Apple Pie Bars

Homemade Apple Pie Bars are sweet, tart, and crumbly. These buttery apple bars are made with 3 delicious layers including a flaky pastry crust, a sweet cinnamon apple filling, and a crumbly topping. It's the easiest way to make apple pie!

Plus, these bakery-style apple pie crumble bars are easier to make than you think. They are ready to serve in just over an hour. Whether you're looking for a new dessert to add to your baking list this fall or you're just in the mood for something sweet, these apple pie crumble bars will hit the spot.

Homemade Apple Pie Bars are sweet, tart, and crumbly. With 3 delicious layers including a flaky pastry crust, cinnamon apple filling, and crumbly topping. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love Apple Pie Bars

Loaded with fresh apples. There is nothing better than a warm, freshly baked dessert that fills your kitchen with the aroma of fall flavors. We love going to the local apple farms and picking baskets of apples for this very reason. This recipe is also a great way to use up any leftover apples you may have.
The easiest way to make apple pie. These apple pie crumble bars are basically apple pie in bar form. They have a delicious apple filling sandwiched between the easiest, buttery, homemade pie dough. But there is no rolling dough involved here. Just pack in the bottom layer and sprinkle on the top layer. So easy!
Quick and easy to make. Just because these apple crumble bars look like they came from the bakery, doesn't mean that they are hard to make. Apple pie bars are a quick and easy dessert to make in just over an hour (including prep!) - and most of that time is spent waiting for them to bake in the oven.
Great for any occasion. These apple bars are the perfect dessert to serve for any occasion, whether that's at a weekend brunch, a snack during coffee, a late-night treat, or a Thanksgiving dessert at your holiday dinner this year. Plus, you can serve it hot or cold. My favorite is warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

Ingredients and Notes

To make these delicious Apple Pie Bars, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

apples - There are many different types of apples that can be used for apple pie bars, but some apples are better than others. For example, Granny Smith apples are a good choice because they are tart and firm, which makes them perfect for baking. Other good apples for these apple crumble bars include Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Braeburn.
cinnamon - gives these apple pie bars that classic cinnamon apple flavor.
all-purpose flour
granulated sugar - we need sugar in both the pie crust, topping, and filling.
baking powder
salt
butter - you will need to use cold butter for the pastry dough, cut into cubes. I recommend taking the butter out of the fridge and cutting it just before it's called for in the recipe. Or you can chop it up and put it back in the fridge until ready to use. You will also need butter for the apple filling, but it does not have to be cold.
egg
cornstarch - helps to thicken the apple pie filling. You can also substitute it with all-purpose flour.
lemon juice
vanilla extract

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, and an 8-inch square baking pan.

How to Make the Best Apple Pie Bars

Make the pastry dough. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, and egg. Stir well with a fork or pastry cutter until the flour mixture forms into small crumbs. You can also combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse mix until it resembles coarse crumbs.
Prepare the apple pie filling. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together sliced apples, sugar, and cornstarch until evenly coated. Add apple mixture in a large saucepan and cook over medium heat until softened, stirring occasionally, about 5-7 minutes. Add lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla extract and butter. Stir well and bring it to a simmer. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the apples are tender and the sauce is thickened. Set aside.

Layer the apple bars. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 opposite sides to make it really easy to remove when baked. Spread half of the crumb mixture evenly into the baking dish and press it to pack it and form an even bottom crust. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the crust and crumble the remaining half of the crumb mixture on top.

Bake. Bake in a 375F preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until the crust turns golden brown. Serve it warm or let it cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes so that the filling can set. Letting it cool completely will make it easier to cut. You can speed up on the process by storing in the refrigerator or freezer for 1 hour to help it set faster.
Serve. Slice the apple crumb bars into 9 or 16 squares and serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side or serve cold.

How to Serve

Apple pie crumb bars are delicious on their own whether served warm, at room temperature, or cold. My favorite is warm out of the oven with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream melting on top.

We love using up fall produce in baking recipes. Some of our other fall favorites are:

Storing Instructions

How to store: Store apple pie bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How to freeze: To freeze apple pie bars, first make sure they are completely cooled. Then, wrap it tightly in plastic cling wrap and store in a freezer bag or airtight container. If sliced, individually wrap each crumble bar in plastic cling wrap and store in a freezer bag or airtight container. When ready to eat, allow the bars to thaw overnight in the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter for a couple hours.
How to reheat: If you want to warm up your leftover apple bars, simply pop them into the air fryer at 350F for 5 minutes or on a baking sheet in the oven for 10-15 minutes until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until warm.

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Homemade Dumpling Wrappers

Making dumpling wrappers from scratch has never been easier. This recipe makes high-quality homemade dumpling wrappers that are perfect for any kind of filling and folding or pinching technique you're accustomed to.

These homemade wrappers are fast, easy to make, and ready for filling immediately, taking less than an hour from start to finish. It's a simple enough recipe that you can get the whole family involved - whether that's in making the dough, cutting out the wrappers, or filling and folding dumplings after.

Making dumpling wrappers from scratch has never been easier. This recipe makes high-quality homemade dumpling wrappers for any filling or folding technique. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love these Homemade Dumpling Wrappers

Homemade is always better. Why is it that making something from scratch almost always makes it taste better? Making these dumpling wrappers from scratch will result in tender skins for all kinds of dumpling fillings. Plus, there are no preservatives like the ones you may find in store-bought wrappers that sit on shelves for a long time before they make it to your frying pan.
Stand mixer friendly. You can reduce the usual mess that comes with making this recipe by doing the mixing and kneading in a stand mixer. All you'll have to do is swap out the attachments at the appropriate steps and enjoy an even easier wrapper-making experience.
Quick without compromising quality. Excellent dumpling wrappers don't have to take an entire day to make. These homemade wrappers come together in under an hour, so making dumplings won't have to be a multi-day endeavor. Plus, this recipe makes 80 wrappers so if you are just looking to make less dumplings, easily scale down the recipe or store extra wrappers in the fridge for up to 2 days before you use them.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make these Homemade Dumpling Wrappers, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

all-purpose flour - it is possible to make these homemade dumpling wrappers gluten free, however, it's not as simple as just replacing the all-purpose flour with a measure-for-measure gluten free version. You may have to experiment with different types and combinations of flours and binders (like rice flour and xanthan gum) to get a comparable result.
salt
water
vegetable oil - you can replace the vegetable oil in this recipe with another neutral oil with a high smoke point like avocado oil, or use toasted sesame oil for a boost of flavor.
egg - the egg makes the dough softer and more tender. You can feel free to omit the egg in this recipe if you are allergic, vegan, or if you simply prefer not to include it - there's no need to substitute it with anything.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons (or a kitchen scale), mixing bowl, rolling pin, and 3-inch round cookie cutter.

How to Make Homemade Dumpling Wrappers

Make the dough. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour and salt until evenly combined. Add water, oil, and egg. Stir well with a spatula until no dry flour is visible. Make sure to scrape off any remaining flour off the sides of the bowl.

Knead the dough. Transfer the dough onto a clean and dry surface. Knead the dough until it turns into a soft and smooth dough ball, about 10 minutes. You can also knead the dough on medium speed in a stand mixer for 10 minutes until smooth.
Rest. Cover the dough with plastic cling wrap and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Tips for Kneading Dough

How to knead dough: Knead the dough by pushing it down and outward using the palms of your hands. Fold the dough in half toward you and press down. Repeat this motion by pushing the dough down and outward, and then folding over towards you. This helps build up gluten strength in dough that is responsible for making the bread fluffy.
How to test if dough is well-kneaded: A well-kneaded dough is smooth and can hold its shape. You can test the dough by giving it a firm poke with your finger. The indentation should bounce right back. If it doesn't bounce back and stays like a dimple, keep kneading for a few more minutes.

How to Roll Out Dumpling Wrappers

Divide. Use a bench scraper or knife to divide the dough into 4 pieces.

Roll. Lightly flour a clean surface and a rolling pin. Take one piece of dough at a time and use a rolling pin to roll it out to 1/16-inch thickness.
Cut out. Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out circles from the dough. Repeat with the remaining dough balls.

Repeat. Combine the scraps into one dough ball and re-roll and repeat until all the dough is used up.
Use or store. Use the wrappers immediately to prevent them drying out. To store, place in a floured sealable container or ziploc bag for up to 2 days in the refrigerator.

How to Use Dumpling Wrappers

Use this dumpling wrapper recipe to make your favorite dumplings and wontons. (To make wonton wrappers, roll the dough out even more thin and cut into 3-inch squares). Whether you are making Asian dumplings or western dumplings, this classic dumpling recipe works for any cuisine.

Some of my favorite dumpling recipes to make with these wrappers are:

Homemade Chinese beef potstickers (dumplings) are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside packed with a delicious beef filling. | aheadofthyme.com

Easy to make chicken and shrimp dumpings can be steamed, boiled or fried and served with a side of soy sauce for dipping! | aheadofthyme.com

Storage and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Store uncooked dumpling wrappers in a floured, sealed bag for up to two days in the refrigerator. Once they have been used to wrap dumplings and cooked, they can be stored longer - up to 3-7 days in the refrigerator, depending on the filling used in the recipe. Check specific dumpling recipe for full storing instructions.

How to Freeze

Uncooked wrappers will dry out in the freezer on their own, but you can freeze then once they have been used to wrap dumplings. Place them in a parchment-lined baking pan in a single layer. Freeze for an hour until hard and then transfer to a freezer bag to store for up to 3 months.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Try different shapes for different dumplings. This recipe calls for circles, but you can also make square or triangular dumpling wrappers to suit whatever use you have in mind. You can also make the wrappers larger or smaller to suit your dumpling needs!
Try different cooking methods. These dumpling wrappers can be deep-fried, pan-fried, steamed, baked, boiled, or air fried - it's completely up to you! Different cooking methods will result in different textures and some may work better for different shapes and fillings than others.
Add color. You can dye the dough different colors by adding food coloring or by incorporating small amounts of pureed vegetables like cooked spinach and beets - experiment with different methods and create your own colors!

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Golden Milk Turmeric Latte

Golden Milk Turmeric Latte is an Indian herbal tea that will warm your soul and excite your tastebuds. It's quick and easy to make with milk and a handful of bold warming spices and naturally sweetened to taste.

This golden milk latte can be enjoyed at any time of the day, but it's an especially great drink to help you wind down at night. It's loaded with natural soothing properties and great for immunity too.

Golden Milk Turmeric Latte is an Indian herbal tea that is quick and easy to make, loaded with natural soothing properties, and great for immunity. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love This Golden Milk Turmeric Latte

It can easily be made vegan. Golden milk is traditionally made with whole milk and honey, but you can easily make a vegan version by substituting non-dairy, plant-based milk (like almond or oat) for the whole milk and maple syrup or brown sugar for the honey.
The warming spices. Turmeric lattes require several spices. In addition to turmeric, you'll need ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper. Together, these spices create a balanced aromatic milk that looks and tastes amazing. Plus, provides tons of health benefits too.
Golden milk is decaf. You won't find any caffeine in this turmeric latte, because there is no coffee or tea - just milk and spices. In Hindi, a turmeric latte is called "haldi ka doodh," literally translating to "milk with turmeric." That's why it makes a great bedtime latte!

Benefits of Turmeric Latte

Golden milk has natural healing and soothing properties. When you drink it about an hour before you plan to go to bed, it can help you relax before you drift into a peaceful sleep.

Turmeric milk also has natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties, which can help boost immunity.

Doctor's note

Some people with certain conditions or who take certain medications should talk to their doctors before adding golden milk to their regular diet.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make this easy Golden Milk Turmeric Latte, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

milk - I like using whole milk in these golden milk lattes, but feel free to use your favorite milk, whether that's dairy or non-dairy such as almond milk, oat milk, coconut milk, or soy milk.
turmeric - we use ground turmeric in this recipe. You can also substitute with 1.5 teaspoons of fresh grated turmeric.
ginger - this recipe calls for fresh ginger. You can also substitute with teaspoon ½ to 1 teaspoons ground ginger.
ground cinnamon
ground black pepper - helps your body absorb the turmeric.
honey - add a sweetener if needed. You can also substitute the honey for maple syrup if following a vegan diet.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a small saucepan, and a fine mesh sieve (if using).

How to Make the Best Golden Milk Turmeric Latte

Make latte. In a small saucepan, whisk together milk, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper. Heat over medium heat until starting to boil.
Add sweetener. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add maple syrup (if using). Taste and adjust for sweetness and flavor. Add more turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, or sweetener based on your personal preference.

Strain. Pour the drink through a fine mesh sieve or strainer to remove any lumps. If you substitute fresh ginger for ground ginger, then you can skip this step.
Serve. Divide the turmeric latte into two cups and serve warm, or store in the refrigerator and serve cold over ice.

Storing Instructions

Make ahead instructions: This golden milk latte can be prepared up to 3 days in advance. Although it can be served cold, they're best enjoyed warm or hot.
How to store: Store turmeric lattes in an airtight container or sealed cup in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How to reheat: You can reheat your turmeric milk latte in the microwave or on a pan over the stove for a couple minutes until hot.

Serving Golden Milk

Serve this beautiful drink warm in a mug, or cold over ice for an iced golden milk latte. No matter how you serve it, it's creamy, bright yellow, and a true showstopper. To go the extra mile, you can garnish your turmeric latte with cinnamon and fresh or dried rose petals.

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Jello Jigglers

If you like Jell-O, you'll love these fun Jello Jigglers! They're fun and colorful, smooth in texture, and fruity flavored. These wiggly, jiggly gelatin treats are great for everyday snacks or special occasion treats for kids and adults.

Customize these no bake jelly jigglers for any holiday using different colors and shapes. Make them early in the day and enjoy once set in the afternoon or start them in the evening for fresh treats the next day.

Jello Jigglers are fun, colorful gelatin treats that are smooth in texture and fruity flavored. Customize for any holiday with different colors and shapes. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love These Jello Jigglers

The simplest recipe ever. There are only two ingredients in this recipe - yes, really! It couldn't be any more straightforward to recreate this age-old nostalgia favorite.
It's customizable. Even though this jiggler recipe is simple, it still offers plenty of opportunity to get creative with shapes, colors, flavors, and additions to make your own unique creation.
Minimal prep work. The majority of the time it takes to make jelly jigglers is spent waiting for the Jell-O to set into a smooth, firm gelatin. Otherwise, it only takes ten minutes of active prep work to make this no bake recipe.

Ingredient Notes

To make these fun Jello Jigglers, you will need only two ingredients in this recipe, but there's still room to make adjustments to tailor it to your preferences (full measurements in recipe card below):

Jell-o mix - use your favorite flavor of Jell-O in this recipe or decide based on color - it's completely up to you! You can also opt for the sugar-free Jell-O packages if you wish.
boiling water - you can make the shapes more opaque by swapping ½ cup or more of the water with gently heated cow's milk or plant-based alternatives like almond or coconut milk. If you decide to add cow's milk, heat it slowly over low heat to prevent curdling before adding it to the gelatin powder.

You will also need measuring cups, mixing bowls, and a 9x13-inch pan or two 8-inch square pans (depending on how many colors you want to use).

How to Make Jello Jigglers

Combine ingredients. Select either 2 packs of the same color dry gelatin mix, or select 2 different colors:
- If using 1 color: In a large mixing bowl, combine boiling water and 2 packs of dry gelatin mix. Stir for at least 3 minutes until the jello mix is completely dissolved. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 inch pan.
- If using 2 colors: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 ¼ cups boiling water and one pack of dry gelatin mix. Stir for at least 3 minutes until the jello mix is completely dissolved. Repeat again in another mixing bowl with the remaining boiling water and remaining pack of dry gelatin mix. Pour into another 8-inch square pan.

Pour. If using one colour, pour the mixture into a 9x13 inch pan. If using two colors, pour each into a separate 8-inch square pan.

Chill. Refrigerate the pan(s) for 3-4 hours, or until firm.
Cut out. Dip bottom of the pan in warm water for 15 seconds to loosen it up. Use 2-inch cookie cutters to cut the jello into decorative shapes. Carefully lift the jello shapes out of the pan.

Storage Instructions

How to Store

Carefully wrap your jelly jigglers on a plate or dish in plastic cling wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. If you add other perishable foods to your jigglers, like fruit, you may need to shorten the storage time to 2-3 days.

Freezing

It's not typically recommended to freeze gelatin products like these jello jigglers for two reasons: it won't freeze completely (meaning you can't really extend the lifespan beyond the time you refrigerate it) and because it won't retain the same consistency or texture once thawed.

How to store: Carefully wrap your jelly jigglers on a plate or dish in plastic cling wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. If you add other perishable foods to your jigglers, like fruit, you may need to shorten the storage time to 2-3 days.
Stay on-theme: Choose your color(s) according to upcoming holidays or seasonal themes and match them with coordinating cookie cutter shapes to go the extra mile.
Layer it up: Impress your family and friends by layering multiple colors of Jell-O on top of each other to make these fun treats - just make sure you let the layers set before adding more colors or you'll end up with a strangely-colored mess and no layers.
Add creative mix-ins: You don't have to leave these jelly jigglers plain! You can add sliced or chopped fruit or whole berries to add visual interest and increased nutritional value to your jello jigglers.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Stay on-theme. Choose your color(s) according to upcoming holidays or seasonal themes and match them with coordinating cookie cutter shapes to go the extra mile.
Layer it up. Impress your family and friends by layering multiple colors of Jell-O on top of each other to make these fun treats - just make sure you let the layers set before adding more colors or you'll end up with a strangely-colored mess and no layers.
Add creative mix-ins before setting the Jell-O. You don't have to leave these jelly jigglers plain! You can add sliced or chopped fruit or whole berries to add visual interest and increased nutritional value to your jello jigglers.

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Tiktok Ramen

Tiktok ramen is savory, sweet, and loaded with umami flavor. It is a quick and easy ramen hack made with instant noodles, eggs, butter, garlic, and soy sauce - and you ditch the seasoning pack.

The viral TikTok ramen video has circulated the internet for months as people discover just how easy it is to take ramen noodles to the next level. It's cheap, simple, and so satisfying. Get on board this latest tiktok food hack today and you will totally get what the hype is all about.

Tiktok ramen is savory, sweet and loaded with umami flavor. It's a quick and easy viral ramen hack with instant noodles, eggs, butter, garlic and soy sauce. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love Tiktok Ramen

It's a tasty noodle dish. Who doesn't love ramen? This quick recipe uses ramen noodles in a soup-less version similar to Malaysian mie goreng (garlic and egg noodles). By throwing out the seasoning and customizing these noodles with different ingredients, you will elevate your standard bowl of instant noodles by adding extra texture and flavor for a more robust meal.
A low-effort, high-reward recipe. This TikTok ramen hack offers big flavor without needing much effort. It a quick weeknight recipe that takes only 10 minutes to cook a restaurant-quality meal - no wonder it's gone viral! Cheap, delicious, and easy. This tiktok ramen with egg is a triple threat.
Simple ingredients. No trips to specialty markets necessary here. This popular ramen uses ingredients you probably already have on hand. And if you don't have something (aka. the umami furikake seasoning), you can find the suggested substitutes easily. The simplicity of the few staple ingredients used in the right combination is really what made this viral TikTok food hack popular in the first place.

Ingredient Notes

To make this viral tiktok ramen, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

instant ramen noodles - For time's sake, this recipe uses instant ramen, but if you make your own or have a preferred brand of noodles, feel free to substitute those instead.
butter
garlic - Mincing fresh garlic always offers the best flavor, but if you want to save time, you can use pre-minced garlic instead. Just use 1-2 teaspoons of minced garlic instead.
red chili flakes - We love making these noodles spicy but adding red chili flakes is completely optional. Add as much or as little as you like!
granulated sugar - The sugar in this recipe helps balance the flavor and stay true to the viral version, but you can leave it out or replace it with your preferred sweetener instead. You could use equal amounts of honey, maple syrup, or a sugar alternative in its place.
soy sauce - There are many alternatives to regular soy sauce. You can use a low-sodium version, a gluten-free soy sauce, or if someone in your family has a soy allergy, swap them out for coconut aminos at a 1:1 ratio instead.
egg
Furikake seasoning - Depending on where you live, furikake may not be available in your local grocery store. You can find it on Amazon, use everything bagel seasoning instead, or make your own furikake spice blend from a balance of crushed nori, sesame seeds, salt, and sugar.
green onions - To garnish on top. You can also use chives instead.

You will also need measuring spoons, a cooking pot, and a skillet.

How to Make the Viral Tiktok Ramen with Egg

Cook noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add ramen noodles and discard the seasoning pack. Cook ramen according to the package instructions, about 3-4 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
Sauté aromatics. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat until bubbly, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and chili flakes and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add sugar and soy sauce. Stir well until evenly incorporated.

Add noodles. Add the cooked and drained ramen to the pan and toss well to coat.
Scramble egg. Shift the noodles to one side to make some space in a pan to crack the egg. Add the egg and scramble. Cook until set, about 2 minutes. Stir well to mix the eggs into the noodles.
Add seasoning. Stir in seasoning and serve immediately.

How to Serve

These ramen noodles with egg are delicious served on its own, or paired with some of my favorite sides including:

Recipe Tips and Tricks

How to store: You can store leftover TikTok ramen noodles in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator. If using instant noodle packets, the noodles should hold their shape, if you use other types of noodles, it may start to get mushy after the first day.
Get creative with toppings. If you want to stay true to the viral ramen version, leave as-is, otherwise you can feel free to experiment with different toppings! You can try adding things like grilled pork, fish cakes, boiled eggs, green onion, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, or any combination of toppings you'd usually find in a restaurant bowl of ramen.
Recycle the leftovers. If you find yourself with leftover noodles or sauce, don't be afraid to recycle them into a completely new meal. Use the sauce to season rice, use the noodles in a new stir-fry, or come up with your own unique way to reduce food waste and keep things exciting at the table.

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Cinnamon Apple Granola

Cinnamon Apple Granola is quick and easy to make, tastes like apple pie in granola form, and is so much better than store-bought! This fall granola is packed with rolled oats, apples, pecans, and warm fall spices. Perfect for breakfast on-the-go or a snack throughout the day.

Make your mornings even easier by prepping this delicious and easy homemade apple pie granola ahead of time and I promise you'll never buy store-bought again. It's so much easier to make at home than you think. Plus, it lasts for weeks - if you don't finish it right away!

Cinnamon Apple Granola is quick and easy to make, tastes like apple pie, and is much better than store-bought — plus easier to make than you think! | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love this Cinnamon Apple Granola

So easy to make. If you've never made your own granola at home, you'll be amazed by how easy and simple it is. Take just 10 minutes needed to prepare it and enjoy homemade granola all week long - or maybe just a day long depending on how fast you eat this. It's that good.
The fall flavors. Nothing says fall quite like cinnamon and apples. But add in some crunchy pecans and chewy raisins and you've got yourself the perfect fall snack. You'll be putting this cinnamon apple granola on everything - yogurt, parfaits, or simply eat by the handful (kind of my favourite way to devour this!).
Healthier than store-bought. This apple pie granola is gluten-free, refined sugar free, and made with real ingredients. You know exactly what is going in there (no preservatives here!).

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Cinnamon Apple Granola, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

rolled oats - you will need to use rolled oats and not quick oats.
apples
pecan halves - you can also substitute with any other type of nuts that you like. Try walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds.
dark brown sugar
raisins
all-purpose flour
butter - to make this recipe vegan, substitute the butter with coconut oil or melted butter.
vanilla extract
ground cinnamon
salt

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and a half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Cinnamon Apple Granola

Combine ingredients. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, including oats, apples, pecans, brown sugar, raisins, flour, butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Use a spatula and stir to thoroughly combine.
Spread mixture. Pour the mixture onto a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan.

Bake. Bake in a 325F preheated oven for 15 minutes. Stir the granola, then re-spread it and put it back in the oven. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until granola is golden brown and crispy.
Cool. Let cool and store in an airtight container.

How to Serve

You can serve granola in so many different ways. The easiest is just on its own as a snack by the handfuls.

You can also:

add it in a bowl over milk or yogurt
layer it in a fruit and yogurt parfait
Add it on banana toast with honey.
sprinkle it over a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Layer fresh fruits, creamy Greek yogurt and crunchy granola to make this fruit and yogurt parfait for a delicious and healthy breakfast or a simple snack. | aheadofthyme.com

Storing Instructions

How to store: Store homemade granola in an airtight container (such as a glass canning jar) for up to 2 weeks.
How to freeze: Wrap granola tightly in plastic cling wrap and place inside a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Apple Cake

This easy Apple Cake has a dense and moist crumb and is loaded with fresh apples, warm cinnamon sugar, and optional crunchy nuts. It's quick and easy to make and ready to eat in less than an hour. It's the perfect last minute treat to make when you are craving something sweet this fall.

The hardest part of this coffee cake recipe is waiting for the cake to cool. You'll want to dig into it right away, especially as the scent of warm fall spices take over your kitchen. It also stores well and is freezer-friendly - you can have it on hand for up to several months (if you can resist eating the whole thing for that long!).

Easy Apple Cake has a dense and moist crumb and is loaded with fresh apples, cinnamon sugar, and nuts. It’s quick, easy, and ready to eat in under an hour. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love this Apple Cake

Classic fall flavors. This apple coffee cake has all the nostalgic autumn flavors in a crumbly, moist cake: cozy spices, sweet apples, and soft-yet-crunchy chopped nuts. It's perfect for when the weather cools down, but you'll find yourself craving this recipe year-round!
Quick and easy-to-follow recipe. This is a super easy apple cake recipe. If you follow the simple step-by-step instructions, you'll have a cake in the oven after only 10-15 minutes of hands-on measuring and mixing.
Great for all occasions. One recipe for a multitude of occasions. It is a great "just because" cake for slicing up and serving with a morning cappuccino, as part of a brunch spread, as an after-lunch snack, or a late-night dessert. It's also great dessert to serve at Thanksgiving, housewarming parties, or potlucks.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make this easy Apple Cake, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

all-purpose flour - for a gluten-free version of this easy apple cake, try swapping out the all-purpose flour for measure-for-measure gluten-free flour. The texture of the cake will change slightly, but should still yield a similar result.
baking powder + soda
granulated sugar
ground cinnamon
salt
vegetable oil - such as avocado oil or melted coconut oil. You can also use melted butter instead of vegetable oil to create a more buttery flavor.
plain yogurt - we always have a batch of our Homemade Yogurt that we used in this cake recipe. But if you or someone in your family has a dairy sensitivity or allergy, you can use a non-dairy yogurt. Just make sure it has a similar fat content (coconut yogurt is usually good for this) to get a similar result.
vanilla extract - vanilla extract gives the cake a subtle vanilla aroma and taste, but you can amp it up a bit if you have vanilla bean paste on hand. Alternatively, you could use almond extract, or apple extract if you wanted to emphasize the fruity flavors.
eggs - in place of the eggs in this recipe, you can use flax eggs, mashed banana, or applesauce as binders instead. You may have to adjust the leavening agents in the batter (the baking powder and baking soda) to accommodate for the lack of egg to make sure the cake rises enough.
apples - we recommend baking apples such as Granny Smith apples for the most flavor, but feel free to use any kind of apples that you have on hand.
nuts - I like adding walnuts or pecans to this cake to compliment the warm fall flavors. But the nuts in this recipe are completely optional, and you can chop them into larger or smaller pieces to fit your preferences.
cinnamon sugar - made with, you guessed it - granulated sugar and ground cinnamon.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, and 9-inch round cake pan.

How to Make the Best Apple Cake

Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined.
Combine wet ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, combine oil, yogurt, vanilla extract, and eggs. Mix well until smooth.
Add wet to dry. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and use a spatula to mix together until just combined and no dry ingredients are visible.
Fold in apples and nuts. Fold in the shredded apples and walnuts until evenly combined.
Pour batter in ban. Lightly grease a 9-inch round cake pan with some cooking oil. Pour the batter into the cake pan.
Add cinnamon sugar topping. In a small mixing bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon and mix evenly with a spoon. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top of the batter.
Bake. Bake the cake in a 350F preheated oven on the middle rack for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Cool. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes in the pan, then invert to remove the cake and allow it to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
Serve. Slice and serve on it's own or with a drizzle of cinnamon icing or Vanilla Ice Cream.

How to Serve

We recommend serving this apple cake with a drizzle of simple icing or honey on top, or warm with a scoop of with ice cream on the side. Ice cream makes everything better, and serving this cake alongside ice cream will take it from a brunch treat to a full-fledged dessert. It's great alongside a scoop or two of butter pecan or a velvety vanilla ice cream for a richer, sweeter experience.

Storing Instructions

How to store at room temperature

Wrap tightly in plastic cling wrap and leave at room temperature in a cool, dry place for up to three days.

How to store in the fridge

Wrap the apple cake tightly in aluminum foil or plastic cling wrap (or place in a large Ziploc bag if you've eaten enough of it) and store in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.

How to freeze

Wrap tightly in plastic cling wrap or place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to three months. You may want to slice the cake into individual servings and wrap them each individually prior to freezing if you don't want to eat it all at once. To thaw, let it come up to room temperature on the counter for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator before serving or attempting to reheat.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Do not overmix the batter. Stir the batter with a spatula until just combined and no dry ingredients are visible. Overmixing will make the bread denser and firmer.
Patience is key. It's incredibly important that you let the cake cool long enough before you attempt to flip it. Premature flipping may result in your cake breaking in half, leaving you with half a cake on the platter with the remainder still wedged in the pan. It's better to err on the side of caution here and wait longer than you think you should if you're worried about breakage.

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Orange Chicken (Chinese Takeout Recipe)

You may never order takeout again with this Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken recipe on hand. This Asian chicken is a quick, easy, and delicious 30 minute meal that doesn't require a culinary degree to make. Just season and coat the chicken, cook it, make the sticky orange chicken sauce, and combine.

Plus, this homemade orange chicken recipe can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. It's a tasty lunch or dinner that can be served alongside a variety of sides including rice, noodles, veggies, salad, and dumplings.

Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It’s healthier than takeout — can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love This Chinese Orange Chicken

Easy weeknight dinner. This orange chicken recipe is great for busy weeknights. In just half an hour you can have a hot, fresh, nutritious meal on the table, using mostly ingredients you likely already have on hand - especially if you do Asian cooking at home!
Healthier than Chinese takeout. Craving takeout but on a budget or trying to change a habit? Make this from scratch instead using this easy Panda Express Chinese orange copycat recipe. Plus, it's healthier than takeout because the chicken in our recipe isn't deep fried - you can either pan fry, bake, or air fry it!
It makes the best leftovers and great for meal prep. If you usually have a hard time getting your family (or yourself) to eat leftovers and find yourself tossing out entire untouched containers of dinners past on fridge cleanout day, this recipe is for you. This recipe tastes just like Chinese takeout orange chicken (if not better!) and your whole family will be fighting over the remnants - that is, if there is any left.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Orange Chicken, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

chicken - we used thighs because they are more tender than breast and is what is typically used in Chinese chicken stir fries. You can use chicken breast as well, depending on your preference.
salt and pepper
eggs - to coat the chicken and allow the cornstarch to stick well to it.
cornstarch - you will need cornstarch to coat the chicken and give it its crispy coating. You also need cornstarch in the sauce to help thicken it.
garlic - using freshly minced garlic will result in the most flavorful sauce, but if you need to, you can use the pre-minced version from the grocery store. Use a half or whole teaspoon of minced garlic per clove of garlic that the recipe calls for.
ginger - if you can't find ginger in the store, don't have the means to grate it yourself, or want to save even more preparation time, you can use store-bought grated ginger. It usually comes in a squeeze tube.
orange juice - whether you use a pulpy orange juice or not is up to you! For this sauce, a pulpless orange juice works best, but if all you have on hand is juice with pulp, you can strain it or leave it as-is. Also, make sure you're using real orange juice and not an "orange-flavored'' drink - there's a big difference between the two and using orange drinks will change the recipe quite a bit.
soy sauce - use low-sodium soy sauce if you're watching your sodium intake or use coconut aminos for a soy-free orange chicken sauce!
white vinegar
sugar
sesame oil
oil - you will also need vegetable oil if frying the chicken, or cooking spray oil if baking in the oven or cooking in the air fryer.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, shallow bowls, mixing bowl, and skillet. You will also need a skillet, oven, or air fryer (depending on the cooking method you use).

How to Make the Best Orange Chicken (Chinese Takeout Recipe)

Prepare chicken. Use a paper towel to pat the chicken completely dry. Cut the chicken 1-inch cubes, and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside for 5 minutes.
Coat chicken. Prepare a shallow plate with beaten eggs and another with cornstarch. Dip one piece of chicken at a time into the egg wash, then evenly coat in the cornstarch.

Cook. Cook the chicken on the stove, in the oven, or in the air fryer:
- To pan fry: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for until the hot oil shimmers, about 3-4 minutes. Fry the chicken in two batches for 6-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, flipping once. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and allow the chicken to rest.
- To cook in the oven: Preheat oven to 375F. Place the coated chicken on a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan in a single layer. Spray with cooking oil spray. Bake until cooked through, flipping once
- To cook in the air fryer: Place coated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray with cooking oil spray. Air fry at 350F for 15 minutes until golden brown. You may have to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

How to Make Orange Chicken Sauce

In a small mixing bowl, combine garlic, ginger, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Whisk well until smooth.
In a large skillet, heat the sauce over medium heat. Heat until simmered and thickened to a desired consistency, about 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.

Assemble

Add the chicken and toss well to coat. Garnish with green onions and serve warm.

How to Serve

This Orange Chicken is delicious served on its own, or paired with some of my favorite takeout sides including:

Storage/Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Place in an airtight container and store this Chinese chicken in the fridge for up to four days.

How to Freeze

Freeze in family size or individual portions in freezer bags for up to three months. Reheat in the oven by baking (unthawed) at 350℉ for 10-15 minutes or follow the directions for your air-fryer for an easy make-ahead meal. If you're meal prepping, you can freeze the chicken and the sauce separately for a crispier result.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Make the sauce ahead of time to speed up the prep. If you're especially short on time, you can make the sauce ahead and store it in the fridge for a few days before you make the recipe! It's also a great dipping sauce for things like chicken nuggets, steamed or raw veggies, and fries or chips. You'll have no trouble using it up, and you may find that you have to make double or triple batches to make the sauce last until you're ready to use it for stovetop orange chicken!
Serve with veggies. If you don't want to serve the chicken with rice or want a veggie to go alongside it, steamed broccoli, grilled bok choy, and raw snap peas are all highly compatible with Chinese orange chicken! Use some of the sauce as a glaze or dipping sauce (as suggested above) if you have a picky eater or two in the family.
Double (or triple) the recipe for effortless meal prep. This orange chicken is so good, you'll want to eat it all week long. And you can! Double or triple the recipe and portion it out into reusable containers like you normally would when meal prepping and you'll have lunch or dinner sorted for the whole week! If you aren't going to eat it all within four days, try to freeze some and reheat it in the microwave at the office later.

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Maple Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce

Maple Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce is an easy, flavorful, and delicious side dish to make this season. Tender carrots are warmly spiced and caramelized with maple syrup, topped with a drizzle of homemade yogurt sauce and crunchy walnuts.

Not only do they look stunning, but they are quick and easy to make - ready in just 35 minutes (including prep!). Serve these maple carrots with almost any of your favorite main course meals.

Maple Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce is a quick, easy, flavorful, and delicious side dish that is warmly spiced and caramelized with maple syrup. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love These Maple Roasted Carrots

They are quick and easy to make. These maple roasted carrots and yogurt sauce take just a few minutes to prep and 25 minutes in the oven before they are ready to each. It's an easy and stress-free side that you can make when you don't feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen, but want to eat something delicious.
Loaded with flavor. With ingredients like maple syrup, cinnamon, lemon, and tarragon, these carrots are so flavorful - sweet, savory, and warmly spiced.
Carrots are healthy. This is a healthy side dish that you need to add to your dinner side dish rotation. Carrots are packed full of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants. They also promote healthy cholesterol levels and are good for eye health.

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Maple Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

carrots - feel free to use carrots with their tops on or without.
olive oil
salt and pepper
cinnamon
maple syrup - you can substitute agave syrup or honey too.
walnuts - toasted and chopped walnuts are optional, for garnish.
yogurt sauce - the homemade yogurt sauce is made in minutes using full-fat Greek yogurt, salt, lemon zest + juice, water, and fresh tarragon. You can substitute the tarragon with your favorite herbs to switch up the flavor. Try dill or mint.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Maple Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce

Season carrots. Place the carrots on a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and set aside. In a small mixing bowl, combine salt, cinnamon, and pepper. Sprinkle it evenly over the carrots on all sides.
Roast the carrots. Roast the carrots in a 425F preheated oven for 20 minutes, rotating once halfway through.

Add maple syrup. Remove carrots from the oven and drizzle maple syrup on top. Toss to coat, then return to the oven and cook for another 5-6 minutes.
Make the yogurt sauce. While carrots are cooking, make the yogurt sauce. In a small mixing bowl, combine Greek yogurt, salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped tarragon. Add water to thin it out so it's pourable. Whisk to combine, then set aside.

Serve. Once carrots are cooked, drizzle yogurt sauce on top, along with fresh tarragon and toasted walnuts. Serve immediately.

How to Serve

These carrots would be great with roast chicken or a Mediterranean lamb entree like Sheet Pan Lamb Chops, but honestly I'm fine eating a whole plate of these by themselves. The walnuts add a heartiness that helps fill you up.

Some other main dishes that you can serve these maple carrots with are:

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Customization tips: If you like a little heat, add ¼ teaspoon of cayenne powder to the seasoning blend for the carrots. The cool yogurt sauce will cool you down. I can't wait to make and enjoy these all season long. They are highly crave-worthy!
How to store fresh carrots: Whole raw carrots can stay fresh for up to four weeks when stored properly. To prolong their shelf-life, you can store them in an airtight container filled with cold water, and replace the water every few days.
How to store roasted carrots: Maple roasted carrots will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can store the yogurt sauce separately in another airtight container for up to one week.

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Vegetarian Bolognese

This Vegetarian Bolognese is a quick and easy vegetable-packed pasta with the flavor, texture, and goodness of a traditional Bolognese without the meat. It's healthy, filling, and delicious.

Ready in 45 minutes, it's the perfect family dinner for busy weeknights and a tasty way to sneak in more veggies for the kids. This vegetarian pasta is so good that you can serve it to your meat-eating friends, and they'll love it too!

Why You'll Love This Vegetarian Bolognese

Packed with plant-based ingredients. This vegetarian Bolognese has no meat, so we've replaced this ingredient with one you're sure to love: quinoa. Its add the right texture along with finely chopped vegetables like carrots, celery, and mushrooms. All these ingredients add some variety in flavor and texture - just like traditional bolognese.
The complex flavor. Vegetarian Bolognese is far from bland. You'll love the layered taste of the veggies alongside aromatics like garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning. To create the classic meaty taste we also add soy sauce, Worcestershire, and cheese.
Quick and easy to make. This vegetable pasta sauce takes some time to prep because there are lots of ingredients to chop up (you can cut this time down a lot if you use a food processor. The sauce takes about 25 minutes to cook, most of which is simmering to allow the quinoa to cook.
Meat eaters love it too. This vegetarian Bolognese is a show-stopping pasta dish that will impress even your meat-eating friends. It's a great dish to make when you have vegetarians at the table, and also a healthy alternative to traditional Bolognese.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Vegetarian Bolognese, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

pasta - I recommend a thin, long noodle like spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. But you can of course serve this vegetarian pasta sauce over any shaped pasta that you have on hand.
vegetable oil
aromatics - onions and garlic add tons of flavor to almost all the pasta sauces that we cook. I don't recommend skipping them.
veggies - this vegetable packed bolognese is made with carrots, celery, and crushed tomatoes.
mushrooms - we used white button mushrooms, but any mushroom chopped finely will work. Try it with cremini mushrooms, baby bella, shiitake mushrooms, or a combination.
seasoning - this sauce has so much flavor thanks to soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce (optional), tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Parmesan cheese - to make this recipe vegan, feel free to substitute the Parmesan with 2.5 tablespoons nutritional yeast. Note that the texture will be slightly different.
quinoa
water

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, and 2 large cooking pots or 1 cooking pot and 1 Dutch oven.

How to Make the Best Vegetarian Bolognese

Make pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta (spaghetti noodles) and cook until al dente (fully cooked but still firm), or according to package directions, about 10-12 minutes. Rinse the noodles under cold water to cool off completely and set aside in the pot.
Sauté vegetables. Heat oil in a large pot or 6 quart Dutch oven over medium-high until the hot oil is sizzling hot, about 2 minutes. Add onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Sauté until tender and the liquid starts to evaporate, about 8-10 minutes. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Add liquids. Add crushed tomatoes, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste.

Add cheese. Add Parmesan, stir well and bring it to a boil.
Add quinoa. Stir in quinoa and water. Reduce heat to medium low and cover the lid. Let it simmer until the quinoa has absorbed most of the liquid, about 15 minutes. Cooked quinoa looks fluffy and tender. Add more salt and pepper if needed, to taste.
Toss and serve. Add the pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat. Serve with fresh parsley and more Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.

How to Serve

Serve this Vegetarian Bolognese on its own as a filling and nutritious meal, or serve it with some classic pasta sides such as:

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Time saving tip: You can coarsely chop the vegetables, throw them in the food processor, and pulse mix until finely diced.
How to store: Vegetarian bolognese will last for about 3 days when stored inside an airtight container in the fridge. You can store the sauce and pasta together or separately.
How to reheat: Vegetarian bolognese can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. For stovetop reheating, cook in a covered pan over medium heat until warm, stirring occasionally and adding water as needed.

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Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Meet your new favorite fall breakfast: Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins. This muffin recipe is fast, easy, and delicious - loaded with fresh apples, oats, and fall spices. These muffins are like a handheld (and healthier) version of apple streusel cake and make a great treat that's sure to get the whole family excited for the next breakfast or snack time.

These apple muffins with oatmeal are travel-friendly and perfect for busy lifestyles. Not only does the recipe require only ten minutes of active prep time, the resulting muffins are perfect to grab when you're pressed for time and need a quick, nutritious bite to eat. They store well, are freezer-friendly, and great for meal prep too!

Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins are fast, easy and delicious— loaded with apples, oats, and fall spices. A quick nutritious bite for breakfast or snack time. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love These Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Healthy breakfast treat. These cinnamon apple oatmeal muffins are a great alternative to store-bought versions for a healthier breakfast choice. They're made with real apples, rolled oats, and less sugar than their bakery-counter cousins!
Classic cinnamon apple flavor. If you are a fan of Apple Pie, Applesauce, Apple Cake, or any apple dessert, then you will love these warm spiced apple muffins. They're light and spongy, and obviously full of apples which means that your breakfast this week is kind of sort of healthy. Win win!
The crumb topping. The crumb topping (also known as an oat streusel topping), is the best thing that happened to this muffin. Sweet, crunchy streusel takes these muffins to the next level. It's a mixture of flour, butter, sugar, and oats which turns your muffins from regular muffins into fancy schmancy muffins. Better yet, you can use the streusel recipe on top of everything - like all your favourite cakes and muffins. So be sure to save it!
Great for meal prep. Hectic mornings and busy days with packed schedules practically demand that you prepare meals and snacks ahead of time, so these spiced apple oatmeal muffins are perfect to make ahead of those weeks when you know you'll have a lot on your plate. They're a perfect grab-and-go item to pack in lunches, send along for snack time, or snag for a quick breakfast in the car or on the bus.

Ingredient Notes

To make these easy Spiced Apple Oatmeal Muffins, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

all-purpose flour - make a gluten-free version of these apple muffins with oatmeal by substituting the wheat-based all-purpose flour with measure-for-measure flour, or experiment with coconut or almond flour for a carb-friendly treat (the resulting muffins may vary in texture, and it may take a few tries to fine tune recipe to get the desired outcome).
rolled oats - make sure to use old-fashioned rolled oats, and not quick oats. Plus, use certified gluten free oats if you have celiac or other gluten intolerance, and swap for organic rolled oats if you're sensitive to pesticides.
baking powder + baking soda
ground cinnamon
ground nutmeg
salt
butter - make this recipe vegan by replacing the butter with melted coconut oil or avocado oil! Avocado oil has almost no taste, but coconut oil won't change the overall taste of the muffins too much either as the mild coconuty flavor is fairly compatible with most sweet baked goods.
sugar - we use both brown sugar and granulated sugar in this recipe. You can also swap the sugar in this muffin recipe for maple syrup, honey, or other dietary-friendly alternatives like stevia, turbinado sugar or Swerve. The streusel topping will need some kind of granulated sweetener to retain texture, but what goes into the actual muffin can be tailored to what's best for your family.
egg
yogurt - we used our homemade yogurt because we always have a batch in the fridge.
apples
oat streusel - this crunchy topping is made with a mixture of brown sugar, rolled oats, all-purpose flour, butter, and cinnamon.

Equipment

You will also need the following baking equipment:

measuring cups and spoons
mixing bowls
hand mixer or a stand mixer
12-tin muffin pan
cupcake liners
cookie scoop
wire cooling rack

How to Make the Best Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.

Combine wet ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat until fully incorporated. Add yogurt and beat until mixed.

Add wet ingredients to dry ones. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir with a spatula until most of the flour is mixed in, or until just combined (the batter will be very thick).
Add apples. Add in the apples and fold them in until just combined. Do not overmix.

Make streusel topping. In a small mixing bowl, mix together the oat streusel topping ingredients (brown sugar, oats, flour, butter, and cinnamon) until combined and crumbly.

Scoop out muffins. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners or spray the inside with nonstick baking spray. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to scoop and divide the batter evenly among the liners, filling each cup about 85% full. Sprinkle a spoonful on top of each muffin.

Bake. Bake in a 375F preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean. Allow it to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Storage/Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Once the apple oatmeal muffins have completely cooled, you can store them at room temperature in a cool, dry place (the countertop is usually fine!) in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag for up to 3-4 days. Adding a paper towel will help absorb moisture and keep your muffins from getting soggy!

To extend their shelf life, store in the fridge for up to 1 week. Note that refrigeration will change their texture and dry them out a bit. You can add moisture back in by reheating the muffins, but they don't have to be served warm.

How to Freeze

Place the muffins in a plastic freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator or defrost in the microwave on the defrost setting or reheat in the oven.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Got extra apples? Just double up this recipe because the muffins are that good! Plus, they are freezer-friendly, so there's no rush to finish them all in a few days -- although it's quite possible. You can also use up any extra apples in a weeknight salad or soup.
Want to reduce paper waste? Line muffin tins with unbleached, compostable muffin or cupcake liners, make your own by folding compostable parchment paper (not wax paper!), use reusable silicone liners, or grease the bare pan with whatever works best for your diet to reduce waste.
Make minis for easy portability, snacking, or portion control. Pour batter into a mini muffin pan instead of a 12-cup muffin pan to make bite-size spiced apple muffins that are toddler-friendly, easy to pack in lunchboxes, and great to dole out in between meals when kids (or adults!) are feeling peckish. If you reduce muffin size, you'll also have to reduce baking time, so make sure to account for that when baking. Around 7-10 minutes should do it in most cases, but every oven is different! Make sure to check the center of the muffins for doneness with a toothpick and add a few minutes as needed until completely cooked through.

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40 Hot Lunch Ideas

Warm, comforting, and nourishing - hot lunches are good for the soul. Cold lunches like soups and salads may be healthy and delicious, but they just don't hit the spot like hot lunches do. So if you are looking for some hot lunch recipe inspiration, you are in the right place.

We are sharing over 40 hot lunch ideas including hot sandwiches, rice bowls, soups, pastas, stir-fries and more (including lots of vegetarian options too!) that will warm you right up.

Best Hot Lunch Ideas

Vegetarian Quesadillas

Vegetarian quesadillas are quick and easy, completely customizable, loaded with veggies and beans. Serve this kid-friendly Mexican meal for lunch or dinner.

Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl

Easy to make, light and fresh teriyaki grilled salmon rice bowl is topped with vegetables, seaweed and salmon roe, with homemade teriyaki sauce on top. One of my favorite hot lunch ideas.

Turkey and Cheese Sliders

Turkey and Cheese Sliders are quick and easy, made with deli meat and Swiss cheese filled inside soft Hawaiian dinner rolls topped with a buttery sauce.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Homemade chicken noodle soup is classic, comforting, simple, quick, and easy to make at home. Plus, you can use leftover rotisserie chicken to save time with this hot lunch recipe.

Salmon Burgers

These Salmon Burgers made with real fresh salmon, are crispy on the outside and flaky inside, juicy and thick, and healthy and packed with protein.

Tiktok Ramen

Tiktok ramen is savory, sweet and loaded with umami flavor. It's a quick and easy viral ramen hack with instant noodles, eggs, butter, garlic and soy sauce.

Stuffed Eggplant

This Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant is delicious, filling, and healthy. This vegetarian dinner is loaded with veggies and topped with bubbly cheese.

Sesame Chicken Meatballs

Sesame chicken meatballs are quick, easy, delicious, and loaded with Asian flavor, cooked in a homemade stir fry sauce and customizable with easy veggies!

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Forget delivery and make sweet, tangy, and smoky BBQ chicken pizza from the comfort of your own home in under 30 minutes. The easiest weeknight dinner.

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Homemade hamburger helper is a family favorite but you can make a cheaper, healthier, and way tastier version at home, ready in just 30 minutes.

Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese

Take your grilled cheese game to the next level with Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich made with broccoli, red peppers, cheddar, and mozzarella.

Pineapple Fried Rice

Pineapple fried rice is a quick and easy meal that is ready in just 20 minutes. It's a savory, sweet, delicious, and flavorful weeknight family dinner.

Creamy Vegan Ramen

Creamy vegan ramen is delicious, flavorful, and healthy comfort food, packed with nutrients that will give you an immunity boost. Ready in just 30 minutes!

Easy Meat Lasagna

Classic easy meat lasagna is the ultimate Italian comfort food with layers of tender lasagna, meaty tomato sauce, cheese filling and melted cheese on top.

Baked Chicken Quesadillas

Baked Chicken Quesadillas are cheesy, crispy, flavorful, and delicious. This family-friendly recipe is quick and easy to make in just 30 minutes!

Easy Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki

This refreshing and light, easy Greek chicken gyros is packed with tender souvlaki chicken, Greek salad, and homemade tzatziki sauce, all wrapped in a pita. One of our most popular healthy lunch ideas.

Zucchini Fritters

Zucchini fritters are crispy outside, tender inside, and loaded with zucchini. These healthy bites are one of my favorite ways to use up summer zucchini.

Indian Rice Bowls

These Indian Rice Bowls are flavorful, delicious, and easy to assemble. These wholesome, filling rice bowls have it all - grains, protein, and veggies.

Beef and Bean Burritos

Hearty and filling beef and bean burritos are easy to make ahead, freezer-friendly, and take just 30 minutes for restaurant-quality Mexican food at home.

Tomato Basil Soup

Homemade tomato basil soup is comforting, rich, and smooth. This cozy soup is easy, flavourful, and nourishing, making it so much better than canned.

Cashew Chicken

Cashew chicken is a quick and easy chicken stir fry ready in under 30 minutes. It's flavorful, delicious, and so much better and faster than takeout.

Tuna Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Get your hands on pantry staple canned tuna and make a delicious, crunchy tuna melt grilled cheese sandwich in less than 10 minutes! It's so tasty and easy! For another grilled cheese option, try a roasted broccoli grilled cheese sandwich.

Chili Stuffed Peppers

Leftover chili stuffed peppers are delicious, flavorful, and the easiest way to make stuffed peppers, with only three ingredients and five minutes of prep.

Farfalle Pasta with Mushroom Rose Sauce

Farfalle pasta with mushroom rose sauce is creamy yet light, delicious and flavorful, and quick and easy to make in 20 minutes. Best comfort food dinner!

Chicken Paella

Authentic Chicken Paella (Paella Valenciana) is delicious and filling. It's loaded with protein, veggies, and rice, cooked in a flavorful saffron broth.

Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs

Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.

Hamburger Soup with Macaroni - recipe coming soon!

Hamburger soup with macaroni is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that‘s wholesome, filling, comforting and nutritious. Prep, cook and serve under an hour. | aheadofthyme.com

Creamy Pesto Chicken

Creamy Pesto Chicken is a quick and easy 30 minute meal that needs to be on your family weeknight dinner rotation. It's rich, creamy, and delicious.

Chicken Shawarma

Homemade chicken shawarma (donair) with juicy tender chicken marinated in Middle Eastern spices and wrapped in pita bread is easy to make at home. Serve it with a Persian Shirazi Salad on the side.

Vegetarian Bolognese

This Vegetarian Bolognese is a quick and easy vegetable-packed pasta with the flavor, texture, and goodness of a traditional Bolognese without the meat.

Chicken Tacos

Chicken tacos are juicy and tender, loaded with flavor, delicious, and so easy to make. They are perfect for Taco Tuesday or a Cinco de Mayo Mexican fiesta.

Korean Beef Steak Rice Bowl

Korean beef steak rice bowl is loaded with tender and juicy strips of beef, marinated vegetable sides (banchan), and kimchi. Make it in under 30 minutes!

Chicken Pad Thai

No more takeout when you can make flavourful, restaurant-style, authentic chicken Pad Thai at home in just 10 minutes. It's sweet, savoury, sour and nutty.

Thai Turkey Burgers

These Thai Turkey Burgers topped with a crisp and creamy slaw are loaded with fresh and bright flavors, healthy and delicious, and quick and easy to make.

Mac and Cheese

Quick and easy, creamy stovetop mac and cheese with white cheddar is a delicious and comforting one pot 20-minute meal packed with three types of cheese.

Beef Taco Soup

Beef taco soup is a delicious take on tacos, transforming it into a hearty, wholesome, filling soup topped with all the taco fixings. Ready in 30 minutes.

Orange Chicken

Chinese Takeout Orange Chicken is a quick, easy, delicious meal ready in 30 minutes. It's healthier than takeout - can be pan-fried, air fried, or baked.

Instant Pot Beef Curry

Instant pot beef curry with potatoes and carrots is delicious, hearty, comforting, and flavorful. It's made quick and easy in the pressure cooker.

Seafood Fried Rice

Quick and easy, one-pan, 10-minute seafood fried rice with tiger prawns is so much healthier, tastier and better than takeout. It's the easiest weeknight meal.

White Chicken Chili

White chicken chili is an easy and delicious one pot meal made with shredded chicken, hearty veggies, and a creamy broth that's loaded with flavor.

Chicken Fajitas

Skillet chicken fajitas are a light, fresh, and sizzling dish bursting with flavour, packed with colorful vegetables, and wrapped in warm tortillas. | aheadofthyme.com

Creamy Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Hearty and creamy tortellini soup with sausage, spinach and kale is total comfort food in a bowl. Make this flavourful one pot meal in under 30 minutes.

Sweet and Sour Pork

Sweet and sour pork is a delicious, quick and easy Chinese stir fry that takes just 30 minutes to make. Serve this homemade takeout over steamed rice.

Tips for Storing and Reheating Hot Lunches

Make ahead instructions. You can make many of these hot lunch recipes ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months (the soups and meatballs freeze really well!). You can also prep the ingredients in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to use or assemble.
How to store: Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator or even in the freezer. Check the individual recipe for complete storing instructions and to confirm if the recipe is freezer-friendly.
How to reheat: Most of the leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.

More Lunch Recipes

Did You Make Any of These Hot Lunch Recipes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of these hot lunch ideas. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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Turkey and Cheese Sliders

Turkey and Cheese Sliders are made with turkey deli meat and gooey Swiss cheese filled inside soft Hawaiian dinner rolls topped with a flavorful buttery sauce that makes the buns crispy on the outside, but soft inside. They're quick, kid- friendly, and easy to make ahead and freeze.

Quickly whip up a batch of these delicious cheesy turkey sliders anytime you need a fast and easy meal, a back to school lunch, or something to hold over a hungry party while the main course is cooking.

Why You'll Love these Turkey and Cheese Sliders

They make a speedy lunch or dinner. Get hot and fresh turkey sliders on the table in under 30 minutes! They only require ten minutes of preparation time and 20 minutes of baking so you can tackle sides or clean-up while they're in the oven.
Easy to make with a few simple ingredients. These sliders couldn't be more simple: they're made of precooked dinner rolls, deli-sliced turkey, cheese, and a flavorful sauce brushed on top! There's no secret ingredient here - rather, the real magic of this recipe happens in the oven when the rolls get soft and the cheese starts to melt.
Great for parties and holidays. Because you can prep these turkey and cheese sliders in batches or make multiple pans at once - they're great for hosting or taking to a party! These would make a great appetizer or entree at a Super Bowl party, end-of-summer cookout, or fast finger food for holiday hosting.
They're lunchbox friendly. These kid-friendly sandwiches are the perfect size and shape to pack for lunch all week long. Plus, and kiddos will want to eat turkey Hawaiian sliders over and over again!
Easy to make ahead and meal prep. You can assemble these sliders in advance, store them in the fridge (or freeze them) until you are ready to pop them into the oven for a freshly baked batch of deli meat sliders.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make these easy Turkey Sliders, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

dinner rolls - you can make these from scratch using your favorite recipe, try take-and-bake rolls, or buy them fully pre-made in the store. You can also use whatever type of roll you want - Hawaiian rolls, sourdough rolls, rye rolls, or even buttermilk biscuits can be seamlessly incorporated into this recipe.
turkey breast deli meat - you can switch it up with your favorite deli meat, including chicken or ham too.
Swiss cheese slices - or substitute with another melty cheese such as havarti.
butter - for a dairy-free substitute, try a plant-based or non-dairy butter alternative instead. Also, check the labels of your sauces for this recipe to make sure there aren't secret sources of dairy hidden in the ingredients.
Worcestershire sauce
honey - or substitute with maple syrup or agave.
dijon mustard
Italian seasoning - the Italian seasoning in this recipe can be swapped with whatever you have on hand - Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, basil, oregano, poppy seeds, everything seasoning, and plenty more of the spices lurking in your cabinets will make great alternatives (or additions!) to your turkey and cheese sliders.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, small mixing bowl, and a 9x13-inch casserole pan.

How to Make the Best Turkey and Cheese Sliders

Slice bread. Slice the whole 12 rolls in half horizontally with a large serrated knife. (You don't have to pull the rolls apart and slice them individually, but you can if you want to).

Assemble the sliders. Line a 9x13-inch casserole pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Place the entire bottom half of the rolls inside.
- Top with an even layer of turkey, repeating until all the turkey is used up.
- Top with a layer of cheese on top, overlapping the slices so they fit.
- Place the whole top half of the rolls over the cheese layer and set aside.

Make buttery topping. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together butter, Worcestershire sauce, honey, dijon mustard, and Italian seasoning until evenly combined. Brush the butter mixture evenly over the rolls.

Bake. Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in a 350F preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 5 minutes until the top has slightly browned.

Serve. Pull apart or slice and serve warm.

How to Serve

Serve these Turkey and Cheese Sliders on their own as a main course for a delicious lunch, or really round out the meal by serving them alongside your favorite sides. I like to serve them with:

Sliders Variations

There are so many ways to customize these sliders by switching up the fillings and/or buns. You can:

Try different rolls, meat, cheese, and sauce combinations. You can tailor these turkey and cheese sliders to any occasion or meal by switching it up a bit - just try different combinations of meat, cheese, and sauce! One of my favorites are ham and cheese sliders which only require you to switch out the turkey for ham.
Make breakfast versions by swapping in eggs and biscuits.
Make pizza-inspired sliders with dinner rolls, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.

You imagination is the limit!

Storage/Freezing Instructions

How to store

Allow the baked sliders to cool to room temperature, the store in an airtight container like a large sealed plastic baggie or a tupperware container for up to four days.

How to freeze

Batch freeze uncooked and assembled sliders by placing the sliders in a freezer bag and freeze for as long as 2-3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight and then bake according to the recipe directions.
For already cooked sliders, wrap them individually in plastic cling wrap to freeze individually, and place the wrapped sliders into a large freezer bag. Allow the sliders to defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to reheat

You can reheat leftover sliders in the oven, microwave, or air fryer for hot turkey and cheese sliders at any time. If reheating in the oven or air fryer, the texture of the buns will be crispy outside, unlike the microwave where it can loose some of that texture and stay more soft.

Reheat in a 350F preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until warm and cheese is melted.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.
Microwave in 60 second increments until warmed.

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Almond Cranberry Granola Bars

If you've ever wanted to make granola bars from scratch, this recipe is exactly what you need. These almond cranberry granola bars are beginner friendly and yield a delicious batch every time! In only ten minutes, you'll have these yummy granola bars ready to bake in the oven.

These chewy granola bars made contain real dried fruit, rolled oats, and far less processed sugar than their store-bought counterparts. They make a healthy gluten-free back to school snack to add to your kid's school lunchbox, are delicious as an after school or workout snack, or served as a tasty dessert alternative.

These almond cranberry chocolate chip granola bars are chewy and delicious, contain real dried fruit, and made healthier with less processed sugar. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love these Homemade Granola Bars

They're super convenient! Whether it's summer and the kids are begging for a snack every hour, or school's in session and you want something nutritious to send along in their lunchbox, there's no problem these homemade granola bars can't solve quickly. Once they're made, you can grab one to go on any adventure.
Easier to make than you think. Granola bars might seem so complicated to make but let me fill you in on a secret. They are actually pretty easy. Once you have all your ingredients gathered together, you basically combine everything together and spread them onto a baking dish. Plus, you can make a big batch or two at once because these granola bars are freezer-friendly too.
They're full of sweetness. There are different kinds of sweet-tooth cravings and this satisfies two of them at once! The fruity sweetness from the dried cranberries and chocolatey decadence of the chocolate chips in these easy granola bars make them a fantastic option for snacks between meals or after lunch when you need to satisfy a quick craving.
A healthy alternative to other store-bought bars. The difference between these and store-bought versions? You know exactly what's in them and you can customize the recipe to your family's needs. You can swap out ingredients to fit dietary restrictions and keep an eye on the sugar levels without having to interpret a nutrition label.
Serve them whenever you want. Almond cranberry granola bars are the perfect addition to your kids' lunch boxes - but they are also the perfect snack for work or for the on-the-go lifestyle. When I am in a rush in the morning, I can just grab one for the road and head out the door. I love that they are gluten-free, vegetarian, and healthy. I don't have to worry about all the excess sugar that those boxed granola bars have. Which means I can feel less guilty about the few chocolate chips that are thrown in there!

Ingredient Notes

To make these easy Almond Cranberry Chocolate Granola Bars, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

rolled oats - while oats themselves don't necessarily contain gluten, they're often processed at factories (sometimes even on the same machinery) as gluten-containing wheat products. If gluten is a concern for you, make sure you use certified gluten free rolled oats.
almonds - feel free to use sliced almonds, chopped almonds, slivered almonds, or even whole almonds.
dried cranberries - not crazy about cranberries? That's okay! You can easily swap the dried cranberries out for dried cherries, dried blueberries, or other similarly-textured dried fruits, or just
peanut butter - we used smooth peanut butter for the texture but you can substitute for chunky peanut butter but note that you will have little bits of peanuts in the bars. The peanut butter can also be substituted for smooth almond butter for a more Paleo-friendly granola bar.
chocolate chips - I like to use mini chocolate chips in here but feel free to use the regular size. If you are not a fan of chocolate, just leave these out.
maple syrup - or substitute with honey if you are not following a vegan diet.
butter - try substituting the butter for coconut oil or avocado oil as a vegan alternative.
brown sugar
vanilla extract
salt

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and a 9-inch square casserole dish.

How to Make the Best Almond Cranberry Granola Bars

Make sauce. In a medium saucepan, combine maple syrup, butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt. Heat over medium-low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves, stirring until smooth.
Combine dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, combine oats and almonds.

Add sauce to dry ingredients. Add liquids to oat mixture. Pour the warm liquid mixture over the oats and stir to combine.

Cool. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. This will prevent the chocolate from melting when mixed. If you do not have patience to let the mixture cool, you can add it but be mindful that the chocolate chips will melt into the mixture (still tasting delicious!)
Add cranberries and chocolate. Fold in cranberries and chocolate chips.
Prepare for baking. Transfer the mixture to a parchment-lined 9-inch square casserole dish or baking pan. Firmly press the mixture into the pan using a spatula or the back of a glass. You want to make sure that it is packed very tightly.

Bake. Bake in a 325F preheated oven for 20-25 minutes (or add more time for crunchier granola bars).
Cool. Cool completely in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Then, cut into bars and serve.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

How to Store

These homemade granola bars will keep for one week at room temperature when stored in an airtight container. Stack them up in between layers or parchment paper or individually wrap them in plastic cling wrap first to keep the bars from sticking together. For softer granola bars, store at room temperature. To keep them harder, store in the refrigerator.

How to Freeze

You can keep chocolate chip granola bars on hand for months if you individually wrap them in wax paper or parchment paper and freeze them in a sealed freezer bag for 2-3 months. Make sure you cut and wrap them first as they're nearly impossible to cut after freezing.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Try different shapes! You aren't restricted to cutting these into bars. Get little ones even more excited for snack times by using cookie cutters to make different shapes (just try to stick to a similar serving size). Crumble the scraps into a chunky granola for topping parfaits, yogurt bowls and smoothies!
Warm them up. Chocolate chip cookies are almost always better after they've been warmed, and you can create a similar experience with these chocolate chip granola bars. Heat them up in the microwave on high for ten-second bursts until the chocolate becomes melty and it's heated to your liking, about 3-5 rounds.

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Indian Rice Bowls

These Indian Rice Bowls are flavorful, delicious, filling, and easy to assemble. Made with steamed rice, juicy and tender tandoori chicken bites, fresh spring mix salad, and a drizzle of a refreshing yogurt sauce, these bowls have it all - grains, protein, and veggies.

Plus, this wholesome and complete meal is relatively quick to prep and takes just 30 minutes of cook time to make. Leftovers store well too, so they're great for meal prep lunches for a few days after.

Why You'll Love Indian Rice Bowls

The tandoori chicken marinade. These Indian rice bowls are topped with delicious, juicy, and tender tandoori chicken bites loaded with flavor from a simple marinade including curry powder, paprika, cumin, garlic and ginger. You can also add some cayenne pepper powder for extra heat. Plus, it only takes an hour to marinate!
The homemade yogurt sauce. These tandoori chicken bowls are topped with a drizzle of homemade yogurt sauce that gets inspiration from Tzatziki Sauce with dill, lemon juice, and garlic. Its a refreshing contrast to the tandoori spices - they go so well together.
It's easy to assemble. These Indian chicken bowls are so easy to assemble, and you can coordinate and make sure all the items are ready at the same time. Plus, it's a great way to use up any leftover rice or salad from the fridge, and also saves you prep time.

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Indian Rice Bowls, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

chicken - we used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer.
tandoori seasoning - made simple with paprika, curry powder (or garam masala), ground cumin, garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper. You can also make it spicy with a pinch of cayenne powder or red pepper powder.
plain yogurt - we love using our easy Homemade Yogurt.
tomato paste - adds flavor and color.
vegetable oil
Basmati rice - cooked in water with salt. You can also substitute with any white rice that you'd like.
spring mix salad - tossed together with salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and feta.
balsamic salad dressing - a simple dressing made with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
yogurt sauce - this sauce is perfect for dipping or drizzling. You'll need plain yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, serve these chicken pieces with Tzatziki Sauce.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, medium cooking pot, and an oven or air fryer (if cooking the chicken in the air fryer).

Learn how to make steamed rice that's perfectly cooked, fluffy and delicious in 30 minutes. Cook white rice on the stove, rice cooker, or instant pot. | aheadofthyme.com

Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Bites are juicy, tender, and loaded with authentic Indian spices. This quick easy air fryer recipe is perfect on busy weeknights. | aheadofthyme.com

How to Make the Best Indian Rice Bowls

There are 4 components in these tandoori chicken bowls - chicken, rice, salad, and sauce.

First, let's make the chicken.

Prepare chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch thick pieces and set aside in a large mixing bowl or Ziploc bag.
Make marinade. Add paprika, curry powder, cumin, garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the seasoning all over the chicken pieces to coat it evenly. Stir in yogurt, tomato paste, and oil. Toss well until evenly coated.
Marinate the chicken. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight for the best results).
Cook. You can cook the chicken in the air fryer or in the oven.
- To air fry: Transfer the cubed chicken to the air fryer basket in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray with some cooking oil spray. Air fry at 350F for 13-15 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
- To bake in the oven: You can also bake the chicken tandoori bites in a preheated oven at 450F for 16- 18 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked through.

Next, let's make rice.

Rinse the rice in several changes of cold water until water is clear, then drain well in a large fine-mesh sieve.

Cook rice over the stove, in a rice cooker, or in a pressure cooker.

On the stove: In a medium cooking pot, add rice, water and salt. Bring it to boil over medium heat, about 5 minutes. Close the lid and reduce heat to low. Let the rice simmer for 15 minutes until tender and the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let the cooked rice rest for another 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve warm.
In the rice cooker: Add rice and cold water in 1:1.5 ratio in the rice cooker (for 2 cups of rice, you need 3 cups of water). Turn on the power and start cooking in the rice cooker. It typically takes about 15-20 minutes. The rice cooker will automatically switch to 'keep warm' setting. Let the cooked rice rest for another 5 minutes and fluff with a fork.
In the instant pot: Add rice and cold water in 1:1 ratio in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (for 2 cups of rice, you need 2 cups of water). Switch the instant pot to pressure cooking mode on manual High and seal the lid (the steam release knob must be turned to the sealed position). Cook for 3 minutes. Once the time is up, let the instant pot slowly release the pressure for 10 minutes and then quickly release the remaining pressure by turning the steam release valve to the venting position. Fluff with a fork.

Now, it's the salad's turn.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine spring mix salad greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Lastly, the yogurt sauce.

Make the yogurt sauce by whisking together yogurt, oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper in a small mixing bowl until smooth. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.

How to Assemble Chicken Rice Bowls

These bowls are so easy to assemble. Divide the rice, salad, and chicken into 4 shallow bowls or pasta bowls. I like to put the rice on half the bowl, some salad on a quarter of the bowl, and top with chicken on the remaining quarter.

Then, add a drizzle of the yogurt sauce on top and serve.

Chicken Rice Bowl Variations

The best part of this recipe is that you can switch up the components.

Instead of Steamed Rice, try these rice bowls with a Rice Pilaf with Carrots or with Garlic Naan Bread.
Instead of the spring mix salad, add a Persian Shirazi Salad, Creamy Cucumber Salad, or Garden Salad to these rice bowls.
Add extra veggies such as Honey Roasted Carrots, Roasted Cauliflower, or Sautéed Garlic Green Beas.

Storing Instructions

How to store: Store components of the Indian rice bowl separately in airtight containers in the fridge - the chicken, rice, salad, and yogurt sauce. Leftover tandoori chicken bites will keep for up to 3-4 days, rice for up to 4-5 days, salad for up to 4 days, and the yogurt sauce for up to 1 week.
How to reheat: Reheat the tandoori chicken nuggets in the air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes until warm, or in a 350F preheated oven for 10-15 minutes. You can also reheat it over the stove on medium-low heat until warm.

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Spinach and Pea Soup

This Spinach and Pea Soup is creamy, velvety, healthy, and delicious. It's a curried soup with a vegan coconut milk base loaded with fresh spinach and green peas, and well seasoned with a variety of spices. Plus, it's vegan, gluten-free, and nutritious.

The best part? It's a quick and easy one pot recipe that's ready in under 30 minutes - perfect for busy weeknights or lazy cooking days when you don't feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen. It also stores well and is freezer-friendly, so you can make this well in advance and enjoy it for months to come.

Spinach and Pea Soup is creamy, velvety, healthy and delicious. It's a curried soup with a vegan coconut milk base loaded with fresh spinach and green peas. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love this Spinach and Pea Soup

It's healthy and nutrient dense. This spinach and green pea soup is packed with green goodness. I mean isn't it obvious? The two main ingredients are spinach and green peas. Spinach is a great source of iron, folic acid, vitamin K, and vitamin C. While, green peas are also bursting with B vitamins, a variety of minerals, and protein.
Loaded with flavor. This soup is packed with veggies, greens, coconut milk, and seasoning - and these ingredients were made for each other. The curry and chili powder provide a little kick which livens up the subtle flavours of the peas and spinach, while the coconut milk provides a rich, smooth contrast to the hearty veggies.
It's quick and easy to make. For a recipe that is packed with so much flavour, you will be surprised at how easy it is to make. It is one of the easiest soups you can make. It's a one pot recipe that takes under 20 minutes to cook. And, you do not even have to defrost any peas first.
Serve it hot or cold. This is one of those soups that is cozy and comforting warm but it also refreshing and surprisingly good cold.

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Spinach and Pea Soup, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

coconut oil - you can also substitute with any vegetable oil that you have on hand.
onion
garlic
green peas - feel free to use fresh green peas or frozen ones. You don't need to thaw them first, you can just throw them directly into the soup.
baby spinach
cilantro
coconut milk - this is what makes the soup so lush and creamy but keeps it vegan too.
vegetable stock - use vegetable stock to keep the recipe vegan, or substitute with chicken stock if you don't have any dietary restrictions.
seasoning - a flavorful combination of paprika, curry powder, chili powder (adjust this to your level of spiciness), salt, and pepper.
garnish - feel free to garnish the soup with a drizzle of coconut milk, some green peas, and/or baby spinach leaves. It's totally optional but looks great when serving.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a large saucepan, and an immersion blender or food processor / blender.

How to Make the Best Spinach and Pea Soup

Sauté aromatics. Heat coconut oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add chopped onion and garlic, and sauté until soft and translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Then, add green peas and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Add liquids and simmer. Add coconut milk and stock. Bring the soup to a simmer, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add greens. Remove the soup from heat and add spinach and cilantro.
Puree. Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth and creamy. You can also transfer the soup to a food processor or blender and puree, then transfer the soup back into the pot.
Season. Stir in paprika, curry, and chilli powder. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

How to Serve

Serve this healthy spinach and green pea soup with a swirl of coconut milk, some spinach leaves and a few green peas. You can even add more chilli powder for more of a kick.

I like to serve this green soup for lunch with a salad and a sandwich or bread for dipping. It is also an excellent choice as a first course at dinner alongside your favorite mains. Some of my favorite dishes to pair pea soup with are:

Recipe Tips and Tricks

How to change the consistency: To thin out the consistency of the soup, add more stock. To thicken it, continue to simmer until you reduce the soup to your desired consistency, or add about 1 cup less stock.
How to store: Spinach and green pea soup keeps for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Store covered in the pot or in an airtight container.
How to freeze: This soup also freezes very well. Allow the soup to cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. To serve, defrost overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature on the kitchen counter for a few hours.
How to reheat: Reheat spinach soup on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warmed through. You may have to add a splash of water to thin out the soup if it has thickened up too much when stored.

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Chicken Paella (Paella Valenciana)

This authentic Chicken Paella (known as Paella Valenciana) is delicious, flavorful, and filling. It's loaded with protein, colorful veggies, and smoky rice, all cooked in a delicious saffron broth that makes the dish saucy, tender, and juicy, with crispy rice on the bottom.

The best part? You don't need to travel all the way to Spain to enjoy authentic Spanish paella. Making Spanish rice at home is a lot easier than you think with just a few simple steps.

What is Paella?

Paella is a rice dish that originated in Valencia, Spain. It contains proteins and veggies cooked in a saucy rice with lots of seasoning and flavor. It is considered a distinctly Spanish dish by everyone outside of Spain, although those from Spain will point directly to Valencia at the mention of paella. A bite of this Spanish chicken paella will transport you there through your tastebuds.

Why You'll Love This Chicken Paella

Easy to make. You won't believe how easy it is to make delicious paella at home. All it takes is cooking the chicken, cooking the veggies, adding rice and sauce, and letting it simmer until it's done. It's become a staple in our home because it's easy and delicious, and it may become one in yours too.
The flavorful base. To make Spanish paella, we'll start by preparing the saffron broth which will form the base of this rice. Saffron is an essnetial spice in this recipe and gives paellas one of their iconic flavors. Saffron is a notoriously pricey spice, but when you taste it, you'll understand why. It has a distinctly sweet, floral, earthy flavor that can't be replicated. This Spanish rice also gets a lot of flavor from the sautéed aromatics (onions and garlic), chicken, veggies, and seasonings like paprika and tomato paste.
Loaded with protein. Although Spanish paella is considered a rice dish, this paella is packed with chicken. In fact, the unique feature about Paella Valenciana is that it doesn't contain any seafood unlike other paella variations. But you could add in shrimp, mussels, or calamari to switch up the flavor.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Chicken Paella, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

rice - you will need to use paella rice (also called Bomba rice). For a similar substitute, you can try arborio rice, which is the rice used in Risotto.
chicken - for the most authentic Paella Valenciana, use boneless and skinless chicken thighs. It is more tender thank chicken breast but you can absolutely substitute for chicken breast if you prefer.
saffron broth - made with saffron and chicken stock. I do not recommend skipping the saffron, it's one of the most classic ingredients in a paella that adds a distinct flavor that is hard to replicate.
aromatics - red onions and garlic add tons of flavor to this already flavorful paella recipe.
veggies - we added green beans to our dish, but you can add other veggies that you like. Try it with red bell peppers, artichokes, or peas.
seasoning - olive oil, smoked paprika, tomato paste, and salt and pepper.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a 10-inch paella pan or skillet.

How to Make the Best Chicken Paella

Make the saffron broth. In a medium pot, add chicken stock and saffron. Heat over low heat until it simmers, about 8-10 minutes. Soaking the saffron helps to extract its flavor.

Sear chicken. While heating the chicken stock, heat oil in a 10-inch paella pan or large skillet over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles, about 1-2 minutes. Add chicken and sear until golden brown on all sides, about 8-10 minutes. Season with salt.
Sauté veggies. Add onion, garlic, and green beans and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes.

Add seasoning. Stir in paprika and tomato paste. Mix well until evenly distributed.
Add rice. Add rice and stir to coat evenly.

Add saffron broth. Slowly pour the saffron-infused chicken stock into the pan and stir gently until the rice is evenly distributed (The ideal liquid to rice ratio is 3:1). Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cook. Cook uncovered on medium-high hear until the rice has absorbed all the liquid, about 20-22 minutes.
Rest. Turn off the heat and cover the pan with aluminum foil. Let it rest for 6-8 minutes until the rice is al dente - tender yet firm.

How to Serve

This Paella Valenciana is a filling and complete meal on it's own, but if you are looking for some more sides to serve it with, try:

Patatas Bravas
Tomato Bruschetta
Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
Roasted vegetables such as Roasted Garlic Green Beans, Roasted Eggplant or red bell peppers.
Charcuterie Board with cheese and olives

Storing Instructions

How to store: Since this Spanish paella has chicken in it, it will last in the fridge for 3-4 days, although it's best eaten fresh. Keep it in an airtight container, and make sure you allow it to cool completely before storing.
How to reheat: Reheat cold Spanish paella in a covered pan over the stovetop. Heat on medium-high heat, stirring occasionally and adding more water as needed until warm, about 5-10 minutes.

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25 Side Dishes for Pork Chops

You must be looking for a delicious side dish to serve with those juicy chops that you are planning to make for dinner. We love making Pork Chops because they are delicious, quick, and easy - making them perfect for busy weeknights. So we need sides that fit the same criteria. If you are wondering "what to serve with pork chops", then you are in the right place. We are sharing over 25 of the most popular and best side dishes for pork chops including everything from veggies, pasta, soup, bread, and more.

Wondering what to serve with pork chops? Browse over 25 best side dishes for chops including everything from veggies, pasta, soup, bread, and more. | aheadofthyme.com

Best Pork Side Dishes

Stovetop Mac and Cheese with White Cheddar

Quick and easy, creamy stovetop mac and cheese with white cheddar is a delicious and comforting one pot 20-minute meal packed with three types of cheese.

Arugula Salad with Apple and Pecan

Arugula salad with apple and pecan is a quick and easy fall salad made with fresh seasonal ingredients in just minutes. Perfect for a holiday dinner table.

Maple Roasted Carrots with Yogurt Sauce

These maple roasted carrots with yogurt sauce are not only stunning, but they get all caramelized and crispy around the sides from the maple syrup… pure perfection!

Cornbread Muffins

Easy Cornbread Muffins are moist, fluffy, tender, and sweet. They're the perfect side dish to serve with a Southern barbecue or Thanksgiving holiday dinner.

Ham and Potatoes au Gratin

Easy creamy ham and potatoes au gratin is a great way to use leftover ham with tender sliced potatoes and a cheesy béchamel sauce. The best comfort food.

Roasted Spring Vegetables

Roasted spring vegetables are an easy sheet pan side dish packed with all our favourite veggies of the season. Plus, it's so easy to prep and make.

Roasted Garlic Green Beans

Quick easy roasted garlic green beans are tangy, sour, savoury, and sweet, with a tender and crunchy texture. Make them in the oven or air fryer in minutes.

Homemade Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is a quick and easy fall treat with just 3 ingredients and very little time and effort. Serve it as a healthy snack or dessert.

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

Quick and easy pumpkin dinner rolls are soft and fluffy, flaky and butter, and perfect to serve alongside a warm and cozy fall meal or Thanksgiving dinner.

Classic Coleslaw

Fresh, crisp, classic coleslaw salad is a must-have recipe for a summer barbecue or picnic, or as an easy make-ahead lunch. Make it in less than 10 minutes.

Parmesan Risotto

Creamy Parmesan (No Wine) Risotto is a rich, creamy, and comforting classic Italian dish that may be intimidating but is actually quick and easy to make.

Creamed Spinach

Creamed spinach is a rich, creamy, and delicious side dish to make this fall. Easy to make ahead and reheats well - perfect for Thanksgiving holiday dinner.

Artichoke Soup

Creamy artichoke soup is rich, healthy, delicious, easy to make, and freezer-friendly. This vegetarian soup is loaded with artichokes, leeks, and potatoes.

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Brussels Sprouts with Bacon is a quick and easy side dish with the best flavor and texture. The best part? This holiday side is ready in under 15 minutes.

Vegetarian Cornbread Stuffing

Easy vegetarian cornbread stuffing is the perfect make-ahead side dish to serve this Thanksgiving. So flavourful, moist and soft, yet crispy golden on top.

Creamy Garlic Mushrooms

Creamy garlic mushrooms are a simple, delicious, and easy side dish. This comforting family favorite that is quick and easy to make in just 15 minutes.

Sweet Kale Salad

This Sweet Kale Salad is loaded with hearty greens, veggies, and homemade poppy seed dressing - inspired by the Taylor Farms salad kit from Costco.

Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

Instant pot mashed potatoes are the quickest and easiest mashed potatoes you'll make in under 20 minutes (including prep!) in the pressure cooker.

Air Fryer Vegetables

Air fryer vegetables are healthy, flavorful, and delicious. This vegan side dish is quick and easy to make in the air fryer in under 15 minutes.

Garlic Breadsticks

Soft garlic breadsticks are fluffy, airy, buttery, and delicious. They're an easy recipe that is perfect for beginners at baking bread.

Roasted Pumpkin Wedges

Soft and tender, easy roasted pumpkin wedges with Parmesan cheese is the easiest and most delicious side dishes to make this fall. Prep it in just minutes.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican street corn salad adds a twist to a classic street food, loaded with freshly grilled corn, a creamy cheesy dressing, and authentic flavor.

Steamed Rice

Learn how to make steamed rice that's perfectly cooked, fluffy and delicious in 30 minutes. Cook white rice on the stove, rice cooker, or instant pot.

Air Fryer Broccoli

Quick and easy air fryer broccoli is a healthy side dish that takes just six minutes to cook in the air fryer. It's crispy, delicious, and flavorful.

Greek Pasta Salad

Greek Pasta Salad is quick and easy, loaded with Mediterranean flavors, and delicious. Serve it at a summer cookout or potluck, or meal prep weekly lunches.

How to Make Ahead and Store

You can make many of these pork side dish recipes ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months. Otherwise, you can prepare the ingredients and store in the refrigerator until ready to assemble and/or cook. Check the individual recipes for full make ahead and storing instructions.

To reheat, place any leftovers in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or on the stovetop over medium-low heat (depending on the recipe). If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.

More Side Dish Recipes

Did You Make Any of These Side Dishes for Pork Chops?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of side dish recipes to serve with pork chops. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara

Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara is about to save your weeknight dinner routine. Tender zucchini is topped with rich marinara sauce and baked with melty, bubbly cheese and served as a simple and delicious side dish.

It's low carb, vegetarian, gluten-free, and keto too. The best part? You can have this on the table in just under 30 minutes (including prep!).

Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara will save your weeknight dinner routine (and the kids love it too!). It's low carb, vegetarian, gluten-free, and keto. | aheadofthyme.com

We love to find new ways to cook with this summer squash at the peak of its season. Whether that's baking Zucchini Bread, making Zucchini Fritters, or cooking Air Fryer Vegetables. But honestly, baked zucchini with marinara and cheese is one of my favorite ways to cook with it because it's a kid-friendly and loved by the whole family.

Why You'll Love this Cheesy Baked Zucchini

It's quick and easy. There is not much prep work when it comes to baking this cheesy zucchini. Simply slice the zucchini, season, and roast. Then top with marinara and a cheese mixture and bake again. Plus, you will be ready to bite into one in under 30 minutes, including prep!
A low-carb side dish. These zucchini boats are low carb, vegetarian, gluten-free, and keto. They are a delicious way to incorporate more vegetable into your diet and the kids even love them!
The tender and creamy texture. Baking the zucchini like this will transform the texture of the squash into something so tender and creamy - and you won't even need a knife to cut it!
The marinara-cheese topping. We top these baked zucchini with marinara sauce and 2 types of cheese for the ultimate comfort. It's basically like a margherita pizza but using zucchini as the crust. So good!

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Cheesy Baked Zucchini, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

zucchini - I recommend using small zucchini if you can find them, as they will cook evenly and quickly. You could also use 4 medium sized zucchinis but you may need to increase the cook time slightly.
olive oil
salt and pepper
cheese - we top these off with a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, because 2 cheeses are better than one! Feel free to use a little more or less to taste.
Italian seasoning
marinara sauce - we used our homemade marinara sauce because we always have a batch on hand. Feel free to use store-bought sauce if it's more convenient.
fresh herbs - optionally, garnish the baked zucchini with fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, or oregano.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, small mixing bowl. and quarter sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Cheesy Baked Zucchini

Season zucchini. Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise and line them up on a quarter sheet baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Bake. Bake in a 375 F preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center goes in easily and the zucchini are completely tender.
Make cheese topping. While zucchini is baking, combine mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning in a small mixing bowl and stir to combine.
Assemble. Top each zucchini with about 2 tablespoons marinara sauce, and sprinkle each with an equal amount of the cheese mixture.

Broil. Broil on high until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs (optional) and serve immediately.

Storing Instructions

How to store: Allow the baked zucchini to cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last for 3-4 days.
How to reheat: Reheat cheesy zucchini in the microwave in 30 second intervals until warm. You can also reheat them in a 350F oven for 10 minutes or in the air fryer at 350F for 5 minutes. Note that the texture may be a little more mushier than when it was freshly baked, this is because zucchini tends to get mushy the longer it's cooked/reheated.

How to Serve

My favorite way to serve this cheesy baked zucchini is with mixed greens dressed simply with olive oil, salt and pepper. But of course, you can serve this on it's own as an appetizer, as a vegetable side dish with dinner, or even as the main course as a light summer meal.

Some of my favorite recipes to pair with vegetarian zucchini boats are:

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Blueberry Cheesecake

This Blueberry Cheesecake is rich, sweet, and smooth. The homemade crust is filled with a creamy cheesecake layer packed with blueberries and topped with sweet blueberry sauce. It looks like a masterpiece and tastes just as good.

Making cheesecake from scratch is a lot easier than you think. It does need to set for several hours so just plan ahead. Plus, it stores well and is freezer-friendly so you can make it ahead and serve for dessert on another day.

This Blueberry Cheesecake is rich, sweet, and smooth with a creamy cheesecake layer packed with blueberries and topped with sweet blueberry sauce. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love This Blueberry Cheesecake

The simple crust. If you have never made cheesecake crust before, then you won't know how easy it is to make. It is made with just 2 ingredients: Graham crackers (or Gingersnaps) and butter. It's delicious, crumbles perfectly, but still holds the cheesecake together well.
The creamy blueberry filling. The cheesecake filling is made with classic cheesecake ingredients with the addition of a whopping cup of fresh blueberries. The light and creamy filling is balanced well with the tart blueberries mixed throughout. So good
The sweet blueberry compote topping. After we've baked the cheesecake and let it cool to room temperature, we add a sweet blueberry sauce (or blueberry compote) on top. It adds sweetness and flavor and turns the cheesecake into a showstopper that looks like it was ordered from a fancy restaurant.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Blueberry Cheesecake, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

cookie crumbs - for the crust, crush up Graham crackers, Gingersnaps, or digestive biscuits in the blender. You can also make this cheesecake gluten-free by substituting with gluten-free graham crackers or other gluten-free cookie.
butter
cream cheese - use full-fat cream cheese for this recipe. The fat plays an important role in the texture and consistency of your cheesecake.
yogurt - we always have a batch of our Homemade Yogurt that we used in this recipe. You can also substitute with sour cream.
sugar - feel free to use granulated sugar or confectioners' sugar. The type of sugar will slightly affect the texture of the cheesecake. If you use confectioners' sugar, the cheesecake will be a bit smoother.
vanilla extract - adds a hint of flavor.
lemon juice - adds a little brightness to this blueberry cheesecake.
all-purpose flour
eggs
blueberries
blueberry sauce - we used our homemade Blueberry Sauce (which is so easy to make) or store-bought sauce or jam - whatever is more convenient.

Equipment

You will also need:

measuring cups and spoons
mixing bowls
hand mixer or stand mixer
round 8-inch springform pan.

How to Make the Best Blueberry Cheesecake

First, make the crust.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the cookie crumbs and melted butter until well mixed. If you use whole graham crackers, add the crackers into a food processor or blender and process until fine crumbs form. Then, add in the melted butter and stir to combine.

Line an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Press the crumb mixture firmly into the bottom base and the wall of the lined springform pan. Freeze for at least 15 minutes, allowing the crust to set before filling.

Next, make the filling.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the softened cream cheese, yogurt, sugar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and flour using a hand mixer until smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to help mix the batter evenly.

Add eggs one at a time and beat until just blended. Do not overmix to avoid cracking during baking. Fold in the blueberries until evenly distributed.

How to Assemble and Bake Cheesecake

Add filling. Carefully pour the cheesecake filling into the chilled crust and use a spatula to smooth out the surface. Gently tap the pan on the counter to remove air bubbles from the fillings.
Bake. Transfer the pan to the middle rack in the oven and bake in a 325F preheated oven for 1 hour.

Rest. After an hour, turn off the oven and let the cheesecake sit inside for another 30 minutes. This prevents the cheesecake from cracking from a sudden drop of temperature. (However, don't stress if the cheesecake cracks as we will be covering the top with blueberry sauce). Remove the cheesecake from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Add blueberry sauce and chill. Top the cheesecake with blueberry sauce (at room temperature) and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Blueberry Sauce is easy to make with a handful of simple ingredients in 15 minutes. It’s the perfect thick, fruity syrup to add to breakfast or dessert. | aheadofthyme.com

How to Serve

You can serve Blueberry Cheesecake any time of the year, but it especially hits the spot when made with fresh blueberries in season. You can serve it as is or with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and an Iced Latte.

If preparing a dessert spread, some other summer desserts that you could serve with this are:

Storing Instructions

How to store: Wrap the blueberry cheesecake tightly with plastic cling wrap and store in the refrigerator. You an also slice it up and store in an airtight container. Cheesecake will keep for up to 4 days in the fridge.
How to freeze: Once set, wrap the entire strawberry cheesecake tightly in a few layers of aluminum foil or plastic cling wrap and transfer to a freezer bag and seal the bag. Store it upright in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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Blueberry Sauce

This Blueberry Sauce is easy to make with just a handful of simple ingredients in 15 minutes. Blueberry sauce is the perfect thick and fruity syrup to add to breakfast foods like pancakes and waffles or desserts like cheesecakes and donuts.

It's a go-to recipe when blueberries are abundant fresh in season, but you can make this any time of the year with frozen blueberries too!

Why You'll Love This Blueberry Sauce

Blueberry sauce is simple and easy. This blueberry sauce recipe requires just six ingredients: blueberries, water, sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch, and vanilla. It's so easy to make that anyone can do it.
It's incredibly fast. This blueberry sauce is ready in less than 15 minutes. This quick topping can take your dessert and breakfast game to the next level in just a few short minutes!
It's thick, sweet, and delicious. Cornstarch is an important ingredient because it thickens the sauce. Plus, the consistency of this blueberry sauce can be adjusted to your tastes, which makes this sauce great for anything. Make a thin syrup to drizzle over French Toast or a thick sauce to top on a Blueberry Cheesecake! Your options are limitless.

Ingredient Notes

To make this sweet and easy Blueberry Sauce, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

blueberries - you can make this easy blueberry sauce with fresh or frozen blueberries.
water
sugar - feel free to adjust the level of sweetness that you prefer by adding in more or less sugar.
lemon juice - lemon pairs so well with blueberries, so we added it in. You can substitute this with orange juice for another citrus flavor.
vanilla extract - adds a boost of flavor, but you can leave it out if you want.
cornstarch - helps to thicken the sauce.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a medium saucepan, and a small mixing bowl.

How to Make the Best Blueberry Sauce

Cook the ingredients. In a medium saucepan, Add 1.5 cups blueberries, water, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Cook on medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes until the blueberries start to break apart, stirring constantly.

Add cornstarch. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water until smooth. Add the cornstarch slurry to the saucepan and stir constantly until thickened to a desired consistency, about 2-3 minutes. Note that the sauce will thicken more as it cools.
Stir in more blueberries. Stir in the remaining 1 cup blueberries. Let the sauce cool to room temperature. Then, transfer the blueberry sauce to an airtight container and refrigerate overnight.

How to Serve

There are millions of ways you can use blueberry sauce. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve this sweet sauce:

Stirred into Yogurt or Oatmeal.
On the side of a Charcuterie Board.
Over French Toast, Waffles, Pancakes, Scones, toast, or custard.
Mixed into or over cheesecake such as in our Blueberry Cheesecake.

Storing and Reheating

How to store: Leftover blueberry sauce will last for 5 days in the fridge when stored inside an airtight container.
How to reheat:
- Reheat in the microwave: In a microwave-safe dish, heat the blueberry sauce in 5-15 second intervals until hot, stirring in between each interval.
- Reheat on the stovetop: Heat blueberry sauce over medium heat, stirring frequently until warm. Add a splash of water if the sauce becomes too thick.

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Sweet Kale Salad

Get your kale fix with this delicious Sweet Kale Salad, inspired by the Taylor Farms salad kit you can find at Costco and other grocery stores. This delicious salad is loaded with hearty greens and veggies, a homemade creamy poppy seed dressing, and pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries on top.

This DIY kale salad kit is fast, easy, and delicious! Your whole family is sure to love it - whether you're serving it up for lunch or as a side dish at dinner. Plus, leftovers store well for days and don't get soggy!

Why You'll Love This Sweet Kale Salad

Filling and packed with fiber. This sweet kale salad is loaded up with all kinds of fibrous greens and cruciferous veggies. The kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli are sure to fill you up and leave you satisfied long after you put down your fork.
Crowd-pleasing side or entrée. Make it for a filling lunch at home or serve it as a side dish at a fancy dinner party. This Costco copycat kale salad fits all occasions and palates. You can also customize it and add some protein to make it even more filling.
Great for using up end-of-summer produce. Most of the ingredients (save for the pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and the homemade poppy seed dressing) are backyard garden favorites. As the growing season comes to a close and you find yourself with excess greenery, you can use up some of your bounty in a delicious way.
No cooking necessary. This chopped salad recipe is quick, simple, and doesn't require you to fire up the stove or preheat the oven. Chopping, mixing, and sprinkling are the only skills you'll need to use to get kale salad on the table. It requires no cooking and minimal prep work, making it a perfect recipe for busy weeknights and activity-packed weekends.

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Sweet Kale Salad, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

kale - kale is the ultimate superfood because it's one of the most nutrient dense foods out there. The whopping cup of kale in this recipe contains only 33 calories but it provides your daily requirement of vitamin A, K and C and is a good source elf a number of other vitamins and minerals. It's also loaded with antioxidants, helps lower cholesterol and contains cancer-fighting substances.
brussel sprouts
cabbage - as per the Costco DIY kale salad kit, we use both green cabbage and purple cabbage in here.
broccoli florets
pumpkin seeds - the pumpkin seeds in this recipe can be swapped for nuts or seeds of your choice. Slivered almonds, chopped walnuts, whole sunflower kernels, crushed pecans, cashews, and pistachios will each lend their unique flavor and crunchy texture to the salad, should you choose to use one of them here.
dried cranberries

The creamy poppy seed dressing

The creamy poppy seed dressing is made in a minute or 2 by combining together Greek yogurt, olive oil, granulated sugar, white wine vinegar (or rice vinegar), poppy seeds, salt, and pepper.

Greek yogurt - Greek yogurt is packed full of protein and probiotics, but it may not be the best option for you if you follow a vegan diet or have a dairy allergy. In either case, you can swap it out for unsweetened coconut or almond milk greek yogurt instead!
sugar - though the sugar is essential to get the copycat dressing just right, it's not completely necessary if you have a strict no-sugar policy for whatever reason. For sugar-free dressings, replace at a 1:1 ratio with stevia, erythritol, Swerve, or simply omit for a less-sweet flavor.

How to Make the Best Sweet Kale Salad

Combine ingredients. In a large serving dish or bowl, combine the greens together including kale, brussels sprouts, green and purple cabbage, and broccoli.

Make dressing. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the vinegar and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Add Greek yogurt, olive oil, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper and whisk until fully combined.

Toss. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
Add toppings. Sprinkle the pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries on top and serve.

Storing Instructions

How to Store

Store leftover kale salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Although this salad doesn't get as soggy as other salads made with lettuce, I would still recommend storing the salad and dressing in separate containers to keep the texture as fresh as possible and then add the dressing when you are ready to serve.

How to Freeze

If you plan on eating this as an actual salad again, it's not typically recommended that you freeze the salad, as the cabbage and veggies will go limp when thawed. However, if you want to use the leftovers in other applications (see below for ideas!) you can freeze leftovers without the dressing and toppings in a sealed freezer bag for 3-6 months!

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Use leftovers in a creative way. If you have an excess of chopped salad leftover or you do wish to freeze the remnants, you don't have to eat it the same way twice. The cruciferous vegetables in the salad are very versatile. Toss a cup of leftover kale salad in an egg scramble, sauté in a stir fry, or roast on a sheet pan in the oven!
Add protein for a heartier dish. If you want to serve as a one-and-done entrée, add a significant source of protein to make the meal go further. Shredded chicken, sautéed tofu, diced steak or hard-boiled eggs are great choices to add to this already-filling salad.

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Honey Garlic Shrimp Skewers

Honey Garlic Shrimp Skewers are sweet and savory, loaded with flavor, and grilled to perfection. These delicious shrimp kabobs are marinated in a flavorful Asian marinade, threaded onto skewers, and grilled (or baked or air fried).

The best part? They are so quick and easy to make in under 25 minutes. Feed these shrimp skewers to the family on on busy summer weeknights, add it to a romantic surf n' turf dinner on Date Night, or serve them as appetizers at a summer dinner party.

Grilled honey garlic shrimp skewers marinated in a flavorful Asian marinade are sweet and savory, loaded with flavor, and ready in 25 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love These Honey Garlic Shrimp Skewers

The most flavorful shimp. These honey garlic shrimp skewers boast a balanced flavor that packs a punch without being overwhelming. Made with classic Asian ingredients such as soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger, each bite is saucy, sticky, and so good.
Quick and easy. These garlic shrimp skewers are quick and easy to make in 25 minutes. All you need to do is whisk together a simple marinade, marinate the shrimp for 15 minutes, then grill them. You'll be surprised how little effort can make such a delicious and flavorful meal.
Charred to perfection. Anything cooked on a hot grill is bound to be a favorite of mine. I'm obsessed with the delicate and tasty char marks that the grill gives these honey garlic shrimp skewers.
So many ways to serve them. Put these honey garlic shrimp skewers atop a salad for a delicious lunch, pair them with steak or a Surf and Turf dinner, or serve them up as appetizers at a dinner party. No matter how you plate them, rest assured your guests will love these Asian shrimp skewers.

Ingredient Notes

To make this grilled Honey Garlic Shrimp Skewers, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

shrimp - be sure to use fresh shrimp. The freshness of the shrimp impacts their flavor, and you want it to be as good as possible. In addition to using fresh shrimp, make sure you give your shrimp time to marinate - it makes a huge difference!
paprika
salt and pepper
soy sauce
honey
sesame oil - or substitute with vegetable oil.
vinegar - you can also use lemon juice instead.
garlic + ginger

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, skewers (I used these bamboo skewers), and a grill or grill pan.

How to Make the Best Honey Garlic Shrimp Skewers

Marinate shrimp. In a large mixing bowl, combine shrimp with paprika, salt, and pepper, and mix until evenly coated. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, vinegar, garlic and ginger until well combined. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the sauce mixture and add the remaining to the shrimp. Toss well to coat evenly and marinate for 10 minutes.

Thread skewers. Thread 4-5 shrimp onto each skewer.
Grill. Lightly brush some oil over the grill or grill pan and preheat the grill over medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes until the oil starts sizzling and shimmering. Place the skewers spaced evenly apart on the grill and grill for 3-4 minutes on each side or until nicely charred.

Baste. Baste with reserved sauce mixture and cook for another 1-2 minutes on each side to enhance the flavor. Serve immediately.

How to Cook in the Oven or Air Fryer

You can also bake these shrimp skewers or air fry them (unthreaded or shortened skewers) at 375F for 12-15 minutes.

How to Serve

Serve honey garlic shrimp skewers on their own at a summer barbecue, or pair them with some of my favorite grilling sides including:

Macaroni Salad
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Potato Salad
Coconut Rice
Air Fryer Vegetables
Coleslaw

Storing Instructions

How to store: Eat cooked honey garlic shrimp skewers within 3-4 days of making them. The sooner, the better. Shrimp, like other shellfish, tend to go off quicker than other meals. Store honey garlic shrimp skewers in an airtight container in the fridge, and avoid leaving them out at room temperature for longer than an hour.
How to reheat: Reheating shrimp without overcooking it is a challenge. That's why I prefer to enjoy leftover honey garlic shrimp skewers cold over a fresh salad like this Grilled Shrimp Salad or over a classic Caesar Salad. If you must reheat them, I recommend steaming them in a covered pan over medium-highheat with a splash of water for 2-5 minutes.

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Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

These air fryer zucchini chips make an excellent snack or side dish - they are savory, salty, and flavorful! It's a quick and easy beginner-friendly recipe that takes just a handful of ingredients to make. Plus, homemade zucchini chips in the air fryer are healthy, nutritious, and vegan.

As an alternative traditional potato chips or tortilla chips, baked zucchini chips are a naturally gluten-free, low carb, and lower in calories alternative to traditional potato chips. You'll love snacking on these on their own, sharing them with friends and family, or packing them for your next picnic.

Air fryer zucchini chips make an excellent snack or side dish — they are savory, salty, and flavorful! A quick and easy recipe made with 5 ingredients. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love These Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

The cheesy flavor. Thanks to the addition of Parmesan, these zucchini chips have a delightfully cheesy flavor that your whole family will love. Plus, Italian seasoning adds an extra herby flavor that balances the cheese out so well.
It's quick and easy. This recipe for air fryer zucchini chips calls for just 5 ingredients and only takes 30 minutes from start to finish, most of which is cooking time so you can prep other dishes (like a 5-minute dip) while you wait or just relax until your snack is ready.
Great way to eat veggies. If you or your children struggle to get enough veggies in your diet, these seriously crave-worthy chips are a great way to increase your vegetable intake. You'll reach for this recipe over and over when you craving a salty and savory snack.

Ingredient Notes

To make these easy Air Fryer Zucchini Chips, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

zucchini - zucchini comes in all sizes and can naturally grow to be massive, measuring over a foot long and several inches wide. For the purposes of this recipe, zucchini on the smaller side will be easier to use, both for slicing on the mandolin and for fitting in the air fryer.
Italian seasoning - you can substitute Italian seasoning with your favorite spices or fresh chopped herbs to suit your palette! Try za'atar, dill, lemon pepper, or anything you can think of that would add a little extra flavor.
garlic powder
salt
Parmesan cheese - the recipe calls for grated parmesan. Buying a block and grating it yourself is always the best option for shredded cheese, but you can use the store bought pre-grated kind if you're in a hurry. The only difference is that the pre-grated kind often has cornstarch added to prevent the cheese from sticking together, but it shouldn't make a big difference in the recipe.
cooking oil spray

You will also need measuring spoons, mixing bowl, and an air fryer. If you decide to bake the chips instead, then you'll need a quarter sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Slice zucchini. Cut the zucchini into thin slices with a mandoline slicer. Use a paper towel to pat the zucchini slices dry.
Season the zucchini. Place zucchini slices in a mixing bowl and add salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and Parmesan. Toss well to coat evenly.

Air fry. Place the zucchini slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil. Cook at 300F until golden brown and crispy, about 10-15 minutes. For extra crispiness, cook for another 10-15 minutes. Check occasionally to make sure they aren't getting burnt.

How to Bake Zucchini Chips in the Oven

Place the zucchini slices in a single layer on a parchment lined quarter sheet baking pan. Lightly spray with cooking oil until evenly coated. Bake in a 275F preheated oven for 45 minutes until crispy, flipping once halfway through cooking.

How to Serve

Serve these Air Fryer Zucchini Chips on their own or with your favorite dip. Homemade zucchini chips are great for scooping up a Ranch Dip or fresh Hummus for a more filling snack between meals. Some other dips to try it with are:

Storing/Freezing Instructions

How to Store

Place leftover zucchini chips in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can reheat them by placing them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
These baked zucchini chips will store well in the freezer in a plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat without thawing by following the same instructions as outlined above, adding a few minutes to account for extra moisture from freezing.

How to Freeze

These baked zucchini chips will store well in the freezer in a plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat without thawing by following the same instructions as outlined above, adding a few minutes to account for extra moisture from freezing.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Never eat soggy chips again! If you're worried about reheating the chips to their original texture, you can easily avoid the hassle by slicing all of the zucchini at once, then make only as much as you can eat in one sitting and store the rest of the uncooked zucchini in the fridge for up to three days. You can pull them out any time and make a fresh, crispy, delicious batch of chips! This is also a great way to shave off some prep time for a make-ahead situation.
Don't have a mandolin? Use a knife instead. If you don't have a mandoline slicer on hand (you should totally get one if you slice veggies often), you can use a sharp knife to slice the zucchini into thin slices. Using a mandolin helps to majorly cut down on time and ensure uniformity - and as a result, even cooking.

More Zucchini Recipes

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30 School Lunch Ideas

Are you are wondering what to pack in your kid's school lunchbox? Whether you are packing a lunch for your kid's first day of school or looking for inspiration to switch up the same lunch that your kid is getting bored of, you my friend, have come to the right place. Today we have rounded up over 30 of our best and most popular school lunch ideas that are easy, healthy, and kid-friendly. These school lunch recipes include everything from sandwiches and wraps, to bread and cheese, to crackers with dip, pasta, and more.

Kid-Friendly School Lunch Ideas

Pepperoni Pizza Rolls

Easy pepperoni pizza rolls are crispy on the bottom, tender and chewy inside, packed with pepperoni and cheese, and baked until bubbly.

Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey pinwheels are bite-sized finger food perfection and will make back-to-school lunch planning for the kids a total breeze. They are fully customizable and you can wrap them up in a tortilla or in pita bread.

Grilled Cheese Roll Ups

Grilled cheese roll ups are a fun twist on a classic grilled cheese that gives you a hot handheld lunch to enjoy. They're kid-friendly and easy to make.

Everything Bagels with Cream Cheese

Easy homemade everything bagels with a signature everything bagel seasoning blend on top are just like bakery-style bagels and so easy to make at home.

Italian Pasta Salad

Italian pasta salad is delicious, wholesome, and easy to make. Make it up to three days ahead for your summer picnics and cookouts. You can't get more classic than Italian Salad on Memorial Day!

Pita Bread with Hummus

Nothing compares to freshly baked, quick and easy homemade pita bread. It's soft and puffy, with a perfect pocket. It takes just 15 minutes of actual prep.

Whip up smooth and creamy classic hummus dip at home in just 5 minutes, by combining chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic in the blender.

Egg Salad Sandwich

The best egg salad sandwich is a quick and easy picnic classic loaded with perfect hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, a touch of dijon mustard and green onions.

Antipasto Skewers

Antipasto skewers with tortellini are a quick, easy, and delicious lunch with the best parts of a traditional antipasto platter but easier to eat. It's basically fancy homemade lunchables.

Sourdough Discard Crackers with Sliced Cheese

Quick and easy sourdough discard crackers are thin, crispy, crunchy and flavoured with sesame seeds, dried herbs and flaked salt. They are so crave-worthy.

Quick and easy sourdough discard crackers are thin, crispy, crunchy and flavoured with sesame seeds, dried herbs and flaked salt. They are so addictive. | aheadofthyme.com

Turkey and Cheese Sliders

Turkey and Cheese Sliders are quick and easy, made with deli meat and Swiss cheese filled inside soft Hawaiian dinner rolls topped with a buttery sauce.

Baked Chicken Quesadillas

Baked Chicken Quesadillas are cheesy, crispy, flavorful, and delicious. This family-friendly recipe is quick and easy to make in just 30 minutes!

No Bake Energy Bites

No bake protein-packed breakfast energy bites are chewy, easy to make, delicious, and loaded with healthy nutrients. Perfect for breakfast or as a snack.

Homemade Calzones

Homemade calzones are delicious little pizza pockets filled with cheese and toppings and baked until golden. This Italian favourite is easy to make at home.

Tortilla Chips with Guacamole

Incredibly tasty, this easy and basic guacamole takes less than 5 minutes to make. It is the perfect dip for a Mexican-inspired Super Bowl party.

Delicious and easy guacamole is simple to make with just a few fresh ingredients in 5 minutes. This popular authentic Mexican dip is a total crowd-pleaser. | aheadofthyme.com

Stovetop Mac and Cheese with White Cheddar

Quick and easy, creamy stovetop mac and cheese with white cheddar is a delicious and comforting one pot 20-minute meal packed with three types of cheese.

Chicken Nuggets

Easy homemade chicken nuggets with chicken breast are golden and crisp on the outside and juicy and tender inside. They're freezer-friendly so make extra.

Soft Pretzels with Hummus

Salted Soft Pretzels with Avocado Hummus

The best quick and easy salted soft pretzels are buttery, salty, and so delicious. They are golden brown and chewy on the outside, yet warm and soft inside.

Quick and easy avocado hummus is creamy, smooth, healthy, and delicious. Loaded with chickpeas and avocado, it's the perfect blend of hummus and guacamole.

Leftover Blueberry Pancakes

There's nothing better in the morning than thick, soft, fluffy blueberry pancakes, loaded with fresh berries, topped with butter, and soaked in maple syrup.

Margherita Pizza

Quick and easy skillet Neapolitan margherita pizza has an iconic thin and soft crust with a perfectly crisp exterior, and simple and fresh toppings.

Pesto Penne Pasta

Quick and easy pesto penne pasta is a simple and light Italian pasta dish made with just five ingredients in under 15 minutes. The easiest dinner.

Four Quick and Easy Ritz Crackers

Four super fun, quick and easy RITZ cracker recipes with both sweet and savoury options including my favourite smoked salmon and cheese cracker bites.

Take the stress out of party planning and serve something sweet or savory with these four quick and easy RITZ Cracker recipes. | aheadofthyme.com

Tuna Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Peanut Butter Banana Toast

Peanut Butter Banana Toast is an incredibly simple yet healthy breakfast that's ready in a just 5 minutes. It's quick, satisfying, and protein-packed.

Deviled Eggs

Classic deviled eggs are a simple, easy, and healthy appetizer to make when you need something quick for brunch, picnics, barbecues, potlucks, or Easter.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Quick and easy spaghetti and meatballs is delicious, rich, comforting with tender beef meatballs simmered in a savoury tomato sauce. Make it in 30 minutes.

Quick and Easy Butter Croissants

Quick and easy butter croissants are flaky, buttery, airy, and authentic, and are made in the fraction of the time using a special simplified technique.

Vegan Hummus Wrap

Vegan hummus wrap is a quick easy lunch made in minutes with a handful of fresh ingredients. This delicious veggie wrap is healthy, fresh, nutritious.

How to Create an Easy School Lunchbox

To create an easy lunch box for back to school, pick one of the school lunch ideas listed above and pair them with 1-2 snacks.

Fruit - Pack some chopped fruit on the side or turn them into a Fruit Salad.
Veggies
Nuts or trail mix
Yogurt
Cheese
Muffins - Try Blueberry Yogurt Muffins, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, Zucchini Muffins, Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal Muffins, or Carrot Cake Muffins.
Granola bars - Try Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars, Almond Cranberry Chocolate Granola Bars, or Almond Butter Granola Bars.
Banana bread - Try Healthy Banana Bread or Nutty Banana Bread.
Granola - Try Cinnamon Apple Granola, Coconut Maple Walnut Granola, Almond Pecan Granola, Pumpkin Pie Granola, or Gingerbread Granola.

Tips for Preparing School Lunch

Prep ahead of time. When it comes to packing a school lunch, try to do it the night before. This saves so much time on busy mornings when you are trying to wrangle the kids together and get them ready for school. If you can't make something the night before, try to at least prep the ingredients and store in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
How to pack lunch. When it comes to school lunches, the container that you pack them in might be one of the most important parts. There are so many options that you can choose from. Here are my favorites: bento-style lunch box, insulated lunch bag, kids cutlery, and toddler cutlery.
Opt for foods that aren't super messy. This one is self-explanatory. 🙂

Did You Make Any of These School Lunch Recipes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of school lunch ideas. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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Blueberry Cake

Calling all blueberry lovers! This Blueberry Cake is dense, moist, and chock-full of delicious blueberries with a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top. Plus, it takes only 10 minutes of preparation to get this blueberry coffee cake into the oven. It's so easy and good that it may become your go-to for using up extra blueberries.

Blueberry cake also stores well and can be eaten all at once or portioned out over time for weeks of enjoyment. Enjoy this any-time favorite in the mornings with a cappuccino, a slice after dinner, or as a snack any time in-between.

This Blueberry Cake is dense, moist, and chock-full of delicious blueberries with a dusting of cinnamon sugar on top. Prep this coffee cake in 10 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love This Blueberry Cake

Perfectly sweet. This blueberry cake is perfectly balanced - not too sweet, but sweet enough to satisfy cravings. Processed sugars are kept exceptionally low (especially for a cake) thanks to the natural sweetness of blueberries.
Bursting with berry flavor. Using fresh blueberries in this cake gives you bites of blueberry goodness that quite literally burst in your mouth! And you can totally use frozen blueberries when they're not fresh in season.
It's a perfect summer snack or dessert. With blueberries in season, it's the absolute best time to take advantage of pint sales, farmer's market hauls, or u-pick bounties.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

To make this easy Blueberry Cake, you will need classic baking ingredients like flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, milk, oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (See the full measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post).

Do you need to make this blueberry cake a little more allergy-friendly? Easy! Here are a few simple swaps that will tailor this recipe to your specific needs:

flour - this recipe calls for all-purpose wheat flour, but you can easily make it gluten free by substituting the wheat flour with the same amount of gluten free measure-for-measure flour. The texture may change a little bit because of the difference in flour, but the end result will still be a delicious blueberry coffee cake!
milk - looking to veganize this blueberry cake or have a lactose allergy? Swap the milk for a non-dairy alternative! Coconut milk would be a great swap in this recipe because it has a similar fat content (which is important in baking) and a slightly sweet, mildly coconutty flavor that pairs well with blueberries.
blueberries - it's a sad fact that not everyone is a blueberry lover, but that doesn't mean this cake can't still be enjoyed! Swap the blueberries for quartered or diced strawberries, diced apples, blackberries or raspberries for a different kind of fruity experience.
vanilla extract - you can experiment with flavor by substituting the vanilla extract in your homemade blueberry cake with a different kind. Try almond, lemon, coconut, maple, rum, or butter extract in place of vanilla to switch things up.
vegetable oil - you can use butter instead of vegetable oil to create a more buttery flavor.

Equipment

You will also need the following baking equipment:

measuring cups and spoons
mixing bowls
spatula
8-inch square baking pan
wire cooling rack

How to Make the Best Blueberry Cake

Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Whisk together until evenly distributed and set aside.
Combine wet ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk well to combine all the wet ingredients including milk, oil, egg, and vanilla extract.
Add wet ingredients to dry. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and use a spatula to mix together until just combined and no dry ingredients are visible. Do not overmix.
Add blueberries. Fold in the blueberries.

Make cinnamon sugar. In a small mixing bowl, add sugar and cinnamon and use a spoon to mix evenly.
Fill cakepan. Lightly grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter or oil. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and top with the cinnamon sugar.
Bake. Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Cool. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then invert to remove the cake. Cool completely on a wire cooling rack or slice and serve warm.

Storing Instructions

How to Store

Cover with plastic cling wrap, aluminum foil, or place in a zippered plastic bag (squeeze the air out before sealing!) to keep the cake from drying out, and store in the fridge for up to a week. Enjoy leftovers cold or heated up in the microwave.

How to Freeze

Place the whole cake in an airtight freezer bag, or slice up and carefully arrange the slices to allow for single-serving access. Blueberry cake will keep in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Do not overmix the batter. When mixing the batter, stir with a spatula until just combined and no dry ingredients are visible. Overmixing will make the bread denser and firmer.
Add a citrus twist. Lemon and blueberry are a match made in heaven! Marry them in this recipe by swapping the vanilla extract for lemon extract or juice as mentioned above and adding fresh lemon zest to the batter and the topping, leaving out the cinnamon.
Serve warm with butter. Just like you would with Blueberry Muffins, you can up the coziness factor of this cake by serving slices warm with an optional pat of butter for a more fragrant and comforting snack or dessert!

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Summer Citrus Salad

This Summer Citrus Salad is delicious, tangy, and colorful. Loaded with fresh fruit including oranges, grapefruit, and blackberries, all tossed in a citrus dressing, this salad is not only nutritious but it's a beautiful addition to any meal.

Plus, it takes less than 10 minutes to make. Serve this citrus orange salad as a light lunch, part of a summer picnic or BBQ spread, or for a side at dinner.

This Summer Citrus Salad is delicious, tangy, and colorful. It’s loaded with fresh fruit including oranges and grapefruit tossed in a citrus dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love this Summer Citrus Salad

A go-to summer recipe. This tasty, go-to salad contains the best summer fixings and local farmer's market finds such as like salad greens, oranges, and blackberries. It's a mashup of three of my favourite summer salad recipes: Summer Fruit Salad, Mixed Greens Salad, and Mandarin Orange Salad.
Packed with Vitamin C. This salad is loaded with citrus fruits including oranges, grapefruits and lemon. These fruits are high in vitamin C, which helps support the immune system, prevents colds and recurrent infections, promotes cardiovascular health, and is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
It's healthy and nutritious. This simple fruit salad is packed with nutrients, including vitamin c, vitamin a, vitamin b1, manganese, zinc, selenium, phytonutrients, fiber, potassium, copper, pantothenic acid, and calcium. Basically, a lot of good stuff!!
Quick and easy to make. This no bake recipe takes less than 10 minutes to make, and even faster if you are quick with peeling oranges.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Summer Citrus Salad, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

mixed greens - we used spring mix salad greens, but any salad greens will work. Try it with arugula, romaine lettuce, or spinach.
citrus fruits - we use navel oranges and grapefruit. Feel free to switch it up with whatever is in season. In fact, I make this salad all the time in the winter too using blood oranges and other seasonal citrus fruits.
avocado
blackberries - or substitute with other berries such as blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries.
red onions - adds a little kick that balances out the acidity of the salad. You can leave this out if you prefer.
orange citrus dressing - made in minutes with freshly squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. To make this salad vegan, substitute the honey with maple syrup or agave.

How to Make the Best Summer Citrus Salad

Combine salad ingredients. Line a large serving bowl with the salad greens. Arrange the oranges, grapefruit, avocado, blackberries, and red onion on top and around the lettuce. Season with salt and pepper.

Make dressing. In a small mixing bowl, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
Add dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad or serve on the side.

How to Serve

Serve this Summer Citrus Salad for a light lunch or as a side salad with dinner. You can also add in some protein such as grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, salmon, or tofu.

Some of our favorite summer recipes to pair this fresh fruit salad with are:

Storing Instructions

Make ahead instructions: To make this orange salad ahead of time, I would suggest prepping the ingredients (except the avocado), making the dressing, and storing the two in separate airtight containers. When ready to serve, cut up the avocado, assemble the salad, and pour the dressing on top.
How to store: Summer citrus salad is best eaten fresh since the dressing will start to soften the greens. If you do have leftovers, store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 1-2 days.

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Stuffed Eggplant

This Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant is delicious, filling, and healthy. Loaded with veggies and topped with bubbly, melty cheese, this meal is vegetarian and can be customized to be vegan too. These eggplants are bursting with flavor, color, and nutrition!

The best part is that stuffed eggplants are so easy to make. Make the filling, stuff the eggplants, bake, and serve. So simple! Serve them as a healthy side dish or as a main entree.

Why You'll Love These Stuffed Eggplants

It's a healthy vegetarian meal. This vegetarian stuffed eggplant recipe is full of healthy filling ingredients packed with nutrition. You could even add in some cooked chickpeas, rice, or couscous to make it even more filling.
The baked eggplant. Eggplant is one of those vegetables that you either love or hate - and we love it. These eggplants are seasoned simply with olive oil, salt, and, pepper before being stuffed. The result is a tender, juicy eggplant with a complex flavor that is so good.
The filling. The delicious vegetarian filling is loaded with veggies including eggplant (of course!), zucchini, onion, and bell peppers. It's loaded with even more flavor thanks to garlic and tomato sauce which pairs perfectly with the seasoned veggies.
The cheesy topping. What makes this stuffed vegetable even better is the gooey, melty, and bubble cheese topping. You can leave it out to make the recipe vegan but if you don't have any dietary restrictions, then I highly recommend keeping it as is.

Ingredient Notes

To make delicious Stuffed Eggplant, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

eggplants- look for large eggplant which will provide lots of flesh for the filling and a good base to stuff.
olive oil
onion + garlic - adds flavor to the filling that you can't skip or substitute.
zucchini
red bell pepper - or substitute with other types of bell pepper.
tomato paste + tomato sauce
seasoning - simple seasoning consisting of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
cheese - we top these eggplants with shredded mozzarella cheese. You can substitute with any melty cheese such cheddar cheese.
parsley - optional, to garnish on top when serving.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a 4 quart Dutch oven or large skillet, and a half sheet baking pan or 9x13-inch casserole dish.

How to Customize

You can customize this recipe by switching up the vegetables in the filling. Try it with carrots, mushrooms, or cauliflower.

You can also add in a grain or beans such as cooked couscous, rice, quinoa, chickpeas, andor lentils.

How to Make the Best Stuffed Eggplant

First, prep the eggplants.

Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh from the inside, leaving a ½-inch border on the sides and bottom.

Season the eggplant shells evenly with salt and pepper.

Dice the eggplant flesh and set aside.

Next, make the filling.

Heat olive oil in a 4 quart Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat until the oil is sizzling hot, about 1 minute.
Add onion, garlic, zucchini, bell pepper, and eggplant flesh. Sauté until tender, about 8-10 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in tomato sauce and cook until thickened to a desired consistency, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure cooking evenly.

Assemble and bake.

Fill each eggplant shell with the filling. Sprinkle about 3 tablespoons of shredded cheese on top.

Place the stuffed eggplants on a large half sheet baking pan or 9x13-inch casserole pan and bake in a 375F preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until the cheese is melty and nicely browned on top. The eggplant shells should be cooked tender. Serve warm.

Tip

Once cooked, the eggplant shell will be sturdy enough to keep it's shape. If you'd rather have more tender flesh in the shell (and less structure when transferring), you can pre-bake the eggplant shells for 20 minutes before adding the filling and popping back into the oven.

How to Serve

This Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplant is delicious and filling served on its own, or paired with some other Mediterranean style dishes and sides such as:

Storing Instructions

How to store: Keep leftover stuffed eggplants in a shallow airtight container for up to 4 days.
How to reheat: Reheat stuffed eggplants in a preheated 375F oven for 15-30 minutes until warmed through.

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Italian Chicken Skewers

Italian Chicken Skewers are a quick, delicious, and flavorful grilled chicken dinner that you'll find yourself making all summer long. Juicy and tender chicken bites are smothered in a tomato-based marinade loaded with fresh herbs. Plus, they are easy to make on busy weeknights when you are short on time.

You can cook this easy dinner on the grill or in the oven (yes - you can enjoy these chicken kebabs all year long!). Serve them with Italian-style summer sides like salad, pasta, veggies or risotto.

Italian Chicken Skewers are an easy, delicious, and flavorful grilled chicken dinner made with juicy chicken bites smothered in a herby tomato marinade. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love Italian Chicken Skewers

The homemade tomato-based marinade. To make this Italian chicken, you need the perfect marinade - made with tomato paste, heaps of parsley, balsamic vinegar, onion, and garlic. This combination of classic Italian ingredients creates incredible flavor in every bite.
Quick and easy to make. This grilled chicken recipe is easy enough that you can make it on busy weeknights. Just keep in mind that you need to set the meat aside to marinate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to infuse into the meat and tenderize it. If you have the time, I recommend marinating it the night before or in the morning. The longer you marinate, the more flavorful the chicken will be.
Cook them on the grill or in the oven. You can enjoy these Italian chicken skewers any time of the year because you can fire them up on the grill in the summer months or bake them in the oven. We love grilled them because the charring and smoke add even more flavor to these already flavorful bites of chicken. You can also create a similar effect in the oven by turning the broiler on for a few minutes after they have been baked.

Ingredient Notes

To make these easy Italian Chicken Skewers, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

chicken - we used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless chicken thighs if you prefer.
salt and pepper
onion
garlic
parsley - or substitute with 1.5 tablespoons dried parsley or Italian seasoning.
tomato paste - adds flavor and color.
balsamic vinegar - adds flavor and color.
vegetable oil

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl or ziploc bag for marinating, and skewers (we used bamboo skewers).

How to Make the Best Italian Chicken Skewers

Season the chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch thick pieces and season with salt and pepper. Set aside in a large mixing bowl or Ziploc bag.
Marinate the chicken. In a food processor or blender, add onion, garlic, parsley, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, and oil and puree for 1 minute until smooth. Pour in the mixture over the chicken. Toss well until evenly coated. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight for the best results).

Thread the chicken. Thread 6-8 marinated cubed chicken breasts onto each skewer. I used bamboo skewers.
Grill the chicken. Preheat grill over medium high heat until hot, about 2-3 minutes. Place the skewers evenly apart on the grill and grill for 5-7 minutes on each side until the edges are nicely charred. The internal temperature for the chicken should reach 165 F as read on a meat thermometer. Do not overlap the skewers at any time to ensure even cooking. You can also cok them on a preheated grill pan for 8-10 minutes per side.

How to Bake Chicken Skewers in the Oven

Place the threaded chicken skewers spaced evenly apart on a parchment lined half sheet baking pan or on a lightly oiled wire rack in a baking pan. Bake in a 425F preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature for the chicken reaches 165 F.

Optionally, turn on the broil function on the oven on HI and broil for 2-3 minutes until nicely charred on the edges. Let it rest at room temperature for 5 minutes and serve.

How to Serve

These Italian chicken skewers taste delicious on their own or paired with some summer side dishes. Some of my favorites are:

Grilled Corn on the Cob or Grilled Zucchini
Classic Coleslaw, Potato Salad or Caprese Salad
Antipasto Skewers
Parmesan Risotto
Pita Bread
Fettuccine Alfredo

Storing and Reheating

How to store: Keep leftover Italian chicken skewers in a shallow airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. They can be stored on or off the skewers.
How to reheat: The best way to reheat cold chicken skewers is to wrap them in aluminum foil with a splash of water and bake for 10-20 minutes in a 350F preheated oven. The foil should lay somewhat loosely around the chicken to allow for air circulation, but it should be pinched shut. You can also unthread the chicken and reheat in the air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes until warm.

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Summer Fruit Salad with Honey Lemon Dressing

This summer fruit salad is unbelievably easy to make, not to mention delicious and contains no processed sugar. It's colorful, naturally sweet, and packed with refreshing fruity flavors. Serve it for breakfast, eat it with lunch, take as a side dish to the summer cookout, or use as a topping for more complex desserts.

This recipe is simple but sure to please time and time again, consisting only fruits, honey for a touch of natural sweetness, and lemon juice for balance (and to prevent browning). An all-around winner!

This Summer Fruit Salad is colorful, delicious, and naturally sweet (no processed sugar!). It's easy to make with fresh fruit tossed in a homemade dressing. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love this Summer Fruit Salad

Best combination of ingredients. Who doesn't love strawberries, mangos, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries and grapes all tossed together in a honey lemon dressing? The honey lemon dressing adds just the right amount of sweetness to the tropical and decadent fruit, taking it from tangy to even better.
Naturally sweet. Some fruit salad recipes call for simple syrup, a reduction of (usually) processed sugar and water, but this recipe gets its sweetness from two all-natural sources: fruit and honey.
Highly customizable. The base of this homemade fruit salad is, you guessed it, fruit! The good news is that any of the fruits can be swapped to suit your tastes or color preferences.
Requires no cooking. Are there any three words that sound so good together? There is no cooking time associated with this recipe. Simply chop, add dressing, and toss together. It couldn't be easier (or could it? Check out the tips section for a shortcut!).
Visually compelling. If you think that aesthetics are important when it comes to food, you're in good company. The vibrant contrasts of the colors and textures of the produce in this fruit salad create a beautiful dish that won't last long on the serving table.

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Summer Fruit Salad, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

fruit - we use strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, kiwi, mango, and grapes. But there are a ton of things you can do fruit-wise to truly make this recipe your own. You can swap out virtually any of the fruits in exchange for others. As long as you have 4-6 different varieties of fruit, you'll be golden. Experiment with different flavors and color palettes as you see fit.
honey - you can use honey from your local apiary or the store-bought kind, just double check the ingredients as a lot of mass-produced honey brands cut the honey with syrup. You can also substitute the honey for agave nectar at a 1:1 ratio if you don't partake in honey for various reasons like veganism. Also, adjust the amount of honey based on your level of desired sweetness. Add more honey if you prefer a sweeter salad.
lemon juice - I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice for the most potent flavor. You can also substitute this with lime juice for similar results.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a large serving dish, and a small mixing bowl.

How to Make the Best Fruit Salad

Arrange all the fruit in a large serving bowl (strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, kiwi, mango, and grapes). You can throw the fruit together or create a fruit rainbow, separating the fruit into rows.
In a small mixing bowl, add honey and lemon juice. Stir until combined.
Pour dressing over the fruit and toss to combine.

How to Serve

This summer fruit salad is one of go-to's when I need to prepare something for a pot-luck, picnic or barbecue. It's easy and makes the perfect snack or dessert. But, the thing about fruit salad is that although it may hit the spot during the summer, you can really devour this stuff all year long. It's kind of also one of my favourite breakfast options or snacks throughout the day. Move over smoothie, there is a new breakfast boss in town!

Storage Instructions

How to store: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days. Give the salad a good toss before serving.
How to freeze: Unfortunately, this fruit salad won't come out of the freezer in the same state it went in. The texture may change slightly after thawing. However, that doesn't mean that freezing is out of the question! Frozen fruit salad could make an excellent addition to smoothies or serve as a base for quick fruit reductions for desserts and breakfasts. Just pop into a freezer storage bag and leave frozen for up to three months.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Shake things up. If you want to add even more visual interest and you have extra time on your hands, use cookie cutters to cut some of the fruit into fun shapes like hearts, stars, or triangles for cool variations that will wow the crowd every time.
Use pre-cut fruit. In a pinch, you can save even more time on prep by shopping for pre-cut fruits in the produce section of your local grocery store - just be sure to check the "prepared on" date to ensure you're getting the freshest fruit possible, as well as the ingredients list to make sure there aren't any other ingredients added, like preservatives to maintain color.

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Thai Turkey Burgers

These Thai Turkey Burgers topped with a crisp and creamy slaw stuffed between a well-toasted bun may be one of the best burger experiences you'll ever have. They're loaded with fresh and bright flavors, healthy, delicious, and quick and easy to make.

Cook these Asian turkey burgers any way you'd like - on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, or in the air fryer! This perfect weeknight meal has is so convenient.

Why You'll Love Thai Turkey Burgers

They're unique and delicious. Turkey is a healthy alternative to Classic Beef Hamburgers, but they can start to get boring after a while. By adding Thai flavors to these turkey burgers, you can make something unique that is healthy, tasty, and different.
The flavorful patties. These Thai turkey burger patties are full of aromatic ingredients that create an Asian turkey burger like no other. Red curry paste and fish sauce add a hint of spice and umami to the fresh flavors of onion, ginger, and basil. Balance is key, and these Thai turkey burger patties have nailed it.
The saucy slaw. In the coleslaw, you'll find cabbage and carrots smothered in a creamy and tangy sauce of mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The slaw is the perfect companion to these Thai turkey burgers because it softens the bright flavors in the burger patties and adds some sauciness to them.

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Thai Turkey Burgers, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

ground turkey - you can also substitute the ground turkey with ground chicken or pork.
shallot - or substitute with red onion.
breadcrumbs - helps to make the cooked turkey patties lighter and more tender.
ginger
red curry paste
fish sauce
basil - I recommend using fresh basil and not dried. Fresh basil compliments the other fresh Thai flavors so well.
salt and pepper
coleslaw - made easy with shredded cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
vegetable oil - if pan frying the turkey patties.
hamburger buns - try making homemade hamburger buns or use store-bought buns.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, and a mixing bowl.

How to Make the Best Thai Turkey Burgers

First, make the turkey patties.

Marinate the ground turkey. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey with onion, breadcrumbs, red curry paste, fish sauce, basil, ginger, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined. Set aside for at least 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to infuse into the meat.

Shape the patties. Divide the turkey mixture in 4 and use your hands to shape into 4 large patties (each about ½ cup of the mixture).

Next, cook the patties.

Cook the patties on a skillet, in the oven, on the grill, or in the air fryer.

To pan fry: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling hot, about 2 minutes. Place patties on the skillet and cook until nicely browned and firm, about 5 minutes per side. The internal temperature for the turkey should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.

To bake: Add patties to a large parchment lined half sheet baking pan and bake in a 375F preheated oven for 15 minutes until nicely browned, flipping once.
To grill: Preheat the grill on medium-high until hot. Brush some oil onto the grilling grate and place patties on top. Brush some more oil on top of the patties as well. Cook for 4-5 minutes and then carefully flip over and cook on the other side.
To air fry: Add patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 375F for 12-15 minutes until nicely browned. Flip once halfway through cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook in batches.

Assemble the Asian turkey burgers.

Make the slaw. In a medium mixing bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrot, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir well until evenly combined.
Toast the buns. Slice the hamburger buns and toast them on the grill or in the frying pan, if desired.
Assemble the burgers. Place the turkey patties on the bottom half of the bun and top with coleslaw. Place top bun on top and serve immediately.

How to Serve

Thai Turkey Burgers are delicious and filling on their own. But you can add some sides for a complete meal, such as:

Make Ahead and Storing Instructions

Make ahead instructions: To prep burgers ahead of time and still enjoy them fresh, you can store the raw patties for up to 2 days. I recommend storing them in an airtight container, stacked on top of each other, with parchment paper in between to keep them separated.
How to freeze: You can easily freeze uncooked Thai turkey burger patties for up to 3 months. Place them on a parchment lined baking tray and into the freezer for an hour. Then, stack them up and layer small squares of parchment paper in between. Tightly wrap the stack in plastic cling wrap and store in an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To cook, first defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then follow recipe instructions.
How to store: Store cooked turkey burgers and coleslaw in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Store hamburger buns separately at room temperature, also in an airtight container or bag.
How to reheat: To reheat cold cooked Thai turkey burgers, pre-heat your oven to 350F. Wrap the burgers in aluminum foil with a splash of water, loose enough to allow air to flow around the burger but also tight enough that the humid air will stay inside the foil wrap. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.

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50+ Healthy Lunch Ideas

Sometimes you just don't feel like having leftovers for lunch. If you are wondering "what to make for lunch" that is easy, healthy, and delicious, and you don't necessary want to spend all Sunday night meal prepping (although there is nothing wrong with that, we have some great meal prep ideas here too!), then you have come to the right place. We have rounded up over 50 of our best and most popular healthy lunch ideas.

Best Healthy Lunch Ideas

Browse through the best lunch sandwiches wraps and rolls, filling hearty salads, flavor-packed Asian bowls, hearty soups that are easy to make ahead and reheat well, and easy meal prep ideas (meatballs are the best for meal prep). Plus, many of these lunch recipes are quick and easy!

Sandwiches, Wraps and Rolls

Easy Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki

Egg Salad Sandwich

The best egg salad sandwich is a quick and easy picnic classic loaded with perfect hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, a touch of dijon mustard and green onions.

Turkey Pinwheels

Chicken Shawarma

Homemade chicken shawarma (donair) with juicy tender chicken marinated in Middle Eastern spices and wrapped in pita bread is easy to make at home. Serve it with a Persian Shirazi Salad on the side.

Vegan Hummus Wrap

Vegan hummus wrap is a quick easy lunch made in minutes with a handful of fresh ingredients. This delicious veggie wrap is healthy, fresh, nutritious.

Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Chicken

Vietnamese summer rolls with chicken are fresh, light, and healthy. This Asian snack is a healthy lunch idea that takes less than 20 minutes to make and way easier than you think.

Beef and Bean Burritos

Hearty and filling beef and bean burritos are easy to make ahead, freezer-friendly, and take just 30 minutes for restaurant-quality Mexican food at home.

Tuna Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Mayo

Spice it up and make copycat Szechuan chicken lettuce wraps with spicy mayo from the comfort of your own home with this easy to follow recipe. Plus, it is healthier than the original.

Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich

This easy-to-make, light and crunchy Vietnamese lemongrass chicken banh mi sandwich is packed with tender chicken, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs.

Vietnamese Salad Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Fresh, light and healthy Vietnamese salad rolls are packed with vermicelli noodles, shrimp, fresh vegetables and herbs and dipped in homemade peanut sauce. If you prefer chicken, try our Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Chicken.

Hearty Filling Salads = the Easiest Healthy Lunch Idea

Chicken Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing

Chicken garden salad with ranch dressing is fresh, healthy, hearty, and colorful. It's a filling and wholesome lunch or dinner that is versatile too. You can't get a healthy lunch idea than a fresh salad.

Italian Pasta Salad

Italian pasta salad is delicious, wholesome, and easy to make. Make it up to three days ahead for your summer picnics and cookouts. You can't get more classic than Italian Salad for lunch.

Grilled Shrimp Salad

Grilled shrimp salad is a quick and easy, healthy summer meal that is loaded with fresh, flavorful ingredients, all tossed in an easy homemade dressing.

Beef Taco Salad

Beef taco salad is a simple, filling, and delicious meal loaded with your favorite taco fillings, and a creamy lime dressing. Make it in 20 minutes.

Vegan Soba Noodle Salad

There's nothing better on a hot day than a cold and refreshing vegan soba noodle salad, tossed with fresh vegetables and a delicious saucy dressing.

Greek Chicken Salad

Greek chicken salad is fresh, healthy, and delicious, packed with classic Mediterranean flavors. Perfect as a light lunch or dinner, or for meal prep.

Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

Quick and easy Mediterranean orzo pasta salad packed with fresh vegetables and herbs is tossed in a Greek lemon vinaigrette. Healthy, light and delicious.

Shrimp Taco Salad

Shrimp taco salad with cilantro lime dressing is flavourful, delicious, and easy to make. It has all the fixings and of shrimp tacos, but without the mess.

Asian Chopped Salad

Asian chopped salad is a delicious and colorful salad, loaded with refreshing crisp vegetables, plant-based protein, and a homemade creamy sesame dressing.

Chickpea Greek Salad

Chickpea Greek salad is a fresh, healthy, vibrant, and colorful salad, packed with traditional Mediterranean ingredients, superfoods, and nutrients.

Quinoa Spinach Salad

Take a bite into this refreshing, gluten-free quinoa and spinach salad bursting with colourful tomatoes, cucumbers and raisins.

Filling Asian Bowls for the Most Flavourful Wholesome Lunch

Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl

Easy to make, light and fresh teriyaki grilled salmon rice bowl is topped with vegetables, seaweed and salmon roe, with homemade teriyaki sauce on top.

Vietnamese Noodle Bowl with Chicken

Vietnamese noodle bowl with lemongrass chicken, fresh vegetables and herbs, tossed in a homemade Vietnamese sauce is healthy, delicious, light, and filling.

Korean Beef Steak Rice Bowl

Korean beef steak rice bowl is loaded with tender and juicy strips of beef, marinated vegetable sides (banchan), and kimchi. Make it in under 30 minutes!

Cold Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce

Easy vegan Shanghai style cold noodles tossed in peanut butter sauce with fresh vegetables and Asian seasonings, are flavourful and ready in 10 minutes.

Easy Make Ahead Soups for Lunch that will Keep you Full Until Dinner

Creamy Tortellini Soup with Sausage

Hearty and creamy tortellini soup with sausage, spinach and kale is total comfort food in a bowl. Make this flavourful one pot meal in under 30 minutes.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Hearty chicken tortilla soup is a delicious, wholesome and filling soup that you can make in about 30 minutes, packed with classic Mexican flavours.

Vegetarian Mushroom Barley Soup

Wholesome hearty vegetarian mushroom barley soup is healthy, filling, and so delicious. This one pot meal is easy to make with just 10 minutes of prep.

Coconut Curry Lentil Soup

Indian-inspired, vegan, creamy coconut curry lentil soup is an easy and simple 30-minute pantry meal that is packed with spices for maximum flavour. Serve it as a soup or as a curry over some coconut rice.

Creamy Ham and Potato Soup

Creamy ham and potato soup is hearty, filling, and so flavourful. This warm and cozy one pot meal is the easiest weeknight meal to make in just 25 minutes.

Light Cream of Broccoli Soup

Delicious and flavourful, light cream of broccoli soup is a silky smooth, creamy, and thick soup made healthier with no cream. Make it in under 25 minutes.

Creamy Mexican Corn Soup

This vegetarian, hearty and filling, creamy Mexican corn soup is dense, bright, and full of flavour! It has all the warm and cozy vibes written all over it. Serve it with some butternut squash quesadillas.

Beef Cabbage Barley Soup

Hearty beef cabbage barley soup is wholesome, filling and flavourful. This one pot meal can be made ahead and is freezer-friendly. Prep it in 10 minutes for one of the easiest healthy lunch ideas.

Sweet Potato Soup

One pot sweet potato soup is super silky, creamy and vegan, and packed with fall flavours. Make this quick and easy fall and winter soup in 30 minutes. Serve with some rosemary cornbread or pumpkin dinner rolls on the side.

Easy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

Mediterranean Chicken Patties

Delicious, moist and juicy Mediterranean chicken patties have everything you want in one bite: protein, veggies, herbs, and they're quick and easy to make. Serve it on it's own, with hamburger buns, or a side of Basmati rice.

Vegan Stuffed Peppers

Fresh, homegrown bell peppers baked with an assortment of veggies and brown rice is what these easy vegan stuffed bell peppers are all about!! Ready in under an hour, serve this at your next fancy dinner party or make it for an easy weeknight dinner!

Meal Prep Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables

Quick and easy, throw everything into one pan, Asian-style meal prep sheet pan sesame balsamic chicken and vegetables is flavourful, juicy and tender. Serve with some steamed rice.

Italian Meatballs

Meatballs are probably my favorite of all ground beef recipes. These quick, easy homemade Italian meatballs are juicy, flavourful, and delicious, simmered in a rich and savoury tomato sauce. Make them in just 30 minutes.

Spinach and Feta Quiche with Cauliflower Crust

Spinach and feta quiche is healthy and gluten-free with a keto cauliflower crust and savoury vegetarian filling. Serve for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Sizzling and hot sheet pan chicken fajitas are on the table in less than 30 minutes. The best part is that you just throw everything into one sheet pan. Make it a total fiesta with some pico de gallo and fish tacos.

Baked Chicken Breast with Greek Souvlaki Marinade

Juicy, tender, and moist, baked chicken breast with the best Greek souvlaki marinade is the most flavorful and delicious chicken dinner in under 30 minutes.

One Pot Spanish Chicken and Rice

Packed with flavour, real ingredients and vibrant colours, one pot Spanish chicken and rice is the perfect no fuss, no clean up weeknight meal.

Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs

Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.

Easy Meat Lasagna

Classic easy meat lasagna is the ultimate Italian comfort food with layers of tender lasagna, meaty tomato sauce, cheese filling and melted cheese on top.

Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers

Ground beef stuffed peppers are delicious, healthy, and filling. Stuffed with beef rice and veggies, they're easy to make ahead and freezer-friendly.

Vegetable Frittata

Spring vegetable frittata is a delicious breakfast or served at any time of the day. It's a one-pan meal that starts on the stove and moves to the oven.

One Pot Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice

Creamy, delicious and flavourful, Thai-inspired one pot coconut curry chicken and rice is a 30-minute weeknight meal made with red curry and coconut milk.

Creamy White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna

Creamy white chicken and spinach lasagna with tender shredded chicken is the most comforting creamiest cheesiest white lasagna. Easy to make ahead & freeze.

Tips for Storing and Reheating these Healthy Lunch Ideas

Make ahead instructions. You can make many of these lunch recipes ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months (the soups and meatballs freeze really well!). You can also prep the ingredients in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to use or assemble.
How to store: Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator or even in the freezer. Check the individual recipe for complete storing instructions and to confirm if the recipe is freezer-friendly.
How to reheat: Most of the leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.

More Lunch Recipes

Did You Make Any of These Easy Lunch Recipes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of these healthy lunch ideas. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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Blueberry Biscuits

These Blueberry Biscuits are delicious, fluffy, and sweet. Made with fresh blueberries folded into a buttery dough, these homemade biscuits are a total crowd pleaser. The best part? It's a one bowl recipe that is ready in 30 minutes with minimal clean up.

Serve blueberry drop biscuits on their own with a pat of butter as breakfast on-the-go or a school snack, or as part of a weekend brunch spread. They're easy to make ahead and freeze well so you can enjoy them for months to come.

These Blueberry Biscuits from scratch are delicious, fluffy, moist, and sweet. It’s a one bowl recipe that is ready in 30 minutes with minimal clean up. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love these Blueberry Biscuits

The blueberries. There's nothing comparable to a baked, juicy and bursting blueberry nestled into a buttery biscuit… or hot pancake or a sweet muffin… Anyway, you'll love how perfectly the blueberries pair with biscuit dough.
Crisp edges, soft and fluffy inside. Think of the top part of a muffin - with browned edges with a slight crisp, yet moist and fluffy inside. Basically the best part of a muffin. Well these drop biscuits are basically muffin tops baked on their own.
They're so easy to make. These blueberry biscuits are ready in just under 25 minutes, and the recipe contains three simple steps. You'll make the batter by adding the wet ingredients to the dry ones, then combining and folding in the blueberries. Finally, you'll bake the biscuits for 15 minutes and enjoy!

Ingredient Notes

To make these easy Blueberry Biscuits, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

blueberries - we used fresh blueberries as it's in season right now. But you can make this recipe easily with frozen blueberries as well and enjoy them any time of the year.
all-purpose flour
granulated sugar - you can substitute with brown sugar if desired.
baking soda + powder
salt
butter - you'll need to use cold butter cut into ½ inch cubes. I recommend cutting the butter and then placing back in the fridge until ready to use in the recipe.
yogurt - this is what keeps the biscuits moist. We always have a batch of our homemade yogurt on hand. It's easy to make at home if you want to give it a try.
egg
vanilla extract

Equipment Needed

You will also need :

measuring cups and spoons
mixing bowl
pastry cutter or fork
cookie scoop
half sheet baking pan
wire cooling rack

How to Make the Best Blueberry Biscuits

Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cold butter. Stir well and mix the butter into the flour using pastry cutter or fork until the mixture becomes breadcrumb-like.
Add wet ingredients. Add yogurt, egg, and vanilla extract. Use a spatula to mix together until just combined, and no dry flour particles are visible. Fold in the blueberries.

Scoop biscuits. Line two large half sheet baking pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Use a medium cookie scoop (ice cream scoop) to scoop the batter and place on the lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart because they will spread during baking. You will be able to fit 6 biscuits on one half sheet baking pan, so you will have to use either two baking sheets or cook in batches.
Bake. Bake in a 400F preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until the tops turn golden brown. Allow the biscuits to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool another 5-10 minutes and serve.

How to Serve

Enjoy a blueberry biscuit as a snack, light breakfast on it's own or with a pat of butter or Lemon Glaze, or serve for weekend whole brunch meal with other classic breakfast staples, like:

Scrambled Mediterranean Eggs or any kind of eggs (scrambled, fried, sunny side up, or poached).
Vegetable Frittata, Shakshuka, or Spinach and Feta Quiche with Cauliflower Crust.
Breakfast meats like bacon, fried ham, or sausage.
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Baby Potatoes or hash browns.
Old Fashioned Pancakes, French Toast, or waffles.

Storage Instructions

How to store: Allow the blueberry biscuits to cool to room temperature, then store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For the freshest blueberry biscuits, wrap each biscuit individually in plastic wrap before placing in the airtight container.
How to freeze: Once cooler, place the biscuits on a cookie tray and freeze for 1 hour until hard. Then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
How to reheat: The best way to reheat biscuits is in the oven. Reheat them for 5-10 minutes in a 375F oven or for 3-5 minutes in a 350F air fryer.

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Patatas Bravas

These delicious Patatas Bravas are made with crispy, roasted potatoes smothered in a homemade sweet and spicy tomato sauce with a drizzle of creamy garlic aioli. Plus, you don't need to go to the Spanish tapas bar to enjoy this easy meal at home.

Serve them as an appy or party food, as a complete meal for lunch or dinner, or as a side dish. However you decide to serve it, you are guaranteed to take your potatoes to the next level!

Skip the tapas bar and make Patatas Bravas at home with crispy, roasted potatoes smothered in a homemade sweet and spicy tomato sauce and garlic aioli. | aheadofthyme.com

What are Patatas Bravas?

So what are patatas bravas? The phrase literally means potatoes with salsa brava, which is a spicy tomato sauce - kind of like Marinara Sauce but spicier and smokier. These saucy potatoes are a staple at Spanish tapas bars where they are traditionally served for dinner Spanish tapas style, along with other delicious snacks. I first tried them years ago in Spain and have become obsessed ever since. Once you try them, you too will understand why.

There are a few different ways to prepare these and they often differ from region to region. Some versions are served with a mayonnaise sauce or aoili, others are served tossed in the tomato sauce, and some have tomato sauce just spooned on top. The options are endless, but a few key ingredients always stay the same: potatoes, tomatoes, and spices. Smoked paprika is one of those key spices, since the smokey flavour is what this brava salsa is all about!

Why You'll Love These Patatas Bravas

Made healthier with roasted potatoes. If you order these off the menu at your favorite Spanish tapas bar, the potatoes will often be boiled and then deep-fried in oil. However, ours are a healthier baked version, and you still end up with the perfect potatoes that are crispy and browned on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
It's so easy to make. If you've had patatas bravas before, it may be intimidating to recreate at home, but let me tell you - this recipe is easy. You really just grab a few potatoes, chop them up, and pop into the oven. Meanwhile cook a simple tomato sauce and blend it. Then, make homemade garlic aioli in 2 minutes (or use store-bought). Assemble everything together and serve! , it may sound like a lot of steps, but they are simple and come together quickly.
So many ways to serve them. Serve homemade patatas bravas as a side dish, or as a light lunch or dinner, tapas-style, with a few cocktail sticks for poking! These would also be an amazing addition to brunch.

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Patatas Bravas Spanish Potatoes, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

roasted potatoes - I recommend using red potatoes because they roast really well and hold their shape. Baby potatoes sliced in half also work well. You will also need to season it with paprika, salt, and pepper, tossed in olive oil.
bravas sauce - we make homemade sauce using olive oil, white or yellow onion, garlic, canned diced tomatoes, smoked paprika, chili powder, sugar, salt, and pepper. You can also adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less chili powder. You can similarly adjust the sweetness by adjusting the amount of sugar that you add.
garlic aioli - made in less than 2 minutes by stirring together mayonnaise, minced garlic, and lemon juice. I recommend using freshly squeezed lemon juice for the most potent flavor. Feel free to use store-bought aioli if it's more convenient.
fresh flat-leave parsley - optional to garnish on top and add extra flavor.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, large half sheet baking pan, skillet, food processor or blender, and mixing bowl.

How to Make the Best Patatas Bravas

First, roast the potatoes.

Peel and rinse the potatoes, and use a paper towel to dry them thoroughly. Cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
Place potatoes on a large half sheet baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine and arrange the potatoes in a single layer.
Transfer the baking sheet to the oven. Bake in a 425F preheated oven for 25 minutes, then remove from oven and give the potatoes a good stir. Return to the oven for 10 minutes until crisp, golden brown, and fork tender. Remove from the oven.

Next, make the salsa brava.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering hot, about 1-2 minutes. Add onion and garlic and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until soft and translucent. Turn the heat down to low and add tomatoes. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove the sauce from the heat and allow it to cool down a bit. Transfer to a food processor or blender. Puree until your sauce is smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. If you find the sauce too thick to blend, add a little water until desired consistency is reached.
Add smoked paprika and season to taste with chilli powder, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir until combined.

Don't forget the garlic aioli.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the mayo, garlic, and lemon juice. Stir until smooth.

How to Serve

Serve these roasted potatoes in a serving dish with the bravas sauce and garlic aioli drizzled on top or on the side. I also like to sprinkle some parsley on top and serve.

You can serve patatas bravas by itself as an appetizer, or as a side dish with a dinner entree. Some other Spanish-inspired dishes that you can serve these with are:

Storing Instructions

Make ahead instructions: I recommended roasting the potatoes fresh before serving. You can easily make the bravas sauce and garlic aioli ahead of time. Store the bravas sauce in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or 2 months in the freezer. Store the garlic aioli in an airtight container for up to 10 days in the fridge.
How to store: If planning for leftovers, I recommend serving the potatoes with the sauce on the side so that you can store them separately. However, it's not the end of the world if they have already been mixed. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
How to reheat: Reheat the potatoes and the bravas sauce (preferably separately, but together is okay too) in a skillet over medium heat for 5-10 minutes until warmed through.

More Potato Recipes

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Beef Kofta Kebabs

Mediterranean Beef Kofta Kebabs are juicy, tender, flavorful, and well seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices. These grilled ground beef skewers are quick and easy to make in just 30 minutes (including prep!) and can be cooked on the grill, oven, or air fryer.

The best part? You can prepare these skewers ahead of time so that you only need to spend around 10 minutes grilling them for dinner. Serve beef kofta for lunch or dinner with rice or Pita Bread for a complete meal, or serve as an appy on Game Day with a drizzle of Tzatziki Sauce. However you serve them, sit back and watch them disappear fast. They are a total crowd pleaser.

Mediterranean Beef Kofta Kebabs are juicy, tender, flavorful, and well seasoned . These grilled ground beef skewers are quick and easy to make in 30 minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love Beef Kofta Kebabs

They're a quick and easy dinner. Although it might seem complicated, these beef kofta kebabs are incredibly simple. Think of it like a meatball, except you're crafting it on a stick and cooking it. And yes, these beef kofta kebabs are ready in under 45 minutes - and if you prepare them ahead of time, they can be a 15-minute dinner.
The bold herbs and spices. To make beef kofta kebabs, you'll need fresh garlic, onion, and parsley, along with an assortment of Middle Eastern spices including paprika, cumin, sumac, and cardamom. Combined together, you'll end up with a beef kofta kebab that's so flavorful you can't help but ask for seconds, and thirds, and fourths.
You can grill, bake in the oven, or air fry them. We like to make these Mediterranean beef kebabs on a grill or grill pan because the charring and smoke add even more flavor to this already flavorful meat. You can also bake them in the oven or air fryer all year long.

Ingredient Notes

To make these delicious Beef Kofta Kebabs, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

ground beef - we use ground beef in this recipe but traditionally, kofta is made with ground lamb. Feel free to substitute with lamb or use a combination of the two ground meats.
onion
garlic
parsley
allspice powder
paprika
ground cumin
ground sumac
ground cardamom
salt and pepper
tzatziki sauce - you can serve these beef skewers with Tzatziki Sauce which pairs really well with it. We made our homemade Tzatziki Sauce in minutes, but you can easily use store-bought sauce - whichever is more convenient.

You will also need measuring spoons, mixing bowl, and skewers (I used bamboo skewers).

How to Make the Best Beef Kofta Kebabs

Marinate the beef. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef with onion, garlic, parsley, and all the spices including salt, pepper, allspice, paprika, cumin, sumac, cardamom). Mix well until evenly combined. Cover the bowl with plastic cling wrap and set aside to marinate for at least 20 minutes or overnight in the fridge.

Shape the skewers. Take about ½ cup of the beef mixture and shape into a cylinder on each skewer. Repeat this step until all the meat is used up. Set the skewers aside on a plate.
Grill. Preheat a grill pan or gas grill over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes and lightly brush the grill with cooking oil. You should notice the oil shimmers and sizzles when it's hot and ready. Grill the skewers until cooked through and nicely browned on all sides, about 10-12 minutes. Use tongs to flip around a few times to achieve even cooking on all sides. The internal temperature for the beef should reach 160 F as read on a meat thermometer.

How to Cook in the Oven or Air Fryer

You can also bake beef kofta in the oven or cook in the air fryer.

To bake in the oven, place the skewers in a single layer in a large half sheet baking pan and cook in a 375F preheated oven for 22-25 minutes until cooked through.

To cook the air fryer, shape the beef into cylinders or sausage shape without any skewers. Air fry at 375F for 20 minutes.

How to Serve

I like to serve beef kofta kebabs with Tzatziki Sauce. They also pair great with any Mediterranean-inspired dishes, such as:

A fresh salad like Greek Salad, Chickpea Greek Salad, or Quinoa Spinach Salad
Steamed Rice or Rice Pilaf
Hummus
Pita Bread
Greek Lemon Roasted Baby Potatoes

Storing Instructions

Make ahead instructions: You can marinate and/or skewer the beef up to one day ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in a covered container. When ready to eat simply skewer them or if already skewered, fire up the grill and cook.
How to store: Keep leftover beef kofta kebabs in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. If serving at a party, make sure your kebabs do not sit out at room temperature for longer than 1-2 hours. If they're out in hot weather, be sure to get them in the fridge after 30-60 minutes.
How to reheat: Reheat beef kofta kebabs in a 375F preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until hot. You can also unthread from the skewers and reheat in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes at 350F until warm.

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Zucchini Bread

This Zucchini Bread is moist, light, and fluffy. It's loaded with real zucchini - but you wouldn't even know it because you can't taste it! It adds moisture and nutrients to this delicious snack. Plus, this veggie loaf is quick and easy to make in just 10 minutes of prep.

It's my favorite way to use up all that zucchini from my vegetable garden. Plus, you can easily double or triple the recipe to make multiple loaves and freeze them to enjoy for months to come.

This easy Zucchini Bread is moist, light, and fluffy. It’s loaded with real zucchini — but you wouldn’t even know it because you can’t taste it! So good. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love Zucchini Bread

Loaded with zucchini. This loaf cake is a great way to sneak in some veggies - a whopping 2 cups of zucchini. After all, zucchini is a superfood that adds vitamins A, B, K, and C, protein, potassium, folate, and fiber to this loaf. All these nutrients promotes heart health, lowers high blood pressure, and helps manage cholesterol.
It's an end of summer go-to. If you grow your own vegetable garden, or if you keep an eye on seasonal produce, then you know how abundant zucchini is. Every year we get a ridiculous amount of zucchini from our garden and we love using it in our baking like in Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins and Chocolate Zucchini Cake.
It's moist and delicious. If you're a fan of baking, you know that fresh vegetables like zucchini, pumpkin, or carrots have the potential to transform the texture and moisture of baked goods (like in Pumpkin Bread and Spiced Carrot Muffins). Grated zucchini adds a nice density and moisture without sacrificing fluffiness or texture. It's the best!
Great for meal prep. Zucchini bread is a great to meal prep to set you up for the week with breakfast on-the-go, healthy snacks for your kid's lunchbox, or as a dessert to enjoy after a light summer dinner.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make this easy Zucchini Bread, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in the recipe card below):

zucchini - I recommend using smaller zucchini versus larger ones because they have more moisture. Also, if the zucchini has seeds, remove them first. The seeds can make the muffins slightly bitter. Then, grate or shred the zucchini using a box grater or food processor and use a paper towel to lightly blot them to dry a little.
nuts - chopped walnuts or pecans go really well in this loaf cake. But you can leave them out if you want.
all-purpose flour - when measuring the flour, use a spoon to fill the measuring cup and then use a flat spatula or the back of a butter knife to level it. I actually recommend using a kitchen scale for the most accurate measurements.
sugar - feel free to substitute with brown sugar.
baking powder + soda
ground cinnamon
salt
vegetable oil - you can use any vegetable oil such as avocado oil or melted coconut oil. You can use melted butter instead of for a more buttery flavor.
milk
eggs
vanilla extract

You can also customize this zucchini bread by adding in up to 1 cup of chocolate chips or dried cranberries.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, and a 9x5-inch loaf pan (1 pound loaf pan).

How to Make the Best Zucchini Bread

Combine dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients including flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk together until evenly distributed.
Add zucchini. Add zucchini and walnuts and mix well until evenly combined.
Combine wet ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the wet ingredients including oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk well until smooth.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and use a spatula to mix together until just combined and no dry ingredients are visible. Do not overmix the batter. Overmixing will make the bread denser and firmer.

Pour into pan. Lightly grease a 9x5-inch pan (1 pound loaf pan) with some cooking oil or butter. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top with a spatula or the back of a spoon.
Bake. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 55-60 minutes on the middle rack until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Rest and serve. Let cool for 10-15 minutes, then invert to remove the loaf. Place on a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Slice and serve.

How to Serve

Serve zucchini bread is delicious served warm, at room temperature, or cold. I like serving it with tea or coffee. Try it with:

Storing Instructions

How to store: Zucchini bread is best kept at room temperature in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil for up to 2-3 days. This will keep it fresh and moist. You can also store zucchini bread longer in the refrigerator. Allow it to cool to room temperature first, then cover tightly with plastic cling wrap to retain moisture. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
How to freeze: Once cooled to room temperature, wrap the whole zucchini bread (or individual slices) in plastic cling wrap and place into a freezer bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to three months. Thaw frozen zucchini bread by transferring it into the refrigerator overnight.
How to reheat: If you'd like to reheat your zucchini bread, place the slices you want into the microwave and heat in 20 second increments until warmed through.

More Zucchini Recipes

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Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Take your grilled cheese game to the next level with this Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich made with crispy baked broccoli, sweet red peppers, two types of melty cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Once you try this vegetarian sandwich, you may never want to eat broccoli any other way!

Serve this broccoli sandwich on its own or pair it with a soup and salad for a complete meal. It's perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner that even the kids will love - and a great way to sneak in some veggies into their diet!

Why You'll Love this Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich

It's quick and easy to make. This broccoli cheese melt takes just 30 minutes to make including prep, roasting the broccoli, and grilling. It's perfect for a quick lunch, an after school snack, or even for a kid-friendly dinner.
Loaded with veggies. This broccoli sandwich is a great way to sneak in some veggies into your diet. It's loaded with roasted broccoli and roasted red peppers all smothered in melty gooey cheese which makes it so delicious! Broccoli and cheddar cheese are already such a wonderful pairing that it makes sense to throw them together in a sandwich. But what you might not expect is how something tangy and acidic - roasted red peppers. They totally brighten the flavours of the other ingredients.
It has the best flavor and texture. Roasting the broccoli adds so much more flavor to it than if you were to just boil them. It's crispy, charred, and delicious. Paired with savory, gooey, melty cheese, crunchy sliced bread, and delicate roasted red peppers, it's the best combination that you may have never known about. But you will be so happy to have discovered it now.

Ingredient Notes

To make this delicious Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

broccoli - to roast the broccoli, cut them into florets and toss them in some olive oil, salt, and pepper before popping into the oven. You can also substitute with cauliflower in this recipe or a combination of the two.
butter - for spreading on the bread to get that classic golden brown, crispy exterior.
ciabatta bread - We love using homemade Ciabatta Rolls or slices of Sourdough Ciabatta Bread. But feel free to use any kind of crusty sliced bread that you have on hand.
roasted red peppers - we just used roasted red peppers that you can find in a glass jar at the local supermarket. You can also roast your own from scratch in 45 minutes, which is perfect while the broccoli is roasting too. Check the full instructions in our Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup recipe. If you don't have roasted peppers in the house, you could add sliced tomatoes instead.
cheese - we used white cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese, but you can substitute with any cheese that melts well. Try it with yellow cheddar, provolone, or Monterrey Jack cheese.
balsamic vinegar reduction - this is optional to drizzle on top. Use store-bought balsamic glaze or make your own balsamic vinegar reduction using balsamic vinegar. Check the full instructions in our Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze recipe.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, half sheet baking pan, and a skillet or griddle.

How to Make the Best Roasted Broccoli Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Roast the broccoli. Place broccoli florets on a large half sheet baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and toss to combine. Roast in a 400F preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until lightly browned and tender. Set aside.

Spread butter. Spread ½ tablespoon of butter on each of 4 slices of bread and place them on a plate with the butter side facing down.
Assemble the sandwiches. Divide cheddar cheese equally onto 2 of the slices. Top those same 2 slices with an even layer of roasted broccoli, a few slices of roasted red peppers, and shredded mozzarella. Top each with the remaining slice of bread (butter side on top).

Grill the sandwiches. Heat a large skillet or griddle pan over medium heat until it's hot, about 2 minutes. Add the sandwiches and cook for 3-5 minutes, until golden brown. Flip sandwiches and cook without any weight on top for another 2-3 minutes, until just browned.
Serve. Slice in half, drizzle with balsamic vinegar reduction (if using), and serve immediately.

Secrets to the Perfect Crispy Grilled Cheese

Use a skillet or griddle. While it may be tempting to bake the sandwiches in the oven since you can just pop them in there without monitoring and it will taste delicious - but you won't get that same classic texture that we want.
Weigh down the grilled cheese sandwich. Place something heavy on top (like a cast-iron skillet) when you are cooking the broccoli grilled cheese. This helps to disperse the weight even to help the sandwich get that browned, crispy crust that makes for the perfect grilled cheese.

How to Serve

You can serve Broccoli Grilled Cheese on its own for a quick meal. I really like pairing it with a soup and salad for a more complete spread. Some of my favorite side dishes to pair this sandwich with are:

Classic Caesar Salad is fresh, crisp, delicious, and flavorful. With three simple ingredients tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing, it's ready in minutes. | aheadofthyme.com

Make Ahead and Storing Instructions

Make ahead instructions: You can roasted the broccoli, prep your ingredients, and store them in separate airtight containers, or even build your broccoli grilled cheese ahead of time. Wrap with plastic cling wrap or store in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days until ready to cook.
How to store: Roasted broccoli grilled cheese sandwiches are best eaten fresh while the cheese is melty and gooey. However, you can still store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container.
How to reheat: The best way to reheat this vegetable grilled cheese after it has been cooked is in the oven. Place the grilled cheese on a baking tray and heat it for 10-15 minutes in a 375F preheated oven (or in the air fryer at 375 F for 5-8 minutes). You can also reheat on the stove over medium-low heat until cheese is melted.

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Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding is easy to make with superfood chia seeds, milk, and a little bit of sweetener. It's creamy, delicious, and healthy, loaded with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats.

Plus, you can meal prep and make this vegan pudding ahead of time to enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or as a healthy snack all week long. Learn how to make chia seed pudding from scratch today!

Chia Seed Pudding is creamy, delicious, and healthy, loaded with protein, fiber, antioxidants, and healthy fats. Plus, it’s easy to make with 3 ingredients. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love this Chia Seed Pudding

The healthiest pudding ever. Pudding is one of my favorite treats, whether it's Vanilla Pudding or Banana Pudding, I rarely say no to a bowl. But unlike these sweeter puddings, this chia seed pudding is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free - making it healthier and still totally delicious.
Chia seeds are a superfood. The superfood chia seeds is what makes this pudding so healthy. I am all about this chia seed craze that has been going on the last few years and I am proud to take every opportunity to incorporate these seeds into all types of recipes - drinks, desserts, and smoothies. Chia seeds are full of protein, fiber, antioxidants, and omega-3 healthy fatty acids. In fact, it helps to overall lower your risk of developing many health problems.
It's so easy to make. Making chia seed pudding is ridiculously easy. When chia seeds are combined with liquid, they form a gel-like substance that is similar to the texture of traditional pudding. To make chia seed pudding from scratch, all you need is to combine chia seeds with milk (I used almond milk to keep this recipe vegan) and a liquid sweetener (I used maple syrup to again keep it vegan) and set it aside to thicken for 5 minutes and then shake it and refrigerate.
Great for meal prep. You can easily make a bigger batch by doubling or tripling the recipe. It stores well in the refrigerator for up to one week, so you can enjoy it for breakfast or lunch all week. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 2 months!

Ingredient Notes

To make easy Chia Seed Pudding, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

chia seeds
milk - use any dairy or non-dairy milk that you have on hand. Try almond milk soy milk, coconut milk, or rice milk.
liquid sweetener - you can use maple syrup, honey, or agave syrup.

Toppings for Chia Seed Pudding

fruit - I love topping chia seeds with berries such as chopped or sliced strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Add any fruit you like. Some of my other favorites in this recipe are kiwi, mandarin oranges, and mangos.
granola - if you have some time, I recommend making homemade granola. It takes just a few minutes to prep before you pop into the oven. Depending on the season, top this pudding with Coconut Maple Walnut Granola, Pumpkin Pie Granola, or Gingerbread Granola.
nuts - add in some almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, or any of your favorite nuts.
coconut flakes
maple syrup or honey

How to Make the Best Chia Seed Pudding

Combine ingredients. In a large 4 cup mason jar or glass jar with a lid, add chia seeds, milk, and sweetener. Seal the lid and shake to combine. Set the jar down on the counter for 5 minutes to settle. Then shake again to remove any clumps.
Chill. Transfer the jar to the refrigerator and chill 2 hours, up to overnight.

How to Serve

Transfer the chia seed pudding to small glasses or dessert cups and top with your favorite toppings such as fruit, granola, nuts, and/or coconut flakes with a drizzle of maple syrup, and serve.

Storing Instructions

Make ahead instructions: Make a big batch ahead of time and store in the fridge for an easy breakfast or lunch all week. You can also freeze it to last longer.
How to store: Store chia seed pudding covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
How to freeze: Chia seed pudding freezes well! Portion it into small meal prep containers and freeze for up to 2 months. To serve, allow the pudding to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

More Recipes with Chia Seeds

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60+ Summer Dinner Ideas

Wondering what to make for dinner on a hot summer night? You know, something that is light, fresh, and packed with seasonal ingredients that are light and fresh. Well, you have come to the right place. We have rounded up over 60 of the best easy summer dinner ideas including quick and easy summer pastas, summer grill recipes, summer seafood, summer salads for dinner, recipes for a summer Mexican fiesta, and more! Plus, many of these recipes are quick and easy 30-minute meals with just a few simple ingredients.

Over 60 best quick and easy summer dinner ideas from summer pastas, seafood, summer grill recipes, summer salads, Mexican fiesta menu, and more. | aheadofthyme.com

Best Summer Dinners

Pesto Penne Pasta

Quick and easy pesto penne pasta is a simple and light Italian pasta dish made with just five ingredients in under 15 minutes. The easiest summer dinner recipe. If you like this recipe, try Mascarpone Pesto Pasta.

Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata

Quick and easy, creamy lemon chicken piccata is a simple and delicious 30-minute meal made with tender chicken breast in a light lemon sauce with capers. One of my favorite summer dinner ideas. You can also try Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken.

Greek Salmon

Greek salmon is delicious, flaky, and tender. This healthy oven-baked salmon is packed with Mediterranean flavors and is ready in just 20 minutes.

Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki

This refreshing and light, easy Greek chicken gyros is packed with tender souvlaki chicken, Greek salad, and homemade tzatziki sauce, all wrapped in a pita.

Easy Skillet Neapolitan Margherita Pizza

Quick and easy skillet Neapolitan margherita pizza has an iconic thin and soft crust with a perfectly crisp exterior, and simple and fresh toppings. Customize it completely with your favorite toppings, like Mushroom and Arugula Skillet Pizza or Butter Chicken Pizza.

Easy Grilled Shrimp Boil

Easy, garlicky and buttery grilled shrimp boil with prawns, corn, baby potatoes and sausage, seasoned and tossed with parsley takes just 20 minutes to cook. Throw some whole potatoes on the grill too and serve this with some BBQ Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes.

Mediterranean Chicken Patties

Balsamic Chicken Kabobs

Grilled Balsamic Chicken Kabobs are a delicious flavorful summer grill staple marinated in a balsamic sauce, skewered with vegetables, and grilled or baked.

Salmon Burgers

These Salmon Burgers made with real fresh salmon, are crispy on the outside and flaky inside, juicy and thick, and healthy and packed with protein.

Baked Caprese Chicken

Baked caprese chicken is tender, juicy, and delicious, topped with burst tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Vietnamese Salad Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Easy Vegan Stuffed Bell Peppers

Easy vegan stuffed bell peppers are filled with brown rice, mushrooms, veggies, and seasonings, then baked for 40 minutes. It's a perfect summer weeknight dinner. Serve it with a Classic Coleslaw on the side.

Chicken Shawarma

Homemade chicken shawarma (donair) with juicy tender chicken marinated in Middle Eastern spices and wrapped in pita bread is easy to make at home. Serve it with a Persian Shirazi Salad on the side.

Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry

Better than takeout garlic shrimp stir fry is saucy, sticky, flavorful, and delicious. It's quick and easy to make in 15 minutes and great for meal prep.

Baked Queso Chicken

Baked queso chicken with tomatoes is an easy, cheesy, delicious chicken dinner that takes just 30 minutes to cook. One of the best comforting summer dinner ideas. Serve it on its own with or over Cilantro Lime Rice.

Falafel

Homemade falafel are delicious, golden brown and crispy on the outside, fluffy tender and soft inside. Plus, they're vegan, loaded with plant-based protein.

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Mediterranean turkey burgers are tender, juicy, and delicious, loaded with garlic, fresh dill, and lemon juice. The perfect summer weeknight meal.

Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Mayo (Cactus Club Copycat)

Spice it up and make copycat Szechuan chicken lettuce wraps with spicy mayo from the comfort of your own home with this easy to follow recipe. Plus, it is healthier than the original.

Easy 15-Minute Lo Mein

Say goodbye to takeout and make easy Lo Mein Noodles at home, packed with fresh veggies and healthy ingredients, in less than 15 minutes! Or try Vegetarian Chow Mein for an easy summer dinner recipe.

Garlic Butter Lobster Tails

Garlic Butter Lobster Tails are juicy, tender, and flavorful. This quick and easy seafood dinner is ready in less than 20 minutes (including prep!).

Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara

Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara will save your weeknight dinner routine (and the kids love it too!). It's low carb, vegetarian, gluten-free, and keto.

Creamy Tuscan Shrimp

Creamy Tuscan shrimp packed with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic, is creamy, rich, and delicious. Make it in just 15 minutes, including prep!

Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs

Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.

Healthy Lemon Chicken

Better than takeout, healthy lemon chicken is a delicious, sticky chicken stir fry coated in a flavourful, sweet and tangy sauce. The best weeknight dinner.

Chicken Pad Thai

No more takeout when you can make flavourful, restaurant-style, authentic chicken Pad Thai at home in just 10 minutes. It's sweet, savoury, sour and nutty.

Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

Shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles is filling, yet surprisingly light! Since we are using fresh zucchini noodles, you will feel no guilt in sopping up the sauce with an extra crusty piece of bread!

Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

Slow cooker BBQ ribs are juicy, saucy, and tender -- the meat literally falls right off the bone. Add this easy recipe to your list of crockpot recipes.

Pan-Fried Lemongrass Chicken

Aromatic Asian pan-fried lemongrass chicken is healthy, gluten-free, and takes less than 25 minutes to prep and cook. Now that's what I call the perfect weeknight meal. Use any leftovers in a Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich.

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake

Creamy shrimp fettuccine alfredo pasta bake is garlicky, buttery, cheesy, loaded with shrimp and parsley and topped with mozzarella. Easy summer comfort food goals.

Creamy Avocado Basil Pesto Spaghetti

This easy 10-minute vegan light and creamy avocado basil pesto spaghetti is loaded with avocado, basil, walnuts, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Sweet and sour meatballs are quick, easy, delicious, and flavorful, tossed in a vegetable and pineapple stir fry with homemade sweet and sour sauce.

Summer Grill Recipes

Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers

Easy Greek chicken souvlaki skewers marinated in garlic, fresh herbs, lemon and bay leaves for that classic Mediterranean flavour. Grill in under 15 minutes. Serve alongside some easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce. One of my favorite summer dinner recipes!

Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers

Juicy and tender grilled cajun shrimp skewers are garlicky, lemony, and packed with flavour with a cajun marinade. Ready in under 30 minutes including prep.

The Best Ribeye Steak

Better than the steakhouse, the best tender and juicy ribeye steak with a perfect seared crust is garlicky, buttery and packed with so much flavour. Serve with a side of Air Fryer Asparagus. Or, why not make your meal a full on Surf and Turf with Lobster Tails... um yes please!

Souvlaki Beef Shish Kebabs

Easy Greek souvlaki beef shish kebabs are marinated in a garlicky lemony olive oil marinade and threaded with fresh vegetables. Cook on the grill or oven. Serve them wrapped inside some Homemade Pita Bread.

Classic Juicy Hamburgers

Better than the steakhouse, these classic juicy hamburgers are perfectly seasoned, so flavourful and delicious. You can't have a collection of summer dinner ideas without burgers. Plus, try your hand at Homemade Hamburger Buns.

Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with Pineapple

Juicy and tender teriyaki chicken skewers with pineapple, bell peppers and red onions are sticky, sweet, savoury, and tangy. So flavourful and delicious. Serve over some steamed rice or Coconut Rice.

Grilled Orange Chicken Skewers

Flame-kissed, sticky and saucy, grilled orange chicken skewers with a rich, citrus-based marinade are delicious, juicy and so tender. Best summer weeknight dinner ever. Serve with a side of Vegetarian Fried Rice or Noodles.

Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers

Greek-style spinach and feta turkey burgers are tender, juicy, and flavourful, loaded with spinach, feta and fresh Mediterranean herbs and is so easy to prep. Serve it with Tzatziki Sauce.

Spicy Cumin Lamb Skewers

Juicy and tender, Xinjiang spicy cumin lamb skewers with a bold cumin and cayenne marinade, are so flavourful and easy to make on the grill or air fryer. Serve it with a fresh Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad on the side.

Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce

Better than takeout, easy to make tender chicken satay skewers with coconut marinade and homemade peanut dipping sauce is savoury, sweet, tangy, and nutty. Serve this delicious summer dinner over some delicious Easy Coconut Rice.

Fish Burgers with Creamy Slaw

These 15-minute fish burgers with creamy slaw are juicy, flakey, and packed with flavour. So easy that it's the perfect summer weeknight meal!

Greek Souvlaki Lamb Skewers

Quick and easy, grilled Greek lamb souvlaki skewers are marinated in a simple Mediterranean marinade for just 30 minutes. Serve with some tzatziki sauce. Serve over top of Rice Pilaf and Greek Salad on the side. So delicious.

Persian Saffron Chicken Kebabs (Joojeh Kabob)

Quick and easy, classic Persian saffron chicken kebabs (joojeh kabob) is marinated in a simple saffron and lemon marinade for that classic Iranian flavour. Make it a full on Persian dinner with Basmati Rice with Saffron and Persian Shirazi Salad.

Korean Chicken Skewers

Juicy and tender Korean chicken skewers are packed with bold flavors bringing sweet, savory, and spicy your dinner table. The best summer weeknight dinner.

Seafood Summer

Garlic Butter Salmon

Tender, flaky, flavorful garlic butter salmon is well-seasoned, seared to perfection, and basted until juicy. Quick and easy to make in 20 minutes.

Creamy Garlic Shrimp

Creamy garlic shrimp is a delicious, quick and easy 15-minute meal (including prep!) that you need to include in your weeknight dinner meal plan.

Shrimp Cakes

Quick and easy shrimp cakes are juicy, tender, delicious, and flavorful. They're made simple with a food processor and your choice of three cooking methods.

Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes

Creamy shrimp pasta with sun-dried tomatoes is a delicious, quick and easy meal that takes just 20 minutes to prep and make. The perfect weeknight summer dinner.

Seafood Fried Rice

Quick and easy, one-pan, 10-minute seafood fried rice with tiger prawns is so much healthier, tastier and better than takeout. It's the easiest weeknight meal.

Summer Salads for Dinner

Italian Pasta Salad

Italian pasta salad is delicious, wholesome, and easy to make. Make it up to three days ahead for your summer picnics and cookouts. You can't get more classic than Italian Salad on for dinner on a hot summer night!

Chickpea Greek Salad

Chickpea Greek salad is a fresh, healthy, vibrant, and colorful salad, packed with traditional Mediterranean ingredients, superfoods, and nutrients.

Vegan Soba Noodle Salad

There's nothing better on a hot day than a cold and refreshing vegan soba noodle salad, tossed with fresh vegetables and a delicious saucy dressing.

Shrimp Taco Salad

Shrimp taco salad with cilantro lime dressing is flavourful, delicious, and easy to make. It has all the fixings and of shrimp tacos, but without the mess.

Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad

Quick and easy Mediterranean orzo pasta salad packed with fresh vegetables and herbs is tossed in a Greek lemon vinaigrette. Healthy, light and delicious.

Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad

Mediterranean chickpea wedge salad combines chickpeas, crunchy vegetable toppings, and hummus dressing for a delicious deconstructed falafel flavour.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

This creamy cucumber salad is the easy, refreshing snack and side dish your summer cookouts have been missing. Make it ahead with just 5 minutes prep. Another one of the classic Memorial Day recipes.

Asian Chopped Salad

Asian chopped salad is a delicious and colorful salad, loaded with refreshing crisp vegetables, plant-based protein, and a homemade creamy sesame dressing.

Quinoa Spinach Salad

Take a bite into this refreshing, gluten-free quinoa and spinach salad bursting with colourful tomatoes, cucumbers and raisins.

Macaroni Salad

Classic macaroni salad is a creamy and delicious pasta salad that is easy to throw together. It's the perfect side to bring to a summer potluck or BBQ.

Summer Corn Salad

Take fresh-off-the-grill corn on the cob and turn it into a light, flavourful summer corn salad, topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and cheese.

Potato Salad

Easy homemade potato salad is loaded with baby potatoes, eggs, and green onions and tossed in a mayo sauce and is a go-to for summer barbecues and picnics.

Summer Fiesta Menu

Fish Tacos with Lime Crema

Flavourful, easy fish tacos with lime crema is made with seasoned white fish, cabbage slaw, and lime sauce. It takes less than 25 minutes to prep and serve.

Chicken Enchiladas

Easy baked chicken enchiladas brings the taste of authentic Mexican food into your kitchen -- saucy, spicy, and savoury. Perfect for a Mexican fiesta on Cinco de Mayo.

Sheet Pan Nachos

Oven-baked loaded sheet pan nachos are a crowd pleaser for an easy weeknight dinner or a crave-worthy appetizer to serve at a Mexican fiesta.

Mexican Ground Beef Tacos

Ground beef tacos are delicious, authentic, and so easy to make. They're savory, spicy, creamy, and fresh. The perfect recipe for a Mexican fiesta.

Skillet Chicken Fajitas

Skillet chicken fajitas are a light, fresh, and sizzling dish bursting with flavour, packed with colorful vegetables, and wrapped in warm tortillas or with a side of Cilantro Lime Rice.

Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw

Quick and easy shrimp tacos with lime crema slaw are ready in less than 30 minutes and are packed with flavourful crispy shrimp and creamy cabbage slaw.

Korean Beef Steak Tacos

Fusion-style Korean beef steak tacos are made with tender, flavour-packed slices of beef and topped with caramelized pineapple, kimchi, and spicy mayo.

Shrimp Avocado Tostadas

Shrimp avocado tostadas are a delicious, crunchy, quick and easy Mexican dish you can make in just 15 minutes, loaded with the best combination of toppings.

Beef Taco Salad

Beef taco salad is a simple, filling, and delicious meal loaded with your favorite taco fillings, and a creamy lime dressing. Make it in 20 minutes.

Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos (Carnitas)

Mexican pulled pork tacos with juicy and tender traditional carnitas wrapped in corn tortillas and topped with fresh onions, cilantro, and jalapeños.

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Sizzling and hot sheet pan chicken fajitas are on the table in less than 30 minutes! The best part is that you just throw everything into one sheet pan.

Vegan Chickpea Tacos

When it comes to vegetarian tacos, these vegan chickpea tacos are some of the best. They are delicious, filling, easy to make, and loved by all.

Storing and Reheating Summer Dinners

Make ahead instructions. You can make some of these summer dinners ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also prep the ingredients in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
How to store: Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator or possible even in the freezer. Check the individual recipe for complete storing instructions and to see if the recipe is freezer-friendly.
How to reheat: Most of the leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.

More Summer Dinner Ideas

Did You Make Any of These Easy Summer Dinner Recipes?

Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of these easy summer dinner ideas. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.

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Cherry Crumb Bars

These homemade Cherry Crumb Bars are sweet, buttery, and tart. With 3 delicious layers, they have a crumbly pastry crust layer, a sweet cherry pie filling, topped with a crumbly topping.

The best part? This crumble bar recipe is so easy to make and is ready to serve in just over hour - but they taste like they came from a fancy bakery. They're the perfect dessert to satisfy a last minute craving this summer.

These bakery-style homemade Cherry Crumb Bars with 3 delicious layers are sweet, buttery, and tart. They’re easy to make and ready in just over an hour. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love Cherry Crumb Bars

Loaded with fresh cherries. There's nothing quite like a freshly baked summer dessert that is loaded with berries. When cherry season comes around, we end up baking all the treats. But you can actually enjoy these cherry pie bars any time of the year by using frozen cherries!
The easiest way to make "pie". These cherry crumb bars are basically cherry pie in bar form. They have a delicious cherry filling sandwiched between the easiest, buttery, homemade pie dough. But there is no rolling dough involved here. Just pack in the bottom layer and sprinkle on the top layer. So easy!
They're quick and easy to make. Cherrt crumble bars are ready from start to finish in just over one hour, and the prep time is just 15 minutes. Plus, it's baked in one baking dish, so clean-up is relatively easy. All you need to do is cut the bars into a size that suits you and wash the baking dish.
Serve it whenever you want. These bakery-style cherry bars are perfect as a late-night treat, served on weekend brunch, or as a snack on your coffee break. However you enjoy them, you're going to love them. They're a tota crowd pleaser.

Ingredients and Notes

To make these delicious Cherry Crumb Bars, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

all-purpose flour
granulated sugar - we need sugar in both the pie crust, topping, and filling.
baking powder
salt
cold butter - you will need to use cold butter for this recipe, cut into cubes. I recommend taking the butter out of the fridge and cutting it just before it's called for in the recipe. Or you can chop it up and put it back in the fridge until ready to use.
egg
cherries - we love making these crumb bars in season and used fresh cherries that we picked at our local cherry farm. However, you can use pitted frozen cherries in here too!
cornstarch - helps to thicken the cherry filling. You can also substitute it with all-purpose flour.
lemon juice

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, and a 9-inch square baking pan.

How to Make the Best Cherry Crumb Bars

Make the pastry mixture. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, and egg. Stir well with a fork or pastry cutter until the flour mixture forms into small crumbs. You can also combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse mix until it resembles coarse crumbs.

Prepare the cherry filling. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together pitted cherries, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice until evenly coated.

Layer the crumb bars. Line an 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 opposite sides to make it really easy to remove when baked. Spread half of the crumb mixture evenly into the baking dish and press it to pack it and form an even bottom crust. Spread the cherry mixture over the crust and crumble the remaining half of the crumb mixture on top.

Bake. Bake in a 375F preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until the crust turns golden brown. Let it cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes. You can serve it warm or let it cool completely to make it easier to cut. You can speed up on the process by storing in the refrigerator or freezer for 1 hour to help it set faster.
Serve. Slice the cherry crumb bars into 9 or 16 squares and serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side or or cold.

How to Serve

Cherry crumb bars are delicious on their own whether served warm, at room temperature, or cold. My favorite is warm with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream melting on top.

We love using up summer berries in baking recipes. Some of our other favorites are:

Storing Instructions

How to store: Store cherry crumble bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How to freeze: You can also freeze cherry crumb bars for up to 3 months. If sliced, individually wrap each crumble bar in plastic cling wrap and store in a freezer bag or airtight container. When ready to eat, allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter for a couple hours.
How to reheat: If you want to warm up your leftover berry bars, simply pop them into the air fryer at 350F for 5 minutes or in the oven for 10 minutes until warm. You can also reheat in the microwave in 30 second increments until warm.

More Bar Recipes

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Zucchini Bites

Zucchini Bites are little savory balls that are loaded with fresh zucchini, Parmesan, and an assortment of seasoning for the best flavor. They are crispy and golden brown on the outside, and tender inside. Plus, they're quick and easy to make in under 30 minutes and you can either bake them in the oven or cook in the air fryer.

So if you have an abundance of summer zucchini growing in your garden, zucchini balls are the perfect recipe to try. Serve these zucchini nuggets as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce, as a snack in your kid's lunch box, or as vegetarian meatballs in your favorite dinner recipes.

Zucchini Bites are savory balls that are loaded with fresh zucchini. They're quick and easy to make in under 30 minutes in the air fryer or oven. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love These Zucchini Bites

Quick and easy. Who doesn't love quick and easy recipes? These zucchini bites are ready to eat in under 30 minutes - including prep! All you need to do is shred the zucchini, combine the ingredients, roll into balls and cook. It's so easy that it's perfect for beginners to try and build some confidence in the kitchen, but seasoned home cooks will love it too!
Crispy outside, soft and tender inside. These zucchini balls have the best texture thanks to the moisture in the fresh zucchini. They are crispy and golden on the outside, and tender on the inside.
You can bake or air fry them. I love making these zucchini nuggets in the air fryer because it cooks fast, requires no preheating, and the results are delicious. But the good news is that if you don't have an air fryer, you can easily cook these bites in the oven.
Serve them hot or cold. You can serve these zucchini parmesan bites hot and fresh out of the oven and enjoy the leftovers cold. Either way, it's delicious and totally your personal preference how you want to eat them. For this reason, they are also great for meal prep as a healthy snack in work lunches or as vegetarian meatballs for school lunches.

Ingredients and Substitutions

To make these delicious Zucchini Bites, you will need the following ingredients (full quantities in recipe card below):

zucchini - these zucchini balls are made with shredded zucchini. Shred zucchini easily using a box grater or food processor.
Panko breadcrumbs - I like the texture of Panko breadcrumbs in this recipe, but you can easily substitute it with regular breadcrumbs.
Parmesan cheese
egg - helps to hold the balls together.
vegetable oil
garlic powder
paprika
Italian seasoning
salt and pepper

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a box grater or food processor (to shred the zucchini), mixing bowl, and skillet.

How to Make the Best Zucchini Bites

Shred the zucchini. Use a box grater or food processor to shred the zucchini.
Combine ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded zucchini, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, egg, oil, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined.
Shape zucchini bites. Take 2 spoonfuls of the zucchini mixture at a time and shape into 1.5-inch balls. Set aside on a plate.

Cook. Cook the zucchini bites in an air fryer or in the oven.
- To air fry: Place the zucchini balls in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray with some cooking oil spray to keep them from sticking together. Cook at 350F for 13-15 minutes until golden brown.
- To bake: Bake in a 375F preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.
Serve. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, if desired.

How to Serve

Serve zucchini balls as a hot appetizer on its own or with a side of your favorite dipping sauce. Try it with:

You can also serve these air fryer zucchini bites as vegetarian meatballs, substituting them in your favorite meatball recipes and just make the sauce to toss them in such as Teriyaki Meatballs, Swedish Meatballs, or Italian Meatballs.

Or serve them over salads to that need a little extra to make them more filling.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

How to store: Allow the air fryer zucchini bites to cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
How to freeze: These zucchini balls also freeze well. Once they have cooled to room temperature, store in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To eat, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first. Then, serve it cold or warm it up and enjoy it hot.
How to reheat: I recommend reheating these baked zucchini bites in an air fryer if you have one. Reheat at 350F for 4-5 minutes until warm and crisp on the outside. You can also reheat them in an 350F preheated oven for about 10 minutes until warm.

More Zucchini Recipes

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Iced Latte

Homemade Iced Latte is refreshing, quick, and delicious. With just 3 simple ingredients and under 5 minutes of time, this coffee is the easiest drink you'll make this summer. So skip the line at the local coffee shop and learn how to make iced lattes at home!

This Starbucks copycat recipe today to save time and money. Once you follow our simple step-by-step instructions, you may find yourself making iced lattes all season long!

Homemade Iced Latte is refreshing, quick, and delicious. With just 3 simple ingredients and under 5 minutes, it’s the easiest drink you’ll make this summer. | aheadofthyme.com

Why You'll Love This Iced Latte

This drink is quick and easy. Making a homemade iced latte takes about 5 minutes, which means you'll save time by choosing to make your latte at home instead of visiting the local coffee shop. Plus, it's easy and it will save you money! It's a win-win-win.
Made with only 3 ingredients. One of the great things about making an iced latte at home is that it only requires 3 simple ingredients: espresso, milk, and a sweetener (if desired). You can use your favorite coffee and your favorite milk. Personally, I love using the extra creamy Chobani oat milk, which coffee shops don't usually carry.
You can make it your own. Do you have a favorite way to enjoy an iced latte? Whether you want to add a splash of vanilla simple syrup, a dusting of cinnamon, salted caramel sauce, or something else, you can make your favorite latte from scratch with this iced coffee recipe.

Ingredient Notes

To make this easy Iced Latte, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):

espresso - I recommend using a high-quality coffee for the best flavor.
ice
sweetener - a liquid sweetener such as maple syrup or honey.
milk - feel free to use your favorite milk, whether that's dairy or non-dairy such as oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons.

How to Make the Best Iced Latte

Make the espresso using an espresso machine, manual espresso maker, or French press.

Fill 2 glasses with ice. In each glass add 2 shots of espresso. Stir in sweetener. Pour in ¼ cup milk in each glass and serve immediately.

How to Customize

Make this iced latte recipe unique by adding your favorite toppings and flavors, like:

whipped cream
sprinkles
chocolate or caramel syrup
flavored simple syrup such as vanilla, hazelnut, or cinnamon dolce

Recipe Tips and Tricks

How to store: Iced lattes are best enjoyed fresh, but if you want to make it ahead of time, omit the ice. Then, chill your latte in the fridge for 2-3 days. Add the ice at the last minute when you're ready to drink your iced latte.
Tip on sweeteners: Because iced lattes are cold, sugar does not dissolve well in them. For that reason, it's best to use liquid sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey, agave, or simple syrup.