Recipes

"You can make this recipe with any kind of cheese," says Peggy Smith, co-owner of Northern California's Cowgirl Creamery. The recipe is based on one in Cowgirl Creamery Cooks (Chronicle Books), which Smith wrote with her business partner, Sue Conley. The key is to use a variety of different-textured cheeses--moist with dry, elastic with hard. Herbs are nice in this sandwich: Conley used Thai basil from her garden on the day we visited. The bread came from Della Fattoria, a terrific bakery in downtown Petaluma, not far from Conley's house.

Here’s that super tasty holiday dinner recipe you’ve been looking for. In addition to adding loads of flavor, the seasoning and overnight sitting makes for the best crust that’ll keep the juices sealed once the roast is put in the slow cooker. You can find rib roast at most grocery store meat counters. Ask your butcher to trim, remove the chine cone, and tie the roast. Serve with red wine, roasted vegetables, and salad.

This mild, kid-friendly sauce is creamy and velvety, with a subtle tang from sharp cheddar. Try it with steamed or sautéed veggies, baked potatoes, nachos, open-faced roast beef sandwiches, and hot cooked macaroni or penne. Using sharp cheddar cheese is important here, as you want the zippy flavor mild just doesn't have. And here's a bonus: This slimmed-down sauce boasts a fraction of the fat you'd find in regular or processed cheese sauces.

This hearty, homey take on French onion soup celebrates Georgia-grown Vidalia onions, which typically come into season in late April. Naturally sweet Vidalias are perfect for caramelizing, and this indulgent casserole with layers of bread, onions, and cheese is a terrific way to enjoy them. We didn’t think French onion soup could get any more comforting, but we took the Southern route and made it into an even cozier casserole. This dish amplifies the richness of the classic soup you crave, and it’s ideal to serve as a hearty family dinner or pack up and bring to the church potluck. It takes time to slice and caramelize the onions, but you can do this step a day ahead and store the cooked onions in the refrigerator.

No grill? No problem. These juicy Boneless Pork Ribs are so tender they fall apart, and the only thing better than the meat is the slightly sweet, tart, and smoky sauce. We’ve hit all the flavors you’re looking for in barbecue, resulting in a combination of tastes that’s juuuuuust right for a backyard cookout or family dinner. Be sure to get boneless country style ribs for this recipe. You can ask your butcher to cut a boneless pork shoulder into 1 1/2 inch-thick slabs. The process requires that you bake the ribs covered in the beginning, to retain the juice that are released from the meat, and uncovered at the end to give them a nice exterior texture and lots of texture. Serve with your favorite comfort-style side, like potato salad, cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, or grilled veggies.

One of our favorite comfort foods—French onion soup—meets crowd-pleasing grilled cheese in a sandwich that’s got the flavors of both dishes, minus a lot of the traditional sodium and sat fat. Silky caramelized onions are the star here: their pungent, concentrated flavor means that just a touch of Gruyere is more than enough to make this sandwich sing. The other key? Shaving the cheese with a Microplane, which allows the cheese to distribute its melty goodness evenly, and makes just a bit of cheese feel like a lot.

This simple lasagna is perfect for when you're short on time, but craving a comforting meal. Ready in just over an hour, it requires only 50 minutes of cooking in the oven.

If you’ve got a rimmed baking sheet and an oven, you’ve got a foolproof way to cook crab legs for a crowd. Use the pre-cooked and flash-frozen crab legs you can find at the grocery store for the best quality meat. The sheet pan guarantees easy cooking and cleanup, so all you have to focus on is eating. Serve straight from the pan and set out a large bowl for empty shells.

Requiring a mere 2 ingredients (both of which are likely already in your pantry), this is the fudge you can make with one only one hand. Packing an intensely chocolatey flavor, this easy fudge recipe is sure to please.

Our take saves 446 calories, 22 grams of fat, and 1,260 milligrams of sodium over one serving of a leading chain's sweet and sour chicken.

Nourishing, vibrant, and served without pretension, paella has held a place of honor and practicality in Spanish homes for centuries. If mussels aren't your favorite, you can easily substitute littleneck clams in their place--just be sure to thoroughly scrub the clams' shells in cold water before using. To round out the meal, choose a good Spanish red wine from the Rioja region, grab a crusty baguette, and serve with a light salad.

Using a slow-cooker to braise pork means you can start this recipe in the morning, go about your day, and just sizzle the meat right before dinner. Store any leftover carnitas in the cooking liquid and use for sandwiches, or serve over polenta.

This casserole is perfect for a busy week when getting in and out of the kitchen needs to be a snap. The marrying of flavors in one pot from the ground sirloin, fresh vegetables, aromatic seasonings, and rigatoni make for a satisfying pasta dish with an easy cleanup.

This famous classic American cookie is a treat no matter what the age or occasion. Enjoy it with a glass of cold milk.

Prepare this simple, but outstanding seared beef tenderloin recipe for guests.

Give up the box mix because making Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese from scratch is easier than you think.

A fragrant herbed butter and roasted lemon slices complement the sweet, nutty flavor of red snapper for a super-fresh dish. Complete the meal with colorful Sautéed Zucchini and Bell Peppers.Prep: 9 minutes; Cook: 13 minutes

This easy lemon chicken recipe is one of our most popular main dish chicken recipes. With simple flavor additions that don't overpower the dish, the natural flavor of the chicken is allowed to shine. The low ingredient list also makes for a level of ease that allows this dinner to come together in no time at all, which is perfect for a busy weeknight. All you need is 30 minutes. Pair this dish with crisp veggies and a side of rice for a delicious dinner that your family is sure to love. 

Lacey Houseman, 29, Thomaston, Ga."I like to toss this together before I leave the house, and a few hours later, dinner is ready."

Colorful and flavorful chicken and vegetable stir-fry is a delight for the eyes as well as the taste buds with its vibrant array of yellow squash, red bell pepper, broccolini and green onions. No time to cook? Busy weeknights are no match for this stir-fry. In just 30-minutes start to finish, this skillet is ready for an Asian-inspired dinner tonight. Also, dinner cleanup is a cinch. This means less mess, stress and time in the kitchen. Bonus!

Everyone should make, or at least taste, fruitcake done right. This recipe is easy and surprisingly delicious, making it a great place to start. The texture here is like a fig newton mixed with a granola bar, plus sticky, chewy goodness and a delightful crunch from the nuts. The mix of spice and fruits is surprisingly sweet and perfect with a cup of coffee. As the cake sits over the next few days, brush it another time (or two) with rum and let it soak in. This helps maintain the cake’s moisture and flavor.

Pantry staples like dried lentils and canned beans make up the bulk of this soup and boost the fiber to cover more than half your daily goal. Want to make it in your Instant Pot? Click here for the recipe. 

"We call this Southern Sunday supper pie. It's such a comforting way to finish the weekend."Mary Marlowe Leverette, 58, Columbia, S.C.

The secret to your favorite soup, salad, and breadsticks combo is yours for the taking—and enjoying at home, anytime you want.