How To Make Chicken and Rice Soup — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

Canned chicken noodle soup was the meal my mom warmed up for us on sick days while she balanced getting us well (read: back to school) with getting work done at home. Chicken and rice soup, however, was made from scratch and an all-day affair we savored.

Chicken and rice soup is just the sort of thrifty luxury we should all master in the kitchen. A whole chicken is simmered to both make the rich broth and for the tender chicken it yields. The rest of the soup is built on the bits and bobs you probably have in the kitchen right now: a few banged-up carrots, some limp celery, a partial bag of rice. The resulting soup is nourishing, full of chicken, tender vegetables, and rice that creates a creamy thickness without any cream.

My mom knew what she was doing: Save the chicken noodle soup for sick days and make this chicken and rice soup whenever you need to taste home in a bowl.

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Recipe: Easy Lemon-Ginger Spinach — Recipes from The Kitchn

If you, like me, are plagued by choosing the right side to pair with dinner, this spinach recipe deserves a standing spot in your meal plan rotation. Grab a knob of fresh ginger and a lemon — we're going to make one of my all-time favorite spinach side dishes. Not only is it packed with light, refreshing flavors and ready in minutes, but it also goes with just about everything you're making.

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How To Make a Cheese Ball — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

When cream cheese and the happy hostess met, a magical cocktail party food was born. I'm talking about the cheese ball. Creamy, dreamy, and cheesy, this centerpiece of a cheese tray or standalone snack with crackers was the elegant update on dips. The combination of the mildness of cream cheese and the sharpness of the grated cheddar, all amped up with a dash of Dijon and a splash of Worcestershire, made it oh so inviting.

Now it's your turn. The cheese ball may be retro, but there's a reason that cheese balls have a hallowed place in the hors d'oeuvre hall of fame. Here's how to master the art of the cheese ball and make it your very own.

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How To Cook Eggs in an Electric Pressure Cooker — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

The pressure cooker is an old-fashioned appliance that is enjoying a renaissance of sorts, and there are many good reasons why. Chief among them is the fact that it just cooks so many foods so well; if you have a pressure cooker, you know what I mean. You probably had a gateway experience that made you say Oh! This is what this thing can do.

For me, that gateway cooking experience was simple and elemental: soft- and hard-boiled eggs. The pressure cooker makes them better than any other method I know. Here's how!

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Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili — Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinners

Despite what some Texans believe, the best chili is one where beans take center stage and vegetables get some of the spotlight. So for this number, pinto and kidney beans kick things off by spending the day simmering in a warmly spiced tomato broth. By the time you lift the lid after a long day, you will find the beans tender and the liquid thickened. Half a poblano pepper and a dash of chili powder lend a mild heat, but the secret to making this chili sing is the last-minute addition of sweet corn kernels and a splash of apple cider vinegar.

The heat of this vegetarian chili quickly thaws frozen corn kernels, preserving the pop of fresh, sweet flavor. The zing of apple cider vinegar wakes up the earthy, umami-rich flavors that mellow during cooking. Chili is a thick, hearty one-pot meal best cooked low and slow, so put away the Dutch oven and plug in the slow cooker for this one.

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Recipe: Acorn Squash Egg-in-a-Hole — Healthy Breakfast Recipes

We're in the thick of winter squash season and our quest to insert it into as many meals as we can hasn't slowed down. Salads, soups, and pastas embracing butternut, acorn, and more are on rotation for lunch and dinner, but for breakfast we're turning to these: a twist on the classic egg-in-a-hole or egg-in-a-basket.

Instead of the usual slice of bread with a hole cut out for a fried egg, a thick slice of acorn squash makes for a seasonal replacement that also happens to be gluten-free and Paleo-friendly. It's hearty, wholesome, and sure to become a new favorite in your winter breakfast routine.

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Recipe: Anna Jones' Raw Thai Citrus Crunch Salad — Recipes from The Kitchn

Shredded carrots have a firm crunch and sturdy bite that rivals all other vegetables, and when they get thrown in a mix like this glorious salad, they are an essential supporting player. But it's not just about the carrots and their sweetness here in this Thai-inspired hash — it's also about the cabbage, the grapefruit, the zucchini, and so much more.

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Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Lentil Soup — Quick and Easy Vegetarian Dinners

A soup this easy to make should not taste this good; it should require a grocery list a mile long, your knife should dull from constant chopping, and you should have to clear your calendar for a marathon cooking session. Instead, a simple mirepoix (onion, celery, and carrot), chopped garlic, and a few sprinkles from the spice cabinet enhance canned vegetable broth to soften earthy green lentils with completely hands-off cooking. Smoky paprika and a spoonful of tomato paste give this vegetarian soup some much-needed depth and umami flavor. Wholesome and satisfying, this vegetarian lentil soup is how to reboot after a season of overindulgence.

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Recipe: Pressure-Cooker Hawaiian Kalua Pig — Recipes from The Kitchn

Once a year, our family escapes to Hawaii — our home away from home. I love everything about the islands: the friendly people, the unhurried pace, the balmy climate, the sweeping beaches, the glorious sunsets, and the comforting local food.

Foremost among the Hawaiian dishes I crave? Kalua pig.

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Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup — Recipes from The Kitchn

When it comes to soups, I can easily say I have a hands-down favorite: Italian wedding soup. My experience of it is neither particularly Italian, nor is it matrimonial, rather it was one of the first real meals my mother fed me when I was a baby. The legend is that I'd slurp it loudly, humming, and the broth would dribble down my neck, soaking the neck of my shirt.

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Recipe: Sheet-Pan "Half English" Breakfast — Recipes from The Kitchn

Baking sheets (aka sheet pans) are now touted as the miracle cookware that can cook your whole dinner, but what about breakfast? When an idea for making a sheet-pan breakfast came up, I jumped at the chance to try it out. Here we present to you the hands-down easiest way to make a traditional English breakfast!

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How To Cook Moist & Tender Chicken Breasts Every Time — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (aka BSCBs) — is there anything more boring? They are all too often overcooked until dry and chewy, and I generally prefer more succulent boneless, skinless thighs. But for lunch and dinner favorites like chicken Caesar salad and chicken pasta, sliced juicy chicken breasts can't be beat. They're a great staple for quick lunches, too.

Fortunately I have one method that makes unfailingly juicy and tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Need some chicken for a salad, or to top some pasta? This is the method. It takes some trust, but believe me — it works flawlessly every single time.

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Recipe: Slow Cooker Cream of Mushroom Soup — Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinners

I have hazy memories of a first date at a cozy French bistro with a bottle of red, a baguette, gooey cheese, and a satiny bowl of mushroom soup as a first course. I might not remember my date's name, but the memory of that soup remains. This recipe recreates that magic by slow cooking roasted cremini mushrooms and dried porcinis — a far cry from the creamy mushroom soup found in a familiar red-and-white can.

Cooking earthy, umami-rich mushrooms low and slow with a splash of sherry supplies a background note of nutty sweetness that only a fortified wine can provide. Slow cooker soups run the risk of singing only one note, but by incorporating two types of mushrooms, a fortified wine, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, all of the rich, earthy nuances of the mushrooms stand out.

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Recipe: Bacon Gruyère Egg Bites — Quick and Easy Breakfast Recipes

There's been an increasing demand for low-carb fare, so Starbucks answered the call with Sous Vide Egg Bites. These eggy bites are cooked sous vide (in a low-temperature water bath) until velvety smooth and are studded with bacon and cheese or vegetables. They've proven so popular that I haven't been able to find any to sample in my local stores!

These egg bites are such an appealing idea, especially as a protein-packed on-the-go breakfast, that I came up with my own version instead. The result is creamy and rich with crispy bacon and Gruyère cheese, and can be eaten out of hand. Oh, and the best part is that you don't need a sous-vide machine to make these!

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Recipe: Slow Cooker Queso Dip — Dip Party

Queso dip, for the uninitiated (welcome to the fold!), is a smooth, cheesy sauce designed for chip-dipping and ladling over fries. And, most importantly for us, it's the scene-stealer at any party. We're making this creamy dip in the slow cooker and utilizing a few choice ingredients to ensure it tastes just like the neon nacho cheese sauce you enjoyed on chips at the movie theaters of your youth.

So if you're looking to infuse your game day menu with a dose of nostalgia, be sure to invite this slow-cooker queso dip to the party.

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How To Make Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

Tucking into a hearty bowl of tender beef stew is like dinnertime nirvana. Within the rich, beefy broth are creamy chunks of potato and carrots and perfectly tender pieces of beef that fall apart in your mouth. The ingredients are humble, but the resulting stew is completely luxurious. It just might be the single best cold-weather supper ever.

If you've long considered beef stew a Sunday-only dinner affair, then allow me to introduce you to the beef stew you can start on a weekday morning and come home to in the evening.

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Recipe: Loaded Savory Breakfast Muffins — On-the-Go Breakfast Recipes

If you're searching for a grab-and-go breakfast that's full of all the delicious things you would put in on omelet on a leisurely weekend morning, look no further than these breakfast muffins. Loaded with breakfast sausage, wilted baby spinach, tart apple, and sharp cheddar cheese, these savory muffins smell like a freshly baked quiche and make sure you get in some protein, fruit, and even greens for breakfast.

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Recipe: Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce — Slow Cooker Recipes from The Kitchn

Making a good bolognese sauce is a real labor of love. Sure, you could just add some ground beef to a tomato sauce and call it good (and heck, we often do!), but there's a certain irresistible silkiness and a deep, meaty flavor that can really only come from all-day cooking. This is a dish that takes a humble package of ground beef and turns it into something worthy of the finest dinner party. Bolognese is that good.

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Recipe: Raspberry Ginger Power Smoothies — Smoothie Recipes

I know looks aren't everything, but I think we can all agree that this fruit smoothie is a complete stunner. It blends up into the prettiest pink hue I've ever seen, falling somewhere between millennial pink and deep mauve. But good looks aren't the only thing it has going for it — each sip tastes just as delicious and refreshing. A nub of fresh ginger and a squeeze of tangy lime juice balance the sweetness with a pungent, tangy kick that's sure to to perk up your tastebuds, and a scoop of Greek yogurt ensures this not-too-sweet berry smoothie is filling.

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How To Make Burgers on the Stovetop — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

If you're craving a juicy, tender, cheese-topped burger — one that you can really sink your teeth into — then you've come to the right place, my friend. No dry hockey pucks here! Just the kind of burger you'd normally pay big bucks for at a restaurant.

Today we're talking burgers. From the best kind of ground beef to use to tips for shaping the patties, with a step-by-step recipe for simply the best burgers you've ever had — at home or elsewhere. Ready?

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How To Make DIY Instant Oatmeal Cups — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

Recently I found myself hitting the snooze button one too many times, then hurtling breakfast at my kids while trying to get us all out the door before the school bell rang. Skipping breakfast during that rush, I'd come home to cold eggs or oatmeal. Feeling cranky that no one was really enjoying breakfast and that I was starting my day without the energy I needed, I decided on a solution that was industriously DIY.

Oatmeal cups aren't new, but they've been filling the supermarket shelves more than ever in the last few years. Quaker Oats and Bob's Red Mill each have overnight or classic warm versions of ready-to-heat-and-eat oats for breakfast on the run. This cozy DIY version can be made in a hurry, and the result is a slightly sweet, super-creamy cup of oatmeal that allows our family a staggered breakfast that is completely customizable to each person's tastes and schedule.

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Recipe: A Light & Fresh Ginger Broccoli Soup — Quick and Easy Weeknight Soups

If I'm completely honest, I have a really hard time getting behind the idea of green smoothies. Maybe it was the summer I spent blending smoothies at Jamba Juice. I love a smoothie, but I want it to hide the kale and spinach, not put it front and center.

Green soup, though — especially this fresh take on broccoli soup scented with ginger — is a green sip I can get behind. Colored with kale and broccoli, this soup is lightened up with a little vegetable broth and fresh ginger, requiring just five ingredients (plus garnishes) and being incredibly weeknight-friendly.

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Recipe: Yogurt Breakfast Popsicles — Breakfast Recipes from The Kitchn

Your eyes do not deceive you. This is breakfast that you can eat one-handed while walking to the bus stop, and it's got just as much going for it a bowl of yogurt with granola and fruit. In fact, it is a bowl of yogurt — just in frozen, easily-grabbable Popsicle form. Time to dig out those Popsicle molds!

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Recipe: Birthday Bundt Cake — Easy Dessert Recipes

Sometimes celebrations do not fall conveniently on Saturdays or Sundays. When faced with baking a cake in the middle of a hectic week, resist the temptation to turn to a boxed mix or spend extra money on a mediocre bakery cake. With a few smart ingredient choices and just one bowl, you can serve a rich milk chocolate Bundt cake with a vanilla glaze with hardly any effort. This Bundt cake hits all the right notes for a festive celebration, but is easy enough for a Tuesday night — just don't forget the sprinkles.

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How To Cook Salmon in the Slow Cooker — Cooking Lessons from The Kitchn

I thought my mother had taught me all of her best tricks in the kitchen, but no — she had one more for me, which she casually let drop while in the middle of our Costco shopping expedition. It's this: She buys bulk salmon from Costco and cooks it all at once in the slow cooker. And it's darn good.

Not only is the slow cooker fantastic for this kind of batch cooking, but it's also an extremely good way to ensure tender, succulent salmon every time, no matter how many fillets you're cooking. Here's what to do.

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