Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I have a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches on this site and before now, it was hard to choose a favourite. Now, I think I’ve found the one.

This grilled cheese does not use any fancy or unusual ingredients for the filling. However, it does move the process from the stovetop to the air fryer and that’s really the best thing about it.

Using the air fryer, the bread gets that crispy crunch I look for in a grilled cheese, but that’s hard to find when you’re using just a pan. And while there’s not a lot of babysitting involved with traditional grilled cheese sandwiches, there’s even less when an air fryer is involved.

I got the recipe from TikTok and I can safely now say it is the only way I will ever make grilled cheese again. This recipe makes just one sandwich but you can double or triple up depending on how many people you’re feeding, or how hungry you are!

Ingredients:

2 to 3 tablespoons of butter

2 slices of sourdough bread

2 slices of provolone cheese

2 slices of Cheddar cheese

Directions:

1.) Liberally butter two pieces of sourdough on just one side.

2.) Lay the cheeses on an unbuttered side of one piece of bread.

3.) Close sandwich and place in the air fryer basket. Set temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry for 3 to 4 min, until the bread is just starting to brown. Check halfway to ensure the bread has not flown off of the sandwich.

4.) After the bread has started to brown, flip the grilled cheese sandwich and increase temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Air fry for another 2 to 3 minutes until the top is nicely browned, then flip and air fry for another 2 to 3 minutes.

5.) Remove grilled cheese from the air fryer and let sit for 2 minutes.

6.) Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Club Sandwich Pasta Salad

I’m really not picky when it comes to pasta salad. Take some pasta, mix it up with some veggies and a dynamite sauce and I’m all in, all the time. I’m always surprised to learn that I don’t have some of my favourite recipes on this site; this one included. There’s just one measly pasta salad recipe on here. Today is the day to fix that egregious wrong.

When playing around with this recipe, I really debated whether or not to include the croutons. Little bits of toast just sounded weird in pasta salad. But, it is a club sandwich pasta salad after all, so I didn’t see any way around it. I’m very happy that I decided to put them in. They’re not weird and they really do make the salad.

Ingredients:

2 slices of bread, cubed

2 tablespoons butter, melted

Salt and pepper

8 ounces of rotini pasta

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Ranch dressing

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper

5 slices thick cut bacon

1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup cooked chicken, chopped

1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, cubed

1/4 red onion, diced

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) Toss cubes of bread with melted butter, salt and pepper.

3.) Place cubed bread on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 10 – 15 minutes, until they have just started to brown and are crisp.

4.) Cook pasta until al dente as directed on package. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.

5.) Combine mayonnaise, Ranch dressing, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

6.) To a large bowl add the cooked pasta, bacon, cherry tomatoes, chicken, Cheddar cheese, and red onion. Toss, add dressing, and toss again.

7.) Top with croutons just before serving and enjoy!

Caesar Salad Dressing

It’s no exaggeration to say that I haven’t bought bottled Caesar salad dressing in over a decade. This dressing is so incredibly easy to make and like anything homemade, it tastes so much better than store-bought. It’s been said before but it’s worth saying again. Don’t skip the anchovy paste in this recipe. It doesn’t make the dressing taste fishy and you really will miss the umami flavour if you don’t add it in. If you have a fish allergy and absolutely cannot add it, a splash of soy sauce can help make up for it.

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon anchovy paste

Juice of one lemon

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1.) To a small bowl add garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, anchovy paste, and lemon juice. Mix well.

2.) Add mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese to the bowl and mix again.

3.) Toss with Caesar salad, serve and enjoy! (Can also store in an airtight container for up to one week in the fridge).

Cocktail Meatballs

I have a number of different meatball recipes on this site. I’ve posted recipes for baked meatballs, meatballs that are cooked in sauce, and even a deep fried recipe. However, I have not yet posted a recipe for cocktail meatballs, which is kind of weird considering that they are one of my favourite go-to meals when I need something quick yet tasty for dinner. They are also really popular as appetizers when feeding a large crowd. If this is what you’re using them for, you can add the meatballs and the sauce into a slow cooker and keep it on warm to keep them nice and hot for your guests.

Ingredients for meatballs:

1 cup bread crumbs

1/2 cup milk

1 pound ground beef

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1 egg, beaten

Salt

Pepper

1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil

Ingredients for sauce:

1 1/2 cups ketchup

3/4 cups grape jelly

3 green onions, sliced

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.) Add bread crumbs and milk to a large bowl and mix well. Let sit for 5 minutes, until bread crumbs have absorbed milk.

3.) Add the rest of the ingredients for the meatballs and mix just until everything is incorporated. Using a melon baller, scoop out portions of meatballs. Roll to ensure meatballs are smooth and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

4.) After all meatballs have been formed, drizzle avocado oil over them.

5.) Place meatballs into preheated oven and bake for 10 – 15 minutes, just until they are cooked through.

6.) Add ketchup and grape jelly to a large frying pan. Mix well and bring to a bol.

7.) Add meatballs to the mixture and stir to ensure they are thoroughly coated. Cook for a few minutes, until meatballs are heated all the way through.

8.) Remove meatballs to a serving platter and garnish with green onions.

9.) Serve and enjoy!

Chickpea Stew

Full disclosure, this is not my recipe. It’s Alison Roman’s and if you haven’t yet checked her out, head on over to YouTube and watch some of her Home Movies or other videos from when she was still cooking for The New York Times. But before you do, check out this recipe for her Chickpea Stew that went absolutely viral a few years back.

When I first saw the recipe, I was so intrigued because I love chickpeas so much but they never seemed like the star of a dish to me. I mean, hummus is great but it’s an appetizer or light lunch at best. Roasted chickpeas are awesome, but they too, are a snack and not a meal. The fact that someone went to the time and trouble to create a recipe that truly celebrated the humble chickpea was fascinating and I knew it was something I had to try. I’m so happy I did. Now me and my daughter, who also loves chickpeas, enjoy it on a regular basis.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

1 onion, sliced

2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons ginger, minced

1 tablespoon turmeric

1 teaspoon chili flakes

2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock

2 cans full fat coconut milk

1 bunch kale or Swiss chard, torn into bite-size pieces

Fresh dill, for garnish

Chili flakes, for garnish

Olive oil, for garnish

Directions:

1.) Heat oil in a large pot set over medium-high heat.

2.) Add onion slices, salt and pepper. Stir to coat in the fat and cook for 8 – 10 minutes, until the onions are slightly charred.

3.) Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, and chili flakes. Stir and cook for 30 seconds.

4.) Add the stock, coconut milk and season again with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.

5.) Simmer the soup for 20 – 30 minutes until the chickpeas are tender. Crush some of the chickpeas against the pot to thicken the soup and make for varying textures.

6.) Add in kale or Swiss chard and cook just until the greens are wilted.

7.) Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh dill, chili flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil, if desired.

8.) Serve and enjoy!

Air Fryer Pinwheels

It’s taken me some time to get this recipe to you, as I made these Air Fryer Pinwheels as part of my Super Bowl Snack Week on TikTok (@katescuisine5 if you don’t follow me there already). Of all the recipes I made that week, though, these pinwheels were by far the easiest. The hardest part is probably remembering to take the cream cheese out of the fridge an hour or so earlier to ensure it is super soft. When playing around with this recipe I also found that it’s super important to lay the pinwheels seam-side down in the air fryer. This prevents all of that delicious cheese from spilling out of the pinwheel and into the bottom of the fryer.

Ingredients:

3 ounces cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons hot pepper jelly

2 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

3 green onions, sliced

1 cup Cheddar cheese

1 burrito-sized tortilla

Directions:

1.) Add cream cheese and pepper jelly to a medium-sized bowl and mix well.

2.) Add bacon, green onions, and Cheddar cheese and mix again.

3.) Place cheese mixture into the centre of the tortilla and spread to the edges, leaving about 1/2″ space around the sides.

4.) Roll the tortilla tightly, starting with the longest edge and tucking the tortilla under tightly as you go.

5.) Using a serrated knife, slice the tortilla into 1″ pieces.

6.) Spray the air fryer with non-stick cooking spray. Place the pinwheels seam-side down into the air fryer.

7.) Air fry for 5 minutes, until cheese is hot and bubbling and edges of tortilla are starting to brown and crisp.

8.) Serve and enjoy!

Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze

The first time I made this dish was for Thanksgiving last year. Knowing that Brussels sprouts are somewhat polarizing, I was a bit nervous about it. Turns out, I had no reason to be. My niece told me she loved them so much, she wanted the recipe. And she isn’t really a fan of the sprouts. Thrilled, I quickly sent her the recipe. Or so I thought. The next day I received a message thanking me for the recipe, but kindly informing me I had the wrong number. I did eventually get the right number and sent it to my niece, as intended. And now, you have it, too.

Ingredients:

2 pounds Brussels sprouts, washed, dried, trimmed, and halved

3 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped

1/4 cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

Salt and pepper, to taste

3 tablespoons balsamic glaze

Directions:

1.) Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2.) Place Brussels sprouts in the dish along with bacon pieces and garlic. Pour olive oil over and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix and lay out in a single mixture. It is okay if some sprouts overlap.

3.) Place sprouts in oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until all sprouts are soft and some are slightly charred.

4.) Remove from oven and drizzle with balsamic glaze.

5.) Serve and enjoy!

Cilantro Lime Crema

I’m a big fan of Mexican food, particularly burrito bowls. To me, the best thing about these bowls is that they are usually topped with the zestiest and creamiest cilantro lime crema. I’m not sure why it took me so long, but I just recently started making this at home and when I do, I top just about anything with it and it’s now a staple on taco nights. If you have the ‘soap gene’ and can’t do cilantro, you can substitute parsley instead. While the flavour will be slightly different, it still gives all the zesty and creamy you could ask for.

Ingredients:

1 cup Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Juice from 1 lime

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, or parsley

Directions:

1.) Place all ingredients, except the herbs, into a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy.

2.) Add cilantro or parsley and pulse until the mixture is smooth but green flakes are still visible.

3.) Serve and enjoy!

Miso-Glazed Salmon

Miso is a thick paste that is made by fermenting soybeans with other seasonings. Salt and koji, which is cooked rice or soybeans that have been treated with a fermentation culture, are two of these and typically other grains, such as barley, are also used. Miso paste is most commonly used in Japan cuisine and it has an umami, or brothy or meaty, flavour. Many people think the only use for miso paste is in soup, but this is not true. It has many different uses, including in this delicious salmon recipe. Here I use white miso, which is one of the most common types.

Ingredients:

4 salmon fillets

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup white miso paste

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sesame oil

Chopped green onions, for garnish

Sesame seeds, for garnish

Directions:

1.) Season the salmon fillets on both sides with salt and pepper.

2.) In a medium-sized bowl combine the white miso paste, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Mix until fully combined and then remove 2 tablespoons of the marinade.

3.) Add the salmon fillets to the bowl and turn to coat in the marinade. Marinade for one to three hours.

4.) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

5.) Place salmon fillets on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, until the sides of the salmon are nearly opaque.

6.) Brush the remaining marinade over the top of the salmon.

7.) Turn broiler on and broil salmon for one to two minutes.

8.) Remove from oven and sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds.

9.) Serve and enjoy!

Pho

Pho is a Vietnamese soup made up of a hearty beef broth, noodles, and meat – usually beef, but I’ve also seen it made with chicken and pork. I’m not going to lie and say it is a simple or quick process. It took me an entire afternoon to make. However, the delicious flavour was well worth every minute and we had leftovers for days. With two different kinds of meat, both of which are kind of pricey, it is also not the most affordable dish. But, if you want to impress while entertaining, are celebrating a special occasion, or just want a taste of Vietnam in your own kitchen, I highly recommend giving it a try!

Ingredients:

2 large onions, halved

About 3 inches of ginger, halved

10 star anise

4 cinnamon sticks

6 cardamom pods

1 teaspoon of ground cloves

2 tablespoons of coriander seeds

3 pounds of beef short ribs

2 tablespoons white sugar

1 tablespoon of salt

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 ounces of dried ramen or lo mein noodles

1 beef tenderloin, sliced very thinly

Bean sprouts, for topping

Thai basil, for topping

Cilantro leaves, for topping

Lime wedges, for topping

Red chili, finely sliced, for topping

Directions:

1.) Heat a large and dry stock pot over high heat. Add onions and ginger, cut-side down until charred. Remove and set aside.

2.) Add star anise, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and coriander seeds to pot and toast lightly.

3.) Add short ribs, ground cloves, white sugar, salt, and charred onions and ginger to the pot. Add water until it is two inches above everything in the pot.

4.) Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 3 hours, or until short rib meat is almost falling off of the bone.

5.) Remove short ribs and shred meat.

6.) Uncover soup, turn heat to medium, and simmer for 40 more minutes.

7.) Strain broth into a large bowl or another pot. Discard veggies and spices, keeping the stock. Add soy sauce, taste, and adjust seasonings if necessary.

8.) Just before serving, prepare noodles according to package directions.

9.) When ready to serve, place noodles in the bottom of a bowl. Add short ribs and sliced tenderloin on top. Pour very hot broth over top (this will cook the tenderloin and reheat the short ribs). Add desired toppings on top.

10.) Serve and enjoy!