Adventures of Mel

Author: Mel Lockcuff

  • Easy Philly Cheesesteak Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

    Easy Philly Cheesesteak Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

    Make the best Philly cheesesteak sliders on Hawaiian rolls, packed with steak, onion, sliced peppers, and your choice of provolone or Cheez Whiz. It’s the perfect recipe for a party crowd!

    Whether you need a really delicious appetizer or an actual meal, these Philly cheese sliders are the bomb. They’re ooey gooey with melted cheese, the steak is packed with flavor from ingredients like smoked paprika (my new favorite seasoning), and the onions and green peppers have a slightly crispy texture.

    Philly cheesesteak sliders on Hawaiian rolls, sprinkled with Italian parsley, on gray plate with white and blue striped towel

    Not to mention the tops of the rolls are brushed with garlic butter and Italian parsley. Steak and cheese sliders on Hawaiian Rolls are good all by themselves; but when you add the garlic butter… I wish I could put into words how delicious these little sandwiches really are.

    If it’s a slightly healthier alternative you want, cheesesteak stuffed peppers made with ground beef are the recipe for you.

    Why You’ll Love Philly Steak Sliders

    • The meat mixture is the same as my regular homemade Philly cheesesteak, except I’ve added smoked paprika. It gives a little kick to the sliders, and I’ll never make cheesesteaks without it, ever again.
    • Just like my Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak, these cheese steak sliders are perfect for a Game Day crowd, holiday guests, or a party spread.
    • They’re really easy to make. Just cook the meat mixture, layer the sandwiches, and pop them in the oven.
    Philly cheesesteak sliders ingredients on white marble countertop

    Ingredients and Substitutions Notes:

    To make this easy Philly cheesesteak sliders recipe, you’ll need a few ingredients…

    • Sirloin Steak – When it comes to the best meat for a cheesesteak, most people will recommend ribeye steak; but ribeye steak is usually really expensive. Others recommend top round steak. My butcher has always recommended sirloin steak, sliced thinly, for a more affordable option. Sirloin has just enough fat to give the meat a lot of flavor and to make the meat quite tender when cooked. Two things to look for when buying Philly cheese steak meat… 1) You need to be able to slice it thinly, almost like shaved steak. And 2) It needs to be tender, not tough; fat is a good thing for both flavor and tenderness.
    • Garlic Cloves – Or you can do like me and just buy already minced garlic in the produce section at the grocery store.
    • Yellow Onion – I like to use an onion that isn’t sweet, partially because it’s a bit healthier, but also because we get enough sweetness from the bell peppers. Yellow onion helps give a little kick. As an alternative, for more caramelized onions on your sliders, you’d just use a sweet onion; then cook the onions over a lower heat.
    • Fresh Mushrooms – You can use canned mushrooms, if you prefer.
    • Green Bell Pepper – I’ve had a lot of comments from people who say it isn’t a real cheesesteak if it has bell pepper. Thing is, I never claimed this was an authentic cheesesteak. I just enjoy the flavor and deliciousness that bell peppers give to the steak mixture.
    • Smoked paprika – This is my “not so secret” ingredient. Man this spice gives a flavor kick like no other. It really does make a difference.
    • Worcestershire Sauce
    • Hawaiian Rolls – You can use King’s Hawaiian Rolls or generic, or better yet, homemade Hawaiian Rolls for slider rolls! You also have other options, like homemade dinner rolls, brioche slider buns, regular slider buns, potato slider buns, or gluten-free dinner rolls. I find Hawaiian sweet rolls to make the best mini sandwiches.
    • Mayo – When layering the sandwiches, be sure to use real mayo, not that other salad dressing. That other salad dressing has its place, but that place is not the cheesesteak slider.
    • Provolone cheese and/or Cheez Whiz – I leave the choice to you; if it were up to me, I’d do both. When it comes to the best cheese for cheesesteaks, opinion really varies, and it really is a debate if you research it. The traditional consensus says either Cheez Whiz or provolone. Some even say American cheese pairs well with the provolone. While I love provolone, Cheese Whiz won my taste buds over. However, it’s up for debate in our house too because a couple of my guys really love provolone.So I live on the wild side and use both. I add the provolone on the bottom layer of the rolls, and then add Cheez Whiz to the top of the meat mixture.
    • Salted Butter, Roasted Garlic Powder, and Fresh Italian Parsley – All of which will be brushed on the tops of the buns before baking.
    Philly steak sliders, sprinkled with Italian parsley and brushed with garlic butter, on metal baking sheet

    How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

    Your first steps are to prepare the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper. Garlic and mushrooms need to be minced; onion and peppers need to be sliced.

    If you’re not sure how to cut a pepper into strips, I’ve got you covered.

    How to Thinly Slice the Meat and Start the Cooking Process

    1. Slice the steak as thin as possible, slicing it against the grain (to retain tenderness) into thin slices for cooking. Be sure to leave as much of the fat as possible on the meat. Fat gives meat flavor, especially during the cooking process.
    2. Heat bacon grease or olive oil in a large skillet, and sauté the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, or ’til softened. Then set aside.
    3. Add the steak, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet. Cook over low to medium heat until the meat is almost done.
    4. At this point, add the veggies back in with the meat, stir, and simmer ’til fully cooked.
    How to slice steak thinly for cheesesteaks on wooden cutting board and how to cook Philly cheesesteak meat, onion, and peppers in a cast iron skillet

    How to Layer Cheesesteak Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

    Now for the fun part… Layering your mini cheesesteak sandwiches and baking them.

    Before you get started, slice the Hawaiian Rolls in half, as a whole. You’ll have the top layer of the rolls, and then a bottom layer.

    1. Place the bottom layer of the rolls in a greased baking dish or baking sheet, and spread the bottoms of the rolls with mayo.
    2. Add a layer of provolone cheese.
    3. Now add a layer of meat and vegetables. Tongs work great for this. Go ahead and pile up the meat and veggies, no skimping allowed.
    4. Add a dollop of Cheez Whiz to every single slider.
    5. Now add the top layer of the rolls.
    6. Mix together the melted butter, roasted garlic powder, and minced parsley in a small bowl; then brush the top of the rolls with the garlic butter mixture, and sprinkle with extra Italian parsley if desired.
    layering and making Philly cheesesteak sliders with Hawaiian Rolls, provolone cheese, cheese steak meat and vegetables, Cheez Whiz, and garlic butter on baking sheet

    How to Bake Steak and Cheese Sliders

    1. Cover with aluminum foil to keep your rolls from browning too quickly, and bake at 350° F for about 10 to 15 minutes, or ’til the cheese is melted.
    2. Then uncover and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes or so.

    And that’s it. Oh my gosh, they are so good! My mouth is watering just thinking about these wonderful beef Philly cheesesteak sliders.

    Cheese steak sliders with Cheez Whiz, sprinkled with Italian parsley on gray plate, on blue and white striped tea towel on white marble countertop

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

    Yes and no. You can totally cook the meat and vegetables and have your meat mixture ready to go. Just store it in the fridge in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. Then when you’re ready to make your sliders, all you need to do is assemble the sandwiches and bake them. Reason you want to wait to assemble your sandwiches, is you don’t really want them sitting, soaking up all that moisture into the rolls for that long. It will make them a soggy, yucky mess.

    How should you store leftovers?

    Leftover sandwiches should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Keep in mind, they may get a bit soggy sitting in the fridge, but they should still be edible for 2-3 days.

    Can I freeze steak and cheese sliders on Hawaiian Rolls?

    Again… You can totally cook the meat and vegetables, then freeze the meat mixture in an airtight container that’s also freezer-safe. You can also freeze the rolls, but separately. Then when you’re ready to make your sliders, all you need to do is get everything out ahead of time to thaw; then assemble the sandwiches and bake them. This will prevent soggy sliders.

    baked Philly steak and cheese sliders on Hawaiian rolls with green bell peppers and onions on metal baking sheet

    What’s a Good Side to Serve with Steak Sliders?

    There are quite a few delicious sides you can serve with sliders. We usually eat cheese steaks with fresh veggies, chips, and/or fruit.

    They pair really well with steak fries or chili cheese fries, French fries, onion rings, tater tots, pasta salad, broccoli cauliflower salad, this vegetable finger salad, and even corn on the cob.

    Philly cheese steaks on Hawaiian Rolls brushed with garlic butter and Italian parsley, topped with Cheez Whiz, on gray plate with blue and white striped towel

    More Party Favorites Everyone Will Love

    If you love these steak sliders, you’ll love these other party foods too…

    If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

    Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

    Best Philly cheesesteak sliders on Hawaiian rolls, packed with steak, onion, sliced peppers, and your choice of provolone or Cheez Whiz!

    • Cutting Board
    • Chef's Knife
    • Large Skillet
    • Baking Sheet
    • Tongs
    • Pastry Brush
    • 1 pound sirloin steak (thinly sliced)
    • 2 tablespoons bacon grease (or olive oil)
    • 1 clove garlic (minced)
    • 1/2 medium yellow onion (sliced)
    • 2 ounces fresh mushrooms (minced)
    • 1/2 large green bell pepper (sliced)
    • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 12 Hawaiian Rolls
    • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
    • 6 slices provolone cheese
    • 3/4 cup Cheez Whiz

    Garlic Butter:

    • 3 tablespoons salted butter (melted)
    • 1/4 teaspoon roasted garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon Italian parsley (minced)
    1. Prepare the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper. Garlic and mushrooms need to be minced; onion and peppers need to be sliced.

    2. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.

    3. Slice the steak as thin as possible, slicing it against the grain (to retain tenderness) into thin strips for cooking. Be sure to leave as much of the fat as possible on the meat. Fat gives meat flavor, especially during the cooking process.

    4. Heat bacon grease or olive oil in a large skillet, and sauté the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, or 'til softened. Then set aside.

    5. Add the steak, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and Worcestershire sauce to the skillet. Cook over low to medium heat until the meat is almost done.

    6. At this point, add the veggies back in with the meat, stir, and simmer ’til fully cooked.
    7. Slice the Hawaiian Rolls in half, as a whole. You’ll have the top layer of the rolls, and then a bottom layer.

    8. Place the bottom layer of the rolls in a greased baking dish or baking sheet.

    9. Spread the bottoms of the rolls with mayo.
    10. Add a layer of provolone cheese.

    11. Now add a layer of meat and vegetables. Tongs work great for this. Go ahead and pile up the meat and veggies, no skimping allowed.

    12. Add a dollop of Cheez Whiz to every single slider.

    13. Now add the top layer of rolls.

    14. In a separate small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix together the melted butter, roasted garlic powder, and minced parsley.

    15. Brush the tops of the rolls with the garlic butter mixture, and sprinkle with extra Italian parsley if desired.

    16. Cover with aluminum foil to keep your rolls from browning too quickly, and bake at 350° F for about 10 to 15 minutes, or 'til the cheese is melted.

    17. Then uncover and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes or so.

    18. And that's it! Serve while warm and enjoy!

    Two things to look for when buying Philly cheese steak meat…

    • You need to be able to slice it thinly.
    • It needs to be tender, not tough, and fat is a good thing for both flavor and tenderness.

    *While I prefer fresh mushrooms, you can also use canned mushrooms.

    Can I Make This Recipe Ahead of Time?

    Yes and no. You can totally cook the meat and vegetables and have your meat mixture ready to go. Just store it in the fridge in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it. Then when you’re ready to make your sliders, all you need to do is assemble the sandwiches and bake them. Reason you want to wait to assemble your sandwiches, is you don’t really want them sitting, soaking up all that moisture into the rolls for that long. It will make them a soggy, yucky mess.

    Appetizers
    American
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  • Easy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Bisquick Cinnamon Muffins

    Easy Melt-in-Your-Mouth Bisquick Cinnamon Muffins

    Mix up a quick batch of Bisquick cinnamon muffins, dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar. Simple, easy, melt-in-your-mouth, breakfast and brunch recipe perfect for a quick grab and go breakfast or a holiday brunch!

    I really thought there was nothing quite as yummy as my favorite Bisquick cinnamon biscuits. But I’ll tell ya, these Bisquick cinnamon sugar muffins give my biscuits a run for their money.

    bite out of Bisquick cinnamon muffin sitting on cupcake liner with fresh raspberries and milk in a glass

    Why I Love Making Bisquick Muffins and You Will Too

    • The batter’s made with Bisquick biscuit mix, along with 5 other ingredients. Meaning it’s super easy to mix up.
    • In addition to easy, this recipe makes a quick breakfast.
    • My original intention was to add a crumb topping to these Bisquick muffins. But I decided for this recipe, I really wanted to emphasize the cinnamon with a buttery cinnamon sugar topping. Once the muffins have baked, they’re dipped in melted butter, and then in cinnamon sugar. This gives them a slightly crispy, melt-in-your-mouth topping that is oh so scrumptious.
    • Even my self-professed “bread snob” of an oldest child loves these Bisquick sweet muffins. And let me tell you, that right there means something.
    • This is a great recipe for an everyday breakfast, a special occasion, or a holiday brunch.

    Of course, we love other Bisquick recipes like Bisquick cinnamon rolls and Bisquick cinnamon scones too. And when we don’t feel like making muffins, cinnamon streusel coffee cake is quick and easy to make. Apparently, we have a thing for cinnamon.

    cinnamon Bisquick muffins with Bisquick mix on black wire rack over white countertop with blue and white flowered linen, with fresh red raspberries on rack and countertop

    Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

    • Cane Sugar – You can also use granulated sugar. It might even be interesting to try a half cane sugar, half brown sugar mix for these muffins, which would ultimately lead to a slightly moister crumb.
    • Ground Cinnamon
    • Large Eggs – You could probably substitute applesauce for the eggs; it’s usually 1/4 cup per egg.
    • Whole Milk – You can use skim milk or low-fat milk like 2%, as well. I prefer full fat. In fact, you can use buttermilk for an even lighter, more fluffy muffin. If you need to accommodate allergies, you can also use almond milk, oat milk, etc.
    • Vanilla Extract
    • Bisquick Mix – I’ve made these muffins with both original Bisquick mix and gluten-free Bisquick mix, so either/or will work just fine.
    • Salted Butter
    Bisquick sweet muffins sitting on wire rack, with fresh red raspberries on white marble countertop

    How to Make Bisquick Cinnamon Muffins

    Mixing up the muffin batter is really easy and requires only a few steps. Before you start, you’ll need to either spray your muffin tins with cooking spray or line them with cupcake liners. Also, pre-heat oven to 350° F.

    Mix the Muffin Batter and Bake

    1. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
    2. Add the eggs to the cinnamon sugar mixture, and mix well.
    3. Next add in the milk and vanilla extract, continuing to mix well.
    4. Finally, add in the Bisquick mix, and mix everything together just until blended.
    5. Then just fill each of the regular-size muffin cups 1/2 to 2/3 of the way full with muffin batter.
    6. Bake at 350° F for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
    how to make Bisquick muffins, adding sugar, cinnamon, eggs, milk, vanilla, and Bisquick mix to KitchenAid mixing bowl, then scooping batter into muffin tin with cupcake scoop

    Allow the muffins to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes; then take a knife, run it around the edge of each muffin, and pop them out for dipping.

    How to Dip Bisquick Muffins in Cinnamon Sugar

    First of all, you’ll need to melt the butter in one bowl. And then in a separate bowl, mix the cinnamon and sugar.

    Then you’re ready for dipping…

    1. Dip the warm muffin tops in the melted butter first.
    2. Then dip every muffin in the cinnamon sugar mixture, rolling the tops around to make sure they’re covered with the slightly crispy cinnamon sugar topping.
    dipping tops of Bisquick muffins in melted butter in Pyrex glass bowl, then in cinnamon sugar in Pyrex glass bowl
    1. Then place the muffins on a wire rack or cooling rack to finish cooling. Or better yet, serve them while still warm.
    Bisquick cinnamon sugar muffins sitting on wire rack over blue/white flowered linen on white countertop, with fresh red raspberries

    Ways to Customize Your Muffins

    You can add just about anything you want. But keep in mind, certain things will change the texture of your muffins.

    That said, there are so many awesome add-ins for Bisquick muffins…

    Bisquick cinnamon muffins sitting on white marble countertop with fresh red raspberries and glass of milk

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    Can you make Bisquick muffins gluten-free?

    Yes, you can. In fact, Bisquick has a Gluten-Free Bisquick Mix. How awesome is that? I do suggest having a little xanthan gum available to add to your biscuit batter when mixing. I usually add about a teaspoon for every 2 cups of flour, so with this recipe, I’d likely add a somewhat heaping teaspoon.

    Why do you stir the muffin batter just until the flour is blended in?

    You don’t want to over-mix muffin batter, because this will remove the air from the batter and lead to a much less fluffy muffin. In fact, you may end up with dense muffins, and nobody wants dense muffins. So carefully blend just ’til the flour is blended in, and then be done. This is also why we add the dry ingredients last, so everything else is already mixed into the batter.

    What’s the secret to moist muffins?

    This is partially answered in the question above about not over-mixing the batter. Using buttermilk in place of regular milk will also lead to moist muffins.

    How should you store cinnamon muffins?

    It’s important to store muffins in a muffin container, airtight container, or sealed plastic bag. And you’ll probably want to eat them within the first 2 or 3 days, so they’re still nice and soft.

    Can you freeze Bisquick sweet muffins?

    Yes, you can. But be sure to allow at least an hour to thaw before serving. To re-heat the muffins, just place them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds each. Be sure when freezing them, though, that you again store them in an airtight container or freezer bag.

    bite out of sweet biscuit mix cinnamon muffin sitting on cupcake liner with fresh red raspberries and glass of milk

    More Scrumptious Muffin Recipes:

    If you love Bisquick cinnamon muffins as much as I do, you’ll love these recipes too…

    If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

    Bisquick Cinnamon Muffins

    Mix up a quick batch of Bisquick cinnamon muffins, dipped in butter and cinnamon sugar. Simple, easy, melt-in-your-mouth, breakfast and brunch recipe!

    • Stand Mixer
    • Batter Spoons
    • Muffin Tin
    • Wire Rack
    • 3 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
    • 1/2 cup cane sugar
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1/2 cup whole milk
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 1/2 cups Bisquick Mix

    Cinnamon Sugar Topping:

    • 2/3 cup cane sugar
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 cup salted butter (melted)

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F, and grease muffin tins or line them with cupcake liners.

    2. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, sugar, and cinnamon.

    3. Add the eggs to the cinnamon sugar mixture, and mix well.

    4. Next add in the milk and vanilla extract, continuing to mix well.

    5. Finally, add in the Bisquick mix, and mix everything together just until blended.

    6. Fill each of the greased or lined muffin cups about 1/2 to 2/3 full with muffin batter.

    7. Bake at 350° F for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

    8. Allow them to cool in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes; then take a knife, run it around the edge of each muffin, and pop them out onto a wire rack for dipping.

    9. In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon together.

    10. Dip the warm muffin tops in the melted butter.

    11. Then dip every muffin in the cinnamon sugar mixture, rolling the top around to make sure it’s covered with the slightly crispy cinnamon sugar topping.

    12. Place the muffins back on the wire rack to finish cooling, or serve them while warm.

    *Bisquick has a Gluten-Free Bisquick Mix, as well. I do suggest having a little xanthan gum available to add to your biscuit batter when mixing. I usually add about a teaspoon for every 2 cups of flour, so with this recipe, I’d likely add a somewhat heaping teaspoon.

    It’s important to store muffins in a muffin container, airtight container, or sealed plastic bag. And you’ll probably want to eat them within the first 2 or 3 days, so they’re still nice and soft.

    To re-heat Bisquick muffins, just place them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds each.

    Breads & Muffins
    American
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    Bisquick cinnamon muffins recipe
  • Simple and Easy Mango Blueberry Smoothie

    Simple and Easy Mango Blueberry Smoothie

    How to make a mango blueberry smoothie you can blend up quick. Easy recipe for breakfast or a yummy snack kids will love. It’s thick and pure berry bliss!

    There are days where I just crave fresh fruit, and then I start to crave Tropical Smoothie Café. But it’s not always feasible to just pick up and trek all the way there, so I’ll grab the blender and dig around in the freezer until I find enough stuff to make my own refreshing smoothie.

    mango blueberry smoothie in glass Mason jar with brown paper white polka dot straw, on a wooden cutting board, with fresh blueberries and frozen mango in bowls

    This blueberry mango smoothie is not only refreshing. It’s really thick and delicious.

    It’s full of frozen blueberries, frozen mango, and banana. The fact it uses frozen fruit means it’s easy (no peeling or chopping required), and there’s no need to add ice or water.

    While I do use Greek yogurt in this smoothie recipe, you can leave that out if you prefer. Just keep in mind you may need to add a smidge more milk to help everything blend up really well.

    A mango blueberry banana smoothie is one of my favorite afternoon snacks when I start to crave something, anything. Better to reach for the frozen fruit in my freezer than the cheesecake sitting in my fridge, amIright?

    If you love a good smoothie, I have a couple more favorites I like to make too… A peach mango smoothie and a blueberry spinach smoothie. Apparently, I have a thing for both mango and blueberries.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”tjaefudcnxk9o4v2avzd” sticky=”false” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1579882481/gycav9veqxfxirsa2ldn.jpg” title=”Simple and Easy Mango Blueberry Smoothie” volume=”100″]

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my smoothie making tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the smoothie recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

    • Frozen blueberries
    • Frozen mango
    • Banana
    • Plain Greek yogurt
    • Milk
    • Honey

    Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Blender

    Skinny Tumblers with Straws (or jars) – I really want a set of these skinny tumblers for our smoothies.

    HOW TO MAKE A MANGO BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE

    The fact we’re using frozen fruit makes the smoothie making process that much easier. No need to wash, peel, pit, chop, or slice any fruit.

    1. Begin by adding all ingredients, including the frozen blueberries, frozen mango, banana, Greek yogurt, milk, and honey to the blender.
    2. Blend or pulse until everything is mixed well. If you have a smoothie setting on your blender, use that.
    blending up frozen blueberries, frozen mango, banana, Greek yogurt, milk, and honey in Ninja blender to make smoothies

    Then just pour your smoothies into tumblers with straws or jars, and serve. It’s oh so delicious and easy!

    freshly made blueberry mango smoothie in wide mouth mason jar with brown straw, on wooden cutting board, with blueberries and mango in bowls behind

    WHAT KINDS OF THINGS CAN I ADD TO MY SMOOTHIE?

    There are quite a few things you can add to smoothies to add more flavor and quite possibly, more nutrients. Things that mix really well with blueberries like…

    CAN I USE FRESH BLUEBERRIES AND MANGO?

    Yes, of course, you can use fresh fruit if you prefer.

    But do keep in mind that you may want to add a bit of ice (about 1 1/2 cups) to give your smoothie more of a frozen texture rather than that of just a really thick fruit juice.

    mango blueberry banana smoothie in mason jar with brown paper straw, on wood cutting board with blueberries and mango in small white bowls

    WHY DOES MY BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE CURDLE?

    It’s best to drink smoothies right away. However, if a smoothie does sit for a bit after making it, you’ll notice it may take on a somewhat curdled appearance.

    This happens because of a reaction between the dairy in the smoothie (the yogurt and milk) and the fruit.

    While I don’t advise you to leave a smoothie sitting out (put it in the fridge if it’s sitting), you can blend it up again, and the curdling will go away.

    CAN I MAKE A BLUEBERRY MANGO SMOOTHIE AHEAD?

    While I don’t really advise it (it’s super quick and easy to just blend it up when you need it), you can do this.

    However, I’d leave the yogurt, milk, and honey out until you’re ready to drink the smoothies (see the section above about curdling).

    Just blend up the fruit, and stick it in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to finish making the smoothies.

    mango banana blueberry smoothie in wide mouth mason jar with brown paper straw, sitting on wood cutting board with blueberries

    CAN I MAKE THIS WITHOUT YOGURT, DAIRY-FREE?

    Yes, you certainly can make this smoothie completely dairy-free. Again, just keep in mind you may need to add a smidge more liquid to help everything blend up really well.

    The yogurt, you can just leave out. And the milk, you can replace with whatever kind of milk you prefer, whether it’s almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk, oat milk, cashew milk, hemp milk, hazelnut milk, etc.

    Changing it to dairy-free will likely change the flavor, depending what type of liquid you use.

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    mango blueberry smoothie recipe

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    Simple and Easy Mango Blueberry Smoothie

    How to make a mango blueberry smoothie you can blend up quick. Easy recipe for breakfast or a yummy snack kids will love. It's thick and pure berry bliss!

    • SKINNY TUMBLERS 4 Colored Acrylic Tumblers with Lids and Straws | Skinny, 16oz Double Wall Clear Plastic Tumblers With FREE Straw Cleaner & Name Tags! (Clear, 4)
    • homgeek Blender Smoothie Blender, 1450W High Speed Professional Countertop Blender for Shakes and Smoothies 30000 RPM, Built-in Pulse& 10-speeds Control, 68 Oz Dishwasher Tritan Jar
    • Amazon Brand – Happy Belly Raw Wildflower Honey, 32 oz
    • 2 cups frozen blueberries
    • 2 cups frozen mango
    • 1 large banana*
    • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
    • 1/2 cup milk
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    1. Begin by adding all ingredients, including the frozen blueberries, frozen mango, banana, Greek yogurt, milk, and honey to the blender.
    2. Blend or pulse until everything is mixed well. If you have a smoothie setting on your blender, use that.
    3. Then just pour your smoothies into tumblers with straws or jars, and serve. It’s oh so delicious and easy!

    *Or you can use 2 smaller bananas.

    CAN I USE FRESH BLUEBERRIES AND MANGO?

    Yes, of course, you can use fresh fruit if you prefer. But do keep in mind that you may want to add a bit of ice (about 1 1/2 cups) to give your smoothie more of a frozen texture rather than that of just a really thick fruit juice.

    CAN I MAKE THIS WITHOUT YOGURT AND DAIRY-FREE?

    Yes, you can make it completely dairy-free. Again, just keep in mind you may need to add a smidge more liquid to help everything blend up really well. Changing it to dairy-free will likely change the flavor, depending what type of liquid you use.

    The yogurt, you can just leave out. And the milk, you can replace with whatever kind of milk you prefer, whether it’s almond milk, soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk, oat milk, cashew milk, hemp milk, hazelnut milk, etc.

    CAN I MAKE A BLUEBERRY MANGO SMOOTHIE AHEAD?

    While I don’t really advise it (it’s super quick and easy to just blend it up when you need it), you can do this. However, I’d leave the yogurt, milk, and honey out until you’re ready to eat it, as dairy mixed with fruit can tend to curdle if not eaten right away.

    Just blend up the fruit, and stick it in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to finish making the smoothies.

    DELICIOUS ADD-INS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR SMOOTHIES

    There are quite a few things you can add to smoothies to add more flavor and possibly, more nutrients. Things that will mix really well with blueberries like…

    Drinks
    American
    blueberry mango smoothie, blueberry recipes, drinks, fruit smoothie, mango blueberry banana smoothie, mango blueberry smoothie, mango recipes, smoothie recipe
  • Crock Pot Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

    Crock Pot Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

    How to make the most delicious Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Easy slow cooker recipe with tips for the best meat, vegetables, bread, and cheese.

    Whether you’ve been to Philly or not, you likely know the city’s famous for its cheesesteak sandwiches. I’ve only been to Philly a couple of times, but I specifically remember my first cheesesteak.

    Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak on gray plate with Cheetohs and Cheez Whiz

    My guys being meat lovers, they love it when I make our favorite stovetop Philly cheesesteak sandwich or my Philly cheesesteak with roast beef. And now I love making it even more because I can make it easier with this CrockPot Philly cheesesteak.

    Similarly to my CrockPot hot dogs recipe, I can load everything into the slow cooker, turn it on for a few hours, and when it’s done, everyone makes their own sandwiches. It makes dinner easy and more enjoyable.

    I’m telling you, the flavors in this sandwich and the ease with which you can make it, besides chopping up a few vegetables… There’s nothing quite like slow cooker Philly cheesesteak sandwiches for dinner.

    My favorite part, of course, is the cheese. My guys would say the meat.

    If you’ve got a house full of carnivores like I do, this Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak sandwich is a great recipe for dinnertime. And if you need an appetizer, Philly cheesesteak sliders on Hawaiian rolls, brushed with garlic butter and seasoned with smoked paprika, are ‘da bomb.

    What Actually Is a Philly Cheese Steak?

    In case you’ve never been to Philly or just really have no clue what I’m even talking about…

    A Philly cheese steak sandwich is basically a sandwich made on a hoagie roll with smaller, thinner pieces of beefsteak and cheese. What cheese goes on a Philly cheese steak depends; it can be provolone, American, or Cheez Whiz.

    Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak sandwich filled with cheesesteak, provolone cheese, green bell peppers, and Cheez Whiz on gray plate with white Cheetohs

    Two of the most famous places people go to buy a Philly cheesesteak sandwich are in Philadelphia, and they sit directly across from each other, Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks.

    Originally a hot dog stall, Pat’s was founded in 1930 by two brothers, Pat and Harry Olivieri. They are the ones who actually invented the famous cheesesteak in 1933.

    Ingredient Notes

    • Sirloin steak, thinly sliced – I’ll show you how to slice the steak as you continue to read.
    • Garlic cloves – If you don’t have minced garlic or garlic cloves, you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder for each clove.
    • Yellow onion
    • Fresh mushrooms – Or you can use canned, if you prefer.
    • Green bell peppers – You’ll need to slice them into strips. If you’re not sure how, learn how to cut a pepper.
    • Salt and pepper
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Beef broth
    • Bacon grease (optional)
    • Hoagie rolls
    • Provolone cheese
    • Mayo
    • Cheez Whiz

    Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    Kitchen Tools and Equipment You’ll Need

    Ninja Food Chopper Express or Cutting Board and Chef’s Knife

    Slow Cooker – I use a Crock Pot 6-qt. slow cooker or my Instant Pot with its slow cooker function. You can also use a Ninja Foodi.

    Whisk and Glass Measuring Cup

    Baking Sheet or Griddle

    Tongs – Tongs are handy for lifting the meat and vegetables out onto your hoagie rolls when serving.

    How to Make Philly Cheese Steak in a Crock Pot

    Your first steps are to thinly slice the steak and prepare the garlic, onion, mushrooms, and bell peppers. You’ll also need to spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray.

    bowls of green bell peppers, yellow onion, garlic, and minced mushrooms for CrockPot Philly Cheesesteak

    How to Slice Philly Cheese Steak Meat

    Slice against the grain when slicing the sirloin, in order to retain the tenderness of the meat.

    Try to slice the meat as thin as possible, slicing it into thin strips for cooking. You’ll need a good knife for this.

    how to slice Philly cheese steak meat on wooden cutting board with chef's knife

    Also, be sure to leave as much of the fat as possible on the meat. Fat gives meat flavor, especially during the cooking process.

    Filling up Your Slow Cooker

    1. Add the thinly sliced steak to the slow cooker.
    2. Next add in the minced garlic, sliced onion, minced mushrooms, and sliced bell peppers.
    3. Whisk together the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
    4. Pour the beef broth over the meat and vegetables, and give everything a good stir.
    how to make Philly cheese steak in a black Crock pot by layering steak, vegetables, whisking up broth, and pouring over the vegetables and meat

    Then just cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

    cooking meat for Philly cheesesteaks in black Crock Pot slow cooker on low heat

    Makig Your Sandwiches

    When your meat is fully cooked, you’re ready to make and layer your sandwiches.

    1. Dab a light layer of bacon grease on the inside of your hoagie bun (optional but adds great flavor), and add a slice of provolone cheese, tearing it in half and lining one side of the bun with it. Lightly toast the hoagie buns and cheese on either a griddle or in the oven on a cookie sheet.
    2. Spread mayo on each bun.
    3. Using tongs, add the meat mixture to each bun.
    4. Top with a spoonful or two of heated Cheez Whiz.
    making Philly cheesesteak sandwich with hoagie rolls, provolone cheese, mayo, sirloin steak and vegetables, and Cheez Whiz

    And that’s it. Your sandwiches are ready to serve.

    While hoagie rolls complete the ensemble, you can make this recipe more low carb and even gluten-free (provided all your other ingredients are gluten-free) by eating the meat without the bun.

    Maybe add your meat to a bed of lettuce or spinach, or pair it with these low carb dinner rolls or keto garlic cheese bread from my friend, Lynsey at Moscato Mom.

    Expert Tips and FAQ’s

    What’s the best meat for Philly cheese steak?

    Most people will recommend ribeye for cheesesteaks at home, but ribeye can be quite expensive. Others recommend top round steak. For this recipe, at the recommendation of our butcher, I used a sirloin steak, sliced thinly. It had just enough fat to give the meat a lot of flavor and to make the meat quite tender when cooked. The great thing about cooking meat in the slow cooker is that it will be very, very tender. So tender it’ll almost fall apart in your mouth. Two things to look for when buying Philly cheese steak meat… You need to be able to slice it thinly. And it needs to be tender, not tough; fat is a good thing for both flavor and tenderness.

    What’s the best cheese on a Crock Pot Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich?

    Opinion really varies on what cheese to use. It really is a debate if you research it. The traditional consensus says either Cheez Whiz or provolone. Some even say American cheese pairs well with the provolone. We tried it with both, and while I love the provolone, the Cheez Whiz won my taste buds over. However, it’s up for debate in our house too because a couple of my guys really love the provolone. So I live on the wild side and use both. I melt cheese, provolone cheese, onto the bun when I toast it, and then add Cheez Whiz to the finished sandwich. Delicious!

    sirloin steak cooked in black Crock Pot slow cooker with onions, green bell peppers, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and beef broth

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS

    We usually eat Crock Pot cheese steaks with fresh veggies, chips, and/or fruit.

    They pair really well with potato wedges or steak fries, French fries, pasta salad, broccoli cauliflower salad, this vegetable finger salad, and even corn on the cob.

    More Delicious Philly Cheesesteak Recipes:

    close up CrockPot Philly cheesesteak sandwich on hoagie bun with sirloin steak, onion, green bell peppers, and provolone cheese topped with Cheez Whiz, on gray plate with white cheese puffs

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this sandwich recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak sandwich recipe

    CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    Crock Pot Philly Cheesesteak

    How to make the most delicious Crock Pot Philly cheesesteak sandwich. Easy slow cooker recipe with tips for the best meat, vegetables, bread, and cheese.

    • Chef's Knife
    • Whisk
    • Tongs
    • CrockPot
    • 2 pounds sirloin steak (thinly sliced)
    • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1 medium yellow onion (sliced)
    • 4 ounces fresh mushrooms (minced)
    • 2 large green bell peppers (sliced)
    • 1 1/2 cups beef broth
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons bacon grease (optional)
    • 6 hoagie rolls
    • 6 slices provolone cheese
    • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
    • 3/4 cup Cheez Whiz

    1. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray.

    2. Add the thinly sliced steak to the slow cooker.

    3. Next add in the minced garlic, sliced onion, minced mushrooms, and sliced bell peppers.
    4. Whisk together the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
    5. Pour the beef broth over the meat and vegetables, and give everything a good stir.
    6. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

    Make Sandwiches:

    1. Optional step: Dab a light layer of bacon grease on the inside of each hoagie bun (adds great flavor).

    2. Then add a slice of provolone cheese to each bun, tearing it in half and lining one whole side of the bun with it.

    3. Lightly toast the hoagie buns and cheese on a griddle or in the oven on a cookie sheet.

    4. Spread mayo on each bun.

    5. Using tongs, add the meat mixture to each bun.

    6. Top with a spoonful or two of heated Cheez Whiz.
    7. And that’s it. Your sandwiches are ready to serve.

    *Most people will recommend ribeye for cheesesteaks at home, but ribeye can be quite expensive. Others recommend top round steak. For this recipe, at the recommendation of our butcher, I used a sirloin steak, sliced thinly. It had just enough fat to give the meat a lot of flavor and to make the meat quite tender when cooked.

    Two things to look for when buying Philly cheese steak meat…

    • You need to be able to slice it thinly.
    • It needs to be tender, not tough, and fat is a good thing for both flavor and tenderness.

    How to Slice Philly Cheesesteak Meat

    Slice against the grain when slicing the sirloin, in order to retain the tenderness of the meat. Also, be sure to leave as much of the fat as possible on the meat. Fat gives meat flavor, especially during the cooking process. Slice the meat as thin as possible, slicing it into thin strips for cooking. You’ll need a good knife for this.

    Burgers & Sandwiches, Main Course
    American
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  • 2-in-1 Instant Pot Meatloaf and Potatoes

    2-in-1 Instant Pot Meatloaf and Potatoes

    How to make Instant Pot meatloaf and potatoes at the same time. Easy, one pot, ground beef dinner recipe, served with the best mashed potatoes!

    I’ve mentioned before that my meatloaf recipe with oatmeal is one of my family’s favorite meals, especially our oldest son. It’s a hearty meal and one that usually leaves us with plenty of leftovers for the next day.

    slices of Instant Pot meatloaf on white plate with mashed potatoes in wooden bowl

    With that in mind and with inspiration from our recipe for whole chicken in the Instant Pot, I decided to tweak my recipe just a bit and make it a pressure cooker meatloaf, using my 8-quart Instant Pot.

    Not only that, but I thought it might make it even easier if I cooked the potatoes right in the same pot with the meatloaf. One pot meal for the win (well, besides veggies, of course).

    Oh my goodness, how flavorful and moist meatloaf is when you pressure cook it. And the potatoes were infused with so much flavor from the meat cooking right above them in the same pot.

    I love how simple this recipe really is. Instant Pot meatloaf and mashed potatoes has been added to our list of favorite dinner time recipes.

    My crew loves a more classic meatloaf recipe (the one with the sauce) too. Next I want to try my friend Kristy’s one-pot Ninja Foodi meatloaf and potatoes.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”fokxxrykjyqtkzihmabj” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1578960032/bbhkya7ekr8eby6iwrpn.jpg” title=”2-in-1 Instant Pot Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes” volume=”100″]

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the Instant Pot meatloaf recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

    Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Large mixing bowl – This makes it easy to just dump in all the ingredients and start mixing.

    Round 7-inch springform pan – Or a similar pan that will fit down into your Instant Pot.

    8-Quart Instant Pot and Trivet

    Meat thermometer

    slicing and serving Instant Pot meatloaf with oatmeal from springform pan with metal spatula flipper

    NOT SURE HOW TO USE YOUR INSTANT POT PRESSURE COOKER?

    Learn how to quickly use your Instant Pot with our Instant Pot Quick Start Guide, filled with practical tips, Instant Pot recipes, accessory ideas, and more!

    HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT MEATLOAF AND POTATOES

    Start by prepping your ingredients, and also be sure to grease the inside of your springform pan (I use a 7-inch springform pan) with cooking spray.

    HOW TO MIX AND SHAPE MEATLOAF:

    1. Add the ground beef, eggs, minced onion, ketchup, BBQ sauce, and seasoned salt to a large mixing bowl. Mix well using a large fork.
    2. Add the oatmeal in and mix well. You can use the fork or just dig in with your hands, which is sometimes easier.
    3. Once everything’s been mixed together well, transfer the meat mixture to the greased springform pan, forming and shaping the meat into the round pan.
    4. Drizzle the top with ketchup.
    steps for how to make Instant Pot meatloaf, including mixing ingredients in mint green mixing bowl and shaping meatloaf in springform pan, then drizzling with ketchup

    COOKING MEATLOAF IN THE INSTANT POT:

    1. Add the potatoes and water to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
    2. Place the trivet in the Instant Pot next.
    3. Then place the meatloaf on top of the trivet.
    4. Secure the lid in place and close the valve on your Instant Pot. Select Manual or Pressure Cook, and set to cook for 30 minutes.
    cooking meatloaf and potatoes in Instant Pot using trivet and springform pan

    When your meatloaf is done (a meat thermometer is definitely something I recommend to make sure the meat has come to temp and is fully cooked), just allow the Instant Pot to do a natural release.

    cooked pressure cooker meatloaf in 8-quart Instant Pot

    Then once you’ve carefully removed the meatloaf and trivet from the Instant Pot, you can mash the potatoes right in the pot.

    cooked potatoes in 8-quart Instant Pot

    Just drain the water off the potatoes, and place the Instant Pot on “Keep Warm.” Add the butter, whipping cream, salt, and pepper to the potatoes, and mash with an immersion blender or hand mixer.

    Instant Pot mashed potatoes in 8-quart Instant Pot

    And that’s it! All you need is a good vegetable to serve with your main course.

    SHOULD I COVER MY MEATLOAF WHILE COOKING?

    While you can cover the meatloaf with aluminum foil, it’s really not necessary. In fact, that might take away from the flavors you’ll get by cooking everything in one pot.

    HANDY TIP FOR REMOVING THE MEATLOAF FROM THE INSTANT POT

    One question that comes up is whether or not you can use aluminum foil in the Instant Pot. While there’s no need to cover your meatloaf, you can use foil to create a sort of sling or lifter for your pan.

    Just tear off a large piece of foil that will fit all the way around your pan, along with maybe 6 to 8 extra inches. Then fold the foil into a long strip (maybe 3-4 inches wide), and place that strip under the pan, bringing the excess ends of the strip up over each side of the pan to act as lifting handles.

    This way it’s easy to remove the hot pan from the pressure cooker once your meatloaf is cooked and ready to serve.

    cooked pressure cooker meatloaf in springform pan

    WHAT IS THE BEST GROUND BEEF FOR MEATLOAF?

    We prefer to use 90/10 ground beef when we’re mixing up a meatloaf. In fact, we use 90/10 for pretty much everything.

    Our reasons are that it’s leaner, there’s less fat, and there will be less grease around your meatloaf.

    Don’t worry about flavor… You’ll still get really good flavor from a leaner ground beef. And you’ll also be eating a bit healthier, as well.

    Note: You can use ground turkey for this recipe in place of ground beef. However, it will change the look, texture, and flavor of your finished meatloaf.

    bite of meatloaf on fork on white plate with blue linen under plate

    CAN YOU SUBSTITUTE OLD-FASHIONED OATS FOR QUICK OATS?

    Yes, you can. I’ve used both old-fashioned oats and quick oats for this meatloaf.

    I’ve even used gluten-free quick oats more recently, so if you want a gluten-free meatloaf, this is the way to go (although you should also check ingredient labels on your other ingredients just to be safe).

    ketchup-topped meatloaf on white plate with fork and mashed potatoes in wooden bowl behind plate

    WHAT GOES GOOD WITH MEATLOAF AND MASHED POTATOES?

    You can serve meatloaf with sides like Instant Pot green beans, corn on the cob, honey glazed carrots, or a good broccoli cauliflower salad.

    MORE FAVORITE MEAT LOVERS’ RECIPES:

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this meatloaf recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    Instant Pot meatloaf recipe

    CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    2-in-1 Instant Pot Meatloaf and Potatoes

    How to make Instant Pot meatloaf and potatoes at the same time. Easy, one pot, ground beef dinner recipe, served with the best mashed potatoes!

    • Fayy 7 Inch Springform Pan Compatible for Instant Pot Accessories and Pressure Cooker 6, 8 Quart
    • Instant Pot DUO80 8 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer
    • Stainless Steel Steaming Rack Stand Cooking Ware Steamer Rack Trivet for Instant Pot
    • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1/2 large yellow onion (minced)
    • 1/3 cup ketchup
    • 1/3 cup bbq sauce
    • 1 1/2 cups oatmeal*
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
    • 4 tablespoons ketchup (for top of meatloaf)
    • 4 to 6 medium potatoes
    • 1 cup water
    • 6 tablespoons salted butter
    • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream**
    • 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (to taste)
    1. Grease the inside of your springform pan (I use a 7-inch springform pan) with cooking spray.
    2. Add the ground beef, eggs, minced onion, ketchup, bbq sauce, and seasoned salt to a large mixing bowl. Mix well using a large fork.
    3. Add the oatmeal in and mix well. You can use the fork or just dig in with your hands, which is sometimes easier.
    4. Once everything’s been mixed together well, transfer the meat mixture to the greased springform pan, forming and shaping the meat into the round pan.
    5. Drizzle the top with ketchup.
    6. Add the potatoes and water to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
    7. Place the trivet in the Instant Pot next.
    8. Then place the meatloaf on top of the trivet.
    9. Secure the lid in place and close the valve on your Instant Pot. Select Manual or Pressure Cook, and set to cook for 30 minutes.
    10. When your meatloaf is done (a meat thermometer is definitely something I recommend to make sure the meat has come to temp and is fully cooked), just allow the Instant Pot to do a natural release.
    11. Then once you’ve carefully removed the meatloaf and trivet from the Instant Pot, you can mash the potatoes right in the pot. Just drain the water off the potatoes, and place the Instant Pot on “Keep Warm.”
    12. Add the butter, whipping cream, salt, and pepper to the potatoes, and mash with an immersion blender or hand mixer.
    13. And that’s it! All you need is a good vegetable to serve with your main course.

    *I’ve used both old-fashioned oats and quick oats for this meatloaf. I’ve even used gluten-free quick oats more recently, so if you want a gluten-free meatloaf, this is the way to go (although you should also check ingredient labels on your other ingredients, especially seasonings, just to be safe).

    **You can use whole milk if you don’t have heavy whipping cream.

    WHAT IS THE BEST GROUND BEEF FOR MEATLOAF?

    We prefer to use 90/10 ground beef when we’re mixing up a meatloaf. In fact, we use 90/10 for pretty much everything. Our reasons are that it’s leaner, there’s less fat, and there will be less grease around your meatloaf.

    Don’t worry about flavor… You’ll still get really good flavor from a leaner ground beef. And you’ll also be eating a bit healthier, as well.

    Note: You can use ground turkey for this recipe in place of ground beef. However, it will change the look, texture, and flavor of your finished meatloaf.

    SHOULD I COVER MY MEATLOAF WHILE COOKING?

    While you can cover the meatloaf with aluminum foil, it’s really not necessary. In fact, that might take away from the flavors you’ll get by cooking everything in one pot.

    HANDY TIP FOR REMOVING THE MEATLOAF FROM THE INSTANT POT

    One question that comes up is whether or not you can use aluminum foil in the Instant Pot. While there’s no need to cover your meatloaf, you can use foil to create a sort of sling or lifter for your pan.

    Just tear off a large piece of foil that will fit all the way around your pan, along with maybe 6 to 8 extra inches. Then fold the foil into a long strip (maybe 3-4 inches wide), and place that strip under the pan, bringing the excess strip up over each side of the pan to act as lifting handles.

    This way it’s easy to remove the hot pan from the pressure cooker once your meatloaf is cooked and ready to serve.

    Instant Pot Recipes
    American
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  • Easy Crock Pot French Toast Casserole

    Easy Crock Pot French Toast Casserole

    Whip up a Crock Pot French toast casserole you can make ahead or same day. Easy slow cooker breakfast recipe for a crowd. Make it regular or gluten free!

    French toast has always been a rare breakfast treat, but it can be a hard dish to make for a crowd.

    slice of Crock Pot French toast casserole on white plate with fork

    Slow cooker French toast, on the other hand, makes it so much easier to keep everything warm until everyone can eat. It’s the answer to all your French toast woes.

    What I love about this CrockPot cinnamon French toast is that it’s so moist and so full of flavor. The cinnamon brown sugar topping really gives it a kick and adds a sweeter touch to this yummy casserole recipe.

    It’s quick and easy to whip up, though cook time does take at least a couple of hours. But you can either make it ahead of time the night before, or get up early and have it ready by breakfast time same day, your preference.

    Rather make it in the oven? This oven baked easy French toast casserole is very similar, but with baking instructions for the oven. And we really enjoy making brioche French toast bake, which requires no chopping whatsoever.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”afaqsgcnyxg4nkj3gazc” sticky=”false” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1576704448/qxxahkgbng66ybd6ogt5.jpg” title=”Easy Crock Pot French Toast Casserole” volume=”100″]

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR CROCK POT FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE:

    Remember, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    slice of slow cooker French toast breakfast casserole on white plate with fork, with black Crock Pot slow cooker in background

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Slow Cooker – I use a 6-quart slow cooker.

    Cutting Board and Bread Knife

    Mixing Bowl and Whisk

    Pastry Blender

    HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER FRENCH TOAST

    There are really only 4 steps to prepping this sweet breakfast casserole in the slow cooker.

    Be sure to grease your slow cooker with cooking spray beforehand.

    I also like to prep the topping beforehand, so it’s ready to go. Just mix the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a small bowl (a pastry blender works best for this), and set it aside for now.

    making topping for French toast bake in glass bowl with pastry blender
    1. Cube the bread into small 1-inch cubes, and layer it with the pecans in your slow cooker.
    2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
    3. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and pecans in the Crock Pot, and give it all a gentle toss. Make sure all the bread is good and soaked.
    4. Crumble the cinnamon brown sugar topping over the entire casserole. It’s a really moist mixture, so it’s more like clumps of cinnamon brown sugar.
    steps for how to make slow cooker French toast by layering ingredients in slow cooker and whipping up egg mixture in mint green bowl

    Place the lid on your slow cooker, and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours… Or you can cook it on low for 3 to 4 hours.

    To make sure it’s done, I use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and make sure it’s up to the proper temp for eggs.

    You can slice it and serve it with powdered sugar and/or maple syrup. Keep the rest of your casserole warm, using the “Keep Warm” setting on your slow cooker, if applicable.

    slicing and scooping slow cooker French toast out of Crock Pot with wide flipper spatula

    WHAT KIND OF BREAD SHOULD I USE?

    While you can make a Crock Pot French toast bake with Texas toast, sourdough, challah bread, French bread, or really any other type of fresh baked bread, I usually use a regular loaf of plain sandwich bread.

    This recipe is simple, so you can hopefully either use what you already have or easily find what you need while you’re at the store.

    CAN YOU USE STALE BREAD FOR FRENCH TOAST?

    Yes. In fact, it’s actually the best thing to use stale bread because…

    • Fresh bread can actually make really soggy French toast.
    • And the dry, stale bread really soaks up the egg mixture well, leaving little to no liquid around the bread cubes in the slow cooker.

    If your bread is really fresh, you can always let it sit out for a couple of hours before making the casserole. Or just leave the bag open overnight and let the bread air out.

    If it’s the morning of and you need it dried quickly, put it in a low temp oven (about 250° F) for a short time, until the bread has dried just a bit.

    pouring maple syrup over slice of gluten-free French toast casserole on white plate with fork, glass of milk in background

    CAN I MAKE THIS A GLUTEN-FREE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE?

    Yes, you can. In fact, that’s what I did with this particular recipe (and what’s pictured in this recipe).

    Just substitute in your favorite gluten-free bread in place of the regular sandwich bread included in the ingredients. Depending on the bread you use, it may be a bit more crumbly, but it’s just as delicious.

    Also, be sure to check labels on your spices and other ingredients, just to be on the safe side, and make sure they are really gluten-free.

    CAN I LEAVE OUT THE PECANS?

    I get it. Not everyone’s a fan of French toast casserole with pecans.

    You can totally leave out the pecans altogether. OR you can add a different kind of nut like walnuts.

    bite of CrockPot cinnamon French toast on fork on white plate with maple syrup

    CAN YOU FREEZE FRENCH TOAST?

    You can freeze overnight French toast. While I recommend freezing it after it’s already been cooked, you can also freeze it before cooking.

    Keep in mind it’ll keep longer in the freezer if it’s already been cooked. And I’d add the topping later right before you actually slow cook it.

    Be sure to cover it well or seal it in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.

    HOW DO YOU RE-HEAT FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE?

    Re-heating after freezing…

    Allow time for the casserole to thaw in the fridge. Then cover with aluminum foil, and re-heat in a 350° F oven for about half an hour, or until it’s warmed through.

    Re-heating after refrigerating…

    You can re-heat it in the oven or microwave. If you’re in a hurry, it’s easier and quicker to re-heat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals until it’s heated through.

    MORE FRENCH TOAST RECIPES:

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

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    Crock Pot French Toast Casserole

    Whip up a Crock Pot French toast casserole you can make ahead or same day. Easy slow cooker breakfast recipe for a crowd. Make it regular or gluten free!

    • Pastry Blender
    • 6-Quart Slow Cooker

    Casserole:

    • 24 ounces sandwich bread
    • 1 cup pecans (chopped)
    • 8 large eggs
    • 2 cups whole milk
    • 1/4 cup maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

    Topping:

    • 4 tablespoons salted butter (sliced)
    • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    1. Grease a 6 to 7-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

    2. Cube the bread into small 1-inch cubes, and layer it with the pecans in the slow cooker.

    3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, real maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

    4. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and pecans in the CrockPot, and give it all a gentle toss. Make sure all the bread is good and soaked.

    5. In a separate small mixing bowl, mix together the sliced butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

    6. Crumble the cinnamon brown sugar topping over the entire casserole; it’s a really moist mixture.

    7. Place the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours; or cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.

    8. To make sure it's done, you can check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it's up to the proper temp for eggs.

    9. Slice it and serve it with powdered sugar and/or maple syrup. Keep the rest of the casserole warm, using the “Keep Warm” setting on the slow cooker, if applicable.

    *While you can make a Crock Pot French toast bake with Texas toast, sourdough, challah bread, French bread, or really any other type of fresh baked bread, I usually use a regular loaf of plain sandwich bread.

    *If you need this to be a gluten-free French toast casserole, substitute in your favorite gluten-free bread in place of the regular sandwich bread included in the ingredients. Depending on the bread you use, it may be a bit more crumbly, but it’s just as delicious. Also, be sure to check labels on your spices and other ingredients, just to be on the safe side, and make sure they are really gluten-free.

    *You can totally leave out the pecans altogether. OR you can add a different kind of nut like walnuts.

    *Be sure to use real maple syrup. Table syrup will likely change the recipe.

    CAN YOU USE STALE BREAD FOR FRENCH TOAST?

    Yes, in fact, it’s actually the best thing to use stale bread because…

    • Fresh bread can actually make really soggy French toast.
    • And the dry, stale bread really soaks up the egg mixture well, leaving little to no liquid around the bread cubes in the slow cooker.

    If your bread is really fresh, you can always let it sit out for a couple of hours before making the casserole. Or if it’s the night before, just leave the bag open overnight and let the bread air out.

    If it’s the morning of and you need it dried quickly, put it in a low temp oven (about 250° F) for a short time, until the bread has dried just a bit.

    Breakfast & Brunch, main dish
    American
    breakfast casserole, casserole recipe, Crock Pot French toast casserole, CrockPot cinnamon French toast, French toast bake, French toast casserole, gluten-free French toast casserole, how to make slow cooker French toast, slow cooker French toast

  • Cheesy Leftover Turkey Casserole with Pasta

    Cheesy Leftover Turkey Casserole with Pasta

    How to make the best turkey casserole with pasta. Easy recipe made with egg noodles and leftovers, this turkey tetrazzini is so creamy and delicious!

    This leftover turkey casserole is just the recipe you need when you’re trying to figure out what to do with turkey leftovers from Thanksgiving. Oh my word, I love this casserole because of how cheesy it is.

    leftover turkey casserole with pasta in white baking dish

    If you love cheese as much as I do, you are in for a treat with this delicious dinner recipe. And making it in a big 13×9 casserole dish pretty much guarantees you’ll have leftovers for tomorrow night.

    You will need to cook some pasta for this recipe. And you’ll need to make the sauce on the stovetop.

    But once you have the sauce made, you’re home free. Finish throwing it together, put it in the oven, set your timer, and off you go to accomplish an important task or spend time with your family while dinner cooks.

    If you love this cheesy turkey noodle casserole, you will LOVE this cheesy hash brown casserole recipe and this green bean casserole too! And if you’re looking for ways to use up leftover turkey, turkey stuffing crescent rolls and turkey enchilada casserole are usually a big hit in my house.

    leftover turkey casserole on white plate with fork

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

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    WHAT IS TURKEY TETRAZZINI?

    Turkey tetrazzini is a delicious comfort food made with turkey, noodles, and a cheesy sauce filled with mushrooms, peppers, and onion.

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

    Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Pasta Pot – for cooking the noodles

    Cutting Board and Knife (or Vegetable Chopper)

    Glass Measuring Cup – for measuring out liquids.

    Skillet and Wooden Spatula

    Large Mixing Bowl

    13×9 Baking Dish

    HOW TO MAKE TURKEY TETRAZZINI

    First things first, make sure your egg noodles are cooked and ready to go. Just follow the instructions on the package to cook them.

    You’ll also need to shred leftover turkey for this recipe.

    TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

    1. In a large skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onion, bell pepper, and sliced mushrooms until they’re tender, probably about 15 minutes.
    2. Then add the flour and blend it in with the veggies really well.
    3. Add in the milk and chicken broth, cooking on low ’til the sauce begins to thicken.
    4. Finally, add in the cheeses, and cook until it’s all melted; then add in the salt and pepper.
    steps for how to make turkey tetrazzini cheese sauce in cast iron skillet with wooden spatula

    Then you’ll just combine the turkey, noodles, and cheese sauce in a large mixing bowl, and add that mixture to a greased 13×9 inch baking dish.

    cheesy turkey tetrazzini in white baking dish before baking

    HOW LONG TO COOK TURKEY CASSEROLE WITH PASTA

    Your casserole will need to bake at 350° F for about 30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.

    CAN YOU FREEZE TURKEY CASSEROLE WITH PASTA?

    Yes, you can freeze this cheesy turkey tetrazzini. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container so it doesn’t get freezer burn.

    When you take it out of the freezer, you can either allow time for it to thaw or reheat as is. Of course, oven times will vary, depending on whether it’s thawed or frozen.

    Reheat individual servings, or place the entire baking dish, covered with aluminum foil, in the oven at 350° F until heated through.

    forkful of cheesy turkey noodle casserole

    ALTERNATIVE INGREDIENT OPTIONS:

    There are a few ways you can change this recipe up and make it slightly different…

    • Don’t have turkey? Use chicken instead; rotisserie chicken would taste great. Just shred it up and add as you would the turkey.
    • If you’re like me and don’t care for mushrooms, leave them out. I usually just put up with them because my family likes them, and I can hardly tell they’re there if I dice instead of slice.
    • Use spaghetti noodles or fettuccine noodles instead of egg noodles.
    • Use gluten-free pasta and gluten-free flour to make this casserole gluten-free. Of course, check the labels on all of your other ingredients to ensure that everything is gluten-free if going this route.
    • Add a smoked cheese for a smoky flavor to your turkey casserole.
    • Add a vegetable to the casserole. Peas are delicious in a cheesy casserole.
    scooped cheesy turkey casserole in white baking dish

    WHAT GOES WITH TURKEY TETRAZZINI:

    You’ll find more delicious options on my list of favorite recipes for Thanksgiving.

    GET THE PRINTABLE CASSEROLE RECIPE

    If you love this tetrazzini recipe as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    cheesy turkey casserole with pasta recipe

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    Cheesy Leftover Turkey Casserole

    How to make the best leftover turkey casserole with pasta. Easy recipe made with egg noodles and leftovers, this turkey tetrazzini is so creamy and delicious!

    • 1 cup salted butter
    • 1 medium yellow onion (minced)
    • 1 medium green bell pepper (chopped)
    • 4 ounces mushrooms (diced)
    • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups whole milk
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 8 ounces American cheese
    • 8 ounces cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • 3 cups turkey (cooked and shredded)
    • 16 ounces egg noodles (cooked)

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F, and grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.

    2. In a large skillet, melt the butter and sauté the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms until they’re tender, probably about 15 minutes.

    3. Then add the flour and blend it in with the veggies really well.

    4. Add in the milk and chicken broth, cooking on low ’til the sauce begins to thicken.

    5. Finally, add in the salt, pepper, and cheeses, and cook until the cheese is melted.

    6. Combine the cheese sauce, shredded turkey, and noodles in a large mixing bowl, and spread the mixture in the greased 9×13 baking dish.

    7. Bake at 350° F for about 30 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and bubbly.

    8. Serve while warm.

    *You can also use spaghetti noodles or fettuccine noodles instead of egg noodles. Or you can use gluten-free pasta and gluten-free flour to make this casserole gluten-free. Of course, check the labels on all of your other ingredients to ensure that everything is gluten-free if going this route.

    *Don’t have turkey? Use chicken instead; rotisserie chicken would taste great. Just shred it up and add as you would the turkey.

    Main Dish – Casserole, Pasta
    American
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  • Quick and Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

    Quick and Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

    How to make the best homemade hot chocolate mix. Easy recipe, perfect for gifts in a jar. Makes a rich and creamy hot cocoa that’ll warm you right up.

    Homemade hot chocolate mix makes the creamiest cup of hot chocolate, the perfect warm beverage to cozy up with on a cold winter day. Made with only 4 ingredients, it’s also simple and easy to make. And it makes the best hot chocolate cookies!

    homemade hot chocolate mix in a jar with a spoon

    My middle child, Jaden, and I share a love for homemade hot cocoa. I think it started when he was around preschool age, and I’d mix him up some hot chocolate in his festive little snowman cup.

    Ever since, we’ve loved coming in together out of the cold to a teapot full of hot water, a warm mug of homemade hot chocolate, and a handful of mini marshmallows.

    Don’t get me wrong… We enjoy our store bought mix. One of our favorites has always been Swiss Miss.

    But I really wanted to try making our own hot cocoa mix, so I did a little research and came up with my own recipe for a homemade hot cocoa mix.

    Another one of my favorites throughout the winter months, and especially around Christmas, is this homemade hot chocolate with chocolate chips. Only 3 ingredients, and it’s so creamy delicious!

    hot chocolate mix recipe in cracker jar and made into homemade hot chocolate with mini marshmallows in Disney Bambi mug

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”u9abtl4gqayami6q1wkf” sticky=”false” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1572903701/aynzktwa93pakmoxre1p.jpg” title=”Quick and Easy Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix” volume=”100″]

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

    Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Large Mixing Bowl

    Whisk

    Cupcake Scoop – Makes it super easy to scoop the mix into a jar or container.

    Airtight Container or Jar

    Cute Coffee Mugs

    Homemade hot chocolate mix also makes great Mason jar gifts. Grab a pretty Mason jar, fill it with your mix, and maybe add a few mini marshmallow bits for even more yumminess.

    Add a pretty gift tag (with mixing instructions) or a holiday recipe card, and a ribbon or bow, and you’ve got a meaningful homemade gift in a jar your recipient will really enjoy.

    HOW TO MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX FROM SCRATCH

    1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder to help remove any lumps. 
    2. Add in the dry milk powder.
    3. Then add the coffee creamer, and whisk everything together ’til mixed well.
    4. Add your homemade hot chocolate mix to an airtight container or jar for storage.
    steps for how to make hot chocolate mix from scratch in Pioneer Woman jadeite mixing bowl
    1. To mix up a cup of homemade hot chocolate, add 1/2 cup hot chocolate mix to your favorite mug.
    2. Add 8 ounces hot water to the mix in the mug.
    3. Stir everything together well.
    4. Add mini marshmallows or peppermint whipped cream to top it off. You can also add candy canes to make it even more festive.
    adding homemade hot cocoa mix with water and mini marshmallows to Disney Bambi mug

    CAN I USE A CHOCOLATE DRINK MIX INSTEAD OF COCOA POWDER?

    No, I wouldn’t recommend doing this, because if you do, you’ll be adding extra sugar and other ingredients to your hot chocolate mix. It will not turn out the way it should and will probably be way too sweet.

    homemade hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and a spoon in a Disney Bambi mug

    IS HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX GLUTEN-FREE?

    It really depends on the ingredients you use.

    Dry milk can have wheat or the possibility of contamination with wheat. So, you really need to look for a specifically gluten-free instant dry milk powder if you need gluten-free.

    Also, watch your cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and coffee creamer to be sure they don’t have any cross-contamination.

    hot cocoa mix made into homemade hot cocoa in mug with spoon and mini marshmallows

    MORE FESTIVE BEVERAGE RECIPES:

    You’ll find even more holiday recipe inspiration on my ultimate list of Christmas recipe ideas.

    GET THE PRINTABLE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX RECIPE

    If you love this homemade hot cocoa mix as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    quick and easy hot chocolate mix recipe

    CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

    How to make the best homemade hot chocolate mix. Easy recipe, perfect for gifts in a jar. Makes a rich and creamy hot cocoa that'll warm you right up.

    • Scoop
    • 1-Gallon Jar
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 3 cups instant dry milk powder
    • 1/2 cup French Vanilla coffee creamer

    1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder to remove any lumps. 

    2. Mix in the dry milk powder.

    3. Then add the coffee creamer, and whisk everything together ’til mixed well.

    4. Add the homemade hot chocolate mix to an airtight container or large jar with lid for storage.

    5. To mix up a cup of homemade hot chocolate, add 1/2 cup hot chocolate mix to your favorite mug. Add 8 ounces hot water. Stir everything together well. Top it off with mini marshmallows or whipped cream.

    *Do not substitue a chocolate drink mix for unsweetened cocoa powder. If you do, you’ll be adding extra sugar and other ingredients to your hot chocolate mix. It will not turn out the way it should and will probably be way too sweet.

    **Dry milk can have wheat or the possibility of contamination with wheat. So, if you need a gluten-free option, you really need to look for a specifically gluten-free instant dry milk powder. Also, watch your cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and coffee creamer to be sure they don’t have any cross-contamination.

    6. You can add warm milk instead of hot water. With the milk powder, I find that it’s creamy enough, so I simply add hot water to my mix and stir it up.

    Beverage, Drinks
    American
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  • Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes Topping

    Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes Topping

    Learn how to make hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes, filled with cheesy shredded potatoes and a crispy topping. This quick and easy side dish recipe is perfect for breakfast, family dinner, or a holiday spread. Feed a crowd and watch them go back for seconds!

    Back in the day, I remember many a church potluck where someone would bring the most flavorful hash brown casserole ever. Both that potato casserole with Corn Flakes and the green bean casserole were always one of my favorite things about potlucks and special occasions!

    large spoonful of cheesy hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes above blue baking dish

    Thumbing through my family cookbook, I realized my aunt added her family favorite recipe for cheesy hashbrown casserole. And let me tell you, this cheesy side dish brings back so many delicious memories.

    Now some might call this cheesy funeral potatoes. My aunt calls it sour cream potatoes. I’m just calling it like it is… a cheesy hashbrown casserole recipe.

    What You’ll Love about This Side Dish

    • My goodness, how cheesy delicious these cheesy potatoes are.
    • And easy to make too, kinda like my favorite mashed potato bar!
    • I love using my slow cooker to make this casserole too. CrockPot funeral potatoes are the ultimate comfort food.
    • It’s a great recipe for the perfect side dish. This crowd favorite cheesy potato casserole is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and that one Easter side dish everyone will love! It’s a family favorite for Sunday dinner and family gatherings served up alongside a CrockPot pork roast!
    cheesy hash brown potato casserole with Corn Flakes baked in a blue baking dish

    What Is Hash Brown Casserole Made Of?

    Hash brown casserole is a potato dish that’s very cheesy and has delicious flavor, thanks in part to the sour cream. But it also has a mix of ingredients like soup, onion, and butter that give it tremendous flavor, as well.

    It’s a comforting side dish served at church potlucks, family gatherings, holiday dinners, and after-funeral luncheons too, hence the name funeral potatoes. Cracker Barrel even serves cheesy hashbrown potatoes on their menu.

    Ingredients and Substitutions Notes:

    You’ll need a few simple ingredients to make this simple casserole…

    • Frozen Hash Browns – Be sure to thaw them beforehand; just follow the instructions on the packaging, and allow ample time for thawing. You can use shredded or cubed hash browns, but I highly recommend shredded for the texture they give the casserole.
    • Salted Butter
    • Salt and Black Pepper
    • Minced Garlic – You can either mince up garlic cloves or use already minced garlic found in most produce sections.
    • Cream of Chicken Soup – You can also use cream of mushroom soup if you prefer, but it will change the flavor just a bit.
    • Yellow Onion – While we prefer to use yellow onion for its less sweet flavor and to give a little kick to every bite, you can also use a sweet onion.
    • Sour Cream – I recommend whole sour cream rather than low fat. You can also substitute Greek yogurt instead.
    • Sharp Cheddar Cheese – I actually prefer to use extra sharp cheddar cheese for added flavor (and it’s usually what I have on hand). Lots of cheese gives lots of flavor.
    • Corn Flakes – You can also substitute potato chips for the Corn Flake mixture.

    How to Make Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes

    1. In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, melted butter, salt, pepper, minced onion, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and shredded cheese.
    2. Spread the potato mixture in a greased 13×9 baking dish.
    3. In a smaller mixing bowl, mix together the slightly crushed Corn Flakes and melted butter.
    4. Sprinkle the buttery CornFlakes over the top of the casserole in the casserole dish.
    steps for how to make cheesy hashbrown casserole by mixing ingredients in dish, spreading into baking dish, and topping with slightly crushed Corn Flakes
    1. Bake uncovered at 350° F for about 1 hour, ’til the casserole is golden brown.

    And that’s it! When it’s done, this easy hash brown casserole is ready to serve while warm.

    scoop of hash brown casserole in large spoon over blue baking dish

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    How do you crush Corn Flakes?

    To quickly crush the Corn Flakes, just put them in a quart sized plastic bag, and seal the bag, making sure there’s no air left in it. Then just crush the cereal with your hands, or with a rolling pin. For this recipe, they just need to be slightly crushed, so no need to spend a lot of time on this.

    How do you make this a gluten-free hash brown casserole?

    Sadly, regular cream of chicken soup is NOT gluten-free. And you may want to watch which hash browns you use too, because some have a coating that makes them not gluten-free, as well. BUT there is hope for all of us gluten-free peeps. There are gluten-free hash browns; just read the labels on the packaging before purchasing. AND there are options for gluten-free cream of chicken soup, as well. So you can make this a gluten-free hash brown casserole if needed.

    How do you store leftover casserole; and can hash brown casserole be made ahead?

    Yes, you can make this casserole the night before, the day before, etc. You can even freeze hash brown casserole. Just be sure to store leftover casserole in an airtight container so it doesn’t get freezer burn.

    Why is my hash brown casserole watery?

    The answer is that you likely didn’t thaw the hash browns beforehand. This is why it’s so important to allow adequate time for thawing before mixing and baking.

    serving of hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes on white plate with fork

    What Goes with Corn Flake Casserole?

    Potato casserole with Corn Flakes pairs well with these delicious side dish recipes:

    funeral potatoes in blue baking dish with large serving spoon

    More Potato Recipes You May Enjoy:

    If you love this Corn Flake casserole, you’ll love these side dishes too…

    Join the Friendsgiving Virtual Potluck!

    I’ve joined up with a bunch of blogger friends for a Friendsgiving Virtual Potluck! Be sure to check out the recipes below for wonderful Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving recipe and craft ideas!

    Appetizers
    Baked Brie with Honey & Walnuts from Kelley of Mountain Mama Cooks
    Reindeer Bacon Cheddar Cheese Ball from Julie of Julie Blanner

    Salads
    Sauteed Kale and Brussels Sprout Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts from Shashi of Savory Spin
    Creamy Brussels Sprouts Salad from Faith of An Edible Mosaic

    Main Dishes
    Savory Vegetable Crisp from Bree of Baked Bree
    Turkey Pot Pie from Kelly of Eat Picks

    Side Dishes
    Fried Brussels Sprouts from Erin of The Almond Eater
    Cheesy Horseradish Mashed Potato Casserole from Renee of Kudos Kitchen by Renee
    Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip from April of April Golightly
    Cornbread Stuffing with Chorizo from Isabel of Isabel Eats
    Bacon Brussels Sprouts from Kara of Kara J. Miller
    Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole from Jennifer of Show Me the Yummy
    Amazing Gluten Free Thanksgiving Stuffing from Sommer of A Spicy Perspective
    Pumpkin Caramelized Onion Gratin from Denise of Chez Us
    Crockpot Mac & Cheese from Leanette Fernandez of Funtastic Life
    Cheesy Brussels Sprouts au Gratin from Rachel Gurk of Rachel Cooks

    Drinks
    Spiced Pumpkin Margarita from Sharon of Cupcakes and Cutlery

    Breads
    Sourdough Pull Apart Rolls from Erica of Buttered Side Up
    How to Make Homemade Butterhorn Rolls from Mel of Flour on My Fingers
    Sweet Dinner Rolls from Jocelyn of Grandbaby Cakes
    Parker House Rolls from Irvin of Eat the Love

    Desserts
    Sugar Pie from Julie of The Little Kitchen
    Oatmeal Apple Crisp from Julie of Peanut Butter Fingers
    Pumpkin Pie Milkshake from Eden of Sugar and Charm
    Strudel Pastry from Justine of The Typical Mom
    Tahini Hawaij Pumpkin Pie from Amy of What Jew Wanna Eat
    Turkey Cookies from Meaghan of The Decorated Cookie
    Mini Apple Pie Bites from Lynsey of MoscatoMom
    Kabocha squash pie from Hilah of hilahcooking
    Pecan Pie Cupcakes from Courtney of Pizzazzerie
    Coconut Cream Pie from Schnelle of Brooklyn Active Mama
    Chocolate chip cheesecake from Jeannette of Hispana Global
    Chocolate Pecan Pie from Kate of I Heart Eating
    Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes from Chelsea of Someday I’ll Learn
    Turkey Donut Race Cars For Thanksgiving Treats from Theresa of Chewable Structures

    Crafts and Centerpieces
    Cinnamon Stick Holiday Candle Place Setting from Alli of Made with HAPPY
    Metallic Pumpkin Luminaries from Amy of As The Bunny Hops
    Easy centerpiece that will stun + party favor from Noelle of Oh Happy Play

    If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

    Hash Brown Casserole with Corn Flakes

    How to make hash brown casserole with Corn Flakes, filled with cheesy shredded potatoes and a crispy topping. Quick and easy side dish recipe.

    • Large Mixing Bowl
    • Cutting Board
    • Chef's Knife
    • 9×13 Baking Dish
    • 30 ounces frozen hash browns (thawed)
    • 1/2 cup salted butter (melted)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 1/2 cup yellow onion (minced)
    • 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
    • 1 pint sour cream
    • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese

    Corn Flake Topping:

    • 2 cups Corn Flakes (slightly crushed)
    • 1/4 cup salted butter (melted)
    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.

    2. In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, melted butter, salt, pepper, minced garlic and onion, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and shredded cheese.

    3. Spread the potato mixture in a greased 9×13 baking dish.

    4. In a smaller mixing bowl, mix together the slightly crushed Corn Flakes and melted butter.

    5. Sprinkle the buttery Corn Flakes over the top of the casserole in the casserole dish.

    6. Bake uncovered at 350° F for about 1 hour, 'til the casserole is golden brown.

    7. Serve while warm.

    *I prefer to use extra sharp cheddar for added flavor, but sharp is fine, as well.

    *To quickly crush the Corn Flakes, just put them in a quart sized plastic bag, and seal the bag, making sure there’s no air left in it. Then just crush the cereal with your hands, or with a rolling pin.

    You can make this a gluten-free hash brown casserole by using gluten-free hash browns (watch the packaging) and a gluten-free cream of chicken soup.

    You can make ahead and freeze hash brown casserole. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container so it doesn’t get freezer burn.

    Side Dish
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  • How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    How to make homemade cranberry sauce using fresh cranberries and 3 more ingredients. Simple and easy recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce is so easy to make and pretty delicious too. In fact, the first Thanksgiving we made our own, we wondered why we’d never made it before.

    homemade cranberry sauce in white bowl with spoon

    Fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest is so much better than the canned stuff. For one thing, it doesn’t plop out in canned gel form.

    If you buy a bag of fresh cranberries, the recipe is right there on the bag. You can also get creative with the recipe and add different flavors to your cranberry relish, like citrus or cinnamon or whatever else your imagination can cook up.

    With this recipe, I followed the instructions on the back of the bag (Ocean Spray Cranberries) and then added a little citrus zing.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”zx0mjuolantwalcxbvqo” sticky=”false” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/v1571882715/trcvvgsjebm2qeruu6cq.jpg” title=”How to Make Homemade Cranberry Sauce” volume=”100″]

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

    • Fresh cranberries
    • Sugar
    • Water
    • Orange zest

    Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    cranberry relish in white bowl

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Large Saucepan – This sauce is made entirely on the stove top, so a good saucepan is in order.

    Wooden Spoon 

    Heat Resistant Spatula – Works well for stirring and scraping the sides of the pan.

    Zester – Helpful for adding the orange zest.

    Serving Bowl – Add to your Thanksgiving tablescape.

    HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE

    1. Add the sugar and water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
    2. Then add in the cranberries, and return the mixture to a boil.
    3. Lower the heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    4. Add in the orange zest, simmering for another 5 minutes or so.
    steps for how to make homemade cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries in saucepan with spatula

    Pour the cranberry sauce into a serving bowl, cover, and allow it to cool.

    Here’s a delicious idea for you… A spoonful of cranberry and orange sauce pairs really well with my favorite leftover turkey stuffing crescent roll appetizers and leftover ham and stuffing crescent rolls.

    spoonful of homemade cranberry sauce with orange zest in white bowl

    ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR CRANBERRY SAUCE ADD-INS:

    CAN CRANBERRY SAUCE BE FROZEN?

    Absolutely, yes, it can! The ingredients used in corn homemade cranberry sauce are all pretty conducive to freezing.

    Just be sure to store it in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.

    fresh cranberry and orange sauce in white bowl with blue napkin

    WHAT GOES WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE:

    And just in case you’re still looking for a turkey recipe, Maple Bourbon Brined Roasted Turkey is seriously the best thing ever! Or Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham may be more what you’re looking for. Cranberry sauce also goes really well with a Slow Cooker Pork Roast!

    You may also want to check out my list of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes, as well as our favorite Christmas Recipes, where you’ll find plenty more recipes for your holiday dinner.

    GET THE PRINTABLE CRANBERRY RELISH RECIPE

    If you love this fresh cranberry sauce with orange as much as I do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    cranberry sauce recipe

    CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    How to make homemade cranberry sauce using fresh cranberries and 3 more ingredients. Simple and easy recipe, perfect for Thanksgiving and the holidays.

    • Medium Saucepan
    • Zester
    • 1 cup cane sugar
    • 1 cup water
    • 12 ounces cranberries
    • 1 teaspoon orange zest

    1. Add the sugar and water to a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil.

    2. Add the cranberries; then return the mixture to a boil.
    3. Lower the heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    4. Add in the orange zest, simmering for another 5 minutes or so.

    5. Pour the cranberry sauce into a serving bowl, and allow to cool.

    6. Refrigerate or serve.

    *Orange zest is optional; if you’d rather not add citrus flavor to your cranberry sauce, just leave it out.

    Side Dish
    American
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  • Ozark National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Ozark National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Our complete and comprehensive guide gives everything you need to know about Ozark National Forest dispersed camping. Find free camping spots, recreation opportunities, and area info. Know before you go!

    It’s really no secret that my family and I love to get away to a quiet camping spot away from all civilization and people and noise. Sometimes we go farther away, and sometimes we stick closer to home here in the Natural State.

    family in Ozark National Forest dispersed camping spot with rooftop tent and ground tent and hammock

    For the longest time we didn’t really know where to go camping in Arkansas. We were stuck in a rut when it came to finding good campsites that weren’t in a campground.

    However, we put some of our free camping skills to the test as we started digging for more info. And let me tell you, there are plenty of places to choose from, including one of our favorites, Ozark National Forest camping, right in the heart of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.

    Now you may be looking for a campground. And if you are, The Dyrt has all “the dirt” on where to find good campgrounds in the Ozark National Forest.

    But we’re going to focus more on dispersed camping, where to find campsites, getting the most out of your rugged camp experience, what the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests offer, and what all you can do when visiting this magical, beautiful area of the Natural State.

    Table of Contents

    Where is the Ozark National Forest?

    The Ozark National Forest is located mostly in Northwest Arkansas, but part of it extends along the Arkansas River Valley to meet the Ouachita Mountains in the southern part of Arkansas.

    It covers more than one million acres and was established in March of 1908.

    This forest is home to a handful of National Scenic Byways, as well as wilderness areas, lakes, streams, and trails for mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, etc.

    the Ozark National Forest from a view on the Pig Trail Scenic Byway in Northwest Arkansas

    Ozark National Forest Dispersed Camping

    Camping in National Forests is usually our #1 choice. In fact, we plan most of our trips around being able to find good camp spots in the National Forest.

    Camping in Ozark National Forest is usually good for all kinds of camping, whether you’re an RV camper, in a fifth wheel or trailer, a van, tent camper looking for tent sites, or backpacking. There are usually options for all.

    Note: There are some roads in the forest that really are not conducive to longer trailers or any trailer at all. Be wise, use good judgment, and stay safe.

    And be aware, there will be no amenities. We’re talking dry camping here. You won’t have access to restrooms, picnic tables, bear lockers, running water, electricity, or trash service.

    The Best Camping Spot in Ozark National Forest

    One of our favorite campsites (pictured and in our YouTube video below) is located a few miles outside Salus, Arkansas, at these coordinates.

    Ozark National Forest camping with rooftop tent and white Toyota 4Runner at free campsite

    We take a winding road, just outside the sleepy town of Salus, up the mountain and over through a small series of more gravel roads and eventually land in an area that’s not too far from the Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area.

    What we love about this camping spot is that it’s just us and the forest. We’ll see the occasional ATV ride by, but it’s a quiet spot to camp and relax together as a family.

    gravel road in the Ozark National Forest

    Whether we’re reading a book, playing badminton, or chowing down on s’mores, there’s nothing like a good, roaring campfire and the quiet peace of nature all around our tent.

    The mostly hardwood trees, with some pine interspersed, are magnificent, and peepers fill the trees with buzzing and chirping. You can even catch a faint whiff of pine every now and again.

    This is exactly the kind of dispersed camping spot we look for.

    camping in Ozark National Forest in Arkansas in tan rooftop tent on camping trailer

    How to Find National Forest Campsites

    Unless there is a sign stating otherwise or it’s a wildlife food plot, you can find some of the best camping in Arkansas just about anywhere in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest.

    • When searching for Ozark National Forest camping, look for light green areas on your map. You can find them in Google Maps (you may need to zoom in/out to see more detail) or in any road trip atlas or adventure atlas.
    • Use Google Earth to get a satellite view and find pull-offs or clearings, both being pretty good indicators that there are campsites in the area you’re searching.
    • Driving just about any Forest Service road (usually dirt roads) will lead to all sorts of places you can camp for free. Look for spots alongside the road, or look for sites that are tucked back into the forest more. You may even be able to backpack in to a site if that is your preference.
    boy walking on road from Ozark National Forest dispersed campsite in Arkansas
    • Always look for a fire ring and an already established site. Never create your own site.
    • Locating and stopping at a ranger station enables you to get all the information you need, as well as more detailed maps and Motor Vehicle Use Maps (the best maps you can have because they’re updated regularly with road closures) of the area, which you can also find on the Gaia GPS app. Plus, you can get all of your questions answered and become aware of any problems/issues they’re experiencing at the time (example: burn bans, wildlife warnings, road closures, etc.)
    • We have a favorite YouTuber here in Arkansas, Dispersed Camper Man. He shares all the different places he likes to camp and explore here in the Natural State. You’ll likely learn of quite a few new places if you give him a watch.

    Here is where you can find digital, downloadable maps. You may also find this Arkansas Atlas with Detailed Topographic Maps helpful.

    starting a campfire while camping in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas

    Ozark National Forest Camping Rules and Regulations

    Usually, there is no fee or permit required, meaning you can camp for FREE the entire time, unless you’re in a campground or recreation area!

    All campsites are first come, first serve. You can not reserve these remote sites.

    Rules are posted online. And you can sometimes find signs with rules and updates upon entering the area you’re visiting. You may even notice signs along the road that communicate what is and isn’t allowed on certain portions of the road, in day use areas, or in recreation areas.

    Here Are a Few Rules…

    • Stay on existing roads, whether paved or unpaved.
    • Check fire conditions and for burn bans before starting a fire. On that same note, drown your fire before going to bed and before leaving the campsite.
    • Check for alerts and notices before traveling to the National Forest.
    • Always camp at least 100-200 feet away from any type of water source, such as rivers, creeks, tributaries, lakes, and wetlands. Flash flooding can and does occur.
    • Leave no trace. Always pack in what you pack out. And don’t harm any vegetation or feed any wildlife.
    • All caves and mines in the Ozark National Forest are closed to prevent and slow the spread of White Nose Syndrome in our bat population.
    roasting sticks with campfire in Ozark National Forest

    Expert Tips and Camping FAQ’s

    Is the Ozark National Forest free?

    Dispersed camping in the Ozark National Forest is free. If you’re camping in an actual campground, then no, it won’t be free and will likely cost a small fee. As far as recreation, most recreation is free of charge, but some areas will require a day-use fee. You can learn more about specific passes and permits.

    Can you camp anywhere in Ozark National Forest?

    Pretty much anywhere in the actual Forest is up for grabs. You’re not allowed to camp in or near recreational areas, like picnic areas, trailheads, campgrounds, etc. You also have to camp at least 100 feet away from streams or any water source. There are rules you’ll have to follow, but the sky’s the limit when picking a spot to camp. You’re allowed to stay in the same campsite up to 30 days maximum; then you have to move at least 5 miles from that spot.

    Do you need a bear canister in Arkansas?

    This is actually a really great question because there are bears in the Ozark National Forest. It would not hurt to follow bear safety regulations, like packing up food and toiletries where a bear cannot get to them, being bear aware, and keeping trash picked up and put away out of reach. Don’t be like us when we encountered a bear while camping in Cosby Campground in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

    What is Ozark National Forest weather like?

    Weather in the Ozarks can change on a dime, so just be aware of forecasts before heading out, and if possible, stay aware of changes and updates while out and about. Winters can be cold and wet; summers can be hot, humid, and sometimes dry. Spring and fall are usually the best times to camp in Arkansas, though some would argue winter because in some areas, the weather is very mild, with temperatures hovering in the 50’s or 60’s for quite a bit of the winter.

    Wildlife You May Encounter

    Arkansas has abundant wildlife, and the National Forest is no exception.

    I’ve been told by one of the locals that this is bear country, but we have yet to see a bear.

    Other wildlife you may encounter, anywhere in the Ozark National Forest, include the following:

    • Snakes – including venomous snakes.
    • Spiders – including black widow, brown recluse and wolf spiders.
    • Insects – Ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, etc.
    • Possums
    • Raccoons
    • Armadillos
    • Deer
    • Turkey

    The list could go on and on.

    Things to Do and See in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest

    While you’re camping in this beautiful part of Arkansas, you may as well explore the area too, because there is SO much to see and do.

    Just a few ideas to whet your appetite…

    • Hiking Trails – We have a soft spot for places like Hawksbill Crag, Devils Canyon, and Sam’s Throne.
    • Driving – Take a ride down some of the most scenic byways you’ll ever travel, including the Sylamore Scenic Byway, the Pig Trail Scenic Byway, the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop, and the Ozark Highlands Scenic Byway.
    • Horseback Riding
    • Mountain Biking
    • Floating and Kayaking – The nearby Buffalo National River, the Mulberry River, and Shores Lake are just a few places to choose from.
    • Swimming
    • Fishing
    • Nature Study
    • And so much more…

    You may even want to spend an afternoon at Blanchard Springs Caverns. Or go enjoy a burger at the Oark General Store.

    Oark General Store in Oark, Arkansas

    Things to Know Before You Go

    Before you head out for a fun few days of free camping in Arkansas, here are some things to remember, as well as suggestions for supplies you may need.

    • Some forest roads can be quite rocky and rough, so use caution and good judgment when deciding which roads to take.
    • Weather can change on a dime, so be prepared for any and all weather situations that may arise.
    • There are no bathrooms. You’ll need to carry your own portable toilet or shovel. You may even want to pack along a camping shower.
    • Take your own drinking water, and pack any snacks or food you need for the trip, along with cooking gear.
    dispersed camping Ozark National Forest in Arkansas with rooftop tent
    • Pack a first aid kit. On that same note, know where you last lost cell coverage (you may or may not have cell coverage at your campsite) and where the nearest hospital is, in case something happens.
    • If it’s general camping supplies you need, use our camping checklist for packing. It’ll ensure you have everything you need for your trip.
    • Be sure to take your camera and/or your binoculars!
    • Finally, leave no trace! Pack out what you pack in.

    Watch Our YouTube Video!

    The Ozark National Forest in Arkansas is a wonderful place to step back, take a deep breath, and enjoy a little time in the great outdoors. Hope to see you out there!

    CRAVING MORE ADVENTURE IN YOUR LIFE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

  • Jiffy Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese and Bacon

    Jiffy Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese and Bacon

    Bake up a Jiffy corn casserole with cream cheese and bacon. Simple and easy make ahead recipe that’s cheesy and delicious. Perfect side dish for a crowd!

    Corn casserole with cream cheese is easily one of my family’s favorite side dish recipes during the holiday season. We usually make it every Thanksgiving, also Christmas and Easter dinner too.

    Jiffy corn casserole in white casserole dish with large metal spoon

    It’s the perfect complement to a nice ham or turkey dinner. And just like our Mexican corn casserole, it has bacon too. Because we all know, bacon makes everything better!

    We also make this corn casserole with Jiffy mix. It gives it a kind of breading but in a very moist, delicious sort of way, and it’s all mixed in with the rest of the ingredients.

    What you end up with is a very creamy, flavorful, cheesy side dish you’ll likely add to your holiday menu from henceforth and forevermore.

    I like to make it in my slow cooker too, making it easy to transport and keep warm. In fact, I might love CrockPot corn casserole a tad bit more, if that’s even possible.

    serving of corn casserole with cream cheese on white plate with fork

    If it’s more corn side dishes you’re looking for… green bean casserole, Mexican corn on the cob, grilled corn on the cob, and Instant Pot corn are always a hit at the family dinner table.

    Let’s talk about how to make this scrumptious corn casserole with bacon.

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    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important cooking info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    IS JIFFY CORN CASSEROLE THE SAME AS JIFFY CORN PUDDING?

    Yes, it’s the same as corn pudding. You’re basically mixing a bunch of ingredients together to create a creamy side dish.

    The casserole isn’t fully stable either, like a slice of corn bread would be. It requires you to spoon it onto your plate, versus eating with your hands.

    INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

    Keep in mind, all of the amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

    corn casserole with bacon in large white casserole dish with serving spoon

    KITCHEN TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED:

    Cutting Board and Knife – for mincing the green onions and crumbling the bacon.

    Saucepan – You’ll need a medium-sized saucepan to cook up the cream cheese mixture.

    Heat Resistant Spatula – Works well for stirring and scraping the sides of the pan.

    Large Mixing Bowl

    9×13 casserole Dish

    Cheese Grater

    HOW TO MAKE CORN CASSEROLE

    You can make corn casserole ahead of time and warm it up for your holiday dinner.

    Before you get started mixing it up, be sure to cook the bacon and set it aside. You’ll need 5 to 6 slices, so you can even cook a little extra at breakfast and stick it in the fridge ’til you need it.

    Also, you’ll need to mince the green onions and have those ready to go.

    Here are the steps for making it…

    1. In a medium saucepan, add the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, salted butter, sugar, and sour cream. Cook the mixture on low heat until the cream cheese is fully melted. Use a heat resistant spatula to constantly stir and keep the mixture from scorching.
    2. Then in a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese mixture, crumbled bacon, minced green onions, frozen corn, JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix (1/2 the box), salt, and pepper.
    3. Pour the casserole mixture into the greased baking dish, making sure it’s evenly spread throughout the dish, and bake according to the instructions in the recipe card below.
    4. Finally, add shredded cheese to the top of the casserole, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
    steps for how to make corn casserole including sauce pan on stovetop, mixing ingredients in blue mixing bowl, and layering casserole in baking dish

    Serve the deliciously cheesy corn casserole while warm and enjoy! It’s so good!

    cheesy corn casserole with Jiffy mix in white baking dish with serving spoon

    IS CORN CASSEROLE GLUTEN-FREE?

    It’s not gluten-free if made with ordinary Jiffy mix. BUT… That doesn’t mean you can’t make it gluten-free.

    In fact, I found a great recipe for Gluten Free Jiffy-Style Corn Muffin Mix over at Gluten Free on a Shoestring. I can’t wait to try substituting this cornbread mix for the Jiffy mix in my own casserole this Thanksgiving.

    CAN YOU FREEZE CORN CASSEROLE?

    Absolutely, yes, you can! The ingredients used in corn casserole are all pretty conducive to freezing.

    Just be sure to store it in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. A baking dish with a lid works really well for this.

    Jiffy corn pudding in white baking dish with serving spoon

    WHAT GOES WITH CORN CASSEROLE?

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this Jiffy corn casserole recipe as much as we do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    Jiffy corn casserole recipe

    CRAVING MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    Jiffy Corn Casserole

    Bake up a Jiffy corn casserole with cream cheese and bacon. Simple and easy make ahead recipe that's cheesy and delicious. Perfect side dish for a crowd!

    • Medium Saucepan
    • Heat-Resistant Spatula
    • Large Mixing Bowl
    • 9×13 Baking Dish
    • 8 ounces cream cheese
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 4 tablespoons salted butter
    • 1 teaspoon cane sugar
    • 1 tablespoon sour cream
    • 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
    • 3 green onions (minced)
    • 32 ounces frozen corn
    • 1/2 box JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • 1/2 cup Colby Jack cheese (shredded)

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 325° F.

    2. In a medium saucepan, add the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, salted butter, sugar, and sour cream.

    3. Cook the mixture on low heat until the cream cheese is fully melted. Constantly stir to keep the mixture from scorching.

    4. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese mixture, crumbled bacon, minced green onions, frozen corn, JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix (1/2 a box), salt, and pepper.

    5. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.

    6. Pour the casserole mixture into the baking dish, making sure it's evenly spread throughout the dish.

    7. Bake at 325° F for about 55 minutes, or until the mixture is set.

    8. Add the shredded cheese to the top of the casserole, and bake an additional 10 minutes.

    9. Serve while warm and enjoy! 

    *If you’re feeding a smaller crowd, just cut the recipe ingredients in half and bake it in an 8″x8″ baking dish.

    *If you need to make this recipe gluten-free, you can either use a gluten-free cornbread mix, or make your own gluten-free Jiffy-style corn muffin mix.

    Side Dish
    American
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    (Publishing Note: Recipe originally published in October 2017. Photos and tips updated in September 2019.)

  • How to Make Homemade Apple Juice without a Juicer

    How to Make Homemade Apple Juice without a Juicer

    How to make the most delicious homemade apple juice without a juicer and without any added sugar. Simple and easy Instant Pot recipe.

    For the longest time, I really thought I needed an apple juicer or an apple press for juicing apples. I’m not sure why I thought that because after learning how to make my own apple juice, I realize how easy it really is.

    homemade apple juice in a Sunshine Brand Coffee jar and jelly jar

    You can make apple juice, apple jelly, and pressure cooker applesauce all at the same time. For now, let’s focus on homemade juice.

    Why You’ll Love Making Apple Juice

    • While I use my Instant Pot, you can totally make this homemade apple juice on your stove. The cook time just may be a little longer.
    • There is no added sugar in this apple juice either. The only ingredients you need are apples and water. Of course, you want a sweeter tasting apple, but we’ll talk about the types of apples you can use.
    • It’s easy to make; your Instant Pot does most of the work for you.
    • Have I mentioned it’s the most delicious apple juice recipe?
    fresh apple juice in a jar with a paper straw

    What Are the Benefits of Making Your Own Apple Juice?

    Remember the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Apples have a ton of nutritional value and are a great addition to our diet.

    While you’d probably get a LOT more benefit out of the whole apple, apple juice is a good source of vitamin C and potassium. It’s also a great source of antioxidants.

    And since you are able to cook most of the apple, including the core and peeling, when making apple juice, you may have added fiber and other nutrients that a whole apple provides.

    Not to mention, homemade apple juice tastes so much better than store bought. It’s so fresh and crisp and light.

    washing seconds apples in the sink for apple juice recipe

    Ingredients Notes:

    You only need 2 ingredients to make apple juice without a juicer…

    • Apples – You’ll need about 5 pounds of apples. I prefer to use a sweeter apple, so I don’t have to add any sugar. Something like Gala or Honeycrisp works well. We’ll talk more about apples a little further below.
    • Water

    What Kind of Apples Should I Use to Make Apple Juice?

    There are certain types of apples that are sweeter and certain types of apples that have a more tangy, sour taste. As I mentioned above, when making homemade apple juice, you probably want to use a sweeter apple, so you don’t have to add any sugar.

    I used Gala apples for this recipe because they were available as seconds at our local orchard. Gala have a very sweet taste.

    The best apples for juicing include:

    • Gala
    • Honeycrisp
    • Fuji
    • Yellow Delicious or Golden Delicious
    • Rome
    • and Pink Lady
    homemade apple juice made without an apple juicer, in a Sunshine Coffee jar

    Where Can I Find the Best Apples for Juicing?

    Fall is a great time to find the best apples for juicing, but you can use any apples you find, whether you’re shopping at an orchard, a farmer’s market, or the store.

    However, in the fall, you can usually buy seconds at just about any orchard (and sometimes at the farmer’s market). Meaning you can buy a HUGE box of apples for a lot less than normal cost, which is going to save you a ton of money.

    Now I will say… It takes a LOT of apples to get very little juice, jelly, apple butter, or applesauce. But in my opinion, it’s totally worth it.

    how to make apple juice without a juicer, in your Instant Pot with the whole apple, including core and peelings

    How to Make Apple Juice without a Juicer

    For this recipe, you’ll need about 5 pounds of apples, a little bit of water, and an Instant Pot (a pot on the stove will work too, just with a longer cooking time).

    Be sure to wash the apples before you get started. I like to soak any fruit we eat in a vinegar/water bath for at least 10 minutes or more.

    How to Make Fresh Apple Juice without an Apple Juicer, Step By Step…

    1. Using a paring knife, remove any bad spots. Core the apples, either peeling them or leaving the peeling intact; you’ll throw the peeling in the pot too, even if you peel the apples.
    2. Cut the apples into chunks.
    3. Remove the stem and the blossom ends of the apple cores, and throw the cores into your Instant Pot, along with the apple chunks and peelings.
    4. Add enough water to cover about half of the apples. In our case, we used about 5 pounds of apples and 5 cups of water.
    steps for how to make apple juice without a juicer in the Instant Pot, including peeling and coring the apples and adding water
    1. Close your Instant Pot, and set it to Pressure Cook on Normal for 6 minutes. Let the valve naturally release after cooking.
    2. After cooking, you’ll just need to strain the juice from your apples. You can do this with a mesh strainer and/or a flour sack towel or cheesecloth.
    pouring apple juice and pulp into flour sack towel for straining
    1. Try not to squeeze the ingredients too much, so you don’t get a lot of pulp in your juice. Instead let the juice drip into a container for an hour or so.
    straining homemade apple juice with a flour sack towel and bucket

    If you want, you can strain the leftovers in a food mill to make homemade applesauce and cinnamon applesauce. And you can either drink the juice or make homemade apple jelly with a little bit of it.

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    What’s the difference between apple juice and apple cider?

    There are a few differences between apple juice vs apple cider. Apple juice is going to be a thinner, more transparent liquid without any pulp left behind. Apple cider is a thicker, more opaque juice, and it may have pulp and chunks of apple left behind; you can actually make a warm mulled cider with spices and citrus. Also, in terms of commercial apple cider vs apple juice, apple juice is pasteurized and has a longer shelf life than apple cider.

    Is it safe to juice apple seeds? What about Arsenic/Cyanide in the apple seeds?

    Studies have shown that you’d have to eat a whole lotta seeds to have any risk of poisoning. And in this case, we’re not eating the seeds, we’re simply cooking them in the mixture to get the added benefits of the natural pectin in the apple core. I’m just going to leave you with this article from Pick Your Own: Cyanide, Arsenic, and Other Toxins in Fruit: Facts, Myths, and Old Wive’s Tales. Blender Mom also has a really informative post about how Apple Seeds Are Safe. If you’re still not sure, Here’s How Many Apple Cores It Would Take to Poison You. Again, for this recipe, we’re simply cooking the seeds and cores, then straining them out.

    Can you freeze homemade apple juice?

    Yes, you can. In fact, you can freeze or can apple juice, whichever you prefer. We usually don’t keep it around long enough to do either/or; but if you make enough, yes, you can freeze it. If you choose to can it, Ball has wonderful Canning Guides to guide you through the process.

    How should you store apple juice?

    You’ll need to store it in an airtight container, jar, or pitcher in the fridge; it should keep for about 1 week.

    fresh homemade apple juice in Sunshine Coffee jar and jelly jar with paper straw

    If You Love This Instant Pot Apple Juice Recipe, Try Some of Our Other Apple Favorites:

    If you love this homemade apple juice as much as I do, you’ll love our other apple favorites too…

    And learn how to use your Instant Pot with our Instant Pot Quick Start Guide, filled with practical tips, Instant Pot recipes, accessory ideas, and more!

    If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

    How to Make Homemade Apple Juice without a Juicer

    How to make the most delicious homemade apple juice without a juicer and without any added sugar. Simple and easy Instant Pot recipe.

    • Johnny apple peeler
    • Paring Knife
    • 8-Qt. Instant Pot
    • Mesh Strainer
    • Flour Sack Towels
    • Cheesecloth
    • Food Mill
    • 5 pounds apples
    • 5 cups water
    1. Wash the apples.*
    2. Remove any bad spots from the apples.

    3. Core the apples and cut them up into chunks, either peeling them or leaving the peeling intact. Throw the chunks and peelings into your Instant Pot.

    4. Remove the stem and the blossom ends of the apple cores, and throw the cores into the pot.
    5. Add enough water to cover about half of the apples. In this case, we used about 5 pounds of apples and 5 cups of water.
    6. Close your Instant Pot, and set it to Pressure Cook on Normal for 6 minutes. 
    7. Allow the valve to naturally release after cooking.

    8. Once cooking is done, strain the juice from your apples.* You can do this using either a mesh strainer, flour sack towels, or cheesecloth.

    9. Let the juice drip into a container for an hour or so.*

    10. Once you have all the juice you can possibly get, pour the juice into a pitcher or cups for drinking. 

    11. For what to do with leftovers, see the Recipe Notes.*

    * We used Gala apples for our juice, but you can use any kind of apples. The best apples for juicing are Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Rome, and Pink Lady.

    *When straining the juice from your apples, try not to squeeze the ingredients too much, so you don’t get a lot of pulp in your juice. Instead let the juice drip into a container for an hour or so.

    *We hung our flour sack towel from a cabinet door handle (make sure it’s strong enough to support the weight) and let it drip into a small bucket.

    *Got leftovers? You can strain the leftovers in a food mill to make applesauce. And you can either drink the juice or make homemade apple jelly with it.

    Store leftover juice in an airtight container, jar, or pitcher in the fridge, where it should keep for about 1 week.

    Drinks
    American
    apple juice, apple juice recipe, fresh apple juice, homemade apple juice, how to make apple juice, how to make apple juice without a juicer, juicing apples, make apple juice without an apple juicer, making apple juice
  • Jeep Tour from Marble to Crystal Mill, Colorado

    Jeep Tour from Marble to Crystal Mill, Colorado

    What it’s like to take the Jeep tour from the small mountain town of Marble, Colorado, to beautiful Crystal Mill and the semi ghost town of Crystal.

    Crystal Mill, Colorado, on the edge of the Crystal River in the Maroon Bells Wilderness during the summer

    While traveling in Colorado awhile back, we made the split-second decision to camp near Marble, Colorado. We wanted to experience slow travel, and really take our time exploring this beautiful area of Central Colorado.

    Part of the experience was to take a Jeep tour from the small mountain town of Marble to the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen in my life, Crystal Mill, Colorado.

    While we’ve since made the drive to Crystal Mill ourselves in our 4Runner (it’s a 4WD road), we previously decided to give the Jeep Tour a try. No stranger to mountain roads (like the road to Mount Evans) and other scenic roads in Colorado, we were excited for the journey ahead.

    Crystal River Jeep Tours offers several Jeep tours, including Lead King Basin, Devil’s Punchbowl, and Sheep Mountain. We chose to take their Crystal Tour.

    HOW TO GET TO CRYSTAL MILL, COLORADO

    After purchasing our tour, we piled into Big Red with our driver, Chuck. The boys sat in a rumble seat in the back that allowed them to see from a slightly higher vantage point.

    boy sitting in Big Red, one of the heavy duty Jeeps operated by Crystal River Jeep Tours

    We learned that Chuck spends his summers in Colorado working with the tour company. He was full of stories and knowledge about the area, pointing out landmarks and sights along the way, telling stories of past residents of the area.

    One such resident was Captain Helen Jack. Her story was so interesting, we purchased a book written by her when we arrived back home from this particular trip.

    We passed by Beaver Lake as we made our way to the road that leads to Crystal. The road then quickly changed from paved to unpaved and eventually led to the Jeep trail.

    starting out driving on unpaved Crystal Mill Road in Colorado

    DRIVING THE CRYSTAL RIVER JEEP TRAIL

    The Crystal Mill road is narrow and rocky as it winds along, much of the time beside the Crystal River. It’s a very narrow shelf road, built by settlers in the late 1800’s.

    rocky four wheel drive road to Crystal Mill in Colorado

    We did notice the wreckage of an old truck along the way.

    wreckage of a truck along the road to Crystal Mill, on the Crystal River in Colorado

    There are small turnouts along the way, ensuring that if two vehicles meet, one can maneuver mostly out of the way and let the other one pass. Most of the time, one will have to back up to find said turnouts.

    As we drove along, Chuck pointed out sights like Lizard Lake, natural spring waterfalls flowing down from the mountains, and signs that this was once a thriving mining community.

    The Maroon Bells Wilderness is a sight to behold.

    Jeep tour along road to Crystal, Colorado

    I could share pictures of the road and the mountains all day long, but they would not do the beauty of this Colorado backcountry justice. 

    Chuck told us that normally it’s not as green as it was the summer we visited. It was so green, and there were gorgeous, colorful wildflowers everywhere.

    MYSTERIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL MILL

    There’s nothing quite like rounding the bend to finally see the mysterious Crystal Mill perched on the edge of the Crystal River.

    Crystal Mill, Colorado with the Crystal River and Rocky Mountains

    It’s a historical landmark and one of the most picturesque, photogenic places I’ve ever seen in my life.

    Crystal Mill once operated as a powerhouse or power plant for mining operations. Its rugged appearance gives it a haunted look… The stories I bet it could tell, if old walls could talk.

    haunted Crystal Mill outside Marble, Colorado, during the summertime

    The river swirls and flows below the mill, while Rocky Mountain peaks tower behind. I could have stood there forever just drinking it all in.

    JUST AROUND THE BEND IS CRYSTAL, COLORADO

    At one time, the town of Crystal, just around the bend from Crystal Mill, had 400 residents, most of whom were miners and their families.

    Now it’s pretty much a ghost town, though there are people who come there to spend their summers.

    semi ghost town of Crystal City in Colorado mountains

    Roger Neal, an author who has written extensively about the area, spends his summers there, sharing his Crystal Tale Books with visitors who come to Crystal. We bought more than a few of his books while visiting.

    He’s written books with the history of Crystal and creepy tales of some of its residents. He shared with us that his family spent summers there when he was a child.

    cabin home in Crystal, Colorado

    There are cabins and small houses still standing and in use in Crystal, some of which are available for short-term rental. You’ll also find a general store (Crystal Store) and an outhouse.

    The top “snow door” in one house gave us some perspective as to how deep the snow gets in the winter time.

    cabin with snow door in Crystal, Colorado

    A small stream flowed beside the road, a great way to keep drinks cold since there is no electricity in this mountain town.

    keeping drinks cold in a mountain stream in Crystal City, Colorado

    And a flag in the center of town whipped back and forth in the wind.

    American flag standing tall in the Rocky Mountains in Crystal, Colorado

    If I had the opportunity to spend a week or more in this quiet mountain town, I totally would.

    The road continues on through the town of Crystal and winds its way to Crested Butte via Schofield Pass.

    I’m feeling adventurous enough that some day I would love to go back and do the entire loop, even the Devil’s Punchbowl, which is considered one of the most dangerous 4WD trails in Colorado.

    Crystal Mill on the Crystal River in the Maroon Bells Wilderness in Colorado

    CRAVING MORE ADVENTURE IN YOUR LIFE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

    THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

    Before you book one of the Marble, Colorado Jeep tours, be sure to pick the right tour for you. Some tours involve hiking, and some require you to bring a sack lunch.

    Also, a few more tips…

    • Tours operate from Memorial Day to November 30.
    • Bathrooms are few and far between, though there is one at your starting point in Marble and an outhouse in Crystal.
    • Roads are quite rocky, meaning lots of bumps and jolts.
    • Take your own drinking water, and pack any snacks or food you need for the trek. You may even want to pack a small cooler.
    • Jeeps are open, so wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and carry a jacket, even in summer.
    • Reservations are recommended, but they do take walk-ins. You’ll want to be sure to arrive 15 minutes early, so you can pay and fill out paperwork, including signed waivers.
    • If your family doesn’t fill up the Jeep (our family of 5 did), they will fill it up with more people you may not know.
    • Be sure to take your camera and/or your binoculars!

    And finally, two more very important tips…

    • The property along the road and even the mill itself is all private property. Do not trespass.
    • Also, leave no trace! Pack out what you pack in.

    Have you been to Crystal Mill? Have you taken some of the other Jeep tours? Share in the comments!

    More Colorado treasures you may enjoy visiting:

    PIN THIS COLORADO ROAD TRIP TO SAVE IT FOR LATER!

    Crystal Mill Jeep Tour in Colorado
  • Crispy Seasoned Steak Fries over the Campfire

    Crispy Seasoned Steak Fries over the Campfire

    How to make the best homemade steak fries, seasoned and grilled to crispy perfection in a cast iron skillet over the campfire. Easy comfort food recipe.

    cooked steak fries, sprinkled with chopped parsley, in a cast iron skillet

    There’s just nothing quite as delicious as a burger and fries, especially when the French fries have the smoky flavor of a campfire. Sometimes I even make chili cheese fries over the campfire!

    While I’ve never been a fan of big, thick fries or really thick potato wedges, I do love a skinnier fry. And while these steak cut fries aren’t exactly skinny, they’re still crispy, and that makes all the difference.

    Lightly seasoned with garlic, smoked paprika, and a few more seasonings, these seasoned steak fries have a really delicious flavor.

    And they require only a minimal amount of work. Even cooking them over the fire isn’t much work at all. They’re so easy peasy and make the perfect side to a juicy bacon cheeseburger, baked chicken drums, roast beef Philly cheesesteaks, pressure cooker salmon or my favorite crock pot sloppy joes.

    Can’t have a campfire? No problem! You can still make these on the grill or on the camp stove.

    cooking steak cut fries in a cast iron skillet over the campfire on a campfire grill

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my campfire cooking/grilling tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the steak fries recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

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    WHAT ARE THE BEST POTATOES FOR STEAK CUT FRIES?

    While you can use red potatoes or Yukon Gold (my preferred potato for mashed potatoes), I recommend using plain ole Russet potatoes to make homemade steak fries.

    Russets will give you a crispier texture than the other two potatoes.

    As will a good, firm potato. Make sure the potatoes you use are fresh and not too old or soft.

    HOW TO CUT STEAK FRIES

    Cutting up the fries is actually really easy, and there’s no peeling required. The skin will give your fries a crispier texture, so you’ll want to leave it on the potatoes.

    Be sure you give your potatoes a good washing before you start to slice. Also, be sure to cut out any bad spots.

    To cut your potatoes into steak fries…

    1. Lay the potato on its side, and cut the potato, lengthwise, into 4 sections.
    2. Then cut potatoes into thinner wedges, or steak fries.
    how to cut steak fries out of Russet potatoes with large knife on blue cutting board

    And that’s all there is to it. Easy peasy!

    WHAT TO USE FOR STEAK FRY SEASONING

    Now the seasoning is something you can totally switch up. But I will say, these fries have incredible flavor with the seasonings we chose to use.

    I’ll also say, I’m not a huge fan of paprika. But the smoked paprika on these fries really can’t be beat. It adds to the smoky flavor the campfire gives, and it’s just so delicious.

    Here’s a rundown of the seasonings we use (exact amounts in the recipe card below)…

    BEFORE YOU GET STARTED COOKING…

    Your fire should be down to coals, with a little bit of flame here and there.

    While we usually use our tripod grill, we decided instead to use our homemade campfire grill this time.

    You’ll want to watch it closely, though, as you may need to adjust the placement of the grill over the fire, so the pan or griddle you’re using doesn’t get so hot that it cooks everything too quickly.

    HOW TO MAKE STEAK FRIES

    Before you cook the fries, you’ll need to season them. Place the cut fries into a large bowl, and toss and coat potatoes with canola oil or olive oil and seasonings.

    making seasoned steak fries by coating potatoes with olive oil and seasonings in large bowl

    Cooking up steak fries on the grill is actually a really simple process.

    how to make steak fries by cooking in cast iron skillet on campfire grill
    1. Place about 1/4 inch of canola oil or olive oil in a large cast iron skillet, and heat over the fire (or on the grill/camp stove).
    2. Once the oil is hot and bubbly, place the fries carefully in the hot oil in a single layer, being careful not to splatter hot oil on your hands. Use grilling tongs or a flipper spatula, along with grilling gloves, to avoid burns.
    3. Cook the fries for about 15 to 30 minutes, flipping and turning as needed to make sure both sides are cooked evenly. Fries should be tender, crispy, and golden brown when done.
    golden brown steak cut fries, sprinkled with parsley, in cast iron skillet

    Drain the oil responsibly and serve the fries with ketchup or fry sauce.

    WHAT TO SERVE WITH STEAK CUT FRIES

    You definitely need some ideas for what to make with your fries. Here are a few…

    dipping potato wedges in ketchup in small blue bowl

    SHOP KITCHEN TOOLS AND CAMPING KITCHEN GEAR FOR THIS RECIPE:

    Vegetable or Potato Brush

    Cutting Board and Outdoor Knife Set

    Large Bowl

    Large Cast Iron Skillet 

    Grilling Flipper or Tongs

    Tripod Grill or Campfire Grill – While we rigged up our own campfire grill, you can also buy them. They come with shorter legs and smaller grates, but definitely still usable over the fire.

    Portable Charcoal Grill or Camp Stove

    Welding Gloves – These work so much better for cooking over a campfire than regular grilling gloves/mitts.

    We’ve put together a list of camping cooking equipment you may need for your next adventure. Be sure to check it out for all the essentials!

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this recipe as much as we do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    crispy seasoned steak fries recipe

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    Crispy Seasoned Steak Fries over the Campfire

    How to make the best homemade steak fries, seasoned and grilled to crispy perfection in a cast iron skillet over the campfire. Easy comfort food recipe.

    • Collapse-it Silicone Mixing Bowls
    • Welding Gloves HEAT RESISTANT BBQ/Camping/Cooking
    • Cutting Board
    • GSI Outdoors – Santoku Knife Set
    • Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 5 Piece Bundle
    • Folding Campfire Grill
    • 3 Russet potatoes
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 2 teaspoons onion powder
    • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 2 tablespoons canola oil*
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
    1. Wash the potatoes really well.
    2. Lay each potato on its side on a cutting board.
    3. Cut the potato, lengthwise, into 4 sections.
    4. Then cut each section into thinner wedges, or steak fries.
    5. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the seasonings together.
    6. Place the cut fries into the bowl, and toss and coat with the seasonings and olive oil.
    7. Place about 1/4 inch of canola oil or olive oil in a large cast iron skillet, and heat over the fire (or on the grill/camp stove).
    8. Once the oil is hot and bubbly, place the fries carefully in the hot oil in a single layer, being careful not to splatter hot oil on your hands.**
    9. Cook the fries for about 15 to 25 minutes, flipping and turning as needed to make sure both sides are cooked evenly. Fries should be tender, crispy, and golden brown when done.
    10. Drain the oil responsibly, sprinkle the fries with chopped parsley if desired, and serve with ketchup or fry sauce.

    *You can use canola oil or olive oil.

    **Use grilling tongs or a flipper spatula with welding/grilling gloves on to avoid burns.

    Camping Recipes
    American
    homemade steak fries, how to cut steak fries, how to make steak fries, seasoned steak fries, steak cut fries, steak fries, steak fries on the grill, steak fries recipe
  • Walking Camping Tacos in a Bag

    Walking Camping Tacos in a Bag

    Learn how to make the best camping tacos for a simple and easy campfire dinner. You can make walking tacos right in a bag with taco meat and all your favorite toppings. The whole family, all ages, will absolutely love it!

    Let me count the ways I love tacos. This walking tacos camping recipe is even better because they’re so easy to make after a long day in the great outdoors.

    camping tacos with Doritos, taco meat, avocado, pico de gallo, and toppings on wood cutting board

    If you’ve never had a walking taco, or some might call it taco in a bag, you are in for a treat. This recipe rates up there with our favorite loaded campfire nachos! It’s a great addition to my list of favorite easy camping recipes, as well.

    What Is a Walking Taco vs. a Regular Taco?

    It’s called by so many names… Walking tacos, walking nachos, taco in a bag or tacos in a bag, and walking taco salad to name a few.

    Basically, instead of a taco shell, you add the meat, sour cream, and taco toppings to a small bag of chips. Then stir it all up and you have the makings of a really delicious taco.

    walking tacos camping recipe in a bag using individual size Doritos chip bag, ground beef, and taco toppings

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • The only thing you really have to cook for this recipe is the taco meat. Easy peasy in a cast iron skillet over the campfire or in a regular skillet on your camp stove.
    • All you need are personal sized bags of Doritos or corn chips, taco meat, and your favorite taco toppings.
    • Camping walking tacos are a great meal for any age; the whole family will love them.
    • They’re budget-friendly and don’t cost a lot to make.
    • If you don’t have chips, you can easily make this recipe into a taco salad without the chips.
    • This walking tacos recipe is versatile, and you can add any toppings you like.
    • Tacos made in a bag are a lot less messy than traditional tacos. You can eat them with a fork.
    walking tacos camping ingredients on white countertop and wood cutting board

    Ingredients and Substitutions Notes:

    There are 3-4 ingredients you absolutely need to make the meat mixture, but the toppings are totally up to you and whatever you like on tacos.

    Taco Meat:

    • Yellow Onion – I like to mince up a little onion and add to our taco meat to give it more delicious flavor.
    • Ground Beef – We tend to go with a lean ground beef, usually 80/20 or 90/10.
    • Taco Seasoning – Our favorite taco seasoning is Badia taco seasoning.
    • Salsa – Now, here’s where you can decide if you want a little more kick to your taco meat. You can use mild or medium salsa; or you can use basil salsa. If you’re looking to change things up, try using a fruit salsa, like this mango peach salsa recipe.
    • Chips – I recommend using Fritos or Doritos, any flavor you want. I really love Nacho Cheese Doritos for camp tacos.

    Toppings:

    • Lettuce
    • Fresh Diced Tomatoes
    • Black Beans
    • Cheddar Cheese
    • Monterey Jack Cheese
    • Sour Cream
    • Salsa or Pico de Gallo
    • Queso
    • Hot Sauce
    • Sliced Jalapeños
    • Sliced Black Olives
    • Green onions or Red Onion
    • Avocados

    The list could really go on and on.

    How to Make Camping Tacos

    Before you can make anything, you’ll need to do a little prep work first.

    Making sure you have a campfire going is imperative for cooking the meat. You can also cook on a camp stove or grill. I know a lot of the time when we’re out camping, we can’t have a campfire. So if a stove is all you’ve got, you can definitely still make this recipe.

    Next you’ll need to prep all your veggies and toppings and actually cook the meat. You can cook the taco meat at the campsite, or you can cook it before you leave home and pack it in a plastic baggie in the cooler.

    How to Make Taco Meat

    Your fire should be down to coals at this point, with a little bit of flame here and there. We prefer to use our tripod grill right above the coals. You’ll want to watch it closely, though. You may need to adjust the height of the grill over the fire, so the pan doesn’t get so hot that it burns the meat.

    1. In a large cast iron skillet, sauté the chopped onion.
    2. Then add the ground beef and mix it up with the onion, stirring occasionally while cooking.
    3. Meanwhile, while waiting on the meat to cook, chop up the lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados. I recommend shredding cheese at home or buying already shredded cheese.
    4. When the meat is cooked through, go ahead and responsibly drain it. Then add the taco seasoning and salsa and stir into the meat. Allow the mixture to simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
    cooking taco meat in cast iron skillet over campfire and prepping campfire tacos toppings on cutting board

    How to Assemble Walking Tacos

    Layering your Doritos walking taco is the BEST part about this whole recipe, besides eating it.

    You’ll need individual size chip bags. You can crush chips in the bag or just leave them as is and they’ll kinda crush up on their own when you stir everything in.

    1. Open the bag, crushing chips up a little bit if you want.
    2. Then add in a nice sized helping of the ground beef mixture.
    3. Add in a dollop of sour cream and your favorite toppings. We usually add lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados.
    4. Then sprinkle in the shredded cheese.
    how to make camping walking tacos by layering ingredients in Doritos chip bag
    1. Give it all a good stir with a fork, mixing it all up really well.
    walking camping tacos in a small Nacho Cheese Doritos chip bag

    And then it’s ready to eat. Wasn’t that easy? And so, so, so, so good! Just writing up this recipe makes me hungry for more.

    You wanna know the best part about this easy dinner idea? No dishes! Besides the skillet and cutting board. Win win!

    eating taco in a bag with a fork

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    How should I store leftovers?

    Obviously, unopened bags of chips can just stay like they are. As for the meat mixture and toppings, we usually just combine things like meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, etc., and store it in either an airtight container or a plastic storage bag, then put it in the cooler where it will stay cold. It makes a great snack or lunch the next day, though more like a taco salad.

    camping walking tacos and ingredients on wood cutting board

    MORE TACO RECIPES AND TEX-MEX FAVORITES:

    If you need to stock your camp kitchen, we’ve put together a list of camping cooking equipment you may find helpful.

    If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

    Walking Camping Tacos

    How to make the best camping tacos for a simple and easy campfire dinner. Walking tacos in a bag with taco meat and your favorite toppings.

    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Cutting Board
    • Chef's Knife
    • Tripod Grill
    • Camp Stove
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1/2 medium yellow onion (minced)
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
    • 1/2 cup salsa
    • 5 small bags Doritos (or Fritos)

    Toppings:

    • 1 cup lettuce (chopped or shredded)
    • 1 cup tomatoes (diced)
    • 1 cup black beans (drained)
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)
    • 3/4 cup sour cream
    • 1 cup salsa (or Pico de Gallo)
    • 2 avocados (peeled and chopped)
    • 1/2 cup jalapeños (sliced)
    • 1/2 cup black olives (sliced)
    • 1/2 cup green onions (chopped)

    1. Choose whether you'll cook on a camp stove, grill, or over the campfire. We like to cook over the fire when possible.

    2. Your fire should be down to coals at this point, with a little bit of flame here and there. We prefer to use our tripod grill right above the coals. You may need to adjust the height of the grill over the fire, so the pan doesn’t get so hot that it burns the meat.

    3. In a large cast iron skillet, sauté the chopped onion in a little bit of olive oil.

    4. Then add the ground beef and mix it up with the onion, stirring the mixture occasionally while cooking.

    5. Meanwhile, while waiting on the meat to cook, chop up the lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and other toppings that need chopping.

    6. When the meat is cooked through, go ahead and responsibly drain it.

    7. Add the taco seasoning and salsa into the meat, and allow the mixture to simmer for another 5-10 minutes.

    8. Then remove the taco meat from the skillet and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes while you finish putting together all the toppings.

    How to Assemble Walking Tacos:

    1. Open the bags of chips, crushing chips up a little bit if you want.
    2. Add in a nice sized helping of the ground beef mixture.

    3. Then add in a dollop of sour cream and all your favorite toppings, including shredded cheese. We add lettuce, tomatoes, and avocados.

    4. Give it all a good stir with a fork, mixing it all up really well. And then it's ready to eat!

    When it comes to leftovers, obviously, unopened bags of chips can just stay like they are. As for the meat mixture and toppings, we usually just combine things like meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, etc., and store it in either an airtight container or a plastic storage bag, then put it in the cooler where it will stay cold. It makes a great snack or lunch the next day, though more like a taco salad.

    Camping Recipes, dinner
    American, Tex-Mex
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  • How to Find the Best Free Camping in the USA (Video)

    How to Find the Best Free Camping in the USA (Video)

    Tips for how and where to find awesome free camping on your next USA road trip adventure. Find amazing, off the beaten path, beautiful places to camp!

    Probably the question I get asked the most about our style of camping is, “Where can I find free camping?”

    rooftop tent in one of many free campsites in New Mexico mountains

    People will message me, email me, and comment asking where they can find free campsites in different parts of the country.

    Listen, we’ve camped in some pretty amazing places… Like 10,000 feet up a mountain pass close to an old abandoned mine… On the edge of a meadow with a herd of elk peacefully grazing nearby… In the middle of the desert with a night sky chock full of brightly shining stars… In the heart of a national forest where wolves wake you up at night with their howls right outside your tent.

    But we’ve also been in your shoes trying to figure all this out, searching for ‘free camping near me’… In the dark, it’s getting late, we haven’t eaten yet, still looking for a good place to stop for the night and pitch our tent.

    We’ve even camped on a roadside pull-out with cars honking their horns all night long as they passed. Oh the joy that night was! If only we’d known that just up the road was a beautiful campsite on top of the mountain, tucked back into the trees away from honking jerks, er, cars.

    That very scenario and all of the questions I get on a regular basis about how to camp for free, lead me to writing this, so I can give you all the details, down to the nitty gritty, of how to find free camping in the USA.

    Stay tuned because eventually, we’ll be covering Canada and individual states. We’re also planning to share places where we’ve camped in the United States, as well.

    [mv_video doNotAutoplayNorOptimizePlacement=”false” doNotOptimizePlacement=”false” jsonLd=”true” key=”wtcwt4exh6vbjn2gtpdx” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/wtcwt4exh6vbjn2gtpdx.jpg” title=”How to Find the Best Free Camping in the USA” volume=”100″]

    WHY WE CAMP FOR FREE

    When I say ‘free’, I mean free in a money sense, as well as free in a ‘wild and free’ sense.

    Dispersed camping allows our family to travel and experience everything this beautiful amazing country has to offer. Like kayaking Beaver Lake, it gives us the opportunity to explore places we may only have otherwise dreamed of exploring.

    For us, camping means an escape away from civilization and most of the time, away from developed campgrounds. While the preparation and all that it entails may not be free, we like to stick to wild camping in off the beaten path camping spots.

    gorgeous hardwood trees and aspens in the Carson National Forest in New Mexico, USA

    WHERE TO FIND FREE CAMPSITES

    Finding free places to camp may require a little bit of research before you pack up and head out. The type of campsite you need will depend on the type of equipment you have.

    For example, are you RV camping or boondocking? Tent camping? Are you backpacking?

    All of this will factor in to your decision as to where you want to look for camping spots.

    Below is a comprehensive list of all the places where you can find free camping in the USA, as well as tools you can use to find these places. You’ll find descriptions and details, rules and regulations, and even a few examples.

    NATIONAL GRASSLAND AND NATIONAL FOREST CAMPING

    Camping in National Forests is usually our #1 choice. In fact, we plan most of our trips around being able to find good camp spots in the National Forest.

    One of our favorite places to camp closer to home is the Ozark National Forest.

    We also have a favorite spot on the Rita Blanca National Grassland where we like to stop for free overnight camping if we’re making our way out West.

    Camping in a National Forest or on the Grasslands are usually good for all kinds of camping, whether you’re an RV camper, in a fifth wheel or trailer, a van, tent camper, or backpacking. There are usually options for all.

    But be aware, there will be no amenities. We’re talking dry camping here. You won’t have access to restrooms, picnic tables, bear lockers, running water, electricity, or trash service.

    road atlas and adventure road atlas on rocks

    How to Find Camping Spots in a National Forest or Grassland:

    • Look for light green areas on your map. You can find them in Google Maps (you may need to zoom in/out to see more detail) or in any road trip atlas or adventure atlas.
    • Use Google Earth to get a satellite view and find pull-offs or clearings, both being pretty good indicators that there are campsites in the area you’re searching.
    • Driving just about any Forest Service road (usually dirt roads) will lead to all sorts of places you can camp for free. Look for spots alongside the road, or look for sites that are tucked back into the forest more. You may even be able to backpack in to a site if that is your preference.
    • Always look for a fire ring and an already established site. Never create your own site.
    • Locating and stopping at a ranger station in the Forest you’re visiting enables you to get all the information you need, as well as more detailed maps and Motor Vehicle Use Maps (the best maps you can have because they’re updated regularly with road closures) of the area, which you can also find on the Gaia GPS app. Plus, you can get all of your questions answered and become aware of any problems/issues they’re experiencing at the time (example: burn bans, wildlife warnings, road closures, etc.)
    • If camping in a Grassland, calling the local authorities may give you insight as to whether or not it’s ok to park for the night in a picnic area.

    You may also find a Benchmark Road & Recreation Atlas for each state helpful.

    motor vehicle use maps on rocks, perfect for finding back roads, Forest Service roads, and free camping in the USA

    Rules and Regulations:

    Usually, there is no fee or permit required, meaning you will probably camp for FREE the entire time! You just have to check with each area you are planning to enter because some do require permits.

    All campsites are first come, first serve. You can not reserve these remote sites.

    Rules are posted online. And you can usually find signs with rules and updates upon entering the area you’re visiting.

    Here are a few…

    • Stay on existing roads, whether paved or unpaved.
    • Check fire conditions and for burn bans before starting a fire. Also, make sure you don’t need a permit to have a campfire. On that same note, drown your fire before going to bed and before leaving the campsite.
    • Always camp at least 200 feet away from any type of water source, such as rivers, creeks, lakes, and wetlands.
    • There’s usually a 14 day limit, and you can’t return to that exact campsite for 1 whole year. So if you find a good site, you may wanna stay and enjoy it for as long as possible.
    • Leave no trace. Always pack in what you pack out. And don’t harm any vegetation or feed any wildlife.

    BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM LANDS)

    BLM Lands can be found mostly in western states. When I think BLM, I think of a spot in the desert outside Roswell, New Mexico, where a sudden windstorm nearly blew us away.

    However difficult they may be to locate, you can find some really beautiful camping spots on BLM Lands. Note that you’ll also find some developed campgrounds, but they usually charge a fee for camping.

    All campsites are first come, first serve. You can not reserve these remote sites.

    Camping on BLM lands is usually good for all kinds of camping, whether you’re an RV camper, in a fifth wheel or trailer, a van, tent camper, or backpacking.

    But be aware, there will be no amenities. Again, dry camping… You won’t have access to restrooms, picnic tables, bear lockers, running water, electricity, or trash service.

    4Runner with rooftop tent dispersed camping in the mountains of New Mexico, USA

    How to Find Camping Spots on BLM Lands:

    • Find maps on the BLM website for the state/s you’re visiting.
    • Look for spots alongside the road, already established campsites where previous visitors have camped.
    • If possible, stop by a local BLM office to get more information, as well as hard copy maps.

    Here is a list of Public Lands where you can search by state and then by BLM Lands, National Forests, etc.

    Rules and Regulations:

    Some BLM Lands are in use by mining companies or ranchers with grazing rights. So, there may be livestock running on the lands.

    • Stay on public land. Never enter private land or go through a gate without getting permission to do so first. And then if you do go through a gate, leave it the way it was.
    • Check fire conditions and for burn bans before starting a fire. Also, make sure you don’t need a permit to have a campfire. On that same note, if you are allowed to have a fire, drown your fire before going to bed and before leaving the campsite.
    • You’re usually limited to 14 days within a 28 day period.
    • Always camp at least 200 feet away from any type of water source, such as rivers, creeks, lakes, and wetlands.
    • Leave no trace. Always pack in what you pack out. And don’t harm any vegetation, livestock, water supply, or feed any wildlife.
    national forest camping in Colorado with fire ring in golden aspen trees

    OTHER OPTIONS FOR FREE CAMPING

    You may find other options for free camping in wilderness areas, state areas, Wildlife Management Areas, county and city parks, and even a rare spot in a National Park.

    Some state parks and national parks allow backpacking in, camping in the backcountry, and primitive camping, as well.

    Check the state you’re visiting for these types of camping areas, and contact the appropriate office to get more information.

    Just keep in mind, it may not always be free because you may need a permit. But usually, a permit will be much cheaper than paying for a nightly campsite.

    Though it does require a paid permit, we’ve enjoyed backcountry camping in Big Bend National Park. Pick a spot, pay the permit fee, and drive out into the backcountry to set up camp. It is amazing and treacherous all at the same time.

    Another national park that has free campsites is Great Sand Dunes. You can drive out on a 4-WD road beyond the sand dunes and find 21 free campsites that are first come, first serve. This was actually one of our first experiences with dispersed camping.

    Not Exactly Camping, But…

    You may also find a place for overnight parking (and sleeping in your vehicle or camper) at places like truck stops, Walmart, and even some casinos.

    They’ll sometimes allow you to stay the night in their parking lot.

    wild camping with a rooftop tent and camp trailer in the Carson National Forest in New Mexico, USA

    WEBSITES AND APPS FOR FINDING FREE CAMPSITES

    We’ve used a few resources, both paper and electronic, in our years of camping together out in the boonies. The great thing about modern technology is that it’s given us way more options for finding campsites than ever before.

    1. Free Campsites – We’ve used this website quite a bit, especially when we just need a spot for free overnight camping. We found a great little spot one night next to Ottawa State Fishing Lake while driving through Kansas on our way to Wyoming.

    2. iOverlander – Both a website and an app, you can find both established campgrounds, including free campgrounds, and wild campsites where you can camp away from anyone else. It even has sites in Kansas… Any app that can tell me where to camp across the empty expanse of Kansas is a-ok in my book.

    I like that you can add filters for amenities and types of sites too. For example, you can search by wild camping or established campground; you can search for sites with water, dump stations, propane, etc.

    3. Campendium – I notice this app shows a lot more campgrounds than actual dispersed camping sites, but if you filter by ‘free’, you’ll get a lot more dispersed campsites in your search results.

    I do love that you can also search by National Forests, National Parks, State Parks, etc., so it gives you the ability to really narrow down your search.

    4. The Dyrt – Yet another website and app that allows you to filter and search for both established campgrounds and dispersed campsites by location. You can also find cabins with this app.

    *PAID* APP FOR FINDING GREAT CAMPING SPOTS

    1. Gaia GPS – I mentioned finding the MVUM maps on this app. We use this app on every single trip. Dan and I both highly recommend it!

    It’s a great way to download maps (including offroad and topo maps), plot your route, get the latest weather/fire information, and get information on whether lands are public or private. You can also sync data between devices, and you can record your own trips or hikes. It’s an amazing app!

    CAMPING RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE:

    WATCH OUR VIDEO TO SEE HOW AWESOME DISPERSED CAMPING CAN BE!

    PIN IT FOR LATER!

    If you love camping as much as we do, help me share the “how to” on Facebook and Pinterest!

    how to find the best free campsites in the USA
  • Quick and Easy Grilled Taco Tuna Melt

    Quick and Easy Grilled Taco Tuna Melt

    Easy taco tuna melt recipe, made with a secret ingredient, melted cheese, avocado, and English muffins. Make it on the grill or over the campfire. Thanks to Bays® English Muffins for sponsoring this post. Views expressed here are genuinely mine.

    While we’ll cook just about anything while we’re camping, simple and easy dinner ideas, like this tuna melt sandwich, go a long way. Easy is everything when you’ve been out exploring all day long.

    grilled taco tuna melt with avocado on English muffin with tomatoes, on wooden cutting board

    This tuna melt is one of my favorite camping recipes because not only is it Tex Mex, but it requires minimal prep work and minimal ingredients.

    In fact, while I like to use a medium bowl to mix up the ingredients, you can mix it right in the same skillet used to grill the sandwiches.

    We even use a secret ingredient that gives it a pop of flavor. Keep reading to find out what it is.

    We prefer to make it an English muffin tuna melt, as well, using Bays English Muffins. They give the sandwich a slightly crispy texture with an explosion of flavor from both the muffins and the tuna mixture.

    My mouth is watering right now just thinking about fish and chips, pairing it up with our favorite seasoned steak fries.

    grilled taco tuna melt sandwich, made with English muffins, on wooden cutting board

    WHERE CAN I FIND THE ACTUAL RECIPE CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my grilling tips, important info for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the tuna melt recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    If you’re as into Tex-Mex recipes as I am, you’ll love these recipes too:

    WHAT IS A TUNA MELT?

    If you’ve never had a tuna melt, it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

    It’s tuna on some sort of bread with cheese melted over it. Usually, the tuna is mixed with mayo or other ingredients to give it a really delicious flavor.

    In this case, we mix the tuna with certain ingredients to make it a Tex Mex tuna melt.

    WHAT’S THE BEST BREAD FOR TUNA MELT?

    As I mentioned above, we prefer to use Bays English Muffins. I love the thin, crispy outside and soft inside of these particular English muffins.

    easy tuna melt made with Bays English muffins on wooden cutting board

    While they’re perfect for breakfast, they make a wonderful alternative for lunch and dinner too, as well as snacks. My kids like to eat them with peanut butter.

    Also, they’re pre-sliced and easy to use when you’re cooking in the great outdoors.

    You can find Bays in the dairy case at your local grocery store. They are chilled for freshness, so we stow a pack or two in the cooler for camping.

    Bays English Muffins on the shelf at the grocery store

    HOW TO MAKE A TUNA MELT, TEX MEX STYLE

    Making this easy tuna melt, even over the campfire, is a breeze.

    First you need to wash and prep the peppers and green onions, the only chopping you’ll really need to do for this recipe (unless you want additional toppings).

    chopping green onions and red bell peppers on wooden cutting board for grilled tuna melt recipe

    Create the tuna mixture…

    1. Combine tuna fish, picante tomato juice (our secret ingredient), red peppers, and green onions.
    2. Place the mixture in a cast iron skillet, and heat it thoroughly on the grill or over the campfire. Cook it ’til it’s bubbly and sizzling.
    making tuna fish mixture for tuna melt over the campfire in cast iron skillet

    Now you’re ready to assemble your sandwiches…

    1. Start by splitting your pre-cut English muffins.
    2. Top the bottom half with a good sized helping of the tuna mixture.
    3. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. We love using Monterey Jack or extra sharp cheddar on our tuna melts.
    4. Grill both the tops and bottoms of the sandwiches on a griddle until the cheese is melted. Be careful not to let the muffins burn.
    how to make tuna melt with Tex Mex tuna mixture, shredded cheese, and English muffins

    CAMPFIRE COOKING TIPS

    Your fire should be down to coals, with a little bit of flame here and there.

    We use a tripod grill. You’ll want to watch it closely, though, as you may need to adjust the height of the grill over the fire, so the pan doesn’t get so hot that it burns the sandwiches.

    Once you have the height you think you need, place the griddle on the grill, and you can either use a heated lid (with a skillet or Dutch oven), or use aluminum foil as sort of a tent wrapped around the griddle to trap the heat.

    Trapping the heat will allow the tops of the tuna melts to cook, also allowing the cheese to melt.

    Want to see an example of our aluminum foil tent? Check out our campfire chicken nachos recipe.

    We’ve also put together a list of campfire cooking gear you may need for your next adventure. Be sure to check it out for all the essentials!

    WHEN IT’S TIME TO ADD YOUR FAVORITE TOPPINGS

    Once your tuna melt has cooked, you can load it up with your favorite taco toppings.

    We like to add diced tomatoes and avocados. Other alternatives might include tomato basil salsa, sour cream, lettuce, etc.

    English muffin tuna melt sandwich with avocado and tomatoes on wooden cutting board

    Be sure to Like/Follow Bays Facebook page for more delicious recipe ideas.

    HOW ‘BOUT DESSERT AFTER DINNER? MORE CAMPING RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY…

    GET THE PRINTABLE RECIPE

    If you love this grilled tuna melt recipe as much as we do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the recipe on Facebook and Pinterest!

    Quick and Easy Grilled Taco Tuna Melt Recipe

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    Quick and Easy Grilled Taco Tuna Melt

    Easy taco tuna melt recipe, made with a secret ingredient, melted cheese, avocado, and English muffins. Make it on the grill or over the campfire.

    • 4 small red bell peppers (chopped or minced)
    • 3 green onions (chopped)
    • 20 ounces solid white albacore tuna
    • 3/4 cup picante tomato cocktail
    • 8 English muffins
    • 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese* (shredded)
    • 3 Roma tomatoes
    • 2 avocados
    1. Wash and chop the peppers and green onions.
    2. Combine the tuna fish, peppers, green onions, and tomato juice.
    3. Place the tuna mixture in a cast iron skillet over the fire, stirring as needed, until the mixture starts to bubble and sizzle and is heated through.
    4. To assemble the tuna melt, split the English muffins in half.
    5. Top the bottom half with a good sized helping of the tuna mixture.
    6. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. We love using Monterey Jack or extra sharp cheddar on our tuna melts.
    7. Grill both the tops and bottoms of the sandwiches on a griddle until the cheese is melted. Be careful not to let the muffins burn.**
    8. Add your favorite taco toppings, like tomatoes and avocado, and serve while warm.

    *You can use Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese. We also love using extra sharp cheddar.

    **If cooking over a campfire, your fire should be down to coals, with a little bit of flame here and there. We use a tripod grill. You may need to adjust the height of the grill over the fire, so the pan doesn’t get so hot that it burns the sandwiches. Trapping the heat with either a lid or aluminum foil will allow the tops of the tuna melts to cook, also allowing the cheese to melt.

    Burgers & Sandwiches
    American
    English muffin tuna melt, grilled tuna melt recipe, tuna melt, tuna melt recipe, tuna melt sandwich
  • Camping Breakfast Burritos for Campfire or Make Ahead

    Camping Breakfast Burritos for Campfire or Make Ahead

    Stuffed with bacon (or sausage) and a delicious egg mixture, camping breakfast burritos are easy to make ahead, or cook them over a campfire in the great outdoors. Nothing fuels you better than a simple breakfast of easy campfire burritos.

    When you’re camping, breakfast burritos are an easy way to fill your stomach before a day of fun and exploring with your family. Like my homemade version of the sausage McMuffin, they’re a savory breakfast and satisfying meal that helps fuel you for the day’s adventures.

    hands holding bacon, egg, and cheese camping breakfast burrito wrapped in foil

    While make ahead breakfast burritos for camping are a definite win, you can cook them up over the campfire in no time at all. All you need are a few ingredients and either a fire or a grill.

    Why You’ll Love This Camping Recipe

    • One thing I love about these camping breakfast wraps, especially with kids, is the versatility. It’s easy to switch up the ingredients; if you don’t want bacon, you can add sausage instead.
    • Not to mention, there’s nothing quite as wonderful as easy camping meals after long days outdoors, and make ahead camping burritos make for easy camping meal preparation.
    • Have I mentioned, though, how satisfying the combination of bacon, egg, and cheese really is? It’s full of protein and so delicious and filling. I especially love a good camping breakfast because it fuels your day and gets you going for a day spent in the great outdoors. That’s exactly what camping burritos do.
    • I love meals around the campfire. However, if you’re not allowed to have a campfire, you can make this campfire recipe on the grill or camp stove. You can even warm the burritos in the oven at home.
    • A bacon breakfast burrito hits the spot and tastes really good, especially with a warm mug of campfire coffee.
    • Breakfast burritos are convenient and portable. You can eat them at the campsite or take them on the go.
    grilling camping breakfast burritos in heavy duty foil on a tripod grill over the campfire

    What’s in a Breakfast Burrito?

    For this camping breakfast burrito recipe, you need just a few simple ingredients you can either prep before you go camping, or prep at the campsite. I’ve also put together a list of campfire cooking equipment that’ll help you make these mouthwatering burritos and other campfire recipes.

    Ingredients and Substitution Notes

    While these camp breakfast burritos are filled with bacon, eggs, and cheese, there’s no limit to what to put in breakfast burritos.

    Just a Few More Ideas for Ingredients…

    • Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, etc.
    • Bacon
    • Breakfast sausage
    • Ham
    • Cheddar cheese
    • Monterey Jack cheese
    • Pepper Jack cheese
    • Green onions
    • Bell peppers
    • Green chiles
    • Tomatoes
    • Hash browns, crispy fried potatoes, or tater tots
    • Black beans
    • Seasonings – Salt, pepper, etc.
    • Hot sauce
    • Salsa and sour cream

    The list could go on and on.

    How to Make Camping Breakfast Burritos

    Between cooking the ingredients and then assembling your breakfast wraps, making bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast burritos involves just a few simple steps.

    Cook the Bacon and Egg Mixture…

    1. Start by cooking the bacon in a large skillet or frying pan. If cooking over the fire, you’ll want to use a cast iron skillet; we use our homemade griddle, which is very similar to this pizza pan.
    2. While the bacon’s cooking, prep the bell peppers and green onions.
    3. Sauté the vegetables in a little bit of bacon grease, and then add the eggs.
    4. Scramble all the eggs in with the bell peppers, green onions, salt, and pepper.
    how to make camping breakfast burritos by cooking bacon, bell pepper, green onions, and eggs on cast iron griddle over campfire

    How to Assemble Each Bacon and Egg Wrap

    1. Add a helping of the egg mixture to the center of each tortilla; we use a burrito size flour tortilla (or gluten-free tortilla). At this point, you can also add a little bit of hot sauce, salsa, or sour cream if you want.
    2. Next sprinkle cheese, including both shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack.
    3. Wrap your burrito by folding the ends and folding over, rolling into a nice, tight burrito wrap.
    4. Then wrap the entire burrito in heavy duty foil. And now they’re ready for the campfire (or grill).
    how to make bacon, egg, and cheese camp breakfast burritos by adding eggs and cheese to flour tortilla, wrapping the burrito, and then wrapping in aluminum foil for cooking

    How to Cook Breakfast Burritos on a Campfire

    If you don’t want a crispy texture, you don’t even have to place the burritos on the fire or the grill.

    If you do want a crispy texture, cooking campfire breakfast burritos is really simple…

    1. Your fire should be down to coals, with a little bit of flame here and there.
    2. While we prefer to use our tripod grill right down over the coals, you can cook them without any grill at all. Having them wrapped in foil allows you to lay them right onto the hot coals.
    3. Be aware, placing the wrapped burritos directly on the hot coals will require you to be diligent in turning them frequently so they don’t burn on one side. Same if you’re using a grill, whether a tripod grill on the campfire or an actual portable grill. You’ll need to turn the burritos frequently, every 1-2 mins, to ensure they don’t burn.
    4. Since everything inside the burritos is already cooked, you’re just warming them enough to ensure the cheese is melted and give your tortilla a bit of a crispy texture.
    cooking campfire breakfast burritos in foil over the campfire on a tripod grill

    Once they’re cooked, serve and enjoy the best breakfast burrito around.

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    Can I make breakfast burritos ahead and freeze them?

    Yes, you can freeze make-ahead breakfast burritos for later. In fact, freezing them for later will allow you to just throw the frozen breakfast burritos in the cooler, and all you gotta do is warm them up over the fire or on the grill for breakfast. No prep or anything at the campsite. To freeze them, completely wrap the burritos in a layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper, then a layer of heavy duty aluminum foil; then place them in a single layer inside a gallon freezer plastic zipper bag, get all the air out of the bag as you seal it, and freeze.

    How do you reheat burritos when camping?

    Remove the plastic wrap or parchment paper; then re-wrap in foil and place the foil wrapped burritos in a camp oven, on a grill, or on hot coals from the campfire for about 20-30 minutes, turning them every 3-5 minutes, ’til they’ve warmed. Turning them frequently ensures one side won’t burn or heat more than the other. And warming them this way, you can keep a whole passel of burritos warm for a crowd.

    How do I keep my burritos from getting soggy?

    The flour tortilla on a breakfast burrito can tend to get soggy; but there are things you can do to help prevent this. One thing that helps is to cool your filling before wrapping it in the tortilla; that way, the heat doesn’t cause excess moisture, thus sogginess. Rolling the burrito extra tight will also help. And then giving it an extra layer of plastic wrap or parchment paper before you wrap it in foil, will help prevent soggy burrito. If you’re reheating it at home, don’t use the microwave; the microwave will definitely lead to a soggy burrito. Instead, use the oven or a griddle.

    How can I keep breakfast burritos warm for a crowd?

    If some of your burritos have to sit while you make more for a large group, you have 3 options… You can wrap them in foil and place to the cooler side of the campfire; you can place under cover of foil beside the hot grill; or you can pile the warm burritos in a small empty cooler all together and they’ll stay warm ’til you’re ready to eat. Personally, I like the last option best because it ensures they stay warm but they don’t cook any more than is necessary.

    What to Serve with Camp Breakfast Burritos

    If your crew wants more than just a burrito for breakfast or maybe they want something that pairs well with the burritos, here are a few ideas to complete your make ahead breakfast for camping.

    stack of make-ahead camping breakfast burritos, wrapped in foil, on blue gingham picnic table

    More Camping Breakfast Ideas:

    Some of our most popular camping recipes include campfire breakfast burritos and more…

    If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. And subscribe to my email list too!

    Camping Breakfast Burritos

    Stuffed with bacon (or sausage) and a delicious egg mixture, camping breakfast burritos are easy to make ahead, or cook them over a campfire in the great outdoors. Nothing fuels you better than a simple breakfast of easy campfire burritos.

    • Large Cast Iron Skillet
    • Grilling Flipper
    • Grilling Tongs
    • Cutting Board
    • Tripod Grill
    • Welding Gloves
    • Outdoor Knife Set
    • 9 slices bacon
    • 2-4 tablespoons bacon grease*
    • 1 large bell pepper
    • 6 green onions
    • 12 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 6 burrito size flour tortillas*
    • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
    1. Start by cooking the bacon.
    2. While the bacon’s cooking, wash and chop/mince the bell pepper and green onions.
    3. Sauté the vegetables in the bacon grease for 3 to 5 minutes, or until tender.
    4. Scramble all the eggs in with the bell pepper, green onions, salt, and pepper, cooking the egg mixture thoroughly.
    5. Crumble and stir the bacon into the eggs.
    6. Begin assembling each breakfast wrap by adding a helping of the egg mixture to the center of each tortilla.
    7. If you want, you can add a little bit of hot sauce, salsa, or sour cream at this point.
    8. Next sprinkle on the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack.
    9. Wrap your burrito by folding the ends and folding over, rolling into a nice, tight burrito wrap.
    10. If you want to melt the cheese more and give your tortilla a slightly crispy texture, wrap each burrito in heavy duty foil.
    11. Place the burritos directly on the hot coals of a campfire (or on a grill), and cook for 5-10 minutes, turning the burritos frequently to ensure they don’t burn on one side.
    12. Serve with sour cream, salsa, and guacamole if desired.

    *You can use butter or oil instead.

    *If you’re gluten-free, you can use gluten-free tortillas.

    Camping Recipes
    American
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  • Easy Homemade Fire Starters That Work like a Charm

    Easy Homemade Fire Starters That Work like a Charm

    How to make awesome homemade fire starters for your campfire with an egg carton, paper, and wax. Super easy DIY with tips for starting a fire.

    It’s not every time we head out that we get to enjoy a campfire while we’re camping. But there are occasions where we do, and this egg carton fire starter helps us get it going quickly and efficiently.

    DIY fire starter, made from an egg carton, paper shreds, and wax, sitting on campfire logs or wood

    My boys have enjoyed learning how to make campfire coffee, and we love to cook breakfast over the fire.

    A DIY fire starter isn’t hard or time consuming to make. In fact, you can make however many you need the night before your camping trip.

    All you need are a few supplies and a stove to melt the wax. We actually made ours outside using our camp stove, so technically, you can even make these while you’re camping.

    I like that we can make them on the go because I’m not always that great at prepping everything beforehand, although I do always make sure we have a batch of our favorite body wipes made up ahead for every trip.

    This is a really handy tutorial for all my fellow outdoor adventurers, though. Because at the end of the day, what do we enjoy more than a warm campfire with a side of rest?

    campfire built with homemade fire starters

    IS THERE AN ACTUAL PRINTABLE INSTRUCTION CARD?

    If you’d rather skip all of my tips for making fire starters, important info for this project, and similar camping hacks – and get straight to the instructions – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable “how to” card and video.

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    SUPPLIES TO MAKE YOUR OWN FIRE STARTERS

    You only need 3 things to make these…

    You’ll also need some sort of stove and skillet, preferably a cast iron skillet. You can make these in your kitchen or on the camp stove while you’re camping.

    HOW TO MAKE FIRE STARTERS

    Making fire starters is a great way to both recycle and repurpose all those paper shreds from your home office, as well as any leftover cardboard egg cartons.

    Important Tip: Be sure none of your paper shreds include any type of plastic, such as the plastic you find in envelope windows. Also watch out for any non-paper mailing inserts or even credit cards. Only use paper.

    1. First, fill the egg cups in each egg carton with shreds of paper.
    2. Then melt the wax over a low to medium heat.
    3. Once the wax is melted, pour the wax over the paper shreds in the egg carton and let it sit until it hardens.
    4. Using a box cutter or large pocket knife, cut the egg carton into three sections for use in starting a fire.
    steps for making fire starters using an egg carton, paper shreds, and melted paraffin wax, also cutting the egg carton apart with knife

    And that’s it. Your easy fire starter is ready to start a fire!

    ALTERNATIVE HOMEMADE FIRE STARTER IDEAS

    If you don’t have paper shreds, no worries. You may have some other things that will work just as well, laying around the house.

    HOW TO USE YOUR DIY FIRE STARTER

    Once it’s ready to use, you can place the fire starter on the ground in the middle of your fire pit or fire ring. You should only need one section of your egg carton, leaving you with extras for another campfire at a later time.

    egg carton fire starter in fire pit

    Use a lighter or matches for lighting a fire, adding small pieces of kindling to help fuel the fire and get it going.

    man starting a fire with a homemade fire starter in fire pit

    Eventually, you’ll add larger pieces of kindling and small logs to keep your campfire going.

    man adding kindling to easy fire starter in campfire pit

    We usually build a small teepee with our firewood once we have a small fire going.

    If you’re new to making a campfire… We’ll be showing you exactly how to start a fire, as well as how to put a fire out, in the very near future. So, stay tuned.

    teepee fire in camp fire pit, built with homemade fire starters

    FIRE STARTING GEAR YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE A CAMPFIRE:

    DIY Fire Starter (of course)

    Mag Striker

    Zippo Windproof Lighter or this Flex Neck Utility Lighter

    Matches

    We’ve put together a camping checklist with all the gear you’ll need for your next adventure. Be sure to check it out for all the essentials!

    GET THE PRINTABLE INSTRUCTION CARD

    If you love these homemade fire starters as much as we do, please write a 5 star review, and help me share the “how to” on Facebook and Pinterest!

    how to make easy homemade fire starters that work like a charm

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    Easy Homemade Fire Starters That Work like a Charm

    How to make awesome homemade fire starters for your campfire with an egg carton, paper, and wax. Super easy DIY with tips for starting a fire.

    • 1 cast iron skillet
    • Large pocket knife
    • Pot holder or welding gloves
    • 2 cardboard egg cartons
    • 4-8 cups paper shreds
    • 8 ounces paraffin wax
    1. First, fill the egg cups in each egg carton with shreds of paper.*
    2. Then melt the wax in a cast iron skillet over low to medium heat.
    3. Once the wax is melted, pour the wax over the paper shreds in the egg cartons, and let everything sit until it hardens.
    4. Using a box cutter or large pocket knife, cut each egg carton into three sections for use in starting a fire.
    5. And that’s it. Your easy fire starter is ready to start a fire!

    *You can also use dryer lint or any one of the suggestions I offered above in the post.

    Camping
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