Extra Cheesy Baked Macaroni (Mac Hack)

January 30, 2023 Amanda Plott

Sometimes you just have to be a little cheesy. But today, we’re going to be extra cheesy! This Extra Cheesy Baked Macaron is made all in ONE PAN and is tossed together to bake up in the oven in just over half an hour. The best part is? It’s some of the most rich, creamy, decadent macaroni dishes that you’ll ever make. That blue box of powdered crap has nothing on these noods!

I’ve heard about this hack before of being able to one pan macaroni in the oven, but I’d never tried it until today. I’ll be honest in saying that I was super impressed that it worked so well! I mean, why would you make macaroni any other way?…

Pizza Waffles

October 13, 2021 Amanda Plott

If you haven’t noticed by now, I sort of like to put foods that I love together to make something completely new. These Pizza Waffles are just one of those things! I picked up a waffle maker a few months back now after a good year or two of my old one having give up the ghost. So, I’ve been having a lot of fun with playing around with the new one.

These Pizza Waffles are super easy to make and delish! I used some puff pastry sheets as the dough, since we’re filling these waffles with the pizza goodness. Sauce, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings are tolled up in the puff pastry and then cooked on the waffle iron. No batter needed!…

Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken Tenders

August 31, 2021 Amanda Plott

I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight! I think that’s how the song goes anyway. These Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken Tenders are a fun and interesting way to serve up what could otherwise be a boring chicken dinner. By crusting these chicken tenders in some honey mustard sauce and then coating them in crushed pretzels, they come out perfectly crisp and tasty.

The homemade honey mustard sauce here is the key here and when paired with the pretzel crust on these chicken tenders, it’s even better. You can use any hard pretzels for these that you want for these. Yes, even the flavored ones!…

Skinny Biscuits & Gravy Cups

July 16, 2021 Amanda Plott

Biscuits and gravy cups? That’s right! Biscuit dough cups that are filled with an easy to make homemade sausage gravy that makes it all perfectly grab-and-go friendly while also being great for the kiddos! While these Skinny Biscuits & Gravy Cups are cute and even impressive, they are actually really simple and easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.

Since there isn’t a whole lot you can do to lighten up this biscuit part (outside of making your own biscuit dough), I did just about everything I could to make the gravy better-for-you. I started the gravy off with a lean turkey breakfast sausage and then swapped in almond milk for regular milk. I also used a reduced fat cheddar in place of regular…

Skinny No Bake Cookies

June 15, 2021 Amanda Plott

Remember those delicious no bake cookies from your childhood? I sure do! They were something that my mom and I would make on occasion, especially for sleep overs since they’re an easy and tasty recipe that kids can help make. …And getting to eat and enjoy the end result is always enticing!

Did I mention that it’s getting hot here in Texas and that these cookies requite NO BAKING? That’s right. Just a few minutes of the stove being on, but not the oven. Another good thing about these cookies and the heat of summer is that you can store them in the fridge to have nice cold chewy cookies ready to snack on…

Skinny Instant Pot Corndogs

May 22, 2021 Amanda Plott

I’ve definitely done some baking in my Instant Pot. Oh, yeah. Did you know that you could bake in a pressure cooker? I didn’t for the longest time, but once I learned that it was a thing, I was in it for the long haul. These Skinny Instant Pot Corndogs are super fast to whip up and only take about 9 minutes in the pressure cooker to… bake!

These fun corndog bites are something kids and adults will both enjoy! Plus, they’re lightened up and just over 100 calories in one. Compare that to other corndogs out there, especially fried ones, and you’ll realize pretty quickly just how light these are…

Recent Forkable Bites

Korean Scallion Pop Over Pancake "Dutch Baby"

You’ve just found your new kitchen obsession: the Korean Scallion Pop Over Pancake. Think of it as the love child of a light-as-air popover and the garlicky, green-onion-forward goodness of pajeon. It’s quick, a little bit showy, and perfect for breakfast, snack time, or as an appetizer that will convince friends you are doing something wildly gourmet without breaking a sweat…

Tex-mex Tortilla Breakfast Bake

If breakfast had a fiesta, this Tex-Mex Tortilla Breakfast Bake would be the life of the party. It’s cheesy, bright with salsa, and full of Tex-Mex flavors—yet uses smart swaps so it’s lighter and still utterly satisfying. Think of it as nachos-turned-breakfast-casserole: layers of tortilla base, eggs, veggies, black beans, and just enough melty cheese to keep things comforting without sending your health goals running for cover…

Passion Fruit Filled Upside-Down Cheesecake (No Bake)

If your dessert game needs a tropical mic drop, meet the Passion Fruit Filled Upside-Down Cheesecake. It’s the best kind of culinary contradiction: bright, tangy passion fruit tucked into a creamy, lighter-than-it-looks cheesecake sitting below a crumbly cookie base. It’s sweet, tart, slightly exotic, and perfectly guilt-free when you use a few smart swaps. Yes, you can have cheesecake and feel like you did something good for your future self…

German Pancake "Dutch Baby"

If you grew up thinking pancakes were just flat cakey discs drowned in syrup, German pancakes (also called Dutch babies) are here to re-educate your brunch brain. These dramatic oven-baked beauties puff up like savory soufflés, then collapse into golden, creased pools of custardy goodness. They’re loud, theatrical, and oddly wholesome — the perfect plate to start a weekend with a little flair and a lot less guilt…

Black Bean Street Corn Tacos

Street corn and tacos: two food-world celebrities that, when teamed up, create a headline-making flavor duet. Add black beans—protein-packed, wallet-friendly, and endlessly comforting—and you’ve got a weeknight superstar that’s healthy, colorful, and obnoxiously easy to make. These Black Bean Street Corn Tacos bring together charred corn, smoky spices, creamy jalapeño sauce, and hearty black beans for a taco that hits every note: tasty, creamy, bright, and slightly rebellious…

French Vanilla Upside-Down Cheesecake

If you love the idea of classic French vanilla but want something a little unexpected, meet the French Vanilla Upside-Down Cheesecake — a playful flip on an indulgent favorite that keeps the texture silky and the flavor bright without dragging you into full dessert regret. This recipe flips the script with a golden french vanilla filling inside a light, creamy cheesecake so when you flip it, you get a crunchy crown of cookie and a tender, cloud-like cheesecake underneath. It’s fancy enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight celebration.

Why French vanilla? French vanilla is all about the custard-forward flavor. In this cheesecake, that custardy depth and a crispy crunchy cookie crust shell is just perfect. The result is familiar and elegant — like dessert wearing a beret.

Veggie Wrap with Peanut Sauce

Bright, crunchy, and ridiculously satisfying — this Veggie Wrap with Peanut Sauce is my go-to when I want lunch that feels indulgent but doesn’t leave me sluggish. Think crisp raw veggies, tender marinated mushrooms (or tofu), fresh herbs, and a creamy, tangy peanut sauce wrapped up in a whole-grain tortilla or rice paper. It’s fresh, protein-packed, and perfect for meal prep. Best part: the peanut sauce doubles as a dip for snack carrots, because nobody should deny themselves that level of deliciousness.

Why you’ll love it

Fresh and crunchy textures with a creamy, savory sauce.
Flexible — easily vegan, gluten-free, or low-carb.
Quick to assemble, great for lunches, picnics, or a light dinner.
Balances fiber, healthy fats, and plant protein for a filling meal without heaviness…

Upside Down Blueberry Filled Cheesecake (No Bake)

If cheesecake could wear a pair of comfy sneakers and a party hat, this would be it. Meet the Upside Down No-Bake Blueberry-Filled Cheesecake: a glossy, jewel-toned blueberry layer that INSIDE of a pillowy, tangy no-bake cheesecake, all cradled by a lightly sweet, cookie-forward crust.

It looks fancy. It tastes like summer. It requires zero oven time and minimal effort. Translation: perfect for heat waves, last-minute company, or when you want dessert that’s both impressive and unapologetically easy…

Skinny Caramel Banana Pudding No Bake Cheesecake

If banana pudding and cheesecake had a love child it would be this: silky, banana-forward, and just sweet enough to satisfy a dessert craving without sending you spiraling into sugar regret. This Skinny Caramel Banana Pudding No-Bake Cheesecake keeps all the cozy, nostalgic flavors—banana pudding, creamy cheesecake, and a touch of caramel—while trimming calories and ditching heavy baking. It’s perfect for hot days, last-minute gatherings, or whenever you want dessert that feels indulgent but behaves itself…

Chimichurri

Chimichurri: bright, herby, slightly spicy — and a total game-changer for everything from grilled steak to roasted veggies. If you’ve ever had a bite of anything sauced in Argentina or Uruguay, you probably met this vibrant green condiment: an herb-forward sauce that’s equal parts punchy and versatile. Here’s everything you need to know to make a fresh, health-conscious chimichurri that tastes like it belongs at a backyard grill party — without the guilt…

Hawachae

If you're hunting for a drink that’s fruity, fun, and somehow both festive and entirely guilt-free, say hello to hwachae. This Korean fruit punch is like summer in a shallow bowl: colorful, bubbly, and built for sharing. Think of it as a fruit salad you sip—refreshing, lightly sweet, and endlessly adaptable. Perfect for warm afternoons, brunches, or whenever you want something more exciting than plain water but less indulgent than a soda cocktail…

Miso Caesar Dressing

The tangy, umami-packed upgrade that your salad has been waiting for!

If you love the bold, savory comfort of classic Caesar dressing but want something lighter, brighter, and just a smidge more interesting, say hello to miso Caesar dressing. It keeps everything you adore about a Caesar—creamy texture, salty tang, garlicky bite—then swaps in miso for depth, and ties it all together with citrus brightness. It’s umami-forward, slightly funky in the best way, and totally guilt-free. Also: it makes kale feel like a party guest instead of a punishment…

Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats

If you love the nostalgic bliss of strawberry shortcake ice cream bars but want a breakfast that’s fast, healthy, and won’t require a spatula duel at 7 a.m., meet Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats. This guilt-free spin captures the flavors you love — sweet strawberries, fluffy strawberry and vanilla oat vibes, and a few topping options— but in a nutrient-packed, make-ahead jar. It’s breakfast that feels like dessert and behaves like a responsible adult…

Strawberry Vinaigrette

Salads deserve better than boring dressing. Enter strawberry vinaigrette — a sweet-tart, blush-pink dressing that makes greens sing, fruits dance, and even roasted veggies look forward to showtime. It’s the kind of dressing that tricks your brain into thinking you’re indulging, while your body high-fives you for picking something wholesome. I’ve taken the classic fruit vinaigrette, given it a Skinny Fork twist, and kept it guilt-free without sacrificing flavor…

Breakfast Tomato Eggs

Tomato + eggs = morning magic. This humble combo is a breakfast staple around the world — from shakshuka to Chinese tomato-and-egg stir-fry — and for good reason. It’s fast, comforting, and jam-packed with flavor and nutrition. Think vibrant tomatoes, silky eggs, and a few tricks to boost protein and fiber while keeping things bright and fresh…

Tomato Salad

There’s something about a great tomato salad that makes summer feel like it lasts forever. Ripe tomatoes are the literal embodiment of sunny days—vibrant color, juicy sweetness, and a little tartness that wakes up the tastebuds. But tomato salad isn’t just a summer fling; with the right ingredients and a few health-conscious swaps, it becomes an everyday side, a light main, or a refreshing starter that fits into a wholesome lifestyle…

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