15 Minute Pesto Pasta [+ Video]

Pesto pasta is a fresh, flavor-packed dish made with al dente penne, homemade basil pesto, and a touch of garlic and parmesan. It’s quick to whip up, full of bright, herby goodness, and perfect for tossing together on a busy night. All you need is a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes – yes, really!

This pesto pasta is fresh, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to throw together. The homemade basil pesto is rich with garlic, parmesan, and pine nuts, and it clings perfectly to every bite of penne. We’ve been making it since our basil started taking over the garden, and it’s still a favorite. Tossed, stirred, and devoured in minutes – this dish never lets us down.

Fresh basil has a way of sneaking into just about everything we make during the warmer months. Whether it’s tucked into a cheesy pasta or layered into something heartier, the flavor is always a hit around our table. When the mood calls for something extra cozy, we’ll go for our 20-Minute Cheesy Pesto Pasta – it’s like this dish’s rich, melty cousin. Or if we’re feeling that casual backyard dinner vibe, a slice of Pesto Pepperoni and Sausage Grilled Pizza totally hits the spot. And if you haven’t tried our Creamy Chicken Pesto Lasagna, you’re seriously missing out!

Ingredients for Pesto Pasta

This pesto pasta is proof that simple really can be spectacular. Just grab a few fresh staples, give them a whirl in the food processor, and boom – pasta night perfection.

• Penne Pasta: The perfect pasta shape to catch all that gorgeous pesto sauce in every nook and cranny. Spaghetti or rotini work well too!
• Pine Nuts: Lightly toasted for that buttery, nutty flavor that makes pesto sing. If you don’t have these in the pantry, walnuts or almonds are a good backup.
• Garlic: Adds a bold, savory depth to the pesto. We’re using fresh cloves for that extra zing!
• Sweet Basil: The star of the show. Use fresh basil leaves, packed tightly for the best flavor. No dried stuff here!
• Olive Oil: Helps everything blend smoothly and adds that classic richness. Stick with extra virgin for the best taste.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated is best – trust us. Adds saltiness and a creamy texture to the pesto.
• Sea Salt and Fresh Black Pepper: Just a pinch or two to bring everything into balance.

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

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito Bowl

Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito Bowl is a quick and easy dinner recipe the whole family loves. A bright cilantro lime rice with flavorful Tex-Mex chicken, beans and lots of gooey cheese!

When we’re short on time and ingredients, this is a go-to meal at our house, and yes, you can totally swap any meats, beans or add-ins that you’d like! It’s like making a delicious Chipotle burrito bowl in the comfort of your own kitchen!

I’m finding that the older my kids get the more I desperately need quick and easy dinner ideas as we pretty much live a life of errands lately. It’s soccer, piano, clothes shopping because heaven forbid anyone stay the same size for more than a month and on and on. Anyone feel me?

Ingredients for Chicken Burrito Bowls

• Chicken Breasts: You want boneless, skinless chicken breasts and then chop them into bite-size chunks
• Oil: used to sauté the chicken
• Seasonings: Cumin, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Kosher Salt and Chili Powder
• White Rice: just simple long-grain white rice works great
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Chicken Broth: cooks the rice and adds more flavor
• Green Chiles: adds flavor
• Cilantro: adds bright herby freshness and flavor
• Lime: You’ll want to use the zest and juice for maximum flavor.
• Pinto Beans: Keep it simple by using canned beans. Swap for black beans if desired.
• Colby Jack Cheese: You can’t have a burrito bowl without the melty cheese! Colby jack is our favorite, but you can also go with Monterey jack or pepper jack.

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card down below. Once you serve up the chicken and rice, top with all your favorite burrito toppings. See section below for ideas.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito Bowls

• Step 1: Chicken

Start by seasoning your chicken (onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt, pepper and chili powder) and then cook it in a little olive oil in your Instant Pot in “sauté mode”. You won’t need to cook it long, just enough to get a little sear on the outside, about 3 minutes.

• Step 2: Everything Else

Add the rice and garlic and stir it with the chicken for about 20-30 seconds. Then you add the rest of the ingredients (broth, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice and pinto beans) and change your Instant Pot to “high pressure”. Give everything a good stir and place the lid on the Instant Pot. Set the valve to “seal” and cook for 7 minutes.

Easy 30 Minute Grilled Chicken Tacos [+Video]

Looking for a delicious and nutritious meal option? Try these grilled chicken tacos, packed with lean protein and fresh pico de gallo, for a satisfying and healthy meal that will leave your taste buds and body happy.

A simple marinade tenderizes and flavors the chicken, and then we grill it to add that smoky bbq flavor. Warm up some Vista brand corn tortillas (these are our FAVORITE), add the grilled chicken and then top with homemade pico de gallo. So easy!

Watch How to Make Chicken Tacos

I grew up on tacos, but when I say that we have to take it with a grain of salt because my mother was raised on a farm in Idaho, which means not only was it always ground beef, flour tortillas, and shredded iceberg lettuce with occasional tomatoes or cheese, but the ground beef for sure 100% had potatoes grated into it, I’m not kidding. We call them Idaho tacos!

Once I was married, my world really started to expand in the world of tacos, but it’s kind of harder than you think when you start off cooking for yourself you want all the flavor, but you’re just not totally sure how everyone achieves it. You can find all sorts of crazy ingredients and marinating times out there, but I’ve found that simplicity is the answer and that’s exactly what these tacos are what you want for dinner tonight.

Ingredients for Grilled Chicken Tacos Recipe

You’ll need just a few ingredients to make the marinade, and you’ll have most of the items in the pantry already. Here is everything you will need:

• Chicken Breasts: Marinate and grill the chicken whole and then chop it into bite-size pieces right before serving.
• Garlic: Adds flavor.
• Lime Juice: Fresh is best of course, and it helps tenderize the chicken and adds flavor.
• Olive Oil: Adds flavor and moisture to the meat and helps tenderize it.
• Seasonings: Chili Powder, Cumin, Smoked Paprika, Black Pepper, and Salt
• Corn Tortillas: We don’t use anything but Vista brand tortillas these days, but you can use whatever brand you love.
• Pico De Gallo: Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Limes, Garlic, Red Onion, Salt, Pepper and Cilantro

The measurements for each ingredient

Hotdogs in the Air Fryer [+Video]

Satisfy your craving for crispy, juicy hot dogs with this easy recipe for frying them in the air fryer. With just a few simple steps, you can indulge in this delicious fried hotdogs in the air fryer at home.

I am fully prepared for the teasing that might ensue. After these next words I write… I absolutely love hotdogs with all of my heart, and will often choose one over a cheeseburger! Gasp!

I don’t even understand what it is completely, but I know that there is something about that snap and pop when you bite into it the juicy deliciousness of the meat and dare I say it’s the combination of both that soft bun and simple ketchup, that is irresistible for me.

I don’t know where I’ve been all these years but when our daughter requested hotdogs for dinner, one night, I started to tell Claire they are so much better on a grill during the summer when it dawned on me, the air fryer could knock this out of the park and sure enough it 100% did.

The outside gets a little crispy while the inside stays juicy. And with the scored top on them, they get little crispy edges. Mmmmmm…I’m totally obsessed with airfryer hotdogs!

What Do I Need to Make Air Fryer Hot Dogs?

All you need is hotdogs and hot dog buns! That’s it! And then whatever toppings you want to add.

How to Make Hot Dogs in the Air Fryer

Get ready for a quick and easy dinner recipe because dinner is going to be on the table in less than 15 minutes! Here are the basic steps:

1. Preheat the airfryer.
2. Score the tops of the hotdogs and place them in the air fryer basket for 6 minutes.
3. Open the airfryer and place each hotdog in a bun and return them to the airfryer for another minute.
4. Remove the hotdogs from the airfryer and serve with all your favorite toppings.

Tips for the Best Fried Hot Dogs

You will want to be sure to buy the right hot dogs and buns for the best results for this recipe. I am a huge fan of Nathan’s hot dogs with Hebrew National. For the bun, the brioche buns by Nature’s Own are my all time favorite. Warming the bun in the air fryer with the hot dog is total game changer!

If you want a little different flavor profile, spread a little butter on each side of the bun and toast them in the broiler before adding the hotdogs to buns. Toasted buns are so delicious!

Score the top of the hot dogs, but make

20 Minute Tomato and Basil Angel Hair Pasta Recipe [+ Video]

This 20 minute cherry tomato and basil angel hair pasta recipe comes together in a jiffy, and will satisfy the whole family, even the kids!

Every time the holidays are over and new year rolls around, I’m immediately drawn to a simpler way of cooking – lighter, healthier meals, fresh ingredients, less ingredients, and just an all around relaxed attitude. I don’t like anything too fussy or involved, and this 20 Minute Cherry Tomato and Basil Angel Hair pasta is the perfect example of what you might find on our dinner table this month.

Cooking Class in Italy

I’ve made a variation of this sauce for years – ever since I studied abroad in Italy. On the back end of my trip, my family came over, and my Mom and I took a cooking class for four days on the Amalfi coast in a little town called Positano. We learned the basics of Italian cooking – how to make the best margarita pizza with only the freshest ingredients, how to make pasta dough with our bare hands, and how to make a killer tomato sauce using only cherry tomatoes, olive oil and garlic.

I can still remember closing my eyes while I ate, and wondering if I’d ever taste something as delicious as that sauce back at home – or if I’d even come close to being able replicate it myself.

Less Than 30 Minute Dinner Recipe

Since then, I’ve made a bazillion different variations, all equally as delicious as they were in Italy. I’ve used it as a topping on fish or grilled chicken, slathered it on garlic-rubbed crostinis and tossed it with scrambled eggs, but I think today’s version may be my favorite adaptation yet. Not only because it’s simple and delicious, but because the cooking time from start to finish is less than 30 minutes – pure gold in my book.

Ingredients for Tomato Basil Angel Hair Pasta

You will only need 8 simple ingredients to make this easy angel hair pasta recipe! A whole meal with just 8 ingredients in less than a half hour…you can’t get much better than that! Here is what you will need:

• Angel Hair Pasta: it cooks up quickly and soaks up the flavor of the tomatoes and garlic
• Olive Oil: used to sauté the tomatoes and garlic, extra virgin olive oil is preferred for best flavor
• Garlic: adds bold delicious flavor
• Cherry Tomatoes: or grape tomatoes
• Fresh Basil: adds bright fresh flavor, if you don’t have fresh basil, use 2 teaspoons of dried basil
• Salt: adds flavor
• Granulated Parmesan: adds depth of flavor
• Lemon: a pop of citrus rounds out the dish perfectly

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

How to Make Cherry Tomato and Basil Angel Hair Pasta

You will want to start by cooking the angel hair pasta. Get a large pot of salted water going on the stove top until the water is boiling. Add the p