Balsamic Chicken Marinade

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Balsamic Chicken Marinade

When it comes to summer grilling, this balsamic chicken marinade is the one I come back to every single time. Made with just a handful of pantry staples, it delivers bold, tangy, savory flavor that works on any cut of chicken and comes together in about two minutes flat.

This balsamic marinade has been years in the making, tweaked and tested until it hit exactly the right balance. Balsamic vinegar brings the tang, olive oil adds richness, garlic gives it depth, and a pinch of sugar ties it all together. That is truly it.

No complicated ingredients, no special equipment, just a ziplock bag and a little time in the fridge. It works beautifully on chicken breasts, thighs, drumsticks, and kabobs, making it the most versatile marinade in my rotation. This is one of my favorite chicken recipes!

Balsamic Chicken Marinade Ingredients

Seven simple ingredients that you almost certainly already have on hand. Here is what each one brings to the marinade:

  • Olive Oil: The fat base of the marinade that helps it cling to the chicken and keeps everything juicy and tender on the grill.
  • Balsamic Vinegar: The acid component that tenderizes the chicken while adding that rich, tangy, slightly sweet depth of flavor the whole marinade is built around.
  • Dijon Mustard: Acts as an emulsifier that helps bind the oil and vinegar together while adding a subtle tangy depth to the overall flavor.
  • Honey: Balances the acidity of the vinegar and mustard with natural sweetness and helps create a beautiful caramelized finish when grilled.
  • Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a bold, savory punch that infuses into the chicken as it marinates.
  • Dried Basil: Brings a subtle, herby, Italian-inspired flavor that complements the balsamic beautifully.
  • Salt: Seasons the chicken all the way through and enhances every other ingredient in the marinade.
  • Black Pepper: Adds a gentle heat and a little bite that keeps the marinade from being one-note.

This recipe uses pantry staples, making it perfect for meal prep or feeding a group. Measurements can be found in the recipe card below. 

How to Make Balsamic Chicken Marinade

This could not be simpler. Here is all it takes:

  1. Combine: Add all the ingredients to a ziplock bag or airtight container and mix well.
  2. Add: Place the chicken into the bag with the marinade and seal tightly, pressing out as much air as possible.
  3. Marinate: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours for the deepest flavor.
  4. Cook: Grill, bake, or pan sear the chicken using your preferred method until cooked through. Using a meat thermometer ensure the chicken reaches an Internal Temperature of 165 F 

The longer the chicken marinates, the d

Viral Grinder Salad

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a large white bowl full of a creamy grinder salad

This VIRAL grinder salad recipe is loaded with crisp iceberg lettuce, salami, ham, provolone cheese, banana peppers, tomatoes, and a creamy grinder dressing. It’s everything you love about an Italian grinder sandwich in fresh salad form!

There was only one sandwich shop for me growing up, and it was not Subway. Sorry. Blimpie was my jam and when we saw Grinder sandwiches popping up everywhere we decided to hop on the viral trend and go Grinder Salad! The sandwich without the bread is the best dang thing I brought to the summer BBQ!

The first bite instantly took me back to standing in line at Blimpie trying to decide which sandwich was worth spending my babysitting money on. It’s crunchy, creamy, tangy, savory, and completely addictive.

This grinder salad takes everything you love about an Italian grinder sandwich and turns it into a fresh, crunchy salad that somehow manages to be both light and indulgent at the same time. It’s the perfect recipe for summer BBQs, easy lunches, potlucks, and those nights when it’s too hot to turn on the oven.

Why You’ll Love This Grinder Salad

  • All the flavors of a classic grinder sandwich
  • Perfect low-carb alternative to a grinder sub
  • Loaded with crunchy, creamy, tangy textures
  • Easy to make ahead for parties and BBQs
  • Ready in about 20 minutes
  • Packed with protein
  • Always the first bowl emptied at potlucks
  • That creamy grinder dressing is absolutely irresistible

Ingredients You’ll Need

This grinder salad uses simple deli ingredients and a creamy homemade dressing to create all the flavors of your favorite sandwich in salad form.

Dressing

  • Mayonnaise: Creates the rich, creamy base for the signature grinder dressing.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: Adds bright tanginess that balances the richness of the mayo.
  • Banana Pepper Juice: Brings zippy flavor and gives the dressing its classic grinder taste.
  • Italian Seasoning: Adds savory herb flavor throughout the dressing.
  • Garlic Powder: Delivers subtle garlic flavor without overpowering the salad.
  • Salt: Enhances all the flavors and ties everything together.

Salad

  • Iceberg Lettuce: Crisp, crunchy, and sturdy enough to hold up to the creamy dressing.
  • Salami: Adds bold, savory flavor and classic deli sandwich goodness.
  • Deli Ham: Brings salty, smoky flavor and extra protein.
  • Provolone: Creamy, mild cheese that perfectly complements the meats.

Summer Zucchini Corn Chowder

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a bowl full of creamy zucchini corn chowder topped with bacon bits and sliced green onions

Every August my mom would start looking around the kitchen wondering what she was going to do with all the zucchini coming out of the garden. There were only so many loaves of zucchini bread we could eat, so she’d pull out this creamy zucchini corn chowder recipe instead.

Our Summer Zucchini Corn Chowder is loaded with sweet fresh corn, tender zucchini, potatoes, smoky bacon, and herbs, and it’s become one of those end-of-summer dinners I look forward to every year. If you’re swimming in zucchini and fresh corn, this is the recipe you need.

Why You’ll Love This Zucchini Corn Chowder

  • Perfect way to use garden zucchini
  • Loaded with fresh sweet corn
  • Rich, creamy, and comforting
  • One-pot meal
  • Family favorite
  • Great for late summer
  • Bacon makes everything better
  • Freezer friendly
  • Even better the next day
  • Easy weeknight dinner

Ingredients You’ll Need

One of the best things about this soup is that it uses so many fresh summer ingredients. Sweet corn, zucchini, yellow squash, fresh herbs, and smoky bacon all come together to create a fresh corn chowder with zucchini that’s hearty enough for dinner but still tastes bright and fresh.

  • Bacon: Adds smoky, savory flavor throughout the chowder, plus a crispy topping for serving.
  • Yellow Onion: Builds the aromatic base of the chowder as it softens in the bacon grease.
  • Celery: Adds a subtle, savory depth and a bit of texture to the base.
  • Garlic: Brings warm, aromatic flavor that rounds out the onion and celery.
  • Zucchini: The star of the show and the whole reason for this recipe. It softens beautifully into the chowder while adding fresh, garden flavor.
  • Yellow Squash: Adds even more of that fresh summer squash flavor and a pop of color alongside the zucchini.
  • Smoked Paprika: Reinforces the smoky flavor from the bacon.
  • Ground Nutmeg: Just a touch adds warmth and depth to the creamy broth.
  • Cayenne Pepper: Adds a subtle background heat that balances the sweetness of the corn.
  • Fresh Thyme: Brings an earthy, herby note that pairs perfectly with the vegetables.
  • Fresh Parsley: Adds fresh, bright flavor to round everything out.
  • Russet Potatoes: Add heartiness and help thicken the chowder as they cook.
  • Corn on the Cob: Fresh corn kernels (and the cobs themselves!) bring natural sweetness and the best flavor. Using the c

Easy Chickpea Salad Recipe

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a large white serving bowl full of chickpea salad with a serving spoon in the bowl

This easy Chickpea Salad Recipe comes together in minutes! It combines protein-packed chickpeas, crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and a bright lemon dressing. We love that it’s healthy, easy and naturally gluten-free! It’s perfect for healthy lunches, meal prep, picnics, and potlucks!

There’s something about a giant bowl of fresh, colorful salad sitting in the fridge that makes me feel like I totally have my life together. And this chickpea salad? Oh my word. It’s bright, crisp, creamy, herby, tangy, and honestly so satisfying that I keep sneaking bites straight from the bowl every time I walk through the kitchen.

This recipe is all Claire’s! She is the queen of sandwiches and salads, and this healthy chickpea salad is one of her faves! Every bite has a little crunch, creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, salty feta, and that bright lemony dressing soaking into the chickpeas and holy cow…it’s so good.

It comes together in minutes with simple ingredients. We’ve been eating it for lunches, serving it with grilled chicken, scooping it up with pita chips, and sometimes just calling it dinner because it’s that good.

Whether you’re making it for meal prep lunches, summer BBQs, potlucks, or an easy dinner on a busy night, this is the salad recipe you’ll find yourself making all year long. One bite and you’ll see exactly why we’re completely obsessed with it!

Why You’ll Love This Chickpea Salad

  • Fresh, bright Mediterranean flavors
  • Packed with protein and fiber
  • Perfect for meal prep
  • Easy healthy lunch or side dish
  • Comes together in minutes
  • Loaded with crunchy veggies and fresh herbs
  • Naturally vegetarian and gluten free
  • The lemon dressing is unbelievably good

Ingredients You’ll Need

Simple, fresh ingredients are what make this healthy chickpea salad absolutely irresistible. Here is what you will need:

For the Dressing

  • Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps create a silky, flavorful dressing that coats every bite of the salad beautifully.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice: Brightens the entire salad with fresh citrus flavor and gives the dressing its zippy, refreshing taste.
  • Red Wine Vinegar: Adds tang and depth that balances the creamy avocado and hearty chickpeas perfectly.
  • Garlic: Gives the dressing bold savory flavor and a little bite that makes the whole salad pop.
  • Dijon Mustard: Helps emulsify the dressing while adding subtle sharpness and extra fla

Cheesy Corn Fritters Recipe

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a photo of a stack of crispy golden cheesy corn fritters with a small bowl of dip next to it

Satisfy your craving for crispy, cheesy goodness with this delicious corn fritters recipe. Perfect as a side dish or appetizer, these fritters have a crispy exterior and a gooey, flavorful center. Perfect for any occasion!

I love summer! Being warm in the sun and sitting by the pool while the kids play is my happy place (I’m writing this post in the middle of winter so it sounds especially lovely right now!)! I love busting out the grill to make our grilled flank steak or mango salsa grilled chicken. And I love allllllll the summer produce. Fresh tomatoes from the garden (hello, tomato cucumber salad!!) or raspberries straight from the raspberry bush…there’s just nothing better!

All that being said, I’m always trying to find new ways to use that tasty summer harvest. These cheesy corn fritters are my latest obsession for using fresh corn on the cob. Extra bonus…Cade and kids gobbled them up too! We have been eating them as a side dish with all our summer dinner recipes.

Ingredients for Cheesy Corn Fritters

You only need a few household ingredients to make these tasty corn fritters! You won’t believe how quickly they come together. Here is everything you will need:

  • Eggs: bind all the ingredients together
  • Milk: adds richness and helps form the batter
  • Salt: adds flavor
  • Cayenne Powder: adds heat and flavor
  • Flour: just regular all purpose flour
  • Cornmeal: adds corn flavor and helps bind everything together
  • Sugar: adds flavor
  • Baking Powder: gives the fritters a little fluffiness
  • Corn Kernels: adds texture and real corn flavor to the fritters
  • Scallions: adds flavor and freshness
  • Triple Cheddar Cheese Blend: You could honestly use any cheese you want, but Tillamook’s cheddar cheese blend is our favorite. It adds flavor and that melty gooiness.
  • Oil: used for frying the fritters – canola oil or vegetable oil

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Corn Fritters with Cheese

Now that you’ve watched how this corn fritter recipe is made, let me write out the steps for you. These step-by-step instructions will walk you through how to make these tasty fritters that are perfect for an appetizer or as a side dish. Here are the basic steps:

  1. Whisk: Combine the eggs, milk, salt and ground cayenne powder in a large bowl and whisk everything together.
  2. Combine: Add the flour, c
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