Oh, and chai fans, you haven’t been forgotten—Starbucks hasn’t changed its ingredients or black tea base, but it is now more customizable, so you can adjust the sweetness and level of spice to suit your tastes. (The Chai tea and sweetener are now separate components, so you can use the app or tell the barista how many pumps of each you'd like.) Consider a whole new level of Secret Menu options unlocked.

Left: Iced Mango Cream Chai, Right: New Refreshers, launching April 7 (Photos: Starbucks)

That's not all the brand is rolling out this spring. On April 7, the Iced Mango Cream Matcha and Iced Mango Cream Chai will be available year-round, and the brand will launch a new Iced Ube Coconut Cream Shaken Espresso, which will only be available for a limited time.

After sampling several drinks in advance (perk of being a food editor), I have to admit: There’s one drink I can’t wait to order again, a few I plan on adding to my regular “lil’ treat” rotation—and one that’s just, honestly, not for me. (But maybe it’s for you!)

Let me know in the comments which drink you prefer.

My Favorite Starbucks Spring Menu Drink

Iced Ube Coconut Macchiato

original photo: candace davison

I thought I loved the Toasted Coconut Cream Cold Brew (more on that in a second), and then this drink stole the show. Beyond its showstopping purple topper is serious flavor: There’s the milk, espresso and toasted coconut base, with a cold foam that’s a little sweet, a little nutty and almost oatmeal cookie-like. And while taro and ube are two different tubers, the mix of ube and coconut reminded me of taro-based desserts I’d had in Hawaii years ago. Snow was all around me, yet I felt transported to a beach—if only mentally, for a moment. It’s tropical without smacking you in the face, like a piña colada might, and not nearly as sweet (or fruity). It’s refreshing yet cozy; a glimpse of warmer days ahead.

The Runners Up

Toasted Coconut Cream Cold Brew

original photo: candace davison

Coconut has been popping up on café menus across the country, so it’s only fitting that it’s the star of Starbucks’s seasonal launch (well, that and lavender). The brand doesn’t just see this as a flash-in-the-mug trend though—it also announced that its toasted coconut syrup and cold foam will now be available year-round. I’m grateful for that news: The syrup lends a subtle coconut flavor that livens up cold brew and lattes without overpowering it. Some rival blends can be so strong that they’re almost sunscreen-ish; this is more of a kiss of coconut. It’s especially delightful as cold foam, gradually blending into black cold brew, deepening its flavor without turning things super sweet.

As a black cold brew drinker, this is my ideal cold foam topper. If you prefer Frappuccinos and sweeter drinks, you may prefer the iced Toasted Coconut Latte.

The Cannon Ball Drink

Left: Pink Cannon Ball Drink, Right: Cannon Ball Drink (Photos: starbucks/candace davison)

On the heels of launching the Cannon Ball Drink in partnership with Beast Games, Starbucks is rolling out a fresh take on it: the Pink Cannon Ball Drink. I’m partial to the sweet-tart flavor of the original, which combines lemonade, Mango Dragonfruit and Strawberry Açaí Refreshers and is topped with strawberry and dragonfruit bits. It’s like a grown-up fruit punch, though if you crave something a bit less intense, the new Pink Drink version is worth a shot. It adds coconut milk to the mix, making it a bit smoother and creamier.

The One That Wasn't for Me

Iced Lavender Cream Matcha

original photo: candace davison

The lavender is a bit floral and marshmallow-y, and in a latte, I don’t mind it. But when paired with matcha’s grassy flavor, the drink skews a bit too liquid potpourri for my tastes. (I’m more of a fan of Starbucks’s other lavender iterations, as a latte or Crème Frappuccino, or as a sweet contrast to the warming spices in the new Iced Lavender Cream Chai.)

However, if you love herbaceous notes and earthy flavors, the matcha variety might be more your style. To each her own.

The 27 Best Starbucks Secret Menu Drinks, Chosen by a Former Starbucks Barista

• Value: 17/20
• Quality: 20/20
• Ease of Use: 18/20
• Aesthetics: 19/20
• Sharpening Ability: 20/20

TOTAL: 94/100

“Nobody is a bad cook; they just have dull knives,” our former senior food editor always says, and she is so right. Having a sharp knife—and knowing how to use it—makes your work in the kitchen so much faster, easier and efficient. (Not to mention taste better: Evenly cut pieces cook more evenly, after all.)

Dull knives can also be dangerous, as you fight to slice through squash or even tomatoes; something I was increasingly learning as I tried to make do with my 14-year-old KitchenAid knife set, a bridal shower gift I couldn’t bear to part with. I’d upgraded from the built-in sharpener to a handheld model, but it was no longer getting the job done. Then the Tormek T-1 was recommended to me.

At $428, I wasn’t sure I was ready for that level of commitment—until I saw the cost of replacing said knives. And struggled to find a professional nearby who could sharpen them for me. But after seeing the tool came with an up to eight-year warranty and was recommended by both America’s Test Kitchen and Bon Appetit, I decided to test it out over the past few months. I’m so glad I did.

Admittedly, it took me a while to fully unbox it. Once I saw the toaster-sized machine, as sleek as it was with its matte finish and Scandinavian design, I was a little intimidated. Sure, it was designed to offer professional-caliber knife sharpening for home cooks, but could I handle it? Yes, it turns out, and with much less effort than I thought. It’s incredible.

What Sets the Tormek T-1 Apart from Other Knife Sharpeners?

original photos: candace davison

First, its design: Rather than the typical pull-through sharpener style, the Tormek T-1 features two wheels—one with a fine-grained diamond coating for grinding, the other a composite for honing. It looks like it belongs in a chic, minimalist workshop, but more importantly, it allows you to hone and grind separately. That way you can hone your knives to maintain their edge between sharpenings.

Second, it’s heavy-duty enough that it serves as a step above standard home sharpeners, able to regrind while maintaining a compact footprint (and buzzing quietly enough, about 45 decibels, so that you don’t need to go outside to use it).

How I Tested the Tormek T-1

I sharpened and honed three different stainless steel kitchen knives, testing how they sliced through limes, onions and other produce before and after. During testing, I focused on how easy it was to use, the quality of the finished product, the sound and mess levels and overall value, given the price tag.

My Review of the Tormek T-1 Knife Sharpener

Though the machine itself made me feel like I had signed up for wood shop, it’s remarkably easy to use. There are no parts to assemble; you plug it in, remove a safety card that shows you where the knife goes, and you’re ready to go.

I highly recommend watching Tormek’s How to Get Started video, which breaks things down into a three-step process (set the angle, sharpen the knife on the diamond wheel on both sides of the blade, then use the other wheel to hone and polish the edge of the knife). There are visual cues along the way, taking the intimidation out of using such a powerful machine.

The machine allows you to adjust the grinding angle, though I followed the brand’s recommendation of setting it to 15 degrees, which works for most chef’s knives. It took a few swipes for me to start finding a rhythm with my chef’s knife, particularly because it was about as dull as a butter knife.

The Marker Method Helped Me Get the Hang of Things

original photo: candace davison

That’s where one feature came in really handy—the Tormek comes with a permanent marker for marking the bevel of the blade, which can serve as a visual guide to let you know that you’ve got the right angle set. Mark the blade, slip it into the grinding guide and give it a pass or two. If the marker is disappearing, you’ve got the right angle. If it isn’t, adjust. (This ensures you sharpen to the same angle every time, so you remove less metal from the knife and have a faster sharpening process overall.) From there, the grinding process is simply a gentle sawing motion, following the shape of the knife, until the burr is raised along the edge of the knife (and all of the marker is gone). Many knives need five or six passes, though the number varies, depending on how dull the knife is and whether you’re changing the angle of the blade. Just be sure to use the same number of passes on each side.

When you switch to honing the knife, it’s absolutely critical to follow Tormek’s instructions to hone with the blade facing away from you, both for your safety and so you polish off the burr. You want to pass it slowly along the honing wheel, back and forth, holding the knife almost flat against it, rather than at a steep angle (which would remove the sharp edge you just created—the opposite of progress!).

Once you get the hang of it, the process is oddly meditative, as you watch the knives gradually sharpen.

It’s Low Noise, Low Mess

A magnet on the machine’s angle guide helps collect metal dust as you grind knives, making the process pretty much mess-free (though, of course, you should still clean the knives thoroughly before using them). The guide also has built-in pads to protect your knife as it’s being sharpened.

At 45 decibels, it’s not as loud as running the microwave; more of a gentle hum akin to the sound of the fridge cooling.

As for my KitchenAid knives? I’d lost all hope for their recovery—until I used the Tormek T-1. They’re back to their former glory, slicing through produce cleanly (when they used to slip and get stuck). Now, I can’t wait to use it on my more expensive knives when the time comes, and I even find myself offering to sharpen friends’ and family’s knives as well.

The Bottom Line: It’s Great for Seasoned Cooks

original photo: candace davison

If you really get into cooking and you’ve invested in quality knives, the Tormek T-1 makes for a great investment. There’s enough of a learning curve—and a steep enough price point—that occasional cooks may be better off using a more budget-friendly option, or using a knife-sharpening service instead.

However, for the grill master or weeknight Gordon Ramsay, there’s a certain pride in sharpening and maintaining your own knives, and the Tormek T-1 helps you do it like a pro.

See Ina Garten’s Ingenious Tip for Keeping Her Kitchen Knives Sharp

While sit-down restaurants are buzzing during the holidays, the first few months of the year are just as busy for grocery stores and chains. It’s the time when we’re hunkering down at home or preparing for Super Bowl parties and Valentine’s Day dinners, so they’re working overtime to entice you with new menu items, pantry staples and late-night treats.

That’s why this edition of What’s New in Food has a separate section just for new launches at grocery stores and online, so you can savor your own haute homemade creations (or simply a bowl of mystery-flavored cereal) without having to put on your puffer coat.

Fast Food & Chain Restaurants

1. Heart-Shaped Everything

Papa John's/Baskin-Robbins

If you don’t already have Valentine’s Day plans…you may face some challenges getting a reservation. But! If you’re not aspiring for a Michelin-star meal, consider this your sign to lean into the cheesiness of the holiday by wearing your heart on your dinner plate. There’s no shortage of options this year:

• Channel your inner Robin Sparkles and go to the mall for a heart-shaped pretzel at Auntie Anne’s, available only on the 13^th and 14^th at participating locations
• Start the day with a heart-shaped biscuit (or biscuit sandwich) at Hardee’s
• Order heart-shaped pizza at Pizza Hut, Marco’s Pizza, Hungry Howie’s or Papa John’s
• Customize a heart-shaped red velvet or strawberry crinkle cookie cake from Great American Cookie Co.
• Or snag a vintage-inspired, heart-shaped ice cream cake at Baskin-Robbins

2. Lobsterfest Is Back at Red Lobster

red lobster

Seafood fans, your time has arrived. Red Lobster’s Lobsterfest is back for a limited time, bringing with it four new-ish dishes. There’s the Lobster Pasta au Gratin, which combines Maine and langostino lobster with curly cavatappi pasta, all smothered with mozzarella and cheese sauce. If you’re into the swicy trend, try the Crispy Dragon Teriyaki Lobster, which tosses lobster tail in a sweet-yet-spicy teriyaki sauce. You could also order the Lobsterfest Boil, which trades crawfish for the chain’s namesake crustacean, serving it with red potatoes, shrimp and corn in a shake-and-serve bag. Finally, there’s the Lobsterfest Duo, which presents grilled split lobster tail wrapped around sea scallops, then served alongside roasted Maine tail. (That’s where the “new-ish” comes in: It’s new to many but was technically on the menu 18 years ago.)

And if you’re in the New York City area, you may want to hit up the Red Lobster in Times Square this week—select tables are being turned into Kissing Booths for Valentine’s Day. As part of a collaboration with Vaseline, diners will get free samples of the brand’s V-Day Lip Therapy line while enjoying a special five-course tasting menu. You can only snag a spot via reservation, and it’s been so popular that Red Lobster extended its Kissing Booth dates to run now through February 13.

3.McDonald’s Goes All in on Hot Honey

candace davison

Hot Honey was everywhere last year—and it’s showing no signs of stopping. For a limited time, you can snag a cup of McDonald’s hot honey for dipping fries and nuggets, or you can get the sauce drizzled on a Snack Wrap, Crispy Chicken Sandwich or Sausage and Egg Biscuit. It’s been so popular that it was sold out the first time I tried ordering, and after sampling the menu, I see why—it strikes just the right balance of sweet and heat, never overpowering the meal.

You’ll get the most Hot Honey flavor from the Snack Wrap—it was practically dripping with sauce—but I loved it most on a sausage biscuit, which offset the buttery, fluffy biscuit delightfully. (And made me lament, once again, that breakfast isn’t offered all day at the chain.)

4. Starbucks Revamps Its Bakery Menu (and Rewards Program)

starbucks

Just after launching the Cannonball Drink and a Secret Menu collab with Khloe Kardashian, Starbucks is announcing even more newness. First, an updated Rewards program, which introduces a tier where you can snag $2 off a drink in exchange for 60 stars (aka Rewards points), Free Mod Mondays (allowing you to modify your drink for free one Monday per month) and Rewards member tiers, ranging from Green to Gold to Reserve. At the Gold and Reserve level, the stars you accrue won’t expire.

As for the menu itself, Starbucks has already teased that its spring menu will officially launch on March 3, bringing with it the return of Lavender drinks and introducing the Toasted Coconut Cold Brew and Toasted Coconut Latte, as well as a limited-edition Ube Coconut Macchiato.

Expect a full review on PureWow when the time comes, and in the meantime, you can mix up your afternoon lil’ treat break with one of six new menu items, which officially hit cafes on February 9: chocolate pistachio loaf, yuzu citrus blossom (a croissant muffin filled with yuzu citrus cream and topped with candied yuzu), strawberry matcha loaf, berry blondie, cookie croissant swirl (another croissant muffin, this time studded with cocoa and topped with chocolate streusel and cookie bits), and Dubai Chocolate Bite (a chocolate tart with a crunchy, kataifi pistachio cream core that’s reminiscent of the TikTok-famous chocolate bar).

5. Red Robin Expands Its Sandwich Lineup

red robin

The brand known for its bottomless fries recently expanded its sandwich lineup, adding a Cowboy Ranch Double Burger topped with crispy onion straws, BBQ sauce, ranch, lettuce and American cheese. Equally noteworthy is its two new chicken sandwiches: The Buzz Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich, covered in Buffalo-style Buzz sauce, ranch and pickles, and the Bacon Club Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which substitutes the classic sliced turkey in a club sando with boneless fried chicken.

6. Cinnabon Drops Strawberry Cheesecake-Topped Bons

cinnabon

Now through May 3, you can order classic Cinnabon rolls, MiniBons, CinnaSweeties and BonBites topped with a strawberry cheesecake drizzle for a spring-is-coming twist on the decadent treat. It provides a sweet-tart note that really takes things over the top, but my favorite part is the slight crunch from the streusel.

7. Wendy’s Frosty Key Tags Return

wendy's

For $3, you can buy a Frosty Key Tag at Wendy’s, which you can use to score a free Frosty Jr. with any purchase for the rest of 2026. More importantly, though, you’ll help raise money for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. (Since 1992, the brand has raised more than $340 million to help foster kids find permanent homes.)

8. Chili's Launches Its Margarita of the Month Club

Chili's $6 Margarita of the Month has inspired its own fandom. So much so that the chain just created a community specifically for them: The Margarita of the Month Club. Membership is free, and it's only open to people 21 and up (as you might imagine). For those insiders though, you can order all kinds of merch—from keychains to crewneck sweatshirts—to display your love of the cocktail.

And when you visit the restaurant, you can receive a passport to log your monthly marg (which, BTW, is the StrawEddy Marg for February, a combination of Lunazul Blanco Tequila, Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka, strawberry purée and house-made sour). 

Grocery Stores & Online

9. Ben & Jerry’s Crams an Entire Sundae in a Pint

candace davison

It’s been killing me to keep this secret from you: Back in December, I got an early taste of Ben & Jerry’s three new Sundae pints, and they’re g-o-o-d. So good. As a chocoholic and cold brew fiend, I’m partial to the Mocha Mood Pie, a partnership with BLK & Bold that infuses Chocolate Cold Brew Ice Cream with chocolate cookies and swirls of cookie bits. It’s topped with fudge-laced whipped cream and fudge bits. The espresso flavor and lightness of the whipped cream helps cut through the intensity of the chocolate, creating the ultimate dessert in a cup.

Other flavors include PB Blondie Bestie (peanut butter ice cream with blondie bits, graham cracker swirls, a caramel-flecked whipped topping and mini peanut butter cups) and Straw-Bae Shortcake (sweet cream ice cream with shortcake bits, strawberry swirls, strawberry-dappled whipped cream and shortcake crumble).

10. Mystery Flavors Become an Emerging Cereal Aisle Trend

The Quaker Oats Company/General Mills

Growing up, mystery-flavored DumDums and AirHeads were a hit, but now, the sensory guessing game has expanded to the cereal aisle. My family recently tried the new Cap’n Crunch's Mystery Crunch, sparking debates ranging from “it’s definitely almond!” to “no, it’s dulce de leche” and “Uh, I’m getting coconut…or vanilla with something fruity mixed in?” We’re a house divided. And deeply confused.

Next up, we’ll have to try Cinnamon Toast Crunch’s KPop Demon Hunters collab, which features not one but two mystery flavors, packed in boxes themed after the Saja Boys and HUNTR/X. The first drop sold out fast, but the brand’s planning a second one on February 18 at Shop.CinnamonToastCrunch.com.

11. As Ever Collabs with Compartés Chocolate

as ever x compartés

Meghan Markle's As Ever dropped its Valentine's Day collection, and like all launches, almost everything sold out quickly—particularly the brand's buzzy collaboration with gourmet chocolatier Compartés. You can still get your hands on the milk chocolate bar (at least as of press time), which features shortbread cookie bits and bee pollen.

12. Flamingo Estate's Seasonal Subscription Box Celebrates the Flavors of Mexico

flamingo estate

OK, technically not everything in this box is edible, but it’s made with ingredients sourced from Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, and a portion of the funds support a three-year project to save and create a sanctuary for the Melipona bee. The box is the ultimate gift for the discerning gourmand, featuring a jar of vegetarian mole negro that boasts a whopping 24 ingredients to give it showstopping depth of flavor; Dzidzilché jungle honey that’s enchantingly silky with an eye-opening, zippy taste that livens up anything it’s drizzled upon and golden vanilla olive oil, adding decadence to even the simplest of desserts. You’ll also receive a shockingly nourishing Banana Body Balm that literally melts into your skin, a dewy-meets-tropical Banana Leaf candle and an exfoliating (and invigorating) coffee soap brick, made with organic coffee beans, cloves, chocolate clay and tobacco.

13. Kodiak Debuts New Overnight Oats

kodiak

Remember when we consumed everything out of mason jars and Pinterest was riddled with recipes for making overnight oats? Well, what’s old is new again, only this time around, brands are simplifying the process. Case in point: The latest from Kodiak, which offers bulked up traditional oats with a mix of chia, flax and quinoa for a breakfast that packs 20 grams of protein per serving and comes in flavors like Maple Pecan and Cookie Butter. All you do is add milk and let it sit overnight.

14. Brightland & Sumo Citrus Team Up for a New Twist on Olive Oil

brightland x sumo

Whether you love olive oil cake or enjoy adding EVOO as an ice cream topping, as is popular in Europe, you’re going to want to take a closer look at Brightland’s new Sumo Citrus-flavored olive oil. It offers a brightness and silky texture that can liven up sweets, roasted vegetables and salads. As for me? I plan on pairing it with avocado toast, the elder millennial that I am.

15. Don’t Call it a (Diet Cherry Coke) Comeback

coca-cola

Or maybe do. Diet Cherry Coke is back in stores nationwide, and it brought along a new friend: Coca-Cola Cherry Float, which offers a creamy twist on the cherry-infused soda you know and love.

16. Khloud Unveils Dill Pickle Protein Popcorn

Khloud

Khloud has been dropping new flavors and collaborations nonstop this year, from a protein latte at Starbucks to its Truffle White Cheddar and Cinnamon Roll varieties. But this one, I must say, is a big dill: pickle-flavored popcorn. It’s bold, it’s briny and you’ll want to brush your teeth afterward…but only after devouring the entire bag. It’s strangely addictive. You’ve been warned.

You can find it at select Albertson’s stores, as well as via GoPuff and KhloudFoods.com.

What's New at Trader Joe's This February? Onion Flowers, Morning Buns & More

It’s one thing most bakers lament: How can you make a from-scratch chocolate cake moister, richer and—above all—more chocolate-y? Dozens of hacks abound online, undoubtedly many you’ve tried before: sprinkling in a little extra salt to intensify the flavor, adding coffee a la Ina Garten, stirring in pudding mix. The list goes on.

But how about pouring in a can of stout beer, like Guinness?

It’s a trick Meredith Hayden, the private chef and TikTok sensation behind Wishbone Kitchen, deploys. She had partnered with the brand to create her own spin on Guinness Chocolate Cake, a classic recipe that’s making a comeback. After seeing Google searches for the dish rise and rise over the past few months, I needed to know more. So, I did some research and caught up with Hayden via email to understand the hype surrounding it.

What Effect Does Adding Guinness Have to a Chocolate Cake?

The contrast principle comes into play here: “In the same way your morning pastry tastes better when you have it with a cup of coffee, adding Guiness will enhance the rich and sweet flavors in the chocolate cake,” Hayden explains. “It also has the added benefit of contributing moisture to the cake, giving it an almost fudgy, brownie-like consistency.”

It can also provide a bit of lift, due to the carbonation and acid in the stout interacting with the baking soda, resulting in a somewhat fluffier, taller cake.

How Would You Describe the Flavor?

Naturally, you may wonder if adding Guinness makes the cake taste malty or beer-like. Sure, the alcohol burns off, so it’s no longer boozy, but are there any lingering flavors? Thankfully, no. Stout tends to have more chocolate-y and coffee-like notes, making it a solid pairing, where one doesn’t overwhelm the other.

“The flavor of the Guinness chocolate cake really reminds me of a red velvet cake, which in case you didn’t know is also technically a chocolate cake,” she says. “They’re both chocolatey and rich without being overwhelming to the point of only being able to have a few bites. It feels classic and familiar, but slightly more elevated.”

What Should You Know Before Trying a Guinness Chocolate Cake?

Courtesy of Wishbone Kitchen/Guinness

First, though it’s known as Guinness Chocolate Cake, you could substitute any stout—or even try a porter, to add nuttier notes—though Hayden sticks with Guinness. “Growing up, we always had Guinness in the house since it was my dad’s favorite,” noting that her mother often cooked with it, too, routinely baking a Guiness Chocolate Cake recipe that she’d clipped from the local newspaper.

Second, if you want to take the cake to the next level—to truly make it fudgy and moist—you need to try Hayden’s riff. She spoons a layer of homemade chocolate toffee sauce on top of the freshly baked cake, infusing it with extra caramel-meets-cocoa-flavor. (It’s as easy as mixing dark brown sugar, Dutch cocoa powder, heavy cream, sea salt and butter in a saucepan and letting it simmer until thickened while the cake bakes.)

“It keeps the cake impossibly moist and perfectly balanced,” Hayden says.

And if you’re a true chocoholic, you can also heed PureWow recipe developer and The Fearless Baker author Erin McDowell’s advice: Fold in a cup of chocolate chunks.

Pair the dense, gooey cake with a light whipped cream frosting, and you’ve got the kind of dessert people will beg you to make for every party from here on out.

PureWow’s Gluten-Free Super-Moist Chocolate Cake

If you haven't settled on your Valentine's Day menu—or you're lounging at home solo and crave a decadent treat (that counts as self-care, right?)—the Barefoot Contessa's got your back. In her latest "Ask Ina" column on Substack, Ina Garten shared the two desserts she'd recommend for anyone who wants something special...but doesn't necessarily want to spend all day Saturday baking.

"This is the time for Chocolate Ganache Cake or Panna Cotta with Fresh Raspberry Sauce," she shares.

getty images

Both look and taste impressive, but they aren't so challenging to make. For beginners, she recommends the Panna Cotta, which is slightly less involved. Yes, you'll need to work with gelatin packets, but that's as simple as sprinkling the powder into a bowl of cold water, letting it dissolve and thicken, then adding it to a warmed mixture of hot cream, yogurt, vanilla and sugar, then stirring in two tablespoons of Grand Marnier liqueur. Before serving, you'll top it with raspberry sauce.

"The sauce can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, and the panna cotta needs to be prepared the day before, so it has time to set overnight," Garten says. Better order your groceries now so you can prep the dessert on Friday.

PureWow Editors Can Attest: Ina's Chocolate Cake Is a Showstopper

If you're up for more of a challenge, Garten describes her chocolate ganache cake as more of an intermediate-level dessert. But it only calls for nine ingredients (ten, if you're feeling posh and want to include edible gold flakes, which Ina deems optional).

"You can make the chocolate cake a couple of days in advance, cool it, wrap it well in plastic wrap and refrigerate," Garten says. "Chocolate ganache is just chocolate and heavy cream heated together over a double boiler."

I've been making Garten's ganache since 2016, and while using a double boiler—aka putting a heat-proof bowl atop a saucepan with a little water in it, letting the steam gradually melt the chocolate—may seem intimidating, it's pretty easy to get the hang of. And the results are worth it. The gradual melting keeps the chocolate from seizing and turning gritty, so it's luscious, glossy and easy to pour.

"Be careful that you take it off the heat as soon as the chocolate is melted, or it will taste burnt," Garten advises. "You can make the ganache right after dinner and simply pour it on. It’s actually easier to ganache a cold cake; just don’t refrigerate it after the cake is ganached."

However, if you want more of a frosting-like consistency, you can also let the ganache cool a bit and whip it with a stand mixer to thicken it up. It's equally delicious, becoming lighter in color and more mousse-like in texture.

As for the finishing touch to really take the cake over the top? "I like to serve a slice on a plate with crème anglaise, but here’s my trick: Vanilla ice cream is essentially crème anglaise that's been frozen, so I defrost a pint of Häagen-Dazs to make the rich vanilla sauce," Garten reveals.

Mrs. Store-Bought-Is-Fine does it again.

The 51 Best Ina Garten Recipes of All Time

Below, you'll find eight of my favorite new Trader Joe's items to shop this February, including Patagonian Scallops that melt in your mouth when added to seafood pasta, Onion Flowers that will be a showstopping appetizer at your next dinner party and Morning Buns that will make the start of your day that much sweeter.

How to Make a Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board: A Food Editor’s 12 Favorite Cheeses, Meats and Accompaniments

1. Patagonian Scallops

Trader Joe's

Seafood is a staple in my house, but scallops can be seriously pricey. Fortunately, these Patagonian scallops are completely affordable and boast the same sweet, tender flavor of their bigger cousins. You might not achieve the same special-occasion worthy presentation you would with a simple plate of seared sea scallops, but this miniature version is excellent in both red and white sauce pasta dishes—just be sure to sear them only very briefly to maintain their exceedingly delicate texture, and add them to the finished dish at the very end so they don’t overcook.

2. Hot Honey Goat Milk Cheese

Trader Joe's

In case you missed it, hot honey has been all the rage for quite some time now, appearing on gourmet pizzas, sandwiches and cheese plates at some of our favorite eateries. Its popularity is no wonder—the combination of tangy goat cheese, kicky habanero, sweet honey and spicy chili flake will make your palate sing. Enjoy it on its own with bread and burst cherry tomatoes for a wonderful bruschetta, or toss it with roasted butternut squash pasta for a seasonal entrée that will make everyone come back for seconds.

3. Chicken Sausage Ravioli

Trader Joe's

My husband only eats chicken and fish, so when I’m not in the mood to figure out a new way to prepare chicken thighs (and don’t particularly feel like cooking), this ravioli never disappoints. The three-cheese-and-sausage filling is divine, and it cooks up in four minutes or less. All that’s left is to mix in your favorite store-bought pasta sauce (I love chili pesto with these) and toss in a handful of spinach or arugula to make it a more well-rounded meal.

4. Mini Dark Chocolate Biscuit Cookies

Trader Joe's

Dunk them in your morning coffee, break them over a bowl of ice cream, or simply snack on them solo—there’s no wrong way to enjoy these miniature chocolate-coated, wheat flour biscuits. The important thing is that their small size makes them particularly versatile, and you will get your chocolate fix no matter how you put them to use.

5. Pizza Bianca

Trader Joe's

Think of this pizza Bianca as a blank canvas for a satisfying weeknight dinner. Transform it with fresh corn, lime, chili powder, cotija cheese and chipotle mayo on the side for a pizza version of Mexican street corn. Top it with sautéed mushrooms, canned clams and red onion for a restaurant-worthy meal. The possibilities are endless and the prep is as minimal as you want it to be. Most toppings do well when added before you send the pie into the oven, because it cooks so quickly—but use your judgment and let your creativity be your guide.

6. Premium Angus Beef Boneless Chuck Roast

Trader Joe's

For a hearty winter meal, look no further than this premium chuck roast—a budget-friendly cut that is truly heavenly when cooked low and slow. Whip up a Mirepoix, toss in some potatoes and aromatics (think: rosemary and thyme) and then pop it in the oven or slow cooker to braise. The end result will be a kitchen that smells amazing and a beefy comfort food entrée that emerges fall-apart tender.

7. Onion Flowers

Trader Joe's

A crowd-pleasing hors d’oeuvre to serve at a party and a divine appetizer to plate up before you serve your tender beef roast—these onions are elegantly crafted to appear like flower blossoms. They’re also coated in a vegan-friendly batter that has been seasoned with heady spices to ensure maximum flavor. (Plus, you can pop them in the air fryer to prepare this app in a flash.)

8. Morning Buns

Trader Joe's

These beauties proof themselves when set out to rest on a baking sheet at room temperature overnight. Simply place them on a sheet pan so they can rise until you’re ready to rise and shine; then, stick ‘em in the oven for 15 minutes while you get ready. You will be rewarded with a flaky, buttery bun, laced with cinnamon sugar and orange zest. It’s a grab-and-go breakfast that’s blissfully easy to prepare and too decadently delicious to regret.

The 8 Best Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods, According to Our Editors

Jennifer Garner’s turn in 13 Going on 30 made her America’s Sweetheart; years later, the launch of her Pretend Cooking Show, where she bakes family recipes and dishes she’s found online, cemented her status as a national treasure. (How Food Network hasn’t convinced her to launch a show is beyond me.)

In her Instagram show’s early days, she tried her hand at New York eatery Sarabeth’s Breakfast Cookies. Naturally, they immediately caught my attention: Cookies? For breakfast? Who wouldn’t want that?

Sadly, it’s taken me five years to actually try them, after she recently uploaded the episode to her YouTube channel, and FOMF—Fear of Missing Food—kicked in.

I dashed to my kitchen to round up the ingredients and got to baking. At first, I was hesitant: With all of the shredded wheat and rolled oats, would these taste like sugar-coated cardboard, rolled in hay? Was the “cookies” part simply clever marketing?

But, now that I’ve tried them, I’m so glad I did. I’ll be baking a second batch soon, largely because it’s the best use of shredded wheat I’ve come across (fibermaxxing is so hot right now, after all). Also, though, because they’re that darn good.

What Does It Take to Make These Breakfast Cookies?

This is a delightfully easy recipe to whip up, in line with any classic chocolate chip or oatmeal cookie. The hardest part is smashing up the shredded wheat—which you could quickly do in a blender or food processor. If you don’t have either appliance, you can smash them in your hands, like Garner does, or stick them in a resealable plastic bag and crush them with a wooden spoon or rolling pin.

The recipe, as it’s written, calls for a lot of dishes to be dirtied, which I’m not sure is necessary. First, you mix the dry ingredients in one bowl (pretty standard). Then, you use a second bowl to rub vanilla and lemon zest into the two types of sugar. OK. Then it calls for a third bowl, which you use to whip the butter, then beat in the sugar mixture and, eventually, the eggs, before adding in the flour mixture.

I get the idea that rubbing the zest and vanilla into the sugar helps infuse the flavor a bit more, but since the sugars are almost immediately added to the butter mixture, it doesn’t make that big of a difference flavor-wise. If you’re short on mixing bowls, you could simply mix the dry ingredients in one bowl, set it aside, then use a second bowl to cream the butter, sugars, lemon zest and vanilla, rather than separating that out into two separate bowls. (Though, admittedly, rubbing in the lemon zest is a satisfying tactile experience, almost like playing with kinetic sand, and it does make your kitchen smell lovely.)

What Makes Them Breakfast Cookies Anyway?

While there’s a decent amount of sugar in these treats—1 ½ cups total, which is half brown sugar, half superfine sugar—it veers from the straight-dessert category with its mix of all-purpose flour, wheat flour, rolled oats and crushed shredded wheat. This makes them heartier and more filling overall.

So, How Do They Taste?

baked with and without chocolate chips (Photo: Candace Davison)

If you’re a fan of Tate’s cookies, you’ll love these. They’re more on the chewy-crispy end of the spectrum than pillowy and gooey, which makes them great for eating on the go—or dipping into coffee or tea as you ease into the day. The lemon zest really comes through, creating a bright, lightly spiced cookie with just a slight hint of coconut.

I tried it as is, and with the optional addition of dark chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips. The mini chips disappeared into the dough, getting lost in the lemon-y, oatmeal flavor. Larger dark chocolate chips (I used Toll House, which has bigger chips than their semisweet variety) cut through the flavor, adding a decadent touch to the treats. That said, these are just sweet enough and pack enough flavor that you really don’t need the chocolate.

They were satisfying and filling—a far better way to start the day than my usual bowl of cereal or yogurt cup.

The Verdict: They’re Even Better as Cookie Granola

Even stored in a sealed container, the cookies were rock hard by day three. So, I broke two up and stirred them into my yogurt. Wow. It softened them just so, and infused the yogurt with a subtle, lemon-y sweetness that was both refreshing and felt like the perfect lil’ treat to start my day on a high note. I found myself looking forward to using up every last morsel that way, and plan on making another batch next week.

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Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.

Nothing tops an expertly cooked steak dinner—especially if you're planning a cozy Valentine's Day night in. But you can raise the bar even higher with a shipment from a specialty butcher, since the meat tends to be better quality than what you can find at the supermarket. With that in mind, I scoured the internet for the best steak delivery services and mail-order meat subscriptions to order any time. (Psst: My favorite of the lot is Chicago Steak Company, but more on that later.)

Whether you prefer hand-cut filet mignon (yes, please) or a curated monthly collection (see ya, dinner rut), there's an online steak delivery service that fits the bill. The best part is that most of them offer one-time orders and monthly subscription deliveries.

After vetting 15 top brands—and testing the highest-reviewed and most frequently recommended ones—here are the five best online steak delivery services, based on the quality of cuts, overall value, ease of unboxing and preparing and overall flavor and texture.

Want to know which buzzy products are *really* worth buying? Sign up for our shopping newsletter to uncover our favorite finds.

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The Best Online Steak Delivery Services to Order in 2026 at a Glance

How I Chose the Best Steak Delivery Boxes

First, I scoured the internet (and tons of customer reviews) for the highest-reviewed steak delivery services and subscription boxes. I asked PureWow editors for their recommendations and had them test and photograph some brands' offerings at home. After doing more research with quality, pricing and shipping availability in mind, I narrowed down the list to the following five steak deliveries.

The 5 Best Steak Delivery Services

1. Chicago Steak Company

Candace Davison

Chicago Steak Company is a purveyor of hand-selected, Midwest-raised Premium Angus USDA Prime beef. Each steak—from the filet mignon to the dry-aged tomahawk to the Kobe Wagyu ribeye—is hand-cut by Chicago butchers with an impressive five generations of experience. Standard shipping is five to seven days, but express and overnight options are also available. (P.S.: You can’t go wrong with the Best Seller, which boasts filet mignon, boneless strips, top sirloin and ribeye.)

"The filet mignon was outrageously tender," PureWow VP of editorial Candace Davison says. "It rivaled some of the best steakhouses I've ever been to, making me truly understand the appeal of special-ordering a steak over going to your local butcher. The marbling, the quality—I was blown away."

This steak delivery service is just right for special occasions, an impromptu fancy dinner and beginner-led barbecues. "This was clearly a very high-quality set; something you'd spring for when you really want to celebrate," Davison adds. "With two small kids, going out is a very rare occasion, so this allowed us to bring the date night home. The delivery came with a basic guide to cooking and doneness, though if you're used to grilling, you won't need them (or if you have a smart meat thermometer, which makes getting a perfect sear and juicy interior practically foolproof)."

Fast Facts

2. ButcherBox

Marissa Wu

This subscription box is every grill master’s dream. You can choose from four different boxes, some of which contain pork, fish and chicken. But since we’re talking steak, I have my eye on ButcherBox’s Custom Box, which comes with 20 percent more meat than the curated boxes and can include everything from New York strip steak to chuck roast. All of ButcherBox’s meat is grass-fed, antibiotic- and hormone-free and humanely pasture-raised by trusted farmers.

"I got my husband a subscription to ButcherBox a few years ago as a gift, but it ended up kind of being a present for me," PureWow editor-in-chief Jillian Quint says. "We loved the quality of the steaks, the fact that they were designed to feed a family of four and the bonus of usually getting a little extra bacon thrown in as a nice surprise from the ButcherBox team."

"I was skeptical at first," SEO editor Marissa Wu adds. "I'm more of a flexitarian at home, and the wildest I get in the meat department is chicken; I hate touching raw meat." Across the board, the quality "was impressive," she says. It even converted her to cook read meat more often: "I actually would buy that ground beef, just for the guarantee that it'll be so good."

As for the steaks, she raved about their texture. "Sounds unreal, but the filet mignon was almost...creamy? The top sirloin was juicy. Both were very flavorful and excellent with dabs of garlic butter. I also appreciated that all cuts had the bones removed."

Psst: ButcherBox is now available at Target too!

Fast Facts

3. Omaha Steaks

Stephanie Maida

This family-owned company is world-famous for a reason. Omaha Steaks was founded more than 100 years ago in Nebraska, the cattle capital of the U.S., and that’s where the steaks are still sourced today. All of them are grass-fed, grain-finished and aged for at least 28 days for tenderness.

"Each type of steak came in its own box, and each piece was individually vacuum sealed, which was perfect for portioning and reducing waste," PureWow senior commerce editor Stephanie Maida explains. "I could defrost and cook as much or as little as I needed without opening the whole batch. The steak itself was excellent quality; they were all so fresh and beautifully marbled, and stood up well in the freezer. Upon cooking—and eating—they were perfection; tender, juicy and flavorful."

Even better, the kit came with a booklet that explained each type of steak, so newbies may have an easier time with this steak delivery service than others on the market. "I found all the instructions and explainers very helpful, and felt super confident whipping these up," Maida adds. "This is great for a smaller family that wants to stretch it; just note that you get a lot of meat (at least I did in this delivery), and it does take a while to get through it if you're not eating steak every single night for dinner."

If you want to see what all the hype is about, you can't go wrong with the Omaha Steaks Sampler. (Maida was also especially fond of the private reserve ribeye crown steaks and the New York strips.) If you order with standard delivery, expect it in eight to nine business days or fewer.

Fast Facts

4. Crowd Cow

Candace Davison

Crowd Cow sources its grass-fed meat from independent, sustainable producers, including a mix of family farms and co-ops. While you have a ton to choose from (like an impressive range of American and Japanese Wagyu), I’d opt for the boneless ribeye for entertaining and gifting alike. It’s prized for its marbling and tenderness without being too pricy. Shipping times vary based on your location, but many customers receive their meat in as little as two days. You also have the option of making your order a recurring delivery, so you can set it and forget it.

"Crowd Cow's Wagyu steaks made me realize just how little I knew about true Wagyu," Davison admits. "I'd heard that many steaks are mislabeled, but wow—Crowd Cow's A5 Wagyu is buttery and so tender that I could practically cut it with a fork. I've been so conditioned to think thin steaks are tough that I was truly blown away by these. It's the ultimate treat for an anniversary, milestone birthday or special occasion."

Former PureWow executive editor Alexia Dellner also tried the Wagyu (ground in beef patties), along with New York strip steaks, cowboy steak and a beef tri-tip roast. "The cuts were substantial in size, certainly enough for me and my spouse," she says, "but we also always had leftovers (except for the burgers), so each cut could easily have fed my family of four. I liked that the meat came from multiple farms, which makes me think they source the best meat from the best places."

The only downside is how much space it takes up in your freezer, but Dellner advises making space nonetheless. "It's been great having some protein in the freezer, ready to go, without having to go to the store, so the convenience factor is huge."

Fast Facts

5. Snake River Farms

Stephanie Meraz

Ever met a butcher who invented a whole new breed of cattle? I didn’t think so. That’s what makes family-owned Snake River Farms so special. They first bred Wagyu with high-quality cattle in the ’80s and have been perfecting their meat’s unique marbling and deep flavor ever since. (Try the American Wagyu top sirloin on for size.) The best part? You get to choose your delivery date.

PureWow's former associate fashion commerce editor Stephanie Meraz tried four American Wagyu steaks from the brand. They earned her—and her mom's—seal of approval. "Following the instructions, she used salt, pepper and butter on the steaks and couldn’t stop talking about how they were the best steaks she’s ever cooked and the best steaks that she’s tasted," Meraz says. It's a high compliment, given her mom's an avid cook. "The beef was so tender and bursting with flavor. What I liked most was that they were thick and didn't have a lot of fat. As for the steaks, I really appreciated that you didn’t have to do much for them to taste amazing."

She's not the only one raving about the brand: "This company has the best steaks I have EVER had," another reviewer shared. "For Father’s Day, my husband barbecued a cowboy steak that I bought him a while back...It is the best; it just melts in your mouth. I would give this company 20 stars if I could. Customer for life!"

Fast Facts

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Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.

I know that I’m not the only one who has ever experienced a dinner rut. Same old recipes on repeat, desperate to figure out something new to do with chicken. Well, friends, I decided to help us all out by scouring the internet for the most interesting and refreshing recipes I could find. When selecting these meals, I aimed to include those that appeal to a variety of different diets (vegetarian, vegan, low carb, gluten-free, etc.), as well as those that appeal to my love of ethnic food and exotic flavors (think: Indian curries, African-spiced eggs and Asian-inspired seafood and noodle dishes).

Read on and eat well.

Meals Ready in Under 30 Minutes

1. Pili Pili Eggs

Kristin Teig/Africali

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Like It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
• Serves: 2 to 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Pull-Apart Cheese Bread, Cheesy Herb Stuffed Naan

There’s nothing I love more than a runny egg at dinner time (or anytime), and this flavor-packed dish from Kiano Moju’s cookbook, AfriCali has plenty of kick—its name comes from an African chili sauce, after all—and can easily feed a crowd. It’s also a highly customizable one-pan wonder: “The eggs are beaten with a combination of finely chopped fresh veggies so that it all cooks together [to] make a sharing pan of eggs, typically interchanging the onion and garlic depending on what I have on hand,” writes Moju. So yeah, experiment away—and be sure to serve it with some nice bread for dipping.

2. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Like It: <30 minutes, high protein, low sugar, <500 calories
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Hoisin-Ginger Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles

This adaptation of a beloved Chinese-American dish comes together with basic ingredients that are easy to procure and the end result is a delightfully colorful (and flavorful!) meal that you can enjoy in the blink of an eye. To further reduce the time involved on a busy weeknight, slice the bell peppers ahead of time. You’ll be grateful that you have everything ready to hit the pan at the end of a long work day or a late night out.

3. Instant Pot Keto Indian Butter Chicken

Leslie Grow/Keto in an Instant

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Like It: instant pot, <30 minutes, high protein
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Roasted Indian-Spiced Vegetables With Lime-Cilantro Butter, Indian Salad Bowl With Crispy Chickpeas

“I’ve avoided Indian restaurants since I’ve been keto, mostly because I don’t trust myself around naan bread. Luckily, this recipe for butter chicken gives me all the same tastes far away from the bread basket. I like to pair it with sautéed cauliflower rice and additional cilantro to complete the experience,” writes Jen Fisch in her cookbook Keto in an Instant. Truth be told, you’ll crave this dish even if you aren’t cutting carbs.

4. Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Tomato and Feta

The Mediterranean Dish

• Time Commitment: 17 minutes
• Why I Like It: low carb, <500 calories, vegetarian-friendly
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Skillet Roast Chicken With Schmaltzy Potatoes, Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers With Tzatziki

“They are easy to make–no special ‘cheffy’ skills needed–and they are the perfect carrier for whatever toppings or filling you like,” writes recipe developer Suzy Karadsheh of her mouthwatering recipe for mediterranean-inspired stuffed zucchini boats. In addition to being vegetarian-friendly and highly customizable, these guys score major points for presentation and will surely impress anyone at your table.

5. Mediterranean Tuna Pasta

Foodie Crush

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Like It: <30 minutes, high protein, low sugar
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Rainbow Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta; Roasted Eggplant Panzanella With Capers, Olives and Pine Nuts

“There’s just seven ingredients (not including olive oil, salt, or pepper), and the only thing you’re cooking is the pasta. I love that you can literally just throw all of the other ingredients into a bowl, toss it with the cooked pasta, and voila! Dinner is served,” writes recipe author Heidi Larsen of Foodie Crush. I must admit, I share her enthusiasm for an almost no-cook pasta dinner that comes together with pantry staples.

6. Tahini Pasta Salad

Foodie Crush

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Like It: <500 calories, <30 minutes, vegetarian-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Dukkah-Crusted Fried Cauliflower Steaks, Asparagus and Artichoke Paella

Consider this another winning recipe from Larsen that will make you plenty of friends at a potluck or picnic. “This tahini pasta salad is chock-full of fresh veggies and healthy ingredients. It’s also vegetarian yet super filling, making it perfect for a light lunch or dinner,” she writes. I recommend making a big batch, taking some to work with you and then enjoying the rest for a totally hands-off dinner. Oh, and if you don’t need it to be vegetarian, definitely toss in some shrimp.

7. Seared Ahi Tuna with Asian Avocado Salad

Foodie Crush

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Like It: <30 minutes, high protein, make ahead
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup, Instant Pot Spicy Thai Butternut Squash Soup

Whenever I am in a dinner rut, I love branching out and exploring Asian-inspired recipes. My husband and I also eat a ton of seafood, so let’s just say that Larsen’s recipe for seared Ahi tuna and avocado salad definitely caught my eye. It also seems like a low-effort, high-reward recipe: “[just] get a nice sear on sushi-grade Ahi tuna steaks, then drizzle them with an Asian salsa made with avocado, sesame, lime, citrus, and jalapeño…[then serve it up with] some steamed green beans and rice on the side, to make it a meal,” she writes. Done and done.

8. Gnocchi Soup with Chicken

Foodie Crush

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Like It: <500 calories, <30 minutes, high protein
• Serves: 4 to 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Orange Flower Olive Oil Cake, Chopped Italian Salad Pizza

Ah, gnocchi, how I love thee. These pillowy soft potato dumplings are the ultimate comfort food in my opinion, particularly when they’re swimming in a creamy chicken soup. Best of all, this one relies on store bought gnocchi and rotisserie chicken so it couldn’t be easier to accomplish. Just don’t forget a generous handful of spinach for each serving—it will make you feel better about the indulgence.

Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes

9. Fall Roasted Vegetable and Lentil Salad with Pine Nut Cream

Aran Goyoaga

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Like It: gluten-free, vegan, <500 calories
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Buckwheat Gnocchi with Cabbage, Potatoes and Fontina; Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup

Aran Goyoaga, author of the new cookbook Cannelle et Vanille Bakes Simple, is a goddess among gluten-free gourmands. ”This recipe for a hearty salad boasts an incredible combination of flavors and textures. Best of all, it will suffice as a main course and makes an excellent side for roast meat, too. A pro tip, courtesy of Goyoaga, is to “[double] the pine nut cream so you have extra in the refrigerator to use for other salads or to serve alongside eggs and crudité.” Roger that.

10. Turmeric Golden Milk Daal

Liz Moody/Healthier Together

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Why I Like It: high protein, gluten-free, vegan
• Serves: 2 people
• Pairs Well With: Quinoa and Vegetable Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms, 40-Minute Saag Paneer

In case you missed it, “golden milk” refers to milk (or something creamy) that is infused with turmeric, and the elixir boasts many health benefits. This recipe from Liz Moody’s cookbook, Healthier Together: Recipes for Two—Nourish Your Body, Nourish Your Relationships, uses golden milk to create a savory daal dinner with just the right amount of heat. As for the aforementioned health benefits, Moody writes that the dish has “plenty of anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting spices, like ginger, turmeric and cinnamon, but the real secret is the garlic, [because] when garlic is chopped and left to sit for 20 minutes, an enzymatic reaction occurs that makes it one of the most potent antiviral and antibacterial agents around.” So, if you feel a cold coming on, give this daal a shot.

11. Instant Pot Harissa Bean Stew

Ghazalle Badiozamani/Instant Pot Miracle Vegetarian Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Why I Like It: vegan, <500 calories, low sugar, vegetarian-friendly
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Cheesy Bread, Vegan Mushroom Shawarma

The Instant Pot does all the heavy lifting in this recipe from Urvashi Pitre’s book, Instant Pot Miracle Vegetarian Cookbook, and the end result is actually miraculous. The best part is the kicky harissa flavor, but not all harissa is created equal. “Many harissa recipes use tomatoes or peppers,” Pitre writes. “I prefer my paste to be straight-up spice. Taste it once and you will find a million different uses for this lovely, spicy, versatile mix.” I’ve tasted it and can attest to its superiority, but feel free to use store-bought harissa if you want to take a shortcut. (I won’t tell.)

4. Sheet Pan Pierogi with Caramelized Onions and Dill

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Like It: vegetarian-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, one pan
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Miso Matzoh Ball Soup, Beet Hummus

If you and yours are groaning at the thought of having pasta for dinner again, I strongly suggest you scoop up some frozen pierogies with a filling of your choice, and then throw together this exceedingly easy dinner, which gets a healthy and flavorful boost from beautifully caramelized cabbage wedges and onions, plus a dreamy dill sauce that you’ll surely find many other uses for. File this one under ‘easiest weeknight dinner of all time.’

5. Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Ranch

Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jake Cohen

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Like It: <500 calories, low carb, low sugar, vegetarian-friendly
• Serves: 8 people
• Pairs Well With: Harissa Chickpea Stew with Eggplant and Millet, Easy Homemade Hummus with Za’atar Pita Chips

“I zhuzhed up ranch with Greek yogurt, fresh herbs and tahini for a decadently rich sauce to smother golden brown florets of roasted cauliflower,” says chef and recipe developer Jake Cohen while talking us through his craveable preparation for roasted cauliflower. “My favorite part is the little kick you get from the Aleppo pepper, a Syrian variety that adds the perfect amount of heat, only to be cooled off by the ranch.” My suggestion? Make twice the amount of ranch so you can have leftovers to use for potatoes, sandwiches or even as a marinade for meat.

14. Broccoli Cheddar Beans with Crispy Cheddar Panko

Nico Schinco/Pass the Plate

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Like It: vegetarian, high protein, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Leek Bread, Mini Cranberry Pot Pies

“This recipe takes a classic broccoli cheddar soup and transforms it into a heartier, stewy bean number,” writes Carolina Gelen of this recipe from her cookbook Pass the Plate: 100 Delicious, Highly Shareable, Everyday Recipes, adding that “[she] wanted to incorporate that comforting feel of a broccoli cheddar soup into something with more body and texture. Canned butter beans were the perfect addition…I love the way they hold their shape, even when simmered in a sauce.” (Psst: If you don’t have butter beans on hand, garbanzo beans or Great Northern beans make suitable substitutes.)

15. Creamy Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake

Nisha Vora

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Why I Like It: vegan, <500 calories, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8 people
• Pairs Well With: Stuffed Eggplant; Carrot, Fennel and Miso Soup

According to Chef Nisha Vora, recipe creator and author of The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook: Wholesome, Indulgent Plant-Based Recipes, “this is the ultimate winter comfort food.” And as far as vegetarian main dishes go, I’m inclined to agree—namely because the rich cashew cream, hearty lentils, and tender, caramelized vegetables combine to make a meal that truly leaves you wanting for nothing (including meat).

16. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Casserole

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Like It: high protein, kid-friendly, vegetarian-friendly
• Serves: 8 people
• Pairs Well With: Chopped Grilled Vegetable Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Rainbow Chard and Roasted Pine Nut Salad

Embrace your inner child with a casserole consisting of gooey grilled cheese sandwiches lightly dressed with creamy tomato soup. This is the kind of comfort food that will make the crowd go wild.

17. Mexican Street Corn Pizza

Love Bakes Good Cakes

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Like It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, <500 calories
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Grilled Avocado Caprese Salad, Mexican Caesar Salad

I first tasted this recipe at a friend’s house and immediately texted to find out the source. Since then, I have made it countless times for my family and still get regular requests for it because it’s just that good. Or in the words of Jamie Sherman of Love Bakes Good Cakes, “Elote Pizza is everything you love about elote piled onto a freshly baked pizza! Charred corn, chili powder, chipotle mayo, cilantro, and lots of cheese.” And believe me, there’s a lot to love. For what it’s worth, I don’t fuss with homemade pizza dough for this. I simply hit up the local pizzeria on my way home and buy some of their dough, but the kids have a lot of fun rolling it out and helping me get it in the pan.

18. Spaghetti Squash Primavera

Food Faith Fitness

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Why I Like It: low carb, vegetarian-friendly, <500 calories
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Molly Baz’s Pickle Chicken, Crispy Chicken Thighs over Vinegar Beans

Calling all carb-conscious eaters, this spaghetti squash primavera is a refreshing, gluten-free alternative to pasta. Even if you’re not concerned with carbs, a spaghetti squash twist on a favorite Italian dish is a nice departure from the ordinary, and it’s a breeze to make in either an Instant Pot or oven.

19. Cauliflower Soup with Coconut Turmeric and Lime

Happy Healthy Mama

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Like It: low sugar, low carb, vegetarian-friendly
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken, Turmeric White Fish with Peanuts and Chili-Lime Cucumber

Coconut, turmeric and lime are essential ingredients in many Southeast Asian dishes and it’s no surprise, since the flavor combination is truly dreamy. This comforting, creamy and brightly flavored vegetarian recipe is proof of that. For best results, I recommend being generous with the cilantro garnish, as it adds a beautiful, herbaceous note that really harmonizes with the rest of the ingredients.

High-Protein Dinners

20. Keto Sheet Pan Chicken with Rainbow Vegetables

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Like It: high protein, <500 calories, one pan
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Gluten-Free Cheese and Cauliflower 'Bread' Sticks, Baked Eggs and Zoodles with Avocado

A sesame oil and soy sauce marinade make for wonderfully seasoned chicken in this exceedingly quick and easy weeknight dinner. The rainbow-colored presentation of the perfectly fork-tender roast veggies is the icing on the cake and visually appealing enough that you might even get your kids to eat them. Best of all, the simplicity of this recipe can’t be beat—and because it only requires on pan, you won’t have to slave over a sink full of dishes, either.

21. Ina Garten's Tuscan Turkey Roulade

Quentin Bacon/Modern Comfort Food

• Time Commitment: 2 hours 20 minutes
• Why I Like It: <500 calories, low carb, high protein
• Serves: 10 people
• Pairs Well With: Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Herbed White Wine Sauce, Curried Parsnip-Apple Soup

“This turkey roulade is actually better if you assemble it in advance because the flavors—prosciutto, fennel seeds, garlic, fresh sage and rosemary—all permeate the turkey. This is classic comfort food with the volume turned up,” says Ina Garten of this recipe from her cookbook, Modern Comfort Food. I say it tastes like a top-notch Thanksgiving dinner…and that’s something to be grateful for at any time of year.

22. Anthony Porowski's Salmon and Spinach Rice Bowl with Green Tea Broth

Paul Brissman/Antoni: Let's Do Dinner

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Like It: high protein, low sugar, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Vegan Avocado Caesar Salad, Thai Veggie Salad

Bring the fresh and healthful cuisine of Japan to your kitchen with this recipe from Anthony Porowski’s cookbook,  Antoni: Let’s Do Dinner. If you’re taken aback by the idea of combining salmon and tea, allow Porowski to explain: At its most basic, this dish, known as ochazuke, is made by pouring hot green tea over rice. For a nourishing meal, I top the rice with broiled salmon (or arctic char) seasoned with sesame oil and then ladle over a tea and chicken broth blend. I prefer jasmine green tea, but you can use whatever green tea you like.” Indeed, the herbal notes from the savory green tea broth really take this rice bowl to the next level. If you’re looking to make your salmon dinners a little less snoozy, this one fits the bill.

23. Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Why I Like It: instant pot, high protein, low sugar
• Serves: 4 to 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Blistered Green Beans with Bacon Vinaigrette, Chilled Cucumber Salad

This Instant Pot recipe has all the creamy, hearty decadence of chicken pot pie without the fussy puff pastry. The pressure-cooking method yields a rich, deep flavor that would otherwise take several hours to accomplish and the simple dumpling recipe is totally foolproof.

24. Lemongrass-Ginger Coconut Grilled Steak

Chelsea Kyle/For the Table

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Why I Like It: high protein, low carb, low sugar, <500 calories
• Serves: 6 to 8 people
• Pairs Well With: Garlicky Spinach and Chickpea Soup, Coconut Creamed Spinach

Anna Stockwell’s lemongrass-ginger coconut grilled steak (from her cookbook, For the Table) is a flavor bomb that will pull anyone out of a boring dinner rut. The secret ingredient here is fish sauce, which adds tons of umami flavor. That said, it’s equally important that you cut the steak properly before serving: “Turn your section of skirt steak so that the stripes of the grain go side to side in front of you instead of up and down, and then slice it into strips through those stripes, which will mean you’re cutting it lengthwise,” Stockwell explains. Follow this advice for an oh-so tender treat.

25. Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Why I Like It: low carb, high protein, <500 calories
• Serves: 8 people
• Pairs Well With: Grapefruit Lime Spritzer, Spring Crudites with Romesco Sauce

“My family and I love enchiladas, and we wanted to do something that was a little healthier,” recipe developer Erin McDowell tells us. “By eliminating the tortillas, this version is super low carb. And it reheats really well, so you can make a big pan and eat them over several days.” It’s a meal prep must-have, honestly.

26. Salmon with Pesto and Blistered Tomatoes

Elizabeth Van Lierde & Abagail Halstead/Everyday Entertaining

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Like It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, Spring Panzanella Salad

This recipe from Everyday Entertaining by Elizabeth Van Lierde is a refreshing alternative to other tried (or should we say tired) and true salmon preparations. Best of all, this salmon dinner can be prepped ahead, making it an ideal and exceedingly easy weeknight dinner, as well as a go-to when you’re hosting. Don’t take my word for it, though: Van Lierde rights that “[her] favorite part about this dish is that [she] can prep everything the morning of, pop it into the refrigerator and bake it before people arrive. It’s the most unfussy, delicious meal that will leave everyone asking for the recipe.”

27. Steak Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Like It: gluten-free, high protein, low sugar
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Smoked Gouda and Scallion Mashed Potatoes, Skillet Cornbread with Cheddar and Scallions

Serve these colorful skewers up at a summer barbeque for a fool-proof meal that will please a crowd. And be sure to make extra chimichurri sauce because its kicky, herbaceous flavor profile will brighten up just about anything you throw on the grill.

28. Polenta Ragu Casserole

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Why I Like It: gluten-free, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Garlic Bread, Celery Salad with Walnuts and Pecorino

Another comfort food casserole, this take on lasagna features polenta instead of noodles, which means less fuss for the chef and just as much satisfaction for the guests. Oh, and did I mention that the meat ragu is truly divine and a total breeze to make, to boot?

29. Rotisserie Chicken Ramen

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Like It: beginner-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Green Pineapple Smoothie with Mint and Basil, Cantaloupe-Mint Sorbet

This isn’t the Maruchan ramen from your dorm room days, but you’ll be delighted to know that it doesn’t take much more effort to whip up this more sophisticated version of the classic Japanese noodle dish, thanks to a little shortcut in the form of store-bought rotisserie chicken. It’s also highly customizable. (I love cilantro and a fried egg in mine, but you do you.)

30. Low-Carb Keto Pho

Wholesome Yum

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Like It: gluten-free, high protein, <500 calories
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Spicy Sesame Cucumber Salad, Melon Salad with Chili Powder and Mint

Once you’re hooked on the above ramen recipe, you should branch out and experiment with some other Eastern-inspired soups. Here, the classic Vietnamese noodle soup pho is made keto-friendly with zoodles used in place of the traditional rice noodles. The recipe is perfect as written, but Maya Krampf of Wholesome Yum notes that “the toppings are all optional and personal preference, [so they] are not included in the 10 ingredients.” Feel free to play around and add extra toppings as you see fit.

31. Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

Carlsbad Cravings

• Time Commitment: 6 hours 5 minutes
• Why I Like It: slow cooker, kid-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Homemade Potato Chips, Creamy Kale Caesar Salad

I dip, you dip, we dip. Indeed, I am a sucker for a meaty French dip sandwich, and this recipe is beyond compare. The secret is that “the meat is cooked low and slow, sliced then put back in the slow cooker so it drinks up all the juices and becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender,” explains Jennifer Sattley of Carlsbad Cravings. The use of the slow cooker also means you can set it and forget it, and then come home to a very memorable meal.

32. Mahi Mahi in Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce

Carlsbad Cravings

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Like It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, high protein, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 to 5 people
• Pairs Well With: Asparagus Caesar Salad, Crispy Roasted Artichokes

Another winning dish from Carlsbad Cravings, but this time with seafood instead of steak. “The mahi mahi is spice-rubbed then pan-seared until golden then bathed in an intoxicating, creamy lemon, garlic sauce. It looks and tastes fancy but is super quick and easy to make,” writes Jennifer Sattley. I have a strong suspicion that this cream sauce is the kind you’d want to slurp from a spoon.

33. Salsa Verde Shredded Beef Bowls

The Defined Dish

• Time Commitment: 6 hours (slow cooker time)
• Why I Like It: instant pot, slow cooker, make ahead, gluten-free
• Serves: 4 people
• Pairs Well With: Corn and Tomato Salad with Feta and Lime, Marinated White Bean and Tomato Salad

“The Salsa Verde Shredded Beef is so savory and has such great flavor, you could serve it in so many ways: stuff it in a sweet potato or poblano pepper, in lettuce cups for tacos, or even over a taco-style salad. The possibilities are endless,” writes recipe developer Alex Snodgrass of The Defined Dish. And what better antidote to a dinner rut than a versatile dish, am I right?

34. Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry

The Modern Proper

• Time Commitment: 4 hours (slow cooker time)
• Why I Like It: gluten-free, dairy-free, slow cooker, <500 calories, instant pot
• Serves: 6 people
• Pairs Well With: Swedish Hasselback Potatoes, Biscuit Loaf with Honey Butter

Chicken thighs and rice? Chicken Parmesan? Boring. Spice things up with this innovative slow cooker curry, which relies on a combination of pumpkin, coconut milk and red curry paste to make an intoxicating curry base that’s sure to breathe new life into those snoozy chicken breasts you have hanging around in your freezer.

31 Toddler Dinner Ideas Your Picky Eater Might Actually Try

Whether you’re hitting the town for Valentine's Day, a first date or to celebrate a big anniversary, ambiance is everything. And with Yelp’s list of the top 100 most romantic restaurants to try in 2026, you never have to leave it to chance again. To curate this list, the experts at Yelp "identified businesses in the restaurant category, then ranked those spots based on the volume and ratings of reviews given by Yelp Elite Squad members," an exclusive, application-only community made up of active, high-quality Yelp reviewers. With picks spanning the entire country, Yelp narrowed it down to the 100 most swoon-worthy eateries that are actually worth leaving your house for.

So go on, make that reservation, slip into something sexy and scootch on over to your forever boo (or new boo) for a romantic dinner you won't soon forget.

60 Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas That Feel Fancy (but Not Cheesy)

Here, 13 game day-worthy recipes that are just as epic as Drake Maye's touchdown passes—and celebrate New England's robust food scene.

1. Shrimp Boil Skewers with Corn, Sausage and Potatoes

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 servings

Ah, tastes like a New England summer. Skewers make this meal easy for guests to grab and snack on as they watch the big game. (You may still want to line the table with newspaper—or a disposable tablecloth—to catch any garlic butter drippings.)

2. Mini Lobster Rolls

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8 servings

Are you team mayo or team butter? These mini rolls go the mayo route, with a nice tanginess from a combination of lemon juice and Dijon mustard.

3. Easy Clam Chowder

Damn Delicious

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, one pot
• Serves: 6 (12-18 if serving as apps/shooters)

Don’t forget the bacon garnish. You can serve it by the bowl or turn it into an easy app by serving it in small ramekins (like this chic ceramic set) or disposable shooters.

4. Blueberry Crumble Pie

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 10

If you really want to lean into the theme, there's no better dessert to serve than a fresh-baked pie loaded with wild Maine blueberries.

5. Lobster Mac and Cheese 

foodie crush

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd pleaser
• Serves: 8

Lobster is a New England staple, but it can get pricey, fast. This recipe helps stretch it out. Not to mention it's loaded with gooey cheese. Who can resist that?

6. Boston Cream Blondies

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 12

Boston Cream Pie is excellent, but these blondies offer a fresh twist that's easier to serve and share. If the thought of making custard from scratch freaks you out, you can substitute vanilla pudding. I won't tell.

7. Potato Chip-Crusted Fish and Chips

half baked harvest

• Time Commitment: 4 hours, 10 minutes (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4

Consider this pub food at its finest. You could skip the minted mashed peas, but I highly recommend whipping up the Spicy Blue Cheese Remoulade; it adds a zingy, tangy kick that livens up the whole meal.

8. Cranberry Crisp 

gimme some oven

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan (if using coconut oil), gluten-free, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8 to 10

If you're not into blueberries, why not honor the Massachusetts state crop instead? Or serve both and let people pick sides? After all, they're betting on everything else during the game.

9. Garlic Herb Butter Parker House Rolls

how sweet eats

• Time Commitment: 2 hours, 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

These pillowy, buttery rolls are a true crowd-pleaser. Just note that you'll have to budget in a little extra time to make them, since you'll need to let the dough rise for about an hour and a half to two hours before baking.

10. Linguine with Clams

the defined dish

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4 to 5

Maybe you're not into wings and pigs in a blanket. Maybe you want a classier affair for your Super Bowl party. If that's the case, make this. It comes together quickly with minimal effort; just make sure to de-sand the clams so they don't taste gritty.

11. Chocolate Chip Banana Fluffernutter Sandwich Cookies

half-baked harvest

Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser

Serves: 18

Fluffernutter—that combo of peanut butter and Marshmallow creme—is considered a New England classic. And just when you thought you couldn't improve upon a classic, Half-Baked Harvest takes peanut butter-banana chocolate chip cookies and sandwiches them between homemade marshmallow.

12. Brown Sugar Baked Beans (Boston-Style)

pinch of yum

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

You can't have a Patriots party spread without Boston Baked Beans! Skip the canned stuff in favor of homemade. These are smoky, sweet and creamy all at once. 

13. Mini Cinnamon Apple Tarts

katherine gillen

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Eight ingredients (many of which are probably in your pantry already) stand between you and this knockout Super Bowl snack. The key is cutting a little rectangle into each piece of puff pastry before adding the layer of apple slices. "This keeps the buttery layers of pastry from puffing up in the middle of the tarts, so they come out of the oven looking just as neat and tidy as when they went in," says former Senior Food Editor Katherine Gillen.

40 Fancy Appetizers That Are Secretly Really Easy to Make

As the Seattle Seahawks gear up to take on the New England Patriots on Super Bowl Sunday (which is Feb. 8, BTW), you’ll want to be well-fueled to cheer on your team. What better way to do just that than with a spread that pays homage to the Emerald City? This mix of appetizers, mains, sides, drinks and desserts will keep your spirits high no matter what the game brings.

1. Salmon Burgers

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

Salmon is a Seattle staple, and on game day, there’s no better way to savor it than as a hearty burger. If you don’t have a food processor, you can finely chop the meat with a chef’s knife (though the former will make things much easier). The slaw adds a nice crunch, and I’d recommend slathering each bun with a mix of mayo, a pinch of garlic powder and squeeze of lemon juice to really ramp up the flavor.

2. Seattle-Style Hot Dogs

Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8 to 10

If you haven’t had a Seattle-style hot dog, you’re in for a treat. The bun is toasted and smeared with cream cheese, then topped with a frank and grilled onions. Those are the non-negotiables, though you can also add sauerkraut, jalapeños, mustard—or honestly, whatever toppings speak to your soul.

3. Dutch Baby Pancake

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner friendly, crowd pleaser
• Serves: 4

Fun fact: Based off of a German dish called Pannenkoeken, the Dutch Baby as we know it was born in Seattle in the early 1900s. Manca’s, a diner that closed in the 1950s, is largely credited with popularizing the dinner plate-sized treat, and thankfully, it’s pretty easy to make at home. Top it however you like and serve it by the slice to everyone at your watch party.

4. Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 6 hours, 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, slow cooker dinner, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4 (as an entrée)

Slow cookers are the real MVP of game day. Put yours to great use with this easy entrée. While true Seattle-style chicken teriyaki features chicken pieces that are marinated overnight then grilled, you’ll get a similar effect from this dish slow-cooking all day. Serve it over rice or in lettuce cups, if you’re looking to add something green to your Super Bowl spread.

5. Slow Cooker Spiked Cinnamon Lattes

Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 3 hours, 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

If you were contemplating buying a second slow cooker, this might push you over the edge. (Because how can you choose between chicken teriyaki and these spiked lattes?!) This big batch cocktail will warm people up and prevents you from playing bartender all night, so you can actually catch the game (and just as importantly, the commercials).

6. Everything Bagel Pigs in a Blanket

katherine gillen

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8 to 10

Pigs in a blanket are a game day must-have but topping them with everything bagel seasoning truly takes things to the next level. The cheater’s aioli adds a nice tanginess to offset the buttery, savory app (and frankly, you could make a double batch to use on the salmon burgers).

7. Baked Mac and Cheese Bites

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: beginner friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 48 bites

You could buy a few trays of Beecher’s Mac and Cheese and call it a day, but if you’re looking for a fun riff on the Seattle staple, try this app. The mac and cheese bites are baked in a mini muffin tray, making them ultra-portable and shareable. I recommend serving them with ranch or hot honey drizzled on top for added flavor (and flair).

8. Hot Honey Glazed Salmon

Kristin Teig/The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

If salmon burgers don’t speak to you, try this swicy take on seafood. This recipe shows you how to make hot honey from scratch (which requires just four ingredients and about 10 minutes’ time), but you could totally substitute store-bought. (I’m a big fan of Melinda’s.)

9. Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: one bowl recipe, beginner friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12

C’mon, you can’t talk about Seattle without talking about coffee. These cookies use instant espresso powder to get their java-infused flavor, and I highly recommend following recipe developer Erin McDowell’s advice to use chopped chocolate instead of chips for melty ribbons of cocoa throughout every bite.

10. Instant Pot Vegan Pho

Nisha Vora/The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, Instant Pot recipe
• Serves: 4 (as an entrée)

Seattle is known for its excellent pho, but if you’re too far away to order takeout, you might as well make a bowl at home. The Instant Pot speeds up your overall cook time, so you can whip this up an hour before the party, instead of babysitting the simmering broth all day.

11. Crispy Tofu Bánh Mì

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 36 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 (as an entrée)

OK, maybe slurping bowls of pho seems a little too messy for your rowdy crew. Or maybe you’re looking for something to pair with it. Choose this tofu bánh mì. You can halve the sandwiches—or form them as sliders—to turn them into an app or serve them as is for a hearty main. With its crisp breading and vinegar-y veggies, even the hardcore carnivores among your group won’t miss meat.

12. Loaded Baked Potato ‘Chips’

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, gluten free, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6 to 8

As much as I love a loaded baked potato, I love this one-bite variety even more. Salty, cheesy, bacon-y—they’re impossible to resist. Plus, they’re impressive with minimal effort on your part.

13. Mini Cinnamon Apple Tarts

katherine gillen

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Hey, something the Seahawks and Patriots have in common: Both hail from regions known for their apples. (FWIW, Washington produces the most apples out of any state in the country.) You can nerd out and share that fact with everyone at your party as you serve these easy tarts, but they’ll probably be too distracted by the game—and stuffing these down their gullets—to notice. That’s fine. The end result is still delicious, and you’re the hero who brought them to the party.

68 Easy Finger Food Appetizers Everyone Will Love

70 Simple, Delicious School Lunch Ideas That Even the Pickiest Eaters Will Love

Pasta Recipes

1. Easy One-Pan Baked Ziti

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Nothing tops cozying up to a gooey, meaty bowl of pasta—and we're betting your picky eaters will agree. Pancetta and Italian sausage keep things flavorful and savory, but you can nix them (and double the fresh mozz) to make it taste milder.

2. Roasted Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Replace half of the noodles with roasted cauliflower, and you've got a healthy-ish main dish that everyone in the family will devour. Don't worry though: It's still topped with plenty of Parm, butter and panko.

3. BLT Pasta Salad

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Hello, summer meal of our dreams. We love using mafaldine pasta, elbows or lasagna noodles cut into squares to make this crowd-pleaser finger food-friendly for tiny hands.

4. Fettuccine with Butter and Cheese

5 Boys Baker

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
• Serves: 6 to 8

A three-ingredient toddler dinner idea that’s guaranteed to please everyone in the family—what can go wrong? Best of all, it’s ready in 15 minutes flat. Bring on the Parm.

5. One-Pot Mac and Cheese

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Can we tell you a secret? You don’t have to drain the pasta, or even boil a separate pot of water. Just cook it in milk and voilà: There’s only one dirty dish to clean. Add pepperoni, spinach, mushrooms or any mix-ins your toddler will actually eat.

6. One-Pan Spaghetti and Meatballs

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Dinner on the table in 30 minutes? Check. Only one dirty dish to wash? Check. Spaghetti that stays on the plate instead of all over the floor? Can’t win 'em all, friend. Sub Alfredo sauce or pesto for red sauce if your kid isn't a fan.

7. Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Robert Bredvad/The Secret Ingredient Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 23 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

Everyone loves pesto, and this sneaky version is an excellent way to introduce the broccoli that your toddler would otherwise snub. There’s no broccoli flavor in the finished dish, just the regular fresh basil flavor and copious amounts of cheese you would find in a traditional pesto, plus the addition of green olives for a little extra saltiness. (Don’t worry, your kid won’t know about the olives, either.)

8. Homemade Spaghettios with Crunchy Manchego

How Sweet Eats

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 2

Tiny pasta and tomato sauce has been pleasing toddlers for decades. Try this homemade version for a slightly elevated version that will please adult palates, too. The cooking process really isn’t much more involved than cooking up the canned stuff, and the crispy Manchego cheese garnish complements the sauce perfectly.

Vegetarian Recipes

9. Baking Sheet Quesadillas

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, vegetarian, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Need to get a toddler dinner idea on the table as quickly as possible? Your tot will be happily eating in 30 minutes flat, thanks to this oversized quesadilla. Pair it with all the store-bought fixings for minimal effort, like salsa and guacamole.

10. French Toast Sticks

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 4

Step away from the freezer aisle, friend. These dunkable, cinnamon-kissed strips are super easy to prepare at home (and you can totally sneak in some whole-grain bread without the kids noticing).

11. Gluten-Free Cheesy Cauliflower Patties

Cauliflower

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

He’s always asking for tater tots, right? This spud-free toddler dinner idea is pretty similar, but it's made with cauliflower and baked in the oven instead of fried. That’s a win-win for both of you, if you ask us.

12. Easy Margherita Pizza

Spend with Pennies

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4 to 6

Our suggestion: Make it easy on yourself by skipping the homemade dough and grab a ball from the grocery store. (Or better yet, ask your local pizza shop if they’ll let you buy a few and keep them in the freezer until you need one.)

13. Coconut Flour Pancakes

Cotter Crunch

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 3 to 6

This short stack is secretly healthy, thanks to a banana, apple cider vinegar, coconut flour and almond milk (and nope, no sugar). So go ahead, let your toddler pour the syrup on herself.

14. Vegan Arancini

Vegan in the House

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 4

Pop quiz: What’s even better than a cheesy rice ball? Answer: A fried cheesy rice ball. They're best made with day-old risotto. On the inside, you'll find plant-based mozz and peas.

15. Mini Potato and Carrot Quiche Cups

Inspiralized

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
• Serves: 12

These potato and carrot quiche cups look fancy enough to serve to adults and toddlers alike at a party. Best of all, they’re gluten-free, thanks to an inventive potato crust, which delivers all the nutrients without the wheat. Plus, the combination of extra cheesy potatoes and fluffy eggs basically guarantee your kid won’t even notice the carrots.

16. Delicata Squash Rings with Garlic-Lemon Sauce

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 8

Forget onion rings: These crispy oven-baked squash rings are about to become your toddler's new favorite finger food. (And if she hates the lemon dipping sauce, ketchup and honey mustard are fine substitutes.)

17. Triple-Decker Grilled Cheese

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 2

When you were a kid, you ate Kraft singles on white bread. Kick things up a notch with sourdough and three types of cheese (mozzarella, cheddar and goat) that your toddler is basically guaranteed to love.

Protein-Rich Recipes

18. Baked Quinoa Chicken Nuggets

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 6

Your kid’s favorite food is chicken nuggets (and sure, you’ve been known to steal a few). But they aren’t typically the most nutritious meal—unless they’ve been breaded with quinoa and baked in the oven, that is. Serve them with honey mustard, ketchup and barbecue sauce.

19. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no cook
• Serves: 6

Don't make sandwiches for supper—make boats. Trust us, your family will thank you. (The store-bought rotisserie chicken is the shortcut you'll be grateful for.) Omit the scallions to make these even more toddler-friendly.

20. Italian Deli Pinwheel Sandwiches

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no cook
• Serves: 6

Salami, pepperoni, prosciutto and provolone await in these meal prep-worthy sammies. But you can sub in turkey or ham (or use nothing but cheese) as needed to satisfy your high-maintenance eater.

21. Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

It’s never too early to introduce your kiddo to international cuisine (but maybe save the chopsticks lessons for when she’s a little older). Serve the chicken with white rice, over noodles or on soft buns.

22. Mozzarella Meatball Frittata

Secrets of Great Second Meals

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein
• Serves: 4

When it comes to toddler dinner ideas, breakfast food is always an easy win. Toss the leftovers you have on hand into a frittata (along with any less-than-stellar produce hiding in your fridge) and let her feast.

23. Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Your toddler never met a chicken finger she didn’t like. This more nutritious baked spin on the classic is no exception (especially when you pair it with honey mustard, ranch dressing or sweet barbecue sauce).

24. Homemade Baked Fish Sticks

Ambitious Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, beginner-friendly, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

SEO Editor Marissa Wu says you can’t go wrong with this easy recipe: “I was an au pair back in the day, and I can't remember a single kid who turned down a fish stick. Even I can't turn one down! Crispy, hot and honestly, homemade is great but if you feel like doing premade frozen ones, no one will complain." Pair it with tartar sauce for a more adventurous toddler or just stick with ketchup. Heck, they’re even tasty plain.

25. Grain-Free Chicken Nuggets

40 Aprons

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

Put a twist on classic chicken nuggets with this delicious recipe that also includes a copycat Chick-Fil-A sauce. By using coconut flour in the breading, these guys are naturally gluten-free. Plus, they're marinated in pickle juice for extra flavor.

26. Mini Chicken and Waffles

ERIN MCDOWELL

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 12+

These well-seasoned pieces of fried chicken go perfectly with impressively fluffy homemade waffles. Play to your toddler's sweet tooth by coating the waffles in cinnamon sugar for good measure.

27. Pancake Tacos with Cheese and Bacon

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 4

Show us a toddler who doesn't love a food shaped like another food. Enter "pacos," aka pancake tacos stuffed with bacon, eggs and cheese. The recipe calls for a drizzle of hot sauce, but syrup works just as well.

28. BLT Galette

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Pie crust is always welcome at your toddler's high chair. You can save a ton of time in prep by opting for the store-bought kind instead of making your own dough. With all that bacon, we're sure your tot won't mind.

29. Miso-Honey Broiled Chicken

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes (plus marinating time)
• Why I Love It: high protein, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Don't let the umami-rich miso deter you: Its funk is tamed just right with a mix of rich butter and sweet honey. Boneless, skin-on chicken offers crisp, succulent fattiness to every bite, but you can use skinless pieces if you'd prefer.

30. Leftover Pasta Frittata

Andrew Bui/Let's Eat

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 2 to 4

Last night's noodles can be transformed into a protein-packed, delightfully cheesy toddler dinner idea in a mere 15 minutes. Long pasta is ideal here (think spaghetti, fettuccine or bucatini), but elbows or penne will work in a pinch.

31. Sweet Potato Noodle Ham and Cheese Cups

Inspiralized

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten-free, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Bust out the spiralizer (or try this peeler hack) to make these puppies. Then sit back and watch as your children start asking for them on repeat. If your toddler doesn’t like ham, you can substitute bacon, or just omit the meat completely—the point is that you will get your picky eater to enjoy a seasonal vegetable by disguising it as cheesy spaghetti in muffin form.

32. Sweet Potato, Broccoli and Bacon Egg Muffins

Kirsten Buck/Buck Naked Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, gluten-free
• Serves: 12

Here, another savory muffin that will get your toddler to eat their veggies. The secret to the big flavor here is adding a little salsa to the mix, but obviously you would be wise to choose a very mild one. Beyond that, I love that the recipe is so customizable. As long as you don’t forget the bacon, you can swap the sweet potato and broccoli for whatever veggies you have on hand.

58 Toddler Lunch Ideas Even the Pickiest Eaters Will Love

Whatever your deal is, if you're looking for easy snacks to make at home, you've come to the right place. I practically wrote the book on the topic (actually, it's called The Easy College Cookbook, but the premise is similar). You don't need serious culinary skills or fancy equipment to tackle these sweet and savory treats; just a few minutes and a handful of ingredients.

These recipes are divided into three tiers, based on just how simple they are to throw together:

23 Snack Mix Recipes You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

Level 1: "So Easy You Don't Really Need a Recipe" Snacks

1. Prosciutto-Wrapped Cantaloupe

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4 to 6

This is my favorite deceptively-easy-yet-impressively-elegant snack. Take prosciutto, wrap it around slices of cantaloupe and drizzle with balsamic glaze. It's salty! It's sweet! It's refreshing and tangy too!

The only way you can mess this up is by leaving the rind on the cantaloupe before wrapping it, so uh, don't do that.

2. Chocolate-Strawberry Energy Bites

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 24 bites

You're craving a chocolate-covered strawberry but want something a little healthier—and a bit more filling. That's where these oat-and-nut-butter-based bites come in. I use crunchy peanut butter, but you could easily substitute Sunbutter or almond butter, if preferred.

Freeze-dried strawberries add a slight crunch and burst of tartness that complements the rich dark chocolate nicely.

3. Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

Taryn Pire

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2

This salty, savory gem with a glass of wine? Swoon. If using a spoon to mash the minced garlic with melted butter feels too involved, you could always substitute 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder instead. Layer in crushed red pepper flakes for added kick.

4. Lemon-y Avocado Toast

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 13 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1

The year was 2016 and...If the Instagram trend is making you seriously nostalgic (or you just want a filling snack that pairs well with a latte), look no further. Toast a slice of bread, top with mashed avocado, salt, pepper and spritz of lime, and consider the 3 o'clock slump conquered.

Oh, and if you're feeling extra fancy, you can click through to the recipe to learn how to make your own chili oil to drizzle on top for an added kick. But a pinch of red pepper flakes also gets the job done.

5. 15-Minute Mezze Plate with Toasted Za’atar Pita Bread

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4

This beauty is practically no-cook, since all the recipe calls for is toasting the pita in a skillet. The rest is all store-bought ingredients, like hummus, marinated artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers. Assemble the spread across four plates and wash it all down with a glass of white wine.

6. Ritz Crackers with Whipped Honey Ricotta and Bacon

Taryn Pire

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2

Level up your cheese and crackers with this salty-sweet dip. It was designed specifically for midnight snacking, so there are no stand mixers or fancy appliances required—just a little elbow grease (although you can easily mix the cheese and fry the bacon ahead of time).

7. Roasted Veggie Chips

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegan
• Serves: 6

You? Making your own veggie chips? Heck yes you can. While some may recommend a mandoline for thin, even slices, I would suggest using the slicing portion of a box grater or slicing these with a knife to keep things simple. From there, you're just tossing the vegetables with salt and herbs (but just salt is fine too, if that's all you have!) and roasting in a 400-degree oven until crispy.

8. Crudi-Tots Platter

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, vegan
• Serves: 6

Initially conceived as part of a snack spread for a Return to Hogwarts-themed back-to-school party, this crudi-tot platter is so easy to whip up I'm surprised I haven't made it more often. It's as simple as heating tater tots according to the package's instructions, then serving them alongside a range of chopped veggies and dips.

When it comes to dips, to quote Ina Garten, "store-bought is fine," and I'm particularly fond of using Bitchin' Sauce (for a nutty, umami vibe), Good Foods Cucumber Feta Dip (for a crisp, refreshing note) and Athenos Mango Jalapeño Whipped Feta Dip (for a swangy element).

9. Easy Homemade Pickles

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 48 hours (includes chilling time)
• Why I Love It: vegan, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4

Yes, these homemade pickles require two days to make—but they ask almost nothing of you. If you can boil water, you can make these, and they'll be crisper and fresher-tasting than anything you snag at the store.

10. Italian Deli Pinwheels

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: no-cook, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

You could follow this recipe exactly, or you could consider it general guidelines. As long as you have flour tortillas and a spread, you can pair it with whatever veggies, thinly sliced meat and cheese you have on hand. Lettuce, hummus and roasted peppers make for an excellent vegan snack; turkey, cheese and mayo are practically guaranteed to win over even the pickiest eaters. You do you.

12. Cinnamon Roll Snowmen

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 22 to 24 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 5

OK, OK, this is less of a recipe to make than a craft you can eat. Just unravel the outermost ring of each piece of store-bought cinnamon roll dough, then roll that bit up to form the "head" of each snowman. Bake according to the package's instructions, and once cool, get to decorating however you see fit. It's never been more fun to build a snowman.

13. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Blueberry Cauliflower Smoothie

The Clean Plate

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
• Serves: 1

No bananas, no problem. Adding cauliflower to boost this smoothie’s creaminess in lieu of the popular fruit might just be the best thing GP’s ever done. Mix the recipe up with whatever berries or greens you have on hand; let your overstuffed crisper drawer be your guide.

14. Ants on a Log

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 2

This is a timeless, easy snack idea that soothes my inner child. It's even simple enough for kids to make on their own (hint, hint). Crunchy peanut butter is definitely ideal for texture, but creamy is fine for your picky eater. "You can also swap almond butter or another nut—or nutless—butter, and dried cranberries or cherries can replace the raisins…or go wild with carrot sticks, hummus and pine nuts for an entirely new take," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen suggests.

15. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free
• Serves: 4

This low-effort, high-nutrient snack idea is everything. Get creative with the spices you use (the recipe suggests a shawarma seasoning mix or curry powder, for starters), and make sure to toast them for the full 30 minutes. This ensures a shatteringly delicious crunch.

16. Rainbow Snack Mix

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It:  no cook, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

I first dreamed this recipe up as part of a Barbie party, but this snack mix can work for any gathering—or any time you're craving a dopamine boost (and a lil' treat). I swirled pink gel food coloring into melted white chocolate, but you could get a similar effect using crushed, freeze-dried strawberries in white chocolate or melting wafers. As for the mix-ins, go wild: pretzels! Chex! Roasted nuts! Dried berries! Why limit yourself?

17. Watermelon Salsa

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It:  <30 minutes, no cook, gluten free, vegan, low sugar
• Serves: 6

I'm always in the mood for the sweet and spicy flavors of this summer starter. "This is a medium-hot salsa, but it all depends on how spicy your peppers are," Gillen says. "Feel free to adjust the heat to taste, using more or less jalapeño—and omitting the cayenne—for a milder or hotter flavor."

18. Baked Bananas

Food Faith Fitness

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free
• Serves: 2

This sweet yet all-natural snack idea is great for kids and grown-ups alike. Once the bananas are finished, feel free to slather on your nut butter of choice (or fine, melted chocolate) before digging in.

19. One-Ingredient Watermelon Sorbet

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 4 hours (includes freezing time)
• Why I Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Have a watermelon on your hands? Make this frozen dessert that is 100 percent fruit and lasts for weeks in your freezer (if you don’t eat it all in one sitting, that is). "I think seeded watermelons have better flavor, but if you can't be bothered with seeds, pick one that's seedless," recipe developer Erin McDowell suggests.

20. Peach Prosciutto Sandwiches

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein, dairy free
• Serves: 1

This simple snack could easily turn into a meal, and I'm not opposed to it. The rosemary really elevates the salty-sweet flavor, but you can just as easily omit it if you don't have any handy.

To make this snack even easier to whip up, you could skip grilling it on a skillet and instead pop it in the toaster oven and warm until the cheese is a bit melty.

21. Salted Peanut Butter Cup Smoothie

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein, dairy free
• Serves: 1

Replace your candy bar cravings with this smoothie that mimics everything that’s great about a peanut butter cup, from the chocolatey cocoa powder to the flaky sea salt. The vanilla almond milk adds another layer of dessert-inspired flavor to the sipper that you'll adore.

22. Broiler S’mores

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

No tent or campfire necessary—these s'mores are sofa-friendly and just as good as the real thing. "The 'mallows will be toasty and the chocolate melted just enough without all the fuss," former PureWow food editor Heath Goldman writes. Because the broiler works quickly, keep an eye on the marshmallows while they're toasting.

Level 2: If You Can Use a Microwave, You Can Make These Easy Snacks

23. Golden Oreo Truffles

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes (includes chill time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 24 to 30 truffles

I've been making Oreo truffles since college, and the recipe is so easy I've memorized it—and you can too. You can buy any flavor of Oreos you'd like, toss 'em in a gallon-size resealable bag and smash them to crumbs (or use a food processor, if you have one), and then combine it with an 8-ounce block of cream cheese. (Let it come to room temperature before mixing the two, so you don't have to fight to combine it.)

You'll create a basic dough, which you can roll into one-inch balls and dip into melted chocolate. The end result is so fudgy and decadent—like a no-bake cheesecake dough ball—that I've had friends ask me to make them for birthdays, bridal showers and other parties...even though they're about as basic as can be.

24. Petite Pork Wellingtons

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 23 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy-free, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 20 pieces

What's that? These are just pigs in a blanket, only presented differently? You are correct, but c'mon, how fun is that name? People can't help but grin when they hear it. Puff pastry gives these dogs a flakier exterior that's more akin to beef Wellington's wrapper, but Crescent roll dough offers a buttery alternative.

25. Sweet Potato Fries

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

After thinly slicing the sweet spuds, all you need to do is oil them up, toss them in herbs and seasoning and bake to crispy perfection. They're so easy they've become a go-to weeknight side in my household. My kids love them with ketchup, but I like to mix a little mayo, lime juice, salt and pepper and create a tangy crema for dipping. (Garlic aioli is another great option.)

26. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Muffins

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 25 to 28 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 16

You're six ingredients away from a great snack, with plenty leftover for breakfast the next day. I've been making these pumpkin muffins since college—all you need is spice cake mix and pumpkin puree—but the Cinnamon Toast Crunch topping is a new addition, and it really takes things to the next level. (And all you have to do is toss brown sugar, rolled oats and crushed cereal with melted butter and sprinkle it on top before baking.)

27. Jammy Soft-Boiled Eggs

i am a food blog

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, one pot, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Sometimes, an impeccably cooked egg just...hits the spot. This high-protein, easy snack idea takes mere minutes to make—and seconds to scarf down. Serve them with rice, savory oatmeal, toast sticks or as is. (I'd have them solo with a few dashes of hot sauce.)

28. Pizza Trail Mix

Kristin Teig/Mostly Veggies

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 8

Sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning come together to emulate pizza in this zesty snack mix. And if you're making it ahead for a road trip, hiking excursion or another event, you're in luck: It'll keep for up to a week, unlike actual pizza. "Most trail mixes are packed with dried fruit and tend to have a lot of sugar, but this one has only 3 grams per serving," recipe creator Brittany Mullins adds.

29. Peanut Toffee Chocolate Clusters

Brown Sugar Mama

• Time Commitment: 1 hour (including chill time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 24

Sweet-and-salty snack fans will love these ridiculously easy candies, which are prime for noshing and gifting alike. With just four ingredients and about ten minutes of work, you’ll have a pile of them to store for whenever you need a sweet treat.

30. Roasted Chickpeas

Gimme Some Oven

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegan, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
• Serves: 6

A healthy alternative to grains, chickpeas crisp up nicely and are snackable by the handful. Get creative with the spices—the ones in the recipe (sumac! smoked paprika! garlic!) are only a suggestion, so feel free to riff to your heart's content.

31. Chocolate Granola

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6

This granola hits that sweet spot between snack and dessert, thanks to a hearty mix of brown sugar, oats, chocolate chunks and almonds. Eat it by the handful or with milk. Just make sure it cools before adding the chocolate, so the individual chunks don't melt.

32. Easy Cherry Almond Granola Bars

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 12

You'll never buy granola bars again once you see how easy it is to make your own. These are pretty nutritious, but that shouldn't stop you from finishing them with a drizzle of chocolate. Since there are 12 bars per batch, you can share them with your coworkers...or eat them all yourself in a week or two.

33. Tater Tot Nachos

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 6

This tray of loaded tots is serving big snack energy. "Tortilla chips are great and all, but crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside potatoes just so happen to be an ideal base for nacho toppings, like spicy chorizo and melty cheese," Gillen asserts. "Add your favorite salsa, a drizzle of sour cream, some scallions, pickled onions and cilantro."

34. Spicy Avocado Hummus

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, vegan, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <30 minutes
• Serves: 8

Part guacamole and part hummus, this party dip is a fabulous collaboration for the indecisive. (And yes, you can dip both pita and tortilla chips into this photogenic chickpea snack.) Consider adding extra cayenne or a drizzle of hot sauce if you have a hankering for spice.

35. Five-Ingredient Golden Milk Snack Bites

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: no cook, gluten free, vegan
• Serves: 12

Cashew butter is the base for these creamy, sweet, turmeric-filled bites. Melted coconut butter can double as frosting, if you're feeling decadent, but I recommend rolling them in toasted coconut flakes for texture and a pretty aesthetic. They're worth making an extra batch, trust me.

36. Fresh Fruit Ice Pops

Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 3 hours (includes freezing time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, no cook, no bake
• Serves: 10

Don't let the prep time deter you: It's almost entirely hands-off. Even better, this treat is naturally colored instead of infused with artificial dyes. Once you've obtained your fruit juices and molds, the work is halfway done. You can just chill until the ice pops are...well, chilled.

37. Thick Italian Hot Chocolate

LAUREN VOLO/AT MY ITALIAN TABLE

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

I relish sipping this cozy bev from my favorite mug every chance I get, but this version is so rich that you'll need a utensil to enjoy it. Swap in semisweet or milk chocolate for bittersweet to make it sweeter and more kid-friendly, or omit the cornstarch to keep it drinkable. 

38. Roasted Edamame

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 6

If you have a bag of edamame in your freezer, you essentially have everything you need to prepare this vitamin-packed finger food. The recipe makes four to six servings (although I wouldn't blame you for not sharing). Smoked paprika and lemon zest will bring every bite to life.

39. Buffalo Chicken Brie Bites

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 38 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 24 pieces

Brie is normally paired with honey and berries for a sweet-tart effect, but its buttery base is a delightfully mellow counterpart to Buffalo chicken. This is one of my go-to Super Bowl/watch party recipes, and I'll usually boil a couple chicken breasts in advance to shred and use the day of. However, if you want to save some time, you can grab a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store and use it instead.

If you're not into brie, you can use pearl mozzarella or chunks of string cheese instead.

Level 3: Simple-Yet-Impressive Snacks

40. Cajun Shrimp Guacamole Bites

Joyful Healthy Eats

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten-free, Paleo-friendly, Whole30-approved
• Serves: 30

Although it's difficult not to eat all of the components before they come together, the assembled bites are certainly a drool-worthy sight to behold. Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning if necessary, and if cilantro is a point of contention, go ahead and leave it out.

Oh, and if you want to save yourself some time and buy store-bought guac, I won't judge. (I'll applaud.)

41. Grilled Cheese Crostini

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

These two-bite cuties are the best easy snack idea for when you’re contemplating your next meal. Brie and bread make it filling, while fresh mint and balsamic strawberries fancy it up just a touch. You'll need to fire up the grill—or grab a grill pan—to bring this baby to life, but this recipe is otherwise pretty straightforward.

And, honestly, you don't have to be confined to the recipe. Mix up the toppings if you're feeling a different fruit or condiment (peaches and honey, perhaps?). Make it your own.

42. Sourdough with Whipped Cottage Cheese and Raspberry Chia Jam

Maria Siriano/The Probiotic Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

You deserve a fancy toast. In fact, you deserve many fancy toasts. Start your snacking on the right foot with this one, which is pretty enough to serve at brunch yet easy enough to tackle on a random weekday. (Yes, you're making the jam from scratch, but it takes minutes to prepare on the stovetop.)

Sprinkle it with extra lemon zest for an Insta-worthy finishing touch.

43. Mini Yogurt Cheesecakes

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 20

Greek yogurt makes up most of the filling for these sweet cuties, so yes, they’re a healthy-ish snack. Cheesecake may seem intimidating, but not this version—there's no fussing with a water bath here. You partially bake the graham cracker crust in a muffin tin, top it with the filling and bake. The hardest part is waiting as they sit in the refrigerator to firm up before serving.

44. Vegan Banana Bread

The Almond Eater

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, vegan
• Serves: 12

Walnuts and sweet bananas add so much texture to this snackable bread. It's bound by a flax egg, which is not as complicated an egg substitute as you may think. Once it's cooled, slather some slices with plant-based butter or Nutella.

45. Smoky, Savory Fire Crackers

How Sweet Eats

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Dress up a regular pack of saltines with this easy snack recipe that makes the plain crackers equal parts sweet, spicy and crispy. Be sure to coat them generously, but not drown them—there's nothing worse than a soggy snack that's supposed to be crunchy.

46. 3-Ingredient Shredded Chicken Flautas

Dude That Cookz

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, crowd pleaser
• Serves: 6

Imagine noshing on a crispy, hot chicken flauta while curled up with the latest Netflix drop and your bev of choice. Yeah—it's totally doable. You only need three ingredients: rotisserie chicken, flour tortillas and cheese. (Oh, and lots of sour cream and salsa for dipping, of course.)

47. Homemade Cheese Crackers

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 3

These Cheez-Its replicas are easier to make than you'd expect, and you can customize the type of cheese you use to suit your palate (although I'm sold on a mix of freshly grated cheddar and aged Parmesan). When you're done making them, store them in an airtight container for up to a week.

48. Grated Egg Toast

candace davison

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, filling
• Serves: 1

TikTok trends come and go as fast as you can scroll, but some are worth an extended look, like the grated egg toast obsession. It earned level-three-easy-snack status because you've got to boil and peel the eggs before shaving them to bits with a grater, but the added effort is worth it. The light, fluffy texture is a nice contrast to the hearty bread and mashed avocado base.

25 Healthy Midnight Snacks for Late Night Munching

To keep your rotation feeling fresh, we’ve pulled together 14 kid-friendly pasta recipes that everyone in your family will love (especially the ones who refuse to eat pretty much anything else).

17 Healthy Dinners For Kids (That They’ll Actually Eat)

1. Carrot Pasta

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

These nutritious little pillows will blow your mind when dressed up in a brown butter sage sauce, and the recipe is completely fool-proof. Plus, this healthy twist on gnocchi is a kid-approved favorite for two reasons: It’s colorful and it’s delicious.

Omit the sage and serve it on the side if you're concerned whether your kids will be into the flavor.

2. One Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian, one pot
• Serves: 4

Not only will everyone gobble up this lemon pasta, but you can make it in minutes. Just toss the spaghetti and toppings into a single pot, then sprinkle with fresh basil. (Or skip the herbs if your kids hate green stuff.)

My picky eaters absolutely love this simple spaghetti, but my secret is to make it a little saucier by reserving some pasta water to add to the strained spaghetti before I stir in copious amounts of cheese.

3. Pasta Pomodoro

Two Peas and Their Pod

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

Whip up a quick Italian classic that looks fancy, but it’s really just spaghetti with tomato sauce. Easy to make and even easier to eat—even the pickiest eater at your table will be pleased with this one. If you want to be a little sneaky, chop up and quickly sauté some carrots so you can sneak them into the sauce for extra nutrition.

4. Creamy Sweet Corn Pappardelle

Jeanine Donofrio/Love & Lemons Every Day

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: dairy free, vegan, high protein
• Serves: 4

Getting your spouse and kids into plant-based eating? They’ll love this “creamy” corn pasta that doesn’t involve any dairy. (Although if you want to cheat, a little cotija cheese, cilantro instead of basil and a hit of lime juice turns this into a Mexican street corn-inspired delight, just saying.)

5. Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta With Peas

Ambitious Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten-free, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 4

Yes, your kids can see the peas, but the sweet butternut squash sauce with cream cheese more than makes up for it. Plus, peas are one of the most kid-friendly veggies, provided you don’t overcook them. Best of all, this recipe can be made to accommodate various dietary restrictions, including vegan and gluten-free. (Though, for dairy lovers, traditional cream cheese can absolutely be used as a 1:1 substitute for the vegan stuff.)

6. Pasta Shells With Pumpkin In A Creamy, Cheesy Sauce

The Mom 100

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

Here, a decadent and wonderfully cheesy dish…not to mention a very clever use of seasonal produce to sneak some extra nutrition into your kid’s favorite food. Wanna get extra fancy? Serve this mac and cheese in hollowed-out mini pumpkins and watch your kids’ eyes bug out of their heads.

7. Goat Cheese Pasta With Spinach And Artichokes

Colin Price/Two Peas and Their Pod Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

Maria Lichty specializes in quick, gorgeous weeknight meals. Case in point: her goat cheese pasta tossed with spinach and artichokes. Just leave out the greens for picky kiddos and substitute with another kind they like better. My kids will devour this with broccoli—preferably quick-cooked so it’s still toothsome—or sautéed kale. I admit to omitting the greens entirely on occasion, and swapping in sun-dried tomatoes. As with most kid-friendly pasta recipes, this one is highly customizable.

8. BLT Pasta Salad

Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 8

They will love it at dinner and devour the leftovers for school lunch, though I recommend using ridged noodles, like farfalle, to soak up the sauce and carry the bacon effectively. It’s also never a bad idea to add some chunks of mozz to make it extra kid-friendly.

Honestly, this recipe is a great canvas, so feel free to experiment with other add-ins (avocado, basil, what have you). But if you do try avocado (it adds a surprising creaminess!), just make sure you only add it when you're ready to serve the meal, so it doesn’t get brown and unappetizing.

9. Cacio E Pepe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Just call this fancy mac and cheese, and your little munchkins will be all over it.

10. Easy Vegan Pizza Pasta Bake

The Full Helping

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

Presenting your kid’s two favorite foods combined—and made vegan-friendly. It tastes like pizza, but with added frozen veggies, it’s actually pretty nutritious. It might seem like a hard sell, but the tofu feta brings enough salty, umami flavor to the dish that your brood will be begging for seconds.

11. Pasta Alla Norma

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: high protein, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

If the thought of serving eggplant to your kids seems like a joke, I get it…but trust. This budget-friendly pasta drowns the suspicious nightshade in a flavorful combination of tomato sauce, so your kids might get two servings of veggies tonight and be none the wiser.  You can omit or reduce the red pepper flakes, of course, and for best results, I recommend adding some fresh mozzarella into the mix as well.

12. One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo

Inspired Entertainment/The Domestic Geek’s Meals Made Easy

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, high protein, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Meet your new go-to pasta dinner for busy weeknights. Why? You only need to wash one pot, and everything is ready to eat in 35 minutes. This is creamy comfort food at its finest and a recipe that every kid will request on repeat.

Plus, the method of cooking pasta in chicken broth is one of my favorites and can be adapted to many other recipes as well—just make sure you get the proportions right, so there’s no straining necessary.

13. Salami, Artichoke And Ricotta Pasta Salad

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein
• Serves: 6

Not all pasta needs to be served warm. That’s why we’re taking second scoops of this salami, artichoke and ricotta pasta salad. The creamy ricotta and salty cured meat do a great job of disguising the artichokes for kids who have a vegetable aversion. Pro tip: Avoid using marinated artichokes and just stick to the plain canned hearts instead so their cover isn’t blown.

14. 20-Minute Garlic Basil Brown Butter Pasta

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

Dress up simple buttered pasta by dousing bucatini in browned butter and pecorino and putting a few cherry tomatoes on top. (But if the kids ask what it is, just say “buttered pasta.”) I love that the cherry tomatoes are prepared separately so that they don’t melt into a sauce that picky eaters might refuse. Instead, kids can add as many or as few as they like to their plate.

How to Eat Clean for an Entire Week: Your 21-Recipe Meal Plan

Honestly, it’s something PureWow has been talking about since 2024. Cabbage is hardy, nutritious and affordable, as far as produce goes, making it an underrated yet versatile addition to meals. But it wasn’t until the end of 2025 that it really started to take off—so much so that Pinterest named it one of the brand’s top emerging trends for this year.

Cabbage saw a surge in searches for everything from cabbage dumplings (up 110 percent) to golumpki (stuffed cabbage) soup (rising 95 percent), but one recipe, in particular, caught my eye: cabbage alfredo.

original photo: candace davison

This dish had a more modest rise, climbing 45 percent year over year. It was a TikTok darling, inspiring dozens of video tutorials largely aimed at the keto and low-carb community. Essentially, cabbage is cut into strips and sauteed or—more often—roasted until tender, then tossed in alfredo sauce and often served with tempeh bacon, sausage or grilled chicken for a boost of protein.

But how healthy is it? And does it taste any good? I needed to find out, so I got to researching—and cooking.

Is Cabbage Alfredo Healthy?

Using cabbage in place of traditional, wheat-based pasta will make the dish lower in carbs and calories (5.8 grams of carbs vs. 55.4 and 25 calories per 100-gram serving, compared to 277, per USDA data). Depending on the type of pasta you buy, you may get more fiber from wheat-based fettuccine, though cabbage is a solid source, and it’s an easy way to sneak more vegetables into your diet.

No matter what, you’re still dousing the dish in alfredo sauce, which is made with heavy cream, butter and Parmesan, so this meal isn’t the healthiest choice. (That said, plenty of recipe developers have created lighter, higher-protein riffs on the sauce using cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.)

How Does It Taste?

original photos: candace davison

I went with the cabbage-roasting method, which calls for tossing strips of cabbage in olive oil and your seasonings of choice (I used a little garlic powder, salt and pepper), spreading it out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roasting for 20 minutes at 425 degrees F.

At first, I was surprised so many recipes called for using one and a half to two whole cabbages. That seemed like so much cabbage! But it really wilts down as it cooks. I’ve found one cabbage makes a hearty base for two people, with a little left over.

I also opted for a traditional alfredo sauce recipe, though next time, I might try this cauliflower hack for even more of a veggie boost.

So, About That Flavor

original photo: candace davison

I definitely recommend roasting the cabbage, letting the edges get a little charred and crispy. Despite the cabbage’s hardiness, it gets pretty floppy and flimsy—more like pasta you let cook for a minute too long (definitely not al dente). At no point will you close your eyes and think, this tastes just like pasta! I can’t even tell the difference! It’s more like the consistency of leftover salad you’re eating on day two.

But strangely, I didn’t mind it. And I guess that’s why “cabbage alfredo” is such a hit, over other sauce pairings. The cabbage doesn’t impart much, if any, flavor, and it is so mild that it needs the salty-cheesy-umami hit of the sauce to liven things up. Together, it’s surprisingly craveable, especially when topped with blackened or Jamaican Jerk-seasoned chicken, just to round things out with a little spice. (I’m a big fan of the latter.)

Go light on the alfredo sauce at first—it’s easy to overdo things and make for a meal that veers a bit too salty-soggy (and heavier than intended).

The Bottom Line: Should You Try It?

original photo: candace davison

As soon as I tasted the first bite, I had one overwhelming reaction: This is a hot Chicken Caesar Salad. No, but really. The flavor was surprisingly comparable, albeit less tangy. I know that comparison sounds kind of gross, but it was strangely delicious. As someone who avoids salads on cold days, I could see this being a winter alternative. Especially with a lightened-up sauce.

How to Make Chicken Cabbage Alfredo

original photo: candace davison

• Serves: 2
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 to 35 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 head cabbage
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ fresh ground pepper (plus more for topping alfredo, if desired)
• 1 cup Alfredo sauce (store-bought or your favorite recipe, prepared)
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tsp Jamaican Jerk seasoning

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Find the stem of the cabbage and slice it in half, cutting through the stem. Slice lengthwise into thin strips, then chop off the stem at the end. (The stem will help hold everything together, so it’s easier to cut into strips.)
2. Spread onto two baking sheets, tossing the cabbage with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. The cabbage should be tender and slightly translucent, with some charred bits.
3. As the cabbage roasts, warm the alfredo sauce and prepare the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with jerk seasoning.
4. Warm a sauté pan over medium heat. Drizzle with olive oil, and once sizzling, add chicken and cook each side until the exterior is golden brown and the inside is no longer pink, about 4 to 6 minutes per side. Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
5. Divide the roasted cabbage into bowls. Top with alfredo sauce and chicken. Top with a little freshly ground pepper, if desired, and serve.

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There are a few camps snacks can fall into. Some are plain delicious (looking at you, candy jar) while some are much more utilitarian, like that handful of raw almonds I shovel into my mouth to narrowly avoid an afternoon energy crash. The ideal snack situation? A balance of satiating fiber and protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates for energy. Better yet, make it a hefty dose of protein: This nutrient is essential to keep you full between meals, which is what snacks are all about. Behold, 27 healthy protein snacks that will keep your hunger at bay…until dinnertime, anyway. I’m talking oatmeal, roasted chickpeas, tinned fish and everything in between.

(Note: All nutritional info was sourced from Edamam.)

23 Low-Carb Snack Ideas You Can Make at Home

Meet the Expert

Jane Leverich a registered dietitian and culinary nutrition expert based in Denver, CO. In her private practice, she works one on one with clients, helping them make balanced, sustainable food choices throughout all stages of life. In her spare time, she’s also a Pilates instructor and food writer, contributing practical, evidence-based nutrition guidance to publications like Good Housekeeping, Parents and EatingWell.

How Much Protein Should Adults Eat in a Day?

According to Harvard Medical School, the average adult needs about 53 grams of protein a day. But to be more exact, each person should consume 7 grams for every 20 pounds they weigh. The USDA's dietary guidelines also recommend eating a variety of lean proteins, such as poultry and meat, seafood, legumes, nuts and seeds to reach your daily amount. Doing this will not only keep you full and energized between meals, but it will also produce enzymes that power many chemical reactions throughout your body, as well as the hemoglobin in your blood that carries oxygen, says the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health.

1. Hummus

Target

• Protein: 2g/two-tablespoon serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I love hummus because it pairs effortlessly with so many snack staples—whole wheat pita, crackers or sliced raw veggies. While it does provide some plant-based protein, what really makes it satisfying is the fiber and healthy fats from chickpeas and tahini, which help keep you fuller longer and support steady energy.

Hummus is packed with protein—approximately three grams for every two tablespoons—so get dipping. And it’s not just any protein. Chickpeas are high in lysine and tahini is a rich source of the amino acid methionine. Individually, these foods are incomplete proteins, but when you combine them to make hummus, they create a complete protein, which will keep you full for longer. My go-to store-bought brand is Sabra, but hummus is also easy enough to make at home with a food processor or blender. (Hot tip: Start with spicy avocado hummus and go from there.)

2. Cheese and Crackers

Liudmyla Chuhunova/Shutterstock

• Protein: Varies
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Cheese and crackers is such an O.G. snack for me, and it’s one I still recommend often as a satisfying, balanced afternoon option. The protein and fat from the cheese help with fullness, while the crackers provide energy—plus, let’s be honest, it’s a snack that actually tastes good and feels enjoyable to eat.

Great news: That afternoon cheese board is actually a great snacking option if you’re looking for protein. A one-ounce piece of cheddar cheese provides 6 grams and 20 percent of your recommended daily intake of calcium. To keep your cheese board as nutritious as possible, opt for whole-grain crackers and try (try!) not to devour the entire thing yourself. Might I suggest adding roasted grapes?

3. Protein Bars

MOSH

• Protein: Varies
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Protein bars can be useful in a pinch—especially when you need something portable and protein-rich. That said, many options are also high in added sugars, which is why I usually recommend them as a backup rather than a staple.

With a name like “protein bar,” you’d assume these snacks have *plenty* of protein. But not all protein bars are worth relying on, as some contain lots of sugar. The healthiest, most filling options should have at least 8 grams of protein, no more than 14 grams of sugar and at least 3 grams of fiber. A few bars that fit the bill include RXBAR, Think! High-Protein Bars and PureWow’s pick, MOSH bars, which have 10 to 13 grams of protein and 7 to 9 grams of fiber, depending on the flavor, not to mention minimal added sugar. They’re also newly reformulated to contain brain-supporting ingredients like Cognizin, a type of citicoline (which is a nootropic which has been studied for attention and memory support) along with lion’s mane, ashwagandha, omega-3s, and vitamins B12 and D3.

4. Eggs

Target

• Protein: 6g/one large egg
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I fully support an egg moment at any time of day. Eggs are an excellent source of high-quality protein and provide important nutrients like vitamin D, choline and B vitamins. Hard-boiling a batch at the start of the week also makes for an easy, portable protein option you can grab when hunger hits. 

Wait, you’re not stashing hard-boiled eggs in your bag to eat during the morning commute? Just us? You might want to hop on the bandwagon, because eggs are a fantastic way to get a ton of protein in a portable, bite-size package. One large egg contains 6 grams of protein and about 70 calories, which means you can eat a few without overdoing it. I like an eight-minute egg that’s still jammy but not messy, topped with a sprinkling of everything bagel seasoning.

5. Popcorn

Olena Rudo/Shutterstock

• Protein: 2g/three-cup serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I wouldn’t consider popcorn a protein-rich snack on its own, but it’s a fiber-rich option that works really well as part of a balanced snack. Pairing popcorn with something like hummus and veggies or cheese and crackers helps add protein and fat, making it much more satisfying.

Movie theater popcorn has gotten a bad rap, but only because it’s doused in oil, salt and artificial ingredients. But popcorn on its own is actually a healthy snacking choice: Air-popped, a three-cup serving has 120 calories and 2 grams of protein. Jazz it up with a seasoning of your choice, like cayenne, garlic powder, hot sauce or hot honey (trust us, try it). If you wanted to drizzle on a little butter, I wouldn’t tell.

6. Energy Bites

Cotter Crunch

• Protein: Varies
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Energy bites are a great option because they’re endlessly customizable. When I make them, I always include hemp seeds and peanut butter to boost the protein, along with fiber and healthy fats, which helps make them a more sustaining snack.

Call ’em energy bites or protein balls—either way they’re as delicious as they are good for you. Usually made with a mix of nuts, seeds, nut butter, oats and protein powder, these no-bake treats are easy to prepare and great to keep in your fridge for hangry emergencies. Want to try your hand at making them at home? This recipe for no-bake chocolate pistachio protein balls from Cotter Crunch is a delicious place to start.

7. Homemade Granola

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Protein: Varies
• What Our Nutritionist Says:  I know what you’re thinking…homemade granola sounds like a lot of work. But it’s actually super simple, and as a dietitian, I recommend it all the time. This cocoa peanut butter granola is perfect for batch-making, provides a good dose of protein and when you top it on Greek yogurt, you’ve got a snack that’s not only satisfying but also keeps you full longer, thanks to the protein and healthy fats.

Oats are a surprisingly good source of protein, at 13 grams per half-cup serving. But I wouldn’t recommend eating dry oats out of the canister, so turn them into granola. This cocoa peanut butter granola recipe has the added benefit of peanut butter, so it offers 9 grams of protein per serving. I know what I’ll be snacking on tomorrow.

8. Greek Yogurt

Target

• Protein: 21g/one-cup serving of 2 percent Greek yogurt
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Greek yogurt is my go-to for boosting protein—it’s versatile, tasty and easy to fit into just about anything. Blend it into smoothies, swap it for sour cream or enjoy it on its own. Beyond protein, it’s also a great source of calcium, which supports bone health.

Fun fact: Greek yogurt actually has more protein and less sugar per serving that regular yogurt, even though it’s made from the same ingredients. That’s because the liquid is strained out, leaving behind a protein-rich (and impossibly creamy) treat. That equates to a more filling snack than regular yogurt alone, according to one University of Missouri study.

A one-cup serving of 2 percent Greek yogurt has about 250 calories and 21 grams of protein per serving, not to mention 19 percent of the recommended daily intake of calcium. You’ll find a container of Fage 2-percent Plain Greek yogurt in my fridge at all times. Top it with fresh berries, nuts or seeds to up the ante (or serve it with apple slices and honey for dipping).

9. Edamame

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Protein: 13g/one (cooked) cup
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Edamame is definitely an unsung hero when it comes to protein—packed with plant-based protein, fiber and micronutrients like iron and folate. I love tossing it into salads or roasting it for a crunchy snack. It’s an especially great option for vegans, vegetarians or anyone looking to sneak in more protein and nutrients throughout the day.

Edamame are basically whole, immature soybeans, and soy equals major protein. A one-cup serving of cooked edamame provides 13 grams of protein, so it’s a simple, filling energy boost. Buy it in freeze-dried form for a convenient, on-the-go option or stock your freezer with a few bags of frozen edamame for steaming, sautéing and roasting (as in the recipe below). Pass the soy sauce, please. I have also found edamame to be remarkably kid-friendly: my own picky offspring can put away a ton of edamame if I give them a quick boil and toss them with olive oil or butter.

10. Roasted Chickpeas

DronG/Shutterstock

• Protein: 21g/100 grams
• What Our Nutritionist Says: The limit does not exist when it comes to how many times I’ve recommended adding chickpeas to someone’s diet. Canned chickpeas are shelf-stable, affordable, and packed with protein and fiber. Toss them in olive oil and spices, roast them and you’ve got a crunchy snack—or an easy way to boost protein and fiber in just about any meal.

Sure, you could eat plain chickpeas straight out of a can…or you could roast them with olive oil, salt and pepper for a jazzed up, protein-rich snack that’s crispy and crunchy in all the right ways. Chickpeas have 21 grams of protein per 100 grams, and you probably already have a can in your pantry. To roast them, rinse, drain and dry a can of chickpeas, then toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and any seasonings you like and roast in a 375°F oven until golden and crisp. Voilà, snack time is now. Psst: If you don’t have the patience to roast them in the oven, I love to crisp chickpeas up in a skillet with a little olive oil and a salted seasoning blend of cumin and paprika. It only takes a few minutes on high heat, and the end result is great as a stand-alone snack, but can also really enhance any salad in lieu of croutons.

11. Peanut Butter

Target

• Protein: 7g/two-tablespoon serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I love peanut butter for so many reasons—not only does it add delicious creaminess to just about anything, but it’s also a solid source of protein, fiber and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Whether you’re stirring it into smoothies, spreading it on toast or using it as a dip for fruit, it helps keep you full and satisfied while giving your body nutrients that support energy and overall health.

Nope, peanut butter is definitely not just for sandwiches. A spoonful of peanut butter is one of my go-tos when I need something to eat, fast. “The fat and fiber in peanuts help provide satiety, or feelings of fullness,” says Dr. Felicia Stoler, DCN, a registered dietician, nutritionist and exercise physiologist. Whether you choose a natural version, a crunchy option or, my personal favorite, Creamy Jif, peanut butter packs a hefty 7 grams of protein for every two-tablespoon serving. Pair it with whole-wheat crackers, apple slices or a banana for a carbohydrate boost, or add a spoonful to a smoothie for a creamy treat. Keep a jar in your work desk or pantry (or both) so you always have a snack on hand.

12. Cottage Cheese

AtlasStudio/Shutterstock

• Protein: 12g/half-cup serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: My current secret weapon for boosting protein in just about anything is cottage cheese. I love mixing it into scrambled eggs for extra creaminess, blending it into dips or pairing it with fruit for a satisfying snack. Cottage cheese is not only packed with high-quality protein that supports muscle maintenance and satiety, but it’s also a good source of calcium, which is important for bone health. 

Nope, it’s not just a diet food. Cottage cheese has so much protein, guys! It’s also delicious with a bit of freshly ground black pepper, or fresh fruit. Depending on the brand, a half-cup serving of cottage cheese has about 12 grams of protein and just 110 calories. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it.

13. Canned Tuna

Target

• Protein: 16g/three-ounce serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I’m obsessed with canned tuna, and I’m equally obsessed with recommending it as an easy way to boost protein. It’s shelf-stable, so you can always have it on hand, and it’s incredibly versatile—especially when you jazz it up with a little salt, pepper, mustard, lemon juice and fresh dill. Tuna is a lean source of high-quality protein, packed with nutrients like vitamin D, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health. It’s one of my go-to protein options…just be prepared for the occasional side-eye if you bring a tuna sandwich into a public space!

Don’t reserve that canned tuna for lunchtime melts. It’s also a quick, substantial nosh, coming in at 16 grams of protein per three-ounce serving. And you don’t have to eat it straight out of the can. Dress it up with a little mustard or mayonnaise, add some fresh black pepper and use it as a topper for crackers or toast.

14. Tinned Fish

Antonina Vlasova/Shutterstock

• Protein: Varies
• What Our Nutritionist Says: In my world, tinned fish are having a major moment—and for good reason. They’re an easy way to elevate just about any cracker, toast or salad, while packing a punch of high-quality protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Keeping a few tins in the pantry is a nutrition hack I swear by. They’re perfect for a quick, satisfying and nutrient-rich snack or mini-meal anytime.

If you don’t have a tin of sardines tucked away in your pantry, it’s time to stock up. Sardines, anchovies and other tinned fish and seafood are an excellent source of protein, with about 20 grams per three-ounce serving, give or take. Furthermore, they have tons of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins D and B12, iron and iodine, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Not sold yet? They’re tasty on crackers and bread, drizzled with olive oil or doused in hot sauce. Buy a tin of Matiz sardines and thank us later.

15. Almonds

Target

• Protein: 6g/one-ounce serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I’m a huge fan of almonds for snacks—they’re crunchy, satisfying, and packed with protein to help keep you full between meals. Just a small handful provides around 6 grams of protein, plus heart-healthy fats, fiber, vitamin E and magnesium. I love tossing them into yogurt, oatmeal or salads—or just eating them straight from the bag for a simple, balanced snack that actually sticks with you.

Nuts in general are an excellent source of protein, but almonds are especially so, clocking in at 6 grams per one ounce serving. And when you consider the fiber content (4 grams per serving) and the healthy fats, you’ve got a recipe for a filling, heart-healthy protein snack, says the Mayo Clinic. Luckily, there’s a huge variety in the grocery store aisle, from raw to wasabi flavored, but I usually stick with classic lightly salted. (What can I say? I’m a purist.) The only caveat? Almonds (and all nuts, for that matter) are pretty calorie-dense, so watch your portions. BTW, “a handful” amounts to about 20 almonds.

16. String Cheese

Target

• Protein: 6g/stick
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I include string cheese in my diet almost every day because it’s convenient, portable and—let’s be honest—delicious. Beyond being tasty, string cheese is a great source of high-quality protein and calcium, which supports muscle health and strong bones. It’s also easy to pair with fruit, whole-grain crackers or veggies to make a balanced, satisfying snack that keeps you fueled between meals.

This childhood favorite happens to be a smart snack, if you’re in need of protein on-the-go. One cheese stick provides 6 grams of protein and only 1 gram of carbs, making it a good option for keto dieters. Any brand or flavor will do, but I’m partial to the O.G., mozzarella.

17. Peanut Butter Crackers

Target

• Protein: 4g/serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: There’s something so comforting about a sleeve of peanut butter crackers—and surprisingly, they provide more protein than you might expect. While 4 grams isn’t quite enough for a fully balanced snack (I usually aim for 12 to 15 grams of protein per snack), pairing them with something like Greek yogurt, a boiled egg or a handful of nuts can turn them into a satisfying, protein-rich bite. 

There’s no shame in stashing a few packages of peanut butter crackers in your desk for peckish afternoons, especially considering they can contain around 4 grams of protein per serving. Even better, make your own with whole-grain crackers and your trusty jar of peanut butter. You’ve got one of those, right?

18. Trail Mix

Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

• Protein: Varies
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I’m not kidding when I say a handful of trail mix often rescues me from the midafternoon slump. I look for mixes that are mostly nuts with a few fun add-ins like dried fruit and chocolate. The nuts provide protein, fiber and healthy fats to keep you satisfied, while the dried fruit and chocolate make it an enjoyable, energizing snack you actually want to eat.

Think of trail mix as having all the benefits of nuts plus some fun extras, like dried fruit, coconut flakes and, if you're lucky, chocolate. You can make your own at home or choose one at the grocery store, but try to seek out a trail mix that has around 8 grams of protein per serving for the most filling snack. (I’d be lying if I said Target Monster Trail Mix wasn’t my favorite, but it also contains 17 grams of sugar per serving—oops.) The ideal trail mix is heavy on the nuts and light on the peanut butter chips.

19. Fruit and Nut Bars

Target

• Protein: Varies
• What Our Nutritionist Says: For busy days, having convenient options like fruit and nut bars on hand is a total lifesaver. I usually recommend choosing bars with at least 6 grams of protein to help keep you full and satisfied. Bonus points: The combination of fruit and nuts adds fiber, healthy fats and micronutrients, making these bars a more balanced and nourishing choice compared with traditional granola bars.

If granola and trail mix had a delicious baby, this would be it. Fruit and nut bars are a convenient snack, and most have about 6 grams of protein per bar. I like KIND bars because they have minimal sugar (just 5 grams per bar) and come in a wide variety of flavors, like dark chocolate sea salt and blueberry vanilla.

20. Turkey Rollups

Towfiqu ahamed barbhuiya/Shutterstock

• Protein: 6g/one-ounce serving of deli turkey
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Why are we sleeping on deli meat? Turkey roll-ups are a quick, convenient way to get high-quality protein, perfect for a snack or light lunch. Adding a slice of cheese not only boosts flavor but also adds extra protein and calcium, making this simple bite surprisingly balanced and satisfying.

If you have lunchmeat in your fridge, put it to good use and make a few quick turkey rollups. This is more of an art than a science, and you can fill them with whatever you like (cheese, veggies, more cheese). One ounce of turkey has 6 grams of protein. Go to town.

21. Oatmeal

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Protein: 6g/one (cooked) cup
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Oatmeal is a breakfast staple for a reason—and surprisingly, it contains a decent amount of protein on its own. To make it even more satisfying and nourishing, I love topping it with additional protein-rich ingredients like pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, or a spoonful of nut butter. This combination not only boosts protein content, but also adds fiber, heart-healthy fats and micronutrients like magnesium, zinc and vitamin E. It’s a simple way to turn a bowl of oats into a balanced, energy-sustaining meal that fuels your morning.

Does it come as a surprise that oatmeal has a fair amount of protein? Even though it’s a grain, one cup of cooked oatmeal contains 6 grams of protein (and only 150 calories), making it a healthy snack that will stick to your ribs. Top it with nuts, seeds or peanut butter for an extra protein boost. This recipe for overnight oats with peanut butter and banana makes a convenient breakfast and an even better snack.

22. Chicken Salad

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Protein: 13g/one half-cup serving (varies)
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Chicken is a great source of lean protein, but I get it—chicken fatigue is real. Making dishes like chicken salad is a simple way to mix things up and keep meals interesting. Adding fresh herbs not only amps up flavor, but also provides antioxidants and vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin K and folate, giving your meal an extra nutrition boost.

We give you full permission to turn a lunchtime staple into a snack. Why? Because it’s a protein goldmine. One serving of this recipe for Greek yogurt chicken salad has seven grams of protein and 113 calories. It’s light yet filling, which is exactly what I need from an afternoon pick-me-up.

23. Cheese Snacks

Amazon

• Protein: 10g/serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Did someone say a snack made entirely of cheese? Sign me up. I love cheese, and it’s a great protein-rich option for a midday boost. Pair it with some fiber—like raw veggies—or healthy fats, like guacamole for dipping, and you’ve got yourself a balanced, satisfying snack.

What the heck is a cheese snack, you ask? Good question. There’s an entire category of munchables on the market that’s made of dehydrated cheese, so it’s crispy like a cracker and cheesy like, well, cheese. One such example? Whisps Cheddar Cheese Crisps, which provide 9 grams of protein per serving and are made of just one ingredient: cheddar cheese.

24. Jerky

Amazon

• Protein: 9g/one-ounce serving (varies)
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Jerky is one of my favorite sources of protein when I’m traveling or hiking. It’s portable, shelf-stable and can be a high-quality protein option—just be sure to choose one that’s minimally processed and lower in added sugar and sodium. 

Backpackers and hikers are onto something: Jerky is a healthy, protein-rich snack, largely because it’s made of meat (or fish or mushrooms, if you’re into that kind of thing). A one-ounce serving of beef jerky packs a whopping 9 grams of protein. If you choose store-bought beef or turkey jerky, try to find the least processed option. Or opt to make your own, if you have a dehydrator on hand.

25. Nut Butter

Target

• Protein: 6g/32-gram serving (varies)
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I recommend nut butter all the time—it’s an easy way to boost protein, fiber and heart-healthy fats in a snack or meal. It also somehow makes just about everything taste better. Nut butter blended into a fruit smoothie? Say less—it adds creaminess, protein and keeps you feeling full longer. My favorite peanut butter alternatives are almond butter and cashew butter.

If you want the protein content of peanut butter but are allergic to peanuts (or just don’t like the taste), plenty of other nut butters offer similar nutritional content and versatility without the peanuts. Even better, many nut butters are minimally processed without mystery ingredients. Justin’s Almond Butter, for example, is made with nothing but dry roasted almonds and oil, and has 6 grams of protein per 32-gram serving. Almond butter and jelly sandwich, anyone?

27. Pumpkin Seeds

Target

• Protein: 9g/one-ounce serving
• What Our Nutritionist Says: I’m obsessed with pumpkin seeds—they’re crunchy, incredibly versatile and packed with nutrients like magnesium, zinc, and healthy fats. I love grabbing a handful on their own, roasting them for extra flavor or tossing them into a bowl of Greek yogurt. Basically, pumpkin seeds are one of those ingredients you can mix and match however you see fit.

With 9 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber per serving, roasted pepitas are sure to hold you over between meals. According to the American Sleep Association, they're a good source of the sleep-inducing mineral magnesium and amino acid tryptophan to boot, so you may want to have them as a "dessert" of sorts. They're also packed with zinc, impossibly crunchy and easy to roast at home.

27. Chia Pudding

Yumna Jawad/Feel Good Foodie

• Protein: 5g/serving (varies)
• What Our Nutritionist Says: Chia pudding is one of my favorite low-effort meal prep staples. Making a batch at the beginning of the week keeps breakfast simple but surprisingly satisfying. While a basic three-ingredient version works, I always recommend using an equal mix of almond milk and Greek yogurt—the added protein and creaminess make it far more filling and balanced.

Not only is chia pudding beloved for being a make-ahead, nutritious snack, but it's also packed with heart-healthy fats. Chia seeds contain calcium, phosphorus, manganese and omega-3s, says Healthline. It can be made vegan if you don't consume milk, but know that using dairy will boost the protein content even more. (Psst: Try this three-ingredient recipe that's dairy-free and topped with honey and fruit.)

21 High-Protein Smoothies That Will Keep You Full Until Lunchtime

27 Healthy Protein Snacks That Actually Taste Good

How Much Protein Should Adults Eat in a Day?

According to Harvard Medical School, the average adult needs about 53 grams of protein a day. But to be more exact, each person should consume 7 grams for every 20 pounds they weigh. The USDA's dietary guidelines also recommend eating a variety of lean proteins, such as poultry and meat, seafood, legumes, nuts and seeds to reach your daily amount. Doing this will not only keep you full and energized between meals, but it will also produce enzymes that power many chemical reactions throughout your body, as well as the hemoglobin in your blood that carries oxygen, says the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health.

Nut-Based Desserts

1. The World’s Biggest Peanut Butter Cup (11g Protein)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 10

When it comes to the timeless combination of peanut butter and chocolate, more is more. Let it come to room temperature before slicing and run your knife under hot water first to avoid cracking. Then, set this high-protein dessert on the table and wait for the impending fanfare.

2. No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars (12g Protein)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, kid-friendly, no bake
• Serves: 16

Another no-bake high-protein dessert, these portable bars combine all of our favorite easy snacks in one. They’re salty, sweet, crunchy and smooth in every bite. Oh, and they only require eight simple ingredients to come together.

3. Nutty Chocolate Ganache Tart (9g Protein)

Dominique Lafond/Salad Pizza Wine

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, gluten free
• Serves: 12

It may look fancy, but this six-ingredient masterpiece is as simple as can be. Thanks to the buttery crust starring mixed nuts and brown sugar, it's gluten free to boot. Finish it with a flourish of flaky salt.

4. Peanut Butter Cream Pie with Raspberry Meringue (11g Protein)

Mark Weinberg/The Book on Pie

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

This decadent pie looks like a fairytale and tastes like nostalgia. Be still our fifth-grade hearts. We won't tell if you substitute store-bought pie crust, but the homemade, all-butter dough is a real game-changer if you have the time.

5. Peanut Butter Freezer Pie (13g Protein)

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 4 hours
• Why I Love It: make ahead, no bake, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 10

Believe it or not, the entire thing comes together without turning on the oven. This is a pie best served with a tall, cold glass of milk. (You know, for more protein—wink wink.)

6. Caramel Almond Cake (12g Protein)

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

The crunchy, sugary almond mixture magically transforms into a sweet, caramelized crust during the final 15 minutes of baking. Frosting need not apply.

7. Vegan Spiced Blueberry Breakfast Cake (10g Protein)

Nisha Vora

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
• Serves: 10

You can thank whole grain spelt flour for the filling nature of this fiber-rich, high-protein dessert. (It packs a whopping ten grams of the latter in each serving.) It’s sweet but not too sweet, and equally tasty for breakfast or dessert.

8. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Cookies (7g Protein)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 12

Cookie sandwiches trump regular sandwiches every time. You can make the simple peanut butter cookies ahead, then fill them with your favorite store-bought jelly or jam as you eat them, so they stay crispy.

9. Pecan Pie Brownies (31g Protein)

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 9

The indulgent, sticky pecan topping will keep your guests from realizing you used boxed brownie mix. Egg and pecans are the secret to this high-protein dessert's filling qualities. They're gooey, decadent—basically, everything you could hope for.

10. Peanut Butter and Jelly Blondies (24g Protein)

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 12

Your favorite sandwich—in cookie bar form. “The key to getting a good swirl on top is to pipe on the jam,” recipe creator Erin McDowell advises. “But if you don’t have a piping bag, you can put the jam in a zip-top plastic bag, cut off one corner and then make big, swirly swoops all over.”

11. Chocolate and Salted Peanut Crepe Cake (11g Protein)

Kristina Cho/Mooncakes and Milk Bread

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

A crepe cake is an easy way to reel in compliments from your guests (or roommates) without too much effort. Need more convincing? According to the recipe creator, Kristina Cho, the crepe layers taste like the leftover milk from a bowl of Cocoa Krispies.

Nut-Free Desserts

12. Chocolate Glazed Espresso Cheesecake (15g Protein)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 5 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

Whether your idea of a pick me up is chocolate or coffee, here’s proof that you never have to choose. The crust is made with chocolate cookie crumbs, instant espresso powder flavors and filling and a milk chocolate glaze gilds the lily.

13. No-Bake Key Lime Cheesecake (10g Protein)

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 8 hours and 30 minutes (includes chilling)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no bake
• Serves: 16

Goodbye, fussy water bath. Hello, creamy, dreamy cheesecake. This high-protein dessert recipe comes together with 30 minutes of prep and an overnight trip to the fridge, but little more effort than that. "As someone who is equally obsessed with key lime pie and cheesecake, this one tops my list of high-protein desserts," says PureWow contributor Emma Singer.

14. Slow Cooker Oreo Cheesecake (13g Protein)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 5 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, slow cooker recipe
• Serves: 6 to 10

Thanks to your trusty Crockpot, a restaurant-level cheesecake is easy to replicate at home. The low-and-slow method ensures silky results, while the airy whipped topping and crushed Oreos will reel in the picky eaters.

15. Lemon Curd with Whipped Cream (8g Protein)

Christopher Hirsheimer/Canal House Cook Something

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

This versatile, elegant treat can be served on its own, crowned with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, or as the filling to a pie or tart. (You can even freeze it so you have a high-protein dessert on deck for whenever a craving strikes.)

16. Sweet Potato Pots de Crème with Toasted Marshmallow Fluff (9g Protein)

Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Behold, our favorite way to eat vegetables. These cuties have all the flavor of a pumpkin pie without the trouble of a crust. Plus, you get to whip out your blow torch for the marshmallow crème topping.

17. Muffin Tin Lemon Meringue Tarts (15g Protein)

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

And here we thought our muffin tin was only good for making, well, muffins. The trifecta of crisp sugar cookie crust, glossy mascarpone filling and fluffy meringue is *chef’s kiss.*

18. Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze (7g Protein)

Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 10

If we’re being honest, we’ll never pass up something that involves cream cheese glaze, but the lightly spiced, melt-in-your-mouth cake is just as delightful. Egg whites in the batter are the key to the cake's light-as-a-cloud texture.

19. Coconut Rice Pudding with Rhubarb Compote (8g Protein)

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

The luxurious rice pudding contains three types of milk (whole, coconut and sweetened condensed) for an extra rich texture, while the tart rhubarb compote balances out the sweetness. Top each serving with toasted coconut flakes to up the tropical ante.

20. Black-and-White Pudding (10g Protein)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Finally, a high-protein dessert for people who simply can’t choose between vanilla and chocolate. (TBH, you shouldn’t have to.) Greek yogurt offers both tang and protein to every spoonful.

21. Thai Iced Tea Panna Cotta (9g Protein)

Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

The sweet, creamy custard tastes just like Thai iced tea, but you’ll want a spoon instead of a straw for this version. To achieve the subtle ombré effect, let the tea-flavored layer of panna cotta partially set before adding the vanilla layer on top.

22. Avocado Chocolate Mousse (26g Protein)

Henry Hargreaves/Avocaderia

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Who knew dairy-free milk and chocolate could do all *this*? The mousse is vegan, gluten free and downright decadent. Puffed quinoa, flaky salt, Aleppo pepper flakes and a drizzle of quality olive oil act as crunchy, classy finishing touches.

23. Blackberry Panna Cotta Tartlets (6g Protein)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Pastry cream? Not today. Instead, the shortbread cookie crusts are filled to the brim with gelatin-based panna cotta infused with fresh blackberries. Feel free to substitute raspberries or blueberries, if you feel so inclined.

24. Rainbow Cookie Icebox Cake (11g Protein)

Alana Kysar/Dinner Party Project

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, no bake
• Serves: 6 to 8

Any high-protein dessert that doesn't require me to turn on the oven is one after my own heart. The cake should ideally be assembled and refrigerated for one to three days before serving, but if you're pressed for time, an overnight chill will do.

25. Tiramisu Affogato (12g Protein)

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes (plus chilling)
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy, crowd-please
• Serves: 8

Two Italian classics, one Insta-worthy dessert. Sour cream in the cream layer not only stabilizes the high-protein dessert, but it also infuses it with delightful tanginess.

26. Raspberry Tiramisu (7g Protein)

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, no bake
• Serves: 8 to 10

The vibrant pink finish is nothing but a dusting of freeze-dried raspberries that have been powdered in a food processor. This is enough to wow any dessert lover, but a smattering of fresh berries or a sprinkle of lemon zest would be equally tasty.

30 High-Protein Meals That Aren’t Boring Steak and Potatoes

So glad you asked. From protein-packed lattes to full meals for under $6, here’s what’s new in fast food, cafés and major restaurants this month.

1. Starbucks Marks the New Year with New Collabs

Left: Khloe's custom protein latte, Right: Cannon Ball drink (Photos: Candace Davison)

As the Starbucks Secret Menu has proven, there are endless ways to customize your drink. Now, the coffee company is taking things a step further, partnering with Khloe Kardashian’s protein-packed popcorn company, Khloud, to offer the snack in stores, along with Khloe’s custom drink—an iced vanilla protein latte—which calls for substituting Blonde roast espresso, then adding an extra shot and topping the drink with vanilla protein cold foam. At $10 for a grande (at least in New York, where I ordered it), the drink is pricey, but it packs a whopping 47 grams of protein—and kept me full through lunch. It was exceptionally smooth and creamy, with a light vanilla flavor and no gritty or chalky finish (as some protein drinks can have).

But the collabs don’t end there. As of Jan. 14, the Pink Drink gained new competition in the form of the Cannon Ball Drink. Created for fans of Mr. Beast’s Beast Games, the drink features a tart lemonade base, which is combined with Strawberry Açai and Mango Dragon Fruit Refreshers, then topped with dried fruit. (The idea is that the fruit “cannon balls” in, and when swirled, creates an ombré, purple-to-pink effect.)

At first, I worried the Cannon Ball would be too sweet, but the tart lemonade base offsets the Dragon Fruit and Mango flavors beautifully, offering a sweet-sour note that's endlessly sippable. (Could you cut it with a little water? Yes. But like the name suggests, it's designed to pack a punch.)

2. Sweetgreen Launches a Doctor-Designed Menu

sweetgreen

It would be so much easier to hit those healthy eating goals if we had a nutritionist or doctor on speed dial, right? Well, Sweetgreen’s offering the next best thing, with a menu of five dishes created under the guidance of Dr. Mark Hyman and Function, a membership service designed to provide lab testing and doctors’ insights to help people live better. Two of the five bowls and plates are online exclusives, and select markets (namely Atlanta, Boston and locations in Florida) will only have access to those. Here’s what’s on the menu:

• Steady Energy Bowl (online exclusive)* — roasted chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, spicy broccoli, cilantro, pickled onions, wild rice and shredded kale, served with Green Goddess Ranch
• The Omega Salad — miso-glazed salmon tops a bed of chopped romaine, baby spinach, avocado, shredded carrots, chickpeas, cucumbers and cilantro, served with lime cilantro jalapeño sauce
• Nutrient Power Plate — spicy broccoli and blackened chicken add heat to wild rice, golden quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, pickled onions and almonds, all brightened with a squeeze of lemon
• Spicy Reset Bowl — shredded kale and wild rice topped with blackened chicken, avocado, shredded cabbage, apples, chickpeas and cilantro, seasoned with Nori Sesame Seasoning, lemon juice and hot sauce
• Iron Boost Bowl (online exclusive) — caramelized garlic steak, spicy broccoli, shredded cabbage, tomatoes and almonds atop golden quinoa and arugula, topped with lime cilantro jalapeño sauce

*Psst: I can confirm this bowl is a filling, ridiculously tasty mix of flavors and textures. The Green Goddess Ranch tames the spicy broccoli, while the pickled onions add tanginess. It's a must-try.

3. Protein Drinks Take Over Cafés

dunkin

If it seems like protein-packed drinks are everywhere right now, you’re right. Dunkin’, Starbucks, Smoothie King, Peet’s Coffee and the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf are just a few of the brands offering protein-enhanced bevs in the new year. What does that look like, exactly? Well, at Starbucks it’s a whole roster of drinks and protein-enhanced cold foams you can add to your go-to order. (Drinks vary from getting 19 grams of protein with a grande Chocolate Cream Protein Cold Brew to 47 grams with Khloe’s pick in the same size.)

At Dunkin, you can add protein milk to any drink (adding 15 grams to a medium latte), and they’ve launched five drinks, ranging from a Caramel Chocolate Iced Protein Latte to Megan’s Mango Protein Refresher—as in, Megan Thee Stallion’s preferred blend of mango flavor and protein milk. (She teamed up with the brand to promote the launch.)

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is also going the protein latte route, launching vanilla, caramel and hazelnut flavors that offer 20 grams per serving.

Meanwhile, at Peet’s you can choose from one of three smoothie flavors (cold brew, matcha peach or strawberry) that pack 16 to 19 grams of protein per serving.

Not to be outdone, Smoothie King is offering a 100-Gram Protein Pack, which combines a Gladiator Smoothie (available in chocolate, vanilla or strawberry) with peanut butter toast and a protein box featuring things like hard-boiled eggs, fruit, cheese and flax crackers. 

4. Taco Bell Gets Fancy-Ish with a New Menu

original photo: candace davison

Do people still say “ballin’ on a budget?” Did anyone ever really say that? Well, it’s a pretty accurate way to describe what the Fourth Meal-famous chain is up to these days. On Jan. 22, Taco Bell will launch its new Luxe Value Menu, featuring a mix of returning favorites (like the Cheesy Roll Up and Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito) alongside five “elevated” new additions, all for $3 or less. You can find my full review of the lineup here, but the TLDR? Don’t miss the Mini Taco Salad or Salted Caramel Churros. (Oh, and Rewards members can try everything as early as Jan. 16.)

5. Panera Expands Its Breakfast Lineup

panera bread

Two new Bagel Stacks are hitting Panera Bread menus nationwide. First up is the Wake-Up BLT Asiago Everything Bagel Stack, which tops the Asiago Everything Bagel with Applewood smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, arugula and a cheesy benedict sauce. Second (but no less craveworthy) is the Farmhouse Duo Asiago Bagel Stack, which features sausage, scrambled eggs, American cheese and a garlic aioli drizzle. If that doesn’t make for a filling start to the day, I don’t know what will. (OK, I do—it’s this and a protein latte.)

6. Value Meals Take on New Meaning

kfc $5 bowls (photo: candace davison)

The launch of Chili’s Big QP Burger was a bit of a wake-up call: Could you really snag a bigger, better and cheaper meal at a sit-down restaurant as opposed to hitting up the drive thru? How and when did fast food get so pricey? It seems like being budget-friendly has been top of mind for many chains this year. Here are just a handful of the deals you can find, beyond Taco Bell’s Luxe Menu:

• Arby’s debuted a Meat & 3 Value Box for $8, where you choose an entrée (roast beef or crispy chicken sandwich) and snag a small order of curly fries, two mozzarella sticks, a peach cobbler roll and a small drink.
• Cracker Barrel is offering a Meals for Two promotion, which allows you to choose two entrees and an appetizer or dessert for $20 when you dine at the restaurant Monday through Friday. (Entrée options include the Breakfast Burger and two returning classics: the Hamburger Steak, topped with buttery garlic sauce, and the Eggs in the Basket, aka that old-timey combo of grilled sourdough with a fried egg in the center.)
• Denny’s just launched Slammin’ Meal Deals, a roster of ten different meals that start at $5.99. Options include chicken tenders or a burger and fries, country-fried steak, the Super Slam and several new menu items, like a breakfast quesadilla and two-meat Scrambler.
• KFC is determined to end the sad desk lunch with not one but five different $5 Bowls. They range from a Spicy Mashed Potato Bowl featuring spuds covered in gravy, corn, chicken nuggets, cheese and Nashville hot sauce to a collab with The Bear’s Matty Matheson, known as Matty’s Cheesy Nuggy Gravy Bowl. (It’s inspired by poutine, featuring fries, brown gravy, nuggets and cheese curds.) After sampling them firsthand, I have to say: The Spicy Mashed Potato Bowl is not to be missed—it's got a great mix of swavory flavors and will fill you up until dinner.
• Sonic just launched a new All-American Sonic Smasher, and to celebrate, they’re offering an All-American Smasher Meal for $6. It includes the burger—which features two hand-smashed patties, layered with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, diced onions, ketchup and mayo, along with your choice of medium tots or fries and a medium soda or iced tea.
• Wendy's expands its Biggie Deals into $4, $6 and $8 options. For $4, you can choose between four-piece nuggets, a crispy chicken sandwich, Jr. cheeseburger, Jr. bacon cheeseburger or Jr. fry, and pair it with another four-piece nugget, Jr. fry or small drink. At the $6 level, you'll get a Jr. fry, four-piece nuggets, small drink and any of the aforementioned burgers or sandwiches, or even a Double Stack burger. And at $8, you'll snag a Jr. fry, small drink and two of the follow: crispy chicken sandwich, Jr. cheeseburger, Jr. bacon cheeseburger or Double Stack.
• Whataburger dropped a Whatadeal mini menu, featuring three items under $5. There’s the $3 Big Ranch Wrap, featuring crispy chicken, veggies, ranch dressing and American cheese; the $4 Whatachick’n Bites, aka five-piece nuggets; and a $5 bacon and cheese Whataburger Jr.

7. IKEA’s Meatballs Get Major Competition

ikea

As you frantically dash to IKEA to scoop up cube organizers in hopes of finally getting organized in the new year, consider a stop by the furniture company’s café to try its new falafel balls. Made with chickpeas, zucchini, onions and a range of spices, they’re part of a company-wide effort to offer more plant-based menu items. They’re served alongside couscous, aioli and a lemon wedge (which I recommend spritzing for a zingy kick), all for $5.

8. TGI Fridays Goes All in on Samplers (and $5 Mocktails)

tgi fridays

Indecisive eaters (and chronic grazers), rejoice: TGI Fridays is offering two Treat Yourself Trios, aka three different apps, all served together, now through February 16. Choose from the Warm Up Trio ($11), which comes with a half-order of spinach artichoke dip, four mozzarella sticks with marinara and eight pretzel bites with poblano sauce, or the Level Up Trio ($15), which pairs eight boneless wings (ranch included, obvi) with two sliders and fries and loaded tots.

You can also stick to your Dry January resolutions with one of three $5 mocktails: The Pal-noma (a riff on a grapefruit-and-lime Paloma, topped with club soda), a Pink Lagoon (lime, dragon fruit syrup, club soda, lime and mint) and the Spring in Bloom (a lemonade-black tea combo that’s rounded out with strawberry puree, mint leaves and lemon).

9. Burger King Let Fans Choose Its Latest Burger

burger king

More than 600,000 people have spoken, prompting Burger King to launch the Ultimate Steakhouse Whopper, as part of its Whopper By You series. The latest iteration features the flame-broiled burger topped with sautéed mushrooms, bacon, Swiss cheese, peppercorn aioli and onion rings.

As someone who has found the Whopper underwhelming, this iteration made me a convert. The earthy mushrooms play nicely with the flame-broiled flavor and smoky bacon. In just a few bites, I suddenly wondered why I don't visit BK more often—at least during this limited-time offering. (Psst: Be sure to check out the app for digital-exclusive deals on this too. And don't sleep on the crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-in-the-middle Cinnamon Apple Pie, which is also around for just a while.)

10. Noodles & Company Brings Back Steak Stroganoff

Noodles & Company

Burger King isn't the only one tailoring its menu to fans' requests. After pleas to bring back Steak Stroganoff reached a fever pitch—inspiring a series of AI-created dramatic videos based on social posts—Noodles & Company officially brought back the dish. It features egg noodles covered in mushroom-sherry cream sauce, topped with marinated steak, Parmesan and parsley, making it the ultimate cold-weather comfort food.

Just note that it's only available for a limited time, so if you want to see what all the fuss is about, you'd better act fast.

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At a recent press preview, purple velvet curtains covered the walls, matching the tablecloths covering the long tables flanking the room. Fresh flowers covered the tables, alongside gold cutlery and goblets brimming with Diablo sauce packets. Taco Bell was going all out to highlight the five fancy-ish new additions to its revamped Luxe Value Menu.

Launching Jan. 22 nationwide, the menu will feature five returning dishes—the Cheesy Roll Up, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito, Three-Cheese Chicken Flatbread Melt and Cheesy Double Beef Burrito—as well as five newbies, which all focus on offering an "elevated" take on T-Bell classics. And everything costs $3 or less.

original photo: candace davison

Here's my take on all five new menu items, along with photos, so you can decide well in advance which one(s) you need to order first. (I can't be the only one who looks at the menu before they go to the restaurant, right?)

And if Jan. 22 seems too long to wait, fear not: If you download the Taco Bell app and sign up to be a Rewards member (which, BTW, is free), you can sample everything from the Mini Taco Salad to the Salted Caramel Churros as early as Jan. 16.

Note: Prices may vary, depending on location.

5. Chips & Nacho Supreme Dip

original photo: candace davison

• Price: $2.49

Eat your heart out, Seven-Layer Dip. Taco Bell's offering its own six-layer dip, which basically takes away the biggest pain point of sharing Nachos Bellgrande with someone: Fighting for those few perfect chips that have just the right ratio of toppings. The dip features layers of beef, refried beans, nacho cheese sauce, reduced-fat sour cream, pico de gallo and its shredded three-cheese blend.

It's the kind of craveable slop Taco Bell is known for—so good you could eat it with a spoon, but why would you do that when it comes with a side of chips?

4. Beefy Potato Loaded Griller

original photo: candace davison

• Price: $2.49

When you want a filling meal and you're on a budget, look no further. Beef and crispy potato nuggets make for one hearty burrito, which is loaded with flavor, thanks to the addition of nacho cheese sauce, creamy Chipotle sauce and reduced-fat sour cream. (The latter helps round out the flavor, so it doesn't taste too salty.) Grilling the whole thing gives it a nice (albeit slight) crunch, too.

3. Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker

original photo: candace davison

• Price: $2.99

Chicken Caesar salad fans, you've found your new favorite on-the-go snack. Trust. While it's not Caesar, there's a similar light, semi-virtuous-but-still-creamy-dressing-slathered vibe here. Grilled white meat chicken is tossed with Avocado Ranch sauce (which is pretty mild, as far as ranch goes), a three-cheese blend, lettuce and tomatoes. The way the tortilla is folded and grilled, it becomes almost crepe-like in how light and chewy it is.

It's the kind of meal that doesn't bog you down. All that's missing, dare I say it, is a Diet Pepsi and a side of (Nacho) fries.

2. Mini Taco Salad

original photo: candace davison

• Price: $2.49

Full disclosure: I've been dreaming of this launch since Taco Bell teased it at Live Más Live, its annual menu unveiling, in February 2025. Back then, they were just a "what if we did this?" dream projected on Brooklyn Paramount's theater screen. Now, they're a reality—and they were worth the wait.

Each taco salad is a little larger than your palm, with a crispy-yet-not-greasy taco shell piled high with ground beef, refried beans, creamy Chipotle sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. The lettuce and tomatoes keep the dish from feeling heavy, and I liked that the shell was fresher-tasting and had a more crackly crunch than Taco Bell's standard tortilla chips.

Overall, it's pretty mild in flavor—the beef and beans swallowed up the creamy Chipotle, to the point that I thought it was just sour cream at first—so if you like spicier takes, you may want to drizzle it with some Fire sauce.

1. Salted Caramel Churros

original photo: candace davison

• Price: $2.49

I was ready to dismiss this as simply a new way to serve Cinnabon Delights, and boy, am I glad I was wrong. Yes, they're dusted in a sugary coating and have a creme filling, much like the Delights, but these mini churros echo the classic dessert with a genuine crunch that gives way to a chewy center (whereas the Delights are more pillowy and donut-like). Better yet, though, is the salted caramel sugar exterior, which is genuinely salty—offsetting the sweetness of the treat perfectly. I kind of wished it came with a caramel sauce for dipping, as they were just a bit dry, but that may have pushed things into sugar-shock territory.

This dessert is only available for a limited time, so you'll need to act fast to sample it yourself. (And you totally should.)

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You see, back in the late-stage pandemic era when we were all pretending to be Ina Garten on social media, Witherspoon shared a lentil soup recipe, and it really took off. The slow cooker concoction called for roughly 11 ingredients, and it didn’t provide measurements or directions, but that didn’t stop people from guesstimating, riffing and making their own versions, just because it sounded so hearty, healthy-ish and simple. (On the fiber front, the lentils alone provide 31 grams, along with a solid amount of protein, iron and vitamin B6.)

Admittedly, I was equally intrigued, so after seeing our former food editor’s approximation of the recipe, as well as others online, I decided to try it myself. It turns out, it’s the cold-weather staple I never knew I needed—and I bet you didn’t either (until now).

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How To Make Reese Witherspoon’s Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Essentially, you’re chopping up a mirepoix of carrots, celery and onion, sautéing them, and adding them to a slow cooker with rinsed green lentils, vegetable stock, garlic and a host of seasonings. Simple—yet I still uttered a minor groan. Sautéing? So I need to dirty a frying pan first?!

original photo: candace davison

When it comes to slow cooker meals, I am lazy. I want to dump things in that Crockpot and let the machine work its magic. But, in the interest of channeling my inner type-A Elle Woods, I heeded her instructions. Even when she went rogue—and in that instance, I took some creative liberties too.

“OK, I also decided to add a little bit of sausage, so who knows, man? I’m just going off recipe,” she says in the Instagram video. “We’ll see how it turns out.”

From there, the screen flashes to an empty bowl, devoured so quickly she never got footage of the completed soup. That was enough of a sign to me to add sausage.

original photos: candace davison

In this case, I browned mild Italian sausage first, seasoning it with the same seasonings Witherspoon uses in her soup—cumin, ground coriander and paprika. I used the leftover grease from the sausage to sauté the carrots, onion and celery, infusing them with a stronger savory flavor and letting them caramelize. This extra step was well worth it—it gives the soup a richer, more complex flavor, otherwise it tastes like a mild bean stew.

From there, all of the ingredients were dumped into the slow cooker and set to low for the next 6 hours.

The Verdict: It Needs a Toppings Bar

original photo: candace davison

The one measurement Witherspoon specifically provides is two cups of lentils. Based on that, most recipes recommend 8 cups of vegetable stock (or you could do 6 cups vegetable stock, 2 cups of water), though the end result is less of a soup, more of a chili-like thickness. It makes for an incredibly hearty meal, though if your slow cooker is big enough, you may want to boost the vegetable stock by 2 more cups for a more soup-like consistency.

The sausage adds a meatiness that makes the lentils taste more robust, and the dish is well balanced, without skewing too salty. It’s very much like a mild chili, honestly, so anyone looking for a little zing may want to add a squeeze of lemon juice or a dash of hot sauce.

I recommend serving it with a toppings bar, letting people customize it as they see fit. Some sour cream, grated Parm or shredded cheese, sliced chives or crumbled tortilla chips could all be nice additions, just to take things to the next level. (My husband liked the flavor, but wanted a little crunch or textural variety, hence the crumbled chips.) Heck, I've even swirled in a spoonful of Good Foods Cucumber Feta dip for a briny, creamy twist. (It was excellent, BTW.) But it’s pretty satisfying served as is with a hunk of crusty bread for dipping.

Reese Witherspoon’s Slow Cooker Lentil Soup Recipe (PureWow’s Version)

original photo: candace davison

Ingredients

• 1 pound mild Italian sausage
• 1 teaspoon cumin (plus more for seasoning meat)
• 1 teaspoon coriander (plus more for seasoning meat)
• ½ teaspoon paprika (plus more for seasoning meat)
• 3 to 4 large carrots, chopped
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 5 to 6 stalks celery, chopped
• 4 to 5 garlic cloves, minced
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 16 ounces green lentils
• 32 ounces Vegetable broth or stock
• Tomato paste

Directions

Step 1: Cook and crumble the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until browned, seasoning with a dash of cumin, coriander and paprika. Remove sausage from pan and add to slow cooker, leaving grease in the skillet for the vegetables.Sauté all the vegetables in the skillet until lightly caramelized and tender, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Turn off the heat and reserve.

Step 2: Rinse the lentils in cold water. Add them to the slow cooker along with the vegetables, then top them with vegetable broth or stock (the vegetables should be almost completely covered). Add tomato paste, cumin, coriander and paprika to taste.

Step 3: Cook for about six hours on low, four hours on high or until the lentils are tender.

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Why You Should Trust Us

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Also called Spring Festival in most of mainland China, Lunar New Year begins on the night of the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, which is a bit shorter than the 365-day solar year. The 16-day festival season is celebrated with lots of traditional Chinese New Year foods that are prepared, served and eaten in symbolic ways that promise luck, good health and prosperity for the new year. Below, you’ll find 16 timeless favorites (and a few simpler-yet-similar alternatives) that are just right for the occasion.

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But First, How Does Lunar New Year Begin?

It all starts with the reunion dinner, which is basically a big family feast where everyone comes together to share their wishes for health, happiness and prosperity in the year ahead. It’s arguably the most popular festivity of the holiday, so much so that countless people travel to celebrate with their relatives. In case you’re planning or attending a get-together, here are a few traditional Chinese New Year foods that will be a hit at any Lunar New Year dinner.

Toasting to the New Year? Try these Quotes!

1. Whole Steamed Fish (yú, 鱼)

RecipeTin Eats

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2 to 4
• Symbolizes: prosperity

Whole fish (yú, 鱼) is often served steamed at the unity dinner (though it can also be boiled or braised), due to the Chinese belief that it will bring prosperity. It’s crucial that the fish be served with its head and tail to represent both a good beginning and end to the year; in fact, half the fish is saved to eat the following day to ensure long-lasting future prosperity.

When served, the head of the fish should face distinguished or elderly guests, who must eat the fish before others at the table. It’s also considered lucky for the people facing the head and tail to drink together during the meal. This recipe calls for steaming bream or snapper fish in a bamboo steamer, but Crucian carp, Chinese mud carp and Chinese catfish are three other traditional options.

2. Chinese Dumplings (jiǎozi, 饺子)

RecipeTin Eats

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
• Serves: 30 pieces
• Symbolizes: wealth

Legend has it that the more dumplings (jiǎozi, 饺子) you eat during Spring Festival, the more money you can make in the new year. (Challenge accepted.) The Chinese word for them represents the exchange between the old and new year, as it’s a combination of the words for “exchange” and “midnight.” It’s thought that eating dumplings during Lunar New Year ushers in the new and banishes the old.

Their shape (like that of wontons) is modeled off the Chinese silver ingot, a currency used in Imperial China. The dumplings symbolize wealth, so make sure they have plenty of pleats, as flat dumplings are believed to purport the opposite. To serve, arrange them in lines rather than a circle to represent forward movement. This recipe calls for frying the dumplings, but feel free to stick to tradition and steam them instead. Pair them with a selection of other New Year’s Eve appetizers like spring rolls or crispy wontons to create a festive and abundant spread.

For an added touch of fun, incorporate New Year’s game into your celebration. Hide a coin or small trinket inside one of the dumplings before cooking a popular tradition that symbolizes extra luck and prosperity for the person who finds it.

3. Spring Rolls (chūnjuǎn, 春卷)

RecipeTin Eats

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 15 to 20 rolls
• Symbolizes: wealth

Especially popular in Eastern China for Lunar New Year, these handhelds (chūnjuǎn, 春卷) symbolize wealth and are named spring rolls because they’re eaten during Spring Festival. A Cantonese dish, spring rolls are a type of dim sum made of thin dough wrappers stuffed with vegetables or meat.

The rolls are fried until golden brown. This inspired the lucky Chinese saying for "a ton of gold," which is colloquially used as a wish for prosperity while eating spring rolls, since they look like gold bars. "There's really no definitive rules about what goes inside spring rolls," recipe developer and blogger at RecipeTin Eats Nagi Maehashi writes, "but typically, you'll find a mix of some kind of meat (usually ground pork) with finely chopped or shredded vegetables, plus seasoning. I like to add chopped mushrooms, which adds extra umami to the filling."

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4. Sweet Rice Balls (tāngyuán, 汤圆)

Calvin Chan Wai Ming/Getty Images

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 16 balls
• Symbolizes: unity and family

Rice balls are basically chewy balls made from water and glutinous rice flour, served either deep-fried or in hot broth or syrup. They can be stuffed with savory or sweet fillings alike. Popular options include sesame paste, red bean paste, chopped peanuts or preserves. “Tangyuan is my favorite. Black sesame is the best, IMO (though people with allergies beware, I think it's often mixed with peanut paste). It's earthy and nutty, richer than the regular sesame seeds with more depth and flavor,” says SEO and Audience Development Editor, Marissa Wu.

While these are popular for China’s Lantern Festival at the end of Lunar New Year, they’re also commonly enjoyed during Spring Festival in South China. Due to their round, cohesive shape and the fact that they’re most often served at family gatherings, sweet rice balls (tāngyuán, 汤圆) have come to symbolize unity and family togetherness.

5. Longevity Noodles (cháng shòu miàn, 长寿面)

I Heart Umami

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, high protein
• Serves: 2
• Symbolizes: luck and long life

If you’ve ever dug into a bowl of lo mein, you know how much slurping noodles can require. Longevity noodles (cháng shòu miàn, 长寿面), which are eaten for luck and a long life, take it to a whole other level. In Northern China, these noodles can be up to two feet long (!!!). Legend has it that the longer your noodle, the longer your life—just don’t bite it or break it while it’s cooking, since that signifies a life cut short.

They can be served fried or boiled in broth, along with various meats and add-ins that have their own symbolic meanings. This alternative Sichuan-inspired recipe (which uses shirataki noodles in place of tough-to-find longevity noodles) includes ground pork, fresh ginger, bok choy and scallions.

6. Steamed Chicken (zhēng jī, 蒸鸡)

I Heart Umami

• Time Commitment: 9 hours and 10 minutes (includes marinating time)
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 5
• Symbolizes: unity and family

Much like whole fish, a whole chicken symbolizes unity and family. Authentic steamed chicken (zhēng jī, 蒸鸡) is served whole—head and feet included—to further drive home the concept of reunion and rebirth. (FYI, the breadwinner of the family should eat the chicken feet, as it just might help them “grab” onto wealth.) When chicken is cooked during Spring Festival, it’s traditionally first offered to one’s ancestors for blessings and protection.

Finding a beak-to-feet whole bird to steam can be tough in the U.S., so feel free to substitute a roast chicken for convenience. This Chinese citrus-roasted orange chicken is brined in star anise, fresh ginger and Chinese red dates.

7. Vegetarian Stir Fry (tián yuán sù xiǎo chǎo, 田园素小炒)

I Heart Umami

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, one pan, <30 minutes
• Serves: 6
• Symbolizes: longevity, upward movement, wealth

The Spring Festival is historically the time to finish all the vegetables left over from winter in order to plant new ones. Commonly called “countryside vegetarian stir fry” (tián yuán sù xiǎo chǎo, 田园素小炒), this simple mix of produce often includes mushrooms (the poria variety are believed to bring good fortune), Chinese red dates (aka jujube) and Chinese cabbage, along with other symbolic ingredients like bamboo shoots, which represent longevity and upward momentum, seaweed for wealth and leeks (the Chinese word for them sounds similar to the word for “long and everlasting”). This Chinese cabbage stir fry includes savoy cabbage, carrots, scallions and sesame oil.

8. Hot Pot (huǒ guō, 火锅)

I Am a Food Blog

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, one pot, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4
• Symbolizes: warmth, community, family, unity

Maybe you’ve had Korean jeongol or Vietnamese lẩu, but hot pot (huǒ guō, 火锅) is widely considered to have been invented by the Chinese. “There are many types of hot pot, but generally it’s an interactive meal where you have a pot of simmering [seasoned] broth at the center of the table with raw meats, seafood, vegetables, tofu, starches and other ingredients cut into small pieces for fast cooking,” Sarah Leung, one of the four multigenerational food bloggers behind The Woks of Life, told PureWow.

Needless to say, it’s super customizable. You choose the broth, ingredients and hot pot sauces for dipping—all you need to pull it off is a small burner and a pot (ideally, a split pot that can separately hold multiple types of liquid at once). A few must-haves are thin-sliced rib eye, pork belly or jowl, shrimp or fish, mushrooms, daikon and lotus root.

9. New Year Cake (nián gāo, 年糕)

NorGal/Getty Images

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 16
• Symbolizes: pay raise, promotion, good luck

For a pay raise, promotion or general good luck in the new year, look no further than this rice cake treat (nián gāo, 年糕). Its name has the same pronunciation as the Chinese word for “tall” or “high,” hence its purpose being to improve the eater’s life.

While there are countless variations across regions of China (it’s been around for thousands of years), the rice cakes eaten for Lunar New Year in the South are typically sweet. They’re primarily made from either sticky glutinous rice or sweet rice flour, but can also include chestnuts, jujube, lotus leaves or sesame seeds. Some regions of China fry the batter or fill the cakes with red bean paste or mashed jujube, while others steam the cakes with red beans and jujube instead.

10. Shrimp (xiā, 虾)

I Heart Umami

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: keto-friendly, high protein, beginner-friendly, one pan
• Serves: 3
• Symbolizes: happiness, energy

Shrimp (xiā, 虾) and lobster (lóngxiā, 龙虾) are both revered as symbols of happiness and energy, so they make a great addition to your Lunar New Year menu. The Cantonese word for shrimp (“ha”) sounds like laughter, so it’s come to signify happiness over time. Serve them diced in lettuce wraps, minced in dumplings or whole in this rendition of Chinese kung pao shrimp. It’s a 30-minute recipe starring dried Chinese red chilis, Sichuan peppercorns, cashews and Sichuan chili oil.

11. Scallion Pancakes (cōng yóu bǐng, 蔥油餅)

Betty Liu/My Shanghai

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4
• Symbolizes: springtime

Odds are you're no stranger to scallion pancakes (cōng yóu bǐng, 蔥油餅), a savory, chewy-yet-crisp, unleavened bread that's folded with minced scallions and fried in oil. Unlike the pancakes you eat for breakfast, these are made with dough instead of batter. Also called green onion pancakes, they're commonly sold as a street food snack in places like Shanghai and Taiwan; they're also commonly eaten for breakfast with an egg. Not only would I suggest putting these on your Lunar New Year menu because they're decidedly delicious and easy to make, but because scallions are a symbol of spring. In fact, some families hang a single scallion over their front door before the New Year begins.

“It’s one of those popular treats that people get into arguments about because there are so many versions," cookbook author and recipe developer Betty Liu says. “This my favorite scallion pancake, modeled on the street-style ones I’ve had in Shanghai.” The secret to their flavor is the you su, or oil paste, which starts with scallion oil. I’ll take mine doused in chile crisp, please.

12. Eggplant (qié zi, 茄子)

Betty Liu/My Shanghai

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4
• Symbolizes: government officials, potential for promotion

Unlike the bulky, bulbous eggplant (qié zi, 茄子) you're used to, Chinese eggplant is long and thin. In addition to being associated with the word "extraordinary," it's also often considered a symbol for Chinese government officials, since its stem fits the purple part of the veggie like a hat an official may wear. When given as a gift, eggplant represents the gifter's wish for the giftee to receive a high position in an official post.

It's often eaten on the first day of Chinese New Year in a Hainanese (meaning from the southern Chinese island province of Hainan) stir fry with garlic. But I also love this Shanghai-style recipe for liáng bàn qié zi, or seasoned steamed eggplant. "Eggplant is often fried with a lot of oil and ends up being too heavy for my tastes, but steamed eggplant is light and a wonderful vessel to soak up sauce," Liu explains. "[Steaming] a fast way to cook eggplant, and even more important, the texture transforms and becomes silky soft, tender and creamy.” Soaking it in vinegar water first also helps it retain its gorgeous purple hue.

13. Pork (zhūròu, 猪肉)

bonchan/Getty Images

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6 meatballs
• Symbolizes: prosperity, wealth, strength and abundant blessings

Pork (zhūròu, 猪肉) is a staple protein throughout much of China, and there are many more ways to enjoy it than in a dumpling. In northern China, it's often served double-cooked and sliced. In Beijing, braised pork balls in gravy are more popular. In Shanghai, braised pork belly or spare ribs are common, while steamed or barbecue pork is the go-to in southern China. In rural areas of China, slaughtering a pig for the Spring Festival is a popular tradition and a reward for a year of hard work. In more metropolitan areas, pork is representative of a prosperous life, wealth, strength and abundant blessings.

A favorite pork recipe for Lunar New Year is lion's head meatballs, a dish from Shanghai starring oversized pork meatballs with bok choy "manes." Lions represent strength in Chinese culture, while meatballs signify family unity. These are tweaked a bit, recipe developer and blogger at I Heart Umami ChihYu Smith explains. "I use a combination of ground chicken and ground pork to keep the dish lighter. I found that the meatballs also taste less dense because ground chicken contains more water."

14. Wontons (wantan, 雲吞)

RecipeTin Eats

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, make ahead, high protein
• Serves: 50 wontons
• Symbolizes: wealth and treasure

Wontons (wantan, 雲吞) are believed to bring wealth and treasure to those who eat them. Their shape is based on that of the Chinese silver ingot, an imperial currency used as early as third century B.C. Like dumplings, the pleats in their wrappers represent wealth, so it's no surprise that they're equally as popular come Chinese New Year. (The Chinese word for wonton is similar to the word for "beginning.")

Traditionally, wontons are boiled in broth or served in soup, but you can also fry them if you'd prefer. Make them extra lucky by stuffing them with ingredients like pork and shrimp. "Don’t get too hung up about how neat your wontons are," Maehashi advises. "Once cooked, they mostly lose their shape, so just make sure that your filling is well sealed inside. And even if the filling falls out, you still get the same flavor."

15. Tangerines (chéng, 橙)

Yulia Naumenko/Getty Images

• Why I Love It: kid-friendly snack, crowd-pleaser, healthy
• Symbolizes: good luck, success

The tangerine (chéng, 橙) is one of the luckiest fruits in Chinese tradition, but you’ll likely also see oranges, pomelos and other citrus fruit on the table. Its name sounds similar to the Chinese words for “luck” and “success,” so they’re often served at the end of a meal or given as gifts to relatives during visits year-round. But during Chinese New Year, they’re everywhere. Their roundness and golden color signify fullness and wealth. It’s believed that the more of them you eat during Lunar New Year, the more wealth they’ll bring, so you might want to get peeling…

16. Chinese Sesame Balls (Jiān duī, 煎堆)

The Woks of Life

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8
• Symbolizes: luck and prosperity

Much like sweet rice balls, Chinese sesame balls (jiān duī) are one of the Chinese New Year foods that can be served in a variety of ways. One thing is always true: They are crispy on the outside, thanks to the sesame seed coating and the deep-frying technique used to cook the glutinous rice flour dough. They are often filled with red bean or lotus paste for a sweeter treat, but can also be made quite large and left hollow on the inside for a savory snack.

The cooking technique here might require some experimentation, as the dough tends to expand and can even, er, explode if you don’t watch the temperature of the oil carefully. Fortunately, our friends at The Woks of Life have thoroughly tested the recipe and have a comprehensive guide to successfully making them at home, which you can find below.

As for their significance, jiān duī are seen as a symbol of luck and prosperity due to the way they puff up during the cooking process.

Chinese Zodiac Elements How to Know What Yours Is and What It Means

olko1975/Shutterstock

In case you’re not familiar, black currants are a type of berry known for their tart yet sweet flavor profile. Punchier than your average blueberry, black currants embody the boldness of a blackberry grounded by a wine-like herbal earthiness, making them “a great compliment to creamier, milder flavors like vanilla custard or yogurt,” Candace Davison, VP of Editorial Content and recipe developer, tells me. Native to parts of central and northern Europe as well as northern Asia, the rich, dark flavor lends itself well to jams, juices, cocktails and more. Plus, as a nutritional “super berry,” black currants are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.

According to McCormick, black currants have been trending on menus and in kitchens globally, with the U.S. specifically praising it as the next "it" berry—so step aside, elderberry.

If you need more proof that this tangy flavor will reign supreme in 2026, the foodies over at T. Hasegawa USA (a global flavor manufacturer based in California) also selected dark sweet cherry as their predicted flavor of the year. Though different fruits, black currants and dark sweet cherries have similar complex flavor profiles—juicy, rich and tart—as well as naturally occurring nutrients that help support multiple health benefits.

Alongside the flavor of the year, McCormick also predicts that these three food trends will take off in 2026:

• Attainable Opulence: “Consumers are using extravagant treats and experiences as an escape, bringing elevated flavors into everyday life, not just special occasions.” 
• Simple to Spectacular: “In a digital-forward world, people are finding beauty in the basics by cooking with care and using simple, quality ingredients combined with technique and time—with that, anything humble becomes a showstopper.”
• Sauce from Somewhere: “Flavor fluency is more common than ever. People are looking for ways to connect cultures, bring regional tastes of the world forward, and enhance daily meal routines through novel sauces, dips, drizzles and spreads that spark curiosity and inspire trial, connect cultures, and—above all—help create flavor exploration.”

McCormick

Want to get ahead of the curve? Here are five black currant recipes to get you started:

• Simple Black Currant Jam
• PB and J Cake with Black Currant Sauce
• Black Currant Labneh with Roasted Beets
• Black Currant Rosemary Crème Brûleé
• Lemon and Black Currant Stripe Cake

The 2026 Food Trend Report

You can learn a lot about a person by inspecting their kitchen. And while opening a stranger’s cupboards can be a bit rude (not to mention veering into that whole “breaking and entering” territory), it’s a different story when said stranger opens their pantry to you. Which is precisely what Ina Garten has done over the years, through her Food Network shows, Instagram posts and “Ask Ina” section of her website.

The Queen of Chambray doesn’t gatekeep—after all, she’s made it her mission to help people everywhere achieve her level of effortlessly elegant meals. So, in honor of that, I’ve scoured her interviews and videos from over the years to bring you the top ten products she’s recommended, time and time again, for helping people cook smarter, not harder.

1. Le Creuset 5.5-Quart Dutch Oven

le creuset

Consider this her ultimate must-have—and not just because it looks good on your stovetop. “I use the Le Creuset No. 26 Dutch oven more often than everything else,” Garten revealed on her website. “It's great for soups, stews and braising.” The enameled cast iron is easy to clean and heats evenly, with a light interior that helps you see when you’ve gotten a good sear. Plus, it’s compatible with all cooktops and is oven-safe up to 500 degrees F.

2. Le Saunier de Camargue Fleur de Sel

Le Saunier de Camargue

When it comes to salt, Garten doesn’t mess around. She keeps three types on hand, and she has a different purpose for each. (She told Bon Appétit back in 2018 that it’s the ingredient “most people use wrong.”) The Barefoot Contessa uses Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt for everyday cooking, but: “When I want to finish with salt, I use Fleur de Sel, which is a French sea salt, and it’s just the kind of briny” taste to top off a dish, she shared. (Hand-harvested, it’s also been dubbed the “caviar of salt” for the way it delicately enhances a dish’s flavor and slowly melts on your tongue, making for a more luxe meal overall.)

More specifically, she stocks Le Saunier de Camargue, which you can buy as a regular salt or as a blend with espelette pepper, if you like things a bit spicy.

3. Wüsthof Classic Knives

wüsthof

“The most important tool every home cook should have is a great set of knives,” Garten shared on Instagram. “Mine are Wüsthof Classic knives. They’re an investment, but if you take care of them, they’ll last a lifetime!” I can concur—a well-sharpened set makes getting that perfect dice or julienne so much easier, and as you’ve probably heard the Contessa herself say, evenly cut pieces tend to cook more evenly too, resulting in a better dish overall.

That said, you don’t have to spring for an entire knife block. Garten recommends having one of the following on hand: a chef’s knife, a serrated bread knife, a paring knife and slicing knife.

4. OXO Good Grips Kitchen Scale with Pull-Out Display

oxo

Garten will be the first to give you permission to take a cooking shortcut when it’s warranted, but fellow lazy bakers, take note: She encourages you to invest in a kitchen scale. You’ll get more precise measurements than if you rely on measuring cups (since flour and sugar can be packed into them, throwing off ratios), resulting in more consistently delicious results.

5. 2 ¼-Inch Cream Scoop

amazon

Sure, a scoop is great for whipping up sundaes, but the Food Network star uses hers for so much more than that. “It makes perfectly proportioned meatballs and muffins, and it looks very professional,” Garten told New York Times Cooking. Look for one that’s around 2 ¼ inches in diameter, around the No. 10 and 12 sizes.

6. Oven Thermometer

amazon

It’s a rare, rare thing to have a perfectly calibrated oven (so, good news: maybe that pizza you burned wasn’t your fault at all!). That’s why Ina swears by an old-fashioned oven thermometer. "Always use one," she says. "No matter what it says on the dial, the temperature in the oven could be totally different."

7. PepperMate Pepper Grinder

amazon

I hate to say it, but there’s a serious difference in a dish made with freshly ground pepper versus the store-bought, pre-ground stuff. Dishes just taste livelier, which is why you see Garten reaching for hers all the time. She’s used this PepperMade style for years, and for good reason. Not only is it easy to use (twist right for a coarse grind, left for fine), but it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.

8. Olio Santo Olive Oil

olio santo

You’ll frequently hear the Barefoot Contessa talk about budgeting for “good olive oil,” but what exactly does that mean? In Garten’s own household, that means springing for California-grown Olio Santo olive oil. “It’s flavorful, fruity and not heavy,” she says. Cold-pressed, this oil’s robust flavor makes it an ideal way to upgrade vinaigrettes, pastas and anything grilled. It’s also great for dipping.

9. Chef's Choice Electric Knife Sharpener

chef's choice

You know how Garten said that if you take care of good knives, they’ll last a lifetime? Well, she maintains their sharpness with this handy gadget. It’s designed for use with German knives, and this particular model can hone straight-edge and serrated styles, so you can use it with all four of Ina’s knife recommendations.

10. OXO Food Mill

oxo

“What I like is when something ends up with texture, so it’s not like baby food,” Garten told NYT Cooking. “I just adore it.” On her website, she’s recommended both the Mouli mill ($303) and this more affordable OXO style.

A Definitive Ranking of Ina Garten’s Cookbooks, from “Store-Bought Is Fine” to “How Easy Is That?”

Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.

These 31 healthy January dinner recipes will help you plan ahead for a nutritious, low-lift meal every evening. The ingredients are pretty simple (think vegetables, lean proteins and minimally processed foods), but these dishes will still leave you satisfied and impressed—not deprived. Whether you're craving overstuffed sweet potatoes with chipotle-lime yogurt or white turkey chili with avocado, these dinners are sure to hit the spot.

65 Clean-Eating Dinner Recipes (That Taste Dirty)

January 1: Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, low carb, high protein, kid-friendly
• Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Serves: 8

PureWow Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay is a fan of these enchiladas—and for good reason. “Chicken enchiladas are my forever comfort meal. I love this vegetarian take on the Mexican classic—such a great way to sneak in some greens, and the kids will never know!" This dish has all the cheesy goodness of the O.G., minus some of the carbs, since the recipe calls using thin-sliced zucchini in place of tortillas. Did I mention they reheat and freeze like a dream?

January 2: Overstuffed Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle-Lime Yogurt

Teri Lyn Fisher/Eat Like You Give a Fork

• Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Serves: 4

“Baked sweet potatoes are so comforting on a frigid day, and I love how the chipotle-lime-yogurt crema adds a smoky, tangy note to offset the spuds' sweetness," says PureWow VP of Editorial Content, Candace Davison.

Indeed these guys are as comforting as sweet potato fries, but ten times as wholesome. Roast the spuds in advance and use canned black beans to save time. You can even shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken for a protein-packed topping, if you feel so inclined.

January 3: Instant Pot Coconut Salmon with Fresh Herbs and Lime

Christopher Testani/Instant Family Meals

• Why I Love It: instant pot recipe, <30 minutes, special occasion worthy
• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Serves: 4

Here, dinner doubles as a work of art, if I do say so myself. Serving this salmon is sort of like putting a painting on your dinner table instead of a wall. The fish is steam-poached in coconut milk, which keeps it moist and flavorful for the long haul.

It also checks all the boxes when it comes to New Year eating goals for Yohay: “One of my resolutions for 2026 is to rely on my Instant Pot more for quick and healthy meals that I can set and forget. This salmon dish featuring coconut milk, ginger, green chile and turmeric is calling my name."

January 4: Warm Sesame Noodle Salad

Emily Morgan

• Why I Love It: vegan, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Serves: 2

Kick off 2026 with a 20-minute, takeout-inspired dish that's as easy to prepare as it is to devour. The sauce is made almost entirely from pantry staples, and while the recipe calls for gluten-free pasta, you could easily substitute another long noodle. (I'm partial to thick udon.)

January 5: Vegan Slow Cooker Detox Coconut Soup

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 7 hours 15 minutes
• Serves: 8

In my book, all the best dinners come together with just the push of a button, and this Crock-Pot gem fits the bill. The photogenic beauty is vegan, dairy free, gluten free and piled high with fresh herbs. Need I say more?

January 6: Plantain Subs with Quick Pickles

Chris Terry/Nadiya's Everyday Baking

• Why I Love It: vegetarian, sheet pan recipe
• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Serves: 4

Crispy, double-baked tostones + quick-pickled veggies + spicy mayo + pillowy-soft baguette = the most unexpected vegetarian sammy you'll ever have. Top the handhelds with runny eggs or tofu scramble for more protein.

January 7: Kale Salad with Persimmons, Crispy Chickpeas and Fried Shallots

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, vegetarian
• Time Commitment: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Serves: 4

It's crisp, tart, savory, sweet and basically the polar opposite of a sad salad. Sweet, rich persimmons are just the match for crunchy chickpeas, crisp greens and savory shallots.

January 8: Tandoori-Inspired Roast Cauliflower Bowls with Tahini

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman

• Why I Love It: high protein, vegetarian, sheet pan recipe
• Time Commitment: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Serves: 4

A swoon-worthy meal if I've ever seen one. This vegetarian take on tandoori chicken (aka chicken that's cooked in a tandoor, a type of clay oven) stars a spiced yogurt marinade that's so good, you just might want to straight-up drink it.

January 9: Instant Pot Vegan Pho

Nisha Vora/The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook

• Why I Love It: instant pot recipe, vegan, vegetarian
• Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Serves: 4

When people say "hug in a bowl," this is what I envision. Treat yourself to a mix of noodles, ginger, mushrooms, bean sprouts, tofu and a mélange of herbs, all swimming in soothing vegetable broth. Bye-bye, winter blues.

January 10: Alison Roman’s Swordfish with Crushed Olives and Oregano

Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott/Nothing Fancy

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion worthy, low sugar, high protein
• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Serves: 6

Even self-proclaimed seafood haters will ooh and ahh after one bite of this briny masterpiece. In case you've never tried it, swordfish is a lot like chicken…only a million times tastier (and just as easy to prepare).

January 11: Purple Salad

Peden + Munk/More Is More

• Why I Love It: <500 calories, special occasion worthy, sheet pan recipe
• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Serves: 4

This monochromatic salad is begging for a shoutout on your Instagram story. Made with purple sweet potatoes, radicchio, blood oranges and purple basil, the meal is finished with a punchy, umami-laced dressing, starring fish sauce. Shrimp or ground pork would be great additions, IMO.

January 12: Restorative Miso Noodle Soup

Maria Siriano/The Probiotic Kitchen

• Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, low sugar
• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Serves: 4

The kind you get as a sushi appetizer is certainly comforting, but it's not exactly hearty. Here, soba noodles, meaty mushrooms and fresh greens put the soup firmly in entrée territory. (Though I wouldn't blame you for serving white rice and sashimi on the side anyway.)

January 13: Ginger Pork Chops

Jeni Afuso/Make It Japanese

• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion worthy
• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Serves: 4

This main is proof that you don't need fancy ingredients to craft a memorable marinade. The key is making the most of a well-stocked pantry. Here, staples like soy sauce, mirin and sugar do most of the heavy lifting. Plate the pork with a grain and a crunchy vegetable side, like cabbage slaw.

January 14: Lightened-Up Fettuccine with Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, high protein
• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Serves: 4

Here, my favorite cruciferous veggie proves that it can tackle just about any recipe—including a mean Alfredo sauce. (Don't worry, the unexpected dish calls for plenty of Parmesan cheese, so your picky kids will still ask for a second helping.)

January 15: Collard Greens Empanadas

Hipolito Torres/Latin-Ish

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, low sugar, <500 calories, special occasion worthy
• Time Commitment: 3 hours
• Serves: 12

If you have a bunch of kale or Swiss chard on your hands, turn to this soul food-inspired Latin recipe. The leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days, and you can use store-bought sazón and empanada dough to save time.

January 16: Whole30 Chicken Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice with Coconut-Herb Sauce

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, <500 calories, high protein
• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Serves: 4

I'm not even on the Whole30 diet, but I still can't get enough of these tender meatballs and the creamy, dairy-free sauce. Props to you, coconut milk. As for the cauli rice, it's a stellar alternative to grains for low-carb or keto dieters.

January 17: Leftovers Frittata

Katherine Gillen

• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, <500 calories, high protein
• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Serves: 4

Whether it's wilted greens you forgot about in the crisper, last night's sweet potatoes or lingering crumbs of feta cheese, this frittata can accommodate all your fridge's odds and ends. "The only thing that's nonnegotiable is that the vegetables are pre-cooked, otherwise they'll sog out in the oven," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen notes. Use your trusty cast iron skillet to ensure a crisp exterior and fluffy center.

January 18: Chicken and Snap Pea Stir Fry

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, high protein
• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Serves: 4

High in protein, low in carbs, calories, effort and cook time—what's not to like? Feel free to toss in any veggies that are withering away in your pantry or fridge, like broccoli, carrots, spinach or baby corn.

January 19: Chicken with Steph’s Spice

Jonathan Lovekin/Ottolenghi Comfort

• Why I Love It: high protein, sheet pan recipe, special occasion worthy
• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Serves: 4

If you like jerk chicken, you need this flavorful number in your weekly rotation. “We served the chicken with a simple slaw made with half a small cabbage and a quarter of a pineapple, both thinly sliced, some freshly flaked coconut, sliced jalapeño, green onion, cilantro and mint,” write recipe developers Yotam Ottolenghi, Helen Goh, Verena Lochmuller and Tara Wigley.

January 20: Creamy Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake

Nisha Vora

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, instant pot recipe
• Time Commitment: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Serves: 8

Cauliflower, butternut squash, sweet potato, lentils and herbs unite in a pool of garlicky cashew cream sauce to create a vegan miracle. Want it to be gluten free too? Nix the panko breadcrumbs and double down on the pine nuts for crunch.

January 21: Veggie-Loaded Stuffed Bell Peppers

Alexandra Stafford

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Serves: 6

Tell ground beef to sit this one out—traditional stuffed peppers are long overdue for an update, and this one's vegetarian-friendly. I'm talking quinoa, zucchini, corn, tomatoes and a generous dose of Monterey Jack cheese. No meat, no problem.

January 22: White Turkey Chili with Avocado

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Serves: 8

Feed a crowd of eight in one hour with the help of canned corn and beans, pantry seasonings and quick-cooking ground turkey. Set up a topping bar of diced avocado, cheddar cheese, sour cream and lime juice for your guests to top their own bowls.

January 23: Shrimp and Pasta Stew

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Serves: 6 to 8

It's your pantry's time to shine. After all, aren't your usual weeknight pasta and shrimp dishes (read: shrimp scampi and...that's it) getting old? Give this wintry soul-soother, which features tender kale and a tomatoey seafood broth, a go in their place.

January 24: Carrot, Fennel and Miso Soup

Aran Goyoaga

• Why I Love It: vegan, special occasion worthy, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Serves: 4 to 6

Come for the umami-laced soup, stay for the crunchy pepita-pine nut topping. Leftover cooked winter squash or sweet potatoes would also work wonders in this soup, as would a swirl of yogurt or sour cream on top.

January 25: Mark Bittman’s Cauliflower “Polenta” with Mushrooms

Jim Henkens/How to Cook Everything Fast, Revised Edition

• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories, vegetarian
• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Serves: 4

Does it get cozier than this? I think not. The "polenta" is so luscious and creamy that you won't believe how healthy it actually is. This polenta alternative, starring puréed cauliflower, is low carb, gluten free and surprisingly high in protein. That's a win-win-win.

January 26: Cauliflower Chili

Lauren Volo/Cauliflower Power

• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 33 minutes
• Serves: 6

It's a vegetarian comfort as is, but you can easily give it a protein boost by adding cooked ground turkey or chicken, if you'd like. Might I suggest bookmarking this crowd-pleaser now for your next football Sunday watch party, or even the Super Bowl?

January 27: Five-Minute Bean Salad

Heidi Swanson/Super Natural Simple

• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd pleaser
• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Serves: 6

It's the ideal recipe for using up all those canned white beans you've been hoarding in the cupboard. I'm betting a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese on top or a bed of greens underneath wouldn't hurt. Just don't skip the fresh oregano or lemon zest—they brighten every bite considerably.

January 28: Creamy Lentil-Stuffed Butternut Squash

Nisha Vora/Rainbow Plant Life

• Why I Love It: special occasion worthy, crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Serves: 6

Hearty and, dare I say it, meaty—despite being vegan. The herb- and wine-kissed lentils are delicious on their own, but I think the butternut-tahini sauce on top just might steal the show.

January 29: Sheet Pan Miso-Glazed Fish with Broccoli and Coconut Rice

Mandalyn Renicker/The Huckle and Goose Cookbook

• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, special occasion worthy
• Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
• Serves: 4

Reason No. 582 to love sheet pan dinners: Fewer dirty dishes means more time to catch up on your Netflix queue. Any flaky fish you enjoy will do here, like salmon, cod, sea bass or halibut. The savory miso glaze is endlessly adaptable.

January 30: Falafel Salad with Spicy Yogurt Sauce

Erin McDowell

• Why I Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories
• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Serves: 4

If you're going to eat salad for dinner, you should at least make every bite worthwhile. Enter this falafel-crowned mix of lettuce, radicchio, cucumber, tomatoes and red onion, which is made even more indulgent with a generous drizzle of sriracha yogurt sauce.

January 31: Broccoli Margherita Pizza

Con Poulos/Week Light

Delivery pizza? I don't know her. If you're wondering why you don't see any broccoli on top of this better-for-you pie, that's because it's hidden in the cheesy, four-ingredient crust. Take that, picky kids.

65 Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes You Can Make in No Time

If you’re in the market for a stand mixer, there’s likely one brand you’re dreaming of buying. But before you make a beeline to the cutest KitchenAid mixer you can find, consider the Ankarsrum Assistent Original Stand Mixer. The Swedish brand may not boast the same name recognition, but reviewers say it has better stability, less noise, a stronger motor and magic powers when it comes to mixing bread dough specifically.

PureWow senior director of special projects and royals, Rachel Bowie, tested the appliance for weeks with her dedicated baker husband, Matt, to find out if it’s worth the splurge. Here, you’ll find all the details on the machine, along with her original photos and honest reviews.

Kitchenaid vs. Cuisinart: Which Stand Mixer Is Better? I Tested Them Head-to-Head

What Is the Ankarsrum Stand Mixer?

Rachel Bowie

This handy kitchen tool can pull off everything from airy cake batter to mouth-puckering sourdough. It features a powerful motor that can not only tackle heavier mixes without breaking a sweat, but it also has motor feedback, which helps the machine regulate its speed and sound by the load weight. It comes with a spacious seven-liter bowl that can mix up to 1.5 liters of liquid or 5 kilograms (a little more than 11 pounds) of dough at once. (No wonder America’s Test Kitchen named it the best stand mixer three years in a row.)

It’s easy on the eyes and available in 13 colors, ranging from sunbeam yellow to black chrome. In terms of price, it’s decidedly more expensive than the 7-Quart KitchenAid, which is the most comparable size. (KitchenAid has two models that break $1,000, plus two more that are $800 like the Ankarsrum. The rest are cheaper.) You’ll need to decide if its perks are worth $150 more. (If you’re an avid baker with a bit more experience than the average newbie, it’ll be well worth the investment—but more on that later.) It can also accommodate tons of accessories that’ll help you make pasta, squeeze citrus fruit juice and beyond.

My Ankarsrum Stand Mixer Review

Rachel Bowie

“The price is admittedly high, but I firmly believe that when you buy a mixer, you’re investing in baking, and when you buy an expensive (and pretty) mixer like this one, you’re taking that to the next level,” Bowie says. “Also, this isn’t your entry-level mixer—the Ankarsrum is designed for a slightly more experienced baker.”

That said, it was still easy to clean, store and learn—with a bit of patience. “Getting used to all the bells and whistles was a bit of an adjustment, but I was able to rely on YouTube tutorials to figure it all out,” she says. “If you’ve been baking for a while with a KitchenAid, it might take a bit of adjusting, especially with the dual whisks, but the results are so impressive: Meringues get made much quicker, kneading bread follows a different but improved method and you have clear visuals of it all the whole time.”

Speaking of the KitchenAid mixer, Bowie says the Ankarsrum is around the same size. “It’s not bulky at all and fits on the counter well. It’s also a bit easier to store because it doesn’t have an arm, which tends to take up a lot more pantry or cupboard space.”

In addition, the machine has a few noteworthy features you won’t find on your standard mixer and is much more powerful. “The engine is great and the timer is more helpful than I thought it would be,” Bowie admits. [Editor’s note: Better than your average timer, the Ankasrum lets you set the mixing to stop after a certain number of minutes.] “The mixer has been pretty consistent, and I’ve experimented with a variety of different flours as well. The engine is super powerful; I don’t ever see it struggling to mix anything. The design of the bowl is also helpful when it comes to seeing what you’re baking, as opposed to having to look in. It’s worth noting that my translucent bowl is plastic—I’ll likely invest in the stainless steel option, which is an add-on. I haven’t had a chance to test the ice cream maker yet, but the juicer is super easy and does the job well.”

The Bottom Line

King Arthur Baking

If you’re all about accessories or only bake from time to time, the KitchenAid may be better suited to your needs, given its lower price and wide range of accessories. But if you’re a bread maven or bake frequently (especially heavier doughs or batters), there’s no doubt the Ankarsrum is the better choice. Its heavy-duty motor makes it beyond durable, and the included warranty will cover you for seven years to come.

“Is there anything I’m making with the Ankarsrum that I can’t make with my Kitchenaid? No.” Bowie asserts. “But the Ankarsrum is a ball to play around with when it comes to baking. The engine is much more powerful, the dual whisks and paddles work incredibly well and the lack of an arm is excellent, since you can clearly see everything you’re making. It’s also just as aesthetically pleasing on my countertop. More than anything, this is a heavy-duty upgrade from the KitchenAid that’s worth the learning curve.”

I Tested the Internet’s Top KitchenAid Hacks, & These Are the 7 Everyone Should Know

Pickles, hot honey, cottage cheese and Dubai chocolate may seem like strange bedfellows, but they do a solid job of summing up 2025’s biggest food trends. And while those flavors won’t disappear once the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, I couldn’t help but notice new cultural obsessions emerge as I compiled PureWow’s 2026 Food Trend Report.

Of those trends, there seemed to be one dominant theme. One that’s less a specific flavor or ingredient and more of a movement. If social media and grocery stores have any say in it, 2026 will be the year of Haute Homemade.

Or, perhaps more accurately, Haute Halfway-Homemade.

What do I mean by that?

Picture restaurant-caliber meals featuring global flavors and elevated ingredients—only prepared using shortcuts, like drizzling Cloud23 Sweet Jalapeño Hot Sauce atop your Flour + Water Cacio e Pepe frozen pizza, that help us save time (and don’t require serious culinary chops).

Multiple reports have addressed that we’re collectively dining out less, and that inflation fatigue has made us more selective about when and what we eat. At the same time, TikTok and Instagram Reels have made us more likely to share what we’re cooking, dabbling and experimenting in the kitchen. We’re not just pinning dozens of perfectly curated recipes from blogs with the intent to make them someday; we’re seeing real people create their own banana bread cold foam-topped matchas and saying, “I could do that too.”

Supermarkets are rising to meet that need too, with more complex, gourmand-caliber flavors in packaged foods. Your go-to spaghetti night suddenly feels Michelin-star-worthy when you deviate from the ordinary and spring for Sauz’s Miso Garlic Marinara, Cravings’s Corn & Truffle Sauce or Carbone’s Cacio e Pepe Alfredo.

home chef/candace davison

Suddenly, you don’t need to be Gordon Ramsay to cook like Gordon Ramsay. (Heck, you can order a Home Chef meal kit and have every ingredient of a Ramsay recipe delivered and pre-portioned for you, like your own personal sous chef.)

Maybe you’re scaling back on your trips to the coffee shop, but that doesn’t mean you’re settling. You’ll spring for a milk frother, or buy one of the dozens of flavors of store-bought cold foam, and recreate that $8 iced latte at home, thank you.

Essentially, we want the ease of a night in—no need to dress up, unless you want to—with the elegance of an elevated meal, as long as creating said meal doesn’t make us work too hard. (Because that’d defeat the whole purpose, right?)

Maybe it’s the years of watching the Barefoot Contessa extol the virtues of how “store-bought is fine,” but we’re okay with a shortcut. It doesn’t feel like cheating; it feels like a smart way to have our sourdough cinnamon rolls and eat them too, especially in a world where there are 5,983 other demands on our time at any given moment. When the moments we want to savor are the ones where we’re seated around the table, rather than standing over the stove. Or waiting for our table to be ready at the hottest restaurant in town.

Taste the Trend

1. Cloud23 Sweet Jalapeño Hot Sauce

cloud23

2. Italian Sweet Crème Flavored Cold Foam Creamer

coffee-mate

3. Clevr Honey Vanilla Matcha SuperLatte

clevr

4. Sauz Miso Garlic Marinara

sauz

5. Flour + Water Cacio e Pepe frozen pizza

Flour + Water

The 2026 PureWow Food Trend Report

The whole “clean eating” thing sounds daunting, but TBH, it just comes down to choosing real, non-processed foods in order to feel like your best self. To make things simple, we rounded up a number of healthy recipes that'll help you create a meal plan for seven days straight, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. (For a preview, day one's menu includes turmeric waffles, an avocado chickpea salad sandwich and low-carb zucchini enchiladas—yum.) Whether you make one or all of these recipes, you'll be on your way to feeling great.

37 Healthy Cookie Recipes That Will Actually Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Meet the Experts

What Is Clean Eating?

Words like “clean” can be confusing when making food choices, because they don’t always mean the same thing to the same person (or brand). But if you ask us, clean eating means choosing whole, unprocessed foods as often as possible, a sentiment echoed by nutritionist Glassman. She encourages us to choose “naturally nutrient-dense foods,” adding that clean eating “is mostly plant-based by default.” Think vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains and unprocessed meat, poultry and dairy. (It’s a lot like the Mediterranean diet.)

How to Eat Clean for a Week

Now that you know what clean eating is, you can try incorporating it into your meal plan. Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips:

Need further proof that clean eating isn't all carrot sticks and chicken breast? Here’s a week’s worth of clean-eating recipes to guide you.

1. Monday Breakfast: Turmeric Waffles

Claire Thomas/Sweet Laurel Savory

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, gluten free, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Turmeric is having a serious main-character moment right now—and for good reason. Its anti-inflammatory benefits are unmatched, but the flavor can be...a lot. Folding it into waffles is the perfect way to get the nutrition benefits without overpowering your breakfast.” —Jane Leverich (JL)

Don’t let the turmeric intimidate you: These waffles are just sweet enough, not to mention grain free. If you have leftovers, let them cool before wrapping them in plastic wrap. They can keep in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for up to three months. Reheat them in a toaster or oven.

2. Monday Lunch: Smashed Chickpea Avocado Salad Sandwich with Cranberries and Lemon

Ambitious Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook, vegan
• Serves: 2
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “When I'm looking for plant-based protein, chickpeas are always my go-to. Not only are they a good source of protein, but they're packed with fiber, they're endlessly versatile and their mild flavor pairs well with just about anything—especially bold additions like lemon and cranberry.” —JL

Who needs mayo when you've got buttery avocado? The beloved fruit is so creamy, you won't miss the condiment that offers fewer nutritional perks. And the chickpeas provide protein, so you won't be hungry until dinnertime.

3. Monday Dinner: Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, gluten free, low carb
• Serves: 8
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “I love enchiladas because they’re full of flavor, [are] hearty, and comforting. That said, they can feel pretty heavy at times, which is why this version works so well. It delivers plenty of protein and fiber without relying as heavily on tortillas, and the zucchini adds an extra serving of vegetables without sacrificing flavor.” —JL

Finish off the day with a cheesy, gooey, protein-packed meal that’s also free of refined carbs. Make it vegetarian by swapping the chicken for tofu, seitan or add extra black beans. Feel free to top them with all the guac and sour cream you crave.

4. Tuesday Breakfast: Quick Congee

NGOC MINH NGO/HEIRLOOM

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes (plus soaking time)
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, low carb
• Serves: 2
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “When it comes to breakfast, I’m all about savory options, and congee checks every box. It’s gentle on digestion, hydrating and pairs beautifully with nutrient-rich toppings like mushrooms and fermented kimchi, which add depth of flavor and functional benefits.” —JL

Break out of your boring oatmeal rut with this equally comforting bowl of porridge. The recipe calls for eggs, scallions, kimchi and sautéed mushrooms for toppings, but you can also add any greens, hot sauces or veggies you'd like.

5. Tuesday Lunch: Roasted Squash and Farro Salad with Avocado Dressing

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, kid-friendly, low sugar
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Farro is one of my favorite grains—it’s easy to prepare, incredibly versatile, and naturally high in fiber. Paired with sweet roasted squash and a creamy avocado dressing, it makes for a satisfying, well-balanced lunch.” —JL

This salad is sweet and savory with a creamy finish, courtesy of homemade avocado dressing. Kale offers an impressive amount of protein for a vegetable, but if you want to add even more, throw in roasted chickpeas, tofu, chicken...the options are endless.

6. Tuesday Dinner: Cauliflower Chili

LAUREN VOLO/CAULIFLOWER POWER

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan (optional), gluten free, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
• Serves: 6
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “There’s nothing better than a cozy bowl of chili at the end of the day, and this veggie-forward version delivers. Cauliflower doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but it adds heartiness, texture and immune-boosting antioxidants to this comforting, satisfying dish.” —JL

While we love the convenience and protein factor of ground beef, we’re also trying to eat less red meat: Cauliflower to the rescue. Sour cream and cheese impart creamy decadence, but if you're feeding a vegan crowd, leave them out and swap in non-dairy options.

7. Wednesday Breakfast: Open-Face Salad Omelet

ERIN KUNKEL/MALIBU FARM SUNRISE TO SUNSET

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, gluten free, high protein, kid-friendly
• Serves: 2
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Whenever I want to feel like I’m sitting at a café in Paris, this is my go-to recipe. This open-face salad omelet feels effortlessly chic, is packed with flavor, and delivers a satisfying dose of protein to start the day.” —JL

It’s never too early for salad (or a little melted mozzarella). Note that Helene Henderson, who wrote the recipe, calls for two eggs per serving here. However, you can also use three egg whites, one whole egg and two whites or an egg substitute, depending on your preference. 

8. Wednesday Lunch: Quick Guacamole Quinoa Salad

Power Plates

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, high protein
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “As a dietitian, I talk a lot about the importance of healthy fats, and avocados are one of my favorite ways to include them. This guacamole quinoa salad delivers heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, while the quinoa adds fiber and plant-based protein for a satisfying, balanced meal. Plus, this recipe comes together quickly, so it's a great option to meal prep for the whole week.” —JL

If you have leftover quinoa on hand, this one will be ready to eat in about ten minutes. Add jalapeños and a crushed red pepper flakes for an extra kick, if you can handle it. If you're cooking for kids (or picky grown-ups), leave it as is.

9. Wednesday Dinner: Baked Sesame-Ginger Salmon in Parchment

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 3o minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, low carb, dairy free
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Name a more iconic duo than a sheet pan and a fillet of salmon—spoiler alert, you can’t. Sheet-pan dinners are one of the easiest ways to get a flavorful meal on the table, and this sesame-ginger salmon delivers, while also providing protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fats.” —JL

Throw it all in a parchment packet and call it a day. (Seriously: You'll be left with almost no cleanup.) If you aren't a fan of zucchini, you can swap it for roasted potatoes, carrots or even quinoa. Trust us, you have options.

10. Thursday Breakfast: Quinoa with Almond Milk

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “I love this recipe because it’s endlessly customizable and always satisfying. My favorite way to dress up this breakfast is to add fresh berries, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, nut butter and a drizzle of honey. But really any toppings you choose add flavor, texture and staying power—chef’s kiss.” —JL

Have you heard? Breakfast quinoa is the new dinner quinoa. Bulk it up with some coconut yogurt for added protein and extra creaminess. You can also add almond butter to make it richer and more satiating.

11. Thursday Lunch: Bibimbap Bowls

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “One of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is explore dishes from other cultures. This plant-based take on bibimbap—a traditional Korean rice dish—is a nourishing, flavorful way to enjoy a globally inspired meal at home, packed with vegetables, fiber and plant-based protein.” —JL

Bibimbap is a Korean rice dish commonly served with toppings like sautéed vegetables, kimchi, gochujang, sliced meat and egg. This version is a plant-based ode to the classic: We swapped the meat and egg for mushrooms to make it vegan, but kept the crunchy veggies and savory flavor profile.

12. Thursday Dinner: Sweet Potato Noodles with Almond Sauce

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, low carb, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “I'm Italian, so for me, nothing can really ever replace pasta...but these sweet potato noodles come close.  Their deep orange color isn’t just beautiful—it’s packed with carotenoids—and the dish includes a variety of nutrient-dense veggies. Pro tip: Toss in some grilled chicken or pan-fried tofu for an extra protein boost!” —JL

It’s time you invest in a spiralizer, if you haven’t already. "Swoodles" (aka sweet potato noodles) are decadent, starchy and filling, but unlike regular pasta, they're packed with protein, low in saturated fat and full of vitamins. That's a win-win-win in our book.

13. Friday Breakfast: 30-Minute Breakfast Hash with Kale and Sweet Potatoes

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian, kid-friendly
• Serves: 3 to 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “A breakfast hash has my heart because you can throw almost anything into it and it will taste amazing. This 30-minute version comes together quickly and makes meal prep a breeze. The bitter kale paired with earthy sweet potatoes creates a classic flavor combo while packing in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.” —JL

It’s so tasty, you’ll forget it’s healthy. Substitute any vegetables as you see fit, and cook the eggs to your liking. Over easy, poached, soft boiled or sunny-side up eggs allow the yolk to act as a sauce, but scrambled works, too.

14. Friday Lunch: Lemon-Tahini Salad with Lentils, Beets and Carrots

AUBRIE PICK/GREAT TASTES

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: dairy free, gluten free, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “This lemon-tahini salad is as vibrant as it is nourishing. Lentils add plant-based protein and fiber, while roasted beets and carrots bring natural sweetness, color, and nutrients. The tangy tahini dressing ties it all together for a balanced, satisfying meal.” —JL

Kale Caesar called, and it wants a makeover. (After all, color + crunch = satisfaction, and the O.G. is dependable...but drab.) While this is already a simple recipe, you can make things even easier by using precooked lentils and vacuum-packed cooked beets from the grocery store.

15. Friday Dinner: Carrot, Fennel and Miso Soup

Aran Goyoaga

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, kid-friendly, low sugar, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 to 6
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Carrot, fennel, and miso—an unlikely trio that works surprisingly well together. The natural sweetness of the carrots balances the anise-like flavor of the fennel, while the miso adds depth, umami and comforting warmth. Plus, this soup packs fiber, vitamins and gut-friendly probiotics from the miso.” —JL

Roasting the vegetables until deeply caramelized results in the most flavorful soup you’ve ever tasted. The seed-nut crunch adds texture to the creamy carrot soup, almost like croutons.

16. Saturday Breakfast: Triple Berry Smoothie Bowl

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, vegetarian, kid-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 2
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Smoothie bowls are my go-to when I want breakfast that’s both quick and Instagram-worthy. They make it simple to get in fruits, veggies and healthy fats, and adding toppings like nuts, seeds or granola gives the perfect crunch and keeps you satisfied. Pro tip: I love adding a scoop of peanut or almond butter before blending for extra flavor and creaminess.” —JL

Damn, your breakfast is pretty, tasty and ready in five minutes. And while the fruit delivers all sorts of vitamins, the pumpkin seeds and flax seeds contain omega-3s and healthy fats, making for a super well-rounded breakfast.

17. Saturday Lunch: Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken and Avocado Salad

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “I’m a big believer in lemon-herb chicken on just about anything, but it really shines in this vibrant salad. With protein, healthy fats and carbs all in one bowl, it’s a satisfying lunch that helps keep your energy steady well past the beloved 3 p.m. crash out.” —JL

The toppings are what make or break a lunch salad, but it's safe to say this one is a winner. Cooking the barley in chicken broth as opposed to water infuses it with both flavor and a touch of protein. You'll be stuffed until dinnertime for sure.

18. Saturday Dinner: Shrimp and Cauliflower “Grits” with Arugula

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Potentially an unpopular opinion: I’m not a fan of turning cauliflower into things it's not, like rice—or grits. While swapping veggies for grains cuts carbs, I find stone-ground grits make this shrimp dish more satisfying and balanced. That said, this recipe still shines, whether you choose to use cauliflower 'grits' on traditional stone-ground grits with flavorful shrimp and peppery arugula.” —JL

Ditch the carbs but keep the New Orleans flavor. While traditional grits are notoriously rich, cooking the cauliflower in milk also makes this cauli riff super creamy, so even a Southerner probably won't mind the swap.

19. Sunday Breakfast: Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegetarian, high protein
• Serves: 6 to 8
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “Quiche speaks for itself, but when you want a gluten-free version, this sweet potato crusted quiche is a game-changer. The naturally sweet, nutrient-rich crust pairs perfectly with the savory filling for a satisfying breakfast or brunch.” —JL

Skip the dough and pile on the veggies. With crispy, caramelized slices of sweet potato, you won’t miss the pie crust. Add chicken sausage or tofu to the eggs to pack in even more protein, if you'd like.

20. Sunday Lunch: Thai Carrot and Peanut Soup

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, high protein
• Serves: 4
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “I’ll always say yes to peanut-forward recipes, and this Thai carrot peanut soup is no exception. Rich in flavor, perfect hot or cold, and packed with protein and healthy fats, it’s a truly satisfying dish. One of my favorite ways to add texture is topping it with crushed peanuts and fresh bean sprouts.” —JL

This flavorful bisque will fill you right up. Add more chili garlic sauce if you're hungry for a bigger kick of heat, or use less than the recipe calls for, if you're cooking for a younger crowd.

21. Sunday Dinner: Buddha Bowl with Kale, Avocado, Orange and Wild Rice

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, kid-friendly, high protein
• Serves: 2
• What Our Nutritionist Says: “I first tried a Buddha bowl in 2015, and ten years later, I’m still obsessed. As a dietitian, they check all the boxes: carbs, protein and healthy fats for a balanced, satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare. I love topping this classic combo with grilled chicken or shrimp for an extra boost of protein.” —JL

All of the superfoods you crave, right in one bowl. The best thing about Buddha bowls is that they're easily customizable. You can jazz them up with your favorite condiments, change up the herbs and spices, add gluten-free rice noodles—the bowl is your oyster.

65 Clean-Eating Dinner Recipes (That Taste Dirty)

You could say she's gravely serious about her role aboard the new Disney Destiny cruise ship. But if you get her chatting, she'll clue you in to some of the many Easter eggs within the parlor, from the walls covered in the same Staring wallpaper hanging in the Haunted Mansion ride at Walt Disney World to the lounge's backstory, about a sea captain who vanished just before he was set to get married.

Left: Portraits inside the Haunted Mansion Parlor; Right: Cassie and Jevon, cast members (Photos: Courtesy of Disney)

"I watched all three movies and really got into the facts [about the ride]. I really love it," Dela Cruz says, leaning in. The Parlor itself has its own lore: "We have portraits here with the captain and bride, so this place, it's telling their story, and if you look closely, you can find hidden clues to figure out what happened to them."

Kent Phillips/Disney

As if on cue, thunder crashes and the lights flicker, and before long, the hitchhiking ghosts appear on the bar mirror, ready to entertain. The effect walks that classic Disney line of being spooky-yet-not-scary; a place you can take your kids (who are welcome to enter before 9 p.m.) to enjoy one of their custom spirit-free sodas, such as Creepy Crawly Cola or Grim Grinning Grape, as they take in the frights.

It's also the one time Dela Cruz will break character—to ensure the kids feel comfortable and aren't afraid. If they start looking spooked, "I offer to let them feed the [ghost] fish" in the parlor's aquarium, which often makes them smile.

original photos: candace davison

It's that commitment to the story, from the cast members to the Victorian-inspired decor, that makes the Haunted Mansion Parlor one of the most transporting spaces aboard the Disney Destiny. Even the menu, displayed on iPads, features a hidden game to unlock a drink you otherwise wouldn't find listed: The Spirits Have Been Released, which features two cocktails served together—one, an orange-lemonade-whiskey concoction, the other, a bubbly blend of gin, blackberry and blueberry flavors.

It's not all gimmicks though; these drinks are legit. An old-fashioned had just the right balance of bite and orange-tinged spice as a top Manhattan bar, despite being served with gummy eyeballs during my visit. And the nonalcoholic drinks were equally well-balanced (in fact, the beverage director aboard the ship explained those recipes required even more attention, as it's easy for those to skew too sweet or too fizzy).

original photo: candace davison

If you're into cocktails, I recommend trying The Last Catch, featuring Old Forester Statesman bourbon, Monin Rose, lime, pineapple and mango flavors. And if you're feeling something zero-proof, Sympathetic Libations is worth ordering—it's like a non-alcoholic margarita with a fruitier twist, courtesy of blood orange and cherry sour, topped with a lime salt foam.

Kent Phillips/Disney

And if you're looking for an unconventional spot to exchange (or renew) your vows, well, this is it. Beyond having a built-in honeymoon—you are on a cruise destined for the Bahamas, after all—the Parlor can host weddings with up to 25 guests. Not counting the undead, of course.

Nuptials aside, the Haunted Mansion Parlor is one of the experiences that makes a stay aboard the Disney Destiny unforgettable.

3 Generations Take on a Disney Cruise—Here’s an Honest Review from a Boomer, a Millennial and Gen Alpha

There's truly no limit to what you can add to your weekly rotation. My favorite ideas include spaghetti squash with mushroom marinara sauce, keto sheet pan chicken with rainbow veggies and cauliflower fried rice, for starters. Read on for easy, unprocessed dinner recipes, plus input from an expert on what clean eating is in the first place. (Oh, and did I mention a lot of these ideas are big-batch meals? I smell leftovers!)

86 Keto Dinner Recipe Ideas to Try Tonight

Meet the Experts

• Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, is the founder of Nutritious Life and Nutritious Life Studio, which give individuals the opportunity to get certified online for jobs in the health and wellness industry. She has authored four best-selling books and is regularly featured on national television programs, like The Today Show, Good Morning America and The Rachael Ray Show, for her nutrition expertise.

• Dr. Felicia Stoler, DCN, is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and exercise physiologist. She's the author of Living Skinny in Fat Genes: The Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Feel Great and the former host of TLC's Honey, We're Killing the Kids.

What Is Clean Eating?

Words like “clean” can be really confusing when making food choices, because they don’t always mean the same thing to every person (or brand). But if you ask our expert, clean eating means choosing whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible. Glassman encourages us to choose “naturally nutrient-dense foods,” adding that clean eating “is mostly plant-based by default.” Think vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains and unprocessed meat, poultry and dairy. (It’s a lot like the Mediterranean diet, TBH.)

68 Clean-Eating Dinner Recipes

1. Sheet Pan Curried Butternut Squash Soup

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

You’ve heard of sheet pan chicken, but soup? Believe it. "Roasting your ingredients beforehand will unlock a ton of flavor that you just can’t get from simmering," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen asserts. Bonus? Croutons on top offer much-welcome crunch.

2. Vegan Slow Cooker Detox Coconut Soup

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, slow cooker recipe, <500 calories
• Serves: 8

Yep, you can be lazy and healthy. This slow cooker soup takes minimal effort and offers tons of creaminess, plus bright veggies. Buying fresh herbs over dried is crucial here for a next-level aroma and flavor.

3. Spaghetti Squash with Mushroom Marinara Sauce

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

This impressive Italian feast is easier to prepare than it looks, and it’s vegan if you skip your usual sprinkle of cheese on top (or sub nutritional yeast). Double the sautéed mushrooms if you want leftovers for the week.

4. Vegan Keto Coconut Curry

Helene Dujardin/The Vegan Keto Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, keto-friendly, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

This luscious curry is bursting with flavor and plenty of add-ins. Enjoy it with cauliflower rice or a base of grains, like quinoa or millet. If it's too spicy for your palate, add an extra splash of coconut milk to curb the heat.

5. 30-Minute One-Pot Cheater’s Bouillabaisse

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, one pot
• Serves: 6

Hello, gorgeous. All you need is a small pot to make this simplified riff on the classic French seafood stew. It's packed with cod, shrimp and mussels, in case you're curious. Serve it with crispy bread and your favorite bottle of white wine.

6. Keto Sheet Pan Chicken and Rainbow Veggies

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

So easy, so healthy, so beautiful. Add some color to a drab evening with this clean-eating dinner recipe that will leave you with minimal dirty dishes. "It’s ready in 35 minutes and requires just one pan, which means cleanup is a breeze," recipe developer Erin McDowell says. Top it with hot sauce if you're craving some spice.

7. Veggie Niçoise Salad with Red Curry Green Beans

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, make ahead, high fiber
• Serves: 4

Hello, meal prep. "Parisians top this salad with canned tuna, but I decided to bulk up this one with loads of colorful veggies," McDowell writes. Spice up the classic with curry paste-covered green beans, and throw some tuna, salmon or tofu on top if you want extra protein.

8. Radicchio, Lentil and Apple Salad with Vegan Cashew Dressing

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes (plus soaking time)
• Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6

It's so decadent that you wouldn’t think it counts as a salad, but it totally does. Memorize this cashew dressing recipe, because you’ll want to slather it on everything. "You can even reduce the amount of water to two or three tablespoons to create a more spread-like consistency," recipe developer Aran Goyoaga recommends.

9. Spicy Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <500 calories, low sugar
• Serves: 6

Any night can be cauliflower steak night. "This recipe has you slathering cauliflower in a spicy yogurt marinade and roasting it at a high temperature," McDowell explains. "The result is an amazingly delicious dish that's as dramatic in presentation as it is easy in preparation." Serve a sizable hunk of it with salad, cooked greens or whole grains to round out this clean-eating dinner recipe.

10. Pesto Zoodles

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, gluten free
• Serves: 4

These delightful zoodles are the answer to your carb cravings (especially when you load them with sauce and cheese). Keep them vegan or add some meatballs or grilled chicken for a protein boost.

11. Shrimp with Cauliflower ‘Grits’ and Arugula

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, low carb, high protein
• Serves: 4

Cauliflower keeps this classic Southern dish low in carbs, and it’s perhaps even more delicious than the original version. Just leave yourself time to devein the shrimp (or buy them pre-cleaned, if you're feeling lazy).

12. Roasted Tomato Soup

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, dairy free, gluten free
• Serves: 10

Roasting fresh tomatoes with garlic and onion adds so many layers of flavor to this super simple soup. "Less than an hour in the oven will concentrate the flavors, so even if you're working with end-of-season tomatoes, the results will be rich and flavorful," McDowell assures. Oh, and you know what goes great with tomato soup? Grilled cheese.

13. Cauliflower Fried Rice

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, vegetarian
• Serves: 4

Prepare to be deceived (and impressed) by veggies. Get creative with the ones you use, too—not everything called for in the recipe is crucial, especially if you'd rather swap one ingredient for another, namely whatever is withering away in your crisper drawer.

14. Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: kid-friendly, high protein, gluten free
• Serves: 4

There may be no clean-eating dinner recipe as elegant as an impeccably roasted chicken. "I season the chicken with lemon, thyme, rosemary and butter, and the result is tender, juicy meat with crispy, golden skin," McDowell claims. Best of all, you’ll have plenty of leftovers to add to salads and sandwiches. Win-win.

15. Zucchini Noodle Pad See Ew

Liz Moody/Healthier Together

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, kid-friendly
• Serves: 2

Thinly slicing a whole zucchini with a vegetable peeler creates long, ribbon-like noodles that rival the real thing. Your favorite Thai restaurant is going to miss seeing you after you master this recipe. "If you want a veg version of this, simply omit the beef—it’s plenty filling with just the eggs and the cashews," recipe developer Liz Moody writes.

16. Baked Sesame Ginger Salmon in Parchment

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, high protein, dairy free
• Serves: 4

So much flavor (and so many omega-3s) in one little paper packet. "It's a complete meal that’s ready in 30 minutes, no pots or pans required," McDowell adds. Mix in sautéed bell peppers for some extra color and sliced chiles for heat.

17. Low-Carb Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

I Am a Food Blog

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, keto, low carb
• Serves: 4

This keto-friendly stir fry is super quick to prep, and you can easily make it with freezer and pantry ingredients that you likely already have on hand. Throw in some gochujang or sriracha to spice things up.

18. Easy One-Pan Ratatouille

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, vegetarian, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

So photogenic, so tasty—and remarkably healthy to boot. Queue up Ratatouille to watch while you eat it, of course, and serve it with pasta, a baguette or nothing at all.

19. Spiralized Winter Vegetable Gratin

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Butternut squash, parsnips and sweet potatoes—plus plenty of cheese—make for a comforting yet lightened-up casserole. The recipe calls for Gruyère, but other cheeses work as well if you feel like substituting.

20. Eggplant Pizza

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: low carb, gluten free, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Low carb, gluten free and totally delicious, eggplant is a surprisingly ideal substitute for traditional pizza crust. Allow your guests to choose their toppings to make it a real pizza party.

21. Rainbow Collard Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, gluten free
• Serves: 4

Eat the rainbow on the dreariest of weeknights. The peanut butter-based sauce is divine, but feel free to swap with another nut butter or sunflower butter if you have an aversion or allergy to peanuts.

22. Alison Roman’s Swordfish with Crushed Olives and Oregano

Michael Graydon and Nicole Herriott/Nothing Fancy

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 6

It’s kind of ridiculous that this restaurant-worthy recipe only takes half an hour to prepare and cook. "Swordfish is good for people who claim not to be into fish," recipe developer Alison Roman writes. "Meaty and juicy with little to no fishy flavor, it looks and kind of tastes like the best chicken breast you've ever had (really!)." Invite someone you want to impress over for this clean-eating dinner recipe and pair it with white wine.

23. Roasted Squash and Tofu with Soy, Honey, Chili and Ginger

Laura Edwards/From The Oven To The Table

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, <500 calories, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

Yep, it’s just a basic sheet pan meal, but with complex flavors and healthy ingredients. "This can be served as a side dish, or as a main course with rice on the side," recipe developer Diana Henry writes. Make it vegan by swapping the honey for maple syrup.

24. Chicken with Feta Cheese, Dill, Lemon and Harissa Yogurt

Laura Edwards/From The Oven To The Table

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, gluten free, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

This easy and elegant chicken dinner just screams sweater weather. "They're succulent," Henry explains, "so much better than breasts, which can dry out. In fact, it's hard to overcook chicken thighs—they all cook at the same time (and quickly), and there's no carving." Serve it atop warm pita, rice or a fresh salad with a generous dose of harissa yogurt on the side.

25. Pan-Seared Scallops with Citrusy Corn Succotash

Erin Kunkel/The Vibrant Life

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

This bright recipe tastes like sunny summer beach days. Better yet, all the ingredients are readily available throughout the winter, since canned corn is a suitable substitute for fresh. "Three ounces of scallops have 20 grams of protein and less than 100 calories, and they're loaded with magnesium, potassium and vitamin B12—all key components to aging well," recipe developer Amanda Haas claims.

26. Zucchini Carbonara with Parsnip ‘Pancetta’

David Frankiel/Little Green Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, low sugar
• Serves: 4

One of the most indulgent pasta recipes known to carb lovers, but made lighter and vegetarian. "We use small chunks of parsnip that crisp up just like pancetta," recipe developers David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl explain, "and we mix spiralized zucchini into the spaghetti to amp up the vegetable content, but still with a similar flavor and texture to the original." So go ahead, load up on the Parm.

27. Spicy Lemon-Ginger Chicken Soup

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, gluten free, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Clear up a runny nose with this zingy chicken soup that has just the right amount of spice. Psst: A magic trick for deepening its flavor is to make the broth a day ahead and assemble the soup right before serving. "You can also add some rice or pasta for a richer version," Goyoaga adds.

28. Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas

Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
• Serves: 8

Zucchini stands in for tortillas in this unconventional but equally delicious enchilada recipe. And the filling is customizable, so you can tweak it for vegetarians, vegans and picky eaters alike. "It reheats really well, so you can make a big pan and eat them over several days," McDowell notes.

29. Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Barley Risotto

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, high protein
• Serves: 4

Cooked barley has a naturally creamy consistency, making it an ideal whole grain for risotto-style preparation. Here, it's stuffed into roasted mushroom caps and spiked with fresh herbs for an elegant, fragrant presentation.

30. Turmeric White Fish with Peanuts and Chili-Lime Cucumber

Nassima Rothacker/California: Living + Eating

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, <500 calories, low sugar
• Serves: 4

"This is a wonderful dish of vaguely Vietnamese origins,” recipe developer Eleanor Maidment writes, "where it's more commonly served with dill than cilantro. Both work well, in my opinion, but you can also use a mixture of the two herbs." You can also use hake, cod or monkfish. Whip up some white rice to make the meal extra hearty, too.

31. Vegan Kentucky Fried Chick’n

Simon Smith/Vegan 100

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, high protein, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

OK, it’s healthy enough. You deserve a little treat to keep you going. Serve this vegan masterpiece with an array of dipping sauces—BBQ, Buffalo, sweet chili and garlic aioli will all be crowd-pleasers.

32. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, <30 minutes, gluten free, <500 calories
• Serves: 6

This one goes out to the mayo haters. With Greek yogurt, rice vinegar and plenty of mustard, it's just as creamy and tangy as the original. And with those crunchy peppers, you won't even miss the bread.

33. Black Bean Plantain Enchilada Bake

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, vegan, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 12

Here’s proof that healthy dishes don’t have to be complicated: This tasty riff on enchiladas requires only ten ingredients to come to completion. It’s also totally vegan and gluten free, BTW.

34. Creamy Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake

Nisha Vora

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, kid-friendly
• Serves: 8

Thanks to tahini, miso and a rich cashew cream, you’d never guess that this hearty casserole contains absolutely no dairy. If you want to make it gluten free, just skip the breadcrumb topping (but don’t forget the crunchy pine nuts).

35. Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, high protein, vegetarian
• Serves: 6 to 8

What’s better than brinner (aka breakfast for dinner)? Nothing, if you ask me. Plus, this one doesn’t leave you feeling weighed down with maple syrup-soaked carbs (not that I don’t love that from time to time, too...).

36. Spinach and White Bean Soup

Damn Delicious

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, high fiber
• Serves: 6

Hearty white beans and tender orzo meet soft, melt-in-your-mouth spinach in this soul-soothing recipe. Best of all, it’s ready in about 30 minutes. Top the soup with extra cheese if you're feeling indulgent.

37. Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

The Modern Proper

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <500 calories, low carb, high protein
• Serves: 4

I kind of have a thing for stuffed bell peppers—can you blame me? They’re crunchy, filling, pre-portioned and give you an excuse to say you ate the bowl. Freeze the leftovers when you're done for future busy evenings.

38. Instant Pot Minestrone Soup

Pinch of Yum

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, Instant Pot recipe, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

What did we do to deserve soup? It’s filling without being heavy, can often feed a giant crowd and is basically the O.G. one-pot meal. This one’s packed with veggies, beans and, of course, Parmesan cheese.

39. Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

Lexi's Clean Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, high protein, dairy free, gluten free
• Serves: 6

Takeout, shmakeout. Your trusty pressure cooker can give you an Indian-inspired dish that's just as tasty as delivery in way less time (33 minutes, to be exact). Store-bought naan, I'm coming for you.

40. Healthy Turkey Chili

Ambitious Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, high protein
• Serves: 6

Chili is the ultimate choice for feeding a crowd, and it freezes like a charm. This take on the winter warmer has plenty of corn, beans and spices to keep things interesting. Load up on dried chile pepper and cayenne for extra heat.

41. Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

The best thing about this salad is that while you can certainly stick to the recipe, you can also supplement any additional toppings that you're craving and have on hand. Whatever you do, don’t skimp on the garlicky tahini dressing.

42. Spicy Black Bean and Quinoa Burritos

The Simple Veganista

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, make ahead, high protein
• Serves: 6 to 8

These aren’t just any burritos…they’re freezer burritos. Make a large batch of the filling, assemble the burritos and stash them away for busy nights and easy lunches (or whenever you’re feeling lazy).

43. Red Curry Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Kale

Feed Me Phoebe

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, kid-friendly
• Serves: 4

The sheet pan meal is your new knight in shining armor. Throw as many ingredients as you can fit onto one tray and in less than an hour, you’ll be eating a maple-y, curry-kissed, clean-eating dinner recipe—minimal cleanup required.

44. Quick Gochujang Lettuce Wraps

Gimme Some Oven

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, low carb, <30 minutes
• Serves: 8 to 10

Gochujang, a type of Korean chili paste, imparts the optimal dose of sweet-and-spicy funk to these effortless lettuce wraps. Don’t like steak? Just swap in your favorite protein (I'm partial to ground pork).

45. Easy Southwest Black Bean Polenta Casserole

Cotter Crunch

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, crowd-pleaser, gluten free
• Serves: 5 to 6

I know casseroles have a reputation for being filled with cheese and carbs, but this casserole is refreshingly wholesome. It has beans (for plant-based protein) and plenty of vegetables, blanketed in polenta—what more could you want?

46. Easy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Souvlaki and Potatoes

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, gluten free
• Serves: 6

Once you have a taste, you won’t believe how simple-yet-scrumptious this one-pan recipe actually is. (Garlic, dill and balsamic vinegar go a *long* way.) Make it a complete meal with a Greek salad on the side.

47. Baked Zucchini ‘Ziti’ Spirals with Mozzarella

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
• Serves: 6

Just when you thought baked pasta can’t be good for you, glorious zucchini swoops in to save the day. Here, it’s used in place of noodles for a hearty-yet-healthy take on one of my all-time favorites.

48. Spiced Lamb Meatball and Escarole Soup

Linda Puglise/Help Yourself

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pot, high protein, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 4 to 6

What’s more feel-good than a steaming pot of soup? This one tastes like a million bucks (but takes less than an hour to make). Finish each bowl with a flourish of flaky sea salt for good measure.

49. Crispy Tofu Steaks with Broccoli Rabe and Romesco

Linda Puglise/Help Yourself

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, high protein, <500 calories
• Serves: 2

Tofu comes in all different styles and textures, but when it comes to preparing it, I like it crispy AF. If you’ve never made it yourself, this simple, flavorful rendition is a great place to start. "It's flavorful, easy to make and packed with plant-based protein," recipe developer Lindsay Maitland Hunt assures.

50. Instant Pot Harissa Bean Stew

Ghazalle BadioZamani/Instant Pot Miracle Vegetarian Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: Instant Pot recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 6

This harissa bean stew starts with dried beans, but don't let that deter you: It takes only about an hour to make with a pressure cooker (and that includes the homemade harissa). "I prefer my paste to be straight-up spice," recipe developer Urvashi Pitre explains. "Taste it once and you will find a million different uses for this lovely, spicy, versatile mix."

51. Gluten-Free Cauliflower Gnocchi Pomodoro

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, vegetarian, high protein
• Serves: 6

Your kitchen may not be clean after making this veg-packed gnocchi from scratch, but at least your dinner will be. This hearty dish is gluten free and vegetarian, and because it serves six, you can host a pasta-loving crowd with ease.

52. Roasted Vegetable and Lentil Salad with Pine Nut Cream

Aran Goyoaga

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

No one will guess this is good for them, thanks to the luscious (and vegan!) pine nut cream. Furthermore, it's versatile—swap cilantro for dill or parsley, or replace the lentils with canned cannellini beans or chickpeas. Whatever tickles your fancy, chef.

53. Antoni Porowski’s Salmon and Spinach Rice Bowl with Green Tea Broth

Paul Brissman/Antoni: Let's Do Dinner

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

Simple, nutritious and delicious is my new M.O. Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski, who created this riff on ochazuke, notes that while he likes jasmine green tea for the broth, you can use whatever type you prefer.

54. Salmon with Pesto and Blistered Tomatoes

ELIZABETH VAN LIERDE & ABAGAIL HALSTEAD/EVERYDAY ENTERTAINING

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, low carb
• Serves: 4

Winter isn’t known for its bounty of produce, but luckily, cherry tomatoes are always tasty and easy to find. Roasting them in the oven brings out even more jammy flavor. Cookbook author Elizabeth Van Lierde recommends serving the fish with "crisp rosé, fresh bread and a green side."

55. Miso-Tahini Glazed Roasted Eggplant with Farro

JULIA GARTLAND/DADA EATS

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, <500 calories, low sugar
• Serves: 2 to 4

Once you try eggplant like this, you just might fall in love with the underrated vegetable—don’t say I didn’t warn you. Swap the farro for cauliflower rice for a low-carb alternative.

56. Garlicky Spinach and Chickpea Soup with Lemon and Pecorino Romano

CAITLIN BENSEL/THE MEDITERRANEAN DISH

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories, high protein, Mediterranean diet-friendly
• Serves: 4

With starring roles from canned chickpeas and baby spinach (plus a few flavor enhancers, like onions, fresh garlic, spices and the all-essential fresh lemon juice), this Mediterranean soup is as flavorful as it is protein-rich. "If you skip the [Pecorino Romano], you will not know what you're missing," recipe developer Suzy Karadsheh warns. "It rounds out the flavor in the best way possible."

57. Lemongrass-Ginger Coconut Grilled Steak

Chelsea Kyle/For the Table

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, gluten free, dairy free
• Serves: 6 to 8

This impressive dish is slightly sweet and deeply flavorful, with a “why’s this so tasty?” secret ingredient to thank. (Hint hint: It’s fish sauce.) You can cook the meat to your liking, but either way, let it sit for at least ten minutes before slicing so it stays juicy.

58. Crispy Chickpeas and Scallops with Garlic-Harissa Oil

Caitlin Bensel/The Mediterranean Dish

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <500 calories, high protein
• Serves: 2 to 3

If you’re craving seafood but sick of the same old salmon, try this recipe. It’s just as easy to make, but feels more special. Be sure to thoroughly dry the scallops before searing them to nail the caramelized outer crust you seek.

59. Watermelon Poke Bowls

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, vegan
• Serves: 4

All the Instagram-ability of poke without the fish. The sprouts or microgreens will add a pop of green, the avocado offers healthy fats, the peanuts bring protein—yup, you've got yourself a nutritious lunch.

60. Spring Roll Bowls

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, <500 calories, high protein, gluten free
• Serves: 4

This super flavorful meal can be prepped and assembled ahead of time. "They're fully loaded with all the tasty ingredients that come in a spring roll, minus the tricky wrappers," McDowell says. Swap out the chicken for tofu or shrimp, if poultry isn't calling your name.

61. Warm Sesame Noodle Salad

Emily Morgan

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, <30 minutes, <500 calories
• Serves: 2

I love nothing more than a "salad" that stars noodles, like this one from recipe developer Nicole Berrie. While some garnishes aren't totally necessary, definitely make a point to keep the cilantro, peanuts and lime wedges.

62. Summer Millet Salad

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why I Love It: high fiber, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
• Serves: 8

If you aren't familiar with millet, it's a mild, gluten-free, quick-cooking grain. The recipe calls for summer veggies, but you can swap in any seasonal produce, like sweet potato, kale or squash in the cold months.

63. Roasted Peach and Arugula Salad

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 4

Although roasting fruit may not be something you're used to, it's super easy. Simply let the peaches cook down the oven until they're tender and lightly browned. Their sweetness, when combined with salty Parmesan cheese, will balance out seamlessly.

64. Bruschetta Chicken

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: high protein, low carb, <500 calories, one pan
• Serves: 6

This meal feels hearty, but it's high in protein and also happens to be super low in fat. Plus, there's almost no cleanup to worry about (since it comes together in a single pan). That's a major plus, if you ask me me.

65. Pan-Fried Cod with Orange and Swiss Chard

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: one pan, high protein, <500 calories
• Serves: 4

Pan-frying allows you to bypass the oven completely, which is an easy win on a weeknight. Plus, the recipe is beyond foolproof. You'll trick your dinner guests at first bite into thinking you toiled away for hours.

66. 30-Minute Breakfast Hash with Kale and Sweet Potato

Katherine Gillen

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, one pan, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 3 to 4

Start the New Year off on the right foot with this healthy breakfast hash, which features hearty greens, nutrient-rich sweet potatoes and bell peppers, plus beautifully jammy eggs for protein (and decadence). It’s a flavorful combination that will fill you up without weighing you down.

67. Sheet Pan Miso-Glazed Fish with Broccoli and Coconut Rice

Mandalyn Renicker/The Huckle and Goose Cookbook

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

Even the pickiest eaters in your home can get on board with this healthy fish dinner—a mouthwatering pairing of mild, flaky white fish and umami-forward miso. Best of all, the marinade comes together in minutes with just a few basic ingredients, and the veggies roast right alongside the star of the show.

As for what type of miso to use, that’s totally up to you: red miso is good for a more robustly flavored marinade, but white miso works well, too, if you prefer a more delicate flavor.

68. Tandoori-Inspired Roast Cauliflower Bowls with Tahini

Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman

• Time Commitment: 1 hour 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: vegetarian, high protein, sheet pan recipe
• Serves: 4

Dress up your favorite low-carb vegetable with a warm Indian spice blend mingles and tangy yogurt marinade. When it comes out of the oven, it will be perfectly caramelized, bursting with flavor and begging to be heaped on top of a bowl of basmati rice. Just don’t forget the toppings: scallions, a squeeze of lime and some avocado slices. (I also highly recommend some fresh cilantro here!)

51 Healthy Winter Recipes That Don’t Taste Like Cardboard

You've been hemming and hawing over finding the Perfect Present. You've scoured every holiday gift guide and now you're getting to the point where you might be scrambling to grab whatever's lingering on the As Seen on TV section of CVS or opting for the same robe or flowers you gave last year.

I've been there, and that level of desperation looks good on no one. But that's not going to be you this year! Because I've got an unexpected suggestion: an array of top-notch steaks.

Our food team has tested half a dozen steak delivery services, and Chicago Steak Company came out on top for its thick-cut, superbly marbled premium Angus USDA Prime beef. Chicago butchers hand-select and cut the steaks, and their five generations' worth of experience shines through—they really know a quality cut of meat.

original photo: candace davison

I sampled the Best Seller assortment, which included two each of the following: 6-ounce filet mignons, 10-ounce boneless strip steaks, 8-ounce sirloins and 8-ounce ribeyes. And honestly, I was blown away. The filet mignon was so outrageously tender that it was all my family could talk about that night—and it became the gold standard that we measured other steaks at restaurants against.

Granted, that assortment doesn't come cheap—a $495 value, it's currently marked down to $260—making it more of a splurge gift. But, for the person (or family) you really want to treat, this is a treat. And who knows, they may even invite you over to enjoy it too.

original photo: candace davison

The company also offers a range of meat at various price points if you're looking for more of a surf-and-turf option or something more attuned to a grill master. (Or, perhaps, a gift to go with that new grill your uncle got his favorite brother.)

While pre-Christmas delivery spots are filling up, I stand by this as a great last-minute gift, because you can always choose a delivery date in the future—and give them something to look forward to in the long January ahead.

1. Chicago's Best Seller

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What You'll Get:

2. Surf & Turf for Four

chicago steak company

What You'll Get:

3. Grill Master's Trio

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What You'll Get:

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Why You Should Trust Us

PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.

ICYMI, the Barefoot Contessa’s easy—and viral—brownie pudding recipe is the must-make dessert this holiday season. Amateur bakers can't stop raving about it on TikTok, and this delish, chocolatey recipe only involves a few simple steps. Want to be the star of your next holiday gathering? Here's how to make it.

The recipe comes from Garten's best-selling Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics cookbook, and was also featured on her series Barefoot Contessa. See the clip above.

The best part about this recipe? You only need six ingredients—most of which you'll already have on hand. You’ll need unsalted butter, extra large eggs, sugar, all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder and the seeds from one vanilla bean pod. Can’t forget your vanilla ice cream for serving afterwards. Of course, Garten is known for adding an unexpected special ingredient for extra oomph. Her recipe also calls for framboise (raspberry liqueur), but it’s completely optional.

Garten starts the recipe by melting the butter. As the butter rests and cools, she beats together the eggs and sugar until the mixture is pale yellow with a thick consistency, adding in her vanilla (and framboise, if using) right before it's done mixing. She then sifts together her cocoa powder and flour, incorporating that into her eggs and sugar mixture until it's fully combined. The cooled butter gets added in last.

She places the pudding mixture in a 2-quart pan, and here's the important part: Garten bakes the brownies in a hot water bath for an even bake. The pudding finishes with a crispy layer of crust on top, but instead of a thick and chewy center, it’s a gooey molten middle. Talk about mouth-watering.

The recipe lists six servings per dish, but folks have confessed to eating it in one full go. I'm not judging.

Find the full recipe here. Happy baking!

Ina Garten’s Unconventional Baked Potato Recipe Is as Simple as It Is Holiday-Worthy

Some of my favorites include minted mimosa punch, a spiced maple bourbon fizz and blood orange Champagne mules. Prosecco cocktails, like a refreshing pomegranate prosecco spritz or a prosecco margarita, are also perfect options to add sparkle to any occasion. Most of them come together in a flash and can easily serve a crowd. Some feature semi-fancy syrups and ingredients, while others lean on seasonal produce for their magic. Read on for inspiration—I hope you’re thirsty.

28 Hot Cocktails to Warm Up with This Winter, from Hot Cocoa to Mulled Wine

1. Blood Orange-Mint Gin Fizz

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 2½ cups

Gin and mint are such a power couple, especially when paired with ultra-refreshing, oh-so seasonal blood orange. "Just add liquor and a healthy dose of bubbly to the simple blood orange syrup and you’re fully set to celebrate," says recipe developer Erin McDowell.

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2. Cranberry-Mint Holiday Punch

Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 15

This big-batch cocktail is a cinch to pull together. "It combines fresh mint, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, vodka and, my favorite part, sparkling wine," McDowell writes. "It's sure to keep your guests' Champagne coupes full without any fuss." The recipe calls for prosecco, but Champagne works just as well.

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3. Raspberry-Lime Champagne Punch

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 8

Nothing is worse than being stuck behind the bar at your own party, so have your guests serve themselves. "Boozy gummy bears are an easy, grab-and-go workaround that McDowell loves, but if you're looking for something more sippable, "this is another sophisticated way to serve sparkling wine to a crowd," she says.

Planning New Years Dinner?

4. Minted Mimosa Punch

How Sweet Eats

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 6 to 8

Have you ever seen a more photogenic cocktail? Fresh fruit (like navel oranges and strawberries) and mint leaves tend to have that effect. The bubbles are courtesy of Champagne and Italian blood orange soda.

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5. Blood Orange Champagne Mule

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1

Vodka meets sparkling wine for an extra boozy kick and the ultimate holiday cocktail. Pre-squeeze the fruit juices so each guest can pour their own Champagne cocktail to their liking. I'd spring for sparklers if I were you.

6. Grapefruit and Sage Champagne Cocktails

Floating Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 6 to 8

Did you know peak grapefruit season starts around Christmas? Prepare the sage simple syrup ahead to save time the day of the party. Bonus points for using freshly squeezed juice.

7. Poinsettia Spritz Punch

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

With a hint of gin and St. Germain elderflower liqueur, this holiday Champagne cocktail packs a punch. Cranberry, rosemary and orange are the ultimate Christmas trifecta, if you ask me.

8. Pear and Cranberry Champagne Cocktails

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6

Don't let the long prep intimidate you: Most of it is hands-off cooking and chilling. Once the fruit purée is reduced and chilled, you're ready to combine it with the fizzy vino of your choice.

9. Raspberry Mimosa

Spend With Pennies

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 2

Sweet, bubbly deliciousness, bursting with fresh raspberries and pomegranate arils. Sub maple syrup for corn syrup or honey on the rim to stick the coarse sugar (or holiday sprinkles) to the glass.

10. Spiced Maple Bourbon Fizz

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 1

Maple syrup infused with cinnamon, cardamom and ginger meets fresh citrus and oaky bourbon. (I'm betting vanilla-flavored whiskey or spiced rum would taste divine, too.)

11. Apple Cider Mimosa

Well Plated by Erin

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 2

Sure, you could use store-bought cider. Or better yet, you could make your own from scratch on the stove, in the slow cooker or in the Instant Pot. Your guests will adore this Champagne cocktail recipe either way.

12. French 75

Gimme Some Oven

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 1

Who cares if it’s snowing? This refreshing classic is still undeniably delicious. (Plus, it's citrus season.) Feel free to substitute candied lemon peels on toothpicks or dehydrated lemon wheels for the garnish.

13. Red Carpet Glamour Cocktail

Salt and Wind

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes (plus chilling time)
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 1

Citrus juice mingles with brut Champagne and rose petals for a floral, slightly bitter cocktail that oozes class. Make the sour mix in advance so it's already chilled when you need it.

14. Apple, Pear and Pomegranate Sangria

Sweet Peas and Saffron

• Time Commitment: 1 day and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 10

A delicious seasonal twist on one of your old favorites. Make a big batch of the sangria in a pitcher to serve a crowd with ease. P.S.: This Champagne cocktail recipe recommends letting the spiced base chill for a full day before topping it with bubbly.

15. Blackberry Champagne Mule

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 1

Bust out your muddler: Breaking the blackberries down releases every drop of their sweet-tart juice. If you'd rather prefer a big batch of the cocktail in advance, scroll down at the link below for the punch bowl version of the recipe.

16. Kir Royale

Recipe Tin Eats

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, no cook
• Serves: 1

This French staple couldn't be easier to pull off. You only need two ingredients to whip one up, and the Champagne's effervescence does all the "stirring" for you. Ta-da.

17. Christmas Champagne Cocktail

Cooking with Janica

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 4

When it comes to Christmas Champagne cocktails, you can't go wrong with a pretty sugared rim. I'd recommend topping the drink with pomegranate arils and using green sanding sugar on the flutes' edges for a festive effect.

18. Lavender Bellini Cocktail

Salt and Wind

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 1

Spruce up the peach juice or purée in this brunch essential with dried lavender buds. It's the key to the floral, aromatic simple syrup that can elevate the simplest mocktail or cocktail.

19. Pineapple Margarita Sparklers

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Four words: Chipotle. Chili. Salt. Rim. This tropical, sweet-tart sipper offers a taste of summer in the dead of winter. If you need more convincing, allow me to point out the grilled pineapple garnish.

20. St. Germain Pomegranate Spritzers

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 1

No garnish is as naturally elegant as pomegranate arils, and they just so happen to be the ultimate wintry finishing touch. Club soda doubles the bubbles in this holiday bev. Pair perfectly with a delicious appetizer to kick off the celebrations in style.

21. Bitter Sweet Sparkler Cocktail

Salt and Wind

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Starring peach brandy and Suze liqueur, a 19th-century French aperitif made from a bitter root. Up the elegance of this pear-kissed gem by serving it in a coupe glass instead of a flute.

22. Sparkling Mint Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail

The Mom 100

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 10

Don't want to splurge on Champagne? Prosecco or cava will work just fine. (And I promise your pomegranate-loving guests won't know the difference.)

23. Strawberry Satsuma Champagne Sangria

How Sweet Eats

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

Satsumas are a type of mandarin orange from Japan that's sweeter and juicier than other varieties that are more common stateside. If you can't find them, go with cara cara oranges instead.

24. Sparkling Pear and Tamarind Cocktail

Salt and Wind

• Time Commitment: 2 hours and 40 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 10

Clink your glasses at midnight with these babies and boom—it's a regular Gatsby party. Finish each drink with a cinnamon stick and a paper-thin slice of pear. (Note: You'll need to make them in advance, since the cocktail requires two hours of chilling for the flavors to meld.)

25. Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

Half Baked Harvest

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, make ahead
• Serves: 12

Candied rosemary is super simple to make (and looks really chic in a Champagne glass). It'd be a game-changer for holiday sugar cookies or sweet quick breads too, IMO.

26. Apple Cider Champagne Cocktail

Whitney Bond

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 1

In case you're still not over fall when the winter season begins, this cinnamon-sugar gem has your back. It's lightly sweetened with maple syrup and dusted with a duo of warm spices that taste like autumn.

27. Orange Champagne Cocktail

The Endless Meal

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 8

Think of it like an elevated cross between a mimosa and a screwdriver. They'll go great with New Year's Day breakfast. Use fresh OJ instead of store-bought if you can squeeze it in.

28. Strawberry Basil Champagne Sparklers

Well Plated by Erin

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

Homemade, lemon-laced strawberry puree is the key to impressing each and every one of your guests. Go with the driest (aka brut) option you can find for an extra crisp sip.

29. The Golden Night Cocktail

Salt and Wind

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy
• Serves: 6

Come on. This Champagne cocktail recipe is downright glamorous. Might I suggest making it even more luxe with edible gold on the apple slice garnish or the coupe's rim?

30. Pomegranate Ginger Sparkler Cocktail

Salt and Wind

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 1

Have you ever tried Domaine de Canton? It's a silky ginger liqueur with notes of honey and vanilla. You can sub any ginger liqueur you'd prefer, or even ginger-infused simple syrup.

31. Sparkling Pomegranate Margaritas

Minimalist Baker

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 1

Shake up a batch now to watch the ball drop, then bookmark the recipe for your next Taco Tuesday. You can also trade tequila for mezcal if you prefer the typically smoky spirit.

32. Christmas Punch

Well Plated by Erin

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, <10 ingredients
• Serves: 20

This Champagne cocktail recipe is a no-brainer for your Christmas celebration but it'll taste just as refreshing on the 31st for your NYE get-together. Just call it something else—Meet Me at Midnight Punch, perhaps?

33. Blackberry Champagne Punch

How Sweet Eats

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 4

This boozy beauty boasts brandy and Grand Marnier in addition to bubbly. Club soda ups its fizziness two-fold to boot.

34. Sparkling Holiday Champagne Sangria

Food Faith Fitness

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
• Serves: 8

Moscato and bubbly are a match made in hostess heaven. Use 100 percent real cranberry juice for maximum tartness and a deeper, blood-red color that looks more sophisticated than lighter cranberry juice cocktail.

35. Champagne-Elderflower Cocktail with Pear and Thyme

Floating Kitchen

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
• Serves: 6 to 8

Face it: Fresh herbs in a Champagne cocktail will impress even the pickiest of critics. So this year, let fresh thyme do the heavy lifting so you can work on more important things (like dessert).

36. Pomegranate and Orange Champagne Punch

Foodie Crush

• Time Commitment: 4 hours and 20 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
• Serves: 12

You *really* don't want to skip the festive ice cubes stuffed with mint leaves and pomegranate arils. They're worth prepping in advance for the Instagram photos alone.

37. Champagne Punch

Damn Delicious

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
• Serves: 8

Three, two, one, clink! Make a booze-free batch without the bubbly (sparkling grape juice is a solid substitute) for the little ones struggling to stay up for the New Year's Eve countdown. Toasting to the New Years? Try these quotes!

38. Strawberry-Champagne Tequila Fizz