17 frank recipes

Old-fashioned chili beans from scratch with dried pinto beans, ground beef, red chili sauce, and a splash of vinegar. A six-hour slow simmer for deep, rich, no-shortcuts flavor.

One-skillet Mexicali franks with browned hot dogs served over chili-spiced rice, pinto beans, tomato, salsa, and melted Monterey Jack. A cheap, kid-friendly Tex-Mex dinner that feeds six.

Saucy franks in cranberry chili sauce made in the microwave with just three ingredients. A sweet-tangy hot dog appetizer ready in 15 minutes for parties and game days.

Louisiana crawfish etouffee with a dark roux, holy trinity vegetables, tomatoes, and cayenne served over rice. A Cajun classic built on a proper 10-minute dark roux.

One-skillet franks and potatoes baked with green peppers, onions, caraway seeds, and a splash of vinegar. A quick, hearty weeknight dinner with crispy potato rounds on top.

Slow-cooker sweet and sour cocktail franks simmered in chili sauce, currant jelly, mustard, and pineapple chunks. Retro mid-century party appetizer that holds warm in the crock for serving.

Hot dog potato soup with sliced frankfurters, corn, carrots, and evaporated milk in a creamy thyme-seasoned broth. A hearty, kid-friendly one-pot soup ready in 40 minutes.

New Orleans seafood gumbo loaded with shrimp, hard-shell crab, and shucked oysters in a roux-thickened broth with okra and the holy trinity. Served over rice, Cajun style.

Thick, smoky baked bean soup loaded with sliced hot dogs, carrots, and onions in a tangy vegetable juice broth. Topped with melted cheese. A kid-friendly classic.

Barbecued flank steak sandwiches pile thin-sliced steak tossed in a quick smoky-sweet chipotle BBQ sauce onto hoagie rolls with grilled red onion. Bold, saucy, and built for a fast cookout lunch.

Old-fashioned milk-and-egg enriched white bread makes two soft, tender loaves with a light crumb and golden crust. A forgiving family recipe for beginner bread bakers.

Versatile yeasted bread dough that bakes into two loaves or shapes into Parkerhouse and cloverleaf rolls. Make-ahead friendly with overnight refrigeration option.

hese are perfect for serving with coffee and dessert, and I include them in boxes of home-made assorted cookies for gift giving

Grilled flank steak marinated in lemon and garlic, served with grilled zucchini, fresh basil tomatoes, and toasted Italian bread. A complete summer meal off the grill.

Asian-style stir-fried napa cabbage slaw with daikon, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and barbecue sauce. Doubles as a side for grilled flank steak and a roulade filling for meal prep.

Red wine-marinated grilled flank steak with a pecan-serrano chile compound butter and a red wine black bean butter sauce. A Southwestern showstopper served with warm tortillas.