Crisp vegetables, creamy pasta, and a delightfully spicy chipotle dressing collide in this Southwest Pasta Salad. Between the ease of prep and how well it keeps in the fridge, this recipe has been on repeat in my kitchen lately.

Frankly, I adore a good pasta salad. They are so perfectly versatile! I mean, I have dozens of them on this site alone. And, I’ve loved using our family’s classic chipotle ranch recipe for salads, burgers, and more for years now. So, it was only a matter of time until I crafted a pasta salad around that spicy and tangy dressing. This salad makes those flavors shine!

Southwest Pasta Salad

Friends, I can’t stop coming back to this dish. Between the textural contrast of crunchy vegetables and creamy pasta, and the flavors of tart lime and spicy chipotle peppers, every single bite stays fresh and interesting. No matter how many times this meal shows up at the dinner table, my boys will always be up for seconds.

And, on those nights when we do have leftovers, this pasta salad keeps very well in the refrigerator for several days. It’s become one of my favorite lunch options when I need to grab something quick and easy.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Pasta – I typically use ditalini for this pasta salad. Tiny pasta is the move for almost any pasta salad because it holds plenty of sauce, and is already

Spicy and tangy, this creamy Chipotle Ranch is a delicious, absolutely irresistible topping for salads, burgers, fries, and more. I throw this one together quite frequently, as it is one of my newest favorites. I like to have it on hand for last minute pizza and salad nights.

I have been making homemade salad dressings for my family for as long as my boy’s can remember. It’s hard to believe that this site got its name from the pitter patter of their tiny feet in the kitchen, now that two of them are already in their twenties! But, over the past two decades, I’ve made about a boatload of my homemade ranch dressing. This recipe for chipotle ranch dressing gives those classic flavors a fun, spicy twist.

Chipotle Ranch

On busy nights where I’m throwing together dinner at the last minute, a jar of this dressing is a total life saver. This is a classic, well-rounded dressing that features the gentle heat of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.

We’ve loved it for years, and have found a seemingly endless number of uses for it. Dressing a salad? Yes. Topping a burger? Absolutely. Dipping fries? Say less! No matter the meal, my crew will happily use this recipe whenever ranch is required.

Ingredients and Substitutions

The Dairy – I use mayonnaise, sour cream, and whole milk to make the creamy, mildly tangy foundation for this dressing.

Seasonings – The backbone of the flavors in this ranch come from five main ingredients from the spice cabinet: d

These Hershey Kiss Pretzels may look innocent enough, but don’t let that fool you. Sweet, salty, crunchy, and perfectly melty, they’re wildly addictive in the best and worst way. You’ll grab one, promise it’s the last, then find yourself reaching back for more. You’ll love me and curse me at the same time.

Easter Hershey Kiss Pretzels are one of the easiest treats to make! They’re just pretzels, Hershey’s Hugs, and an M&M on top. I remember our two-year-old helping me make them even! He was having a grouchy day, so I plopped him on the counter and thought, chocolate will fix this…. and it did. He unwrapped each Hug and carefully placed them on the pretzels, only sampling a few along the way.

They are a perfect way to get the kids involved in the kitchen!

Ingredients For Easter Hershey Kiss Pretzels

These Hershey Kiss Pretzels are tiny and unassuming. They look like a harmless little treat, but don’t let that fool you. One is never enough. Here’s what you need to make this yummy treat:

• Mini Pretzels: Crunchy, salty base that pairs perfectly with sweet chocolate for the ultimate bite-sized treat.
• Hershey’s Hugs: Softens when warmed to create a creamy chocolate layer that melts over the pretzel.
• Easter M&Ms: Colorful, festive topping that adds a pop of sweetness and a fun crunch.

The last time I made these, my kids kept sneaking back to the Ziplock bag, convinced I wouldn’t notice “just one more.” Spoiler alert: I noticed. Mostly because I was doing the exact same thing right alongside them and they disappeared way sooner than they should have.

Not everyone wants ham on Easter and that’s okay. Whether you’re craving something a little cozier, more indulgent, or just different, these non-traditional Easter dinner ideas prove that your holiday main dish can still feel special without sticking to tradition.

From slow-cooked prime rib and smoked brisket to comforting chicken pot pie and juicy pork chops, this roundup is packed with crowd-pleasing mains that fit Easter just as beautifully as ham ever did.

Bold & Hearty Easter Main Dishes

If you’re looking to shake things up this Easter, these non-traditional mains offer hearty, impressive alternatives that still feel special enough for the holiday.

With the perfect mix of chewy and crisp textures, these White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies are loaded with white chocolate chips and cranberries. I fell in love with this combination at the first bite. And, I think you will, too!

Just one search will show you that I’ve got dozens of cookie recipes on this site. What can I say? I just love cookies! But, this take on oatmeal cookies is one of my husband Sean’s all-time favorites. It takes my classic cranberry chocolate chip cookies and gives them a twist that’s hard to beat, with sweet white chocolate and oats for that signature chewy texture.

White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

I find the combination of white chocolate and cranberries totally irresistible, because the tangy cranberries balances out the ultra sweet white chocolate. But, add both of them to a soft, chewy oatmeal cookie? It’s a magical experience.

I owe my cousin, Hope, a big thank you for suggesting this flavor combination many years ago. This recipe was a hit from the first time I made it. If you find oatmeal cookies with raisins or chocolate chips boring, then this white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookie recipe just might be the one for you.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Dry Ingredients – I use flour and old