Blooming Quesadilla Ring

This blooming quesadilla ring recipe is a fun Mexican-inspired dish filled with chicken and cheese arranged around a tasty sauce.

This blooming quesadilla ring recipe is a fun Mexican-inspired dish filled with chicken and cheese arranged around a tasty sauce.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad consists of crunchy vegetables, tender chicken, crisp bacon, and tangy cheese, all topped with a creamy Ranch dressing.

This Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad consists of crunchy vegetables, tender chicken, crisp bacon, and tangy cheese, all topped with a creamy Ranch dressing.

Cheesy Poblano Potato Soup

When it comes to flavor, this soup has plenty of it!

Cheesy Poblano Potato SoupWhen it comes to flavor, this soup has plenty of it!

Cozy Veggie Bake

This hearty veggie bake recipe is savory and refined, almost meaty, but it’s vegetarian and gluten-free! It’s perfect for Meatless…

This hearty veggie bake recipe is savory and refined, almost meaty, but it’s vegetarian and gluten-free! It’s perfect for Meatless Mondays or a cozy brunch.

Veggie bake in pan

Food is about connection and people. That’s what drew Alex and me to cooking together. Our kids might be too young to truly understand, but when we all eat the same food, there’s truly something that stirs in me. When we first ate this veggie bake together, watching our kids love it so much (making the yum yum sound) was fulfilling in a way that I never dreamed.

This harvest vegetable bake is a recipe from The Pollan Family Table cookbook. It’s a vegetarian main dish the Pollans suggested we try, and my, does it deliver on flavor! It’s a combination of vegetables and baked tofu, topped with cheese and baked until bubbly. Here’s the recipe and more about it!

Veggie bake on plate

Tips for making this veggie bake

This veggie bake is from The Pollan Family Table cookbook (shared here with the authors’ permission!). While it takes a bit of time to prepare, the flavor is savory and refined, almost meaty. It features a filling of tofu, cheese, carrots, broccoli, chard, and mushrooms, flavored in a punchy wine sauce.

We served this veggie bake as a vegetarian main dish for dinner, but we think it would also be a fantastic savory bake for a brunch spread. This vegetable bake recipe is incredibly versatile and can be served so many ways. A few of our favorite ways to enjoy this recipe are:

  • With a side of brown rice — The hearty vegetables and cheese go perfectly with a side of brown rice. The rice rounds out the meal and adds a healthy source of carbs to your plate without taking away from the main attraction (this vegetable bake!).
  • With a simple salad — If you’re serving this vegetable bake at lunch or dinner, a fresh salad of some kind would pair well with the baked veggies.
  • With fruit salad — To make this dish brunch appropriate, serve it with a lighter, fresh side like fruit salad.

More about the book

This book is by the Pollan family: mother Corky and sisters Dana, Lori, and Tracy. Brother Michael Pollan is well-known for his books and documentaries on food and eating. His mother and sisters have collaborated on a The Pollan Family Table cookbook with the message that a culture of family dinners is transformative: for your physical health, mental well-being, and overall happiness.

We were lucky enough to have the Pollan family as guests on our podcast, and it stands out as one of our favorite episodes to date. Maybe it’s because we had four guests at once (yes, four!). But I think it’s because of the genuine warmth and sincerity with which these women recounted growing up at the table — and their own hopes for the next generation of eaters.

Congratulations to the Pollan family on an incredible book: we can’t wait for the next one! And make sure to take a listen to their podcast episode: A Family Affair.

Vegetable bake

More vegetarian dinner recipes

We love creating easy dinner recipes that are naturally meatless! A few of our favorite vegetarian dinners are:

Dietary notes

This veggie bake recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.

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10 Delicious Vegetarian Main Dish Thanksgiving Recipes | A Couple Cooks

Cozy Veggie Bake


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  • Author: a Couple Cooks
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 4 (or more if served as part of a larger spread)
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Description

This harvest vegetable bake is savory and refined, almost meaty, but it’s vegetarian and gluten-free! Perfect for Meatless Mondays or a cozy brunch.


Ingredients

  • 12 to 14-ounce package extra firm organic tofu, drained and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup finely chopped shallot
  • 4 cloves garlic (2 minced, 2 sliced)
  • 1 tablespoon dry sherry (we used brandy in a pinch)
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup sliced cremini or baby bella mushrooms
  • 1 cup peeled and sliced carrots, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
  • 2 cups sliced zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds (we omitted)
  • 2 ½ cups 1-inch broccoli florets
  • 2 cups packed stemmed and roughly chopped Swiss chard (we did 5 cups)
  • ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Arrange the tofu in a single layer on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through. Remove from the oven and set aside. Increase the oven temperature to 400ºF.
  3. Meanwhile, begin preparing the sauce and vegetables. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil, the shallot, and the minced garlic. Stir occasionally until they become translucent and begin to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the sherry and white wine and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the vegetable broth, soy sauce, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ⅛ teaspoon of pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside.
  4. While the sauce simmers, pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil into a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the sliced garlic, the mushrooms, and carrots, and saute for 2 minutes. Raise the heat to medium high, add the zucchini and broccoli, and saute for 6 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and stir all the vegetables continuously for 2 minutes more, until well combined and the Swiss chard has wilted.
  5. Transfer the vegetables to a large casserole or baking dish. Add the tofu, pour the sauce over the casserole, and mix. Sprinkle the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese on top. Bake uncovered until the cheese are browned and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Notes

Reprinted with permission from The Pollan Family Table: The Best Recipes and Kitchen Wisdom for Delicious, Healthy Family Meals by Corky, Lori, Dana, and Tracy Pollan

  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe is the perfect combination of creamy, tangy, and spicy flavors. It’s a must-try for spicy food lovers.

The post Buffalo Chicken Pasta appeared first on Budget Bytes.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that most dips can also double as an amazing pasta sauce, and this Buffalo Chicken Pasta is a great example. I took all of the creamy, tangy, spicy goodness of buffalo chicken dip and made it into a deliciously cheesy one-pot pasta. So gather around all of my spicy food friends, you’re going to want to make this easy, creamy, and addictive Buffalo Chicken Pasta ASAP!

Close up overhead view of a bowl full of buffalo chicken pasta with a fork.

Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This cheesy buffalo chicken pasta starts with all of the same ingredients as buffalo chicken dip, then we add a few more to make it a little saucier and give the dish just a touch more flavor and texture. Here’s what you’ll need to make buffalo chicken pasta:

  • Chicken Breast: We use one boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe and stretch it across four servings to keep things budget-friendly. You can use diced boneless, skinless chicken thighs for an even less expensive option. Or, you can add leftover chopped or shredded cooked rotisserie chicken to the pasta at the end. If using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, just add the remaining spices to the sauce.
  • Seasoning: We seasoned the chicken breast with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt for extra flavor.
  • Butter: Butter balances the heat and acidity of the hot sauce and helps give this dish that classic buffalo sauce flavor.
  • Chicken Broth: In true one-pot pasta style, the pasta is cooked in chicken broth for maximum flavor.
  • Pasta: We used a classic penne pasta for this dish, but you could also use bowtie, rotini, or any short pasta shape.
  • Cheese: A combination of cream cheese and Monterey jack cheese keeps the sauce extra creamy and smooth without the need for a flour and butter roux.
  • Hot Sauce: Franks Red Hot Sauce is the classic sauce used for any “Buffalo” flavored dish, but any vinegar-based cayenne hot sauce will also be delicious.
  • Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire adds just the right of umami and sweetness to the buffalo sauce, preventing it from having a flat flavor.
  • Petite Diced Tomatoes: To give this pasta more texture and flavor, we added a can of petite diced tomatoes.
  • Green Onion: We topped this pasta with sliced green onion for a little dose of savory freshness at the end.

What Else Can I Add?

If you have a little extra wiggle room in your budget, you can add even more goodies to this buffalo chicken pasta to make it ✨extra✨. Try topping the pasta with crumbled blue cheese, or stirring in some bacon crumbles. If you love a crunchy topping, try crushing some butter crackers or tortilla chips and sprinkling them on top of the pasta just before serving. And while it is totally unconventional, I think some small broccoli florets would be awesome in this, kind of like broccoli mac and cheese!

What to Serve with Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This buffalo chicken pasta is pretty rich, so you’re going to want something light and refreshing to serve on the side. You can opt for a super Simple Side Salad, a classic Caesar Salad, or maybe a simple Cucumber Tomato Salad. Or just go with the theme and serve up some carrot and celery sticks with blue cheese dressing for dipping!

Tips for Making One Pot Pasta

One-pot pasta can be tricky for some because the pasta is cooked in a much smaller amount of liquid than traditional pasta cooking methods. Here are a few tips to make sure your one-pot pasta cooks evenly and to the right texture:

  • Use heavy, thick-bottomed cookware to help the ingredients heat evenly.
  • Use a burner that is close in diameter to the bottom of your pot to ensure even heating.
  • The broth does not need to fully cover the pasta for it to cook, so resist the urge to add more water or broth in the beginning. Steam will help the pasta above the water line to cook, and the pasta will be stirred to ensure it all has contact with the liquid.
  • Make sure the liquid is simmering the whole time the pasta is cooking. If the heat is too low, or the liquid is only simmering in the center of the pot, the pasta will cook unevenly and get gummy.
  • Stir the pot occasionally to prevent sticking and help everything cook evenly.
  • Use your judgment. If the pasta looks close to being cooked through, but there is too much liquid left in the skillet, let it finish simmering with the lid off. If the liquid is gone but your pasta is still not tender, add a splash of more water or broth and continue to simmer until tender.
Overhead view of a pan full of buffalo chicken pasta with a striped napkin on the side.
Overhead view of a bowl full of buffalo chicken pasta.
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Buffalo Chicken Pasta

This Buffalo Chicken Pasta recipe is the perfect combination of creamy, tangy, and spicy flavors. It's a must-try for spicy food lovers.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Total Cost $8.13 recipe / $2.03 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 545kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about ⅔ lb.) $3.33
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder $0.05
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper $0.05
  • 1/4 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil $0.04
  • 2 Tbsp butter $0.26
  • 8 oz. penne pasta $0.67
  • 1 15oz. can petite diced tomatoes $1.00
  • 1.5 cups chicken broth $0.28
  • 4 oz. cream cheese $1.10
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce $0.52
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce $0.02
  • 1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese $0.58
  • 2 green onions, sliced (optional) $0.16

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken into ½-¾ inch pieces. Combine the garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and salt, then sprinkle it over the chicken pieces. Toss the chicken in the spices until everything is well coated.
  • Heat the cooking oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Once hot, add the chicken and allow tge chicken to brown on all sides. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this point.
  • Add the uncooked pasta, canned diced tomatoes (with the liquid), and the chicken broth to the skillet with the chicken. Stir to dissolve all of the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet.
  • Place a lid on the pot and allow the broth to come up to a strong simmer. The broth will not fully cover the pasta, but that is okay. Once the broth is simmering, briefly stir the pasta, replace the lid, then turn the heat down to medium-low.
  • Allow the pasta to simmer in the broth for 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, stirring once or twice throughout, and always replacing the lid after stirring.
  • Once the pasta is tender and only a small amount of thickened liquid remains in the skillet, cut the cream cheese into chunks and add it to the past along with the butter, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir and cook over medium-low heat until the cream cheese has fully melted into the pasta.
  • Add the shredded Monterey jack cheese and stir until melted into the sauce. Top with sliced green onions, then serve hot.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 26g | Sodium: 1193mg | Fiber: 2g

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Pasta – Step by Step Photos

diced chicken breast with seasoning being sprinkled on top.

Dice one boneless, skinless chicken breast (about ⅔ lb.) into small ½-¾ inch pieces. Combine ½ tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, and ¼ tsp salt, then sprinkle it over the chicken. Toss the chicken until it is evenly coated in spices.

Browned chicken pieces in a skillet.

Heat 1 Tbsp of cooking oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high until very hot. Once hot, add the chicken and allow it to brown on all sides. The chicken does not need to cook through here, just let it brown on the outside.

Tomatoes, pasta, and broth added to the skillet.

Add 8 oz of uncooked pasta, one 15oz. can of petite diced tomatoes (with the liquid), and 1.5 cups of chicken broth to the skillet with the chicken.

Uncooked pasta in the skillet with the chicken and tomatoes.

Stir everything well, making sure to dissolve all the browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. The broth will not fully cover the pasta, but that’s okay. Do not add extra liquid at this point.

Cooked pasta in the skillet, a spatula pulling the pasta to the side to show the thickened sauce.

Place a lid on the pot and allow the broth to come up to a strong simmer. Once simmering, give the pasta a quick stir to loosen it from the bottom, replace the lid, then turn the heat down to medium-low. Let the pasta simmer over medium-low for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is tender and only a small amount of saucy liquid remains.

Cream cheese, hot sauce, butter, and Worcestershire added to the skillet.

Once the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, it’s time to make the buffalo sauce. Add 4oz. of cream cheese (cut into chunks), 2 Tbsp butter, ¼ cup hot sauce, and ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce. Continue to stir and cook over medium-low until the cream cheese is fully melted into the sauce.

Shredded cheese added to the skillet.

Add ½ cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese to the skillet and stir until it has melted into the sauce.

buffalo chicken pasta topped with sliced green onions.

Top the buffalo chicken pasta with sliced green onions and serve hot!

Overhead view of a bowl full of buffalo chicken pasta.

The post Buffalo Chicken Pasta appeared first on Budget Bytes.