Instant Pot Taco Soup

This Instant Pot Taco Soup is a quick and easy weeknight dinner packed with bold Mexican flavors. Loaded with beef, beans, corn, and spices, it’s perfect topped with cheese, sour cream, and avocado for a hearty, family-friendly meal.

The Best Taco Soup Recipe

One of my favorite memories as a mom is of our daughters coming home on a chilly late fall afternoon, while our son, still just a toddler, stood at the window waiting for them. The moment they passed the big bush in our yard and came into view, he would light up with pure excitement, bouncing with joy until they walked through the door. That year felt like the happiest season for our little family. The girls would scoop him up in hugs, and that night we all gathered around the table with steaming bowls of taco soup topped with crunchy chips.

It’s funny how the simplest, most ordinary days become the ones we treasure most. There’s something about a pot of soup on the stove that feels grounding and safe. I honestly think every family should make soup at least once a month during the school year! Kids go through so much, and soup has a way of bringing comfort, warmth, and calm to the whole house.

Instant Pot Taco Soup Ingredients

This hearty taco soup is loaded with beef, beans, corn, and bold taco flavors. It’s quick to make and perfect for weeknight dinners or game-day gatherings.

• Olive Oil: Adds richness and helps brown the beef and onions.
• Ground Beef: Provides hearty, savory flavor as the base of the soup. Can swap for ground chicken or ground turkey.
• Onion: Adds sweetness and depth to the broth.
• Corn: Brings a touch of natural sweetness and texture.
• Pinto Beans: Adds protein, fiber, and heartiness. Can swap for black beans or kidney beans.
• Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies: Adds a mild kick and bright tomato flavor.
• Diced Tomatoes: Provides a rich, savory tomato base for the soup.
• Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix: Adds creamy, tangy flavor for extra depth.
• Taco Seasoning: Gives the soup classic taco spices and a flavorful punch.
• Beef Broth: Creates a savory, flavorful liquid base for the soup. Swap with chicken broth in a pinch.

Serve it with your favorite toppings and enjoy a warm, comforting bowl that’s sure to become a family favorite.

Note: This recipe calls for dry ranch seasoning, not ranch dressing. Ranch seasoning usually comes in small packets and can be found in the spice aisle.

How to Make Taco Soup in an Instant Pot

This easy taco soup is packed with bold flavors and ready in no time using your Instant Pot or slow cooker.

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Cheesy Cream Cheese Chicken and Rice Casserole

If you’re craving a creamy and indulgent chicken casserole, then this cheesy chicken and rice casserole is a must-try! Made with juicy chicken, fluffy rice and lots of cheese, it’s a family favorite!

Growing up my mom made, and still does make, the best casseroles. I don’t care that it’s 2025 and people are worried more about kale pureed into overnight oats, casseroles feel like home and I’m always a fan of an easy chicken and rice recipe for dinner. We call this one angel chicken casserole in our house and it’s based off of two recipes, the crockpot chicken and rice recipe and Mom’s famous Busy Day Casserole recipe.

Typical angel chicken is a creamy sauce with chicken served over angel hair pasta, but I decided to transform the flavorful saucy chicken into a casserole by combining it with rice. It is total comfort food and full of delicious homey flavors! It’s called “angel chicken” for a reason…it tastes like heaven!

Ingredients for Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

If you have some leftover chicken or bought a rotisserie chicken at Costco but aren’t sure how to use it, this recipe is a great option. You only need a few pantry staples to make this hearty and irresistible casserole recipe:

• Cream Cheese: I recommend using full fat or possibly 1/3 less fat but avoid fat free for the best texture and flavor.
• Butter: adds richness and flavor
• Cooked Chicken: diced or shredded (I use rotisserie from Costco)
• Cooked Rice: I use 1/3 wild rice and the rest white rice.
• Cream of Chicken Soup: I use my homemade recipe, but feel free to use a can of condensed soup if you want.
  • NOTE: You can swap for cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup if needed.
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Good Seasons Dry Italian Dressing Mix: You can find this at the grocery store on the salad dressing aisle next to the other salad dressing packets.
• Chicken Broth: helps keep the casserole moist as it bakes
• Colby Jack Cheese: Some goes in the casserole and the rest gets sprinkled on top for extra cheesiness.
• Salt and Pepper: adds flavor
• Fresh Parsley: Don’t skip this! This is a creamy, cheesy and rich dish and the parsley adds the tiniest bit of brightness I think the casserole needs.

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

Easy Air Fryer Fried Apple Rings

This Easy Air Fryer Fried Apple Rings is the most delicious fall dessert recipe! These Apple Rings are the most mouthwatering apple slices covered with a batter that puffs up and is coated with crunchy cinnamon sugar.

It’s like an apple pie, apple crisp and donut all in one and with a fraction of the effort!

FRIED APPLE RINGS

Fried Apple Rings or Apple Fritters were one of my favorite treats growing up in Washington. The only problem was getting them. They are a specialty treat even in the state of apples.

Ingredients for Fried Apples in the Air Fryer

• Flour: Acts as the base for the simple batter.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and texture to the batter.
• Baking Powder: Give the batter some rise and fluffiness.
• Salt: Enhances the flavors.
• Whole Milk: Binds all the batter together.
• Egg: Give the batter structure.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor to the batter. Helps the sugar spice mixture to stick to the rings.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds flavor.
• Cinnamon: Adds warm flavor that is a signature combination with apple.
• Ground Cardamom: Adds an additional layer of warm flavor.
• Granny Smith Apples: Honeycrisp apples could also be used. Avoid using soft apples like McIntosh or Golden Delicious.

How to Make This Fried Apples Recipe

1. Prep: Peel, core and slice the apples. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Make Batter: Combine all the ingredients for the batter in a medium bowl starting with whisking the dry ingredients and then adding the wet ingredients.
3. Make Cinnamon Coating: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the sugar, cardamom and sugar.
4. Coat the Apples: Dip the apples in the batter and place them in a single layer on the parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Freeze: Stick the baking sheet in the freezer and let the battered apples freeze for 45-60 minutes.
6. Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer and then air fry the apples in batches for 7-9 minutes.
7. Finishing Touches: Immediately brush the air-fried apples with melted butter and dredge in the cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately!

Healthy Harvest Chicken Casserole

Healthy Harvest Chicken Casserole is a comforting and nutritious dish that combines tender, lean chicken with an array of colorful vegetables, wild rice, and a light, creamy honey mustard sauce.

This casserole recipe was inspired by a salad I had a few years ago up in Park City, UT. I haven’t been able to get the flavors out of my head since, so I converted it into a casserole and I’m obsessed!

This hearty casserole offers a wholesome balance of flavors, from the savory chicken to the sweetness of seasonal vegetables. Perfectly baked to golden perfection, it’s a satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy!

Ingredients for Healthy Harvest Chicken Casserole

There is nothing complicated about the ingredients for this healthy chicken recipe. You’ll need a few seasonal vegetables and some seasonings. Here is everything you’ll need:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: used to sauté the potatoes and vegetables
• Sweet Potatoes: adds heartiness and a touch of sweetness to the dish
• Brussels Sprouts: If you aren’t a brussel sprouts fan, use broccoli instead.
• Red Onion: adds flavor
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Chicken Broth: helps cook all the vegetables and chicken completely
• Seasonings: Dried Thyme, Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Kosher Salt and Pepper
• Chicken Breasts: use boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Honey Mustard Dressing: adds flavor, moisture
• Wild Rice: I love the flavor of wild rice with the recipe, but you can use any type of rice you like.
• Toppings: Sliced Almonds, Pepitas and Dried Cranberries (all optional but I love the texture and flavors they add)

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

How to Make Harvest Chicken Casserole

This delicious casserole is packed with protein and healthy vegetables, making it the perfect meal for a cozy night in. Here are the steps for making it…

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350℉.
2. Sauté: Heat a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat then add the oil. Add the sweet potatoes, brussels and red onion and season them with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 5 minutes and then reduce the heat to medium. Once everything starts browning, add the garlic and cookie it for 30 seconds.
3. Cook the Vegetables: Add half of the chicken and all the seasonings and stir everything together. Cover the pot and cook for 5 minutes then place in a casserole dish.
4. Cook the Chicken: Return the heat to medium-high, add a little oil to the

Easy Garlic Butter Steak at Home

If you’re looking for the ultimate date-night dinner at home, this garlic butter steak recipe is a showstopper. The steak is first seared on the stove to lock in a rich, golden crust, then finished in the oven for a tender, juicy center. What makes it unforgettable is the homemade garlic herb butter that melts over the top, adding layers of flavor with every bite.

Whether you’re planning a fancy dinner at home, treating yourself to a restaurant-style meal, or searching for the best garlic butter steak recipe to impress guests, this dish delivers on flavor, texture, and simplicity.

Easy Garlic Butter Steak Recipe

Have you ever had a steak so perfectly cooked and seasoned it melts in your mouth? That rich steakhouse flavor feels impossible to recreate at home, but this garlic butter steak recipe makes it easy. Juicy, tender steak topped with sizzling garlic herb butter can be yours right from your own kitchen.

Picture the best steakhouse you’ve ever been to: the sizzling hot plate, the aroma of garlic butter dripping down the sides, the kind of steak that makes every bite unforgettable. With a few simple techniques, you can create that same experience at home. I’ll show you how to sear steak on the stove, finish it in the oven, and top it with the most incredible homemade steak butter.

Garlic Butter Steak Ingredients

If you’ve been lucky enough to enjoy garlic butter steak at a fancy steakhouse, you may mistakenly think the cooking process is complicated. In reality, cooking steak with butter couldn’t be simpler!

Here’s what you’ll need to prep the steak and make the steak butter:

• Steak of Choice: The star of the dish! Pick a well-marbled cut like ribeye or filet mignon for the juiciest, most flavorful results.
• Olive Oil: Helps create a beautiful golden sear while keeping the steak from sticking to the pan.
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that bring out the natural flavor of the steak and build a savory crust.
• Unsalted Butter: Melts into a rich, velvety topping that enhances the steak with indulgent flavor.
• Minced Garlic: Infuses the butter with bold, aromatic depth that makes every bite irresistible.

How to Cook Steak in the Oven

In my opinion, the best way to cook steak is to first sear it on the stovetop, then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking. This cooking method delivers perfect results every time!

Here’s how we make garlic butter steak at home:

1. Prepare: Pat the steak dry and season generously with kosher salt and black pepper to enhance