Name: Air Fryer Cheez-Its
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 2 h 10 min
Ingredients: 8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese; 2 cups of flour; 5 tablespoons of butter; 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon of salt; 2-3 tablespoons of water

Air Fryer Cheez-Its Recipe

April 5, 2021 by Rachel 12 Comments

If your kids are anything like mine, they live off of snacks. In fact, I’m so grateful that we have stores that offer drive-up services, because I swear I’m making at least a twice-weekly trip for more snacks. Where do they even put all of this food?! I decided to try making Cheez-its (a staple in our house) on my own. This way we’re saving money; but I also know exactly what’s in their food. And this Air Fryer Cheez-Its recipe is a spot-on copycat.

What you’ll need

The ingredients are super simple. In fact, much more simple than you would find on the nutritional label of the box. Yes, you’ll need an air fryer. You can bake them; but, truthfully, they puff up much better in an air fryer. If you haven’t purchased one yet, I highly recommend this one.

Here’s exactly what you’ll need for this copycat recipe:

8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
5 tablespoons of butter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2-3 tablespoons of water

How to make the Air Fryer Cheez-its Recipe

Air Fryer Cheez-Its

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups of flour
5 tablespoons of butter
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2-3 tablespoons of water

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

In a food processor, pulse-chop the cheese, butter and spices together.

STEP 2 -

Add the flour and blend slowly. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until dough forms.

STEP 3 -

Cut the dough into 3 dough balls. Cover and place into fridge for 1-2 hours.

STEP 4 -

Remove and flatten each dough ball on a floured surface. Cut the edges to form a square and cut out 1/2 to 1” squares. Salt and place in air fryer basket. Using a toothpick, punch a hole in center of each cracker to avoid puffing up.

STEP 5 -

Air Fry on 370 for 6 minutes. Remove and let cool and dry.

STEP 6 -

ENJOY!

Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to one week.

If you’re looking for some other copycat recipes, try this one or this other recipe!

PIN FOR LATER

Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

March 30, 2021 by Rachel 11 Comments

Confession: I never really had fast food growing up. And, because of that, it took me a while (read: 30 + years) to figure out what I liked and what I didn’t like. I was not the typical “Taco Bell at college” type of girl. But the truth is, I’ve developed quite a taste for a few Taco Bell items (like the bean burrito, sans onions). But I also love the crunchwrap. So I decided to perfect a Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme recipe.

What you’ll need

I highly recommend using an air fryer for this recipe. Sure, you can grill and press this, but it is far more delicious in an air fryer. As far as ingredients, you should have most on hand.

1/2 pound of taco meat
1/2 cup of nacho sauce
1/4 cup of diced tomatoes
1/4 cup of sour cream
1 cup of shredded lettuce
3 burrito size tortillas
3 tostada shells

If you’re looking for other easy recipes, be sure to check out these.

Honestly, if you’re a fan of the Crunchwrap, you are going to LOVE this! And, despite Taco Bell’s already low prices, these are extra cost effective!

Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme recipe

Yield: 3 wraps

Copycat Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 pound of taco meat
1/2 cup of nacho sauce
1/4 cup of diced tomatoes
1/4 cup of sour cream
1 cup of shredded lettuce
3 burrito size tortillas
3 tostada shells

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

Add 2 tablespoons of nacho sauce to the center of the burrito size tortilla. Top nacho sauce with taco meat.

STEP 2 -

Cover tostada with sour cream and place on top of taco meat, sour cream side up.

STEP 3 -

Top sour cream with lettuce, cheese and then tomatoes.

STEP 4 -

Fold in tortilla layering each edge over the other until the burrito shell is closed.

STEP 5 -

Spray air fryer basket with oil and place crunch wrap in the basket folded side down. Spray top with oil and cook on 350 for 7 minutes.

STEP 6 -

Flip and cook on 350 for 3 minutes.

STEP 7 -

ENJOY!

PIN FOR LATER

Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken

March 26, 2021 by Rachel 7 Comments

We have had an air fryer built into both our oven and toaster oven for the last 3+ years. But it took until getting our Ninja Foodi for me to really get hooked on the air fryer. We literally cook everything in it. We started with little things like chicken fingers and french fries. But now we’re using it for other things — like frying fresh cod and making our own Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken!

You’ll need an air fryer and this

The recipe is super easy. And it calls for one of my husbands favorite ingredients — orange zest! Honestly, the first time I used orange zest in any recipe, my husband freaked out (in a good way)! And I’ve been hooked on zest ever since!

Here’s what else you’ll need:

1 chicken breast, cubed
flour
cornstarch
paprika
cayenne
Natures Seasoning
2 eggs
an orange
soy sauce
white vinegar
brown sugar
minced garlic
cornstarch mixed with water

That’s it! Just make a side of rice (I use my Instant Pot for rice) and serve your Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken over it! If you’ve never made rice in the Instant Pot before, here’s what you need to know:

I highly recommend using jasmine rice. Measure a cup of jasmine rice. Rinse in water and then put the cup of jasmine rice in your Instant Pot. Add 1 and 1/4 cup of water to the Instant Pot. Lock and seal the Instant Pot. Set your Instant Pot to manual for 4 minutes. Once the Instant Pot timer goes off, let the IP natural release for 10 minutes. Then release the rest of pressure.

The recipe

Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

1 chicken breast, cubed
1 cup of flour
1/3 cup of cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne
1/2 Tablespoon of Natures Seasoning
2 eggs

Sauce

1 orange, juiced + reserve a 1/2 Tablespoon of zest from peel
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
¼ cup of white vinegar
½ cup of brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1 Tablespoon of cornstarch, mixed with 1 tbsp water

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

In a saucepan over medium heat, add all of the sauce ingredients and bring to a slow boil. Once slow boiling reduce heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir every couple of minutes to prevent sauce sticking. Let sit on warm while the chicken cooks

STEP 2-

In a mixing bowl, mix spices, flour and cornstarch.

STEP 3 -

In a separate bowl whisk egg.

STEP 4 -

Coat the chicken in the flour, and then dredge in egg.

STEP 5 -

Return chicken back to flour and fully coat.

STEP 6 -

Place breaded chicken in oil sprayed air fryer basket. Spray chicken with oil.

STEP 7 -

Cook on 380 for 10 minutes.

STEP 8 -

Once all chicken is cooked, increase sauce heat to low medium and add fried chicken. Stir until chicken is completely coated.

STEP 9 -

ENJOY over rice!

PIN FOR LATER

Copycat Reese’s Eggs Recipe

March 22, 2021 by Rachel 11 Comments

Truth time: Last week when I posted my Marshmallow Peeps recipe, I thought that this weekend was Easter. Let’s just say that my brain is totally fried these days. Because Easter is definitely not until next week. But, truth be told, I can use all of the time I get to prep. And, in true foodie fashion, my prep includes duplicating those to-die-for eggs. Yep. And this Copycat Reese’s Eggs recipe is everything you need this Easter — and all year!

What you’ll need to make this Copycat Reese’s Eggs recipe

I used my Instant Pot for this recipe, because I love it. But it’s totally not necessary. At the very least, you’ll need a double-boiler. But otherwise, here’s what you’ll need:

1 1/2 cups of peanut butter
6 Tablespoons of brown sugar
2 – 12 ounce bags of chocolate melts
2 cups of powdered sugar
2/3 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
6 Tablespoons of butter

THE RECIPE

Copycat Reese's Eggs

Prep Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of peanut butter
6 Tablespoons of brown sugar
2 - 12 ounce bags of chocolate melts
2 cups of powdered sugar
2/3 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
6 Tablespoons of butter

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, vanilla, brown sugar, salt and peanut butter. Stir until melted together.

STEP 2 -

Stir in powdered sugar a few tablespoons at a time until combined completely.

STEP 3 -

Using a small baking scoop, scoop out a ball of peanut butter mixture. Form into an egg shape and place on parchment paper.

STEP 4 -

Once eggs are formed place in freezer for 2 hours.

STEP 5 -

Place your mixing bowl on the tall instant pot trivet and one cup of water in the instant pot liner. Set instant pot to sauté and stir the chocolate melts until fully melted. Add oil if chocolate needs to be thinned out.

STEP 6 -

Remove eggs from freezer and dip using a fork in the melted chocolate. Completely cover eggs and place back on parchment.

STEP 7 -

Allow the eggs to sit and shell to harden.

STEP 8 -

ENJOY!

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Copycat Marshmallow Peeps Recipe — Super Easy

March 18, 2021 by Rachel 8 Comments

Y’all, if I thought that St. Patrick’s Day snuck up on me, I was not prepared for Easter. This year Easter is so darn early! I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been obsessed with marshmallow peeps. But what about those of us who want to enjoy marshmallow peeps year-round? Well, this copycat marshmallow peeps recipe is exactly what you need!

Everything You’ll Need for Copycat Marshmallow Peeps Recipe

If you’ve never had homemade marshmallow, you are in for a treat! Honestly. Previously, I was a tad bit intimidated by the idea of making my own marshmallow. But it’s honestly not as difficult as I’d imagined. Just be sure you have a candy thermometer and a bunny cookie cutter.

Here’s everything else you’ll need:

1 box of unflavored gelatin
sugar
salt
powdered sugar (for dusting)
vanilla extract, optional but recommended
yellow decorating sugar
blue decorating sugar
pink decorating sugar
green decorating sugar

That’s it! These peeps are going to rock your world. They are delicious. You will never go back to those store bought peeps. These Copycat Marshmallow Peeps Recipe are the best thing ever.

The Full Recipe

Yield: 16 peeps

Marshmallow Peeps

Other: Candy thermometer.

Ingredients

Marshmallow Bricks

1 box (.25oz) of unflavored gelatin
2 cups of sugar
Pinch of salt
½ cup of Powdered sugar for dusting
1 teaspoon of vanilla, optional

Peeps

8 Marshmallow bricks
3 ounces of yellow decorating sugar
3 ounces of blue decorating sugar
3 ounces of pink decorating sugar
3 ounces green decorating sugar

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

Combine the box of gelatin and 1/2 cup of water in stand mixer bowl. Let’s sit and solidify for about 5 minutes while melting sugar.

STEP 2 -

In a saucepan on high heat, combine sugar with 1/4 cup of water. Do not stir, stirring will make crystals form.

STEP 3 -

Melt the sugar until temperature reaches 240 degrees or the softball mark on a candy thermometer.

STEP 4 -

Once temperature is achieved, pour over gelatin while mixing on medium with whisk. After mixed together, set mixer on high and let mix for 10 minutes or until marshmallow fluff forms. For flavoring option, add vanilla at the point of whipping.

STEP 5 -

In 9 x 9 pan, grease with oil then dust with powdered sugar. Pour whipped marshmallow into pan and coat top of marshmallow with a dusting of powdered sugar.

STEP 6 -

Let marshmallow sit for a couple of hours before removing and serving.

STEP 7 -

Cut marshmallow bricks to measurements of cookie cutter.

STEP 8 -

Cut marshmallow brick in half to make marshmallow and inch thick.

STEP 9 -

Using the peeps bunny cookie cutter (or any cute cutter you desire), compress the cutter onto the marshmallow brick and remove excess marshmallow.

STEP 10 -

Apply colored decorating sugar to marshmallow after brushing outside of marshmallow with a little bit of water fully coating peep.

STEP 11 -

Let dry and serve.

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Instant Pot Sausage & Spinach Soup Recipe

March 16, 2021 by Rachel 8 Comments

Busy weeknights are back. And that means I have even less time to make dinner for our family of 5. One of my favorite ways to save time on meals is by using my Instant Pot. Y’all know how much I adore my Instant Pot. I mean, these meals are so. darn. easy! And this Instant Pot Sausage & Spinach Soup recipe is to die for! Seriously.

Why the Instant Pot

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know that I’m basically obsessed with pressure cooking and one-pot cooking in the Instant Pot. It’s just… easy. And, when food is made in a pressure cooker, it is 100 times juicier and more flavorful. Sure, you could make soup in a stock pot on the stove; but I highly suggest you try using an Instant Pot. It’s a complete game-changer.