Appetizer

March 25, 2021 Appetizer

Chicken Gyoza

Based on traditional Japanese gyoza, these chicken gyoza are stuffed with a deliciously flavorful filling then lightly pan-fried in avocado oil for a delicate crisp. Serve with gyoza sauce for an easy snack, appetizer, or meal!

What Makes This Chicken Gyoza So Good

They’re perfect for snacks, appetizers, party foods, or you can even make a double batch and enjoy them as a meal on their own! Fill them with anything you like, too – finely diced mushrooms and cabbage would be great options.
They’re great for freezer meals! Prep a big batch of chicken gyoza, then instead of cooking them immediately, place them in the freezer on a sheet pan until they’re frozen. Then you can transfer them to a sealable freezer bag or other airtight container for storage. They’ll keep in the freezer up to 1 month. No need to thaw them when you’re ready to cook – though you may need to cook them a little longer.

Chicken Gyoza

Key Ingredients for Chicken Gyoza

Gyoza Wrappers – Gyoza wrappers are similar to dumpling wrappers, but much thinner. If you aren’t able to find gyoza wrappers specifically, we have had luck making this recipe with wonton wrappers instead. Just cut them into circles first (since they come in squares) so you still get that classic half-moon shape.

Ground Chicken – Gyoza typically has a pork filling, so you can absolutely swap the ground chicken in this recipe out for ground pork if you prefer. We used chicken in this variation just to achieve a different flavor. You could also use ground lamb, ground beef, or ground shrimp for your filling instead.

Chef’s Tips

The gyoza wrappers get sticky when they’re wet, so always handle them with dry hands!
While we pan-fry both sides of our gyoza for a crispier result, traditional gyoza are only pan-fried on one side! For the other side, you’d add water to the pan, cover with a lid, and let the steam cook the top half until the water evaporates.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Our recipes focus on real ingredients and homemade elements. We try to avoid processed flour and sugar, like white flour or white sugar. Our recipes often swap less healthy options (like a commercial, deep-fried tostada) for an easy homemade version.

Our recipes are not necessarily low fat or low calorie, and we aren’t afraid of fat or carbs! Some of our recipes will be “skinny,” low carb, keto, paleo, dairy free, grain free, gluten free, Whole30, or vegan, and they will be labeled when they qualify for any of these diets. All our recipes are easy and family friendly!

Chicken gyoza on a white plate with gyoza sauce

Other Asian-Inspired Recipes

We hope you loved this recipe as much as we did! We’d love for you to give us a star ★ rating below, and follow us on Instagram! For more delicious, healthy recipes, be sure to check out 40 Aprons.

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Chicken Gyoza

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time25 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Keyword: dipping sauce, dumplings, pan fried

Servings: servings (approximately 30 gyoza total, 5 per serving)

Calories: 292kcal

Equipment

Small bowl
Large bowl
Spoon or silicone spatula
Tablespoon or cookie scoop with release handle
Large skillet

Ingredients

For the Gyoza Sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon ginger grated
1 clove garlic minced
1 scallion chopped
½ teaspoon sesame oil

For the Filling

1 pound ground chicken
2 cloves garlic minced
1 1-inch knob ginger grated
1 tablespoon finely diced scallions
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

Miscellaneous

1 12-ounce package gyoza wrappers about 30 wrappers
⅓ cup water
avocado oil for frying

Instructions

For the Gyoza Sauce

In small bowl, mix all ingredients together. Set aside until needed.

For the Filling

Add all ingredients to large bowl.
Mix until thoroughly combined.

For the Gyoza

Set out individual gyoza wrappers on work surface. Spoon 1 tablespoon of filling into center of each wrapper.
Lightly brush edge of gyoza wrappers with water. Fold top edge of wrapper over filling to meet bottom edge of wrapper, creating a half-moon shape. Pinch edges tightly to seal.
In large skillet, heat avocado oil over medium heat. Add gyoza to skillet in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Cook until golden brown, then flip gyoza and repeat for other side.
Remove from pan and serve with gyoza sauce.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 30 gyoza, for 6 servings total. Nutritional values shown reflect information for 1 serving of 5 gyoza, with sauce. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

March 23, 2021 Appetizer

Vegan Cottage Cheese

This vegan cottage cheese is a convincing, dairy-free alternative to traditional cottage cheese. Made from tofu and cashews, with a little nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.

What Makes This Vegan Cottage Cheese So Good

It’s super quick and easy to make! The most time consuming part of this recipe is soaking the cashews – but you can read some ways to speed things up a little in the “Chef’s Tips” section below!
It’s got that perfect cottage cheese texture – not too smooth, not too chunky.

Key Ingredients for Vegan Cottage Cheese

Silken Tofu – The softest, creamiest member of the tofu family. Silken tofu will give you that crumbly, chunky vegan cottage cheese texture you’re looking for.

Nutritional Yeast – If you make a lot of vegan recipes, you’re probably super familiar with nutritional yeast, or the nooch. We use a little here for extra nuttiness and cheesiness.

Vegan Cottage Cheese

Chef’s Tips

The easiest way to soak cashews is the method on the recipe card below. Fill a bowl with hot water, add in the cashews, and let them hang out for an hour or so. If you’re in a rush, though, you can speed this process up a little! Instead of the bowl, put the raw cashews in a pot with just enough water to cover them completely. Bring the water to a boil, then cover the pot and let the cashews boil for 10 minutes or so. Drain them, rinse them, then whip up some vegan cottage cheese!
It absolutely is possible to over-soak your cashews. The water will get slimy, and the cashews will develop an off smell and taste. If that happens, just throw them out and start over – trust me. You shouldn’t have to worry about over-soaking here, though. It’s usually only a concern if you’re soaking overnight or longer.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

A bowl of vegan cottage cheese with a fork on a white background with a napkin

More Delicious Vegan Recipes

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Vegan Cottage Cheese

This vegan cottage cheese is a convincing, dairy-free alternative to traditional cottage cheese. Made from tofu and cashews, with a little nutritional yeast for cheesy flavor.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time0 mins

Soak Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 10 mins

Course: Basics

Cuisine: Vegan

Keyword: lactose-free, meatless, non-dairy

Servings: servings

Calories: 189kcal

Equipment

Medium bowl
Fork
Food processor or immersion blender

Ingredients

3 tablespoons raw cashews
10 ounces silken tofu
1 ½ tablespoons nutritional yeast
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Soak cashews in hot water for one hour.
In medium bowl, crumble tofu with fork. Set aside.
In food processor, blend soaked cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, almond milk, and vinegar until smooth. Pour cashew mixture into bowl with tofu.
Season with salt and pepper. Mix until combined.
Serve with crackers, bread, or veggies.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Recipe yields approximately 2 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving out of 2. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 2. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

March 16, 2021 Appetizer

Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

Gluten free mozzarella sticks are the best, easiest way to cook up a classic snack that won’t aggravate a gluten sensitivity. Perfectly crispy outside, perfectly melty inside.

What Makes These Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks So Good

They’re every bit as delicious as traditional mozzarella sticks, but totally gluten free!
Looking for a make-ahead option? These are perfect! Make them as instructed, including freezing them for 2 hours. After 2 hours, take them off the baking sheet and toss them in a sealable freezer bag or another airtight container, then freeze them up to 3 months. When you’re feeling hungry for some hot, cheesy, gluten free goodness, just grab a few from your cheese stick stockpile and fry them up!
Any leftover mozzarella sticks will keep in the refrigerator up to three days if they’re stored in an airtight container. I recommend reheating them in the oven or the air fryer rather than the microwave – that way your breading stays crisp!

Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

Key Ingredients for Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

Mozzarella – Mozzarella string cheese is the absolute easiest base for gluten free cheese sticks! If you don’t mind a little extra work, you can buy a block of mozzarella and cut it into thick strips. Make sure they’re the same size, though, or they may not cook evenly.

Gluten-Free Flour – The light base coat of flour creates a textured surface for the egg wash and breadcrumb mixture to cling to, so don’t skip this step!

Gluten-Free Panko Breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are crucial for crispy, classic mozzarella sticks. Panko comes out much lighter than a full-flour breading.

Chef’s Tips

If the breadcrumb mixture in the bowl gets too wet from the egg wash, it’ll clump together and won’t stick to the mozzarella sticks well. Try to coat the string cheese as lightly as possible in the egg wash. You might also try starting out with only half the egg wash and half the breadcrumb mixture, then use a little of the remaining mixtures to refresh your dips after every few mozzarella sticks.
It’s important that your oil is the right temperature before you drop in any gluten free mozzarella sticks. Too cool, your food will just soak up the oil. Too hot, the breading will crisp up fast but the cheese won’t melt. 350° Fahrenheit is a good rule of thumb for the oil, but you can also try the flour trick! Sprinkle a little of your gluten-free flour on top of the oil, and if it sizzles, you’re good to go!
If the cheese oozes out of your mozzarella sticks during frying, that means they’re being overcooked. Lower the temperature on your stove a little so the oil cools slightly, then try again.
Dipping the mozzarella sticks in the egg wash and breadcrumb coating twice is super important, so don’t skip this part. If you only do it once, there won’t be enough breading to contain the melted cheese when you’re frying, and you’ll just end up with a mess.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Gluten free mozzarella sticks on a white plate next to a dish of marinara sauce

Enjoy These Other Gluten Free Recipes

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Gluten Free Mozzarella Sticks

Gluten free mozzarella sticks are the best, easiest way to cook up a classic snack that won't aggravate a gluten sensitivity. Perfectly crispy outside, perfectly melty inside.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Freeze Time2 hrs

Total Time2 hrs 15 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: easy snack, fried food, kid friendly

Servings: mozzarella sticks

Calories: 181kcal

Equipment

Baking sheet
Parchment paper
3 medium bowls
Freezer
Tall pot or Dutch oven
Deep fry thermometer

Ingredients

¼ cup all-purpose gluten-free flour
2 eggs
1 tablespoon milk
2 cups gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 mozzarella string cheese sticks
oil for frying
chopped parsley optional, for garnish
marinara sauce optional, for serving

Instructions

Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Place flour in one bowl.
In second bowl, whisk eggs and milk until combined.
In third bowl, thoroughly combine bread crumbs, salt, pepper, parsley, garlic powder, basil, and oregano.
Take one mozzarella stick. Dip in flour and roll until lightly coated. Don't forget to coat ends of cheese stick in all steps.
Immediately dip flour-coated mozzarella stick into egg wash. Roll until coated.
From egg wash, immediately dip mozzarella stick into breadcrumb mixture. Roll until coated. Gently press the panko onto mozzarella stick.
Dip panko-coated mozzarella stick into egg wash again.
After second egg wash, dip mozzarella stick into panko mixture a second time and gently press panko onto mozzarella stick.
Place fully coated mozzarella stick on parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. Repeat process for remaining mozzarella sticks. When all 12 are coated, place baking sheet in freezer for 2 hours.
After two hours, heat enough oil for frying (approximately 2 inches deep) in tall pot. When oil reaches 350° Fahrenheit, add 2 to 3 mozzarella sticks.
Fry approximately 2 minutes, until breading is golden brown and crispy. Transfer cooked mozzarella sticks to paper towel to drain oil. Repeat process for remaining mozzarella sticks.
Garnish finished mozzarella sticks with parsley (optional) and serve with marinara (optional).

Notes

Oil: Any oil with a high smoke point will work.
Timing: Fry times can vary depending on how long your cheese sticks are in the freezer. You may need to add an additional minute or two in the oil if your mozzarella sticks have been frozen for a while.
Temperature: The oil will cool slightly with each batch of mozzarella sticks. I recommend leaving your deep fry thermometer in the oil throughout the process or at least rechecking the oil after each batch. You may need to wait for it to come back up to temperature.

Recipe yields 12 gluten free mozzarella sticks. Nutritional values shown reflect information for one fried mozzarella stick. This is a rough estimate as it doesn’t account for the amount of fry oil absorbed by the mozzarella sticks. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

Nutrition

March 9, 2021 Air Fryer

Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer is the easiest way to get perfectly crispy mozzarella sticks full of hot, gooey cheese in just 10 minutes.

Frozen mozzarella sticks cooked in the air fryer then placed a on a white plate with a small bowl of marinara

What Makes Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer So Good

This method gives you perfectly crispy mozzarella sticks without the mess (and calories) of deep frying. They come out way crispier than baking them in the oven, too!
It’s so quick! 7 minutes in the air fryer is all you need to put together a tasty snack even the kids will love. Definitely keep this one in your back pocket!
If your air fryer is large enough, you can cook a ton of mozzarella sticks all at once! That means you can easily feed a big group without any extra effort.

Key Ingredients for Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer

Frozen Mozzarella Sticks – You can use any brand of frozen cheese sticks you like for this method! The cook times may vary slightly with larger or thicker cheese sticks, so keep an eye on them and adjust as needed.

Chef’s Tips

Marinara sauce is the traditional dipping-sauce-of-choice when it comes to mozzarella sticks, but I personally like to dip mine in ranch dressing. You could really use anything, though – ketchup, BBQ sauce, blue cheese dressing, the sky’s the limit!
Don’t overlap the frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer. To cook evenly, the air has to be able to circulate freely. If the mozzarella sticks touch anywhere, that’ll be a spot where the air can’t reach!
If the cheese starts to ooze out of the mozzarella sticks, that means they’re overcooked. You can try lowering the temperature on your air fryer, or shortening the cook time. You’ll know the mozzarella sticks are ready when they’re crispy but a little squishy when you squeeze them. If they’re still firm, they’re not done yet.
It’s not necessary, but you can spray a little air-fryer-safe oil in the basket first, to keep your mozzarella sticks from sticking. Another spritz of oil on the sticks themselves will give them an even crispier coating!

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Frozen mozzarella sticks cooked in the air fryer then placed on a white plate with a small cup of marinara sauce

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

Frozen mozzarella sticks cooked in the air fryer then placed on a white plate with a small bowl of marinara

Print Recipe

Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer

Cooking frozen mozzarella sticks in the air fryer is the easiest way to get perfectly crispy mozzarella sticks full of hot, gooey cheese in just 10 minutes.

Prep Time3 mins

Cook Time7 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy to make, kid friendly, less than 10 minutes

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

air-fryer-safe spray oil optional
frozen mozzarella sticks
marinara sauce optional, for serving

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit. Lightly spray basket with spray oil (optional).
Arrange frozen mozzarella sticks in air fryer basket in one even layer.
Cook mozzarella sticks for 7 minutes. Flip sticks over halfway through cook time.

Notes

This method will work for any brand and quantity of frozen mozzarella sticks. If you’re cooking a lot of them, you may need to work in multiple batches.

Cook times will vary from one air fryer to another. The thickness of your mozzarella sticks and your preferred crispiness will also affect the cook time. Keep an eye on them as they’re cooking and watch for signs of oozing!

February 25, 2021 Appetizer

Irish Potato Soup

Our Irish potato soup recipe takes a few simple ingredients and turns them a dreamy, creamy bowl of classic comfort food. This hearty soup is easy to make and absolutely perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any day you just need something warm and comforting.

What Makes This Irish Potato Soup Recipe So Good

It’s so quick and easy. Sure, it’s a delicious St. Patrick’s Day dish, but you can’t go wrong with this soup on a busy weeknight, especially in the winter!
Thanks to the potatoes and milk, it’s naturally thick and creamy. No added thickeners needed! And, since there’s no flour, this recipe is naturally gluten-free!
It’s hearty and nutritious! Potatoes, celery, and an onion make up most of this Irish potato soup, with a little broth, salt, pepper, and butter to boost the flavor!

Key Ingredients for Irish Potato Soup

Potatoes – I mean, obviously! You can’t have potato soup without them! Not only are they tasty, but they’re also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B6. Because we’re eventually pureeing the veggies, starchy potatoes like russets work best.

Milk – This gives your Irish potato soup that iconic creamy texture and flavor. If you prefer a richer soup, you can use heavy cream instead of milk.

Irish Potato Soup

Chef’s Tips

Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days. Reheat them on the stovetop or in the microwave.
In the recipe, I mention cooking the potatoes until “fork-tender”. Fork-tender refers to that perfect potato moment when you can easily pierce them with the tines of a fork with very little effort!
This method uses an immersion blender or traditional blender to get that perfect soup consistency. If you’re using a traditional blender, BE SURE to read the “Notes” section of the recipe card to avoid disaster!
If you want a slow cooker Irish potato soup, you can definitely use this recipe! Toss everything in your Crockpot and let it cook for approximately one hour on high. Once the potatoes are soft, pick up with Step 3 of the instructions below.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Irish potato soup topped with bacon, chives, and shredded cheddar cheese in a white bowl on a table

More Incredible Soup Recipes

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Irish Potato Soup

Our Irish potato soup recipe takes a few simple ingredients and turns them a dreamy, creamy bowl of classic comfort food. This hearty soup is easy to make and absolutely perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any day you just need something warm and comforting.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: comfort food, st. patrick’s day, winter

Servings: servings

Calories: 338kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Medium pot
Immersion blender or traditional blender

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter unsalted
1 medium onion chopped
2 stalks celery sliced
4 russet potatoes peeled, cut into ½-inch cubes
salt to taste
pepper to taste
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock or vegetable broth
½ cup milk or heavy cream
fresh parsley for garnish
bacon optional, crumbled, for topping
chives optional, chopped, for topping
shredded cheddar cheese optional, for topping

Instructions

In a medium pot over medium heat, melt butter, then add onion and celery. Cook approximately 2 minutes.
Add potatoes, salt, pepper, and stock. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are fork-tender.
Using an immersion blender, blend soup in pot until thick and creamy. Feel free to make the texture completely smooth or leave chunks of potatoes remaining – your choice.
If using a traditional blender, pour liquid into blender. See Notes for tips regarding hot liquids. Blend until mixture achieves desired consistency, then return liquid to pot.
Stir in milk or heavy cream.
Ladle soup into bowls and top with parsley, bacon, chives, and cheddar cheese. Serve hot.

Notes

Tips for Blending Hot Soup

Hot liquids will expand quickly in a blender, which can push the lid off and create a huge mess (not to mention it could burn you!). Fill the blender no more than halfway. You may have to blend your ingredients in 2 batches.
After pouring the liquid into the blender, let it sit a few minutes to cool slightly before blending.
Remove the center cap from the blender lid and cover the hole with a dish towel instead.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving out of 4. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients used.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the bowl, pot, or plate the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

February 23, 2021 Appetizer

Amish Broccoli Salad

This easy Amish broccoli salad recipe (complete with a creamy dressing) is a simple and delicious side dish that’s perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, and summer cookouts. Crisp broccoli, cauliflower, and red onion, tangy mayo and sour cream, a little bacon, and shredded cheese create an incredibly flavorful salad everyone will love!

What Makes This Amish Broccoli Salad Recipe So Good

It’s great for reunions, holidays, potlucks, summer cookouts, or any time you just need to feed a lot of people. You can easily double or triple the recipe without much extra effort.
This recipe uses raw vegetables, so there’s absolutely no cooking involved! Just a little chopping, then some mixing, followed by some chilling – and that last step’s optional.
Any leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days, which makes this a terrific make-ahead or meal prep option!

Key Ingredients for Amish Broccoli Salad

Bacon – A lot of people are in the “bacon doesn’t need to be in everything” camp, and I hear you! BUT, I promise, it really adds an extra layer of flavor in this salad! The savory bacon is especially delicious with the tangy and slightly sweet dressing.

Shredded Cheese – We’re using cheddar cheese in this recipe, but you can use any kind of shredded cheese you like! Cheddar jack and parmesan are both solid options that go well with the other flavors in this Amish broccoli salad. Feta and goat cheese would also be great!

Amish Broccoli Salad

Chef’s Tips

This recipe is fully customizable. If you like really creamy vegetables, feel free to add more mayo and sour cream. Likewise, you can cut back on the dressing ingredients and the raw veggies will shine through. Use any kind of cheese you like. Add nuts, seeds, raisins, bell pepper, or cranberries.
If you’re making this more than a few hours in advance, store the bacon separately from the rest of the salad and fold it in just before serving.
Not big on sour cream? Try the same amount of full-fat Greek yogurt instead. The flavor will be a little different but still great!
Use fresh broccoli and cauliflower – not frozen – to get the brightest flavors and the crispest textures. Frozen vegetables just won’t work the same.
As amazing as it is right away, Amish broccoli salad gets even better after a little time in the refrigerator. If you can, factor in 2 hours of chill time before serving, to let the veggies really soak up the dressing.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

Overhead photo of a white bowl of Amish broccoli salad, with wooden serving utensils

Other Salad Recipes We Love

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Amish Broccoli Salad

This easy Amish broccoli salad recipe (complete with a creamy dressing) is a simple and delicious side dish that's perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, and summer cookouts.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time15 mins

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy to make, no cooking, veggies

Servings: servings

Calories: 476kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Skillet
Small bowl
Large bowl
Silicone spatula

Ingredients

½ pound bacon
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup sour cream
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt plus more as needed
1 head broccoli chopped
1 head cauliflower chopped
½ cup red onion chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Dice bacon into small pieces. Fry until crispy, then drain and set aside.
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, and salt. Taste and add more salt if needed.
In a large bowl, combine broccoli and cauliflower. Add mayonnaise mixture and stir all until veggies are well coated.
Fold in red onion, cheese, and bacon.
Serve immediately, or chill until cold.

Notes

Make it Keto: Instead of sugar, use your favorite granulated sugar substitute, like Swerve. You can also leave out the red onion to shave off an additional 1-2 carbs per serving.
Make it Vegetarian: Leave out the bacon completely, or use a vegan bacon.
Make it Vegan: Use vegan versions of bacon, mayo, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

Recipe yields approximately 8 servings. Nutritional values shown reflect the information for 1 serving out of 8. Macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands of ingredients.

To determine the size of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, then weigh the entire finished recipe. Divide the total weight of the recipe (not including the weight of the bowl, pot, or plate the food is in) by 8. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

December 21, 2020 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Garlic Bread

This super simple recipe for air fryer garlic bread produces perfect crispy, buttery garlic bread each and every time. Ready in less than 10 minutes, it’s great as a side for pasta dinners (like this Baked Feta Pasta) or to dip into pizza sauce for a quick snack or appetizer.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

This garlic bread is hot and table-ready in less than 10 minutes, so it’s perfect for easy weeknight spaghetti dinners.
It’s automatically better than store-bought garlic bread because it’s fresh and because you control the ingredients! Love extra garlicky garlic bread? Want it to be cheesier? Prefer a lighter bake for softer bread? You can make that happen!
If you’ve got older bread that needs to be eaten ASAP, this is a perfect recipe for it. Older bread will end up crispier, and really fresh bread will be a little softer.
Frozen garlic bread can go straight from the freezer to the air fryer with no thawing, so make a batch to keep on hand! Spread the butter mixture on slices of French bread and freeze them in a single layer. Once they’re fully frozen, you can transfer them to a zippered freezer bag and store them up to 6 months. When you’re ready to eat, cook them in the air fryer at 340°F for 5-7 minutes.

Air Fryer Garlic Bread Ingredients

Bread – I love bread. I said it. I love bread. I used French bread for this recipe because it’s soft inside with a perfect crispy outer layer. You can also use Italian loaf or ciabatta.

Cheese – There’s just nothing like a great cheese. You can use any kind of grated parmesan for this recipe, but the mass-produced U.S. brands are usually imitation parmesan made with fillers. For the best flavor, buy a wedge of genuine Parmigiano-Reggiano and grate it yourself. If you’re a big cheese person, consider adding a little mozzarella or an Italian blend to your bread.

How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Bread

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Once you know how to make air fryer garlic bread, you’ll never make garlic bread any other way!

Mix softened butter, parmesan cheese, parsley, and crushed garlic together in a bowl and spread the mixture on slices of French bread. Place the slices of bread in the air fryer and cook for 3-5 minutes until they’re golden and crispy. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Chef’s Tips

To cook properly, the air in your air fryer has to be able to circulate around the bread completely. Place your slices of bread in one flat layer without any overlap or touching, otherwise you’ll end up with unevenly fried garlic bread.
Preheating the air fryer is not necessary, but for the quickest cook, make sure your fryer is preheated to 360°F before you put in your bread.
If you’re using an air fryer with racks instead of a basket, be sure to rotate the racks halfway through the cook time. The food closest to the heating element will cook faster, and rotating the racks ensures everything cooks evenly!
The butter can sometimes cause a little smoke in the air fryer as it melts. If you run into this issue, adding a little water to the bottom of the air fryer basket may help.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

More Great Air Fryer Recipes

Slices of air fryer garlic bread arranged on a wooden cutting board

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Garlic Bread

This super simple recipe for air fryer garlic bread produces perfect crispy, buttery garlic bread each and every time. Ready in just 10 minutes, it's great as a side for pasta dinners or to dip into marinara for a quick snack or appetizer.

Prep Time3 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time8 mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: freezer meal, pasta, pizza

Servings: servings

Calories: 255kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $5

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

8 slices fresh French bread
4 tablespoons salted butter
4 cloves garlic crushed
¼ teaspoon fresh parsley
⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan

Instructions

Place butter in a small bowl. Microwave 10 seconds until soft. Mix in garlic, parsley, and parmesan.
Spread butter on bread. Arrange 4 slices at a time in air fryer tray.
Cook at 360°F for 3 minutes. Bread should be golden and crispy. Cook for another 1-2 minutes if necessary.

Nutrition

November 19, 2020 Air Fryer

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

These delicious frozen sweet potato fries are a little sweet and a little salty. They crisp to perfection in the air fryer, making them a perfect snack or side when you want something quick, easy, and healthy.

Why Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer Are So Good

Because air fryers use air instead of oil to fry food, you save calories but still get that great deep-fried flavor and crunch.
Oven-baked fries can be soggy (or worse, burnt), especially if you’re reheating leftovers. Air fryer fries are perfectly crisp every time – plus you can cook them from frozen, no need to thaw!
Sweet potato fries specifically are best in the air fryer. Because of their lower starch content, it’s almost impossible to get the perfect fry texture when you cook sweet potatoes in the oven.
Air fryers generally cook faster than a conventional oven, and the clean up is usually easier, too!

New to air fryers and trying to decide which one to get? Visit our sister site, 40 Aprons, to read about the 5 Air Fryers We Love.

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes – This root veggie is a traditional Thanksgiving staple, but I love them all year long! When it comes to macros, they’re comparable to white potatoes, but they’re a much better source of antioxidants and vitamins A, B, C, and D.

Cinnamon – Everyone knows cinnamon is a little spicy and a little sweet – but did you know cinnamon is believed to have some wonderful health properties? It has essentially no protein or fat, but it does have small amounts of beta carotene and Vitamin A, which are both great for eye health!

How to Make Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

This recipe honestly could not be any easier! Toss your frozen sweet potatoes in oil, then coat them evenly in salt and cinnamon. Pop them in the air fryer for 7 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit, flip them, and fry for another 7 minutes. If you like your fries a little crispier, add another 2-3 minutes in the air fryer.

Serve these hot with your favorite dipping sauce – they’re great with ketchup, honey mustard, spicy sriracha-mayo, or comeback sauce! If you’re Whole30, be sure your condiments are compliant!

Chef’s Tips

Bags of frozen sweet potato fries are super quick and easy, but I recommend making your own fries from scratch! Start with a sweet potato and cut it into fries by hand or with a french fry cutter. Plan ahead – you want all of your fries to be roughly the same size so that they cook consistently. Spread the unseasoned fries evenly on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan and stick them in the freezer. Freeze them for a couple of hours or until they’re hard. Toss them in a baggie or airtight container and keep them in your freezer until you’re ready for them. They’ll keep like this for a few months!
Be sure to spread the fries in a flat layer in the air fryer basket, and don’t let them touch or overlap. If the air can’t flow around them easily, they won’t cook evenly!
If you have any leftovers, you can totally reheat them in the air fryer! A few minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit will make them nice and crispy again.

What Do We Mean By “Healthy”?

Close up of sweet potato fries in a white bowl

More Air Fryer Recipes

Sweet potato fries with salt in a white bowl

Print Recipe

Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: comfort food, family friendly, healthy snack

Servings: servings

Calories: 218kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Cost: $4

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 15-ounce bag frozen sweet potato fries
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
big pinch cinnamon
Kosher salt

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss frozen sweet potato fries with oil and season evenly with kosher salt and cinnamon.
Working in small batches, spread an even layer of sweet potato fries in the fryer basket. Cook at 375° for 7 minutes. Flip fries, then cook 7 minutes more, adding 2-3 minutes if necessary. Fries are done when crispy and golden brown.

Nutrition

October 29, 2020 Appetizer

34 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes

If you’re craving healthy pumpkin recipes, we’ve got you totally covered! From breakfast to dinner to drinks to dessert, these 34 healthy pumpkin recipes will keep you living that pumpkin life.

1. Pumpkin Ice Cream

2. Pumpkin Caramel Macchiato

3. Keto Pumpkin Cheesecake

4. Paleo Pumpkin Pie Bars with Almond Flour Sugar Cookie Crust from Ambitious Kitchen

4. Best Healthy Pumpkin Zucchini Bread from Once Upon a Pumpkin

5. No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

6. Paleo Pumpkin Pancakes from Bake It Paleo

7. Easy Keto Pumpkin Pie

8. Paleo Pumpkin Pie

9. Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats (Vegan) from Beaming Baker

10. Vegan Pumpkin Pie

11. Healthy Pumpkin Muffins with Crumb Topping

12. Instant Pot Pumpkin Butter from Tidbits

13. Whole30 Pumpkin Spice Creamer (Vegan, Unsweetened)

14. Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake

15. Pumpkin Seed Butter

16. Healthy Pumpkin Oat Cookies from Running on Real Food

17. Paleo Pumpkin Breakfast Bake

18. Paleo Pumpkin Bread with “Cream Cheese Swirl” (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

19. Paleo Pumpkin Donuts from Choosing Balance

20. Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting (Dairy-Free, GF)

21. Paleo Pumpkin Churros with Dark Chocolate Sauce (Made in Waffle Iron)

22. Maple Pumpkin Pot de Creme with Pumpkin Seed Brittle from Add 1 Tbsp

23. No Bake Pumpkin Cookies

24. Low Carb Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars from Savory Tooth

25. Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with Salted Caramel Glaze

26. Healthy Pumpkin Cookies with Glaze (Vegan, GF, Refined Sugar Free)

27. Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip from Yellow Bliss Road

28. Pumpkin Bisque

29. Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

30. Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte

31. Healthy Pumpkin Seed Granola from LeelaLicious

32. Pumpkin Cheesecake

33. Truffle Pumpkin Seeds

34. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie from Frugal Farm Wife

October 15, 2020 Appetizer

Buffalo Chicken Fries

These buffalo chicken fries are spicy, cheesy, and the perfect game day appetizer! Loaded with chicken, ranch, and blue cheese topped with homemade buffalo sauce, they will be a favorite your guests ask for again and again.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

These buffalo chicken fries are absolutely packed full of spicy flavor, but they are so easy to make. Whipped up in under 30 minutes, they are perfect for serving for tailgating, game day, as an appetizer, or even on top of a salad!
The homemade buffalo sauce tastes like what you would get at your favorite bar or restaurant, but is surprisingly simple. Just mix your ingredients, simmer, and toss with chicken.
Made with mostly pantry and freezer staples, these buffalo chicken fries are an uncomplicated, inexpensive appetizer that will absolutely wow your family and guests.

How To Make Buffalo Chicken Fries

The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!

Combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Whisk until the sauce comes to a simmer and the butter is melted.

Let sauce cool, then toss it with the cooked chicken.

Layer cooked French fries, mozzarella cheese, and chicken on a baking sheet. Bake until the cheese melts.

Top with blue cheese and green onions and drizzle with ranch. Eat it as is or top a salad with your fries!

Top Tips For Making

You can either cook your own chicken for this recipe or buy precooked chicken.
You can absolutely leave out the chicken if you’d like to make this recipe vegetarian. Roasted cauliflower or even cubed tofu are both delicious with buffalo sauce. If you are vegetarian, either leave out the Worcestershire sauce or buy a vegetarian version. (Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies!)

Buffalo chicken fries on top of a bowl of salad

What Do We Mean By “Healthy?”

More Party Food

Print Recipe

Buffalo Chicken Fries

These fries are loaded with buffalo chicken and tons of flavor.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: buffalo sauce, party food, under 30 minutes

Servings: servings

Calories: 447kcal

Cost: $4

Ingredients

Buffalo Chicken

1 pound cooked chicken breasts shredded or cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup Louisiana style hot sauce
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Toppings

28 ounces frozen french fries cooked
1/3 cup ranch dressing
1/3 cup blue cheese crumbled
1/3 cup green onions sliced
8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions

Combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk until the sauce comes to a simmer and the butter is melted. Taste and add salt and pepper according to your preference. Let sauce cool before tossing with cooked chicken.
Preheat oven to 400º F. Layer cooked french fries, mozzarella cheese, and chicken on a baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Top with blue cheese and green onions. Drizzle with ranch dressing before serving. Serve with romaine lettuce if desired.

Notes

Chicken: Cook your own chicken for this recipe or buy precooked chicken.
Vegetarian: Roasted cauliflower or cubed tofu are both delicious with buffalo sauce. Either leave out the Worcestershire sauce or buy a vegetarian version.

Nutrition