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Crack breakfast casserole gets its name for a reason. It is bursting with delicious flavors you won’t want to stop eating! It’s packed with layers of shredded potatoes, crispy bacon, sausage, and smooth cream cheese, topped with a layer of crispy cheese.

Ingredients for Crack Breakfast Casserole

These ingredients are basic and won’t break the bank. Make sure you set your cream cheese out so it is at room temperature when you’re ready to put it together. For exact measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Pork Sausage: A hearty and flavorful protein source that adds richness to the dish.

Bacon: Adds a crispy texture and smokey meaty flavor.

Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Provides a smooth, creamy texture and tangy, cheesy flavor that can’t be beat.

Sour Cream: Adds to the tangy smoothness to complement the salty meats.

Whole Milk: Provides moisture for the dish to stay creamy and delicious.

Eggs: Binds everything together and adds more protein and flavor.

Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix: This is what makes this a “crack” recipe. So much flavor!

Seasonings: Your casserole will be packed with incredible flavor by using Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, and Black Pepper

Frozen Hashbrowns: The sturdy base that holds everything up.

Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Gives the casserole a nice melty cheesy inside and a wonderfully browned cheese crust on top.

How to Make Crack Breakfast Casserole

This recipe comes together fairly quickly. You just need to brown your meats, mix everything together, and let the oven do the work. It’s great to prepare ahead of time so you can throw it in the oven when you’re ready to eat it!

Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 9x13x2 inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the bacon and sausage together until fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain the excess fat from the meat, then set aside.

Mix: In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and sour cream using a hand mixer. Once the cream cheese mixture is smooth, add milk, eggs, ranch dressing mix, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Combine: Add the cooked meat, hashbrowns, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese to the cream cheese and egg mixture and then stir to combine.

Bake: Pour the casserole mixture into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese, then cover with foil and bake for 50-60 minutes.

Brown Cheese: Uncover the dish and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the cheese on top is bubbly and beginning to brown. Remove the dish from the oven, then let it rest for a few minutes, and serve!

Kung Pao Beef is just like your favorite takeout but way tastier! This dish is loaded with flavor and so easy to make. Tender, marinated beef is stir-fried with veggies in a tangy, spicy Asian sauce for an unforgettable meal!

Ingredients Needed for Kung Pao Beef

Kung Pao Beef is a popular takeout meal with stir-frying meat and veggies in a spicy Asian-flavored sauce. It’s usually served over rice with peanuts and green onions. It might look like a long list of ingredients, but most are used multiple times, and many are pantry staples. All measurements are in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Beef and Marinade Ingredients

Steak: Thinly slice flank steak into ½-inch by 2-inch slices.

Soy Sauce: This umami sauce creates a flavorful base for the marinade.

Beef Broth: Adds flavor while giving the marinade the right consistency.

Cornstarch: Thickens the marinade.

Chili Paste: Adds heat to the marinade.

Garlic: For delicious garlic flavor.

Oil: All good marinades have a little fat, so the beef cooks up juicy and tender. You can use vegetable, olive, sesame oil, or whatever you have.

Sauce Ingredients

Dried Red Chili: The signature ingredient for Kung Pao recipes.

Ginger: You can use ginger paste or freshly grated ginger for a punch of warmth.

Garlic: Freshly minced is best!

Soy Sauce: Brings out that authentic Asian flavor.

Rice Vinegar: Adds a touch of tang to balance the spice and savoriness.

Beef Broth: Provides the sauce with moisture and flavor.

Chinkiang Vinegar: For deep, complex flavor and a bit of sweetness to round out the sauce. You can find this online or at your local Asian grocer.

Brown Sugar: Balances the spiciness with a subtle sweetness.

Red Chili Paste: This really packs in a punch of spice. Use a light hand at first. You can always add more later if you want more spice.

Cornstarch: Thickens the kung pao beef sauce.

Stir fry

Vegetable Oil: For stir-frying the vegetables and beef.

Bell Peppers: A red bell pepper and a green bell pepper will add extra texture and heartiness.

Dried Red Chilis: Adds even more spice to this meal!

Garnish: Top your Kung Pao Beef with chopped roasted peanuts and green onions for crunch and extra flavor.

How to Make Kung Pao Beef

This Kung Pao Beef recipe is easy and straightforward. Give the beef a little time to marinate and get perfectly tender and flavorful. Then, it only takes about 15 minutes to have this on the dinner table!

Marinate the Beef: Prepare the marinade in a bowl and whisk together the soy sauce, beef broth, cornstarch, chili paste, and garlic paste. Pour the marinade over the beef in a bowl or sealable bag, toss to coat, and marinate for at least 30 minutes.

Make the Sauce: While the beef marinates, make the sauce. In a bowl, whisk together the minced red chili, ginger paste, garlic paste, soy sauce, rice vinegar, beef broth, chinkiang vinegar, brown sugar, red chili paste, and corn starch. Set aside.

Brown the Beef: When the beef is ready, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, remove the marinated beef, and discard the marinade. Add the beef to the hot skillet and cook, tossing periodically to brown the beef, about 4-5 minutes evenly.

Sauté the Veggies: Remove the beef from the skillet, add more vegetable oil if needed, and add the bell peppers, dried red chilies, peanuts, and green onions. Cook the vegetables, tossing frequently until they are tender and the peanuts are toasted.

Cook Everything Together: Add the beef back to the skillet along with the sauce mixture. Cook everything together until the sauce thickens. Remove the pan from heat and serve the kung pao beef with additional green onions for garnish.

Bao Buns are soft, pillowy buns made from a slightly sweet dough. They originate from China and are served with different types of fillings. You can enjoy them as a snack, as a side, or with dim sum.

Ingredients Needed For Bao Buns

The ingredients needed to make these fun Baozi buns are simple and pantry staples. If you don’t have a steamer basket, you’ll need one for this recipe. For exact measurements, scroll to the bottom of the post.

Warm Water: Gives a base for the yeast and sugar to come alive!

Warm Milk: Helps feed the yeast to make it frothy.

Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and enhances the flavor of the dough.

Active Dry Yeast: It makes the dough rise, giving the buns their fluffy, soft texture.

Vegetable Oil: Helps the buns lightly brown.

All Purpose Flour: The main ingredient that forms the dough.

Baking Powder: This helps the buns rise faster and have a nice texture.

Salt: Enhances the flavors.

Bao Bun Recipe Instructions

Making bao buns is easier than you might think. Most of your time will be spent catching up on your favorite shows while the dough rises! It will be so much fun for you to try these delicious, soft, unique buns!

Form and Rise Dough

Whisk: In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the water, milk, sugar, and yeast, cover it, and let it rest until it becomes foamy, for about 5 minutes.

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

Mix: When the yeast mixture is frothy, add the flour mixture and mix at medium speed using a dough hook until the dough forms, about 3-4 minutes. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix for another 4-5 minutes until the dough is smooth and not sticking to the sides of the bowl.

Form and Let Rise: Dump the gua bao bun dough out onto a lightly floured surface, then form it into a smooth ball. Lightly oil a bowl, place the dough into the bowl, cover it, and let it rest for at least 1 hour. The dough should double in size. While the dough rises, cut parchment paper into 4-inch squares and set aside.

Cut and Steam Bao Bun Dough

Roll Out, Cut, and Brush: Dump the risen bao bun dough out onto a lightly floured surface, then roll it out with a rolling pin to an even ¼-inch thickness. Using a 3-inch diameter cookie cutter or cup, cut the dough into circles, then brush the top of each bun with additional vegetable oil. Fold the buns in half, gently pressing them down to fold.

Let Rise: Place each bun on a piece of parchment paper on the pan, cover, and let the buns rise for another 30-45 minutes.

Boil: Prepare the steamer by adding 2 cups of water to a large pot, and fit the pot with a steamer ring. When the buns are ready, bring the water to a boil.

Steam and Enjoy: Fill the steamer basket with the buns on the individual parchment papers, leaving at least 1 inch of space between the buns. Place the steamer basket on the steamer ring on top of the pot with boiling water, then steam the buns for 10-12 minutes. The buns will fluff up and be firm to the touch without sticking to your fingers. You will need to work in batches. Fill the steamed buns with your choice of filling, and enjoy!

Chocolate pecan pie is a sweet, decadent dessert with a buttery crust filled with gooey caramel, crunchy pecans, and rich chocolate. It’s the perfect pie to share this Thanksgiving. It will knock your family’s socks off!

Ingredients Needed for Chocolate Pecan Pie

The ingredients list for this decadent pie is not very long. It’s made up of basic ingredients that come together to make something so special and delicious. For exact measurements, scroll to the bottom of the post.

Grandma’s Pie Crust, or Store-Bought: For this recipe, you need to have your pie crust made and ready to go. You can make a homemade crust or use store-bought pie crust.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate: This secret ingredient is what sets this pie apart. The chocolate perfectly balances the sweetness of the filling.

Unsalted Butter: Adds a rich, creamy texture that creates the most flavorful filling in this pie.

Dark Brown Sugar: The molasses content in this sugar gives the sweetness a bold depth of flavor.

Dark Corn Syrup: Give the signature ooey, gooey texture and toffee flavor that complements the chocolate and pecans.

Eggs: Adds a custard texture while binding the ingredients in the filling.

Vanilla Extract: Provides a warm, comforting flavor.

Pecans: The star of the pie! I always think of these as the fancy nuts with the best texture and flavor.

How to Make This Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe

This indulgent pie is quite simple to make. It uses simple ingredients that come together quickly and easily. The oven does most of the work. You won’t believe something this good only takes 10 minutes of prep time!

Prep: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Roll out the pie crust and place it in a 9-inch pie pan. Flute the edges and then freeze the crust while you prepare the filling. Add the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup to a large bowl and stir until combined.

Mix: Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Whisk until thoroughly combined.

Pecans: Add the pecans to the bottom of the chilled pie crust

Chocolate: Add the chocolate on top of the pecans.

Cover: Pour the pecan pie filling over the top of the pecans and chocolate.

Bake: Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven before lowering the temp to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for an additional 35-40 minutes until the center of the pie still has a slight wobble. It should be almost completely set. Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool completely on a cooling rack. Then, transfer it to the fridge until you are ready to serve it.

These zesty Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels are an easy snack or appetizer that everyone will devour! A creamy buffalo-flavored spread full of shredded chicken, seasonings, and cheeses all rolled inside of a soft tortilla. Slice into cute pinwheels and enjoy!

Ingredients to Make Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels

With a handful of simple ingredients, you can easily make these pinwheels. When all the flavors are combined, they create an explosion of flavor in every bite. My buffalo chicken dip is just as delicious! For exact measurements, scroll to the bottom of the post!

Shredded Chicken: Pre-cooked shredded chicken like rotisserie chicken makes it easy!

Cream Cheese: The base of the creamy buffalo mixture! Use softened cream cheese because it mixes the best.

Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Adds a delicious cheesy texture!

Buffalo Sauce: I used Frank’s hot sauce!

Blue Cheese Crumbles: A classic cheese combination with buffalo flavors.

Chopped Chives: I love how mild chives are, but feel free to use green onions!

Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: The perfect seasonings to add depth and flavor.

Salt and Black Pepper: Helps balance and enhance the flavors.

Large Flour Tortillas: I recommend using large tortillas!

Blue Cheese Dressing: Substitute ranch dressing for the blue cheese dressing if you prefer.

Let’s Make Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels!

These pinwheels are so easy to put together and rolling up the tortillas is the fun part! It’s a perfect finger food for after-school snacks, parties, and on-the-go fuel.

Combine: Add the cream cheese, cheddar, buffalo sauce, blue cheese, chives, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.

Mix: Use a hand mixer to beat until creamy and combined.

Stir in the Chicken: Stir in the shredded chicken by hand.

Spread: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on the tortillas.

Roll: Roll up the tortillas tightly.

Slice: Use a sharp knife to slice the tortillas into 1-inch thick pieces. Serve with blue cheese dressing or buffalo sauce on the side for dipping.

Get the party started with Fire Crackers! In this recipe, saltine crackers go from something ordinary into something extraordinary with a flavorful blend of seasonings. They’re easy to make and perfect for snacking on around the holidays (or anytime)!

Ingredients in Fire Crackers

Whether you call these fire crackers, Alabama fire crackers or party crackers, one thing is for sure, you can’t eat just one! Find the exact measurements in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Olive Oil or Avocado Oil: Magically, the oil absorbs into the cracker without making it greasy or soggy. Instead, it helps the seasonings adhere to the cracker, making every bite delicious.

Seasoning: You can buy a packet of ranch seasoning or make your own. It’s easy! You’ll also need 1 tsp Italian seasoning to balance the other flavors.

Red Pepper Flakes: This is what gives our fire crackers their name and signature heat!

Crackers: Saltine crackers are thin with the perfect crisp bite! You will need 4 sleeves.

Let’s Make Some Fire Crackers!

This fire crackers recipe is one of the simplest snacks to whip up! I like to let my kids shake them up! Just be sure to allow time for the crackers to soak in all of the delicious flavors. Then, bring these to your next holiday gathering and watch them disappear!

Combine: Add the oil, ranch seasoning, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes to a gallon ziplock bag.

Mix: Close the bag, make sure it is completely sealed, then mix everything together.

Shake: Add the saltines to the bag and close it tightly then shake the bag around. Flip it front to back several times until all the crackers have been coated. Let the bag sit for at least 8 hours, flipping it over multiple times to help distribute any settled oil.

Chicken korma is a traditional Indian chicken dish that is so delicious. It’s made with tender chicken smothered in a creamy, wonderfully seasoned sauce. It’s so good your family will think you got takeout!

Ingredients Need to Make Chicken Korma

I love going out to eat and getting Indian food. I just love how flavorful everything is! With this list of ingredients, you can have the best chicken korma you have ever had in no time! For exact measurements, scroll to the bottom of the post.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast: The hearty protein base that absorbs all of the flavors.

Vegetable Oil: Helps sautee the vegetables and sear the chicken.

Ghee: This is a type of clarified butter. If you don’t have any, I highly recommend getting some here, or you can use unsalted butter instead.

Yellow Onion: Adds a bright punch of savory flavor and slight texture.

Garlic Cloves: Indian food is known for its bold flavors, and garlic is at the top of the list!

Minced Fresh Ginger: One of my favorite ways to brighten a dish with its spicy, vibrant flavor.

Whole-Fat Yogurt: Gives the sauce a creamy texture and tangy flavor.

Seasonings: Indian food is known for the many herbs and spices it uses. This recipe uses ground coriander, cumin, chili powder, turmeric, and garam masala.

Salt and Pepper: To taste.

Cilantro: As a garnish for serving.

How to Make This Chicken Korma Recipe

Making chicken korma is actually quite simple. From start to finish, this will only take you about 40 minutes. I love recipes that I can quickly make on busy week nights that taste amazing!

Sautée: Heat the vegetable oil and ghee in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions start to brown. Add in the garlic and ginger and cook another 2-3 minutes.

Blend: Using a slotted spoon, remove the onions, garlic, and ginger from the oil and then add them to a blender. Then, add the yogurt, coriander, cumin, chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, and salt and pepper to the blender. Blend until you have a smooth consistency.

Sear: Add the chicken to the hot oil and ghee and sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes.

Combine and Simmer: Add the yogurt mixture to the skillet and then stir to combine and coat all the chicken. Then, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and cook on low for 8-10 minutes. Once the chicken is cooked, serve it over rice with naan.

Mexican street corn soup has all the incredible flavors of street corn in a warm, comforting, delicious soup. This soup has fresh corn, lots of cotija cheese, spices, cilantro, lime juice, and sour cream to make it smooth and creamy.

Ingredients for Mexican Street Corn Soup

The list of ingredients needed shouldn’t be hard to come by. You can also make adjustments to use what you have on hand. For exact measurements, scroll to the bottom of the post.

Vegetable Oil: Used to cook the onions and corn.

Yellow Onion: Gives the soup a nice savory flavor and a slight texture.

Fresh Corn Kernels: You can use canned or frozen, but fresh from the cob is just unbeatable. Elote is the Spanish word for ‘corn on the cob!’

Salt and Pepper: Enhances all the flavors in the soup.

Ancho Chili Powder: Regular chili powder is okay to use if you don’t have it on hand.

Chipotle Seasoning: Gives the soup a slight smokey flavor and a kick of heat. Use store bout or can make homemade chipotle seasoning.

Minced Garlic: Gives the soup the best savory flavor that brings everything together!

Vegetable Broth: You can use chicken broth if you don’t have vegetable broth on hand.

Cotija Cheese: Provides a nice salty, cheesy flavor that is unique to Mexican street corn.

Sour Cream: Gives the soup a nice creamy texture.

Cilantro: Adds a bright, fresh herbal note that is also unique to Mexican flavors.

Lime Juice: Gives a good citrus burst of flavor. A must for Mexican street corn!

How to Make Mexican Street Corn Soup

Making this soup is easy. Simply sautee your vegetables, combine ingredients, blend the soup, and serve! You will love how flavorful and delicious this soup is. I’m sure your family will love it!

Sautée: Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, then add onion, corn, salt, pepper, chili powder, and chipotle seasoning. Cook until the corn is a little charred, about 5-8 minutes.

Simmer: Add the garlic to the pot and cook for another minute. Pour in the broth, cotija cheese, and sour cream. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally.

Blend: Remove 2 cups of the corn from the soup and set it aside. Then, blend the soup to a smooth consistency using an immersion or regular blender. Remember to be careful when pouring hot liquids into a blender.

Stir and Serve: If using a blender, pour the soup back into the pot, then add the reserved corn kernels back to the soup. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice and serve.

In this weekly meal plan, I’ve included some fall classics like my Best Ever Chili Recipe! Even your kiddos will love it! You can check out all of my weekly menu plans here.

5 Meals for Dinner this Week!

If you love dinners that are packed with flavor but only by using ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen– then this week’s meal plan is for you! Because I love to make things easy, I hate having to head to the store for one or two ingredients! Check out this weeks meal plan and see if it was easy for you too!

Monday: Best Ever Chili Recipe

Tuesday: Creamy Tuscan Ravioli

Wednesday: Homemade Shepherd’s Pie

Thursday: Thai Peanut Skillet Chicken

Friday: Melt in Your Mouth Pot Roast Recipe

These weekly menu plans are designed to be quick, easy, and affordable for families. Each recipe is crafted to simplify your weeknights, giving you more time with your loved ones!

Corn pudding is creamy, slightly sweet, with a hint of savory! It’s packed with cream, butter, sweet and juicy corn kernels, all baked to perfection. It will be an awesome addition to your Thanksgiving spread, or make it for any weeknight.

Ingredients for Corn Pudding

This ingredient list is pretty simple! In fact, once you have your corn, you probably already have everything else in your kitchen! See the recipe card below for a list of exact ingredient measurements.

Butter: Helps make the pudding rich, with a smooth texture and a depth of flavor.

Room Temperature Heavy Cream: Gives the dish a smooth, creamy texture and flavor.

Room Temperature Large Eggs: Makes everything stick together and creates a custard like texture.

Granulated Sugar: Enhances the sweetness of the corn.

Cornstarch: Helps to thicken the mixture, giving it a custard creamy texture.

Baking Powder: Helps the pudding rise and become more fluffy and light.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.

Can Whole Kernel Corn: The main reason for making this dish, sweet CORN! I love how juicy and sweet it is.

Cans Cream-Style Corn: Adds to the yummy texture and flavor.

Let’s Make Some Corn Pudding!

This corn pudding is delicious and super easy to make! Plus, it only takes about 45 minutes… and that includes baking time!

Prep: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Drain the can of whole-kernel corn well to remove any excess liquid.

Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, baking powder, and salt, then set aside.

Combine: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until combined. Add the cornstarch mixture and stir until combined.

Whisk: Whisk in the butter, heavy cream, creamed corn, and drained corn until fully combined.

Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared casserole dish and bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes. The center should be slightly jiggly.

Rest and Serve: Let the corn pudding rest for 5 minutes before serving.