Category: Side Dishes & Salads

Okra Hush Puppies

This is the first time in a long, long time that I didn’t take a picture of a dish after I plated. Why? Well, because my okra hush puppies were only on a plate for about 30 seconds. Yeah, sure, my hush puppy shaping skills are lacking, but it so didn’t matter. They were incredible. I mean just flat-out absolutely the best hush puppies ever. The perfect batter. And my favorite, fresh okra. I loved it!

Okra Hush Puppies

Fresh Okra Is Best

You pretty much gotta go with fresh when it comes to the okra for these hush puppies. You might bet away with frozen when fresh is out of season, but the color, the crunch, won’t be quite the same. It’ll still taste delicious though.

Note: Yeah, I might have eaten several of these before they even cooled off. And yeah, they were pretty darned hot but I could not control myself. You won’t be able to either.

If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

I get out my big deep fryer when it’s time to fry a large batch of food. It comes to temperature quickly and it maintains that temperature perfectly. It has a built-in oil filter and storage unit so I can re-use the oil several times.

T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel

Also try my copycat of the hush puppies from Long John Silver’s!

Okra Hush Puppies
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5 from 1 vote

Okra Hush Puppies

This is the first time in a long, long time that I didn’t take a picture of a dish after I plated. Why? Well, because my okra hush puppies were only on a plate for about 30 seconds.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword deep-fried, hush puppies, okra
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 271kcal
Author Spicy Southern Kitchen

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 350 F.
  • In a large bowl combine the okra, garlic powder, onion, and parsley.
  • In another bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, and sugar.
  • Add to the bowl of okra and stir gently to combine.
  • Stir in the cornbread mix.
  • Add the salt and pepper and stir..
  • Working in batches, scoop out a spoonful of batter and gently drop into the hot oil. Fry for about 5 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through, flipping as they cook.
  • Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Notes

No dipping sauce required but you can use ketchup or Ranch and even mustard if you like!

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 831mg | Potassium: 337mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 700IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel

Hawaiian-Style Potato Macaroni Salad

You want pasta salad. She wants potato salad. Now you both can get what you want, in one bowl! And with a little tropical twist, to boot. This Hawaiian-style potato macaroni salad is a wonderful side dish, perfect for a family get-together (it does make a pretty big batch!). It really is the combination of two favorites.

Hawaiian-Style Potato Macaroni Salad

What’s Hawaiian about this Hawaiian-style potato macaroni salad? Well, you’re supposed to use sweet Hawaiian onions when you make it. Sadly, I couldn’t find them, so I used good-ole Vidalia’s, my favorite onions. I don’t think it matters, because this salad turned out to be fantastic!

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Also try my Creole macaroni salad.

Hawaiian-Style Potato Macaroni Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Hawaiian-Style Potato Macaroni Salad

You want pasta salad. She wants potato salad. Now you both can get what you want, in one bowl! And with a little tropical twist, to boot.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword pasta salad, potato salad
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 436kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from A Spicy Perspective

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the potatoes.
  • Boil for 5 minutes.
  • Add the pasta and cook 6-8 minutes or until the noodles are al dente.
  • Carefully drain the potatoes and pasta into a large colander and rinse with cold water.
  • Transfer to a large bowl and add the onion, carrot, peas and green onion.
  • Combine the mayo, relish, vinegar, mustard, allspice and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Gently fold into the potato pasta mixture.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Notes

You can cook the potatoes and pasta together, but I prefer to steam my potatoes. A hard boil tends to beat up the potatoes, whereas steaming keeps that nice cube shape. To do so, place the potatoes in a steam basket over the boiling pasta and steam until tender. The potatoes will likely take longer to steam than the pasta will take to cook.

Nutrition

Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 360mg | Potassium: 464mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 995IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Warm German Potato Salad

I don’t know how long it has been since I’ve had warm German potato salad. It’s been a while for a reason. What I had was not good. It was thick. It was gloppy. And it was horribly vinegary. This salad? This is not that. This is fantastic! We could not stop eating it. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. There’s just the right amount of vinegar. Oh, and of course there’s bacon! One bite erased those bad potato salad memories in an instant!

Warm German Potato Salad

A Word Of Caution

Do not overcook your potatoes or the warm German potato salad will get too mushy. Err on the side of caution. You can always cook them more if you think they have too much ‘bite’. But you can never un-cook them.

I used a thin-cut bacon. Normally I’m a more-is-better bacon kind-of-guy, but not here. This is just the right amount of bacon. Thicker bacon would get in the way off all the other great flavors. This is an excellent salad for my Rouladen and Knodel dish.

Lucy's Family Owned - Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) - 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 fl oz.))
Lucy’s Family Owned – Natural Distilled White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 oz) – 5% Acidity (White Vinegar, 1 Gallon (128 fl oz.))

Also try my jalapeno pimento cheese potato salad.

Warm German Potato Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Warm German Potato Salad

This potato salad is fantastic! We could not stop eating it. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. There’s just the right amount of vinegar. Oh, and of course there’s bacon!
Course Side
Cuisine German
Keyword German, potato salad
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 179kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Bring a large Dutch oven (preferred) or pot of water to a boil.
  • Add the potatoes and return to a boil. Boil another 8-10 minutes or until just tender. Do not over cook.
  • Drain the potatoes.
  • Add the bacon to the pot and cook until brown and crispy.
  • Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Crumble.
  • Add the onion to the bacon grease and stir. Reduce heat to medium and cook until just browned.
  • Add the vinegar, water, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir and bring to a boil.
  • Add the potatoes and parsley and HALF of the crumbled bacon.
  • Transfer to a bowl for serving and sprinkle with the remaining crumbled bacon.

Notes

Best served warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 807mg | Potassium: 734mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn Red Potato Salad

This right here is what potato salad is supposed to be. I’ll never make another potato salad again because there just isn’t any point. Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn red potato salad is it, the last recipe that I’ll ever need. I’ve never been there, but Leatha’s sounds exactly like the kind of BBQ joint that I would love. From the atmosphere to the food to the service, it receives nothing but high praise. I’m sure Hattiesburg, Mississippi, considers itself lucky to have it!

This potato salad is traditional in flavors, texture and appearance. The balance of everything is perfect. Just the right amount of egg. The right amount of mustard. Not too much mayonnaise. Everything is spot-on.

Leathas Bar-B-Que Inn Red Potato Salad

No Changes Needed. Ever.

Don’t go messing with Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn red potato salad. Don’t add bacon. Or onion. Or smoked paprika, or anything else you think might make it better because it won’t. None of that. I mess with a lot of recipe, but I won’t mess with this one. I’d probably get hit by lightning.

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Also try my grilled steakhouse potato salad and my just-like-grandma’s potato salad.

Leatha's Bar-B-Que Inn Red Potato Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn Red Potato Salad

This right here is what potato salad is supposed to be. I’ll never make another potato salad again because there just isn’t any point.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword potato salad
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 16
Calories 4012kcal
Author Leatha’s Bar-B-Que Inn

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the potatoes to a large pot.
  • Cover with water and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to a slow simmer and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes.
  • Drain and cool.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cooled potatoes, the smashed eggs, pepper and salt.
  • In another bowl, combine the mustard, sugar, mayo, relish and pimentos.
  • Pour the mustard mixture over the potatoes and stir gently to coat.

Notes

Stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 4012kcal | Carbohydrates: 485g | Protein: 87g | Fat: 202g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1210mg | Sodium: 11578mg | Potassium: 11142mg | Fiber: 46g | Sugar: 133g | Vitamin A: 7973IU | Vitamin C: 294mg | Calcium: 475mg | Iron: 27mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

The Best Marinated Vegetable Salad

We both found this marinated vegetable salad to be truly the best. It’s absolutely incredible. We could not stop eating it. The dressing has the right balance of sweet and tart. The veggies have the right balance of crunch and tenderness. The seasoning is perfect.

This recipe makes a pretty big batch of salad so you’ll have a lot to feed a crowd. It’s the perfect dish for a family get-together or picnic. It’s super easy to make and travels well.

The Best Marinated Vegetable Salad

A Truly Fantastic Salad

You don’t have to be real picky as to which vegetables you add to make this the best marinated vegetable salad. It’s very flexible. You can pretty much walk down the produce aisle in your grocery store and grab whatever’s in season and you’ll soon be enjoying a fantastic dish.

I used quality vinegars when making this salad. It makes a difference, I think. So grab a good red and a good white and get to making and enjoying!

Pompeian Gourmet Red Wine Vinegar, Perfect for Salad Dressings, Marinades & Sauces, Naturally Gluten Free, 30 Ounce
Pompeian Gourmet Red Wine Vinegar, Perfect for Salad Dressings, Marinades & Sauces, Naturally Gluten Free, 30 Ounce
Pompeian Gourmet White Wine Vinegar, Bright & Fresh Flavor, Perfect for Salad Dressings, Shellfish & Sauces, 30 FL. OZ.
Pompeian Gourmet White Wine Vinegar, Bright & Fresh Flavor, Perfect for Salad Dressings, Shellfish & Sauces, 30 FL. OZ.

If fresh produce is out-of-season, try my marinated vegetable salad recipe that uses frozen veggies instead. And for an out-of-this-world great vegetable soup, try my best recipe.

Marinated Vegetable Salad
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5 from 1 vote

Best Marinated Vegetable Salad

We both found this marinated vegetable salad to be absolutely incredible. We could not stop eating it. The dressing has the right balance of sweet and tart. The veggies have the right balance of crunch and tenderness. The seasoning is perfect.
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword salad, vegetable
Prep Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 10
Calories 49kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, sugar, and pepper in a small bowl.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, cherry pepper halves, zucchini, carrots, and onion.
  • Add the dressing to the vegetables and toss gently to coat.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 2-24 hours. Stir every hour.

Notes

Stir again before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 49kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 3357IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Enchilada Beans

Man do I ever love a big ole pot of great beans. But these enchilada beans aren’t great beans. They’re amazing beans. The flavors are just amazing. Southwestern in nature, with the perfect texture and a sauce that is to die for, I could eat these beans all day long and still ask for more.

Enchilada Beans

No Mess With The Recipe (Please)

You cannot improve on these enchilada beans. Don’t go adding hot sauce, or spicy chili powder, or some fru-fru roasted tomato sauce. They don’t need any messing with. At all. Trust me on this, I’m not making it up! Make them exactly as the recipe calls for and you will thank me all day long.

Well, You Could Make Them Into Chili…

Now, that being said… after making these a few times the thought of adding crumbled browned ground beef and making these beans into a chili did occur to me…

I like to use my good ole trusty Dutch oven to make this soup and pretty much darned near anything like it on my stovetop. It’s nice and big and sturdy. That extra weight helps it maintain and distribute heat perfectly. As an added bonus, it’s actually pretty easy to clean up too!

Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Round Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, Blue
Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Round Dutch Oven, 6-Quart, Blue

Also try my cowboy beans and a family favorite, our Spanish-style beans.

Enchilada Beans
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Enchilada Beans

Man do I ever love a big ole pot of great beans. But these enchilada beans aren’t great beans. They’re amazing beans.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword beans, Mexican
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 245kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a medium saucepan or Dutch oven.
  • Add onion and cook until just starting to soften.
  • Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Sprinkle onions with flour, chili powder and cumin and stir.
  • Cook for 5 minutes to cook the flour, stirring.
  • Stir in the broth and tomato sauce.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until thickened.

Notes

Rather good with saltines too!

Nutrition

Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 442mg | Potassium: 875mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 735IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Baked Bacon

Baked bacon is one of my favorite things. A little time, a little seasoning and I’ve got a wonderful treat. I like my bacon to not be super-duper crunchy. Just a little bite is perfect. For me, baking is easier than cooking bacon in a skillet. I also get a more-consistently cooked product (with minimal curling!). With less mess, too.

Baked Bacon

Bacon. Glorious Perfectly-Cooked Bacon.

When I worked at the cafeteria at a large army base outside of Washington DC we would bake an unbelievable amount of bacon. And specially for Saturday morning’s buffet. Rack after rack after rack of bacon. I started as a dishwasher. Nothing was harder than scrubbing stack after stack of large sheet pans that had pieces of bacon stuck to them. I avoid that now by lining my pans with foil. A teen making minimum wage was probably cheaper than foil back in the day, so we didn’t line the pans at the cafeteria. We also didn’t season the bacon, something I really love to do.

Save The Drippings

If you’re planning on draining off the bacon drippings to use for other purposes, you might want to skip the seasoning all-together, or strain it first to remove any spice pieces.

Cleanup Is Easy

For cleanup I take the paper towel that I drained the bacon on and toss it onto the baking sheet to absorb any grease. I fold up the sides of the foil and seal it tightly. This creates a packet that can be tossed into the bin without having to worry about it leaking.

Use Up Your Spices

Baked bacon is also a great way to use up those last bits of the spices you have in the pantry. You know the ones, they’ve been in there forever waiting for you to figure out what to do with them. Well, now you know!

AlbuKirky Seasonings Red Chile BBQ Rub - Hatch Red Chile, Gluten Free, No MSG - 6 Ounce
AlbuKirky Seasonings Red Chile BBQ Rub – Hatch Red Chile, Gluten Free, No MSG – 6 Ounce

Crunch some on some bacon and blue cheese French fries and enjoy!

Baked Bacon
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5 from 1 vote

Baked Bacon

Baked bacon is one of my favorite things. A little time, a little seasoning and I’ve got a wonderful treat. I like my bacon to not be super-duper crunchy. Just a little bite is perfect. 
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword bacon
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 315kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces bacon thin- or thick-sliced
  • seasonings see notes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F. For thick or crisper bacon you can go as high as 400 F.
  • Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • Lay the bacon out onto the baking sheet. Do not overlap the pieces or let them touch.
  • Sprinkle the top side of the bacon with the seasoning.
  • Bake for 20 minutes. The bacon will still be mostly uncooked.
  • Flip and season the other side. Return to the oven for 15 minutes or until the desired doneness is achieved. I like my bacon done, but only lightly crispy. Thin bacon usually takes a total of 35 minutes, while thick can take 45 minutes or longer.
  • Remove bacon to paper towel-lined plate to drain then serve.

Notes

Do not use seasonings that contain a lot of sugar. If your seasonings contain a lot of salt I recommend using them sparingly as the bacon is already salty to begin with if it has been salt-cured.
Sometime bacon, especially thinner slices, can be hard to separate when removing it from the packaging. I freeze my bacon for a few minutes to make the pieces easier to remove. Just don’t put the bacon in the freezer and forget about it!

Nutrition

Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 150mg | Vitamin A: 28IU | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes

I love making ‘regular’ baked potatoes. And I love making Hasselback potatoes (read the history of them here). For whatever reason, I find making them to be more fun. They are cool looking. They’re super-easy to cook. These three cheese Hasselback potatoes are simple yet packed with plenty of yummy creamy cheese. I love cheese. I love these potatoes.

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes

Get A Gadget

Time for me to fess up. In the past I’ve cut my Hasselback potatoes by hand. I used an old wooden spoon to prevent me from cutting too far. I was fairly successful at it, but it was time consuming and often frustrating. So now I ‘cheat’. I bought a slicing rack for these three cheese Hasselback potatoes. My life is oh so much better since I did. Perfectly sliced potatoes, every single time. I admit, it’s not a kitchen gadget that I find myself using every day. But when I do need it it saves me a lot of time and a whole lot of frustration!

Charcoal Companion CC2031 Hasselback Potato Slicing Rack - Bake or Grill Delicious Potatoes In Your Kitchen or BBQ
Charcoal Companion CC2031 Hasselback Potato Slicing Rack – Bake or Grill Delicious Potatoes In Your Kitchen or BBQ

Make sure you use a good grater for the cheese, and definitely don’t buy the pre-grated stuff unless you absolutely have to!

Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater, Kitchen Mandoline Vegetable Slicer with 3 Interchangeable Blades, Easy to Clean Rotary Grater Slicer for Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts
Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater, Kitchen Mandoline Vegetable Slicer with 3 Interchangeable Blades, Easy to Clean Rotary Grater Slicer for Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts

Also try my grilled Hasselback potatoes.

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes
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4.50 from 2 votes

Three Cheese Hasselback Potatoes

I love making Hasselback potatoes. For whatever reason, I find making them to be more fun. They are cool looking. They’re super-easy to cook. 
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cheese, potatoes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 potatoes
Calories 252kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Robert Irvine

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Slice the potatoes (see the post for instructions on how to do this manually or using a Hasselback slicing rack).
  • Transfer the potatoes to a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the parsley, salt and pepper.
  • Gently spread the potato slices apart and brush with half of the butter mixture.
  • Bake another 10 minutes or until the potatoes are done.
  • Brush with remaining butter mixture and divide the cheese between the potatoes.
  • Return to the oven, under the broiler, to melt the cheese, another 1 minute.

Notes

Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 925mg | Potassium: 930mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 233mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Smoked Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese

I recently smoked a big block of Velveeta. When I first mentioned the idea you could actually hear the gasps. Half were in amazement, half were not impressed. Well, for those not on the smoked Velveeta train, time to admit you were wrong because it’s crazy, crazy good! My first recipe for it? Yep, smoked Velveeta macaroni and cheese!

Smoked Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese

This Is Something Special


You could make this recipe with ‘regular’ Velveeta instead. But I have to say, smoked Velveeta macaroni and cheese is something special. The flavor is just right. The creaminess is what you’d expect.

This recipe is also fantastic using smoked cheddar cheese, something I’ve made a few times also. You can also find smoked cheddar in most stores. Sadly, you cannot find smoked Velveeta in stores. Yet.

Pecan Wood Chunks 4lb
Pecan Wood Chunks 4lb

Looking for something easier for a crowd? My potluck macaroni and cheese recipe makes a big ole batch!

Smoked Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese
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5 from 1 vote

Smoked Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese

For those not on the smoked Velveeta train, time to admit you were wrong because it’s crazy, crazy good! My first recipe for it? Yep, smoked Velveeta macaroni and cheese!
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, smoked
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 480kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Brother Jimmy’s BBQ

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Cook the pasta until al dente, 7 minutes.
  • Rinse and drain well.
  • Drain water from pot and add 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat.
  • Add the onion and cook until just soft.
  • Add the cubed Velveeta, milk and mustard.
  • Stir and let cook until the cheese has melted and is smooth, stirring often. You want the sauce to thicken until it sticks to a spoon, 10-15 minutes.
  • Stir in the cooked macaroni.
  • Pour into a lightly greased 9" x 13" baking dish.
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and hot.
  • Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in a small saute pan.
  • Add the Panko and stir until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the mac-and-cheese.
  • Slice and serve.

Notes

You can use regular breadcrumbs instead.

Nutrition

Calories: 480kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1873mg | Potassium: 406mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 869IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 399mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)

Mississippi Mud Cheesy Potatoes

I’m lucky in that I usually love darn near everything I make. These Mississippi Mud cheesy potatoes are definitely no exception. In fact, love may be an understatement. My wife and I both devoured them. You just can’t beat the tender potatoes, ooey gooey cheese, crunchy smoky bacon, and green onions. It’s a lot like having a loaded baked potato, and yep, you guessed it, I love loaded baked potatoes too.

Mississippi Mud Cheesy Potatoes

Spice ‘Em Up

The only possible change (and really, it’s a stretch perhaps) I would make to these Mississippi Mud cheesy potatoes would be to add a roasted jalapeno or two. Actually, that’s not a stretch at all. Or maybe a pinch or two of smoked paprika or chipotle powder. Yeah, I’m going that for sure now! It’s not that this dish NEEDS some spicy kick to it. It’s that I like things with a little heat more than things without it. So why not add just a bit? Me, I figure anything I would add to a bake potato, I can add here too!

I almost always use Blue Plate mayonnaise in the dishes I make. I think it is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Also make my delicious melting potatoes.

Mississippi Mud Cheesy Potatoes
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2 from 2 votes

Mississippi Mud Cheesy Potatoes

I’m lucky in that I usually love darn near everything I make. These Mississippi Mud cheesy potatoes are definitely no exception.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword cheesy, potatoes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 1078kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Mama Plus One

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 10 cups Russet potatoes diced (about 5 medium potatoes)
  • 1 pound extra sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 pound bacon cooked, chopped
  • ½ cup green onions chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 325 F.
  • Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Pour mixture into a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish.
  • Bake for 1 hour until the potatoes are tender.

Notes

You can test for doneness by poking a potato with a toothpick.

Nutrition

Calories: 1078kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 96g | Saturated Fat: 37g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 625mg | Potassium: 860mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 651IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 440mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)