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Easy, no-nonsense recipes for a busy lifestyle! Life is complicated, cooking shouldn't be.

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Close up of sliced, roasted and glazed carrots, with pepper and parsley.

You’re Going To Want More Carrots

Hi Reader! Hot honey is becoming one of my favorite ingredients. It started with the hot honey chicken sheet pan dinner and salmon bites with hot honey, and now it’s made its way to my vegetable drawer. Carrots can tend to feel a little boring. They're perfectly fine, but not something anyone’s super excited about. Hot honey fixes that and these carrots are honestly irresistible. The combination of sweet, buttery, and just a little spicy turns them into the side dish people actually go back...
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Built For The Week After Thanksgiving

Hi Reader! Every year, I start the week after Thanksgiving with the best intentions. But then often we just end up eating piles of leftovers heated up in the microwave. And while that's good too, this turkey tetrazzini is worth the effort. This is the casserole that makes turkey leftovers worth saving. It checks all the boxes: creamy, cheesy, and loaded with pasta, with a crispy topping to boot. (I honestly recommend making it year-round!) Get The Recipe
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Colorful apron on a white background.

Must-Haves For Thanksgiving Hosting!

Hi Reader! Hosting Thanksgiving can feel slightly overwhelming but there are some things to help it be a breeze (and maybe actually fun?). Obviously I'll be sharing lots of recipes and tricks for prepping ahead, but in this email I'm sharing some of my favorite products. I hope this is helpful for you! Slow Cooker This is KEY for saving oven space! I usually have two going - one for slow cooker stuffing, one for another side dish. Buy on Amazon Staub Baking Dishes A must for side dishes, and...
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Cranberry sauce surrounded by orange slices.

How I Host, but Barely Cook on Thanksgiving Day

Hi Reader! I typically make all Rachel Cooks recipes on Thanksgiving, and I kind of rotate through which ones I make, but these are the four that are always on our table, every year, on Thanksgiving. I included "pro tips" on how I make or prep these in advance in order to have a very low-stress day when we have our family over on Thanksgiving. This strategy allows me to focus on the getting the turkey cooked and putting the finishing touches on everything else, which really allows me to relax...
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Slice of streusel topped pumpkin pie on a white plate.

Latest and Greatest On Rachel Cooks!

Hi Reader! I hope you've had a wonderful week! I'm playing more and more adult tennis and while it's incredibly humbling, it's also very fun. I can't believe we're looking at Thanksgiving recipes this week, but a ton of them popped up in the archives through the years. It's time to start bookmarking, printing, and planning! (Browse all of my Thanksgiving recipes here.) I hope you love the recipes this week - send me a note and let me know what your go-to Thanksgiving recipe is! New! Sparkling...
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Browned chicken bites in a cajun honey butter sprinkled with minced parsley.

The Newest Chicken Bites Recipe

Hi Reader! If you’ve tried my garlic Parmesan chicken bites or Buffalo chicken bites (or the OG chicken bites), you know this format is kind of my thing (and my kids love them). But this Cajun honey butter version might be my favorite yet. There’s something about that sweet-heat-buttery combination that makes it genuinely hard to walk away from the pan. Make sure to check out the blog post to hear all the ways I recommend serving these! Get The Recipe
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Apple cider mocktail in a geometric glass, garnished with apple and rosemary.

Rosemary + Apple Cider Is A Revelation

Hi Reader! Apple cider season is my favorite season. But I’ve been thinking about apple cider differently lately. It's not just a warm, cozy drink, but it's an ingredient that actually has a lot of range (like in this apple cider pulled pork - so good!). This sparkling rosemary apple cider mocktail is further proof of that. Instead of the typical cinnamon and spice, it's bright and herbaceous. It’s bubbly, beautiful, and exactly what I want to serve at every holiday gathering this year. (And...
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Shell pasta and cooked ground beef, in a creamy tomato sauce.

Less Mess, More Pasta

Hi Reader! Fall is the perfect time for pasta, and as always, I'm coming through with the one pan meals. All seven of these recipes can be cooked in a single pot, pan, or slow cooker. I think you'll be able to find at least one recipe you'll love, hopefully more! Hit reply and let me know which one you plan to try. Baked Orzo Click For The Full Recipe! Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Click For The Full Recipe! Creamy Beef and Shells Click For The Full Recipe! Sheet Pan Gnocchi Click For The Full...
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Chopped style salad with lettuce, salami, chickpeas, and cheese. Two wooden spoons are in the salad.

Latest and Greatest On Rachel Cooks!

Hi Reader! It's absolutely wild that Halloween is tomorrow. How is it almost November? This year my son is dressing up as an giant inflatable eagle, and my daughter has a cozy bear onesie-style costume to wear. I'm regretting not buying the Diet Coke costume I saw at the store, but I'm not generally a costume girl. Although, my mom and I dressed as pizza last year, which was easy and fun and got so many compliments. I have some amazing recipes to share, starting with the one pan orzo with...
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