Dinner

Hey, Pull Up a Chair—Let’s Talk Chile Colorado So, Chile Colorado in the crockpot. If you’re picturing me frantically running around my kitchen, pawing through the pantry for dried chilies while the dog tries to eat a fallen onion slice—yep, that’s about right. The first time I made this, I had half a mind to …

A Little Story (Or, Why My House Always Smells Like Comfort Food) Alright, picture this: It's Wednesday, I've forgotten (again) to grab anything fancy from the shop, and my family is eyeing me like I'm about to announce we're having plain toast for dinner. Enter: Easy Ground Beef & Potatoes. If hugs had a smell, …

Hey, Pull Up a Chair: Let’s Talk Sloppy Joes So picture it: a Saturday night, kids are going a bit wild, you’ve lost track of time and dinner was supposed to be, well, thirty minutes ago. That is the exact moment this BBQ Cowboy Sloppy Joes recipe rescued me. I make it when I want …

Let's Talk Baked Ziti (And Why I'm a Fan for Life) Alright, let’s get cozy for a sec. Baked ziti isn't fancy, but oh boy, it’s the pasta dish I reach for when I want something hearty, cheesy, and 99% of the time, guaranteed to win over whoever’s sitting at my table (family, roommates, once …

If Comfort Food Had a Middle Name, It'd Be These Potatoes Let’s be honest – some days you just want something cheesy, bacon-y, and, frankly, super easy. Enter: Crockpot Cheesy Bacon Ranch Potatoes. I make this any time I've promised to bring a side but have absolutely zero brain space left for complicated recipes. Actually, …

Alright, here's the thing about bratwurst in a slow cooker... Let me just say: if you’ve never made bratwurst with Dr. Pepper, you’re in for a treat that’s both delightfully weird and, somehow, seriously comforting. The first time I ever made this, it was because I’d run out of regular beer (shocker, right?) and that …

Let Me Tell You About My Lazy Beef Enchilada Casserole Alright, so here’s the story: I first stumbled into making a slow cooker beef enchilada casserole because, quite frankly, rolling up individual enchiladas when I’ve got laundry mountain and only three clean spoons left? Not happening. Plus, my cousin once showed up three hours late …

The First Time I Made Seven Layer Taco Salad You know, the first time I whipped up this taco salad, I was trying to impress my in-laws at their annual summer cookout. It was hotter than a billy goat in a pepper patch. I’d seen all those perfectly layered salads online, but—heh—mine ended up a …

This Crockpot Tortellini Is Pure Comfort (and My Favorite Secret) You know those dinners where you start with big plans—like, tonight's the night I tackle that homemade lasagna—and then, somewhere between a lost sock and a kid meltdown, you just want something that tastes amazing but takes, oh, almost no effort? Yeah, that was me …

If You’ve Never Had Chile Colorado, Friend, You’re In For a Cozy Night Okay, confession time: I actually used to think "Chile Colorado" meant it had something to do with Colorado the state. Nope! (My mom still teases me about that, by the way.) It’s all about those red chiles and that deep, amazing gravy. …

Let Me Tell You About This Crockpot Barbacoa—It’s My Kind of Lazy Cooking Look, I’ve tried my hand at fancier beef dishes, but honestly, nothing beats the joy of tossing a big hunk of meat in the slow cooker and then just… wandering off (usually to do laundry, let’s be real). Crockpot Barbacoa Shredded Beef …

Let Me Tell You About This One Pot Cajun Orzo That Saved My Sanity Okay, picture this: it's Wednesday night, you’re already running behind, and you open the fridge hoping dinner will magically appear. (It doesn't. Seems my fridge must be broken.) That’s when I remember this magical, soul-hugging One Pot Cajun Sausage Orzo. I …

So, About This Viral Crockpot Thing... You know when you see a recipe so many times on your social feed you wonder if the Internet is just, like, trying to get you to cook it through pure peer pressure? Well, that's what happened here. This viral crockpot dinner has been popping up on my phone …

Let’s Chat: When Frozen Ground Beef Gets a Bit Suspicious Alright, so you know those days you’re digging through the freezer looking for dinner ideas (or trying to avoid the grocery store just one more night) and you find some long-forgotten ground beef packed in the back? Yep, been there. Funny story—once, my little cousin …

Let Me Tell You About My BBQ Cowboy Sloppy Joes Alright, so pull up a chair, pal, because these BBQ Cowboy Sloppy Joes are a pure comfort food situation. I've been making some version of these since my college roommate “Cowboy” Dave tried to impress a houseful of people and accidentally set the fire alarm …

Let Me Tell You Why Baked Ziti Has My Heart You know how some recipes just feel like coming home? Baked Ziti is that dish for me. I still remember the first time I made it on my own—way back during my flat-sharing days—half the cheese stuck to the pan (who knew about nonstick back …

So Here’s the Scoop on My Lazy-Day Potato Magic Alright, let’s be real for a second: I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like, but these cheesy bacon ranch potatoes made in the crockpot? Oh man. They’re the dish that makes my cousins text me with three question marks (POLITE REMINDER: you can just ask …

Alright, Settle In For My Crockpot Dr. Pepper Bratwurst Story So, you know how sometimes you find yourself standing in the kitchen, hungry, tired, not exactly sure why you thought inviting people over was a good idea? That’s pretty much how I first stumbled onto Crockpot Dr. Pepper Bratwurst. I was low on time and …

Let Me Tell You About This Roasted Butternut Squash Soup If I had a pound for every time someone in my house asked, "Are you making that squash soup again?" I'd have (well, not a fortune) but enough to buy a fancier blender. This is the soup I started making when I accidentally bought two …

The Honest Truth Behind My Queso Chicken Enchiladas Okay, so let me tell you a little story. I first made these queso chicken enchiladas because my nephew basically begged for something "gooey and cheesy, but not mac and cheese again," word for word. I'd eaten about a thousand soggy enchiladas at potlucks before, so I …

The Taco Bell Beefy Melt Burrito That Made a Rainy Day Better You know those days when the rain just won't quit, your socks are soggy, and all you want is food that hugs you from the inside out? That was me last Thursday, and that's exactly why I whipped up this homemade Taco Bell …

Let's Talk About Al Pastor—It's Taco Bliss (Warts and All) Okay, so let me just say: Al Pastor has always been my family's hands-down, "don't-you-dare-skip-it" taco night recipe. The first time I tried making it at home, I was convinced I'd need, like, a giant vertical spit and five hands? Newsflash: totally not required. My …

If there's one dish guaranteed to get my family racing to the table (usually before I've even put the sour cream on the counter), it's this Beef and Cheese Chimichangas recipe. The first time I tried making chimichangas, I was honestly just looking for a way to use up some sad, neglected tortillas—and, all right, …

Steak Tacos in a Flash (And Yeah, They're Mexican-ish) You ever have those days when you're absolutely set on eating something amazing, but you remember five minutes too late that you have, well, very little time and even less patience? That's how these Mexican steak tacos, or my version of them anyway, were born. The …

Oh, man—let me tell you about the night I first tried to make carne asada street tacos on the stovetop. I was convinced I was about to set off every smoke alarm in the building. Spoiler: I only set off one. But that sizzling, beefy aroma made it totally worth it! So here’s my current …

This Pork Chile Verde Is Basically My Love Language Look, if you're expecting the most chef-y thing you’ve ever seen—sorry mate, but I’m just here making dinner for the crew (and sometimes a lazy lunch for just myself). My first go at Pork Chile Verde was one of those "Eh, how hard can it be?" …

If you’ve ever opened your fridge at 5:30pm and found random tortillas, leftover taco meat, and half a bag of cheese, congratulations—you're halfway to making my go-to Mexican Lasagna! I first made this one Wednesday when I forgot to defrost anything for dinner and, honestly, my family still teases me about that “accidental masterpiece.” (Yes, …

If you ever need a dish that tastes like a cozy hug (or frankly, like a cheat day wrapped in a bowl), my Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup is absolutely that. The first time I whipped this up, we were in the middle of a midwestern cold snap, and I was craving something, anything, that reminded me …

So, Taco Night, But I Actually Have My Hands Free Taco night in my house used to be chaos. Kids running in and out, cat (Bruce) trying desperately to snag a slice of cheese, and me, sweating over a skillet worrying about burning the beef—been there? That's why, one random Wednesday, I said, 'You know …

Why I Can't Stop Making Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup You ever have one of those days where you want all the comforting vibes of lasagna, but the thought of stacking noodles, layering cheese, and actually using the oven just makes you… nope right out of the kitchen? Yeah, same here. That's the exact mood I …

If My Slow Cooker Could Talk (It'd Probably Beg for Chili) Let me just say—if you met my family on a cold day in November, you'd probably find us crowded around our slightly battered slow cooker waiting for that unmistakable chili aroma to finally fill the kitchen—sometimes I swear the anticipation is half the fun. …

If You're Craving Cozy, This Is My Go-to Soup I can’t count how many nippy evenings my family trotted in—coats flung everywhere—and the Crockpot was working its magic with this Ham & 15 Bean Soup. Honest confession: the first time I made this, it was because I’d forgotten to thaw dinner (again), and I just …

So, About These Swamp Potatoes... Alright, let me let you in on something I can't quite explain: Crockpot Swamp Potatoes are messy (on purpose!), weirdly comforting, and every time I make them, my house smells like Sunday afternoons at my aunt Susan's. I swear I can still hear her yelling about not using the good …

Okay, So Let’s Talk Sloppy Joes (But Make It Cowboy Style) Picture this: It’s one of those frantic Tuesdays, school stuff everywhere, everyone’s starving, and you realize—again!—you’ve got about zero energy to stand at the stove. That’s when my Crockpot Cowboy Sloppy Joes recipe swoops in to rescue my sanity. First time I made it, …

So, Let Me Tell You About This Creamy Caramelized Onion Pasta You know those recipes you sort of fall into on a lazy Sunday, after debating with yourself if you really need to cook or if, honestly, toast would do? Well, that's exactly how I first made this creamy caramelized onion pasta. My sister texted …

Let me tell you, I've made these sheet pan chicken fajitas so many times that the peppers practically jump into the oven themselves at this point. You know those days when the clock feels like it's doing laps around you and the idea of doing ten separate dishes makes you want to run for the …

So, You're Curious About Air Fryer Steak? Let Me Tell You... Alright, here's the deal—steak in the air fryer sounded borderline criminal the first time I heard about it. My cousin swore by it, I thought she was just being lazy. But, I gave it a shot on a total whim (okay, I was hangry …

Let Me Tell You About These Crispy Philly Cheesesteak Grilled Wraps... Okay, full honesty—this is the one wrap my little brother actually requests by name, which is wild given he claims he "doesn't like steak." (Yeah, sure, buddy.) The first time I made these grilled wraps, it was during one of those Wednesday nights when …

Let’s Talk About This Slow Cooker Lasagna (and Why My Kids Think I’m a Genius) I’m not saying I invented the slow cooker lasagna, but, well, if you’d seen my first attempt years ago with half-burnt noodles and that distinct ‘oops, forgot the lid’ taste, you might think I was out here pioneering uncharted territory. …

Start Here: Why This Taco Bowl Is My Midweek Lifesaver Okay, confession time: I came up with this Easy Loaded Potato Taco Bowl after one of those days when my brain felt like mashed potatoes (and not the good kind). One kid wanted tacos, the other wanted loaded potatoes, and my husband just stared blankly …