Less Than 5 Ingredients

December 2, 2021 Desserts

Keto Creme Brûlée

Prepare yourself for the tastiest low-carb dessert ever – keto creme brûlée! Perfectly sweet, creamy, and with that signature caramelized sugar top. With only 4 grams of net carbs, this sugar-free creme brûlée fits perfectly into any keto or low-carb diet!

overhead image of keto creme brulee with granular Swerve on the side

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It requires just four ingredients! Heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar-free sweetener, and vanilla bean paste is all you’ll need to make this decadent low-carb dessert.
It’s the key to satisfying your sweet tooth on the keto diet! Let’s face it, we all crave something sweet after most meals. So lucky for you, this delicious dessert is totally keto-compliant.
It has all the signature details of a classic creme brûlée, just without the extra carbs! A sweet, creamy base and crackly caramelized top. This low-carb treat is guaranteed to fool even the toughest of dessert critics!

Key Ingredients

Heavy Cream – The heavy cream is essential to achieving that thick, custard base. Don’t swap this main ingredient out for anything else, since it simply won’t work. Also, remember that when you warm the heavy cream in a saucepan – it should barely be simmering. If you’ve brought the cream to a boil, then it’s way too hot and you’ll need to start over.

Sugar-Free Sweetener – I used granular Swerve in my keto creme brûlée and had perfect results! The Swerve melts perfectly when heated with a kitchen torch, creating that delicious caramelized top. Though feel free to use your favorite sugar-free sweetener in this recipe instead. And if not keto, you can simply substitute the sweetener for regular white sugar!

Chef’s Tips

Don’t walk away from the heavy cream on the stove! The cream will heat up in only a few minutes, and if you let it get too hot, it could ruin this recipe. Therefore, keep a close eye on it and remove it from the heat just as it begins to simmer.
If you don’t have a kitchen torch, then place your ramekins under the broiler for about 30 seconds. If going this route, keep an eye on your creme brûlées as the sweetener can burn quickly under the broiler.
You can prep this keto creme brûlée ahead of time if you’d like! To do this, make the custard the night before and bake in ramekins. Then, leave to chill in the fridge overnight and for up to 24 hours before topping with extra sweetener and finishing them off with a torch.

More Keto Desserts You Must Try

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Print Recipe

Keto Creme Brûlée

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Chilling Time4 hrs

Total Time4 hrs 45 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Keto

Keyword: four ingredients, healthy dessert, low carb

Servings: servings

Calories: 470kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Small saucepan
Medium bowl
4 ramekins

Ingredients

2 cups heavy cream
4 large egg yolks
½ cup sugar-free sweetener such as granular Swerve, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325° Fahrenheit.
Heat heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat, until barely simmering – not boiling.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and ¼ cup sugar-free sweetener.
Slowly pour hot heavy cream into egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Mix in the vanilla bean paste.
Transfer mixture to 4 ramekins and ramekins inside a large baking dish. Pour hot water into baking dish until halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
Bake for 35-40 minutes before removing, leave to cool on the counter before covering and chilling in the fridge for 4 hours.Once chilled, top with remaining sugar-free sweetener and use a kitchen torch to melt sweetener until golden brown.

Notes

To test when the keto creme brûlées are done, gently touch the center of one after cooking. If it springs back just a bit, then it’s ready!

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using granular Swerve. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by 4. Result will be the weight of one serving.

Nutrition

November 18, 2021 Air Fryer

Roasted Air Fryer Carrots

These air fryer carrots are perfectly roasted in just 20 minutes! With five very simple ingredients, these will quickly become your favorite healthy side dish.

air fryer carrots in air fryer basket with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese on top

What Makes This Recipe So Good

It requires just five ingredients you probably already have on-hand! Carrots, olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper are all you’ll need to make this delicious side.
They’re perfectly seasoned and cooked until tender! This recipe works to bring out the flavor of fresh carrots. The simple seasoning allows their naturally delicious taste to shine!
It comes together in two very quick and easy steps! Start by tossing all ingredients in a bowl before transferring to your air fryer. Then, give the carrots a quick shake halfway through cooking before serving and enjoying.

Key Ingredients

Carrots – To prepare the carrots for this recipe, start by giving them a quick rinse under cold water. Once dry, peel and remove the skin from each carrot along with 1/2-inch from the top. Last, slice the carrots any way you’d like before roasting and eating!

Fresh Thyme – A sprinkling of fresh thyme does an incredible job at bringing out the natural earthy flavor of the carrots. I prefer fresh thyme for how light and complimentary it is in this air fryer carrots recipe. However, you can use any fresh herb you’d like in place of the thyme in this recipe.

Chef’s Tips

Depending on the size of your carrots, they may cook in less or more time than instructed. I cut my carrots into about 2-inch pieces, then after 20 minutes they were perfectly roasted. However, evaluate how quickly your carrots are cooking at the halfway mark and adjust the time from there!
Finish these carrots off with an extra sprinkling of fresh herbs and maybe some savory parmesan cheese. Again, keep the seasonings light as to not overpower that delicious, fresh carrot flavor.
Serve these air fryer carrots however you’d like! I love enjoying mine as a healthy side dish with lunch or dinner. I’ve even tossed them into salads for an exciting and healthy addition!

Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Carrots

These air fryer carrots are perfectly roasted in just 20 minutes! With five very simple ingredients, these will quickly become your favorite healthy side dish.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fewer than 5 ingredients, healthy side dish, less than 20 minutes

Servings: servings

Calories: 56kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer
Large bowl

Ingredients

1 pound carrots peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon olive oil see Notes
1 sprig fresh thyme
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to coat carrots in seasoning.
Transfer carrots to air fryer tray or basket and cook at 380° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, pausing to shake halfway through.

Notes

Olive Oil: Feel free to use any vegetable oil in place of the olive oil in this recipe. Avocado oil also works perfectly and has a delightfully mild taste!

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including toppings. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

November 2, 2021 Easy

How to Thicken Mashed Potatoes (5 Ways!)

Cook confidently with a handful of tricks to easily and quickly thicken mashed potatoes! These methods take no more than a few minutes and just one ingredient.

overhead image of mashed potatoes in a pot with butter and a wooden spoon

What Makes These Methods So Good

They’re perfect for when you’re short on time! Simply and effectively use any of these five methods to thicken mashed potatoes and have them on the dinner table in no time.
Some require no additional ingredients. We include five options so that anyone with any ingredients or cooking equipment is able to salvage their potatoes.
They won’t affect the taste of your delicious mashed potatoes! The only thing these do is thicken the texture. Therefore, you can use any of these methods confidently, knowing they won’t at all ruin your potatoes.

The 5 Methods

Use a Thickening Agent – Thickening agents such as corn starch or flour are super effective in, you guessed it, thickening recipes. I recommend corn starch when thickening mashed potatoes as it does very little to affect the taste of your side dish. Flour, on the other hand, can sometimes give potatoes a chalky taste/texture. To use a thickening agent to thicken mashed potatoes, simply add just one tablespoon at a time until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Heat in a Pot – Place thin mashed potatoes in a pot over medium heat and stir every minute or so. Leave the pot uncovered to allow moisture to evaporate, until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Add Dehydrated Potatoes – My personal favorite quick and easy method involves stirring one tablespoon of dehydrated potatoes into your mashed potatoes at a time until you’ve reached your desired consistency. Dehydrated potatoes not only do an amazing job at thickening mashed potatoes in mere seconds, but they enhance that delicious, smooth flavor.

Bake in a Shallow Dish – This method works similarly to heating the runny potatoes in a pot. By baking them, uncovered, in a shallow baking dish, we encourage moisture to evaporate out of the potatoes. To do this, transfer your mashed potatoes to a baking dish and place them in a 350° Fahrenheit oven. Leave them to cook for about 10 minutes or until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Cook Additional Potatoes – Another one of my more preferred thickening methods is adding in extra cooked potatoes. For this trick, peel and boil/cook potatoes exactly how you would to make mashed potatoes. Once super soft, give them a quick mash before adding them straight into your thin mashed potatoes. Continue adding cooked potatoes until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Chef’s Tips

Avoid over-mixing and mashing your potatoes! Over-worked mashed potatoes will cause them to take on a gluey and unappetizing texture.
Learn from your mistakes and avoid runny mashed potatoes next time you make them. My trick for this is to mash the potatoes before introducing any liquid. Boiled potatoes will hold on to a surprising amount of water that will only become visible once mashed. Therefore, give them a “dry” mash to determine their consistency before adding any milk or butter.
Whatever you do, don’t give up and throw away your mashed potatoes! Unsalvageable thin mashed potatoes can be turned into a delicious soup and/or added to a casserole.

Dehydrated potatoes being poured into a pot of mashed potatoes

Other Helpful How Tos

Print Recipe

How to Thicken Mashed Potatoes (5 Ways)

Cook confidently with a handful of tricks to easily and quickly thicken mashed potatoes! These methods take no more than a few minutes and just one ingredient.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: side dish, thanksgiving, tips and tricks

Servings:

Calories: 106kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Medium pot
9×13 baking dish

Ingredients

4 cups runny mashed potatoes
cornstarch optional
dehydrated potatoes optional
additional potatoes peeled, boiled, and mashed; optional

Instructions

Method 1 – Use a Thickening Agent

Add one tablespoon of corn starch at a time until you've reached your desired consistency.

Method 2 – Heat in a Pot

Stir in a pot over medium heat, uncovered until moisture evaporates and you’ve reached your desired consistency. Stir every minute, but be careful not to over-stir as this can result in gummy mashed potatoes.

Method 3 – Add Dehydrated Potatoes

Add one tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Method 4 – Bake in a Shallow Dish

Bake in a shallow baking dish at 350° Fahrenheit, uncovered for about 10 minutes, allowing moisture to evaporate.

Method 5 – Cook Additional Potatoes

Cook additional potatoes, then mash them and stir into your runny mashed potatoes until you’ve reached your desired consistency.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 8 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

October 19, 2021 Easy

How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes (3 Ways!)

These are the best and easiest ways to reheat mashed potatoes! Whether you’re prepping your potatoes ahead of time, or simply looking to enjoy leftovers, give these methods a try for perfectly smooth and hot mashed potatoes.

pouring milk into a bowl of mashed potatoes and butter

What Makes These Methods So Good

Each method involves additional milk and butter, making them extra rich and delicious! These reheated mashed potatoes are arguably even more delicious than the fresh kind.
They’re not dry at all! I’m sure if you’ve tried to reheat mashed potatoes before, you’ve found they turn out unappetizingly dry. Well these methods introduce and lock in as much moisture to the potatoes as possibly, making them extra soft and creamy!
They’re all equally as quick and easy! Each reheat method involves only two steps, helping you get warm mashed potatoes on the dinner table in no time.

close-up image of mashed potatoes, milk, and butter in a pot

How to Reheat Leftover Mashed Potatoes

In the microwave: I’m sure we’ve all tried this method before, but trust me, you’ve never tried it quite like this. First, you’ll want to heat your potatoes in the microwave set at half power. This will avoid drawing out too much moisture from your mashed potatoes. Then, once warm, stir in some extra butter and milk to bring your potatoes back to life – they’ll be good as new!

In the oven: This hands-off technique requires a bit more time than the other two, but is probably my favorite. Transfer your mashed potatoes to a baking dish and cover with a couple tablespoons of butter and milk. Don’t stir anything, instead just cover the dish with foil. Then, bake it for about 25 minutes or until warm throughout. Once warm, give the potatoes a stir and trust me when I tell you they’ll taste fresh and delicious!

On the stove: Place leftover mashed potatoes in a pot with a tablespoon of butter and some milk. Warm the potatoes over low heat on the stove, being sure to give them a quick stir at least every minute. Once warm throughout, remove them from the heat and enjoy!

Tips for Success

It is essential that you reintroduce at least some moisture to reheated mashed potatoes. Therefore, do not skimp on the additional butter or milk in these methods!
Feel free to doctor up your mashed potatoes with extra herbs if you’d like! While reheating, you can stir in additional flavorings to switch your potatoes up however you choose.
You can easily double up on the amounts for each method, or cut them in half based on how much leftover mashed potatoes you have. If I’m reheating a bowl for just myself, I’ll sometimes cut these methods down by a quarter of their listed amounts!

mashed potatoes in a baking dish with milk and butter

Other Helpful How-Tos

Print Recipe

How to Reheat Mashed Potatoes

These are the best and easiest ways to reheat mashed potatoes! Whether you're prepping your potatoes ahead of time, or simply looking to enjoy leftovers, give these methods a try for perfectly smooth and hot mashed potatoes.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: holiday sides, how to keep mashed potatoes hot, reheat

Servings: servings

Calories: 204kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Microwave-safe bowl
9×13 baking dish
Medium pot

Ingredients

4 cups mashed potatoes

In the microwave:

butter as needed
milk as needed

In the oven:

½ cup milk
3 tablespoons butter

One the stove:

½ cup milk
1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

In the microwave:

Place mashed potatoes in the microwave and reheat at half power for 5 minutes.
Remove potatoes, give them a quick stir, then mix in additional butter and milk as needed.

In the oven:

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and transfer potatoes to a baking dish.
Pour milk and disperse butter over potatoes then cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes or until warm throughout.

On the stove:

Add mashed potatoes, milk, and butter to a large saucepan over low heat.
Stir every minute until warm throughout, should take about 8-10 minutes.

Notes

Each method is based off of using 4 cups of mashed potatoes, though adjust amounts depending on how much mashed potatoes you’re looking to reheat.

Recipe yields approximately 6 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving of reheated mashed potatoes in the oven. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

October 12, 2021 Easy

Sous Vide Mashed Potatoes

These sous vide mashed potatoes are irresistibly soft and fluffy! The sous vide cooks potatoes until perfectly tender while locking in as much flavor as possible. Switch up your mashed potatoes this holiday season with this simple sous vide recipe!

What Makes This Recipe So Good

They’re extra rich and flavorful! Instead of cooking the potatoes in a pot of boiling water, we cook them in milk and butter. This means each potato absorbs and holds onto as much flavor as possible!
They’re lightly, yet perfectly seasoned! Garlic, butter, milk, and salt are really the only seasonings you need to make the most delicious mashed potatoes. This uncomplicated recipe is also super tasty and enjoyable.
They’re the perfect addition to any holiday table! These crowd-pleasing sous vide mashed potatoes will have everyone reaching for seconds. This simple recipe will also be on repeat for every holiday meal going forward.

Key Ingredients

Russet or Yukon Gold Potatoes – Russet potatoes are what is most traditionally used in mashed potato recipes. However, I’ve found that Yukon gold potatoes have this natural buttery flavor that is totally irresistible! Though use whichever potato you’d like, just be sure to peel and slice them into even-sized rounds before using them in this recipe.

Whole Milk – Whole milk yields super velvety and smooth mashed potatoes. I prefer whole milk for how rich and indulgent it makes this recipe taste. Though you can use any kind of milk you’d like. For a vegan option, use unsweetened almond or coconut milk instead!

Chef’s Tips

Feel free to add any herbs or spices you’d like! For garlic and herb mashed potatoes, add a few sprigs of fresh thyme and/or rosemary to the sous vide bag along with the other ingredients. I also love topping my potatoes off with a sprinkling of fresh herbs for extra bright flavor!
If your sous vide bag floats to the top of the water bath, then add heavy utensils into the bag to help weigh it down. Floating is common when cooking lighter vegetables, as they’re simply not heavy enough to sink on their own. Therefore, easily solve this problem with a few heavy spoons or butter knives.
Don’t forget to separate the liquid in the bag from the potatoes before mashing. You probably won’t end up needing all of the milk and melted butter to mash your potatoes. So keep the two separate and slowly incorporate the liquid until you’ve reached your desired mashed potato texture.

close up image of sous vide mashed potatoes in a bowl with a spoon

Other Delicious Side Dish Recipes

Print Recipe

Sous Vide Mashed Potatoes

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy side dish, garlic butter, thanksgiving

Servings: servings

Calories: 248kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Sous vide
Zip-top freezer bag
Large bowl

Ingredients

2 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes
6 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves minced
1 cup whole milk see Notes for vegan
salt to taste

Instructions

Place sous vide in a large container on water and preheat to 194° Fahrenheit (90° Celsius).
Peel skin from potatoes then cut into ½-inch slices.
Place all ingredients into a zip-top bag then remove air from the bag. Place bag in sous vide bath and cook for 1 hour.
Remove bag from bath, then transfer the just cooked potatoes to a large bowl and mash until pretty smooth. Reserve the milk and butter liquid for the next step.
Stir in half of the liquid from inside the bag into the potatoes before tasting and adjusting any seasoning as desired.

Notes

Make it Vegan: For vegan sous vide mashed potatoes, replace the butter with vegan butter and the whole milk with almond or coconut milk.

Recipe yields approximately 6 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving, using russet potatoes. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

October 7, 2021 Dairy-Free

Sous Vide Potatoes

These sous vide potatoes are perfectly cooked until creamy and tender! Potatoes, butter, salt, and a sprinkling of your favorite fresh herbs is all you’ll need to make this savory side dish.

What Makes This Recipe So Good

The sous vide traps flavor, making them buttery and delicious! Compared to other cooking methods, these sous video potatoes absorb so much more flavor.
They’re super easy and hands-off! Simply place all ingredients in a large zip-top bag, then place in the sous vide. Return an hour later to perfectly tender potatoes!
With a few tablespoons of your favorite fresh herbs, they pair well with virtually any meal! These potatoes are the perfect all-purpose side dish. I love serving mine with grilled steak or salmon for a complete and healthy meal.

Key Ingredients

Baby Potatoes – This small variety of potato cooks up super soft and creamy. I love baby potatoes for their naturally buttery flavor. However, if you prefer a different kind of potato, go ahead and use it. Really any potato will work in this simple sous vide recipe.

Fresh Herbs – I used fresh parsley and fresh chives in my sous vide potatoes, though feel free to use whichever herb(s) you like best! A sprinkling of fresh thyme would make for a great and cozy side dish. Even fresh dill would make for an exciting twist in this recipe.

Chef’s Tips

Be sure to place a few heavy utensils into your plastic bag, along with the other ingredients. Potatoes are relatively light and have a tendency to float in the water bath. Therefore, to ensure they cook fully and evenly, weigh the bag down with two or three utensils.
Switch up the flavors in this recipe however you’d like! Substitute butter for any oil you’d like. A few cloves of minced garlic or even a couple lemon slices would also make delicious additions to these sous vide potatoes.
Meal prep these potatoes to enjoy all throughout the week! I love making this easy side dish at the start of my week to have in the fridge for busy weeknights. To reheat, I simply toss the potatoes in a hot pan with a little oil until warm throughout.

close-up overhead image of sous vide potatoes

Other Side Dish Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Sous Vide Potatoes

These sous vide potatoes are perfectly cooked until creamy and tender! Potatoes, butter, salt, and a sprinkling of your favorite fresh herbs is all you'll need to make this savory side dish.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 5 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy potato recipe, easy side dish, holiday recipe

Servings: servings

Calories: 138kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Zip-top freezer bag
Sous vide

Ingredients

1 pound baby potatoes sliced in half
2 tablespoons butter see Notes for vegan option
½ teaspoon salt
2-3 tablespoons fresh herbs such as chives or parsley

Instructions

Set sous vide to 190° Fahrenheit (87° Celsius).
Add all ingredients to a large zip-top freezer bag along with a few heavy utensils to weigh the bag down.
Remove air and seal the bag using the displacement method then submerge the bag in the sous vide water bath and cook for 1 hour.

Notes

Make it Vegan: To make this recipe vegan, simply use 2 tablespoons of olive oil in place of the butter.

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving, using butter. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

September 23, 2021 Air Fryer

Air Fryer Scallops

Scallops are cooked to buttery, tender perfection in the air fryer! With just a few simple ingredients you probably already have on-hand, you’ll have delicious scallops in under 10 minutes.

What Makes These Scallops So Good

We kept the seasoning simple, making them the perfect addition to virtually any meal! Serve these delicious scallops over a salad or alongside your favorite roasted veggies for a healthy, low-carb meal.
The air fryer takes all the guesswork out of how to cook scallops! This delicate seafood can be easily either over or undercooked. Therefore, by tossing them in the air fryer for just 6 minutes – we take all the guesswork out of how long to cook this sometimes tricky dish!
They’re perfectly tender and nearly melt in your mouth! There’s nothing quite like a simple yet perfectly cooked scallop. These scallops are buttery and insanely delicious with even the most simple seasoning.

Key Ingredients

Sea Scallops – There are two main types of scallops which are sea scallops and bay scallops. While also delicious, bay scallops are much smaller than the sea variety. We use sea scallops in this air fryer recipes because of their larger size and heartier texture. However, if you’d like to air fry bay scallops, you most certainly can. For bay scallops, set the air fryer to just 4 or 5 minutes instead of 6 minutes.

Spray Cooking Oil – Spray cooking oil is an extremely helpful ingredient when it comes to cooking in the air fryer. The spray allows seamless and easy coating of the inside of any air fryer basket or tray. Though if you don’t have spray cooking oil, you can use a drizzle of your favorite vegetable oil instead.

Chef’s Tips

Feel free to switch up the flavors of this recipe however you’d like! A sprinkling or garlic powder or even a touch of Old Bay seasoning would make delicious additions to these air fryer scallops.
If you’re concerned about whether or not the scallops are cooked through, then simply give them a quick check with a meat thermometer. Scallops are done cooking once they’ve reached an internal temperature of 120° Fahrenheit!
Be sure to pat each scallop totally dry in the first step of this recipe! Dry scallops will cook up with that delectable crispy golden brown outside.

overhead image of air fryer scallops on a plate with fresh parsley on top

Other Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love

Print Recipe

Air Fryer Scallops

Scallops are cooked to buttery, tender perfection in the air fryer! With just a few simple ingredients you probably already have on-hand, you'll have delicious scallops in under 10 minutes.

Prep Time2 mins

Cook Time6 mins

Total Time8 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 15 minutes, fewer than 5 ingredients, seafood

Servings: servings

Calories: 63kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

6 large sea scallops
spray cooking oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
lemon wedges for serving

Instructions

Pat scallops dry with a paper towel, then sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.
Spray the inside of air fryer basket with cooking oil, place scallops inside, then spray scallops with oil.
Cook at 400° Fahrenheit for 6 minutes, pausing to flip halfway through. Serve scallops with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 2 servings of 3 scallops each. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving, out of 2. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

August 17, 2021 Air Fryer

Brats in the Air Fryer

Making brats in the air fryer is super easy! Perfectly cooked brats are ready in just 15 minutes, with minimal effort and cleanup.

air fryer brats on a baking sheet with saueurkraut, mustard, and buns

Why I Love Cooking Brats in the Air Fryer

They cook up super fast in the air fryer! Other cooking methods such as grilling, on the stove, or in the oven typically take around 30 minutes. However, the air fryer cooks brats in record time – just under 15 minutes!
The air fryer takes all the guesswork out of how long to cook these German sausages! Simply set the air fryer to 14 minutes, then pause at 7 minutes to give them a quick flip. Once the timer goes off, you’re guaranteed fully and perfectly cooked brats every time!
You can serve them however you’d like! I love my bratwurst in a brioche roll with sauerkraut and mustard. Though if you’re looking for a low-carb meal, simply serve them over a bed of sautéed pepper and onions with kraut and mustard on the side – yum!

Key Ingredients

Uncooked Brats – Any uncooked brats will work in this recipe! Beer brats are a popular variety and I personally love the extra bit of flavor. However, you can use any kind of uncooked brat you’d like. If you can’t find uncooked brats, you can swap them out for uncooked sausage if you’d like!

Chef’s Tips

Pause your air fryer at 7 minutes to give the brats a quick flip. Flipping them halfway through cooking will ensure they cook and brown evenly on all sides!
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to fit more brats if you’d like! However, I recommend only fitting as many brats into the air fryer as you can in a single layer. Do not stack the brats on top of each other, which will cause them to cook unevenly.
Line your air fryer basket with an air-fryer-safe parchment paper to help soak up any excess grease. Brats have a tendency to release quite a bit of grease once cooked. Therefore, you can either pat them try with a paper towel when they’re done cooking, or get ahead of things by cooking them atop a layer of parchment paper! Just make sure to use parchment paper that’s safe for the air fryer.

close-up image of air fryer brats with mustard on the side

More Simple Air Fryer Recipes

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5 from 1 vote

Brats in the Air Fryer

Making brats in the air fryer is super easy! Perfectly cooked brats are ready in just 15 minutes, with minimal effort and cleanup.

Cook Time14 mins

Total Time14 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: German

Keyword: 15 minutes, air fryer, bratwurst

Servings: servings

Calories: 220kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

5 uncooked brats

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 370° Fahrenheit. Place brats in single layer in basket.
Cook 14 minutes, pausing to flip brats halfway through.

Notes

Recipe yields approximately 5 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving out of 5 using uncooked brats. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

August 12, 2021 Family Friendly

Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

These buffalo chicken quesadillas are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and they’re loaded with tangy buffalo chicken and melty cheese on the inside! With a few simple ingredients and in just 10 minutes you’ll have a flavor-packed lunch or dinner.

What Makes These Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas So Good

They’re irresistibly cheesy and delicious! Layers of melty Mexican cheese and spicy buffalo chicken are encased in two crispy flour tortillas. These buffalo chicken quesadillas are seriously addictive!
They require just 5 ingredients! Shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, butter, tortillas, and shredded Mexican cheese. That’s all you’ll need for this super simple recipe!
It’s an easy meal to throw together when you’re short on time. Start by mixing together the buffalo chicken. Then, layer everything between two tortillas. Last, but definitely not least, fry up in a pan until golden brown and delicious!

Key Ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

Buffalo Sauce – Any buffalo sauce will work in this buffalo chicken quesadillas recipe! I most often use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce since it packs in quite a bit of spice and flavor. However, you can certainly pick up any buffalo sauce that best suits your spice preferences.

Butter – Believe it or not, butter is a very important part of this recipe. Each quesadilla is quickly pan-fried in butter. This gives them a perfect golden brown shell. I’ve tried this recipe with a variety of oils. Though none taste nearly as good as butter does. However, the one substitution you could make here is by using ghee instead of butter.

Shredded Mexican Cheese Blend – Most Mexican cheese blends contain a mixture of Monterey Jack cheese and cheddar cheese. Both cheeses together give these quesadillas a mildly sharp and tangy flavor. However, if you can’t find a Mexican cheese blend, you can simply combine the cheeses yourself. Also, you can use either cheese alone in these quesadillas if you prefer!

Chef’s Tips

The amount of buffalo chicken and cheese in each quesadilla is simply a recommendation. If you prefer a super cheesy quesadilla, then feel free to throw some more cheese in there! Get creative with this recipe. Don’t be afraid to make it your own!
I highly recommend serving your finished quesadillas with a side of ranch dressing. Zesty ranch is the perfect compliment to spicy buffalo chicken and sharp Mexican cheese!
If you have any leftover quesadillas, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, place them in a skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of butter. Then, leave for a few minutes or until cheese has re-melted. However, I will say – these buffalo chicken quesadillas are best enjoyed immediately after making!

buffalo chicken quesadillas slices stacked on top of each other

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Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

These buffalo chicken quesadillas are crispy on the outside and loaded with tangy buffalo chicken and melty cheese on the inside! With a few simple ingredients and in just 10 minutes you'll have a flavor-packed lunch or dinner.

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time10 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: buffalo sauce, cheesy, easy lunch

Servings:

Calories: 508kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Bowl
Large skillet

Ingredients

2 cups cooked shredded chicken see Notes
½ cup buffalo sauce
4 tablespoons butter
4 10-inch flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese

For Serving (Optional)

ranch dressing
fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions

Mix together the shredded chicken and buffalo sauce in a bowl.
Heat two tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Once melted, place a tortilla in the skillet, sprinkle tortilla with ½ cup cheese then half of the shredded buffalo chicken.
Place another ½ cup cheese on top of chicken, followed by another tortilla. Cook for about 2 minutes or until golden brown underneath.
Flip quesadilla and cook for another 2 minutes, then remove from skillet and repeat with remaining ingredients.

Notes

Shredded Chicken: I followed this simple method to prepare my shredded chicken for this recipe. However, this Instant Pot shredded chicken is also a great option as well!

Recipe yields approximately 4 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving out of 4, not including ranch dressing. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition

August 10, 2021 Dairy-Free

Instant Pot Bacon

Cooking bacon in the Instant Pot is quick, easy, and mess-free! Bacon, tongs, and an Instant Pot is all you’ll need to achieve perfectly crispy bacon in just 5 minutes.

What Makes This Method So Good

The high sides on the Instant Pot catch any splatter and cause less mess! One of the most annoying parts about cooking bacon is cleaning up the grease that somehow gets everywhere. This method gives you the perfectly crispy bacon you desire, minus the mess!
The Instant Pot cooks bacon in a fraction of the time of most other cooking methods. Just 5 minutes on the sauté setting is all you need for super crispy and delicious bacon!
It’s super simple and totally foolproof! This is one of those recipes that’s almost impossible to mess up. Keep an eye on the bacon as it cooks and remove it from the pot when it’s ready – that’s it!

What You’ll Need

Bacon – Your one and only ingredient here is bacon, so I highly recommend making it good quality bacon! I always make sure my bacon is free of added sugar, antibiotics, and is uncured. While I prefer the taste of regular pork bacon, you can use this method to cook turkey bacon as well!

Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot, though any size will work. However, depending on the size you might have to work in batches to cook all of your bacon. To prepare your Instant Pot for cooking bacon, start by plugging it in and then hitting the “Sauté” button. Next, adjust the time using the “+” and “-” symbols to set it to 5 minutes. Once the screen reads 5 minutes, wait for the pot to beep to tell you it’s starting to heat up and then get cooking!

Chef’s Tips

Keep an eye on the bacon as it cooks! Since this recipe takes just 5 minutes, the bacon will start to crisp up almost immediately. Therefore, you’ll want to keep a close eye on it to make sure you don’t accidentally overcook the bacon.
Transfer the cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. With any cooked bacon, it will be pretty greasy once it’s done. Placing it on a sheet of paper towel will help to soak up much of the grease before eating!
Avoid overlapping any strips of bacon inside the Instant Pot. You may need to work in batches to cook all of your bacon, though this will ensure it cooks evenly and totally crispy!

a plate of bacon in front of an instant pot and a bowl of eggs

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Print Recipe

Instant Pot Bacon

Cooking bacon in the Instant Pot is quick, easy, and mess-free! Bacon, tongs, and an Instant Pot is all you'll need to achieve perfectly crispy bacon in just 5 minutes.

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time5 mins

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: instant pot recipe, less mess, less than 5 minutes

Servings: servings

Calories: 75kcal

Author: Cheryl Malik

Equipment

Instant Pot

Ingredients

6 slices bacon cut in half

Instructions

Place bacon in a single layer at the bottom of Instant Pot.
Set to sauté for 5 minutes and cook, flipping frequently, until you’ve achieved your desired crispness.

Notes

Flip the bacon about every minute to ensure even cooking and crispness!

Recipe yields 12 half slices of bacon, or 3 servings. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 4 half slices or 2 whole slices of bacon. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

Nutrition