Looking for a good side to pair with this soup? Try my homemade breadsticks, buttery garlic bread, or arugula salad.

Homemade Mini Meatball Soup

This meatball soup is a comforting soup reminiscent of spaghetti and meatballs but in homestyle, sip-able soup form! It's an excellent thing to prepare to warm up with after a long chilly day and it pairs beautifully with salad or bread.

For a meatball vegetable soup it can be modified to reduce the carbs and replace the pasta with more vegetables. There are also options to replace the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken, or use other various types of pasta (all these ideas addressed in the variations and questions below).

Just keep in mind if you plan on having extra servings you may want to consider cooking the pasta separately if you are like me and hate soggy pasta (just reduce the broth by 1 cup if doing so).

Happy fall and welcome to sweater weather and soup season!

So Much to Love About Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Veggies

Welcome to your new go-to weeknight dinner staple recipe! This simple recipe is made with shelf stable gnocchi yet it doesn't even need to be cooked beforehand.

Everything is just tossed together with olive oil on one big baking sheet, then oven roasted and finished with parmesan. Dinner really doesn't get any easier than this!

It's such a fresh tasting, flavorful dinner highlighted with herby, garlicky, parmesan goodness. It's a very hands off meal with such a simple prep and you can have it ready in under 30 minutes. It's adaptable too and you can use up other vegetables you have on hand (ideas listed below).

Plus it's a dish everyone can agree on. There are just so many things to love about this gnocchi, zucchini and tomato sheet pan dinner!

Pair it with chicken, steak or salmon to round out the meal, or just keep it vegetarian and serve it with a side salad.

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta 

This tomato pasta recipe is one of my go-to options for busy weeknights. Made with just one pot and a saucepan, it’s ready in just a little over 30 minutes. You really can’t go wrong. 

If you’ve never had sun-dried tomatoes in pasta, prepare to be amazed. They’re one of my favorite ways to spruce up a simple dish with a pop of color and a rich, savory, slightly smokey flavor. 

I love to include them in recipes like my sun dried tomato basil and Parmesan orzo with chicken and this spaghetti with sun dried tomatoes and spinach. However, this tomato pasta might be my favorite sun-dried tomato recipe yet. 

Made with al dente pasta tossed in a vibrant tomato sauce, it’s rich, creamy, and unbelievably satisfying. Plus, it features fresh spinach for a boost of nutrients and fiber. 

Basically, this sun dried tomato pasta has everything you could want in a homemade dinner and more. Quick to make, it’s easy enough for weeknights yet elegant enough for special occasions. It’s sure to have all of your guests coming back for more!  

Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

So what is "marry me chicken" anyway? It's said that this popular chicken dish is so good your partner will be asking for a marriage proposal after tasting it.

Of course that's just an over the top statement that's just a joke, but its name is basically saying this is one of the tastiest chicken recipes you'll make. It's simply creamy sun dried tomato chicken but that title just doesn't do it justice.

It comes together quickly and doesn't require a hot oven, chicken breasts are just quickly cooked on the stove and finished with the best pan sauce.

Those sun dried tomatoes bring bold, concentrated tomato-y flavor and the cream balances it perfectly. And let's not forget to mention there's also a fair amount of garlic and parmesan included in the sauce as well to really build up layer after layer of flavor.

In other words no more boring chicken dinners! This sun dried tomato chicken sets the bar high.

Watch the Video!

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What Goes with Marry Me Chicken

I recommend serving this with:

• Pasta, I like it with lemon orzo or plain orzo
• White rice or risotto
• Steamed or roasted asparagus or broccoli
• Fresh rustic bread or breadsticks

Who doesn't love a recipe that makes the mark to be tasty enough for the holidays with a hint of gourmet elegance, yet it's easy enough for a weekday? This chicken Florentine is just that!

It comes together quickly since it's pan fried on the stovetop but it's impressive enough to serve to guests.

You'll find that the sauce has layers of flavor thanks to the white wine, shallot, parmesan cheese, garlic and abundance of spinach. Plus there's plenty of sauce so you can have extra for dipping with fresh bread or pairing with pasta alongside the chicken.

A helpful tip and reminder whenever cooking chicken breasts, just cook them right to 165 degrees in the center so you end up with juicy, tender chicken breasts (if overcooked they become dry and chewy, I highly recommend using an instant read thermometer to test for doneness).

The BEST Smothered Chicken

While this may not be a traditional smothered chicken like you'll find in the South, this is my idea of something even better!

It's easy to prepare and it has the most delicious blend of fresh flavors. It's like a BLT sandwich transformed into a crave-able chicken dish.

One change here however is that we do substitute spinach for the traditional lettuce, the "L" of BLT. This is because lettuce wouldn't hold up well to cooking and doesn't have near as much flavor as spinach. Soggy lettuce, no thanks.

I'm nearly certain this is one of those entrees that will wow your family and friends. That's basically a given right? Because it includes bacon!

I recommend pairing this with pasta of sorts, we like this lemon orzo which would make a delicious base for chicken blt bowls. Then also steamed asparagus is a nutritious and colorful pairing.

An Easy Pizza Bagels Recipe!

If you grew up in the 90s like I did you can likely relate to this recipe.

But the pizza bagel bites I remember were pretty bland and boring. Here we've upgraded them with bakery fresh bagels, some herbs, and garlic powder seasoning. And we use the best cooking method.

That is to toast them in the oven BEFORE you add the sauce so they don't get soggy. Then finish them under the broiler for a nice toasty flavor and quick finish.

Though these make a delicious after-school snack they aren't just for kids. Even adults love these!

And just like traditional pizza, there are so many ways to make homemade pizza bagels (see ideas below).

Save this recipe for a quick Monday meal or a simple lunch. It may just become a new back pocket recipe that will take you back to fun childhood memories (but they'll taste way better than you remember).

Oven Baked Chicken Tenders

With this recipe you just follow a standard breading process. Dip chicken tenders in flour, egg, and then panko bread crumbs. Then instead of frying in a pan in oil, they are baked in a hot oven over a wire rack until golden brown and cooked through.

So we skip the vegetable oil and just use a little olive oil to add some flavor and encourage browning. Then the real game changer is the parmesan. It gives them a delicious boost of flavor.

People of all ages will love these simple baked chicken tenders! They're easy to make and perfect for dipping.

An Easy Rigatoni Recipe!

A quick dinner perfect for busy days! This Italian inspired baked rigatoni is the ultimate comfort food after a long day.

It's cheesy, beefy, generously coated in a vibrant tomato-y sauce, and full of tempting pasta carb-y goodness. Checks all the boxes for a simple yet incredibly tasty dinner.

Serve up a mostly homemade dish (we cheat with a jar of pasta sauce) that everyone can agree on. And honestly it's so easy that it's almost more of a guide than a recipe.

You'll love that you get most of those crave-able lasagna flavors here without near the the amount hassle.

Serve it with a side salad or some steamed veggies to complete the simple dinner, and maybe garlic bread if you are in an extra comfort food mood.

What Makes the Best Lemon Pepper Chicken?

When I first began testing this recipe I went through several brands of lemon pepper seasoning and never found one that I love. It just lacks that fresh lemon zip.

So I ditched the lemon pepper seasoning altogether and just went the fresh lemon route. It ended up being so much better, and far more fresh tasting! It's the simple secret to the best lemon pepper chicken.

This recipe only needs a few basic ingredients and 20 minutes of your time! Everyone will love that rich buttery finish and peppery kick.

It's the perfect dish to make when you need dinner in a flash. For a few healthy and hassle-free sides, pair it with baked red potatoes (serve with a splash of olive oil) and fresh steamed broccoli.