This homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is a savory one-pot meal that’s better than the original boxed version! Made with tender elbow pasta, savory ground beef, cheese, tomato sauce, and veggies, it’s ready in 30 minutes or less and impossible to resist!

Cozy up with more comfort food recipes like Three Cheese Gnocchi Bake, One Pot BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pasta and Sausage Tortellini Soup.

Confession time: I can’t honestly remember the last time I purchased or prepared a box of Hamburger Helper.

It’s not that I never have—like most moms, I’m familiar with the beloved boxed pasta (it’s one of my childhood favorites!). But somewhere along the way, I discovered that it’s actually quite easy to make homemade hamburger helper.

My recipe for homemade Hamburger Helper is the only one you need for a number of reasons: it comes together in one pot, with real ingredients, in roughly the same amount of time. Since then, I haven’t looked back!

Why we love it:

• Healthier than store-bought: This homemade version is a one-pot meal made with healthy whole wheat pasta for added fiber, and wholesome veggies like red pepper and spinach.
• Kid-friendly: Everything all cooks down together in the cheesy sauce (hello, comfort food!), so picky eaters won’t even notice (it’s a family favorite here!).
• One pot: Those two magic words means that dinner will be easy to make and easy to clean up!
• Simple ingredients: This is a great clean-out-your-fridge recipe! It uses simple ingredients that you probably already have laying around.

Homemade Hamburger Helper ingredients:

• Lean Ground Beef: Since this is a one pot meal, I usually use lean ground beef. That helps keep the pasta from being greasy.
• Onion: Almost any beef dish is better with onion! You can dice up fresh onion, or if you’re short on time, sprinkle in about a tablespoon of onion powder.
• Red Pepper: Dice up a medium bell pepper. We use red, but any color is fine!
• Red Pepper Flakes: To add a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes. You can put more in, if you want it to be spicier.
• Garlic or Garlic Powder: Again, you can use fresh minced garlic, or go with garlic powder if you prefer. Use about ⅓ teaspoon for each clove of garlic.
• Salt and Pepper: I prefer to use red pepper flakes as opposed to black pepper, but you can use both if you prefer.
• Italian Seasoning: Store-bought Italian seasoning blend adds lots of flavor to the dish!
• Spinach: For frozen spinach, thaw it and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. For fresh spinach, just chop it finely. You can omit if you want but I promise no one will know it’s there!
• Beef Broth: The dish will be cooked in a mixture of broth and milk; I use beef broth, but vegetable broth and chicken broth would both work, as well.
• Milk: any kind of dairy or non-dairy milk will work. Higher fat dairy will yield a richer flavor.
• Pasta: Our favorite pasta for this recipe is elbow pasta, but basically any small shape would be good. Penne, farfalle (bowties), and fusilli are all good hamburger-helper-style shapes — just keep in mind the cook time may vary.
• Tomato Sauce: You can use plain tomato sauce, strained tomatoes, or pasta sauce, whatever you have.
• Cheese: To make this a cheesy, comforting meal, you’ll need plenty of shredded cheese! Try mozzarella, colby, cheddar, or any other melting cheese that you like. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired

How to make Hamburger Helper

Let’s take a quick look at how to make homemade hamburger helper! Find the detailed recipe down in the recipe card.

• Cook the ground beef, red bell peppers and onions.
• Mix in the seasonings, garlic and spinach.

• Pour in the milk, broth, noodles and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook for 12-15 minutes.
• Stir in the cheese.

Variations and Substitutions

• Change the veggies. Feel free to swap out the veggies for others your family enjoys, like mushrooms, shredded carrots, zucchini, or anything else you have taking up space in the fridge. Also, shredded vegetables cooked down in the ground beef are a great way to get more vegetables into your diet.
• Use your preferred pasta. I use high fiber whole wheat pasta, but really any variety of wheat pasta works fine. If you are using gluten-free or alternative pastas, you may want to reduce the amount of liquid, or add more, depending on the type of pasta.
• Make it dairy-free. Swap dairy-free milk and dairy-free cheese for the whole milk and shredded cheese. Or simply make the recipe with no milk, substituting additional broth, and leave out the cheese altogether!
• Make it vegetarian. Swap out the beef broth for vegetable broth, and vegetarian crumbles, chickpeas, or simply extra veggies instead of the meat.
• Use another meat. Ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground sausage all work well.
• Make it creamy. Stir in some sour cream or plain yogurt for an extra creamy pasta.
• Spice it up! Splash in some hot sauce or sriracha.

How to Store Homemade Hamburger Helper

Leftover Hamburger Helper will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container.

Add a splash of milk, water or broth and reheat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave, stirring each time it stops, until warmed all the way through.

Can I freeze hamburger helper?

Yes! To freeze homemade hamburger helper, spread the cooked pasta into a foil or freezer-safe baking dish, and cover with a layer of plastic wrap and then a lid or a layer of tin foil. The plastic wrap helps prevent freezer burn (thanks Grandma, for that trick!).

To reheat frozen hamburger helper, uncover the dish, remove the layer of plastic wrap, and then replace the layer of foil. Bake the dish at 350°F for about one hour, removing the foil at about the 40 minute mark, to allow the cheese to brown somewhat.

Freezing Note: If you’re planning to freeze and reheat pasta, you can slightly undercook the pasta before freezing. That way, when you reheat it, it won’t turn out mushy.

Reheating Note: if you’re moving a glass dish from the freezer to the oven, it’s a good idea to let the dish sit out at room temperature for a couple hours beforehand to warm slightly. You may not have to cook it as long.

Serving suggestions:

You can serve this pasta all on its own! It truly is a meal all in one pot! However, if you’d like to add a few side dishes, these are some great, easy options:

• Broccoli Salad: If you don’t think you like broccoli, try this recipe—I promise it will change your mind! Classic Broccoli Salad is sweet, tangy, crunchy, and fresh, with bacon and cheddar for extra yumminess.
• Creamed Corn: Sweet, Homemade Creamed Corn is a side dish that my kids devour! It’s a fresh, crisp-tender veggie option that’s always a welcome addition to the meal.
• Glazed Carrots: My simple Honey Orange Glazed Carrots are another kid-friendly side dish, made from scratch and lightly sweet.

More one pot pasta recipes!

• Sun Dried Tomato and Spinach Orzo recipe — a fabulous side or meatless main dish.
• Three Cheese Gnocchi Bake — the cheesier, the better!
• Creamy Gemelli Pasta recipe — simple and satisfying.
• Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage — sausage adds so much flavor!
• Cajun Chicken Pasta — just the right amount of kick!

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Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe – easy one pot pasta!

This Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper is a savory, one-pot meal that's better than the original! Made with tender elbow pasta, savory ground beef, cheese, tomato sauce, and veggies, it's ready in 30 minutes or less!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 474cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• ½ medium onion diced
• 1 red bell pepper diced
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground mustard
• ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more, if you like it spicy!)
• ¼ cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry (or 1 cup fresh, chopped fine) optional
• 1 ¾ cup milk
• 1 ½ cup beef broth (low sodium)
• 2 ¾ cups dry uncooked macaroni (1 375g box)
• 1 ½ cups tomato or pasta sauce
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• To a large pot add beef, onion, and peppers and cook until vegetables are softened. pepper flakes, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning and spinach. Cook over medium high heat until beef is browned.
• Add garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, mustard red pepper flakes, and spinach. Cook 1-2 minutes to wake up the flavors.
• Add in milk, broth, macaroni and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 12-15 minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in 1 cup of cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, cover and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Video

Notes

**NOTE: Nutrition information is estimated and will vary depending on exact serving size, types and brands of products used.

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Ground Beef: feel free to swap the beef for ground chicken, pork or turkey. I use lean ground beef so there is not much fat to drain, but if you are using regular ground beef you may want to drain the fat after browning.
• Vegetables: you can swap the peppers and spinach for other vegetables you have hanging around: finely chopped mushrooms, shredded carrots or zucchini, finely chopped kale — once it all cooks down the flavor melds together and you won’t really notice!
• Broth: I use low sodium beef broth so I can control the salt. If you have regular broth you may want to reduce the added salt and adjust as needed. Vegetable and chicken broth may also be substituted.
• Milk: I use low fat milk, but any will do here! Non-dairy milk works just as well.
• Macaroni: any short pasta will work here, but they may require different cook times or amounts of liquid. If you notice the liquid is mostly absorbed but the pasta is not cooked, just add a splash here and there and continue cooking until the pasta is al dente.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 347grams | Calories: 474cal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 1166mg | Potassium: 836mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2073IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 293mg | Iron: 5mg

More one pot pastas you’ll love!

• Healthy One Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
• One Pot Baked Ziti
• One Pot Chicken Chow Mein

The post BEST Hamburger Helper Recipe appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

This Easy Lasagna recipe is made with oven ready lasagna noodles, jarred tomato sauce and a couple special ingredients that bring LOADS of flavor! Includes step by step recipe video so you can make this simple lasagna at home.

Do you love lasagna as much as we do? Try these Lasagna Roll Ups, this Crockpot Lasagna Soup or this Chocolate Lasagna for dessert!

Sharing this Easy Lasagna recipe here on The Recipe Rebel, I’ll admit, is mostly for me.

That’s right.

I occasionally have purely selfish motives here (and my motives are almost entirely selfish when cheesy pasta is involved ).

The thing is, I realized one day that lasagna is one of those easy dinner ideas I hadn’t yet mastered, because I never use a recipe.

So I have made some amazing lasagna, and I have made some dry lasagnas, and I have made some soupy lasagnas, and I struggled to get consistent results.

I figured the only thing to do was to come up with The Perfect Easy Lasagna Recipe to share here, and that would force me to actually get in my kitchen and figure out the best ratios of sauce to pasta to cheese and then we would all be making amazing lasagnas forevermore.

Just don’t forget the Cheesy Garlic Bread!

What is authentic lasagna?

All I have to say to this is: who’s to say?

Even in Italy, there are so many variations of a classic lasagna recipe depending on where you live, that I don’t know if we can really claim there’s one right way.

Some Lasagnas have a layer of ricotta, cheese and egg mixture layered with meat sauce.

Some Lasagna recipes have cottage cheese (I feel like this is a Canadian prairies thing, but I could be wrong).

Some Lasagna recipes have a layer of bechamel sauce rather than ricotta or cottage cheese.

So this is my interpretation of the best lasagna recipe, and I think it’s pretty delicious! I’d love to hear which way you prefer it in the comments.

Easy Lasagna Ingredients:

• Ground Beef: I choose to use lean ground beef so there is little fat to drain. If you are using regular ground beef, you may want to drain the fat before continuing. Feel free to swap this out with ground turkey, chicken or pork.
• Italian Sausage: Italian sausage is a must here (in my opinion!) because it adds so much flavor without having to add a bunch of different spices. If you swap it out, you’ll want to make sure to compensate by adding additional seasonings.
• Onion: adds depth of flavor that can’t be missed!
• Garlic: opt for freshly minced garlic for the best flavor, but pre-minced works in a pinch.
• Salt and Italian Seasoning: because the sausage adds so much flavor, I keep the rest of our seasonings pretty basic. If you like extra kick, you can add a ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes as well.
• Tomato Pasta Sauce: a simple marinara sauce or similar tomato sauce works great here! Keep in mind the more flavor your sauce has, the more it will add to the lasagna.
• Water: a little bit of water added to our sauce ensures that our lasagna doesn’t get dry as our noodles cook.
• Ricotta cheese: I use Ricotta cheese in this lasagna — you don’t notice the texture and it adds a deliciously mild, creamy flavor.
• Frozen Spinach: I prefer to use frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry, because it is already shrunk down considerably and it’s easy to mix into the filling. You can substitute with fresh, finely chopped spinach if you prefer.
• Cream: keeps our Ricotta filling from becoming dry.
• Egg: binds our Ricotta filling to keep it in place.
• Parmesan cheese: adds the best salty, cheesy flavor.
• Mozzarella cheese: a must have! In our cheese filling and a solid layer on top.
• Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles: I love using oven ready lasagna noodles because it takes out one step in an admittedly long process. They make this Easy Lasagna recipe much more convenient! You can use regular lasagna noodles, pre-cooked to al dente, and omit the water in the sauce.

How to make Lasagna:

Here is a quick overview of the recipe! Scroll down to the recipe card for all the details you need.

1. Brown your meat and onion: in this recipe I like to use a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage because it adds a ton of flavor without us really having to put in any extra work!
2. Add your spices: adding your spices and garlic before your liquid really brings the flavor to life.

3. Add the tomato sauce and simmer your sauce until the flavors meld together.
4. Make the ricotta cheese mixture: Stir together the ricotta, seasonings, cheese and egg to hold it all together.

5. Layer it up: Start with a little meat sauce in the bottom of the baking dish to ensure your noodles don’t stick to the bottom, then top with noodles, ricotta, and meat sauce and then repeat. Dump allllll of that extra mozzarella on the top for good measure!
6. Cover and bake: Covering the lasagna with aluminum foil to bake ensures that the moisture stays inside and cooks the noodles. We will uncover once we add the cheese and let it sit at room temperature for some time before slicing to help it set well.

Variations on this Easy Lasagna Recipe:

And because there are about 1 million different ways to make lasagna, here are a few tips to get it just the way you like:

• You can swap the ricotta for cottage cheese and change nothing else at all. See how easy that was! Simply mix it up with the cheese just like you would ricotta.
• Can you make lasagna without ricotta or cottage cheese? Absolutely! You can actually skip it altogether or use a Bechamel Sauce instead! (Just don’t tell anyone)
• Want to add extra veggies? Go for it! I often do, but I wanted to keep this lasagna recipe as simple as possible to start. Finely chopped carrots, celery, mushrooms, kale or spinach would be great, and you can add them when you’re cooking the meat.
• Don’t have an Italian sausage? You can use all ground beef or sub for ground turkey or pork, but you will want to increase the seasonings somewhat.

What’s the correct layering for lasagna?

To prepare your pan for your lasagna layers, it’s always a good idea to spray with non stick spray and then spread a bit of the red sauce in the bottom to keep the oven ready noodles moist and prevent them from sticking. From there, this is the best way to layer your lasagna:

1. Noodles
2. Ricotta cheese mixture
3. Red sauce
4. Repeat until all layers are done, then add your mozzarella on top!

Make ahead Lasagna method:

Lasagna is the perfect meal prep or make ahead meal! Just follow these steps:

1. Prepare your lasagna up to the point of baking, leaving the mozzarella cheese off for now.
2. Cool for 30-60 minutes at room temperature, then cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate up to 2 days.
3. Continue with the baking instructions, adding a splash of water around the edges if the noodles appear to have soaked up a lot of the sauce.

How to freeze lasagna:

One of the best things about a good homemade lasagna is how easy it is to make ahead, and it still tastes just as amazing when you bake it later!

You can wrap and refrigerate the lasagna for 3-4 days before baking, or you can freeze it to enjoy it even later.

To freeze lasagna before baking, you can add the cheese before freezing or just before baking — I prefer to add it during the last ten minutes so it doesn’t get stuck to my foil!

Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, or use an airtight, freezer safe lid. Freeze up to 3 months before baking.

To bake, let thaw at room temperature throughout the day – 8 hours – or overnight in the refrigerator. Bake for 1-1.5 hours until heated through. Top with cheese and bake until melted.

What to serve with this Easy Lasagna Recipe:

Lasagna is a favorite here, and we love to serve it with a side of Garlic Bread, a basket of Homemade Breadsticks or some Homemade Dinner Rolls Recipe and Garlic Butter.

Want something green to serve with it? Try these Roasted Green Beans, Broccoli Casserole or Easy Broccoli Salad!

More baked pasta recipes you’ll love!

• Try this Tuscan Chicken Pasta Bake if you love a creamy white sauce.
• Try this Rigatoni Pasta Bake if you love lasagna flavors but don’t feel like layering!
• Go for this Baked Mostaccioli Pasta if you love tomato-based pastas.
• Choose this Cheese Cannelloni Recipe if you want to impress your family!

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Easy Lasagna

This Easy Lasagna recipe is made with oven ready lasagna noodles, jarred tomato sauce and a couple special ingredients that bring LOADS of flavor! Includes step by step recipe video so you can make this simple lasagna at home.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 55 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12 servings

Calories 493cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 lb Italian sausage loose packed or casings removed (5 sausages)
• 1 onion finely diced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 3.5 cups jarred tomato pasta sauce about 1.5 jars
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 cups Ricotta cheese 450g
• 1/2 cup frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry (100g)
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 3 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese divided
• 12 oven ready lasagna noodles

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a large pan, cook ground beef, Italian sausage and onion until browned, stirring often. If there is a lot of liquid in the pan, drain it before continuing.
• Stir in garlic, salt and Italian seasoning and cook 1 minute.
• Stir in pasta sauce and water. Remove from heat to cool slightly. (This can also be made in advance and refrigerated up to 4 days or frozen up to 3 months)
• In a medium bowl, stir together Ricotta, spinach, cream, egg and Parmesan and 1 cup of Mozzarella cheese. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (if baking right away) and lightly grease a deep 9×13" pan.
• Spread just enough meat sauce in the bottom of the pan to create a thin layer.
• Top with 3 lasagna noodles. Spread the noodles with ⅓ of the Ricotta mixture, and top that with ¼ of the meat sauce.
• Repeat layers 3 times, and on the last layer of noodles spread only the remaining meat sauce.
• Lightly grease a piece of tin foil or oven safe lid and place over top of the lasagna. Bake for 40-45 minutes until noodles are tender (this can take up to 60 minutes, depending on your brand of pasta) — it will still be juicy at this point and that's okay.
• Remove the foil and sprinkle with remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes until melted and broil for 2 minutes if desired to brown the cheese.
• Remove from the oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes — there should not be any liquid remaining on the edges after this rest. Slice and serve.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 493cal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 1252mg | Potassium: 636mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1489IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 313mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Easy Lasagna Recipe appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

Taco Soup is bold, comforting, easy to customize and always a family favorite! Ground beef and black beans fill every serving with plenty of protein while veggies offer some nutrients. This one pot soup recipe checks all the right boxes!

Stay warm with more of the best soup recipes like Chicken Dumpling Soup, Tuscan White Bean Soup and Sausage Orzo Soup.

Taco soup is one of those recipes that’s great for cleaning out your fridge/pantry! Some of my most favorite recipes are the ones where you can just toss a bunch of stuff into a pot and call it dinner.

It also helps that my family is obsessed with this taco soup recipe. I love serving it, because it’s a great way to sneak protein and nutrients into the mouths of even the most selective eaters!

Flavorful, easy, versatile, family friendly… This beef taco soup seriously satisfies.

Why we love it:

• Filling – This easy taco soup can stand on its own without a side dish. The black beans and ground beef pack it with protein and make it so filling!
• Flavorful – You may be full from just one serving of taco soup — however, it’s so flavorful you’ll go back for seconds anyways!
• One pot – Less clean-up is always a HUGE win in my kitchen. This soup recipe is easily prepared in just one pot.
• Budget-friendly – You won’t be breaking the bank to make this taco soup! Check out the ingredients below and you’ll see that they’re all nice and inexpensive.

Taco Soup Ingredients

• Ground Beef – I like to use lean ground beef since it doesn’t render as much fat when cooking. If you use higher fat beef, you may want to drain excess fat after browning.
• Black Beans – Make sure they’re thoroughly drained and rinsed before adding to the pot. Any kind of beans will work here!
• Beef Broth – Low-sodium beef broth is preferred. If you use regular beef broth, you may want to omit the additional sprinkle of salt.
• Salsa – Use your favorite brand of salsa (feel free to make it spicy)! Or, go the extra mile by using Homemade Salsa.
• Veggies – I love using a medley of onions, corn, and bell peppers in this recipe, but feel free to experiment and add some extras from the fridge.
• Seasonings – All you need is a sprinkle of salt and some taco seasoning to create the very best flavor!

How to make Taco Soup

Take a quick look at how I make the BEST taco soup recipe! Scroll to the bottom of this page for more detailed instructions and ingredients.

• Add the beef, onions, and peppers to a pot over medium heat.
• Once the beef is cooked, stir in the remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Stir often.

Taco Soup Variations and Substitutions

• Make it creamy: When I’m serving this to my kids, I stir in some heavy cream to cool it off and reduce the spice.
• Thicken it: You can stir in some tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes for a thicker soup.
• Add in additional veggies: Mushrooms, peppers, spinach, or whatever you think you’d like to eat in your taco soup!
• Add rice: Add in some quick rice and simmer for 5-10 minutes, or long grain rice and simmer 20-30 minutes until tender for a thicker soup.
• Top it up: For me, this soup is all about the toppings, but toppings are optional and additional ingredients. Try cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado, fresh tomato and lime wedges.
• Make it with chicken instead: Add all of the ingredients to a large pot and throw in two whole, raw chicken breasts. Simmer over medium-low heat until chicken is tender. Remove chicken breasts, shred, and add back into the soup to serve.

How to store this easy Taco Soup

Once it’s cooled to room temperature, transfer taco soup to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat for 30 seconds at a time in the microwave, stirring each time it stops, until warmed all the way through.

Can I freeze Taco Soup?

Sure thing! Allow the soup to fully cool before storing it in a freezer-safe container. I recommend pouring it into a zip-lock bag and laying it flat on a baking sheet to freeze, that way it optimizes how much room you have in your freezer.

Freeze for up to 3 months and let it slowly defrost in the fridge prior to reheating.

Can I make Crockpot Taco Soup?

Yes! This easy Taco Soup is also a perfect Crockpot soup recipe!

1. Brown your ground beef in a skillet, then add to a 3-4 quart slow cooker.
2. Add the remaining ingredients, and cook on low for 3-4 hours (you can leave it longer and it won’t hurt anything, or on high for 1.5-2 hours.
3. Serve.

Can I make it in the Instant Pot?

You sure can.

1. Brown your ground beef in the Instant Pot on sauté.
2. Add your broth and scrape the bottom to remove any bits.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and select pressure cook on high for 2 minutes.
4. When the cook time is over, let the pressure release naturally for at least 5-10 minutes (just because soup can be very steamy), then open the valve and remove the lid to serve.

More soup recipes you’ll love!

When the weather cools off, all I want is soup, stews and chilis! If you’re the same, you’ll love these cozy dinner ideas:

• Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup — a classic made easier.
• Classic Beef Stew — don’t forget the crusty bread!
• Easy Vegetarian Chili — big on flavor, you won’t even miss the meat!
• Chicken Rice Soup — make it in the slow cooker or on the stove top
• The BEST Sausage Tortellini Soup — so cozy and full of flavor!

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Easy Taco Soup recipe

This easy Taco Soup is made with just 8 ingredients and minimal prep! It's hearty and comes together in 30 minutes or less.

Course Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 217cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 red bell pepper (finely chopped)
• ½ onion (finely chopped)
• 2 ½ cups low sodium beef broth
• 540 ml canned black beans drained and rinsed (19oz)
• 341 ml canned sweet corn with juice (12oz)
• 1 cup mild tomato salsa
• 1 teaspoon low sodium taco seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a large soup pot, brown ground beef with red pepper and onion over medium heat. Drain any excess fat if desired.
• Add broth, beans, corn, salsa, taco seasoning and salt. Simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. until vegetables are tender.
• Serve with optional toppings: tortilla chips, shredded cheese, avocado, lime wedges, or sour cream.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 313grams | Calories: 217cal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 1046mg | Potassium: 882mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 851IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Easy Taco Soup recipe appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins are the ultimate game day appetizer! Russet potatoes are loaded with alfredo sauce, chicken, bacon, shredded cheese and a sprinkling of green onions. They’re addictive – serve them on SuperBowl Sunday and watch them disappear!

Enjoy more of the best party foods like Bacon Wrapped Smokies, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Cranberry and Bacon Cream Cheese Appetizer and veggies with Easy Homemade Cheese Sauce.

I know that sometimes it’s good to try to add some variety into your diet, but man, there is nothing like meat and potatoes. Or meat and cheese on potatoes. With Alfredo sauce!

While these loaded potato skins are technically a party appetizer… I’ve totally made a meal of them more than once. They’re just too good to confine to parties! Luckily, they’re so easy to make that I can whip them up with ease whenever the craving strikes (especially if I’ve got leftover Instant Pot Shredded Chicken!).

Why we love it:

• Kid Friendly: There’s just something plain fun about potato skins topped with cheese and bacon! Kids gobble these things up like crazy.
• Game Day: Nothing says game day like loaded potato skins, right? While we love finger food for dinner any night of the week, there’s just something special about game day food.
• Versatile: You can change so many ingredients in this recipe and still have great results. Scroll down to check out some of my favorite variations to try.
• Prep ahead: most of the components can be made several days in advance so they are easy to throw together! You can cook the chicken, the bacon, the potatoes, make the sauce and shred the cheese up to 3 days in advance!

Ingredients Needed for Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins

• Potatoes – I like to use small russet potatoes. There’s no mess and you get all of that incredible flavor in your mouth at once — there are no toppings sliding off and depriving you of the cheese or bacon.
• Cheese – Use any cheese you like best! Mozzarella, cheddar, or whatever else floats your boat.
• Chicken – I like to use a cooked, chopped up baked chicken breast or Pan Fried Chicken Breasts. Feel free to use thigh meat if preferred.
• Bacon – Crispy cooked bacon is my favorite part of this whole recipe (and this Air Fryer Bacon is the crispiest!). Make sure it’s patted dry and not greasy when you use it.
• Green Onions – Chives also work well.
• Heavy Cream – You just can’t make alfredo sauce without it!
• Parmesan Cheese – For the best flavor and consistency, use freshly grated parmesan in your sauce.
• Garlic – Fresh garlic will create the very best flavor. In a pinch, garlic powder can be used instead.
• Butter – Unsalted is preferred. If you do use salted butter, you may want to skip adding any more salt to your sauce.
• Flour – This is used to thicken the alfredo sauce.
• Seasonings – A simple sprinkle of salt and Italian seasoning is all you need.

How to make Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins

Here’s a quick look at how to make your new favorite appetizer recipe! Keep scrolling down to the bottom of this page for more detailed info about ingredients and steps.

• Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Whisk in the garlic, seasonings and flour.
• Whisk in the cream and parmesan cheese. Remove from heat and set aside.

• Bake the potatoes and let them cool. Slice them in half and scoop out the middles of each potato.
• Spread a little bit of alfredo sauce in each potato.

• Add the chicken and bacon on top of the alfredo sauce.
• Sprinkle with cheese and bake!

Variations and Substitutions

• Change the bacon. Feel free to cook up some turkey bacon or even use bacon bits from the grocery store to save some time. Personally, I like to cook bacon in the oven.
• Add some spice. If you like your snacks on the spicier side, serve these potato skins with a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce on top!
• You can use store-bought alfredo. No time to make your own homemade sauce? Not a problem! Your favorite store-bought jar of sauce should get the job done just fine.
• Swap the potatoes. This recipe will work with just about any potato you like best. I like russets because of how crispy the skin gets. No matter what potato you choose to use, I recommend picking some on the smaller side.

How to store Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins

Once they’ve cooled off, you can transfer the potato skins to an airtight container and keep them stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. I recommend reheating in the air fryer or back in the oven so the skins stay crispy.

Can I freeze Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins?

Yes! Let them fully cool to room temperature before transferring the loaded potato skins to an airtight freezer-safe container. Properly stored, they should freeze nicely for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to date and label! Let them defrost in the fridge before reheating in the oven or air fryer.

Note: the texture of the potato won’t be quite the same after freezing — if this is a problem, it’s best to make these fresh!

Serving suggestions:

Serve these bacon and cheese potato skins at your next party! They’re great for game days, birthday parties and everything in between.

We love to serve them with other appetizers for a finger food dinner. Check out some of our favorites!

• Baked Brie Bites
• Jalapeno Poppers
• Pigs in a Blanket
• Ham and Cheese Sliders

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Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins

Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins are the ultimate game day appetizer! Russet potatoes are loaded with alfredo sauce, chicken, bacon, shredded cheese and a sprinkling of green onions. They're addictive – serve them at a party and watch them disappear!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 16 potato skins

Calories 86cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 8 small russet potatoe (washed and dried)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• salt

Alfredo Sauce (or use store bought)

• 1 tablespoon salted butter
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup half and half
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (divided)

Toppings

• 1 cup chopped, cooked chicken (about 1 breast)
• 2 slices bacon (cooked and chopped)
• 1 cup shredded cheese (mozza or marble)
• green onion for garnish

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Line a baking sheet with tin foil or parchment and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Rub potatoes with oil and salt and place on baking sheet. Roast for 40-45 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool for 10-15 minutes.
• Slice open potatoes carefully using a serrated knife (so the skin doesn’t peel off). Using a small spoon, scoop out the middle of each potato half, leaving the outside of the potato intact (you shouldn’t see the potato skin on the inside).
• Place back on the baking sheet.

Alfredo Sauce

• Meanwhile, make the Alfredo sauce.
• Heat butter in a medium skillet. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper and cook 1 minute.
• Add flour and stir until combined. Whisk in half and half and cook slightly until thickened.
• Stir in 1 tablespoon Parmesan and remove from heat.

Potato Skins

• Spread a small amount of sauce in each potato half.
• Sprinkle with chopped chicken, chopped bacon, shredded cheese and 1 tablespoon Parmesan.
• Return to the oven for 10-15 minutes until hot and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with chopped green onion. Serve.

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

Potatoes: you can use any kind of potato you like for these, but I love using russets because the thick skin gets ultra crispy!

Sauce: feel free to swap the homemade sauce for a store bought jar to save yourself some time.

Toppings: You can add to or omit any of the toppings as you like — feel free to experiment!

Nutrition

Calories: 86cal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 47mg | Fiber: 0.03g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 0.2mg

The post Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

Crustless Quiche is made with eggs, cream, fresh spinach, crispy bacon, and green onions. It’s loaded with flavor, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or breakfast! You won’t even miss the crust 😉

If you love eggs for breakfast, you might also like these Mini Quiche recipe, this Easy Puff Pastry Ham and Cheese Quiche, or this Breakfast Pizza!

If you know me, you’ll know that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, whether we’re serving it at breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

Crustless Quiche is an easy meal that is just as perfect for a weeknight breakfast as it is for an easy dinner.

This easy quiche recipe is so versatile, you can easily adapt it to include your favorite meats, cheeses, and veggies. 

It’s a great way to use up leftover veggies, it’s low carb, and it’s freezer friendly too!

This recipe is all of my favorite things in one healthy package.

For more delicious healthy breakfast recipes, check out Our Favorite Breakfast Burritos, my Healthy Strawberry Smoothie recipe, and these Whole Wheat Pancakes!

Ingredients Needed:

• Eggs: use fresh, large eggs for the base of this quiche.
• Half and half: adds a creamy richness to the eggs, making a custard-like texture for the dish.
• Salt & Black Pepper: salt enhances the flavors of all other ingredients, while freshly ground black pepper is preferable for its robust taste to add a slight heat and depth of flavor to the quiche.
• Spinach: It brings a fresh and slightly earthy taste, along with a lovely color. Frozen spinach, thoroughly drained of excess moisture, can be a convenient substitute.
• Cheese: Adds a creamy, tangy flavor. Feel free to experiment with other cheeses like Swiss, gruyere, or even a bit of feta for a different flavor profile.
• Bacon: adds a smoky, savory depth. For a lighter option, turkey bacon or even Canadian bacon can be used.
• Green Onions: to add a slightly sweet but tangy pop of flavor. Spring onions or chives could also work well as substitutes.

How To Make Crustless Quiche

This recipe is so easy to make, with only 5 minutes of prep time! Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.

• Make egg mixture: Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
• Add other ingredients: Stir in spinach, cheese, bacon, and green onion.
• Pour mixture into pan: Pour into the prepared pie plate.
• Store or bake and serve: Store the quiche for later, or bake it until set, then slice and serve.

How To Make Crustless Mini Quiche

You can use this recipe to make Crustless Mini Quiche by greasing a muffin pan and dividing the egg mixture between the cups.

You will bake at the same temperature but reduce the cook time to 20-25 minutes.

Check out my Mini Quiche Recipe to see how to make them with a crust as well!

How do I store Crustless Quiche?

Leftover quiche will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days after being freshly made. Once it has cooled to room temperature, store it in an airtight container, or wrap it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to keep it fresh.

Can I freeze Crustless Quiche?

Quiche always freezes well! Simply wrap tightly or place individual slices in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or a 350-degree F oven.

Tips and Notes

• Make it ahead. Pouring the quiche mixture into your greased pan and refrigerate the unbaked quiche, ready to bake the next day. I rarely do this, though, because the leftovers are just as good as they are fresh! Cooked eggs will reheat perfectly, so leftovers make a great weeknight breakfast. You can also cook and freeze this Crustless Quiche to enjoy at a later date. Simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in a 350-degree oven until warmed, or slice and microwave individual pieces.
• Fresh ingredients. Be sure to use the freshest ingredients possible, and especially make sure your eggs are fresh for the best end result in texture and flavor!

Crustless Quiche Variations

• Make it dairy-free. Swap the milk for non-dairy milk and cheese (or simply omit the cheese).
• Make it vegetarian. Skip the bacon and add in extra veggies if you desire.
• Swap the meat. Instead of bacon, try cooked turkey bacon, breakfast sausage, diced ham, or whatever you have in the fridge.
• Swap the veggies. Try sauteed mushrooms, red onion, cherry tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, shredded carrots, or whatever you’ve got lying around!
• Swap the cheese. Use Swiss cheese, gruyere, mozzarella, or a combination of cheeses to add a new flavor profile. Goat cheese or feta can also be great for a tangier taste. Mozzarella, Parmesan, or Jalapeno Monterey Jack for a flavorful twist!
• Make Crustless Quiche Lorraine. Check out my traditional Quiche Lorraine recipe to use the quiche filling with this recipe to make a crustless version.
• Make Crustless Ham Quiche. Use my Easy Ham Quiche Recipe with this recipe to make a crustless variation.

Serving Suggestions

A crisp green salad is the perfect addition to this healthy crustless quiche recipe, or try my Easy Broccoli Salad for extra nutrients here!

You can also serve your homemade quiche with Breakfast Potatoes or Air Fryer Hashbrown Patties for some tasty carbs to keep you going.

If you’re serving the quiche for breakfast or brunch, consider accompanying it with this Creamy Fruit Salad recipe for a sweet contrast.

A refreshing drink will always go down a treat too. Check out my 30+ Healthy Smoothie Recipes for some delicious ideas that I know will be a huge hit!

More Easy Savory Breakfast Recipes to Try

Breakfast

Crustless Quiche – 6 ingredients!

Breakfast

Mini Quiche recipe

Quick Breads

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Breakfast

Breakfast Taco Bites

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Crustless Quiche

Crustless Quiche is made with eggs, cream, fresh spinach, crispy bacon, and green onions. It's loaded with flavor, perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or breakfast! You won't even miss the crust.

Course Breakfast, Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings 8 slices

Calories 155cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 8 large eggs
• ¾ cup half and half
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 3-4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
• 1 green onion sliced

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9" pie plate.
• In a large liquid measuring cup or mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
• Stir in spinach, cheese, bacon and green onion.
• Pour into prepared pie plate and bake for 35-45 minutes, until set through the centre.
• Slice and serve.

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Cream: you can use low-fat milk instead of cream for a lighter quiche, or heavy cream for a richer quiche.
• Add-ins: the vegetables, cheese, meat, and seasonings are all very customizable with this recipe. You can use ham instead of bacon or make it meatless. You can add sauteed peppers and mushrooms instead of spinach. You can choose any cheese you like! Feel free to get creative. 

Make Ahead & Storage:

• Make Ahead: This recipe is perfect for making ahead and storing in the fridge! You can refrigerate for up to 5 days, and slices of this quiche make a great breakfast sandwich filling. You can reheat in the microwave or cover and reheat at 300 degrees F in the oven.
• Store: Leftover quiche will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days after being freshly made. Store it in an airtight container, or wrap it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap to keep it fresh.
• Freezer: Quiche always freezes well! Simply wrap tightly or place slices in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or the oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 155cal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 346mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 768IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Crustless Quiche – 6 ingredients! appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

This Pizza Sliders recipe is made with soft dinner rolls, pizza sauce, melty mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices! They’re quick to whip up and make the perfect appetizer or easy weeknight dinner.

You might also like my Ham and Cheese Sliders, Hawaiian Ham and Pineapple Sliders, and Chicken Pizziola Sliders on Garlic Herb Biscuits.

These easy Pizza Sliders are a great option, whether you need something delicious for a crowd at your next party or game day, or just a fun twist on your Friday pizza night.

Pizza sliders combine the delicious flavors of traditional pizza with the convenience of a sandwich.

We love these because it’s easy for the kids to get involved in the prep! Their small size also makes them perfect for little hands to grab on the go.

They are also perfect party food—easy to make in bulk, deliciously appetizing, and just the right size for game day or movie night.

Pizza Sliders Ingredients:

• Dinner Rolls: these provide the soft, slightly sweet base for our sliders. Hawaiian rolls, especially brands like King’s Hawaiian, have a unique sweetness that pairs well with the savory toppings. If you don’t have these, any soft rolls or buns will do.
• Pepperoni: this adds the classic pepperoni pizza flavor to the sliders. If pepperoni isn’t your favorite, you could use crumbled Italian sausage, sautéed peppers, or any of your favorite pizza toppings.
• Pizza Sauce: this adds moisture and the familiar tangy-sweet flavor profile of classic pizzas. Homemade pizza sauce or your local pizza place’s sauce works wonders. In a pinch? Tomato sauce with some Italian seasoning can substitute.
• Mozzarella Cheese: to provide that classic gooey, stringy texture everyone loves on their pizza.
• Parmesan Cheese adds a sharp, salty kick and aids in achieving a golden-brown crust on top of the sliders. Grated pecorino Romano can be an alternative.
• Butter: to make garlic butter to give the tops of the rolls a delicious garlic butter flavor and help them get crispy in the oven.
• Seasoning: use dried parsley, dried oregano, and garlic powder to bring classic Italian flavors to these pizza sliders in a mix with Parmesan and butter.

How to Make Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Sliders

This recipe is quick and easy to make! Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.

1. Slice rolls: Slice the rolls in half so the tops and bottoms are separated.
2. Put in dish and add fillings: Place the bottom part of the rolls in the baking dish and top with half of the cheese, then add half the pepperoni.

3. Add sauce and cheese: Spread the sauce and place the remaining cheese slices on top of the sauce.
4. Add pepperoni and cheese: Top with the remaining pepperoni and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.

5. Add top buns and herb butter: Put top buns on top, then brush the melted butter and herb mix on top.
6. Cover and bake: Bake until the tops are slightly toasted, and serve.

How do I store Easy Pepperoni Pizza Sliders?

Leftover pepperoni pizza sliders should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To maintain that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste, reheat your sliders in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until warmed through. Alternatively, you can use a microwave, but the rolls might not retain their crispy texture.

Can I freeze Pepperoni Pizza Sliders?

You can make the pizza sliders ahead of time and freeze them, but I’d recommend freezing them before baking them.

To freeze, place sliders in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a zip-top bag or an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat as directed above.

Tips and Notes

• Make them ahead of time. Assemble the sliders ahead of time, but it’s best to pour the butter mixture over the top just before baking to avoid sogginess.
• Avoid soggy rolls. Layering the cheese first before the pizza sauce can act as a barrier, preventing the sauce from making the bottom bun too wet.

Easy Slider Variations

• Try other cheeses. If desired, provolone cheese or cheddar cheese can also be used.
• Use other fillings. Use your favorite pizza toppings as fillings for these rolls. Try shredded chicken, ham, spicy beef, sliced peppers, pieces of pineapple, or another classic topping.
• Gluten Free. Swap out the regular rolls for gluten-free rolls to make this dish suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.

Serving Suggestions

While these sliders are a hit on their own, you can serve them with dips, sides, or other appetizers for a spread everyone will remember!

Try my Spicy Mayo, a bowl of marinara sauce, or even some pepperoni pizza dip to enhance every bite.

My Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks, Maple Glazed Drumsticks, Air Fryer Ravioli, Bacon Wrapped Smokies, and this Pizza Toast recipe would go well together if you’re planning an appetizers-for-dinner night!

More Easy Appetizer Recipes to Try

Appetizers

Baked Brie Bites

Breakfast

Mini Quiche recipe

Dinner

Cheese Quesadilla recipe — easy & flavorful!

Spring/Summer

Corn Salsa

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Pizza Sliders

Pizza Sliders are made with soft dinner rolls, pizza sauce, melty mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni slices! They're quick to whip up and make the perfect appetizer or easy weeknight dinner.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 25 minutes minutes

Servings 12 sliders

Calories 133cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 pack dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls (ideally 12 rolls all stuck together)
• 175 grams sliced pepperoni (about 6 ounces)
• ½ cup pizza sauce
• 8-12 slices Mozarella cheese slices
• 4 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese (divided)
• ¼ cup melted butter
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees, and lightly grease a 9×13″ baking dish.
• Without pulling the rolls apart, slice them in half (see photos or video for visuals) so that the tops and bottoms are separated.
• Place the bottom part of the rolls in the baking dish and top with half of the cheese, then add half the pepperoni. Spread the sauce and place the remaining cheese slices on top of the sauce. Top with the remaining pepperoni and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Top with top buns.
• Combine melted butter, 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic powder, and oregano and pour over rolls, using a pastry brush to brush evenly over the top.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted. Uncover and bake for 5–10 minutes, or until the tops are slightly toasted.
• Serve.

Video

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Most of these ingredients can be adapted to your tastes: you can use whole wheat buns instead of white or Hawaiian, you can swap the cheese for your favorite kind, or you can use turkey pepperoni. Feel free to experiment!
• Add veggies: you can add loads of vegetables here! Just be sure to cook firm veggies first. Sauteed mushrooms or peppers would be great, or a layer of fresh spinach. You can even add a layer of olives or hot pickled peppers top of the pepperoni.

Storage

• Store: Leftover pepperoni pizza sliders should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To maintain that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste, reheat your sliders in the oven at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until warmed through. Alternatively, you can use a microwave, but the rolls might not retain their crispy texture.
• Freeze: You can make the pizza sliders ahead of time and freeze them, but I’d recommend freezing them before baking them. To freeze, place sliders in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a zip-top bag or an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat as directed above.

Nutrition

Calories: 133cal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 43mg | Sodium: 533mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 299IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Pizza Sliders recipe appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

Creamy Nacho Potato Soup is packed with flavor – it’s the perfect hearty comfort food! Made with Yukon gold potatoes, classic savory veggies, and yummy chicken broth, it’s seasoned with cumin and chili powder for a classic Mexican flavor, with sweet corn and cheddar cheese!

This spicy, creamy soup recipe was inspired by a Nacho Potato Chowder recipe I was trying to make but realized I didn’t have all the ingredients I needed. 

Sometimes the best meals come about through serendipity, and I’m so glad I rolled with it!

With the creaminess of traditional potato soup and the bold flavors of beloved Mexican recipes, this new soup offering is now one of our favorites.

Nacho Potato Soup is perfect for winter months or any occasion when you want something warm and satisfying without much work.

With only 15 minutes of prep time, it’s ready to eat in about 35 minutes!

This cheesy soup uses simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry, so give it a go!

For more amazing potato soup recipes, try my Ham and Potato Soup, Instant Pot Potato Soup Recipe, Sausage Potato Soup with Kale, Potato Leek Soup, and my Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup!

Ingredients Needed:

• Oil: use a neutral-flavored oil for sautéing the vegetables, like canola oil or vegetable oil. Coconut oil and olive oil are also good but will add a bit of their own flavors to the dish too.
• Chicken Broth: a low-sodium chicken broth will provide the liquid base for the soup and add a depth of flavor. If you use a salted broth, you may want to omit the added salt and season to taste before serving.
• Vegetables: use a classic savory trio of onion, celery, and carrots for this soup to add nutrients, color, and a fantastic flavor base.
• Garlic: use fresh garlic cloves for the best aromatic flavor.
• Seasoning: use a combination of chili powder, salt, cumin, and black pepper to elevate the soup’s taste, giving it that delightful spicy kick.
• Yukon Gold Potatoes: they have a great buttery texture and flavor, making the soup creamy without needing too much cream. Other potato varieties can be used, but the texture may vary.
• Salted Butter: to make the roux to help thicken the soup. Salted butter is best as it helps enhance the flavor of the soup as well.
• Flour: use all-purpose flour for the roux to thicken the soup. For a gluten-free soup, you can use a cornstarch slurry instead.
• Milk: to enhance the soup’s creaminess. If you’re lactose intolerant, almond or coconut milk can be used, though it might slightly alter the flavor.
• Frozen Corn: This adds sweetness, texture, and color to the dish. Fresh corn can also be used when in season.
• Toppings: try sharp shredded cheddar cheese and freshly chopped green onions for optional toppings to add extra flavor and texture to the soup.

How to Make Nacho Potato Soup Recipe

This recipe is quick and easy to make, and it’s so delicious! Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.

1. Sauté vegetables: Sauté onion, carrots, and celery in a Dutch oven with hot oil.
2. Add seasonings: Then add the garlic, chili powder, salt, cumin, and black pepper, and cook.

3. Add broth and potatoes: Pour in the broth, deglaze the pot, and stir in the potatoes. Cover and cook.
4. Make thickened milk: Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, then add the milk. Heat and whisk until smooth.

5. Thicken soup and add remaining ingredients: Stir in the thickened milk, corn, and cheddar cheese.
6. Garnish and serve: Garnish with additional cheese and green onions, if desired.

Easy Nacho Potato Soup FAQs

Nacho Cheese Potato Soup Recipe Variations

• Spice it up. Make this soup spicier by adding in some of your favorite hot sauce, more chili powder, chopped chilis, or red pepper flakes! 
• Garnish. Use your favorite Mexican garnishes to enhance the flavors of your meal. Try adding some fresh herbs like chopped fresh parsley, cilantro, or thyme for more flavor.
• Use other cheeses. Cheddar cheese works great in this soup, but you could use other cheeses for a different flavor. Use cheeses that melt smoothly, like Velveeta or American cheese, for that true nacho flavor. Alternatively, Monterey Jack cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, or some Parmesan cheese would work well too.
• Change up the veggies. There are lots of other veggies that would work great in this soup! Try sautéed mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, parsnips or see what’s lying around in your fridge that needs to be used.
• Make it vegetarian: swap the chicken broth for vegetable broth and you’re good to go!

Serving Suggestions

This yummy soup calls for some bread on the side to soak up the delicious soupiness at the bottom of the bowl!

Try these Buttery (Whole Wheat) Bread Machine Rolls, my No Knead Artisan Bread, or some slices of this Whole Wheat Bread with butter. 

You could also serve it with some corn chips or tortilla chips on the side for an added crunch!

Serve this creamy potato soup with some veggies on the side to add nutrients and make it a fuller meal. My Air Fryer Green Beans, Roasted Carrots, or this Cheesy Baked Asparagus would all work well!

More Delicious Soup Recipes with Potatoes

Dinner

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Dinner

Crockpot Zuppa Toscana

Dinner

Creamy Nacho Potato Soup

Dinner

Chicken Dumpling Soup

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Creamy Nacho Potato Soup

Creamy Nacho Potato Soup is packed with flavor – it's the perfect hearty comfort food! Made with Yukon gold potatoes, classic savory veggies, and yummy chicken broth, it's seasoned with cumin and chili powder for a classic Mexican flavor, with sweet corn and cheddar cheese!

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 408cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon oil
• 3½ cups low sodium chicken broth
• 3 large carrots (halved and sliced)
• 2 ribs celery (chopped)
• ½ medium onion (finely chopped)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• 6 medium Yukon gold potatoes (cut into ½" pieces)
• ¼ cup salted butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 1½ cups milk
• 2 cups frozen corn
• 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• green onions for garnish

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• Heat a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the oil.
• Add the carrots, celery, and onion and cook until starting to soften, about 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the garlic, chili powder, salt, cumin, and black pepper, and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the broth and deglaze the pot if necessary. Stir in potatoes.
• Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare your roux. In a large bowl (make sure it’s big enough; you don’t want it to boil over), melt butter in the microwave. Whisk in flour first, then milk.
• Heat in the microwave at 1 minute intervals (no longer), whisking each time, until thickened (it bubbles up quickly once it gets thick, so keep an eye on it in the microwave!).
• When the vegetables are tender, stir in the thickened milk, corn, and cheddar cheese.
• Garnish with additional cheese and green onions, if desired.

Video

Notes

Storage

Store: Store your Nacho Potato Soup in an airtight container, or covered in plastic wrap, in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before storing it.

Freeze: I wouldn’t recommend freezing potato soup as potatoes can have a different texture once you defrost them. If you need to, you can store it in a freezer-safe container and freeze it for up to 2 months, but you may want to add more butter, milk, or cream to help with the texture and flavor when reheating it.

Nutrition

Calories: 408cal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 727mg | Potassium: 1245mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5619IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 240mg | Iron: 3mg

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This Rigatoni Pasta Bake is an easy weeknight dinner that’ll make everyone at the table happy! Tender rigatoni is tossed in a flavorful meat sauce and gets baked to perfection beneath a blanket of both parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Make ahead and freezer friendly!

Enjoy more of the best baked pasta dinner recipes like Baked Mostaccioli Pasta, Baked Gnocchi with Sausage and Cheesy Baked Spaghetti.

This rigatoni pasta bake is great for those nights when you’re seriously hungry and need to feed a small army! Tender bites of rigatoni pasta are served with a seasoned meat sauce that’ll make your mouth water all under a generous coating of cheesy goodness.

This make-ahead, freezer-friendly baked rigatoni recipe is sure to be a regular in your menu rotation! It’s easy-peasy to toss together and always hits the spot.

Why we love this pasta bake recipe:

• Filling: With plenty of pasta and ground beef, this dinner is sure to fill you up after just one serving. However, it’s so good you may just go back for seconds anyways!
• Freezer-Friendly: This is an excellent dinner to make ahead of time and freeze for later! Scroll down for more info on the simple freezing process.
• So Easy: This is a huge win in my home, especially on those crazy busy weeknights! This baked rigatoni recipe takes just about 15 minutes to prepare before you toss it in the oven.
• Inexpensive: This recipe is loaded with budget-friendly ingredients that’ll give you a great family dinner without breaking the bank.

Ingredients Needed for Rigatoni Pasta Bake

• Beef: I like to use lean ground beef in this recipe. It has plenty of flavor, and less fat than ground chuck.
• Onion: You can use any kind of onion—red, white, yellow, or sweet. Dice it into small pieces.
• Italian Seasoning: An Italian seasoning blend gives a savory herbal flavor to this bake. Feel free to substitute whatever herbs and seasonings you like, though. Basil, oregano, parsley, etc.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives the brightest flavor, but you could substitute garlic powder as well.
• Salt and Pepper: A little goes a long way!
• Marinara Sauce: You’ll need a couple of large jars of your favorite pasta sauce.
• Rigatoni: If you can’t find (or don’t want to use) rigatoni, penne pasta makes a good substitute, and so does ziti.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded mozzarella is my go-to! Provolone is also a good option.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly shredded tastes best if you have time to spare.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Add more or less to alter the heat level of the meat sauce.

How to make Rigatoni Pasta Bake

Take a look at how to toss together this easy pasta bake! Keep scrolling to the bottom of this page for more detailed instructions.

• Cook the ground beef and onion together until the meat is browned and the onions have softened. Drain any fat.
• Add the Italian seasoning, garlic, salt and pepper to the meat. Cook for just 1 minute.

• Stir the pasta sauce into the dish. Cook for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and set aside.
• Cook the rigatoni in boiling salted water until al dente. You don’t want it to be too soft! Reserve ½ cup of pasta water after draining.

• Stir the reserved pasta water into the meat sauce, and then combine the pasta and sauce, stirring well.
• Pour the pasta into a baking dish, cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Uncover, add cheeses, and bake for another 10 minutes.

Variations and Substitutions

• Dairy Free: To make this pasta bake dairy free, simply swap the cheese for dairy free cheese. Or, leave the cheese out entirely. Be sure to check the rest of your ingredients to make sure they don’t have dairy in them.
• Veggies: Bump up the veggie content of this casserole by adding extra vegetables to the meat sauce as it cooks. Mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, or even shredded carrots go well in here!
• Lighten Up: To lighten the recipe, opt for ground turkey or Italian turkey sausage in place of the ground beef, and use low-fat cheese. Also, be sure to look for pasta sauce with no added sugar and unrecognizable ingredients

How to store Rigatoni Pasta Bake

Place the pasta bake in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, place the desired portion in an oven-safe dish, add a splash of water or broth, cover and bake at 350°F until heated through.

Can I freeze Rigatoni Pasta Bake?

Yes! Simply cover in plastic wrap and then in a layer of tin foil to prevent freezer burn. Label with the recipe name and the date, and pop it in the freezer.

Thaw and cook: I like to thaw and cook so that it heats through more evenly. Simply place the frozen casserole on the counter to thaw for about 6 hours, or leave in the fridge overnight. Add a splash of water, cover and bake at 350°F until heated through, about 20-25 minutes.

Cook from frozen: place the casserole in the oven at 350°F, covered only with foil. Bake until heated through, about 50-60 minutes. It may take up to 90 minutes, but you’ll need to keep an eye on it to be sure. If your baking dish is not freezer-to-oven safe, then take the casserole out of the freezer early, and leave it out on the counter to thaw for 1-2 hours before baking.

Can I make it ahead of time?

Absolutely! Simply prepare your pasta bake up to the point of baking. Then cover in plastic wrap or foil (or a lid if your baking dish has one that fits tightly). Stick it in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to bake, pour ½ cup water over the pasta (trust me on this one!) and bake as per the instructions.

PRO TIP: The reason I pour the water over is that the pasta soaks up moisture as it sits in the refrigerator. Adding water will help the dish bake up moist, and will result in delicious, saucy pasta, not watery pasta as you might think!

Serving suggestions:

Serve this saucy baked pasta recipe with a veggie side to lighten things up a bit! Some of my favorites include Cheesy Baked Asparagus, Air Fryer Broccoli and Roasted Vegetables.

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Rigatoni Pasta Bake

This Rigatoni Pasta Bake is a hearty and comforting casserole made up meat sauce, rigatoni pasta and cheese! Meal prep and freezer friendly.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 440cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼-½ teaspoon red chili flakes (according to your tastes)
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 5 cups tomato pasta sauce roughly 2 jars
• 500 grams Rigatoni pasta about 1 lb
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
• fresh parsley to garnish

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a large saucepan, stir and cook ground beef and onion over medium heat until browned and onions have softened. Drain any juices released.
• Add the Italian seasoning, garlic, salt, red chili flakes and pepper and cook 1 minute.
• Add the pasta sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, for 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add rigatoni, reduce heat to medium-high, and cook just until al dente (it will continue to cook slightly in the oven).
• Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain pasta. Stir reserved pasta water into meat sauce.
• Combine pasta and pasta sauce in saucepan. Pour into a lightly greased 9×13″ or similar baking dish.
• Cover with a lightly greased piece of foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until heated through.
• **Optionally, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Bake at 350 degrees F until heated through, about 30-40 minutes.
• Uncover and sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake an additional 10 minutes (or broil 2-3 minutes), until cheese has started to brown.

Video

Notes

Ingredients and Substitutions:

Ground Beef: feel free to swap the ground beef for ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy according to your tastes), or ground pork, chicken or turkey.

Vegetables: onion provides a great flavor base for our sauce, but this is also a great time to add in other vegetables. Finely chopped or shredded carrots, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, celery and more are great additions. You can also stir some spinach into the sauce after simmering.

Rigatoni: this recipe works just as well with any cut of pasta! Feel free to use what you have on hand. I often use a whole grain variety. 

Nutrition

Serving: 376grams | Calories: 440cal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1310mg | Potassium: 899mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 865IU | Vitamin C: 12.3mg | Calcium: 196mg | Iron: 4.1mg

More Pasta Recipes

• One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta
• Creamy Ranch Bowtie Pasta Salad
• Baked Spaghetti

The post Rigatoni Pasta Bake appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

These Cheesy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes are the best way to prep ahead for the holidays! This easy side dish takes just 10 minutes to prep and can be easily reheated when you’re ready to serve!

Do side dishes get any better than mashed potatoes? Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Mashed Potatoes…They’re all just so good.

These Cheesy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes are one of my favorite mashed potato recipes.

This recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep and is designed to be stored in the refrigerator overnight and easily reheated when you’re ready to serve. Except instead of dry and clumpy leftover mashed potatoes, these potatoes are still insanely rich, creamy, perfectly fluffy, and incredibly flavorful, even when they’re reheated.

This recipe is perfect for holidays or for meal prep during a busy week!

Ingredients Needed:

These Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes are loaded with ingredients that keep them ultra creamy and flavorful even as they sit! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Potatoes: I like to use Russet potatoes for their fluffy texture, but if you want something a little bit more waxy go with Yukon gold instead.
• Half-and-Half or Light Cream: adds richness and moisture.
• Sour Cream: sour cream creates an ultra creamy texture and adds a slightly tangy texture to offset the richness from the cream and cheese.
• Unsalted Butter: adds flavor depth.
• Seasonings: we’re using a simple combination of salt, garlic powder, dried parsley, and black pepper to enhance the flavor of the mashed potatoes.
• Chopped Chives: give the potatoes a pop of color and freshness.
• Shredded Cheese: you can use any kind of shredded cheese you like! Try cheddar, havarti, white cheddar, gruyere, you name it.

How to Make Mashed Potatoes Ahead of Time

These mashed potatoes are the perfect make-ahead side dish! You just need a quick 10 minutes to prep, then they can be stored in the fridge until you’re ready to bake and serve.

1. Prep the potatoes: Peel the potatoes, then cut them into 1-1.5″ chunks. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the potatoes until tender. Drain.
2. Add other ingredients: To the potatoes, add cream, sour cream, butter, and seasoning. Mash until smooth, then add chives and 1 cup of cheese.
3. Bake: Transfer the potatoes to a greased 9×13″ baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle with another cup of cheese, cover with foil, and store in the fridge or bake immediately.

FAQs for Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

Tips and Notes

• Cut the potatoes evenly. When you cut the potatoes, do your best to cut them into evenly sized chunks. We want them to cook evenly for the best texture!
• Mash by hand. I recommend mashing the potatoes by hand to keep them nice and fluffy. Using an electric mixer can cause the potatoes to thicken too much and become gluey.
• Grease the baking dish. This helps prevent the bottom from burning as they bake.
• Brush the top with butter. A light layer of butter on top of the potatoes before baking gives them that delicious golden color and a slightly crisp top.
• Bake covered. Covering the baking dish with foil keeps the potatoes moist and prevents the cheese from burning.

Serving Suggestions

These Mashed Potatoes are perfect for holidays next to Roasted Green Beans, Homemade Creamed Corn, Honey Glazed Carrots, or any of your favorite holiday side dishes!

You can also prep them ahead for any standard meal! Try them with Baked Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Meatloaf, or Instant Pot Pork Chops with Gravy.

More Potato Recipes You’ll Love

Dinner

Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

Side Dishes

Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes + VIDEO

Air Fryer

Air Fryer Potatoes

Side Dishes

Easy Skillet Scalloped Potatoes au Gratin

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Cheesy Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe

These Cheesy Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes are so creamy and perfect for the holidays! No more rushing around before Christmas dinner — simply reheat and serve! Includes step by step recipe video.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 10 servings

Calories 285cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

• 3 lbs russet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1-1.5" pieces)
• 1-1¼ cup half and half or light cream
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup chopped chives
• 2 cups shredded cheese divided, any kind

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

• In a large pot of boiling salted water (ensure that the potatoes are just covered), cook potatoes until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• Add 1 cup cream, sour cream, butter, salt, garlic powder, dried parsley, and pepper and mash until smooth, adding a little more cream if necessary to ensure they are smooth. Stir in chives and 1 cup cheese. Taste and adjust seasonings to taste.
• Lightly grease a 9×13" baking dish and spread potatoes in the pan. Top with remaining 1 cup cheese and cover in foil. Refrigerate up to 24 hours, until ready to bake, or bake immediately.
• OPTIONAL: brush with melted butter before baking for a golden, slightly crisp topping
• To bake: preheat oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes or until hot. Uncover and broil if desired. Garnish with chives if desired.

Notes

Tips:

• Cut the potatoes evenly. When you cut the potatoes, do your best to cut them into evenly sized chunks. We want them to cook evenly for the best texture!
• Mash by hand. I recommend mashing the potatoes by hand to keep them nice and fluffy. Using an electric mixer can cause the potatoes to thicken too much and become gluey.
• Grease the baking dish. This helps prevent the bottom from burning as they bake.
• Brush the top with butter. A light layer of butter on top of the potatoes before baking gives them that delicious golden color and a slightly crisp top.
• Bake covered. Covering the baking dish with foil keeps the potatoes moist and prevents the cheese from burning.

 

Storage:

Leftover mashed potatoes will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen, then warm on the stove with a splash of cream to thin if necessary.

Nutrition

Serving: 169grams | Calories: 285cal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 523mg | Potassium: 649mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 546IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Cheesy Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes appeared first on The Recipe Rebel.

Mini Quiches only take 20 minutes of prep, including making the pie crust from scratch!

They’re filled with a creamy and cheesy filling with smoky bacon, fresh spinach leaves, and tangy green onions.

You can change up the kind of meat, veggies, cheese, or seasonings used to make them your own.

You can even leave out the crust and make it a crustless mini quiche recipe!

They’re perfect for a grab-and-go breakfast as they’ll last up to 4 days in the fridge – you can pick one up on your way out on busy mornings.

I love them at a brunch party or holiday breakfast, too — their small size makes them perfect for adding to a large spread!

For more delicious quiche recipes, check out my Easy Ham Quiche Recipe, Quiche Lorraine, Easy Loaded Baked Potato Quiche, or this Crustless Quiche!

Ingredients Needed:

• Quiche Crust: use my homemade pie crust or store-bought pie crust.
• Bacon: thick-cut bacon works best for this recipe to add some meaty substance and a smoky flavor.
• Eggs: eggs are the base of any quiche filling.
• Evaporated Milk: makes the mixture creamy and fluffy, but you can use half and half if you prefer.
• Seasoning: use salt, black pepper, and dried parsley for these quiches.
• Cheese: I like to use shredded cheddar cheese to add a cheesy flavor, but you can use your favorite kind.
• Spinach: fresh spinach is perfect to add color and nutrients without an overpowering flavor.
• Green Onion: adds a fresh, tangy flavor to the mini quiches.

How to Make Mini Quiches

This recipe is quick and easy to make! Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.

Quiche Crust

1. Make pastry circles: Prepare the crust and roll it out on a lightly floured work surface. Use a round cookie cutter to cut out circles. 
2. Place in a muffin pan: Place the pastry circles into the muffin pan and press it in to fit into the bottom and up the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Mini Quiche

1. Make egg filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk or cream, salt, pepper, and parsley.
2. Cook bacon: Cook bacon until crisp and remove the fat.

3. Fill pastry cups: Divide cooked bacon, cheese, spinach, and green onion between the quiche crusts.
4. Add egg mixture: Fill with the egg mixture, nearly to the top, and bake.

Mini Quiche FAQs

Tips and Notes

• Muffin Pan. Call me crazy, but I make this mini quiche recipe in a regular-sized muffin tin, not a mini muffin pan. I figure a muffin pan makes a mini quiche. Regular-sized quiches would be made in a pie plate or tart pan, and I like to get a little more egg and a little less pastry than you would if you used a mini muffin pan. You can absolutely use a mini muffin pan and make twice as many!
• Pie Crust. I’ve used my homemade pie crust for the best flavor here, but a store-bought pie crust will give you a head start and save you some time if you prefer!
• Cutter. I use a 3.8-4″ round cookie cutter to cut the pie crust into small circles for my muffin pan. You can use a biscuit cutter too. If you use a mini muffin tin, you’ll need smaller circles.

Mini Quiche Variations

• Make it Gluten-Free. Use a gluten-free pie crust from the store or a gluten-free pie crust recipe.
• Change up the cheese. I love using guyre cheese for my Quiche Lorraine recipe, and that would work well here too. You can also try mozzarella cheese for a milder flavor or Pepper Jack cheese for a bit of a kick.
• Use other veggies. There isn’t much space in these bite-sized quiches, so there’s only so much I would add in. You may be better off substituting half of something for half of something else if you’re going to change the filling. Try chopped bell pepper, jalapenos, mushrooms, sweetcorn, or chopped broccoli!
• Spice it up. Add some red pepper flakes, chili powder, or hot sauce to the filling mix to add some spice to these bites.

Serving Suggestions

Try these mini quiches along with some other mini quiche recipes like these Mini Spinah and Roasted Red Pepper Quiches, Mini Wonton Quiches, or these Mini Mexican Wonton Quiches.

Serve them on your appetizer table with my Potato Salad Bites, Jalapeno Poppers, Bacon-Wrapped Smokies, or these Maple Glazed Chicken Drumsticks.

They’re also great with your cooked breakfast or for brunch with my Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole, Breakfast Potatoes, and my Breakfast Stuffed Peppers.

More Amazing Appetizer Recipes

Appetizers

Homemade Rotel Dip

Appetizers

Chicken Bacon Alfredo Potato Skins

Appetizers

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

Appetizers

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

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Mini Quiche recipe

This Mini Quiche recipe is perfect for prepping ahead for a grab-and-go breakfast, to have as part of a breakfast or brunch spread, or as an appetizer at the holidays! They're super easy to make, and you can easily change their flavor with a few simple twists.

Course Appetizer, Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 12 quiche

Calories 128cal

Author Ashley Fehr

Ingredients

Quiche crust

• 1 batch homemade pie crust (or you can use 2 store bought pie crust rolls)

Mini Quiche

• 4 slices thick cut bacon (chopped)
• 4 large eggs
• ¾ cup evaporated milk or half and half
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ¾ cup shredded cheese
• ½ cup fresh spinach (finely chopped)
• 1 green onion

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Quiche crust

• Prepare the crust according to the recipe.
• Roll the pastry out on a floured surface (I like to do this on a piece of parchment paper) and use a 3.8-4" round cookie cutter to cut circles. Place each circle into one muffin cup and press it in to fit into the bottom and up the sides.
• Repeat until you have 10-12 quiche crusts — re-rolling the pastry as needed.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour for best results.

Mini Quiche

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove from the fat and drain on a paper towel. Set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk or cream, salt, pepper and parsley.
• Divide cooked bacon, cheese, spinach and green onion between prepared quiche crusts. Fill with egg mixture nearly to the top (leaving about ¼-½" at the top). If you have extra egg mixture, simply bake a few crustless quiches in a lightly grease muffin cup.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until eggs are set all the way through.
• Allow to cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing to serve.

Notes

• I roll my crust super thin and easily get 12 quiches with this recipe. If yours is a little thicker, you may only get 10.
• If you have extra eggs left over, simply grease an extra muffin cup and bake without the crust!

*Prep time includes the time required to make the pie crust—it’s simple, I promise!

*Mini muffin pan: you can easily make this recipe in a mini muffin pan, using a 2.5″ cookie cutter, and get 20-24 mini quiches.

Ingredients and Substitutions:

• Pie crust: one recipe of my homemade pie crust will yield 10-12 mini quiches (in a regular muffin pan). If you are using store-bought pie crust, I recommend purchasing two rolls since I find them thinner than my homemade crust.
• Fillings: you can swap the bacon, cheese, and vegetables for any you prefer! The options are endless.

Storage

• Store: Store your Mini Quiches in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Allow them to cool to room temperature before putting them in the fridge. If you like, you can reheat them in the microwave briefly or enjoy them cold!
• Freeze: You can even freeze them for up to 3 months. To freeze them, flash freeze them until solid, then wrap them in plastic or foil and put them in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the freezer if frozen, then enjoy cold or warm in the oven or in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 128cal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 311IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 0.5mg

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