A Beautiful Mess

Strawberry Lemonade

Laura Gummerman — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The best homemade strawberry lemonade uses just four ingredients and is quick and easy to make. All you need is strawberries, lemons, sugar (or simple syrup), and water to make a delicious sweet-yet-tart classic strawberry lemonade. Like classic homemade lemonade, this pink drink is perfect for lounging by the pool, picnics, and can be made in larger batches to serve a crowd for parties and gatherings.

Related: Electric Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Lemon Drop Shots, Lemon Drop Martini, Pink Lemonade Jello Shots, Arnold Palmer, Sweet Tea. And if you love strawberries you must try Strawberry Pretzel salad.

Ingredients
Directions
Tips for Making
Strawberry Lemonade Variations
How do you make simple syrup?
Can you freeze fresh strawberry lemonade?
Serving Suggestions

Ingredients

Strawberries: You can defrost frozen strawberries for this recipe, but try using fresh berries when possible.
Lemons: You’ll definitely want fresh lemons for your lemonade whenever possible. Use a lemon squeezer to make juicing easier.
Sugar: The secret to the most evenly sweet flavor in your lemonade (with no grains of sugar sinking to the bottom of the pitcher) is dissolving the sugar into hot water before mixing in your lemon juice and strawberries. You can also buy a bottle of simple syrup at the store or easily make your own simple syrup to use instead.
Water: Tap water will work fine for this but a purified or filtered water will give you a cleaner taste if you have that on hand.

Directions

Dissolve Sugar in Water: Boil 2 cups of your water on the stove, remove from heat and add in your sugar, stirring until dissolved. Allow to cool a bit.

Juice Lemons: Half your lemons widthwise with a knife and use a lemon squeezer or a juicer to extract the lemon juice.

Puree Strawberries: Remove the green hull from your strawberries and add to a food processor. Puree until smooth. You can strain your puree through a fine mesh sieve if you want to separate the seeds and pulp.

Mix Together: Add your sugar water to a pitcher and add the remaining 4 cups of chilled water and then the lemon juice and strawberries. Stir to combine.

Serve: When serving, fill a glass with ice and pour your strawberry lemonade on top. Enjoy!

Tips for Making

Roll your lemons: It may sound odd, but rolling your lemons firmly on the counter before cutting and juicing will help release the juices and make juicing easier.
Hold the ice: Don’t add your ice directly to your pitcher as it will dilute the liquid as it melts. Add it to each glass and then pour the strawberry lemonade on top.
Make a frozen strawberry lemonade: To create a slushy lemonade, make a batch that is a little stronger on the sugar and lemon, then add it to a blender with some ice for a frozen treat.

Tip: Make your strawberry lemonade a sparkling version by topping off your glass with sparkling water.

Strawberry Lemonade Variations

Strawberry Arnold Palmer: Make an easy Arnold Palmer by adding some iced tea to your lemonade.
Mint Lemonade: Muddle some fresh mint leaves at the bottom of the pitcher before adding your ingredients for a mint twist.
Spiked Strawberry Lemonade: Add a shot of vodka or gin to your glass for a boozy strawberry lemonade.

How do you make simple syrup?

To make your own simple syrup, combine two cups sugar and two cups water in a small pan. On medium heat, simmer together and stir until sugar is fully dissolved and there are no grains.

Do not boil simple syrup for more than the time it takes to dissolve. If you overcook your syrup, it will eventually become caramel.

Let cool and pour into a bottle in the fridge.

Can you freeze fresh strawberry lemonade?

Yes! Put your lemon juice, strawberry puree, and simple syrup into a freezer bag (or into ice cube trays and then into a bag when frozen) and simply let your frozen strawberry lemonade concentrate thaw in the fridge before adding your water.

Serving Suggestions

Try serving this refreshing strawberry lemonade with our:

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to store strawberry lemonade?

Strawberry Lemonade

Laura Gummerman — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Ingredients
Directions
Tips for Making
Strawberry Lemonade Variations
How do you make simple syrup?
Can you freeze fresh strawberry lemonade?
Serving Suggestions

Ingredients

Strawberries: You can defrost frozen strawberries for this recipe, but try using fresh berries when possible.
Lemons: You’ll definitely want fresh lemons for your lemonade whenever possible. Use a lemon squeezer to make juicing easier.
Sugar: The secret to the most evenly sweet flavor in your lemonade (with no grains of sugar sinking to the bottom of the pitcher) is dissolving the sugar into hot water before mixing in your lemon juice and strawberries. You can also buy a bottle of simple syrup at the store or easily make your own simple syrup to use instead.
Water: Tap water will work fine for this but a purified or filtered water will give you a cleaner taste if you have that on hand.

Directions

Dissolve Sugar in Water: Boil 2 cups of your water on the stove, remove from heat and add in your sugar, stirring until dissolved. Allow to cool a bit.

Juice Lemons: Half your lemons widthwise with a knife and use a lemon squeezer or a juicer to extract the lemon juice.

Mix Together: Add your sugar water to a pitcher and add the remaining 4 cups of chilled water and then the lemon juice and strawberries. Stir to combine.

Serve: When serving, fill a glass with ice and pour your strawberry lemonade on top. Enjoy!

Tips for Making

Roll your lemons: It may sound odd, but rolling your lemons firmly on the counter before cutting and juicing will help release the juices and make juicing easier.
Hold the ice: Don’t add your ice directly to your pitcher as it will dilute the liquid as it melts. Add it to each glass and then pour the strawberry lemonade on top.
Make a frozen strawberry lemonade: To create a slushy lemonade, make a batch that is a little stronger on the sugar and lemon, then add it to a blender with some ice for a frozen treat.

Tip: Make your strawberry lemonade a sparkling version by topping off your glass with sparkling water.

Strawberry Lemonade Variations

Strawberry Arnold Palmer: Make an easy Arnold Palmer by adding some iced tea to your lemonade.
Mint Lemonade: Muddle some fresh mint leaves at the bottom of the pitcher before adding your ingredients for a mint twist.
Spiked Strawberry Lemonade: Add a shot of vodka or gin to your glass for a boozy strawberry lemonade.

How do you make simple syrup?

To make your own simple syrup, combine two cups sugar and two cups water in a small pan. On medium heat, simmer together and stir until sugar is fully dissolved and there are no grains.

Do not boil simple syrup for more than the time it takes to dissolve. If you overcook your syrup, it will eventually become caramel.

Let cool and pour into a bottle in the fridge.

Can you freeze fresh strawberry lemonade?

Serving Suggestions

Try serving this refreshing strawberry lemonade with our:

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to store strawberry lemonade?

Jello Poke Cake

Emma Chapman — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

If you’re searching for an easy, yet show stopping dessert that can work well for many different occasions, look no further than a Jello Poke Cake. This classic dessert combines the light and fluffy texture of cake with the refreshing and fruity flavors of Jello. With just a few simple ingredients and some creativity, you can create a delightful and nostalgic treat that everyone will love.

Personally, I like Jello poke cake best during the summer, as the cake gets refrigerated while the Jello sets so the cake is typically served cold. This is also a great cake recipe to turn into an easy flag cake if you need something for a 4th of July or Juneteenth celebration.

Related: If you love this poke cake, then you may also love Jello Salad, Ambrosia Salad, or Red Velvet Cake.

Ingredients

White cake mix
Jello mix
Cool Whip

While these are the three main ingredients you will need, keep in mind the cake mix and Jello mix will require other ingredients. This may vary based on your cake mix brand, but this may include water, oil, eggs, or milk.

If you plan to turn your Jello poke cake into an easy flag cake, you will also need fresh strawberries and blueberries.

Directions

Prepare the cake mix according to the box directions to create a 9×13 cake. Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.

While the cake is cooling, prepare the Jello mixture. In a heatproof bowl, dissolve the flavored gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Add 1/2 cup of cold water to the gelatin mixture and stir well.

Use a fork to poke holes all over the cooled cake. Then, use a spoon or pastry brush to spoon the Jello mixture on top of the cake so it seeps into the holes.

Refrigerate the cake for 3-4 hours, so the Jello has time to set. Then, top the cake with Cool Whip and serve!

Easy Flag Cake

If you want to turn your Jello Poke cake into a an easy flag cake, simply use both red and blue Jello mixes and distribute them over the cake, like an American flag. You won’t use all of the blue Jello mix, so feel free to simply mix up half instead of the entire box.

Once the cake has set and the Cool Whip has been added, top with lines of fresh blueberries and sliced strawberries like an American flag.

Tips & Variations

You can use any cake mix flavor. Some flavors will go better with certain Jello flavors than others. But any cake mix can become a poke cake. You can also bake a cake from scratch or use a pre-made (not frosted) cake from a bakery.
Use any flavor of Jello you like! I think lemon or lime would be really fun for summer, too.
You can use other frosting beyond Cool Whip (whipped topping) like cream cheese frosting or buttercream.
Fresh fruit is optional as a topping, but I think it makes this Jello poke cake recipe feel more festive and finished.

Making a Jello poke cake is a delightful way to elevate a simple cake into a visually stunning and delicious dessert. With its vibrant colors and fruity flavors, it’s bound to be a hit at any gathering.

The best part is you can customize it to your liking by choosing different flavors of cake and Jello. Happy baking!

Jello Poke Cake

A flavorful, moist cake made with a box mix and Jello

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword jello poke cake, poke cake

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Chill Time 3

Total Time 3 40

Servings

Calories 203kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Equipment

1 oven

Ingredients

1 box white cake mix
3 ounces box Jello mix
8 ounces whipped topping Cool Whip

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Prepare the cake mix according to the box directions to create a 9×13 cake. Once the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 15 minutes.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the Jello mixture. In a heatproof bowl, dissolve the flavored gelatin in 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
Add ½ cup of cold water to the gelatin mixture and stir well.
Use a fork to poke holes all over the cooled cake.
Then, use a spoon or pastry brush to spoon the Jello mixture on top of the cake so it seeps into the holes.
Refrigerate the cake for 3-4 hours, so the Jello has time to set.
Then top the cake with Cool Whip and fresh berries if using and serve!

Notes

While these are the three main ingredients you will need, keep in mind the cake mix and Jello mix will require other ingredients. This may vary based on your cake mix brand, but this may include water, oil, eggs, or milk.
If you plan to turn your Jello poke cake into an easy flag cake, you will also need fresh strawberries and blueberries.
Jello poke cake can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days after making.

Nutrition

50+ Easy BBQ Side Dishes

Jacki Moseley — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Barbecue season is finally here. If you’re getting ready to host or attend a BBQ for the 4th of July (or any occasion) keep reading! The best barbecues are simple and laid back with an emphasis on delicious food—especially side dishes.

We’ve included over 50 easy BBQ side dishes in this roundup, plus ideas for summer desserts and refreshing cocktails (or drinks like Sweet Tea) to enjoy with your outdoor meal.

These recipes are perfect for a BBQ and any outdoor gathering like a picnic. We’ve included a mix of popular and unique recipes, like:

Simple Macaroni Salad

What’s not to love about macaroni salad? Everyone has their own way of making it, but this macaroni salad recipe is pretty classic with the addition of extra vegetables and chopped hard boiled eggs.

Get the Recipe

Easy Baked Beans

If you’re looking for an easy, made-from-scratch recipe for baked beans, look no further. This baked beans recipe is saucy, delicious, and super simple. Serve with hot dogs, hamburgers, or BBQ sandwiches.

Get the Recipe

Favorite Broccoli Slaw

This broccoli slaw recipe is simple, creamy, and crunchy. It’s super easy to put together because you can make it with pre-bagged slaw. It’s delicious on top of hot dogs and BBQ sandwiches.

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Best Fruit Salad

Fruit salad is a barbecue staple, and this recipe is truly the best. It’s made with a honey citrus dressing that makes it sweet, slightly tart, and extra delicious. We love adding a variety of fruit to this dish.

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Roasted Asparagus

Roast some fresh asparagus in the oven for a bright and flavorful side dish. This recipe makes asparagus that’s crunchy (never mushy) and delicious. Squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice on top before serving.

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Homemade Chex Mix

Homemade Chex mix is 100% more delicious than any store-bought snack mix. This Chex mix recipe can be customized to your liking, and you can even add candy to it for a sweet and salty combination.

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Corn Dip

This corn dip is a cold, creamy dip made with just five ingredients. This dip recipe is sometimes called “crack corn dip” and it reminds us of Rotel cheese dip because it’s so addictive and delicious!

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Air Fryer Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes are a must-have at any BBQ, and you don’t even have to turn on your oven to make these. Air fryer baked potatoes have a crispy skin and bake evenly—just like the do in the oven.

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Creamy Kale, Brussels and Cranberry Salad

Looking for a great salad to serve? This recipe has crunchy kale, Brussels sprouts, sliced almonds, and a bright burst of flavor from fresh cranberries. Make your own salad dressing to go with it for the perfect salad.

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Baked Macaroni and Cheese

What’s not to love about baked mac and cheese? This is a super easy recipe that’s made without eggs or evaporated milk. An easy, classic recipe! This baked macaroni is a crowd-favorite and a perfect side dish.

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Chicken Salad with Grapes

This easy chicken salad recipe made with grapes is creamy, crunchy, and tasty. It’s perfect on its own with a side of crackers or cucumber slices, but it also makes great chicken salad sandwiches for a BBQ.

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Strawberry Caprese Salad

There’s nothing better than a fresh caprese salad in the summertime. This recipe includes strawberries, tomatoes, and a homemade pesto sauce. It’s so good. Be sure to add the balsamic—it really ties everything together.

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Homemade French Onion Dip

Homemade French onion dip is creamy, decadent, and the perfect blend of savory with a little sweet. Serve this French onion dip alongside fresh cut vegetables, crackers, or chips and dig in!

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Bread and Butter Pickles

Bread and butter pickles can be added to burgers and sandwiches or served as an appetizer on a cheese platter. There’s so many ways to enjoy these pickles! To make them, simply put the ingredients in a mason jar and pop it in the refrigerator.

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Deviled Eggs (3 Ways)

Deviled eggs are one of the first side dishes we think of for a summer BBQ. This recipe for deviled eggs includes a classic version and two additional ideas using ingredients like feta, dill, turmeric, and ginger.

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Crispy Air Fried Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are anything but boring; especially this air fried version. This delicious vegetable side dish is crispy, flavorful, and only has 4 ingredients. Love Brussels sprouts? Try our recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts, too.

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Black Bean Hummus

If you like black beans, you will love this hummus recipe. The addition of black beans makes this dip extra hearty, and you can kick up the heat by adding cayenne or red pepper flakes. Serve with sliced veggies or chips.

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Green Bean Casserole

This classic green bean casserole recipe is made with pepper jack cheese for added creaminess and spice. This is a wonderful side dish that can be enjoyed alongside beef, pork chops, or chicken.

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Cornbread With Bacon Glaze

Mmm.. cornbread. Top it with melted butter or a bacon glaze like we did in this recipe. It’s also perfect for soaking up extra barbecue sauce. Either way, cornbread should be part of your spread!

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10-Minute BBQ Sauce

Speaking of BBQ sauce, this recipe is for a thick and finger-licking-delicious sauce that you can whip up in about 10 minutes (or less). It’s so much better than store bought barbecue sauce.

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Classic Potato Salad

Potato salad is one of the most popular BBQ sides, and this recipe is comforting and creamy. This classic potato salad is the perfect blend of soft potatoes and hard boiled eggs with crunchy bell peppers and onion.

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Buffalo Chicken Dip

If you’re in need of a crowd-pleasing baked dip recipe for your BBQ, look no further than our buffalo chicken dip. It’s made with only 5 ingredients and similar to chicken wings (in the form of dip!).

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Pigs in a Blanket

Pigs in a blanket are a great bite-sized side dish for a BBQ. And, they are super easy to prepare with only two ingredients. You can even make some homemade dipping sauces for them if you’re feeling fancy.

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Duchess Sweet Potato Casserole

This duchess sweet potato casserole is equally pretty and mouthwatering. It’s rich, creamy, and a little savory with the addition of bacon. This would be an amazing side dish to serve with steak or chicken.

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Quinoa, Kale, and Grapefruit Salad

This summery kale salad combines red quinoa, kale, and fresh grapefruit, and topped with a bright and simple dijon dressing. It’s a filling and healthy salad option made with fresh ingredients.

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Egg Salad (4 Ways)

This is our classic egg salad recipe along with 3 variation ideas using ingredients like turmeric, ginger, feta, rosemary, and thyme. Serve any of these egg salad recipes with your favorite bread or enjoy it on its own.

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Simple Cucumber Salad

Our cucumber salad is similar to a quick pickled salad since vinegar is one of the main ingredients in the dressing. This recipe is bright, crunchy, and a great salad or side dish idea for a BBQ.

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Air Fryer Sweet Potato

Baked sweet potatoes in an air fryer is one of the easiest vegetable side dishes you can make for a BBQ.. You could even make a combination of baked potatoes and sweet potatoes for your spread. Don’t forget all the fixings!

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Creamy Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is the warm weather version of mac and cheese—the best comfort food! This recipe is full of vegetables and perfect for summer. And, it’s even better if you make it the night before and refrigerate it.

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Rotel Cheese Dip

Rotel cheese dip is a classic and easy hot dip that can be made quickly in a crockpot (with only 2 ingredients!). This is an addictive dip recipe that everyone will love. Serve with veggies and chips.

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Thai-Inspired Barley Salad

This Thai barley salad is both filling and delicious, and it has some unexpected flavors (like fresh mango) that you will love. This salad recipe makes a big batch, so it’s perfect for a barbecue.

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Baked Sweet Potato Fries

These are the best baked sweet potato fries. The have the right amount of seasoning and crispiness, and they can be thrown in the oven while you’re preparing other things. Love sweet potatoes? Try our recipe for roasted sweet potatoes, too.

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Creamy Black Bean Dip

An irresistible creamy black bean dip made with black beans, cream cheese, and salsa. This is one of those dips that you won’t be able to stop eating because it’s so good! Serve chilled with lots of chips.

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Tahini Chopped Salad

An amazing chopped salad recipe made with crunchy edamame, peppers, and cashews. The best part is the Tahini dressing—it’s very similar to the peanut sauce that we dip fresh spring rolls in. So good!

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Deli-Style Tuna Salad

A simple, but truly delicious deli-style tuna salad recipe that is flavorful with the right amount of crunch. We love this eating this tuna salad as a dip with cucumbers and crackers or by itself on a sandwich.

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Taco Dip

A classic recipe for taco dip made with cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning. Top this cold dip with your favorite taco toppings like shredded lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and olives and serve with chips.

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Air Fryer Cauliflower

Similar to air fryer Brussels sprouts, this cauliflower can be easily made in air fryer and it turns out delicious every time. We like to put some grated Parmesan cheese on top before serving this dish. Love cauliflower? Try our recipe for roasted cauliflower, too.

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Easy Corn Casserole

This savory and cheesy corn casserole is a comforting side dish that’s perfect for any summer gathering. Plus, this casserole couldn’t be easier to make—just put everything in the dish and bake!

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3 Easy Pasta Salad Dressings

If pasta salad is going to be part of your BBQ spread, we have 3 homemade salad dressing recipes to choose: balsamic, Italian, and a creamy option. These dressings will elevate any pasta dish.

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Spicy Avocado Hummus

We love a good hummus recipe, and this one is perfect for a BBQ. This avocado hummus is made with creamy avocado, red pepper, and jalapeños. Serve it with veggies or pita chips for a tasty side dish.

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Easy Jalapeño Popper Dip

This jalapeño popper dip is one of our favorite hot dips for any occasion. Everybody loves it and it’s incredibly easy to make! Serve this savory dip with chips, pretzel bites, or bread and watch it disappear.

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Air Fried French Fries

You only need a small amount of oil to get crispy, made-to-perfection french fries in an air fryer. We like to coat and season the fries before they are air fried (so good!), and they only take 15-20 minutes to make.

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Classic Pea Salad with Bacon

This delicious, classic pea salad with bacon is a wonderful side dish. It’s a creamy mix of peas, mayo, and cheese, and it goes great with hot dogs and watermelon. A very nostalgic recipe to enjoy at a BBQ.

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Creamy Garlic Mac & Cheese

This creamy garlic macaroni and cheese can be made a in a crockpot. That’s right!
Delicious, homemade mac and cheese without all the work. Plus, macaroni and cheese goes with basically everything!

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Baked Chili Cheese Chips

These chili cheese chips are a lighter version of Fritos with all ingredients you can pronounce (but still dangerously good). Fill a bowl with this homemade bite-sized snack at your next barbecue.

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Easy Broccoli Salad

This broccoli salad only has three ingredients plus a creamy dressing. Don’t let that fool you, though—it’s full of flavor and can be customized with all kinds of ingredients. It’s a great side dish for an outdoor gathering.

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Beet-Dyed Deviled Eggs

Everything you love about deviled eggs with a fun and colorful twist. These hardboiled eggs are dyed with beet juice, but it doesn’t affect the taste at all! Surprise your guests with these at your next BBQ.

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Easy Desserts For a BBQ:

Easy Cocktails for a BBQ:

Looking for More BBQ Recipes?

Pinwheel Sandwiches

Emma Chapman — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Pinwheel sandwiches, also called tortilla roll-ups, are a delicious finger food you can serve as a party appetizer or bring to a potluck. They also make a great addition to a packed lunch and are perfect for kids or adults. They are sandwich wraps made of tortillas rolled up with club sandwich or other sandwich fillings.

The secret to a great pinwheel sandwich is the cream cheese filling! This is the “glue” that keeps this rolled up sandwich looking great and it tastes amazing. I like to make the cream cheese filling with ranch and bacon bits, but there are many different options and variation to try.

Related: Looking for more easy appetizers? Try 30 Easy Finger Foods for a Party, 50 Easy BBQ Side Dishes or 75 Summer Dinner Ideas.

Basic Ingredients

Flour tortillas
Cream cheese
Ranch dressing – store bought or homemade
Bacon
Sliced cheddar cheese – colby is great too
Deli meat – I like smoked turkey, salami or ham
Veggies like romaine lettuce, cucumber, avocado or spinach

How to Make Pinwheel Sandwiches

Combine the softened cream cheese with the ranch dressing and bacon (chopped).

Lay out a tortilla shell. Spoon the cream cheese mixture on top and spread into a thin layer, coating the entire tortilla.

Layer on the sliced cheese, deli meat, and spinach. Place it toward the bottom 1/3 of the tortilla (not the center).

Roll up the tortilla and slice into pinwheels. The cream cheese holds these together pretty well, BUT if you have issue with them wanting to unroll, add a toothpick to the pinwheel. Use a sharp knife to cut the rolled tortilla into pinwheels.

Additional Filling Ideas

For the cream cheese filling, you could omit the ranch dressing and add a packet of ranch seasoning instead. The bacon is also optional.
If you don’t want to use a cream cheese filling, you could swap it for hummus for a similar effect.
Any cheese that comes in slices (or that you can slice) will work. You could also try a crumbly cheese like feta.
Any deli meat you prefer can work for pinwheel sandwiches: turkey, chicken, salami, pepperoni, or even bacon strips.
You can add more or less vegetables: lettuce, spinach, sliced bell peppers, thinly sliced tomato, or fresh herbs like cilantro or basil.
Pickled items will work as well: bread and butter pickles, olives, pickled carrots, etc.

More Appetizer Recipes

Other recipes to make for a party:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make pinwheel sandwiches ahead of time?

Chocolate Cake Shot

Elsie Larson — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

This Chocolate Cake Shot is also sometimes called a German Chocolate Cake Shot. You might not think it by looking at these photos, but this shot recipe tastes exactly like chocolate cake. It’s like a bite of chocolate cake in liquid form.

With only two ingredients and a total time of about two minutes, it’s easy to keep on hand and be ready to party. This is an excellent novelty shot to serve at your next special occasion. Let’s learn to make a delicious chocolate cake shot.

Easy shot recipes: birthday cake shot, oatmeal cookie shot, green tea shot, lemon drop shot, mexican candy shot, white tea shot, cement mixer, kamikaze shot, jello shots.

Ingredients in a Chocolate Cake Shot

Hazelnut Liqueur – I used Frangelico.
Vodka – I recommend regular, unflavored vodka. I like to use Titos or Grey Goose.
Lemon Wedge or Slice – For garnish and balancing the sweetness.
Sugar – For rimming your shot glass.

How to Make a Chocolate Cake Shot

Begin adding sugar to the rim of the shot glass. You can do this by rubbing the lemon on the outside of the shot glass rim, then dipping it in sugar.

In your prepared shot glass, combine the Frangelico and vodka.

Top with a lemon slice.

How to Take a Chocolate Cake Shot

To properly take a chocolate cake shot, suck the lemon slice and then with the juice still in your mouth, take the shot.

Chocolate Cake Cocktail

If you prefer a drink you can sip you can modify this recipe by doubling the ingredients, shaking them in a cocktail shaker with ice and serving it in a martini glass. This is a fun cocktail instead of a shooter, perfect to sip.

Tips for Making

You can add a sugar-coated lemon wedge. Personally, I found it sweet enough without doing that.
I recommend starting with unflavored vodka, but you can substitute it for chocolate vodka, vanilla vodka or cake vodka if you want to lean deeper into the theme.
This shot is very sweet and makes a great replacement for dessert at a party.
I used these shot glasses. They are beautiful and can be used as shot glasses or sherry glasses. Truly, the classiest shot glass I have seen.
Make this for a crowd by lining up your shot glasses and batching it all at once. It’s the perfect recipe to quickly make for a party!

Pairs Well With:

If you are serving these shots, they would pair well with a chocolate dessert. Here are a few of our best recipes!

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Chip Slice and Bake Cookies
Peanut Butter & Jelly Shots
Want more cocktails? 45+ Cocktails to Make At Home

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Chocolate Cake Shot made of?

Orange Chicken Sauce

Emma Chapman — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Orange chicken is similar to sweet and sour chicken in that it’s a flavorful sauce that has some sweetness to it. The base of the sauce is orange juice, but it has many other ingredients that balance out the sweetness and flavor.

A lot of weeknight dinners we make at our house are pretty basic. We make some kind of protein (meat or plant-based) with rice or pasta. So, I like to have easy ways to change this up flavor-wise. And that’s where this orange chicken sauce recipe comes in.

Related: Check out Cashew Chicken Sauce, Sweet & Sour Sauce, Air Fryer Chicken or give our Easy Chicken Pot Pie a try!

Orange Chicken Sauce Ingredients:

Olive oil
Ginger
Garlic
Orange Juice + Zest
Granulated White Sugar
Rice Vinegar
Soy Sauce
Cornstarch
Red Pepper Flakes

Directions:

Cook the minced ginger and garlic in the olive oil over medium/high heat for a minute or two. Then, add the orange juice, zest, sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Whisk until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the red pepper flakes.

In a small bowl or glass, stir together the cornstarch with one tablespoon water. This creates a thick slurry mixture. Slowly pour this into the sauce, stirring as you do.

Continue to cook until the sauce thickens. Taste and add more soy sauce or red pepper flakes if needed.

Tips & Substitutions:

You can substitute honey for the granulated white sugar if you like.
If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can use white vinegar instead.
Sauce is like gravy in that if it’s not thickening as much as you want after you’ve added the cornstarch, turn the heat up a little and continue to cook. Keep an eye on it though, as it can thicken quickly.
You can store orange chicken sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week—just rewarm before using.

Serving Suggestions:

You can use this Springfield-Style Cashew Cauliflower recipe and substitute this orange chicken sauce for a vegetarian-friendly option.
When we make rice, I always use a rice cooker since it’s so easy, and then I can focus on making the chicken and sauce while the rice cooker does its thing.
I like to add a few chopped green onions over this sauce just before serving.

Orange Chicken Sauce

sweet and spicy orange sauce for chicken

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Chinese

Keyword orange chicken, Orange Chicken Sauce, sauce

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 79kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon ginger minced
3 cloves garlic minced
1 cup orange juice and zest from orange
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cornstarch

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

In a sauce pan, cook the minced ginger and garlic in the olive oil over medium/high heat for a minute or two.
Then, add the orange juice, zest, sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce.
Whisk until the sugar dissolves.
Stir in the red pepper flakes.
In a small bowl or glass, stir together the cornstarch with one tablespoon water. This creates a thick slurry mixture.
Slowly pour this into the sauce, stirring as you do.
Continue to cook until the sauce thickens. Taste and add more soy sauce or red pepper flakes if needed.

Notes

You can substitute honey for the granulated white sugar if you like.
If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can use white vinegar instead.
Sauce is like gravy in that if it’s not thickening as much as you want after you’ve added the cornstarch, turn the heat up a little and continue to cook. Keep an eye on it though, as it can thicken quickly.
You can store orange chicken sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week, just rewarm before using.

Nutrition

Roy Rogers Drink

Elsie Larson — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The Roy Rogers drink is a refreshing classic mocktail. If you have ever loved a Shirley Temple, you will love this recipe.

Similar to the Shirley Temple it’s simply a lot more fun to order a drink named after a famous actor than a basic cola with grenadine. Roy Rogers, known as King of the Cowboys, called this one of his favorite drinks. The Roy Rogers mocktail is a non-alcoholic mixed drink that tastes like a cherry coke.

Roy Rogers Drink – A Brief History
What is in a Roy Rogers Drink?
How to Mix a Roy Rogers
Tips for Making
More Recipes to Try:

Roy Rogers Drink – A Brief History

The Roy Rogers drink has always been an alcohol-free drink, and it’s a drink you could have ordered at an old-fashioned soda shop.

The famous mocktail was named after Roy Rogers, who acted in western films and musical cowboy movies in the 1940s and 1950s. Roy Rogers didn’t drink alcohol, so it makes sense that he had a soda drink named after him.

The drink originally became famous in 1950s soda shops and in time has become an iconic mocktail to order when you want a fun drink that doesn’t contain alcohol.

Like the Shirley Temple, it’s a fun sounding drink to order to feel fancy (something my 5- and 8-year-old daughters love to do in restaurants!). Let yourself feel fancy, we say!

What is in a Roy Rogers Drink?

Cola – I used Coca-Cola since it’s classic and so delicious. You can also choose a sugar free or organic cola if you like.
Grenadine Syrup – You can buy grenadine syrup at many stores, and we also have an easy recipe to make your own grenadine (it’s a syrup made with pomegranate juice that is a bright red color).
Maraschino Cherry – A must! Use one or a few.
Ice Cubes Pebble or crushed ice is perfect if you have it.

The best glassware option to serve a Roy Rogers in is a collins glass or a highball glass. I also love to use glass straws for my homemade drinks.

How to Mix a Roy Rogers

Fill a cup with ice and add half an ounce of grenadine to one ounce if you want it very sweet.

Pour cola to top it off. Give it a gentle stir with a straw to mix.

Garnish with a nice bright red maraschino cherry and your work here is done. Enjoy!

Tips for Making

Add lime To make a more balanced version add just half an ounce of grenadine and the juice of half a lime. This will balance some of the sweetness with acidity and you will taste a bit more tartness.
Fresh mint Add fresh mint as a garnish to enhance the sensory experience of this soda drink.
Roy Rogers cocktail If you are dead set on turning this into a cocktail, keep the lime and add two ounces of dark rum, whiskey or vodka. You can use a shot of liquor of your choosing. If you add a shot of vodka Roy Rogers himself may not approve, but we won’t judge.
Organic Cola If you want to make a healthier version with less sugar, try substituting cola for a prebiotic drink such as Olipop or Poppi.

More Recipes to Try:

Pizza– Deep Dish Pizza Recipe, Chocolate Chip Pizza, Pizza Dough, Pizza Sauce
Appetizers– Pinwheel Sandwiches, 30+ Finger Foods for a Party
Non-Alcoholic Drinks– We love an easy mocktail! Orange Julius, Pumpkin Juice, Italian Soda, Bubble Tea, Root Beer Float, More Mocktail Recipes.
Desserts– Kool-Aid Pie, Chocolate Cake Pops, Chocolate Covered Strawberries

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Roy Rogers drink contain alcohol?

Carbonara Sauce

Emma Chapman — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:18:37 +0000

Spaghetti carbonara is a traditional Italian dish that is super simple but brimming with flavor. The carbonara sauce is easy to make with only five ingredients, one being pasta water. This is one of those meals that you can easily throw together alongside a salad or vegetable side dish with very little time and effort.

Carbonara also manages to be one of those pasta dishes that feels both light but rich and filling at the same time. The main components are pancetta (or bacon), egg yolks and cheese.

Related: Pomodoro Sauce, Vodka Sauce, Alfredo Sauce, Pesto and Bruschetta.

Ingredients

Pancetta, or thick cut bacon
Parmesan
Egg yolks
Garlic
Spaghetti noodles
Salt and pepper

Pasta water is also a critical component of this recipe, but you will make it as you cook the noodles.

Directions

Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Before straining, reserve some of the pasta water.

In a large saucepan, cook the pancetta (or bacon) until fully cooked, but not too crispy. Then toss in the garlic and cook for another minute.

In a small bowl, add a few tablespoons of the (hot) pasta water to the egg yolk and stir to incorporate. Add a few more tablespoons at a time, stirring in between. The goal here is heat up the yolks gradually so they don’t curdle/cook once added to the pan.

Now add the pasta and yolk mixture to the pancetta pan. Reduce the heat to low and toss everything with tongs. Sprinkle in the cheese and continue to toss until the cheese begins to melt. Taste and add any salt or pepper as needed. Serve warm.

Tips & Substitutions

Pancetta is the traditional option for carbonara sauce, but sometimes this ingredient is difficult to find at the grocery stores I frequent. If that’s the case for you as well, thick cut bacon will also work for this recipe.
If you do notice the eggs curdling or cooking too fast, it’s OK! This will only change the texture, it doesn’t mean the dish is completely ruined. It will be more like fried rice than traditional carbonara but still tasty.
I will often add a sprinkle of fresh herbs, like parsley, before serving just for a little added flavor and green, but this is optional and not necessarily traditional.

Serving Suggestions

I love this carbonara recipe alongside a big salad or vegetable side dish. Here are some ideas.

Carbonara Sauce

A classic Italian pasta sauce made with pancetta, eggs and cheese.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword carbonara pasta, carbonara sauce, pasta

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 15

Total Time 20

Servings

Calories 324kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

2 ounces pancetta
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
2 egg yolks
1 clove garlic
8 ounces spaghetti noodles
¼ cup pasta water
salt and pepper

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Before straining, reserve some of the pasta water.
In a large saucepan, cook the pancetta (or bacon) until fully cooked, but not too crispy.
Then toss in the garlic and cook for another minute.
In a small bowl, add a few tablespoons of the (hot) pasta water to the egg yolk and stir to incorporate. Add a few more tablespoons at a time, stirring in between. The goal here is heat up the yolks gradually so they don’t curdle/cook once added to the pan.
Now add the pasta and yolk mixture to the pancetta pan. Reduce the heat to low and toss everything with tongs.
Sprinkle in the cheese and continue to toss until the cheese begins to melt.
Taste and add any salt or pepper as needed. Serve warm.

Notes

Pancetta is the traditional option for carbonara sauce, but sometimes this ingredient is difficult to find at the grocery stores I frequent. If that’s the case for you as well, thick cut bacon will also work for this recipe.

If you do notice the eggs curdling or cooking too fast, it’s OK! This will only change the texture, it doesn’t mean the dish is completely ruined. It will be more like fried rice than traditional carbonara but still tasty.

I will often add a sprinkle of fresh herbs, like parsley, before serving just for a little added flavor and green, but this is optional and not necessarily traditional.

Nutrition

Banana Smoothie

Elsie Larson — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

This healthy banana smoothie recipe is a classic! You can blend it up in less than five minutes. This smoothie is creamy and fresh with flavors of honey and vanilla. It’s packed with nutrition like potassium and fiber. Kids and adults will be a fan of this recipe.

Use fresh or frozen bananas to blend up this delicious banana smoothie!

Smoothie recipes we love: Tropical Smoothie, Watermelon Smoothie, Date Shake, Orange Julius, Coffee Smoothie and Blueberry Smoothie.

Ingredients

Bananas – You can use fresh or frozen bananas to make this smoothie. I used frozen. My favorite way to freeze them for smoothies is by slicing them before freezing.
Frozen Yogurt – Choose vanilla frozen yogurt or substitute for Greek yogurt if you like.
Milk – I used almond milk. You can use your favorite non-dairy or regular milk.
Vanilla Extract – I use vanilla extract in many of my smoothies. It’s delicious, aromatic and adds depth to smoothie recipes.
Honey – As an optional ingredient, I like to drizzle honey on top of my banana smoothie just before serving.

How to Make a Banana Smoothie

In a blender (I’m currently using this affordable Ninja blender), combine the milk, frozen yogurt, banana, and vanilla extract.

Blend and pulse until completely smooth.

Garnish with a drizzle of honey and a slice of banana.

Serve immediately.

Tips for the Perfect Banana Smoothie

Freeze sliced bananas in airtight containers for future smoothie recipes. Bananas are my most used smoothie ingredient. A good habit is to always freeze bananas that are beginning to get overripe in your kitchen.
Add a scoop of peanut butter if you like.
A sprinkle of cinnamon is a great addition to a banana smoothie.