Fall Archives - Family Dinners

How To Make Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 19:14:35 +0000

If you have been craving a juicy and flavorful hamburger, then these easy, homemade cast iron skillet burgers are perfect for you! Even though you might think a grill or an open flame is the perfect way to cook a burger, this cast iron skillet recipe actually produces the best burgers you have ever tasted. They are perfectly seasoned, tender, juicy and done in only 15 minutes. With our scrumptious special sauce made from scratch and all your favorite burger toppings these cast iron skillet cheeseburgers are simply out of this world good!

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: Amazingly juicy and tender burgers made from scratch that cook up in a hot skillet in only 15 minutes. These tasty burgers are the absolute best!
Main Ingredients: cooking oil, ground beef, spices, hamburger buns, slices of cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, pickles, special sauce (mayonnaise, mustard, dill pickles, pickle juice, sugar, white wine vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder)or other condiments of choice
Cooking Method: stovetop
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time, 10 minutes cooking time
Pairs well with: French fries, potato wedges, crunchy salad, pasta salad, potato salad
Special Equipment Needed: large bowl, cast-iron skillet, cooking spatula, meat thermometer, small mixing bowl, cooking spoon or whisk

Ingredients

You may have all of these simple ingredients for this cast iron burgers in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this homemade burgers recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Cast Iron Skillet Burgers Ingredients

1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil
1 lb ground beef (85%lean/15%fat)

Hamburger Seasoning Ingredients

1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika

Special Sauce Ingredients

¾ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
2 tablespoon dill pickles (finely chopped)
2 teaspoon pickle juice
2 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

Optional Toppings

4 brioche burger buns (toasted)
4 cheese slices
tomato slices
lettuce
onion slices
pickle slices
special sauce or other condiments of choice

Variations and Substitutions

Oil: You can use vegetable oil, avocado oil or grapeseed oil to fry up your delicious burgers. As a matter of fact you can even use olive oil for searing in a pinch.

Meat: We recommend using ground chuck for this easy recipe. Additionally, you can substitute other ground meat, such as ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.

Cheese: Feel free to use any cheese you like, such as cheddar cheese or American Cheese, for example. Moreover, Swiss cheese or Pepper Jack cheese would be other great options.

Hamburger Buns: Substitute brioche buns with sesame seed, potato, pretzel, or ciabatta buns, for example. Additionally you can skip the buns altogether, and sandwich your burgers and toppings between lettuce leaves for a more keto friendly meal.

How To Make Gluten Free

Use a gluten free burger bun for this good burger in order to make this meal gluten free. The hamburger patties are already naturally gluten free.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love these perfect burgers, try them with a side of Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes. You’ll love them because they are full of thin, tender potato slices roasted to a golden crisp and stuffed with melty cheddar cheese.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Cast Iron Pan — When cooking a burger patty on the stovetop, using a cast-iron skillet is the best way to get a juicy and perfect burger. However, you can also use any other frying pan or even a non-stick pan in a pinch.

Optional Alternative Ways To Cook A Burger:

Air Fryer – This recipe requires an air fryer. We have both this Cosori air fryer, which is wonderful, and this Cuisinart Air Fryer, which we also love. The Cuisinart also has convection oven and toaster oven capacity. You can buy an air fryer with a basket with high sides that food goes into or a tray type of machine. The trays are shallow but are usually longer and can accomodate more food in a single layer.

Grill — An indoor or outdoor grill is needed for this recipe. We love our indoor Zojirushi grill for cooking inside.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook cast iron burgers on the stovetop, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For printable detailed instructions and nutritional information see the recipe card below.

Step 1: Firstly, combine 1 pound of ground hamburger and hamburger seasoning in a large bowl. Then, gently mix together with your hands.

Step 2: Afterwards, divide the meat mixture into 4 equal parts. You can use a kitchen scale to divide the beef mixture perfectly equal.

Step 3: Then roll each piece into a ball and flatten with your hands into a patty. As patties will shrink in size when they cook, make them a bit bigger than the buns. Afterwards, heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add a little oil to the pan. Then use a spatula to spread the oil evenly around the surface area of the pan.

Step 4: Add each hamburger patty to the preheated skillet. In case your pan is not large enough cook them in batches. Cook over medium heat for 4 minutes on the first side, until the underside of the hamburger is beginning to become a nice golden brown.

Step 5: Afterwards, flip the hamburger patties and place a slice of cheese in the center of each patty. Cheese will melt as the burger cooks. Cook for about 3-4 minutes more on the second side, until the patty has a nice sear on the bottom.

Step 6: When the cheese is melted and the hamburger patty is cooked to desired doneness, remove from the hot pan.

Step 7: For the special sauce, combine mayonnaise, yellow mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, white wine vinegar, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder in a small bowl. Then stir until well combined. Afterwards add the desired amount of sauce to the bottom bun.

Step 8: Then place the perfect cooked hamburgers on the toasted buns.

Step 9: Add sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, sliced pickles, lettuce and all your other favorite toppings. Try some bacon or sautéd mushrooms as well.

Step 10: Finally serve these amazing burgers with your favorite side dish and enjoy!

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this easy to make burger recipe then you’ll love our Easy Baked Cheesy Meatball Sub Sandwich. This meatball sub recipe combines crispy French bread with juicy meatballs and melty mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Make Ahead

You can prepare the burger patties up to 12 hours ahead of time. You can stack them with parchment paper pieces between each patty for easier storage. Make sure to store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook. Additionally you can freeze them until ready to use.

Other Cooking Methods For Burgers

Besides cooking burgers on a traditional grill, the air fryer is another great way to make delicious burgers. Air Fried Burgers come out tender and juicy with just the right amount of crispy bits on the outside.

Stef says….

For a fun twist on a traditional burger, try my delicious Big Mac Salad. It has all of the flavors of a Big Mac but uses simple ingredients that are healthy and even suitable for a low carb diet.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best cast iron skillet burgers.

Tip: Use ground chuck with either 80/20 or 85/15 mixing ratio for your hamburger patties.
Tip: Do not overcook your meat. Otherwise it will turn out very dry.
Tip: Only assemble the burgers when you are ready to eat them, therefore avoiding soggy hamburger buns.

Serving Suggestions

We love to eat cast iron skillet burgers all by themselves. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Potatoes: Serve juicy burgers with crispy Fries, Potato Wedges, Tater Tots, Hassleback Potatoes, Baked Sweet Potatoes or classic Baked Potatoes.

Salad: Pair homemade cheeseburgers with a fresh salad. A green salad like our Easy Italian Salad or Tortellini Pasta Salad. Or even a Greek Salad with olives, cucumbers and feta or an Artichoke Rice Salad.

Other Sides: Yummy burgers would also taste great with Air Fryer Pasta Chips, or Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.

More Hot Sandwich Recipes

Warm sandwiches make great lunches, dinners or party snacks. If you like burgers, you will also love our other scrumptious slider and sandwich recipes:

Andrea says….

I love adding some crispy bacon to this delicious burger recipe. My favorite way to cook bacon is this easy recipe for Oven Baked Bacon. It comes out perfectly cooked every time without any of the greasy splatter.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover burger patties in an airtight container, ziploc bag or tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap in the fridge for 1-2 days. We do, however, not recommend storing assembled burger leftovers, because the toppings will loose their texture and the burger buns will get soggy.

Freeze: We recommend freezing uncooked burger patties in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. For easy removal, place a small sheet of parchment paper between each patty before freezing.

Defrosting: Thaw frozen burger patties in the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight. Alternatively you can cook them from frozen as well.

How To Reheat

Reheat cooked burger patties in the microwave or in the air fryer.

Common Questions

What is the best meat to use for hamburger patties?

For the best, beefy, and juicy burgers we recommend using ground chuck. Ground chuck usually provides the perfect lean meat/fat ratio at about 80-85 % lean meat and 15-20 % fat. The higher fat content is necessary to keep your burger flavorful and juicy. Even though, lean ground beef might sound like a better and healthier choice on paper, it unfortunately makes dry burgers that are no fun to eat.

Is it better to use fresh or frozen hamburger patties?

There is actually not a big difference in quality or taste between frozen and fresh hamburger patties. While fresh hamburger patties do provide a slightly richer taste, they have a very short shelf life. Fresh patties are the better choice if you want to follow a specific hamburger patty recipe and if you are planning on cooking them within a day or two. Frozen hamburger patties, on the other hand, are a lot more convenient and still provide great taste. You can safely store them in the freezer for up to 6 months without losing any flavor. Moreover, frozen patties cook up quick and easy without defrosting, which makes them a great choice for a last minute meal.

What internal temperature should my burger have when it’s done?

The internal temperature of a great burger depends on the degree of doneness you prefer. According to the FDA a well done burger should be between 160 and 165 degrees. In case you prefer your burger medium-well it should have an internal temperature of 150-155 ºF. Medium-rare burgers should be between 130 and 135 degrees.

What are tasty hamburger toppings?

Cast iron skillet cheeseburgers are a great meal, because they are super easy to personalize. Popular burger toppings include cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, caramelized onions, hamburger sauce, ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise.

How To Make Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

There is no need to heat up a grill for these juicy and delicious cast iron skillet burgers. They cook to perfection on the stovetop in only 15 minutes and can be garnished with all your favorite burger toppings! They are so much better than take-out!

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword cast iron burger, cast iron skillet cheeseburger, homemade burger, how to cook a cheeseburger indoors, juicy burger

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings burgers

Calories 814kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

mixing bowls
cast iron skillet
kitchen spatula
cooking spoon or whisk

Ingredients

Burger Patty Ingredients:

1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil vegetable, avocado or grapeseed oil
1 lb ground beef 85% lean/15% fat

Hamburger Seasoning Ingredients:

1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika

Special Sauce Ingredients:

¾ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
2 tablespoon dill pickles finely chopped
2 teaspoon pickle juice
2 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

Toppings:

4 brioche burger buns toasted
4 cheese slices optional
4 tomato slices optional
lettuce optional
sliced onion optional
sliced pickles optional
special sauce or desired condiments

Instructions

Special Sauce Instructions:

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, yellow mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, white wine vinegar, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Stir until well combined. Set aside until ready to use.

Burger Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground hamburger and hamburger seasoning. Gently mix together with your hands.
Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal parts. Then roll each piece into a ball and flatten with your hands into a patty. Patties will shrink in size when they cook, so make sure you make them a bit bigger than the burger buns.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan. Use a spatula to spread the oil evenly around the pan.
Add each hamburger patty to the pan. If your pan is not large enough you might have to cook them in batches.
Cook for 4 minutes on the first side, until the underside of the hamburger is beginning to become a nice golden brown.
Flip the hamburger patties and place a piece of cheese on top. Cheese will melt as the patty cooks.
Cook for about 4 more minutes, until the patty is golden brown on the bottom.
When cheese is melted and hamburger patty is cooked to desired doneness, remove from the skillet.
Place the hamburger patty on a toasted bun.
Add special sauce, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, sliced pickles, lettuce and any other favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Nutrition

The post How To Make Perfect Cast Iron Skillet Burgers appeared first on Family Dinners.

Crack Corn Dip

Andrea + Stef — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 01:20:20 +0000

Crack corn dip is creamy, cheesy and packed with golden corn. You only need half an hour and a handful of ingredients to make this perfect appetizer. Cowboy crack dip can also be served as a delicious snack on game day, at summer cookouts or your next party. It is easy to make and can be cooked in the oven or slow cooker. You can even prepare it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until ready to bake. This is the best recipe for crowd-pleasing crack corn dip and it will surely be a huge hit at your next party!

What is Crack Corn Dip?

Delicious super bowl crack corn dip is served warm and made from frozen corn, green chilies, sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese and spices. It tastes great with tortilla chips, tostadas, crackers or pita chips. Even tough this creamy dip only takes 20 minutes in the oven, it can also be cooked in a slow cooker. Hot cheesy corn dip is also often called cowboy corn dip, Mexican corn dip or fiesta corn dip.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: creamy hot dip packed with corn and melty cheese, that tastes heavenly on a salty chip
Main Ingredients: frozen corn, green chilies, sour cream, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, black pepper and garlic salt
Cooking Method: oven baked
Cooking Time: 10 minutes prep time, 20 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: plain tortilla chips, tostadas, flavored corn chips, pita chips, crackers
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, vegetarian
Special Equipment Needed: large bowl, cooking spoon or spatula, 8×8-inch baking dish, pie pan

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this crack corn dip recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this corn dip recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Corn Crack Dip Ingredients

3 cups frozen corn (thawed and drained)
4 oz can diced green chilies
1 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
8 oz shredded cheese such as sharp cheddar and/or Pepper Jack cheese (2 cups)
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic salt

Optional Garnish

sliced jalapeños, freshly chopped cilantro, diced green peppers or red peppers, sliced green onions

Variations and Substitutions

Corn: We use regular frozen corn, but you can substitute white corn, fresh corn or sweet corn for a hint of sweetness.

Bacon: If you love bacon, add ¼ cup cooked, crumbled up bacon to this Mexican corn dip. It adds so much flavor.

Peppers: If you like to add a little splash of color to this delicious dip add some chopped green or red peppers.

Little Kick of Spice: For a little bit of extra spice, add some cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeños to the dip.

Toppings: Before serving this hot corn dip top the dip bowl with some freshly sliced jalapeños or green onions.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this Mexican inspired corn dip recipe, try our Frito Pie with Ground Beef. This yummy, quick and easy comfort food pairs perfectly with crack corn dip.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a small commission of the sale.

Baking Dish or Pie Plate — We are using a 9inch pie plate for this recipe. However, a square baking dish would work well too.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook corn chip dip in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the printable recipe card below.

MIX INGREDIENTS: Firstly, set aside ½ cup of the grated cheese. Afterwards stir together all remaining cheesy dip ingredients.

TOP WITH CHEESE: Then transfer to an oven-proof, shallow baking dish or pie plate. Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the dip.

BAKE AND SERVE: Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve this party dip immediately with your favorite chips.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love serving easy to make dips at parties then try our amazing Buckeye Dip. This sweet dessert dip tastes just like a mix of buckeye candies and peanut butter frosting!

Make Ahead

You can easily assemble this scrumptious dip several hours or even 2 days ahead of time. Tightly cover the dish with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you are ready to bake.

Slow Cooker Corn Dip

Additionally to the oven method, you can also make this easy chip dip recipe in a crockpot. Simply combine the dip ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours. Shortly before the cooking time is over (about 10 minutes) give the dip a good stir and top with the remaining cheese.

Stef says….

Another corn side dish or snack I can’t get enough of is Mexican Street Corn. This is no ordinary corn on the cob. Chargrilled corn is smothered in a spicy and creamy sauce mixture and then topped with chopped cilantro and cotija cheese! It gets my mouth watering just thinking about it!

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make award winning crack corn dip.

Tip: For perfectly creamy texture, make sure to soften the cream cheese before blending it with the remaining ingredients.
Tip: Use frozen or fresh summer corn for this dip. While you can use white, yellow or sweet corn, we do not recommend canned corn for this crack corn dip recipe.
Tip: Due to the high dairy content we recommend not leaving this dip out for more than 2 hours.

More Dip Recipes

If you love this easy dip recipe, then you’ll enjoy our 7 layer dip or nacho cheese dip as well as these delicious dip recipes:

Andrea says….

My favorite thing to bring to a party is chips and dip! I especially love show stopping dips like this Cheesy Jalapeño Dip! I will give you fair warning…this dip is addictive!

More Party Food Recipes

Scrumptious crack corn dip pairs well with these other yummy party snacks, for the perfect party or game night spread:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store cowboy corn dip leftovers in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing this dip, because its consistency might change after defrosting.

How To Reheat

Reheat leftover fiesta corn dip in the microwave. However, you can also serve leftovers as cold corn dip. Just give it a good stir before serving.

Common Questions

Can I add any toppings to this easy appetizer?

By all means!! We recommend freshly chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, green onions or chopped bell pepper.

How long can this crowd-pleasing dip sit out at room temperature?

We recommend leaving this dip out at room temperature no longer than two hours. After that, in order to stay food safe, give it some time in the fridge to cool down. You can reheat leftovers later or serve them as a cold dip.

Crack Corn Dip Recipe

Creamy and flavorful dip chock full of cheesy corn, that tastes amazing with tortilla chips.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, keto, Mexican

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Keyword corn chip dip, corn dip, crack corn dip recipe, easy chip dip, super bowl crack corn dip

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 269kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

mixing bowl
cooking spoon or spatula
baking dish or pie plate

Ingredients

3 cups frozen corn thawed and drained
4 oz can diced green chilies
1 cup sour cream
8 oz cream cheese softened
8 oz cheddar cheese and/or pepper jack cheese grated (2 cups)
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

First preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Set aside ½ cup of the grated cheese and then stir together all remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Transfer mixed dip to an oven-proof, shallow baking dish or pie plate.
Next, sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top.
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Notes

Tip: For perfectly creamy texture, make sure to soften the cream cheese before blending it with the remaining ingredients.

Tip: Use frozen or fresh summer corn for this dip. While you can use white, yellow or sweet corn, we do not recommend canned corn for this crack corn dip recipe.

Tip: Due to the high dairy content we recommend not leaving this dip out for more than 2 hours.

Nutrition

The post Crack Corn Dip appeared first on Family Dinners.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Crockpot Recipe

Andrea + Stef — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 14:39:44 +0000

Crockpot buffalo chicken dip is a great appetizer or party food, that can be served at dinner parties, family gatherings, or game days. It only uses 6 simple ingredients and can be prepared up to 2 days ahead of time. This scrumptious combination of juicy chicken, zingy ranch dressing, hot buffalo sauce and cheese is everyone’s favorite. You can even make this crowd-pleasing party snack in the oven, if you prefer. This is the best buffalo chicken dip crockpot recipe and you can serve it with chips, crackers, veggies or toasted white bread at your next party.

What is Buffalo Chicken Dip?

This game day and super bowl party staple is a creamy mixture of cream cheese, ranch dressing, shredded chicken, buffalo hot sauce, green onions and cheese. It is basically the dip version of buffalo chicken wings. Crockpot buffalo chicken dip pairs well with corn chips, crackers, toasted white bread and fresh veggie sticks.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: creamy and spicy chicken dip that can be served as an appetizer or party food, all the flavor of buffalo chicken wings without the mess

Main Ingredients: cream cheese, cheddar cheese, spicy buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, chicken breasts, green onions, blue cheese crumbles (optional)

Cooking Method: Crockpot (slow cooker)

Cooking Time: prep time 10 minutes, cook time 90 minutes

Pairs well with: tortilla chips, pita chips, toasted white bread, bell peppers, celery sticks, carrot sticks

Diets: keto friendly, gluten free

Special Equipment Needed: slow cooker, cooking spoon or spatula

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this crockpot buffalo chicken dip in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this buffalo chicken dip recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese (cut into pieces)
3 cups grated cheddar cheese (divided)
¾ cup buffalo sauce
1 cup ranch dressing
3 cups cooked shredded chicken breast
½ cup chopped green onions

Optional Garnish

blue cheese crumbles, sliced green onions

Variations and Substitutions

Cheese: Substitute shredded cheddar with Monterrey Jack or mozzarella cheese, if you like. We do recommend shredding your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese.

Cooked Chicken: You can use oven baked chicken breasts, meat from a rotisserie chicken or even canned chicken for this delicious dip.

Hot Sauce: Use your favorite brand of buffalo sauce, such as Frank’s or Texas Pete, for example.

Adjust Spiciness: In case you like your dip a bit more on the milder side, reduce the amount of hot sauce by a ¼ cup and add a ¼ cup more ranch dressing or sour cream. You can also add buffalo sauce by ¼ cups full until you find your right amount of spice.

Blue Cheese: You can leave out the blue cheese completely, if you prefer. A great way to dial up the blue cheese flavor is by substituting a ¼ cup of ranch with blue cheese dressing. Moreover you can add some extra blue cheese crumbs directly into the dip.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this buffalo chicken dip crockpot recipe, try our Easy Homemade Ranch Dip Recipe. You’ll love it because this cool, creamy and zingy dip pairs perfectly with spicy chicken dip.

Andrea says….

If you are looking for a scrumptious vegetarian game day dip, try my Easy Cheesy Jalapeño Dip. Fresh jalapenos and cheese dip? That’s a winning combination! It’s like a jalapeno popper dip.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Crockpot — This recipe requires a slow cooker. We use a 6 qt. basic Crockpot brand slow cooker. It works wonderfully. If you’re planning to take your Crockpot to potlucks you’ll want to check out this one that has a locking lid. A slow cooker has an inner pot called the crock. Neither the crock nor the lid are oven safe on most machines. Do not put them in the oven.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook the best buffalo chicken dip in the slow cooker, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

COMBINE INGREDIENTS: Firstly combine cream cheese, 2 cups of cheddar cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and the chicken breast in the bowl of a quart crock pot. Then stir until blended thoroughly.

COOK: Cook on high heat for 1-2 hours, or until heated through. Afterwards stir well before topping with the remaining cheese. Put the lid back on the pot, then cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is fully melted.

ADD CHEESE AND SERVE: Finally, garnish with blue cheese crumbles and green onions. Then serve with chips, toasted baguette, or raw vegetables.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love spicy chicken appetizers then you’ll love our Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Wings. Bursting with flavor, these spicy chicken wings are not only a perfect appetizer but can also be served as a great weeknight meal.

Make Ahead

You can assemble this crockpot hot dip recipe up to 2 days ahead of time. Make sure to cover tightly with cling wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Oven Baked Buffalo Wings Dip

You can also cook this perfect appetizer in the oven if you prefer. Blend all the dip ingredients in a mixing bowl and then transfer the dip to a shallow baking dish. Make sure to soften the cream cheese first, in order for it to blend properly with the other ingredients. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and bake for 25-30 minutes at 375ºF. Top with blue cheese crumbles if desired and serve.

Stef says….

Buffalo chicken dip is our go-to appetizer during football season. However, if I want to mix it up a little I make these delicious and easy recipes for Buffalo Chicken Meatballs or Buffalo Chicken Fries.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best crock pot buffalo chicken dip.

Tip: For best results use freshly cooked chicken breast.
Tip: Grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains additives and therefore does not provide the same amazing flavor as freshly grated cheese.
Tip: Taste your dip mixture before cooking, to adjust spiciness. Add more hot sauce for a spicier version, or dial down the heat by adding some sour cream, mayonnaise or more ranch dressing.

More Delicious Warm Dip Recipes

If you love this buffalo dip recipe, then you’ll enjoy our 7 layer dip or nacho cheese dip as well as these delicious homemade dip recipes:

More Crockpot Recipes

Have you tried any of our other scrumptious slow cooker recipes? They are perfect if you love easy and flavorful recipes, that require a minimum of hands-on preparation.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover dip in an airtight container, ziploc bag, or bowl covered in plastic wrap or aluminum foil in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Freeze: Transfer your leftover slow cooker buffalo chicken dip to a freezer-safe container or ziploc freezer bag and then freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: A great way to thaw easy crockpot buffalo chicken dip leftovers is overnight in the fridge.

How To Reheat

Reheat buffalo chicken wings dip leftovers in a microwave safe dish in the microwave or in a baking dish in the oven, until heated through and bubbly.

Common Questions

What is the best type of cooked chicken meat to use for this easy buffalo chicken dip?

As a matter of fact you can pretty much use any kind of cooked chicken. It all comes down to personal preference. We love using cooked chicken breast. Simply season boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then cook in the oven at 400ºF for 25 minutes or until they reach 165ºF at the thickest part. Then shred or cut into small pieces. Additionally, you can use the breast meat of a rotisserie chicken or canned chicken breast is another great option.

What is the best brand of hot sauce for this crockpot buffalo chicken dip recipe?

We love using Frank’s Red Hot Wing Sauce for this cheesy dip. However, you can also try other hot wing sauces such as Texas Pete, Crystal, or Anchor Bar.

What do I serve this spicy and creamy dip with?

The best part about this amazing super bowl buffalo chicken dip: it goes with almost everything. Serve this delicious appetizer with freshly cut veggies, such as celery sticks, baby carrots, cucumber slices or bell pepper sticks, for example. There are also lots of choices when it comes to chips and crackers. This delicious blend of chicken, cheese and hot sauce tastes great with tortilla chips, tostadas, salty crackers, pita chips or toasted French bread slices.

How do I serve spicy chicken dip?

Our favorite way to serve this dip is directly in the slow cooker. If you have an outlet close to your serving table, keep the crockpot plugged in and on the warm setting. This keeps your dip warm and melty for everyone to enjoy. If not, simply leaving the dip in the warm crockpot insert should keep it warm and gooey, as well.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Crockpot Recipe

Creamy mix of cheese, chicken and hot sauce, that makes the perfect game day party snack. This buffalo chicken dip can be cooked and kept warm in a slow cooker.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, keto

Diet Gluten Free

Keyword buffalo chicken dip in the slow cooker, crockpot buffalo chicken dip, spicy chicken dip, superbowl buffalo chicken dip recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1 30

Total Time 1 40

Servings servings

Calories 280kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

slow cooker
cooking spoon or spatula

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese cut into pieces
3 cups cheddar cheese grated and divided
¾ cup buffalo sauce
1 cup ranch dressing
3 cups cooked chicken breast shredded
½ cup green onions chopped
blue cheese crumbles optional

Instructions

In the bowl of a crockpot, combine cream cheese, 2 cups of cheddar cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, and the chicken breast.
Stir ingredients together until well blended.
Cook on high heat for 60-90 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.
After a good stir, top with remaining cheddar cheese and put the lid back on the pot. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, until cheese is fully melted.
Finally, garnish with blue cheese crumbles and green onions. Serve with chips, toasted baguette, or raw vegetables.

Notes

Serving Suggestions:

Fresh chopped vegetables: cut up carrots, bell peppers or celery
Chips: tortilla chips or pita chips
Bread: crusty bread, baguette

Tips

For best results use freshly cooked chicken breast.

Grate your own cheese. Pre-grated cheese contains additives and therefore does not provide the same amazing flavor as freshly grated cheese.

Taste your dip mixture before cooking, to adjust spiciness. Add more hot sauce for a spicier version, or dial down the heat by adding some sour cream, mayonnaise or more ranch dressing.

Nutrition

The post Buffalo Chicken Dip Crockpot Recipe appeared first on Family Dinners.

Cannoli Dip

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:24:25 +0000

If you love the creamy texture of cannoli filling then this Italian dessert dip is the perfect sweet treat for you. This rich and sweet dip is basically a deconstructed cannoli. It only uses 5 ingredients and is ready in just 5 minutes. You can serve this crowd-pleasing dessert as a party snack or even dessert after dinner. It tastes great with cannoli chips, waffle cone pieces, cookies, or graham crackers. This is the best ricotta and mascarpone cannoli dip you have ever tasted!

What is Cannoli Dip?

Cannoli dip is the creamy and delicious filling of traditional cannoli recipes turned into an amazing sweet dip. Regular cannoli dip is usually made from ricotta, mascarpone, sugar, vanilla and chocolate chips. This perfect dessert is then served with cannoli chips, cone pieces, waffle cookies or graham crackers.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: rich and creamy inside of a cannoli in dip form served with cookies, crackers or waffle pieces
Main Ingredients: whole milk ricotta, mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, mini chocolate chips
Cooking Method: no bake
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time
Pairs well with: waffle cones, cannoli shells, graham crackers, pizzelle cookies, fresh fruit
Diets: gluten free, vegetarian
Special Equipment Needed: medium bowl, spatula, stand mixer or handheld electric mixer

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this cannoli dip with mascarpone cheese in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the local grocery store! If this is your first time making this cannoli dip recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Easy Cannoli Dip Ingredients

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1 cup mascarpone cheese (or substitute cream cheese)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Optional Garnish

more chocolate chips

Variations and Substitutions

Chocolate Chips: Substitute dark chocolate chips with milk chocolate chips. Make sure, however, to always use miniature chocolate chips with dip.

Mascarpone Cheese: You can substitute cream cheese in a pinch. Make sure it’s almost at room temperature otherwise it wont blend smoothly with the ricotta.

Sugar: Substitute confectioner’s sugar for the powdered sugar.

Zest: In case you would like a bit of citrus flavor in your delicious dip, add some orange zest or lemon zest to this decadent cannoli dessert.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this delicious cannoli cream dip recipe, then try our amazing Cookie Dough Dip. You’ll love it because it is actually a safe way to satisfy your cookie dough craving!

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Mixing Bowl — For best results use a clean and dry glass or porcelain bowl to mix this easy cookie dough dip recipe.

Electric Mixer – Use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer with a paddle attachment or beaters to whip up this easy dip.

Instructions

This section shows how to make creamy Italian cannoli dip, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE RICOTTA: In case there is excess liquid in the ricotta or in the mascarpone, place them in a fine mesh sieve over a large bowl and drain for at least 30 minutes.

BLEND CREAMY BASE: Firstly, cream together the ricotta and mascarpone until fluffy, using a stand mixer or handheld mixer. Then slowly beat in powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS: Afterwards fold in or carefully mix in the chocolate chips.

SERVE: Finally, transfer creamy dip to a serving bowl and use remaining chocolate chips to garnish. Then serve with your favorite dippers such as chocolate chip cookies, graham crackers, waffle cone pieces, or vanilla wafters.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love Italian inspired desserts then you’ll love our Glazed Limoncello Cake Loaf. Super moist and full of bright flavor, this quick bread is baked with limoncello liqueur and topped with a sweet, boozy limoncello glaze.

Stef says….

Holy cannoli, this dip tastes amazing! However, if you got some extra time, give my true Italian Cannoli Recipe a whirl. No more need to go to an Italian bakery, they are just to die for!

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best homemade cannoli dip.

Tip: Use top quality ricotta cheese for this recipe. We recommend very fine-grained, whole milk ricotta to get a smooth and creamy texture.
Tip: Make sure ricotta and mascarpone cheese do not contain any excess liquid, otherwise your sweet dip might become runny.
Tip: Use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer to cream together the base for this dip. That way the dip will get a lot fluffier.

More Sweet Dip Recipes

Creamy and delicious sweet dips are quick and easy to make and a real crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Take a look at some of our other favorite dessert dip recipes:

More No Bake Dessert Recipes

Sometimes you just want to satisfy your sweet tooth without having to cook or bake anything. Here are some of our favorite dessert recipes that don’t require an oven but are surely out of this world delicious:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover dip in an airtight container, other sealed container or a small bowl covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After that, give your dessert dip leftovers a good stir before serving again.

Common Questions

How long can this no bake cannoli dip sit out at room temperature?

We recommend leaving this dip out at room temperature no longer than two hours. After that, in order to stay food safe, give it some time in the fridge to cool down again.

What should I serve with this easy dip?

The best part about this chocolate chip cannoli dip recipe is that it goes with almost everything. Some of our favorite things to serve alongside this dip are waffle cone pieces, chocolate chip cookies, graham crackers, cannoli chips and pretzels, for example. However, you can get creative and serve this dip with whatever you like best.

Cannoli Dip Recipe With Mascarpone Cheese

Creamy cannoli filling turned into a scrumptious dip that tastes great with cookies, graham crackers and cone pieces.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Italian, vegetarian

Diet Gluten Free

Keyword cannoli dip recipe, cannoli dip with mascarpone cheese, how to make cannoli dip, superbowl cannoli dip, sweet cannoli dip

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

mixing bowl
hand mixer
spatula

Ingredients

1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup mascarpone cheese or cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

If there is excess liquid in the ricotta or in the mascarpone, place them in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl and drain for at least 30 minutes.
In a bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together ricotta and mascarpone until smooth and creamy.
Slowly beat in powdered sugar and vanilla extract.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Serve with waffle cone pieces, chocolate chip cookies, graham crackers, etc.

Notes

Tip: Use top quality ricotta cheese for this recipe. We recommend very fine-grained, whole milk ricotta to get a smooth and creamy texture.

Tip: Make sure ricotta and mascarpone cheese do not contain any excess liquid, otherwise your sweet dip might become runny.

Tip: Use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer to cream together the base for this dip. That way the dip will get a lot fluffier.

The post Cannoli Dip appeared first on Family Dinners.

Granny Smith Apple Pie

Andrea + Stef — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 03:17:00 +0000

If you don’t have a favorite fall dessert or apple pie recipe you need one. This granny smith apple pie recipe is a keeper all year round. We’ll show you how to make apple pie. This a simple apple pie recipe that anyone can make. No taking hours to soak your apples. The apple pie filling turns out perfectly. The combination of sweet and tart and flakey goodness is perfection. Just look at it!

For this simple apple pie recipe you can make your own flaky crust (we love Stef’s pie crust recipe) or buy a double pie crust if you want. We love the homemade crust and it’s really quick to make!

The best apple pie recipe has a top crust. You can make them with fancy cutouts or just leave them plain. Isn’t that little apple pie cutout adorable? If you have more than one pie on the counter it’s an easy way to identify which one has the apple pie filling.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: flaky homemade pie crust with succulent and delicious granny smith apple pie filling
Main Ingredients: apples, granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, salt, butter, spices, pie crust
Cooking Method: oven baked
Cooking Time: 30 minutes prep time, 45 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: vanilla ice cream, whipped cream
Diets: vegetarian
Special Equipment Needed: pie pan, pastry blender, apple slicer

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this best apple pie recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this classic apple pie recipe you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Best Apple Pie Ingredients

6 cups apple slices (Granny Smith or Pippin)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ – ¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
dash salt
2 tablespoon butter
2 unbaked pie crusts

Variations and Substitutions

Apples: We love using granny smith apples, however, if you like using a different type of apple make sure to pick tart apples. Moreover, you can also use a combination of apples. You can find more detailed information on how to pick the best apples below.

Sugar: We use granulated sugar in this pie. If you prefer, you can use a combination of brown and white sugar.

Spices: Substitute homemade apple pie spice mix for cinnamon and nutmeg.

Lemon: You’ll need a little lemon juice to prevent the apples from turning brown. Fresh or bottled is fine.

Possible Variations:

Carmel Apple Pie: Drizzle a little caramel over the finished pie. Yum!
Cinnamon Roll Pie Crust: Mix 1 cup of granulated sugar with 2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon. Spread 1 tablespoon of softened butter onto your rectangular shaped rolled out pie crust then distribute half your cinnamon and sugar on top (you’ll do this for 2 pie crusts). Next, roll the dough into a log shape, Pinch the ends to seal it up then wrap in a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. Next, slice each log into ½”-thick rounds. Then flour the rolling surface and arrange the cinnamon roll rounds into a tight circle. Lightly flour and roll it out to a round pie crust. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Cranberry Apple Pie: Omit come apple and add 2 cups of cranberries to your apple pie filling.
Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie: If you love cheese and apples try this cheddar crust with your apple pie filling.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this perfect apple pie recipe with granny smith apples, try our Spiked Apple Cider. A warm, spiced spiked apple cider with hints of orange, cinnamon, anise, and cranberries spiked with the subtle sweetness of Tuaca.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Pastry Blender — We love using this pastry blender to work butter into flour and sugar. Works quick and keeps the mess to a minimum.

Apple Slicer – We love this easy to use apple slicer, because it makes cutting up apples for fruit salad, apple pies or apple crisps so much quicker.

Pie Plate – This recipe requires a 9-inch pie plate. We love using this pie pan, because it comes with a lid for easy storage and transportation of pies. Moreover, it is also freezer safe, in case you are planning on freezing your pie.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook this easy apple pie recipe in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Firstly, peel, remove cores, and slice the apples. Then squeeze lemon juice over the apples and toss to prevent browning. Afterwards preheat oven to 425°F and prepare one unbaked pie crust by rolling and fitting it into a 9″ pie dish.

MAKE APPLE PIE FILLING: In a large bowl, add sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt to the apples and toss to combine well.

ASSEMBLE PIE: Afterward pour apple mixture into the prepared pie pan lined with the unbaked bottom crust. Then cut butter into small pieces and place over the top of the apple mixture.

COVER PIE: With a rolling pin, roll out second piece of pie dough on a lightly floured surface. Then center it over the top of the pie. Seal top and bottom crusts together around the edges. Then sprinkle the top crust with additional sugar, if desired. Cut slits with a sharp knife (or a cute shape) into the top of the pie to allow the steam to escape while cooking.

BAKE: Then bake the double-crust pie for 40-50 minutes on the middle oven rack, until the apple filling is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Protect the crusts of the pie with strips of aluminum foil to prevent them from over-browning.

SERVE: Allow pie to cool completely before slicing. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. We love Andrea’s no-churn vanilla bean ice cream.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love homemade apple pie with ice cream then you’ll love Andrea’s Apple Pie Ice Cream. This rich and creamy apple pie ice cream recipe can be made with an ice cream maker or without as a no-churn ice cream.

How To Choose Apple For A Simple Apple Pie Recipe

Baking apples are often different than the apples you’d choose to eat. We love the Granny Smith apple pie because of the apple’s tartness. They hold up well after baking, which is important. We love the Pippin apple for the same reason. It’s firmness makes it perfect for baking. It’s highly aromatic, rich flavor is just what you want in a pie.

If you want something a little sweeter, try the Honeycrisp apple. It is extra crisp and holds up well after baking, too. I also love baking with the Golden Delicious apple. It’s sweet and bakes well but will become a little softer than some other varieties when baked.

Stef says….

Another one of my favorite apple desserts is Apple Bread Pudding. Each bite is warm, chewy, and melt in your mouth delicious.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best apple pie recipe.

Tip: Use slightly sweet and tart apples such as granny smith or pippin.
Tip: Make your own apple pie crust. It doesn’t take long to make a quick pie crust recipe, but it makes all the difference when it comes to flakiness and flavor.
Tip: Don’t let the top of your pie brown too fast. Cover the top edge with aluminum foil, to keep the crust from catching.

More Apple Recipes

When apple season rolls around and farmers markets are bursting with juicy apples we love turning them into perfect autumn desserts. Here are some of our best apple recipes:

More Fruit Pie Recipes

Another one of our dessert favorites during the summer months are fruity hand pies. These classic American treats combine a sweet and flaky crust with a flavorful and juicy fruit filling.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store apple pie leftovers tightly wrapped with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The FDA will tell you that it will last 3-4 days but for the best taste you’ll want to eat it within 2 days.

Freeze: Once your pie is completely cool, double wrap in aluminum foil or store in a freezer safe container or freezer bag. Label then freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: The best way to thaw apple pie is in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, you can keep it on the counter for a couple of hours.

How To Reheat

In case you prefer eating homemade apple pie warm, pop it in the microwave for a couple of seconds.

Common Questions

How do you make apple pie healthier?

We’re firm believers in just eating smaller portions rather than sacrificing taste. But if you must, use less sugar or a sugar substitute and omit the butter.

How to make apple pie gluten free?

I love a good gluten free flour mix as a substitute for all purpose flour. I usually Use Cup 4 Cup or King Arthur’s brands of gluten free flour mix. Sometimes a dessert needs more than that to make the gluten free version work well. Try this gluten free pie crust recipe (or buy a gluten free crust) and substitute your gluten free flour for the flour in this recipe.

How to make apple pie vegan/dairy free?

Use Stef’s oil pie crust recipe. Then substitute your favorite butter alternative for the 2 tablespoons required in the apple pie filling recipe.

Granny Smith Apple Pie Recipe

Classic apple pie recipe with the perfect balance of tart apples and a sweet filling in a sugar-sprinkled crust. Make this delicious apple pie dessert to accompany any meal.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword apple pie recipe, granny smith apple pie, homemade apple pie recipe, perfect apple pie

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 15

Servings

Calories 309kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

pie plate
apple slicer
mixing bowl
knife and cutting board
Rolling Pin

Ingredients

6 cups sliced apples Granny Smith or Pippin
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½-¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
dash salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 unbaked pie crusts

Instructions

Peel, remove cores, and slice the apples.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Prepare one unbaked pie crust by rolling and fitting it into a 9" pie plate.
Squeeze lemon juice over the apples and toss to prevent browning.
Add sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt to the apples and toss to combine well.
Pour apple mixture into a prepared, unbaked pie crust.
Cut butter into small pieces and place over the top of the apple mixture.
Roll out second unbaked pie crust and center over the top of the pie. Seal top and bottom crusts together around the edges.
Sprinkle the top of the pie with additional sugar, if desired. Cut slits (or a cute shape) into the top of the pie to allow the steam to escape while cooking.
Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the pie is bubbling and the crust is golden brown. Protect the crusts of the pie with strips of aluminum foil to prevent them from over-browning.
Allow pie to cool completely before slicing. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Notes

Follow these tips to make the best apple pie recipe:

Use slightly sweet and tart apples such as granny smith or pippin.

Make your own apple pie crust. It doesn’t take long to make a quick pie crust recipe, but it makes all the difference when it comes to flakiness and flavor.

Don’t let the top of your pie brown too fast. Cover the top edge with aluminum foil, to keep the crust from catching.

Nutrition

The post Granny Smith Apple Pie appeared first on Family Dinners.

How To Make Homemade Apple Pie Spice

Andrea + Stef — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 15:42:00 +0000

There is nothing better than the fragrant aroma of a freshly baked apple pie. If you also love everything apple pie, then our homemade apple pie spice mix is the perfect recipe for you. This homemade spice blend is a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger and cardamom that comes together in less than 5 minutes. It does not only taste amazing in apple pie, but can also be added to apple crisp, apple turnovers, apple muffins or even fruit salad. This is the best homemade version of apple pie spice that adds just the right amount of cozy fall flavors to your favorite apple recipes.

What is Apple Pie Spice?

Traditionally, apple pie spice is a blend of warm spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice and cardamom. Even though it is called apple PIE spice, you can use it in many other dishes besides apple pie filling. Apple spice tastes great in apple turnovers, fried apples, apple bread pudding or apple muffins.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: fragrant spice blend that takes all your favorite fall and apple desserts to the next level
Main Ingredients: cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, ground ginger, ground cardamom
Cooking Method: no bake
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time
Pairs well with: apple pie, apple cider, apple turnovers, apple crisps or any other apple dessert
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan
Special Equipment Needed: small bowl, small whisk

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this apple pie spice recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the local grocery store! If this is your first time making this easy homemade apple pie spice you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Apple Pie Spice Ingredients

3 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
1 ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Variations and Substitutions

Ground Cloves: You can also add some ground cloves to this blend of spices if you like.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you loved this homemade apple pie spice recipe, try adding it to our amazing Fall Fruit Salad. This colorful fruit salad is full of apples and citrus flavors. A homemade dressing adds sweetness and warm fall spices.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Mixing Bowl — For best results use a clean and dry glass or porcelain bowl to mix your own homemade apple pie spice substitute.

Instructions

This section shows how to make apple pie seasoning, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

MIX SPICES: Firstly, add all the spices to a dry glass mixing bowl and then whisk until blended. Afterwards use directly in a recipe or store in an airtight container or spice jar until ready to use.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love scrumptious apple desserts then you’ll love our Apple and Blackberry Crumble. It’s a delicious sweet and tart dessert with a crumble topping.

Andrea says….

I love using this flavorful combination of spices for my delicious Apple Pie Ice Cream!

Recipe Tips

Follow these expert tips to make your own apple pie spice mix.

Tip: Make sure your spices are fresh. Older spices often lose their flavor. In case your spices are discolored or have lost their aroma, toss them and buy new ones.
Tip: Measure amounts carefully to create the perfect combination of flavors.
Tip: Store homemade apple pie spice in a dry, airtight container, so it stays fresh for a long time.

What To Make With Apple Pie Spice

There are countless ways of using this scrumptious substitute for apple pie spice.

We love using it for our favorite apple desserts such as Granny Smith Apple Pie, Apple Crisp without Oats, Apple Turnovers, Dutch Caramel Apple Pie or Apple Blackberry Crumble.

It also tastes great in our Fall Fruit Salad, Andrea’s Apple Pull Apart Bread or Stef’s Apple Cheesecake Bars, Pumpkin Apple Muffins and Fried Apples. You can even use it to flavor our Spiked Apple Cider.

More Homemade Spice Blend Recipes

It is surprisingly easy to make the most delicious homemade spice mixes with pantry staples that you probably already have at home. They are so much better than store-bought versions. Here are some of our favorite seasoning blends:

How To Store

Room Temperature: In case you are not using your own apple pie spice substitute right away, store your own spice blend in an airtight container, ziploc bag, spice jar or other tightly sealed container until ready to use. We recommend keeping your own blend of apple pie seasoning in a dry place such as a spice rack or a dark place such as a spice cabinet. If the spices you used for this recipe were fresh, the apple pie spice blend will last for up to 2 years.

Common Questions

How do I turn this homemade apple pie spice substitute into a gift?

A jar of apple pie spice makes a great gift for family, friends or co-workers during the apple and fall season. Simply make a big batch of substitute apple pie seasoning and fill it in cute little spice jars, small mason jars or other tightly sealed containers. Add a homemade or handwritten label and decorate with a ribbon and cinnamon stick if you like.

Are there other ways to use apple pie spice besides baked goods and apple desserts?

Besides all things apple pie, you can use this blend of ground spices to flavor apple cider, mulled wine, greek yoghurt, oatmeal, ice cream, frostings, streusel topping, bread pudding, French toast as well as pancake batter.

What is the difference between pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice?

The main difference between pumpkin spice and apple spice is the addition of cloves and cardamom. While pumpkin seasoning includes ground cloves, apple pie spice has cardamom added instead. However, they are very similar otherwise, and can even swap them for each other in a pinch.

How do I store spices to keep them fresh longer?

We recommend storing common spices as well as diy blends in a dry, dark spot like a spice cabinet. It is important to protect spices from direct sunlight, to prevent discoloration.

Homemade Apple Pie Spice Recipe

Perfect spice blend that comes together in a minute and tastes great with all your favorite apple recipes.

Course recipe staple

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword apple pie seasoning, apple pie spice recipe, apple pie spice substitute, substitute apple pie spice

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

small mixing bowl
small whisk

Ingredients

3 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Whisk together until evenly combined. Then use immediately or store in an airtight container.

The post How To Make Homemade Apple Pie Spice appeared first on Family Dinners.

How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Andrea + Stef — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 23:35:06 +0000

Have you ever wondered how to make homemade pumpkin pie spice? Then is the recipe for you. No more need for store-bought pumpkin pie spice, with this easy recipe that comes together in less than 5 minutes. This delicious pumpkin spice substitute is the perfect blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. It can be added to all your favorite pumpkin dessert recipes, quick breads, breakfasts, ice creams as well as a cup of coffee. It even makes the best pumpkin spice latte. You will want to make this scrumptious homemade spice blend again and again all pumpkin season long.

What is Pumpkin Pie Spice?

Traditionally, pumpkin spice is a blend of warm fall spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Even though it is called pumpkin PIE spice, you can use it in many other dishes besides pumpkin pie filling, and even drinks. Pumpkin spice tastes great in cookies, quick breads, pancakes, cheesecake and pumpkin muffins. Moreover, you can use this delicious spice to flavor your morning coffee, pumpkin spice lattes as well as pumpkin granola.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: delicious spice blend that takes all your favorite fall and pumpkin desserts to the next level
Main Ingredients: cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, ground allspice
Cooking Method: no bake
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time
Pairs well with: traditional pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cake or any other pumpkin spice treats
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, vegan
Special Equipment Needed: mixing bowl, small whisk

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this pumpkin pie spice recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this pumpkin pie substitute you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Ingredients

1 ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ tsp ground allspice

Variations and Substitutions

Black Pepper: In case you want to intensify the flavor of your own pumpkin pie spice add a pinch of ground black pepper to this easy recipe. (about ⅛ tsp) It will not make your favorite pumpkin spice recipes spicy but enhance and bring out their delicious flavor even more.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this fragrant pumpkin pie spice recipe, try our amazing Pumpkin Pie Bars. With a cinnamon cream cheese frosting and a pumpkin and yellow cake mix recipe it’s easy to make and not your average pumpkin cake recipe.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Mixing Bowl — For best results use a clean and dry glass or porcelain bowl to mix your own homemade pumpkin spice.

Instructions

This section shows how to make substitute pumpkin pie spice, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love everything pumpkin then you’ll love our delicious Pumpkin Bread. This wonderfully light and moist pumpkin bread is the perfect fall dessert and comes together in only 15 minutes.

Stef says….

There is nothing better on a cold morning than the warm and spicy flavor of my delicious Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls. The soft sweet pumpkin dough, covered in cream cheese frosting is just to die for.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make this delicious homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe.

Tip: Make sure your spices are fresh. Older spices often lose their flavor. In case your spices are discolored or have lost their aroma, toss them and buy new ones.
Tip: Measure amounts carefully to create the perfect combination of flavors.
Tip: Store homemade pumpkin spice in a dry, airtight container, so it stays fresh for a long time.

What To Make With Pumpkin Pie Spice

There are countless ways of using this scrumptious substitute for pumpkin pie spice.

We love using it for our favorite pumpkin breads: Pumpkin Bread, Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread or Pumpkin Bread With Chocolate Chips.

It also tastes great in breakfast treats such as Pumpkin Spice Pancakes, Pumpkin Pancakes with Pancake Mix, Oven Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts, Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll Muffins, oatmeal or pumpkin granola.

The delicious flavor of this homemade pumpkin spice of course also works great with pumpkin desserts like Pumpkin Pie Bars, Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes, Pumpkin Muffins With Cream Cheese, Pumpkin Ice Cream, Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes or Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce.

Andrea says….

Pumpkin pie spice tastes good with everything! We love to put some in pancakes, fall drinks or muffins.

More Homemade Spice Blend Recipes

It is surprisingly easy to make the most delicious homemade spice blends with pantry staples that you probably already have at home. They are so much better than store-bought versions. Here are some of our favorite seasoning blends:

How To Store

Room Temperature: In case you are not using your pumpkin spice substitute right away, store your own spice blend in an airtight container, ziploc bag, spice jar or other tightly sealed container until ready to use. We recommend keeping your own blend of pumpkin spice in a dry place such as a spice rack or a dark place such as a spice cabinet. If the spices you used for this recipe were fresh, the pumpkin pie spice blend will last for up to 2 years.

Common Questions

How do I turn this pumpkin pie spice substitute into a gift?

Homemade pumpkin pie spice makes a great gift for family, friends or co-workers during pumpkin spice season. Simply make a big batch of substitute pumpkin pie seasoning and fill it in cute little spice jars or other tightly sealed containers. Add a homemade or handwritten label and decorate with a ribbon and cinnamon stick if you like.

Are there other ways to use pumpkin spice besides baked goods and pumpkin desserts?

Besides all things pumpkin, you can use this blend of ground spices to flavor apple cider, mulled wine, greek yoghurt, oatmeal, ice cream, frostings, streusel topping, bread pudding as well as your morning coffee or even a cold brew.

What is the difference between pumpkin pie spice and apple pie spice?

How do I store spices to keep them fresh longer?

We recommend storing common spices as well as diy blends in an airtight container in a dry, dark spot like a spice cabinet. It is important to protect spices from direct sunlight, to prevent discoloration.

How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

Amazingly flavorful spice blend that comes together in less than 5 minutes and tastes great with all your favorite pumpkin recipes.

Course recipe staple

Cuisine American

Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword homemade pumpkin pie spice, how to make pumpkin spice, pumpkin pie spice recipe, pumpkin pie spice substitute, substitute pumpkin pie spice

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings teaspoons

Calories 7kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

mixing bowl
whisk

Ingredients

1½ tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Whisk together until evenly combined. Then use immediately or store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

The post How To Make Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice appeared first on Family Dinners.

Easy French Dip Sandwiches In The Oven

Andrea + Stef — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 14:50:54 +0000

In case you are wondering what to do with your beef roast leftovers, then look no further, we have the perfect recipe for you. This easy weeknight dinner combines crispy rolls, mouth tender beef and melty cheese with a succulent, warm au jus dipping sauce. Pure sandwich heaven! No more need to go to the sandwich shop as these delicious hot sandwiches are ready in only 20 minutes. This is the best recipe for easy French dip sandwiches and it will turn your leftovers into a most scrumptious meal your whole family will love.

What is a French Dip Sandwich?

For a French dip sandwich you layer tender beef slices such as roast beef, leftover beef roast or prime rib, for example, inside a hoagie bun or French roll. Afterwards top the meat with sliced cheese, such as Swiss cheese or provolone cheese. Toast in the oven until crispy on the outside with melty cheese in the middle, then serve with warm au jus dipping sauce.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: juicy beef and melty cheese come together for a perfect sandwich dipped into delicious homemade au jus sauce
Main Ingredients: hoagie rolls, roast beef (sliced leftover roast), provolone cheese, salted butter, au jus mix, sea salt, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion slices
Cooking Method: oven baked, stovetop
Nutrients: great source of protein with 40g per serving
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time, 15 minutes cook time
Pairs well with: chips, fries, potato wedges, salads
Special Equipment Needed: small saucepan, whisk, 9×13-inch baking dish , sheet pan, pastry brush

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this French dip sandwiches recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the local grocery stores! If this is your first time making these roast beef sandwiches with warm au jus you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

French Beef Dip Sandwiches Ingredients

4 hoagie buns
1 lb deli roast beef or sliced leftover beef roast
8 provolone cheese slices
2 tablespoon salted butter (melted)
Au jus gravy mix (5 teaspoon of homemade mix or 1 packet)
2 cups water or beef drippings

Optional Ingredients

½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
dash of soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
sliced onions or caramelized onions

Variations and Substitutions

Bread: Substitute hoagie rolls with French rolls or any other crusty roll.

Cheese: Substitute Swiss cheese or any other slice of cheese you prefer for the provolone cheese.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love dipping sandwiches in sauce then you’ll love our Easy Baked Cheesy Meatball Sub Sandwich. This meatball stuffed sandwich bake is cheesy and full of flavor and tastes divine dipped into marinara sauce.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Baking Dish — We use a 9×13-inch baking dish for toasting these delicious sandwiches in the oven. However a sheet pan works just as well.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook a classic French dip sandwich in the oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE: Firstly, heat oven to 400ºF.

MAKE AU JUS SAUCE: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, heat 2 cups of water or beef drippings leftover from cooking a roast. Then, add 5 teaspoons of the homemade au jus mix to the liquid and whisk until combined. Afterwards, bring to a boil then simmer for 15 minutes on low heat until it begins to thicken.

PREPARE SANDWICHES: While the au jus is cooking, layer ¼ lb of beef and 2 slices of cheese inside each roll. Additionally, you can spread a little worcestershire sauce on your roll and add onion slices, if you like. Afterwards, place rolls into a baking dish. Then, brush melted butter onto the top of each roll. Add a sprinkle of salt on top, if you prefer.

BAKE: Then place rolls in the oven on the center rack. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until the tops of the rolls are golden and slightly crispy.

FINISH AND SERVE: When au jus is slightly thickened, remove from heat. Afterwards, pour into 4 small dipping bowls. Finally, serve sandwiches with au jus.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love tender and juicy pot roast then you’ll love our Dutch Oven Pot Roast Recipe. This slow cooked, rich and melt in your mouth pot roast tastes delicious and its leftovers work amazing for French Dip Sandwiches.

Stef says….

When there isn’t enough time to slow cook a traditional beef roast, I love making my Instant Pot Pot Roast. This amazing one pot meal is ready in only an hour and leftovers can be used for delicious beef sandwiches.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best French dip sandwich in the oven.

Tip: A great way to add a little extra flavor is drizzling some Worcestershire sauce on the bottom half of your roll.
Tip: Tender beef that falls apart in your mouth is the key ingredient to this yummy sandwich. Make sure your beef is mouth tender and not chewy.
Tip: Don’t skip the toasting of the sandwiches. Crisping up the outside, gives the rolls more stability for dipping into the au jus sauce. Moreover it makes the cheese melty, gooey and simple to die for.

What To Serve With French Dip Sandwiches

We love to eat a delicious French dip sandwich all by itself. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Au jus dipping sauce: You can make the best au jus French dip sauce using our amazing Au Jus Seasoning Mix. Ready in only 5 minutes, it tastes so much better than any store-bought brand.

Vegetables: Serve this easy French dip recipe with delicious air fryer roasted vegetables such as Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Broccoli or Cauliflower.

Salad: Pair this best French dip sandwich with a fresh salad. A green salad like our amazing Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad. Or even an Asparagus Salad with Walnuts or a fruit salad.

Sides: Traditionally, French dip sliders are served with chips, Fries or Potato Wedges. It would taste great with Air Fryer Zucchini Fries as well, in case you want to cut some carbs.

More Sandwich Recipes

Scrumptious sandwiches not only make an amazing lunch, but they are also great for dinner, as an afternoon snack or part of a party spread. Here are some of our favorite sandwich recipes:

Andrea says….

The combination of tender beef and melted cheese dipped in warm au jus sauce make this hot sandwich absolutely irresistible for my whole family. We usually combine it with my Easy Greek Salad.

How To Store

Refrigerate: French dip sandwiches are best eaten fresh. However, you can wrap up cooled and undipped sandwiches in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then keep them in the refrigerator until the next day. Store prepared au jus gravy leftovers in a separate airtight container or ziploc bag in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Freeze: Firstly make sure your au jus gravy has cooled completely. Then transfer it to a freezer safe container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months. For easy portion control, we recommend freezing the au jus sauce first in an ice cube tray. As soon as the gravy cubes are solid, move them to a freezer-safe bag for longer storage in the freezer.

Defrosting: A great way to thaw au jus sauce is in the refrigerator overnight.

How To Reheat

Reheat defrosted au jus gravy in a saucepan on the stove or in a covered microwave save dish in the microwave. Additionally you can reheat your sandwiches in the microwave, oven or air fryer.

Common Questions

What is the best sliced beef to use for these sandwiches?

As a matter of fact you can use any flavorful beef you like for this classic sandwich. Deli meat, such as roast beef works extremely well. However, pretty much any leftover cooked beef, such as chuck roast, pot roast or prime rib, for example, makes a delicious sandwich.

What are beef/meat drippings?

While roast beef (roast chicken, or other meat) cooks juices or fat drippings gather at the bottom of the roasting pan. These juices that gather during the cooking process can be referred to as beef drippings, meat drippings, fat drippings, cooking liquid or pan juices.

How can I make my own au jus seasoning mix?

It takes in fact only 5 minutes and a handful of ingredients to make a delicious and versatile homemade au jus seasoning mix. Simply blend beef bouillon granules with cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley and pepper. For a detailed recipe and more tips take a look at our Au Jus Seasoning Mix Recipe.

Easy French Dip Sandwich in the Oven

Crispy sandwiches with sliced beef, melty cheese and a delicious au jus dipping sauce.

Course dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword french dip sandwich recipe, french dip sandwich, oven baked, french dips, the best french dip sandwich recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings sandwiches

Calories 494kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

small saucepan
whisk
baking dish
pastry brush

Ingredients

4 hoagie rolls
1 lb roast beef or sliced leftover roast
8 slices provolone cheese
2 tablespoon salted butter melted
5 tablespoon au jus mix or 1 packet
2 cups water or beef drippings

Optional Ingredients:

½ teaspoon sea salt flakes
dash of soy sauce
Worcestershire sauce
onion slices

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water and homemade au jus mix. Whisk until liquid begins to boil.
Lower temperature and simmer for 15 minutes or until gravy is slightly thickened. Optional: Add a dash of soy sauce to your au jus.
While the au jus is cooking, layer ¼ lb of beef and 2 slices of cheese inside each roll.
Optional: spread a little worcestershire sauce on your roll and add onion slices under the cheese slices.
Place rolls into a baking dish.
Brush melted butter onto the top of each roll. Optional: sprinkle each with a little salt.
Place in the oven on the center rack. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until the tops of the rolls are golden and slightly crispy.
When au jus is slightly thickened, remove from heat. Pour into 4 small dipping bowls.
Serve sandwiches with au jus.

Nutrition

The post Easy French Dip Sandwiches In The Oven appeared first on Family Dinners.

Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast Recipe With Vegetables

Andrea + Stef — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 20:46:17 +0000

This slow cooker tri-tip roast recipe with vegetables is a great alternative to a traditional Sunday pot roast. However, it is also a delicious meal for any special occasion. While this easy recipe only uses simple ingredients, it creates the most tender and juicy roast and perfectly cooked and seasoned potatoes and carrots. This nourishing meal tastes especially good during the colder months and can be served with roasted vegetables such as broccoli, green beans, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts. This is undoubtedly the best tri-tip roast recipe and your whole family will want to eat it over and over again!

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: incredibly tender and juicy slow cooker sirloin tip roast with flavorful gravy and potatoes and carrots cooked to perfection
Main Ingredients: red potatoes, carrots, onion, olive oil, tri-tip roast, canola oil, beef broth, garlic, Worchestershire sauce, cornstarch and spices
Cooking Method: Crockpot
Nutrients: amazing source of protein with 53g per serving
Cooking Time: 15 minutes of prep time, 2.5-8 hours cook time
Pairs well with: crusty bread, salad, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower or Brussels sprouts
Diets: gluten free, dairy free
Special Equipment Needed: slow cooker, small bowl, large skillet, wooden spoon, strainer, knife and cutting board, instant read thermometer

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this slow cooker tri-tip roast recipe with vegetables in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the local grocery store! If this is your first time making this tri tip roast in the crockpot you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Vegetable Ingredients

1 ½ pounds baby red potatoes (cut in half)
4 large carrots (peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces)
1 large onion (cut into chunks)
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt

Tri-Tip Ingredients

2 pounds tri tip roast
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon canola oil

Sauce Ingredients

2 cups beef broth
4 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 tablespoon dried onion flakes
¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
⅛ teaspoon paprika
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce

Optional Slurry

2 tablespoon water
2 tablespoon cornstarch

Variations and Substitutions

Canola Oil: You can substitute any other oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable or peanut oil, for example.

Tri-Tip Roast: Substitute chuck roast or rump roast, in case you cannot find a bottom sirloin roast.

Beef Broth: Additionally to beef broth, you can also use beef stock or chicken broth.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: For a fun twist on a traditional roast, try Stef’s Mississippi Pot Roast. By adding some ranch dressing mix and pepperoncinis, this juicy roast is simply bursting with flavor.

Pros & Cons of Cooking a Tri-Tip in a Crockpot

PROS

You don’t have to turn on the oven.
You can cook the whole meal at one time.
Most of the work is done at the beginning then you can forget about it until it’s done.
The gravy is a nice addition that you can’t get with a grilled tri-tip.
Nice alternative to a traditional Sunday pot roast.
You don’t have to own a grill.

CONS

Unlike grilled tri-tip, there is no caramelized exterior with the crockpot method.
The tri-tip has more of a slow cooked pot roast flavor than a steak flavor when cooked in the crockpot.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a small commission of the sale.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook tri-tip roast with vegetables in the slow cooker, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

PREPARE VEGETABLES: Firstly, arrange the potatoes, carrots, and onion in a large slow cooker. Then drizzle the vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle them with Italian seasoning and salt. Afterward, gently toss to coat.

SEASON AND SEAR MEAT: Make the tri-tip rub by combining the dried thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Then rub it into the whole roast. Afterwards, heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Quick sear the roast for 2 minutes on all sides. Then place the roast on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.

PREPARE COOKING JUICES: Add the minced garlic to the skillet, then pour in ½ cup of broth and scrape the browned bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon. Stir in the remaining broth, as well as the spices and Worcestershire sauce. Then bring to a simmer, before pouring over the roast in the slow cooker.

SLOW COOK: Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 2.5 hours. Remove from the crockpot when potatoes and carrots are fork tender. See notes for internal temperature suggestions for the roast.

OPTIONAL GRAVY: After removing the roast, potatoes and carrots to a platter, place a fine mesh strainer over a sauce pot. Then pour the juices from the crockpot into the strainer and discard leftovers from the strainer. Heat the cooking liquid over medium high heat on the stove. Make a cornstarch slurry. When juices are simmering, slowly whisk in the slurry to make a gravy and cook for 3-5 minutes until thickened.

FINISH: Finally slice tri-tip and pour gravy over the top of the vegetables and serve.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love tender beef with flavorful gravy then you’ll love our Instant Pot Beef Tips. The beef in this comfort food dinner falls apart in your mouth and the rich brown gravy with mushrooms and onions is the perfect pairing.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best slow cooker tri-tip roast recipe with vegetables.

Tip: Make sure not to cut the carrots too small. Otherwise they will be mushy by the time the meat and potatoes are done.
Tip: Don’t skip the searing. Browning the meat before cooking locks in the juices and adds a great deal of flavor.
Tip: For best results, slice a tri tip roast against the grain.

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast Recipe with Vegetables

We love to eat this tri tip roast slow cooker recipe all by itself. But sometimes you need to serve it as a meal. Try one of these delicious recipes:

Bread: Serve slow cooker tri-tip roast with crusty bread or soft dinner rolls. Garlic French Bread is made with fresh parmesan cheese and store-bought french bread. If you have extra time make Pizza Dough Garlic Knots, brushed with butter, seasoning and parmesan. Additionally, Andrea’s Copycat Lion House Rolls also go perfectly with this dish.

Salad: Pair this tender roast with a fresh salad. A green salad like our fabulous Italian Salad or Strawberry Avocado Salad with Poppyseed Dressing. Moreover, a Fall Fruit Salad with apples, grapes and dried cranberries would also go well.

Vegetable Sides: Traditionally, crock pot tri tip roast is served with Air Fryer Broccoli, Cauliflower, Green Beans or Brussels sprouts, for example. It would taste great with Air Fryer Beets as well.

More Pot Roast Recipes

If you love juicy and tender roasts that fall apart in your mouth, then you have to try our other scrumptious pot roast recipes for the Instant Pot and dutch oven:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Additionally, you can cover plated leftovers with plastic wrap, cling wrap or aluminum foil, for example. Put uneaten crockpot tri-tip roast with vegetables into the fridge no later than 2 hours after cooking.

Freeze: After the slow cooker roast and vegetables have cooled completely, transfer leftovers to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: The best way to thaw leftover tri tip roast with vegetables is overnight in the refrigerator.

How To Reheat

Reheat tri tip roast leftovers in the microwave.

Common Questions

What is a tri tip roast?

Tri tip roast is a triangular cut of meat from the bottom of the beef sirloin. It has gotten its name from its triangular shape, as it is wide on the top and tapers down to a tip. This triangle roast from the lower portion of the sirloin is also called California cut, Santa Maria steak, Newport steak or bottom sirloin tip.

Is this tri-tip roast slow cooker recipe good for sandwiches?

In case you end up with some leftover roast, you can in fact make amazing tri tip sandwiches the next day. Simply cut your favorite roll in half and add thinly sliced, cold tri tip roast. Then top with a slice of cheese, a little bit of mayonnaise, mustard, pickles and lettuce, for example, and you end up with the most scrumptious sandwich.

What is the ideal inside temperature of tri-tip roast au jus?

Due to the nature of this cut, the tri-tip temp when cooked, is similar to that of a steak. Cook to 130 to 135 °F for medium rare, 135 to 145 °F for medium, and 145°F to 155°F for medium well. Use an instant read meat thermometer to determine when your roast is done.

Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast Recipe With Vegetables

Incredibly tender meat with flavorful gravy and perfectly cooked potatoes and carrots. A perfect Sunday roast the entire family will love.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Diet Gluten Free, Low Lactose

Keyword crockpot tri tip roast recipe, slow cooker tri tip roast recipe, slow cooker tri tip roast with vegetables, tri tip roast in the crockpot

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 8

Total Time 8 15

Servings servings

Calories 679kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

crockpot
large skillet
wooden spoon
strainer
meat thermometer

Ingredients

Vegetable Ingredients

1½ lbs baby red potatoes cut in half
4 large carrots peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion cut into chunks
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt

Tri-Tip Roast Ingredients

2 lbs tri-tip roast
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon canola oil or other high heat oil

Sauce Ingredients

2 cups beef broth
4 cloves of garlic minced
2 tablespoon dried onion flakes
¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
⅛ teaspoon paprika
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Optional Slurry

2 tablespoon water
2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

In a large slow cooker, arrange the potatoes, carrots, and onion. Drizzle the vegetables with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle with the Italian seasoning and 1 teaspoon salt. Gently toss to coat.
Make the tri-tip rub in a small bowl. Combine the dried thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.
Then rub it into the tri-tip roast.
Afterwards, heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil in a large cast-iron skillet set over medium-high heat. Sear the roast for 2 minutes on all sides.
Place the roast on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker.
Add the minced garlic to the skillet, then pour in ½ cup of broth and scrape the browned bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon. Stir in the remaining broth, as well as the onion flakes, dried parsley, celery seed, paprika, pepper and Worcestershire sauce.
First bring to a simmer, then pour over the roast in the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 2.5 hours. Remove from the crockpot when potatoes and carrots are fork tender. See notes for internal temperature suggestions.
Remove the roast, potatoes and carrots to a platter.
Optional: Make a gravy. Place a fine mesh strainer over a sauce pot. Pour the juices from the crockpot into the strainer. Discard spices leftover in the strainer. Heat the saucepan with the juices over medium high heat on the stove. Make a cornstarch slurry. Mix together 2 tablespoons of water and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. When juices are simmering, slowly whisk in the slurry to make a gravy. Cook for 3-5 minutes until gravy is thickened.
Slice tri-tip and pour gravy over the top of the vegetables and serve.

Notes

Potatoes and carrots will take longer to cook than the tri-tip if they are too large.
Due to the nature of this cut, the tri-tip temp, when cooked, is similar to that of a steak. Cook to 130 to 135 °F for medium rare, 135 to 145 °F for medium, 145°F to 155°F for medium well.
Slice a tri tip against the grain.
Tri tip is great for making sandwiches because you can get nice slices of meat.

Serving

Serve with a side salad, crusty bread, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower or brussels sprouts

Nutrition

The post Slow Cooker Tri-Tip Roast Recipe With Vegetables appeared first on Family Dinners.

Buckeye Dip

Andrea + Stef — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 21:55:45 +0000

This delicious and decadent buckeye dip tastes just like a mix of buckeye candies and peanut butter frosting. Every buckeye fan will love this amazing sweet treat. It uses only 6 simple ingredients and is ready in just 5 minutes. Buckeye dip is the perfect addition to any party spread. It can be served with chocolate graham crackers, pretzels, Nilla wafers or cookies.

What is Buckeye Dip?

This delicious sweet dip is the deconstructed version of the popular homemade candy and game day snack, buckeyes. Buckeyes are chilled peanut butter balls dipped in melting chocolate. They originated in Ohio, which is also know as the “Buckeye State”. Moreover, Ohio’s state tree is also the buckeye tree. Buckeye dip is the perfect combination of distinct peanut butter flavor and chocolate chips. It tastes great with cookies, graham crackers, pretzels or wafers.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: traditional buckeye flavor in a delicious and creamy dip full of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Main Ingredients: cream cheese, creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, mini chocolate chips
Cooking Method: no bake
Cooking Time: 5 minutes prep time
Pairs well with: graham cracker sticks, cookies, chocolate graham crackers, animal crackers and Nilla wafers
Diets: gluten free, vegetarian
Special Equipment Needed: large bowl, cooking spoon or spatula, stand mixer or electric hand mixer (optional)

Ingredients

You may have all of these ingredients for this buckeye dip recipe in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store! If this is your first time making this creamy dip with peanut butter you might want to read the possible variations before deciding on your ingredients.

Buckeye Balls Dip Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 creamy peanut butter
1½ cups powdered sugar
1 cup heavy cream (whipped)
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Optional Garnish

more chocolate chips, chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups

Variations and Substitutions

Peanut Butter: Even though we recommend using creamy peanut butter for this super easy dessert dip, you can substitute crunchy peanut butter, in case you like a bit more of a crunch.

Chocolate Chips: Substitute dark chocolate chips with milk chocolate chips in this sweet dip.

Heavy Cream: You can substitute an 8 oz. thawed tub of Cool Whip for the fresh whipped cream.

Sugar: Substitute confectioner’s sugar for the powdered sugar.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love this peanut butter chocolate recipe, then try our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. You’ll love them because they are easy to make, soft, chewy and packed with peanut butter and chocolate chips.

Recommended Tools

Links to our favorite tools are affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link we may get a tiny portion of the sale.

Mixing Bowl — For best results use a clean and dry glass or porcelain bowl to mix this easy buckeye dip recipe.

Electric Mixer – Use a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer with a paddle attachment or beaters to whip up this easy dip.

Instructions

This section shows how to make peanut butter dip, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below.

BLEND CREAMY BASE: Firstly, cream cream cheese and peanut butter together in a large bowl until fluffy, using a stand mixer or hand mixer.

ADD SUGAR AND HEAVY CREAM: Afterwards beat in the powdered sugar and then the whipped cream.

ADD CHOCOLATE CHIPS: Then fold in or carefully mix in the chocolate chips.

SERVE: Afterwards, transfer dip to a serving bowl and then serve with your favorite dippers such as cookies, graham crackers, pretzels or animal crackers.

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love everything peanut butter and chocolate then you’ll love our Deep Fried Peanut Butter Balls. They are super yummy warm and even when they have cooled, which makes them the ideal party sweets.

Stef says….

Peanut butter buckeye balls are the perfect treat for fall and winter, but did you know you can use them to decorate the top of an even more indulgent chocolate peanut butter cheesecake? Swoon! Peanut butter lover heaven.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best buckeye dip with cream cheese.

Tip: Make sure your cream cheese is softened (almost at room temperature) before blending it with the peanut butter. That way our dip gets really smooth and creamy.
Tip: For best consistency, use a stand mixer or electric hand mixer to cream together the base for this dip. That way the dip will get a lot fluffier.
Tip: Fold in chocolate chips and other peanut butter add-ins to take the flavor of this sweet dip to the next level.

More Sweet Dip Recipes

Creamy and delicious sweet dips are quick and easy to make and a real crowd-pleaser at any gathering. Take a look at some of our other favorite dessert dip recipes:

More No Bake Dessert Recipes

Sometimes you just want to satisfy your sweet tooth without having to cook or bake anything. Here are some of our favorite dessert recipes that don’t require an oven but are still out of this world delicious:

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover dip in an airtight container, zip-top freezer bag, other sealed container or a small bowl covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After that, give your dessert dip leftovers a good stir before serving again.

Freeze: We do not recommend freezing this dip, as it would change the creamy texture of the dip.

Common Questions

What kind of chocolate chips are best with this dip?

As a matter of fact you can use any kind of chocolate you prefer, such as semi-sweet, milk or dark chocolate chips, for example. We recommend using mini chips though. Moreover, you can try mixing in peanut butter chips, or mini Reese’s pieces.

What should I serve with buckeye dip?

The best part about this chocolate chip peanut butter dip recipe is that it goes with a variety of dippers. Some of our favorite things to serve alongside this dip are cookies, graham crackers, chocolate graham crackers and pretzels, for example. However, you can get creative and serve this dip with whatever you like best.

How long can no bake buckeye dip sit out at room temperature?

We recommend leaving this dip out at room temperature no longer than two hours. After that, in order to stay food safe, give it some time in the fridge to cool down again.

What are buckeye candies?

Homemade buckeyes are basically round balls of peanut butter mixture that are dipped in melted chocolate to make them look like buckeye nuts. They are the ultimate sweet treat and an extremely popular snack during fall, winter, as well as football season.

Buckeye Dip

Creamy and delicious peanut butter dip with cream cheese that tastes just like buckeye candies.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, vegetarian

Diet Gluten Free

Keyword buckeye ball dip, peanut butter cheesecake dip, peanut butter dip with cream cheese, superbowl dessert dip

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings servings

Calories 359kcal

Author Andrea + Stef

Equipment

mixing bowl
spatula
hand mixer or stand mixer

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1½ cups powdered sugar
1 cup heavy cream whipped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

Beat together cream cheese and peanut butter until smooth and creamy.
Next, beat in the powdered sugar.
Then add the whipped cream.
Afterwards, fold in chocolate chips.
Transfer to a serving dish and serve immediately with cookies and crackers.

Notes

You can substitute an 8 oz. thawed tub of Cool Whip for the fresh whipped cream.

Nutrition

The post Buckeye Dip appeared first on Family Dinners.