Salad recipes

Outrageous brownies made with a box mix, Miracle Whip, chopped chocolate bars, and pecans. Fudgy, extra-rich, and topped with a melted chocolate layer.

Ranch chicken stir-fry with boneless chicken breast, ranch dressing mix, and frozen vegetables. A 5-ingredient weeknight dinner ready in under 30 minutes.

Grilled soft-shell crab sandwiches: whole crabs grilled hot for two and a half minutes per side, piled onto rolls with green chile aioli, mixed greens, and sliced tomato.

A Reuben sandwich in skillet form: corned beef, sauerkraut, and caraway seeds cooked with rice, then topped with Thousand Island dressing and Swiss cheese. One pan, 30 minutes, dinner done.

Nuclear chicken wings: oven-baked wings glazed with a double-hot sauce of Tabasco and habanero, brown sugar, vinegar, and ground red pepper. For the chili-head crowd. Serve with blue cheese.

Leftover vegetable soup pureed smooth with chicken broth and seasoned with Tabasco, herbs, and a touch of cream. The thrifty cleanout-the-fridge soup that turns leftovers into something genuinely good.

Grilled Italian shrimp and salami skewers served warm over fresh mozzarella with a balsamic vinaigrette drizzle and fresh basil. Antipasto on a plate, ready in about 20 minutes from the grill.

Flank steak marinated in balsamic vinegar and Italian dressing, then broiled to juicy medium-rare in under 10 minutes. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and a seared, tangy steak dinner sliced thin against the grain.

Crispy pan-fried salmon burgers made with canned pink salmon, mashed and grated potato, and smoky bacon. Budget-friendly, makes 10-12 patties in about 30 minutes.

Schlettersuppe, a traditional German egg drop soup with Schletterle dumplings scraped from thin batter into boiling broth. Seasoned with nutmeg, pepper, and fresh greens.

Grilled halibut steaks basted with seasoned butter and served with a chilled cucumber-sour cream sauce. Light, fresh, and ready in 30 minutes.

A savory bread machine loaf made with whole wheat flour, creamy ranch dressing, buttermilk, and honey. Tangy, soft, and unlike any bread you've tried.

Browned ground beef, pasta sauce, and a secret scoop of Miracle Whip melt together with elbow macaroni and shredded cheddar for a 30-minute comfort bowl the whole family will demolish.

Hidden Valley Ranch quiche Lorraine uses sour cream and a packet of ranch-style Italian dressing mix for a tangy, herby custard loaded with cheddar, bacon, and ham. A retro shortcut that actually delivers.

Party chicken bake with browned chicken breasts smothered in a creamy mushroom soup, cream cheese, chive, and sauterne wine sauce. Baked for an hour and served over Italian-seasoned rice.

Pork chops Dijon: skillet-seared pork loin chops smothered in a Dijon mustard and Italian dressing glaze, cooked covered with sweet onions for tender 30-minute weeknight dinner.