If summer had a signature side, it just might be macaroni salad. This version hits all the comfort food notes: tender elbow pasta, creamy dressing, crisp bites of celery and bell pepper, and a pop of brightness from a little pickle brine and Dijon. It’s rich, tangy, and satisfying without feeling heavy—exactly what you want next to grilled burgers or ribs.

Summer cookouts deserve more than just your average ketchup-and-mustard dog. This hot dog brings the crunch, the heat, and that creamy slaw —all while keeping the grill at the heart of the action.

Nothing screams summer (or comfort food, honestly) like a thick, juicy All-American Burger stacked with melty cheese, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, tangy pickles, and a slather of ketchup and mustard. Whether you're grilling in the backyard or cooking on a stovetop skillet, this recipe brings the diner vibes right to your kitchen.

This garlic herb butter tortellini is cozy, savory, and packed with flavor — perfect when you want something simple but elevated. It’s my favorite way to turn cheese tortellini into a buttery, herby side dish in minutes.

Chicken Milanese is a simple, classic dish made with thin, crispy breaded chicken cutlets and a bright squeeze of lemon. This recipe focuses on straightforward techniques to create a crisp, golden crust without overwhelming the natural flavor of the chicken.

This cheesy enchilada skillet is everything I want in a weeknight dinner: hearty, a little spicy, and unapologetically cheesy—with zero fuss and only one pan to clean.

Whole Italian sausages, beautifully browned (with bonus grill marks if you’ve got a grill pan), simmered in a rustic mix of sweet bell peppers, onions, and a garlicky tomato glaze.

This dish brings alllll the Eastern European comfort vibes — smoky kielbasa, sweet roasted peppers and onions (from frozen, no chopping!), and pillowy pierogi that crisp up in the oven. It’s warm, filling, and a total potato glow-up if you’re tired of the same old roasted spuds.

This is recipe is beefy, cheesy, saucy, and packed with flavor. It’s like Hamburger Helper, but way better (and without all the mystery ingredients). Everything cooks in one pan, including the pasta, and it comes together in under 30 minutes.

This is one of those “how is this so good with so little effort?” meals. You toss everything on one sheet pan, let it roast, and 30 minutes later you’ve got juicy pork chops with crispy-edged potatoes and a tangy-sweet balsamic glaze that brings it all together. No chopping. No marinating. No standing over the stove.

If you're craving something cheesy, saucy, and soul-soothing but can’t be bothered with a single pot of boiling water — this one’s for you. Just toss gnocchi, sauce, and cheese into a baking dish and let the oven work its magic. No chopping, no boiling, no stress.

This recipe is proof that rich, creamy comfort food doesn’t have to mean standing over a stove. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic — no chopping, no stress, just wildly good chicken in a velvety sauce that tastes like it came from a trattoria in Florence.

This is the kind of dinner you throw together when you want something hearty and soul-soothing but barely have the energy to open the fridge. Everything goes into the pan, no chopping necessary, and the result is a bubbling, saucy masterpiece that tastes like you slow-cooked it all day.

If you’re looking for a dinner that’s fast, healthy, and feels like something special — this is the one. The honey garlic glaze caramelizes over the salmon while the asparagus roasts until perfectly tender. It’s a full meal with no chopping, no pans to scrub, and no excuses to order takeout.

This recipe is for when you're running from class to work to walking the dogs and just need dinner to make itself. You literally dump everything into the slow cooker—no chopping, no searing, no babysitting.

This one-pot orzo dish is the weeknight hero you didn’t know you needed. It’s cozy, creamy, bright from the lemon, and feels a little fancy even though it takes barely 20 minutes and zero brain power.

This Better-Than-Takeout Orange Chicken is crispy, tangy, and perfectly sweet with just the right amount of citrusy kick! Made with juicy chicken breast pieces tossed in a homemade orange sauce, it’s the ultimate comfort food that tastes just like your favorite Chinese takeout—except even better.

This creamy kale and sun-dried tomato pasta is the kind of dish that feels fancy but takes almost no effort. It’s garlicky, savory, a little tangy from the sun-dried tomatoes, and rich with cream and parmesan.

This recipe is reminiscent of the weeknight dinners I grew up on — angel hair pasta twirled through jarred red sauce, topped with sizzling pan-fried meatballs, and finished with a snowstorm of grated parmesan.

This is the easiest way to make taco night feel extra delicious. We’re skipping the seasoning packet but keeping all the flavor: smoky chipotle, garlic, tomato paste, and warm ground cumin give this beef a rich, bold profile — finished with a little lime for brightness.