Thank you Hallmark Movies & Mysteries for sponsoring this post! Be sure and check out the AWESOME giveaway below!

Step into the holiday season singing with the new Hallmark Movies & Mysteries original original movie “Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas” starring Shenae Grimes-Beech, Chris Carmack, and Grace Leer. If you are a fan of heartwarming holiday movies like I am, be sure to tune in for the premiere of “Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas” on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries this Thursday November 30th. With a talented cast and a beautiful setting, “Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas” is sure to become an instant holiday classic. Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 30th at 8pm/7c and get ready for a heartwarming and magical Christmas experience! Check out the preview for Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas below!

About “Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas” on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Facing her first Christmas without her mother and looking to avoid loneliness, Carly (Grimes-Beech) heads to a quaint town to lead the church choir at Christmas. Once there, Carly meets Matthew (Carmack), a man back in town after serving in the army. As she gets to know Matthew, the choir and townspeople, she stumbles across clues that suggest she may have been brought here for a life changing reason. As the mystery unravels one thing is clear, this journey will teach Carly about true love, learning to trust, and that forgiveness is needed to finally heal. 

Get the hot chocolate and sugar cookies ready so you can check out all 9 original holiday movies all season long on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Miracles of Christmas! 

• “Ms. Christmas Comes to Town”
• “My Christmas Guide“
• “Mystery on Mistletoe Lane“
• “A World Record Christmas“
• “A Season for Family“
• “Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas“
• “To All a Good Night“
• “Heaven Down Here“
• “Miracle in Bethlehem, PA“

In the spirit of the season, I’d love it if you could share with me one of your favorite holiday memories you can remember! I love the holiday season in its entirety and I have several favorite memories naturally, but for me what I love is the togetherness shared. It’s the family gathering under the tree every Christmas morning after the final piece of tape on a gift has been placed, the final bows tied, the final name tag written, it’s the final step back after placing the very last present under the tree, the last stocking stuffer. As my family gathers under our tree and before we dig into the presents, I step back and drink it all in seeing all the thought and care that went into every present with eager anticipation for my family’s reactions!

Gift giving has always been about more than just the presents themselves. It’s a way to show our love and appreciation for one other, to express gratitude for the blessings in our lives, and to come together as a family in a spirit of generosity and kindness. To sit under our tree filled with homemade crafts and memories made.

As I look back on all those happy holiday memories year after year, I am grateful for the traditions that have shaped my life and the love that has always surrounded me. And I look forward to creating new memories with my family in the years to come, as we continue to celebrate the magic of Christmas together.

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Giveaway!

Here’s your chance to win a “Joy of the Holidays” Package I’m giving away, woohoo!! One lucky winner will receive one Holiday Gift Wrap Kit and one $25 Visa Gift Card courtesy of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries! To enter, simply participate on Twitter during the premiere by “live-tweeting” alongside me using the hashtags #ComeHomeForChristmas and #MiraclesOfChristmas! Be sure to “tweet” with me, my username there is @crazyadventures! This giveaway is open to US entrants only 18 and older. The giveaway winner will be announced on Twitter shortly after the movie ends! Good luck!

The post Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Movie Premiere of “Time for Her to Come Home for Christmas” on Thursday, November 30th at 8pm/7c! #MiraclesofChristmas appeared first on Crazy Adventures in Parenting.

This post may contain affiliate links which means we receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy Instant Pot Taco Macaroni Recipe

Holy mama, friends! This Taco Tuesday dinner recipe is no joke! When I announced I’m making this Instant Pot Taco Macaroni Recipe for dinner, the kids give me the celebratory fist pump and cheers, I kid you not! My kiddos RAVE about this recipe! We’ve had sleepovers and friends over for dinner, and they all rave about it too!

If you’re looking for something that feeds a LOT of folks (recall my family’s a big one and so our recipes are biiiig!), a dinner recipe that tastes fanfreakingtastic, and one that tastes impossibly better the day after reheated for leftovers, then look no further! Friends, straighten up in your chairs for this one!

Where Can I Find The Actual Recipe Card?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important information for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to how to make this Easy Instant Pot Taco Macaroni Recipe, just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

Can You Freeze This Taco Macaroni Recipe for Later?

You absolutely can! Prepare it as directed and once it’s cooled, store it in your freezer in a good quality airtight container for up to three months! If you plan on using it for microwave lunches, then use many separate freezer quality containers. To reheat it, you can choose to microwave it or cook it on the stovetop until it becomes ooey-gooey with all the delicious cheese!

Equipment Needed to Make Instant Pot Taco Macaroni

To make this, you will need awesome Taco Tuesday dinner recipe, you will need the following:

• Instant Pot*
• Blender or food processor
• Mix ‘n Chop
• Rubber spatula
• Colander
• Wooden spoon or serving spoon
• Cutting board
• Chef’s knife
• Measuring cup

Ingredients Needed to Make Instant Pot Taco Macaroni

You will also need to assemble the following ingredients to make this ridiculously tasty and easy Taco Macaroni dish:

• Ground beef (you may use turkey, chicken, or some other ground meat if you’d prefer!)
• Cooking spray
• Onions, diced and minced
• Minced garlic
• Taco seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Smoked Paprika
• Beef broth
• Tomato sauce
• Salsa
• Elbow macaroni (or whatever macaroni you’d prefer to use)
• Heavy cream (or milk, if you prefer)
• Shredded cheese (we used storebought Mexican Style shredded)
• Nacho Cheese Doritos
• Fresh Cilantro

How to Make Instant Pot Taco Macaroni

Pull out your 6-quart Instant Pot and spray it with cooking spray. Using a blender or food processor, mince your onions nicely.

Add your ground beef to the sprayed Instant Pot, adding in your minced onions and minced garlic as well. Set your Instant Pot to sauté and cook until the beef is fully cooked through.

Using a Mix ‘n Chop or flat spatula, break apart the beef as it cooks to make the meat as fine as possible as it cooks.

Drain the beef using a colander once fully cooked and return it to the Instant Pot.

Add your seasonings; stir.

Add beef broth and stir thoroughly. Then add in salsa and your tomato sauce, stir.

Finally, add in your preferred macaroni (we love using elbow mac for this!)

Stir thoroughly to ensure the pasta is covered with liquid.

Cover your Instant Pot and set it to 8 minutes on manual. Let it rest 10 minutes before releasing the pressure.

Grab your rubber spatula, open the lid and stir stir stir! As you stir you will notice it begin to thicken up and mix quite nicely.

Add your heavy cream to the pot and mix.

Add shredded cheese to your pot and stir reeeeally well! Keep stirring, it’ll be worth it, I promise!!!

From here, test out your taco macaroni and see if any additional seasonings are needed. If so, add what you feel is needed and taste again while stirring.

Continue to stir and taste until you have it seasoned the way you want 🙂 Now you’re ready to serve!

How to Serve Instant Pot Taco Macaroni

To serve this tasty Taco Tuesday dish, you will need to have on hand bowls or a dinner plate and your taco fixins’ you want to put on top! Start with crushing Nacho Cheese Doritos into the bottom of your bowl or onto your empty plate.

Place heaping spoonfuls of your taco macaroni onto the crushed Doritos.

Add more shredded cheese (if desired) and some cilantro (optional).

Add to that more crushed Doritos.

You can add whatever other taco fixins here, such as jalapeños (my favorite), queso, sour cream, whatever you’d like!

Stir well in your bowl/dish before eating (stirred is the best way to ensure all flavors are together for each bite). Enjoy it!!!!

Other Tasty Taco Tuesday Dishes to Try!

If you’re a taco lover in a BIG WAY like I am, check out these Taco Tuesday inspired dishes!

• Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas Recipe
• Easy Creamy Chicken Tacos Recipe
• Chili’s Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas Recipe
• Beef Totchos – Tater Tot Nachos
• Knock Your Socks Off Pork Carnitas Recipe
• Instant Pot Queso Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
• Jalapeño Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas Recipe
• Chicken Fajita Queso Dip
• Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowl Recipe
• Jalapeño Corn Casserole (side dish)
• Barbecue Pulled Chicken Nachos
• Best Taco Casserole Recipe Ever!
• Jalapeño Popper Macaroni and Cheese
• Easy Taco Soup
• Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Verdes with Tomatillo Sauce

More Instant Pot Recipes to Try!

If you’re in loooooove with the Instant Pot as we are, check these tasty recipes out!

• Instant Pot Queso Mac and Cheese recipe
• Instant Pot Tortellini Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowl recipe
• Instant Pot Lemon Butter Chicken recipe
• Instant Pot Pulled Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches recipe

Get the Printable Recipe for Instant Pot Taco Macaroni Recipe

If you love this Easy Instant Pot Taco Macaroni Recipe as much as we do, please leave me a 5-star review below and help me share this recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you do make the recipe, I hope you’ll share that you tried it on Pinterest! I love it SO MUCH when readers share their feedback!

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Easy Instant Pot Taco Macaroni with Doritos!

One of the tastiest Taco Tuesday dinner dishes I have EVER made in my entire life, OMG! This Easy Instant Pot Taco Macaroni Recipe is hearty, has spectacular flavor combinations, and tastes magnificent the next day as leftovers, too!

Course Dinner, Lunch (or Dinner), Main Course

Keyword dorito pasta, taco macaroni, taco pasta

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Resting time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 16

Equipment

• Instant Pot
• Mix 'n Chop
• Rubber spatula
• Wooden spoon
• Small cutting board
• Chef's Knife
• Measuring cups

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 2 onions
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/2 cup taco seasoning
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 2 cans tomato sauce 8 ounce cans
• 1 jar salsa 16 oz
• 6 cups beef stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 32 ounces elbow macaroni
• 3 cups shredded cheese with more on hand to top with
• Nacho Cheese Doritos

Optional toppings

• fresh cilantro optional
• chopped jalapeños optional
• Queso cheese optional
• Guacamole optional
• sour cream optional

Instructions

To prepare your Instant Pot Taco Macaroni with Doritos:

• Pull out your 6-quart Instant Pot and spray it with cooking spray.
• Using a blender or food processor, mince your onions nicely.
• Add your ground beef to the sprayed Instant Pot, adding in your minced onions and minced garlic as well.
• Set your Instant Pot to sauté and cook until the beef is fully cooked through.
• Using a Mix ‘n Chop or flat spatula, break apart the beef as it cooks to make the meat as fine as possible as it cooks.
• Drain the beef using a colander once fully cooked and return it to the Instant Pot.
• Add your seasonings; stir.
• Add beef broth and stir thoroughly.
• Then add in salsa and your tomato sauce, stir.
• Finally, add in your preferred macaroni (we love using elbow mac for this!)
• Stir thoroughly to ensure the pasta is covered with liquid.
• Cover your Instant Pot and set it to 8 minutes on manual.
• Let it rest 10 minutes before releasing the pressure.
• Grab your rubber spatula, open the lid and stir stir stir! As you stir you will notice it begin to thicken up and mix quite nicely.
• Add your heavy cream to the pot and mix.
• Add 2 cups shredded cheese to your pot and stir reeeeally well! Once mixed well, add in your third cup of cheese and mix again.
• From here, taste test your taco macaroni and see if any additional seasonings are needed. If so, add what you feel is needed and taste again while stirring.
• Once mixed and seasoned well, you're ready to assemble!

How to Serve Instant Pot Taco Macaroni with Doritos

• Crush some Nacho Cheese Doritos into the bottom of your bowl or onto your empty plate.
• Place heaping spoonfuls of your taco macaroni onto the crushed Doritos.
• Add more shredded cheese (if desired) and some cilantro (optional).
• Add to that more crushed Doritos.
• You can add whatever other taco fixins here, such as jalapeños (my favorite), queso, sour cream, whatever you’d like!
• Stir well in your bowl/dish before eating (stirred is the best way to ensure all flavors are together for each bite). Enjoy it!!!!

The post Easy Instant Pot Taco Macaroni Recipe appeared first on Crazy Adventures in Parenting.

This post may contain affiliate links which means we receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to Make Dunkin’s Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Copycat Recipe

Oh Mother of all things Holy, let me tell ya, friends…. this sandwich is DREAMY! As in, not ONLY is it the dreamiest sandwich ever, you DREAM ABOUT IT! I’ve woken up in the middle of the night after having dreamt I was eating this sandwich SADDER THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN because it wasn’t actually in my face. *pouts*

Can you really blame me? Gorgeous pesto smeared lovingly on toasted sourdough with velvety white cheddar cheese melted on fire-roasted tomatoes. My mouth is literally watering RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND describing to you the beauty that is this sandwich.

Cancel your original dinner plans, folks! You’re gonna wanna create a shopping list for these ingredients STAT because this Copycat Dunkin’s Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich is what dreams are made of (uh, literally)!

Where Can I Find The Actual Recipe Card?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important information for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to How to Make Dunkin’s Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich, just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

Equipment Needed to Make These Copycat Dunkin’ Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

To make this tasty copycat Dunkin’ Donuts recipe, you will need the following kitchen tools at the ready:

• Bread knife
• Plate
• Spatula
• Frying pan
• Spoon or small rubber spatula

Ingredients Needed to Make These Copycat Dunkin’ Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Gather these delicious ingredients altogether to make this awesome copycat recipe!

• Sourdough bread
• Sliced white cheddar cheese
• Fire-roasted tomatoes
• Pesto
• Olive Oil
• Cooking Spray
• Butter
• Basil

How to Make This Copycat Dunkin’ Donuts Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich

On a dinner plate, drizzle olive oil and basil onto the plate. Using a bread knife, cut slices of sourdough bread evenly and ensure you cut an even number of slices accordingly. Cut your white cheddar slices in half to form triangles; set aside for later. One slice at a time, lay the sourdough slices into the basil olive oil and coat thoroughly. Repeat with remaining sliced bread.

Set the oiled sliced bread aside on a plate.

Drain your fire-roasted tomatoes and place it on a plate to be ready for use.

In a sprayed frying pan, add a little butter to the bottom of the pan and allow to melt. Adding as many slices to your frying pan as you can at one time (will depend on size of pan and bread slices). Fry the bread on one side carefully while ensuring it isn’t overly done, just lightly toasted and crisp.

Using a spatula, flip the toasted bread slice over.

Carefully place a trimmed slice of white cheddar cheese over top of each toasted bread slice in the pan.

Using a spoon (or small rubber spatula), place the pesto onto the cheese and carefully spread it without disturbing the cheese bread too much.

Remove the pesto cheese bread from the pan and onto a nearby plate to assemble the sandwiches. Continue to fry the sourdough in your pan with cheese and pesto over top.

How to Assemble Dunkin’s Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Divide your pesto cheese bread slices in half to work with one half of them at a time. For one set of slices, carefully add some of your fire-roasted tomatoes on top.

Top each of the tomato bread slices with a slice of pesto cheese bread from the other slices; press carefully to form the grilled cheese sandwich.

Serve immediately and enjoy it immensely!

Other Tasty Sandwich Recipes to Try!

If you loved this delicious sandwich recipe, try some of these tasty sammiches on for size!

• Hillshire Farm Crescent Roll Sandwiches
• Slow Cooker Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches
• Tex-Mex Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
• Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

And if you’ve got a hankerin’ for some breakfast sandwich lovin’ (since this is a really tasty brunch, lunch, or dinner recipe) then check these out!

• Easy Sausage Egg Cheese Biscuit Sandwich
• Homemade Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit Sandwiches
• Sausage Pancake Sandwiches – Quick and Easy Breakfast

Get the Printable Recipe for This Copycat Dunkin’ Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich

If you love this Copycat Dunkin’ Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe as much as we do, please leave me a 5-star review below and help me share this recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you do make the recipe, I hope you’ll share that you tried it on Pinterest! I love it SO MUCH when readers share their feedback!

CRAVING MORE CRAFTS AND DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

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Copycat Dunkin’ Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe

Learn how to make Dunkin’s Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich so you can fall in love like we did with the gloriously flavorful combo of tasty pesto, white cheddar, grilled seasoned sourdough, and fire-roasted tomatoes in this copycat recipe!

Course Brunch, Lunch (or Dinner)

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Bread knife
• Plate
• Spatula
• Frying pan
• Spoon
• Small rubber spatula

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Sourdough bread
• 1 package Sliced white cheddar cheese
• 1 can Fire-roasted tomatoes
• 1 jar Pesto
• Olive Oil
• Cooking Spray
• Butter
• Basil

Instructions

• On a dinner plate, drizzle olive oil and basil onto the plate; set aside for the moment.
• Using a bread knife, cut slices of sourdough bread evenly and ensure you cut an even number of slices accordingly. Set sliced bread aside for the moment.
• Drain your fire-roasted tomatoes and place it on a plate to be ready for use.
• Cut your white cheddar slices in half to form triangles; set aside.
• One slice at a time, lay the sourdough slices into the basil olive oil and coat thoroughly. Once drenched on both sides, set aside on a plate and repeat with remaining sliced bread.
• In a sprayed frying pan, add a little butter to the bottom of the pan and allow to melt.
• Adding as many slices to your frying pan as you can at one time (will depend on size of pan and bread slices). Fry the bread on one side carefully while ensuring it isn't overly done, just lightly toasted and crisp.
• Using a spatula, flip the toasted bread slice over and carefully place a trimmed slice of white cheddar cheese over top of each toasted bread slice in the pan.
• Using a spoon (or small rubber spatula), place the pesto onto the cheese and carefully spread it without disturbing the cheese bread too much.
• Remove the pesto cheese bread from the pan and onto a nearby plate to assemble the sandwiches.
• Divide your pesto cheese bread slices in half to work with one half of them at a time. For one set of slices, add some of your fire-roasted tomatoes on top.
• Top each of the tomato bread slices with a slice of pesto cheese bread from the other slices; press carefully to form the grilled cheese sandwich.
• Serve immediately and enjoy it immensely!

The post How to Make Dunkin’s Tomato Pesto Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Copycat Recipe appeared first on Crazy Adventures in Parenting.

This post may contain affiliate links which means we receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas Recipe

I’ll never forget biting into my first authentic beef empanada. We were stationed in San Antonio and I recall it took me by surprise – the delicious spices that flavored the meat, the subtlety of the flaky crust, the onions within the cheesy seasoned beef, and the light tomatoey base. It had me going gaga!

Somehow after all these years and doing Taco Tuesday religiously week after week, how is it possible that I’d never attempted to make homemade empanadas myself before? I knew that had to end, especially after having some at a local Mexican restaurant recently.. it brought me right back to that joy I felt when I’d first tried them. Knew that I absolutely had to recreate this in some way, and so I did! These homemade empanadas use flaky crescent roll dough and are prepared in the air fryer to make them crispy yet soft and flaky! If you’d like to utilize homemade dough instead, try my friend Keesha’s baked empanada dough recipe, it’s delish!

Where Can I Find The Actual Recipe Card?

If you’d rather skip all of my cooking tips, important information for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas recipe, just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

Can You Prepare These Homemade Air Fryer Empanadas in Advance?

Absolutely! In fact, while eating them while fresh is always preferred, I found the flavors gelled and developed a bit more when I reheated them for leftovers the next day! If you do need to make these ahead of time, do not fear about having to reheat them to serve when you’re ready, especially when reheating using the Air Fryer! These came out wonderfully flaky and crispy using that method!

Equipment Needed to Make Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

To make these tasty Air Fryer Beef Empanadas, you will need the following kitchen tools:

• Large skillet
• Rubber spatula
• Mix ‘n Chop
• Small cutting board
• Large cutting board
• Sharp knife
• Blender or food processor
• Rolling pin
• Fork
• Parchment paper
• Air Fryer (we looooove this one!)

Ingredients Needed to Make Easy Beef Empanadas

You will need the following ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Medium sized onion
• Taco seasoning
• Minced garlic
• Salsa
• Tomato paste
• Crescent roll dough
• Smoked paprika
• Shredded Mexican cheese

Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make Easy Beef Empanadas

Brown your ground beef in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, utilizing a Mix ‘n Chop to mince the meat really finely as it cooks.

Add your taco seasoning to the pan plus the water required (as instructed on the packaging).

Using a rubber spatula, continue to sauté the taco seasoned ground beef as directed as per the taco seasoning’s instructions.

While sautéing, dice up your onion using a sharp knife on a small cutting board.

To get it as finely chopped as possible, you may opt to utilize a blender or food processor as I did. I wanted my onion diced as finely as possible and you can’t always achieve that by hand, you know?

Add to the seasoned beef your finely minced onions and stir gently, folding the onions into the meat well.

Add to this meat onion mixture some finely minced garlic.

Sauté well until the onions get soft and lucid.

After the onions are noticeably soft and clear, add to the pan your preferred salsa and tomato paste; stir and mix well.

As you continue to stir, add in your smoked paprika.

Once everything has been added to the meat mixture, you may turn it to stay warm, low, or turn off in preparation for the next step – assembly!

How to Assemble Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

Take your crescent roll dough out two at a time (still attached) and using a rolling pin on a large cutting board, roll out the dough pressing the sections together to make it one unit instead of two.

Once pressed together to make a seamless rectangle, lift to prevent sticking to the cutting board.

Replace the dough rectangles back onto the cutting board and cut in half using your sharp knife.

Place about a teaspoon-to-tablespoon size of meat mixture in the center of the smaller rectangles, and top with some shredded Mexican cheese.

Try not to overfill them too full with meat and cheese or they won’t close too well.

Take one side of your dough and fold it over top in half. Begin with one side and start curling the dough inward, rolling it between your fingers tightly and upwards towards the meat/cheese pocket.

Use a fork to crimp the rolled edges like a pie crust to seal it closed.

Place parchment paper onto your Air Fryer’s basket and spray lightly with cooking spray. Add your uncooked empanadas to the parchment paper and line them up nicely, gently spraying a little cooking spray over top them. They don’t spread much at all so you can pack them nice and tight to prepare as many at once as possible to minimize cooking time!

Bake them at 350 for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway. Test for doneness and add a couple more minutes if needed!

Let cool 1-2 minutes or so before serving!

Can You Use Pie Crusts Instead?

Absolutely! When using pie crusts, you can choose whether or not to cut out rectangles or use circles instead? You can also reuse the cut away dough, re-rolling it out to be cut out again!

Other Taco-Inspired Recipes to Try!

If you’re feeling particularly tac-inspired after seeing this recipe, then look no further, friend! We’re pretty taco-addicted around here too (with more tasty recipes on the way)! Check out our tried and true Tex-Mex faves that are huge hits with the kiddos!

• Easy Creamy Chicken Tacos Recipe
• Chili’s Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas Recipe
• Beef Totchos – Tater Tot Nachos
• Knock Your Socks Off Pork Carnitas Recipe
• Instant Pot Queso Macaroni and Cheese Recipe
• Jalapeño Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas Recipe
• Chicken Fajita Queso Dip
• Instant Pot Chicken Taco Bowl Recipe
• Jalapeño Corn Casserole (side dish)
• Barbecue Pulled Chicken Nachos
• Best Taco Casserole Recipe Ever!
• Jalapeño Popper Macaroni and Cheese
• Easy Taco Soup
• Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Verdes with Tomatillo Sauce

Get the Printable Recipe for Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas

If you love this Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas recipe as much as we do, please leave me a 5-star review below and help me share this recipe on Facebook and Pinterest! If you do make the recipe, I hope you’ll share that you tried it on Pinterest! I love it SO MUCH when readers share their feedback!

CRAVING MORE CRAFTS AND DELICIOUS RECIPES? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for all the latest updates!

Sign up below to receive my newsletter filled with delicious recipes, fun crafts, and family adventures straight into your inbox:

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Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas Recipe

Looking for a new dish to serve on Taco Tuesday or Cinco de Mayo? This Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas recipe is one of our family’s absolute favorite dinner recipes!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword beef, empanadas

Prep Time 45 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Equipment

• Large skillet
• Rubber spatula
• Mix 'n Chop
• Small cutting board
• Large cutting board
• Chef's Knife
• Blender or food processor
• Rolling pin
• Fork
• Parchment paper
• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 medium-sized onion
• 2 packets taco seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
• 1-2 cups salsa
• 1 cup tomato paste
• 6-8 packages crescent roll dough
• 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2-3 cups shredded Mexican cheese

Instructions

• Brown your ground beef in a large frying pan over medium-high heat, utilizing a Mix ‘n Chop to mince the meat really finely as it cooks.
• Add your taco seasoning to the pan plus the water required (as instructed on the packaging).
• Using a rubber spatula, continue to sauté the taco seasoned ground beef as directed as per the taco seasoning’s instructions.
• While sautéing, dice up your onion using a sharp knife on a small cutting board.
• To get it as finely chopped as possible, you may opt to utilize a blender or food processor as I did. I wanted my onion diced as finely as possible and you can’t always achieve that by hand, you know?
• Add to the seasoned beef your finely minced onions and stir gently, folding the onions into the meat well.
• Add to this meat onion mixture some finely minced garlic.
• Sauté well until the onions get soft and lucid.
• After the onions are noticeably soft and clear, add to the pan your preferred salsa and tomato paste; stir and mix well.
• As you continue to stir, add in your smoked paprika.
• Once everything has been added to the meat mixture, you may turn it to stay warm, low, or turn off in preparation for the next step – assembly!
• Take your crescent roll dough out two at a time (still attached) and using a rolling pin on a large cutting board, roll out the dough pressing the sections together to make it one unit instead of two.
• Once pressed together to make a seamless rectangle, lift to prevent sticking to the cutting board.
• Replace the dough rectangles back onto the cutting board and cut in half using your sharp knife.
• Place about a teaspoon-to-tablespoon size of meat mixture in the center of the smaller rectangles, and top with some shredded Mexican cheese.
• Try not to overfill them too full with meat and cheese or they won’t close too well.
• Take one side of your dough and fold it over top in half. Begin with one side and start curling the dough inward, rolling it between your fingers tightly and upwards towards the meat/cheese pocket.
• Use a fork to crimp the rolled edges like a pie crust to seal it closed.
• Place parchment paper onto your Air Fryer’s basket and spray lightly with cooking spray. Add your uncooked empanadas to the parchment paper and line them up nicely, gently spraying a little cooking spray over top them. They don’t spread much at all so you can pack them nice and tight to prepare as many at once as possible to minimize cooking time!
• Bake them at 350 for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway. Test for doneness and add a couple more minutes if needed!
• Let cool 1-2 minutes or so before serving!
• Serve with your favorite Tex-Mex side dishes and sauces/dips! Enjoy!

The post Easy Air Fryer Beef Empanadas Recipe appeared first on Crazy Adventures in Parenting.

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Easter Mini Cakes Recipe

I don’t know about you, but I adooooore making Easter desserts SO much! Especially when you get to use those adorable little chocolate-covered eggs! They look like Robin’s eggs and they are ridiculously cute and tasty and they LOOK SO DANG GOOD on decorated desserts, man!

These gorgeous Easter Mini Cakes will be the talk of any Easter celebration you attend because of they’re adorable little eggs on top and the vibrant colors practically waving at you from your serving dish. Hello, gorgeous Easter dessert, pleased to put you in my face and eat you now!

Where Can I Find The Actual Recipe Card?

If you’d rather skip all of my cake decorating tips, important information for this recipe, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to the simple Easter Mini Cakes recipe, just scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find a printable recipe card.

Can You Prepare These Easter Mini Cakes in Advance?

Yes absolutely! But considering these fun and easy Easter Mini Cakes are made by cutting circles out of your prepared cake, you will want to store these in an airtight cake storage container to prevent the cake and/or icing from drying out. I’d even go as far as to wrap the cake circle parts in wax paper (or parchment paper) and then inside a storage container to ensure they stay as fresh and soft as possible!

Kitchen Tools Needed to Make Easter Mini Cakes

To make this easy Easter dessert recipe, you will need:

• Baking sheets
• Parchment Paper or silicone baking mats
• Bowl set
• Sifter
• Electric Mixer, Stand Mixer, or Whisk
• Cake spatula
• Toothpicks
• Circular cookie cutter, 3 inches in diameter
• Piping bags
• Wilton round piping tip #10
• Wilton tip #233

Ingredients Needed to Make Easter Mini Cakes

To make this fun Easter dessert recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

For the cake

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Large eggs, room temperature
• Granulated sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Canola oil
• Whole milk
• Pink gel food coloring

To assemble + decorate

• Butter, softened
• Icing sugar
• Milk
• Kelly green gel food coloring
• Teal green gel food coloring
• Candy-covered chocolate eggs

Keep in mind, all of the ingredient amounts you’ll need are in the printable recipe card below.

How to Make Easter Mini Cakes

Directions to Make the Easter Mini Cakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line your 13×9 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, use a sifter to sift together your flour, baking powder, and salt.

Using an electric mixer, stand mixer, or whisk, beat together the eggs and granulated sugar until creamy and well blended. Add to this your vanilla extract and canola oil and continue mixing.

Slowly add your dry ingredients and milk into your wet ingredients continuing to blend until well combined. Add pink gel food coloring and beat until completely tinted thoroughly.

Spread cake batter onto your lined baking sheet spreading evenly with a cake spatula. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. Allow to cool completely before decorating.

Directions to Assemble Easter Mini Cakes

Use your 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out 24 circles from your cakes. (Fun idea, you can save what you trim from the cake for later and enjoy as a snack!)

Make your teal buttercream by beating together 1 stick of butter, 2 cups of icing sugar, and 2 tbsps milk with an electric mixer. Once buttercream is smooth, add teal gel food coloring and mix until completely tinted.

Scoop teal buttercream into a piping bag with a Wilton #10 round piping tip. Frost twelve of your mini cakes. Top the frosted cake with one of the unfrosted cakes and continue for all of the cakes.

To make the green buttercream, beat ½ stick butter, 1 cup icing sugar, and 3 tbsp milk with an electric mixer. Add Kelly green gel food coloring. Scoop green buttercream into a piping bag with Wilton icing tip #233 attached. Frost the top of each mini cake with green buttercream, starting at the cake and coming away from the cake in sweeping motions to create the “Easter grass” appearance.

Add 4-5 candy-covered eggs on top of each mini cake. Serve and enjoy!

Other Easter Dessert Recipes to Try

Check out our other fun Easter treats and more!

• Bunny Butt Cupcakes Recipe
• Sheep Cupcakes Recipe
• Bunny Stained Glass Cookies
• Chick Egg Cookies for Easter and Spring
• Bunny Oreo Cookies
• Easter Macaroons Recipe
• Chick Cookies Perfect for Easter
• Bunny Butt Cookies
• Chick Cupcakes Perfect for Easter
• Rainbow Unicorn Cookies Recipe
• Mermaid Mini Cakes Recipe
• Easter Mini Cakes Recipe

Easter decorating tips and tricks below, too!

• How to Repurpose Easter Baskets
• Easy Easter Decorating Ideas with Flair from ProFlowers and More!
• Naturally Dye Easter Eggs

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Print

Easter Mini Cakes Recipe

If you’re looking for a new and fresh out-of-the-box idea for your Easter dessert table this year, check out these gorgeous Easter Mini Cakes! These gorgeous Easter Mini Cakes are not only pretty to look at but they taste pretty amazingly too!

Course Dessert

Servings 12 mini cakes

Equipment

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Bowl set
• Sifter
• Electric mixer
• Stand mixer
• Cake spatula
• Toothpicks
• Circular cookie cutter 3 inches in diameter
• 2 Piping bag
• Wilton round piping tip #10
• Wilton tip #233

Ingredients

For the cake

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• Pinch salt
• 4 large eggs room temperature
• 1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1 cup canola oil
• 1 1/3 cup whole milk + 2 tbsp
• 1/2 tsp pink gel food coloring

To assemble + decorate

• 3 sticks butter softened
• 6 cups icing sugar
• 7-8 tbsp milk
• Kelly green gel food coloring
• Teal green gel food coloring
• Candy-covered chocolate eggs

Instructions

Directions to Make the Easter Mini Cakes

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line your 13×9 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
• In a medium-sized bowl, use a sifter to sift together your flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Using an electric mixer, stand mixer, or whisk, beat together the eggs and granulated sugar until creamy and well blended. 
• Add to this your vanilla extract and canola oil and continue mixing.
• Slowly add your dry ingredients and milk into your wet ingredients continuing to blend until well combined. 
• Add pink gel food coloring and beat until completely tinted thoroughly.
• Spread cake batter onto your lined baking sheet spreading evenly with a cake spatula. 
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. 
• Allow to cool completely before decorating.

Directions to Assemble Easter Mini Cakes

• Use your 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out 24 circles from your cakes. (Fun idea, you can save what you trim from the cake for later and enjoy as a snack!)
• Make your teal buttercream by beating together 2 sticks of butter, 4 cups of icing sugar, and 4 tbsps milk with an electric mixer. 
• Once buttercream is smooth, add teal gel food coloring and mix until completely tinted.
• Scoop teal buttercream into a piping bag with a Wilton #10 round piping tip. 
• Frost 12 of your mini cakes.
• Top each frosted cake with one of the unfrosted cakes and continue for all.
• To make the green buttercream, beat 1 stick butter, 2 cups icing sugar, and 3-4 tbsps milk with an electric mixer.
• Add Kelly green gel food coloring and mix until well blended and the color is evenly distributed throughout.
• Scoop green buttercream into a piping bag with Wilton icing tip #233 attached. 
• Frost the top of each mini cake with green buttercream, starting at the cake and coming away from the cake in sweeping motions to create the "Easter grass" appearance.
• Add 4-5 candy-covered eggs on top of each mini cake.
• Serve and enjoy!

The post Easter Mini Cakes Recipe appeared first on Crazy Adventures in Parenting.