When it comes to dinners that are lightning fast but still feel luxurious, Pesto Salmon is the way to go. Topped with a homemade parsley pesto with crunchy pine nuts, this dinner takes just 20 minutes from start to finish!

Pesto Salmon

The magic of this pesto salmon is in the contrast between the rich, buttery salmon and the incredible nutty pesto spread on top. This pesto hits above its weight class, with the earthy flavors of parsley, the toasted pine nuts, and hints of parmesan and garlic. It’s one of those dishes where texture, aroma, and taste are all balanced in harmony.

I love pesto, though I don’t cook with it all that often. Mainly this is because I really enjoy getting to make my own. Some days, I can’t afford the time. But, with this baked salmon, you have time for both. Parsley pesto is a little milder than basil pesto, and that’s what I chose to use here. You can use whichever you prefer.

Pesto Salmon Recipe

I’ve cooked fish with variations of this pesto and pine nut topping quite often for my boys. They love it. And, so do I. So, if you’re looking to make this recipe yours, there are also a few ways I like to change it up from time to time.

• Mince up a tsp of cilantro or arugula to add a subtle citrusy or peppery flavor to the topping.
• Add in some chili flakes for gentle heat. You can also drizzle some hot sauce before serving, but you’ll want to be careful to make sure the flavors are a good match.
• Sprinkle the salmon filets with some crushed toasted pistachios. This adds some gorgeous visuals and will bring out the crunch big time.

If you do adapt the recipe, be sure to tell me what you changed and how it turned out. I look forward to hearing from you!

You know that moment when you walk into a kitchen, and the air itself feels thick with flavor? The smell of onions caramelizing, peppers softening, and sausage browning until it’s just shy of crisp on the edges? Roasting sausage with peppers and onions isn’t complicated. It’s not trendy. But, it is 100% absolutely that dish.

Sausage and Peppers

If you haven’t tried it before, roasting onions and peppers brings out additional sweetness that is much more flavorful than their raw counterparts. My oldest and youngest have been hooked on onions since we started roasting them this way.

What I love most about this sausage and peppers recipe (and you will too!) is how real it feels. It’s a deeply sensory experience. The sizzle of the ingredients, the steam rising from the pan, the scents wafting through the kitchen, all of it draws you in. There’s nothing fussy here. It’s just a handful of ingredients that all pull their own weight.

If I’m being honest, food like this is why I started sharing my kitchen in the first place. Because, it’s not just about recipes. It’s about how good food can bring people together and create a sense of presence. With a meal like this on the table, people are more likely to put their phones away and dine together.

That’s the beauty of food. It breaks down the distance. It builds connection. Here on the blog, I find that what motivates me is often that I am connecting to readers all over the world, to feed our friends and family from the same shared space.

And, maybe that’s the lesson hidden in this dish. The things that resonate most, be it food, content, or connection, aren’t always the most complex. They’re the ones that feel the most true. So, this recipe was a reminder for me, that simple fare can be just as delicious as complicated food.

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There’s something about the sweet and smoky flavor combination that just works. And this Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon proves it with every perfectly caramelized bite of salmon that practically melts in your mouth.

Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

I love how the brown sugar glaze balances everything out with just the right mix of sweet, savory, and spicy. And since the salmon is cut into smaller pieces, it cooks lightning fast, and you get the perfect glaze-to-fish ratio in every bite.

I’ve served this salmon with pineapple rice and also with this easy Asian rice. And it’s a terrific light meal with this orange parsley salad, too.

Salmon Bites

Inspired by this brown sugar salmon that we first made in the air fryer, these salmon bites are everything I love about that smoky, sweet salmon, made even better with more caramelized edges.

My New Favorite Lunch

Salmon bites have become my hands-down favorite way to cook salmon over the past year. I often cook them for lunch when I’m on my own, and in that case, the air fryer is my go-to cooking method.

However, when I’m cooking for a family meal, the broiler does a great job in the same amount of time and provides enough salmon for all of us.

How cool is it that this quick chicken recipe is the easiest chicken we make, and it is also some of the tastiest chicken we make? Seasoned with plenty of terrific flavors and quickly cooked in any number of ways, this chicken is the weeknight main dish that the whole family enjoys.

The Fastest Way to Cook Chicken

You only need a few minutes to get this chicken ready to cook and you’ll be sitting down to eat just ten minutes later. The chicken is great on its own with a side of raw vegetables and ranch dip. It can also be sliced thin for sandwiches, or chopped bite-size for soups, salads, or pasta.

I’ve been making this chicken probably every other week for over 5 years now. And yes, it’s taken that long for me to share it here on the website.

The recipe is another favorite from The Weeknight Dinner Cookbook. However, I use the chicken in so many other recipes, I decided it was past time to share the original here.

Why make this chicken?

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Fresh green beans are tossed with Sriracha, honey, soy sauce, and sesame oil and then roasted to hot, crisp perfection to create these immensely snackable spicy green beans.

Spicy Green Beans

This green beans inspired by one of our long-time favorite broccoli recipes, and this was an excellent idea, let me tell you. If you’re bored with the usual green beans you make, give these a try!

The awesomeness of these spicy green beans is in the glaze. It’s a simple combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and of course, a squeeze of Sriracha. If you aren’t a fan of much heat, go easy on the hot sauce. If you’re like my boys, make it a generous squeeze and enjoy the sweet-heat.

The glaze here hits every note: salty, savory, sweet, and spicy. As the beans roast, they’ll develop a little char on their edges while soaking up all that sauce, making them impossible to resist.

They’re bold enough to stand out next to the main dish, but I’m telling you from personal experience, they’re irresistible on their own, straight off the pan. I have to practice some serious restraint to make sure there will be enough left to serve with our meal whenever I make these.

Sweet and Spicy Green Beans

I have served these green beans with pan fried chicken and roasted sweet potato bites. I’ve also served them with these garlic mashed potatoes and the barbecue bacon meatloaf that my kids adore.

There just isn’t a wrong way to serve these sweet and spicy green beans. And I need to make another batch soon, since