100 Best Recipes from Food Network Kitchen

We experimented. We tested our recipes again and again. We tweaked them until we perfected them: these are tried-and-true dishes that will surely stand the test of time. We can confidently call them our best recipes. Try them—you'll surely agree.

Chicken with rice

Could classic chicken and rice be one of your favorite comfort food dinners? We think so. And what's even more surprising: this version is cooked entirely in one pan. We use skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, which cook for the same amount of time as the rice, keeping the meat juicy. Finally, sear the dish under the broiler—this ensures a crispy crust and a delicious texture for the rice and vegetables.

Recipe: The most delicious chicken with rice

The Best Turkey Meatloaf

This hearty meatloaf is a lighter take on the American classic. Chicken broth and soaked panko breadcrumbs add richness, and a blend of fresh herbs rounds out the flavor. This is the best turkey meatloaf you'll find!

Recipe: The Best Turkey Meatloaf

The best stuffed peppers

A classic recipe is made simpler and quicker: the peppers are partially microwaved, saving about 45 minutes! This dish is a great use for leftover rice. Spoon the filling generously, even heaping it—it will shrink during cooking.

Recipe: The best stuffed peppers

The best breaded beef steak

This dish is popular throughout Texas, where it's called chicken-fried steak. It's a thin beef cutlet that's thoroughly breaded and fried in plenty of oil until crispy, then served with a creamy country gravy. To create an especially crispy and flavorful crust, cornstarch is added to the seasoned flour and the cutlets are dredged twice.

Recipe: The best breaded beef steak

The Best Blueberry Muffins

The problem with most blueberry muffins is that there can never be enough blueberries. But for the batter to support the weight of the juicy berries, it needs a fluffier texture than typical recipes. So, you whipped the batter to make it fluffier, preventing the blueberries from making it rubbery.

Recipe: The Best Blueberry Muffins

The best baked salmon

This simple baked salmon has all the right flavors: savory, sweet, slightly spicy, and crispy. For a beautiful presentation, choose a large cut of fish. Topped with golden breadcrumbs and parsley, it's perfect for a weeknight dinner, yet sophisticated enough for entertaining.

Recipe: The best oven-baked salmon

The best soft chocolate chip cookies

Instead of white sugar, we use only dark brown sugar, which gives the cookies the perfect texture and sweetness. Add just the right amount of semi-sweet chocolate chips, and you've got a foolproof treat. This recipe makes a large batch of cookies, but we think that's no problem!

Recipe: The best soft chocolate chip cookies

The best quiche lorraine

A traditional French quiche is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; the delicate pastry is filled with crispy bacon, soft sweet onions, and Gruyère cheese. The pastry requires chilling twice, but it's worth it. Chilled, creamy pastry is easier to work with and produces a light, flaky crust.

Recipe: The best quiche lorraine

Classic strawberry shortcake

For a simple, traditional pie, we stack the dough pieces on top of each other: they'll be very airy and tall, yet easy to divide in half. This means the dough won't crumble when you add the filling. Recipes like these allow the ingredients to shine: use the best berries you can find.

Recipe: The Best Classic Strawberry Shortcake

The best roast

The secret to a flavorful roast is to brown the meat and onions before roasting: this imparts a rich, meaty flavor and a caramelized note. This step sets our recipe apart from many others that use a slow cooker. Furthermore, our sauce simmers, reducing slightly, intensifying the flavors. The result is a tender roast with a velvety sauce and delicious vegetables.

Recipe: The best pot roast

The best scrambled eggs

Scrambled eggs are a simple, everyday dish, nothing special, unless they're "The Best Scrambled Eggs"! There's something special about this recipe. With the right technique and frying temperature, they turn out fluffy, tender, and silky, but not ordinary.

Recipe: The best scrambled eggs

The best Caesar salad

It's no surprise that the best Caesar salad is the one that's closest to the traditional recipe. So, it's time to break out the anchovies and eggs—and don't forget the quality Parmesan cheese. We even added homemade garlic croutons to balance out the savory dressing.

Recipe: The best Caesar salad

The best chicken cutlets

When we set out to make the perfect chicken chops, we knew we needed tender, flavorful, and juicy chicken (not bland and dry) with a crispy breaded crust—they shouldn't be soggy or fall apart. After testing various techniques, we discovered that a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and pecorino Romano cheese creates a salty, crispy crust, while dried spices in the breading and flour mixture provide a vibrant flavor.

Recipe: The best chicken cutlets

The best hummus

This classic tahini-based hummus has a vibrant flavor and a hint of lemon, similar to the kind served in Israel. We tried the recipe with both dried and canned chickpeas, and the flavor and texture of freshly cooked chickpeas were only slightly better. And we saved 24 hours of prep time! So, for a delicious, creamy 15-minute hummus, we use canned chickpeas.

Recipe: The best hummus

Sloppy Joe's Best Burgers

This is weeknight comfort food at its best. We've created a homemade sauce—it's savory and flavorful, yet quick and easy. For a bold flavor, we use both ketchup and canned tomato sauce, while brown sugar adds a subtle sweetness and a subtle caramel note. Green bell peppers play a key role, highlighting the other ingredients and delivering the flavor of a true Sloppy Joe burger.

Recipe: The Best Sloppy Joe Sandwich

The best baked asparagus

Perfect baked asparagus should be golden brown and tender, yet bright green and crisp. This can be achieved by baking it at a high temperature. We also toasted grated Parmesan cheese into cheese sticks for topping. Add it to the vegetables just before serving to keep the cheese crispy.

Recipe: The best baked asparagus

Best baked mac 'n' cheese

A blend of three cheeses infuses this mac and cheese sauce with rich flavor. The sauce is velvety and creamy, contrasting perfectly with the crisp breadcrumb topping. Try a combination of fontina, Gruyere, and sharp yellow cheddar. Use freshly grated cheeses for the perfect sauce texture. A touch of cayenne pepper and mustard powder adds a subtle tang to the creaminess. Bake the macaroni in the sauce under the crisp topping and enjoy the best mac and cheese you've ever had.

Recipe: Best baked mac 'n' cheese

The best fried chicken

For the most delicious chicken, we let the meat sit overnight in a dry marinade to infuse the spices. (Don't worry, brown sugar won't make the meat sweet; it just helps enhance the flavor.) We also add buttermilk and hot sauce to the breading mixture to give the fried chicken a crispy crust. The cornstarch in the breading mixture makes the dish incredibly crispy, even when served at room temperature.

Recipe: The best fried chicken

The Best Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This amazing soup is rich, cheesy, and incredibly flavorful. We chose to puree only half the soup to ensure it's thick and creamy, while the rest maintains its texture, ensuring there are chunks of broccoli in every spoonful. When serving, top the soup with grated cheese.

Recipe: The Best Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

The best garlic bread

We stick to the classic approach: generous amounts of butter and garlic on a warm, airy baguette. For a lighter meal, add a fresh green salad, or serve the bread with your favorite pasta and red sauce.

Recipe: The best garlic bread

The best soft brownies

We created the perfect brownies using a few tricks. Semisweet chocolate and cocoa powder create the deep, complex chocolate flavor we love. Toasted butter adds a nutty note, and cream adds a luxurious texture.

Recipe: The best soft brownie

The Best Pulled Pork Recipe

Chipotle powder, natural apple cider, and ketchup create the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors without the need for a smoker or grill! To make classic pulled pork, all you need is the right homemade spice mix and patience, as the meat will simmer in the oven for several hours until tender. Enjoy pulled pork as is, or serve it on potato buns with any toppings for sandwiches.

Recipe: The Best Pulled Pork Recipe

The best banana bread

We've finally created a banana bread recipe that ticks all the boxes for this dessert. It's soft, moist, slightly tart, and just the right amount of sweet. And best of all, it's even better the next day (if you don't eat it right away). Try toasting some slices and spreading some lightly salted butter on top. We're sure you'll never need another banana bread recipe.

Recipe: The best banana cake

The best shrimp scampi

Shrimp scampi is a staple on the menu of every good Italian-American restaurant. When cooked properly, it should be buttery, with hints of lemon and garlic. Shrimp scampi is loved for its simplicity and balanced flavor, and it's actually very easy to prepare. The white wine sauce gets a piquant flavor from red pepper flakes, and it's perfect served with good crusty bread or pasta.

Recipe: The best shrimp scampi

The best chicken tikka masala

Chicken tikka masala is a spicy tomato-based dish flavored with garlic, ginger, fenugreek, and garam masala. In this recipe, we use fenugreek leaves, which impart a nutty and slightly minty flavor. If you can't find them, substitute dried mint and a pinch of ground fenugreek. Garam masala is a popular Indian spice blend found in grocery stores and most spice shops.

Recipe: The best chicken tikka masala

The best crème brulee

We wanted a rich, smooth, and not too sweet custard to fully appreciate the crispy top layer of caramelized sugar. Using only egg yolks, we achieved a soft, creamy texture. We tried milk and a mixture of milk and cream, but ultimately chose heavy cream. Whole vanilla beans impart an intense vanilla flavor that's impossible to achieve with vanilla extract alone. The vanilla seeds in the custard are also a delight to the eye.

Recipe: The best crème brulee

The best chicken noodle soup

For this popular soup, we used chicken legs instead of a whole chicken: it reduces cooking time without sacrificing flavor, and the dark meat adds richness.

Recipe: The best chicken noodle soup ever

The best lasagna

During the long simmer, the beef stew infuses with the vibrant flavor of tomatoes and a rich, meaty aroma. We combine ricotta with Parmesan to balance the spiciness of the garlic and add additional flavor. Each component plays its own role, so we maintain the perfect ratio of ricotta to tomato sauce in the layers.

Recipe: The best lasagna

The best coconut cake

Can something be incredibly airy, yet rich and sophisticated? It turns out, yes. This coconut cake is inimitable in its beauty and grandeur: tart cream, sweet coconut flakes, and delicate layers. All other coconut cakes would now look dull in comparison.

Recipe: The best coconut cake

The Best Buttermilk Pancakes

A plate of these fluffy pancakes will transport you to an American diner. The recipe contains both baking powder and baking soda, ensuring an airy, light center and a golden crust.

Recipe: The best pancakes with sour milk

The best bread pudding

Toasting the challah not only enhances its flavor but also allows the wonderfully rich cream to soak in better. Plus, we're using two vanilla beans—regular vanilla extract wouldn't impart such a rich flavor to the cream.

Recipe: The best bread pudding

The best chicken picata

We love this recipe because the chicken breast, which is often dry and bland, turns out tender and juicy. The secret? Season the meat with salt and pepper an hour before cooking.

Recipe: The best chicken piccata

The best lentil soup

The base of this soup is brown lentils. To enhance the flavor, we used mirepoix—a classic blend of onion, celery, and carrot—as well as thyme, bay leaf, and oregano. Fresh lemon juice and parsley, added at the end, liven up the dish and add a lovely color.

Recipe: The best lentil soup

The best chicken parmesan

Chicken Parmesan needs a lot of Parmesan! That's why it's added not only as a topping for the cutlets, but also to the breading mixture to give the chicken breasts even more flavor and crispiness. Coat the chicken cutlets in simple breadcrumbs mixed with spices and finely grated Parmesan cheese, and pan-fry. Then top with tomato sauce, sprinkle with cheese, and bake in the oven until the cheese melts.

Recipe: The best chicken parmesan

The best beef stew

To achieve a deep flavor, we sear the meat in batches and cook the onions and garlic until they're sweet. The meat is then simmered in a rich red wine sauce in a low-temperature oven, becoming incredibly tender. This dish is great for making ahead: the flavors will intensify overnight.

Recipe: The best beef stew

The best pancakes

Our classic recipe is universal: to make savory pancakes, simply omit the vanilla. It's important to let the batter rest; this allows the flour to absorb the milk, resulting in especially tender and golden pancakes.

Recipe: The best pancakes

The best cinnamon buns

Try our homemade cinnamon buns—you won't regret it! The secret lies in the buttery, moist dough and the time it takes to rise. The baked buns will be light and soft, with a rich cinnamon center.

Recipe: The best cinnamon rolls

The best pumpkin pie

Instead of using store-bought spice mix, we use ground cinnamon and nutmeg to control the ratio: the optimal balance of spices brings out the pumpkin flavor.

Recipe: The best pumpkin pie

The Best Coconut Cream Pie

This traditional-style pie is filled with rich cream and topped with a golden-brown meringue layer and a generous helping of sweet coconut flakes. It tastes like it came straight from the display case at your favorite diner—only better.

Recipe: The best coconut cream pie

The best focaccia

Classic focaccia is easy to make at home. Our version is airy and has a delicate golden crust. Sprinkle the dough with salted water during the final rising stage; this will ensure a deeper flavor.

Recipe: The best focaccia

The best pasta carbonara

This is what we call "comfort food." Delicate and rich, this dish is perfect for a chilly evening. We like to add butter to the cheesy egg sauce from time to time, but we leave that step up to you. Either way, this is a truly classic and delicious pasta.

Recipe: The best pasta carbonara

The best M&M's cookies

We took our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and added more sugar to give the dessert a moist, soft texture. We then made the cookies larger to make it easier to add our favorite chocolate-covered candies. Save some of the candies to coat each cookie before baking. You'll create a treat that looks as delicious as it tastes!

Recipe: The Best M&M's Cookies

The best meatloaf

Instead of the traditional mix of beef, veal, and pork, we make meatloaf with only beef to highlight its signature flavor. Milk adds richness and tenderness, preventing the meatloaf from being dry or tough. We also add cooked onion instead of raw, as most recipes suggest: this eliminates the raw onion flavor and adds a pleasant sweetness.

Recipe: The best meatloaf

The Best American Potato Salad

Our favorite potato salad features traditional mayonnaise, enhanced not only with sliced pickles but also with pickle brine for added piquancy. Green onions, celery, and parsley add a fresh note and a touch of crunch, while hard-boiled eggs make the salad even more filling.

Recipe: The Best American Potato Salad

The best apple pie

We love using a variety of apples in this pie; it provides a rich flavor and texture, and each bite will be slightly different. The addition of vodka makes the dough easier to work with, and since the alcohol evaporates during baking, it doesn't affect the flavor. You could also try bourbon or apple brandy to complement the filling.

Recipe: The best apple pie

The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

Instead of marshmallows, we opted for a nutty crumble topping: the crunchy texture contrasts beautifully with the soft, mashed sweet potato. The filling is flavored like pumpkin pie; brown sugar and cinnamon impart a deep caramel flavor, while eggs and butter add richness. This recipe is sure to become a holiday favorite.

Recipe: The Best Sweet Potato Casserole

The best bacon cheeseburger

While we love grilled burgers, this recipe is perfect for any time of year. Instead of traditional patties, we flatten the meat in a super-hot cast-iron skillet, creating crispy, rippled edges. Once you try this technique, you'll love it! We top the meat with our favorite toppings, including our perfectly balanced sauce. That's what we call a legendary burger.

Recipe: The best bacon cheeseburger

The best butter cookies

Your search is over—these perfect cookies will be a staple in your repertoire for years to come. They're crispy yet tender, perfect for serving with tea or as gifts for loved ones. Plus, you can choose between two options: scoop the dough out onto a baking sheet or slice it!

Recipe: The best butter cookies

The best vanilla cake

We love the light texture that pastry flour imparts to baked goods, but we didn't want to buy a whole package. So we use a trick: all-purpose flour mixed with cornstarch. The starch inhibits the formation of gluten in the flour, making the crust airy and tender. We also added 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil—a well-known trick for achieving a moist texture. The heavy cream keeps the frosting light and fluffy.

Recipe: The best vanilla cake

The best crab cakes

When we decided to make the best crab cakes, opinions were divided. But everyone agreed on the need for plenty of fresh, high-quality crab meat. After some tweaking, this recipe emerged—elegant, large cakes with lemon juice, fresh herbs, and an abundance of spices. Choose the best, freshest crab meat, as it's what really matters here.

Recipe: The best crab cakes

The best samosa

We love the filling in this samosa, but we also want to highlight the dough. We tried various techniques to achieve the perfectly light and crispy texture characteristic of classic aloo samosas. Allowing the wet dough to rest long enough creates steam during frying, resulting in a crispy and fluffy samosa.

Recipe: The best samosas

The best lemon cakes

It's hard to beat a classic, but we've managed it! We've preserved the original cake's delicate, creamy crust and made a few subtle changes. For the luxurious lemon layer, we use a unique double-cooking method. First, the mixture is simmered on the stovetop, like lemon curd, allowing for the addition of butter, which balances the tart and sweet flavors and adds a rich texture.

Recipe: The best lemon bars

The Best Coleslaw with Vinegar Dressing

We love the flavor the vinegar-based dressing imparts to this salad—it's the perfect accompaniment to rich meat dishes like ribs or pulled pork. You can also feel free to add plenty of spices and vinegar to the cabbage. But the real secret to this colorful salad is that the vegetables marinate for a long time in the refrigerator, allowing them to soak up the dressing. To counteract the tartness, drizzle the salad with olive oil at the very end.

Recipe: The Best Vinegar-Drenched Coleslaw

The best chicken in creamy tomato sauce

This dish originated at a Delhi restaurant: the chef was looking for a way to serve some tandoori chicken leftover from the previous evening. He created a mild tomato curry with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, complemented by butter. The dish instantly became a classic, which we love serving with basmati rice and naan bread to soak up the flavorful sauce.

Recipe: Best Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) Recipe

The best French toast

For French toast, we love using soft, crustless bread: it has a neutral flavor and a porous texture that allows it to absorb the egg mixture without falling apart. It can be hard to find, so you can substitute brioche for a more sophisticated toast, or challah, which is a versatile choice.

Recipe: The best French toast

The best carrot cake

Classic carrot cake is flavored with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg; toasted pecans are incorporated into the cake itself and sprinkled on top. Yellow raisins and nearly a pound of carrots make the cake wonderfully moist, while buttermilk adds a delicate, tart note. The homemade cream cheese frosting is just the right amount of sweet.

Recipe: The best carrot cake

Best Corn Casserole

We've added cheddar and chives to this quick, classic side dish. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare, and the finished dish will be golden and fluffy—perfect for a get-together with friends or a holiday table.

Recipe: Best Corn Casserole

The Best Chicken Enchiladas in Red Sauce

We love the smoky flavor that comes from combining dried cascabel and guajillo chiles. Blending these two creates a complex sauce with surprising depth, so try to find both. Another tip: buy the highest-quality corn tortillas you can find. They'll have the perfect flavor and texture, and they'll be easier to work with.

Recipe: The Best Chicken Enchiladas in Red Sauce

The best mashed potatoes

This is our go-to recipe for classic mashed potatoes with butter and cream. For a fluffy and flavorful dish, simmer the potatoes in well-salted water at a gentle simmer. Don't skip the evaporation step; if there's too much moisture left in the potatoes, they'll be too sticky.

Recipe: The best mashed potatoes

Best bread filling

This holiday side dish has something for everyone. It's packed with favorite ingredients like sausage and mushrooms, plus classic fall flavors like onions, celery, and chopped herbs. We especially love baking it in a casserole and serving it with turkey; it's also the safest way to cook it.

Recipe: The Best Turkey Stuffing (Side Dish)

The best egg salad

While we love unusual takes on egg salad, we always return to this recipe: simplicity, pure flavor, and nostalgia. This is the best take on classic egg salad, with a vibrant herb flavor and just the right amount of mayo. It's perfect on a sandwich or with fresh leafy greens.

Recipe: The best egg salad

The Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Do you like your cookies soft? Or crispy? Our recipe can be adapted to suit both! For firmer cookies, bake the dough immediately. For softer cookies, refrigerate the dough for at least 3 hours (overnight is best) to allow the oats to absorb moisture.

Recipe: The Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

The best mulled wine

We love a fragrant, spiced mulled wine, and this recipe is just that. The spices are steeped in cider, enhancing their flavor, and then it all comes together to create a warming winter drink.

Recipe: The best mulled wine

The Best Green Bean Casserole

Dried shiitake mushrooms add an umami flavor to this traditional green bean casserole. Reconstituted, the mushrooms are soft and flavorful, and the soaking liquid also adds a unique flavor to the sauce. The topping is made from scratch: onions are first dipped in buttermilk, then fried until crisp.

Recipe: The Best Green Bean Casserole

The Best Turkey Meatballs

These juicy meatballs have a light, tender texture and are loaded with aromatic herbs. The meat's texture is softer than you might expect, thanks to the ricotta—we sacrifice a perfectly round shape, but it's worth it. You'll make these meatballs so often that you might even forget your usual beef recipe.

Recipe: The Best Turkey Meatballs

The best chocolate cake

This isn't your everyday chocolate cake, it's a true hit. It's very tall and much more like a cake from a bakery than a dessert made with a store-bought mix. The cream contains melted chocolate and cocoa, which impart a silky texture and deep flavor.

Recipe: The best chocolate cake

Best spinach and artichoke dip

This is our ultimate version of a classic party dip. It's smooth and savory, with a subtle tartness from the sour cream and Parmesan. We love using frozen whole spinach leaves and chopping them ourselves, which allows for greater control over the texture.

Recipe: Best spinach and artichoke dip

The best peanut butter cookies

We wanted to make a wonderful peanut butter treat, but it turned out that using more than 1 cup of store-bought peanut butter made the cookies a bit rubbery. So we ground roasted peanuts and added them to the dough for extra flavor. Honey and melted butter added richness, and the cookies turned out soft with lovely crackles on top. We sprinkled the dough balls with sugar for a crunchy, sweet note to counteract the salty peanuts.

Recipe: The best peanut butter cookies

The best deviled eggs

Classic deviled eggs are flavored with mustard and hot sauce. We love the simplicity of the flavor—it's the perfect recipe to invent your own variations with your favorite toppings.

Recipe: The best deviled eggs

The best light sponge cake

Although the recipe only requires a few ingredients, the technique is crucial. First, use a suitable sponge pan and don't grease it. Furthermore, superfine sugar, sifted pastry flour, and well-beaten eggs are the key ingredients that set this sponge cake apart from all others.

Recipe: The Best Angel Food Cake

The best bolognese sauce

Our sauce is rich and meaty, but surprisingly light on tomatoes. The classic combination of wine and milk is the base. The blend of pork, beef, and pancetta provides a multifaceted flavor, while the Parmesan rind adds a special touch.

Recipe: The best pasta Bolognese

The Best Chocolate Lava Cakes

Enjoy these rich chocolate brownies! Bittersweet chocolate and espresso powder combine to create a luxuriously balanced cream that maintains its consistency while baking.

Recipe: The Best Chocolate Lava Cake

The best beef stroganoff

For this classic, we used tender, marbled ribeye steak. Two types of mushrooms, cooked to a crispy crisp, add extra flavor. The dish is brought together by a rich, piquant sauce of sour cream and Dijon mustard and served with egg noodles.

Recipe: The best beef stroganoff

The best guacamole

Simple ingredients in just the right proportions make this dip a versatile treat for a group. We decided against adding tomatoes (they would make the appetizer too watery) and instead opted for onion and garlic for a vibrant flavor. Fresh lemon juice balances and enhances the dip's flavor.

Recipe: The best guacamole

The best pork enchiladas

Enchiladas from the Mexican state of Oaxaca are made with a red chili sauce. Our version includes raisins, which enhance the fruity notes of the ancho chili pepper and add a subtle sweetness. The pork is simmered with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a wonderful sauce. Lightly toast the tortillas before rolling them; this will help them hold the filling better.

Recipe: The Best Pork Enchiladas

The best scones

The rich flavor of these butter scones comes from the milk powder added to the cream and butter. Lightly knead the dough with your hands to ensure the scones are very tender.

Recipe: The best scones

The Best Chicken Marsala

This classic Italian-American dish is a nostalgic reminder of family dinners of a bygone era. It's perfect for sharing. The flavors of Marsala wine and mushrooms give the sauce a unique sweetness that perfectly complements the fried chicken breasts.

Recipe: The Best Chicken Marsala

The Best Lemon Meringue Pie

A true dream: a classic sweet and sour dessert with a meringue topping that's hard to mess up! We use mostly butter in the dough, but we also add a little vegetable shortening—this combination ensures a delicate, flaky texture.

Recipe: No-Bake Lemon Pie

The best tuna salad

We love many different variations of this salad, but the classic version is the best. Celery and red onion add tartness and crunch, while mayonnaise and mustard tie everything together. Lemon juice is optional, as the traditional recipe doesn't call for it, but we recommend adding it to enhance the salad's flavors.

Recipe: The most delicious tuna salad

The best crispy tofu

To make crispy tofu, you first need to remove excess moisture. We wrapped a block of tofu in a clean kitchen towel and pressed it down with a heavy frying pan to squeeze out as much water as possible. While frying, don't move the tofu. Wait until a crust forms, then flip it over and fry again, untouched, until the other side is golden brown.

Recipe: The best crispy tofu

The best chicken salad

Chicken breasts are lightly poached in a flavorful broth, creating tender meat for a salad with a vibrant homemade dressing. Serve on its own, on a bed of lettuce with tomato slices, or on half an avocado. The salad also makes a great sandwich topping with crispy bacon and other toppings.

Recipe: The best chicken salad

The best chocolate chip cookie crunch

This dessert is inspired by the thin, crisp cookies from Tate's Bake Shop on Long Island. Our version features even more brown sugar, vanilla, and chocolate chips for a more sophisticated, flavorful cookie.

Recipe: The best chocolate chip cookie crunch

The best granola

To create the best granola, we wanted to create a crunchy and just-right sweet treat. Here's a simple yet versatile recipe featuring vanilla and a brown sugar-maple syrup blend. We love the clean flavors of granola and the balance of sweet and salty. It's the perfect base for other toppings; we offer some ideas for variations at the end of the recipe.

Recipe: The best granola

The best dough for braided crust

This dough is perfect for braided crust for many reasons. The combination of shortening and butter makes it very pliable, easy to cut and braid. Plus, the vodka in the dough provides a soft, rich flavor that's perfect for a variety of fillings.

Recipe: The best lattice pie dough

The Best French Onion Soup

This bistro classic is quite easy to make. It just requires a little time and a few good ingredients. We've found that yellow onions (also known as Spanish onions) work best for this recipe. They caramelize well and have the perfect balance of bitter and sweet flavors. Just don't overcook the onions; just until they're golden brown. Good beef broth is also essential. If you don't want to make your own, buy a high-quality pre-made broth.

Recipe: The Best French Onion Soup

The best baked beans

If you think baked beans only come in cans, you're in for a treat. Bacon, molasses, and bourbon add a rich flavor to this classic dish with paprika, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. A touch of brown sugar provides just the right amount of sweetness. Best of all, there's no need to soak the beans! They'll be tender and delicious straight from the oven.

Recipe: The best baked beans

The Best French Toast Casserole

You don't have to wake up early on a weekend to prepare a brunch for guests. This hearty casserole recipe requires almost all the preparation in advance. Gather the ingredients and refrigerate overnight. About an hour before serving, bake in the oven. Make a quick and easy banana-caramel topping and enjoy the delight of your well-fed guests.

Recipe: The Best French Toast Casserole

The best banana pie

This pie is deliciously moist, sweet, and simple. Dark brown sugar and sour cream add depth to the batter, and for a bold flavor, we used melted butter instead of vegetable oil. The rich cream cheese frosting and swirls of dulce de leche will have you reaching for a second helping. Plus, the bananas come in two forms: fresh fruit is stirred into the batter, and banana chips with maple syrup create a crunchy topping.

Recipe: The best banana cake

The best banana pudding

This is our favorite version of banana pudding: a towering dessert made with layers of ripe bananas, rich vanilla pudding, and soft cookies. The filling uses vanilla bean paste instead of extract for a rich flavor, and the pudding itself is topped with freshly whipped cream. When it all comes together, it's a wonderfully luxurious dessert for company!

Recipe: The best banana pudding

Parker House's Best Buns

These buns are incredibly delicious thanks to the abundance of butter; it's incorporated into the dough and spread on top. Milk and eggs enrich the dough, ensuring a perfectly tender texture. A pinch of flaked sea salt creates a pleasant crunch and contrast. These buns are best served fresh and warm.

Recipe: Parker House's Best Buns

The best homemade applesauce

Once you try this homemade sauce with its pure apple flavor, you'll probably never want to buy the store-bought variety again. Store-bought versions often contain a lot of additives and sweeteners. We use just a little sugar, plus lemon juice, salt, and cinnamon, achieving a balanced flavor and just the right amount of sweetness.

Recipe: The best homemade applesauce

The Best Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Olive oil, salt, and pepper bring out the natural flavor of the kale as it roasts in the oven until golden brown. For best results, preheat the oven dish and arrange the vegetables flat-side down. Don't throw away any loose leaves that fall off when trimming. They become crispy and golden brown—the best part! For a special touch, sprinkle the dish with a homemade Parmesan breadcrumb mixture.

Recipe: The best oven-baked Brussels sprouts recipe

The best tiramisu

This classic Italian dessert is surprisingly simple to make. We start with traditional sabayon (a mixture of egg yolks and sugar) and Marsala wine. Then we add mascarpone cheese, which creates a soft, mousse-like texture. The cookies in the assembled dessert will soften after 4 hours in the refrigerator, but you can leave it longer: the flavors will meld even better.

Recipe: The best tiramisu

The best chicken and dumplings

Soul food at its best. Tender pieces of chicken and vegetables come together in a creamy, rich sauce with fluffy dumplings baked on top. The dish is filling but not too heavy, and the whole thing is ready in about an hour.

Recipe: The best chicken and dumplings recipe

The best meat and potatoes

This recipe will delight not only meat and potato lovers but also the cook. It takes just 30 minutes and requires minimal cleanup! Tender, juicy strips of steak are seared in a hot cast-iron skillet, followed by a quick sauce made with mustard, wine, and herbs. The mashed potatoes are flavored with sour cream, horseradish, and spinach. This delicious side dish is easily made in the microwave.

Recipe: The best meat and potato recipe

The best apple crisp

If you've just picked apples, here's a great way to enjoy them. We use two varieties of fresh apples, plus warm spices and tart cider. The sweet buttery topping contains brown sugar and pecans—a simple and wonderful apple dessert.

Recipe: The best apple crisp

The best risotto

Classic risotto doesn't have many ingredients (and there's no cream among them), so success depends on technique. After trying all the variations, we settled on simple steps for making perfect Italian-style rice. This basic dish is delicious on its own, but it makes a great base for adding your favorite vegetables and proteins.

Recipe: The best risotto

The best shepherd's pie

We follow tradition and make shepherd's pie with lamb, but you can easily substitute ground beef. The juicy filling is full of tender vegetables, and the creamy topping is inspired by the Irish dish colcannon and contains cabbage, cheese, and leeks.

Recipe: The best shepherd's pie

The best tomato sauce

There are as many versions of tomato sauce as there are chefs in the world. Our recipe was influenced by the Italian-American heritage of one of our team members—we chose a sauce that is a family favorite. A mix of canned tomatoes adds richness, and the long simmering process allows the flavors to meld beautifully. The sauce is perfect with pasta, chicken tenders, or meatballs.

Recipe: The best tomato sauce

The best roasted fennel

Sometimes fennel is simply a complement to other vegetables, but here it's the star of a simple, impressive side dish. When roasted to a soft, almost creamy texture, the fennel's licorice flavor softens, revealing a subtle, natural sweetness. Even if you're not a fan of fennel, give this wonderful dish a try—it might surprise you.

Recipe: The best roasted fennel