Cheeseburger Soup

This thick, creamy cheeseburger soup absolutely hit the spot on a really cold day here in Indianapolis. We’ve had temperatures well below zero for days now. Having a big batch of this soup on hand really helped warm us up!

Cheeseburger Soup

Nice And Creamy Good

I’ve seen a few variations on this recipe for cheeseburger soup around the web. We decided to make a few more changes of our own. In particular, we substituted extra sharp cheddar and Fontina cheeses for the usual Velveeta. The result is so creamy cheesy good. For even more creaminess, use half the milk specified and add in some heavy cream.

Instead of crumbling the burger into the soup we made tiny meatballs. This made for a little more snazzy appearance and a feel of that more like a cheeseburger. For more great cheeseburger flavor, make a big ole batch of my cheeseburger gnocchi.

This recipe is based on a recipe from The Spice Garden.

Cheeseburger Soup
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4 from 1 vote

Cheeseburger Soup

This thick, creamy cheeseburger soup absolutely hit the spot on a really cold day here in Indianapolis. We’ve had temperatures well below zero for days now. Having a big batch of this soup on hand really helped warm us up!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword burgers, cheese, soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 598kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 medium potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
  • 1 medium carrot peeled and diced
  • 1 small sweet onion diced
  • ½ medium green bell pepper diced
  • 1 small jalapeno seeded and minced
  • 14 ounces beef broth
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper plus more
  • kosher salt
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 4 ounces mushrooms sliced
  • 2 ½ cups milk divided
  • 3 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 4 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese cubed
  • 4 ounces Fontina cheese cubed

For garnish

  • 4 slices bacon cooked, crumbled
  • 1 green onion chopped

Instructions

  • Place the potatoes, carrot, onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, broth and garlic into a large pot or Dutch oven.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and continue simmering until the potatoes are starting to soften, about 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, season the ground beef with salt and pepper. Form into small balls.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the meatballs and cook until browned on all sides. Add the meatballs to the soup.
  • Add the mushrooms to the skillet. Stir and cook until softened. Add to the soup.
  • Add 1 1/2 cups of the milk to the soup and return to a simmer.
  • Add remaining milk to a large cup or bowl. Stir in the remaining flour until smooth. Slowly add the mixture to the soup while stirring. Continue stirring until the soup thickens.
  • Add the cheese to the soup and melt, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve soup warm with crumbled bacon and green onion as garnish.

Notes

Substitute pepper jack cheese for some of the cheddar for a nicely spicy soup!

Nutrition

Calories: 598kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 117mg | Sodium: 730mg | Potassium: 1097mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2320IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 417mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Well, I’ll be. You could just knock me over with a feather. These little yummy homemade chicken nuggets taste even better than those little things you’d get at all of the fast food restaurants! The texture is exactly the same. So much so you’ll think you’re at a McDonald’s. They’re crazy addicting, that’s for sure.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Fast Food That Isn’t Like Fast Food

We really liked these homemade chicken nuggets. They were very flavorful and were almost like eating just-fried chicken bites. They’re highly addicting. It’s a good thing I made a lot of them.

We served these with warmed Russ and Frank’s Sassy BBQ sauce and some homemade sweet-and-sour dipping sauce.

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.

What else would go with these little yum-yums? Yeah, homemade McDonald’s fries. For a more ‘adult’ version, try my Parmesan chicken bites or my crazy-yummy blackened chicken fingers..

Copycat McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce
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4 from 1 vote

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

Well, I’ll be. You could just knock me over with a feather. These little yummy homemade chicken nuggets taste even better than those little things you’d get at all of the fast food restaurants! 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken nuggets, homemade
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 423kcal

Ingredients

For the nuggets

For the egg wash

  • 2 eggs beaten with 1 teaspoon of water

For dredging

Instructions

  • Pour 2″ of oil into a skillet, deep fryer or Dutch oven. Heat to 350 F.
  • Place all of the nugget ingredients into a food processor and pulse until it is well combined and forms a paste. If you are using ground chicken, combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Place the egg wash into a pie pan.
  • In another pie pan place the dredging ingredients.
  • Roll the chicken into small balls (about the size of a big marble).
  • Roll the chicken around in the dredging mixture. Shake off any excess.
  • Roll the chicken around in the egg wash. Shake off any excess.
  • Roll the chicken around in the dredging mixture again.
  • Shake off any excess and place on the parchment paper.
  • Using the back of a spoon, lightly press down on each chicken ball to flatten it out to form a nugget.
  • Working in batches, dip the nuggets in flour one more time.
  • Shake off the excess and add to the oil.
  • Fry on each side about 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
  • Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauces.

Notes

These freeze well and can be easily reheated in the oven or an air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 173mg | Sodium: 1360mg | Potassium: 628mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 167IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Skillet Cornbread Pizza

This is my take on a great recipe for skillet cornbread pizza from Martha White. Sure, it’s not really a pizza, but it has the flavors of one. It’s a really fun twist on the ‘usual’ pizza. You can add pretty much the same ingredients you’d find on any pizza. Since there’s no sauce on top, just serve the slices with a little (warmed) pizza sauce on the side for dipping.

Skillet Cornbread Pizza

A Fun Take On Pizza

You get a good little crunch off the cornbread if you let it get good and browned (not burned!) on the sides and bottom. I think these are rather fun to eat. And they’re mighty easy to make. Skillet cornbread pizza is a really tasty alternative to boring frozen pizza night!

Also try my pizza skillet bake.

Skillet Cornbread Pizza
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5 from 1 vote

Skillet Cornbread Pizza

This is my take on a great recipe for skillet cornbread pizza from Martha White. Sure, it’s not really a pizza, but it has the flavors of one. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword cornbread, pizza, skillet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 486kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Beat the egg in large bowl.
  • Add the milk, oil, cornbread mix, and Creole seasoning and stir until smooth, like a pancake batter.
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients except the sauce.
  • Pour mixture into a 8-9″ cast iron skillet and spread out evenly with a spatula.
  • Bake 20-30 minutes or until the cornbread is done and is golden brown.
  • Serve with warm sauce for dipping or drizzle the sauce over top.

Notes

Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 1487mg | Potassium: 547mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1097IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 381mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Copycat McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce

Yep, it tastes just like the stuff you get for your nuggets at the fast food chain. We made a batch of this copycat of McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce for dipping some homemade chicken nuggets. Just like everyone else is going to do. That’s what this sauce is for. You want to dip other things in it, go right ahead. For me, though, this is all about nuggets getting happy in a delicious sauce.

As a teen, and when I was in college, I ate my share of McDonald’s chicken nuggets. I always had them with the sweet and sour sauce, and I wasn’t shy about dipping either. Times have changed. Now I make my own nuggets and sauce.

Copycat McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce

Make Extra For Later

This copycat McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce freezes well, so make an extra batch and keep some on hand for those times when you want a quick chicken nugget snack with a great dipping sauce.

Great for dipping chicken nuggets, of course!

Copycat McDonald's Sweet and Sour Sauce
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5 from 1 vote

McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce

Yep, it tastes just like the stuff you get for your nuggets at the fast food chain.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword sauce, sour, sweet
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 131kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients except the water into a food processor or blender and puree until smooth.
  • Transfer to a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Stir in the water.
  • Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer and continue simmering until thickened.
  • Serve warm for dipping.

Nutrition

Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Sweet-and-Spicy Appetizer Meatballs

We have long enjoyed our favorite appetizer meatball recipe, but this version of sweet-and-spicy appetizer meatballs from Johnsonville takes the idea to a new level.

Johnsonville recently came out with a line of meatballs. They are soooooo much better than the usual pre-made meatballs you can pick up in your grocer’s freezer section. This is our first time using them, but I can definitely see us cooking with them more! I also substitute my fantastic homemade meatballs. If I have any. They seem to disappear awfully quick around here.

Sweet-and-Spicy Appetizer Meatballs

A Bit Different

I think the elements that really make these meatballs stand out are the great meatballs, of course, and also the Kalamata olives. They really add a great richness to the sauce. These sweet-and-spicy appetizer meatballs are perfect for game-time munching!

For something a bit spicier, give your guests some fire-eater chicken meatballs. Also try my meatball sliders. They make great appetizers too.

Sweet-and-Spicy Appetizer Meatballs
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5 from 1 vote

Sweet-and-Spicy Appetizer Meatballs

I think the elements that really make these meatballs stand out are the great meatballs, of course, and also the Kalamata olives. They really add a great richness to the sauce. These are perfect for game-time munching!
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword meatballs, spicy, sweet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 265kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add in the olives, onion and garlic. Cook for 3 minutes or until the onion starts to soften.
  • Add all of the remaining ingredients except for the cheese. Stir. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to a simmer.
  • Add in the cheese and stir to melt.
  • Continue simmering for 30 minutes or until the meatballs are completely warmed through.

Notes

Keep warm for serving. I put them in a small crockpot set to low.

Nutrition

Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 404mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 214IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

40 Garlic Clove Chicken Sandwiches

I made a big ol’ batch of 40 garlic clove chicken the other day. It’s a garlic lover’s dream, for sure. Well, I had a bit of chicken leftover, and I thought… boy, this sure would be awesome on a sandwich. So I made 40 garlic clove chicken sandwiches. That’s 40 cloves of garlic, not 40 sandwiches to be clear!

40 Garlic Clove Chicken Sandwiches

No Such Thing as Too Much Garlic

The Kaw-Cajun Comeback sauce (courtesy Chez John, RIP my friend) which is good on absolutely anything and everything, really works well with theses 40 garlic clove chicken sandwiches. Couple that with fresh crunchy bread and good toppings and you have a great sandwich.

Love garlic like me? Try my woodfired garlic oyster crackers.

40 Garlic Clove Chicken Sandwiches
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4 from 1 vote

40 Garlic Clove Chicken Sandwiches

I made a big ol' batch of 40 garlic clove chicken the other day. It’s a garlic lovers dream, for sure. Well, I had a bit of chicken leftover, and I thought… boy, this sure would be awesome on a sandwich.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Author Mike

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Warm the chicken.
  • Slather rolls with the Comeback sauce.
  • Add tomato and lettuce and serve.

Nutritional values are approximate.

40 Garlic Clove Chicken

Yes, 40 cloves of garlic went into making this 40 garlic clove chicken. Yes, the house smelled like garlic. A lot. But, it was worth it. I was worried that the chicken would be so garlicky it would be inedible, but I was sooooo wrong. It came out perfectly flavored and very, very tender.

40 Garlic Clove Chicken

No Such Thing as Too Much Garlic

Eating this chicken reminded me of the garlic fries at the now-closed Boogie Burger. It brings the garlic, but in such a good way. Don’t be afraid and try and cut back on the amount of garlic. Heck, next time I might even use 41 cloves!

And if you have any leftovers, this chicken makes for a great sandwich!

Also try my roasted garlic chicken with parmesan gravy.

40 Garlic Clove Chicken
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5 from 1 vote

40 Garlic Clove Chicken

Yes, 40 cloves of garlic went into making this 40 garlic clove chicken. Yes, the house smelled like garlic. A lot. But, it was worth it.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, garlic
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 4 -6
Calories 498kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large Dutch oven over high heat.
  • Add half of the chicken thighs and lightly brown on each side. Remove to a plate.
  • Repeat with remaining oil and chicken.
  • Reduce heat to medium.
  • Add the green onions and a little thyme and saute for a few minutes.
  • Remove pan from heat.
  • Spread 20 of the garlic cloves around the bottom of the pan.
  • Pour in the wine.
  • Add chicken and any accumulated juices. Try to not stack them or over-crowd them so they cook evenly.
  • Top with remaining garlic. Season with salt and pepper and the remaining thyme, to taste.
  • Cover the pot and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
  • Meanwhile, cook the recipe per package instructions and keep warm.
  • Serve chicken over rice with some of the pan sauce.

Notes

You can also make this dish with boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Nutrition

Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 1144mg | Potassium: 755mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 151IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Creamy Bacon Cheese Dip

I made a big batch of this creamy bacon cheese dip for a family get-together. It disappeared fast. It’s highly addictive. I mean, really what’s not to like about it. Tons and tons of cheese. And lots and lots of bacon. And a bit of onion for contrast. Heck, this is not only a great dip, it’s a great topping for a baked potato!

Creamy Bacon Cheese Dip

Make Extra, You’ll Need It!

You can’t go wrong with something that has bacon in it. And cheese. Make a double batch of this creamy bacon cheese dip. It’s great for dipping but it also makes a great topping for hamburgers too! And baked potatoes will never be the same after you put a few good dollops of it on top.

Also try my hot country ham dip.

This recipe is based on a recipe from You Made That?

Creamy Bacon Cheese Dip
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4 from 1 vote

Creamy Bacon Cheese Dip

You can’t go wrong with something that has bacon in it. And cheese. Make a double batch of this creamy bacon cheese dip and keep some on hand for topping just about anything
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Keyword bacon, cheese, dip
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 24
Calories 110kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 slices bacon
  • 2 16 ounce sour cream
  • 2 8 ounce cream cheese softened
  • 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
  • 2 cups green onions chopped

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 F.
  • Cook the bacon until crispy. Drain well and chop into small pieces.
  • Spray a 9″ x 9″ glass baking dish with non-stick spray.
  • Combine all ingredients and pour into the dish, spreading out evenly.
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
  • Serve with crackers or chips (Frito’s Scoops are great with this dip!).

Notes

Also great made with pepper jack cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 167mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 276IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Refried Bean Dip

I’m up for anything with a Southwestern angle to it, and this refried bean dip has just that. Now, I served this up as a dip, but honestly… I could just as easily serve it as a refried bean side dish too. The beans get really, really tasty and tender after a few hours of slow cooking. There’s lots of great yummy cheeses. It’s creamy. And oh, yes, there’s a bit of a kick. But it’s not crazy hot.

Refried Bean Dip

Cholula, My Hot Sauce Of Choice

I use my favorite hot sauce, Cholula, when making this refried bean dip. It adds great flavor and that nice little kick. I’d serve these beans with a bottle of Cholula nearby. You never know when someone might want their beans to be a little spicier.

Never skimp when buying refried beans. The extra few cents a can makes a big difference in this refried bean dip. Or better yet, make your own refried beans using dried pinto beans!

For another delicious party dish made in a slow cooker, try our party shrimp.

Refried Bean Dip
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4 from 1 vote

Refried Bean Dip

I’m up for anything with a Southwestern angle to it, and this refried bean dip has just that. Now, I served this up as a dip, but honestly… I could just as easily serve it as a refried bean side dish too. 
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Southwestern
Keyword beans, dip, refried
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings 12
Calories 1722kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a large pot, Dutch oven, or crockpot.
  • Cover and heat over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring on occasion.

Notes

Stir before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 1722kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 77g | Fat: 137g | Saturated Fat: 82g | Cholesterol: 402mg | Sodium: 9632mg | Potassium: 1087mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 7202IU | Vitamin C: 181mg | Calcium: 2070mg | Iron: 8mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Cholula Macaroni-and-Cheese

There are a thousand variations on macaroni-and-cheese, it seems. Rich. Creamy. Crunchy. And all sorts of different kinds of pasta. Well, if you’re a follower of this blog you know what we love Cholula hot sauce, often called Flavorful Fire. So it’s only natural then that we loved this Cholula macaroni-and-cheese. A little heat, but still that creaminess that makes mac-and-cheese soooo good.

Cholula Macaroni-and-Cheese

Life’s Not All About Elbow Mac

I like making mac-and-cheese with something other than elbow pasta (like wagon wheel pasta). People aren’t expecting it, and you’ll find that some pastas hold the cheese sauce better than others. The little wheel pastas I used in my Cholula macaroni-and-cheese trapped the sauce in yummy little spokes.

Also try my pepperoni pizza mac and cheese.

This recipe is based on a recipe from Insane Chicken.

Cholula Macaroni-and-Cheese
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4 from 2 votes

Cholula Mac-and-Cheese

If you’re a follower of this blog you know what we love Cholula hot sauce, often called Flavorful Fire. So it’s only natural then that we loved this Cholula macaroni-and-cheese. A little heat, but still that creaminess that makes mac-and-cheese soooo good.
Course Side
Cuisine American
Keyword mac and cheese, macaroni and cheese, spicy
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 472kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375 F.
  • Cook pasta per package instructions. Drain.
  • Melt two tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  • Whisking constantly, stir in the flour, cooking for 1 minute.
  • While still whisking, add in the mustard, salt, white pepper, Cholula hot sauce, and in small amounts at a time, the milk.
  • Bring to a slow boil, still whisking, and boil for 1 minute until thickened.
  • Remove pan from the heat and stir in the cheeses until melted and smooth.
  • Add the pasta and gently stir to coat.
  • Pour mixture into a 2 quart baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.
  • Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Stir in the breadcrumbs and chili powder. Sprinkle mixture over the top of the mac-and-cheese.
  • Bake 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
  • Let rest 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

You can substitute your favorite hot sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 872mg | Potassium: 334mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 902IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 611mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional values are approximate.