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The Best Most Delicious Dishes To Serve With White Rice!

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This page may contain affiliate links. So, I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about The Best Most Delicious Dishes To Serve With White Rice!

A collage containing Japanese Pork Katsudon, New Orleans Red Beans and Rice, Crawfish Étouffée, and Korean Short Ribs with a text overlay that says The Best Most Delicious Dishes To Serve With White Rice!

Are you a riceaholic like I am? If so, rice may grace your table very often! I love all types of rice including brown rice, jasmine rice, and basmati rice.

However, it's typically plain white rice that is my go to rice. Which is great, because plain rice is the perfect accompaniment to so many dishes.

Here I want to share with you some of the BEST and most DELICIOUS dishes to enjoy with your cooked rice!

I include some main dishes, as well as a perfect side dish to serve with your fluffy white rice. Many of these are Asian dishes, but you'll also find a few that hail from the USA.

I've also included a delicious side dish that pairs perfectly with rice.

You'll find plenty of options here that will satisfy your whole family! So without further ado, let's move onto these delicious dishes!

1. Japanese Pork Katsudon and Rice Bowl

Japanese Pork Katsudon in a bowl. The pork has been garnished with green onions and sprinkled with a chili powder. There is a pair of chopsticks resting on the side of the bowl.

Katsudon is a very popular Japanese dish. It gets its name from "donburi" which means rice bowl dish, and "tonkatsu" which means pork cutlet.

So tonkatsu is pork cutlets, breaded and fried. Later it will be added to a sweet and savory sauce, which includes soy sauce, along with onions. Then the tonkatsu is placed on top of the onions. To finish, beaten egg is added around the tonkatsu and onions and cooked until set.

The delicious tonkatsu and egg and onion mixture is then placed on top of a steaming bowl of rice for your enjoyment!

You can use Japanese rice (which is a short-grain rice) for this dish, however regular white rice works just perfectly for this dish.

2. Japanese Teriyaki Chicken

A bowl containing white rice and Japanese Chicken Teriyaki. The chicken is garnished with green onions and a chili powder. There is a pair of chopsticks resting on the bowl.

Another Japanese dish that begs for white rice is Teriyaki Chicken. "Teriyaki" comes from two words in the Japanese. "Teri" which means "shine" and "yaki" which means "grill".

My easy recipe for Teriyaki Chicken is no fuss, quick to make, and only requires 6 ingredients.

Be sure to start cooking rice in your rice cooker before starting to make the teriyaki chicken. More than likely your rice will take longer to cook than the time it will take you to make this dish!

3. Korean Short Ribs (Galbi)

A gold rimmed serving dish containing Korean Short Ribs garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.

Korean short ribs, also known as galbi, is absolutely mouthwatering! Achingly tender meat and the wonderful savory flavors have made this Korean dish a global favorite.

I think there is a law that galbi has to be accompanied by rice 😂. Whether law or not, a side of rice is a must. And do as the Koreans do for a complete meal serve some simple side dishes called "banchan." For some great banchan recipes please visit "The 10 Best Side Dishes To Serve With Korean Short Ribs (Kalbi)." One of which is plain old rice, of course!

4. Mouthwatering Shrimp With Black Bean Sauce!

Shrimp With Black Bean Sauce with onions, green onions, and dried red chilies in a cast iron pan.

Shrimp with Black Bean Sauce is a classic Chinese dish! It's salty, spicy, and absolutely delectable!

This stir fry is a great option for when you are pressed for time and need a quick meal. It takes all of 15 minutes to make and when accompanied by white rice it makes for a delicious meal!

5. New Orleans Red Beans and Rice

New Orleans Red Beans and Rice in a white bowl, garnished with green onions. There is a bowl of red beans in the background.

When the word "rice" is in the name of the dish, it's a given that it's a rice dish!

New Orleans Red Beans and Rice is a classic dish from Louisiana. It's pretty much a one-pot meal which includes red beans, the Holy Trinity (green bell pepper, onion, and celery), and smoked sausage. Add a ham hock and cook it in chicken broth for tremendous flavor, and serve it over some perfect rice that you've cooked up!

Enjoy this amazing dish, which was Louis Armstrong's favorite meal! This is one of the greatest white rice meals ever!

6. Easy and Delicious Crawfish Étouffée!

Crawfish Étouffée garnished with green onions in a cast iron pan. There is a blue spoon with a wooden handle in the pan.

Another classic dish from Louisiana is Crawfish Étouffée. This dish is rich, elegant, and features a delectably creamy sauce. You could use crusty bread to mop up the sauce. But I think the best way is to serve this over cooked long-grain rice for an unforgettable meal!

You'll love cooking this meal which uses fresh ingredients and is easy to make!

7. Creamy Chicken and Leeks

A cast iron pan containing creamy chicken breasts and leeks. There is a blue spoon with a wooden handle in the bowl.

Another dish with a creamy texture that is perfect to serve over white rice is Creamy Chicken and Leeks.

You'll enjoy moist cooked chicken enveloped with a creamy and mustardy sauce and surrounded by tender and tasty leeks!

This main course dish is ideal for a busy weeknight as it's quick and easy to make. You can have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes.

8. Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken garnished with green onions in a bowl. There is a pair of chopsticks resting on the side of the bowl.

Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken is absolutely fragrant and delicious! You'll adore the zingy taste of the lemongrass and this recipe is super easy to create!

Simply cut chicken thighs into small pieces, and make a marinade which includes lemongrass, vegetable oil, garlic, shallots, oyster sauce, fish sauce, chili flakes, lemon juice, and sugar. Marinate the chicken for about an hour and then do a quick stir fry until the chicken is cooked through.

Finish off with freshly ground black pepper, then serve alongside your white rice with your favorite pair of chopsticks.

It's as good as you'll get at your local Vietnamese restaurant!

9. Scrumptious Vegetarian Thai Panang Curry

Thai Panang Curry with vegetables garnished with cilantro and green onions in a silver bowl. There is a plate with bread, bowl with olives, and bottle of hot sauce in the background.

It's time to introduce a creamy and delicious Thai-inspired dinner! This Thai Panang Curry includes Panang curry paste, coconut milk, and plenty of healthy and nutritious ingredients such as chickpeas, eggplant, and butternut squash.

This nutritious meal is perfect served over white rice. You'll be in Thai curry heaven when dining on this Panang curry!

10. Easy Spicy Korean Braised Tofu

A white serving dish containing Dubu Jorim which is Korean Braised Tofu garnished with green onions and sesame seeds. There is a pair of silver chopsticks resting on the side of the dish.

And here's a great side dish that pairs perfectly with white rice! The tofu in this Easy Spicy Korean Braised Tofu if first pan fried, and then simmered in a spicy braising sauce.

The Korean name for this is "dubu jorim", which means simmered tofu.

Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, grab your favorite chopsticks and a bowl of steaming white rice, and enjoy this delicious dubu jorim!

Which Dishes Will You Make To Serve With Your White Rice?

So I hope you've discovered some great options for dishes to serve with white rice! Whether you have leftover rice to use up or you make it fresh, any one of these dishes will pair superbly with your rice.

Which dishes will you make? Serve one or more and enjoy a delicious and complete meal featuring some steaming white rice!

FAQ

What foods pair well with white rice?

Rice pairs well with so many foods! It goes especially well with dishes that are creamy or saucy such as Thai or Indian curries, and many Asian dishes as well.

What do Asians eat with rice?

Rice is an essential component to most every Asian meal, including breakfast! Koreans love to eat rice with banchan (Korean side dishes). Indians and Thais will enjoy their curries with rice. Japanese will eat rice with miso soup and use it as part of their rice bowls, and Chinese will enjoy steaming white rice with stir fries!

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Cheers!

Grace

Awesome Side Dishes That Go With Tilapia!

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This page may contain affiliate links. So, I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about Awesome Side Dishes That Go With Tilapia!

A picture of Cilantro Lime Rice and limes in a bowl. A picture of mashed sweet potato with melting butter and chives in a gold rimmed bowl. A picture of green beans and tomatoes in a white bowl. A picture of white asparagus with melted cheese and Italian parsley.

So do you love tilapia as much as I do? This mild fish shows up frequently on my plate at home. It's so easy to prepare and very versatile as there are so many different ways to prepare it.

I like to serve both a starch and a vegetable to accompany this popular white fish to make a complete and wholesome meal.

Here you will find some great ideas for the best side dishes to serve with tilapia!

Great Vegetable Side Dishes

1. Fresh Green Beans With Tomatoes, Chili, and Garlic

Green beans and tomatoes in a white dish.

This green bean dish is out of this world delish and makes the perfect side dish to tilapia fillets.

The garlic and chili in this easy side dish give it bold flavors, and this side is a great accompaniment to tilapia, which is a mild white fish.

It's quick and easy and a wonderful healthy side to go with your fish!

2. Incredibly Delicious Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts that have been cooked and browned in a gold rimmed bowl garnished with pepper.

Another great side dish is delicious brussels sprouts. Whether roasted or pan fried, this member of the cabbage family is a great option to include as part of a healthy meal.

These brussels sprouts have been pan fried in a mixture of butter and olive oil. They are then simply and simply seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

You'll love how this healthy side dish complements your tilapia fish!

3. Easy And Elegant White Asparagus Side Dish Recipe

White asparagus spears in a white serving dish with melted Parmesan cheese garnished with Italian parsley.

This Easy and Elegant White Asparagus side dish is very special indeed. This recipe uses jarred white asparagus rather than fresh asparagus spears.

It's super easy to make. All you need to do is place drained asparagus under the broiler with some Parmesan cheese, butter, and some seasonings, and enjoy this along with any of your favorite tilapia recipes as part of a delicious meal!

4. Roasted Carrots With Berbere Spice

Multicolored carrots cut into slivers and wedges on a white dish.

You can't go wrong with carrots as a good choice for a side! Make your favorite roast carrot recipe, or try this Roasted Carrots With Berbere Spice to add an exotic flair to your meal!

Berbere spice is a spice mix used in Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisines. It's a mixture of spices and blends typically differ but may include paprika, salt, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, chili peppers, black pepper, and/or cumin. Using this spice is a great way to spice up your meal, and a great choice as an accompaniment to tilapia fish fillets!

5. Middle Eastern Style Cabbage Salad

Middle Eastern Cabbage Salad in a blue dish.

Another simple side dish to go along with your healthy fish dinner is this Middle Eastern Style Cabbage Salad.

Any salad would be great to accompany tilapia, but why not try this cabbage salad for a change? It's a light, delicious, and refreshing salad! It's a bit tangy, garlicky, and peppery to taste, with a lovely salty flavor as well.

This is simply made with either red or green cabbage, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, fresh garlic, salt and pepper. You'll love how this great recipe pairs with fresh tilapia that you have baked or pan fried!

6. Delicious Balsamic Red Onions

Balsamic red onions in a casserole dish.

If you love onions and would enjoy something sweet and tangy with mild and delicate tilapia, then try this Balsamic Red Onion Recipe! Red onion never tasted so good!

These balsamic red onions have a great flavor and this recipe couldn't be easier to make.

The mild flavor of tilapia definitely gets a boost when paired with these balsamic roasted red onions!

7. Easy and Creamy Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet mashed potatoes in a gold rimmed bowl garnished with chopped chives with melting butter on the top.

One of the best sides to serve with tilapia is sweet potatoes. And a favorite way of mine to prepare sweet potatoes is by mashing them up with Parmesan cheese, butter, and cream.

You'll fall head over heels for this fluffy sweet potato mash! It's fantastic to pair with your favorite baked tilapia recipe. Try dunking a piece of tilapia into the mash and enjoying a mouthful of tender fish and creamy potatoes together. It's a pure delight!

Tasty Starchy Side Dishes

8. Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice and lime wedges in a bowl.

Rice is a perfect side dish to serve with tilapia. Some options are white rice, brown rice, and jasmine rice. And if you'd like to try a delicious seasoned rice dish, consider serving the ever popular Cilantro Lime Rice with your fish!

This rice is delightfully easy to create. A generous amount of lime juice and cilantro mixed into the rice gives this a superb tangy flavor which pairs well with the delicate flavor of the fish.

9. Southern Macaroni Salad

Southern macaroni salad with eggs and mayo garnished with green onions in a white dish, with the handle of a spoon visible in the background.

Macaroni salad is not just for barbecues and fried chicken! This is one of the most popular dishes and for good reason! This salad pleases everyone, including picky eaters, and is a great side to accompany your fish dinner.

Classic southern macaroni salad contains macaroni that is cooked al dente (firm). It also typically contains lots of creamy mayonnaise, hard-boiled eggs, sweet pickle relish, and onions. Green bell pepper or fresh crunchy celery is also included for some nice crunch.

Why not serve this macaroni salad with some easy baked tilapia as part of a most delicious dinner your family will LOVE?

10. Basmati Rice With Saffron

Basmati rice garnished with cilantro and saffron threads with a yellow tinge to the rice from saffron.

Highly aromatic, fluffy and with a delicate texture, basmati rice is the king of rices! Infused with some beautiful saffron it becomes an elegant side to any type of fish, including delicious tilapia cooked your favorite way!

Which Side Dishes Will You Make To Go With Your Tilapia?

So there you have some AWESOME Side Dishes To Serve With Tilapia!

Which ones will you make? Serve one or more and enjoy a delicious and complete meal featuring delicious tilapia!

FAQ

What side dishes go with tilapia?

Tilapia pairs well with so many different side dishes! For a complete meal serve a vegetable side along with a starchy side. Some great vegetable sides include green beans, mashed sweet potatoes, and salads. Consider rice or a delicious macaroni salad for your starch as part of a great fish meal!

What does tilapia taste like?

Tilapia has a very mild and delicate taste, not "fishy" at all. There is a slight sweet taste to this fish as well.

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Cheers!

Grace

Easy Cheesy New Mexico Calabacitas Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy Cheesy New Mexico Calabacitas Recipe!

Sliced squash cooked with chopped onion, green chilies and corn covered with melted cheese in a cast iron pan.

I discovered an amazing dish called Calabacitas when I was in New Mexico. This is one of the most famous New Mexican dishes and it's also beloved in the southwest region of the United States.

Let me tell you a little about this vegetable side dish, which you will absolutely love!

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What Is Calabacitas?

Calabacitas is the Spanish word for "little squashes". This dish may have originated from Mexican cuisine, but it has become a traditional dish in the state of New Mexico.

There are many variations of this dish, but it typically contains seasonal ingredients such as yellow summer squash (and other varieties of summer squash), corn, and green chilies.

Why You Will Love This New Mexico Calabacitas Recipe!

Here are a few reasons why you will LOVE this Easy Cheesy New Mexico Calabacitas recipe:

  • This vegetarian dish has great flavors, and is the perfect side dish to accompany all your favorite mains! The tender squash, sweet corn, and chiles combine to give you wonderful depth of flavor.
  • Calabacitas is very versatile and easy. You could even make this a main dish by adding some cooked ground beef, chicken or turkey to it which will make meat lovers happy!
  • You will have this ready in less than 30 minutes for your whole family to enjoy!
  • It's CHEESY! The gooey melted cheese is a pure delight!

So now let me tell you what you'll need to make this fabulous dish!

🥘 Ingredients

Bowls containing corn, shredded cheddar cheese, butter and olive oil, seasoning, green chilies and garlic. There are also half an onion and 3 different squashes pictured.

Here are the ingredients you will need for this easy recipe:

  • Summer Squash - it's lovely to use a variety of squashes if you can! Some recommendations are yellow squash, Mexican zucchini or Mexican squash, and Italian squash that we commonly call zucchini; if you can find an 8-Ball zucchini be sure to include it!
  • Olive oil
  • Butter
  • Onion
  • Green chiles - to keep things simple, I used a can of Hatch Diced Green Chiles. The Hatch brand, out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, offers a hot Hatch green chile product (pictured below), as well as a mild New Mexican green chile that is diced and canned. It's more work, but you could also use poblano peppers which are roasted, peeled, deveined and deseeded, and chopped.
  • Sweet Corn - I used canned corn which I drained; you could also use frozen corn after defrosting it or even fresh corn kernels
  • Fresh garlic cloves
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Dried oregano (or dried Mexican oregano)
  • Cheese - I used sharp cheddar cheese; some other options that would be great to make calabacitas con queso are cotija cheese, queso fresco, or Monterey Jack. The queso fresco and cotija won't really melt, but they could be used as more of a finishing touch by crumbling or sprinkling on top.
An 8-Ball zucchini on display in a grocery store.
8-Ball Zucchini!
Yellow summer squash on display in a grocery store.
Summer Squash Yellow Calabacitas
A can of HOT Hatch Select Diced Green Chiles.
Hatch Diced Green Chiles

You should be able to find all the ingredients you will need for this green chile calabacitas at your local grocery store.

So let's have some fun making this traditional dish of New Mexico!

🔪 Instructions

Prepare your squash, onion, and garlic. Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and slice the squash into discs. If one of your squashes is very large, you can cut the pieces in a way that they are similar in size to your smaller squash discs.

A squash which has been cut up into halves and smaller pieces on a wooden cutting board.
Cut larger squashes into pieces similar in size to your smaller sliced squashes.
Chopped onion and sliced zucchini both green and yellow on a white plate.
Prepared onions and squashes ready for cooking calabacitas.

Add the butter and olive oil to your large skillet and heat on medium. Once the butter is melted and the pan is hot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for around 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Chopped onion and minced garlic being cooked in butter and oil in a cast iron pan.

Keep your skillet on a medium heat. Add the squash, and cook for around 10 minutes until the squash is tender. Stir every once in awhile, but it's nice to let the squash sit undisturbed for a bit without turning so that you get some browning on the squash.

Sliced cooked squash and chopped onion being cooked in a cast iron pan.

Now add the green chiles, corn, and seasonings (salt, pepper, and oregano) to your sauteed zucchini mixture. Stir to combine, and let this cook for around 2 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if you like.

Sliced squash and chopped onion in a cast iron pan topped with green chilies, seasonings, and corn.

Turn the heat to low. Now add the shredded cheddar cheese and let this melt. Cover the skillet if you can to help the cheese melt quickly.

Sliced squash cooked with chopped onion, green chilies and corn covered with shredded cheese in a cast iron pan.

Behold your beautiful creation, and enjoy right away!

Sliced squash cooked with chopped onion, green chilies and corn covered with melted cheese in a cast iron pan.

Suggestions For Serving

Sliced squash cooked with chopped onion, green chilies and corn covered with melted cheese in a cast iron pan.

This dish is beautiful served as a side to accompany your favorite main meals. You could also enjoy it in a soft taco with a side of Mexican borracho beans. DELISH!

Add some ground beef, chicken or turkey to turn this into a main meal.

Buen provecho!

FAQ

How should I store leftover calabacitas?

If you have leftover calabacitas, store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator and enjoy within 3 days.

What are some variations or additions for this recipe?

You could add some chopped Roma tomatoes or red pepper for some additional texture and color if you like. Consider adding some chili powder, serrano peppers or hot sauce to make this spicier if you like!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

Sliced squash cooked with chopped onion, green chilies and corn covered with melted cheese in a cast iron pan.

Easy Cheesy New Mexico Calabacitas Recipe

Grace Stewart
This Easy Cheesy New Mexico Calabacitas Recipe features squash cooked until tender with corn, green chiles, and onion. The finishing touch is melted cheese which makes for an amazing dish which your family will absolutely love!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 26 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, New Mexican
Servings 4 people
Calories 280 kcal

Equipment

  • cast iron skillet cast iron is preferred, but a large skillet can also be used

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lb squash this is around 3-4 squash; it's nice to use different varieties and colors if you can
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • ½ onion chopped
  • 4 oz green chiles I used a 4 oz can and did not drain them; New Mexico Hatch Green Chiles are perfect for this dish!
  • 1 cup corn I used canned corn
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ ts salt plus additional to taste
  • ¼ ts pepper plus additional to taste
  • ¼ ts oregano plus additional to taste (can sub Mexican oregano)
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded; I used sharp cheddar; feel free to sub Monterey Jack or another cheese that you enjoy

Instructions
 

  • Prepare your squash, onion, and garlic. Chop the onion, mince the garlic, and slice the squash into discs. If one of your squashes is very large, you can cut the pieces in a way that they are similar in size to your smaller squash discs.
    Chopped onion and sliced zucchini both green and yellow on a white plate.
  • Add the butter and olive oil to your skillet and heat on medium. Once the butter is melted and the pan is hot, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for around 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
    Chopped onion and minced garlic being cooked in butter and oil in a cast iron pan.
  • Keep your skillet on a medium heat. Add the squash, and cook for around 10 minutes until the squash is tender. Stir every once in awhile, but it's nice to let the squash sit for a bit without turning so that you get some browning on the squash.
    Sliced cooked squash and chopped onion being cooked in a cast iron pan.
  • Now add the green chiles, corn, and seasonings (salt, pepper, and oregano). Stir to combine, and let this cook for around 2 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper if you like.
    Sliced squash and chopped onion in a cast iron pan topped with green chilies, seasonings, and corn.
  • Turn the heat to low. Now add the shredded cheese and let this melt. Cover the skillet if you can to help the cheese melt quickly.
    Sliced squash cooked with chopped onion, green chilies and corn covered with shredded cheese in a cast iron pan.
  • Behold your beautiful creation, and enjoy right away!
    Sliced squash cooked with chopped onion, green chilies and corn covered with melted cheese in a cast iron pan.

Notes

It's so much fun to use different varieties and colors of squash when making calabacitas!  
Sharp cheddar is wonderful with the calabacitas, however feel free to sub another cheese if you wish. 
This is a perfect side dish to accompany all your favorite main dishes!
 

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 10gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 437mgPotassium: 743mgFiber: 6gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 18474IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 297mgIron: 2mg
Keyword squash, vegetable side dish
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Carolina Reaper Spicy Roasted Almonds Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a Carolina Reaper Spicy Roasted Almonds Recipe!

Small bowls filled with roasted almonds garnished with sea salt flakes, and bottle of Carolina Reaper powder on the side.

Have you tried the Blue Diamond XTREMES Carolina Reaper Almonds? To be honest, I haven't tried them yet. However, I love that I can make my own spicy reaper almonds and enjoy them as HOT HOT as I want them to be!

Carolina Reaper Chili Peppers are, at the time of this writing, the world's hottest chili pepper! If you are as enamored with this spicy pepper as I am, then you'll love this easy recipe for almonds spiced up with the hottest pepper in the world!

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What Is The Carolina Reaper?

Carolina Reapers were created and bred by Ed Currie (aka Smokin' Ed) of the PuckerbuttPepperCompany of South Carolina.

The Reaper peppers have the distinction of holding the Guinness World Records award for World's Hottest Chili since 2013. These measure between 1.5 million - 2.2 million SHU (Scoville Heat Units) on the Scoville Scale.

From Wikipedia: "The Scoville scale is a measurement of the pungency (spiciness or "heat") of chili peppers, as recorded in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), based on the concentration of capsaicinoids, among which capsaicin is the predominant component." Basically, the lower the number on the scale, the less "hot or spicy" the pepper will be.

For comparison, cayenne pepper, which is often used in spicy nut recipes, measure from 30,000 - 50,000 SHU on the Scoville scale. And jalapeno peppers come in at 2,500 - 8,000 SHU!

🥘 Ingredients

Bowls containing raw almonds, salt, butter, Carolina Reaper powder, and sea salt flakes.

You only need 5 ingredients to make this spicy and perfect snack! They are:

All of these ingredients, with the exception of the Carolina Reaper Powder, should be available at your local grocery store.

Making your own Reaper almonds is so amazing, because you can control the amount of chili powder to produce the perfect level of heat to suit you!

Ok, let's move on to making this spicy and great snack!

🔪 Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F. Place your raw almonds in a roasting tin or on a rimmed baking sheet, in a single layer taking care not to crowd them too much. You can line your tin or baking sheet with parchment paper if you like, but it's not necessary.

Roast at 350F for around 13-15 minutes (tossing halfway through) until they have turned a lovely shade of golden brown.

Raw almonds in a roasting tin.
Place the almonds in a single layer trying not to crowd them.
Roasted almonds in a roasting tin.
Roast for around 15 minutes at 350F until they turn golden brown.

When you have about 5 minutes left of roasting time, prepare your seasoning. Melt the butter in a mixing bowl (or saucepan and then transfer to your mixing bowl). Add the Carolina Reaper powder and the salt to the melted butter, and then stir to combine.

A glass bowl containing melted butter, salt, and Carolina Reaper powder.

Combine almonds with the melted butter and seasonings, and stir well.

At this point, I recommend you taste the almonds (after allowing them to cool a bit) to see whether you want to add more Carolina Reaper powder. If so, add a little at a time, stirring to mix everything until well combined, until you reach the heat level you are after.

A glass bowl containing Carolina Reaper spicy roasted almonds and a yellow spoon.

Allow about 10 minutes for the almonds to cool down to room temperature, and then add sea salt flakes to taste. Now it's time to enjoy your spicy almonds!

Small bowls filled with roasted almonds garnished with sea salt flakes, and bottle of Carolina Reaper powder on the side.

Suggestions For Serving

Small bowls filled with roasted almonds garnished with sea salt flakes, and a container of sea salt flakes and bottle of Carolina Reaper powder in the background.

Enjoy this delicious snack with your favorite ice cold beverage! If you are concerned that they may be overly spicy, then you may want that beverage to be an ice cold glass of milk. 😃

These spicy nuts make a great addition to your charcuterie board, and of course they are perfect for game day.

Enjoy them as a cocktail nibble, or they make a great gift for your chili head friends!

Variations

If you want to mix things up a bit, you may want to consider:

  • Adding garlic powder to the spice mixture - I haven't tried this but I think it would be delicious!!
  • Adding a little maple syrup for a sweet heat!

Also, I have also roasted the almonds after tossing them with melted butter and spices.  This also works well, but if you are sensitive to strong odors the smell of the Carolina Reaper when roasting may affect you.

However you decide to enjoy these almonds, I hope this will become one of your favorite recipes for spicy nuts!

FAQ

Do I need to soak the almonds before roasting them?

It's not necessary to soak the almonds before roasting them. According to Healthline.com, soaking them may make their digestibility better and also help you absorb the nutrients better. However, roasting them without soaking the almonds is perfectly fine!

Are spicy almonds healthy?

Almonds pack a serious nutritional punch! According to WebMD.com, some of the health benefits of almonds include lowering blood pressure and lower blood sugar levels. They may even help with weight loss (as long as you don't eat too many) as they help you feel full quicker due to the their protein and fiber content!

How many almonds should I eat per day?

Almonds are a great healthy snack! Almonds.com states that 1 ounce of almonds, or 23 almonds a day, is the perfect portion, as recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

How should I store the roasted almonds?

Store roasted almonds in an airtight container on your countertop. These are best enjoyed the day you make them, but they'll keep for 3-4 days (if they last that long!).

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

Small bowls filled with Carolina Reaper Spicy roasted almonds garnished with sea salt flakes and a container of sea salt flakes and bottle of Carolina Reaper powder in the background.

Carolina Reaper Spicy Roasted Almonds Recipe

Grace Stewart
Experience the burn with this Carolina Reaper Spicy Roasted Almonds Recipe! Great for snacking and perfect for us chili heads!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Cooling down time 10 minutes
Total Time 28 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 3 people
Calories 279 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven for roasting almonds
  • roasting tin or rimmed baking sheet for roasting the almonds
  • microwave or small saucepan for melting butter
  • mixing bowl for combining seasonings, butter, and almonds

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup almonds raw whole almonds, which we will roast
  • 1 tablespoon butter you could sub olive oil if you prefer
  • ¼ ts salt
  • ¼ ts Carolina Reaper Powder can adjust the amount to suit your tolerance for heat
  • sea salt flakes add to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350F. Place your raw almonds in a roasting tin or on a rimmed baking sheet, in a single layer taking care not to crowd them too much. Roast at 350F for around 13-15 minutes (tossing halfway through) until they have turned a lovely shade of golden brown.
    Roasted almonds in a roasting tin.
  • When you have about 5 minutes left of roasting time, prepare your seasoning. Melt the butter in a mixing bowl (or saucepan and then transfer to your mixing bowl). Add the Carolina Reaper powder and the salt to the melted butter, and then stir to combine.
    A glass bowl containing melted butter, salt, and Carolina Reaper powder.
  • Add the roasted almonds to the melted butter and seasonings, and stir to combine. At this point, I recommend you taste the almonds (after allowing them to cool a bit) to see whether you want to add more Carolina Reaper powder.  If so, add a little at a time, stirring to mix everything until well combined, until you reach the heat level you are after.
    A glass bowl containing Carolina Reaper spicy roasted almonds and a yellow spoon.
  • Allow about 10 minutes for the almonds to cool down, and then add sea salt flakes to taste. Now it's time to enjoy your spicy almonds!
    Small bowls filled with roasted almonds garnished with sea salt flakes.

Notes

Please note that the Nutrition Information does not include info for the Carolina Reaper powder or the sea salt flakes you may add to taste.  Please accept apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
I have a high tolerance for chili, so the ¼ ts of Reaper Powder that I recommend using gives me a nice heat that's not overpowering.  If you have a high tolerance as well, feel free to add more Reaper Powder if you really want a blow your head off type of heat!  Alternatively if you are chili sensitive, you can adjust the amount of Reaper powder down. 
The Reaper powder can be unpleasant if you happen to inhale it, so take care not to inhale it and definitely don't touch your eyes after handling! ☺️
I have also roasted the almonds after tossing them with melted butter and spices.  This also works well, but if you are sensitive to strong odors the smell of the Carolina Reaper when roasting may affect you.
Above all, enjoy!!

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 10gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 200mgPotassium: 356mgFiber: 6gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 9IUCalcium: 134mgIron: 2mg
Keyword almonds, spicy almonds, spicy food
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe!

Several Spam Musubi's which are Spam slices on top of a bed of rice wrapped in nori.

Ok, so I haven't been to Hawaii. But, I have been to Hawaiian Bros Island Grill! This fast food restaurant is where I was introduced to the iconic Spam Musubi. I fell in love with this delicious Hawaiian snack, and relished the idea of making these for myself at home so that I could enjoy them anytime!

So allow me to tell you a little bit about Hawaiian Spam Musubi!

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What is Hawaiian Spam Musubi?

Spam, a precooked pork shoulder and ham product, was introduced by Hormel Foods Corporation in 1937. It became a very popular food in Hawaii during World War II, when many American troops were sent to Hawaii when America entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Spam has a very long shelf life and could easily be included in a soldier's rations as fresh meat was not always feasible. So, soldiers could get their protein by consuming this high calorie, salty, and quite delicious canned meat.

Eventually residents of Hawaii started to enjoy Spam, and sometime during the 1980's Spam musubi was invented and became extremely popular!

The Spam musubi was influenced by the Japanese onigiri, which is rice that is pressed and wrapped in nori (seaweed).

Today, Spam musubi can be found all over Hawaii in grocery stores, local convenience stores, and supermarkets. This local favorite is a delicious, inexpensive, and portable snack, and most everyone who tries Spam musubi loves Spam musubi!

So if you are ready to make this quintessential easy snack that is so beloved in Hawaiian cuisine, then please read on and I'll tell you what you'll need!

🥘 Ingredients

A can of Spam, a yellow bowl with cooked rice, a pink musubi maker, strips of nori, and a glass bowl with soy sauce.

Here are the simple ingredients that you will need to make this Hawaiian-style Spam musubi:

  • Spam - I've used regular Classic Spam for this recipe.  If you are watching your salt, there is a less sodium version of Spam that you can use. 
  • Nori seaweed - I used 2 sheets of nori and cut the seaweed into 7" x 1" strips; there are approximately 5 strips of nori per sheet, so you'll need 2 sheets and will have a little nori leftover if you cut the sheets to this size
  • Teriyaki sauce - you can use a prepared sauce like Kikkoman's or see the notes in the recipe card for an easy recipe to make your own teriyaki sauce
  • Cooked rice - this refers to cooked short grain rice like you would use for sushi rice; it's best to use this as this short grain rice will stick together better than long grain rice

If you need a recipe for cooking short grain or sushi rice in the rice cooker, please visit my sister Tami's Sushi Rice Recipe For The Rice Cooker. Just omit the sushi vinegar dressing. 😉

Ok, now let's get ready to make this tasty snack from the Hawaiian islands!

Musubi Maker (Musubi Mold)

Pink musubi maker or musubi mold with a rice paddle.

Before I jump into the instructions, I want to recommend using a musubi mold (also known as a musubi maker) to create your Spam musubi. The one I ordered on Amazon (link provided) also comes with a cute little rice paddle, as well as 2 triangle molds for rice balls. 😃

The musubi maker consists of the mold (which is the size of Spam slices), and a hand held portion with a handle that you use to press down on the rice.

You don't absolutely have to have one of these to make this Spam musubi, however it really helps to form your musubi.

If you don't have the Spam musubi mold, then you can use your hands to shape the rice into a rice bed that is the size of your sliced Spam.

🔪 Instructions

Slice the Spam into 8 equal slices, and prepare 3 cups of cooked short grain rice/sushi rice (without the vinegar).

Cut a nori sheet into strips approximately 7" x 1". Scissors are a great way to cut the nori!

A can of Spam alongside slices of Spam.
Cut the Spam into 8 slices.
A can of Spam, slices of nori, and a container of Teriyaki sauce.
Cut the nori sheet into strips approximately 7" x 1".

Fry the slices of Spam in a large skillet on medium high heat for around 3-4 minutes per side until they are golden brown. If your Spam starts to stick to your pan, you can add a little bit of oil to loosen it up.

Slices of fried Spam in a large skillet.

Lower the heat to medium, and then add the teriyaki sauce. Cook the Spam in the teriyaki sauce for about 30 seconds per side.

A skillet containing slices of fried Spam. There is a hand holding a small bowl with teriyaki sauce poised above the skillet.

Lay a piece of nori down and place the musubi mold over the nori as pictured. This should be placed perpendicularly to the strip of nori in the middle of the strip.

Add 2 to 3 spoonfuls of cooked rice into the musubi mold, and then use the presser to press firmly down on the rice.

A slice of nori on a wooden cutting board, topped with part of a musubi maker.
Lay the musubi mold across the nori strip.
A strip of nori topped with a pink musubi maker. There is a bed of rice in the musubi maker and there is the presser part of the musubi maker poised over the bed of rice ready to press it down.
Add some rice and press down with the musubi press.

Now add a slice of Spam on top of the rice in the musubi mold.

Remove the mold. Use water to moisten the top of the nori strip, and then wrap the nori strip over the Spam and rice. The moistened part should lay on top of the other part of the strip so that the ends will stick together.

A strip of nori topped with a pink musubi maker containing a bed of rice topped with a slice of Spam.
Place a slice of Spam on top of the rice.
Strip of nori topped with a bed of rice and a slice of Spam. There is a finger pressing down at the top edge of the nori.
Moisten the nori so that when you wrap it over the musubi it will stick together.

And now, it's time to enjoy your Spam musubi IMMENSELY!

Several Spam Musubi's which are Spam slices on top of a bed of rice wrapped in nori.

Suggestions For Serving

Several Spam Musubi's which are Spam slices on top of a bed of rice wrapped in nori.

It's time to gobble up these delightful musubi! You can eat these either warm (my preference) or at room temperature.

If you have extra teriyaki sauce, you can drizzle some over the musubi for extra deliciousness. Or, serve it with some soy sauce or Japanese mayo (like Kewpie)

I like eating the whole thing all at once. It's a bit messy, but totally delicious! Enjoy!

FAQ

How can I store leftover Spam musubi?

Wrap leftovers in cling wrap and store in your refrigerator. Allow it to come to room temperature or warm them up for a few seconds before eating them. Best enjoyed within a couple of days!

What other ingredients can I add to Spam musubi for enjoyment?

Try adding some sesame seeds or sprinkle furikake onto the top of the rice before adding your piece of Spam.

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

Several Spam Musubi's which are Spam slices on top of a bed of rice wrapped in nori.

Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe

Grace Stewart
You'll love the sweet and salty flavors of this iconic Hawaiian tasty snack! This Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe is super easy to make and it's ready to enjoy in about 15 minutes!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 6 minutes
Cook Time 9 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American, Hawaiian
Servings 4 people
Calories 799 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Skillet
  • 1 rice mold musubi maker this is optional, but it makes making your Spam musubi just that much easier!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 can Spam cut into 8 equal slices
  • 8 strips nori I used 2 sheets of nori and cut the seaweed into 7" x 1" strips; there are approximately 5 strips of nori per sheet, so you'll need 2 sheets and will have a little nori leftover if you cut the sheets to this size
  • 6 tablespoon teriyaki sauce you can use a prepared sauce like Kikkoman's or see the notes below for an easy recipe to make your own teriyaki sauce
  • 3 cups rice this refers to cooked short grain rice like you would use for sushi rice; it's best to use this as this short grain rice will stick together better than long grain rice
  • olive oil optional - you most likely will not need oil to cook the Spam, but if your Spam slices start to stick in your skillet when frying you can add a little bit to loosen them up

Instructions
 

  • Slice the Spam into 8 equal slices, and prepare 3 cups of cooked short grain rice/sushi rice (without the vinegar).
    A can of Spam alongside slices of Spam.
  • Cut the nori into strips approximately 7" x 1". Scissors are a great way to cut the nori!
    A can of Spam, slices of nori, and a container of Teriyaki sauce.
  • Fry the slices of Spam in a large skillet on medium high heat for around 3-4 minutes per side until they are golden brown. If your Spam starts to stick to your pan, you can add a little bit of oil to loosen it up.
    Slices of fried Spam in a large skillet.
  • Lower the heat to medium, and then add the teriyaki sauce. Cook the Spam in the teriyaki sauce for about 30 seconds per side.
    A skillet containing slices of fried Spam. There is a hand holding a small bowl with teriyaki sauce poised above the skillet.
  • Lay the nori down and place the musubi mold over the nori as pictured. This should be placed perpendicularly to the strip of nori in the middle of the strip.
    A slice of nori on a wooden cutting board, topped with part of a musubi maker.
  • Add 2 to 3 spoonfuls of cooked rice into the musubi mold, and then use the presser to press firmly down on the rice.
    A strip of nori topped with a pink musubi maker. There is a bed of rice in the musubi maker and there is the presser part of the musubi maker poised over the bed of rice ready to press it down.
  • Now add a slice of Spam on top of the rice in the musubi mold.
    A strip of nori topped with a pink musubi maker containing a bed of rice topped with a slice of Spam.
  • Remove the mold. Use water to moisten the top of the nori strip, and then wrap the nori strip over the Spam and rice. The moistened part should lay on top of the other part of the strip so that the ends will stick together.
    Strip of nori topped with a bed of rice and a slice of Spam. There is a finger pressing down at the top edge of the nori.
  • Enjoy your Spam musubi IMMENSELY!
    Several Spam Musubi's which are Spam slices on top of a bed of rice wrapped in nori.

Notes

I've used regular Classic Spam for this recipe.  If you are watching your salt, there is a less sodium version of Spam that you can use. 
If you'd like to make your own teriyaki sauce, combine 3 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1.5 tablespoon of sugar, and 1.5 tablespoon of mirin and mix well for use in this recipe. 
I highly recommend using a musubi mold as it makes making your Spam musubi that much easier!  However if you don't have a musubi mold, simply use your hands to shape the rice into a bed of rice that mimics the shape of the slice of Spam.  
I've used both long grain and short grain rice for my musubi making.  From my experience I can certainly recommend short grain over long grain!

Nutrition

Calories: 799kcalCarbohydrates: 119gProtein: 23gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 2240mgPotassium: 575mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 104IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 47mgIron: 2mg
Keyword hand held snack, musubi, spam musubi
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy and Delish Microwave Salmon Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy and Delish Microwave Salmon Recipe!

Cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper, and garnished with lemon wedges and Italian parsley.

I recently came across a recipe for microwaving salmon from none other than Stephen King. Apparently Mr. King's simple recipe for cooking salmon in the microwave was quite controversial. So, of course I had to try it!

The microwave method for cooking this nutritious fish won me over. It's totally legit, easy, and makes for a quick and healthy fish dish!

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Stephen King's Microwave Salmon Recipe

Prior to trying out this recipe, I didn't believe that cooking raw salmon in the microwave would produce a decent result.

The cook time in Mr. King's recipe is "3 minutes or so" and the "or so" is pretty important, because there's a lot of variation in the size of salmon fillets, thickness of the fillet, and microwaves, etc.

My first attempt at microwaving salmon took 2 minutes and 45 seconds. The result was a moist, tender, and flaky salmon!

So now that I knew that the microwave is a great option for cooking fish, I worked on tweaking Mr. King's recipe to add some seasonings and fresh herbs. I'm delighted to share my take on this easy way with cooking salmon in the microwave!

🥘 Ingredients

A white plate with raw salmon fillets and small bowls containing slices of lemon, butter, garlic blend seasoning, minced parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper, and olive oil.

So here are the ingredients you will need to make this wonderful microwaved salmon dish:

We are starting with fresh raw salmon. If you have frozen salmon, be sure to defrost it completely before use in this recipe.

I quite enjoy using this Garlic Blend called "Buffy's Slayer Helper" so just wanted to recommend it, however you can sub garlic powder.

A package of Organic Buffy's Slayer Helper Garlic Blend from Pinch Spice Market, and a small bowl containing some of the garlic blend.

Ok it's time to have some fun cooking salmon in the microwave oven!

🔪 Instructions

Start by making your lemon, butter, and garlic sauce. Set a pan or saucepan on medium low heat, then melt the butter. Once melted add the garlic seasoning and lemon juice and stir to combine. Keep your sauce warm while you prepare and cook your salmon.

A pan containing melted butter and a garlic blend seasoning. A person is holding a small bowl with lemon juice above the pan.

Place some damp paper towels in a microwave-safe dish. Add the salmon fillets, and season with the salt and pepper. Drizzle the olive oil and the lemon juice over the salmon and rub the oil and lemon juice over the fillets with your hands.

Raw salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil atop paper towels.

Cover the fillets completely with damp paper towels. Then place the dish containing the salmon in your microwave.

I used a 1000-watt microwave to cook my salmon.

Damp paper towels surrounding salmon fillets.
Cover the salmon completely with damp paper towels.
Damp paper towels surrounding salmon fillets in a casserole dish placed inside a microwave.
Place the salmon in your microwave.

Cook at 100% power in 45 second intervals (check the salmon after each 45 second interval), until the salmon flakes easily and is fully cooked. Notice when microwaving your fish, that there is very little fishy smell!

Cooking time for me this time around was 2 minutes and 15 seconds. This was less time by 30 seconds than my first attempt due to the smaller size of the fish fillets that I microwaved this time.

Partially cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil atop paper towels.
After cooking 45 seconds.
Partially cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil atop paper towels.
After cooking 1 minute and 30 seconds.
Cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil atop paper towels.
Fully cooked after 2 minutes and 15 seconds (3x 45 sec intervals).

Drizzle the lemon, butter, and garlic sauce over the salmon fillets, and garnish with minced parsley and lemon wedges. Season with additional salt and pepper if you desire and enjoy!

Cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper and garnished with Italian parsley and lemon slices. There is a fork on the side, and one of the fillets has been cut into.

Suggestions For Serving

Cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper, and garnished with lemon wedges and Italian parsley.

I love serving this delicious dish with some mashed sweet potatoes, and a lovely spinach and beet salad for an incredible healthy meal.

You could also serve the salmon with some crusty bread and a vegetable side dish such as roasted broccoli with parmesan.

I hope you'll enjoy a bit of microwave cooking with salmon filets soon!

FAQ

How do I keep salmon from drying out while microwaving it?

It's best to add some liquid such as lemon juice and oil to the salmon when you microwave it. Then wrap it in damp paper towels and be sure to check it at 45 second intervals to be sure that you are not overcooking the salmon. Overcooking the salmon will dry it out.

How do you know when salmon is done?

Use a fork to scrape the top of the salmon. If it flakes easily then it is done! Also cut into the thickest part of the salmon and check to make sure there is no bright orange flesh, as that indicates the salmon is not fully cooked. You can also use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Per America's Test Kitchen, it's best to cook farmed salmon to an internal temperature of 125F, and wild salmon to 120F.

How should I store any leftover microwaved salmon?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in your refrigerator, and consume within 3 days.

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other salmon recipes that you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

Cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper, and garnished with lemon wedges and Italian parsley.

Easy and Delish Microwave Salmon Recipe

Grace Stewart
This Easy and Delish Microwave Salmon Recipe will be your go-to recipe for a quick and healthy dinner!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 287 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 microwave
  • 1 microwave safe dish

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ lb salmon fillet
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • ⅛ ts salt
  • ⅛ ts pepper
  • ¼ ts lemon juice

Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • ½ ts lemon juice
  • ¼ ts garlic blend I used Buffy's Slayer Helper Garlic Blend; of course you can sub garlic powder!

Garnishes

  • 4 slices lemon
  • ½ ts parsley minced

Instructions
 

  • Start by making your lemon, butter, and garlic sauce. Set a pan or saucepan on medium low heat, then melt the butter. Once melted add the garlic seasoning and lemon juice and stir to combine. Keep your sauce warm while you prepare and cook your salmon.
    A pan containing melted butter and a garlic blend seasoning. A person is holding a small bowl with lemon juice above the pan.
  • Place some damp paper towels in a microwave safe dish. Add the salmon fillets, and season with the salt and pepper. Drizzle the olive oil and the lemon juice over the salmon and rub the oil and lemon juice over the fillets with your hands.
    Raw salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper atop damp paper towels. A person is holding a small bowl with lemon juice above the fillets.
  • Cover the fillets completely with damp paper towels.
    Damp paper towels surrounding salmon fillets.
  • Place the dish containing the salmon in your microwave.
    Damp paper towels surrounding salmon fillets in a casserole dish placed inside a microwave.
  • Cook at 100% power in 45 second intervals (check the salmon after each 45 second interval), until the salmon is flaky and fully cooked. It took me 2 minutes and 15 seconds to cook my salmon.
    Cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil atop paper towels.
  • Drizzle the lemon, butter, and garlic sauce over the salmon fillets, and garnish with minced parsley and lemon wedges. Season with additional salt and pepper if you desire and enjoy!
    Cooked salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper and garnished with Italian parsley and lemon slices. There is a fork on the side, and one of the fillets has been cut into.

Notes

The length of time you will need to cook your salmon fillets may vary from the 2 minute 15 seconds it took me to cook mine.  It is best to check your salmon after each 45 second interval to see how your salmon is progressing.
I hope you will savor your microwave salmon!

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 34gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 237mgPotassium: 880mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 117IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Fish, microwave, microwave salmon, salmon
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Manwich Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a Delicious Manwich Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Recipe!

A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.

I grew up eating deliciously messy Sloppy Joe's. My elementary school used to serve these for lunch, and I looked forward with anticipation when my mom would make these for dinner as well. Good times!

It had been quite awhile since I've enjoyed this easy weeknight meal. So I grabbed a can of Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce at the grocery store, and proceeded excitedly to my kitchen to make Texas Toast Sloppy Joes!

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What Are Texas Toast Sloppy Joes?

This easy recipe includes the Sloppy Joe mixture that we all know and love. However, rather than being sandwiched inside hamburger buns, it's placed on top of delish garlic Texas toast. Then we add some cheese which we'll get all nice and melty and now you have this family favorite to enjoy in a brand new delicious way!

A white casserole dish with 2 pieces of Texas Toast sloppy joes one topped with melted cheddar and the other with melted American cheese. There is a pair of blue tongs in the dish.

I hope you and your whole family are excited to try these open-faced sandwiches! Now allow me to tell you what ingredients you will need to make this delicious recipe which is perfect for busy weeknights!

🥘 Ingredients

Bowls containing tomato sauce, diced onion, garlic cloves, butter, and diced green bell pepper along with a can of Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce and a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce. There is a package of ground beef and plates topped with Texas Toast and slices of American cheese.

So here's what you will need to make this sloppy joes recipe:

Some optional ingredients to consider are cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes, and green onions, which I think take these to the next level. 😃

These simple ingredients are easily found at most grocery stores. Now let's get to the kitchen and start preparing this delicious meal!

🔪 Instructions

Preheat your oven according to the directions on the package of Texas Toast that you are using. I used New York Garlic Texas Toast and preheated my oven to 425F. Place the garlic toast in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet. Bake toast until golden brown according to the package directions and set it aside. I like to stand my toast up and lean it against the side of my dish so that it doesn't get soggy. Reduce the oven temp to 400F and keep it on for now.

3 pieces of Texas Toast in a white casserole dish.
Toasted Garlic Texas Toast
A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast standing on their edges leaning on the side of the casserole dish.
Stand them up so they don't get soggy.

Melt butter on medium heat in a large skillet. Add the minced garlic and diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes until the veggies and garlic are softened. Remove this to a plate and set it aside for now.

A large skillet with melted butter and minced garlic, diced onion, and diced green bell pepper.

Add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook it on medium heat until it has browned, around 5 minutes. Drain the excess fat from the skillet once the meat has browned.

Browned ground beef in a large skillet.

Now add the Manwich sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, onion, and green bell pepper to the skillet. Stir and also mix in the 1 ts of Worcestershire sauce at this time.

Sloppy joe sauce, tomato sauce, green bell pepper and onion, and ground beef in a large skillet. Someone is holding a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce in the foreground.

Reduce the heat and simmer the sloppy joe meat mixture for 10 minutes.

Sloppy joe sauce including beef, tomatoes, and green bell peppers in a skillet with a blue spoon resting in the skillet.

Lay the Texas Toast pieces down, and then top each slice of Texas Toast with about ⅓ cup to ½ cup of sloppy joe mixture. Then add your cheese of choice. If using American cheese then one slice on each piece works great. If using shredded cheddar cheese I recommend around 1.5 tablespoon per slice.

A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce and slices of American cheese that are not melted.
One slice of American cheese per slice will do.
A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
If using grated cheddar add 1.5 tablespoon per slice.

Bake at 400F until the cheese melts. It should only take about 1-2 minutes.

A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.

And now your super DELISH tasty sloppy joes with luscious melted cheese are ready to enjoy!

Suggestions for Serving

A white dish containing 3 pieces of Texas Toast sloppy joes topped with melted cheddar cheese, green onions, and cayenne pepper.

This crowd pleaser is ready to enjoy straight from your oven. Or, if you like a little heat, sprinkle some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes over the slices of Texas Toast. Some sliced green onions also add color and a bit of pizazz as well!

Texas Toast Sloppy Joes can be a fun appetizer or your main meal. As a main course, it's such an easy dinner and great accompanied by a lovely green salad.

I hope this delicious dinner idea deserves a place in your rotation of easy dinners that your family loves!

The full recipe with a printable recipe card can be found below. Bon appetit!!

FAQ

Do you drain meat before adding Manwich sauce?

If you have excess fat after browning your ground meat, it's best to drain the excess fat from the meat before adding the Manwich sauce. If you use extra lean ground beef then there shouldn't be much fat to drain.

What side dishes go with sloppy joes?

A simple green salad is the perfect side dish to balance out a delicious sloppy joe!

What is a Texas Toast Sloppy Joe?

Rather than being sandwiched inside hamburger buns, the sloppy joe meat mixture is placed on top of delish garlic Texas toast. Then we add some cheese which we'll get all nice and melty and now you have this family favorite to enjoy in a brand new delicious way!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.

Delicious Manwich Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Recipe

Grace Stewart
This Delicious Manwich Texas Toast Sloppy Joe Recipe is super easy! You will love the sloppy joe mixture on top of garlicky Texas Toast with melty cheese!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Total Time 36 minutes
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 975 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • baking sheet or casserole dish

Ingredients
  

  • 15 oz Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 4 pieces Texas Toast Garlic Bread
  • ½ cup tomato sauce can add more if you prefer a thinner sloppy joe mixture
  • 1 lb ground beef can sub ground turkey - select lean or extra lean ground beef
  • ½ cup onion diced
  • ½ cup green bell pepper diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ts Worcestershire sauce

Cheese - Pick one or try both!

  • 4 slices American cheese
  • 6 tablespoon cheddar shredded (use 1.5 tablespoon per slice)

Optional

  • cayenne pepper for some extra heat!
  • green onions sliced for a bit of color and pizazz!

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven according to the directions on the package of Texas Toast that you are using. I used New York Garlic Texas Toast and preheated by oven to 425F. Place the toast in a casserole dish or on a baking sheet. Cook your toast according to the package directions and set it aside. I like to stand my toast up and lean it against the side of my dish so that it doesn't get soggy. Reduce the oven temp to 400F and keep it on for now.
    A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast standing on their edges leaning on the side of the casserole dish.
  • Melt butter on medium heat in your skillet. Add the minced garlic and diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes until the veggies and garlic are softened. Remove this to a plate and set it aside for now.
    A large skillet with melted butter and minced garlic, diced onion, and diced green bell pepper.
  • Add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook it on medium heat until it has browned, around 5 minutes. Drain the excess fat from the skillet once the meat has browned.
    Browned ground beef in a large skillet.
  • Now add the Manwich sauce, tomato sauce, garlic, onion, and green bell pepper to the skillet. Stir and also mix in the 1 ts of Worcestershire sauce at this time.
    Sloppy joe sauce, tomato sauce, green bell pepper and onion, and ground beef in a large skillet. Someone is holding a bottle of Worcestershire Sauce in the foreground.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer the sloppy joe meat mixture for 10 minutes.
    Sloppy joe sauce including beef, tomatoes, and green bell peppers in a skillet with a blue spoon resting in the skillet.
  • Lay the Texas Toast pieces down, and then top each slice of Texas Toast with about ⅓ cup to ½ cup of sloppy joe mixture. Then add your cheese of choice. If using American cheese then one slice on each piece works great. If using shredded cheddar cheese I recommend around 1.5 tablespoon per slice.
    A white casserole dish with pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Bake at 400F until the cheese melts. It should only take about 1-2 minutes.
    A white dish containing pieces of Texas Toast topped with sloppy joe sauce. Several pieces are topped with melted cheddar and one has melted American cheese.
  • Optional add on's are some sliced green onions and sprinkles of cayenne pepper to take these to the next level! Enjoy!
    A white dish containing 3 pieces of Texas Toast sloppy joes topped with melted cheddar cheese, green onions, and cayenne pepper.

Notes

Please note that the Nutrition Info does not include nutrition for the Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce, and optional green onions, cayenne or red pepper flakes. Please refer to the Manwich can for nutrition info and please accept my apologies for any inconvienienc.
You may also sub shredded mozzarella cheese if you like.
Optional add on's are some sliced green onions and sprinkles of cayenne pepper to take these to the next level! Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 975kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 59gFat: 75gSaturated Fat: 34gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 3gCholesterol: 249mgSodium: 1467mgPotassium: 1046mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1265IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 839mgIron: 6mg
Keyword open faced sandwich, sloppy joes, texas toast
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cajun Smothered Potatoes Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a Cajun Smothered Potatoes Recipe!

A red Dutch oven containing bite sized pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers and smoked sausage. There is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven.

Cajun Smothered Potatoes are delectable. My husband took one bite and exclaimed they were delicious and tasted so smoky! The smokiness comes from the smoked Andouille pork sausage in this dish, which helps to take this great side dish to the next level.

So let me tell you about how to transform humble russet potatoes into delicious smothered southern potatoes!

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What Are Cajun Smothered Potatoes?

This delicious dish, made with simple ingredients, includes potatoes which are cooked down with vegetables, smoked sausage, and chicken stock or chicken broth. The resulting dish yields tender potatoes and vegetables that have a smoky and savory flavor which is incredibly enticing.

A red Dutch oven containing bite sized pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers and smoked sausage. There is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven.

This easy recipe also includes The Trinity in Cajun cooking, which is celery, green bell pepper, and onion.

Now a little bit about smothering, which is one of the great cooking techniques used in many Creole and Cajun dishes. Smothering is very similar to braising. Basically this is a one pot dish that is cooked covered over a low heat for around 30 minutes or so with some chicken broth or stock. The potatoes, Trinity, and spicy sausage are cooked for this good amount of time which results in tender vegetables and incredible flavors!

So "smothering" really just means cooking it down. 😊

🥘 Ingredients

A package of Andouille Sausage, 4 russet potatoes, small bowls with seasonings, garlic, butter, and chicken broth. There is also a celery stalk, an onion, and a green bell pepper.

I hope by now you are excited to make this delicious recipe! If so, here are the ingredients you will need:

  • Butter (can sub olive oil or vegetable oil)
  • Russet potatoes
  • Yellow Onion
  • Green bell peppers
  • Celery
  • Fresh garlic (can sub garlic powder, but fresh is highly recommended)
  • Andouille sausage (can sub a different smoked sausage if you prefer)
  • Chicken broth or chicken stock
  • Cajun seasoning (or Creole seasoning) - I used Nunu's Cajun Seasoning
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

You may already have most of these ingredients available in your pantry! So let's roll up our sleeves and get the ball rolling on this potato and sausage recipe!

🔪 Instructions

A Dutch oven is highly recommended for this dish as it has a cover and retains heat.

Cook The Sausage

Start by setting your stove on a medium heat to a medium high heat. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or a large pot or cast iron skillet with a cover. Then add the cut up pieces of smoked sausage and cook for around 5 minutes (stir often) or until the sausage has turned a light brown color. Remove the sausage, place on a plate and leave it to the side for now.

A Dutch oven containing melted butter and small pieces of smoked sausage. There is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven.

Add The Trinity

Time to add the Trinity (diced green bell pepper, onion, and celery) and the garlic to the Dutch oven and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. By this time the veggies should have been softened.

A red Dutch oven containing melted butter and diced celery, green bell peppers, onion, and minced garlic.

Time For The Potatoes

Add the peeled but up pieces of potato, and cook for about 5 minutes, still on a medium heat. Stir often during this time.

A Dutch oven containing bite sized pieces of potatoes and diced green bell peppers, celery, and onions.

Deglaze With Broth

At the end of the 5 minutes, the bottom of your Dutch oven or skillet will have lots of brown bits, which we will now deglaze by adding the chicken broth or stock. Scrape up the brown bits after adding the liquid, and give everything a very good stir.

A Dutch oven containing pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers, onions and celery. The bottom of the Dutch oven has browned bits and there is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven. A person is holding a glass bowl containing chicken broth, and there is a white bowl with small pieces of smoked sausage in the background.
Chicken broth will help us deglaze the pan.
A red Dutch oven containing pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers, onions celery, and some chicken broth. The bottom of the Dutch oven has browned bits loosened up by the chicken broth and there is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven. There is a white bowl with pieces of smoked sausage in the background.
Scrape up all the brown bits full which are full of flavor!

Smother It Down

Let's now return the sliced sausage to the pan, along with the seasonings (salt, pepper, and Cajun or Creole seasoning).

A Dutch oven containing small pieces of potatoes, onion, and green bell peppers along with small pieces of smoked sausage. There is someone holding a small bowl with seasonings above the Dutch oven.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes and check it every 10 minutes or so, giving it a stir each time. At the end of cooking time, taste and adjust the seasonings by adding additional seasoning to your tastes.

A red Dutch oven containing bite sized pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers and smoked sausage. There is steam coming from the Dutch oven and the lid of the Dutch oven is poised over the Dutch oven.
Cover tightly and smother these potatoes down!

And that my friends, is it! Your dish is now ready to savor with your family!

Suggestions for Serving

A white bowl containing bite sized pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers and smoked sausage.

Believe me when I say this great recipe is absolutely bursting with comforting flavors! The potatoes are now fork tender and will practically melt in your mouth. Be sure that each bite you take includes both potato and sausage for the best experience. 😉

Sometimes I will add some green onions to this versatile dish if I have them on hand. And if you like extra spice, I recommend adding a bit of cayenne pepper or a few drops of Tabasco.

These smoky potatoes are perfect served as a side dish to accompany some pork chops and green beans to make a complete meal.

To conclude, I do hope you will give this dish a try and let me know how it turns out! The full printable recipe card can be found below!

FAQ

How can I store leftovers?

Store any leftover Cajun Smothered Potatoes in an airtight container in your fridge. This is best consumed within 4 days.

What is smothering?

Smothering is one of the great cooking techniques used in many Creole and Cajun dishes. Smothering is very similar to braising. Basically this is a one pot dish that is cooked covered over a low heat for an extended amount of time with some chicken broth or stock.

What goes with Cajun smothered potatoes?

Some great options to accompany this potato dish include pork chops and green beans!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A red Dutch oven containing bite sized pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers and smoked sausage. There is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven.

Cajun Smothered Potatoes Recipe

Grace Stewart
You'll absolutely LOVE this Cajun Smothered Potatoes Recipe! The humble potato, cooked down with the Trinity and some Andouille Sausage makes for a delicious side dish you will devour!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American, Cajun
Servings 4 people
Calories 308 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch oven or large pot or skillet with a cover Dutch oven is ideal for this dish, however if you use another cooking vessel be sure it has a cover

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 1.5 lb russet potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 small green bell pepper diced
  • 1 celery rib diced
  • 6 cloves fresh garlic minced
  • 6 oz Andouille sausage or other smoked sausage, cut into bite size pieces
  • ½ cup chicken broth or chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
  • ¼ ts salt
  • ½ ts pepper

Instructions
 

  • Start by setting your stove on a medium heat to a medium high heat. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or a large pot or cast iron skillet with a cover. Then add the cut up pieces of smoked sausage and cook for around 5 minutes (stir often) or until the sausage has turned a light brown color. Remove the sausage, place on a plate and leave it to the side for now.
    A Dutch oven containing melted butter and small pieces of smoked sausage. There is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven.
  • Time to add the Trinity (diced green bell pepper, onion, and celery) and the garlic to the Dutch oven and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. By this time the veggies should have been softened.
    A red Dutch oven containing melted butter and diced celery, green bell peppers, onion, and minced garlic.
  • Add the peeled but up pieces of potato, and cook for about 5 minutes, still on a medium heat. Stir often during this time.
    A Dutch oven containing bite sized pieces of potatoes and diced green bell peppers, celery, and onions.
  • At the end of the 5 minutes, the bottom of your Dutch oven or skillet will have lots of brown bits, which we will now deglaze by adding the chicken broth or stock. Scrape up the brown bits after adding the liquid, and give everything a very good stir.
    A Dutch oven containing pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers, onions and celery. The bottom of the Dutch oven has browned bits and there is a blue spoon resting in the Dutch oven. A person is holding a glass bowl containing chicken broth, and there is a white bowl with small pieces of smoked sausage in the background.
  • Let's now return the sausage to the pan, along with the seasonings (salt, pepper, and Cajun or Creole seasoning).
    A Dutch oven containing small pieces of potatoes, onion, and green bell peppers along with small pieces of smoked sausage. There is someone holding a small bowl with seasonings above the Dutch oven.
  • Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Simmer for 30 minutes and check it every 10 minutes or so, giving it a stir each time. At the end of cooking time, taste and adjust the seasonings by adding additional seasoning to your tastes.
    A red Dutch oven containing bite sized pieces of potatoes, green bell peppers and smoked sausage. There is steam coming from the Dutch oven and the lid of the Dutch oven is poised over the Dutch oven.

Notes

Please note:  the nutrition information includes chicken broth (from a jar or can) that includes sodium (not a low or no sodium ingredient).
Andouille sausage is perfect for this recipe, but feel free to use any smoked sausage that you like.
Sometimes I will add some green onions to this versatile dish if I have them on hand. And if you like extra spice, I recommend adding a bit of cayenne pepper or a few drops of Tabasco.
This is a delicious side dish which your whole family will love!

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 13gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 622mgPotassium: 1025mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1010IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Potatoes, smothered potatoes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

DELISH Texas Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

by Leave a Comment

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a DELISH Texas Chicken Spaghetti Recipe!

A glass casserole dish containing Texas Chicken Spaghetti which is spaghetti in a creamy sauce with tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken green chilies, and green bell peppers.

Howdy y'all! If you are seeking a delicious meal that your whole family will love, then look no further! This comforting easy Texas Chicken Spaghetti recipe is just the recipe you are looking for!

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

What Is Texas Chicken Spaghetti?

A glass casserole dish containing Texas Chicken Spaghetti which is spaghetti in a creamy sauce with tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken green chilies, and green bell peppers.

Chicken spaghetti is a Southern casserole that includes (amongst other ingredients) spaghetti and tender chicken baked in a cheesy and creamy sauce. It seems there are different versions of this dish floating around (for example, Mississippi Delta Chicken Spaghetti). However, the modern Texas version has to include Velveeta Cheese and Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies.

You see, we Texans LOVE LOVE our queso, and we love the Rotel Famous Queso Dip. This recipe pairs Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chiles with Velveeta Cheese. It's a classic combo, and perfect additions to our great recipe!

This hearty dish, with such a delicious and rich flavor, also contains condensed cream of chicken soup, onion and garlic, green peppers, and mushrooms.

There's everything to adore about this cheesy chicken spaghetti casserole! So let me tell you a little more about the ingredients you will need for this recipe.

🥘 Ingredients

To make this ultimate comfort food, you will need the following simple ingredients:

  • Spaghetti noodles
  • Boneless and skinless chicken thighs (can sub boneless chicken breasts)
  • Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
  • Cream of Chicken Soup (condensed)
  • Velveeta cheese (can sub cheddar cheese but Velveeta is highly recommended)
  • Butter (can sub olive oil)
  • Onion
  • Fresh garlic
  • Green bell pepper
  • Fresh button mushrooms
  • Salt
  • Black pepper

I like to think there is a nice balance of indulgent ingredients such as the Velveeta, and healthy veggies in this dish. 😊

You may sub shredded cheddar cheese in this recipe, however I love how Velveeta melts so very smoothly hence why I use it for this homemade chicken spaghetti. Velveeta is also the perfect partner to Rotel, so I don't want to separate them here!

If you'd like to save a little time, you could use rotisserie chicken and save the step of having to cook the chicken.

I like to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, however you could use shredded chicken if you prefer.

These ingredients are easily found in your local store and you may even have most of these available in your pantry!

So now let me show you how easy it is to make this casserole dish, which your whole family will just LOVE!

🔪 Instructions

Ok let's get to making this Rotel Chicken Spaghetti!

Preheat your oven to 350F. Begin by melting 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven on medium heat to medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted add the bite sized chicken pieces and cook for around 5-7 minutes until it is no longer pink and has turned white. Remove the chicken and place on a plate and keep it to the side.

A red Dutch oven containing pieces of cooked chicken thighs.

Bring a large pot of water to the boil, and start cooking your spaghetti according to package directions and cook to al dente. Start Step 3 while you are cooking your spaghetti. Once cooked, drain and place the cooked spaghetti in a 9"x13" casserole or baking dish.

Cooked spaghetti in a glass casserole dish.

Add the remaining 3 tablespoon of butter and once it is melted throw in the minced garlic and onion. Cook for 3 minutes until softened stirring often, and then add the chopped green bell pepper and sliced mushrooms and cook for an additional 5 minutes, again stirring often.

A red Dutch oven containing melted butter, minced garlic and onion.
Soften minced garlic and onion.
A Dutch oven containing sliced mushrooms, chopped green bell pepper, and minced onions.
Add sliced mushrooms and chopped green bell pepper.

Now add the Rotel tomatoes, cream of chicken condensed soup, Velveeta, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook until the Velveeta melts, approximately 1 minute. Return the chicken back to the skillet or Dutch oven, and stir to combine.

A Dutch oven containing broth, condensed cream of chicken soup, cubes of Velveeta cheese, salt and pepper, diced tomatoes and chilis, mushrooms, and green bell peppers.
Such a beautiful combination of ingredients!
A Dutch oven containing chicken pieces, green bell pepper, and tomatoes in a creamy cheesy sauce. There is a blue slotted spoon resting in the Dutch oven.
Creamy cheesy goodness!

Pour the chicken mixture over the spaghetti and stir to combine. Just a heads up...the casserole dish will be very full! Place the dish in your 350F oven, and bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

A glass casserole dish containing spaghetti, mushrooms, tomatoes, green bell peppers, and chilies in a creamy and cheesy sauce.

Now prepare yourself to enjoy a heaping plateful of Texas Chicken Spaghetti!

How To Serve Your Chicken Spaghetti Casserole!

A glass casserole dish containing Texas Chicken Spaghetti which is spaghetti in a creamy sauce with tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken green chilies, and green bell peppers.

Ok it's time to dig in! I love to serve this delicious casserole with a crisp salad. And believe it or not, a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce give this dish a delightful lift, I urge you to try it!

Splashes of your favorite Tabasco or hot sauce wouldn't go amiss either, if you are like me and love spicy foods.

I hope this easy Chicken Spaghetti recipe will become a family favorite. Bon appetit!

FAQ

What is Texas Chicken Spaghetti made of?

Chicken spaghetti is a cheesy and creamy casserole which contains condensed cream of chicken soup, onion and garlic, green peppers, and mushrooms in addition to chicken and spaghetti. Texas Chicken Spaghetti insists on using Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies and Velveeta Cheese y'all!

How can I store leftover chicken spaghetti?

Store any leftover chicken spaghetti in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Best consumed within 3 days...if it lasts that long!

Can I freeze chicken spaghetti?

Chicken spaghetti is ideal for freezing! Just place in freezer containers and enjoy within 3 months.

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes you may enjoy:

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A glass casserole dish containing Texas Chicken Spaghetti which is spaghetti in a creamy sauce with tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken green chilies, and green bell peppers.

DELISH Texas Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Grace Stewart
This Texas Chicken Spaghetti Recipe is a delicious cheesy and creamy casserole dish that your whole family will love!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 684 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb spaghetti cooked al dente
  • 1.5 lb chicken thighs trimmed of excess fat and cut into bite sized pieces
  • 10 oz Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
  • 10.5 oz Cream of Chicken Soup condensed
  • 8 oz Velveeta cheese can sub cheddar cheese
  • 4 tablespoon butter split (can sub olive oil)
  • 1 onion minced
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 8 oz fresh white button mushrooms sliced
  • 1 ts salt
  • 1 ts black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350F. Begin by melting 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven on medium to medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted add the bite sized chicken pieces and cook for around 5-7 minutes until it is no longer pink and has turned white. Remove the chicken and place on a plate and keep it to the side.
    A red Dutch oven containing pieces of cooked chicken thighs.
  • Bring a large pot of water to the boil, and start cooking your spaghetti according to package directions and cook to al dente. Start Step 3 while you are cooking your spaghetti. Once cooked, drain and place the spaghetti in a 9"x13" casserole or baking dish.
    Cooked spaghetti in a glass casserole dish.
  • Add the remaining 3 tablespoon of butter and once it is melted throw in the minced garlic and onion. Cook for 3 minutes until softened stirring often, and then add the chopped green bell pepper and sliced mushrooms and cook for an additional 5 minutes, again stirring often.
    A Dutch oven containing sliced mushrooms, chopped green bell pepper, and minced onions.
  • Now add the Rotel, cream of chicken condensed soup, Velveeta, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine and cook until the Velveeta melts, approximately 1 minute. Return the chicken back to the skillet or Dutch oven, and stir to combine.
    A Dutch oven containing chicken pieces, green bell pepper, and tomatoes in a creamy cheesy sauce. There is a blue slotted spoon resting in the Dutch oven.
  • Pour the chicken mixture over the spaghetti and stir to combine. Just a heads up...the casserole dish will be very full! Place the dish in your 350F oven, and bake uncovered for 30 minutes.
    A glass casserole dish containing spaghetti, mushrooms, tomatoes, green bell peppers, and chilies in a creamy and cheesy sauce.
  • Place a heaping pile of Texas Chicken Spaghetti on a plate and enjoy!
    A glass casserole dish containing Texas Chicken Spaghetti which is spaghetti in a creamy sauce with tomatoes, mushrooms, chicken green chilies, and green bell peppers.

Notes

You may sub shredded cheddar cheese in this recipe, however I love how Velveeta melts so very smoothly hence why I use it for this homemade chicken spaghetti.
If you'd like to save a little time, you could use rotisserie chicken and save the step of having to cook the chicken.
I like to cut the chicken into bite sized pieces, however you could shred it if you prefer.
Believe it or not, a few dashes of Worcestershire Sauce on this dish add and extra dose of deliciousness!  Your favorite hot sauce wouldn't go amiss either!

Nutrition

Calories: 684kcalCarbohydrates: 73gProtein: 39gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 1262mgPotassium: 1130mgFiber: 4gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 806IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 282mgIron: 3mg
Keyword casserole, spaghetti, Texas Chicken Spaghetti
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Easy Texas Toothpicks Recipe

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy Texas Toothpicks Recipe!

Breaded and fried pieces of thin sliced jalapeños with a red bowl filled with ranch dressing on the left hand side.

Howdy y'all! I'm a Texan and I'm happy to share with you a terrific food from the Lone Star State. It's the Texas Toothpick, a delicious fried treat to eat, and not something to pick your teeth with. 😅

[feast_advanced_jump_to]

What Are Texas Toothpicks?

Texas Toothpicks are basically thin and long strips of jalapeno peppers breaded and then fried to a golden brown perfection.

A few restaurants here in Texas serve TX Toothpicks as appetizers. However if you can't get to a restaurant to enjoy these no worries as they are easy to make at home!

So let me show you what ingredients you will need to make this easy and delicious dish!

🥘 Ingredients

Bowls containing egg, milk, flour, salt and pepper, and garlic and onion powder. There are also 5 whole jalapeños next to the bowls.

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this delicious fried appetizer. They are:

  • Jalapeños - select large jalapeños for this recipe
  • Large Egg
  • Whole milk
  • All purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Vegetable oil

The perfect partner to these is Ranch dressing. I can't tell you how good these are smothered in Ranch! However, you can substitute your own favorite dressing for Ranch if you like.

Ok, so now I'll go through the easy step by step instructions to make your Texas Toothpicks!

🔪 Instructions

Using a sharp knife, begin by cutting the top off the jalapeños and slice them down the middle lengthwise. Deseed and devein the jalapeños and then cut them into thin long strips. Combine the egg and milk in one shallow bowl, and whisk gently to make an egg wash. In another shallow bowl combine the flour and the seasonings and stir to combine well.

A white bowl containing flour and seasonings and a white bowl containing thin slices of jalapeños. There is also a small red bowl containing an egg and milk.

Dip a jalapeno strip into the egg wash and let the excess run off. Then roll it in the flour mixture. Repeat with each jalapeno strip.

A white bowl containing an egg wash, and a pair of tongs holding a thin slice of jalapeno over the egg wash.
Dip the jalapeno in the egg wash and let the excess run off.
A bowl with seasoned flour and a pair of tongs holding a jalapeno slice above the seasoned flour.
Then dip the jalapeno in the seasoned flour mixture.
Thin slices of jalapeños coated in a seasoned flour on a white plate.
Breaded jalapeno strips ready for frying!

Add vegetable oil to a depth of about 1" in a large cast iron skillet or large skillet. Heat the oil to about 350F and then add a few of the breaded jalapeno strips. You will want to fry these in batches so that you don't have too many strips frying at once. Fry until the jalapeño strips are golden brown which means you now have Texas Toothpicks! Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel and add a pinch of salt to each batch of Texas Toothpicks.

A breaded slice of jalapeno frying in hot oil.

Please note: The length of your frying time will vary according to how hot your oil is.  Mine fried up pretty quickly so it's best just to keep an eye on them while cooking and be prepared to remove them as soon as they turn golden brown.  If your oil is super hot, these can go from golden brown to burnt pretty fast!

Breaded and fried pieces of thin sliced jalapeños with a red bowl filled with ranch dressing on the left hand side.

How To Serve Your Delicious Appetizer!

Breaded and fried pieces of thin sliced jalapeños and a red bowl filled with ranch dressing. Someone is dipping one of the fried jalapeno slices in the ranch dressing.

Enjoy these with ranch dressing as a dipping sauce, or substitute your own favorite dressing. You'll be amazed at how fast these disappear!

I hope you will find this to be one of your most favorite delicious appetizers!

FAQ

What are Texas Toothpicks made of?

Texas Toothpicks are made of thin strips of jalapeno peppers breaded and then fried to a golden brown perfection. They make for a mouthwatering appetizer!

Can Texas Toothpicks be reheated?

Technically these can be reheated, but these are best enjoyed straight out of the hot oil! If you do reheat them, your best option is to reheat in an air fryer for around 3 minutes at 350F. Just be aware that they will most likely be a bit limp and not as crisp as when they come out of the hot oil when cooking them.

What sauces can I serve Texas Toothpicks with?

My favorite sauce to serve with this fried jalapeno appetizer is ranch dressing. However I think mayo would also work well, and why not try guacamole, sour cream, or even bbq sauce?!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes which you may enjoy:

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Breaded and fried pieces of thin sliced jalapeños with a red bowl filled with ranch dressing on the left hand side.

Easy Texas Toothpicks Recipe

Grace Stewart
You've got to try this Easy Texas Toothpicks Recipe y'all! Thin slices of jalapeno breaded and fried are called Texas Toothpicks. This great appetizer is perfect served with ranch dressing!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 80 kcal

Equipment

  • large skillet or cast iron pan can also use a deep fat fryer if you prefer

Ingredients
  

  • 5 each jalapeños select large jalapeños and remove the seeds and veins

Egg wash

  • 1 egg select a large egg
  • 2 tablespoon milk use whole milk

Flour and seasonings

  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ½ ts salt plus additional
  • ½ ts pepper
  • ½ ts garlic powder
  • ½ ts onion powder

Oil for frying

  • vegetable oil for shallow frying

Dipping sauce

  • Ranch dressing for dipping

Instructions
 

  • Cut the top off the jalapenos and slice them down the middle lengthwise. Deseed and devein the jalapenos and then cut them into thin strips. Combine the egg and milk in one shallow bowl, and whisk gently to make an egg wash. In another shallow bowl combine the flour and the seasonings and stir to combine well.
    White bowls containing flour and an egg wash, and a cutting board topped with thin slices of jalapeños.
  • Dip a jalapeno strip into the egg wash and let the excess run off. Then roll it in the flour mixture. Repeat with each jalapeno strip.
    Thin slices of jalapeños coated in a seasoned flour on a white plate.
  • Add vegetable oil to a depth of about 1" in a large cast iron skillet or large skillet. Heat the oil to about 350F and then add a few of the breaded jalapeno strips. You will want to fry these in batches so that you don't have too many strips frying at once. Fry until the the strips are golden brown which means you now have Texas Toothpicks! Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel and add a pinch of salt to each batch of Texas Toothpicks.
    A breaded slice of jalapeno frying in hot oil.
  • Enjoy these with ranch dressing as a dip, or substitute your own favorite dressing. You'll be amazed at how fast these disappear!
    Breaded and fried pieces of thin sliced jalapeños and a red bowl filled with ranch dressing. Someone is dipping one of the fried jalapeno slices in the ranch dressing.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition information does not include the information for the vegetable oil or the ranch dressing.  Apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause.
The length of your frying time will vary according to how hot your oil is.  Mine fried up pretty quickly so it's best just to keep an eye on them while cooking and be prepared to remove them as soon as they turn golden brown.  If your oil is super hot, these can go from golden brown to burnt pretty fast!

Nutrition

Calories: 80kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.5gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 42mgSodium: 310mgPotassium: 56mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 86IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg
Keyword fried appetizer, jalapenos, ranch dressing, texas toothpicks
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!