Recipe Roundups & Menu Ideas

During Valentine’s Day, there’s no better way to show appreciation for your loved one – whether that’s your spouse, significant other, best friend, or even (especially) yourself – than to spend quality time with them over a special at-home dinner. You don’t have to spend all day to cook a romantic dinner.

Which one will you make first?

It’s like the mother lode of cooking inspo.

For any time of the day.

Countertop air fryers are an increasingly popular kitchen gadget. Air fryers work by circulating super-hot air, which quickly and evenly reaches all the surfaces of the food. In other words, it gives food that crispy-fried texture and golden-brown color without having to actually deep-fry anything. If you’ve joined the air fryer club and need some ideas for meal essentials, we’ve got you covered. You can make practically anything that you would fry in an air fryer.

Have you made mayonnaise, custards, ice cream bases, hollandaise sauce, lemon curd, or a recipe that relies heavily on egg yolks recently? If so, you’re probably staring at a big pile of leftover egg whites. Whatever you do, do not toss them. Instead keep a running list of good egg white recipes handy, so you have a plan for this versatile leftover.From savory to sweet, and even drinks, there are a lot of different ways to use up egg whites, whether you have just one or a dozen.

For a very special Christmas Eve.

There really isn’t a more versatile ingredient to always have on hand in the refrigerator than eggs. In fact, you can make eggs any time of the day, from breakfast and weekend brunch to a simple lunch and weeknight dinner.Eggs for breakfast help us start our days off right. They give our baked goods moisture and structure. They’re also inexpensive, full of protein, and a lifesaver at dinner when you need to throw a quick weeknight meal together.

New Year’s Eve is a big night and it deserves a drink to match. Enter these fun, festive, and easy to make cocktails. Whether you stick with something bubbly, like Champagne (and Champagne cocktails!) or Prosecco, or prefer a cocktail with a little more oomph, we’ve got all the bases covered. Here are 25 cocktails to mix up for your New Year’s Eve celebration.

It’s not just for bagels.

Often, when I don’t feel like cooking, I’ll make a dinner salad, a plate of scrambled eggs and toast, or a quick beans-and-greens sauté and call it a night. But come winter I crave dinners that are way more comforting than that. When I’m looking for something to warm me from the inside out — something that is as hearty as they come — I turn to these recipes.

Mac and cheese is such a solid staple. You can make macaroni & cheese from scratch, find a favorite boxed variety, or go for pure nostalgia with the frozen kind that microwaves in minutes. While some might argue that mac and cheese is an entire meal, even on the most harried nights I still want a side dish to round out the table. So, what goes with mac and cheese? Side dishes for mac and cheese can be as easy as carrot sticks or a bagged salad.

Cheers!

We’ve got all your favorites.

It always feels like a treat when salmon is in my dinner lineup. I love it because it’s easy to prepare and there are so many ways to cook it. Take your pick between cooking salmon in the oven, under the broiler for an extra-speedy dinner, or on the grill. You can even cook salmon straight from the freezer.The best side dishes for salmon should be simple enough to make while the salmon cooks, and deliver plenty of flavor without outshining the beautiful fish.

No matter how much thought goes into planning your Christmas dinner, the day can have a way of feeling hurried as you you take part in gift-giving, a brisk walk in the snow, and then getting into the kitchen to cook. One strategy that makes it feel easier and more manageable is sticking with options for a make-ahead Christmas dinner. Maybe it’s getting a head start with the main course or side dish, or perhaps you prefer to get the bulk of the meal done ahead of time.

I love brunch, you love brunch — I think we’re all on board for a good weekend brunch, yes? The one problem with brunch, however, is figuring out how to make it without having to get up at the crack of dawn to start cooking. That’s why we’re bringing you a roundup of all our favorite make-ahead brunch recipes for whatever plans you may have come the weekend.

Beef tenderloin is an annual tradition on my family’s holiday menu. Covering the beef tenderloin in a salt crust makes roasting it easy and fast, which leaves me with plenty of time to make delicious side dishes. Our table almost always includes bread and rolls for soaking up roast juices, but it also needs a potato side dish (or two or three) and a few vegetables too. Here are 45 of my favorite side dishes to serve with beef tenderloin.

Comfort food only around these parts.

I always have at least one can.

Planning on making a classic glazed baked ham for your Christmas dinner this year? Great choice — it’s one of our top picks for a holiday meal, too. And even if your holiday celebration happens to be smaller this year, those leftover ham recipes are a dream. This large, savory cut of meat is easy to make, whether you opt for the oven or your slow cooker (just don’t forget the glaze!).

The stakes have a way of getting a little higher when you’re cooking a holiday dinner — especially when it comes to sides. No matter what else you’re serving, the sides are inevitably the star of the table. When narrowing down the options, you want dishes that pair well with the main course and are a little more special than what you’d make for a weeknight meal, without being so complicated they dominate your day. Luckily that’s what we’re good at.

They’re perfect with pasta.

Regardless of what time everyone rolls out of bed on holiday mornings, you know there will be stomachs growling. It’s a holiday for you too, though, so no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to get going in the kitchen. Our favorite solution: a make-ahead breakfast casserole.

Is anyone else in disbelief that it’s almost Christmas already? I say let this be the year that you mix up the menu a bit with some new side dishes, or trade in your roast beef tenderloin and baked ham for something different, like white lasagna or French onion pot roast. I like the idea of this year’s meal having a festive start with Christmas appetizers (I’m looking at you, bacon-wrapped dates!) and finishing off with an indulgent Christmas dessert.

There’s nothing better than freshly baked cookies on Christmas. Who doesn’t love a platter of spiced gingerbread, classic snowball cookies, or peppermint candy cane cookies to share with loved ones?But do you need an occasion to bake cookies? A lazy Saturday, a winter snow day, or a rainy weeknight is absolutely reason enough, too.

It doesn’t really feel like Christmas to me without sweet smells drifting out of the kitchen, and someone cheekily trying to sneak treats before they’re out on the table. Some years, I feel like pulling out all the stops and making super elegant, festive desserts that are time consuming but so worth, and some years Christmas desserts are last on my priority list.

They're all keepers.

On the day after Thanksgiving, do you find yourself wondering what in the world you’re going to do with all of that leftover roast turkey? You’re not alone. There’s the requisite turkey and cranberry sandwich, and perhaps a pot of turkey soup. (Don’t forget to use that carcass for turkey stock!) But for some of us, that barely puts a dent into all those turkey leftovers. Don’t lose hope!

From the essentials to the non-turkey mains, sides, pies, and even drinks to help plan a delicious holiday dinner.

You’ll want to make them all winter.

I like to think sweet potatoes eagerly await Thanksgiving every year, knowing it’s their time to shine. Whether it’s a tradition to bake them into a pie for dessert or turn them into a casserole with marshmallows as a side dish, sweet potatoes are a holiday classic. However, there are so many more ways to serve them than these fan-favorite dishes.

Every year I anxiously await the arrival of fresh cranberries at my local grocer, and once they get here I’m always quick to toss a few bags in my cart — because they don’t stick around nearly long enough. The good news is that when you store fresh cranberries correctly, they’ll keep for three to four weeks in the fridge or up to a year in the freezer (yes, you can freeze fresh cranberries!).

It’s not a contest, but if you aspire to win Friendsgiving with the best side dish of the night, you’re hardly alone. From an everything bagel stuffing and smashed potato casserole to Thanksgiving slaw, this impressive collection of recipes will help you up your game with a side dish that will keep everyone talking.

It’s often assumed that roast turkey will be sitting front and center as the main course on Thanksgiving. Sure, it’s traditional, and the homemade turkey stock that follows cannot be beat, but it’s just one of so many great holiday options. If you’re forgoing the large celebration in favor of something smaller this year, a big turkey might be far too much food. Or maybe it feels like more work than you can muster, or you’re ready for a new tradition.

Dutch ovens are the workhorses of pots. They go from stovetop to oven with ease, making them ideal for braises, soups, stews, and more. Even better, Dutch ovens can be covered to keep foods warm or to transport a hot dish over to a sick friend. Whether you choose a classic cast iron Dutch oven or the ever-popular enameled version, Dutch ovens are easy to clean and can last decades with proper care. I like to think of the day I brought home a Dutch oven as the day my kitchen changed forever.

Start with the beef stroganoff.

You’ll want a second helping.

Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving a full month-and-a-half or so before Americans. While it’s often not quite the affair that it is in the States, the food is generally the same. There’s always the classic roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy, and maybe there’s a little more maple mixed into desserts and special side dishes. Canadian Thanksgiving is this coming Monday, so we’ve gathered up a few of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes on the site to celebrate.

We have quite a collection of slow cooker recipes on our site. We really just can’t get enough of the appliance’s versatility and ease. And while we’d have a tough time picking out our favorite recipes from the bunch, you, our readers, definitely have your favorites. These 10 slow cooker recipes are the most popular of all, and for good reason — they’re comforting crowd-pleasers that can easily go on repeat on the dinner roster.

If you’re buying a big bone-in ham for the holidays this year, consider this your friendly reminder that you’ll be left with a tasty ingredient after all the meat’s been picked off: The ham bone. So, whatever you do, don’t toss it in the compost bin or trash. Ham bones are packed with so much rich, smoky flavor. Don’t have time to put the ham bone to use right away? No problem, just freeze the bone, as you would any other meat bones and food scraps.

Of all the winter squashes that have made their way to the market, there’s none I’m more excited about than spaghetti squash. I love that you can microwave it, put it in the oven, or even just throw it in an Instant Pot. No matter how you decide to prepare it, these thin, durable strands can be used just about any way you’d traditionally use noodles or spaghetti.

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner is no small feat. There is a way to make it easier, though, and it comes in the form of your slow cooker. When you’re vying for precious space in the oven, wishing you had another burner on the stovetop (or another pair of hands), or you just want to keep food warm, this trusty appliance is your best bet.

We’re in prime cold and flu season, and with it comes the need to keep plenty of cozy soups in your recipe arsenal. Sometimes a bowl or two is all you need to start feeling yourself again. These 20 easy soup recipes are comforting meals to make when you, your significant other, or your kids are sick and feeling under the weather.

Despite your most careful planning (did you make a detailed timeline?), cooking Thanksgiving dinner can still feel a little stressful once the big day rolls around. It holds true whether you’re having a small Thanksgiving dinner or hosting the whole extended family. That’s why we love getting a jump-start with one or several make ahead Thanksgiving sides.

All too often I buy a carton of heavy cream for a recipe and, after using a small portion, the leftovers get pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten about. Sound familiar? I’ve learned that the best strategy for making sure I use up the leftovers is keeping a roster of easy ideas of what to do with heavy cream. It’s an extremely versatile ingredient, and can be used in a pretty wide variety of sweet and savory recipes.

Ham is one of my favorite things to serve as a main dish. I’ll either cook my ham in the slow-cooker or bake it in the oven. I love that it’s easy to make and provides the perfect savory foundation to build the rest of your dinner around. In my opinion, a large part of the pleasure of serving ham is enjoying the side dishes that play well with its rich flavor. Plus, leftover ham can be reinvented into several other meals throughout the week or frozen until further notice.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart: We all deserve something sweet and festive to celebrate Halloween. It’s always a fun time of year to get in the kitchen and play with your food to whip up something special. Go ahead and get the kids involved, too! There are tons of ways they can help, from stirring the cookie dough to dunking the Frankenstein fingers to mixing the Monster Munch to decorating the Halloween chocolate bark.

I could eat potatoes every day for the rest of my life. At their core these spuds are so humble, but with a little finesse, they suddenly blossom into a comforting side which turns out to the best thing on the plate (no offense to the main dish!) Mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, baked potatoes — sign me up as interested for all of the above.

There are some dinners that you just know are going to be automatic wins. Chili is absolutely one them. When chili night falls into your meal plan, you can expect a dinner that’s warming, hearty, and filling. Sure, a Dutch oven loaded with classic beef chili is certainly meal-worthy all on its own, especially when it’s packed with beans (or without, like in a Texas chili) and meat, but I always think having one simple side is the ticket to rounding out dinner.

In addition to keeping a jar stashed in the pantry, I love to make a big pot of applesauce after a day of apple picking — there’s something just so satisfying about its simplicity. However, after a few days of eating it from a bowl, dusted with cinnamon, I tend to grow tired of the snack. Luckily applesauce is good for so much more than just snacking. There are loads of sweet and savory recipes using applesauce, where it serves as a useful ingredient (especially when baking!

You’ll go back for seconds — and thirds.

It’s not just a side dish!

I grew up thinking the only way to eat butternut squash was to mash it with lots of butter, milk, and brown sugar. Although that’s a delicious way to enjoy it (it’s still one of my favorites!), I’ve learned there are many more possibilities when it comes to preparing this vegetable. You can add butternut squash to creamy risotto, blend it into soup, or turn it into fritters.

There are a number of reasons why it’s a great idea to have a festive non-alcoholic option on hand for Thanksgiving. Maybe there are guests who have a long way to drive home after dinner, or perhaps there are simply a few friends or relatives who don’t imbibe. Whatever the reason, having something special for everyone to sip on rather than leaving those who don’t drink to rely on just water or seltzer adds to the celebratory nature of the holiday.

It’s so versatile!

Everything we loved to eat as we celebrated the last whispers of summer.

It’s time to fall for the beloved Southern vegetable.

I’ve made it more times than I can count.

Make it a meal!