Adventures of Mel

Category: Side Dish

A really good side dish can trump even the main dish. For real! Here you’ll find loads of delicious side dish recipes, including casseroles, vegetables, and more.

Reader favorites include creamy bacon corn casserole, the ultimate baked potato bar, and creamy mashed potatoes.

side dish recipes
  • The Ultimate Mashed Potato Bar with the Best Toppings

    The Ultimate Mashed Potato Bar with the Best Toppings

    Feed a crowd with the ultimate mashed potato bar at your next party, wedding, or celebration. How to create a crowd pleasing buffet with ideas for all sorts of delicious mashed potato toppings. It’ll be the talk of the party!

    There are so many things you can do with a mashed potato bar; the choices for mashed potato bar toppings are endless. Pretty much anything you think up you can use.

    mashed potato bar, including mashed potato cup with bacon, cheese sauce, and chives, with spoon in ready to eat

    It’s the perfect appetizer idea, or side dish, for a wedding or party. I experienced my first mashed potato bar, or rather a mashtini bar, at a blogging conference; I’d never seen such a beautiful thing in all my life.

    It was filled with all sorts of delicious mashed potato toppings, along with all sorts of potatoes, including purple mashed potatoes! The mashed potatoes themselves were served in martini glasses, and you could go right down the buffet line, adding any mashed potatoes toppings you wanted.

    You talk about delicious and one of my favorite things ever. That was hands down the BEST food I’ve ever had at a conference. Comfort food at its best, and man, was it delicious.

    baked potato bar with baked potatoes and baked potato toppings

    Why Create a Mashed Potato Bar?

    When I created my first baked potato bar, I thought it only appropriate to also create a mashed potato bar. Because who doesn’t love a loaded down cup of hot mashed potatoes smothered in cheese and bacon?

    • A mashed potato bar wedding buffet will definitely be a great idea and a favorite with guests.
    • A mash potato bar is also perfect for that big holiday family gathering, like Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, or Easter dinner.
    • New Year’s is also a great time to put together a mashed potato martini bar. To save on cost, make a big batch of mashed potatoes, and have each guest bring their favorite toppings to add to the ones you provide. Then you get different perspectives, different ideas, and guests get to contribute their favorite topping idea to the mix.
    mashed potatoes with mashed potato bar toppings on gray countertop with white and blue kitchen towel

    How to Make Mashed Potatoes

    I’ve got you covered with this delicious and easy mashed potatoes recipe.

    Ingredient Notes:

    • Potatoes – I prefer to use yellow potatoes, but again, you can have fun with this and use all sorts of potatoes, including yellow, russet, red potatoes, even purple potatoes.
    • Salted Butter – Don’t skimp on the butter; it gives the best flavor.
    • Heavy Cream or Whole Milk – While you can use skim milk, you’ll get the best texture and flavor with whole milk or cream.
    • Sea Salt and Black Pepper – for added flavor.

    Steps for Making Stovetop Mashed Potatoes:

    1. Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes.
    2. Boil the potatoes in a large saucepan on the stove over low to medium heat, until they’re soft enough to easily jab with a fork, about 20-30 minutes.
    3. Drain the water off the boiled potatoes, and leave them in the saucepan.
    4. Add the butter and heavy whipping cream to the potatoes.
    5. Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes, adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also use a potato masher if you don’t have a hand mixer; your potatoes may just be a little bit chunky.
    6. Once they’re whipped, they’re ready to serve.

    If you’d rather, you can make Instant Pot mashed potatoes instead.

    mash potato bar with mini trifle bowls of mashed potatoes covered in toppings like bacon, cheese sauce, chives, broccoli, sloppy joe meat, and red onion

    How to Set up or Assemble a Mashed Potato Bar

    Gather your ingredients for your potato bar… You’ll need mashed potatoes and toppings. Your main work will be cooking the potatoes and prepping any toppings for your guests to choose from.

    Whether you’re getting together with friends for game night, hosting a family dinner, or setting up a potluck, a mashed potatoes bar is the perfect way to feed and entertain your guests. And it really doesn’t take a whole lot of time and effort on your part.

    Mash Potato Bar Ideas and Expert Tips

    • If you’d rather use sweet potatoes over regular potatoes, you can make Instant Pot sweet potatoes.
    • Prep the toppings, adding each topping to a separate dish or compartment for serving. Prepping may involve cooking, re-heating, or simply chopping.
    • Set everything out buffet style, so your guests can create their very own delicious mashed potato creations.
    • If you’re hosting a smaller gathering, try using a large charcuterie board with small bowls for a variety of toppings all around a large bowl of mashed potatoes.
    • If you’re wondering how to keep the mashed potatoes warm without warmers, you can create a CrockPot mashed potato bar or Instant Pot mashed potato bar.

    The Ultimate List of Mashed Potato Bar Toppings:

    When it comes to what toppings are good on mashed potatoes, including what to put on mashed potatoes besides gravy, this list of toppings will answer that question in a most delicious way.

    broccoli and cheese sauce on mashed potato in small glass trifle dish
    sloppy joe meat and red onions on mashed potato in small glass trifle dish
    bacon and cheese topping for mashed potato bar in small glass trifle dish

    The sky’s the limit on ideas for a mashed potato buffet because there are so many toppings you can add to this list. But this is a great start.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    How much does a mashed potato bar cost?

    Really, this depends. For a small family gathering, if you make your own mashed potatoes and put together just a few simple toppings, you can get away with less than $20. If you’re creating a larger buffet for a large crowd, your cost will depend on how many ingredients and supplies are needed to feed said crowd.

    What potatoes are best for a mash potato bar?

    While I do prefer yellow potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes, you can use any kind of potatoes you prefer, including Russet potatoes, red potatoes, even purple potatoes if you can find them. I’ve also gone so far as to search for the best mashed potatoes near me, and I found Bob Evans mashed potatoes in my grocery store. If you really don’t want to make mashed potatoes, ready made potatoes could be just the thing.

    Can you make mashed potatoes and toppings ahead of time?

    Yes, you can. You can make mashed potatoes and prep most of the toppings 1-2 days ahead of time. You’ll just need to store everything in airtight containers in the fridge.

    How can you keep the mashed potatoes warm at a party?

    You can either use a buffet server and food warmer. Or you can keep the mashed potatoes in a Crock Pot or Instant Pot on the “Keep Warm” setting.

    How should you store leftovers?

    Definitely store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

    More Family Favorite Potato Recipes

    If you love this mashed potato bar and think it’s as much fun as I do, you’ll love these recipes too…

    mashed potato bar toppings with small glass trifle bowls of mashed potatoes

    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!

    The Ultimate Mashed Potato Bar

    Feed a crowd with a mashed potato bar at your next party, wedding, or celebration. Ideas for all sorts of delicious toppings.

    • Stockpot
    • Hand Mixer
    • Potato Masher
    • Cutting Board
    • Vegetable Cleaver
    • Buffet Server and Food Warmer
    • Serving Bowls
    • Sectioned Serving Tray
    • Mini Appetizer Cups
    • Plastic Martini Glasses

    Mashed Potatoes:

    • 16 medium potatoes
    • 12 tablespoons salted butter
    • 4 tablespoons whole milk (or heavy cream)
    • 2 teaspoons sea salt (to taste)
    • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper (to taste)

    Mashed Potato Bar Toppings:

    • 1 1/2 cups salted butter
    • 1/4 cup salt
    • 1/4 cup ground black pepper
    • 1 1/2 cups sour cream
    • 3 cups cheese sauce
    • 12 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese (*shredded)
    • 2 cups red onion (minced)
    • 2 cups green onion (chopped)
    • 2 cups chives (chopped)
    • 6 cups broccoli (cooked)
    • 6 cups sloppy joe meat
    • 1 1/2 cups bacon (cooked and crumbled)
    • 4 1/2 cups ham (chopped)

    Mashed Potatoes:

    1. Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes.

    2. Boil the potatoes in a large saucepan on the stove, until they're soft enough to easily jab with a fork, about 20-30 minutes.

    3. Drain the water off the boiled potatoes, and leave them in the saucepan.

    4. Add the butter and heavy whipping cream to the potatoes.

    5. Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes, adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also use a potato masher if you don't have a hand mixer; your potatoes may just be a little bit chunky.

    6. Once they're whipped, they're ready to serve. 

    Potato Bar Toppings:

    1. Choose and prep your toppings*, adding each topping to a separate dish or compartment for serving. Prepping may involve cooking, re-heating, or simply chopping.

    2. Set everything out buffet style*, so your guests can create their very own delicious baked potato creations.

    * You can use any kind of shredded cheese you prefer. I recommend Extra Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Smoked Cheddar, Mozzarella, etc.

    *More mashed potato bar topping ideas include cooked cauliflower, chili, beef taco meat, taco chicken, pulled pork, sausage, ground beef, steak, bacon bits, cubed pepperoni, BBQ sauce, Ranch dressing, pizza sauce, turkey gravy, ham gravy, ham gravy with cornstarch, chicken stock gravy, tomatoes, guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, fire roasted green chiles, corn, peas, etc.

    *You may need warmers to keep the mashed potatoes warm; you can also use a slow cooker or Crock pot. Otherwise, you may use a serving platter or serving bowls for toppings.

    Side Dish
    American
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    the ultimate mashed potato bar recipe and how-to
  • Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon

    Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon

    Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon – How to make the most delicious Mexican corn casserole recipe with Jiffy cornbread, green chiles, cream cheese, and bacon. The best holiday comfort food!

    My boys are serious about their sides. When it comes to Thanksgiving sides, they have their absolute favorites, one of which is now this Mexican corn casserole with a Tex-Mex twist.

    wooden spoon dishing up Mexican corn casserole from white casserole dish

    I mean, I do have to admit, corn casserole is the perfect side to go with turkey, ham, stuffing, the works. Of course, on any ordinary day, I love to pair this creamy casserole with a good burger.

    The fact this Mexican street corn casserole has bacon? Well, bacon just makes everything better, right?

    Mexican corn casserole, made like Mexican street corn, in white casserole dish

    I’m going to out on a limb here and tell you that while I thought it would be impossible to beat our favorite Jiffy corn casserole recipe… I actually love this Mexican cornbread casserole even more. Like Mexican Corn, it’s full of Tex-Mex flavor, and I am a sucker for Tex-Mex.

    Wanna make corn casserole in your slow cooker? This slow cooker corn casserole is ah-mazing!

    If you love a good Tex-Mex comfort food recipe, you may enjoy Mexicali meat pie too.

    My family also loves this easy green bean casserole recipe!

    I JUST WANT THE RECIPE! TAKE ME TO THE RECIPE FOR MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE WITH BACON!

    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 delicious Mexican corn casserole recipe – just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

    Mexican corn casserole in white baking dish, made with similar ingredients to Mexican corn on the cob

    WHY SHOULD I USE JIFFY CORNBREAD MIX IN CORN CASSEROLE?

    We use just half of a JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix in our casserole. Just mix it in with the rest of the ingredients.

    Using just half the mix gives stability but not so much that the casserole is more like a cornbread than an actual casserole.

    Instead the cornmeal gives the casserole a little bit of breading, just enough to keep it very moist and creamy but also have enough substance to bake well.

    It also adds just a hint of sweetness, bringing out the flavor of all the ingredients.

    wooden spoon in Mexican corn casserole with cilantro on top

    IS CORN CASSEROLE THE SAME AS CORN PUDDING?

    I guess this could be considered to be the same as corn pudding. You’re basically mixing a bunch of ingredients together to create a creamy side dish.

    And the casserole isn’t fully stable, like a slice of cornbread would be. It requires you to spoon it onto your plate, no eating with your hands here!

    Mexican corn casserole dished out on white Pioneer Woman plate

    DO I HAVE TO USE CILANTRO IN THIS BAKED CORN CASSEROLE?

    No, you do not. Cilantro is totally optional.

    In fact, I leave cilantro out, mainly because Dan doesn’t care for the taste. While it’s grown on me, I’m not a HUGE fan of cilantro either.

    WHAT IS COTIJA CHEESE AND WHERE CAN I FIND IT?

    Did you know there is a website completely dedicated to cheese, all kinds of cheese?

    According to Cheese.com, Cotija cheese “is a Hispanic-style cheese named after the town of Cotija in the Mexican state of Michoacán. It’s also made mostly from cow’s milk.

    It does crumble, so it kind of resembles feta cheese in that way; but in taste, it’s got a LOT more flavor, in my opinion. Since it has zero carbs, Dan likes to eat it on a lot of foods, including salads.

    This cheese also doesn’t melt, so it’ll make your casserole look as though you’ve sprinkled parmesan on top.

    Mexican corn casserole with Cotija cheese crumbled on top

    And I’ll warn you… While cooking and after you remove your casserole, the cheese can smell a bit like vomit; there, I said it. Do me a solid, though, and just take one bite of this delicious casserole. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

    You can usually find Cotija cheese in the cheese or deli section of your store; our Walmart had it with all of the Hispanic cheeses, next to the Queso Fresco cheese. It’s a small, round, white block of cheese.

    CAN I FREEZE MEXICAN STREET CORN CASSEROLE?

    While I haven’t had the need to freeze it, I don’t see why you couldn’t freeze it, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.

    serving Mexican corn casserole with a wooden spoon out of a white baking pan

    The ingredients used in this casserole are all conducive to freezing. Just cover it well, so it doesn’t get freezer burnt.

    TIPS FOR HOW TO MAKE MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE WITH BACON

    Looking ahead, you’ll want to cook the bacon. You’ll also need to chop up the green onions and shred the cheddar cheese.

    The steps to this recipe are really simple and easy…

    Mix cream cheese, whipping cream, mayo, and sugar together for Mexican Corn Casserole
    • Mix together the cream cheese, mayo, heavy whipping cream, butter, sugar, and sour cream in a medium saucepan, and allow to cook on low heat until the cream cheese has melted. Stir constantly so the mixture doesn’t scorch.
    • In a large mixing bowl, mix together the creamy mixture, crumbled bacon, green onions, green chilies, frozen corn, half the JIFFY Corn Muffin mix, chili powder, salt, pepper, and shredded cheddar.
    ingredients for baked Mexican corn casserole in mixing bowl
    • Pour the entire corn casserole mixture into a greased 9″x13″ baking pan.
    • Then let the oven work its magic for about an hour.
    • When it’s all baked and ready to go, you can crumble Cotija cheese on top and let it bake an additional 10 minutes or so.

    And that’s it! Easy peasy, so simple, yet so delicious!

    easy Mexican corn casserole in a white baking dish with cilantro

    WHAT CAN I PAIR WITH MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE?

    While it makes a delicious holiday side with both turkey and ham at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it also pairs really well with a good burger and the following main dishes:

    Chicago Hot Dog

    Sweet Chili Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs

    Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    IF YOU LOVE THIS MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE RECIPE, TRY SOME OF OUR OTHER CORN FAVORITES:

    Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon

    Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter

    Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    Creamy Potato Corn Chowder

    KITCHEN TOOLS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE:

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

    Cheese Grater – Use to grate cheddar cheese for your casserole.

    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 – Use to mix all of the ingredients together.

    Casserole Dish – Use to bake the Mexican corn casserole.

    MEXICAN CORN CASSEROLE RECIPE

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

    Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon Recipe

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    Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon

    How to make the most delicious Mexican corn casserole recipe with Jiffy cornbread, green chiles, cream cheese, and bacon. The best holiday comfort food!

    • 6 slices bacon
    • 3 whole green onions (minced)
    • 4 ounces cream cheese
    • 1/2 cup mayo
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 4 tablespoons salted butter
    • 1 teaspoon pure cane sugar
    • 1 tablespoon sour cream
    • 4 ounces green chiles (chopped)
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 32 ounces frozen corn
    • 1/2 box JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix
    • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    • 4 ounces Cotija cheese
    • 3 tablespoons cilantro (optional)
    1. Pre-heat the oven to 325°.
    2. Cook the bacon and set it aside.
    3. Mince the green onions, shred the cheddar cheese, and set both aside.
    4. In a medium saucepan, add the cream cheese, mayo, heavy whipping cream, salted butter, sugar, and sour cream.
    5. Cook the mixture on low heat until the cream cheese is fully melted. Constantly stir to keep the mixture from scorching.
    6. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cream cheese mixture, crumbled bacon, green onions, green chiles, chili powder, frozen corn, 1/2 the box of JIFFY Corn Muffin Mix, shredded cheddar, salt, and pepper.
    7. Spray a 9"x13" baking dish with cooking spray.
    8. Pour the casserole mixture into the baking dish, making sure it’s evenly spread throughout the pan.
    9. Bake at 325° for about 55 minutes or until the mixture is set.
    10. Add crumbled Cotija cheese* to the top of the casserole, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
    11. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.**
    12. Serve while warm and enjoy!

    *Cotija cheese is a small, round, white block of cheese; you can usually find it next to the Queso Fresco and other Hispanic-style cheeses at your grocery store.

    **Cilantro is totally optional. Some readers love it, and some don’t… I chose not to use it, since some in my family don’t care for it either.

    Mexican corn casserole pairs deliciously well with a good burger, a Chicago Hot Dog, Sweet Chili Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs, and Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions, just to give you a few dinner ideas!

    Side Dish
    American
    Mexican corn casserole, Mexican street corn
    easy Mexican corn casserole recipe with bacon
  • Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon

    Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon

    Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon – How to transform grilled corn on the cob into Mexican corn, with a tasty addition of bacon sprinkled on top. Delicious, flavorful side dish recipe!

    Mexican corn on a baking sheet with mayo, feta cheese, cilantro, bacon, and lime wedges

    One of our all-time favorite summer sides for my favorite Crock Pot pork roast, roast beef Philly cheesesteaks and baked chicken drumsticks is corn on the cob, both grilled and pressure cooked to perfection in the Instant Pot. Now we have a way to dress up grilled corn on the cob and transform it into our new favorite, Mexican corn.

    Trust me when I say, this is such a delicious recipe. I know what you’re thinking, though.

    Ew, mayo and butter on corn? No way! Oh yes way.

    Just give it a chance, because the combination of ingredients in this Mexican street corn recipe make a very flavorful, crispy, tasty ear of corn. Just one bite, and those ears will fly off the table.

    All you need are a few ingredients to make this amazing Mexican corn recipe. And if you’d rather have it in casserole form, you can make Mexican Corn Casserole.

    Grilled ear of Mexican corn on the cob with all the fixings, including mayo, Feta cheese, cilantro, and bacon

    Ingredients you’ll need to make Mexican corn:

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    grilled Mexican corn on baking sheet with lime wedges and bacon crumbles

    Tips for how to make delicious Mexican corn on the cob:

    Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, your first step is to get the grill going. You can use any type of grill, either a charcoal grill or gas grill; we prefer charcoal, mainly for the taste it gives the food.

    Shuck and wash the corn. Then grill the corn until it’s done and slightly charred; as you grill it, make sure you stay with it and turn it often with a good pair of grilling tongs.

    slightly charred grilled corn on the cob for Mexican corn recipe

    Once the corn is cooked to perfection, take it off the grill and put it on a baking sheet.

    Generously butter each ear of corn.

    Butter ears of grilled corn on the cob for Mexican corn on the cob recipe

    Use a basting brush to brush a generous helping of mayo onto each ear of corn, turning the ear to make sure it’s coated well all the way around.

    brushing mayo onto ears of grilled corn with basting brush for mexican street corn recipe

    Sprinkle chili powder on every ear, again turning to sprinkle all the way around each ear.

    sprinkling chili powder on grilled corn for Mexican corn recipe

    Crumble Feta cheese on top of each ear of corn.

    crumbling Feta cheese onto grilled corn on the cob for Mexican corn recipe

    Sprinkle all the corn with a good helping of chopped up cilantro.

    adding cilantro to mexican corn on the cob

    Crumble real bacon on top of each ear… Because bacon makes everything better, right?

    crumbled bacon on Mexican corn

    Finally, cut your limes into wedges, and give a good squeeze of lime juice over everything. This will give the flavors just a hint of citrus kick.

    squeezing lime juice onto ears of grilled Mexican corn on the cob

    And that’s it. You’re ready to eat!

    boy eating Mexican corn

    This corn pairs really well with pork chops, bacon cheeseburgers, Chicago hot dogs, garlic parmesan chicken skewers, crock pot sloppy joes and shrimp kabobs! If you’re looking for a high quality meat to grill with your corn, click here to see what Snake River Farms has to offer. 

    Mexican corn on the cob on a baking sheet

    Alternative ingredient options for your Mexican corn recipe

    There are certain ingredients you can substitute for others when you’re making a Mexican street corn recipe.

    • Instead of mayonnaise, you can use a plain Greek yogurt or sour cream; or maybe even a combination.
    • If you don’t want the flavors of chili powder, you can give the corn a little kick with cayenne pepper or a little hot sauce drizzled over the corn.
    • Feta cheese is absolutely delicious on this corn; but you can use parmesan, Cotija cheese, or Queso Fresco.
    • Cilantro is totally optional, but it does add an interesting citrus-like taste.
    • Instead of bacon, you could use diced up ham. Or no meat at all.
    • Limes, lemons, you call the shots. It’s your food. But I do love a squirt of lime juice. It just gives the corn an oomph.
    • It’s got plenty of flavor, but a dash of black pepper would give it a li’l extra spicy kick.
    • This peach mango salsa makes the best topping for Mexican corn!
    holding an ear of Mexican corn

    More corn recipes you may enjoy:

    Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter

    Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    Corn Casserole with Bacon

    Mexican Corn Casserole with Bacon

    Creamy Potato Corn Chowder

    grilled Mexican corn on a baking sheet

    Tools you may need to make Mexican corn:

    Charcoal Grill or Gas Grill – We love using our charcoal grill.

    Grilling Tongs – You’ll need tongs to turn the corn on the grill.

    Basting Brush – to brush on the butter and mayo.

    Baking Sheet – This works really well to hold all the corn as you dress it up into Mexican corn.

    grilled Mexican corn on the cob on baking sheet with lime wedges

    Cute Dachshund Corn Holders – Because they’re fun… And cute!

    Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon

    How to transform grilled corn on the cob into Mexican corn, with a tasty addition of bacon sprinkled on top. Delicious, flavorful side dish recipe!

    • 8 ears corn on the cob
    • 8 tablespoons salted butter
    • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 4 ounces Feta cheese (crumbled)
    • 3 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
    • 4 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
    • 1 whole lime
    1. Start up the grill first. You can use any type of grill, either a charcoal grill or gas grill; we prefer charcoal, mainly for the taste it gives the food.
    2. Shuck and wash the corn.
    3. Grill the corn until it’s done and slightly charred; as you grill it, make sure you stay with it and turn it often with a good pair of grilling tongs.
    4. Once the corn is cooked to perfection, take it off the grill and put it on a baking sheet.
    5. Generously butter each ear of corn.
    6. Use a basting brush to brush a generous helping of mayo onto each ear of corn, turning the ear to make sure it’s coated well all the way around.
    7. Sprinkle chili powder on every ear, again turning to sprinkle all the way around each ear.
    8. Crumble Feta cheese on top of each ear of corn.
    9. Sprinkle all the corn with a good helping of chopped up cilantro.
    10. Crumble real bacon on top of each ear.
    11. Finally, cut your limes into wedges, and give a good squeeze of lime juice over everything. 
    12. And that’s it. You’re ready to eat! This corn pairs really well with pork chops, burgers, Chicago hot dogs, and shrimp kabobs!
    Side Dish
    Tex-Mex
    Mexican corn, Mexican corn on the cob
    Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon
    Mexican corn on the cob recipe
    Grilled Mexican Corn Recipe made with grilled corn on the cob
  • Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter

    Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter

    Add a sweet and salty side dish to dinner, Grilled Corn in the Husk. Easy, delicious recipe for sweet corn on the cob seasoned with honey butter, salt, and pepper.

    grilled corn in the husk on a cookie sheet with husks removed, seasoned with honey butter, salt, and pepper

    It’s the season for grilling up all sorts of good things, including grilled corn in the husk, pork chops, hot dogs, Mexican corn, and so much more. My guys love this time of year, and frankly, so do I.

    Grilling takes the work out of cooking dinner at night. It means what little mess that grilling creates lives outside on the deck with the grill and away from my kitchen. It’s a win win.

    We love grilled sweet corn. Really, we love corn on the cob any which way you want to make it.

    Dan doesn’t eat a lot of corn… But the rest of us love a good piece of sweet corn when it becomes available in the summertime.

    This recipe is really pretty simple. You will need a bucket or a dish pan to soak the corn; and the hardest part will be removing the silks without removing the husks.

    All in all, though, this is a very easy recipe for grilled corn on the cob. And I’ll show you how to make a super simple honey butter to go with it.

    Need something simple to serve with your corn? This Chicago hot dog recipe is a big hit with my family during summer grilling season. And a good bacon cheeseburger always wins. When we’re craving something a little different, I like to make a good Philly cheesesteak with roast beef!

    grilled sweet corn in the husk on a charcoal grill

    Tips for how to make Grilled Corn in the Husk:

    Gather your ingredients first… You’ll need corn on the cob, water, a stick of salted butter, honey, salt, and pepper. Also, if you’re looking for high quality meat to grill with your corn, click here to see what Snake River Farms has to offer.

    Remove the silks from the ears of corn… To do this, you’ll need to fold back the husks without removing them, then pull out all the silks.

    grilled corn on the cob with husks folded back and silks removed before grilling

    Carefully replace the husks, folding them back over the cob.

    Soak the corn cobs in a bucket or dish pan of water for 10 minutes or more.

    soaking grilled corn in the husk before grilling

    Meanwhile, warm up your grill. You can use a charcoal grill or gas grill, either one; we prefer charcoal, mainly for the taste it gives the food.

    Once the grill is ready, remove the corn from the water. Shake off any excess water, and place on the grill; be careful not to put it over an open flame, because the husks can catch fire.

    Allow the corn to cook for 10 to 15 minutes on a medium heat. You’ll need to be vigilant in turning it so it doesn’t burn; however, the husks will turn brown as the corn cooks.

    blackened grilled corn in the husk on a charcoal grill

    As your corn cooks, mix up the honey butter by following the steps below.

    Once your grilled corn on the cob is cooked through and the kernels are tender, remove the cobs from the grill and fold back/remove the husks. Brush each cob with the honey butter mixture, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

    brushing grilled corn on the cob with honey butter

    And that’s it. Grilled sweet corn is ready to serve!

    Pair it with something delicious for a wonderful dinner. It pairs really well with grilled meats and more.

    Of course, if you’d rather have corn in casserole form, you may enjoy a more traditional Corn Casserole or this Mexican Corn Casserole.

    grilled corn on the cob on a cookie sheet with husks pulled back, seasoned with honey butter, salt, and pepper

    How to make honey butter to go with your grilled corn on the cob:

    Honey butter is so simple and easy to make, and all you need is a stick of salted butter and some honey.

    1. Soften a stick of salted butter.
    2. In a small bowl, mix together the butter and a tablespoon of honey until you have a sweet, creamy mixture.
    3. Then you’ll just brush it on your grilled sweet corn after it’s cooked.
    grilled sweet corn up close with husks pulled back

    More grilling recipes you may enjoy:

    Mexican Corn on the Cob with Bacon

    Maple Bourbon Marinated Grilled Shrimp Kabobs

    Maple Pork Chops with Apples and Onions

    Grilled Cheeseburger Pizza

    Simple and Delicious Grilled Fish Fillets

    grilled corn in the husk on a cookie sheet with husks removed, seasoned with honey butter, salt, and pepper

    You may also enjoy this easy recipe for Instant Pot Corn on the Cob. 

    Tools you may need to make grilled sweet corn:

    Food Grade Bucket or Dish Pan – You’ll need to soak the ears in water before grilling.

    Charcoal Grill or Gas Grill – We love using our charcoal grill.

    Grilling Tongs – You’ll need tongs to turn the corn on the grill.

    Basting Brush – to brush on the honey butter.

    Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter

    Add a sweet and salty side dish to dinner, Grilled Corn in the Husk. Easy, delicious recipe for sweet corn on the cob seasoned with honey butter, salt, and pepper.

    • 10 ears corn on the cob
    • 2 gallons water
    • 1/2 cup salted butter
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
    1. Remove the silks from the ears of corn… To do this, you’ll need to fold back the husks without removing them, then pull out all the silks. Carefully replace the husks, folding them back over the cob. 
    2. Soak the corn cobs in a bucket or dish pan of water for 10 minutes or more.
    3. Meanwhile, warm up your grill. You can use a charcoal grill or gas grill, either one.
    4. Once the grill is ready, remove the corn from the water. 
    5. Shake off any excess water, and place on the grill; be careful not to put it over an open flame, so the husks don’t catch fire. 
    6. Allow the corn to cook for 10 to 15 minutes on a medium heat. You’ll need to be vigilant in turning it so it doesn’t burn; however, the husks will turn brown as the corn cooks.
    7. As your corn cooks, mix up the honey butter by mixing together the butter and honey until you have a sweet, creamy mixture. Set aside.
    8. Once your grilled corn on the cob is cooked through and the kernels are tender, remove the cobs from the grill and fold back/remove the husks. 
    9. Brush each cob with the honey butter mixture, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    10. Serve it and enjoy every sweet and salty bite!
    Side Dish
    American
    grilled corn in the husk, grilled corn on the cob
    Grilled Corn in the Husk Recipe
    Grilled Corn in the Husk with Honey Butter
  • Chicken Fried Rice Spring Rolls

    Chicken Fried Rice Spring Rolls

    Fried rice spring rolls are fried to perfection, so crispy, flaky, and delicious. Fill them with wok chicken fried rice, fried rice with pork or a healthier alternative, cauliflower chicken fried rice. It’s a super easy recipe for your favorite takeout side.

    I’ve always wanted to try making homemade rice paper spring rolls, fried to perfection (versus soggy egg rolls); I love the spring rolls they make at our favorite Thai place.

    Fried rice spring rolls stacked on bamboo plate

    For some reason, the wraps we used in the past just didn’t create the kind of flaky, crispy texture we were trying to achieve.

    But then we found a local Asian market that sells a pack of Spring Roll Pastry that makes perfectly flaky, crispy fried rice paper rolls. We had to hunt for them and finally found them in a deep freezer they keep in the store. Game on.

    And I’m just going to address the elephant in the room and come right out and say it… Frying these is a must to get that flaky texture. It really is. Baking just isn’t the same.

    rice paper spring rolls fried to perfection and stacked on bamboo plate with one cut in half

    When you’re filling the insides with delicious cauliflower chicken fried rice, it’s no surprise that these little appetizers, sides or snacks (however you choose to enjoy them) disappear quickly.

    How to Make Fried Rice Spring Rolls

    First things first… Gather your ingredients. You’ll need a batch of chicken fried rice (or cauliflower chicken fried rice), 1 pack spring roll pastry, all-purpose flour, water, and canola oil.

    1. Mix up a sort of paste with the flour and water; you’ll use this to seal the spring rolls as you wrap each one.
    2. Prepare the spring roll wraps according to the package directions; for us, this just meant separating each wrap and placing them all in a loose pile.
    3. Lay out a wrap on your cutting board or work surface.
    4. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of chicken fried rice into the corner of the wrap.
    5. Fold that corner over the mixture, folding the left and right sides in to form a more rectangular shape. Then roll the wrap to where it’s wrapped pretty tightly but not tight enough to tear.
    6. Dab a bit of your flour paste mixture to the tip of the wrap and finish wrapping tightly (but again, not tight enough to tear).
    7. Repeat the above steps for each spring roll wrap.
    8. You can use a pre-heated deep fryer, air fryer, or a large skillet with at least 1/2 inch of canola oil to fry the spring rolls.
    9. Fry the spring rolls until each one is golden brown.
    10. Remove and drain before serving. Tip: A new (clean) brown paper lunch bag works great for draining; you can also place a few paper towels on a plate and put your spring rolls on the towels to drain.
    11. Serve while warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
    fried rice paper rolls stacked in cast iron skillet on blue cloth

    Kitchen tools you may need to make Chicken Fried Rice Spring Rolls

    stacked fried rice spring rolls on bamboo plate with dipping sauce in small blue bowl

    More appetizers you may enjoy:

    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!

    Chicken Fried Rice Spring Rolls

    Fried rice spring rolls are fried to perfection, so crispy, flaky, and delicious. Fill them with chicken fried rice. Super easy recipe for your favorite takeout side.

    • 5 cups Chicken Fried Rice
    • 1 pack Spring Roll Pastry
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 3 tablespoons water
    1. Mix up a sort of paste with the flour and water; you’ll use this to seal the spring rolls as you wrap each one.
    2. Prepare the spring roll wraps according to the package directions; for us, this just meant separating each wrap and placing them all in a loose pile.
    3. Lay out a wrap on your cutting board or work surface.
    4. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of chicken fried rice into the corner of the wrap.
    5. Fold that corner over the mixture, folding the left and right sides in to form a more rectangular shape. Then roll the wrap to where it’s wrapped pretty tightly but not tight enough to tear.
    6. Dab a bit of your flour paste mixture to the tip of the wrap and finish wrapping tightly (but again, not tight enough to tear).
    7. Repeat the above steps for each spring roll wrap.
    8. You can use a pre-heated deep fryer, air fryer, or a pan with at least 1/2 inch of canola oil to fry the spring rolls.
    9. Fry the spring rolls until each one is golden brown.
    10. Remove and drain before serving. Tip: A new (clean) brown paper lunch bag works great for draining; you can also place a few paper towels on a plate and put your spring rolls on the towels to drain.
    11. Serve while warm with your favorite sauce. 
    Appetizers
    Asian
    chicken fried rice spring rolls, chicken spring rolls, fried spring rolls, spring rolls
  • Ultimate Baked Potato Bar Loaded with Toppings Ideas

    Ultimate Baked Potato Bar Loaded with Toppings Ideas

    Set up the ultimate baked potato bar loaded with all the best toppings. Easy baked potato buffet ideas for a crowd, party, wedding, or special occasion. Complete with set up ideas and toppings list!

    Wanna make it mashed instead? Check out the ultimate mashed potato bar loaded with crowd favorite potato toppings.

    baked potato bar with baked potatoes in large white bowl and toppings in small bowls all around the potatoes

    Baked potato bar ideas include so much deliciousness, they almost can’t fit into just one recipe. With all the variety, there’s truly something for everyone on this crowd pleasing buffet, and it will be the best part of everyone’s day.

    You can use this recipe as a main dish, side dish, or appetizer. Serve it up alongside these easy garlic parmesan chicken skewers or my favorite Philly cheesesteak recipe with roast beef!

    When to Serve a Baked Potato Bar

    • Whether you’re getting together with friends for game night or hosting a large family dinner, a loaded potato bar with all kinds of wonderful potato toppings is a great way to feed and entertain your guests.
    • Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, your New Year’s Eve party, and Easter dinner… All are perfect occasions for setting up a potato buffet extravaganza.
    • Church potluck coming up? Set up a small charcuterie board with lots of toppings, and keep baked potatoes warm in an Instant Pot or slow cooker.
    • A baked potato bar wedding buffet will definitely be a fun way to feed everyone and a favorite with guests.
    • What better occasion than game day? Your football party guests will love a loaded potato bar.
    • Just for the heck of it, plan a baked potato bar night with just your family, and watch movies or play board games together.

    If you build it, they will come… It’s just a matter of cooking the potatoes and prepping all the toppings for your guests to choose from. Or better yet, with large gatherings, have each guest bring their favorite topping!

    How to Make Baked Potatoes

    You’ll need to decide what kind of potatoes you want to use and how best to cook them before setting up a potato bar.

    Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

    Potatoes – I prefer to use yellow potatoes, as they make a good baked potato. You can also use russet potatoes. If you’d rather use sweet potatoes over regular potatoes, you can make Instant Pot sweet potatoes.

    How to Cook Baked Potatoes

    There are a few ways you can bake potatoes. My favorite way is the microwave; however, if you’re feeding a crowd, you may want to go with either the oven, the grill, CrockPot, or Instant Pot baked potatoes.

    Microwave

    Wash and scrub the potatoes. Poke a few holes in each potato with a fork. Put them on a microwave-safe plate, and cook on high for 5 minutes; then flip and cook another 5 minutes. (Keep in mind, cook times may vary, depending on different microwaves.) Allow the potatoes to cool for a few minutes before handling.

    Oven

    Wash and scrub the potatoes. Poke a few holes in each potato with a fork. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; then on the sheet pan, rub potatoes down with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt or kosher salt. Place on the baking sheet, and bake at 400° F for at least 1 hour, possibly a few minute longer. (You can also wrap the potatoes in foil and place them directly on the oven rack to bake.) You’ll know the potatoes are done when they can easily be pierced with a fork or knife.

    Grill

    Wash and scrub the potatoes. Heat the grill to 350° F. Rub potatoes down with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt or kosher salt. Then wrap each potato in aluminum foil, poke a few holes in the foil and potatoes, and place on the grill to cook for probably about an hour. You’ll know the potatoes are done when they can easily be pierced with a fork or knife.

    Air Fryer

    Pre-heat the air fryer to 400° F. Wash and scrub the potatoes. Poke a few holes in each potato with a fork. Rub each potato down with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Cook the potatoes in the pre-heated air fryer for about 45 minutes, maybe a little more, ’til the potatoes are soft and tender when poked with a fork or knife.

    CrockPot or Slow Cooker

    Wash and scrub the potatoes. Poke a few holes in each potato with a fork. Rub each potato down with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt. Then wrap each potato in aluminu foil, and place in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours. Potatoes are done when they can easily be pierced with a fork or knife.

    Instant Pot

    Wash and scrub the potatoes. Poke a few holes in each potato with a fork. Place all the potatoes in a steamer basket down in the Instant Pot. Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the Instant Pot. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to seal, press Manual or Pressure Cook, and set to 8 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release when done.

    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!

    potato bar ideas, including sloppy joe meat and red onion, with fork on wood cutting board

    How to Set up or Assemble the Ultimate Baked Potato Bar

    Gather the ingredients for your potato bar… You’ll need baked potatoes and baked potato bar toppings. Your main work will be cooking the potatoes and prepping any toppings for your guests to choose from.

    Baked Potato Bar Ideas and Expert Tips

    • Prep the toppings, adding each topping to a separate dish or compartment for serving. Prepping may involve cooking, re-heating, or simply chopping.
    • Set everything out buffet style, so your guests can create their very own delicious baked potato creations.
    • If you’re hosting a smaller gathering, try using a large charcuterie board with small bowls for a variety of toppings all around a large bowl full of baked potatoes.
    • If you’re wondering how to keep the baked potatoes warm without warmers, you can create a CrockPot baked potato bar or Instant Pot baked potato bar.

    Loaded Baked Potato Bar Toppings List:

    Here’s a whole slew of different toppings you can add to your potato buffet…

    • Butter
    • Salt and Pepper – Preferably sea salt or kosher salt, and ground black pepper.
    • Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt
    • Cheese Sauce
    • Shredded Cheese – I recommend Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Smoked Cheddar, Mozzarella, goat cheese, etc.
    • Onions – red onion, green onions, caramelized onions, etc.
    • Chives
    • Cooked Broccoli
    • Cooked Cauliflower
    baked potato stuffed with broccoli and cheese sauce on wood cutting board
    baked potato topped with sour cream, cheese sauce, bacon bits, and chives
    ultimate baked potato bar toppings, including sloppy joe ground beef, red onion, and shredded cheese, on wood cutting board

    The sky’s the limit on ideas for a baked potato buffet because there are so many toppings you can add to this list. But this is a great start.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    What potatoes are best for a baked potato bar?

    While I do prefer yellow potatoes or Yukon Gold potatoes, you can use any kind of potatoes you prefer, including Russet potatoes, red potatoes, even purple potatoes if you can find them. Though I will say that yellow or russets make the best baked potatoes.

    Can you make baked potatoes and toppings ahead of time?

    While you can make the toppings 1-2 days ahead of time, it’s best to cook the potatoes the day of. Baked potatoes are best when eaten soon after cooking. As for the toppings, you’ll just need to store them in airtight containers in the fridge.

    How can you keep baked potatoes warm while at a party?

    You can either use a buffet server and food warmer. Or you can keep the potatoes in a Crock Pot or Instant Pot on the “Keep Warm” setting.

    More Potato Recipes

    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!

    Ultimate Baked Potato Bar

    Set up the ultimate baked potato bar loaded with the best toppings. Easy buffet ideas for a crowd, party, wedding, or special occasion.

    • Instant Pot
    • Cutting Board
    • Vegetable Cleaver
    • Buffet Server and Food Warmer
    • Serving Bowls
    • Sectioned Serving Tray
    • 12 large baked potatoes

    Baked Potato Bar Toppings:

    • 1 1/2 cups salted butter
    • 1/4 cup salt
    • 1/4 cup ground black pepper
    • 1 1/2 cups sour cream
    • 3 cups cheese sauce
    • 12 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese (*shredded)
    • 2 cups red onion (minced)
    • 2 cups green onion (chopped)
    • 2 cups chives (chopped)
    • 6 cups broccoli (cooked)
    • 6 cups chili
    • 6 cups sloppy joe meat
    • 1 1/2 cups bacon (cooked and crumbled)
    • 4 1/2 cups ham (chopped)

    1. Choose and prep your toppings*, adding each topping to a separate dish or compartment for serving. Prepping may involve cooking, re-heating, or simply chopping.

    2. Set everything out buffet style, so your guests can create their very own delicious baked potato creations.

    * You can use any kind of shredded cheese you prefer. I recommend Extra Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Smoked Cheddar, Mozzarella, goat cheese, etc.

    *More mashed potato bar topping ideas include cooked cauliflower, chili, beef taco meat, taco chicken with black beans, pulled pork, rotisserie chicken, sausage, ground beef, steak, bacon bits, cubed pepperoni, BBQ sauce, Ranch dressing, pizza sauce, turkey gravy, ham gravy, ham gravy with cornstarch, chicken stock gravy, tomatoes, guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, fire roasted green chiles, corn, peas, etc.

    *You may need warmers to keep the baked potatoes warm; you can also use a slow cooker or Crock pot, or an Instant Pot. Otherwise, you may use a serving platter or serving bowls for toppings.

    Side Dish
    American
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  • Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are so easy to make, pressure cooked in less than 10 minutes. Tender and delicious, they’re a family favorite dinner side.

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are pressure cooked to perfection. Plus, like my Instant Pot sweet potato recipe, they’re super easy to make which makes them a win win in my book.

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are pressure cooked in less than 10 minutes. Easy to make, they’re a delicious dinner side dish the whole family will love!

    We pretty much have potatoes on hand all the time. My boys sometimes love to eat a baked potato with their lunch; and less often now, we’ll enjoy mashed potatoes or baked potatoes with our Instant Pot whole chicken dinner.

    It really depends what we’re making. If we’re making slow cooker pork roast, roast beef Philly cheesesteak, baked chicken drumsticks, Insta Pot salmon or meatloaf muffins, potatoes are definitely on the menu.

    And if you haven’t figured it out by now, we absolutely love our Instant Pot. I think it’s safe to say it’s reached the heights of being one of those small appliances I wouldn’t want to live without.

    Baked Potatoes are so quick and easy to make in the Instant Pot. And Instant Pot Baked Potatoes come out cooked to perfection, so tender, moist, and delicious.

    If you’re an Instant Pot fanatic (like us), you’re going to love this hack of a recipe. If you have an Instant Pot and you haven’t opened it up yet, it’s time; in fact, you can use our Instant Pot Quick Start Guide to get you going. And if you’re just not sure about these newfangled contraptions… Well, you’ll definitely be sure after you taste these delicious baked spuds.

    Tips for how to make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    First of all, you’ll need to gather your ingredients and supplies. You’ll need your Instant Pot (with a vegetable steamer basket if you have one), a handful of potatoes, and water. Yep, that’s it, easy peasy.

    • Pick out 8 to 10 medium sized potatoes that would make good baked potatoes. They don’t have to be large, but you probably don’t want them to be too small either.
    • Wash the potatoes well.
    • Then take a fork and prick each potato all over. This keeps your potatoes from bursting while cooking.
    • If you have a vegetable steamer basket, place it in your Instant Pot. This will keep your potatoes from getting overly moist from sitting in water while they’re cooking.
    • Place all the potatoes in the steamer basket.
    • Add water to the Instant Pot.
    • Place the lid on your Instant Pot, and hit Manual (or Pressure Cook); set the time to 8 minutes.
    • Let it naturally release when done.
    • Serve while warm with all the fixings that go along with baked potatoes… Butter, sour cream, cheese, crumbled bacon, chives, etc.
    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes will be your new favorite dinner side, especially when you serve them up with all the fixings, like butter, sour cream, cheese sauce, crumbled bacon, chives, etc.

    Looking for more delicious potato recipes?

    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!

    Kitchen tools you may need to make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Instant Pot – We use our Instant Pot just about every day for all sorts of things. It’s so versatile and handy and makes the perfect baked potatoes.

    Vegetable Steamer Basket – This will keep your potatoes from getting overly moist from sitting in water while they’re cooking.

    Glass Measuring Cup – for measuring the water.

    How to make the most delicious, moist, tender Instant Pot Baked Potatoes. They’re so good! They make an easy side dish for dinner.

    Print the recipe for Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are so easy to make, pressure cooked in less than 10 minutes. Tender and delicious, a family favorite dinner side.

    • 8 to 10 medium yellow potatoes
    • 1 1/2 cups water
    • Any dressings you want (salt, pepper, butter, cheese sauce, sour cream, chives, etc.)
    1. Pick out 8 to 10 medium potatoes that would make good baked potatoes. They don’t have to be large, but you probably don’t want them to be too small either. We prefer yellow potatoes.
    2. Wash the potatoes well.
    3. Then take a fork and prick each potato all over. This keeps your potatoes from bursting while cooking.
    4. If you have a steamer basket, place it in your Instant Pot. This will keep your potatoes from getting overly moist from sitting in water.
    5. Place all the potatoes in the steamer basket. 
    6. Add water to the Instant Pot.
    7. Place the lid on your Instant Pot, and hit Manual (or Pressure Cook); set the time to 8 minutes.
    8. Let it naturally release when done.
    9. Serve while warm with all the fixings that go along with baked potatoes… Butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, etc.
    Instant Pot Recipes
    American
    baked potatoes, instant pot baked potatoes, pressure cooker baked potatoes

    Pin this recipe, so you can save it for later!

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are so easy to make, pressure cooked in less than 10 minutes. Tender and delicious, they're a family favorite dinner side.
    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are a family favorite dinner side. They’re quick and easy to make, pressure cooked in less than 10 minutes. So tender and delicious!
  • Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    Make creamy mashed potatoes with yellow potatoes, cream, and butter. Delicious side dish recipe perfect for weeknight meals and holiday dinners.

    Creamy Mashed Potatoes with gravy is the quintessential side for every holiday dinner and even some weeknight meals, like my family favorite easy meatloaf recipe with oats, slow cooker whole chicken and Crock Pot pork roast. We used to eat potatoes a lot more than we do now; but we still have our favorite mashed potatoes recipe that’s pretty basic but oh so creamy delicious.

    Creamy Mashed Potatoes are a delicious side with weeknight meals or special holiday dinners. They’re the quintessential side dish recipe to pair with turkey, ham, roast, chicken, and all the fixings!

    Only 5 ingredients… That’s all it takes to make these simple potatoes. You know how we like to keep it simple. And if you know how to make gravy with cornstarch, you can have any flavor gravy you want!

    Now I do suggest being picky about which potatoes you use. And maybe this topic is for another post at another time.

    But our favorite type of potato for the most flavorful mashed potatoes is the yellow potato or Yukon Gold. We like red potatoes too, but I find myself going for the gold whenever we buy potatoes.

    Whether you’re cooking an Instant Pot whole chicken, Instant Pot salmon, oven-baked chicken legs, meat loaf muffins, or putting together a holiday meal, Creamy Mashed Potatoes are the one side dish you’ll definitely want to make sure is on the table. You can even set up a fun mashed potato bar to go with your celebration!

    If you enjoy potatoes, you may also enjoy our Instant Pot Baked Potatoes, our copycat version of the KFC mashed potato bowl, and scalloped potatoes with cheese recipes!

    Tips for how to make Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    1. Gather your ingredients… You’ll need yellow potatoes, salted butter, heavy whipping cream, salt, and pepper.
    2. Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes.
    3. Cook the potatoes until they’re soft enough to easily jab with a fork. We usually cook ours by boiling them on the stove in a medium to large saucepan for about 30 minutes, but sometimes we use our Instant Pot.
    4. Drain the water off your boiled potatoes, leaving your potatoes in the saucepan.
    5. Add the butter and heavy whipping cream to the potatoes.
    6. Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes, adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also use a potato masher if you don’t have a hand mixer; your potatoes may just be a little bit chunky.
    7. Once they’re all whipped up, they’re ready to serve. They taste so good with a spoonful of homemade chicken gravy, this ham gravy recipe, or turkey gravy. And they make the best sloppy joe casserole with mashed potatoes too.
    How to make the best Creamy Mashed Potatoes ever! Made with yellow potatoes, cream, and butter, they’ve got the best flavor and make the perfect side dish, whether you’re cooking dinner for your family or a special occasion.

    Looking for more potato recipes?

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    The Ultimate Mashed Potato Bar

    The Ultimate Baked Potato Bar

    Hashbrown Casserole Recipe

    Slow Cooker Green Beans, Potatoes, and Sausages

    Steak Cut Fries

    Looking for more delicious side dish recipes?

    Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Easy Green Bean Casserole Recipe

    Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    Creamy Bacon Corn Casserole

    Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing

    Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Orange

    Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary

    You may also want to check out my list of The Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Your Holiday Menu and The Best Christmas Recipes for Your Holiday Celebrations for plenty more inspiration. If you’re planning for Easter, here are over 50 Easter dinner menu ideas.

    Kitchen Tools you may need to make Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    Vegetable Peeler or Paring Knife – I prefer to use a knife, but my guys prefer a veggie peeler for peeling potatoes.

    Vegetable Knife – to chop the potatoes.

    Saucepan with Lid – for boiling the potatoes.

    Strainer – You’ll need this to drain the potatoes.

    Hand Mixer or Potato Masher – A hand mixer will enable you to get smooth, creamy mashed potatoes; a potato masher will allow you to mash the potatoes, but they’ll have a chunkier texture.

    The best mashed potatoes ever are Creamy Mashed Potatoes, made with just 5 simple ingredients. Simple equals delicious with this yummy side dish recipe, perfect for dinner or your holiday family get together.

    Print the recipe for Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    Creamy Mashed Potatoes made with yellow potatoes, cream, and butter. Delicious side dish recipe perfect for weeknight meals and holiday dinners.

    • 8 potatoes (medium size)
    • 6 tablespoons salted butter
    • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
    • 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (to taste)
    1. Wash, peel, and chop the potatoes.

    2. Boil the potatoes in a large saucepan on the stove, until they're soft enough to easily jab with a fork, about 20-30 minutes.

    3. Drain the water off the boiled potatoes, and leave them in the saucepan.

    4. Add the butter and heavy whipping cream to the potatoes.
    5. Use a hand mixer to whip the potatoes, adding salt and pepper to taste. You can also use a potato masher if you don’t have a hand mixer; your potatoes may just be a little bit chunky.

    6. Once they're whipped, they're ready to serve. 

    Side Dish
    American
    creamy mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes

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    Creamy Mashed Potatoes made with yellow potatoes, cream, and butter. Delicious side dish recipe perfect for weeknight meals and holiday dinners.
    Best recipe for Creamy Mashed Potatoes. Easy and simple, just 5 ingredients whipped together to make a delicious side dish for your family meal or holiday dinner!
  • Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites

    Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites

    Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites – Made with cream cheese and spinach, maple sausage stuffed pastry bites are the ultimate appetizer and finger food idea for your holiday party.

    This recipe for Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites is sponsored by @TysonFoods. Much like my favorite leftover turkey stuffing crescent roll appetizers and leftover ham crescent rolls, these bite-sized appetizers take about 30 minutes to make, and they’re so delicious, it’s hard to stop at just one.

    Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites are so easy to make. They’re the ultimate appetizer and finger food idea for holiday parties and family get togethers.

    Whether you’re gearing up for a holiday party or just making a few treats for family and friends, finger foods are definitely a given.

    I used to love it when I’d hear that term… Finger Foods. It usually went along with one of my other favorite terms growing up… Church Potluck. Both meant all sorts of good things to eat and an enjoyable time with friends, as well.

    I could think of all sorts of things to do with Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage; in fact, Jimmy Dean® Maple Sausage has been my absolute favorite kind of sausage for a really long time, mainly because of the flavor it gives to anything I choose to make with it.

    Use Jimmy Dean® Maple Sausage to make Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites. Easy delicious appetizer recipe, perfect for holiday parties with family and friends.

    Just ask my family. Breakfast Bake is one of my favorite things to make, along with delicious Biscuits and Sausage Gravy; Sausage Biscuit Sandwiches; Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Sandwiches; and so much more.

    Breakfast isn’t the only way to use Jimmy Dean® Maple Sausage, though. Think appetizers, soups and stews, snacks, kid-friendly dinner ideas, and meat pies… With premium quality ingredients and delicious taste in every roll of down-home fresh pork sausage, it’s a definite go-to ingredient for all sorts of recipes and meal ideas.

    For now, let’s make a super easy appetizer you can whip up in no time. All you need are a few delicious ingredients.

    Delicious appetizer idea for holiday parties and family celebrations, Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites. Easy recipe that only takes about 30 minutes to make!

    Looking for more appetizers? You may enjoy these easy appetizer recipes, including pinwheels, apples and cheese crackers, and bacon wrapped apples and cheese.

    Tips for how to make Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites

    • You can find Jimmy Dean® Maple Sausage in the refrigerated meats section at Walmart. If you use Ibotta, look for the offer to purchase 2 rolls of sausage and earn $1.
    • Bake the puff pastry cups according to the package directions.
    • Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a large skillet. Drain well.
    • Wash and chop the spinach and green onions.
    • Shred the cheddar cheese.
    • Mix together the cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, sour cream, spinach, and cheddar.
    • When the sausage is fully cooked and drained, mix it into the creamy mixture.
    • Add a small dollop of the creamy sausage mixture into each puff pastry cup.
    • Top off each of the Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites with green onions.
    • Serve on a platter right away to all your holiday guests!
    Serve Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites to all your holiday guests. Delicious appetizer and finger food idea that’s super easy to make!

    Looking for more delicious holiday appetizers or snacks?

    For more holiday recipe inspiration, you may enjoy browsing through all our favorite Christmas dinner recipes and Easter dinner ideas.

    Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites, made with puff pastry cups, cream cheese, spinach, and Ranch dressing mix. They’re so scrumptious, all your holiday party guests will love them!

    Print the recipe for Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites

    Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites

    Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites, made with cream cheese and spinach, are the ultimate appetizer and finger food idea for your holiday party.

    • 2 packages puff pastry cups
    • 1 pound Jimmy Dean® Maple Sausage
    • 1 8- ounce package cream cheese
    • 1/2 tablespoon ranch dressing mix
    • 1 tablespoon sour cream
    • 1/4 cup spinach (chopped)
    • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 5 green onions (chopped)
    1. Bake and prep the puff pastry cups according to the package directions.
    2. Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a large skillet. Drain well.
    3. Wash and chop the spinach and green onions.
    4. Shred the cheddar cheese.
    5. Mix together the cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, sour cream, spinach, and cheddar.
    6. When the sausage is fully cooked and drained, mix it into the creamy mixture.
    7. Add a small dollop of the creamy sausage mixture into each puff pastry cup. 
    8. Top off each of the Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites with a sprinkling of green onions.
    9. Serve on a platter right away to all your holiday guests! 

     

    Appetizers
    American
    maple sausage stuffed pastry, puff pastry bites, stuffed pastry bites

    For more recipes using Jimmy Dean® Pork Sausage, follow the hashtag #JimmyDeanRollSausage on social media!

    Want to save this recipe? Pin it for later!

    Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites, made with cream cheese and spinach, are the ultimate appetizer and finger food idea for your holiday party.
    I love finger foods, and Maple Sausage Stuffed Pastry Bites are the ultimate appetizer and finger food. Delicious snack idea for a holiday celebration. Made using cream cheese and spinach. Yum!
  • Easy Ham Gravy Recipe {How to Make with Drippings}

    Easy Ham Gravy Recipe {How to Make with Drippings}

    How to make an easy homemade ham gravy recipe, made last minute with leftover ham drippings. This gravy makes a delicious side dish with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings at your holiday or family dinner!

    Homemade ham gravy (like its counterpart turkey gravy) is a staple side dish whenever we cook a ham in the oven, which is mostly on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. Family dinner and holiday dinners just wouldn’t be the same without gravy to smother over our sliced ham and mashed potatoes.

    homemade ham gravy recipe in white serving bowl with spoon

    Now it’s important to remember… The main flavoring for ham gravy comes directly from the ham itself. So if you glaze your ham, like with a brown sugar glaze or something like this sweet pineapple honey baked ham, the sweet flavoring from the glazed ham will go into your gravy for ham, and the end result will be a sweet gravy.

    It’s so easy to make homemade gravy, and it’s super quick too. It’s delicious and definitely worth the minimal effort.

    ham gravy on mashed potatoes served with ham and green beans on white plate

    Why You’ll Love Knowing How to Make Ham Gravy

    There are a lot of reasons to love this delicious gravy recipe…

    • It’s an easy condiment to make, takes less than 30 minutes to make, and it’s something you can make last minute just before serving the main meal.
    • It takes a very minimal amount of ingredients to make gammon gravy. In fact, they’re all pretty simple, and you likely already have them on hand.
    • It’s a delicious ham gravy!
    • Ham gravy is so versatile and can be used in so many delicious ways. Not only does it complement a ham dinner, but it makes a very tasty addition to your next baked potato bar or mashed potato bar, as well as a tasty dip for leftover ham crescent rolls. And you can use it in place of brown gravy or chicken gravy in a mashed potato bowl.
    • It’s a fantastic addition to your holiday dinner spread. I’ve added this ham gravy recipe with drippings to my collections of favorite Thanksgiving recipes, Christmas recipes, and Easter dinner recipes, where you’ll find all the holiday inspiration you need in one place.
    ham gravy ingredients on white marble countertop

    Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

    You’ll need just a handful of ingredients to make gravy for gammon (or ham). While you should have most of the ingredients on hand, you’ll likely need to purchase a ham at the grocery store, in order to have leftover ham drippings.

    • All-Purpose Flour – I prefer to use an unbleached all-purpose flour; you can also use a good gluten-free flour, although it’s important to note that gravy made with gluten-free flour doesn’t stay thick as long as with regular flour… In other words, it won’t store well. If you need a good gluten-free ham gravy alternative, ham gravy with cornstarch is just the thing.
    • Heavy Cream – You can skim heavy cream off of raw milk, or you can use store bought heavy whipping cream.
    • Ham Drippings – You can scoop the ham juices and pan drippings from the roasting pan after baking a spiral ham, bone-in whole ham, or boneless ham. You should have enough drippings to at least make a small batch of homemade gravy. These leftover ham drippings will likely give you all the delicious flavor you need without any extra seasoning, salt, or black pepper. If you don’t have any ham drippings, you can always use ham broth made from bouillon to make ham gravy.
    • Water

    How to Make This Old-Fashioned Ham Gravy Recipe

    Making this easy gravy for ham is actually really simple, but there are a few tips and tricks that will ensure you make a really good gravy from ham drippings.

    How to Avoid Lumpy Gravy

    Before we get started, here are 3 tips for preventing lumpy gravy…

    • It’s important to start with a roux, and you do this by mixing together the flour and heavy whipping cream in a small mixing bowl or glass measuring cup. Whisking this together in the beginning will help prevent lumps in your gravy.
    • Use a whisk to stir your gravy while it’s cooking. It’s pretty much a given that you may have a few lumps, but you can minimize them by whisking the gravy.
    • Take your time to avoid any lumps in your gravy. To me, this right here is the secret to good gravy… Patience and being willing to take your time. Work on medium-low heat, and don’t get in a hurry, and you’ll make a good gravy.

    Now Let’s Make Ham Gravy

    1. Mix together the flour and heavy whipping cream in a small mixing bowl or glass measuring cup.
    making ham gravy roux in glass measuring cup with whisk
    1. Gradually whisk together the flour/cream mixture with the pan drippings in a large saucepan or skillet on medium heat.
    how to make ham gravy with roux and ham drippings in cast iron skillet
    1. Add in the water.
    whisking water into gravy for ham in cast iron skillet
    1. Continue whisking and stirring the gravy until it begins to thicken and is ready to serve.
    simmering ham gravy recipe with drippings and whisking it until it thickens in cast iron skillet

    Then just pour the gravy into a gravy boat, and serve it with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixin’s! It will add such a rich flavor to your mashed potatoes, you’ll wish you had that ham flavor the next time you eat potatoes.

    spoonful of homemade ham gravy over white gravy boat full of ham gravy

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    How much gravy should you make per person?

    The answer to this will really depend on the consistency of your gravy. When we make this recipe, we usually have a lot of leftover gravy. You want to plan on about 1/3 to 1/2 cup per person, again depending on how thick your gravy is.

    How do you store and reheat ham gravy?

    Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the fridge; it should keep for about 3-4 days. You can re-heat gravy by placing it in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish for a few minutes, stirring between every 30-second increments of time, ’til heated through; or put the gravy in a saucepan, and heat it up over low to medium heat on the stove, constantly stirring so it doesn’t scorch.

    Can you freeze gravy?

    Yes, you can. Just be sure to put it in an airtight freezer-friendly container, so it doesn’t get freezer burn. It should keep for about 4 to 6 months.

    pouring homemade ham gravy from white gravy boat, pouring over home cooked ham

    More Side Dish Recipes to Serve with Ham Dinner

    Whenever we make a ham dinner or turkey dinner, we usually serve it with sides like Instant Pot southern green beans, honey glazed carrots, or Jiffy corn casserole. Of course, homemade cranberry sauce is a must at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    If it’s more gravy recipes you’re looking for, Moscato Mom has a delicious recipe for slow cooker short ribs with gravy (also a keto recipe). And 918 Plate has a very yummy recipe for jumbo drop biscuits with brown butter gravy.

    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!

    Ham Gravy Recipe

    How to make an easy homemade ham gravy recipe with leftover ham drippings. Delicious side dish with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings!

    • Mixing Bowl
    • Large Skillet
    • Whisk
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Heat-Resistant Spatula
    • Gravy Boat
    • 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
    • 2 cups ham drippings
    • 1 cup water

    1. Mix together the flour and heavy cream in a small mixing bowl or glass measuring cup.

    2. Gradually whisk together the flour/cream mixture with the pan drippings in a large saucepan or skillet on medium heat.

    3. Add in the water.
    4. Continue whisking and stirring the gravy until it begins to thicken and is ready to serve.

    5. Serve with ham, mashed potatoes, and all the fixin's!

    *Take your time whisking in the flour mixture to avoid any lumps in your gravy. It’s pretty much a given that you may have a few lumps, but you can minimize them by starting with the roux and taking your time, whisking the gravy.

    Store leftover gravy in an airtight container in the fridge; it should keep for about 3-4 days. You can re-heat gravy by placing it in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish for a few minutes, stirring between every 30-second increments of time, ’til heated through; or put the gravy in a saucepan, and heat it up over low to medium heat on the stove, constantly stirring so it doesn’t scorch.

    Condiments, Sauces & Dressings, Side Dish
    American
    gammon gravy, gravy for gammon, gravy for ham, gravy from ham drippings, gravy recipes, ham gravy, ham gravy recipe, ham gravy recipe with drippings, homemade ham gravy, how to avoid lumpy gravy, how to make gravy, how to make ham gravy, making ham gravy
  • Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary

    Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary

    Honey Glazed Carrots, made with simple ingredients like butter, honey, and rosemary. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.

    Honey Glazed Carrots are one of the easiest side dish recipes you’ll ever make for a slow cooker pot roast, CrockPot whole chicken or baked chicken legs. I love when a dish has great flavor, and I also love when a dish is beautiful. Carrots are pretty all by themselves, but when you dress them up with a little rosemary, they’re even prettier.

    Honey Glazed Carrots, made with 4 simple ingredients. Delicious side dish recipe you can add to your holiday or weeknight menu.

    And my favorite thing about this recipe is it only takes 4 ingredients, one of which really could be optional. I say that because rosemary may not be to everyone’s taste, and you could certainly make this recipe without the rosemary.

    Honey Glazed Carrots pair really well with Roast Beef or Pork Chops for a delicious weeknight meal. Not to mention, they’re a great way to get kids to eat their veggies.

    Whether you’re creating an Easter menu or just making dinner for the family, Honey Glazed Carrots are a great addition to your meal… Not to mention a great way to get kids to eat their veggies. They pair really well with Roast Beef or Pork Chops.

    Tips for how to make Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary

    • Wash, peel, and slice the carrots.
    • Steam or boil the carrots ’til they soften.
    • Melt the butter in a large skillet.
    • Add the honey and carrots to the skillet, and toss together with the melted butter.
    • If desired, add fresh rosemary to the mixture.
    • Toss together on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes.
    • Serve while warm.
    How to make the easiest side dish recipe ever, Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary. Perfect for both holiday and weeknight meals.

    It really is such a simple and easy recipe.

    Looking for more side dish recipes to go with your meal?

    You may also want to check out my list of The Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Your Holiday Menu and The Best Christmas Recipes for Your Holiday Celebrations for plenty more inspiration.

    Kitchen Tools you may need to make Honey Glazed Carrots

    Saucepot and Steamer – Handy whether you want to steam or boil the carrots.
    Large Skillet – You’ll need this to toss everything together on the stove.
    Wooden Spoon – to toss the mixture together.
    Serving Bowl – to serve your beautifully delicious carrots.

    Make a delicious side dish the whole family will love, Honey Glazed Carrots. Just 4 simple ingredients, and they’re so easy to make, perfect for dinner.

    Honey Glazed Carrots

    Honey Glazed Carrots, made with simple ingredients like butter, honey, and rosemary. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.

    • 2 pounds carrots
    • 3 tablespoons salted butter
    • 2 1/2 tablespoons raw honey
    • 1 stalk rosemary leaves ((optional))

    1. Wash, peel, and slice the carrots.

    2. Steam or boil the carrots ’til softened.
    3. Melt the butter in a large skillet.
    4. Add the honey and carrots to the skillet, and toss together with the melted butter.
    5. If desired, add fresh rosemary to the mixture.

    6. Toss everything together on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes.

    7. Serve while warm.
    Side Dish
    American
    honey glazed carrots, rosemary carrots

    Save this recipe and Pin it for later!

    Honey Glazed Carrots, made with simple ingredients like butter, honey, and rosemary. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.
    Whether holiday meals or weeknight dinners, Honey Glazed Carrots make a kid-friendly side dish the whole family will love. Simple and easy recipe.
  • How to Make Homemade Turkey Gravy

    How to Make Homemade Turkey Gravy

    Made with leftover turkey drippings and neck broth, homemade turkey gravy is a delicious side dish with turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings!

    Homemade Turkey Gravy, like ham gravy at Christmas, is a staple side dish with Thanksgiving dinner. It just wouldn’t be the same without gravy to smother over our sliced turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.

    How to make homemade turkey gravy to go along with your Thanksgiving and holiday dinner. Mashed potatoes just wouldn’t be the same without this delicious side dish.

    The main flavoring for the gravy comes directly from the turkey itself. So you’ll definitely want to keep in mind that if you brine your turkey or add a glaze of any kind, that flavoring will go into your gravy. For example, if you’re using a sweet brine, your gravy will be a little sweeter.

    It really only takes a few minutes to make homemade gravy, so it’s usually the last dish we make before we all sit down to eat. But it’s delicious and definitely worth the minimal effort.

    I’m definitely adding this to my favorite Thanksgiving Recipes and Christmas Recipes, where you’ll find all the Thanksgiving inspiration you need in one place.

    Use turkey drippings to make a delicious Homemade Turkey Gravy. Takes about 20 minutes to make, definitely worth the minimal effort. Perfect over turkey and mashed potatoes!

    Tips for how to make Homemade Turkey Gravy

    • Mix together the flour and water in a small mixing bowl.
    • Gradually whisk together the flour/water mixture with the neck broth and turkey drippings in a large saucepan on medium heat. Take your time to avoid any lumps in your gravy. It’s pretty much a given that you may have a few lumps, but you can minimize them by whisking the gravy.
    • Add salt and pepper to taste.
    • Continue whisking and stirring the gravy until it begins to thicken and is ready to serve.
    • Serve with turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing… The works!
    Use leftover turkey drippings to make a quick batch of Homemade Turkey Gravy to go with your holiday dinner. Delicious side dish recipe!

    Turkey gravy, like chicken gravy from bouillon and this ham gravy recipe, is great for dipping too, especially for dipping Leftover Turkey Stuffing Crescent Rolls. And you can use it in place of brown gravy in a mashed potato bowl.

    Looking for more Thanksgiving sides to add to your dinner menu?

    Homemade Cranberry Sauce

    Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Creamy Bacon Corn Casserole

    Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing

    Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cauliflower

    And just in case you’re still looking for a turkey recipe, Maple Bourbon Brined Roasted Turkey is so good!

    Turkey Gravy also makes a very tasty addition to your next Baked Potato Bar.

    Tools you may need to make Homemade Turkey Gravy

    Mixing Bowl – for mixing together the flour and water.

    Large Saucepan – You’ll make the gravy in a saucepan on the stove. This recipe feeds a crowd, so you’ll need a larger pan.

    Whisk – Helps to minimize lumps in your gravy.

    Wooden Spoon – There’s nothing quite like a wooden spoon for stirring.

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

    Gravy Boat – for serving.

    Print the recipe for Homemade Turkey Gravy

    Homemade Turkey Gravy

    Homemade Turkey Gravy, made with leftover turkey drippings and neck broth. Delicious side dish with turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings!

    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup water
    • 1 cup neck broth
    • 1 cup turkey drippings
    • Salt (to taste)
    • Ground black pepper (to taste)

    1. Whisk together the flour and water in a small mixing bowl.

    2. Gradually whisk together the flour/water mixture with the neck broth and turkey drippings in a large saucepan on medium heat.

    3. Continue whisking and stirring the gravy until it begins to thicken and is ready to serve.
    4. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

    5. Serve with turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing.

    *Take your time whisking in the flour/water mixture to avoid any lumps in your gravy. It’s a given that you’ll have a few lumps, but you can minimize them by whisking the gravy.

    Side Dish
    American
    homemade turkey gravy, turkey gravy

    Pin this recipe for later!

    Homemade Turkey Gravy, made with leftover turkey drippings and neck broth. Delicious side dish with turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings!
    Homemade Turkey Gravy, made with leftover turkey drippings. Delicious side dish for holiday or weeknight meals. Must have with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and all the fixings!
  • Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Southern Green Beans, made with bacon, onion, and ground beef in the Instant Pot. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.

    Southern Green Beans are the most flavorful green beans you’ll ever enjoy. With bacon, onion, and ground beef, the flavors are incredible. Pressure cooked in the Instant Pot, they’re so tender and delicious, not to mention easy to make. And they pair really well with a Crock Pot pork roast or even baked chicken drums!

    Southern Green Beans, made with bacon, onion, and ground beef in the Instant Pot. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.

    They’re reminiscent of the green beans my grandma used to make for every single holiday get together. Also, the fact that I live in Arkansas… That warrants a Southern recipe or two, right? I think so.

    This recipe really only uses 6 ingredients, so it’s a pretty simple recipe. The most work is cooking up the bacon and ground beef beforehand. Otherwise, just throw all the ingredients in the Instant Pot, give them a stir, pop the lid on, and cook.

    Serve up a helping of Instant Pot Southern Green Beans for Thanksgiving or a weeknight meal. Incredible flavor, cooked with bacon and ground beef. So delicious!

    Meaning you can throw it all together and walk away and focus on doing something else (like play a quick game with the kids or keep the laundry going). 

    Tips for how to make Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    • Chop a medium sized onion.
    • Cook ground beef and onion together in a large skillet.
    • Meanwhile, also cook bacon in another large skillet.
    • When ground beef/onion mixture is done, drain well.
    • Crumble bacon.
    • Add frozen green beans, ground beef/onion mixture, crumbled bacon, salt, pepper, and water to the Instant Pot.
    • Give it all a good stir.
    • Place lid on the Instant Pot.
    • Cook on Manual for 25 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release.
    • Serve while warm. We’ve eaten this as both a side dish and a main dish. So good!
    How to make the most delicious Southern Green Beans in the Instant Pot. Full of flavor and cooked with bacon.

    More side dish recipes you may enjoy…

    You may also want to check out my list of The Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Your Holiday Menu and The Best Christmas Recipes for Your Holiday Celebrations for plenty more inspiration. And if you’re wondering what to make for Easter dinner, I’ve gotcha covered.

    Tools you may need to make Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Cutting Board and Knife – for chopping the onions and crumbling the bacon.
    Large Skillet – You’ll need to cook both the ground beef and the bacon.
    Wood Spatula – Use for cooking the ground beef.
    Instant Pot – We have the 6-Quart Instant Pot, without the yogurt function. We love it.
    Serving Bowl – This will allow for easier (and prettier) serving than just from the Instant Pot.

    Make Southern Green Beans in the Instant Pot. Pressure cooked to perfection. Bacon, onion, and ground beef give added flavor for a delicious side dish recipe everyone will love!

    Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Southern Green Beans, made with bacon, onion, and ground beef in the Instant Pot. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.

    • Large Skillet
    • Instant Pot
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 medium onion (minced)
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 36 ounces frozen green beans
    • 6 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 cup water

    1. Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat.

    2. Stir the minced onion into the olive oil and sauté 'til the onion is translucent, about 3-5 minutes.

    3. Mix the ground beef together with the onion in the skillet and cook.

    4. When the ground beef mixture is done, drain well.

    5. Add the ground beef mixture, frozen green beans, crumbled bacon, salt, pepper, and water to the Instant Pot.

    6. Give it all a good stir.

    7. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, set the vent to "Sealed," and cook on Manual (or Pressure Cook) for 15 minutes. Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release.

    8. Serve while warm and enjoy!
    Side Dish
    American
    green beans, Instant Pot green beans, southern green beans

    Wanna save this recipe for later? Go ahead and Pin it!

    Southern Green Beans, made with bacon, onion, and ground beef in the Instant Pot. Delicious side dish recipe, perfect for holidays or weeknight meals.
    Southern Green Beans, made in the Instant Pot. Incredible flavor, made with bacon, onion, and ground beef. Delicious recipe, perfect for holidays or dinner.
  • Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing

    Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing

    Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing – An easy, traditional, old-fashioned, homemade stuffing recipe. Simple ingredients in a delicious Thanksgiving side everyone will love!

    Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing will most definitely be on our Thanksgiving (and maybe even Christmas) table this year. This is the first stuffing I’ve ever made, and it came together in a most delicious way! And you don’t have to make it for the holidays; It also pairs really well with our weekly slow cooker pork roast!

    How to make Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing with simple, delicious ingredients. Perfect Thanksgiving side dish the whole family will love. Easy recipe!

    While I grew up on both bread “dressing” (as my grandma called it… It was “dressing”) and my mom’s cornbread stuffing, Dan grew up eating bread stuffing. It’s his favorite kind of stuffing. So, I really wanted to try and create something similar to what he was used to.

    The ingredients for this are really simple, but it really is so flavorful… The most expensive ingredient will likely be the walnuts. Thankfully, you don’t need a lot of them.

    And stuffing is really not that hard to make. I don’t know why I thought it was going to be a long, drawn-out, complicated process. Because it’s totally not.

    Make a classic Thanksgiving side dish with this old-fashioned homemade recipe for Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing. Delicious stuffing recipe that’s also easy to make!

    And if you have leftover stuffing, you can totally make these delicious leftover turkey stuffing crescent roll appetizers and leftover ham and stuffing crescent rolls for your holiday party!

    Tips for how to make Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°.
    2. Cube 1 whole loaf of bread and set aside.
    3. Wash the celery and apples.
    4. Chop the celery, onion, and apples.
    5. Melt the butter in a skillet.
    6. Sauté the celery, onion, and apples in the butter for about 5 minutes.
    7. Mix the sautéed mixture with the cubed bread in a large bowl, making sure all of the bread is moistened.
    8. Add sage, parsley, salt, and pepper to the mixture. Stir well.
    9. Finally, add the walnuts to the mixture and mix well.
    10. Spray a large casserole dish, preferably a 13″x9″ dish with cooking spray.
    11. Add the stuffing mixture to the dish.
    12. Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes.
    13. Cover with foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.
    14. Remove from the oven, and serve while warm.

    It pairs deliciously well with Maple Bourbon Brined Roasted Turkey or a Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham.

    Easy recipe for Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing, classic, delicious, homemade side dish recipe for your Thanksgiving table.

    Looking for more Thanksgiving side dish recipes?

    Cranberry Sauce Recipe

    Green Beans Casserole

    Creamy Bacon Corn Casserole

    Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cauliflower

    Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    Homemade Ham Gravy

    Homemade Turkey Gravy

    Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Grandma’s Homemade Dinner Rolls

    Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary

    You’ll find plenty more inspiration on my lists of favorite Thanksgiving Recipes and Christmas Recipes, as well as our favorite apple recipes!

    Tools you may need to make Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing

    Cutting Board – for cubing the bread.

    Bread Knife – for cubing the bread.

    Iron Skillet – for sautéing the vegetables.

    Wood Spatula – for sautéing the vegetables.

    Large Mixing Bowl – for mixing up the stuffing.

    Herbs – You’ll need sage and parsley.

    Walnuts – to add into the stuffing mixture.

    Casserole Dish – for baking the stuffing.

    Aluminum Foil – for covering while baking.

    Apple Walnut Stuffing

    Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing, an easy, traditional, old-fashioned, homemade recipe. Simple ingredients in a delicious Thanksgiving side everyone will love!

    • 1 loaf bread
    • 3 stalks celery (chopped)
    • 1/2 large onion (minced)
    • 1 cup apples (chopped)
    • 8 tablespoons salted butter
    • 1 teaspoon ground sage
    • 1 teaspoon parsley
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1 cup chopped walnuts

    1. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.

    2. Cube 1 whole loaf of bread and set aside.
    3. Melt the butter in a skillet.
    4. Sauté the celery, onion, and apples in the butter for about 5 minutes.
    5. Mix the sautéed mixture with the cubed bread in a large bowl, making sure all of the bread is moistened.
    6. Add sage, parsley, salt, and pepper to the mixture. Stir well.
    7. Finally, add the walnuts to the mixture and mix well.

    8. Spray a large 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.

    9. Add the stuffing mixture to the dish.

    10. Bake uncovered at 350° F for about 20 minutes.

    11. Cover with foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.
    12. Remove from the oven, and serve while warm.

     

    Side Dish
    American
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    Planning your Thanksgiving menu? Pin this recipe to save it!

    Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing, an easy, traditional, old-fashioned, homemade recipe. Simple ingredients in a delicious Thanksgiving side everyone will love!
    Classic Thanksgiving side dish recipe, Apple Walnut Bread Stuffing. So delicious and easy to make. So not as complicated as I thought!
  • Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cauliflower

    Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cauliflower

    Easy Broccoli Salad with bacon, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, and peas. A staple side dish and salad recipe perfect for every family gathering.

    Easy Broccoli Salad is and has always been one of my favorite salads at family gatherings and holiday celebrations. It’s creamy, delicious, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s filled to the gills with bacon.

    Easy Broccoli Salad has always been one of my favorite side dish salads at family gatherings. Filled with delicious ingredients, including bacon!

    It’s also easy to make, requiring only a few ingredients, most of which we keep on hand anyway. And my boys love it… Have I mentioned it’s a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables and even love eating them? Even my toddler agrees that this is one of the best salads ever.

    It’s one of those recipes that’s easily versatile… You can serve it at a big family get together (like Thanksgiving), or you can even serve it with an average weeknight meal like burgers, slow cooker sloppy joes, meatloaf muffins, roast beef Philly cheesesteaks, baked chicken legs, CrockPot pork roast or garlic parm chicken skewers.

    Serve Easy Broccoli Salad at your next family get together or with the average weeknight meal. Delicious side dish filled with broccoli, bacon, sunflower seeds, and more.

    Tips for how to make Easy Broccoli Salad

    First things first, wash the broccoli and cauliflower. I like to get it soaking in a vinegar/water bath first thing.

    Then cook the bacon.

    Rinse the broccoli and cauliflower and pat dry. Then chop it up in smaller pieces.

    Add the chopped veggies to a large bowl, along with the peas, crumbled bacon, and sunflower seeds. Mix the Miracle Whip, Ranch dressing, and heavy whipping cream to form a dressing for the salad.

    Pour the dressing over the salad, and mix it all up together.

    It’s ready to serve. If you’re not serving the salad right away, be sure to refrigerate it.

    Alternative options for making broccoli salad

    • You can add a little pizzazz with ingredients like red onions, shredded carrots, sliced grapes, raisins, dried cranberries, walnuts, pecans, etc.
    • Add a little cheddar cheese. Better yet, make it smoked cheddar.
    • Instead of Miracle Whip, you can use a mixture of mayo and red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar).
    • If you’d rather not use mayo at all, you can use a vinegar-based dressing.
    • Add fresh fruit, like apples or mandarin oranges.
    How to make an Easy Broccoli Salad, a delicious side dish recipe for weeknight and holiday meals. Broccoli, cauliflower, bacon, sunflower seeds, and peas.

    Looking for more salad recipes? Here are a few you may enjoy.

    30 Minute Pasta Salad

    Dill Veggie Finger Salad

    Layered Salad

    39 Colorful Salads You Can Eat for Dinner

    If you’re looking for holiday side dish recipes, you’ll find more options on my list of Best Thanksgiving Recipes for Your Holiday Menu. And I’ve put together a really comprehensive list of Easter dinner menu ideas too.

    Tools you may need to make Easy Broccoli Salad

    Cast Iron Skillet and Bacon Press – for cooking the bacon.

    Cutting Board and Vegetable Cleaver – for chopping up veggies.

    Large Salad Bowl – for mixing and serving the salad.

    Glass Measuring Cup – for mixing up and pouring the dressing over the salad. I use mine for everything.

    Want to actually see how to make Easy Broccoli Salad? Watch our video!

    Print the recipe for Easy Broccoli Salad

    Broccoli Salad with Bacon

    Easy Broccoli Salad with bacon, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, and peas. A staple side dish and salad recipe perfect for every family gathering.

    • 2 heads broccoli (chopped)
    • 1 head cauliflower (chopped)
    • 2 cups frozen peas (thawed and rinsed)
    • 8 slices bacon (cooked, crumbled, and cooled)
    • 1/4 cup shelled sunflower seeds
    • 3/4 cup Miracle Whip
    • 1/4 cup Ranch dressing
    • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

    1. Add the chopped veggies to a large bowl, along with the peas, bacon crumbles, and sunflower seeds. 

    2. In a separate bowl, mix the Miracle Whip, Ranch dressing, and heavy whipping cream to form a dressing for the salad.

    3. Pour the dressing over the salad, and mix it all up together. 

    4. Serve with dinner.

    If you’re not serving the salad right away, be sure to refrigerate it.

    Salad Recipes, Side Dish
    American
    broccoli cauliflower salad, broccoli salad, broccoli salad with bacon, cauliflower salad, salad recipes

    Wanna save this recipe? Pin it for later!

    Easy Broccoli Salad, with bacon, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, and peas. A staple side dish and salad recipe perfect for every family gathering.
    Easy Broccoli Salad, made with bacon, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, and peas. A staple side dish and creamy salad recipe perfect for every family gathering.
  • How to Make Delicious Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    How to Make Delicious Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    Come this time of year, I could totally live on Instant Pot corn on the cob, grilled corn in the husk, and cold watermelon. I know, it probably wouldn’t be the healthiest of meals, but sometimes on a hot day the last thing I wanna do is turn the stove on to make dinner; and sometimes we’re just not that hungry.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Instant Pot corn on the cob takes 5 minutes to make (well, maybe 10 minutes with prep time). What’s not to love about that?

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Corn on the cob makes the perfect side with your favorite burgers or slow cooker sloppy joes, garlic parm chicken skewers, meatloaf muffins, baked chicken legs, Philly cheesesteak with roast beef, Crock Pot pork roast, slow cooker whole chicken, and any other easy dinner ideas for those dog days of summer.

    How to Make Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    Your first step is to shuck the corn, removing as many of the silks as possible.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    This is a great job for kids if you have kids. If not, just grab a pan and start shucking.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Once you’ve shucked all the corn, wash it well, again getting rid of any leftover silks. A veggie scrub brush works great for this, or you can just use your hands.

    Before continuing, turn your Instant Pot on to the Keep Warm setting, and allow it to heat up while you’re prepping the corn.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Cut each ear in half and set aside.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Add water, cream, and honey to the Instant Pot. Mix together.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Stand each half ear of corn up on end in the creamy mixture. This allows at least part of each ear to be immersed in the cream.

    Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and turn the pressure valve to Seal. Set for 5 minutes on Manual, and let the corn cook.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Once the timer’s gone off and it’s done cooking, do a Quick Release on the pressure valve, being cautious of any hot water and steam that could burn if you’re not careful. Remove the lid.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Stir the corn around in the creamy mixture, and remove it with tongs. You can spoon some of the cream over the corn in a serving dish.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Serve with butter, salt, and pepper if desired. Or transform it into Mexican corn or a delicious Mexican corn casserole. But it’s creamy, dreamy, and delicious all by itself.

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Looking for more side dish recipes?

    Instant Pot Baked Potatoes

    Creamy Mashed Potatoes

    Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

    Honey Glazed Carrots with Rosemary

    Jiffy Corn Pudding

    Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cauliflower

    Looking for more Instant Pot recipes?

    Easy Peel Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

    Instant Pot Vegetable Soup

    Easy Instant Pot Chili

    Easy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    Instant Pot Peaches and Cream Oatmeal

    Instant Pot Salmon

    Instant Pot Cauliflower, Sausage, and Chicken Casserole

    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!

    Below is the printable recipe. Enjoy!

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    Watch the Video

    Print the Recipe for Delicious Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    Delicious Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

    • 6 whole ears of corn
    • 1 cup water
    • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream or milk
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • Butter (salt, and pepper (optional))
    1. Shuck the corn, removing as many of the silks as possible.
    2. Wash the corn well, again getting rid of any leftover silks.
    3. Before continuing, set Instant Pot to the Keep Warm setting, and allow it to heat up while you’re prepping the corn.
    4. Cut each ear in half and set aside.
    5. Add water, cream, and honey to Instant Pot. Mix together.
    6. Stand each half ear of corn up on end in the creamy mixture. This allows at least part of each ear to be immersed in the cream.
    7. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and turn the pressure valve to Seal. Set for 5 minutes on Manual, and let the corn cook.
    8. Once the timer’s gone off and it’s done cooking, do a Quick Release on the pressure valve, being cautious of any hot water and steam that could burn if you’re not careful.
    9. Remove the lid.
    10. Stir the corn around in the creamy mixture, and remove with tongs.
    11. Spoon some of the cream over the corn on the serving platter.
    12. Serve with butter, salt, and pepper if desired. Enjoy!
    Instant Pot Recipes
    American
    corn on the cob, Instant Pot corn on the cob

    Can’t make this recipe just yet? Pin it for later!

    How to make the most delicious Instant Pot corn on the cob. One of my favorite side dish recipes for a timeless food.

  • 30 Minute Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes

    30 Minute Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes

    Don’t you love a good pasta salad? And boy, do I have a good one for you. It’s a 30 minute pasta salad filled with delicious garden fresh flavors!

    Rotini pasta coated with a lightly creamy dressing, mixed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked cheese, and other delicious ingredients. Easy 30 minute pasta salad recipe!

    Need something delicious to pair with this salad recipe? How ’bout a bacon burger, garlic parmesan chicken kabobs, oven-baked chicken legs, Philly cheesesteak with roast beef, a meatloaf muffin or a Chicago dog?

    How to Make This 30 Minute Pasta Salad

    Rotini pasta coated with a lightly creamy dressing, mixed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked cheese, and other delicious ingredients. Easy 30 minute pasta salad recipe!

    The garden is busting at the seams with fresh veggies, plus grilling season is in full force. This is always the time of year I find myself craving a good pasta salad. That craving is where this recipe comes from. And it really does take right around 30 minutes or less to make.

    Your first step is to cook the rotini according to package directions. You’ll also want to get your eggs on to boil; or you can make Instant Pot hard boiled eggs.

    Rotini pasta coated with a lightly creamy dressing, mixed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked cheese, and other delicious ingredients. Easy 30 minute pasta salad recipe!

    While the pasta and eggs are cooking, chop the cucumber (you can peel or not, totally up to you), and slice the cherry tomatoes. Then shred the cheeses.

    Once the pasta is cooked and drained, you may want to let it cool just a bit before you mix it together with both the veggies and cheeses in a large salad bowl.

    Rotini pasta coated with a lightly creamy dressing, mixed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked cheese, and other delicious ingredients. Easy 30 minute pasta salad recipe!

    Mix up the dressing in a large measuring cup, and pour it over your salad mixture; then toss to combine the salad ingredients together. Top the salad with sliced boiled eggs.It’s that easy! This is exactly the type of side dish that goes perfectly with a good burger or BBQ.

    Looking for more salad recipes? Here are a few you may enjoy.

    Below is a printable recipe so you can make it for yourself. Enjoy!

    Print the Recipe for 30 Minute Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes
    Rotini pasta coated with a lightly creamy dressing, mixed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked cheese, and other delicious ingredients. Easy 30 minute pasta salad recipe!

    30 Minute Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes

    Rotini pasta coated with a lightly creamy dressing, mixed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked cheese, and other delicious ingredients. Easy 30 minute pasta salad recipe!

    • 12 ounces rotini (cooked)
    • 3-4 hard-boiled eggs
    • 1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
    • 1 cucumber
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
    • 4 ounces white cheddar
    • 4 ounces smoked Gruyere or smoked cheddar
    • 1/4 cup mayo
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
    • 1/8 cup apple cider vinegar
    1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
    2. Drain and throw peas in with the pasta while it drains; this will allow them to thaw. If preferred, you can also cook the peas with the pasta.
    3. Boil the eggs.
    4. Peel and chop the cucumber.
    5. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half.
    6. Shred both cheeses.
    7. Mix together the pasta, vegetables, and cheeses.
    8. To make the dressing, mix the mayo, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic powder, celery salt, and apple cider vinegar. It will be a very thin sauce.
    9. Then pour the dressing over the salad and mix well. I used two wooden spoons to kinda “throw” the pasta salad in the bowl.
    10. Peel the boiled eggs, slice eggs, and place on top of the salad; you can also crumble, if desired.
    11. Chill until ready to serve.
    12. Serve and enjoy!
    Salad Recipes
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    30 minute pasta salad, pasta salad, pasta salad with cucumbers and tomatoes

    Not quite ready to make this 30 minute pasta salad? Pin it for later!
    Rotini pasta coated with a lightly creamy dressing, mixed with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, smoked cheese, and other delicious ingredients. Easy 30 minute pasta salad recipe!

  • Quick and Easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad

    Quick and Easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad

    It’s side salad season, and that my friends, makes me happy. It’s that time of year where it’s easier to find fresh veggies, and we’re also able to grow a lot of our own vegetables.

    My mom used to make the most delicious veggie finger salad when I was growing up. She’d usually make it during the warmer months, and we’d pick at it for days.

    It was always so full of flavor and gave those vegetables a little extra oomph.

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    When Dan and I first got married, I made this finger salad just for us to snack on.

    But it’s definitely a great side salad for summer BBQ’s, potlucks, or even just a snack in the fridge your kids can enjoy. It might even get them to eat their vegetables. We love to serve this salad with my favorite CrockPot sloppy joes, meatloaf muffins or my Philly cheesesteak with roast beef!

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad

    Now I haven’t had a lot of luck growing cauliflower and broccoli, but I do occasionally find good looking heads of both at the farmer’s market. And when I don’t, well, store bought will have to suffice.

    I’ve left out one ingredient my mom always used, which is Accent… Mainly because I try to stay away from MSG these days. However, it’s just as good without it. The dill and garlic powder are really what give this salad the oomph it needs.

    To make this side salad, mix your seasonings, olive oil, and sugar together in a large measuring cup.

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    Let that stand as you prep your raw vegetables, which include carrots, cauliflower, and broccoli. I’m sure you could add in other veggies too, whatever crunchy vegetables you love to snack on.

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    Once your veggies are washed and chopped, just pour the dressing over the vegetables. You’ll need a pretty good sized bowl.

    Now Here’s the Key to This Salad…

    You need to cover it and put it in the fridge; then let it marinate for 24 hours.

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    Don’t be tempted to eat it now… Just trust me on this, because the veggies need time to sit in the liquid and soak up all the flavor.

    Once it’s been 24 hours and you’re ready to serve it, you can either drain the liquid or leave it on the veggies. I prefer to leave it on.

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    And that’s that. It’s such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer. Or for a time like right now when I’m really craving fresh crunchy vegetables.

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    And don’t you just love how colorful it is? Me too!

    Print the Recipe for a Quick and Easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    Quick and Easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad

    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

    • 1/2 cup white vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon dill weed
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 3 teaspoons salt
    • 1 1/2 cups olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 1 pound carrots
    • 1 bunch broccoli
    • 1 head cauliflower
    1. Mix vinegar, garlic powder, dill weed, pepper, salt, oil, and sugar. Let stand as you prepare the raw vegetables.
    2. Prepare vegetables by washing and chopping into serving size pieces.
    3. Pour dressing over vegetables, and let marinate for 24 hours.
    4. You can either drain the liquid before serving or leave it on the veggies.
    5. Serve and enjoy!
    Salad Recipes
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    dill finger salad, vegetable finger salad, veggie finger salad

    Can’t make this side dish just yet but wanna save it? Pin it for later!
    This quick and easy Dill Veggie Finger Salad is such a simple salad and absolutely perfect for summer BBQ's and get togethers. Or for a time like right now when I'm really craving fresh crunchy vegetables. How to make this delicious side dish recipe!

  • Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

    Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

    Learn how to make bacon Ranch deviled eggs with a handful of simple ingredients. These yummy finger foods are perfect for an Easter or holiday appetizer. This recipe is easy to make, and it makes enough to feed a crowd.

    Eggs, eggs, and more eggs… Thanks to our chickens, we have plenty of eggs right now, something I’m over the moon about because that’s one thing I don’t have to buy at the grocery store.

    bacon Ranch deviled eggs on blue plate

    Easter Sunday is right around the corner, so what better way to use them than by making a big batch of delicious Ranch deviled eggs with bacon to go with your traditional Easter dinner? Yum! 

    Random Fun Fact: Did you know some people call deviled eggs angel eggs? Essentially the same thing, but I just thought that was interesting.

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • They’re quick and easy to make, perfect for a last minute appetizer.
    • You can make Ranch deviled eggs with bacon or without bacon… Of course, I’m of the mind that bacon makes everything better.
    • This recipe makes enough to feed a group of people, so it’s perfect for family dinner, holiday parties, etc.
    • Simple ingredients… This means everything, especially with the costs of groceries these days.
    • Even if you don’t necessarily have a get together to make them for, they make great snacks.

    Ingredients and Substitutions Notes

    You only need a handful of ingredients to make Ranch bacon deviled eggs…

    • Hardboiled Eggs – You can boil these ahead of time, so they’re ready.
    • Buttermilk Ranch Mix – I prefer to use Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch mix to make Hidden Valley Ranch deviled eggs. It’s easy and convenient.
    • Condiments – You’ll need both mayonnaise and mustard. While mayo makes a lower carb version of these eggs, I’ve also used a dressing like Miracle Whip; but keep in mind, you may not need as much salt if doing so.
    • Dill Pickles – Just mince them up.
    • Bacon – I prefer to cook our bacon with breakfast and save it back in the fridge for use later; but you can also use precooked bacon and just pop it in the microwave when ready. Regardless which bacon you choose, it will need to be cooked and crumbled.

    How to Make Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

    Prep work mainly involves boiling the eggs ahead of time and allowing them to cool. You can also cook the bacon and crumble it.

    How to Make and Fill Deviled Eggs

    1. Peel and slice each hardboiled egg in half, removing the yolks and placing them in a large mixing bowl. Set the whites aside on a platter.
    2. Add the Ranch mix, mayonnaise, mustard, and minced Dill pickles to the egg yolks, and mix together well.
    3. Fill each egg white half with a spoonful of the yolk mixture.*
    4. Cover and refrigerate the eggs for 1-2 hours.
    5. When ready to serve, crumble the bacon on top of each deviled egg.

    And that’s it! They’re ready to serve.

    ranch deviled eggs with bacon crumbles on blue plate

    Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

    When is the best time to make bacon Ranch deviled eggs, the day before or the day of?

    Personally, I’d rather eat deviled eggs the day of, but with maybe 2-3 hours to chill in the fridge. However, you can make them the day before, and they’ll be just fine. Now, if you are making them the day before, I do recommend crumbling freshly cooked bacon on the day of; if you add bacon the day before, it can get kinda chewy and tough from sitting in the fridge.

    How should you store deviled eggs?

    Definitely store them in an airtight deviled egg container with a lid, and in the refrigerator. You can also put them on a platter and cover it tightly with plastic wrap.

    Can you freeze deviled eggs?

    While you can freeze the yolk mixture, it’s best to not freeze the egg whites because they’ll become quite rubbery in texture.

    More Delicious Recipes with Eggs

    Don’t want bacon or Ranch? I’ve gotcha covered. Make these instead… Easy Deviled Eggs in 30 Minutes or Less.

    I also have a whole gaggle of egg recipes. Here are just a few…

    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!

    Bacon Ranch Deviled Eggs

    How to make bacon Ranch deviled eggs, perfect for an Easter or holiday appetizer. Easy to make, this recipe makes enough to feed a crowd.

    • Deviled Egg Container with Lid
    • 24 large hardboiled eggs
    • 2 teaspoons buttermilk Ranch mix
    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • 1 teaspoon mustard
    • 1/4 cup Dill pickles (minced)
    • 4 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)

    1. Peel and slice each hardboiled egg in half, removing the yolks and placing them in a large mixing bowl. Set the whites aside on a platter.

    2. Add the Ranch mix, mayonnaise, mustard, and minced Dill pickles to the egg yolks, and mix together well.

    3. Fill each egg white half with a spoonful of the yolk mixture.*

    4. Cover and refrigerate the eggs for 1-2 hours.

    5. When ready to serve, crumble the bacon on top of each deviled egg. Then serve.

    *You can fill the eggs 3 ways…

    • Use a spoon to add the yolk mixture to the whites.
    • Snip the corner of a Ziploc bag with scissors, fill the bag with yolk mixture, and pipe the filling into the whites.
    • Or you can use a cake tip and pastry bag filled with the yolk mixture to pipe the yolk mixture into the whites.

     

    When is the best time to make bacon Ranch deviled eggs, the day before or the day of?
    Personally, I’d rather eat deviled eggs the day of, but with maybe 2-3 hours to chill in the fridge. However, you can make them the day before, and they’ll be just fine. Now, if you are making them the day before, I do recommend crumbling freshly cooked bacon on the day of; if you add bacon the day before, it can get kinda chewy and tough from sitting in the fridge.

    How should you store deviled eggs?
    Definitely store them in an airtight container with a lid, and in the refrigerator. You can also put them on a platter and cover it tightly with plastic wrap.

    Appetizers
    American
    bacon ranch deviled eggs, Hidden Valley Ranch deviled eggs, Ranch bacon deviled eggs, Ranch deviled eggs, Ranch deviled eggs with bacon
  • Layered Salad with Whatever Layers You Want

    Layered Salad with Whatever Layers You Want

    Layered salad… Every family get-together, my aunt would make a 7 layer salad that was so delicious. Everyone looked forward to it, as we’d heap spoonfuls of the creamy deliciousness onto our plates.

    This layered salad recipe, that I’m about to share with you, is one way I’ve found to get my youngest to eat his veggies. He can’t get enough of this salad.

    Layered Salad is the perfect salad recipe for family get-togethers, parties, or that next barbecue. You can add whatever types of layers you want, whether it’s cauliflower, peas, lettuce, bacon, or whatever else your heart desires.

    While this recipe comes from a family cookbook made for us as a wedding gift, I’m not sure it’s the same recipe my aunt made. It seems a little different but still similar in some ways.

    Either way, it’s a family favorite and perfect for upcoming barbecues, Thanksgiving dinner, and Easter dinner too. We love to serve up this layered salad with garlic parmesan chicken kabobs, crock pot sloppy joes, oven-baked chicken drumsticks, or even just a weeknight roast beef Philly cheesesteak, meatloaf muffin or CrockPot pork roast!

    Layered Salad is the perfect salad recipe for family get-togethers, parties, or that next barbecue. You can add whatever types of layers you want, whether it’s cauliflower, peas, lettuce, bacon, or whatever else your heart desires.

    The best thing about this layered salad is that you can add however many types of ingredients you want. You could add boiled eggs, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers… There’s no end to the amount and types of layers you could add.

    Looking for more salad recipes? Here are a few you may enjoy.

    Layered Salad is the perfect salad recipe for family get-togethers, parties, or that next barbecue. You can add whatever types of layers you want, whether it’s cauliflower, peas, lettuce, bacon, or whatever else your heart desires.

    Grab the printable recipe below, get creating with your layers, and enjoy!

    Layered Salad Recipe

    Layered Salad is the perfect salad recipe for family get-togethers, parties, or your next BBQ. Add whatever types of layers you want, including cauliflower, peas, lettuce, bacon, or whatever else your heart desires.

    Salad:

    • 1 head iceberg lettuce (chopped)
    • 12 ounces frozen peas (thawed)
    • 1 head cauliflower (chopped)
    • 6 green onions (chopped)
    • 1 pound bacon (cooked, crumbled, and cooled)

    Dressing:

    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 1 cup Miracle Whip ((or salad dressing))
    • 1 ounce Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
    • 1/2 cup whole milk

    1. Wash and prep the ingredients.

    2. In a large bowl, layer the vegetables and bacon, making sure all the veggies are dry when you add them.

    3. In a separate mixing bowl or large measuring cup, mix the dressing ingredients, including the sour cream, Miracle Whip, dressing mix, and milk.

    4. Spread the dressing on top of the salad, putting small tablespoons randomly around on top of the salad; then spread out with a spoon or spatula.

    5. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill overnight or all day.

    6. When ready to serve, stir the dressing into the salad, blending well with all the ingredients.

    7. Serve with dinner!

    Salad Recipes, Side Dish
    American
    7 layer salad, layered salad seven layer salad

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    Layered Salad is the perfect salad recipe for family get-togethers, parties, or your next BBQ. You can add whatever types of layers you want, including cauliflower, peas, lettuce, bacon, or whatever else your heart desires.