Rice pilaf is one of those classic side dishes that never goes out of style. This easy rice pilaf recipe is buttery and fluffy, making it the perfect addition to just about any meal. Made with long-grain rice, lightly toasted pasta, and a savory broth, it comes together with minimal effort.

It’s perfect paired with grilled chicken or salmon. This homemade rice pilaf is a go-to recipe you’ll want to keep in regular rotation.

Ingredients For Rice Pilaf

Each ingredient plays an important role in building the flavor and texture of this rice pilaf recipe. From the savory broth to the buttery finish, every element works together to create a perfectly fluffy pilaf!

• Chicken Broth: Cooks the rice while infusing it with rich, savory flavor.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and gives the pilaf its classic, silky finish.
• Kosher Sea Salt: Enhances and balances all of the flavors.
• Garlic Powder: Adds subtle savory depth without overpowering the dish.
• Black Pepper: Provides gentle warmth and seasoning.
• Smoked Paprika: Brings a light smokiness and extra layer of flavor.
• Olive Oil: Helps toast the pasta and rice for added nuttiness.
• Vermicelli or Orzo: Adds texture and a slightly toasted flavor to the pilaf.
• Long-Grain White Rice: Creates the fluffy, tender base of the dish.
• Fresh Parsley: Finishes the pilaf with freshness and a pop of color.

It’s an easy, dependable side dish that works just as well for everyday dinners as it does for special occasions.

How to Make Perfect Rice Pilaf

Ever bitten into a spoonful of rice pilaf that has crunchy and hard grains? Or worse, mushy and bland? This

Prepare to have your life changed by this Elote Mexican Street Corn Queso Dip Recipe! Inspired by Mexican grilled corn, my mix of Mexican cheeses, jalapeño, and sweet corn makes the most delicious party dip for the Super Bowl, Cinco de Mayo, family parties, and more. This Mexican street corn dip is one of my most popular recipes and my go-to cheese dip for parties.

This Elote dip recipe is easy, cheesy, and so satisfying! The secret to perfect queso is in how you prepare the grated cheese and it’s such a simple step you’ll never have clumpy queso again!

I first discovered elote when the movie Nacho Libre came out. I was instantly intrigued by that creamy, cheesy corn on a stick because it looked utterly irresistible. Since then, elote has grown in popularity, and I have loved experimenting with it at home.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is by turning it into a gooey queso dip, which is just as addictive, easy to share, packed with flavor, and perfect for taco nights or casual gatherings. Every time I make it, I am transported back to that first “aha” moment, and it has now become a beloved staple in my kitchen.

When served off the cob, this dish is called esquites. In Mexico, it is a popular street food featuring sweet corn kernels coated in a creamy, cheesy, and slightly spicy sauce. This queso recipe is my take on esquites, capturing all the bold, comforting flavors in a warm, shareable dip.

Ingredients For Elote Queso Dip Recipe

This queso is all about simple ingredients that pack a ton of flavor. Sweet corn, melty cheeses, and a little bit of spice come together to make a dip that everyone will want to scoop up. Grab everything you need, and get ready for cheesy, gooey, elote-inspired goodness.

Base & Sauce

• Butter: melted with oil to start the queso
• Vegetable Oil: pairs with butter for sautéing
• Jalapeño: adds heat and flavor when sautéed
• Cornstarch: coats the cheese to help thicken the sauce
• Evaporated Milk: creates a creamy, smooth base
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: gives sharp, bold flavor
• Chihuahua Cheese: melts beautifully for authentic queso texture
• Monterey Jack Cheese: adds creaminess and stretch
• Salt: seasons the queso
• Corn: stirred into the queso and sprinkled on top

Garnishes & Serving

• Mexican Crema: drizzled over the top for richness
• Cilantro Leaves: fresh herb garnish

Green beans with bacon are one of those simple, comforting side dishes that somehow always steal the spotlight. Growing up, any veggie instantly became more exciting the moment bacon showed up — and honestly, nothing has changed.

This stovetop green beans recipe gives you crisp-tender green beans, perfectly cooked bacon, and a buttery, savory finish that tastes like it came from a steakhouse, but it’s ready in just 20 minutes.

Whether you’re prepping for a holiday dinner or pulling together a quick weeknight meal, these skillet green beans with bacon deliver big flavor with hardly any work.

Easy Green Bean Recipe

I grew up on green beans — but they didn’t start out green, our green beans were purple! They were slightly sweeter than regular green beans, but otherwise tasted the same and would turn green after cooking.

Purple beans make me think of home and gardening every summer with my family. We worked long hours in that garden, but never as long as our mom, who is superwoman. Our hands would turn purple from picking and canning beans during the summer and we would have to scrub and scrub when we were done. Isn’t it funny how something you hated as a kid somehow becomes something you miss?

read more: Looking for easy sides? Try our Classic Baked Beans with Bacon next!

Why You’ll Love These Bacon Green Beans

• Quick: Side dishes should be quick and simple and this dish is ready in less than 20 minutes.
• Flavorful: It’s impossible for something to be bland when bacon is involved! Plus, add the garlic seasoning and this dish is bold in flavor!
• One-Skillet: Cleanup is a breeze and all the flavor is contained in one dish.
• Holiday-Friendly: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter…this dish works for them all! It’s a regular on our Sunday dinner table as well!

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this simple green bean recipe, you’ll need the following:

• Fresh Green Beans: Add crisp texture and natural sweetness and they hold up well to sautéing without getting mushy.
• Olive Oil: Prevents sticking, helps beans sauté evenly and adds light, savory flavor.
• Butter: Adds richness and a silky coating and it helps seasonings stick to the beans.
• Garlic Spread Seasoning: Quick way to add garlic and herb flavor without chopping garlic cloves.
• Brown Sugar: Balances the salty bacon and seasoning and lightly caramelizes the beans for extra flavor.
• Bacon: Adds smoky, salty crunch and the bacon drippings flavor the beans as they cook.

How to Make Green Beans with Bacon

1. Cook the Green Beans: Place your trimmed green beans in

Our Antipasto Italian Focaccia Recipe is the ultimate way to use up leftover charcuterie ingredients for the most delicious and easy bread recipe! You’re going to love the salty, chewy crust, tender crumb and those meaty toppings!

I was on a phone call with an important business colleague who knows his stuff. I casually mentioned that we were working on both a focaccia bread and pasta recipe that helps to use up the leftovers from a charcuterie board or antipasto board. He immediately chimed in that he loves charcuterie and is often stuck in the same dilemma; what do I do with all of this stuff?!

Why I Love Antipasto Focaccia Bread

I’m the queen of “recreate it.” I don’t love when we make something that needs a very special ingredient or a bunch of things that I just need a little of but you have no choice but to buy a lot.

I LOVE this focaccia bread because not only does it use up leftovers, but it’s also so satisfying! In fact, because of the meats and olives, it’s a hearty bread that can totally count as a main dish at dinner. It’s like pizza!

Ingredients for Antipasto Focaccia Bread

• Flour: Adds structure and the base of our bread.
• Water: Essential to get that yeast going and make the bread.
• Salt: While many Italian breads skip the salt, like in Florence, I never do.
• Sugar: Helps the yeast rise and balances the acid and salt of this dish.
• Yeast: Get that bread rising and fluffy.
• Meats: Grab any combination you love on a normal antipasto platter.
• Olives: We love a mixture from kalamata to black.
• Tomatoes: Try using fresh and sun dried for more texture and flavor.
• Peppers: We love a touch of smokiness from a roasted red pepper.
• Artichokes: Adds a little brine and acid to the bread.

How to Make Antipasto Focaccia Bread

1. Stir: Make the bread by simply stirring together the flour, salt, sugar and water.
2. Refrigerate: Let this bread dough sit overnight in the fridge for enhanced flavor and texture.
3. Chop: Chop all of your ingredients to the same size so nothing cooks more than the ingredient next to it.
4. Dock the Bread