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easy recipes

Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks

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One of my favorite comfort meals of all time is philly cheesesteaks. It’s not a meal I grew up eating, but one I learned to love after heading to college. My (now) husband and I made it all the time when we were dating. And it just kind of feels like home, if you know what I mean. If you don’t make it often, it may seem daunting. But these easy homemade Philly Cheesesteaks are going to blow your mind. I promise, they are simple!

Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks

Here’s what you’ll need

For this recipe in particular, you’ll just need a pan for the stovetop. However, if you want to really finish this sandwich off properly, an air fryer is perfect. If you still haven’t invested in an air fryer, I recommend this one.

Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks

Here are the other ingredients you’ll need:

  • 14 ounces of Shaved Steak
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 8 ounces of baby bella mushrooms, sliced
  • 8 slices of Provolone Cheese
  • Mayonnaise

That’s it! It really is only 5 ingredients. And it takes just minutes to prep.

Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks

How to make Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks

Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks

Easy Homemade Philly Cheesesteaks
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces of Shaved Steak
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 8 ounces of baby bella mushrooms, sliced
  • 8 slices of Provolone Cheese
  • Mayonnaise

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

  1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil with onions.


    You want to sauté them on medium low heat until they become soft and translucent. I choose to do sliced onion, but you can totally dice them up as well!
  2. Once the onions have sautéd, add in the mushrooms.

    Be sure to season both the onions and mushrooms with salt. This helps to bring the moisture out of them and become soft. Not to mention, they need the flavor.
  3. Once the mushrooms have broken down and soft (they will turn a darker color) add in the shaved steak along with 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite steak seasoning. 

  4. Cook the steak until it’s cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Make sure to toss the steak around in the onions and mushrooms.
  5. Grab your hoagie buns and place mayo on both sides of the bread.
  6. Place steak on top of the bottom roll and the provolone cheese on top.

  7. Place in an air fryer on 350° (or the oven) to toast the bread and melt the cheese. In the air fryer it’s about 1-2 minutes (if using the oven, expect 5-8 minutes).
  8. ENJOY!
© Rachel

If you’re looking for other easy meals, check a few of these out.

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Air Fryer S’mores Recipe

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Hear me out. S’mores, but all year long. See, I know that s’mores are traditionally a Summertime thing. But why do they have to be?! Thanks to being team #airfryer, I can make s’mores from January to December. You’ve gotta see how easy this Air Fryer S’mores Recipe is!

Air Fryer S'mores Recipe

What you’ll need

If you have ever made s’mores before (are there people who haven’t!?), you’ll know that it doesn’t take much. All you’ll need are some graham crackers, delicious chocolate, and marshmallows.

Air Fryer S'mores Recipe

My suggestion would be the following two things. Number one: Use BIG, fluffy marshmallows. If you want to make your own homemade marshmallows, try this marshmallow recipe. Number two: Use an air fryer with a viewing window. This one is what I used. That way you can keep an eye on how dark your marshmallow gets (or doesn’t get).

Air Fryer S'mores Recipe

Air Fryer S’mores Recipe

Yield: 8

Air Fryer S'mores

Air Fryer S'mores Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 8 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 long pieces of graham crackers
  • 8 large s’more size marshmallows
  • 2 Hershey bars

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

  1. Snap graham crackers in half making two sections.
  2. Divide chocolate bars into 4, three-piece sections.
  3. Add one section of chocolate onto a graham cracker, and one marshmallow to a graham cracker.
  4. Place the crackers open faced up in the air fryer basket.
  5. Cook at 350 for 3 minutes.
  6. Carefully remove the crackers and place crackers with chocolate on top of the crackers with marshmallows.
  7. Enjoy the mess from the comfort of indoors! 🙂

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Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

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I’ve been obsessed with Mexican food for as long as I can remember. TRUTHFULLY! Some of my earliest memories as a child were visiting a traditional Mexican restaurant. It was 45-minutes from where we lived. And we rarely (if ever) ate out. But this restaurant became my happy food space. And one of my favorite items were traditional empanadas (and papaya juice, but we’re not talking about that today). As much as I loved those traditional empanadas, I found them hard to duplicate at home. That is, until I made these air fryer beef empanadas.

Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

What you’ll need

As you may know, I’m a big fan of using an air fryer. In fact, we use ours daily. If you haven’t yet purchased an air fryer, what are you waiting for?! My suggestions are this one for a big family and this one for 1-2 people.

Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

Here’s what else you’ll need:

  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 1 ounce of taco seasoning
  • 3 Tablespoon of beef broth
  • 1 package refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts total, bring to room temperature)
  • 1 egg, whisked

The ingredients are simple. And, if you’re looking for an amazing taco seasoning, I would suggest checking out Penzey’s Spices. Of all of the seasonings I’ve tried, Penzey’s are the best.

How to make Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

Yield: approximately 10

Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

Air Fryer Beef Empanadas
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 pound of ground beef
  • 1 ounce of taco seasoning
  • 3 Tablespoon of beef broth
  • 1 package refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts total, bring to room temperature)
  • 1 egg, whisked

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

  1. Heat a large saucepan on medium heat, add your bell pepper and onions. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes allowing the bell pepper to soften, and your onion to be translucent.
  2. Add your ground beef, taco seasoning, and broth. Mix everything together and brown your meat. Once completely cooked, set aside.
  3. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F for five minutes.
  4. On a lightly floured flat surface, add one of your pie crusts. Using a rolling pin roll your pie crust just a couple of times to thin out your pie crust slightly. Using a round bowl or cup that is 8 inches in diameter, cut out 4 circles. 
  5. Repeat step four with your second pie crust.
  6. Optional (see fun tip): Take your remaining pie crust. Roll it into a ball and flatten out to cut more circles. You should be able to get at least two more 8-inch diameter circles.
  7. Add 2 tablespoons of your meat mixture to one side of your circles. Using your finger, line the circle with water. This helps with the adhesive of the folding process.
  8. Fold your circle half. Using a fork, pinch the sides of your empanada. 
  9. Using your egg, wash the tops of your empanadas. 
  10. Transfer your empanadas to your air fryer.
  11. Cook your empanadas for about five minutes or until golden brown at 350°F.
  12. Once they are finished cooking, remove and set aside. Repeat steps 10-11 until you have cooked all of your empanadas.
    Air Fryer Beef Empanadas
  13. ENJOY!
    Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

Notes

Fun tip: I use leftover pie crust to make mini cinnamon rolls. Roll out your dough in a rounded-out rectangle. Brush melted butter. Sprinkle on a little bit of cinnamon and sugar. Roll and cut into bite-size pieces. Bake in the oven at 350° for at least 10 minutes or until golden brown. The Cook time will differ based off of how much cinnamon roll is being baked.

The recipe is so easy and is sure to be a hit for the whole family.

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Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe

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Confession: I’ve been hanging out to this recipe for far too long. We’ve been making hamburgers (and cheeseburgers) in our air fryer for over a year now. If you don’t have access to a grill (or just don’t want to fire it up), this is the absolute best alternative. Your entire family is going to love this air fryer hamburgers recipe. Promise.

Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe

What you’ll need

There aren’t many ingredients in this recipe. In fact, outside of an air fryer, you’ll just need the typical burger staples. I’ve recommended air fryers before, but this Ninja one is my go-to for burgers. It doesn’t just air fry, although the function is what we use it for the most. Two baskets make this air fryer super ideal for making two different things at once. Full disclosure — we use ours for mostly chicken nuggets and french fries, like, 90% of the time. Ha!

Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe

Here’s what else you’ll need:

  • 1 pound of ground beef, 90/10 or fattier.
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 3 hamburger buns
  • 3 slices of cheese, American or whatever you like
  • 1 medium tomato
  • 1/4 yellow or white onion, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce, or whatever you like
  • Thousand island dressing

That’s it!

The only air fryer hamburgers recipe you’ll need

Yield: 3

Air Fryer Hamburgers

Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of ground beef, 90/10 or fattier.
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 3 hamburger buns
  • 3 slices of cheese, American or whatever you like
  • 1 medium tomato
  • 1/4 yellow or white onion, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce, or whatever you like
  • Thousand island dressing

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

  1. Divide the ground beef into 3. Mold and flatten into a patty. Make sure the center of the patty is thinner than the edge portion. This will allow for and even cook and maintain the size proportions as it cooks.
  2. Season the patties evenly on both sides with the spices.
  3. Place in the air fryer basket. I like to line my air fryer with aluminum for easy clean-up as well as keeping the Patties in the juices.
  4. Cook at 350°f for 10 minutes for a medium well hamburger. Longer or shorter than 2 minutes for the desired cook.
  5. Remove the Patties and add a slice of cheese. Set aside to let cheese melt slightly.
  6. While resting, slice your tomato horizontally and chop your onions. If you prefer your onion in rings, slice it horizontally.
  7. Assemble the burger with all of your favorite toppings.
  8. Enjoy
    Air Fryer Hamburgers Recipe

Notes

The fattier meat keeps the hamburger patty from falling apart

You can sub or add mayonnaise, mustard, and or ketchup for the dressing.

Optional toppings include pickles, fried egg, and or avocado slices.

© Rachel

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Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins

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If there’s anything I love, it’s an easy recipe that the whole family will enjoy. As much as I’ve made breakfast items like pancakes, waffles, eggs, and bacon, my family just loves Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins. Perhaps it’s that we generally just have cereal and milk for breakfast, so monkey bread muffins seem like a mega treat! But that’s the beauty in it! They are easy, delicious, and (despite them only taking minutes to prep) everyone will think they are incredible!

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins

What you’ll need

This recipe is super simple. In addition to your favorite air fryer, you’ll need the following ingredients:

  • 2 cans of buttermilk biscuits (two-7.5ounce, 10 count cans)
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ground
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1/2 cup of brown sugar, tightly packed
Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins

That’s it! Super easy and delicious. You no longer need to wait for a special occasion to make a big monkey bread. This is the kind of thing that you can whip up in a quick minute for every weekend, if you want!

If you need another muffin recipe, check out this delicious peach one!

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins Recipe

Yield: 12

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins

Air Fryer Monkey Bread Muffins
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cans of buttermilk biscuits (two-7.5ounce, 10 count cans)
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ground
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1/2 cup of brown sugar, tightly packed

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

  1. Cut raw biscuits into 4 and set them aside.
  2. In a gallon Ziploc bag, mix sugar and cinnamon together.
  3. Take 1/4 the number of biscuit pieces and toss them in the sugar mixture.
  4. Remove coated pieces and fill an oil-sprayed jumbo silicone muffin liner 3/4 full.
  5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 until finished.
  6. Melt the butter and mix with the brown sugar.
  7. Place filled muffin liners in the air fryer basket and drizzle 2 tablespoons of the butter brown sugar sauce over the biscuit pieces.

    Allow it to settle in.
  8. Cook at 350 for 10 minutes or until the tops are crispy and the center is cooked.
  9. Remove and let cool before removing muffins from the liners. Drizzle any remaining sauce over the muffins.
  10. ENJOY!
© Rachel

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Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe

by 7 Comments

Confession: I am basically obsessed with eating Mexican cuisine. We eat a lot more tacos than I care to admit. But, the good news? SO much of my Mexican food is homemade. In addition to my homemade taco bowl shells, this Instant Pot Refried Beans recipe is a Taco Tuesday must-have!

Instant Pot Refried Beans

What you’ll need

These refried beans are the easiest, most perfect addition to your taco Tuesday. Honestly, you’ll never want to go back to canned refried beans once you make them yourself.

Instant Pot Refried Beans

You’ll need an Instant Pot for this recipe. I promise that the Instant Pot is most definitely needed. Pressure cooking foods truly infuses them with flavors you wouldn’t otherwise have.

Here’s what else you’ll need:

  • 1 pound of pinto beans, dried
  • 1/2 stick of butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika
  • 1 tablespoon of chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons of ground cumin

That’s it!

How to make Instant Pot Refried Beans

Yield: 8 servings

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Instant Pot Refried Beans
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of pinto beans, dried
  • 1/2 stick of butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon of paprika
  • 1 tablespoon of chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons of ground cumin

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

  1. Place dry rinsed beans into instant pot and add 5 cups of water.
  2. Seal the lid and pressure valve and cook on high for 30 minutes. Manually release pressure when finished. 
  3. Drain beans while keeping 2 cups of liquid and set aside.
  4. Place the beans in a food processor with butter and spices.
  5. Blend until beans are smooth and creamy. Add left over liquid 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve desired consistency.
  6. ENJOY!
© Rachel

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REFRIED BEANS