Enjoy easy & balanced recipes — ranging from 30-minute weeknight dinners to holiday appetizers and everything in between. My goal is to make sure you can cook a successful and memorable dish every single time.
Your summer cookout shortlist (and a tiny favor)
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Hi, friend! It's officially cookout and potluck season! I pulled together a few of my recipes that are perfect for it right now — some easy sides, a really good cheesy dip, and a couple of mains for the grill: 🥔 German Potato Salad — warm, tangy, and bacon-y, a nice change from the usual mayo bowl. The one people always ask me about. 🧀 Queso Fundido — the melty, cheesy dip that disappears first at every party. One pan, 30 minutes. 🍜 Tuna Macaroni Salad — creamy, cold, and made for a crowd. Classic potluck. 🍗 Grilled Hot Honey Chicken — sweet, spicy, sticky, and made for grilling season. 🐟 Cajun Salmon — weeknight-fast, restaurant-good, grill or skillet. 🥗 Italian Orzo Pasta Salad — the make-ahead side I bring to every potluck. And here's the small favor: And here's my small favor: if you've made one of these (or any of my recipes!), would you scroll down to the recipe card and leave a comment with a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating? It takes less than two minutes, and it really does help other home cooks find these recipes when they're searching. It means more to me than you know! Thank you for being here — I truly appreciate it! Sara 💛 |
Real Balanced — Sara Nelson
Enjoy easy & balanced recipes — ranging from 30-minute weeknight dinners to holiday appetizers and everything in between. My goal is to make sure you can cook a successful and memorable dish every single time.
If you're heading to someone else's cookout this week and need to bring something, I've got you covered. These are the dishes that travel well, come together without stress, and never make it home with leftovers. 7-Layer Dip — Ready in 25 minutes and exactly the kind of thing a crowd disappears in the first ten. Fresh Corn Salad — A bright, simple summer salad that holds up well and fits right in at any cookout spread. German Potato Salad with Bacon — Tender Yukon Golds, crispy bacon, and a...
The 4th lands on a Saturday this year, which to me is the best-case scenario — a whole afternoon to be outside, no Monday-morning scramble. My only rule for hosting on a holiday is that I'm not stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is out back, so this week's menu leans on things I can make ahead or pull together fast. Here's the easy spread I'd put out. Roast Beef Sliders — Hawaiian rolls layered with roast beef, Swiss and cheddar, and a horseradish mayo, then baked under an...
We're heading into the weekend, so here are four genuinely easy dinners worth lining up for the week ahead — all fast, and not one of them leaves you with a sink full of dishes. Air Fryer Chicken Skewers — The marinade comes together fast, the air fryer does the cooking, and cleanup stays simple. Sheet Pan General Tso's Chicken — All the bold flavor of General Tso's, with popcorn chicken and veggies roasted on one sheet pan in 30 minutes. Broccoli Cheddar Ditalini — Creamy cheddar, tender...