87 pocket recipes

Peachy cinnamon coffee cake uses a cinnamon muffin mix, canned peaches, and the included swirl packet for a fast-from-scratch-tasting cake baked in about 30 minutes. A weekend brunch shortcut.

Three-ingredient foil-wrapped pot roast with onion soup mix and mushrooms, baked low and slow until fork-tender. A hands-off beef chuck roast that makes its own gravy in the packet.

Three-ingredient onion burgers seasoned with a packet of onion soup mix and a splash of water for juicy, well-seasoned patties. Grill or broil for 8 hearty burgers. Ready in 20 minutes.

Chicken breast baked in a foil packet with zucchini, roma tomatoes, green beans, garlic, and a squeeze of lemon. Served over angel hair pasta for a light, Provençal-inspired dinner with almost no cleanup.

Cod baked in a foil packet over sautéed red peppers, black olives, and garlic with a hint of allspice. Open at the table for a burst of Mediterranean aroma. Single-serving and ready in 45 minutes.

Yeasted beer batter for fried fish: flour, eggs, beer, and a packet of active dry yeast rested two hours into a light, lacy coating that fries up shatteringly crisp. Pub-style fish-and-chips done right.

Yeasty sourdough starter is the shortcut version: unbleached flour, a packet of dry yeast, and water mixed into a thick batter and left warm for a day. A fast track to bread baking when you don't want to wait two weeks for a wild starter.