Beef and broccoli stir fry is a classic Chinese-American dish that is delicious, savory, and saucy. Tender and juicy beef is stir-fried with broccoli, smothered in a delicious velvety signature sauce packed with Asian flavors, and seasoned with fresh garlic and ginger. This hearty meal is total comfort food that is so much better and faster than ordering takeout. It's an easy weeknight family dinner that you can make in just 25 minutes.

Why You'll Love Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Super quick and easy. This stir-fry takes just 10 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook. It takes faster to make this than to order takeout and wait for your delivery to arrive. Plus, with a recipe this easy, it's perfect for beginner home cooks and advanced cooks alike.
- Better than takeout. With a home cooked recipe, you can feel good about knowing exactly what ingredients are going into your meals. Most Chinese beef and broccoli dishes that you order from a restaurant will contain MSG and sugar. Here, there is no MSG or sugar, plus you can opt for high-quality ingredients if you desire.
- Packed with nutrients. Broccoli is an excellent source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals (like iron, potassium, magnesium, and calcium). And the beef ensures you're getting all your meat-based protein too. This is a meal you will feel good about feeding to your family.

Ingredients
To make this easy and delicious beef and broccoli stir fry, you will need the following ingredients:
- beef - the beef is thinly sliced into 1-inch slices. I would recommend using beef flank steak or top sirloin steak.
- beef marinade - marinade the beef with a rub made out of ground black pepper, soy sauce, Shaoxing cooking wine (or mirin), cornstarch (or all-purpose flour), and olive oil.
- garlic
- ginger
- soy sauce
- vinegar
- sugar
- cornstarch - this thickens up the sauce. You can also replace it with all-purpose flour if you don't have any cornstarch on hand.
- sesame oil - this is optional but really takes the sauce to another level in terms of flavor. I highly recommend using sesame oil.
- olive oil - for the stir fry. You can replace this with any vegetable oil as well.
- broccoli florets
- white sesame seeds - to garnish on top when serving.
You will also need mixing bowls, measuring spoons, and a large wok or skillet (I used my cast-iron skillet).

How to Make the Best Chinese Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Marinate the beef. In a medium mixing bowl, combine beef with pepper, soy sauce, cooking wine, cornstarch and oil until evenly coated. Set the beef aside, allowing it to marinate for at least 10 minutes.
- Stir fry the beef. Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes until the hot oil sizzles. Add in the marinated beef and stir fry until nicely browned on all sides, about 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and ginger. Sauté together until fragrant, about 1 minute. Transfer the beef mixture to a plate.
- Make the sauce. In another bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients until the sugar and cornstarch is fully dissolved. Set aside.
- Cook the broccoli. In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, broccoli and the sauce mixture. Cover the lid and let the broccoli simmer in the sauce until tender, about 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. The broccoli should be crunchy tender but still green.
- Assemble the stir fry. Return the beef to the skillet and stir well to combine. Cook for another minute until evenly coated with thickened sauce. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top and serve immediately with steamed rice or fried rice.

Storing Instructions
- How to store: Beef and broccoli stir-fry can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in a covered pot or airtight container. It can also be frozen in an airtight container or freezer bag to extend its shelf life by 3 months.
- How to reheat: Reheat any leftovers by heating some oil into a large wok or skillet on medium heat, and stir-frying for about 5 minutes until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat the dish in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through.

More Better than Takeout Recipes
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Spring Vegetable Stir Fry
- Shrimp Fried Rice
- General Tso's Chicken
- Healthy Lemon Chicken
- Baked Sesame Chicken
- Shanghai Style Fried Noodles
- Chicken Pad Thai
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos (Carnitas)
If you're looking for an easy and delicious slow cooker recipe, you've found the one: Mexican pulled pork tacos. Juicy and tender traditional Mexican carnitas are wrapped in corn tortillas, and topped with fresh onions, cilantro, and jalapeños. They are flavorful, savory, and a little spicy. Host a fiesta with a self-serve taco bar for friends and family to make their own tacos, and you'll see just how popular these slow cooker pulled pork tacos are. They are a total crowd pleaser that will disappear fast!

Why You'll Love Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos (Carnitas)
- Carnitas are a Mexican favorite. Carnitas, or slow cooker pulled pork, are a classic Mexican recipe that are often used in tacos, but they are also great to enjoy in other ways. If you have any leftover carnitas, you can eat it alone with Cilantro Lime Rice and beans, or use it as a filling in Burritos or a topping for Tostadas. great in tacos.
- The perfect combination of ingredients. The savory, tender pulled pork finds balance inside a tortilla when it meets fresh ingredients like onions, cilantro, and sour cream. Fresh jalapeños add a spicy kick if you can handle it, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice just finishes off these tacos so well.
- The slow cooker adds incredible depth of flavor. Mexican Ground Beef Tacos are a simple classic which can be whipped up in no time, but if you have some time to let your crockpot do its thing with this slow cooked pulled pork, you will upgrade your homemade taco game. As the carnitas slowly roasts in your slow cooker, the robust flavor is amplified-and the result is some amazing tacos. Check out our other Slow Cooker Recipes.

Ingredients
To make these delicious Mexican pulled pork tacos, you will need the following ingredients:
- pork - I would recommend boneless pork shoulder or baby back ribs for the most tender and juicy carnitas.
- vegetable oil
- salt and pepper
- onion
- seasoning - dried oregano, paprika, and garlic powder.
- water
To assemble the tacos, you will need:
- small tortillas - I used corn tortillas, but any type works especially wheat tortillas. I often make my own homemade flour tortillas - they are a lot easier to make than you think!
- white onion
- cilantro
- sour cream - optional
- jalapeño - optional for a spicy kick.
- lime wedges - for an extra squeeze of tang.
Tacos are extremely versatile and you can add in whatever toppings that you please. Try topping these with some Pico de Gallo or Guacamole for even more flavor.

How to Make the Best Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos (Slow Cooker Carnitas)
- Prepare the pork. Pat dry pork shoulder or ribs with paper towel completely and set aside. In a small bowl, stir well to combine oil with all the dry rub ingredients until smooth. Rub and spread onto pork until evenly coated. Spread chopped onions evenly inside a 6-quart slow cooker (or crockpot) and add water. Place pork on top of onions. If using ribs, you can stack them on top of each other.
- Slow cook and shred the pork. Cover and cook on 8-10 hours on the LOW setting or 4-6 hours on the HIGH setting until fork tender. Shred the pork by using two forks to pull the meat apart into small bite size and discard the bones (if using ribs).
- Crisp the shredded pork (optional). Add shredded pork along with some drippings from the slow cooker into a large skillet or frying pan. Spread evenly and heat over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes until the juices evaporate and pork turns nicely brown and crispy.
- Heat the tortillas. Heat the tortillas according to the package instructions, or heat in an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 30 seconds per side. You can also heat it directly on a gas burner for a few seconds to get char marks on the edges.
- Assemble the tacos. Add 2-3 tablespoons shredded pork on each tortilla, topped with pan juices if desired, diced onion, cilantro, and jalapeño. Add a dollop of sour cream (optional) and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, to taste.

Storing Instructions
- How to store: When storing tacos, you should always keep your tortillas and your meat separate-or else the tortillas can get soggy. Keep the pulled pork in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- How to reheat: You can reheat leftover carnitas in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat. Add a splash of water if you want to keep the meat more saucy or leave the pan uncovered if you want to crisp up the pork. Reheat tortillas on a clean dry (unoiled) skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes. If they were stiff from being in the fridge, the heat will soften them.

More Taco Recipes
- 30 Best Mexican Recipes
- Easy Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
- Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw
- Vegan Chickpea Tacos
- Korean Beef Steak Tacos
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Fig Crostini with Goat Cheese and Pistachios
Fig crostini with goat cheese and pistachios is a delicious and easy summer appetizer that you can make in just 10 minutes. It's fancy, sophisticated, and looks like a work of art. Toasted slices of French baguettes are topped with creamy tangy goat cheese, fresh juicy figs, a sprinkle of pistachios, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or honey (depending on what flavor you are craving!). Perfect for snacking on or entertaining.

Why You'll Love Fig Crostini with Goat Cheese and Pistachios
- Fresh figs are the best. There is nothing that beats fresh figs, so if you see them pop up in your local market GRAB THEM. Actually, grab two boxes, because just as fast as they appear, they will quickly be out of season, leaving you longing for their return. They are fresh in season in the early summer and also in later summer or early fall. So make sure to get your fix before they are gone. We are getting our fix over here with a serving (or two) of fig crostini with goat cheese and pistachios.
- The perfect combination of toppings. Figs are sweet, juicy, and perfect for snacking on as is, but I absolutely love pairing them with goat cheese. Something about the tangy and sweet flavours together never disappoints. Topped with pistachios for extra flavor, crunch, and color.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this delicious and easy fig crostini with goat cheese and pistachios, you will need the following ingredients:
- French baguette - you need one baguette sliced into ¼-inch pieces (which should give you about 15-20 slices). Use store-bought to make life easier, or try your hand at making your own Homemade French Baguettes.
- figs - you will need fresh figs.
- goat cheese - you could substitute this with feta cheese, ricotta, or a vegan cheese that is easy to spread.
- pistachios - you could top these crostini with any nuts you have on hand (toasted to bring out the flavour!), but honestly I love the pop of colour the pistachios bring to this dish.
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- balsamic vinegar or honey - If you have a sweet tooth, drizzle a bit of honey on the finished crostini. If, however, you're more like me and prefer a bit of contrast, balsamic vinegar is the way to go! OR better yet, a balsamic glaze -- try making your own (grab the super easy recipe here!). You can't imagine how good these taste, and I guarantee they will disappear quickly!

How to Make the Best Fig Crostini with Goat Cheese and Pistachios
- Toast the baguette. Place as many pieces of sliced baguette on a rimmed quarter sheet baking pan as you can fit. Drizzle with olive oil and salt. Bake in a 375 F preheated oven until crispy, about 5-7 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.
- Assemble the crostini. Using a small spatula, spread about 1 tablespoon goat cheese on each crostini, covering most of the bread. Layer quartered figs on top of goat cheese. Sprinkle with toasted pistachios and season with a little sea salt and black pepper on each crostini.
- Serve. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar or honey (or both!). Serve immediately.

Recipe Tips and Tricks
- How to pick the best figs: When selecting figs at your local grocery store or farmer's market, make sure to pick ones that are plump and soft, with smooth skin (no cracks) and their stems still on.
- How to store fresh figs: Store fresh figs in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Make ahead? I would not recommend making these ahead as the creamy cheese will cause the toasted baguettes to start getting soggy if assembled and stored too long.

More Crostini Recipes
- Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
- Whipped Ricotta Crostini
- Pea and Ricotta Crostini
- Curried White Bean Crostini
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Greek Meatballs
Baked Greek meatballs are juicy and tender, flavorful and delicious, and quick and easy to make. They are packed with fresh dill, garlic, lemon, and feta for the best Mediterranean flavors. Plus, they make the perfect weeknight dinner taking just 30 minutes to make, including prep! Serve with a drizzle of tzatziki sauce and side of pita bread, or over rice and potatoes. The best part? You can make a big batch and freeze any leftovers for an easy freezer meal on a busy day.

Why You'll Love Greek Meatballs
- They are quick and easy. Meatballs are generally a go to weeknight meal over here because they are so easy to make. They typically take less than half an hour, and most times can be prepped ahead. Some of my other favorite meatballs for busy weeknights include: Swedish Meatballs, Italian Meatballs, and Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs.
- They are packed with flavor. A twist on classic meatballs, these Greek-style meatballs (known as Keftedes) have added dill, garlic, lemon zest, cumin, and oregano, which incorporates amazing flavor into these meatballs. Plus, the feta adds a delicious and rich salty tang. These are a total crowd pleaser.
- They are oven-baked. Oven-baked meatballs are easier to cook and clean up after than pan-fried meatballs. You literally just roll them up and place then into the oven on a sheet pan. No flipping or turning required.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make these delicious baked Greek meatballs, you will need the following ingredients:
- ground beef - I recommend lean ground beef for these meatballs.
- breadcrumbs
- fresh dill
- garlic
- lemon - you will need some lemon zest and freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- ground cumin
- dried oregano - you can also use fresh oregano. Use double the amount if substituting with fresh.
- ground black pepper
- feta cheese
- egg
- tzatziki sauce - for drizzling on top when serving. Either homemade tzatziki sauce or store-bought works well. It's really easy to make your own tzatziki, and the flavor is unmatched with store-bought.
You will also need a mixing bowl and large half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Greek Meatballs
- Prepare the beef. In a large mixing bowl, combine beef with breadcrumbs, dill, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, cumin, oregano, pepper, feta cheese, and egg. Mix well to form into a uniform consistency. Set aside for 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight.
- Shape the meatballs. Take 2 spoonfuls of the beef mixture at a time and roll into meatballs. Transfer meatballs onto a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan and lightly coat with some cooking oil spray to keep them from sticking, if needed.
- Bake. Bake in a 400 F preheated oven for 15 minutes until fully cooked. The internal temperature should reach 160F as read on a meat thermometer.
How to Cook Greek Meatballs in the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 375 F, about 3 minutes. Place meatballs in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking oil to coat evenly. Air fry the meatballs for 12-14 minutes until browned and the center of the meatball reaches 160 F as read on a meat thermometer. Shake the basket halfway during cooking to brown evenly.

How to Serve Greek Meatballs
Serve these delicious meatballs with a drizzle of Tzitaziki Sauce and a side of Pita Bread. You could even make a Greek Gyro Wrap using meatballs. Some other ways that you can serve Greek meatballs are over rice and Greek Lemon Potatoes, or with a Greek Salad and roasted vegetables.

Storing and Freezing Instructions
- How to store: Store any leftover Greek meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Allow the meatballs to cool to room temperate before storing.
- How to freeze: Meatballs freeze well both before and after baking.
- To freeze uncooked meatballs: Place the shaped meatballs on a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper. Transfer the pan to the freezer and freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Then, transfer the meatballs into a freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To cook, allow the meatballs to thaw overnight in the refrigerator first, then cook as per recipe instructions on the stove.
- To freeze cooked meatballs: Once cooled, store the meatballs in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- How to Reheat: You can reheat Greek meatballs in the microwave, oven, air fryer or on the stovetop. For the best results, reheat at 350 F in the oven for 10 minutes, or in the air fryer for 5-10 minutes.

More Meatball Recipes
- Swedish Meatballs
- Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs
- Italian Meatballs
- Lion's Head Chinese Meatballs
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Vegetarian Meatballs
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
60 Best Memorial Day Recipes
Memorial Day long weekend means that it's the official kick off to summer. And like most celebrations, it's all about the food. So if you are wondering what to make for a Memorial Day summer cookout or BBQ, then you have come to the right place. I am sharing over 60 of the best and most popular Memorial Day recipes including all the classics as well as some new fun summer recipes to try. From burgers and fries, smokey grill recipes, fresh summer salads, delicious dips, cool refreshing desserts, and more, I have got you covered.

Most Popular Memorial Day Recipes
Classic Juicy Hamburgers
Better than the steakhouse, these classic juicy hamburgers are perfectly seasoned, so flavourful and delicious. A go to Memorial Day recipe. You can also try your hand at homemade hamburger buns to serve these patties in.
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!
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 or turn them into Greek chicken gyros wrapped in pita bread. One of my favorite Memorial Day recipes!
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Buttery and salty grilled corn on the cob with beautiful char marks, delicious flavor, and the best texture is the easiest recipe to throw on the grill.
Lobster Rolls
New England Lobster Rolls are a classic sandwich loaded with fresh lobster meat. Make them in just 10 minutes and serve them all summer long.
Strawberry Lemonade
Homemade strawberry lemonade is refreshing, flavorful, and easy to make. This sparkling summer drink is loaded with fresh strawberries and lemon.
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.
Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
Mediterranean turkey burgers are tender, juicy, and delicious, loaded with garlic, fresh dill, and lemon juice. The perfect summer weeknight meal.
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.
Banana Pudding
No bake banana pudding parfaits are creamy, delicious, and sweet, with layers of homemade vanilla pudding, freshly sliced bananas, and wafer cookies.
Burgers and Fries
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.

Homemade vegetarian black bean burgers are thick, hearty, flavorful, and delicious. They are easy to make with the best texture (no mushy burgers here!).

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.

Super juicy and flavourful rosemary thyme quarter pound burgers made with fresh herbs add such an incredible depth of flavour. Just 10 minutes of prep work.

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.

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!

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.

Veggie Burgers with Lima Beans
You don't need to be vegetarian to enjoy protein-packed, juicy and flavourful homemade veggie burgers with lima beans.

Super crispy air fryer french fries are tender and fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Make this healthier french fry in just 12 minutes!

Baked Sweet Potato Wedges are crispy, delicious, flavorful. Serve as an appetizer or side dish. They are salty, savory, and sweet, with a hint of spice.

Baked Potato Wedges are crispy outside and soft inside - exactly what you want from a potato wedge but without frying! Cook in the oven or air fryer.

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

Garlic shrimp skewers are delicious and full of fresh flavor. These quick and easy kabobs can be grilled, baked or air fried for an easy summer dinner.

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 quick and easy pita bread.

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 easy coconut rice.

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. Serve it with a fresh Mediterranean chickpea wedge salad on the side.

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.

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 10-minute vegetarian fried rice or noodles.

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

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 it over some delicious easy coconut rice.

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 some rice pilaf with carrots 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 with cucumber and tomato.

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.

Summer Salads
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Watermelon feta salad with cucumbers and mint is a simple and delicious refreshing summer salad that you can toss together in 5 minutes.

Loaded with fresh ingredients, strawberry avocado salad with poppy seed dressing is the ultimate summer salad -- light, vibrant, fresh, sweet, and tangy.

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

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

Creamy broccoli slaw salad is healthy, delicious, and flavourful. It's packed with crunchy vegetables, salty feta, sweet raisins, and a creamy dressing.

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

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

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.

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.

Meaty Dishes
These sweet and sticky honey garlic chicken wings are baked or air fried until crispy and tossed in a honey garlic sauce. So crave-worthy and so easy to make.

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 creamy mashed potatoes and easy air fryer asparagus. Or, why not make your meal a full on surf and turf with lobster tails... um yes please!

Sweet and sticky, baked BBQ chicken wings are perfectly crispy, so delicious, and smothered in barbecue sauce. They are the perfect summer appetizer. Plus, you can easily adapt them for the grill.

Air fryer short ribs are crispy, flavorful, and delicious. The easy marinade ensures they're tender and juicy inside, while the air fryer makes them crispy.

Baked miso garlic chicken wings are crispy, delicious, and easy to make. They're marinated in a savoury Asian marinade, and cooked in the oven or air fryer.

Summer Side Dishes and Snacks
Easy Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
Tomato bruschetta with balsamic glaze is an easy Italian appetizer topped with tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil and olive oil. Delicious, fresh and simple. It's one of my favourite Easter appetizers of all time.

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.

Mexican street corn (elote) is a delicious corn on the cob loaded with a cheesy sauce elevated with cilantro and lime. Creamy, cheesy, spicy, and flavorful.

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

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus and Melon
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus and melon are salty, sweet, and juicy. They are easy to make with a handful of simple ingredients, then cooked on the grill.

Oven-roasted corn on the cob with homemade garlic butter is buttery, juicy, crunchy, and perfectly charred on the outside - without a grill. You could also adapt this recipe for the grill.

Chicken nachos are an easy to make when you're craving something filling, crunchy, cheesy, and satisfying. Perfect game day appetizer or late-night snack.

Savoury Dips
Warm, rich, creamy baked spinach dip is a delicious and easy appetizer that is baked until warm and melty. Easy to make ahead and a total crowd pleaser. It's one of my favourite Memorial Day recipes.

This easy and delicious 7 layer dip is the perfect dip to serve at your next party, made with layers of beans, guacamole, salsa, cheese, and more.

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.

Smooth creamy roasted red pepper hummus is a delicious, flavourful, vegan + gluten-free dip. This healthy appetizer is easy to make with a few ingredients.

Caramelized onion dip is creamy, flavorful, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. This easy appetizer is perfect for entertaining, on game day, or for a snack.

Easy 5-minute pico de gallo chunky salsa is packed with fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and lime juice (and optional jalapeños for a spicy kick).

Light and airy, whipped ricotta dip is so easy to make in just 5 minutes with a few fresh ingredients including fresh herbs, olive oil, garlic, and honey.

Whip up classic smooth and creamy hummus dip at home in just 5 minutes, by combining chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic in the blender. Serve it with veggies or crackers, or use it in a vegan hummus wrap.

Homemade queso Mexican cheese dip is smooth, creamy, delicious, flavorful, and so easy to make. It's so much better than store-bought in every way. One of the most satisfying Memorial Day recipes.

Baba ganoush is a creamy, roasted eggplant dip mixed with garlic and tahini for an explosion of flavour! It is perfect served with pita chips or veggies.

Easy Tzatziki Sauce (Cucumber Yogurt Dip)
Light and fresh, easy tzatziki sauce is a creamy yogurt cucumber dip packed with fresh cucumbers, garlic, dill, lemon juice and olive oil. So easy to make.

Smooth and creamy pesto hummus is a healthy, delicious and flavourful dip that is easy to make in just 5 minutes. It's vegan and gluten-free.

Memorial Day Desserts and Drinks
Strawberries and Cream Popsicles
It is time to say good-bye to the store-bought stuff and make strawberries and cream popsicles at home using fresh fruit and Greek yogurt! You can't have a collection of Memorial Day recipes without cool and refreshing popsicles.

There's truly nothing like a homemade Funnel Cake: a crispy jumble of crispy vanilla-tinged batter fried and topped with a powdered sugar, and served warm.

This braided lattice apple pie is packed with cinnamon apples tossed in a caramel sauce and sealed in a buttery, flaky pie crust with a braided lattice top. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Smooth, sweet and refreshing 3-ingredient peach sorbet can be made with just a few minutes prep and without an ice cream maker! It's dairy-free and vegan.

Homemade Lemonade is a fresh summer drink with the perfect balance of tart and sweet. It is easy to make from scratch with only 3 simple ingredients!

Classic New York Cheesecake is stunning, delicious, rich, and creamy. Plus, it's surprisingly easy to make from scratch - even for beginners!

S'mores Cookies are chewy, gooey, and nostalgic, loaded with marshmallows, chocolate, and Graham crackers - and no campfire required. Quick and easy too!

Individual apple crisp are served in ramekins so that you and your guests can enjoy single-sized servings meaning you will get the crunchy corners of crumble all to yourself. Add a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top for maximum happiness.
This 2-ingredient Watermelon Sorbet is easy to make, healthy, all-natural and vegan. Make this homemade frozen treat with no ice cream maker required!

Smooth and creamy no churn vanilla ice cream with strawberry jam + toasted peanuts is easy to make, no ice cream maker required and better than storebought.

Homemade peach iced tea is healthy summer drink - refreshing, peachy, sweet, and perfect. It's loaded with real fruit and vitamins and easy to make.

Soft and fluffy lemon sweet rolls are filled with a lemon vanilla sugar and topped with homemade lemon cream cheese icing. They're sweet, citrusy, and tart.

This 3-ingredient Strawberry Sorbet is a refreshing, healthy, vegan, and gluten-free frozen treat to enjoy on a hot day. Plus, no ice cream maker required!

Easy homemade apple hand pies/turnovers are the perfect fall treat -- stuffed with tender apples and cinnamon and wrapped in crispy, flakey, buttery crust.

Rice Krispies Treats are a classic dessert loved by all. These chewy, crunchy, sticky-sweet treats are easy to make from scratch using just 3 ingredients!

This blackberry milkshake is thick, creamy, and smooth. You won't believe how quick and easy it is to make at home with 3 ingredients in under 5 minutes.

Memorial Day Summer Kick Off Party Tips
- Plan your menu ahead of time. You can prepare many of these grilling recipes and summer recipes ahead of time. Some actually do need to be marinated in advance, some can stored in an airtight container for a few days at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and some can even be frozen, according to recipe directions.
- Prep your ingredients as much as possible. Once you have decided on what you are going to serve on Memorial Day, you can try and prepare as much as you can ahead of time. For instance, chop up ingredients, prepare salads and store the dressing separately in the refrigerator until ready to assemble.
- Set the table the night before. Planning a fun summer backyard party? Get out all your summer plates from the storage and set your table in advance, or have it all ready to set on Memorial Day. It's one less thing to worry about.
Did You Make Any of These Memorial Day Recipes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of Memorial Day recipes. 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.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipe updates.
Fudgy Brownies
Fudgy brownies are rich, sweet, moist, and decadent. Whether you're looking for a dessert to bring to the potluck or a late-night chocolate snack to indulge in, these brownies will do the trick. They're easy to make in one bowl and ready in about 30 minutes. You can prepare them ahead of time, wrap them individually, or eat them hot out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (my favorite!). However you enjoy them, you will love them.

Why You'll Love Fudgy Brownies
- Gooey, fudgy texture. These fudgy brownies get their texture from the perfect ratio of ingredients. By adding in a little less flour and cocoa powder than my classic brownies, it will keep them super fudgy. Plus, the bake time also plays a role. If you bake the brownies for 25 minute, you will get extra fudginess, or bake for 30 minutes for a more cakey texture.
- Rich and chocolatey. These brownies are packed with real chocolate and cocoa powder, giving you double the richness and flavor. You can also add in a handful of chocolate chips on top at the end for extra chocolate because why not?
- Minimal clean up. One of my favorite parts of this recipe is that it is a one bowl brownie recipe, which means that there are less dishes to clean. I mean, why clean more dishes if you don't have to?

Ingredients
To make these easy one bowl fudgy brownies, you will need the following ingredients:
- semi-sweet chocolate - use coarsely chopped chocolate or chocolate chips.
- butter
- sugar - both granulated sugar and brown sugar.
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- all-purpose flour
- cocoa powder
- salt
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, hand mixer, silicone spatula, and 9-inch square baking pan.

How to Make the Best Fudgy Brownies
- Prep the pan. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan and line it with parchment paper so that it hangs over two sides to make it easy to life the brownies out of the pan when baked.
- Melt the chocolate. Melt the chocolate with butter in a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water, or you will burn the chocolate. Whisk until melted and smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients. Remove from heat and add sugars into the chocolate mixture and whisk until completely combined. Let the chocolate mixture cool for a few minutes. Add in eggs and vanilla, and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes. This will ensure that the brownies have a classic crinkly top. Add in flour, cocoa powder, and salt and fold together using a large spatula until just combined. Transfer the thick batter into the prepared baking pan.
- Bake. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean with moist a few moist crumbs attached. For a super fudgy brownies, bake for 25 minutes. For a cakey brownies, bake for 30 minutes.
- Serve. Once the brownies are done, remove the baking pan from the oven and place it on a wire cooling rack. Once cooled completely, lift it out of the pan and cut into squares. Or grab a spoon and enjoy it hot out of the pan with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Recipe Tips and Tricks
- How to make a larger batch: To make a larger batch, double the recipe and pour the batter into a 9x13-inch casserole pan, and bake for 30-35 minutes.
- How to customize: You can add in extra chocolate chips or nuts on top before baking. After baking, you can add a drizzle of Salted Caramel Sauce on top.
- How to store: Fresh brownies keep the best at room temperature for up to two days in an airtight container. You can extend their lifespan by putting them in the refrigerator for up to one week, but you may lose some of the delicious fudgy texture. Reheat in the microwave for 10-20 seconds for best results.
- How to freeze: Free cooled brownies in a freezer bag or airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours or at room temperature before serving.

More Chocolate Dessert Recipes
- Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
- Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
- Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Double Chocolate Loaf Cake
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Caramel Cheesecake Brownies
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Quick and easy strawberry banana smoothie is the perfect breakfast on the go or refreshing snack to get you through the day. It's fruity, delicious, and packed with nutrients. The best part? You can literally whip up in just a minute or two. Talk about convenient!

Why You'll Love Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- It's quick and easy. This recipe literally takes a minute or two to make. You require just 4 simple ingredients and a blender. You could even prep the ingredients in advance and store them into individual portions in the freezer. Then just take your portioned amount and blend it up in seconds.
- Provides a healthy energy boost. This perfect combination of strawberry and banana will leave you feeling refreshed and sustained with that extra energy boost you need to get through the rest of the day. Plus, it's packed with vitamins (hello Vitamin C!) and minerals making it pretty good for you.
- No added sugar. This homemade smoothie contains just fruit and milk. It has no added sugar or sweeteners, unlike many store-bought smoothies which typically contains quite a bit of sugar and possibly artificial flavors.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this easy and delicious strawberry banana smoothie, you will need the following ingredients:
- banana - use a ripe banana for the best flavour and sweetness.
- strawberries - I like to use fresh strawberries when they are season. You can also substitute with frozen strawberries.
- almond milk - You can substitute this with any kind of milk Keep it vegan by using oat milk or cashew milk, or if not sticking to a vegan diet, feel free to use dairy milk.
- ice
If you prefer a sweeter smoothie, you can also add in a little honey to taste, or some fruit juice.

How to Make the Best Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Like most smoothies, this strawberry banana smoothie is so easy to make. You literally throw all 4 ingredients into the blender, blend together for less than a minute, and pour yourself a refreshing glass of homemade smoothie (with no added sugar or artificial flavors!).

How to Serve Smoothies
Enjoy a glass of this smoothie on its own or add some toppings for a bit more bulk. I love adding in granola, seeds, or sliced fruit.
More Smoothie Recipes
- Majoon (Banana and Date) Smoothie
- 5-Minute Super Berry Smoothie Bowl
- Healthy Mango Yogurt Smoothie
- Healthy Fall Apple Pie Smoothie
- Blueberry Milkshake
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
Slow cooker BBQ ribs are juicy, saucy, and so tender -- that the meat literally falls right off the bone. This simple and delicious recipe is one you need to add to your collection of crockpot recipes if you are looking for restaurant-quality ribs from the comfort of your own home. With just a handful of simple ingredients, they come together seamlessly. Once cooked in the slow cooker, throw them into the oven and broil them until perfectly golden and charred. So so good.

Why You'll Love Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
- Sweet, spicy, and saucy. The base of this sauce will come from your favorite barbecue sauce. But the flavors of regular BBQ sauce are elevated with extra brown sugar, cayenne pepper, and garlic, adding a sweet and spicy profile that everyone will love.
- Simple recipe with stellar results. This is the perfect ribs recipe for novice cooks since it's so simple and easy to make, yet absolutely delicious. Just throw everything into the crockpot and let it do its thing. It's impossible to go wrong with saucy, tender ribs in your slow cooker.
- Enough for the whole family. While you can cut this recipe down if you prefer, following it as it will give 4 pounds of baby back ribs-enough for everyone to enjoy, plus some!

Ingredients
To make juicy and tender slow cooker BBQ ribs, you will need the following ingredients:
- baby back ribs - be sure to use baby back ribs. They are leaner and smaller than spareribs-but most importantly, they're more tender.
- BBQ sauce - feel free to use homemade or store bought barbecue sauce.
- brown sugar
- seasoning - paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and mustard powder (optional).
- onion
- water
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and a slow cooker (crockpot).

How to Make the Best Slow Cooker BBQ Short Ribs
- Prepare the ribs. Pat dry ribs with paper towel completely and set aside. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all the dry rub ingredients including brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and mustard powder until evenly distributed. Rub and spread onto ribs using your hands until evenly coated. You can use disposable gloves for easier clean up.
- Add ingredients to the slow cooker. Spread chopped onions evenly inside a 6-quart slow cooker (crockpot) and add water. Place the ribs in the slow cooker and generously brush half of the barbecue sauce on top of each rib. You can stack the ribs on top of each other into 2 layers.
- Cook. Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 8-10 hours or on the HIGH setting for 4-6 hours. When time is up, the slow cooker will automatically switch to WARM setting. Serve immediately with the remaining BBQ sauce.

- Broil (optional). To achieve crispy and nicely charred ribs, gently remove the ribs and place them on a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper. Baste with additional BBQ sauce, if desired. Broil the ribs on top rack of the oven on high for 5-7 minutes until nicely browned.

Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Remove the silverskin: When preparing the ribs, remove the membrane from the ribs if it hasn't already been done by the butcher. If you don't remove it, the ribs will likely be stuck together with tough skin. To remove the membrane, slide a small kitchen knife under the membrane (and over the bone) at one end of the rack. Gently lift the membrane with the knife until it tears away from the rack. Then, grab the membrane with a paper towel and pull it away from the rack-it may come off in one large piece, or you may need to take it off in several pieces.
- How to store: Keep leftover ribs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. You can store the sauce separately or with ribs.
- How to reheat: BBQ ribs taste best when reheated in the oven, wrapped in foil, at 350F for 15 minutes, or until hot. You can also heat them in the microwave.

More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs
- Slow Cooker Beef Chili
- Crockpot Leg of Lamb with Vegetables
- Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
- Crockpot Asian Beef Noodle Soup
- Slow Cooker Bone Broth
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Italian Pasta Salad
Italian pasta salad is an essential summer dish that is delicious, wholesome, and easy to make. Made with pasta, vibrant vegetables, salami, mozzarella balls, olives, and fresh herbs, this pasta salad is nutritious, flavorful, and provides the energy you need to get through the day. It's what your summer picnics and cookouts need this year. The best part? It's ridiculously easy to make ahead (and actually tastes better the next day!).

Why You'll Love Italian Pasta Salad
- It's quick and easy to make. When you make Italian pasta salad, most of the work comes down to prepping and chopping ingredients. Boil the pasta, chop up those veggies, and toss everything together. Easy peasy.
- It's perfect for meal prep. If you love to meal prep, you'll adore this Italian pasta salad! Italian pasta salad is a one-and-done meal. Prepare it at the beginning of the week for a few days of easy and enjoyable meals with no effort.
- Mediterranean ingredients. If you enjoy a good Italian or Greek salad and healthy carbs, then you'll love this Italian pasta salad which features salami, fresh mozzarella, and kalamata olives. With fresh and light ingredients, it's the perfect summer dish to bring to your next potluck,

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make delicious Italian pasta salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- pasta - use your favorite shape of pasta. I like to rotini or fusili because of how it holds on to the delicious Italian dressing in every crevice, bringing all the flavors in each bite.
- salami - or you can substitute with pepperoni.
- grape tomatoes
- bell peppers - you can use any combination of bell peppers that you want. I like including red peppers because of the pop of color it adds.
- red onion
- kalamata black olives - you can also substitute with regular black olives, if you prefer.
- bocconcini mozzarella balls
- fresh parsley
- Italian dressing - feel free to use store-bought dressing or make your own Homemade Italian Salad Dressing in minutes.
- Parmesan cheese
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a mixing bowl or serving bowl.

How to Make the Best Italian Pasta Salad
- Make the pasta. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes or according to package instructions. Drain and rinse pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and to cool the pasta down.
- Toss ingredients. Transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl or serving bowl. If not assembling the salad immediately, add some olive oil and toss together to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Otherwise, add remaining ingredients. Pour Italian salad dressing on top, and toss to combine.
- Serve or chill. You can serve immediately with Parmesan on top, or cover the bowl tightly with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This will allow all the flavours to infuse into each other. When ready to serve, give the salad a good toss and add a little more dressing, if desired.

Storing Instructions
- How to store: Store Italian pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you need meals on the go, divide Italian pasta salad into smaller portions in meal prep containers that you can easily take with you. Otherwise, store it in a large container.
- A low-carb option: If you want to cut out carbs, but still craving delicious pasta salad, try substituting quinoa, chickpeas, iceberg lettuce, or all of the above for a faux Italian "pasta" salad.

More Salad Recipes
- Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Chickpea Greek Salad
- Creamy Broccoli Slaw Salad
- Shrimp Taco Salad
- Lemon Kale Salad
- Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Homemade Italian Dressing
Homemade Italian dressing is easy to make, delicious, and tastes way better than store-bought salad dressing. It's an olive oil and vinegar based dressing that packs on the flavor with lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs. The best part? You can make it in a matter of minutes and drizzle it over your favorite salads, vegetables, and more. What are you waiting for?

Why You'll Love Italian Salad Dressing
- Real and simple ingredients. For this recipe, you'll need some simple ingredients including olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs. Shake it all up and you have a delicious Italian dressing that is fresh and zesty made with real ingredients. Unlike its store-bought counterpart which contains additives and sugar.
- It is easy to make. All it takes is combining the ingredients and shaking them together. You can make a big batch and store it in the refrigerator and use it for the next 2 weeks. There really is no reason to buy store-bought dressing when it's this easy to make it at home.
- Pour it over everything. Pour Italian dressing over any salad that would go well with a vinaigrette-style dressing, especially Italian Pasta Salad. You can also use it in pasta, as a marinade for meat and fish, or drizzle it over grilled veggies.

Ingredients
To make this easy and delicious homemade Italian dressing, you will need the following ingredients:
- olive oil
- white wine vinegar
- lemon juice
- garlic
- parsley - you can also substitute with half the amount of dried parsley.
- Italian seasoning - you can substitute this with just dried oregano.
- salt and pepper
You could also add about ¼ teaspoon of sugar to balance out the acidity in the dressing if you feel that it needs it. I typically don't add sugar because I like the way it tastes without it.
For a spicier kick, add in ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (or more!).

How to Make the Best Homemade Italian Dressing
Add all ingredients into a mason jar and seal it with the lid. Shake until well combined. You can also transfer all ingredients into a blender or food processor and pulse until blended.
Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Shake or stir well before using to prevent separation.

How to Serve Italian Dressing
- Salad. Try it with Italian Pasta Salad or a Mixed Green Salad.
- Meat. Use it as a marinade for chicken, beef, pork, or seafood.
- Vegetables. Drizzle it over grilled vegetables for extra flavour.

More Salad Dressing Recipes
- Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Greek Salad with Greek Dressing
- Vegan Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing
- Lemon Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
- Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Queso Mexican Cheese Dip
Homemade queso Mexican cheese dip is smooth, creamy, delicious, flavorful, and so easy to make. It's so much better than store-bought in every way -- made with real cheese and ingredients (and no artificial flavors), cheaper since you cut out the middleman, and the flavor is just unmatched. Throw in some fresh tomatoes and jalapeños to add the best flavour to this cheesy spread. Whether you are serving queso with tortilla chips for major dunking, or on the side of your favorite Mexican recipes, this is a must-have recipe for your back pocket.

Why You'll Love Queso Dip
- Spread the cheesy goodness. This recipe is perfect for dunking tortilla chips into, or for spreading on your favorite Tex-Mex recipes. Pour it over Sheet Pan Nachos, add it to Ground Beef Tacos, add a dollop to Chicken Tortilla Soup or Beef Chili, drizzle it over veggies, and so much more.
- Save money and have better queso. Those jars of queso in the store are overpriced and full of preservatives and artificial flavors. When you make this Mexican cheese dip at home, you can save money and eat way better queso without the additives and preservatives in the store-bought kind.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this easy and delicious queso cheese dip, you will need the following ingredients:
- butter
- onion
- garlic
- tomato
- jalapeño pepper
- cornstarch - helps to thicken the dip.
- heavy cream - you could also use evaporated milk.
- cheese - You can use cheddar cheese (yellow or white), Monterey Jack cheese, or a Mexican cheese blend.
- salt and pepper
- cilantro - optional for garnish.

How to Make the Best Queso Mexican Cheese Dip
- Sauté aromatics. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add remaining ingredients. Add tomato and jalapeño and sauté until soft, about 1 minute. Add cornstarch and stir well to combine. Stir in heavy cream and cheese. Stir constantly and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat until smooth and thickened to a desired consistency, about 4-5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve. Garnish with cilantro, extra jalapeño and chopped tomatoes. Serve warm with tortilla chips or alongside your favorite Mexican dishes.


Storing Instructions
- How to store: Allow the queso dip to cool to room temperature before storing in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- How to freeze: Queso also freezes really well. Once cooled, store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. When freezing, you should portion the queso so that you don't need to thaw all of it if you only want some. To thaw, transfer the cheese dip into the refrigerator overnight (or at room temperature for a few hours).
- How to reheat: When stored, the consistency becomes very spreadable. To get it back a dip consistency, reheat in the microwave in 20 second increments until warmed and desired consistency is reached.
- Storing tip: Always label your refrigerated and frozen foods if you're prone to forgetting when you made it. Your queso dip will last longer if there are no germs, bits of chips, or other pieces of food inside it.

More Dip Recipes
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Miso Black Cod (Sablefish)
Flaky, oily, and tender, miso black cod (or sablefish) is an indulgent meal that's as healthy as it is delicious. It's packed with so much delicious Asian flavours like miso, soy sauce, and sesame. Serve it with a side of rice for a restaurant-quality meal at home. It's perfect for busy weeknights, or any night of the week when you are feeling fancy.

Why You'll Love Miso Black Cod Sablefish
- A restaurant-quality meal without the effort. Miso black cod is the best meal to make if you want to impress guests without putting in the extra effort. Simply marinade the fish, bake, drizzle on the glaze, and garnish with sesame seeds. This is how we do fine dining around here on busy weeknights.
- Delicious and healthy. Known for its high density of omega-3 fatty acids, black cod delivers the perfect flaky, buttery cut of meat that boasts a unique flavor all to its own. It is also high in other nutrients and vitamins, including vitamin D and B12. Whether you're looking at it on paper or tasting it in your mouth, black cod is better than salmon.
- Packed with classic Asian flavours. The flavourful miso marinade and soy-sesame glaze compliments the natural flavors of the sablefish so well. Pair it with a bowl or steamed rice to soak it up all and you have a complete meal that is filling and delicious. If you love this, you will also love our Miso Salmon.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this delicious miso black cod (sablefish), you will need the following ingredients:
- black cod fillets - you will need about 1.5 pounds of black cod cut into fillets. I made 5 fillets.
- miso paste
- soy sauce
- rice wine vinegar (mirin) - you can substitute this with balsamic vinegar.
- olive oil - or use any vegetable oil that you have on hand.
- ground black pepper
- soy-sesame glaze - a simple sauce made with soy sauce and sesame oil.
- sesame seeds - optional, for garnish.
- steamed rice - for serving.
You will also need mixing bowls and a large half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Miso Black Cod (Sablefish)
- Marinate the fish. In a small mixing bowl, combine miso paste, soy sauce, vinegar, olive oil, and black pepper and mix well with a spoon until smooth. In a large ziploc bag, add black cod and miso marinade. Press air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the fillets to coat. Place bag in the refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to overnight.
- Bake. Remove the black cod fillets out of the bag and place them on a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated 375 F oven for 18-20 minutes until nicely browned. Let it rest at room temperature for 5 minutes. When the cod is cooked, the flesh will flake easily when inserting a fork.
- Serve. In another small mixing bowl, mix together soy sauce and sesame oil and drizzle over the cod fillets. Garnish with sesame seeds and cilantro, and serve with steamed rice, fried rice or noodles.

Storing and Reheating Instructions
- How to store: Store miso black cod or sablefish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If serving with rice, store the rice separately.
- How to reheat: Place leftover fish on a lightly greased baking sheet or casserole dish. Add a splash of water and cover the fish with foil. Reheat in a preheated oven at 275F for 10-15 minutes or until the fish's internal temperature reaches 130F. You can also reheat in the air fryer at 300 F for about 5 minutes, until warmed through.
- How to reheat rice: Place the desired amount of rice in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the rice entirely with a damp paper towel, ensuring there are no gaps for air to escape. Microwave rice in 15-20 increments until steam rises from the paper towel. Wait 1-2 minutes to allow the rice to finish steaming and cool down.

More Seafood Recipes
- Black Cod with Black Bean Sauce
- Miso Salmon
- Yellow Curry Mussels
- Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
- Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
- Seared Scallops
- Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl
- Almond-Crusted Halibut
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Creamy Broccoli Slaw Salad
Creamy broccoli slaw salad is healthy, delicious, and flavourful. It's packed with crunchy vegetables, salty feta, sweet raisins, and a creamy dressing so tasty, you will be shocked that it's actually good for you! This quick and easy dish is perfect to serve at your next BBQ as an alternative to a leafy green salad, or even as a light dinner next to a piece of grilled chicken or fish. Either way, it will easily become your new favourite way to get in your daily dose of veggies.

Why You'll Love Creamy Broccoli Slaw Salad
- It's a super simple recipe. This vibrant colorful broccoli slaw is so easy, anyone can make it. You literally just throw all the ingredients together into one bowl and toss to combine. You have yourself a healthy and delicious meal that feels light, yet still fills you up.
- Perfect for meal prep. One of the best things about this raw broccoli salad is that it's easy to make ahead. Although it is ready to eat after sitting tossed with the dressing for 30 minutes, you will definitely want to make it the day before if you have the time, as it gets better the longer it sits! Don't be surprised when this slaw disappears quickly, it's a total crowd pleaser.
- Broccoli is a superfood. This popular vegetable is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, including iron, potassium, calcium, selenium, magnesium, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, E, K, and B! This salad is a delicious way to get in all those nutrients.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this delicious and healthy creamy broccoli slaw salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- broccoli florets
- purple cabbage
- feta cheese - you can substitute this with goat cheese, if desired.
- raisins - you can substitute this with cranberries or other dried fruit.
- pine nuts - or substitute with your favorite toasted nuts. Try toasted walnuts, slivered almonds, or pumpkin seeds.
- scallions
- dressing - made with mayonnaise (or sour cream or Greek yogurt), dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, shallot, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
This salad is infinitely adaptable to whatever is in your fridge. Just leave the dressing as is because it's so good.

How to Make the Best Creamy Broccoli Slaw Salad
- Prep the vegetables. Cut the bottoms off the heads of broccoli so you're left with small sized florets. Then, trim the bottoms so they're not longer than 1-inch, and roughly chop.
- Combine the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl or serving bowl, combine broccoli, cabbage, feta, raisins, pine nuts, and scallions.
- Make the dressing. In a small mixing bowl, add mayonnaise, dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, shallot, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Slowly drizzle in olive oil and whisk until all ingredients are incorporated. You can add additional 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil if you prefer a thinner dressing.
- Toss to combine. Add dressing to the slaw, and toss all ingredients together. Let the slaw sit for 30 minutes, or up to overnight in the refrigerator. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Tips and Tricks
- How to make ahead and store: Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Typically, I would recommend storing salads with the dressing on the side to avoid the veggies from getting too soggy. However, the raw broccoli really holds its shape even with dressing. In fact, the longer you store the salad, the better it gets as it allows all the flavors from the dressing to infuse into the broccoli.
- How to make this vegan: You can easily make this a vegan salad by substituting the mayonnaise with a vegan mayonnaise, and leaving out the feta cheese.

More Salad Recipes
- Chickpea Greek Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
- Lemon Kale Salad
- Persian Shirazi Salad with Cucumber and Tomatoes
- Shrimp Taco Salad
- Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Lemon Sweet Rolls
Soft and fluffy lemon sweet rolls are filled with a lemon vanilla sugar and topped with homemade lemon cream cheese icing. Packed with lemon, these lemon sticky rolls are sweet, citrusy, and tart. If you love to bake sweet baked goods, you need to try these. And the aroma that will waft in your kitchen as you bake? Amazing. It will smell like spring and summer took over your home. Who doesn't want to start their day like that?

Why You'll Love Lemon Sweet Rolls
- Soft and delicious dough. When you tear apart these lemon sweet rolls, you'll be indulging even before your first bite. Imagine the steam wafting out of your first roll, exposing the soft and yummy dough. It is pure perfection.
- Easy to make ahead. One of the best parts about this dough is that you can prep everything, assemble your rolls on your baking pan, and let it do its final rise overnight in the refrigerator. Which means that all you have to do in the morning is pop the pan into the oven. But these are not just a morning treat, you can enjoy lemon sweet rolls any time of day. They are the perfect treat
- Up your baking game. Whether you're an experienced baker or just trying your hand after watching The Great British (or Canadian) Baking Show, baking these lemon sweet rolls will prove your skill and impress your friends. Plus, they are actually easy to make, making them one of my favourite weekend baking projects to take on.

Ingredients
To make delicious lemon sweet rolls, you will need the following ingredients.
- milk
- butter
- egg
- all-purpose flour
- instant yeast
- sugar
- salt
- lemon sugar filling - made with butter, sugar, lemon zest, and vanilla extract.
- cream cheese icing - made with cream cheese (you can also substitute with mascarpone cheese), confectioners' sugar, and lemon juice.
- lemon zest - optional, to sprinkle on top.
You will also need a kitchen scale (or measuring cups and spoons), mixing bowls, rolling pin, and 9x13-inch casserole pan.

How to Make the Best Lemon Sweet Rolls
- Prepare the dough. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together milk, butter and egg until smooth. In another large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, sugar and salt until evenly combined. Pour the wet mixture into flour mixture. Stir well with a spatula until no dry flour is visible. Make sure to scrape off any remaining flour on the sides of the bowl.
- Knead the dough. Transfer the dough mixture onto a clean and dry surface. Knead the dough for 5 minutes until it turns into a soft and smooth dough ball. Because of the high fat content (butter and milk) in this recipe, the dough is much easier to knead by hand and does not require a stand mixer.
- Proof the dough.Transfer the dough back into the mixing bowl, lightly grease the dough ball with a little vegetable oil and cover with a lid. Covering the dough with oil will help prevent the dough from losing moisture and drying out. Let it rise at room temperature for 1 hour (or overnight in the refrigerator) until it doubles in size.
- Shape the dough. Pour the dough onto a floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll the dough to a rectangle approximately 20x14-inches in size. Gently spread softened butter evenly over the rolled dough. Whisk together sugar, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, and vanilla extract until evenly combined. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the butter. Roll up the dough tightly into a log and pinch the end edges to seal. Cut into 12 even pieces using a knife or bench scraper, each about 1.5-inches in width.

- Arrange the rolls. Arrange the rolls into a greased 9x13-inch casserole pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap or seal it in a large Ziploc bag. Let it rise (second rise) at a warmer place for 1 hour or until the rolls double in size.

- Bake. Evenly sprinkle the remaining lemon zest over the rolls, and bake in a 375 F preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Cover the pan halfway with aluminium foil if is browning too much. Let the rolls cool in the pan for 10 minutes.

How to Make Lemon Cream Cheese Icing
To make the easy lemon cream cheese icing, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the softened cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and lemon juice, and beat until creamy and smooth. You can also mix together using a whisk and spatula.
Then, spread the cream cheese icing over the lemon sweet rolls and serve hot. Sprinkle extra lemon zest on top, if desired.

Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use room temperature ingredients. When it comes to baking, being precise will result in success. Be sure to use room temperature ingredients-not too hot or too cold. Allow your ingredients to sit out on the counter for about an hour before you get to work.
- Swap with oranges. If you want to switch this up, easily substitute the lemon with equal amount of orange to make orange sweet rolls.
- How to store: Lemon sweet rolls keep best when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- How to reheat: You can eat lemon sticky rolls at room temperature, but they taste best reheated in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Cover with a small pad of butter and heat on a microwave-safe plate.

More Fruity Dessert Recipes
- Lemon Loaf with Lemon Glaze
- Glazed Lemon Blueberry Scones
- Lemon Turmeric Sorbet
- Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade
- Blueberry Yogurt Muffins
- Blueberry Pie with Lattice Top
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Beef and Bean Burritos
Craving something hearty, filling, and warm for dinner tonight? Try these beef and bean burritos stuffed with seasoned beef, black beans, corn, rice, and more! Veggies like lettuce, tomatoes, and onion lighten up the burritos, and gooey melted cheese brings these burritos to a whole new level. Wrapped in large and tasty flour tortillas, these beef and bean burritos bring restaurant-quality Mexican food to your kitchen table in under 30 minutes.

Why You'll Love Beef and Bean Burritos
- Easy and delicious. These beef and bean burritos are easy to prep and make in under 30 minutes. To be even more efficient, prep your veggies as you cook the beef. Then, all you deo is assemble the burritos, and heat them up.
- Perfectly seasoned beef. Whenever you cook beef, you run the risk of having bland meat-but not with this recipe. The beef inside these beef and bean burritos is generously seasoned with cumin, chili, paprika, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Plus, tomato paste brings out umami flavors in the beef, creating a delicious filling for your hearty burritos.
- Warm burritos with a crunch. After assembling these beef and bean burritos, you wrap them in foil and pop them in the oven, or heat them up on the stove to toast the tortillas for an added crunch. Unwrap the foil, and enjoy warm, toasty burritos with melted cheese. What's not to love?

Ingredients and Substitutions
- ground beef
- beef seasoning - made with cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano (or dried Italian seasoing), tomato paste, salt and pepper.
- avocado oil - for cooking the beef. You can use any vegetable oil you have on hand.
- flour tortilla wraps - I often make my own homemade flour tortillas - they are easier to make than you think!
- cilantro lime rice - or substitute with any cooked rice you have. You can use white or brown rice.
- lettuce
- corn - you can use canned corn or frozen corn (boiled in water for 5 minutes).
- black beans - I used canned black beans. You can also prepare the beans fresh from dried beans. Allow yourself enough time to cook the dried beans, as they typically need to be soaked overnight.
- tomatoes
- red onion
- fresh cilantro
- Mexican cheese blend cheese - A Mexican blend (Tex-Mex) of cheese is ideal. You can also use any cheese that shreds and melts easily such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack cheese.
- sour cream - optional. You can add this in the burritos before heating, or serve it on the side after heated.
- lime - to squeeze on some lime juice, if desired.
These beef and bean burritos have all the goodies, but if you want to alter the ingredients, you certainly can. You can substitute the beef for any other protein such as chicken or pork, or substitute pinto beans, chickpeas, and tofu for a vegetarian burrito.
To make these burritos spicier, add in some hot sauce or jalapeños.

How to Make the Best Beef and Bean Burritos
- Cook the beef. Heat oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Add ground beef and stir well to cook evenly until nicely browned, about 6-8 minutes. Break up the beef into small pieces to help even cooking and browning.
- Season the beef. Add all seasoning including cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and tomato paste. Reduce the heat to medium and let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat and set aside.

- Assemble the burritos. On each tortilla wrap, add 2-3 tablespoons beef, ¼ cup cooked rice, lettuce, corn, black beans, tomato, onion, cilantro and cheese in the centre. Drizzle on top with sour cream and lime juice, to taste.
- Wrap the burritos. Fold up the bottom to cover the filling, fold the edges and roll up tightly to seal. Make sure all corners are tightly sealed. Then, wrap each burrito tightly in aluminum foil.

- Warm the burritos. You can heat the burritos in a skillet over the stove, or baked in the oven.
- On the stovetop: Heat the burritos in foil on a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- In the oven: Bake the burritos in foil in a preheated 350 F oven for 20-25 minutes until warmed through and the cheese is melted inside.
Make Ahead and Storing Instructions
- Make ahead instructions: These burritos are great for meal prep as they store and freeze really well. Prepare them all the way until you reach the step where you warm them up. Once you have wrapped them in foil, you can store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days and heat it up when ready to serve.
- How to store: Store leftover beef and bean burritos in their aluminum foil wrapper. If the wrap is not tight, put it in an airtight container. Store the burritos in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- How to freeze: If freezing, don't include the tomato or lettuce as they won't freeze well. Then store the burritos tightly wrapped in foil in the freezer for up to 3 months. I often make a big batch of these burritos because they store easily for an easy dinner or lunch on a busy day. To reheat, first allow the burritos to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- How to reheat: Reheat beef and bean burritos the same way you would when cooking. Place foil-wrapped burritos in a 350F oven for 25 minutes or until heated all the way through.

More Mexican Recipes
- 30 Best Mexican Recipes
- Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
- Skillet Chicken Fajitas
- Beef Taco Salad
- Mexican Tuna Cakes (Tortitas de Atun)
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Creamy Cucumber Salad
This creamy cucumber salad is the easy, refreshing snack and side dish your summer cookouts have been missing. Fresh cucumber slices and red onions come together tossed a creamy dressing of sour cream and mayo, and seasoned with fresh dill. This cool salad can easily be made ahead of time with just 5 minutes of prep. This might be the easiest salad recipe you'll ever make. Eat it on its own as a light and refreshing lunch, or pair it with some protein for a complete dinner.

Why You'll Love Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Refreshing and creamy salad. Cucumbers are good for more than just cucumber water. This cool cucumber salad is extra refreshing with added onions and fresh dill, and the creamy dressing complements these flavors beautifully.
- Packed with nutrients. Cucumbers are a naturally low-calorie food, but they are high in nutrients like vitamins C and K, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. They also have healthy carbs, antioxidants, and fiber that your body needs.
- A healthy side for summer cookouts. A good meal is always made better when you know that it's healthy. Cucumbers can help keep you hydrated with their high water content, and they boast other health benefits such as heart health and lowered blood sugar. It's a great way to balance out other dishes at your next BBQ or summer cookout.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this delicious and easy creamy cucumber salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- English cucumbers - cucumbers are the start of this salad, so you want to use fresh ones. Cucumbers will typically last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, but this recipe tastes much better when you use the freshest cucumbers. If your cucumber is wrinkled, dented, or soft, it's time to throw it away.
- red onion - if you are not a fan of raw onions, you can just leave these out.
- sour cream - you can substitute this with Greek yogurt.
- mayonnaise
- fresh dill - I prefer this salad seasoned with just dill. If you want more seasoning, you could consider adding other fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, cilantro, or oregano.
- white vinegar - you can use other kinds of vinegar here, but it will slightly alter the taste. You can try balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
- garlic powder
- salt and pepper - you can also add a dash of sugar for added sweetness.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and mixing bowls.

How to Make the Best Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Combine vegetables. In a large serving plate, toss to combine cucumbers and red onion.
- Make the creamy dressing. In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, white vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth.
- Assemble. Add dressing to the cucumber and red onions, and toss to combine.
- Refrigerate. Refrigerate for one hour to help the flavours infuse, then serve.
Storing Instructions
- Make ahead instructions: Easily prep the ingredients ahead of time (chop up the vegetables and make the dressing). You can store the salad and dressing in separate airtight containers, or store them together. In fact, this salad taste even better after it's been assembled and then stored in the refrigerator for at least one hour, up to overnight.
- How to store: Creamy cucumber salad will last in the fridge for up to 3 days. While you can eat it after 3 days, the vinegar could cause the cucumbers to become a little limp. Eat it up while those veggies are crisp and delicious!

More Salad Recipes
- Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad
- Persian Shirazi Salad with Cucumber and Tomatoes
- The Best Greek Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
- Lemon Kale Salad
- Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad
- Chopped Asparagus Salad
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
40 Mother's Day Dessert Recipes
The best way to treat Mom this Mother's Day is by baking her something sweet, rich and decadent from scratch. So if you are looking for the best Mother's Day desserts, then you have come to the right place. We have rounded up over 40 of our best and most popular Mother's Day dessert recipes including spring cakes and cookies, feminine and pink treats, rich and decadent chocolate desserts, sweet brunch items such as scones and muffins, and so much more.

Best Mother's Day Dessert Recipes
Classic Strawberry Shortcake is a small, layered cake featuring fluffy crumbly biscuits, a fresh strawberry filling, and homemade whipped cream.

Soft and fluffy lemon sweet rolls are filled with a lemon vanilla sugar and topped with homemade lemon cream cheese icing. They're sweet, citrusy, and tart.

Classic Madeleines are soft spongy mini cakes with a signature shell shape and dusting of sugar on top. Making French butter cakes is easier than you think!

Strawberry Cupcakes are made with real strawberries in both the tender cake batter and the creamy strawberry buttercream frosting. A picture-perfect treat!

Glazed lemon blueberry scones are total breakfast goals. Blueberries and lemon partner together in a light, tender and flakey scone, drizzled with a sweet lemon glaze that is nothing short of impressive.

Persian Love Cake is a rich, moist, and nutty almond cake loaded with floral and citrus flavors, topped with a lemon glaze, pistachios, and rose petals.

Carrot Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
Showstopping carrot bundt cake with cream cheese glaze is light, fluffy, and moist. It's loaded with sugar, spice, and everything nice -- including grated carrots.

Nutella crepes with berries are sweet and indulgent. These French pancakes are an easy to make blender recipe that will have you craving breakfast all day.

Strawberry Muffins are tender, fluffy, and delicious! They are golden-brown and crisp outside while moist and cake-like inside and loaded with strawberries.

Raspberry and White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
Cute raspberry and white chocolate heart-shaped shortbread cookies literally melt in your mouth. They are the perfect Mother's Day treat.

French Macarons with Vanilla Buttercream Filling
Easy French macarons with vanilla buttercream filling are sweet, light, airy, and delicate cookies that melt in your mouth. Beginners can make them too!

Classic New York Cheesecake is stunning, delicious, rich, and creamy. Plus, it's surprisingly easy to make from scratch - even for beginners!

Mother's Day Vanilla Cupcakes with Rose Petal Buttercream
Light, airy and fluffy vanilla cupcakes with rose petal buttercream icing is the cutest treat for Easter. They are super quick and easy to make. One of my favorite Mother's Day recipes.

Sourdough Cinnamon Roll Twist Bread
Soft and fluffy sourdough cinnamon roll twist bread is buttery and layered with cinnamon sugar. Prep it the night before and freshly bake it for breakfast.

Moist chocolate cupcakes topped with chocolate buttercream frosting and sprinkles, are a chocolate triple threat. They're rich, decadent, sweet, and easy to make.

Inspired by Starbucks lemon loaf, this moist, homemade lemon loaf with lemon glaze has the perfect balance between sweet and tangy, and so so flavourful.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Chocolate covered strawberries are fancy, decadent, bite-sized treats that are loved by all. They are so simple and easy to make at home.

Carrot cake muffins are moist, light, chewy and full of carrots which means breakfast this week is healthy! Carrot muffins are great for meal prep too.

Butter cookies are a classic cookie with a crisp, slightly crunchy texture that melts in your mouth on the first bite - and every bite after!

Nutella mousse cups are rich, creamy, airy, and delicious. No bake and whipped together in just minutes with a few ingredients before it's ready to chill.

Cinnamon Raisin Challah Bread with Almonds
Sweet cinnamon raisin challah bread is airy, soft and fluffy with a beautiful golden crust coated with almonds. It is braided and baked in a loaf pan.

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
Dark chocolate raspberry truffles are so much easier to make than you think. It's as simple as combining quality chocolate, cream, raspberry jam, and cocoa.

Carrot cake biscotti is crunchy, crumbly, and satisfies all your carrot cake cravings. Enjoy these Italian cookies as is or with white chocolate.

Caramel cheesecake brownies are totally indulgent and worth the effort, so toss that prepared brownie mix away and bake this with a few easy ingredients.

Baked Jelly Donuts with Strawberry Jam
These melt-in-your-mouth, homemade baked jelly donuts, coated in sugar and filled with sweet strawberry jam, are so soft, fluffy, spongy and airy.

Lemon Meringue Pie made with delicate peaks of golden-brown meringue, creamy and tart lemon curd filling, and flaky pie crust is the best homemade pie ever!

The cutest bite-sized treat to serve at any event are vanilla cake pops from scratch -- luckily, they are actually simple and easy to make. Add pink or red food colouring to the chocolate coating, or use red and pink sprinkles to make them festive and feminine for Mother's Day.

Oreo Brownies are a fudgy, rich and decadent dessert that is quick and easy to make from scratch in about 30 minutes using simple ingredients.

Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Cake
Chocolate and vanilla marble cake is delicious, moist, fluffy with the perfect golden brown crust. With two classic cake flavors, this loaf cake has it all.

Carrot Cake Shortbread Cookies
Carrot cake shortbread cookies are sweet and buttery, packed with carrots and walnuts, and spiced like your favourite carrot cake. A total treat.

No one will be able to resist this perfectly sweet and moist, glazed brown sugar bundt cake. Made with Greek yogurt for major decadence and richness.

Blueberry yogurt muffins are buttery, moist, soft, and cakey and bursting with blueberries in every single bite. They are super quick and easy to make. Some other muffins to try are spiced carrot muffins or apple oatmeal muffins or banana chocolate chip muffins.

Slice and Bake Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Easy slice and bake pecan shortbread cookies are sweet, nutty and buttery shortbread cookies packed with finely chopped pecans that melt in your mouth.

Molten chocolate lava cakes are rich and fudgy with a classic gooey chocolate center that flows out like lava. So simple and easy to make.

Easy Small Batch Almond Biscotti
Small batch almond biscotti are crunchy, crumbly and packed with almonds, perfect for dunking into tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, and they are super easy to make. Plus, mom can take home any leftovers since they can be stored for weeks.

This fudgy double chocolate loaf cake is delicious, moist, and rich. It's easy to make with a quick one-bowl batter that's ready for the oven in 10 minutes.

Homemade salted caramel sauce is sweet, salty, and buttery. It's so simple and easy to make at home in just 10 minutes with 4 basic ingredients.

Fluffy soft and moist, these are the best banana chocolate chip muffins ever. Prep this easy one bowl recipe in less than 10 minutes with a few ingredients.

Easy homemade apple turnovers are the perfect fall treat -- stuffed with tender apples and cinnamon and wrapped in crispy, flakey, buttery crust.

M&M cookie bars are soft and chewy, have crisp edges with a gooey center, and are loaded with M&M's and chocolate chips. The easiest way to bake cookies!

Healthy banana bread is delicious and moist and contains no refined sugar or butter. Quick and easy to make with 10 minutes prep and few pantry staples.

Easy no crust burnt Basque cheesecake is the easiest one bowl recipe. It is perfectly caramelized on the top and edges and creamy yet firm on the inside.

These heart sugar cookies are crisp on the outside, soft inside, and made festive with red and pink royal icing decorated on top. Use any cookie cutters to make different shapes.

Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies
These perfectly soft, chewy and a little crumby chocolate chunk peanut butter cookies literally melts in your mouth. Make them in under 20 minutes.

Decadent caramel pecan cheesecake bars with a graham cracker crust, cheesecake filling, and caramel pecan topping is perfect for any special occasion.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cookies
Brown butter oatmeal chocolate chip banana bread cookie bites are thick, fluffy, pillowy, cake-like little bites of banana bread heaven.

These pecan toffee bars combine the flavours of shortbread topped with crunchy nuts to create magic. Prepped in under 10 minutes with only 6 ingredients.

Jam-Filled Thumbprint Cookies with Almond Glaze
Soft, buttery, melt-in-your mouth jam-filled thumbprint cookies with almond glaze are the cutest, festive treat to make.

The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Grab a tall glass of milk and start dipping the best homemade, soft-centered, chewy chocolate chip oatmeal cookies you will ever try.

How to Make Ahead and Store Mother's Day Treats
You can make or prepare most of these Mother's Day dessert recipes ahead of time. You can store the cookies at room temperature for a few days and the cakes for about 1-2 days (depending on the recipe). You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to one week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Confirm storing instructions by checking each recipe.
To reheat any of these desserts and serve them warm as if they just came out of the oven, you can warm them up in a 300F preheated oven for about 5-15 minutes. I would check on it every 5 minutes until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.
Did You Make Any of These Mother's Day Dessert Recipes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of Mother's Day dessert recipes. 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.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipe updates.
Salted Caramel Sauce
Homemade salted caramel sauce is sweet, salty, and buttery. It's so simple and easy to make at home in just 10 minutes with 4 basic ingredients. Once you try it at home, you will never go back to store-bought caramel sauce again. The best part? You can make a batch and enjoy it for weeks over your favourite desserts (or months if you freeze it!).

Why You'll Love Salted Caramel Sauce
- It's quick and easy to make. Making salted caramel sauce at home takes just 10 minutes to make and you don't need any special kitchen gadgets like a candy thermometer. You only need a shallow saucepan and 4 simple ingredients that you likely already have at home (unlike its store-bought counterpart which are typically sweetened with fructose and artificial flavors).
- It has the perfect texture. This caramel sauce is thick, smooth, buttery, and creamy. Unlike some of the store-bought sauces that can be quite runny, this caramel sauce can hold it's shape quite well as it cools and sets.
- You can add it to any dessert. There are so many ways to use this homemade salted caramel sauce to take your desserts and baked goods to the next level, with its iconic sweet caramel taste. Drizzle it over cakes, brownies, cookies, cheesecake, and ice cream. Add it to ice cream or a milkshake. Use it as a dip or jam. The options are endless.

Ingredients
To make this delicious and indulgent homemade salted caramel sauce, you will need the following simple ingredients:
- sugar
- butter - use unsalted butter for this recipe. If you only have salted butter, you can use it but cut down the salt by half.
- heavy cream
- salt
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a shallow saucepan, and an airtight container or mason jar for storing.
How to Make the Best Homemade Salted Caramel Sauce
- Melt sugar. Heat sugar in a large shallow saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk continuously as the sugar as it begins to melt. It will form clumps but will eventually melt completely. This can take 10-15 minutes. Continue to stir continuously until the sugar reaches a deep amber colour. Keep a close eye because the sugar will burn if you overcook.

- Add butter. Add the butter (note that the butter will immediately begin bubbling and may splatter, so be careful). Whisk until the butter is completely melted, then cook for 1 minute without stirring.
- Add cream and salt. Slowly pour in the heavy cream and whisk until combined in the mixture. Again, be careful as the mixture will bubble and may splatter. Whisk in the salt until combined.

- Cool. Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool in the saucepan for 10 minutes. The caramel will thicken as it cools.

How to Use Salted Caramel Sauce
This creamy and smooth salted caramel sauce can be used in so many ways. Here are some ways to use this sauce:
- Use it as a sweet dip. Dip your favourite fruit into this caramel and taste heaven in your mouth. One of my favourite fruit to use are apples, especially Granny Smith apples. The flavours are so complementary.
- Make caramel hot chocolate. Add a spoonful into your hot chocolate for a new take on a classic drink.
- Drizzle it over baked goods. Drizzle salted caramel sauce over your favourite baked goods, such as apple pie, cinnamon rolls, scones, or crepes.
- Add it over ice cream. Caramel sauce and ice cream are such a staple together. Try it with no churn homemade vanilla ice cream. Or add some sauce into a classic vanilla milkshake for a new flavor.
- Use it in cheesecake. Swirl this sauce into caramel cheesecake brownies, or drizzle it over caramel pecan pie cheesecake bars.
- Use it as a macaron filling. Add a dollop of salted caramel sauce in between your vanilla macaron shells to make salted caramel macarons.
- Make salted caramel popcorn. Toss your popcorn with some of this sauce to create a delicious sweet and salty caramel popcorn.

Storing and Freezing Instructions
- How to store: Store salted caramel sauce in an airtight container or mason jar at room temperature for a day or two, or in the refrigerator for up to one month. If stored in the refrigerator, it may have hardened up a little. You can warm up the caramel over the stovetop or in the microwave before using to make it easier to drizzle.
- How to freeze: You can freeze salted caramel sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer. To use, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator or for a few hours at room temperature.

More Caramel Dessert Recipes
- Caramel Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
- Easter Egg Caramel Brownies
- Healthier Caramel Apple Fall Cheesecake
- Caramel Cheesecake Brownies
- Upside-down Caramel Apricot Tart
- Caramel Apples
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Air Fryer Broccoli
If you own an air fryer, you know that almost anything can be made faster and even more delicious with the power of air frying- especially broccoli! Crispy air fryer broccoli is a healthy side dish that complements any main course so well. It's seasoned with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt, which packs on so much flavor. The best part? This quick and easy side takes only takes six minutes to cook. When it comes to last-minute recipe ideas, air fryer broccoli is one you need in your back pocket.

Why You'll Love Air Fryer Broccoli
- Broccoli is a superfood. This popular veggie is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, including iron, potassium, calcium, selenium, magnesium, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, E, K, and B! Air fryer broccoli is a side dish that you can feel good about eating.
- The joy of fried food without the grease. Cooking in an air fryer creates food that tastes delicious (if not better than when made using other cooking methods), and it's much better for your health than traditional frying. Plus, it also takes the hassle out of cooking in the oven and cooks in a fraction of the time.
- You only need about 10 minutes. Even if you wait until your main dish is ready to serve, before you start cooking air fryer broccoli, you won't hold up dinner. This side dish takes just 6 minutes in the air fryer-but it tastes like it took way longer!

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make quick and easy air fryer broccoli, you will need the following ingredients:
- broccoli florets
- olive oil
- garlic powder
- Italian seasoning - you can substitute with any dried herbs such as dried oregano or thyme.
- salt
- for serving - you can serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top and a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a mixing bowl, and an air fryer.

How to Make the Best Air Fryer Broccoli
- Combine ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Toss to combine until well mixed.
- Cook in the air fryer. Transfer the seasoned broccoli into the air fryer basket. Cook it at 400 F for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket every 3 minutes, until browned and crispy on the edges.
- Serve. Serve warm with grated Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.

Tips and Tricks
- Quick clean-up tip: If you want to lighten your load when cleaning the air fryer, line the basket with a piece of aluminium foil.
- How to store: First, allow the broccoli to cool to room temperature. Then, place any leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- How to reheat: You can reheat air fryer broccoli the same way you cooked it. Place in the air fryer at 350F for a few minutes until warmed through. Reheating time may vary depending on how much you try to reheat.

More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Roasted Garlic Green Beans (Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Baby Potatoes
- The Best Breaded Fried Chicken Wings (Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Jumbo Shrimp
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Shrimp Taco Salad
Shrimp taco salad is flavourful, delicious, and so easy to make. It has all the fixings and flavors of your favorite shrimp tacos, but without the mess. This light meal is packed with seasoned shrimp, healthy fresh veggies, crushed tortilla chips, and homemade cilantro lime dressing. The best part? This delicious taco bowl comes together in about 20 minutes. It's the perfect, quick and easy meal to serve for lunch or dinner -- especially on busy summer weeknights.

Why You'll Love Shrimp Taco Salad
- It is healthy and nutritious. Shrimp is seafood that is bursting with health benefits. It provides lots of nutrients, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. So, this shrimp taco salad is something you can feel good about eating!
- Quick and easy to make. Just like Beef Taco Salad, you can prep all the vegetables while you cook the shrimp, to make the most efficient use of your time. Plus, you can cook the shrimp in the oven, air fryer, or on the stove. Whichever way is the most convenient for you!
- Packed with the perfect blend of veggies. Romaine lettuce forms the bed of this salad, but a palette of color and flavor comes from purple cabbage, corn, avocado, cilantro, and tomatoes. While you can adjust the ingredients in this salad, you don't want to miss out on any of these flavors.
- Fresh cilantro lime dressing. When paired with a fresh homemade Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing, this shrimp taco salad gets even better! The creamy dressing compliments everything, especially the seasoned shrimp.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this delicious and easy shrimp taco salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- shrimp - You will need one pound of white shrimp. To prepare them, use scissors to cut through the shell along the back of the prawns, and remove the shells and tails. Rinse to remove the veins and pat dry with paper towel.
- shrimp taco seasoning - made with olive oil, ground cumin, chili powder (optional for a kick), paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano (or Italian seasoning), salt, and ground black pepper.
- romaine lettuce
- grape tomatoes
- purple cabbage
- avocado
- corn - you can use canned corn or frozen corn (boiled in water for 5 minutes).
- tortilla chips - I typically use plain unsalted tortilla chips, but you can also use seasoned tortilla chips such as Doritos. You can also use tortilla strips.
- cilantro lime dressing - it's really easy to make homemade creamy cilantro lime dressing in about 5 minutes. You can also store-bought dressing or lime crema. Whatever is easier.
- lime wedges - optional, for a squeeze of extra lime juice.
The best thing about shrimp taco salad is that it's completely customizable. Add in any of your favorite taco fixings such as pico de gallo salsa, black beans, jalapeños, onions, queso, or hot sauce.

How to Make the Best Shrimp Taco Salad
- Prepare the shrimp. In a medium bowl, add shrimp, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Toss well to coat and set aside to marinate for 15 minutes (if you have the time).
- Cook the shrimp. You can cook the shrimp in one of 3 ways -- in the oven, air fryer, or over the stove.
- To cook in the oven: Spread the shrimp evenly on a parchment lined quarter sheet baking pan and bake in a 400 F preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the shrimp turns pink.
- To cook in the air fryer: Cook the shrimp in the air fryer at 350 F for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket once halfway through.
- To cook on the stovetop: Sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes until shrimp turns pink and nicely browned.
- Assemble. In a large serving bowl, add all salad ingredients including lettuce, tomatoes, purple cabbage, avocado, corn, tortilla chips (or tortilla strips), and cooked shrimp.
- Serve. Drizzle cilantro lime dressing on top and toss to combine.

Tips and Tricks
- How to store and make ahead: If you anticipate having leftovers, serve the tortilla chips and shrimp on the side, and add it to your individually portioned out salad. This will prevent your chips from getting soggy and your shrimp from spoiling the rest of the salad if they go bad first. Plus, when stored separately you can easily reheat the shrimp and add it to the leftover salad the next day. The salad base will last in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The shrimp will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- How to substitute with other protein: If you are craving this salad but are thinking of using other protein, you totally can. Consider using salmon, cod, scallops, or another one of your favorite kinds of seafood in its place. Keep in mind that this recipe is designed to let the flavor of the shrimp come through, so proteins like chicken or beef are not the best substitution.

More Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
- Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw
- Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
- Baked Coconut Shrimp
- Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake
- Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers
For more Mexican-inspired recipes, check out these 30 Best Mexican Recipes.
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
Nothing beats homemade creamy cilantro lime dressing. It's fresh, vibrant, easy to make, and tastes so much better than store-bought salad dressing. Packed with cilantro, lime juice, and Greek yogurt, this dressing is creamy, smooth, tangy, and flavourful. The best part? You can make it in just 5 minutes and drizzle it over everything including salads, tacos, vegetables, and more.

Why You'll Love Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Fresh simple ingredients. For this recipe, you'll need some simple ingredients including two whole cups of fresh cilantro, freshly-squeezed lime juice, and fresh garlic. The result? A delicious creamy cilantro dressing that tastes fresh and tangy.
- It's an easy blender recipe. Making this dressing is so quick and easy. You just throw all the ingredients into a blender or food processor, and puree to blend. Who needs store-bought when it's this easy and delicious to make homemade salad dressing?
- It goes with everything. Use this dressing on salads, on tacos and tostadas, on fajitas, dip your quesadillas or enchiladas in it, or serve it with breakfast. It seriously pairs well with almost anything you can imagine: chicken, beef, fish, veggies, rice, grilled vegetables, and potatoes. Make one batch of this creamy cilantro lime dressing, and you'll be enjoying it all week!

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this easy and delicious creamy cilantro lime dressing, you will need the following ingredients:
- fresh cilantro - you need a heaping 2 cups of cilantro (approximately one bunch), and use both the leaves and the stems. When washing the cilantro, be sure to dry it very thoroughly. Otherwise the leftover water will significantly thin out the dressing and make it less flavorful. The cilantro bunches I use are about 2 cups packed, and weigh 3.5 ounces with the stems.
- lime juice - this adds a tangy citrusy punch to the dressing. Use freshly-squeezed lime juice for the best results.
- Greek yogurt - this adds the creaminess to the dressing. You can also substitute this with sour cream. If you are not sure whether to use Greek yogurt or sour cream for this recipe, choose whichever one you like to eat more. Note that sour cream has more calories and fat content, which makes it the more indulgent option, while Greek yogurt is generally healthier.
- garlic
- olive oil
- honey - balances out all the flavours. You can also substitute this with maple syrup.
- dried oregano - you can substitute this with Italian seasoning blend.
- salt
- jalapeño - I did not use any, but you can certainly add some if you prefer a spicier dressing. It's completely up to you.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, a blender or food processor, and a mason jar or airtight container to store the dressing in if not using it all right away.

How to Make the Best Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Blend the ingredients. Place ¼ cup Greek yogurt along with all remaining ingredients into a food processor or blender. Pulse mix to until combined and blended. You do not want to blend it until completely smooth as you want to keep the dressing slightly textured with bits of cilantro visible.
- Stir in more yogurt. Transfer the dressing to a small bowl and add remaining ¼ cup of Greek yogurt. Stir with a spoon until combined. Adjust with more salt or honey to taste, if needed.
- Serve. Use as desired over your favorite salads or meals.
How to Store
While this homemade creamy cilantro lime dressing is much tastier than store-bought dressing, it won't last as long since it doesn't contain preservatives. The shelf life of your dressing depends on the freshness of your cilantro. If you use the freshest ingredients, your dressing will stay good for up to 7-10 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container or mason jar.

How to Serve Cilantro Lime Dressing
Creamy cilantro lime dressing goes with everything! You can serve it on:
- Salads. Try it with Shrimp Taco Salad or Beef Taco Salad.
- Tacos. Try it in Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, or Vegan Chickpea Tacos.
- Fajitas. Try it over Skillet Chicken Fajitas or Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas.
- Tostadas. Try it on Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
- Rice. Try it over Cilantro Lime Rice.
It's also delicious drizzled over grilled meat or vegetables, or use it as a marinade for your meat. So make a batch or two to last you all week!

More Salad Recipes with Homemade Dressing
- Lemon Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
- Chickpea Greek Salad with Greek Dressing
- Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
- Grilled Chicken Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing
- Vegan Soba Noodle Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Mascarpone Pesto Pasta
Mascarpone pesto pasta is the easiest and tastiest creamy pasta you'll ever make. It's made with simple ingredients including mascarpone cheese which brings a light and silky texture to the sauce, basil pesto which brings all the flavour, and tomatoes which add a burst of freshness. If you want to make an impressive Italian meal at home with little time and effort, this creamy pesto pasta is the recipe for you. Make it in under 15 minutes and revel at how amazing it tastes!

Why You'll Love Mascarpone Pesto Pasta
- A quick and easy weeknight dinner. This recipe comes together seamlessly in under 15 minutes. Essentially, all you need to do is cook your pasta and combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Voila-you're ready to serve. This quick pasta dish is seriously a lifesaver on busy weeknights. You need to have this one in your back pocket.
- It is packed with flavor. Basil pesto adds a fresh and vibrant flavor to this weeknight pasta dish. Whether you choose store-bought or homemade pesto for this mascarpone pesto pasta, you can't go wrong. Most commonly made from pine nuts, olive oil, fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and seasoning, basil pesto is a must-have ingredient in any kitchen. For more recipes using pesto, try Avocado Basil Pesto Spaghetti, Pesto Penne Pasta, Spring Pesto Pasta with Asparagus, and Pesto Hummus.
- It is ultra creamy and smooth. The secret to the creaminess of this pasta is mascarpone cheese and reserved pasta water. And if you've never had mascarpone cheese, you've been missing out. Made from only two ingredients (heavy cream and citric acid), mascarpone cheese is the silkier and smoother cousin of cream cheese. The high fat content makes this cheese light yet indulgent-and it's the perfect ingredient to add to pasta.

Ingredients
To make quick and easy mascarpone pesto pasta, you need the following simple ingredients:
- pasta - I used spaghetti noodles, but you can substitute with any kind of pasta that you like.
- olive oil - I add this immediately after cooking the pasta to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other.
- basil pesto - I used fresh homemade basil pesto which I made in just 5 minutes. You can also use store-bought pesto. Do whatever is easier for you!
- mascarpone cheese - some people substitute mascarpone with cream cheese, but the fat content and flavor will alter this dish immensely. If you're having trouble finding mascarpone at your local grocery store, consider making your own! All you need is heavy cream and lemon juice.
- lemon juice - adds a burst of flavor.
- cherry tomatoes
- salt and pepper
- Parmesan cheese - optional, for serving on top.
- fresh basil - optional, for garnish.
You will also need a large cooking pot and a mixing bowl.

How to Make the Best Mascarpone Pesto Pasta
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook spaghetti according to package instructions or until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Do not overcook the pasta. Turn off the heat and reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta in a colander and let it cool for 1 minute.
- Toss with remaining ingredients. Transfer pasta into a large mixing bowl and add pesto, mascarpone cheese, lemon juice and ½ cup reserved pasta water (add up to ½ cup more if desired). Stir in cherry tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Toss well to coat.

- Serve. Top with fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, some dollops of pesto, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.

Storing and Reheating Instructions
- How to store: While the best practice for storing pasta is to keep it separate from the sauce, this mascarpone pesto pasta can be stored (sauce and all) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
- How to reheat: Heat in a skillet or shallow saucepan over low heat. You may need to add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened to much when stored in the refrigerator. You can also reheat in the microwave covered in a microwave-safe container in 20-second intervals until hot all the way through, mixing often to distribute the heat.

More Pasta Recipes
- Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake
- Creamy White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna
- Pasta Bake with Sausage (Baked Ziti)
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Cheesy Tortellini and Sausage Bake
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Mexican Tuna Cakes (Tortitas de Atun)
Mexican tuna cakes, also known as tortitas de atun are quick, easy, and delicious. These tasty tuna patties are made with canned tuna, veggies, and flavourful spices, then breaded and pan-fried. They are warm and soft on the inside, with a crispy crunch on the outside. Dip them into a creamy aioli or just plain mayo, and you've got the perfect snack. The best part about these tuna croquettes? They come together in about 20 minutes. It's the perfect dish to make on busy weeknights or any day of the week.

Why You'll Love Mexican Tuna Cakes (Tortitas De Atun)
- Canned tuna is a staple. Canned fish is a pantry staple, an easy ingredient to keep on hand, and it's even easier to cook with. If you're someone who avoids cooking fish because you've never done it before, this is the perfect recipe to introduce you to cooking with seafood.
- The thick, crispy, Parmesan breading. Fried foods hit differently, and these Mexican tuna cakes deliver the decadent textures and flavors you want when eating fried food, but without the deep-frying. The breading on these tuna cakes are so crispy, thick, and delicious that you'll be craving tortitas de atun when you least expect it.
- Packed with nutrient-rich flavor. As if using a lean protein like tuna wasn't enough, these Mexican tuna cakes also include fresh carrots, onions, and cilantro. These veggies add flavor and nutrients to your tortitas de atun.

Ingredients
To make these delicious Mexican tuna cakes, you will need the following ingredients:
- canned tuna
- breadcrumbs
- eggs
- onion
- fresh cilantro
- carrot
- lemon juice
- seasoning - garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- breading - made with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. You can also use an egg to make a thicker coating.
- vegetable oil - for pan-frying.
- for serving - you can serve with mayonnaise, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, and a large skillet or frying pan (I used a cast-iron skillet).

How to Make the Best Mexican Tuna Cakes (Tortitas de Atun)
- Make the tuna patties. In a large mixing bowl, add canned tuna, breadcrumbs, eggs, onions, cilantro, carrots, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir well until evenly combined. Take ¼ cup of the tuna mixture at a time and firmly roll into patties, about 8-9 patties. Set aside.

- Coat the patties with breading. In a shallow plate, make the breading by whisking together breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese until combined. Dip both sides of each patty into the breadcrumb mixture to coat and gently press breadcrumbs into the patties to adhere as much as possible. (If you want a thicker breading, prepare a shallow plate for beaten egg and dip patties in the egg and evenly coat, and then coat completely with the breadcrumb mixture. Shake off any excess breadcrumbs).

- Pan fry the tuna cakes. Heat vegetable oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat for 2 minutes until the hot oil sizzles. Gently add the breaded tuna cakes in the skillet and pan fry until nicely browned, about 4-5 minutes on each side. You can likely fit 4-5 tuna cakes at a time. Remove from pan and let rest for 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining tuna cakes.
- Serve. Serve with a side of mayonnaise, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, and lime wedges, if desired.

Tips and Tricks
- How to store: Tortitas de atun are best served hot and fresh. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Let them cool completely before placing them in the container to avoid condensation and soggy tuna cakes.
- How to reheat: Mexican tuna cakes are best reheated in the oven at 350F for 8-10 minutes until warmed all the way through. You can also reheat them in the microwave in 20 second increments until warmed through.
- How to make your own aioli: These Mexican tuna cakes taste best when served with mayonnaise or aioli (a mix of mayonnaise and other ingredients). You can easily make your own aioli by mixing in your favorite sauce, like barbecue, ketchup, or hot sauce, with some mayo!

More Mexican Recipes
- 30 Best Mexican Recipes
- Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
- Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Beef Taco Salad
- Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw
- Vegan Chickpea Tacos
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
Moist chocolate cupcakes topped with homemade chocolate buttercream frosting and chocolate sprinkles, are a chocolate triple threat. These rich and decadent treats are moist, sweet, flavourful. The easy chocolatey batter takes just 10 minutes to make, and less than 20 minutes to bake. You need to make these moist cupcakes for your next celebration -or when you're just craving something sweet.

Why You'll Love Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
- The perfect moist cupcake. Fluffy butter, cocoa powder, yogurt, and more come together to form the perfect batter that rises into even more perfect moist chocolate cupcakes. These chocolate cupcakes bring an impeccable chocolatey taste and a perfectly dense, moist texture.
- It's topped with rich chocolate buttercream frosting. Do I need to say anything more? This decadent frosting is easy to make. All you need is softened butter, milk, vanilla, cocoa, sugar, and salt, a hand mixer or stand mixer, and less than 5 minutes of time.
- It has actual health benefits. Seriously. Maybe eating cupcakes every day isn't great for your health, but cocoa powder has many health benefits, including lowered blood pressure, heart health, improved mood, and it can even help manage asthma. So, the next time someone tells you that chocolate cupcakes aren't healthy, let them in on this superfood.
- There's no better way to indulge. These triple chocolate cupcakes are the best way to treat yourself. From the moist cake to the creamy frosting, these moist chocolate cupcakes will answer all your sweet tooth cravings.

Ingredients
To make rich and moist chocolate cupcakes, you will need the following ingredients:
- all-purpose flour
- cocoa powder
- baking powder - helps the cupcakes rise.
- salt
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- plain yogurt - yogurt is the secret ingredient that makes these cupcakes super moist and soft. I used whole fat plain yogurt but you can also use Greek yogurt or sour cream as a substitute.
- water
- chocolate buttercream - you can use store-bought or homemade frosting. To make homemade chocolate buttercream, you will need butter, vanilla, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, milk, and a pinch of salt.
- chocolate sprinkles
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, stand mixer or hand mixer, 12-tin muffin pan, piping bags, and a no. 2D decorating tip.

How to Make the Best Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
- Combine dry ingredients. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment to cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat until incorporated.
- Prepare wet ingredients. In a small bowl, stir together vanilla, yogurt, and water. Set aside.
- Combine ingredients. Add one-third of the dry ingredients to the butter-egg mixture and beat until just combined. Then, add half of the yogurt mixture, and beat until just combined. Repeat, until you end with the dry ingredients. Scrape down the bowl as needed and beat until just combined and smooth. Do not overmix. The batter will be thick.
- Divide the batter. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop up the batter and divide in into a 12-tin muffin pan lined with cupcake liners, filling the liners ⅔ full with batter.
- Bake. Bake in a 350 F preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
- Cool. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the muffin pan for 5 minutes, then transfer into a wire cooling rack to cool completely before icing.

How to Make Chocolate Buttercream and Decorate
Homemade chocolate buttercream is really easy to make in just 5 minutes. First, in a large mixing bowl, beat the butter using a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Then, add vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Add in confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder and continue to beat until incorporated.
Finally, add milk and beat until light and fluffy. Add more milk if the buttercream is too thick, add more confectioners' sugar if the buttercream is too thin. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth until you are ready to use the icing to prevent it from drying out.
To frost the cupcakes, use a couplers to secure a no. 2D decorating tip onto a piping bag. Fill the bag with icing and pipe the icing onto each cupcake starting at the edges and move in an overlapping circular motion until you reach the center and gently lift up. Add chocolate sprinkles on top, if desired.

Tips for Making and Storing Cupcakes
- Follow the recipe. Whenever you bake, it's important to follow the recipe to a tee. Baking is part art and part science, so mixing things up can have consequences for your final product.
- Use room temperature dairy products. Leave your dairy products out for an 30 minutes to allow them to warm up to room temperature (except butter should be left out for an hour). Using room temperature butter, yogurt, milk, and eggs will ensure your cupcakes have the best results. Softened room temperature butter should still be cool to the touch and should hold its shape well. But if you poke it, your finger should leave an indent-not slide into it.
- How to store: Allow the chocolate cupcakes to cool completely, then store them at room temperature inside an airtight container unfrosted. This will give the best results with the best texture because because cooler temperatures will dry out your cupcakes. If you've already frosted them, they'll need to go in the fridge. Eat them up within four days.
- How to freeze. You can freeze these cupcakes either before or after icing.
- Before frosting: You can freeze unfrosted chocolate cupcakes by wrapping them tightly with plastic cling wrap, and then placing them in an airtight container and freezing for up to 3 months.
- After frosting: Place frosted cupcakes on a baking tray and freeze until hard, about 1 hour. Then wrap them tightly in plastic cling wrap, and then place in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To serve: Allow them to completely thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or for a few hours at room temperature, before icing or serving.

More Chocolate Recipes
- Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes
- Double Chocolate Loaf Cake
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles
- Caramel Cheesecake Brownies
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
Creamy Tuscan shrimp packed with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic, is creamy, rich, and delicious. Seared shrimp swim in a thick and delicious, buttery, creamy sauce. Seafood had never tasted so indulgent. Made in just 15 minutes (including prep!), creamy Tuscan shrimp brings the wow-factor to the table without the time or the energy. Serve this comforting meal with crusty bread for dipping, or over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Why You'll Love Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
- Creamy comfort food at it's finest. For some, the star of this creamy Tuscan shrimp recipe is the shrimp. For others, it's the sauce. Made with butter, flour, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and more, this thick creamy sauce is liquid comfort.
- Packed with protein. Creamy Tuscan garlic shrimp is absolutely delicious, and it's good for you, too. Shrimp is a healthy protein that's low in calories and high in nutrients. It's a good source of iodine, selenium, iron, and B12, which are not commonly found in many other foods.
- Loaded with so much flavour. If you've ever dreamed of Italy, you might know that the flavors of Tuscany include sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, basil, and parmesan-and we've got all that and more in this creamy Tuscan shrimp recipe.
- It's surprisingly quick and easy. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to make creamy Tuscan garlic shrimp. This one-pan recipe is ready in under 20 minutes. Simply sear the shrimp, cook the sauce, wilt the spinach, and voila! Some other quick shrimp dinners to try are: Creamy Garlic Shrimp, Baked Coconut Shrimp, and Seafood Fried Rice.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make delicious creamy Tuscan shrimp, you will need the following ingredients:
- olive oil - for searing the shrimp.
- shrimp - I used 1 lb. of white shrimp, but you can use any kind shrimp or prawns. You also want to use shrimp that has been peeled and deveined. I kept the tails on but you can also remove the tails if you would like. To prepare the shrimp, cut through the shell along the back with kitchen scissors. Remove the shells (and tails), and rinse to remove the veins. Pat dry each shrimp completely with a paper towel.
- salt and pepper - to season the shrimp.
- butter
- garlic
- sun-dried tomatoes
- all-purpose flour - helps to thicken up the sauce.
- heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese - asiago cheese also works well as a substitute.
- baby spinach
- fresh basil
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a large skillet (I used a cast-iron skillet).

How to Make the Best Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
- Sear the shrimp. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat for 2 minutes until the hot oil is sizzling hot. Add shrimp and season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until the shrimp becomes nicely browned on both sides. Set aside on a plate.
- Sauté aromatics. In the same skillet, add butter, garlic, and sun-dried tomatoes. Sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in flour and mix until well combined.
- Make the creamy sauce. Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium and keep stirring until thickened to a desired consistency. Stir in spinach and cook until softened, about 1 minute.
- Toss with shrimp and serve. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet and toss well to coat. Sprinkle basil on top and serve immediately over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes.

How to Serve Creamy Garlic Shrimp
There are so many ways that you can serve creamy Tuscan shrimp. They are delicious on their own with a side of crusty bread to dip into and soak up all of that creamy sauce. You can also serve them over a plate of pasta, mashed potatoes, garlic mashed cauliflower, or rice.
To balance the meal, I like to serve this with a fresh salad on the side such as Chopped Asparagus Salad, Lemon Kale Salad, Greek Salad or Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad.

Storing and Reheating Instructions
- How to store: You can store creamy Tuscan shrimp with pasta or separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- How to reheat: Reheat on the stove over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes until shrimp is warmed through, or in the microwave. The sauce may have thickened up in the refrigerator, so add a little water to thin out the sauce a bit until you achieve a desired consistency. You can also reheat in the microwave. Place leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl and cover with a paper towel, plate, or lid. Reheat creamy Tuscan shrimp in the microwave in 15-30 second increments until hot. Only heat as much as you'll eat.

More Shrimp Recipes
- Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake
- Baked Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Jumbo Shrimp
- Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw
- Tiger Prawns in Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce
- Vietnamese Salad Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
- Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Cilantro Lime Rice
Cilantro lime rice is a fresh, bright and vibrant side dish that will add extra flavour to any meal you serve it with. It's exactly what it sounds like: white rice with fresh cilantro and lime, and some added flavour from minced garlic and olive oil. The best part? This is a quick and easy, forget about it, one pot recipe that simmers on the stove while you are busy doing other things in the kitchen. Serve it in a burrito bowl or inside burritos, or alongside grilled skewers.

Why You'll Love Cilantro Lime Rice
- It's packed with authentic Mexican flavours. We all love a good serving of rice, but it can get boring and too plain after a while. This cilantro lime rice recipe will keep things exciting in the kitchen with just a little extra effort, a few simple ingredients, and a lot of flavour.
- Cilantro lime rice is super easy to make. This cilantro lime rice is so easy to make that it's one you can make while cooking other dishes. Mix the rice with a few simple ingredients, let it cook on the stovetop, then add in the cilantro and lime at the end. Other than that, you can forget about it while you multitask in the kitchen.
- It's a side dish with nutrients. Cilantro is more than just a delicious herb. It's been used for thousands of years as a medicinal plant. Cilantro contains vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, and manganese. So you can feel good about eating an extra serving or two.

Ingredients
To make this delicious and easy cilantro lime rice, you will need just a few ingredients:
- long grain rice - you can use any long-grain rice such as basmati or jasmine rice.
- water
- olive oil or vegetable oil
- garlic
- salt
- lime juice + lime zest
- fresh cilantro
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a medium cooking pot.
How to Make the Best Cilantro Lime Rice
- In a medium sized cooking pot, wash the rice thoroughly and drain. Add water, olive oil, garlic and salt., and give it a good stir. Bring to a boil, uncovered, over high heat, about 4-5 minutes.
- Turn the heat down to low and cover. Simmer for 20-25 minutes until the rice is soft and fluffy. Add lime juice, lime zest, and cilantro, and toss to combine. Fluff with a fork and serve.

How to Serve and Store
- How to serve: Serve cilantro lime rice as a side dish to all your favourite Mexican meals. It's perfect in a Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowl or as part of a Beef and Bean Burrito. You can also drizzle on some Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing for added flavour.
- How to store: Store cilantro lime rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4. days.
- How to reheat: Reheat rice by steaming it in a steamer, or putting it in a microwave-safe container and covering it with a damp paper towel. Ensure there are no gaps for air to escape. Heat in the microwave in 30-second increments or until you notice steam rising from the paper towel. This method steams the rice, so it is soft and light instead of hard and dry. You could also reheat over the stove but you may need to add some water to soften it up a bit.

More Mexican Recipes
- 30 Best Mexican Recipes
- Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Chickpea Greek Salad
Chickpea Greek salad is a fresh, healthy, vibrant, and colorful salad, packed with traditional Mediterranean ingredients. The classic components of Greek salad - tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta, are elevated with the addition of chickpeas. All tossed in a light lemon Greek salad dressing, this chopped salad tastes delicious and you can feel great about eating it. Being healthy doesn't mean sacrificing deliciousness. It means adding foods that contain essential nutrients. And this chickpea Greek salad proves that!

Why You'll Love this Chickpea Greek Salad
- Chickpeas are packed with plant-based protein-and more! Low in calories and high in nutrients like iron, phosphorus, and copper, chickpeas bring this chickpea Greek salad to the next level. Chickpeas can help you lower your blood sugar, manage your weight, and control your appetite.
- Kalamata olives are another superfood. Full of healthy fats that you need to absorb essential vitamins, Kalamata olives add a pungent kick of flavor to this chickpea Greek salad-plus vitamins A, B, C, E, K, and calcium.
- Garden veggies are delicious and healthy, too! While they may not be the stars of the show, the tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and greens bring more flavor and health benefits to the table. With the fiber and variety you need in your diet, this chickpea Greek salad is what you need in your life.
- Serve it whenever you want. Chickpea Greek salad makes a great side salad at a dinner party, or it is filling enough to be the star of the show. Serve it as a main course on its own or with some added protein.

Ingredients
To make this quick and easy chickpea Greek salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- mixed greens - I used romaine lettuce, but you are free to use any greens that you like. Try romaine, spinach, arugula, or an assorted pack of mixed greens.
- chickpeas - I used a can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) for convenience. You can also make chickpeas from scratch using dried beans, but the process will be much longer.
- grape tomatoes - You can substitute with cherry tomatoes, or with regular tomatoes cut into 1-inch pieces.
- Persian cucumbers - These are smaller cucumbers and are the perfect size when sliced. You can substitute with ½ of a larger English cucumber, just cut it into 1-inch pieces.
- red onion
- kalamata olives
- feta cheese - you can make this salad vegan and dairy-free but just leaving out the cheese, if you prefer.
- Greek salad dressing - The lemon dressing is essentially the same Greek salad dressing as in a typical Greek salad. It is made with olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano (or Italian seasoning), salt, and pepper.
This chickpea salad is a complete and wholesome dish on it's own, packed with plant-based protein from the chickpeas. You can also add in some extra protein if you would like. Try shredded chicken, grilled shrimp, salmon, hard-boiled eggs, or tuna.

How to Make the Best Chickpea Greek Salad
- Combine salad ingredients. In a large serving bowl, combine the salad ingredients including mixed greens, chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, cucumber, olives and feta cheese.
- Make salad dressing. In a small mixing bowl, make the Greek salad dressing by whisking together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt and pepper.
- Toss to combine. Pour dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Add more salt and black pepper to taste.

Storing Instructions
- Make ahead instructions to avoid a soggy salad: To make ahead, store the salad and Greek salad dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to one week. Add the dressing just before eating. This will prevent the salad from getting soggy. In addition to waiting to dress the salad, you can store paper towels in the container that your greens and veggies are in. This will absorb excess moisture and keep your salad looking alive and fresh.
- How to store: If you anticipate leftovers, do not add all the dressing to the salad, rather serve the dressing on the side and add it to your own plate. You can store the salad with the dressing but depending on which greens you use in the salad, it may cause them to go limp when stored. If storing salad that has been mixed with the dressing, you can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. If storing separately, it will last up to 1 week.

More Salad Recipes
- Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad
- The Best Greek Salad
- Persian Shirazi Salad with Cucumber and Tomatoes
- Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
- Spring Pesto Pasta Salad with Asparagus
- Chopped Asparagus Salad
- Lemon Kale Salad
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Spring Vegetable Frittata
Spring vegetable frittata makes a delicious breakfast, but it can be served at any time of the day. Full of yummy spring vegetables like asparagus, broccolini, peas, spinach, and leek, this spring vegetable frittata is packed with ingredients that are nutritious as they are delicious! This one-pan meal starts on the stove and moves to the oven, making for a hot meal and an easy clean-up. With a fluffy, creamy egg base, spring vegetable frittata is the perfect meal this season.

Why You'll Love Spring Vegetable Frittata
- Seasonal vegetables add freshness. Cooking with fresh, seasonal vegetables is one of the privileges that arrives with spring. Crisp asparagus and fresh broccolini bring earthy flavors into the frittata, creating a delicious eggy meal.
- It's quick and easy to make. Ready in under 35 minutes, this savory dish is the perfect breakfast or brunch meal. Similar to quiches (like Spinach and Feta Quiche), frittatas are delicious and healthy, but they take a lot more effort than frittatas. Without the crust, this frittata is easy to make, bake, and clean up after. For an even faster recipe, try 15-Minute Caprese Frittata.
- It has the best light and fluffy texture. The heavy cream in this spring vegetable frittata adds volume and air to the eggs, creating a wonderful light texture that surrounds the spring vegetables.

Ingredients
To make this delicious and easy spring vegetable frittata, you will need the following ingredients.
- olive oil - to sauté the vegetables in.
- scallions - you can substitute with leek or spring onions.
- asparagus - I recommend using the thin asparagus, as they are easier to cut into. You could use the larger ones but since they are too heavy, they may sink to the bottom of the frittata and not be as visible on top.
- broccolini
- peas - I used frozen peas as they are super easy and convenient.
- baby spinach
- eggs
- heavy cream
- paprika
- salt and pepper
- feta cheese - you can also use goat cheese, or leave out the cheese for a dairy-free option.
- fresh basil - optional, for serving on top. You could substitute with whatever fresh herbs that you have. Dill, oregano, and parsley are some other great options.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a large 10 to 12-inch oven-safe skillet. I used my 12-inch cast-iron skillet.

How to Make the Best Spring Vegetable Frittata
- Cook the vegetables. In a large oven-proof skillet or cast-iron skillet, heat oil for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Add scallions and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add asparagus and broccolini and stir well to cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in peas and spinach and season with pepper and paprika. Stir well until evenly combined, allowing them to soften.

- Prepare the egg mixture. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and cream until smooth. Season with salt. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet and gently shake to distribute. Sprinkle feta cheese evenly on top.
- Bake. Bake in a 400 F preheated oven for 20 minutes until completely set. Let the frittata rest for 5-10 minutes to stabilize since it will puff up fresh out of the oven.
- Serve. Garnish with basil and extra feta on top, if desired. Slice and serve.

How to Serve Vegetable Frittata
Serve this delicious spring vegetable frittata with a fresh spring salad on the side, such as a Chopped Asparagus Salad, Lemon Kale Salad, Arugula and Roasted Carrot Salad, or Greek Salad. Or serve it as part of an epic brunch spread with your other favourite breakfast dishes including Old Fashioned Pancakes, Triple Berry French Toast, and Poached Eggs. I always include this one when preparing Mother's Day Brunch.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
- How to store: Keep leftover spring vegetable frittata in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in foil. Allow it to cool completely before storing. You can eat leftover frittata straight out of the fridge cold or reheat until warm or hot in either the microwave or the oven
- How to reheat: Cover frittata in tin foil with enough room to air to circulate. Heat in a 350F preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until it reached the desired temperature. You can also reheat in the microwave on a low setting in 20-second increments until the frittata reaches the desired temperature.

More Spring Recipes
- Roasted Asparagus with Poached Eggs
- Roasted Spring Vegetables
- Asparagus Tart
- Honey Roasted Carrots
- Chopped Asparagus Salad
- Spring Vegetable Stir Fry
- Lemon Asparagus Soup with Parmesan
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
Shrimp avocado tostadas are delicious, crunchy, and so quick and easy to make. They are loaded with seasoned shrimp, avocado, purple cabbage, and cilantro to bring the best combinations of flavor in every bite. Top these shrimp tostadas with your favourite taco fixings including sour cream and lime juice. The best part of it all? You can make this easy Mexican dish in just 15 minutes.

Why You'll Love Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
- The perfect pairing. Shrimp and avocado are a match made in food heaven. There's nothing better than the creamy, fatty, firm texture of a ripe avocado-until you add seasoned shrimp and put it all on a crunchy tostada. Serious food goals.
- Crunchy tostada base. A tostada is a hard tortilla that functions like a little plate. They're meant to be a little messy and very delicious. These shrimp and avocado tostadas are piled high with yummy toppings that you'll love!
- Light and refreshing. In addition to the basics, these shrimp tostadas feature shredded purple cabbage, fresh cilantro, and freshly squeezed lime juice. It's a light meal that leaves you feeling refreshed and just full enough.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make easy and delicious shrimp avocado tostadas, you will need the following ingredients:
- white shrimp - You will need one pound of white shrimp. To prepare them, use scissors to cut through the shell along the back of the prawns, and remove the shells and tails. Rinse to remove the veins and pat dry with paper towel.
- shrimp taco seasoning - olive oil, ground cumin, chili powder (optional for a kick), paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano (or Italian seasoning), salt, and pepper.
- tostada shells - or you can use small soft corn or flour tortillas and crisp them up in the oven with cooking spray. We used a gluten-free coconut tortilla, so we did not get the traditional bubbles that you will see on tostadas made with corn or wheat tortillas.
- red cabbage - this adds a delicious flavour, crunch and color to these tostadas. You can also substitute with regular cabbage for that same crunch.
- avocado
- fresh cilantro
- sour cream
- lime
Shrimp tostadas are super easy to customize as well. Consider adding pico de gallo, mango salsa, diced tomatoes, fresh garlic, jalapeño or chili peppers, onions, bell peppers, hot sauce, or anything other taco toppings that you love.

How to Make the Best Shrimp Avocado Tostadas
- Prepare the shrimp. In a medium bowl, add shrimp, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Toss well to coat and set aside to marinate for 15 minutes (if you have the time).
- Cook the shrimp. You can cook the shrimp in the oven, air fryer, or over the stove.
- Oven instructions: Spread the shrimp evenly on a parchment lined quarter sheet baking pan and bake in a 400 F preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the shrimp turns pink.
- Air fryer instructions: Cook the shrimp in the air fryer at 350 F for 8-10 minutes, shaking the basket once halfway through.
- Stovetop instructions: Sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes until shrimp turns pink and nicely browned.
- Prepare the tostada shells. If using tostada shells, they are ready to be used. If using soft tortillas, then you will need the crisp them up. Lightly spray both sides of the tortillas with cooking spray and place them in a single layer on two large half pan baking sheet. Bake in a 400F preheated oven for 3-4 minutes on each side until nicely brown and crispy.
- Assemble the tostadas. Add a handful of purple cabbage on each tostada, topped with 3-4 shrimp on each tostadas, some avocado and cilantro. Add a dollop of sour cream and a squeeze of lime juice, to taste.

Storing Instructions
- How to store: Assembled shrimp and avocado tostadas are prone to getting soggy when stored. To store, I would recommend storing the tostada shells and the toppings separately. When you are ready to eat again, spend just a minute or two assembling.
- How to store tostada shells: Tostada shells will keep at room temperature for up to a week-you should never refrigerate tostada shells as they will dry out and become too hard.
- How to store tostada toppings: Store all the toppings in separate airtight containers and store in the refrigerator. They will last up to 3-4 days.

More Mexican Taco Recipes
- 30 Best Mexican Recipes
- Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
- Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw
- Korean Beef Steak Tacos
- Vegan Chickpea Tacos
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
30 Mexican Recipes for Cinco de Mayo
Is it even Cinco de Mayo without an epic spread of delicious Mexican recipes? It certainly is not. The food might just be the highlight of the day, so you want to get it right. If you are wondering what to make for a Cinco de Mayo Mexican fiesta, then you have come to the right place. Today, I am sharing over 30 of the best and most popular Mexican recipes including all the classics from tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos, dips, salads, and more.

What is Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo (literally translated as the "Fifth of May") is a minor holiday in Mexico that is also referred to as Battle of Puebla Day. It's a commemoration of the Mexican Army's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Cinco de Mayo represents a historic triumph of the indigenous Mexican people over European invaders and symbolizes the power and strength of Mexican culture. Although this holiday is literally a celebration of a battle won, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, and one that is more popular celebrated in the United States.
Best Mexican Recipes for Cinco de Mayo
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.

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.

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

Oven-baked loaded sheet pan nachos are a crowd pleaser for an easy weeknight dinner or a crave-worthy appetizer to serve on Cinco de Mayo.

Crispy Refried Bean Tacos are made with crispy, golden-brown tortillas, perfectly seasoned refried beans, and a handful of your favorite taco garnishes.

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

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.

Homemade Taquitos are crispy, delicious and flavorful. These rolled tacos are filled with seasoned ground beef and melty cheese - and can be fried or baked!

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.

Homemade queso Mexican cheese dip is smooth, creamy, delicious, flavorful, and so easy to make. It's so much better than store-bought in every way.

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

Mexican street corn (elote) is a delicious corn on the cob loaded with a cheesy sauce elevated with cilantro and lime. Creamy, cheesy, spicy, and flavorful.

Huevos Rancheros is a classic Mexican breakfast dish that features fried eggs perched atop a bed of warm tortillas and beans and topped with salsa.

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.

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.

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

Cilantro lime slaw is fresh, light, crunchy, and zesty. Ready in 5 minutes, it's the perfect pairing for tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and barbecued meats. =

Juicy and tender Carne Asada with perfectly charred edges is flavorful, delicious, and so easy to make. Cook this Mexican steak in under 15 minutes.

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.

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.

Cilantro lime rice is a fresh, bright and vibrant side dish that will add extra flavour to any meal you serve it with. It's a quick, easy, one pot recipe.

This Cheese Quesadilla has the perfect combination of crispy, cheesy, and flavorful. Ready to serve in just a few minutes with your favorite toppings.

Homemade Refried Beans are simple, easy to make, and taste better than store-bought refried beans by a mile. They are creamy, chunky, and delicious!

Chilaquiles Verdes feature crispy baked tortilla chips smothered in a homemade sauce loaded with salsa verde and features classic Mexican toppings.

Chicken nachos are an easy to make when you're craving something filling, crunchy, cheesy, and satisfying. Perfect game day appetizer or late-night snack.

Carne asada tacos are delicious, juicy, and tender Mexican street tacos loaded with steak bites that everyone will be raving about on Taco Tuesday!

Shrimp fajitas are healthy, flavorful, and delicious. This one skillet recipe is loaded with shrimp and vegetables and is ready in just 20 minutes.

Fresh mango salsa is sweet, tangy, and delicious. It's a quick and easy recipe that you can whip up with just 6 ingredients and in under 10 minutes.

Pinto Bean Soup (Sopa Tarasca)
Spice up your weeknight dinners with Mexican Pinto Bean Soup (Sopa Tarasca) made with creamy pinto beans, spicy chipotle, and a tomato broth in 30 minutes.

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.

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

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.

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.

Homemade flour tortillas are delicious, soft, and so easy to make! They are easy to make with just 5 pantry staple ingredients and ready in under an hour.

Vegetarian cauliflower tacos are loaded with air-fried or baked cauliflower, a delicious seasoning blend, and creamy lime cilantro slaw inside a tortilla.

Mexican chicken breast is juicy, tender, and flavorful. It's easy to prep with a quick marinade before cooking on the stove, air fryer, or oven.

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

These Sheet Pan Quesadillas are loaded with veggies and gooey cheese, baked in the oven until crispy, and made to feed a crowd in just 30 minutes.

Mushroom Fajitas have all the sizzle and flair of traditional fajitas without the meat! Made with portobello mushrooms, peppers, and onions in 30 minutes!

Salsa Verde Green Chicken Enchiladas
Salsa verde green chicken enchiladas are delicious and flavorful, quick and easy to make, and saucy and spicy. Authentic Mexican food ready in 40 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.

Easy 5-minute pico de gallo chunky salsa is packed with fresh tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and lime juice (and optional jalapeños for a spicy kick).

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.

Homemade tortilla strips are crispy, crunchy, delicious, and easy to make using 3 simple ingredients. Serve as a snack or a topping on soups and salad.

Easy homemade Vegan Burritos are the most flavorful version of beans and rice you've had, all rolled up in a large tortilla and served with homemade guac.

This Mexican Caesar Salad is loaded with Mexican ingredients. It's fresh, light, delicious, flavorful - and might even taste better than the original!

Air fryer Mexican shrimp is juicy, tender, fresh, and delicious. It's packed with classic Mexican flavors and ready in just 10 minutes. So quick and easy.

Mexican Tuna Cakes (Tortitas de Atun)
Mexican tuna cakes, or tortitas de atun, are quick, easy, and delicious. Made with canned tuna, these tuna patties come together in about 20 minutes.

This Black Bean Soup is hearty, healthy, and cozy - everything you want in a soup! It's loaded with black beans, spices, and your favorite Mexican toppings.

Fish stick tacos are fun, quick, easy, and delicious. Crispy breaded fish sticks are topped with a homemade mango salsa and a drizzle of lime crema.

These loaded Black Bean Nachos are the ultimate vegetarian appetizer or snack - warm, crunchy, gooey, and so easy to make.

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.

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.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole is cheesy, saucy, and packed with layers of enchilada classics like chicken and beans, tortillas, and cheese. A family favorite!

This vegetarian, hearty and filling, creamy Mexican corn soup is dense, bright, and full of flavour! It is the perfect Cinco de Mayo recipe.

This quick and easy Black Bean Salsa is a delicious Mexican dip loaded with black beans, veggies, cilantro, and lime juice for the best summer flavor.

Mexican stuffed peppers are a delicious, wholesome, healthy meal loaded with fun Mexican flavors. It freezes well and is perfect for meal prep.

Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad is a delicious, flavorful twist on a classic Caesar salad with Mexican flavors and ingredients tossed in Caesar dressing.

Shredded Beef Enchiladas are flavorful, saucy, and cheesy. They are easy to make for family dinner using just a few ingredients including leftover beef.

Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls
It's time for a fiesta with chipotle chicken burrito bowls served with lime cilantro rice, sautéed bell peppers, corn, black beans and guacamole.

Easy one pot vegetarian chili is the perfect warm and cozy comfort meal - it's hearty, filling, wholesome, flavorful, delicious, and loaded with protein.

Oven-roasted corn on the cob with homemade garlic butter is buttery, juicy, crunchy, and perfectly charred on the outside - without a grill.

Vegan Queso is a 5-minute dip that is creamy, cheesy, and perfectly spiced to mimic the classic dip - without any dairy! It tastes like the real thing!

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

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup is loaded with the savory spices and bold flavors of classic tortilla soup but without any meat. Ready in 30 minutes!

Homemade chili nachos are crispy, cheesy, delicious, and flavorful. This modern twist on a Mexican classic are the best way to use up any leftover chili.

Nothing beats homemade creamy cilantro lime dressing. It's fresh, vibrant, easy to make in 5 minutes, and tastes better than store-bought salad dressing. Serve it over salads, tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, grilled vegetables and meat.

This easy and delicious 7 layer dip is the perfect dip to serve at your next party, made with layers of beans, guacamole, salsa, cheese, and more.

Vegetarian Breakfast Quesadillas
Vegetarian Breakfast Quesadillas are quick and easy to make, loaded with eggs and veggies, and flavorful. Perfect for meal prep and freezer-friendly too.

Hearty slow cooker beef chili is an easy, comforting, low-maintenance dinner in fall and winter months. It's a family favourite crockpot chili.

Butternut Squash Quesadillas with Chicken and Kale
Quick and easy butternut squash quesadillas with chicken and kale is the best fall weeknight meal. It's flavourful, so cheesy, and has the perfect crunch.

Grilled Chicken and Avocado Burritos
For something quick and satisfying, grilled chicken and avocado burritos are the kind of creamy, gooey goodness with a bit of a crunch that you will want to make over and over again. So serve this up at your Cinco de Mayo party or at your next get-together, and even the pickiest of eaters will ask for more!

Easy homemade enchilada sauce requires just one pot, an assortment of flavourful spices, four simple steps, and less than 15 minutes to make.

Turkey chili is hearty, filling, flavorful, and delicious. It's warm and cozy, quick and easy to make in one pot, and can be made faster in the instant pot.

Cinco de Mayo Party Tips
- Plan your menu ahead of time. You can prepare many of these recipes and party food ahead of time. Some can stored in an airtight container for a few days at room temperature or in the refrigerator, and some can even be frozen, according to recipe directions.
- Prep your ingredients as much as possible. Once you have decided on the dishes that you are going to serve, prepare as much as you can in advance, whether that is chopping ingredients or prepping the dish and storing in the refrigerator until ready for the oven. Any little bit that you can prepare in advance will make things much less stressful when you just want to kick up your feet and enjoy the fiesta.
- Set the table the night before. Take out the special party serving dishes, festive napkins and whatever else you need to set up your meal table the night before. It's one less thing to worry about on Cinco de Mayo.
Did You Make Any of These Mexican Recipes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of Mexican recipes for Cinco de Mayo. 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.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipe updates.
50 Best Bread Recipes
There is truly nothing better than the smell and taste of freshly baked bread. Homemade bread is just tastier, cheaper and easy to customize. So if you are wondering "how to make bread", then you have come to the right place. Today, I am sharing my 50 most popular and best bread recipes, from quick and easy bread, no knead bread, sandwich loaf bread, sourdough bread, no yeast options and sweet bread. Plus, many of these recipes take just 10 to 15 minutes of active prep time making them perfect for beginners learning how to make bread.

Quick and Easy Bread Recipes
Easy Rosemary Garlic Focaccia Bread
No knead, easy rosemary garlic focaccia bread is thick with a perfect golden and crispy texture on the outside, but soft, fluffy and tender inside.

Quick and easy, 90-minute cheesy garlic dinner rolls are soft and fluffy, buttery and garlicky, and full of cheese inside. The perfect side for dinner.

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.

Easy Homemade Everything Bagels
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.

Soft and fluffy, quick dinner bread rolls are loaded with green onions and topped with flaked sea salt and sesame seeds. Ready in just 1.5 hours.

Pull apart garlic bread is fluffy, buttery, flavourful, melts in your mouth, and tears easily for optimal sharing. You don't need any other bread at the dinner table.

Freshly baked small batch garlic naan bread is buttery, garlicky, soft and pillowy, and full of perfect blistered air pockets. It's quick and easy to make.

No Knead Tomato Focaccia Bread
Easy no knead tomato focaccia is so flavourful, packed with olive oil, tomatoes and fresh herbs. It's crispy and golden outside, fluffy and pillowy inside.

Garlic knots are fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and topped with delicious savory garlic herbed butter that will have you begging for more.

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.

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

Quick and Easy Skillet Dinner Rolls are soft, fluffy, and served warm right out of the oven making them the only bread recipe you'll need with dinner.

Soft and fluffy, artisan, easy homemade hamburger buns topped with sesame seeds are light, airy, so flavourful and take just 15 minutes of actual prep work.

Notoriously light and fluffy with a little fold in the middle, these Parker House Rolls are the perfect dinner roll. They're buttery and incredibly tender.
Quick and easy pumpkin dinner rolls are soft and fluffy, flaky and butter, and perfect to serve alongside Thanksgiving dinner.

Pesto babka is a showstopping loaf of bread that is savory, delicious, and flavorful with beautiful twists and turns. Plus, it is surprisingly easy to make!

Pumpkin Focaccia with Fresh Herbs
Delicious, easy pumpkin focaccia bread with fresh herbs is soft, fluffy, and springy, yet so crispy on the outside. Just 15 minutes of actual prep required.

This easy homemade pizza dough makes the best crisp pizza crust that is soft, airy, chewy and flavourful. It's a perfect recipe for beginners.

Steamed scallion buns (hua juan 花卷) are delicious flower rolls made of a light and fluffy dough layered with green onions that is twisted and steamed.

Potato Dinner Rolls are soft, light, and fluffy. These quick and easy dinner rolls are loaded with leftover mashed potatoes and simple pantry staples.

No Knead Bread Recipes
If you have never made bread before, then homemade, fluffy and airy small batch no-knead bread with a perfect crust is the best artisan bread to start with.

No knead sesame bread is chewy, springy and airy with the perfect crunchy crust coated with sesame seeds. Easy to make with 10 minutes prep and no kneading.

Easy small batch ciabatta rolls are fluffy and airy with a perfect crunchy, crackly crust. They take only 10 minutes to prepare and require no kneading. These are the most popular bread recipe on our entire site!

Easy No Knead French Baguettes
These homemade no knead French baguettes are just what bread dreams are made of -- light, tender and airy crumb inside, and a crispy, crunchy crust outside.

Sandwich Loaf Bread Recipes
Whole wheat cranberry bread is chewy, fluffy and airy, packed with dried cranberries and seeds, and has a perfect crunchy crust topped with oats and seeds. The perfect toast to serve on Christmas morning.

Beautiful three-strand braided loaves of easy challah bread are light, soft and fluffy, with a golden brown crust. Rich in flavour and slightly sweet.

Brioche bread is a buttery, soft and pillowy pastry-like bread rich in flavour with a beautiful golden brown crust. Made with 20 minutes of prep work.

Learn how to make a delicious, golden brown loaf of homemade sunflower seed bread today! It is soft and fluffy on the inside, and crispy on the outside.

Sourdough Bread Recipes
Small batch sourdough bread is airy and chewy with a crisp crust and a mild flavour. It takes less than 15 minutes of actual prep and requires no kneading.

Artisan Green Olive Sourdough Bread
Artisan green olive sourdough bread is airy and chewy, has a signature crispy crust, and is loaded with tangy green olives for a Mediterranean flair.

Small Batch Sourdough Ciabatta Bread
Soft, airy, artisan small batch sourdough ciabatta bread is light and fluffy inside with perfect air holes and a crunchy, crackly crust. Delicious and easy.

Fruit and nut sourdough bread is chewy and airy with a crunchy crackly crust is so delicious, packed with dried figs, raisins, walnuts, and seeds.

Seeded Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread
Small batch multi-seeded whole wheat sourdough bread is airy and chewy, is loaded with seeds inside, and has a signature crispy crust coated in more seeds.

Sourdough sandwich bread is chewy with the perfect air holes inside, and has a crispy crust with a delicious signature sourdough taste.

Sourdough Discard Crackers with Sesame Seeds
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.

Don't let your sourdough starter go to waste, use your discard to make this easy one bowl recipe for crispy, light and fluffy, savoury chive pancakes -- a popular Chinese flatbread.

Use excess sourdough starter discard to make the best, easiest homemade small batch sourdough pizza dough to make an airy and chewy sourdough pizza crust.

No Yeast Bread Recipes
These classic Buttermilk Biscuits are perfectly tender with buttery, flaky layers. Quick and easy to make in just 30 minutes using a handful of ingredients.
Homemade flour tortillas are delicious, soft, and so easy to make! They are easy to make with just 5 pantry staple ingredients and ready in under an hour.
Flaky Garlic Cheddar Biscuits are a simple but delicious and flavorful no yeast bread that is ready for the oven with less than 15 minutes prep.
Popovers (or Yorkshire pudding) are light, puffed rolls that "pop over" the top of the pan and are a must-have to serve with your Sunday roast.
Flaky Cornmeal Cheddar Biscuits
Flaky cornmeal cheddar biscuits are simple, buttery, cheesy, and so delicious. These savoury biscuits with perfect golden tops are quick and easy to make.

Sweet and savoury, buttery rosemary cornbread is soft and moist with golden crispy edges, flavourful and delicious, and so easy to make this holiday season.

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.
Flaky, fluffy, buttery, and soft, these easy homemade biscuits come together with only a handful of ingredients you already have at home! To serve, brush the tops of the biscuits with melted butter and serve with your holiday meal.
Pumpkin Cornbread is a sweet and savory side dish loaded with real pumpkin, and is moist, fluffy, and crumbly with crisp edges.

Sweet Bread Recipes
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.

Soft and fluffy, pumpkin cinnamon rolls are packed with pumpkin, layered with pumpkin spice, and topped with cream cheese icing. Best Christmas breakfast and brunch treat ever.

Cinnamon Raisin Challah Bread with Almonds
Sweet cinnamon raisin challah bread is airy, soft and fluffy with a beautiful golden crust coated with almonds. It is braided and baked in a loaf pan.

This pull-apart star bread is a beautiful, buttery, sugary, and delicious holiday bread that tastes as good as it looks and is actually easy to make.

Sourdough Cinnamon Roll Twist Bread
Soft and fluffy sourdough cinnamon roll twist bread is buttery and layered with cinnamon sugar. Prep it the night before and freshly bake it for breakfast.

Hot cross buns is a timeless classic Easter bread made with raisins, cinnamon, and a honey glaze. They are perfect for breakfast, dessert, or snack alongside your Easter meal.

Cranberry Pumpkin Steamed Buns
Cranberry pumpkin steamed buns (baozi) are light, spongy, and fluffy Chinese buns packed with colourful cranberries and pumpkin puree for the best flavour.

Tips for Baking Bread with Yeast
- Use good quality and active yeast. Use yeast that has been stored in a cool, dark place. If stored in a warmer area, the yeast may no longer work. Also check the expiration date and make sure you are within that date.
- How to tell if yeast is active. When mixing the yeast with water, the mixture should start to bubble and develop a yeasty aroma. If nothing happens after 5-10 minutes, then the yeast is not active and you will have to use a different batch otherwise your bread will not rise.
- Let the dough rise at room temperature (as opposed to a warmer area of your home). This will allow the dough to rise slowly and longer (over 3 hours). The slower rise at room temperature yields a light and chewy texture, and a more pleasant flavour.
How to Make Ahead and Store Bread
You can make all of these bread recipes ahead of time. You can store them in a bread basket or airtight container at room temperature for a few days, in the refrigerator for up to one week, and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat bread, just toast individual slices in the toaster or heat the whole bread up in in the air fryer or oven at 350 F for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through and crisp on the outside. If heating from frozen, let the bread thaw first in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat.

Did You Make Any of These Popular Bread Recipes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of bread recipes. 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.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Don't forget to sign up for my email newsletter so that you don't miss any recipes. You can also follow along on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipe updates.
Vegan Soba Noodle Salad
There's nothing better on a hot day than a cold and refreshing vegan soba noodle salad. Tossed with fresh cucumber, carrots, and cabbage, swimming with a delicious, saucy dressing, and topped with sesame seeds, this vegan soba noodle salad boasts so much flavor in every bite. The best part? This better than takeout dish can be made at home in about 10 minutes. AND leftovers taste just as good the next day, if not better.

Why You'll Love Vegan Soba Noodle Salad
- Soba noodles! If you've never had soba noodles, you're missing out. And if you have, you know what I'm talking about! Soba noodles, made from buckwheat, taste naturally earthy and nutty. They are somewhat similar to pasta-but they're more versatile, Japanese, and tastier! Soba noodles have great flavor and texture, and tastes great when served cold.
- A different take on salad. Let's be honest. It's painfully easy to get bored of salad. That's why you need to mix things up with this vegan soba noodle salad! A distinctive dressing, tasty noodles, and veggies you might not normally eat with salad make this dish extra special.
- Fast and easy to make. Vegan soba noodle salad comes together in 20 minutes or less, making it a great meal to have when you're short on time or energy. Plus, it's super easy to customize with whatever veggies that you have on hand.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this easy and delicious vegan soba noodle salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- buckwheat soba noodles
- red cabbage
- carrots
- cucumber
- fresh cilantro
- sesame seeds
- creamy sesame garlic dressing - tahini (or peanut butter), soy sauce, black rice vinegar (or balsamic vinegar), garlic, and black pepper bring incredible flavours to the dressing, making it a delicious sauce to cover the cold noodles in.
You can also customize this vegan soba noodle salad with other ingredients, including: broccoli, peanuts, edamame, mushrooms, green onions, bell peppers, and red chili flakes.

How to Make the Best Soba Noodle Salad
- Cook the noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium high heat. Add soba noodles and and cook fully according to package directions, about 7-8 minutes. Stir occasionally to help separate the noodles. Once cooked, rinse under cold water and drain well in a colander.
- Make the dressing. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and whisk together until blended and smooth, about 1 minute.
- Assemble the salad. In a large mixing bowl, add soba noodles, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, cilantro, sesame seeds and dressing. Toss well to coat and serve immediately.

Tips and Tricks
- How to store: You can store vegan soba noodle salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Made-ahead tips: You can make this salad up to 3 days ahead of time. For the best results, you can wait to add in the cucumber and cilantro as they may absorb more water the longer they sit. Either way, it's still delicious.
- Add in extra protein: For a vegan- and vegetarian-friendly protein, try tofu or chickpeas. If you are not vegan, add in any protein that you like, such as chicken satay, roasted pork, pan-seared salmon, or shrimp.

More Asian-inspired Salads
- Cold Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce
- Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad
- Asian Cold Noodle Salad
- Gomae Spinach Salad
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Skillet Chicken Fajitas
If you love Mexican food and haven't tried making your own chicken fajitas yet, now is the time. These skillet chicken fajitas are best served hot and fresh when the colorful bell peppers and onions are still sizzling. Topped with fresh lime juice and eaten with warm tortillas, chicken fajitas taste great whether you're craving a delicious lunch or dinner. The best part is that you can have these prepped and on the table in just 25 minutes.

Why You'll Love Skillet Chicken Fajitas
- It's quick and easy. These chicken fajitas are easy to prep with just a few veggies to chop and no fancy kitchen gadgets. Plus, it's quick to cook in just 15 minutes. It's the perfect weeknight dinner.
- Healthy and nutritious. No matter what kind of protein you choose to put in your fajitas, sautéed bell peppers and onions are always at the heart of a good fajita. Low in calories but high in fiber and vitamins, these delicious veggies make a fajita, a fajita.
- It's. family favorite. Just like our Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, when you bite into a chicken fajita served with a warm tortilla, you'll be transported to your safe place. It's comforting, soothing, and downright delicious. Plus, it's one that the whole family will love.
- Packed with flavor. The homemade Mexican fajita seasoning packs on the flavor. For an even deeper flavor, you can marinate your chicken for at least 20 minutes (time permitting) in the delicious fajita seasoning mix that brings Mexican-inspired flavors right to your home. Or use storebought chicken fajita seasoning mix -- whatever makes your life easier!

Ingredients
To make these delicious sizzling skillet chicken fajitas, you will need a large skillet (I used a cast-iron skillet), and the following ingredients:
- chicken breasts - skinless and boneless chicken breasts, cut into ½-inch strips.
- fajita seasoning - you can make your own homemade fajita seasoning using ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano or Italian seasoning, salt, and ground black pepper. You can also use 2-3 tablespoons of storebought fajita seasoning mix.
- olive oil
- red onion
- bell peppers - I used a combination of green peppers, red peppers, and yellow peppers.
- lime juice
- soft tortillas - you can use any kind of tortillas. Try flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or any other kind of tortillas you would like. I often make my own homemade flour tortillas - they are easier than you think!
Garnish with your favorite fixings, such as avocado, salsa, cheddar cheese, sour cream, or cilantro, and you have the perfect meal.

How to Make the Best Skillet Chicken Fajitas
- Season the chicken. In a large ziploc bag, combine chicken strips with 1 tablespoon oil and fajita seasoning including cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the seasoning around the chicken strips to coat. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes (if time allows), up to overnight in the refrigerator.
- Cook the chicken. When ready to cook, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Add the chicken strips and stir well to cook evenly until browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes. Stir constantly to keep the strips separate. Once done, transfer onto a plate.
- Cook the vegetables. In the same skillet, add onion and bell peppers and sauté until soft, about 3-5 minutes. Return the chicken to the skillet and add in lime juice. Toss well until evenly combined.
- Warm the tortillas and serve. To heat the soft tortillas, follow the package instructions, or heat in an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 30 seconds per side. You can also heat it directly on a gas burner for a few seconds to get char marks on the edges. Serve immediately.

Tips and Tricks
- How to store: Store your tortillas and chicken fajita mixture separately in airtight containers. If storing them together, they will get soggy. The chicken fajita mixture will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days. The tortillas can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days, but will stay fresh longer in the refrigerator (up to one week).
- Use different protein: Traditionally, fajitas are made with skirt steak, so if you're not in the mood for chicken, consider using beef. You can also make this recipe vegan by using portobello mushrooms or tofu instead of chicken.
- How to make it spicy: If you like your chicken fajitas to be spicy, then consider adding more chili, cayenne pepper, or fresh jalapeños to the mix.

More Mexican Recipes
- 30 Best Mexican Recipes
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Mexican Ground Beef Tacos
- Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- Baked Chicken Quesadillas
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Potato Galette with Arugula and Crème Fraîche
Potato galette with arugula and crème fraîche is a rich and delicious savoury tart that you can serve for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It's all about light, spring flavours coming to life. A crispy pastry exterior with a creamy crème fraîche, cream cheese, and tarrogan base (the perfect, unexpected pairing!). Top it up with comforting potatoes, fresh arugula, and Parmesan, and you've got a fancy meal that will impress. It's a total crowd pleaser.

Why You'll Love Potato Galette with Arugula and Crème Fraîche
- The easiest one bowl pastry dough. In addition to a miracle combination of flavours, you may just hold on to the dough recipe forever. If you struggle to work with pie or tart dough, you absolutely must try making this galette. It will forever change how you view pastry dough! It comes together easily - everything in one bowl, and you can mix it with your hands! It's completely foolproof.
- A delicious vegetarian option. This French potato dish is a great meatless meal if you're looking to add more vegetarian options to your family's meal plan. Serve it for dinner and enjoy any leftovers the next day for lunch (if there are any!).
- It's restaurant-worthy. This potato galette made with layered thinly sliced potatoes on top and baked until tender throughout and crispy on the edges, is then turned this into a restaurant-worthy dish by topping the whole thing with fresh baby arugula, shaved Parmesan, and another little drizzle of crème fraîche. You can't even begin to imagine how delicious this is. I dare you to try and stop yourself from going back for seconds!

Ingredients
To make this fancy and delicious potato galette with arugula and crème fraîche, you will need the following ingredients.
- pastry dough - the easiest pastry dough made with all-purpose flour, salt, butter, and ice water.
- crème fraîche - gives the tart a tangy, acidic taste.
- cream cheese - helps give it some structure, and will also keep your potatoes from moving around.
- tarragon - if you don't have tarragon, you could mix in any herb you have on. Try oregano, thyme, or rosemary, whatever you've got.
- ground black pepper
- russet potato - you could also use Yukon gold potatoes.
- olive oil
- baby arugula
- Parmesan cheese
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowl, rolling pin, and half sheet baking pan.

How to Make the Best Potato Galette with Arugula and Crème Fraîche
- Prepare the pastry dough. Combine flour and ½ teaspoon salt in a mixing bowl, then add cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter (or 2 knives) to incorporate butter into the flour until large pea-sized pieces remain. Add ice water and mix with your hands until most of the flour is incorporated and the dough is smooth. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to rest and firm up for 30 minutes.
- Prepare the crème fraîche mixture. In a small mixing bowl, combine crème fraîche and cream cheese. Add chopped tarragon, ½ teaspoon of salt, and black pepper, and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Shape the dough. Once the dough has firmed up, use a rolling to pin to roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a circle or oval shape, about ¼-inch thick (The edges will be folded over, so the shape doesn't have to be perfect). Transfer the dough to a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Assemble the galette. Use a spatula to evenly spread the crème fraîche mixture onto the base of the dough, making sure to leave a clear 1-inch border around the edge. Layer sliced potatoes on top of the crème fraîche mixture, then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with remaining ½ teaspoon salt and a little black pepper.

- Shape the galette. Carefully fold over the outer edge of the tart, overlapping about every inch. Brush melted butter along the edge of the tart dough.

- Bake. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the dough is brown and the potatoes are cooked through.
- Add toppings and serve. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes, then top with fresh arugula, shaved parmesan, and a drizzle of crème fraîche. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

Storing and Reheating
- How to store: Allow the potato galette to cool to room temperature, then store in an air tight container or wrap it in aluminum foil, and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- How to freeze: Allow the potato galette to cool to room temperature, then store wrapped tightly in aluminum foil, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. I would recommend storing it without the arugula topping, as it's best served with fresh arugula. When ready to serve, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- How to reheat: Reheat in a preheated 350 F oven for 10-15 minutes until heated through. You could reheat with the arugula topping but it will cause it to cook and wilt. For the best results, I would recommend heating it without the arugula topping, and adding fresh arugula on top after it's been reheated.

More Savoury Tart and Pies
- Butternut Squash Galette
- Ground Beef Meat Pie
- Skillet Shepherd's Pie
- Butter Chicken Pot Pies
- Mini Meat Pies with Soy Sauce
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Beef Taco Salad
Beef taco salad is a simple and delicious meal loaded with your favourite taco fillings. It's a creative take on classic beef tacos packed with all the veggies, and topped with fresh cilantro, cheddar cheese, and a creamy lime dressing. And instead of wrapping your tacos in a tortilla, you'll garnish this beef taco salad with crushed tortilla chips. The best part? This filling meal comes together in under 20 minutes. Trust me guys, this a taco bowl you'll never forget.

Why You'll Love Beef Taco Salad
- Family-friendly, no mess tacos. Tacos are delicious, but they can also be messy. If you don't want to have to wash your hands (or your kid's hands) after a meal, beef taco salad is the perfect alternative to Ground Beef Tacos.
- Great for picky eaters. Who doesn't love tacos? If you're dealing with picky eaters or serving a group, you can create a build your own taco salad bar for people to enjoy. No onions? Extra avocado? Everyone can have what they want with beef taco salad!
- Salad has never tasted so good! With beef taco salad, you get all the benefits of having a salad (including the feel-good emotions of making a healthy decision) and all the flavor of beef tacos! Whether you're a salad-lover or salad-averse, this beef taco salad is a winner.

Ingredients
To make this delicious and easy ground beef taco salad, you will need the following ingredients:
- vegetable oil
- ground beef
- taco seasoning - made with cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dried coriander (or dried oregano), salt and pepper.
- tomato paste
- beef broth or water
- romaine lettuce
- grape tomatoes
- red onions
- avocado
- corn - you can use canned corn or frozen corn (boiled in water for 5 minutes).
- cheddar cheese - you can also use a Mexican blend (Tex-Mex) of cheese, or any cheese that shreds easily such as Monterey Jack cheese or mozzarella.
- fresh cilantro
- tortilla chips - I used plain unsalted tortilla chips. You can also use seasoned tortilla chips such as Doritos, or tortilla strips.
- lime dressing - a combination of Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and lime juice. You can also serve this with a creamy cilantro lime dressing.
This beef taco salad is completely customizable, and you can substitute with any of your favorite taco fixings such as pico de gallo salsa, black beans, jalapeños, queso, or hot sauce, and more.

How to Make the Best Beef Taco Salad
- Cook the beef. Heat oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Add ground beef and stir well to cook evenly until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Make sure to break up beef into small pieces to help even browning.
- Add seasoning. Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, tomato paste and beef broth. Reduce heat to medium and let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat and set aside while you assemble the salad.

- Assemble salad. In a large serving bowl, add all salad ingredients including lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, corn, cheese, cilantro, and tortilla chips (or tortilla strips).
- Add dressing. In a small bowl, whisk to combine the Greek yogurt and lime juice. The dressing will be a little thick. You can add extra lime juice to taste or to thin it out. Dollop a spoonful of dressing over the salad and toss to combine.

Storing Instructions
- Make ahead instructions: If you're not going to eat all your beef taco salad in one go, or if making this ahead of time, refrain from combining all the ingredients to avoid wilted lettuce and soggy tortilla chips. Instead, store ingredients separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days, and build your salad when you're ready to eat it.
- How to store and reheat ground beef: Allow beef to cool to room temperature. Then transfer it into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, heat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave in 15-30-second increments until hot, stirring occasionally.

More Mexican-inspired Recipes
- Sheet Pan Nachos
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Easy Guacamole
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Mexican Chicken Caesar Salad
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Yellow Curry Mussels
Yellow curry mussels are the epitome of delicious seafood -- creamy, spicy, and savory. This one pot dish is packed with fragrant spices, quick and easy to make, and will bursting with flavour. You can serve them on their own with a side of crusty bread or overtop of rice or pasta. And if you don't have a lot of time, don't worry. Yellow curry mussels are ready in just 25 minutes. Fancy enough for a special meal on date night, but easy enough as a weeknight dinner to feed the whole family.

Why You'll Love Yellow Curry Mussels
- Yellow curry is a power move in the kitchen. You might love curry, but do you know what's in it? Cumin. Coriander. Turmeric. Fenugreek. Garlic. Salt. Bay leaf. Lemongrass. Cayenne pepper. Ginger. Mace. Cinnamon. Not only do these ingredients taste great-they boast health benefits, too.
- It is packed with flavor. On top of the yellow curry spices, these mussels draw lots of flavor from fragrant spices like garlic, red pepper, and cilantro, while are balanced out with white wine, cream, soy sauce, olive oil, and sour cream. These yellow curry mussels are flavourful and a little spicy in every single bite.
- You should be eating more mussels. Yellow curry mussels are delicious and healthy! With essential omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A, B, and C, iron, and calcium, mussels are a great addition to a healthy diet. For more mussel recipes, try Thai Red Curry Mussels or Steamed Mussels in Tomato Sauce.

Ingredients
To make these easy and delicious yellow curry mussels, you will need the following ingredients:
- fresh live mussels, scrubbed and debearded 2 lb.
- olive oil - you can also use any other oil that you like to use for cooking, such as coconut oil or vegetable oil.
- onion
- garlic
- white wine
- sour cream - or heavy cream.
- soy sauce
- yellow curry powder
- crushed red pepper
- ground black pepper
- fresh cilantro - for garnish.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a large pot or skillet.
Tips for Preparing Fresh Live Mussels
- How to clean live mussels: Whether you buy wild or farmed mussels, they need to be cleaned. Use a scrubbing brush hands to rub off any mud, algae, particles, or debris from the shell. Then remove the beard (a small stringy mass that sticks out of the side of each mussel). Hold the mussel in one hand, and gently pull the beard off using your other hand, pulling towards the bottom of the mussel where the clasp is. Once you've removed all of them, give the mussels a rinse under cold water.
- How to tell if mussels are fresh: Fresh mussels should be alive with their shells closed. If a mussel is slightly open, tap it against the counter-if it closes, it's alive and fresh. If it doesn't move, throw it away. Fresh mussels have a fresh salty ocean smell, and not a fishy smell. If they smell fishy, I would not recommend eating them. If your mussels are store in the refrigerator, give it a smell just before cooking to ensure freshness.
- How to store fresh mussels: It's best to cook mussels the day that you buy them. To store for up to 2 days, transfer the mussels to a bowl or unsealed container and covered with a clean damp cloth or paper towel. Drain any water that collects in the bottom of the bowl every day. Do not store the mussels in water as they will die from it.

How to Make the Best Yellow Curry Mussels
- Sauté aromatics. In a large pot or skillet, heat oil over medium high heat for 2 minutes until the hot oil sizzles and shimmers. Stir in onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant and soft, 2-3 minutes.
- Cook mussels. Add mussels and wine. Cover the lid and steam for 6-8 minutes until all shells are wide open. If you don't have a lid to cover, stir occasionally to help cook evenly.
- Add sauce. Add sour cream, soy sauce, curry powder and red pepper. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer, about 3-5 minutes. Season with pepper and garnish with cilantro.
- Serve. Serve immediately. You can serve yellow curry mussels as a delicious appetizer with a side of crusty bread to soak up all that juicy yellow curry sauce. You can also serve them over rice or pasta.

Tips and Tricks
- How to store cooked mussels: You can store cooked mussels for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, heat in a skillet over low heat until warmed through. You may have to add a little water if the sauce has thickened up too much in the refrigerator. I would not recommend freezing mussels.
- How to make this dairy free: Substitute equal parts coconut cream for heavy or sour cream. You can buy coconut cream from many grocery stories or Asian supermarkets. You can also make your own using coconut milk. To make coconut cream, buy a can or two of full-fat coconut milk. Chill overnight in the fridge. The fat will separate from the liquid and settle on top-that's your non-dairy cream.
- How to make this vegan: To make this dish vegan, use the non-dairy substitute above and swap out the mussels for tofu, chickpeas, or your favorite vegan "meat"!

More Seafood Recipes
- Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon
- Creamy Garlic Shrimp
- Seared Scallops
- Surf and Turf Steak and Lobster Tails
- Miso Salmon
- Air Fryer Black Cod with Black Bean Sauce
- Baked Coconut Shrimp
- Almond-Crusted Halibut with Lemon Garlic Butter
- Teriyaki Grilled Salmon Rice Bowl
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Vegan Chickpea Tacos
When it comes to vegetarian tacos, these vegan chickpea tacos are some of the best. They are delicious, filling, and so easy to make. In addition to classic taco spices like paprika, chili, and cumin, the chickpeas in these vegan tacos are seasoned with extra spices for added flavor. Topped with fresh guacamole, corn, cilantro, and lime juice, these tacos will impress everyone at the table-whether they're vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or meat-eaters.

Why You'll Love Vegan Chickpea Tacos
- Chickpeas are delicious and nutritious. Chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) offer lots of protein, which makes them the perfect vegan substitute for meat in many dishes. They offer a savory but neutral taste that's great for absorbing flavours easily in so many meals. Season them with taco spices and you have yourself some epic chickpeas.
- It's specialty-diet friendly. These days, we all know at least one person with special restrictions when it comes to meals. Vegan chickpea tacos are safe for anyone who doesn't eat meat, dairy, eggs, or gluten (when you use corn tortillas). And non-vegans will love them, too!
- Chickpea tacos are a super quick meal. Cooking up canned chickpeas takes less than 10 minutes, so this meal comes together fast! This recipe is easy enough for anyone to make, and you don't need to worry about over- or under-cooking your chickpeas.
- Perfect for a fiesta. These tacos are perfect for a Mexican fiesta like Cinco de Mayo. Packed with protein and flavor, this simple twist on a classic recipe is one you can make again and again, any time of the year.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make these delicious and easy vegan chickpea tacos, you will need the following ingredients:
- avocado oil - or any vegetable oil for sautéing the chickpeas.
- chickpeas - I used 2 cans of drained and rinsed chickpeas. You can also use about 3 cups of cooked chickpeas.
- seasonings - ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano (or Italian seasoning), soy sauce, salt and pepper.
- small tortillas - you can use any kind of tortillas - flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or any other kind of tortillas you would like. I used a gluten-free cauliflower tortillas that I found at my local grocery store. I often make my own homemade flour tortillas - they are easier than you think!
- guacamole
- corn - used canned or frozen corn that has been boiled in water and drained.
- fresh cilantro
- sour cream or lime crema - this is optional but recommend. It adds flavour and texture to these tacos.
- lime - to squeeze some fresh lime juice on top.
You can spice things up even more by adding other extras to your tacos. Try:
- fresh onion
- diced tomatoes or pico de gallo
- salsa
- jalapeños
- cheddar cheese
- shredded lettuce or cabbage
You will also need measuring cups and spoons and a skillet (I used my shallow saucepan).

How to Make the Best Vegan Chickpea Tacos
- Make the chickpea filling. Heat oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Add chickpeas and stir well to cook evenly until golden, about 5 minutes.
- Add seasoning. Stir in all seasoning including cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stir and sauté until evenly coated, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

- Heat the tortillas. Heat the soft flour tortillas according to the package instructions, or heat in an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 30 seconds per side. You can also heat it directly on a gas burner for a few seconds to get char marks on the edges.
- Assemble the tacos. Add 2-3 tablespoons chickpeas on each tortilla and top with corn, guacamole and cilantro. Add a dollop of sour cream or lime crema, and squeeze of lime juice, if desired.

Tips for Making Vegan Tacos
- How to serve: Serve these chickpea tacos with a side of extra sour cream, guacamole, or pico de gallo chunky salsa.
- How to store: Although you can store these tacos after you've assembled them, you might be looking at a soggy tortilla. You'll get the best results by keeping everything refrigerated in separate containers. Eat within four days.
- Make it gluten-free: You can make these vegan chickpea tacos safe for anyone with gluten sensitivity. Just choose corn tortillas instead of flour and use a gluten-free soy sauce.

More Chickpea Recipes
- Chickpea Greek Salad
- Classic Hummus
- Falafel
- Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- Vegetarian Chickpea Meatballs
- Pumpkin Chickpea Coconut Curry
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Miso Garlic Chicken Wings
Miso garlic chicken wings are crispy, delicious, and so easy to make. They are marinated in a savoury Asian-style marinade made with miso, garlic, and soy sauce, which packs on so much flavour. Plus, you can make things ever easier by marinating the miso wings overnight for a stronger taste and less prep the next day. Serve these as a delicious appetizer, main course meal, side dish, or as part of an epic party platter on game day. Plus, these wings are baked or cooked in the air fryer so they are so much better for than deep fried wings.

Why You'll Love Miso Garlic Chicken Wings
- Try something new with your wings. When it comes to chicken wings, there are the basics like Buffalo Hot Wings and BBQ Chicken Wings. While these classics will never get old, it can be nice to try something different.
- Miso is a secret flavor weapon. Miso paste is a fermented soy product that packs a lot of great flavor in a little package. Depending on what kind you get, the taste may be a little different. You can even experiment with this recipe by using different kinds of miso!
- Baked in the oven or air fryer. You can bake your wings in the oven or in the air fryer, which means that these wings use less oil, making them so much better for you. They're just as yummy as fried wings (if not better!) without the added grease.

Ingredients
To make these easy delicious miso garlic chicken wings, you will need the following ingredients:
- chicken wings - 1 lb. of chicken wings, about 10 split wings.
- miso paste
- garlic
- soy sauce
- olive oil
- ground black pepper
- for garnish - sesame seeds and fresh cilantro.

How to Make the Best Miso Garlic Chicken Wings
- Marinade the chicken wings. In a small mixing bowl, combine miso paste, garlic, soy sauce, olive oil and black pepper. Mix well with a spoon until smooth. In a large zip-loc bag, add chicken wings and miso mixture. Press air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the wings to coat. Place bag in the refrigerator and marinate for at least one hour, up to overnight.
- Cook the chicken wings.
- To bake the chicken wings: Preheat oven to 400 F. Remove the marinated wings out of the bag and place them on a quarter sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes, turning the wings over half way to ensure even cooking.
- To air fry the chicken wings: Place the wings in the air fryer basket and cook at 350 F for 22-25 minutes. Open and shake the basket halfway through to ensure even cooking.
- Serve. Let the wings rest at room temperature for 5 minutes. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on top and garnish with cilantro, if desired.

Tips and Tricks
- Marinate longer for more flavor. While you can marinate these miso garlic chicken wings for only one hour before cooking, you'll get the best flavor if you wait all day-or overnight. Patience can be so rewarding!
- How to make vegan and gluten-free chicken wings. You can easily make this recipe vegan and gluten-free. To remove the gluten, simply use a gluten-free soy sauce. And to make vegan "wings," use diced firm tofu.
- How to store. Keep miso garlic chicken wings refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- How to reheat. You can reheat these wings easily in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. But for best results, reheat them in the oven or air fryer at 350F for 5-10 minutes until warmed through and crispy.

More Chicken Wing Recipes
- Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Breaded Fried Chicken Wings
- Baked BBQ Chicken Wings
- Crispy Baked Asian Chicken Wings
- Game Day Buffalo Hot Wings
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Lemon Kale Salad
Lemon kale salad is a simple, flavorful, and healthy meal that's thrown together in just minutes! The star of the show is kale, but cherry tomatoes, cheese, and croutons add more great taste and textures to this delicious salad. And the lemon dressing? Well that is ridiculously easy to make as well, with just a few ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry. This shredded kale salad is perfect for a quick lunch, but is just as great served as a side or appetizer with dinner.

Why You'll Love Lemon Kale Salad
- Super simple recipe. This lemon kale salad recipe is so easy anyone can make it. Essentially, you throw all the ingredients together into one bowl, and voila! You have a delicious shredded kale salad.
- Healthy and delicious. Kale is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, packed with Vitamins A, K, and C as well as beneficial antioxidants and more-plus, it has great flavor! Lemon kale salad is a healthy and delicious meal that feels light and still fills you up.
- Versatile dressing. With a dressing primarily composed of lemon juice and olive oil, you can adjust the seasoning in this lemon kale salad to fit your taste perfectly or give you some variety when you decide to make it again.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this delicious and light lemon kale salad, you will need a large mixing bowl and the following ingredients:
- kale - you will need about 5 cups of shredded kale. To shred kale, you will need to cut the leaves off of the stem, and then slice them into thin strips.
- cherry tomatoes - or grape tomatoes.
- croutons - I used seasoned garlic croutons, but you can use plain croutons or any flavor that you would like.
- cheddar cheese - or substitute this with your favourite kind of cheese that is easily grated. A popular option is Parmesan cheese.
- lemon dressing - made with olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. You can also adjust the flavors in the dressing by adding in your favorite dried herbs.
Thinking of adding in any other ingredients? Go for it. This salad is completely customizable. You can add in your favourite veggies such as cucumbers, onions, and spinach. You can also add in some protein for a complete meal such as shredded roast chicken, chickpeas, shrimp, or salmon.

How to Make the Best Lemon Kale Salad
This shredded kale salad with lemon vinaigrette is one of the easiest salads that you can make. You literally just combine all your salad ingredients into a large mixing bowl or serving plate. Make the dressing in a smaller bowl and then pour it into the salad, and toss to combine.

Make Ahead and Storing Tips
- Make ahead instructions: Easily prep the ingredients ahead of time (chop up the vegetables and make the dressing). Store the salad and dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to one week. Be sure to wait to add the croutons and cheese until just before serving as they can become soggy when tossed with dressing.
- How to store: Typically, you will want to store the salad ingredients and the dressing separately to avoid the greens from getting wilted. However, kale is one of the heartiest greens out there, so it can withstand the dressing quite well. So, if you are unable to store them separately, it can last up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If there are still croutons in there, you can choose to remove them as they will get soggy.

More Salad Recipes
- Winter Kale Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- The Best Greek Salad
- Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad
- Chopped Asparagus Salad
- Arugula and Roasted Carrot Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
- Persian Shirazi Salad with Cucumber and Tomatoes
- Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.

Roasted Asparagus with Poached Eggs
Roasted asparagus with poached eggs is a light spring meal that you might have never known that you need in your life. It's so easy to prepare with just a few simple ingredients that are just perfect when combined together -- crisp yet tender roasted asparagus, perfectly poached eggs, and fresh dill. I don't know whether to call it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, because it's a meal that you can eat any time of day. Either way, it's one that you that will leave you feeling light, but completely satisfied.

Why You'll Love Roasted Asparagus with Poached Eggs
- Fresh seasonal ingredients. I am kind of obsessed with all things asparagus, and you may have noticed this by the abundance of new asparagus recipes that I feature on the blog every spring. So I get super excited when they are finally in season (although we can find them here all year round, nothing beats the fresh harvest from the farmer's market). The newest this year are some of my absolute favourites: Asparagus Tart, Chopped Asparagus Salad, and Lemon Asparagus Soup with Parmesan.
- Packed with flavour. My favourite way to prepare asparagus is roasting it because it develops a much more deeper and intense flavour, as opposed to steamed asparagus. Plus, top this meal with fresh herbs and lots of black pepper for a classy, elevated brunch dish, or simply to celebrate the arrival of spring.
- Perfectly poached eggs. The only way to serve eggs with roasted asparagus is poached. Poaching the eggs ensures runny yolks (that are not too runny), and the asparagus is perfect for sopping it up with.

Ingredients
To make this delicious roasted asparagus with poached eggs, you will need the following simple ingredients:
- asparagus - I roast the asparagus in this recipe, but you can easily cook it any way that you like. You can sauté them (Sautéed Asparagus), cook in the air fryer (Air Fryer Asparagus), steam them, or boil them.
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- eggs
- white vinegar
- fresh herbs - I used fresh dill but you can use any other herbs that you would like (try parsley, thyme, or oregano).

How to Make the Best Roasted Asparagus with Poached Eggs
- Roast the asparagus. Preheat oven to 425 F. Place trimmed asparagus on a rimmed half sheet baking pan and drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 12-15 minutes, or until asparagus is just tender.

- Poach the eggs. While asparagus is in the oven, crack each egg into their own small bowl, being careful not to break the yolk. Bring a medium saucepan filled with water to a boil, then add vinegar. Lower heat until water is simmering. Gently lower the eggs into the simmering water and cook for 4 minutes, or until egg whites are set and yolks are soft and runny.
- Assemble and serve. Carefully remove eggs from the water with a slotted spoon. Serve eggs on top of roasted asparagus, and season eggs with additional salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh dill or other herbs, if using.

More Asparagus Recipes
- Asparagus Tart
- Chopped Asparagus Salad
- Spring Pesto Pasta with Asparagus
- Lemon Asparagus Soup with Parmesan
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus and Cantaloupe Bundles
- Sautéed Asparagus
- Creamless Cream of Asparagus Soup
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Asian Sesame Soy Turkey Roast
Tender and juicy Asian sesame soy turkey roast is a creative take on a holiday classic. It's packed with traditional Asian flavours in its marinade made of soy sauce, sesame, ginger, brown sugar, and garlic. Plus, after cooking the turkey, the marinade doesn't go to waste. Simmer it into a flavourful and thick gravy sauce to pour over the roasted turkey and your favourite sides. This turkey roast is perfect for a family dinner or a smaller holiday meal for up to 6-8 people. And those leftovers will make for some amazing turkey fried rice.

Why You'll Love Asian Sesame Soy Turkey Roast
- Robust flavours of soy and sesame. Although roasted turkey is fairly flavourful on its own, the tasty soy sesame marinade adds ginger, garlic, onion, and sugar to the mix. The result is an Asian sesame soy turkey roast packed with sweet, salty, and savoury umami flavours, in every single bite.
- Flavourful Asian glaze sauce. Don't throw away that marinade! You'll use it to create a thick and delicious gravy sauce that tastes great drizzled over roasted turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, green veggies, rice, crispy leaf potatoes, and anything else you make for dinner.
- Crispy, juicy roasted turkey. After two and a half hours of roasting (or a little longer if cooking directly from frozen), your Asian sesame soy turkey roast will come out of the oven tender and juicy. And if you like an extra crispy crust, you're in for a treat after you oil and broil your bird.

Ingredients
To make this delicious Asian sesame soy turkey roast, you will need the following ingredients:
- boneless turkey roast - you will need one boneless turkey roast (about 3 lbs.). I used a Butterball turkey roast which I found easily at my local grocery store.
- soy sauce
- onion
- brown sugar
- garlic
- sesame seeds
- ginger
- sesame oil
- olive oil - if you choose to broil at the end for a crispier and more browned crust.
You also need measuring cups and spoons, a roasting pan, and a meat thermometer.

How to Make the Best Asian Sesame Soy Turkey Roast
- Allow the boneless turkey roast to thaw completely in the refrigerator for one day. Then, remove the plastic bag, but leave the attached netting on.
- In a food blender, add soy sauce, onion, brown sugar, garlic, sesame seeds, ginger, and sesame oil. Blend for one minute until smooth.
- Transfer the thawed turkey into a zip-loc bag and slowly pour in the prepared marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal tightly. Press the marinade around the turkey to fully coat. Transfer the turkey into the refrigerator and marinate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 325 F. Remove turkey from the zip-loc bag and place it on the rack of a shallow roasting pan. Reserve the marinade and set aside.
- Roast the turkey uncovered for about 2.5 hours, until internal temperature reaches 165F as read on a meat thermometer. Turn the turkey roast over once, halfway through cooking.
- To develop a darker brown crust, brush olive oil over the turkey roast and broil for 3-4 minutes. Let the turkey rest for 10 minutes before carving.
- Transfer the reserved marinade into a small saucepan and add one teaspoon of flour. Whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat, and stir continuously until thickened to a desired consistency, about 2-3 minutes.
- Use kitchen scissors to carefully remove the netting from the turkey roast and carve into slices. Pour the sesame sauce on top, as desired.

How to Cook Turkey Roast from Frozen
You can also cook this Asian turkey roast directly from frozen. To do so, just skip the marinating step, and instead cook the turkey roast for one hour at 325 F. Then, take it out and brush a generous amount of the marinade sauce all over the turkey. Return the turkey to the oven and baste it every half an hour (30 minutes) by brushing it with the marinade, until the roast is cooked according to package instructions, or once the temperature of the turkey reaches 165F as read on a meat thermometer.

How to Use Roast Turkey Leftovers
You can use those leftovers to make something completely new, like any of these delicious leftover turkey recipes:
- Turkey Stuffed Peppers
- Leftover Turkey Fried Rice
- Creamy Turkey Orzo Soup
- Turkey Tetrazzini with Spinach
- Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Prep, Storing and Freezing Tips
- How to thaw: For the best results, thaw the frozen turkey in the refrigerator overnight. You can also cook this recipe directly from frozen (see instructions above in post or in the notes on the recipe card below). If you have the time, I would recommend thawing first as marinating the turkey ahead of time will allow it to absorb the most flavour.
- How to store: Allow the turkey roast to cool to room temperature, then transfer it into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store the sauce in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator, if possible.
- How to freeze: Extend the shelf life of your roasted turkey by freezing it for up to four months. After cooling, portion the turkey roast into airtight, freezer-safe bags or airtight containers before placing in freezer.
- How to reheat: Reheat turkey in the oven at 300F for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Thinly sliced turkey will take less time to reheat compared to thick ones. Alternately, reheat in the microwave in 20-second increments until heated all the way through.

More Turkey Recipes
- Soy Glazed Braised Turkey Breast
- Juicy Roasted Turkey Breast
- Turkey Parmesan
- Roasted Turkey Legs with Vegetables
- Baked Turkey Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
Spring Vegetable Stir Fry
Quick and easy spring vegetable stir fry is made with delicious seasonal vegetables including carrots, asparagus, green beans, and mushrooms (or whatever veggies that you have on hand!). It's packed with savoury and salty flavour from a few simple ingredients in a light sauce that coats all the vegetables. The best part? It comes together in under 20 minutes including prep. Serve it with sprinkle of sesame seeds alongside a bowl of steamed rice and/or your favourite protein.

Why You'll Love Spring Vegetable Stir Fry
- Fresh and delicious. Spring vegetable stir fry takes a classic stir fry recipe and makes it seasonal. Fresh carrots, mushrooms, asparagus, and green beans make this recipe shine with their natural, earthy flavours.
- A saucy situation. The liquids from the vegetables combined with the olive oil, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar create a yummy sauce that tastes great on the spring vegetable stir fry and whatever else you eat it with! Pair with steamed rice, fried rice, noodles, or get creative and have it with some couscous or quinoa, and choose any yummy protein from fish and chicken to chickpeas and peanuts.
- One-pan, no problems. This spring vegetable stir fry is incredibly easy to make. Once you've got all your veggies cut, everything goes into (one wok or skillet), and it takes less than 10 minutes to cook.

Ingredients and Substitutions
To make this easy 10-minute spring vegetable stir fry, you will need a wok or skillet and the following ingredients:
- olive oil
- vegetables - you can use any combinations of vegetables. I used carrots, shiitake mushrooms (or brown mushrooms), asparagus, and green beans.
- garlic
- seasoning - salt, black pepper, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar.
- sesame seeds - to sprinkle on top for serving (optional).
This stir fry is completely customizable with whatever vegetables that you have on hand. Some of my favourite veggies in stir fries are: sugar snap peas, edamame, broccoli, watercress, bell peppers, and baby corn. You could also add some chilis for a kick.
How to Make the Best Spring Vegetable Stir Fry
- Stir fry the vegetables. Heat oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes until the hot oil sizzles. Add carrots and sauté for 2-3 minutes until tender. Add mushrooms and garlic and stir fry for another 2 minutes until fragrant and tender. Stir in asparagus and green beans and season with salt and pepper.
- Add sauce. Add in soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. Stir well until evenly combined. Stir in 1-2 tablespoons water if desired to make a bit more saucy.
- Serve. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top and serve immediately with steamed rice.

Storing Instructions
- How to store: Let stir fry vegetables cool to room temperature before placing them in an airtight container. Then, store in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- How to reheat: For best results, reheat leftovers on the stovetop over low to medium heat to avoid overcooking. Stir frequently to ensure even reheating. You can also reheat in the microwave, covered, in 15-second increments until hot.

More Stir Fries
- 10-Minute Shrimp Fried Rice
- Shanghai Style Fried Noodles
- Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Shrimp
- 10-Minute Chicken Pad Thai
- Stir Fried Rice Noodle Rolls with Peanut Sauce
Tried this recipe?
I'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment and rating below to share your feedback. Your reviews help others discover this recipe and help me keep creating more free recipes for you. Snap a photo and tag me on social media @aheadofthyme too.
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- …
- 40
- Next Page »





















































































