Category: Recipe Ideas

35 Best Summer Cocktails

Here are the best summer cocktails, from classics to frozen drinks to mixers with gin and vodka. Let summer drink season begin! When it’s summer, there’s nothing better than a fruity, herby or frozen drink in hand! There’s a great variety of summer cocktails that play on the flavors of the season: sweet watermelon and juicy peaches, herbaceous mint and basil, and bright berries. Even better: icy summer drinks are the perfect way to beat the heat. Here are all the best summer cocktails to try! We’ve got classics like the minty Mojito and the tangy margarita, and frozen drinks like daiquiris and pina coladas. There’s also gin and vodka cocktails, and fun fruity spins like watermelon cocktails and peach margaritas. Really: we want to drink them all. Want specific liquors? Go to Summer Vodka Cocktails, Summer Gin Cocktails or Summer Rum Cocktails. And now…the best summer cocktails! More types of cocktails There are lots more great cocktail recipes to try outside of these summer cocktails! Here are some of our best summer drink collections: Sour Cocktails All the very best sours: Boston Sour, Sidecar, even the Margarita and Mojito. Lemon Cocktails or Lime Cocktails The best cocktails to make when you’re craving citrus! Includes so many classics. […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Here are the best summer cocktails, from classics to frozen drinks to mixers with gin and vodka. Let summer drink season begin!

Summer cocktails and summer drinks

When it’s summer, there’s nothing better than a fruity, herby or frozen drink in hand! There’s a great variety of summer cocktails that play on the flavors of the season: sweet watermelon and juicy peaches, herbaceous mint and basil, and bright berries. Even better: icy summer drinks are the perfect way to beat the heat.

Here are all the best summer cocktails to try! We’ve got classics like the minty Mojito and the tangy margarita, and frozen drinks like daiquiris and pina coladas. There’s also gin and vodka cocktails, and fun fruity spins like watermelon cocktails and peach margaritas. Really: we want to drink them all.

Want specific liquors? Go to Summer Vodka Cocktails, Summer Gin Cocktails or Summer Rum Cocktails.

And now…the best summer cocktails!

Classic Mojito

One of the most iconic summer cocktails is the mojito! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint. Perfect for when summer herbs are in abundance.

Also try: Raspberry Mojito, Strawberry Mojito or Mojito Pitcher Recipe

Aperol Spritz

Bubbly, citrusy, herbal, subtly bitter and lightly sweet…the Aperol spritz is a classic summer sipper! This drink is renowned the world over, reaching max popularity in the 2000’s. But did you know it’s actually a classic cocktail from the 1950’s? This Italian cocktail has been capturing hearts and minds for years. And it’s absolutely worth the hype.

Also try: Amaro Spritz, Campari Spritz

Classic Piña Colada

What could be a better signature summer cocktail than the piña colada? This recipe is the perfect blend of pineapple, lime, coconut and rum. It takes only a few minutes to blend up with only 5 ingredients (plus ice).

Also try: Virgin Piña Colada, Frozen Piña Colada, Painkiller

Classic Margarita

Of course, the margarita works anytime. But it's absolutely the most perfect summer cocktail! Here's the classic way to make it: with tequila, lime, rum and a salt rim. Perfection!

Variations: Try all our Margarita Recipes (Mezcal, Cadillac, Jalapeño and more)

Vodka Spritzer

This bubbly and fruity Vodka Spritzer is the quintessential summer drink! It’s just sweet enough with a subtle berry flavor: tangy, refreshing and sparkling all at once. Cranberry juice makes the brilliant red color, but it’s 100% juice so it’s tart and crisp instead of saccharine. It makes for the most satisfying party drink that you won’t want to end!

Red Sangria

Another signature summer drink: sangria! There’s not much better than a fruity glass of classic red sangria. Sangria is easily done wrong here in the US, loading it with sugar or ginger ale. But the classic Spanish way to make it is all about nuanced flavor. It’s bold, it’s fruity, and the perfect balance of dry and sweet. 

Variations: White Sangria, Rose Sangria, Watermelon Sangria, Peach Sangria, Strawberry Sangria

Tequila Sunrise

Here's a drink that screams summer cocktail: the tequila sunrise! It’s beautiful and vibrant, with layered colors of a summer sunset. Even better: it’s so easy to make! All you need is 3 ingredients: and no special techniques or equipment. The flavor is refreshingly sweet, with just a hint of tequila. Try it with our homemade grenadine!

Vodka Tonic

This variation on the Gin & Tonic is less about the booze and more about citrusy bubbles. Gin is botanical and booze forward, but vodka melds right into the tonic water. It makes for a refreshing drink where you might not be able to taste the liquor at all (so beware!). 

Also try: Tequila and Tonic, Whiskey Tonic

Rosé Spritzer

Here’s a summer cocktail you 100% must try ASAP. A rose spritzer! This is the perfect way to make a no-fuss summer drink that’s full of refreshing bubbles. This Austrian-born drink is one of the most refreshing on the planet. Enjoy a rose spritzer over happy hour, for an afternoon on the patio, next to the pool, or while smelling the charcoal at a grilled dinner party.

Variations: Red Wine Spritzer, White Wine Spritzer

Lillet Spritz

If there’s a cocktail that embodies the word refreshing, this is it. Meet the Lillet spritz! This spritz recipe is light and bubbly, tart and citrusy, and it couldn’t be easier to make. The star? Lillet Blanc, a subtly floral fortified wine that is an absolute must in your fridge! Mix it up with some bubbles, lemon and gin, and you’ve got a breezy light cocktail that has summer written all over it.

Variation: Lillet G&T

Strawberry Daiquiri

This icy strawberry daiquiri is the perfect summer drink! This homemade recipe is loads better than a daiquiri mix from the store! Even better: it's got a lime daiquiri layer as the garnish, which makes it look even more festive. 

Variation: Lime Frozen Daiquiri, Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri

Watermelon Martini

The best summer cocktails are made with watermelon! This Watermelon Martini features sweet melon with vodka and tangy lime. It’s seriously refreshing, and that little watermelon wedge garnish? To die for.

Variations: Watermelon Vodka Cocktail, Watermelon Cocktail with Gin, Watermelon Margarita, Watermelon Mule

Whiskey Highball

The classic Whiskey Highball is bubbly and perfect for summer! This two-ingredient cocktail originated around the turn of the 20th century and it’s still popular to this day. Why? It’s refreshing and so easy to make: no cocktail shakers or fancy ingredients required!

Bay Breeze Cocktail

Want an easy and refreshing summer cocktail? Enter: the Bay Breeze! Also called the Hawaiian Sea Breeze, it has a vivid color and sweet tart flavor. It features the tropical taste of pineapple with vodka and cranberry juice, and has a carefree and beachy vibe.

Gin Rickey

It’s tall, it’s bubbly, and it’s one of the easiest to make cocktails out there. Try the Gin Rickey! This classic cocktail was born in the 1880s and has been popular ever since. And for good reason: it’s tangy, bubbly, and irresistibly delicious.

Also try: Lime Rickey, Cherry Lime Rickey or Raspberry Lime Rickey

Americano

Here's a classic cocktail that’s perfect for summer: the Americano! It’s the original inspiration for the Negroni and tastes even better, in our opinion. It’s bitter, complex and bubbly all at once! Starring Campari and vermouth, it’s both sophisticated and carefree at the same time.

Best Frose (Frozen Rosé)

What's a list of summer drinks without frosé? Frose is a mashup between a frozen cocktail and that quintessential summery pink wine. Most froze recipes are sickly sweet. But this one tastes just sweet enough and is full-flavored from the rose. Truly the best way to beat the heat!

Ranch Water

Ranch Water is the unofficial drink of West Texas, essentially a tequila highball made with lime juice and Topo Chico. One of our dearest friends, a Texan, suggested we try this drink…and after one sip it blew us away! It’s like a bubbly, lighter version of the classic margarita, with all the tangy lime but less sweetness and booze.

Sea Breeze

Want a summer vodka cocktail? Try the Sea Breeze! This cranberry grapefruit cooler is laid-back, tart and refreshing. It tastes just like its name: light, breezy, and all about no-frills vibes. It's also seriously easy to make: it's just got three ingredients.

Frozen Margarita

Who can turn down a frozen margarita? Meet your new summer entertaining trick: it's seriously tangy, a little bit sweet, and tastes just like a margarita. For a festive touch, garnish the glass with colorful Margarita Salt.

Salty Dog

Want a citrusy cocktail with a salted rim that’s not a margarita? Enter, the Salty Dog! This summer gin cocktail’s got a unique name and a beautiful pale pink color. It’s got a light summery vibe (though it also works in winter when citrus abounds!).

Also try: Greyhound Cocktail

St Germain Spritz

Here’s a light and refreshing drink that’s vying for best summer cocktail: the St Germain Spritz! It’s floral and bubbly, full of lightly sweet flavor and effervescence. It’s easy to drink, perfect for poolside sipping, brunch, or with an afternoon book. Oh: and it takes 3 minutes.

Also try: Hugo Cocktail, an Italian spin!

Basil Gimlet Recipe

Move over, classic gimlet! This basil gimlet is where it’s at! It's the perfect summer gin cocktail for when you have a full bush of fresh basil. This refreshing drink features lime juice, gin, and muddled basil, which gives it a fresh peppery essence.

Variations: Gin Gimlet, French Gimlet, Vodka Gimlet

Madras Cocktail

The Madras is another perfect summer cocktail! Similar to the Sea Breeze, this vibrant vodka cocktail is zingy and refreshing, featuring cranberry juice for tartness and color. It takes no time at all to make: just mix it right in the glass and serve on ice!

Paloma Cocktail

Cousin of the classic margarita, this easy Mexican cocktail recipe features tequila with grapefruit instead of lime! It's got the perfect summery vibe, and is a nice change-up from the margarita. It's a simple drink that’s sweet tart and refreshing.

Maple Bourbon Smash

The smash is a perfect summer drink! This bourbon smash (or whiskey smash) is a classic sour cocktail that’s tangy and refreshing, featuring lemon juice and mint. It’s like a citrus spin on the mint julep! Or a minty spin on the whiskey sour.

Limoncello Spritz

Here's a summer cocktail that’s bubbly and flavored with pure lemon: the Limoncello Spritz! Limoncello is an Italian liqueur that’s often sipped for after-dinner shots…but we’ve taken to making cocktails with it! This ultra strong lemon liquor is at its best in mixed drinks. This spin on the Aperol spritz is full of bright lemon flavor and even better than the original, we think. It’s bubbly and effervescent, with a searing citrus bite.

Also try: Limoncello Mojito or Limoncello Martini

Frozen Sangria

Perhaps the perfect frozen summer cocktail is frozen sangria! This variation on the traditional Spanish wine punch is frozen like a slushie. It's sure to be a favorite: red wine-forward and just sweet enough, with a hint of citrus.

Classic Daiquiri

The classic daiquiri is one of the easiest drinks there is! The 1920's style daiquiri is actually not frozen but served in a coupe glass. Rum cocktails are perfect for summer, and this one is simple to make and ultra refreshing!

Variation: Hemingway Daiquiri

Mango Margarita

Fruity spins on the margarita are fitting for summer cocktails: as is this mango margarita! This sunny spin on the classic is icy and creamy, with an underlying mango essence. It’s sweet, it’s zingy, and against the bite of the salt: it goes down pretty easy.

Variations: Peach Margarita, Watermelon Margarita, Blackberry Margarita, Raspberry Margarita, Prickly Pear Margarita, Creamy Coconut Margarita

Berry Vodka Smash

Here's a perfect summer vodka cocktail: the vodka smash! Tangy and refreshing, it features muddled blackberries, mint, and lime. It's sweet tart with a bit of back-end booziness from the vodka, though it’s not too strong. Basically: these go down easy — so beware!

Classic Moscow Mule

Something about a mule screams summer cocktail, doesn't it? It's fizzy, it’s tangy, it looks festive, and it goes down easy. What could be better than a classic Moscow mule? With only 3 ingredients and 3 minutes required, it’s perfect to serve for entertaining: or a lazy evening on the patio. 

Variation: Watermelon Mule, Mexican Mule, Mezcal Mule, Irish Mule, Gin Gin Mule or Kentucky Mule

Southside Fizz

Here's a summer gin cocktail that's bubbly and refreshing: a Southside fizz! A cousin of the Southside Cocktail, this gin cocktail features bright citrus, herbaceous mint, and fizzy soda water. It’s tart and fizzy: essentially a Tom Collins plus a Mojito!

Greyhound Cocktail

Here’s a refreshingly tart summer drink: the Greyhound cocktail! It’s citrusy and light, perfect as a brunch drink or for sipping at happy hour. It feels light and beachy for summer (though it works when citrus abounds in winter, too).

Variation: Salty Dog Cocktail

Rum and Ginger Ale

One last summer cocktail that works with any alcohol: the ginger ale highball! Mix your favorite liquor with ginger ale for a bubbly, refreshing summer drink.

Variations: Tequila and Ginger Ale, Vodka and Ginger Ale, Whiskey Ginger

Print
Summer cocktails

Best Summer Cocktails (Mojito & More!)

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (8 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Here’s a classic mojito recipe, perfectly balanced with lime, rum and fresh mint! This iconic Cuban cocktail is refreshing and just sweet enough.

Ingredients

  • 3 mint leaves, plus additional for garnish
  • 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) maple syrup or simple syrup
  • 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) white rum
  • 1/2 cup soda water

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the lime juice and syrup. (Here’s how to muddle mint.)
  2. Add the rum and fill the cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until cold.
  3. Place ice into a glass, and strain in the liquid. Top off the glass with soda water. Garnish with additional mint leaves.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Cocktails

Keywords: Summer Cocktails, Summer Drinks, Summer Vodka Cocktails, Summer Gin Cocktails

More types of cocktails

There are lots more great cocktail recipes to try outside of these summer cocktails! Here are some of our best summer drink collections:

Last updated: May 2021

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

10 Tasty Mocktail Recipes

Here are all the best mocktail recipes to try! These non alcoholic cocktails make virgin drinks just as delicious as the real thing. Looking for mocktail recipes? Turns out, you don’t need alcohol to make a tasty drink! In fact, you can make mixed drinks that are just as delicious as a signature cocktail: with no alcohol at all. Here are all our tricks to building stellar mocktails: both free-form drinks and virgin drinks based on classic cocktails. You’ve just got to have a few tricks in mind when building your drinks: so they don’t just taste like fruit juice! Here’s what to know. What is a mocktail? A mocktail is a non alcoholic cocktail: a mixed drink without the liquor! Mocktails are the perfect choice for people who are pregnant or avoiding alcohol. With a little know, you can make drinks that are just as tasty as the real thing. Looking for mocktail recipes? Scroll down to the list of our top mocktail recipes: virgin drinks based on the classics. Or, keep reading for how to make a free-form mocktail using a few tips we’ve learned through experimentation. Tips for how to make a mocktail How to make a […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Here are all the best mocktail recipes to try! These non alcoholic cocktails make virgin drinks just as delicious as the real thing.

Mocktail recipes

Looking for mocktail recipes? Turns out, you don’t need alcohol to make a tasty drink! In fact, you can make mixed drinks that are just as delicious as a signature cocktail: with no alcohol at all. Here are all our tricks to building stellar mocktails: both free-form drinks and virgin drinks based on classic cocktails. You’ve just got to have a few tricks in mind when building your drinks: so they don’t just taste like fruit juice! Here’s what to know.

What is a mocktail?

A mocktail is a non alcoholic cocktail: a mixed drink without the liquor! Mocktails are the perfect choice for people who are pregnant or avoiding alcohol. With a little know, you can make drinks that are just as tasty as the real thing.

Looking for mocktail recipes? Scroll down to the list of our top mocktail recipes: virgin drinks based on the classics. Or, keep reading for how to make a free-form mocktail using a few tips we’ve learned through experimentation.

Tips for how to make a mocktail

How to make a mocktail? It’s easy to mix something together: but often with no alcohol it ends up testing like fruit juice. Instead, here are a few tricks for adding complexity to the flavor of your free-form mocktails:

  • Use bubbly mixers. Soda water, tonic water, and even ginger ale or ginger beer and great for adding lift to your mocktails with carbonated bubbles. When in doubt: add bubbles!
  • Consider a “mock” alcohol to add complexity. Here’s a cool mocktail trick: a teaspoon or two of caper juice or pickle juice can taste like alcohol! It sounds weird, but it actually works. Our Virgin Margarita recipe below has a hint of pickle juice, which gives a finish that tastes oddly like tequila.
  • Try fancy simple syrups. Layering flavors helps mocktail recipes taste interesting instead of one-note. Try a homemade syrup like Mint Simple Syrup, Ginger Simple Syrup, Rosemary Simple Syrup or Lavender Simple Syrup.
  • Consider non-alcoholic bitters. A few dashes of bitters add herbal complexity to cocktails. There are some non-alcoholic brands that you can experiment with for mocktails, too!
  • Load up on fancy garnishes and clear ice. It’s all about presentation! The fun thing about our cocktail recipes is not just that they taste good: they look beautiful, too! Try clear ice, artisan style crystal clear ice that makes your drink look like it came from a fancy bar. Depending on the drink, load up on cocktail cherries, citrus wedges, or fresh herbs.

Best mocktail recipes!

Ready for some mocktail recipes? These are all non alcoholic cocktails that are virgin drinks based on classics from the Margarita to the Mojito!

Margarita Mocktail

Craving a margarita but can’t drink? Or serving a crowd and need a non-alcoholic option? Enter the Margarita Mocktail! It’s tangy and refreshing, punctuated by that classic salt rim. Even better, it’s got a surprise that brings a bit of “funk” to the flavor that’s reminiscent of tequila. It’s the non alcoholic mocktail spin on our Classic Margarita.

Ingredients: Lime juice, lemon juice, pickle juice, simple syrup, tonic water

Virgin Mojito Mocktail

Are there any cocktail drinks more refreshing than a mojito? This iconic Cuban drink is one of the greats. Here’s a recipe for it that’s spot on perfection: not too sweet, bubbly, and minty fresh. For the mocktail version, just omit the rum! Or for our favorite version, substitute double the simple syrup for orgeat, an almond flavored syrup that adds a delicious complexity.

Ingredients: Lime juice, fresh mint, soda water, simple syrup or orgeat

Piña Colada Mocktail

A virgin piña colada is really just a fancy name for a pineapple smoothie…but giving it a mocktail moniker makes it all the more fun! It comes out frosty and tropical, with a hint of fruity coconut and just sweet enough. It's the mocktail spin on our Frozen Piña Colada: hold the rum.

Ingredients: Pineapple, coconut milk, simple syrup

Lime Rickey

Here’s a bubbly drink that’s equally as refreshing as a cocktail or mocktail: the Lime Rickey! This refreshing drink is a cousin of the classic Gin Rickey, with no alcohol. Take one sip and it’s fizzy, bubbly, and ultra tangy: with effect of jumping into a cold pool on a hot summer day.

Ingredients: Lime juice, simple syrup or caper juice, soda water

Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri

Here’s everyone’s favorite mocktail: the Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri! Hands up: who ordered as a tween to feel sophisticated and grown up? This recipe makes a beautifully fruity version of the classic drink, no rum required. There are a few secrets to avoid tasting like a strawberry smoothie This delicious homemade mocktail is berry-forward, sweet tart and fruity, with a hint of intrigue on the finish. 

Ingredients: Frozen strawberries, lime juice, simple syrup, tonic water or lemon lime soda

Shirley Temple

Here's the most famous mocktail of them all: the Shirley Temple! This isn’t the overly sweet, syrupy version of this drink. The classic way is actually made without soda: just three ingredients and totally clean flavors. It’s not just for kids! This mocktail works for anyone looking for a bubbly, refreshing non-alcoholic drink. Even better: try our all-natural homemade grenadine that skips the artificial flavors and colors. 

Ingredients: Grenadine, lime juice, ginger ale or ginger beer

Non Alcoholic Mimosa

Here’s a great mocktail trick that works for people of all ages: the Non Alcoholic Mimosa! This drink is so simple to put together, and it’s totally customizable for kids or people avoiding alcohol. You can make this virgin drink at the same time as the classic Mimosa, and it works for a crowd! It tastes surprisingly balanced: citrusy and bubbly with a hint of ginger on the finish.

Ingredients: Orange juice, ginger ale

Bloody Mary Mocktail (Virgin Mary)

Craving a Bloody Mary but can’t do alcohol? Make this Bloody Mary mocktail, aka the Virgin Mary, and you’ll hardly know the difference! It’s so full of flavor: savory, tangy, spicy, and salty all at once! You’ll hardly believe it’s a mocktail. In fact, we almost like this one even better than our classic Bloody Mary, especially because you can drink as many as you want.

Ingredients: Tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, olive juice, Tabasco, celery salt, black pepper

Arnold Palmer

Here’s an iconic drink that’s more than the sum of its parts: the Arnold Palmer! It’s simple, but somehow it stuck: a mix of zingy lemonade and earthy iced tea. There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot day! This works well as a party drink or mocktail.

Ingredients: Lemonade, unsweetened iced tea

Cherry Lime Rickey

Here’s a bright, beautiful mocktail: the Cherry Lime Rickey! Something about the combination of cherries and lime is pure genius, where the tart of the citrus perfectly accentuates the sweet berry. So combining it into a homemade mocktail or cocktail? Well, it’s pretty darn perfect. Here you’ll take a lime rickey mocktail and add a cherry syrup to bring in that candy-colored flavor. (You can also add gin for the alcohol drinkers!)

Also try: Raspberry Lime Rickey

Ingredients: Lime juice, cherry cocktail syrup, soda water

Print
Virgin margarita

Top Mocktail Recipes: Margarita & More!

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (11 votes, average: 4.82 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This virgin margarita recipe tastes as good as the real thing! This non-alcoholic mocktail is irresistibly tasty with a secret ingredient.

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice
  • 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon maple syrup or simple syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon pickle juice (optional but recommended!)
  • 3 ounces tonic water
  • For the garnish: Lime wheel, clear ice

Instructions

  1. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt (or for a festive look, use Margarita Salt).
  2. In the serving glass, stir together the lime juice, lemon juice, maple syrup, and pickle juice (adds just the right funky flavor to mimic tequila). Add the tonic water and ice. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: Mocktails

Keywords: Mocktail, Mocktails, Mocktail recipe

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

25 Top Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

Looking for recipes to stay in and cook? These Valentine’s Day dinner ideas make a great date night or romantic dinner! What’s better than a night in for Valentine’s Day? Here at A Couple Cooks we love dinner out, but there’s something cozy about staying in and cooking up a dinner for the people you love. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a dinner with the whole family, there are so many ideas to make a special meal! And even better: many of them are just as easy to make. Here we’ve compiled all our favorite Valentine’s Day dinner ideas for cozy night in! Every recipe has a bit of a romantic vibe…though it works for the whole family too. Of course: you don’t have to use these on Valentine’s Day either! You might find some favorites in this list that work for any day of the year. And now, Valentine’s Day dinner ideas for a night in! More romantic recipes Need more romantic recipe inspiration? We’ve got you. Here are a few more ideas that would be perfect for Valentine’s Day: Impress your date with Pesto Salmon with a glistening green sauce Share a big bowl of […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Looking for recipes to stay in and cook? These Valentine’s Day dinner ideas make a great date night or romantic dinner!

Valentine's day dinner ideas

What’s better than a night in for Valentine’s Day? Here at A Couple Cooks we love dinner out, but there’s something cozy about staying in and cooking up a dinner for the people you love. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or a dinner with the whole family, there are so many ideas to make a special meal! And even better: many of them are just as easy to make.

Here we’ve compiled all our favorite Valentine’s Day dinner ideas for cozy night in! Every recipe has a bit of a romantic vibe…though it works for the whole family too. Of course: you don’t have to use these on Valentine’s Day either! You might find some favorites in this list that work for any day of the year.

And now, Valentine’s Day dinner ideas for a night in!

Pistachio Crusted Salmon

First up in our list of Valentine’s Day dinner ideas: Pistachio Crusted Salmon! This method for cooking fish seems like something you’d get at a restaurant, but it’s so simple to make. The aroma wafting from the oven will have you salivating before the food even reaches your plate! Each bite of tender fish and the crunchy, Parmesan pistachio topping makes you immediately want to take another. 

Also try: Quick Broiled Salmon or Lemon Dill Salmon

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Here’s a recipe that couldn’t be more delectable. Try these spinach artichoke Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms! Yes, that’s right. It combines the deliciousness of spinach artichoke dip with the meaty, savory goodness of a baked portobello mushroom. Top it off with crunchy Italian breadcrumbs, and you’ll amaze everyone at the table! It’s vegetarian but will please every type of eater: we promise.

Cacio e Pepe

Next up in our list of Valentine’s Day dinner ideas: Cacio e Pepe: cheese and pepper pasta! Pasta is mega romantic, right? This Italian cheese and pepper spaghetti couldn’t be simpler; the recipe is from our friend Ashley Rodriguez’s book Date Night In. Alex and I ate a killer cacio e pepe last time we were in Rome, and we had one of the best one’s of our life in NYC. It’s a truly simple recipe that’s elegant in its simplicity.

Also try: Easy Pasta Puttanesca

Parmesan Truffle Risotto

One of our more elegant Valentine’s Day dinner ideas is this Parmesan black truffle risotto! A seemingly gourmet dish, this Parmesan truffle risotto recipe is pretty simple to put together, and the black truffle flavor sends it out of this world. There’s a splash of white wine in the risotto, and you can drink the rest of the bottle as you cook!

Also try: Mushroom Risotto or Butternut Squash Risotto

Pan Seared Scallops

Scallops have a beautiful, mild sweet flavor that’s easy to love: and there’s nothing better than that perfect seared crispy outside. Try them bathed in this amazing Lemon Herb Sauce. It takes a little know how to get that golden brown crust without under cooking or overcooking them. But once you know a few secrets…it’s very easy and takes only 5 minutes to cook!

Also try: Scallop Pasta with Lemon & Herbs

Veggie Pot Pie

Call us crazy, but isn’t an elegant pot pie is the coziest, most romantic sounding of Valentine’s Day dinner ideas? This pot pie has become one of our top fan favorite recipes, and for good reason. The flaky crust is scented with sage, and the inside is pure creamy, savory goodness with sweet potatoes, onions, mushrooms, and white beans. If you’re looking for romantic dinner, this is it.

Also try: Best Vegan Pot Pie

Vodka Sauce Pasta

This creamy vodka sauce is simmered with garlic and basil, served over rigatoni with lots of Parmesan. The secret? Simmer the sauce for 1 hour! This vodka sauce pasta is so seriously full of flavor, it’s worth every second of that simmer. And what says "I love you” more than a 1 hour simmered pasta?

Serve with: Favorite Chopped Salad or Perfect Italian Salad

Vegetarian French Onion Soup

There’s just something about silky caramelized onions topped golden, crusty cheese that takes your breath away every time. This is classic French cooking at its finest...it's a bit of a project, but worth every minute of it for an elegant Valentine's Day dinner. This recipe is full of rich, nuanced flavor and all the cozy, date night in vibes.

Spanish Paella

We love using Valentine's Day as an excuse to make a fancy paella! This stunning one pan dinner is made for celebrations! This traditional Spanish rice dish has thousands of variations. but it’s always rice with an explosion of colorful toppings. This one stars saffron-scented rice, mixed colorful vegetables and shrimp, and it’s full of traditional flavor. Pair with red sangria or apple sangria.

White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Gooey white cheddar mac and cheese is like a huge bear hug! It’s cozy and comforting in a way that’s indescribable. Add these tangy red roasted tomatoes, and it’s outfitted as one of our Valentine’s Day dinner ideas! It’s on the rich side, so serve with a refreshing green salad.

Also try: Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, Instant Pot Mac and Cheese or Classic Mac and Cheese

Creamy Shrimp Pasta

You’ll want to bookmark this recipe for making after Valentine's Day too...this Creamy Shrimp Pasta! It’s ultra classic: juicy, savory shrimp and al dente pasta swimming in a creamy sauce. Because we love options, we’ve got two sauce ideas for you: a white wine sauce, bursting with tangy flavor. Or try our easy cream sauce, a creamy Parmesan sauce that’s actually made with no cream at all. Mix the components together and wow! 

Beet Hummus

What’s more Valentine’s Day appropriate than hot pink hummus? This is the perfect appetizer to a cozy dinner. Adding a roasted beet to hummus makes it stunning to look at—and it’s tasty too. You don’t have to cut your veggies to be heart shaped of course...but why not?

Cherry and Goat Cheese Crostini

Cherries are perfect for Valentine's Day dinner, and here's a great appetizer idea: cherry and goat cheese crostini! Saute tart cherries with a bit of sage and balsamic vinegar, then spoon them over a goat cheese crostini. They're a simple and delicious starter to pair with the main dishes above!

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Here's a perfect salad for Valentine's Day dinner: shaved Brussels sprout salad!  This one is a study in texture contrasts: the feathery shaved Brussels, the pop of the Pomegranate seeds, and the bright crunch of the apple. It’s vibrant and colorful, covered in a lightly sweet vinaigrette.

Perfect Pomegranate Salad

Another great Valentine's Day dinner side dish: pomegranate salad! Crunchy pomegranate seeds make a beautiful confetti over the top of leafy greens. Add tart green apple slices, toasted pecans, and goat cheese or feta crumbles, and it’s a true symphony of flavor! Pick from a few different dressing choices: our favorites are apple cider vinegar dressing or pomegranate vinaigrette. 

Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze

These Brussels sprouts are a fantastic Valentine's Day side dish...and they really are next level! They’re impossibly crispy, baked until they’re caramelized and the outside layers flake off into darkened crunchy chips. Then they’re draped in a tangy maple balsamic glaze that heightens the flavors to their peak. One bite of these, and everyone around the table will be asking how you did it.

Raspberry Martini

Of course, we've got to have some romantic Valentine's Day cocktails to go with the dinner ideas, right? Try this sweet tart red cocktail: the Raspberry Martini! This drink is stunning and full of bright berry flavor: from first sip, you’ll be sold! The sweet tart, lightly floral flavor of raspberry is beautifully pure, thanks to homemade raspberry syrup. 

Also try: Pomegranate Martini, French Martini or other Red Cocktails

Cosmopolitan Cocktail

Here's a beautifully bright brilliant pink Valentine's Day drink: yes, it’s a Cosmo! A Cosmopolitan cocktail, to be exact. This classic cocktail is ready to spice up your next gathering, be it a dinner party or drinks on the patio with friends. It was at its height in the 1990’s (hello, Sex and the City), but the Cosmo is a legit sour cocktail that’s worth drinking.

Also try: 10 Perfect Pink Cocktails

Chocolate Martini

The chocolate martini is rich and creamy, basically a dessert in a glass! It’s got Irish cream and creme de cacao for maximum flavor, like the liquid version of your favorite chocolate bar. Mix this up for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or a romantic dinner…or just anytime you need a sweet treat in cocktail form.

Also try: Classic Mudslide

French 75 Cocktail

Here’s one of the most sophisticated and refreshing cocktails out there...and it's perfect for Valentine's Day dinner. Try the French 75! It’s got a mysterious name, but it’s made with a few simple ingredients. It’s tangy, bubbly, and a bit botanical, and it makes every dinner more festive!

Mug Cake for Two

The best dessert for in our Valentine's Day dinner ideas: mug cake! This genius method for going from 0 to cake in just a few minutes is absolutely worth a try. This chocolate mug cake recipe comes out insanely fudgy and 100% delicious! It’s got a secret ingredient that makes a delightfully rich flavor. The hardest part? Waiting for it to cool until you can dig in.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

What's better than ending a Valentine's Day dinner with flourless chocolate cake? Rich and fudgy, dense and dark chocolaty, it’s a chocolate lover’s dream. Top it with this easy raspberry compote for a sweet tart pairing that cuts the sweetness of the cake perfectly.

Crustless Cherry Cheesecake

This dessert could not be more romantic or perfect for Valentine’s Day. Our crustless triple cherry cheesecake is ultra creamy, made with Greek yogurt and baked slowly to perfection. It’s got a healthy spin but tastes decadent!

Chocolate Cherry Galette

Cherries and chocolate are the best Valentine's Day combination! This rustic chocolate cherry tart is simple to whip up and tastes incredible. The contrast of the sweet cherries with rich chocolate and flaky crust is absolutely sublime.

Bananas Foster with a Perfect Flambé

Last up: one of our very favorite ways to end a Valentine’s Day dinner bananas foster! If you like playing with fire, this one’s for you. Our recipe is easy with instructions on how to flambé and get that dramatic flame! It tastes truly incredible. Grab two spoons for your skillet and dig in!

More romantic recipes

Need more romantic recipe inspiration? We’ve got you. Here are a few more ideas that would be perfect for Valentine’s Day:

Print
Valentine's day dinner ideas

Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas (Mug Cake & More!)

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This is the absolute best chocolate mug cake recipe! Here’s how to make a mug cake in under 5 minutes that’s insanely fudgy. 

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons Dutch process /dark cocoa powder (or standard cocoa powder)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (granulated or coconut)
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons milk of choice
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips (non-dairy as desired)

Instructions

  1. Mix: In a 12 ounce* microwave-safe mug, mix the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the milk and oil. Add the chocolate chips and stir once.
  2. Microwave: Place a paper towel under the mug in the microwave, then cook on High 60 seconds. Check for doneness: if it’s still gooey and wet on top, microwave another 20 seconds, then another 10 seconds. It done when the top looks cooked and springs back when you touch it (it will still appear moist but will be springy). The exact timing depends on the microwave: ours works well with 60 seconds, then another 30 seconds. 
  3. Cool: Important: wait for 2 to 3 minutes for the cake to cool down from piping hot to warm. Don’t taste right away: it doesn’t taste right. But cooling a few minutes does the trick! Top with whipped cream or ice cream and serve warm. 

Notes

*It also works in an 8 ounce mug (shown in the photos), but it may spill a bit over the sides (hence the paper towel).

  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Microwave
  • Cuisine: Dessert

Keywords: Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Top 5 Spritz Recipes

Here are the best spritz recipes to try! Liquor, soda and sparkling wine make these bubbly drinks, from the classic Aperol spritz to more unique spins. The most refreshing cocktails on the planet? Meet the Spritz family! A spritz is a cocktail that’s a blend of sparkling wine (usually Prosecco), bitter liqueur, and soda water. The most famous spritz of all is the popular Aperol spritz, a classic cocktail on the list of IBA official cocktails. But there are many ways to make this bubbly drink by varying the liquor! Here are our top 5 must-try spritz recipes! Start with the classic with Aperol, then branch out to bitter Campari, fruity St Germain and cool, crisp Lillet Blanc. There’s something for everyone! And now…the best spritz recipes to try! What’s the spritz ratio? The classic spritz ratio is present in all of the recipes above. The basic idea is to use the following quantities of each ingredient: 3 parts sparkling wine (Prosecco or champagne) 2 parts liqueur 1 part soda water Once you’ve memorized this ratio, you can use it to make endless variations. You can do them with any type of liqueur: feel free to get creative! Let us know what you try […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Here are the best spritz recipes to try! Liquor, soda and sparkling wine make these bubbly drinks, from the classic Aperol spritz to more unique spins.

Spritz recipes

The most refreshing cocktails on the planet? Meet the Spritz family! A spritz is a cocktail that’s a blend of sparkling wine (usually Prosecco), bitter liqueur, and soda water. The most famous spritz of all is the popular Aperol spritz, a classic cocktail on the list of IBA official cocktails. But there are many ways to make this bubbly drink by varying the liquor!

Here are our top 5 must-try spritz recipes! Start with the classic with Aperol, then branch out to bitter Campari, fruity St Germain and cool, crisp Lillet Blanc. There’s something for everyone!

And now…the best spritz recipes to try!

Aperol Spritz

Bubbly, citrusy, herbal, subtly bitter and lightly sweet…it’s the most classic bubbly mixed drink of them all. Meet the Aperol spritz! This drink is renowned the world over, reaching max popularity in the 2000’s. But did you know it’s actually a classic cocktail from the 1950’s? This Italian cocktail has been capturing hearts and minds for years. Taste one made the right way: it’s absolutely worth the hype.

Campari Spritz

Need a light mixed drink? Try the Campari spritz! Bitter and bubbly, this cocktail mixes that popular aperativo with sparkling wine and soda water. What could be more refreshing? Campari is bitter-forward, so this cocktail is a drink is made for Campari lovers. It’s a nice change from the Negroni or Americano.

St Germain Spritz

Here’s a light and refreshing cocktail that’s vying for summer’s best drink: the St Germain Spritz! It’s floral and bubbly, full of lightly sweet flavor and effervescence. There are lots of classic spritz cocktails: this one is a fun spin on the classic using the popular elderflower liqueur. It’s easy to drink, perfect for poolside sipping, brunch, or with an afternoon book. Oh: and it takes 3 minutes.

Amaro Spritz

Looking for a refreshing, bubbly drink that’s light and carefree? Meet the Amaro Spritz! The classic spritz works with any Italian bitter: just follow the classic spritz ratio of 3-2-1. With our favorite amaro (Meletti), it’s glowing golden brown and tastes almost like cola, with caramely notes.

Lillet Spritz

If there’s a cocktail that embodies the word refreshing, this is it. Meet the Lillet spritz! It’s light and bubbly, tart and citrusy, and it couldn’t be easier to make. The star? Lillet Blanc, a subtly floral fortified wine that is an absolute must in your fridge! Mix it up with some bubbles, lemon and gin, and you’ve got a breezy light cocktail that has summer written all over it.

What’s the spritz ratio?

The classic spritz ratio is present in all of the recipes above. The basic idea is to use the following quantities of each ingredient:

  • 3 parts sparkling wine (Prosecco or champagne)
  • 2 parts liqueur
  • 1 part soda water

Once you’ve memorized this ratio, you can use it to make endless variations. You can do them with any type of liqueur: feel free to get creative! Let us know what you try in the comments below.

Print
Aperol spritz

Aperol Spritz

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

The classic Aperol spritz is worth the hype! It’s light and bubbly, with hints of citrus and herbs: one of the most refreshing mixed drinks of all time.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces (4 tablespoons) Aperol, chilled
  • 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) Prosecco or other sparkling wine, chilled
  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) soda water
  • Ice (try clear ice!)
  • For the garnish: orange wedge, a straw if you like

Instructions

  1. Add the Aperol to a glass filled with ice and stir. Top with the sparkling wine and soda water.
  2. Squeeze in the orange wedge and stir gently, then serve. Serve with a straw to minimize dilution!
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: Cocktails

Keywords: Spritz

More summer drinks

The cocktails above are perfect for summer! They’re bubbly and light, perfect for lazy afternoons, pool parties, or dinner parties on the patio. Need more ideas? Here are some more easy breezy summer drinks:

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

15 Best Margarita Recipes

The BEST margarita recipes to impress everyone! The classic recipe has just 3 ingredients, then try all the variations: frozen, jalapeno, mango, & more. The margarita is at the top of our list of great cocktail recipes you should know. Crisp, cool, tart and refreshing, they’re one of the most popular and versatile drinks of all time. From late night drinks to a dinner party to brunch, there’s no time that’s not better with a margarita in hand. Here we’re sharing how to make a margarita: the classic way, and then our very favorite variations! Frozen, skinny, pitcher, beer, jalapeno margaritas…even margarita mix! There are countless ways to change up this incredible drink. And now…the best margarita recipes! How to make a margarita There’s nothing better than a classic margarita! It’s tart, with just the right bite from the tequila and scent of orange from the Cointreau. Did you know the classic margarita has no added sugar? Many bars and mixes load it down with sugar. But that strays far from an authentic margarita. The margarita is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This means that there’s an “official” definition of this drink: […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

The BEST margarita recipes to impress everyone! The classic recipe has just 3 ingredients, then try all the variations: frozen, jalapeno, mango, & more.

Best margarita

The margarita is at the top of our list of great cocktail recipes you should know. Crisp, cool, tart and refreshing, they’re one of the most popular and versatile drinks of all time. From late night drinks to a dinner party to brunch, there’s no time that’s not better with a margarita in hand. Here we’re sharing how to make a margarita: the classic way, and then our very favorite variations! Frozen, skinny, pitcher, beer, jalapeno margaritas…even margarita mix! There are countless ways to change up this incredible drink.

And now…the best margarita recipes!

Classic Margarita

The best margarita recipe! Serve this classic margarita on the rocks with 3 simple ingredients: lime, Cointreau and tequila (no added sugar!).

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice

Margarita Pitcher Recipe

Throwing a party? Make a margarita pitcher! It’s quick and easy to make for serving a crowd, and has the perfect tangy flavor with no added sugar. Also try Margarita Mix.

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, lemon juice

Skinny Margarita

This refreshing skinny margarita recipe boasts 40% less calories than a classic marg! All you need is 4 ingredients and 5 minutes.

Ingredients: Tequila, Fresh lime juice, Fresh squeezed orange juice, maple syrup

Frozen Margarita

You know you love margaritas: but have you tried them frozen? This best frozen margarita recipe will be your new go-to drink!

Ingredients: Tequila, lime juice, orange juice, honey or agave syrup, water

Jalapeño Margarita

Heat up your cocktail repertoire with this spicy jalapeno margarita recipe! Crisp and tart, it’s got just the right kick. Perfect for sipping or with tacos.

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, jalapeño pepper slices

Beer Margarita

Beergarita, beerita: call it what you will! Here’s the very best beer margarita recipe: with fresh and all natural flavors (no limeade!).

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, beer

Mezcal Margarita

Make a mezcal margarita for a smoky spin on the classic! It’s tangy and smoke-forward, giving this popular cocktail a rich depth.

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, mezcal

Strawberry Margarita

This strawberry margarita is cool, icy, tangy, and so refreshing! This fruity spin on the classic cocktail is quick and easy using frozen berries.

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, frozen strawberries, agave or simple syrup, ice

Mango Margarita

Here’s the best mango margarita! This sunny spin on the classic drink is so refreshing, with a creamy texture and a tangy sweet mango essence.

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, lemon juice, frozen mango, agave or simple syrup, ice

Italian Margarita

An Italian margarita uses amaretto to give this classic cocktail an Italian makeover! Blood orange juice gives it an eye-catching vibrant color.

Ingredients: Tequila, orange juice, amaretto, lime juice

Cadillac Margarita

Step up your margarita game with the Cadillac Margarita: it uses top-shelf tequila and Grand Marnier liqueur to add sophistication and style!

Ingredients: Tequila reposado, Cointreau, lime juice, Grand Marnier

Watermelon Margarita

This watermelon margarita is tangy, sweet, and seriously refreshing. Instead of salting the rim, it’s lightly salty for a perfectly balanced flavor.

Ingredients: Watermelon, tequila, lime juice, salt

Peach Margarita

This peach margarita is quick, easy and so tasty! Frozen peaches, lime juice and tequila form the most refreshing, sweet tart spin on this classic cocktail.

Ingredients: Tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, frozen peaches, agave or simple syrup, ice

Virgin Margarita

This virgin margarita tastes just as good as the real thing! This mocktail is tangy and lightly sweet, with a secret ingredient that takes it over the top.

Ingredients: Lime juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, pickle juice, tonic water

Blackberry Margarita

This blackberry margarita is quick and easy to make, and turns out sweet tart and vivid purple.

Ingredients: Tequila, lime juice, maple syrup, blackberries

How to make a margarita

There’s nothing better than a classic margarita! It’s tart, with just the right bite from the tequila and scent of orange from the Cointreau. Did you know the classic margarita has no added sugar? Many bars and mixes load it down with sugar. But that strays far from an authentic margarita.

The margarita is a classic alcoholic drink on the list of International Bartender Association’s IBA official cocktails. This means that there’s an “official” definition of this drink: the ingredients and approximate quantities are always the same. Here’s what’s we’ve found is the perfect formula:

  • 1 1/2 ounces tequila
  • 1 ounce Cointreau
  • 3/4 ounce lime juice

3 steps to make a margarita

Once you’ve got the ingredients, here are the steps:

  1. Rim the glass with salt. A classic margarita has salt on the rim. Why? The salt enhances the sweet and sour flavors in the drink!
  2. Shake in a cocktail shaker. Take that tequila, Cointreau and lime juice and shake it together in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes.
  3. Strain into a glass. Add ice if serving on the rocks. The margarita is often served in a lowball or Old Fashioned glass, though of course you can use the classic margarita glass too. If you’d like to serve it on the rocks, throw in a few ice cubes (use Clear Ice for a stunning look).
Skinny margarita

Best tequila for a margarita

Here’s the key to how to make a good margarita: buy a good tequila! A cocktail is only as good as the alcohol you use. Instead of recommending a specific brand, look for a mid-price range tequila (or a high end one, if your budget allows). The price is typically an indicator of quality. The other tip: use tequila reposado instead of blanco! Because it’s aged, it has a more interesting flavor. Here’s the difference between these types of tequila:

  • Tequila blanco (or “new” tequila) has been aged less than 2 months and has a strong, straightforward flavor.
  • Tequila reposado (“rested” in Spanish) is aged longer, from 2 to 12 months. It has a more nuanced flavor, with notes of oak and vanilla.

How to make a salt rim

The salt rim is essential to how to make a margarita. The salt enhances the flavors in the drink, and gives it that classic look. Try our Margarita Salt for a colorful flair: lime zest and orange zest add beautiful orange and green. Here’s how to make a salt rim:

  • Spread on a plate: Spread the kosher salt, flaky sea salt, or margarita salt on a plate in an even layer.
  • Wet the glass with a lime: Take a lime wedge and cut a notch in the middle: then slide it around the rim of the glass. This perfectly moistens the glass rim without having to use your fingers!
  • Rim the outside edge only: Tilt the glass so that only the outside edge goes into the salt. You don’t want it on the inside where it can fall into the drink. Shake off any loose salt into the sink.

Try clear ice to look like a pro!

Want a professional look to your margarita? Add clear ice! It will make your drink look like it came from a trendy bar, but you can easily make it in your own home. All you need is a small cooler and 24 hours. Go to How to Make Clear Ice.

Virgin margarita
Clear ice makes for a stunning cocktail.

This margarita recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Print
Margarita

The Original Margarita Recipe

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (10 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

The best margarita recipe! Here’s how to make a classic margarita on the rocks with 3 simple ingredients: lime, Cointreau and tequila (no added sugar!).

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) tequila blanco or reposado
  • 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Cointreau
  • 3/4 ounce (1 1/2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice
  • Kosher salt or flaky sea salt, for the rim
  • For the garnish: Lime wedge

Instructions

  1. Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of flaky sea salt (or for a festive look, use our Margarita Salt).
  2. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
  3. Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with ice and serve.
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: Shaken
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Keywords: Margarita recipes

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

28 Day Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan

Here’s a monthly Mediterranean diet meal plan! It’s got lots of recipes and inspiration, planning ideas, and a meal planning calendar download. Need healthy food to cook this month? We’ve got answers. Here at A Couple Cooks, Alex and I have spent years honing our method for how to eat healthy meals every day, not just here and there. We made it our MO, wrote a cookbook called Pretty Simple Cooking, and have devoted our careers to helping connect people to healthy recipes. But how to do you do it…every day? Here’s our new 28 day Mediterranean diet meal plan, designed to do exactly that! The goal of this plan is to help you make a sustainable practice of cooking and eating healthy food at home. In the process, we hope you’ll become inspired and find a handful of recipes you’ll make again and again. (If you like: Subscribe to our newsletter for new weekly recipes.) Is this Mediterranean diet meal plan right for you? This Mediterranean diet meal plan is right for you if you eat a variety of foods but want to focus on veggies. This meal plan includes fish, shellfish, vegetarian, and plant based / vegan recipes. If […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Here’s a monthly Mediterranean diet meal plan! It’s got lots of recipes and inspiration, planning ideas, and a meal planning calendar download.

Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan

Need healthy food to cook this month? We’ve got answers. Here at A Couple Cooks, Alex and I have spent years honing our method for how to eat healthy meals every day, not just here and there. We made it our MO, wrote a cookbook called Pretty Simple Cooking, and have devoted our careers to helping connect people to healthy recipes. But how to do you do it…every day?

Here’s our new 28 day Mediterranean diet meal plan, designed to do exactly that! The goal of this plan is to help you make a sustainable practice of cooking and eating healthy food at home. In the process, we hope you’ll become inspired and find a handful of recipes you’ll make again and again. (If you like: Subscribe to our newsletter for new weekly recipes.)

Is this Mediterranean diet meal plan right for you?

This Mediterranean diet meal plan is right for you if you eat a variety of foods but want to focus on veggies. This meal plan includes fish, shellfish, vegetarian, and plant based / vegan recipes. If you eat exclusively vegetarian or vegan, choose from one of the following meal plan options:

If you have a very specific diet or health condition, consult a medical professional to understand whether these recipes are right for you.

What makes our Mediterranean diet meal plan different?

One problem with standard meal planning calendars and weekly meal plans is that they offer no flexibility. Many meal plans call for cooking something new every day of the week. They’re overwhelming with the amount of food prep! Many also don’t account for your schedule: what if Monday nights I have a weekly meeting where I eat dinner? Or this Friday night I’m going out with friends?

Here’s what makes our Mediterranean diet meal plan different:

  • It focuses on dinner ideas. Dinner is the main meal where Alex and I cook and get the majority of our nutrients for the day. Our approach is this: Go big on dinner. Go super simple on breakfast and lunch. At the bottom of the meal plan you’ll find lists of healthy breakfast ideas, snack ideas, and lunch ideas.
  • The approach: Pick 3. Each week, we offer 3 healthy dinner ideas. You can make them on any day that week! This encourages you to customize the ideas based on your schedule and particular tastes, and to eat up leftovers.
  • Repeat your favorites! Offering only 3 dinner ideas encourages you to make dinner ideas you liked from previous weeks.

What if this meal plan doesn’t work for me?

It’s possible this meal plan might not work for you – and that’s ok! This meal plan might provide too much flexibility for you. There might not be enough options. Or, you might not like the style of these recipes. This meal plan is not for everyone, but it’s an outline of how Alex and I cook on a weekly basis.

Run out of dinner recipes? We’ve got hundreds! Here are some places to browse:

Download: Mediterranean diet meal plan spreadsheet

To make our Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan tangible, we’ve created a downloadable meal planning calendar for you! It’s our Meal Plan spreadsheet, where you can copy in your meal planning ideas for each week. Simply download the spreadsheet and then copy in the links to the recipes for each week below. Here’s the download!

Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan

Before you start: here’s how to use our Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan!

  • Pick at least 3 dinner ideas. Alex and I don’t cook every night! We make enough for leftovers and eat them throughout the week, sometimes re-purposing them in new ways. For this meal plan, pick 3 days that you want to cook dinners. Fill in the other days with eating leftovers, “clean out the fridge” meals, or allowing for meals out. If you need more healthy dinner ideas for that week: pick another one of our other Dinner Recipes, or our 28 Day Healthy Meal Plan and 28 Day Pescatarian Meal Plan.
  • Fill in breakfast, lunch, and snacks ideas. We like to keep breakfast, lunches, and snacks SUPER simple. If possible, things that don’t use recipes are great: like carrots and hummus, English muffins with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit. Doing this, we save our cooking energy for dinner.
  • Copy the links into your Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan spreadsheet. Using a spreadsheet makes things much more tangible than just using a list! Once you’ve taken stock of what nights you’ll have time to cook, fill in your dinner ideas accordingly. We suggest filling out the meal plan on the weekend (Sundays seem to be good for many people).
  • Read the meal prep planning notes. Below each week of healthy dinner ideas, we’ve included some meal prep planning notes to help with ways to make ahead or prep in advance.

Dinner Ideas Week 1

*Pick at least 3 dinners to cook at home and copy them into your Meal Plan spreadsheet on the days for Week 1! On days you’re not cooking, use up leftovers or do “clean out the fridge” meals, and allow for meals out.

  1. Salmon with Capers (30 minutes) + Pesto Quinoa
  2. Mediterranean Couscous Bowls (30 minutes)
  3. Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo (25 minutes) + Easy Arugula Salad
  4. Quick Garlicky Shrimp Couscous (15 minutes)
  5. Leftovers from above*

*Meal Prep Plan Notes

  • Salmon: If using frozen salmon, make sure to refrigerate the night before. It’s an easy recipe so not much can be made in advance. (The caper butter could be, but you’ll have to re-melt it anyway.) You can make the quinoa in advance and refrigerate: wait to mix it with the pesto until the day of serving.
  • Couscous Bowls: You can make the tahini sauce and chickpeas in advance and refrigerate until serving. You could make the couscous in advance, but it cooks so fast it works the day of. For gluten-free, substitute quinoa or rice. You could make a big pot of quinoa and use it in the Salmon, Couscous Bowls, and Shrimp Couscous. Of you’re serving with couscous, you could make extra if you’re planning to make the shrimp.
  • Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo: Make the sauce in advance and refrigerate until serving. Reheat and serve with fresh cooked pasta for a quick and easy meal. Make the salad while the pasta boils.
  • Shrimp & Couscous: This one is lightening fast. If you’re using frozen shrimp, throw it in the refrigerator the night before. If you have leftover couscous or quinoa from the above meals, it will be even faster.
Salmon with capers
Salmon with Capers is a simple preparation with big flavor.

Dinner Ideas Week 2

*Pick at least 3 dinners to cook at home and copy them into your Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan spreadsheet on the days for Week 2! On days you’re not cooking, use up leftovers or do “clean out the fridge” meals, and allow for meals out.

  1. Easy Sheet Pan Dinner (45 minutes)
  2. Lentil Sloppy Joes (30 minutes)
  3. Nicoise Salad (40 minutes)
  4. Make again! 1 or 2 favorite dinner ideas from Week 1
  5. Leftovers from above*

Meal Plan Prep Notes

  • Sheet Pan Dinner: Chop the veggies in advance, then just pop them in the oven the day of serving. Or, you can roast them in advance and just reheat in a 350 degree oven until heated through, about 10 to 15 minutes. You also can make the rice or quinoa in advance and reheat prior to serving.
  • Lentil Sloppy Joes: Cook the lentils in advance, then make the sauce the day of. Even better, make the entire filling in advance (it tastes better as it sits). If you’re serving with Pickled onions, make those in advance too.
  • Nicoise Salad: This classic French salad has lots of components, but they can all be made ahead! Make the hard boiled eggs, beans, potatoes, and lemon vinaigrette in advance and refrigerate until serving. Make sure to let the dressing come to room temp before serving.
Nicoise salad
The classic French Nicoise Salad is 100% Mediterranean diet.

Dinner Ideas Week 3

*Pick at least 3 dinners to cook at home and copy them into your Meal Plan spreadsheet on the days for Week 4! On days you’re not cooking, use up leftovers or do “clean out the fridge” meals, and allow for meals out.

  1. Shrimp Marinara (30 minutes) + Arugula Beet Salad
  2. Best Damn Lentil Soup or Curry Lentil Soup (45 minutes)
  3. Best Chickpea Burgers (40 minutes)
  4. Make again! 1 or 2 favorite dinner ideas from Week 1 or 2
  5. Leftovers from above*

Meal Plan Prep Notes

  • Shrimp Marinara: If you’re using frozen shrimp, throw it in the refrigerator the night before. You can use purchased marinara sauce or make the Easy Marinara in advance. For the arugula salad, use store-bought boiled beets for easiest prep.
  • Lentil Soup: You could make the entire soup in advance and refrigerate: it saves well. (Leftovers also freeze well.) Or you could chop the veggies in advance to speed up prep.
  • Chickpea Burgers: These save well! Make the entire burger in advance and refrigerate or freeze until serving. Consider making a double batch. You can also make the shiitake bacon in advance. For gluten-free, serve without the bun or on a salad with tahini sauce drizzle.
Chickpea burgers
These Best Chickpea Burgers are super satisfying.

Healthy Dinner Ideas Week 4

*Pick at least 3 dinners to cook at home and copy them into your Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan spreadsheet on the days for Week 4! On days you’re not cooking, use up leftovers or do “clean out the fridge” meals, and allow for meals out.

  1. Lemon Dill Salmon (20 minutes) + BEST Steamed Broccoli
  2. Easy Chickpea Curry (20 minutes) + Basmati Rice
  3. Tuscan Soup with White Beans (30 minutes) + crusty bread
  4. Make again! 1 or 2 favorite dinner ideas from Week 1, 2 or 3
  5. Leftovers from above*

Meal Plan Prep Notes

  • Salmon: If using frozen salmon, make sure to refrigerate the night before. You can make the lemon dill sauce in advance and refrigerate. The broccoli comes together quickly and you can make it while the salmon bakes.
  • Curry: This one is quick to put together, but you could chop the veggies in advance and refrigerate. Make the Basmati Rice in advance. To reheat: place in a pan with a splash of water and simmer until it’s heated through and moist.
  • Tuscan Soup: This soup is pretty quick to whip up, but you could chop the vegetables in advance and refrigerate to save a few minutes on prep.
Easy Chickpea Curry
Easy Chickpea Curry is quick and full of flavor.

Healthy Breakfast Ideas Weeks 1-4

Here are lots of simple ideas for healthy Mediterranean diet breakfasts! Pick any of these to eat throughout the week and copy them into your Meal Plan spreadsheet. We’ve offered quite a bit of options to account for your breakfast tastes and style. Do repeats as much as you’d like!

PB&J oatmeal toppings
Best Oatmeal with peanut butter is a breakfast that sticks!

Healthy Snack Ideas Weeks 1-4

Pick any of these to eat throughout the week and copy them into your Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan spreadsheet.

Stuffed dates
Easy Stuffed Dates are a filling snack

Healthy Lunch Ideas Weeks 1-4

Lunches can be hard, especially if you’re eating at your desk! Again, our philosophy for lunches is: keep them very simple, without a recipe if possible. Pick any of these to eat throughout the week and copy them into your Mediterranean Diet Meal Plan spreadsheet.

Simple chickpea salad
Simple Chickpea Salad takes just 5 minutes and is perfect for desk lunches.

Did you like this Mediterranean diet meal plan?

We’d love to hear your feedback on this Mediterranean diet meal plan: let us know in the comments below (or click the heart below). And let us know if you have any questions!

For more recipes like these: try our cookbook, Pretty Simple Cooking!

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

20 Best Vegetables to Eat Today

We’ve all heard, “Eat more vegetables.” But how to do it? Here are the best healthy vegetables to get into your diet, and recipes for how to eat them! We’ve all heard the refrain: Eat more fruits and vegetables! But what does that really look like? And what are the healthiest vegetables to eat? Well, we’ve got answers. Alex and I are cookbook authors of a vegetarian cookbook and our website has over 1,000 recipes for how to make plants taste delicious. But today, we wanted to delve into this question: What are the best vegetables to include in a healthy diet? After lots of research, we’ve compiled a list of the 20 best vegetables to include in your everyday. The great news? There are so many ways to make them taste delicious. With each vegetable, we’ve included our top recipes for making it taste good. (And you can click the “Get Recipes” button to get even more recipes.) Ready to get started? Want more ideas? Try our Cruciferous Vegetables Guide The best vegetables to eat in a healthy diet? More resources Looking for more resources on how to eat more veggies? Here are a few more of our favorite […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

We’ve all heard, “Eat more vegetables.” But how to do it? Here are the best healthy vegetables to get into your diet, and recipes for how to eat them!

Vegetables
This Rainbow Vegetable Sandwich is a tasty way to eat lots at once!

We’ve all heard the refrain: Eat more fruits and vegetables! But what does that really look like? And what are the healthiest vegetables to eat? Well, we’ve got answers. Alex and I are cookbook authors of a vegetarian cookbook and our website has over 1,000 recipes for how to make plants taste delicious. But today, we wanted to delve into this question: What are the best vegetables to include in a healthy diet?

After lots of research, we’ve compiled a list of the 20 best vegetables to include in your everyday. The great news? There are so many ways to make them taste delicious. With each vegetable, we’ve included our top recipes for making it taste good. (And you can click the “Get Recipes” button to get even more recipes.) Ready to get started?

Want more ideas? Try our Cruciferous Vegetables Guide

The best vegetables to eat in a healthy diet?

Spinach

Why we love this vegetable: Everyone says to eat more spinach and luckily, there are lots of tasty ways to do it! It's got a mild flavor and is easy to eat in salads, melt into soups and curries, and blend in smoothies.

Spinach nutrition: It's full of calcium and iron, and very high in vitamin K and vitamin A.

Best ways to eat spinach
Spinach Apple Salad
Chickpea Curry with Spinach
Glowing Green Smoothie

Broccoli

Why we love this vegetable: Broccoli used to be a hated vegetable, but there are so many delicious ways to use it! It's got great texture that is perfect as a side dish or sauteed in grain bowls.

Broccoli nutrition: It's low calorie and high in vitamins C, A, and K. It may also reduce the risk of cancer.

Best ways to eat broccoli
Best Steamed Broccoli (or Instant Pot)
Yellow Rice Bowls with Broccoli
Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Why we love this vegetable: This root vegetable pops a serious nutritional punch! With their sweet flavor and fluffy texture, sweet potatoes are perfect baked and topped, or in soups and stews.

Sweet potatoes nutrition: They're high in beta-carotene and very high in Vitamin A.

Best ways to eat sweet potatoes
Quick Baked Sweet Potato (or Instant Pot)
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Best Sweet Potato Chili
Mexican Sweet Potatoes

Cauliflower

Why we love this vegetable: Cauliflower has become the veggie of the moment: and for good reason! It's seriously tasty and totally versatile: use it in soups, tacos, breaded, buffalo-style: you name it!

Cauliflower nutrition: It's high in vitamin C, potassium and omega 3's. It's also is high in fiber (1 cup has about 10% of your daily needs).

Best ways to eat cauliflower
Lemon Herb Steamed Cauliflower
Golden Cauliflower Soup
Cauliflower Tacos with Yum Yum Sauce
Buffalo Cauliflower with Blue Cheese Dip

Kale

Why we love this vegetable: Leafy green kale is totally versatile! Though its raw flavor can be bitter, it becomes sweet when marinated with vinaigrette or massaged in a salad, and it takes on the flavor of broth when wilted into soups and stews.

Kale nutrition: Kale is packed with beta carotene, Vitamin C and Vitamin K. It also contains 10% of your daily vitamin C.

Best ways to eat kale
The BEST Kale Salad
Tuscan Lentil Stew with Kale
Massaged Kale Pomegranate Salad

Beets

Why we love this vegetable: Ruby red beets are a beautiful and tasty vegetable to infuse health into your diet! They're sweet and earthy when roasted, or you can use them raw in salads.

What's great about beets: They're high in potassium and heart-healthy nitrates. You can even eat the greens.

Best ways to eat beets
Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese (oven roasted or Instant Pot)
Beet Salad with Balsamic Dressing
Creamy Beet Hummus

Lentils

Why we love this vegetable: Lentils are a plant-based protein that makes filling, affordable meals! They're fantastic in soups, salads, curries, and tacos.

Lentils nutrition: They're full of protein, fiber and iron. 1 cup cooked lentils has about 18 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber.

Best ways to eat lentils
Best Damn Lentil Soup or Curry Lentil Soup
Quick Coconut Lentil Curry
Easy Lentil Tacos

Carrots

Why we love this vegetable: Who doesn't love carrots? They're crisp and crunchy raw, and tender and sweet when cooked. You can use them in everything from salads to sides to snacks dipped in ranch.

Carrots nutrition: They're very high in Vitamin A in the form of beta carotene, and may have cancer fighting properties.

Best ways to eat carrots
Sticks with Healthy Ranch Dressing
Curried Carrot Soup
Cumin Roasted Carrots
Carrot Cake Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal

Green Beans

Why we love this vegetable: With their signature crunch and mild flavor, green beans are perfect for side dishes and in grain bowls.

Green beans nutrition: They're high in Vitamin A, C, K and fiber.

Best ways to eat green beans
Lemony Steamed Green Beans (or Instant Pot)
Green Bean Dill Potato Salad
Nicoise Salad

Bell Peppers

Why we love this vegetable: Bell peppers are actually fruits! They're crunchy and mild when raw, and sweet and tender when roasted. They're perfect for stuffing!

Bell peppers nutrition: They're very high in vitamin C, and have double your daily need. They also have Vitamin B and beta carotene.

Best ways to eat peppers
Quinoa Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Best Roasted Vegetables
Best Healthy Pizza

Eggplant

Why we love this vegetable: Eggplant takes on the flavor of whatever it's cooked with, from traditional Italian recipes to fresh dips!

Eggplant nutrition: It has cardioprotective compounds that make for a healthier heart.

Best ways to eat eggplant
Grilled Eggplant with Herbed Quinoa
Eggplant Sandwich with Pesto
Mediterranean Grilled Eggplant Salad

Asparagus

Why we love this vegetable: Seen to be bitter by some, asparagus can be beautifully tender and nuanced in flavor when cooked correctly! It's great for simple side dishes.

Asparagus nutrition: It's loaded with fiber and vitamins C, A and K.

Best ways to eat asparagus
Grilled Asparagus
Roasted Tomato & Asparagus Frittata
Pasta with Lemon Asparagus

Onions

Why we love this vegetable: Onions provide essential savory flavor in countless recipes. Soups, stews, pasta, sauces: we couldn't live without it!

Onions nutrition: They've got vitamins and compounds that may protect against cancer.

Best ways to eat onions
1-Hour Quick Pickled Onions
Three Onion Fried Rice
Homemade Vegetable Soup

Mushrooms

Why we love this vegetable: Well, it's really a fungus! But mushrooms have incredible savory flavor and texture that's perfect for adding to vegetarian and plant based recipes.

Mushrooms nutrition: They help with heart health and disease prevention.

Best ways to eat mushrooms
Mushroom Barley Soup
Farro with Mushrooms & Parmesan
Shiitake Bacon
Pesto Portobello Mushroom Burger

Tomatoes

Why we love this vegetable: We know, it's a fruit! Tomatoes are incredibly versatile. Eat them juicy and sweet raw in salads or salsa, and canned in pizza sauce and marinara sauce.

Tomatoes nutrition: They've got lycopene, which may play a role in cancer prevention. They also may protect vision.

Best ways to eat tomatoes
Tomato Basil Pasta
Mozzarella Tomato Basil Salad
Greek Salad
Easy Pizza Sauce Recipe

Peas

Why we love this vegetable: Peas are sweet and add a tender pop to pasta, risotto, and more! Plus, they're full of plant based protein.

Peas nutrition: They're high in fiber, protein, and vitamins, and may have cancer fighting benefits.

Best ways to eat peas
Split Pea Soup (or Instant Pot)
Farfalle Pasta with Peas & Dill
Vibrant Spring Soup
Easy Vegetable Fried Rice

Brussels Sprouts

Why we love this vegetable: This underdog veggie has had a major comeback! Brussels sprouts are sweet and crispy roasted, and tender and leafy raw. They're perfect as a side or raw in salads.

Brussels sprouts nutrition: They're high in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.

Best ways to eat Brussels sprouts
Best Brussels Sprouts Recipe (or Instant Pot)
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Pomegranate
Farro & Brussels Sprouts Soup

Squash

Why we love this vegetable: Winter squashes are so versatile, from the cozy sweet butternut to the long, luxurious spaghetti squash noodles. There's so much to do with them: soups, stuffed, risotto, pasta, and more!

Squash nutrition: They're full of beta carotene, protein, Vitamin C & B6, potassium, and fiber.

Best ways to eat squash
Stuffed Acorn Squash (or Instant Pot)
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto
Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

Cabbage

Why we love this vegetable: Crunchy and lightly sweet, cabbage is a tasty addition to salads (coleslaw!) and stir fries. Look for different types outside of red and green: Napa cabbage has a fluffy texture and mild flavor.

Cabbage nutrition: It's high in fiber and Vitamin C. It may have some heart health benefits.

Best ways to eat cabbage
Best Creamy Coleslaw
How to Make Sauerkraut
Peanut Noodles with Napa Cabbage

Avocados

Why we love this vegetable: Yes, we know it's a fruit! But it's often treated as a vegetable. Avocado is everyone's favorite, and we love it for its rich, savory flavor. It's perfect on toast, in salads, or even grilled!

Avocado nutrition: Avocado is full of healthy fats and helps stabilize blood sugar.

Best ways to eat avocados
Grilled Avocado
Creamy Avocado Dressing
Avocado Toast with Turmeric Egg

More resources

Looking for more resources on how to eat more veggies? Here are a few more of our favorite resources for eating lots of veggies:

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

How to Go Vegan: Guide & Recipes

Here’s how to go vegan: a beginners guide and all the healthy recipes you need. Plant based eating can be affordable, filling and delicious! Looking to start a vegan diet? You’ve come to the right place. Here at A Couple Cooks, we’re experts in plant based cooking and cookbook authors. Alex and I have devoted our careers to making eating vegetables delicious! While we don’t eat a strict vegan diet, the majority of the recipes we eat are plant based! We’ve learned all the tricks to making this lifestyle affordable, filling, and most of all: delicious! Here’s a crash course in how to go vegan, and all the recipes you need! What is a vegan diet? First things first: what is a vegan diet? A vegan diet is a diet that excludes all animal products. Here are the foods that are off limits: Meat Fish and shellfish All dairy (milk, cheese, sour cream, butter, yogurt) Eggs Honey Don’t worry, that still leaves lots and lots of things to eat! Here’s what is part of a vegan diet: Vegetables (here are the best 20 veggies to eat!) Legumes like lentils and beans Whole grains like rice, quinoa, farro, bulgur, and more Soy […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Here’s how to go vegan: a beginners guide and all the healthy recipes you need. Plant based eating can be affordable, filling and delicious!

Vegan Sloppy Joes

Looking to start a vegan diet? You’ve come to the right place. Here at A Couple Cooks, we’re experts in plant based cooking and cookbook authors. Alex and I have devoted our careers to making eating vegetables delicious! While we don’t eat a strict vegan diet, the majority of the recipes we eat are plant based! We’ve learned all the tricks to making this lifestyle affordable, filling, and most of all: delicious! Here’s a crash course in how to go vegan, and all the recipes you need!

What is a vegan diet?

First things first: what is a vegan diet? A vegan diet is a diet that excludes all animal products. Here are the foods that are off limits:

  • Meat
  • Fish and shellfish
  • All dairy (milk, cheese, sour cream, butter, yogurt)
  • Eggs
  • Honey

Don’t worry, that still leaves lots and lots of things to eat! Here’s what is part of a vegan diet:

  • Vegetables (here are the best 20 veggies to eat!)
  • Legumes like lentils and beans
  • Whole grains like rice, quinoa, farro, bulgur, and more
  • Soy products like tofu and tempeh

Tip 1: Understand vegan protein & how to stay full!

Here’s one of the most important parts of eating vegan: plant based protein is key for staying satiated and full. The most important part of eating recipes without meat and dairy is to make sure they’re packed with plant based protein. If not, we’ll be hungry an hour later! There lots of options for adding plant based protein to your meals to make them filling and nutritious. Here’s are the top plant-based protein filled foods:

Choose from a variety of sources!

When you’re eating lots of protein from plants, it’s important to get a wide variety of protein sources. The point isn’t just to eat a can of black beans every day! According to Harvard School of Public Health, make sure to mix up your sources so no “essential” components of protein are missing. For more on plant based protein and lots of recipes, go to All About Plant Based Protein.

Is soy healthy?

According to the Harvard TH Chan School of Nutrition, soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week. It’s likely to provide health benefits—especially when eaten as an alternative to red and processed meat!

Tip 2: Eat whole foods!

When thinking about how to go vegan, consider this: focus on whole foods and a variety of veggies! It’s possible to eat a vegan diet and eat only processed foods: chips, crackers, fries, and the like. Here are a few tips for eating whole foods:

  • Try to cut down on packaged foods and make your own instead! Try our crackers, chips, pita chips, nacho cheese, etc.
  • Read the labels of anything pre-packaged and make sure that anything you buy has minimally processed ingredients. Try to avoid lots of preservatives and additives.
  • This will require more time in your schedule for cooking! See Tip 4 below.

Tip 3: Consider B12.

Dairy, eggs, and seafood have the Vitamin B12, which is important for avoiding anemia and does not occur naturally in plants. If you eat a fully vegan diet, you may need to add a supplement (specifically vitamin B12) to make sure you receive all the nutrients required. Consult your doctor for more.

Tip 4: Make time and space! And find a buddy.

What does going vegan mean? Carving out more space in your life to cook! Are you already in the practice of cooking on the regular? Here are a few things to think about as your make this diet change:

  • Baby steps: it doesn’t happen overnight! It takes a while to figure out your tastes and what recipes will be your go-to’s (see below for all ours!). Give yourself the grace and time to figure it out over weeks and months. It’s all about long term sustainability!
  • If a recipe bombs: try another! Cooking is all about finding things that work for your life and your personal tastes. If you make a recipe you don’t like: find another and try that one! Have the courage to keep trying new flavors and techniques.
  • Find a buddy. This is one of our top recommendations: find a buddy: friend, roommate, spouse, partner — who can help navigate the change with you. Share recipes with each other! Talk about things you like, and things that didn’t work. Food is all about relationship, and having a cheerleader is half the fun.

Tip 5: A few foods to watch for!

When you go vegan, here are a few foods to remember are off limits and what to substitute:

  • Honey: Use maple syrup instead!
  • Worcestershire sauce: Look for vegan Worcestershire sauce (standard contains anchovies)
  • Caesar dressing: Has anchovies and Parmesan; look for vegan Caesar
  • Pesto: Has Parmesan: use our Vegan Pesto
  • Mayonnaise: Has eggs: look for vegan mayo or use our Cashew Cream as a substitute

And now, our top go-to recipes for how to go vegan!

Favorite Vegan Lasagna

This vegan lasagna will become your new favorite! It's layered with tangy tomato sauce, savory mushrooms and spinach, and creamy hummus (instead of a ricotta layer). Then it's topped with vegan "Parmesan" made with ground cashews. It's a fan favorite! It saves well, so you can freeze leftovers and enjoy for days.

Simple Chickpea Salad

How to go vegan? Find quick and easy lunch recipes that can power you through the day! This chickpea salad takes only 5 minutes to throw together, and it's a lunch lifesaver. It's full of plant based protein to keep you satisfied for hours. Serve with pita triangles or vegan crackers.

Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo

Wow, is this vegan fettuccine alfredo good! The creamy sauce is made with cashews for richness and cauliflower for body, making it a healthy spin. It gets so creamy, you'd swear it had dairy! Serve with standard pasta, or use zucchini noodles or legume pasta for a twist.

Vegan Carnitas Tacos

Jackfruit is a fun trick for when you go vegan: it truly has the texture of pulled pork! It's magical how a fruit can taste just like meat by adding onion, garlic, cumin, tomato paste, cocoa powder and adobo sauce. Look for jackfruit in the canned aisle, or you can buy it online. Serve with refried beans for a filling comfort food meal! Also try: Vegan Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich.

Vegan Nachos

These nachos really are the best! They're topped with our Vegan Nacho Cheese, which is so savory and satisfying you'd swear it has dairy! Top tortilla chips with our Smoky Instant Pot Lentils or Lentil Taco Filling, then cover in veggies and dollop with nacho cheese. Feeling spicy? Add Pickled Jalapeños.

Vegan Sour Cream

You'll never believe the texture of this vegan sour cream! Blend together just a few ingredients and you've got a mixture that has all the creaminess and tang of sour cream, without the dairy. It's a must try! And perfect for...(see below)

Vegan Chili

Vegan chili is one of the best ways to eat a satisfying plant based meal! This one is full of savory flavor starring beans, quinoa, and a hint of adobo sauce for complexity. Top it with our vegan sour cream and some pickled jalapenos and well: it's out of this world good.

Vegan Cornbread

Going vegan doesn't mean an end to baking! Vegan baked goods are some of the best out there. You may not have thought cornbread was life changing…until now. This tender, moist vegan cornbread tastes the Jiffy box, but 100 times tastier. It doesn't matter that this recipe doesn't use dairy. It's SO delicious, you'll never notice, and neither will any of your friends or family members.

Tofu Scramble

You'll be surprised how much a tofu scramble has the flavor and texture of scrambled eggs! It's a healthy, savory vegan breakfast that takes only 10 minutes to whip up. If you'd like, serve it with a veggie saute: red onion, peppers and greens cooked until tender.

Homemade Hummus

Hummus is a lifesaver when you go vegan! This creamy, savory dip is perfect for healthy snacks and lunches. Use it for dipping pita chips and veggies, or in Hummus and Veggie Roll Ups for a quick lunch.

Easy Sheet Pan Dinner

This easy sheet pan dinner is full of colorful vegetables and loaded with flavor! It's a plant-based dinner that roasts up everything on a sheet pan at once: lots of good-for-you veggies and chickpeas for plant based protein. Throw it all in the oven while you cook rice or quinoa. Top with a dollop of hummus, cashew cream, or another vegan sauce. Dinnertime win!

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This chickpea salad sandwich is one of our top vegan lunch ideas: a vegan version of a chicken salad sandwich made using chickpeas! They're smashed and mixed with a touch of vegan mayo (or cashew cream), lemon juice, celery and green onions to make the most savory, delicious spread.

Vegan Sloppy Joes

These vegan Sloppy Joes have a zingy lentil filling that tastes just as good as the meaty version. Put it on a toasted bun with some bread and butter pickles, and WOW! You’re going to love this one (promise). They're crowd pleasing and have a cozy, comforting vibe!

Vegan Ranch Dressing

If you want to go vegan and eat your ranch too...now you can! This vegan ranch dressing is ultra creamy and rich, using cashews to make a creamy base. It's full of spices and tastes so good! Perfect for dipping veggies.

Vegan Black Bean Burger

You don't have to miss burgers when you go vegan: make a veggie burger instead! It's made with sweet potatoes and oats, and then flavored with soy sauce and mirin to mimic a teriyaki flavor. For the topping a few sauteed shiitake mushrooms and sriracha mayo, which makes for a killer combination. And speaking of burgers...

Restaurant-Style Baked Fries

Of course fries are already vegan, but why not have a healthy homemade fry recipe on hand! If you're craving comfort food when you go vegan, this one's for you. The fries come out perfectly crispy after being baked simply in the oven with olive oil and spices. They're salty, crispy and oh so good.

Vegan Creamy Wild Rice Soup

Here's a fan favorite recipe that happens to be vegan: our creamy wild rice soup! It features this healthy whole grain along with white beans, mushrooms, and veggies. They're all covered in a creamy sauce made rich by blending cashews with a bit of the simmered soup. Everyone loves this one! Also try: 25 Best Vegan Soup Recipes

Mexican Sweet Potatoes

Here's a fun twist on a baked potato recipe: Mexican baked sweet potatoes! Here they're baked until tender and topped with black bean salsa. Then they're dolloped with tangy Creamy Cilantro Sauce. They're a tasty, filling dinner recipe!

Vegan Apple Streusel Muffins

“You’d never know these muffins don’t have butter or eggs.” That was my mother in law, one bite in. And with that, we knew we had a winner in this recipe! These vegan apple muffins are perfectly fluffy and moist. The best part is a crunchy apple streusel muffin topping: it gives each bite a perfectly sweet crunch, without being overly sugary.

Vegan Bacon: 3 Ways to Make It

Craving the flavor of bacon after you go vegan? Here are three different ways to make it, each using different ingredients! They're each delicious in their own right: choose from Coconut Bacon, Shiitake Bacon, and Tempeh Bacon.

Homemade Acai Bowl

An acai bowl is a perfect treat breakfast when you go vegan! It's made from purple acai berries, available as a frozen pulp in most grocery stores. Combine it with pineapple, banana, and mango, then top with sliced fruits and almond butter.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Are you ready for the chewiest, salty sweet, delicious vegan chocolate chip cookies? They’re made all from whole food ingredients, are downright delicious, and made dirtying only one bowl. Oh and did we mention they’re naturally gluten-free, too? They've got an irresistibly chewy texture using almond flour.

Mediterranean Couscous Bowls

Here's a go-to vegan dinner recipe that you can make in under 30 minutes: Mediterranean bowls! They're filled with seasoned chickpeas, crunchy veggies, and quick-cooking couscous. Drizzle it all with our Best Tahini Sauce and it's full of flavor! Also try: Raw Falafel Buddha Bowls

Best Vegan Zucchini Bread

If you love baking, there's no reason to stop when you go vegan! This zucchini bread is moist, cinnamon-scented, and the perfect sweetness. It’s got just the right texture: it’s not too oily or dense. And, it's a quick bread that's easy to put together! Also try: Vegan Pumpkin Bread

Spinach Apple Salad

You've got to have some great vegan salad recipes to accessorize all your meals! Here's one of our favorite green salads: it's topped with thinly sliced apples and pears and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Top with Glazed Walnuts or Glazed Pecans for sweet crunch.

Healthy Granola

Here's a tasty granola recipe that's good for you and not loaded with sugar! It's easy to make, featuring oats and a maple pecan flavor. It's perfectly crunchy, warmly spiced, and just the right amount of sweetness. Serve with almond milk or oat milk.

Vegan Chickpea Curry

This vegan chickpea curry hits all the checkboxes for plant based dinner perfection. It’s full of plant based protein, so it will keep you full for hours. Packed with chickpeas, spinach, ginger, and curry powder, and it takes only 20 minutes to make. Serve with basmati rice.

Oatmeal Recipe

Oatmeal is the powerhouse of vegan breakfast ideas. This one is chewy and toasted, and the flavor has readers around the world swearing off “normal” gooey oats. Our favorite toppings? All natural peanut butter and strawberry jam. Also try: Vegan Breakfast Ideas

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Gotta have sweet treats, too! These vegan peanut butter cookies are soft but perfectly crumbly, and salty sweet. Decorated with the classic criss-cross pattern, they’ve got a sparkle of sugar. If you'd like, add our chocolate icing drizzle, which makes them look even more fun.

Curry Lentil Soup

Last but not least in our recipes for how to go vegan: curry lentil soup! After one bite, we guarantee you'll be sold on this curry lentil soup. It’s full of hearty red lentils and root vegetables, and the broth is swirled with red curry paste and coconut milk. With all the texture and flavor going on, it feels rich and luxurious. But at the same time it’s a healthy, plant based meal!

All our vegan recipe collections

That’s not enough? Here are our plant based recipes by category:

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Easy Champagne Cocktails

Nothing’s more festive than bubbly champagne cocktails! They’re easy to make, and add class and style to any celebration. Are you ready to celebrate? Champagne has been a festive drink for centuries. Of course, you can just pop the cork and drink it straight up (which Alex and I do, often!). But why not try a champagne cocktail? The tangy, bubbly sparkling wine is perfect with all sorts of flavors, from lemon to St Germain to cranberry. Even just adding one or two ingredients to champagne really alters the flavor and adds depth. And of course, holding a glass says, “Hey, I’m someone with sophistication and class!” Ready to toast? And now… the best easy champagne cocktails to try! When to serve champagne cocktails The champagne cocktails are so festive, they work well for almost any occasions! Here are some times we can imagine serving them, though it’s not an exhaustive list! Champagne cocktails are perfect as a: New Year’s Eve drink Christmas or holiday drink Bridal shower drink or bachelorette party drink Girls night drink Celebration drink (job, anniversary, baby, etc!) Dinner party drink Romantic dinner drink Brunch drink (Mother’s Day, etc) What type of champagne should I buy? With […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Nothing’s more festive than bubbly champagne cocktails! They’re easy to make, and add class and style to any celebration.

Champagne cocktails

Are you ready to celebrate? Champagne has been a festive drink for centuries. Of course, you can just pop the cork and drink it straight up (which Alex and I do, often!). But why not try a champagne cocktail? The tangy, bubbly sparkling wine is perfect with all sorts of flavors, from lemon to St Germain to cranberry. Even just adding one or two ingredients to champagne really alters the flavor and adds depth. And of course, holding a glass says, “Hey, I’m someone with sophistication and class!” Ready to toast?

And now… the best easy champagne cocktails to try!

The Classic Champagne Cocktail

This isn’t just an champagne cocktail, it’s THE champagne cocktail. Yes, the Champagne Cocktail is a classic recipe on the International Bartender's Association list of IBA official cocktails. It's a thing. Even better: it's tangy and refreshing, perfect for sipping with a little nuance from the angostura bitters and lemon. The best part: Adding a sugar cube to champagne makes a fountain of bubbles that positively sparkles! Are you celebrating something? Because this is the drink for you.

St Germain Champagne Cocktail

Here’s a drink that’s made for celebration: a St Germain champagne cocktail! It’s sophisticated and refreshing: floral, botanical, tangy, and bubbly all at once. If you’ve never purchased a bottle of St Germain, now’s the time! It's a liqueur made with elderflowers, the small white flowers of an elderberry plant. This bottle of fancy liqueur should be part of your alcohol arsenal: it's perfect for cocktails of all kinds! But this particular champagne cocktail is our favorite.

Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Move over cosmos: there's a new cranberry cocktail in town! This cranberry champagne cocktail has a brilliant color and cozy vibe, and the flavor is tart and refreshing. While it's most suitable during fall and winter, you can serve it any time of the year, too! It uses only a few simple ingredients: cranberry juice (make sure to find 100% juice), cointreau, and champagne.

French 75 Cocktail

Here’s one of the most sophisticated and refreshing cocktail recipes out there: a French 75! It’s got a mysterious name, but it’s made with a few simple ingredients. It’s tangy, bubbly, and a bit botanical. Perfect for entertaining, use it as a brunch drink or a dinner party with friends. Really, any occasion is better with this drink in hand! The flavors are simple and classy: gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and Champagne.

When to serve champagne cocktails

The champagne cocktails are so festive, they work well for almost any occasions! Here are some times we can imagine serving them, though it’s not an exhaustive list! Champagne cocktails are perfect as a:

What type of champagne should I buy?

With champagne and most alcohol, the higher the quality, the better the flavor. We use the rule: buy something in the medium price range, and you’re usually safe. That is: don’t buy the cheapest bottle. But don’t go overboard on the most pricey one either! Usually middle of the road in price is a good quality bottle.

Also, make sure to buy “Brut”, which means dry. If you’d like to geek out more on champagne, head to 5 Things to Know About Buying Champagne.

Print
Champagne cocktail

“The” Champagne Cocktail

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
Print Recipe

Description

The Champagne Cocktail is a classic drink that’s festive and elegant, perfect for celebration. The sugar cube makes it sparkle!

Ingredients

  • 1 sugar cube
  • 5 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Squeezed lemon peel
  • 1 glass champagne (10 tablespoons)*
  • For the garnish: Lemon twist

Instructions

  1. Make the lemon twist garnish, if using.
  2. Add a sugar cube to bottom of a champagne flute**. Add 5 dashes of bitters to the sugar cube. Use a vegetable peeler to peel off a small strip of lemon skin. Squeeze the lemon skin into the flute to release the oils.
  3. Fill the glass with champagne and serve immediately: watch how the sugar cube makes the bubbles sparkle! Garnish with a lemon twist if desired (here’s how to make a lemon twist).

Notes

*You’ll get about 5 drinks per 1 bottle of champagne. **You can also serve this drinks on the rocks in a cocktail glass. Follow the same instructions, just place the ice in the glass with the sugar cube, then top with champagne. The drink will have a more subtle flavor.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Cocktail
  • Cuisine: Cocktails

Keywords: Champagne Cocktails

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Recipes

Bust out your pressure cooker on holidays: it saves valuable stove and oven space! Here are the very best Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes everyone will love. The best time to use a pressure cooker? Thanksgiving! Yes, the Instant Pot is a genius extension of your kitchen for holiday cooking. While your oven and stovetop are occupied cooking other things, the Instant Pot can be making up a monstrous batch of mashed potatoes. Or cooking an apple crisp. Or making green bean casserole. Yes, the Instant Pot is perfect for holiday cooking. (Did we mention it’s portable?) This year, we’ll be making a few of these Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes for our various celebrations. Each and everyone of them is so, so delicious, they’re sure to become family favorites in no time. While most of these recipes are Thanksgiving sides, the stuffed squash would be a fabulous main dish. And don’t forget dessert! We’re starting to get hungry over here… PS don’t forget to try out our Vegetarian Gravy or Vegan Gravy on those fluffy mashed potatoes! Best Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes! What Instant Pot do you use? All of these Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes have been tested using an Instant Pot […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, Vegetarian Recipes

Bust out your pressure cooker on holidays: it saves valuable stove and oven space! Here are the very best Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes everyone will love.

Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes

The best time to use a pressure cooker? Thanksgiving! Yes, the Instant Pot is a genius extension of your kitchen for holiday cooking. While your oven and stovetop are occupied cooking other things, the Instant Pot can be making up a monstrous batch of mashed potatoes. Or cooking an apple crisp. Or making green bean casserole.

Yes, the Instant Pot is perfect for holiday cooking. (Did we mention it’s portable?) This year, we’ll be making a few of these Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes for our various celebrations. Each and everyone of them is so, so delicious, they’re sure to become family favorites in no time. While most of these recipes are Thanksgiving sides, the stuffed squash would be a fabulous main dish. And don’t forget dessert!

We’re starting to get hungry over here… PS don’t forget to try out our Vegetarian Gravy or Vegan Gravy on those fluffy mashed potatoes!

Best Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes!

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

One of the very best Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes? These perfectly creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes. Yes, mashed potatoes are so much easier in a pressure cooker! You don’t have to worry about them boiling over on the stovetop, or keep testing them to see when they’re done. Nope, just throw them in your pressure cooker and press Go! It also gets that massive pot off the stove top make way for all your other Thanksgiving prep.

Continue Reading
Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole

Instant Pot Green Bean Casserole

Here's an Instant Pot Thanksgiving spin on the 1950's classic green bean casserole! And this ain’t your mama’s green bean casserole: it's a fresh spin made all from scratch! It’s got crisp tender green beans and real mushrooms. The creamy sauce coats each of the beans, but isn’t gloppy. And it’s got a new take on the traditional fried onion topping: using crushed potato chips!

Continue Reading
Instant Pot Acorn Squash

Instant Pot Acorn Squash

Here's a standout Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipe that works as a vegetarian main dish or a side dish, too! Tender, creamy acorn squash is draped with a savory, herb-laden pecan and rice stuffing that truly makes your kitchen smell like a fall wonderland. Really! 

Continue Reading
Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Instead of sugary marshmallow sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving, how about savory mashed instead? These Instant Pot mashed sweet potatoes have just the right fluffy texture. The secret? They're combined with Yukon gold potatoes to give them that classic texture. Add garlic and top with chives, and they'll be a hit with everyone around the table.

Continue Reading
Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan

Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan

Can you make Instant Pot Brussels sprouts? Roasted Brussels sprouts is our very favorite to eat these powerhouse vegetables. The oven makes them tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Turns out, Instant Pot Brussels are delicious too! They come out crisp tender and mixed with butter, chives, and Parmesan cheese, they’re seriously flavorful.

Continue Reading
Easy Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

Easy Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup

May we present: Instant Pot butternut squash soup! It's spiced with sage, with a hint of cinnamon and a smoky undertone. The squash and carrot give it an electric orange hue, and it's rounded out with potato and apple for sweetness. Really, it's pure gold in a bowl! It's a star in our comforting butternut squash recipes.

Continue Reading
Beet Salad with Instant Pot Beets

Beet Salad with Instant Pot Beets

The sweet, earthy flavor of beets pairs perfectly with the tang of a balsamic dressing. Here, we’ve used our favorite Best Balsamic Dressing: which takes just 5 minutes and 5 ingredients. The balance of tangy, sweet and savory in this dressing is mind-blowing. Make this with quick Instant Pot beets, which take only about 30 minutes to cook: half the time of roasting them in the oven!

Continue Reading
Instant Pot Green Beans with Lemon

Instant Pot Green Beans with Lemon

Let us introduce the best easy Thanksgiving side dish: Instant Pot green beans! They’re super quick to put together and the zesty lemon flavor makes them a crowd pleaser. Because they’re steamed in the pressure cooker, they make space on the stovetop and oven for cooking the main dish! They take only 10 minutes to make: a speed record for the holidays!

Continue Reading
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
Continue Reading
Instant Pot Apple Crisp

Instant Pot Apple Crisp

Why not finish this list of Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes with something sweet? This apple crisp cooks up in minutes, leaving the oven clear for holiday baking (the turkey, perhaps?). It's topped with organic granola for the crumble, and comes out sweet and cozy. A little lemon zest adds some zing, and melty vanilla ice cream puts it over the top.

Continue Reading
Print
Mashed sweet potatoes

Instant Pot Thanksgiving Mashed Sweet Potatoes

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (8 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 12
Print Recipe

Description

The pressure cooker is perfect for holidays: it saves valuable stove and oven space! These Instant Pot Thanksgiving mashed sweet potatoes are perfectly creamy and sweet-savory: everyone will love them!

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds sweet potatoes*
  • 3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes
  • 1 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half (or sub non-dairy milk for vegan)
  • 1 clove grated garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Thinly sliced chives, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Peel the potatoes, then cut them into large chunks.
  2. Add the potatoes to the Instant Pot. Add the kosher salt and the water. Lock the lid. Place the pressure release handle (vent) in the “Sealing” position.
  3. Cook on High Pressure for 12 minutes: Press the Pressure Cook button, making sure the “High Pressure” setting is selected, and set the time. Note that it takes about 20 minutes for the pot to “preheat” and come up to pressure before it starts cooking. (During cooking, avoid touching the metal part of the lid.)
  4. Quick release: Vent the remaining steam from the Instant Pot by moving the pressure release handle to “Venting”, covering your hand with a towel or hot pad. Never put your hands or face near the vent when releasing steam. Open the pressure cooker lid.
  5. Mash the potatoes with a potato masher directly in the Instant Pot. Then stir in the cream, grated garlic, and black pepper to the hot potatoes. Taste, and adjust seasonings as desired. Garnish with chopped chives and fresh ground pepper.

Notes

*This amount makes 12 servings and is intended for a crowd. If you’d like to make less, you can half the recipe without affecting the cook time.

  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: Pressure Cooker
  • Cuisine: Thanksgiving

Keywords: Instant Pot Thanksgiving, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, recipes, thanksgiving, instant pot, pressure cooker

What Instant Pot do you use?

All of these Instant Pot Thanksgiving recipes have been tested using an Instant Pot 6 Qt Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker. There is definitely variation between pressure cooker brands and sizes, so you may see some variation in cook time depending on the brand and size you’re using.

Understanding Instant Pot cook time

When you look at cook time with any pressure cooker, you’ll need to factor in a few more things than just the actual cook time. Keep the following in mind:

  • “Preheat” time: Once you add the ingredients to the pot, the pressure cooker requires time to come up to pressure. This time can vary depending on the recipe. Alex and I make sure to state it clearly in each of our Instant Pot recipes, so you know how long they’ll take overall.
  • Natural release: Some recipes call for a Quick Release: here you’ll immediately release the pressure and open the lid. But some recipes call for a Natural Release method, where you wait with the cover on after the cook time for the pressure to naturally release from the pot. Make sure to factor this time in when you’re planning your recipes, not just the cook time.

A note about the sealing ring

The plastic sealing rink inside the pressure cooker lid can pick up odors after cooking. Make sure to clean it fully after using it, and allow it to dry separately from the lid. A good practice is to store the Instant Pot with the lid upside down so the sealing ring is exposed to air, instead of with the lid closed onto the pot. This allows the sealing ring to air out between uses.

To remove the smell from an Instant Pot sealing ring, soak it in vinegar for a few hours. Another option is purchasing two sealing rings. We purchased 2 Instant Pot sealing rings and use one for savory recipes and one for sweet recipes. This is especially helpful if you’re making something like the apple crisp above.

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, Vegetarian Recipes