Italian Sauteed Mushrooms Recipe

Delicious & The BEST Italian Sauteed Mushrooms Recipe in the world – this is one of my favorite side dishes my mama makes.

I remember having huge family gatherings at my mom’s house on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas and these Italian Sauteed Mushrooms were always there.  My mom would cook a huge turkey and few side dishes, while everyone else would bring desserts and appetizers.

Reasons I Love This Recipe

Crowd Pleaser: Everyone loves my mom’s sautéed mushrooms! I don’t remember a single time that at least one person hasn’t wanted the recipe.

Easy: You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to make this mushroom recipe. All you will need is 5 ingredients and one SECRET SAUCE.

Quick: Cooking this easy holiday side dish will only take about 15 minutes.

Make Ahead: It tastes even better after 48 hours, because the mushrooms will marinate in the Secret Sauce and will make the mushrooms taste extra yummy. Such a win because that means you can prep ahead which is what I need when it comes to big holiday meals!

What are you waiting for? Scroll down to see how to make The Best Italian Sautéed Mushrooms Recipe.

Ingredients You Need to Make the Best Sauteed Mushrooms:

• Baby Bella Mushrooms: also called cremini mushrooms, they have a deep earthy flavor and beautiful color
• Italian Dressing: You can make your own homemade Italian dressing or buy your favorite brand from the store. This is the secret sauce combined with the flavor of the bell peppers and onions…so dreamy!
• Onion: just a yellow onion works great
• Red Bell Pepper: you could also use orange or yellow
• Salt and Pepper: adds flavor
• Parsley: used for garnish

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. Keep scrolling for all the details!

Substitutions and Variations

If you can’t find baby bella mushrooms, white button mushrooms will work fine. They just will lack a little depth of flavor. Portobello mushrooms can also be used. You’ll just want to cut them into bite size pieces. Porcini, chanterelle or shiitake mushrooms are also options but they tend to be quite expensive. You can also do a combination of any of these.

Fresh parsley can be swapped for any variety of fresh herbs…thyme, oregano, or rosemary will all taste great.

If you want to add a little heat, add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes.

How to Clean Mushrooms

Mushrooms can sometimes have dirt on them when they are packaged. Be sure to wipe mushrooms with a dry paper towel to clean them. Don’t wash them in water or use a damp paper towel. Mushrooms are like sponges and will soak up water. You don’t want to add any extra moisture, and you want the mushrooms to soak up the Italian dressing flavors.

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Holiday Acorn Squash Recipe

This acorn squash recipe is a sweet and savory holiday side dish featuring roasted acorn squash. Toss with herbs and spices, then roast until tender. Finish the dish with pomegranate seeds, feta cheese, and toasted pumpkin seeds. Season with extra virgin olive oil and maple syrup.

Cade says that is the best side dish I’ve ever made. And that is saying something, because we have some great ones here on the blog (I’m thinking of you, homemade focaccia and gruyere sweet potato stacks!)! This acorn squash recipe is both Thanksgiving and Christmas worthy! You’re going to LOVE it!

Recommended Equipment

• Sharp Knives
• Baking Sheet

Before You Begin…

You’ll want to start by toasting the pepitas (pumpkin seeds)! This adds such a delicious nutty flavor and crunchy texture.

Ingredients for Holiday Acorn Squash

Okay, this ingredients list is going to look a bit daunting at first glance, but don’t run away! Many of the ingredients are seasonings that you’ll already have. Here is what you will need:

For the Pepitas

• Pumpkin Seeds: also known as pepitas
• Olive Oil: helps toast the pumpkin seeds
• Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Smoked Paprika, and Chili Powder

For the Squash

• Acorn Squash: If you’re not a fan of acorn squash, you can use butternut or honeynut.
• Pure Maple Syrup: You want the real deal here, no imitation pancake syrup!
• Orange: We will use the juice and zest for a pop of fresh citrus flavor.
• Butter: helps the acorn roast and get golden and caramelized
• Seasonings: Ground Cinnamon, Fresh Ginger, Smoked Paprika, and Cardamom Powder

• Pomegranate: You can extract the seeds yourself from a pomegranate (see section below) or just buy pomegranate seeds.
• Brown Sugar: adds sweetness and rich flavor
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: used to toast and crisp the sage leaves
• Sage Leaves: adds flavor and crunch
• Thyme: used as garnish for the squash and adds fresh herby flavor
• Kosher Salt: adds flavor
• Feta: You can use goat cheese instead or omit the cheese if you want.

The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

What are Pomegranate Arils?

Pomegranate arils are the clear red seed pod in the pomegranate. They are tart and give you a nice pop of juice and flavor

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

This easy Sweet Potato Casserole is topped with marshmallows and a brown sugar streusel topping. It’s so easy to make, and kids always love it! It’s a Ruth’s Chris Copycat gone wild, so if you love their famous Sweet Potatoes then jump in, and let’s get cooking!

This recipe is undeniably the best marshmallow sweet potato casserole on earth. We just made it again for Thanksgiving, and it was my favorite side dish this year. In fact, I’m going to make it again for Christmas and I think you all should too! They are great for Easter too!

Sweet Potato Souffle with Marshmallows

Several years ago, I remember making this recipe with our four-year-old. She was so excited about making it, that she had call Cade, with my supervision of course, to tell him that SHE just made the best dinner ever. It’s definitely not “dinner” as we had more than just sweet potato casserole for dinner, and she most certainly did not make it all by herself, but the girl did quite a bit! And she loved it! 

Can all of us moms have a moment of silence for a toddler who loved something that would become dinner? Not just ate it, but loved it! Alright, that could have something to do with the amount of sugar and marshmallows in this dish, but I won’t tell if you won’t. 

I used to hate “yams” at Thanksgiving because they were an awful orange, dripping with some weird syrup (gag!), and they tasted like grossness with burned, flat, hard marshmallows on top.

Now I know better. Now I know that it was the person bringing them that was the problem, bless their hearts (that’s what you say to make a mean thing sound better). Sweet potatoes are awesome, they just need to be cooked correctly and if you must do the marshmallow thang, well let’s just do it my way at least. 

Make the sweet taters into a souffle (easy peasy, so don’t get nervous on me…a potato ricer is a game changer) and then use both marshmallows and a brown sugar streusel on top. Trust me, your guests will be BEGGING for the recipe.

Sweet Potato Casserole Ingredients

To make this easy sweet potato casserole recipe with marshmallows, you’ll need: 

• Sweet Potatoes
• Egg
• Unsalted Butter
• Salt 
• White sugar
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon 
• Vanilla Extract
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Best Mashed Potatoes Recipe (Instant Pot)

Buttery creamy mashed potatoes all done in 30 minutes in the Instant Pot! This is the best mashed potatoes recipe for Thanksgiving!

Yes, we have the perfect mashed potato recipe already posted on the blog, but I love that this recipe can all be done in the Instant Pot freeing up the stove top for other things (hello No Fuss Stuffing!). And the flavor of Yukon gold potatoes just can’t be beat!

Use your Instant Pot for these delicious mashed potatoes your entire family will enjoy. This step-by-step recipe will help you get the perfect consistency and taste.

Ingredients for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

You only need 5 ingredients to make these perfect mashed potatoes. Here is what you will need:

• Yukon Gold Potatoes: You will need about 8 potatoes (or 4-5 large).
  • PRO TIP: You can also use Russet potatoes if desired, but the taste of Yukon gold is unbeatable.
• Salt: Adds flavor
• Cream Cheese: Use full fat, no low fat or fat free.
• Whole Milk: Cream can also be used.
• Butter: Adds flavor and richness

The measurements for each ingredient are listed in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make the Best Mashed Potatoes

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot. It’s easy peasy!

1. Set the cream cheese out to come to room temperature.
2. Melt the butter on the stove top or in the microwave.
3. Peel and quarter the potatoes.
4. Add the potatoes to the Instant Pot and add enough water to cover them. Add the salt.
5. Put the lid on the Instant Pot and seal it. Set to manual high heat and pressure cook for 8 minutes.
6. Measure the milk in a glass measuring cup and warm the milk in the microwave.
7. When the potatoes are done, quick release the IP and drain the potatoes. Leave the potatoes in the pot and let them steam dry for a few minutes.
8. Smash the potatoes with a potato masher or ricer. Then add the butter and stir, and then add the cream cheese and warmed milk.
9. Season to taste.

The complete instructions can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. Keep scrolling for all the details!

Best Potatoes for Mashed Potatoes

The best potatoes for mashing are the starchy potatoes – Yukon gold, Russet or Idaho. They have a fluffy texture that breaks down easily while mashing.

Variations

If you want to add additional flavors to the

Fabulous Ranch Green Beans Recipe [+Video]

This is a green beans recipe like you’ve never tasted before and it is FABULOUS! The green beans are creamy and full of that comforting ranch flavor that everyone loves all topped with a crunchy Panko topping. Boom! You’re going to love this vegetable side dish!

I’ve been spending some quality time with more and more teenagers lately, and I’ve never felt more old and out of touch. Haha! I find myself asking them to explain all the slang words they are using. I learned a new one the other day and I’m totally incorporating it into my everyday lingo because it’s used to describe really, really good food — now that is something I can relate to! The word is “bussin'”. I can confidently say that these green beans are totally bussin’! 

After I accidentally created our melt-in-your-mouth baked ranch chicken, I had the thought that swapping the chicken for green beans would be stellar! And then I thought, nobody ever cares about green bean recipes. My next thought was…I don’t care! I’m going to do it anyway! And I was 100% correct, creamy ranch green bean casserole is out of this world…aka bussin’! And you need to try it!

Ingredients for Ranch Green Bean Casserole

You only need a few ingredients to make this tasty side dish, and most of the items will already be things you have on hand. Here is what you will need:

• Green Beans – fresh, washed, trimmed and then blanched
• Shallot – part of the onion and garlic family but more subtle in flavor
• Salt and Pepper – adds flavor
• Butter – used in the base for the sauce and as a binder for the crunchy Panko topping  
• Flour – thickens the sauce
• Ranch Salad Dressing – Trust me on this, make it from the packet, following the directions. It will taste way better then if you just buy a bottle of ranch.
• Milk – combines with the ranch to create the sauce
• Panko Breadcrumbs – Japanese-style breadcrumbs that adds crunch to the top of this casserole

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post. You can also save and/or print the recipe from there.

How to Blanch Green Beans

Blanching green beans takes just a few quick and easy steps. Fill a large pot of water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Add kosher salt to the water (about 1 tablespoon for every quart of water). When the water starts boiling, add the beans and let them cook for 2-3 minutes. 

Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice while the beans are cooking. When the beans have finished cooking, transfer the beans to the ice bath. Let them sit for a few minutes in the cold water. This helps the green beans maint