Party Food

You're only five ingredients away from bliss.

Pork shoulder is one of my secret weapons in the kitchen. Slow-cooked, it can become a thousand different meals. I can mix in some barbecue sauce and make pulled pork sandwiches, scatter it on top of tortilla chips for pulled pork nachos, or use it as a filling for pulled pork lettuce wraps. And that’s just to start! Here’s everything you need to know about pork shoulder — from choosing the meat to transforming it into a fork-tender meal that can last all week.

Hint: Put down the extra-sharp cheddar.

It's unreal with eggs.

It features the crispiest potatoes of all time.

It’s retro in a good way.

These will be gone before you know it.

Oh, and they're ready in under 30 minutes.

Those cans of chickpeas sitting in your cupboard have been hiding an amazing secret. Roasted in the oven, chickpeas transform into a crispy, salty, savory snack. So tiny. So easy to eat by the handful. So irresistible. Roasted chickpeas are easy to make and customize. Here’s everything you need to know. Canned chickpeas: Using canned chickpeas is the easiest method, but you can cook dried chickpeas if that’s what you have on hand.

Grab a spoon.

Let’s talk caramels. The candy kind. The chewy, melt-in-your-mouth, deeply sweet, and insanely addictive kind. These make some of the best gifts ever, whether the event is Christmas, a birthday, a thank you for a favor, or a thoughtful hostess gift. Or no reason at all. You probably already have the ingredients in your pantry, and if you haven’t made caramels recently, you probably don’t know how easy they can be. Grab a bag of sugar and your candy thermometer, folks!

It's even great for beginners.

These are beyond worth the effort.

You can prep it the day before.

Think Pocky stick, but peanut butter.

You had me at crispy bacon and gooey cheese.

Christmas Chex Mix is one of my favorite holiday treats that offers a welcome change from all the cookies and candy canes fighting for attention. This crispy, salty-sweet mixture even looks like Christmas — everything is coated in white chocolate, and red and green M&Ms peek through! My favorite Christmas Chex Mix blend is pretty simple — cereal, pretzels, and candy — but the sprinkle of flaky salt at the end is what takes it over the top.

No one has to know how easy it is to make.

It doesn't get any fancier than this.

Equal parts easy, fancy, and fun.

Hosting a holiday gathering means planning the menu, music, and atmosphere. I always include a festive appetizer to make the evening feel more celebratory and buy a little extra time to finish last-minute preparations once the doorbell starts ringing. Cranberry jalapeño dip is a play on the crowd-pleasing classic: pepper jelly and cream cheese. With its vibrant red hue and sweet-tart flavor, this cranberry jalapeño dip is a must-make this holiday season.

Your kitchen will feel like a fancy restaurant.

A faster way to make the classic.

Low effort, high reward.

Every year as the holidays approach, I eagerly anticipate holiday baking and decorating sugar cookies. And every year, they don’t exactly turn out as planned. That’s because decorating cookies is a lot easier said than done — especially if you’re a perfectionist like me who likes straight lines and clean edges. But this year, I’m prepared. I recently got to work developing a simple royal icing recipe that makes cookie decorating as stress-free (and mess-free!

Over my years of writing for The Kitchn, I’ve shared almost all of my favorite holiday cookies, from my mother’s famous peppermint cream-filled butter cookies (followed by the much less finicky peppermint cream squares the following year) to rugelach and gingerbread cookies. I’ve saved one of my most beloved cookies for last. These candy cane cookies are the best.

Plus, it’s easier than you think.

Grab your sheet pan.

Get baking!

You've never had creamed corn like this.

It's ridiculously good — and surprisingly easy to make.

Dinner party plans stressing you out? Puff pastry cheese straws are here for you. These crispy, flaky, cheesy twists require just two ingredients and a few minutes of your time, and yet they deliver big — real big — out on the buffet table. Make puff pastry cheese straws for your next holiday party or serve them with cocktails for happy hour at home.Our cheese straws are made with puff pastry, which is cut into strips and then twisted into “straws.

It's got 3 types of cheese.

It never lets me down.

There are so many possibilities.

Grab some candy canes.

Because it's truly the easiest.

No mixer required.

It's perfect for beginners.

They’re a classic for a reason.

Don't be intimidated.

It's such an easy way to please a crowd.

It's unreal.

Everyone will go back for more.

It calls for pantry staples.

Let’s get merry.

Get the party started.

A hot and fruity Mexican Christmas punch.

A buttery classic.

Consider them the ultimate comfort cookie.

Happy soup season, everyone!

Bubbly water makes it so refreshing.

And it's so easy!

People love them.

Just look at these layers.

It's in the dough.

It’s not what you think.

So rich, so buttery.

They look so fancy.

Trust us: It'll disappear in seconds.

They taste like Reese's, only better.

‘Tis the season.

They’re a family favorite for a reason.

They're a classic for a reason.

The secret’s in the cream cheese.

They make a statement.

So easy and delicious.

It’ll be love at first bite.

It doesn't get any better than this.

No knead, no problem.

Potatoes — what’s not to love? Fluffy, creamy, starchy delicious potatoes. Yes, with butter. And maybe sour cream. But a baked potato for dinner is just the beginning. Potatoes also make the best appetizers. Don’t believe me? Here’s what to do.