299 ahead recipes

USDA-style jellied cottage cheese and fruit salad with lime gelatin, crushed pineapple, and sliced peaches. A retro make-ahead gelatin salad that freezes well for up to 6 months.

Pecan stuffed mushrooms with cream cheese, crumbled bacon, chives, and white wine, broiled until bubbling. A make-ahead appetizer that's ready in 20 minutes.

Roasted garlic whole grain mustard steeps yellow and black mustard seeds in apple cider vinegar overnight, then blends with a head of mellow roasted garlic and maple syrup. A homemade condiment worth jarring as a gift.

Crispy golden phyllo cups filled with a creamy smoked trout, horseradish and scallion mixture, topped with cool shredded cucumber. An elegant make-ahead appetizer that yields 48 bite-sized pieces.

Make-ahead broccoli cheddar strata with cubed bread, eggs, and skim milk assembled overnight and baked until golden. A savory breakfast casserole that feeds a crowd.

Easy breakfast casserole layers crescent roll dough, sausage, mushrooms, and Monterey Jack cheese under an egg and cream-of-onion soup custard. Make-ahead overnight bake for brunch.

Marinated vegetable toss with tomatoes, radishes, red onion, celery, and cucumber in Italian dressing, chilled overnight. A crunchy, make-ahead side salad with no cooking required.

Overnight macaroni and chicken casserole with cream cheese, condensed soup, and crispy onion rings on top. A make-ahead, no-boil pasta bake that assembles in 10 minutes.

Italian pasta salad with rotini, broccoli, mozzarella, bell peppers, and a homemade basil-oregano vinaigrette. A make-ahead cold pasta dish for potlucks and picnics.

Easy bacon cheddar cheese ball with cream cheese, scallions and pimentos. Make-ahead New Year's party appetizer ready in 15 minutes, chill overnight.

Jumbo shrimp marinated overnight in wine, lemon, and garlic, breaded and broiled until golden for an elegant make-ahead appetizer or main dish.

A make-ahead beef roast with a caper sauce. Thinly sliced and arranged on a plate or cubed and served as an appetizer.

Make-ahead Italian pasta salad with rotini, crisp vegetables, and tangy garlic vinaigrette that gets better overnight for easy potluck and picnic perfection.

Creamy ambrosia fruit salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, coconut, mini marshmallows, and sour cream. A no-cook, make-ahead holiday side dish.

Marinated artichoke hearts with Greek olives and Salonika peppers in a lemon-vinegar dressing. A make-ahead Mediterranean appetizer served with pita wedges.

Homemade herb cheese spread with cream cheese, butter, parsley, chives, marjoram, and thyme. A simple make-ahead spread for crackers or veggie sandwiches.