easy recipes

Name: Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 min
Total time: 14 min
Yield: 5
Ingredients: 5 pita bread, trimmed to taco shell size; 2 cups of shredded cheese; 5 crunchy taco shells, pre-warmed; 1 1/2 cups of taco meat, cooked; 2 cups of shredded lettuce, iceberg; Diced Roma tomato, optional; Taco sauce, optional; Sour cream, optional

Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch

November 22, 2022 by Rachel 4 Comments

I grew up in a household were 99.9% of my meals were homemade. We had pizza on Friday nights and frequently went out for ice cream. But we rarely, if ever, ate takeout or fast food. The only ‘fast food’ we ever ate was a once in a blue moon Happy Meal. This is going to sound weird, but in high school I had a Taco Bell bean burrito for the first time and it was magical. Okay, so magical may be an exaggeration, but I just couldn’t believe that something so simple existed. And while some people have ‘drunk college Taco Bell’ stories, I didn’t really have that. I came to my Taco Bell love in a wholesome way. Ha! As wholesome as it can be. As my love for Tex Mex fast food developed, I became obsessed with one thing. This Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch is now the reason I no longer have to ever visit a Taco Bell ever again.

What you’ll need for this recipe

This recipe is certainly easy peasy. It’s not necessary, but I prefer to melt the cheese (as seen in step number 10) in our air fryer. It’s super easy. Of course, it’s not required to use an air fryer. You can just as easily melt on a skillet.

Here’s what else you’ll need:

5 pita bread, trimmed to taco shell size
2 cups shredded cheese
5 crunchy taco shells, pre-warmed
1 1/2 cups taco meat
2 cups shredded lettuce, iceberg
Diced Roma tomato, optional/recommended
Taco sauce, optional/recommended
Sour cream, optional/recommended

And that’s it! That’s all you need to make my absolute favorite fast food copycat recipe. If you try this, I promise that you’ll love it as much as I do.

Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch Recipe

Yield: 5

Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes

Total Time 14 minutes

Ingredients

5 pita bread, trimmed to taco shell size
2 cups of shredded cheese
5 crunchy taco shells, pre-warmed
1 1/2 cups of taco meat, cooked
2 cups of shredded lettuce, iceberg
Diced Roma tomato, optional
Taco sauce, optional
Sour cream, optional

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Place the trimmed pita bread in an air fryer basket and top with shredded cheese to completely cover.

ALTERNATE: Preheat pan on stovetop at medium heat. Spray with oil. When hot, place pita bread topped with cheese in pan. Cover with lid.2.
Cook at 350°f for 4-6 minutes in air fryer until cheese is completely melted and gooey.

ALTERNATE: Melt cheese on pita on stovetop for 3-ish minutes.
Remove and place the crunch shell on the cheesy pita closing the shell inside the pita taco.
Add your meat, and lettuce and sprinkle with cheese.
To make it an exact copycat, add sour cream, taco sauce, and tomatoes to top it off.
ENJOY!

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Instant Pot Asian Pork

November 18, 2022 by Rachel Leave a Comment

My husband is obsessed with any and all Asian food. No lie. In fact, I think he eats Asian cuisine at least 6 out of the 7 days of the week. Whether it be eating pho while at the office, or making ramen — he’s obsessed. Naturally, some of his obsession has rubbed off on the rest of the family. I’ll admit — I despise cooking with a wok. We have one, but it’s just so bulky and awkward. I much prefer using an Instant Pot with similar (if not better!) results. That’s why this Instant Pot Asian Pork is the perfect meal!

So why use the Instant Pot?

If you’ve used an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker before, you’ll know that it’s the perfect way for all of the flavors to really soak into the foods. It’s the reason I will only cook spaghetti in the pressure cooker. Seriously. You haven’t tasted perfect spaghetti until you’ve tasted Instant Pot spaghetti. It soaks every bit of sauce and moisture up in the noodles. Perfection!

And the same can be said with this Asian pork recipe. Tender, juicy pork, full of all of the best Asian flavors.

What you’ll need

In addition to your favorite Instant Pot or pressure cooker, you’ll nee the following ingredients:

2 pounds of pork shoulder, boneless and fat trimmed
2 tablespoons of peanut oil (or sesame oil)
2 teaspoons of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 cup of sweet chili sauce
2 tablespoons of raw honey
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
1/2 cup of white vinegar
2 cup of water + 1 teaspoon
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

That’s it! I know it seems like a lot of ingredients, but I promise this will bring you the perfect flavors to create this recipe. And be sure to serve it with a side of rice, if that’s what you fancy!

Instant Pot Asian Pork Recipe

Instant Pot Asian Pork

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds of pork shoulder, boneless and fat trimmed
2 tablespoons of peanut oil (or sesame oil)
2 teaspoons of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
1/4 cup of sweet chili sauce
2 tablespoons of raw honey
1 tablespoon of soy sauce
1/2 cup of white vinegar
2 cup of water + 1 teaspoon
1 tablespoon of cornstarch
Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Set the instant pot to sauté and add the oil. Once hot add the pork and begin to sear the meat on all sides.
Once the pork is seared, add the ginger, garlic, and pepper. Sauté for 2 minutes more.
Cancel sauté mode and add a splash of water and deglaze the pot liner.
Pour in the remaining water, and add the chili sauce, soy sauce, and honey. Close the lid and seal the pressure valve.
Cook at high pressure for 30 minutes. Let naturally release pressure for 10.
Manually release any remaining pressure and remove the pork. Using forks, shred the pork and set aside.
Drain the remaining liquid keeping 3/4 cup and set the instant pot to sauté.
Mix the cornstarch and 1 teaspoon of water to create a slurry. Once the liquid is simmering, whisk in the slurry to thicken the liquid into a sauce.
Return the pork to the instant pot and mix so that the sauce fully coats the pork.
Serve the pork with white rice and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. ENJOY!

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Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

November 11, 2022 by Rachel 9 Comments

As a mom, mealtime can be completely hit or miss. Ari will eat anything. And everything! But the girls are still in the smack dab of their picky phase. Lucky for me, the girls will always, always eat these two things — hot dogs and bacon. Sure, these kids oftentimes find themselves eating hot dogs. But bring their love of bacon and hot dogs together? Well, that’s just perfection in their eyes. These air fryer bacon wrapped hot dogs are a fan favorite, for sure.

What you’ll need

This recipe is the opposite of pretentious. I’m not going to beat around the bush. This is one thousand percent kid-friendly. There is nothing about bacon and hot dogs that kids will not love. But, it is delicious — even for adults! Just fancy these dogs up with some onions, jalapeño, and a generous handful of sharp cheddar!

The ingredients

8 count pack of your favorite hot dogs
8 slices of bacon
8 count of hotdog buns
Cheddar, shredded
1 fresh jalapeño
1/4 cup of diced onion
ketchup and mustard (optional)

That’s it! Also, you’ll want to be sure you have your favorite air fryer on hand.

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs Recipe

Yield: 8 hot dogs

Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 22 minutes

Ingredients

8 count pack of your favorite hot dogs
8 slices of bacon
8 count of hotdog buns
Cheddar, shredded
1 fresh jalapeño
1/4 cup of diced onion
ketchup and mustard (optional)

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Wrap each uncooked hot dog with 1 slice of uncooked bacon.

Completely wrap the hotdog.
Place each wrapped hotdog in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°f for 10-12 minutes depending on how cooked you prefer your bacon.
Clean and dice jalapeño.
Remove hotdogs from the air fryer and let sit for 1 minute.
Place the hotdog in a bun and top with cheese, onion, and jalapeños.
These hotdogs are juicy and pack a punch full of flavor but if you need more, you can add mustard and or ketchup.

Please do not skip out on the sharp cheddar or jalapeños. They truly add an additional zip that adults will love.

Copycat Star Crunch Cookies

November 6, 2022 by Rachel 6 Comments

I am a sucker for childhood nostalgia. I’m not the kind of person to refer to the time I grew up as ‘the good ol’ days,’ but we certainly had a significant bit of nostalgia from the 80’s and 90’s. For whatever reason, Little Debbie Star Crunch cookies are the perfect bit of nostalgia for me. And these Copycat Star Crunch Cookies are — dare I say it — even better than the original!

What you’ll need to make this recipe

I was amazed at how few ingredients it takes to make this bite of nostalgia. As much as I love using fancy kitchen gadgets, you’ll be happy to know that this doesn’t require any of those things. In fact, there are only five simple ingredients in these cookies.

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 tablespoons of salted butter, softened
1/4 cup of chocolate chips
1/2 cup of caramel bits
2 cups of mini marshmallows
2 cups of rice cereal

That’s it! Super simple and straightforward.

How to make Copycat Star Crunch Cookies

Yield: 8 cookies

Copycat Star Crunch Cookies

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 4 minutes

Total Time 24 minutes

Ingredients

2 tablespoons of salted butter, softened
1/4 cup of chocolate chips
1/2 cup of caramel bits
2 cups of mini marshmallows
2 cups of rice cereal

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Add the butter, chocolate chips, and caramel bits to a large microwave-safe dish. Microwave at 50% power for 1 minute.
Stir the mixture and microwave for 30 seconds at 50% until melted and creamy.
Add the marshmallows and microwave for 30 seconds at a time until smooth.
Add the rice cereal and mix until the cereal is fully coated.
Using a 1/4 measuring cup, scoop the mixture and roll it into a ball. Spraying your hand with oil makes this easy and less sticky.
Place rolled the ball on parchment paper and compress it with your hand or the flat side of the 1/4 measuring cup.
Repeat until 8 cookies are pressed.
Let sit and firm for a few minutes.
Serve right away or wrap individually in plastic wrap or parchment and store for lunch boxes!

If you love Little Debbie copycat recipes, you’ll also have to try these Cosmic Brownies! They are equally as delicious. And, if chocolate is your jam, they’ll be perfect!

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Air Fryer Doritos Chicken Tenders

November 2, 2022 by Rachel 2 Comments

When I first became a mom I swore up and down that my kids would eat all-organic, never try fast food, and all of the other things that people who aren’t yet parents think they’ll do! Ha! Turns out, I knew nothing about parenting before I was a parent. And, honestly, I’m happy about that. My kids have recently discovered how much they love Doritos. Ari likes the super spicy ones, but the girls both love the Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese. So why not combine the two things they love? These air fryer Doritos Chicken Tenders check all the kid-friendly dinner boxes. And that’s a total win for me.

What you’ll need

The awesome thing about this recipe is that it basically consists of all of the things we parents already have in our house. Sure, you’ll need an air fryer. But the other items (including the Doritos) are things we generally have on-hand. I’ll admit — I sometimes don’t have normal crackers for chicken tender breading. But ya know what I always have? Doritos. We always have Doritos in this house.

Here’s everything you’ll need:

1/2 bag (4.5 oz) of nacho cheese Doritos
3 cups of panko crumbs
1 cup of cornstarch
1 lb of chicken tenders (approximately 12-15)
1 tablespoon of parsley
1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
3 eggs

My only other advice would be to use air fryer liners to help keep the mess at a minimum.

Air Fryer Doritos Chicken Tenders Recipe

Yield: 12-15 pieces

Air Fryer Doritos Chicken Tenders

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 bag (4.5 oz) of nacho cheese Doritos
3 cups of panko crumbs
1 cup of cornstarch
1 lb of chicken tenders (approximately 12-15)
1 tablespoon of parsley
1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of pepper
3 eggs

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Add the chips to a blender or food processor. Pulse for 30 seconds until crumbs resemble the same size as panko with some larger pieces.
Mix panko and chip crumbs in a large dish. Set aside.
Mix the cornstarch and the spices in another dish. Set aside.
Beat the eggs in another dish. Set aside.
Toss the tenders in the cornstarch, then in the egg wash, and then finally in the chip crumbs. Fully coat the tenders. Repeat for each tender in each step.
Place the tenders on parchment paper in the air fryer basket and spray them with oil. Cook each batch at 400° F for 15 minutes, flipping and spraying with oil halfway. Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160° F for food safety.
Remove tenders and let cool.
Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!

Enjoy!

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Fun Unicorn Party Snacks

October 30, 2022 by Rachel 4 Comments

Real talk: Kids with January birthdays have it rough. Not only is it right after Christmas, but in many places it is so darn cold. So no fun, outdoor parties. It’s usually dreary, cold, and just blah. This year I want to make her birthday is fun as possible. And what is more fun than a unicorn party!? These fun unicorn party snacks are going to be the perfect way to celebrate her birthday!

How to make a fun unicorn party snacking board

Let’s be real – a huge part of the allure of this is the presentation. And I’m the first to admit that I think pretty food also means the most delicious food. And delicious this is!

Here’s what you’ll need as far as ingredients:

3 Tablespoons of Butter
5 cups mini marshmallows
6 Cups of Rice Cereal
1 – 19 ounce package of golden sandwich cookies
1 bag of microwave popcorn
1 – 24 ounce brick of white almond bark
Pastel food colors: blue, pink, and purple
Unicorn sprinkles

Most of this is normal stuff that all of us moms have handy. But be sure to get those unicorn sprinkles linked above — because they are the absolute cutest.

How to make Fun Unicorn Party Snacks

Yield: 30

Unicorn Party Snacks

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons of Butter
5 cups mini marshmallows
6 Cups of Rice Cereal
1 - 19 ounce package of golden sandwich cookies
1 bag of microwave popcorn
1 - 24 ounce brick of white almond bark
Pastel food colors: blue, pink, and purple
Unicorn sprinkles

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

Add butter to a large pot over medium heat.
Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows and stir until the marshmallows begin to melt.
Once melted and creamy, add the rice cereal, mix and remove from heat.
Pour warm rice cereal mixture into a 13x9 dish. Flatten the mixture to fill the dish and level.
Set aside.
Melt 4 cubes of almond bark in the microwave 30 seconds at a time stopping once smooth and melted. Divide into three bowls and add a few drops of food coloring to respective bowls until desired colors are reached.
Dip a cookie halfway into the chocolate and set aside on parchment. Do this equally per color. Apply sprinkles before the chocolate sets.
Pop the bag of popcorn. When done, pour out onto a sheet pan with parchment. Pick out any uncooked kernels and spread the popcorn out.
Use the remaining colored chocolate to drizzle across the popcorn. Melt and color more as needed.
Apply sprinkles before the chocolate drizzle sets.
Let the chocolate cool and the break popcorn into handfuls of drizzled popcorn.
By this time, the rice crispy treats will have set. Cut into desired size portions.
Melt 3-4 more cubes of almond bark.
Insert a popsicle stick into the melted chocolate just a little bit the insert sticks into each treat.
Dip each treat halfway into the chocolate and set it on parchment. Let the chocolate set.
Use the remaining colored chocolate to drizzle over the dipped treats, melt and color more if needed.
Apply sprinkles to treats before the drizzle sets.
Once snacks have set and the chocolate has dried, serve at the next unicorn gathering for some fun-themed snacks!