Ariel Knutson

Arie was the Features Director at Kitchn. She lives in Los Angeles.
35 Delicious Ways to Use Up Fresh Dill
When a small amount of fresh dill is added to things like crunchy salads, salad dressings, and comforting soups, the dish is instantly brightened with its herby freshness. A little goes a long way for maximum flavor.If you love cucumber salads, we’ve got you covered with tangy, vinegar-based cucumber salads and creamy cucumber salads. Dill pairs perfectly with lemon in creamy lemon-dill salmon and lemony Greek potato salad.
Ariel Knutson
May 15, 2024
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Ariel Knutson
Apr 15, 2024
46 Easy Sides That Make Soup a Meal
Warm and comforting soup is my favorite thing to eat this time of year, but it’s not always enough to make a complete meal. Your side dish of choice is going to depend on the type of soup you’re making. If you have a relatively smooth soup, like creamy tomato soup, you might want garlic bread or a soft milk bread bun for dunking. If you have a creamy mushroom soup, then maybe you want a side of roasted potatoes. That’s where these 46 sides for soup come into play.
Ariel Knutson
Apr 10, 2024
10 Pasta Sauces to Freeze for Easy Weeknight Meals
Make now, eat later.
Ariel Knutson
Nov 30, 2023
20 Meals That Make Great Leftovers
In an ideal world, I would cook a hot, fresh meal every single night, but we all know that just isn't a reality.
Ariel Knutson
Nov 30, 2023
14 Vegetarian Freezer Meals for Easy Weeknight Dinners
Freezer meals are the superheroes of busy weeknight dinners. They swoop in when you’re in a tight spot, like when you’re just back from vacation and don’t have time for the grocery store, or when you come home late from work and would rather hang out with your family than cook. Freezer meals save the day.
Ariel Knutson
Nov 30, 2023
The Most Fun Cooking Projects to Fill 3 Hours of Your Weekend
If you got to spend three hours having true fun in the kitchen, what would you make?
Ariel Knutson
Nov 28, 2023
30 Recipes You Should Know by the Age of 30
Watch this video and choose which recipe to make first!
Ariel Knutson
Nov 28, 2023
Our Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes of All Time
We make these year after year after year.
Ariel Knutson
Nov 17, 2023
30+ Recipes Starring Rice
It's easy to create a budget-friendly meal when you have a bag of rice in the pantry.
Ariel Knutson
Nov 15, 2023
20 Recipes to Soothe a Sore Throat
These 20 recipes will put you and your throat at ease when you're not feeling too hot.
Ariel Knutson
Nov 15, 2023
Can Peppermint Oil Get Rid of Mice? Yes. Here's How to Use It.
You'll either need some cotton balls or a spray bottle.
Ariel Knutson
Oct 31, 2023
22 Budget-Friendly Recipes You Can Make with Canned Beans
When you have a can of beans in your pantry, a delicious, inexpensive meal is just a thought away.
Ariel Knutson
Sep 29, 2023
15 Packable Lunches You Won’t Have to Reheat
While I sometimes bring previously hot leftovers from dinner to work, these dishes don’t always taste amazing when reheated in the microwave. The answer, of course, is to bring a lunch that doesn’t need reheating in the first place. And happily for us all, there’s a slew of options for delicious cold lunches I can put together the night before. Always remember, your cold lunches don’t need to mean boring sandwiches or measly salads. You deserve better than that.
Ariel Knutson
Jul 19, 2023
5 Things We Can Learn About Lunch from the French
How the French eat is an endless source of intrigue. It’s elegant, but in a casual, seemingly effortless way. And of course, they know how to lunch. In fact, in the short time I lived in Paris I witnessed a new approach to lunch that went beyond cramming food in your mouth at your desk. By keeping things leisurely and simple, you too can find lunch bliss. Here are the five most important things I learned about lunch from the French.
Ariel Knutson
Jul 17, 2023
30 Egg Breakfast Recipes to Start Your Day With Ease
No matter what your schedule, there's an easy way for you to have eggs for breakfast any day of the week.
Ariel Knutson
Jul 5, 2023
Samin Nosrat's Ligurian Focaccia Is Just as Magical as It Looks
In the "Fat" episode of Netflix's "Salt Fat Acid Heat", Samin makes focaccia with Diego in northern Italy. Here's the recipe so you can make it at home, too.
Ariel Knutson
Jul 4, 2023
15 Delicious Breakfast Pastries That Will Give You Life
Do you smell that? That sweet smell of caramelized sugar and bread in the oven? That’s your future calling. Whether you need to make something special for brunch in the next couple weeks — including Easter — or you want something sweet in order to get out of bed on Monday morning, these 15 treats are here to delight every part of your soul. From the ultimate butter and sugar pastry, Kouign Amann, to berry and jasmine scones (perfect for spring!
Ariel Knutson
Jul 3, 2023
14 Green Breakfast Recipes to Start Your Day off Right
Push aside the pretty pastry and loaded oatmeal recipes on your Instagram feed; it’s time to give breakfast greens a chance. From scrambled eggs with green peppers and mushrooms, to a green breakfast smoothie, here are 14 recipes that will help you eat more greens, starting first thing in the morning. Eggs and greens go hand-in-hand for breakfast. It’s so easy to throw in some sautéed spinach to your scrambled or fried egg without even following a recipe.
Ariel Knutson
Jul 3, 2023
The 10 Biggest Lessons I Learned in Culinary School
In the 12 precious weeks I spent in culinary school I learned so many things, from basic vegetable prep, to stocks, fish, meats, and pastry. It was an incredible amount of knowledge in such a short time period, and I could not be more thankful and enthusiastic about the whole experience. But 10 big-picture lessons stand out among everything else I learned in culinary school.
Ariel Knutson
Jun 21, 2023
11 Easter Breads from Around the World to Bring Rich Sweetness to Your Spring Celebrations
Rich with tradition, symbolism, and treasured ingredients, Easter breads figure prominently in many cultures’ celebrations. From Germany to Greece, these yeast-risen breads are full of eggs, butter, sugar, fruits, nuts, and spices — any would be welcome in at your Easter brunch or Easter dinner.Grab your passport and travel around the world through the lens of Easter bread. From hot cross buns in Britain, to Greek Tsoureki, your eyes and stomach will thank you.
Ariel Knutson
Jun 12, 2023
10 Light & Fresh Dips for Spring Snacking
Now that it’s spring it’s time to change up your snack game. The promise of warm weather requires that you ditch your hearty snacks and try something fresh, something you could never get in a vending machine: dip! These lighter dip options like grilled guacamole and spicy hummus with lime and jalapeño will pair perfectly with cold, crunchy spring vegetables or your favorite tortilla chip.
Ariel Knutson
May 25, 2023
34 Recipe Ideas for Your Holiday Cookie Exchange
Three cheers for cookie season.
Ariel Knutson
Nov 29, 2022
This Is What Your Favorite Ice Cream Flavor Says About You
Standing in front of the frosted glass doors at the grocery store, you have an important decision to make: What ice cream flavor will you choose? You could go with a classic, trusty vanilla, or maybe you prefer something a little more sophisticated, like a good pistachio. How do you ever decide on a favorite ice cream flavor? It turns out this decision can say a lot about who you are as a person. If you had to choose one flavor, what would it be?
Ariel Knutson
Dec 4, 2022
What’s the Difference Between Canola and Rapeseed Oil?
Here’s the scoop on both.
Ariel Knutson
Sep 12, 2022
10 Recipes That Defined the 1960s
This week we’re talking about recipes that define a decade, starting with the 1960s. Made more popular in the last few years from Mad Men, the recipes of the 60s are defined by strange chicken dishes, the continued domination of Jell-O and other fluff desserts, cocktail party appetizers like onion dip (seen above), and of course anything Julia Child. Some of these recipes remain relevant in recent decades, but they will always have a strong history in the 60s.
Ariel Knutson
Aug 15, 2022
Trader Joe’s Peppermint Joe-Joe’s Are Ridiculously Popular. Why?
Amidst the chatter of Thanksgiving recipes and table decorations, a low hum has been traveling across food media the last couple weeks. At first I noticed a couple mentions it on Instagram, and then Twitter seemed to pick it up and carry on the excitement. That’s right, Trader Joe’s peppermint Joe-Joe’s are back in store for the holiday season. Have you tried these cookies? Trader Joe’s Joe-Joe’s are basically Oreos.
Ariel Knutson
Jun 1, 2022
Enter the Summer Tomato Instagram Contest with Staub
Every month The Kitchn has an Instagram theme to encourage our readers to share what they’re doing in their kitchens. We ask readers to tag their photos with a special hashtag, and we regram the photos and sometimes share our favorites on the site. In case you missed it, our Instagram theme for August is Summer Tomatoes This month we’re doing something extra special with the Instagram theme for our U.S.
Ariel Knutson
May 13, 2022
#FF for 2013: Our Favorite Food-Related Accounts on Social Media
Where would society be without ridiculously cute cats made out of food? NOWHERE that’s where. These accounts on Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter, etc. made us smile, made us think, and of course made us super hungry. What are your favorite accounts to follow? Let us know in the comments!
Ariel Knutson
May 12, 2022
On Finding the Motivation to Cook For Yourself
It’s fun to cook for friends and family. Making big batches of things and nibbles to share with people can be a small act of love and a source of pride. But what do you make when you’re by yourself? Most recipes are intended for at least a couple people, so do you make a big batch and freeze the leftovers? How do you feel about eating by yourself? Here are 21 posts from Dana Velden on cooking for one.
Ariel Knutson
May 11, 2022
23 Problems You May Encounter on Thanksgiving and How to Deal with Them
You can prepare as much as you want for Thanksgiving, but sometimes things go awry and you don’t have time or supplies to redo. From last minute turkey problems, pie questions, and quick remedies for boring decor, these 23 tips will see you through Thanksgiving day. How do I know how to thaw the turkey? Help Me Decide When (& How) to Thaw a Holiday Turkey I don’t know how to check the temperature on the turkey: How to Check the Temperature on a TurkeyDo I have to baste the turkey?
Ariel Knutson
May 11, 2022
Be a Kitchen Wizard with This Butter Wand
There is an art to making the perfect piece of toast. You need good bread, even heat for toasting, and of course a generous, spreadable amount of butter. But how many times have you come to the butter part and found that pat of butter in the fridge is rock-solid and totally unspreadable? How many times have you had to violently spread the hard butter over your toast in hopes that the heat of the bread will quickly melt it? It’s a tragedy, and it happens to the best of us.
Ariel Knutson
May 5, 2022
10 Things to Eliminate from Your Kitchen Right Now
What do you feel when you walk into your kitchen? Do you get excited at the prospect of a new project of a delicious meal, or do you feel dread looking at all the clutter and broken tools? If you identify with the latter, it’s time to feel the purge. Consider eliminating these 10 things that don’t belong in your kitchen tonight. Whether you donate or toss them, you’ll feel a little relief every time you walk into your kitchen.
Ariel Knutson
May 4, 2022
How Much Money Did You Spend on Food for Your Wedding?
The ceiling for wedding costs is high – there’s the location, the flowers, and that dress — so where does food fit into the budget? There are so many different options for the food at your wedding, how do you decide how much to spend? We want to hear from our readers, and maybe learn what went behind that decision. There is a wide range of prices based on the kind of wedding you had.
Ariel Knutson
May 4, 2022
The 10 Commandments of Summer Cooking
Summer comes and goes so quickly that I never feel like I’m taking full advantage of those magical months. Time is short, and this season in particular seems so fleeting. This year I’m planning on following these 10 commandments of summer cooking, so I don’t look back in October and remember I never had an ice cream sundae when it was hot out. Consider it your duty to follow these 10 commandments of summer cooking.
Ariel Knutson
May 4, 2022
35+ Essential Thanksgiving Recipes to Try This Year
Not sure what to make this year? We've got you covered.
Ariel Knutson
Oct 26, 2021