299 ahead recipes

Roast beef tortilla roll-ups with bacon horseradish dip and crisp lettuce, sliced into pinwheels. A no-cook appetizer or lunch that chills ahead and cuts clean for party platters.

Frozen mocha toffee dessert with coffee-spiked vanilla ice cream and crushed toffee bars in a ladyfinger-lined springform pan, topped with Kahlua whipped cream. No-bake and make-ahead.

Gingered cabbage-beet salad with red cabbage, pickled beets, sweet cherries, crystallized ginger, and red wine vinegar. A vibrant make-ahead slaw that marinates overnight and keeps for 2 days.

Creamy mashed potato casserole made with cream cheese, sour cream, and a paprika-dotted golden top. A make-ahead holiday side that frees up stovetop space on the big day.

Spinach pesto appetizer: a sliceable, high-protein cheesecake-style savory loaf with spinach, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and Romano. Perfect make-ahead party food served chilled with crackers or crostini.

Asian vegetable salad with pineapple, snow peas, carrots, red bell peppers, and watercress in a pineapple-ginger-soy sesame dressing. A light, colorful make-ahead side for barbecues and potlucks.

Chilled pasta shells layered with basil pesto, spinach, Roma tomatoes, black olives, and shrimp. This make-ahead Italian pasta salad is a crowd-pleasing potluck star that only gets better as it sits.

Minted peaches and melons is a fresh summer fruit salad of ripe peaches and cantaloupe in a light orange-lemon dressing, finished with chopped mint and toasted almonds. No cooking, and easy to make ahead.

Polish-style fried onion seasoning: finely chopped onions browned with flour in oil, finished with a knob of butter. The make-ahead golden flavor base for Polish soups, dumplings, and gravies.

Zesty chili seasoning mix, a make-ahead blend of chili powder, cumin, garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes with a little flour to thicken. Skip the packet and season a pot of chili from scratch.

Crunchy no-mayo coleslaw with shredded red cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots tossed in a tangy tarragon-dill vinaigrette. A vibrant, make-ahead side dish that holds up at cookouts and potlucks.

Marinated cucumber and red bell pepper salad: crisp cucumber, sweet pepper, and slippery bean thread noodles tossed in Italian dressing and basil, chilled until they soak up the tang. A light, make-ahead salad.

A delicious, inexpensive, easy-to-make wine-marinated meatball and mushroom kabob recipe. This delightful make-ahead dish is perfect for a fun evening with friends or a cozy night in.

Herb crusted chicken breasts with a 7-herb spice crust, pan-sautéed in butter and topped with a make-ahead Dijon and coarse-grain mustard compound butter. Ready in 30 minutes.

Cold bow-tie pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, black olives, cucumbers, radishes, and roasted sunflower seeds in a tangy lemon dressing. A crunchy, make-ahead side dish that's best chilled overnight.

Roasted garlic and almond spread with cream cheese, sour cream, and whipped cream folded in for a light, airy texture. A make-ahead dip or topping for crackers, potatoes, or sandwiches.