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Cheesy, creamy, and loaded with ranch flavor and chunks of juicy chicken, ‘Crack Chicken’ pasta is a dinner that will have everyone raving! And as if you needed more reason to make it, it’s ready in 30 minutes from start to finish!

We’re pretty big fans of Crack Chicken around here. Once you try it you’ll see why! Crack chicken dip, crack chicken soup, and crack chicken sliders are some of my other favorites!

Cheddar Ranch Chicken Pasta

If there’s any recipe that’s always a hit with my family, it’s this one. I mean, you just can’t go wrong with penne pasta tossed with bacon and juicy chicken pieces in a creamy, ranchy sauce. Called ‘Crack Chicken’ for a reason, you won’t be able to stop once you have a taste!

The Crack Chicken sauce is a tasty blend of sour cream, cream cheese, chicken broth, onion and garlic, and most importantly- dry ranch seasoning! The flavor is seriously the best. Savory, tangy, rich, and creamy. Crack chicken pasta is a must-make and most definitely picky eater-approved.

Ingredient List

I love that Crack Chicken pasta uses so many pantry staples. You’ll have a lot of these ready to go! If you’re looking for exact measurements, they can all be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Penne Pasta: Penne’s little tubes are perfect for holding all that delicious Crack Chicken sauce.

Bacon: Chopped up bacon adds salty and smoky flavor. Use precooked bacon to save time!

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: The main protein in our pasta. Make sure you cut it into similar sized pieces so it cooks evenly.

Salt and Pepper: Season to taste!

Yellow Onion and Garlic: Chopped to add savory flavor.

Chicken Broth: This forms the base of the sauce.

Sour Cream: Sour cream adds tang and helps thicken up the sauce. You can also use plain Greek yogurt if you wish.

Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese creates a smooth and rich texture in the sauce.

Dry Ranch Dressing Mix: Adds that signature Crack Chicken flavor!

Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Melts down beautifully and also adds cheesy flavor.

Green Onion: Chopped for garnish!

How to Make Crack Chicken Pasta

One of the best things about this Crack Chicken pasta recipe is that it’s all made in one pot for easy cleanup! A dinner that everyone loves but is also easy to clean up after is a win in my book.

Cook Pasta: Cook the pasta according to the package directions until the pasta is al dente. Drain and rinse in cold water, then set aside.

Cook Bacon: In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium high heat until it is just crispy, remove from the pot and place on a paper towel.

Sear Chicken: Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon grease from the pot. Chop the chicken into 1 inch cubes and add it to the pot, season with salt and pepper and saute until it is just seared on all sides.

Cook Vegetables: Add in the onion and continue to saute until the chicken is cooked through and the onion is translucent. Add in the garlic and saute another minute.

Combine Sauce Ingredients: Pour in the chicken broth, sour cream, cream cheese, ranch packet, salt, pepper, parsley, and chopped cooked bacon. Then stir to incorporate everything well. Bring the creamy sauce to a gentle boil then reduce heat to low.

Mix in Cheese and Pasta: Add in the shredded cheddar cheese and cooked pasta, stir to combine. Simmer everything together for about 5 minutes.

Serve: Remove the pot from heat and serve the crack chicken penne pasta with chopped green onion on top.

Gather the ingredients

Cook the chicken pieces, onion, and garlic

Add the broth, cheeses, seasonings, and bacon pieces

Add the cooked pasta and stir to combine

This flavorful Taco Skillet has all of the things that you love about tacos in an easy to make skillet meal! Packed with ground beef, rice, bell peppers, black beans, diced tomatoes and cheese, it’s sure to become a new family favorite!

Skillet meals are my go-to for busy weeknights. There’s usually very little prep needed and cleanup is a breeze! Try our Queso Chicken Skillet, Unstuffed Pepper Skillet, or this Italian Orzo and Sausage Skillet next!

What’s a Taco Skillet?

Taco night just got better with this incredibly delicious Taco Skillet! You will love all of the Mexican flavors from the seasoned ground beef, colorful veggies, shredded cheese and your favorite toppings. It doesn’t get any easier than this hearty weeknight dinner made all in the same skillet. It’s ready to enjoy in just over 30 minutes with very little effort and your family will love it!

There’s so many creative ways to serve this taco meal, too! You can certainly eat it as-is with tasty sides. Since it already includes rice and beans, we typically like to pair it with a light salad like this cucumber tomato salad or this avocado tomato arugula salad. For some crunchy texture, it’s so good spooned into taco shells for the ultimate taco dinner! It’s also great wrapped up in tortillas, burrito-style! You can make quesadillas with it, or simply make it a dip and enjoy it with tortilla chips. If you’re craving comforting Mexican food, add this recipe to your weekly menu asap! 

Ingredients Needed for a Taco Skillets

This taco skillet recipe is one of those “throw everything into the pan” kind of dinners that’s so simple to make! And the best part is, it’s super satisfying, tasty and filled with cheesy Tex-Mex flavor. See the recipe card below for exact measurements.

Olive Oil: For sautéing the beef and vegetables.

Ground Beef: We typically use lean ground beef. If you use higher fat beef, it may be necessary to drain off the fat from the meat before adding the taco seasoning.

Onion and Garlic: Gets minced and sautéed with the meat mixture to give it savory flavor.

Bell peppers: One red bell pepper and one green bell pepper add color, texture and flavor.

Seasoning: The only spices you’ll need is your favorite taco seasoning! Make it homemade for the BEST taste!

Rice: You can use any cooked rice. This instant pot rice is quick and easy to prepare!

Tomatoes: Fire roasted diced tomatoes and chiles adds a bit of spice and texture to the filling. Use mild or hot, depending on your spice preference.

Black Beans: Adds plant-based protein and a boost of fiber. You can use any type of beans you prefer; pinto beans would be great.

Cheese: Mexican four cheese blend is delicious in this taco skillet recipe and melts wonderfully!

Toppings: Add any favorite taco toppings! We love freshly chopped cilantro, sliced avocado or guacamole and sour cream. Serve with lime wedges and squeeze that fresh lime juice over the top for extra freshness and flavor!

Let’s Make Dinner!

This skillet meal is so quick and easy! Start by browning the meat and sautéing the veggies. Then, stir in the other ingredients and cook until warm and the cheese is melty. It’s the perfect dinner for busy families!

Sauté: Add the oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Then add in the ground beef, onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper. Sauté everything together until the beef is evenly browned and the vegetables are tender.

Season: Add the garlic and taco seasoning then sauté for 1 minute. 

Tomatoes & Beans: Add tomatoes, and black beans then stir to combine. 

Add Rice: Stir in the cooked rice and sauté everything together for another 5-8 minutes.

Add Cheese: Remove the skillet from heat, spread the cheese across the top of the skillet and cover until the cheese has melted.

Serve: Top the taco skillet mixture with the toppings and enjoy!

Brown the beef and veggies. Add the garlic and taco seasoning.

Add the beans and tomatoes then stir to combine.

Stir in the rice.

Sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Cinnamon French toast bake is a warm and satisfying breakfast that’s loaded with soft and sweet spiced bread all drizzled in maple syrup. Your family will go crazy over this insanely delicious (and easy-to-make) breakfast!

For more great breakfast recipes, try this slow cooker cinnamon apple oatmeal, this delicious croissant breakfast casserole, or overnight blueberry French toast!

Cinnamon French Toast Bake Recipe

Cinnamon French toast bake is the perfect recipe for home cooks. It looks and tastes so impressive, but is quick and easy to make! It turns out fantastic every time and is definitely a no-fail recipe. This cinnamon French toast bake is the best because it can easily feed a group or a big family. Plus, for easy prep, you can prepare it the night before and then pop it in the oven in the morning to relieve a bit of that morning chaos. No-fuss breakfasts are the best!

Not only does this French toast bake taste insanely delicious, but it’s SO easy to make. Basically you just get a loaf of cinnamon bread, dredge it in the egg mixture, and then stick it in a baking dish. From there, it just goes in the oven until it’s nice and golden brown! Super simple and tasty, everyone will be wanting the recipe.

Ingredients in Cinnamon French Toast Bake

A short list of pantry staple ingredients is all it takes to create the best cinnamon French toast! You will be obsessed with this stress-free breakfast! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

Butter: Melted butter lines the bottom of the dish to keep it from sticking.

Eggs: Bind everything together.

Milk: Combine with the eggs, cream, and flavorings to make the custard.

Heavy Whipping Cream: Helps make the custard egg mixture rich and delicious.

Ground Cinnamon: So the egg mixture has some additional flavor.

Vanilla: Brings delicious depth of flavor.

Salt: Helps enhance all of the ingredients just right.

Cinnamon Bread: The heart and soul of cinnamon French toast!

Pecans: Sprinkle chopped nuts on top for a bit of crunch.

Maple Syrup: Serve with syrup, if desired.

How to Make It

This cinnamon French toast bake comes together quickly with just a few simple, easy-to-follow steps. Even beginner bakers will look like pros with this impressive homemade breakfast. It’s perfect for large groups or holiday breakfasts!

Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a pastry brush to brush the melted butter all over the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Whisk and Dredge: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Quickly dredge each slice of bread in the mixture before laying them down in the baking dish, staggering them as needed to make them fit.

Pour: Pour the remaining egg mixture over the top of the bread and then sprinkle on the chopped pecans.

Bake: Bake for 22-25 minutes, until the bread begins to brown and the bread is cooked on the outside. The undersides will still be soft and custardy, so if you prefer your French toast more done feel free to bake for a few more minutes.

Serve: Drizzle the French toast bake with maple syrup and, if desired, dust with powdered sugar. You can also serve with additional toppings, if desired.

Whisk together the egg mixture

Dredge each slice in the egg mixture and stagger the slices in the baking dish

Pour the remaining egg mixture over the bread slices

Sprinkle the top with chopped pecans before baking

This white lasagna recipe swaps out traditional marinara for a homemade alfredo sauce that’s too good to resist. Packed with tender spinach, ricotta cheese, and Italian sausage, each bite is a dream!

If you love all things lasagna like I do, try my classic lasagna recipe next or even some lasagna soup to switch things up! You can also make lasagna in the instant pot for easy prep!

White Sauce Lasagna

You guys know I love a good alfredo… so making lasagna with white sauce seemed like a no-brainer to me! I knew it was going to be good but was in absolute heaven when I took the first bite. Instead of the typical marinara meat sauce, this recipe has a white sauce meat layer packed with cheese, spinach, and tasty seasonings!

This white lasagna is cheesy, hearty and sure to be a hit with everyone in your family. Make it for a weeknight dinner with some homemade garlic knots!

Ingredient List

A little bit longer of a list, but trust me, the flavor of this white sauce makes everything worth it.

White Meat Sauce Layer

Lasagna Noodles: You’ll cook these before assembling your white lasagna.

Olive Oil: Helps sauté the onion, sausage, and spinach.

Onion & Garlic: For a punch of savory flavor.

Italian Sausage: Cooked and crumbled for some meaty goodness. You can use ground beef in place of the sausage but I find the sausage adds the perfect flavor!

Spinach: Cooks down to add color and texture to the white sauce.

Butter & Flour: The foundation of the sauce, these get cooked together to create a roux that thickens the milk and cream.

Milk & Heavy Cream: Make the white sauce nice and creamy!

Mozzarella Cheese (divided): A lasagna essential, adding gooey, stretchy goodness to the dish. You’ll also need to reserve some for the topping.

Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs like oregano, thyme, and basil that adds a flavorful touch to the sauce.

Salt & Pepper: Enhance the overall flavor of the white lasagna.

Ricotta Layer

Ricotta Cheese: A must-add for that classic lasagna flavor!

Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, cheesy flavor to the ricotta layer.

Eggs: These ensure the ricotta mixture stays smooth and cohesive.

Salt & Pepper: The finishing touch!

Let’s Make White Lasagna!

Cook Noodles: Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions, drain them in cold water and set them aside.

Preheat Oven, Prepare Pan: Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9X13 inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Sauté Vegetables and Sausage: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and sausage and cook until the sausage is no longer pink.

Add Garlic and Spinach: Add in the garlic and spinach and continue cooking until the spinach is wilted. Remove the pan from heat.

Make the Roux: In a saucepan melt the butter and whisk in the flour to create a roux. Slowly whisk in the milk and whipping cream. Add in 1 ½ cups of the mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper.

Combine: Pour the white sauce over the sausage and spinach and stir to combine.

Ricotta Layer

Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, add the ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, salt, and pepper.

Combine: Mix until smooth and combined.

To Assemble

Layer: To assemble the lasagna, start by spreading 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Then arrange the noodles in a single layer over the meat sauce. Spread 1/2 cup of the ricotta cheese on top of the noodles followed by shredded mozzarella cheese.

Repeat: Repeat the layers and then top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

Bake: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes or until it is heated throughout and the cheese is bubbly. Let your white lasagna cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Cook the sausage, onion, garlic, and spinach

Make the white sauce

Make the ricotta mixture

Combine the sausage mixture and the white sauce. Spread 1 cup in the bottom of the baking dish.

Layer with cooked lasagna noodles

Spread 1/2 cup ricotta mixutre on the noodles, followed with 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Repeat the layers and sprinkle 1 cup shredded cheese on top before baking.

Flavorful chicken fritters are warm and crispy crowd favorites! Simply mix tender pieces of chicken breast and shredded cheese with a seasoned batter and pan-fry to golden brown perfection. Serve them with your favorite sauce and wait for all the rave reviews from your family!

Enjoy your cheesy chicken fritters as an appetizer for parties, game day and other get-togethers, or pair them with sides as the main course. Make it a full meal with mashed potato casserole, Brussels sprouts and corn on the cob!

Chicken Fritters Recipe

Cheesy chicken fritters are so good you’ll want to make them again and again! They’re so easy to make because you simply mix up the batter, then stir in the chicken pieces and cheese all in one bowl. There’s no hassle of dredging chicken into different mixtures! Pan-fry these in just about an inch of oil for the most incredible crispy chicken bites.

Your picky kids will love these too! The whole family gets excited when chicken fritters are on the menu. Don’t forget the delicious dipping sauces like Cane’s sauce, honey mustard or ketchup. Plus, they’re versatile enough to enjoy with a variety of sides from French fries to white cheddar Mac and cheese, or keep things light and serve with a fresh green salad.

Ingredients Needed

This chicken fritters recipe is made with ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. Mix them up and you’ll have amazing chicken patties in no time! See the recipe card below for a list of exact measurements.

Chicken: Cut boneless skinless chicken breast into very small pieces.

Eggs: Combine two eggs with the buttermilk to make the batter and ensure a golden crispy fritter.

Buttermilk: This is an essential ingredient that will add flavor and make the chicken tender and juicy. You can make your own buttermilk, if you don’t have any on hand!

Flour: All-purpose flour will make for a perfectly crispy exterior.

Seasonings: A blend of paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper adds wonderful flavor to the egg and flour mixture.

Cheese: A mix of both shredded mozzarella cheese and sharp cheddar cheese really takes these to the next level of deliciousness!

Green Onions: Add to the batter and use some extra to garnish for a pop of color!

Vegetable Oil: For frying.

How to Make Chicken Fritters

These amazing bites of crispiness are super easy to make from scratch at home. Plus, you can serve them as a satisfying snack, appetizer or main dish!

Prep the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into small chunks, about ⅛ inch pieces.

Make the Breading: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk. In a larger bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

Mix: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix together until it is well incorporated. Add in the chicken, mozzarella, sharp cheddar, and green onions. Mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients.

Fry: Heat 1-inch of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once the oil is hot, drop the batter in, about ¼ cup scoops, and fry on each side for about 4-5 minutes. The fritters should be golden brown and the chicken fully cooked.

Cool and Serve: Remove from the oil and place on a paper towel lined plate to cool a while before enjoying.

Cut the chicken into small pieces

Combine the egg mixture with the dry ingredients

Add the chicken, chesses, and green onion

Fry the fritters

Win over everyone’s heart (and stomach!) with these Marry Me Cookie Bars! They have the BEST flavor and texture, made with rolled oats, both white and semi-sweet chocolate chips, and a pinch of cinnamon! Chewy, creamy, chocolatey goodness!

Love cookie bars? Here are some more tasty recipes to try: sugar cookie bars, M&M cookie bars, and chocolate chip cookie dough bars.

The Ultimate Cookie Bar…

These ‘Marry Me Cookie Bars’ are made with all of my favorite ingredients. Both white and semi-sweet chocolate chips, some warm spices, and rolled oats for the perfect texture! Anyone who tries a piece will be in love.

These marry me bars are best served fresh out of the oven when they’re warm and gooey. I like them even more with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top! They’re the ultimate comfort dessert for any time of day. Treat yourself!

Ingredient List

Grab those classic cookie ingredients out of your pantry and let’s get baking! Exact measurements are in the recipe card below.

Rolled Oats: Add a chewy texture and nutty flavor to the bars. These get pulsed in a blender for a finer crumb.

All-Purpose Flour: The base for our Marry Me Cookie Bars.

Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents work together to create a gentle rise.

Salt: Just a pinch to make everything taste more delicious.

Ground Cinnamon: The perfect cozy spice! If you love spiced treats, you can also add a little nutmeg.

Unsalted Butter: For the perfect richness. Use room temperature butter so it mixes together well with the other ingredients.

Sugars: I used both granulated and brown sugar for a deeper sweetness and toffee flavor. Light brown sugar will work, but I’ve found that dark brown sugar really takes the flavor of these cookie bars to the next level.

Eggs: To bind everything together and make the marry me bars nice and chewy. Again, at room temperature.

Milk: Adds a touch of moisture.

Vanilla Extract: For an extra pop of flavor. I recommend using pure vanilla extract if you have it!

Semi-Sweet & White Chocolate Chips: These chips add pockets of chocolatey goodness in every bite! Feel free to mix it up with your favorites. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, butterscotch chips, your choice!

How to Make Marry Me Cookie Bars

Just as easy as making some cookies, if not easier because there’s no shaping involved! The trickiest part is waiting for your Marry Me Cookie Bars to come out of the oven. They smell soooo good!

Preheat Oven, Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, spray with pan spray, and set aside.

Blend Oats, Combine With Dry Ingredients: Pulse ¾ cup of the rolled oats 3-4 times in the blender to break it up. In a medium bowl, whisk together the pulsed oats, the remaining whole oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

Butter and Sugar Mixture: In a separate large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until combined and fluffy

Mix in Eggs, Milk, and Vanilla: Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla and beat until pale and fluffy. Mix in the dry ingredients until just combined.

Add Chocolate Chips: Fold in the white and semi-sweet chocolate chips by hand until evenly distributed in the dough.

Bake: Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the center. If the top is turning too brown too quickly, carefully lay a sheet of nonstick foil right over the top of the pan (not touching the bars) to prevent further browning.

Cool and Serve: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely before removing them from the pan and cutting them into pieces.

Mix together the dry ingredients

Cream together the butter and sugars. Blend in the milk, eggs and vanilla.

Combine the dry and wet ingredients

Fold in the chocolate chips

I see a batch of sweet and ultra-moist applesauce muffins in your future! They’re so delicious and made with all-natural sugars. The perfect breakfast, snack, dessert, you name it!

A few more great muffin recipes to add to your baking list: lemon poppyseed muffins, morning glory muffins, and donut muffins if you’re craving something on the sweeter side!

Muffins Made With Applesauce

Applesauce muffins are a super cozy snack or breakfast! If you’ve never tried baking with applesauce before, here’s the scoop: it takes the place of refined sugars, but also adds a bunch of moisture to make your treats nice and moist! A jack of all trades, it also acts as an egg replacer.

This muffin recipe is a great example of what applesauce can do for your baked goods. Not only are they sweet and moist, but lightly spiced for the perfect cozy flavor. These applesauce muffins have a pretty neutral flavor so feel free to throw in any additional mix-ins you’d like! Chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even chocolate chips would all be delicious.

Ingredient List

A lot of pantry staples here! These are a simple treat to make and I LOVE that they’re made with all-natural ingredients. Plus, they’re egg-free and vegan! If you’re looking for exact measurements, they’re all in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Applesauce: The star of our show! Applesauce adds natural sweetness and moisture, keeping your muffins perfectly tender and delicious. It’s a great source of fiber, too! Psst- try making your own applesauce for the best flavor!

Milk: Thins the batter slightly and contributes to the soft and tender crumb.

Apple Cider Vinegar: For a touch of acidity. It also helps to keep the muffins tender.

Maple Syrup: Another natural way to add sweetness!

Vanilla Exacts: Rounds out all the flavors and adds warmth.

Flour: Provides the structure that holds your muffins together. I used regular, all-purpose flour, but whole wheat flour is a great option too.

Salt: Enhances all the other flavors.

Baking Soda & Powder: Work together to make your muffins light and fluffy.

Cinnamon: The warm spice that makes your applesauce muffins so cozy.

Let’s Make Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins!

Preheat that oven and break out your muffin tin. These applesauce muffins cook up in 20 minutes and then are ready to be devoured!

Preheat Oven, Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then line a muffin pan with muffin liners or spray well with pan spray. It’s best to use a pan spray with four in it, but you can use regular spray instead and dust the muffin wells with flour and tap out the excess instead.

Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl whisk together the applesauce, milk, apple cider vinegar, syrup, and vanilla.

Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon.

Combine: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.

Add to Pan: Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each well ⅔ of the way full.

Bake: Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of the muffins. Let them cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Combine the applesauce and wet ingredients

Combine the dry ingredients

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients

Add the batter to the prepared muffin pan and bake

Comforting ham and bean soup is a classic and hearty soup. It’s loaded with creamy white beans, smoky ham, and tender veggies. It’s the perfect soup for using up your leftover ham and super easy to make on those busy weeknights.

We are ALL about ham at our house, so be sure to check out our favorite breakfast casserole that is loaded with ham! And these charro beans and Hawaiian fried rice should also be on your menu in the near future.

Easy Ham and Bean Soup

I love a tasty and comforting soup I can easily whip up on a busy weeknights! Especially when I can repurpose a previous meal and create a new one! This easy ham and bean soup is perfect for using that leftover ham from Sunday diner. Anytime I make ham I always use the leftovers for soup the next day. I love that it’s a little bit more healthy and hearty than any of my usual go-to soup recipes. It’s packed with veggies, tender cubed ham, and plenty of protein-packed white beans. It’s hearty and filling and you’ll love the salty herb-infused flavors!

If your family loves soup like mine does then this classic split pea soup and delicious ham and potato soup are a must! And the best part is that they are made with ham too!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This ham and bean soup comes together with a lot of ingredients you probably already have on hand! It’s a great way to use up leftover ham and easily made with canned beans. For exact measurements, check out the recipe card below.

Butter: Heat the butter to saute the veggies.

Onions, Carrots, Celery: The magic combination of veggies! Cook until tender.

Garlic: Fresh garlic adds delicious flavor to this soup.

Flour: Helps to slightly thicken the soup without having to mash the beans.

Bay Leaf and Thyme: The perfect blend of spices to season the soup.

White Beans: Not only do white beans add fiber and protein, but they also help to thicken the sauce, plus add a little creaminess. Use any kind of white bean!

Chicken Broth: If you can, use a low-sodium chicken stock or broth. You want to be able to control the amount of salt that goes into the soup.

Leftover Cubed Ham or Ham Hock: Leftover ham makes this recipe super easy! You can also use a ham hock if there is enough meat on it for the soup. The saltiness and smokiness infuse the soup and it’s delicious!

Pepper: Balances out the salty flavors.

Salt: Wait to season the soup with salt and pepper until right before serving. The saltiness comes from the ham you use, so it could already be perfectly salted.

Ham and Bean Soup Recipe

This ham and bean soup is a great option for a quick and easy dinner! It only takes 15 minutes of prep and then it’s off to the stove to simmer!

Saute the Vegetables and Garlic: In a large pot, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook until tender. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Stir in the Flour: Sprinkle the flour over the cooked veggies and stir to combine.

Add the Broth, Beans, Ham, and Seasonings: Add in the chicken broth, beans, cubed ham, bay leaf, thyme, and pepper. Stir to combine.

Simmer: Bring to a low boil then reduce the heat to simmer. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove Bay Leaf/ Adjust Seasonings: Remove the bay leaf then taste and season with salt if needed. 

Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh thyme and enjoy!

Cook the vegetables and garlic until tender

Sprinkle in the flour and stir to combine

Pour in the chicken broth, drained beans, and ham

Add the spices and bay leaf, then simmer

If hot sauce is something you use a lot in your kitchen, you have to try this homemade version! Tweak it to your liking then use it to upgrade all of your favorite dishes!

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of making my own sauces from scratch. Here are a few more recipes I think you’ll love: Nashville hot sauce, sriracha sauce, and sweet chili sauce! All are great for adding some heat and extra flavor to your favorite meals.

Why Make Homemade Hot Sauce?

It’s delicious, easy to mix up, and free of additives and preservatives! Plus you can adjust the flavor to personal preference. I know everyone has their favorite brand of hot sauce that they stick to, but trying this homemade version is a must!

Now, let’s get into the flavor of this hot sauce. The main ingredient is dried chile de arbol which is 15,000-50,000 on the Scoville scale. For reference, they’re hotter than jalapenos (5,000-8,000) but not as hot as habanero peppers (100,000+ on the Scoville scale.) I would say this homemade hot sauce is moderately spicy when made as written. You can always adjust that, though!

Ingredient List

This is everything that I used to make hot sauce that has the perfect texture and a well-rounded, moderately spicy flavor! Exact measurements are in the recipe card below.

Dried Chile de Arbol: The fiery heart of this sauce! These small red peppers pack a medium to moderate heat with a nutty and slightly earthy flavor.  Wear gloves when handling them!

Boiling Water: Softens the dried peppers, releasing their flavor and heat.

Chopped Onion: For savory flavor.

Garlic Cloves: Complement the onion and also add a little kick.

Tomato Sauce: A touch of sweetness and tanginess to balance the chilies.

Brown Sugar: Tames the heat a bit and brings a touch of sweetness.

Cumin: A warm, earthy spice that pairs beautifully with the other flavors.

Chili Powder: So the hot sauce has a little more smokiness and heat.

White Wine Vinegar: Adds a sharp tang that cuts through the richness and balances the sweetness.

Kosher Salt: Brings out all the yummy flavors!

Let’s Make Hot Sauce!

Before you begin, a couple important things to keep in mind. Wear gloves when handling peppers, and be extra mindful not to touch your face or eye area! Okay, now let’s get into making some tasty homemade hot sauce.

Rehydrate Your Peppers: Remove the stems from the dried peppers and add them to a medium bowl. Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the peppers and let them steep for a few minutes until they have been rehydrated.

Blend: Add the peppers and water to a blender or food processor and blend until the peppers are fully pureed.

Season: Add the onion, garlic, tomato sauce, brown sugar, cumin, chili powder, vinegar, and salt to the blender and blend until pureed.

Simmer: Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Once it is boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.

Strain and Store: Remove from the heat and strain the mixture through cheesecloth before adding it to a sterilized bottle for storing.

This Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp is a replica of everyone’s favorite shrimp appetizer! Sweet shrimp are fried until crispy, then tossed in a spicy, creamy mayo, and topped with chives. Perfect for sharing!

We love bite-sized apps, so be sure to check out these Crispy Cauliflower Fritters, Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Sriracha Wings, or this Sweet and Savory Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.

Copycat Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe

A copycat version of the popular appetizer from Bonefish Grill in Florida! If you’re not familiar, their signature appetizer consists of lightly breaded shrimp (fried of course) tossed in an addictively creamy and spicy mayo-based sauce. What I love so much about this appetizer is it’s not heavy at all. The shrimp are ever-so-slightly fried, with the most delicate coating. (SO good.)

To achieve this, I used a combination of cornstarch and flour (and plenty of salt of course), which helps to get a super light crust in the end. Bang bang shrimp is always a win and I know you’ll love it as much as I do. It will make everyone in your family a shrimp fan! The flavor and texture of this dish is just too good to resist.

Ingredients You’ll Need

You really don’t need too many ingredients to achieve that classic ‘Bang Bang’ flavor. Just some sriracha and sweet chili sauce! You’ll likely have everything else on hand to whip it up.

Peeled and Deveined Shrimp: Choose large shrimp for a heartier bite. Make sure they’re peeled, deveined (that’s the dark vein running down the back), and with the tails removed for easy eating.

Breading:

Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings to add a little flavor.

Whole Milk: This helps the cornstarch coating adhere to the bang bang shrimp.

Large Egg: Also helps the cornstarch stick and adds a touch of richness.

Cornstarch: The corn starch creates a crispy, light coating when fried.

Bang Bang Sauce:

Mayonnaise: The creamy base of the sauce.

Honey: For the perfect sweetness and sticky texture.

Thai Sweet Chili Sauce: The perfect blend of sweet and spicy! This is a must-add to get the sauce tasting just like Bonefish Grill.

Sriracha Sauce: So your sauce has some heat! Adjust the amount to your spice preference.

Salt: Enhances all the other flavors in the sauce.

Let’s Get Cooking!

Don’t let the frying intimidate you- bang bang shrimp is actually pretty easy to prepare and only takes 30 minutes from start to finish. A restaurant-quality appetizer in a snap? Yes please!

Prepare the Bang Bang Sauce: Prepare the bang bang sauce by adding the mayonnaise, honey, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, and salt to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine and set aside.

Whisk Together the Milk and Egg: In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and egg.

Season and Coat the Shrimp in the Milk Mixture: Season the peeled and deveined shrimp with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp to the milk and egg mixture then toss to coat.

Heat the Oil: Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed deep pot. Add enough oil to come up about 5 inches. Heat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Coat the Shrimp in Cornstarch: In a shallow bowl, add the cornstarch. Working in batches, use tongs to remove 1 shrimp from the milk mixture, letting any excess liquid drip off. Coat the shrimp in cornstarch then place in the hot oil.

Fry the Shrimp: Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the shrimp with a slotted spoon and then drain on paper towels. Repeat this process with the remaining shrimp.

Coat the Shrimp With the Bang Bang Sauce: Toss the fried shrimp with the bang bang sauce then enjoy!