1,078 ahead recipes

A three-bean salad dressed in tangy molasses-mustard vinaigrette with celery, green onion, and torn curly endive. No-cook, make-ahead, and gets better the longer it marinates. Bring this to the cookout.

Chilled poached shrimp served with a bold, spicy peanut dipping sauce made with ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and soy sauce. Both the sauce and shrimp can be made days ahead for easy entertaining.

Cauliflower and potatoes mashed into a fluffy purée with butter, eggs, and Gruyère cheese, then baked until golden and broiled with a cheesy crust. A comforting make-ahead casserole that's ready when you are.

Cavatelli tossed in a spicy tomato sauce loaded with crumbled hot Italian sausage and fresh basil, topped with cool dollops of ricotta cheese. A hearty, make-ahead Italian pasta dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Cheese potato puff is a baked mashed potato casserole with cheddar cheese, butter, and beaten eggs that puffs up golden and souffled in the oven. A make-ahead side dish that feeds a crowd.

Make-ahead sausage cheese strata with buttered bread cubes, bulk sausage, and cheese layered in an egg-milk-wine custard. Assemble the night before, refrigerate, and bake in the morning for an effortless brunch.

Dilly brunch pockets are folded corn tortillas stuffed with scrambled eggs, Canadian bacon, fresh dill, tomato, and cheddar. A baked, handheld brunch dish that feeds six and bakes in 20 minutes. Make-ahead friendly.

Smoked salmon cheese ball blends flaked salmon with cream cheese, sour cream, lemon, and a pinch of tarragon. A 10-minute make-ahead party appetizer that freezes beautifully and rolls in nuts or parsley.

Holiday Bavarian pie layers a rum-spiked custard, whipped egg whites, and heavy cream into a chilled, no-bake filling. Topped with shaved chocolate or grenadine, it's a make-ahead showpiece for festive tables.

Banana caramel pie pours a brown sugar custard into a baked shell, then crowns it with sliced ripe bananas and softly whipped cream. The make-ahead dessert that tastes like banana pudding meets pie.

Easy new potato salad with skin-on baby potatoes folded into creamy dill dressing and fresh green onions. Make it the day ahead so the flavors mingle and the spuds drink in the herbs.

Quick bread mix combines whole-wheat and all-purpose flours with baking powder, soda, cinnamon, and salt for a make-ahead 2½ cup pantry staple. Use in mango pecan, banana, or zucchini quick breads.

Ice box cookies are make-ahead slice-and-bake walnut shortbread with deep brown sugar caramel flavor. Chill the dough log, slice thin, bake fast for 60 crisp golden cookies in batches as needed.

Fruit nut breakfast bars with rolled oats, chopped almonds, and golden raisins bound with brown sugar and a hit of almond extract. Make-ahead bars that beat any granola bar in the cereal aisle.

Swiss vegetable dip blends Knorr vegetable soup mix into sour cream and mayonnaise, then chills until the dried vegetables soften into a creamy, herby crudite dip. A make-ahead party classic with three ingredients.

Too much fruit salad is a big-batch medley of pineapple, melon, citrus, peaches, kiwi, and banana bathed in apricot nectar and chilled overnight so the flavors meld. A bright, make-ahead crowd salad.