, and insanely delicious!

The post Ham And Cheese Sliders appeared first on Budget Bytes.

These tasty little Ham and Cheese Sliders might just be the champion of all party food recipes! They’re extremely easy to make, perfect for feeding a hungry crowd, and they’re insanely delicious! With each bite you taste the sweetness of the Hawaiian rolls, the saltiness of the ham, the gooeyness of the cheese, and that irresistible buttery sauce. The combination of everything together is simply unmatched! And although these are absolutely perfect for the big football game tomorrow, they can also be enjoyed all year long!

Front side view of a stack of ham and cheese sliders on a plate.

Ham and cheese sandwiches remind me so much of my childhood, but these sliders are definitely the grown up version. My mom has been making these tasty little ham and cheese sliders for years. And every time she makes them, whether it’s for a family gathering, football game, or a holiday party, they are literally gone in minutes! Needless to say I consider these a must-have to enjoy during the Super Bowl game tomorrow!😉

Ingredients For Ham and Cheese Sliders

These buttery & savory ham and cheese sliders are made with just 7 simple ingredients! Here’s everything you’ll need:

  • Deli Ham: When picking deli ham you’ll often find thinly sliced or regular sliced ham. I tested both and really liked the thickness of the regular ham slices. It also allowed me to use 1 slice per slider, whereas with the thinly sliced ham I needed to add 2 or 3 slices to make it a full slider sandwich.  
  • Swiss Cheese: Swiss cheese has a milder flavor and pairs perfectly with these sliders, but feel free to use a different cheese if you prefer.
  • Hawaiian Sweet Rolls: Hawaiian rolls have just the right amount of sweetness to compliment the savory & salty taste of the ham. They’re also the perfect size to make party sliders. If you can’t find Hawaiian rolls at your local store you can also substitute with bakery dinner rolls. Dinner rolls are a little bigger than Hawaiian rolls so you may need to add more ham and cheese to accommodate.
  • Sauce: The sauce we used to brush over the tops of the sliders is a simple combination of melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and everything bagel seasoning. These flavors combined give the sliders a buttery, tangy taste and compliment the ham and the sweetness of the rolls perfectly!

Recipe Tips and Variations

  1. Use Leftover Ham – If you happen to be making these sandwiches around a special holiday and you have any leftover baked ham, then this recipe works perfectly with your leftover ham.
  2. Turkey and cheese – Not into ham? No worries, this recipe also works well as turkey and cheese sliders! 
  3. Everything Bagel Seasoning – A lot of ham and cheese slider recipes use poppy seeds and dried minced onions as part of the butter sauce. However, we rarely have poppy seeds stocked in our pantry. The good news is that Everything Bagel Seasoning has those ingredients included in it along with dried minced garlic, sesame seeds, and a few other spices. So it works perfectly with these tasty little sandwiches!

Storing Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have any of these tasty sandwiches leftover, then just store them in an airtight container or a ziplock storage bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven until warmed through.

Front side view of a hand pulling one ham and cheese slider out of a casserole baking dish.
Front side view of a stack of ham and cheese sliders on a plate.
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Ham and Cheese Sliders

These easy Ham and Cheese Sliders are a must-have for parties! They’re buttery, sweet, salty, gooey, and insanely delicious!
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost $11.09 recipe / $1.84 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 (2 sliders each)
Calories 517kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Slice the rolls in half lengthwise.
  • Place the bottom half of the rolls in a 9×13 baking dish. Fold 1 slice of deli ham and place it on top of each roll.
  • Add the 6 slices of Swiss cheese on top of the deli ham in a single layer.
  • Now make the butter mixture. Melt the butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Add the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce and everything bagel seasoning to the bowl. Whisk all the ingredients together.
  • Place the top rolls on top of the ham and cheese. Using a pastry brush, brush the butter mixture over the tops of the rolls and the sides of the sandwiches. Brush several layers of the butter making sure the rolls are well coated. You can also carefully pour the butter mixture over the top if you don't have a pastry brush.
  • Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for 5-7 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 2sliders | Calories: 517kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 34g | Sodium: 1214mg | Fiber: 0.1g
Side view of two serving plates of ham and cheese sliders with a napkin on the side.

How to Make Ham And Cheese Sliders – Step by Step Photos

Overhead view of 12 hawaiian rolls cut in half on a cutting board.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Slice 12 Hawaiian sweet rolls in half lengthwise.

12 ham slices added on top of hawaiian rolls in a white baking dish.

Place the bottom half of the rolls in a 9×13″ baking dish. Fold 1 slice of deli ham and place it on top of each roll.

Six slices of Swiss cheese added on top of ham slices.

Add 6 slices of Swiss cheese on top of the deli ham in a single layer. It’s ok if the edges of the cheese overlap a little bit.

Overhead view of melted butter, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and everything bagel seasoning mixed together in a small mixing bowl.

In a small bowl melt 8 Tbsp (1 stick) of butter in the microwave. Add 1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce and 1 1/2 Tbsp everything bagel seasoning to the bowl. Whisk all the ingredients together until well combined.

Melted butter sauce being brushed over the tops of hawaiian rolls with a pastry brush.

Place the top half of the rolls on top of the ham and cheese. Using a pastry brush, brush the butter mixture over the tops of the rolls and the sides of the sandwiches. Brush several layers of the butter making sure the rolls are well coated. You can also carefully pour the butter mixture over the top if you don’t have a pastry brush.

Overhead view of baked ham and cheese sliders in a white baking dish.

Loosely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for 5-7 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Side view of two serving plates of ham and cheese sliders with a napkin on the side.

Time to enjoy that buttery goodness that’s baked into each ham and cheese slider. Trust me these won’t last long. Serve warm and enjoy!

Overhead view of ham and cheese sliders in a baking dish with a hand pulling one slider out of the dish.

The post Ham And Cheese Sliders appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Jalapeño Poppers

The perfect easy appetizer for New Year’s Eve, tailgating parties, or the big game, this Jalapeño Popper recipe is a spicy, cheesy home run!

The post Jalapeño Poppers appeared first on Budget Bytes.

If you love spicy and you love cheesy, you’ll definitely love Jalapeño Poppers! This cute little appetizer recipe has New Year’s Eve written all over it, and it’s perfectly easy and delicious for football games as well. …Or, if you’re just as obsessed with them as I am, they’re also great for a regular Monday afternoon. 😜

Overhead view of a plate full of jalapeño poppers with a dish of ranch dressing.

What Are Jalapeño Poppers?

Jalapeño poppers are a staple in American pop food culture and are often served at sports bars or other fast-casual restaurants. They can take several forms, sometimes breaded and deep fried, sometimes baked, and sometimes wrapped in bacon, but they always consist of fresh jalapeño peppers stuffed with a flavorful mix of cheese for that spicy-cheesy-creamy flavor combo.

For this jalapeño popper recipe, we went the easy and budget-friendly route (obvi) and opted for baked poppers with just enough bacon added in to give great flavor without making them over-the-top expensive. These jalapeño poppers are easy enough for even a beginner to make, and tasty enough that you’ll be thankful you didn’t drop a ton of cash on ordering out!

Ingredients for Jalapeño Poppers:

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious jalapeño popper recipe at home:

  • Fresh Jalapeños: Luckily, jalapeños are usually some of the least expensive items in the produce aisle, but if you can’t find them for a good price at your local chain grocery store, look for a Hispanic or Latin grocery store where they’re guaranteed to be super affordable. Look for Jalapeños that are about 3 inches in length for this recipe.
  • Cheese: We used a mix of cream cheese and cheddar cheese for this recipe so we could get an ultra-creamy finish with a nice cheddar bite. You can also try using Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack (if you like it EXTRA spicy!).
  • Bacon: Bacon is a classic flavor in jalapeño poppers and it gives a nice smokey finish to the flavor profile. We use just enough to give these poppers flavor without driving up the price too high.
  • Seasoning: These jalapeño poppers are seasoned with garlic powder, Everything Bagel Seasoning, and green onions. They’re flavorful but not so complicated that you lose the flavor of the jalapeños and bacon. If you don’t have Everything Bagel Seasoning you can increase the garlic powder in the recipe to ½ tsp, and add ⅛ tsp of both salt and pepper.

Are Jalapeño Poppers Spicy?

Yes, jalapeño poppers are pretty spicy! Despite removing the seeds and ribs (the spiciest part of the jalapeño), some of the spicy oils remain in the jalapeño, giving these poppers just the right amount of spicy heat to balance the creamy cheeses. If you’re not a spicy foods fan you’ll probably want to skip this one!

How to Remove Jalapeño Oil From Your Hands

If you’ve ever cooked with jalapeños before, you know the horror of accidentally touching your eyes afterward. Jalapeños contain natural oils that can easily transfer from your hands to your eyes or any other delicate skin, causing an intense burning sensation, and sometimes just washing your hands isn’t enough to remove the oils. Here are a few extra steps you can take to reduce the burn:

  1. Massage a teaspoon or two of cooking oil into your hands. The oil will help dissolve the spicy oils from the jalapeños that are stuck to your hands.
  2. Wash your hands with dish soap instead of hand soap. Dish soap is formulated to break up oily residues whereas hand soaps are often designed to keep skin moisturized.
  3. Rub your hands with an acidic substance, like lemon juice, vinegar, or tomato sauce. This can help break up any spicy oils left on the skin.
  4. OR just wear gloves while working with the jalapeños and avoid the risk. ;)

What to Serve with Jalapeño Poppers

I love these little poppers on their own, but if you want a dipping sauce I would definitely recommend ranch dressing. I’m not usually a ranch person, but the flavor combination between the spicy jalapeño poppers and cooling ranch dressing is hard to beat! I’d also serve them with another starchy appetizer, maybe something like our Steak Fries or Loaded Smashed Potatoes.

Side view of a plate full of jalapeño poppers with a dish of ranch on the side.
Super close up view of jalapeño poppers on a plate with a bowl of ranch.
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Jalapeño Poppers

The perfect easy appetizer for New Year's Eve, tailgating parties, or the big game, this Jalapeño Popper recipe is a spicy, cheesy home run!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Amercian
Total Cost $3.94 recipe / $0.66 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 (2 poppers each)
Calories 149kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. bacon (about 2 slices) $0.50
  • 6 jalapeños* $1.50
  • 4 oz. room-temperature cream cheese $1.10
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese $0.62
  • 1 green onion, sliced $0.10
  • 1 tsp everything bagel seasoning $0.10
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder $0.02

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until it is brown and crispy. Remove it from the pan and let it cool on a paper-towel-lined plate.
  • Slice the jalapeños in half lengthwise and then use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and white ribs, being careful not to tear or puncture the peppers.
  • Once the bacon is cool, crumble it into tiny pieces and reserve about 1 tablespoon to use as a topping. Add the bacon to a bowl with the cream cheese, shredded cheddar (reserve a small amount for topping as well), sliced green onion, Everything bagel seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix the ingredients together until they're evenly combined.
  • Divide the cheese filling between the 12 pepper halves and then spread it out to fill and smooth out the top.
  • Place the filled peppers on a large parchment-lined baking sheet then sprinkle the reserved crumbled bacon and cheddar cheese over the top.
  • Bake the peppers for 15 minutes or just until the cheese is melted and slightly bubbly. Avoid over-baking the peppers or else they'll become too soft to pick up and enjoy. Allow the poppers to cool just enough to handle, then serve and enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*Look for jalapeños that are about 3 inches long.

Nutrition

Serving: 2poppers | Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Sodium: 228mg | Fiber: 0.5g
Super close up view of jalapeño poppers on a plate with a bowl of ranch.

How to Make Jalapeño Poppers – Step by Step Photos

Cooked bacon in a skillet.

Cook about 2 oz. of bacon (about 2 slices) in a skillet over medium heat until it is brown and crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and let it drain on a paper towel-lined plate as you prepare the rest of the dish.

Scraping out the insides of the jalapeño peppers.

Slice six jalapeño peppers in half length-wise, then scrape out the seeds and white ribs with a spoon, taking care not to tear the outside of the pepper. To prevent the transfer of spicy oils from your hands to your eyes, mouth, or nose, either use gloves while preparing the peppers or see our tips above for removing jalapeño oil from your hands.

Cheese filling ingredients in a bowl, unmixed.

Once the bacon is cool enough to touch, crumble it into tiny pieces. Reserve about 1 teaspoon of the bacon to use as a topping, then add the rest to a bowl with 4 oz. of room-temperature cream cheese, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (reserve about 2 Tbsp for topping), 1 sliced green onion, 1 teaspoon Everything Bagel Seasoning, and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder. Mix these ingredients together until evenly combined.

Cheese filling being spooned into jalapeño halves.

Divide the cheese mixture evenly between the 12 jalapeño halves, then spread it out to fill the peppers, smoothing out the top.

Jalapeño poppers ready to bake on a parchment-lined sheet pan.

Place the filled jalapeños on a large parchment-lined baking sheet, then sprinkle the reserved bacon bits and shredded cheddar over top.

Baked jalapeño poppers on the baking sheet.

Bake the jalapeño poppers in the preheated 425ºF oven for 15 minutes, or just until the cheese is melted and bubbly on top. Avoid overcooking the poppers or else the peppers will get too soft to pick up and eat. Allow the peppers to cool just enough to handle, then serve and enjoy!

Overhead view of a plate of jalapeño peppers with one being dipped into a bowl of ranch.

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Sliders

This easy recipe for sliders is great for feeding a crowd at parties, potlucks, tailgates, or just for a quick weeknight meal.

The post Sliders appeared first on Budget Bytes.

These super-tasty, mouthwatering Sliders feature savory beef and pork patties tucked into pillowy Hawaiian rolls dripping with American cheese.  They’re a fabulous way to feed a crowd without much fuss because they come together quickly and are made by the dozen. That’s why this easy Slider recipe is my go-to for parties, potlucks, tailgates, or a quick weeknight meal. Make it once, and it’ll become the same for you!

Close up side view of a stack of sliders.

What Are Sliders?

For the most part, sliders refer to a miniature sandwich, in this case, tiny hamburgers. Traditionally, slider patties are made individually from a ball of beef smashed on a grill with chopped onions.  In this recipe, we mix raw onions in the meat and bake one giant patty. We then sandwich the patty between uncut sheets of Hawaiian rolls with loads of cheese, bake it again until the cheese melts, and then cut it into a dozen sliders. Easy!

Ingredients for Sliders

There are many ways to make sliders, but the basic ingredients are the same: ground meat, bread, onion, cheese, and toppings. You can get creative with your toppings, but I’ve kept things really simple here. This is what you’ll need to make quick and easy Sliders:

  • Ground Beef and Pork: You can buy ground pork for a third of the price of ground beef, so I used equal parts of each in the patty to keep things budget-friendly. Feel free to go with all ground beef (or all ground pork), as the recipe directions won’t change. Remember that pork is white meat, so the color of these patties is lighter than a traditional burger patty.
  • Onions: add depth and bulk to the patty but are not essential. If you’re not a fan, keep them out of the mix.
  • Burger Seasoning: The spices in this mix add deep flavor to the meat. We’ve got a great Homemade Burger Seasoning recipe, but your favorite seasoning blend will also work here. You can also just use up to a teaspoon of salt and a few cracks of black pepper. 
  • Cheese: American cheese slices are wallet-friendly and offer superior melting. Of course, you can substitute them with your preferred melting cheese. 
  • Hawaiian Rolls: These make up the bun of our sliders. They are sold in uncut sheets, simplifying the cooking process. You can substitute the rolls with your favorite hamburger rolls, though it will change the yield and, of course, the assembly steps.
  • Everything Bagel Seasoning: This is used to add flavor and texture to the slider buns. You can substitute it with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or flaky salt. This ingredient can also be omitted

What To Serve With Sliders

You can’t go wrong pairing sliders with anything potato-based like French Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, or Potato Salad. They’re also great with Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, or, for the ultimate indulgence, Nacho Cheese Dip. (Don’t knock a nacho cheese-dipped Slider until you’ve tried it!)

How To Store Sliders

If you have leftovers, remove the patty from the bun and refrigerate the bread and meat in separate air-tight containers. When ready to eat, reheat in individual sheet pans in a 350°F oven. Warm the bread for a few minutes and pull the patties when they start to steam. Then assemble.

Side view of individual sliders on a wooden cutting board.
Side view of individual sliders on a wooden cutting board.
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Sliders

This easy recipe for sliders is great for feeding a crowd at parties, potlucks, tailgates, or just for a quick weeknight meal.
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost $16.11 recipe / $2.69 serving
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
cool time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 (2 sliders each)
Calories 728kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Set an oven rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 375°F. Line a sheet pan with a sheet pan rack. Add the ground beef and pork to a bowl. Sprinkle with onions, salt, and burger seasoning, and lightly mix.
  • Add a sheet of parchment paper to your work surface. Press the meat onto the parchment paper and shape it into a 12 x 16 rectangle. Place the parchment paper with the meat on it on the sheet pan rack.
  • Top the meat with another sheet of parchment paper, then place a second sheet pan on top of it. Bake for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 150°F.
  • In the meantime, slice the rolls in half lengthwise. Brush the rolls with 2 tablespoons of butter.
  • Once the 20 minutes are up and the meat has reached an internal temperature of 150°F, remove the top sheet pan from the oven. Then remove the sheet pan that has the meat in it from the oven. Remove the top layer of parchment paper to reveal a large meat patty.
  • Use two large spatulas to remove the meat from the parchment paper on the sheet pan rack. Top the bottom rolls with the large meat patty.
  • Add the 6 slices of American cheese in a single layer.
  • Place the top rolls on top of the meat and cheese. Brush the tops with the last 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of Everything But The Bagel Seasoning.
  • Cook for 15 minutes or until the bread toasts and the cheese melts. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes before slicing into individual sliders. Serve on a platter and enjoy your the oohs and ahhs at your get-together!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 2sliders | Calories: 728kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 49g | Sodium: 954mg | Fiber: 1g
A hand picking up a slider from a platter, viewed from above.

How to Make Sliders – Step by Step Photos

Ground beef and pork in a bowl with diced onion.

Set an oven rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 375°F. Line a sheet pan with a sheet pan rack. Add the ground beef and pork to a bowl. Sprinkle with onions, salt, and burger seasoning, and lightly mix. 

Seasoned meat mixture shaped into a rectangle on a sheet pan with parchment.

Add a sheet of parchment paper to your work surface. Press the meat onto the parchment paper and shape it into a 12 x 16 rectangle. Place the parchment paper with the meat on it on the sheet pan rack. 

Parchment and second sheet pan on top of meat.

Top the meat with another sheet of parchment paper, then place a second sheet pan on top of it. Bake for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 150°F.

Hawaiian rolls cut in half being brushed with butter.

In the meantime, slice the rolls in half lengthwise. Brush the rolls with 2 tablespoons of butter. 

Cooked slider meat on the sheet pan.

Once the 20 minutes are up and the meat has reached an internal temperature of 150°F, remove the top sheet pan from the oven. Then remove the sheet pan that has the meat in it from the oven. Remove the top layer of parchment paper to reveal a large meat patty.

Baked meat on the bottom Hawaiian rolls.

Use two large spatulas to remove the meat from the parchment paper on the sheet pan rack. Top the bottom rolls with the large meat patty.

American cheese slices on top of the meat.

Add the 6 slices of American cheese in a single layer.

Rolls on top and everything bagel seasoning being sprinkled on top.

Place the top rolls on top of the meat and cheese. Brush the tops with the last 2 tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of Everything But The Bagel Seasoning. 

Final baked sliders out of the oven.

Cook for 15 minutes or until the bread toasts and the cheese melts. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes before slicing into individual sliders. Serve on a platter and enjoy your the oohs and ahhs at your get-together!

Slider being picked up from the group with the cheese pulling.

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Potato and Green Bean Skillet

This easy and delicious potato and green bean skillet is the perfect weeknight meal made with simple ingredients like potatoes, green beans, onions, and bacon.

The post Potato and Green Bean Skillet appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy skillet meals are such a life savor on busy weeknights and if that skillet has bacon and potatoes then COUNT ME IN! This simple potato and green bean skillet can be served as a side, or, if you’re like me, you can just eat a big bowl of it for dinner on its own. The caramelized onions, smoky bacon, and tender potatoes are more than enough to keep me satisfied! As usual, I’ve got some ideas for customizations and add-ins for you below so you can make it your own.

Overhead view of potato and green bean skillet with a spatula.

What kind of Potatoes to use

I used baby potatoes in my skillet because they’re cute. No, just kidding. Well, kind of. Baby potatoes work well for this recipe because they cook quickly, don’t requite much chopping, and they have a great skin to flesh ratio which gives the skillet great color and texture. If baby potatoes are out of your price range, I would reach for either red potatoes or Yukon gold and chop them into 1-inch pieces before boiling.

Frozen Green Beans for the win

You probably know by now how much I love the convenience of frozen vegetables and how much they can help to reduce waste. For those reasons, I used frozen green beans in this quick skillet meal, but you can definitely use fresh green beans if you have them or if they’re in season. You’ll just want to cook them a little longer in the skillet (until they’re crisp-tender). Frozen green beans are already partially cooked, so they make this skillet that much faster and easier.

What else can I add?

This potato and green bean skillet is ripe for modifications. Here are some swaps or extra ingredients you can add to your skillet to make it your own:

  • Use smoked sausage in place of the bacon
  • Use steak seasoning in place of the everything bagel seasoning
  • Add a couple handfuls of spinach, chopped kale, or shredded cabbage for extra green
  • Add diced bell pepper (at the same time as the green beans)
  • Top with crispy French fried onions
  • Add minced fresh garlic or a pinch of crushed red pepper for a pop of flavor
Close up overhead view of a bowl of potatoes and green beans.
Close up overhead view of a bowl of potatoes and green beans.
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Potato and Green Bean Skillet

This easy and delicious potato and green bean skillet is the perfect weeknight meal made with simple ingredients like potatoes, green beans, onions, and bacon.
Course Dinner, Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Total Cost $6.91 recipe / $1.73 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 about 1.25 cups each
Calories 287kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs. baby potatoes $3.99
  • 1 tsp salt (to salt the boiling water) $0.05
  • 4 oz. bacon $1.15
  • 1 yellow onion $0.37
  • 12 oz. frozen cut green beans $1.25
  • 1 tsp everything bagel seasoning $0.10

Instructions

  • Slice the potatoes in half and place them in a large pot. Cover with water and add 1 tsp salt. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high and allow the potatoes to continue boiling until the are fork-tender (about 7-8 minutes). Drain the potatoes in a colander.
  • While the potatoes are boiling, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it is brown and crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet. For the most flavor, leave all of the bacon fat in the skillet, or drain off the excess making sure to leave at least 2 Tbsp of the fat in the skillet.
  • While the bacon is cooking, dice the onion. After removing the bacon from the skillet, add the diced onion and continue to cook over medium heat until the onion is soft and slightly browned.
  • Add the drained potatoes to the skillet with the onions. Give them a brief stir to coat them in fat, then let them continue to cook, stirring only once every few minutes, to allow the bottoms to brown.
  • Once the potatoes have some brown color on them, add the frozen green beans (no need to thaw). Continue to cook and stir until the green beans are heated through.
  • Chop the cooked bacon and add it back to the skillet along with the everything bagel seasoning. Stir to combine, taste, and add salt, pepper, or more bagel seasoning to your liking. Serve hot!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cups | Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 850mg | Fiber: 7g
Potatoes, green beans, bacon, and onion on a fork close up.

How to Make Potato and Green Bean Skillet – Step by Step Photos

Potatoes in a pot of water.

Slice 1.5 lbs. of baby potatoes in half. Place them in a pot and cover with water. Add 1 tsp of salt to the water. Place a lid on the pot and bring it up to a boil over high heat. Once it reaches a boil, turn down the heat to medium-high and allow the potatoes to boil until fork tender, about 7-8 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander.

Cooked bacon in a skillet.

Cook 4 oz. bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s brown and crispy. Remove the cooked bacon from the skillet. For the most flavor, leave all of the bacon fat in the skillet, or drain off most of the fat making sure to leave at least 2 Tbsp of the fat in the skillet.

Browned onions in the skillet.

While the bacon is cooking, dice one yellow onion. Add it to the skillet after removing the bacon and continue to cook over medium heat until the onions are soft and slightly browned.

Potatoes added back to the skillet with the onions.

Add the drained potatoes back to the skillet. Stir briefly to coat them in fat, then let them cook over medium heat only stirring once every few minutes to allow them to brown on the bottom.

Frozen green beans being poured into the skillet.

Once the potatoes have some browning on the edges, add one 12oz. bag of frozen cut green beans. Stir to combine and continue to cook over medium heat just until the green beans are heated through.

Bacon and seasoning added to the skillet.

Chop the cooked bacon, then add it back to the skillet along with about 1 tsp of everything bagel seasoning. Stir everything to combine, taste, and add salt, pepper, or more everything bagel seasoning to your liking. Serve hot!

Close up side view of green bean and potato skillet.

SO good, SO hearty!

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Everything Bagel Rice Bowl

This earthy, vibrant, Everything Bagel Rice Bowl is no fuss, no muss, and so ridiculously yummy you’ll go in for seconds.

The post Everything Bagel Rice Bowl appeared first on Budget Bytes.

It doesn’t matter how much you love to cook, sometimes you just don’t want to cook. I’ve been there, especially after a long day of testing recipes in the Budget Bytes kitchen. So on those days, I make this utterly satisfying, earthy, vibrant, Everything Bagel Rice Bowl. It’s no fuss, no muss, and so ridiculously yummy I made it every night for a week straight! 

Overhead shot of Everything Bagel Rice Bowl.

What Is Everything Bagel Seasoning?

Sometimes called Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, this is the spice mix you find on top of an Everything Bagel. It’s a punchy blend of onion flakes, garlic flakes, white and black sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and flaky salt. It instantly adds deep flavors and a beautiful pop of texture to anything it touches. It became really popular when Trader Joe’s started selling their version.

What You’ll Need

  • Everything Bagel Seasoning – a few dashes of this magic and you have all the flavors you need to make your rice bowl sing.
  • Rice – because it’s not a rice bowl without it. Any kind of rice will do. You can also sub with cauliflower rice. Just follow the cooking directions on the package.
  • Spinach – is an easy and economical way to add greens. To lower the cost even more, use 6 ounces of frozen spinach. You can also use kale, swiss chard, or mustard greens.
  • Onions and Garlic– these aromatics flavor the spinach. If you don’t feel like chopping, leave them out or add one teaspoon of Everything Bagel Seasoning to the butter.
  • Butter – You need a flavorful fat to cook spinach and eggs in, but you can, of course, sub with olive oil, your favorite cooking oil, or (my fave) bacon or chicken drippings.
  • Eggs – “put an egg on it” is our ethos for a reason. Eggs cook in minutes and create a natural savory sauce. You don’t have to use an egg, but the rice will be dry without it.

How To Make Everything Bagel Seasoning

You can buy Everything Bagel Seasoning for a good price at most big-name supermarkets and get loads of uses out of it. But in case you can’t access it, here’s a quick recipe for about half a cup of seasoning:

  • 2 Tablespoons onion flakes
  • 2 Tablespoons garlic flakes
  • 2 Tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 2 Tablespoons black sesame seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon sea flaky salt
  • 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
Side shot of Everything Bagel Rice Bowl

How To Cook Rice

If there’s one thing you need to know when making a rice bowl, it’s how to cook rice. Beth has a great in-depth tutorial here, but in case you don’t want to leave the page here’s a refresher:

Know the type of rice you’re cooking. The ratio of rice to liquid changes with the kind of rice you use, as does the time it cooks. I use less water in my rice than Beth does. It makes for a toothier, looser grain. If you prefer softer rice, increase the liquid by a half cup.

  • Short Grain Rice: 1 cup rice 1 cup liquid cook 18 minutes
  • Medium & Long Grain Rice: 1 cup rice 1 1/3 cups liquid cook 15 minutes
  • Brown rice: Boil it like pasta (in lots of water until al dente ) for 30 minutes, strain all of the water out, cover the pot, and let the rice rest in it for 10 minutes

Wash the rice. Cleaning the grains under cool running water until the water runs clear eliminates the starches that give you a gloppy result.

Bring the water to a boil before you add it to the rice. It keeps your timing on point.

Low and slow is the way. When the rice comes to a boil, lower the heat. Making rice at a boil makes the grains burst, leaving you with a starchy mess.

Keep it covered. Lifting the lid releases steam, increasing cooking time and ruining the texture. Once the rice is done, rest it for 10 minutes before uncovering it.

What Else Can I Put On Everything Bagel Rice?

Truly, the sky is the limit. Roasted or sauteed vegetables are always a great choice, especially quick-cooking ones. Try chopped peppers, mushrooms, blistered tomatoes, or creamy avocado. If you’re a meat eater, try rotisserie chicken, bacon crumbles, or savory ground beef.

How To Store Leftovers

You can refrigerate this rice bowl for up to 4 days, though I would make the eggs fresh every time. To reheat it, sprinkle it with 1/4 teaspoon water, and microwave it until it’s steaming. You can also freeze it in an air-tight container (again, without the eggs) for up to 3 months.

Print

Everything Bagel Rice Bowl

On those days you don't want to spend much time in the kitchen, make this earthy, vibrant, Everything Bagel Rice Bowl. It's no fuss, no muss, and so ridiculously yummy you'll go in for seconds.
Course Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($4.09 recipe / $2.05 serving)
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 2 bowls
Calories 713kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cup water $0.00
  • 1 cup long grain rice, rinsed until water runs clear $0.30
  • 5 Tbsp salted butter, divided $0.75
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.01
  • 1 yellow onion, small dice $0.41
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced $0.24
  • 8 oz fresh spinach* $1.30
  • 2 large eggs $0.92
  • 1 tsp Everything Bagel seasoning plus more for garnish $0.16

Instructions

  • Put the water in a pot large enough to hold the rice (it doubles in size as it cooks). Cover it and bring to a boil. When the water's boiling, add the rinsed rice, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of butter. Stir to incorporate.
  • Bring the water to a simmer with the pot uncovered. When steam vents begin to form on the surface, about 3 minutes, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Rest it off the heat for 10 minutes. Then, remove the lid.
  • While the rice cooks, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan set over medium heat. When the dairy solids turn golden brown, add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the spinach to the pan along with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Sauté until it has wilted, about 3 minutes.
  • Smooth the surface of the spinach and make two indentations with a large spoon. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and then add them to the indentations. Cook, uncovered, until the egg whites become opaque, about 3 minutes.
  • Fluff up the rice. Dice the last tablespoon of butter. Add it to the rice along with the everything bagel seasoning and mix it in.
  • Plate the rice in 2 bowls. Top each bowl of rice with spinach and an egg. Garnish with an additional sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*sub 8 oz fresh spinach with 6 oz frozen spinach

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 713kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 34g | Sodium: 1104mg | Fiber: 5g

How to Make Everything bagel Rice Bowls – Step by Step Photos

Overhead shot of butter, water, and rice in a pot.

Measure 1 1/3 cups of water and put it in a pot large enough to hold the rice (remember the rice doubles in size as it cooks). Cover the pot, and bring the water to a full boil. Then add the rinsed cup of rice, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of butter to the pot.

Overhead shot of rice with surface steam vents in a pot.

Keep the rice uncovered while you bring the water back up to a simmer, about 3 minutes. When steam vents begin to form on the surface, reduce the heat to low. Cover the rice with a heavy, well-fitting lid. Cook for 15 minutes without removing the lid. Rest the rice off the heat for ten minutes before removing the lid.

Overhead shot of onions and garlic cooking in a pot.

While the rice cooks, add 2 tablespoons of butter to a medium-sized pan set over medium heat. Allow it to melt and foam. When it turns golden brown and smells nutty, add one diced onion. Sauté until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add two cloves of minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Overhead shot of spinach in a pot.
Add the 8 ounces of spinach to the pan along with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Sauté until it has wilted, about 3 minutes.
Overhead shot of two sunny-side up eggs cooking in spinach.
Smooth out the surface of the spinach. Make two indentations with a large spoon. Crack the 2 eggs into a small bowl and add one to each indentation. Cook, uncovered, until the egg whites become opaque, about 3 minutes.
Overhead shot of Everything Bagel seasoning and butter being added to rice.
Fluff up the rice. Dice the last tablespoon of butter. Add it to the rice along with the teaspoon of everything bagel seasoning and mix it in.
Overhead shot of Everything Bagel Rice Bowl

Divide the rice between 2 bowls. Top each bowl of rice with spinach and an egg. Garnish with an additional sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning. Now all that’s left to do is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the hearty meal you just prepared in no time!

Overhead shot of Everything Bagel Rice Bowl with a knife cutting into the egg.

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