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American Classics

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American Classics

By cuisine

Burgers, BBQ, and diner foodRound up the all-American greats — juicy burgers, fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and apple pie — with classic diner sides. These recipes are nostalgic without being stuck in the past. Perfect for cookouts, comfort-food nights, and anything that needs ketchup on the table.

Recipes

32

Appetizers

Classic Buffalo Wings

Classic Buffalo Wings

Crispy, saucy, and finger-licking good — these are the Buffalo wings you'll make on repeat. The secret is a double-dry rest that pulls moisture from the skin for maximum crispiness, and a simple Frank's RedHot butter sauce that delivers that iconic tangy heat. No deep fryer required — the oven does the heavy lifting, with an optional broil finish for extra crunch. Serve with celery sticks and your choice of blue cheese or ranch dressing.

Loaded Nachos

Loaded Nachos

The ultimate crowd-pleasing loaded nachos — crispy tortilla chips layered with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, black beans, jalapeños, and all your favorite toppings. Baked in the oven for perfectly melted, gooey cheese in every bite. Great for game day, parties, or a fun family dinner.

Classic Deviled Eggs

Classic Deviled Eggs

A timeless party staple that never goes out of style. These classic deviled eggs feature perfectly hard-boiled eggs filled with a creamy, tangy yolk mixture of mayo, mustard, and a touch of pickle relish. Simple, crowd-pleasing, and endlessly reliable — this is the recipe you'll come back to every time.

Soups

Classic New England Clam Chowder

Classic New England Clam Chowder

A rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying New England-style clam chowder made with tender potatoes, smoky bacon, sweet clams, and a velvety cream broth. This is the kind of bowl that warms you from the inside out — classic, comforting, and completely reliable. No fancy techniques required, just good ingredients and a little patience.

Salads

How to Make the Best Kale Salad

How to Make the Best Kale Salad

A guide to making the best kale salad with tips on removing ribs, chopping, salting, massaging, dressing, and tossing. Kale salads are great pack-for-lunch options that keep well in the refrigerator for a couple of days, packed full of nutrients and fiber.

Breakfast

Almond Flour Pancakes

Almond Flour Pancakes

These almond flour pancakes are tender, hearty and delicious. Plus, they're gluten-free and lower in carbohydrates than most. The recipe yields about 12 pancakes (it can be easily halved, but extra pancakes freeze well, so I suggest making the full batch).

Apple Oatmeal Pancakes

Apple Oatmeal Pancakes

Fluffy apple pancakes that you can make in your blender! These healthy pancakes are gluten free, too (no flour required, just oats!). Recipe yields 6 medium pancakes about 4 inches in diameter. FAIR WARNING: For reasons that I have not been able to deduce, these pancakes haven't turned out well for everyone like they did for me (I've made them six times and they always turned out well!). Oat flour is always a little finicky but I don't know why these pancakes have been particularly problematic. These pancakes are the reason why my cookbook's pancakes aren't oat flour based.

Banana Coconut Muffins

Banana Coconut Muffins

These naturally sweetened banana coconut muffins taste like a tropical treat. They're so tender and flavorful, I bet you can't tell they're made with 100% whole wheat flour! Recipe yields 1 dozen muffins.

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

This Blueberry Baked Oatmeal is a wholesome, comforting breakfast dish that combines hearty oats, toasted pecans, and warm spices baked into a satisfying casserole. Perfect for meal prep or a cozy weekend brunch, it offers a delicious way to start your day with a nutritious, make-ahead oatmeal that's both filling and flavorful.

Blueberry Smoothie

Blueberry Smoothie

Make this blueberry smoothie for breakfast! This smoothie recipe is creamy, luscious and so nutritious. You'll need frozen blueberries and bananas, almond butter and almond milk. Recipe yields 2 servings (about 4 cups); you can easily halve or double the recipe.

Lunch

Balsamic Roasted Broccoli and Red Pepper Grilled Cheese

Balsamic Roasted Broccoli and Red Pepper Grilled Cheese

Hearty grilled cheese sandwiches made with whole grain bread and stuffed with caramelized, balsamic roasted vegetables and cheddar cheese. Recipe yields 4 sandwiches.

Dinner

Barbecue Pineapple, Jalapeño and Feta Pizza

Barbecue Pineapple, Jalapeño and Feta Pizza

Vegetarian barbecue pizza topped with sweet pineapple, spicy jalapeño and salty feta! This pizza is totally irresistible and really easy to make at home. Recipe yields two 11-inch pizzas.

Easy Meatloaf

Easy Meatloaf

This easy meatloaf combines ground beef, bread crumbs, and sautéed onions for a classic comfort food that's simple to prepare and perfect for a satisfying family dinner. Topped with a sweet and tangy ketchup glaze, it delivers homestyle flavor with minimal effort.

Mains

Classic Cheeseburger

Classic Cheeseburger

A tried-and-true homemade cheeseburger with juicy, seasoned beef patties, melted American cheese, and all the classic fixings. Simple technique, big flavor — this is the backyard staple everyone loves.

Classic Southern Fried Chicken

Classic Southern Fried Chicken

Crispy, golden, and juicy on the inside — this is the fried chicken recipe your family will ask for again and again. A buttermilk soak tenderizes the chicken and helps the seasoned flour coating cling perfectly, delivering that satisfying crunch in every bite. Approachable enough for a weeknight, impressive enough for Sunday dinner.

Classic BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Classic BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs with a smoky-sweet dry rub, slow-baked in the oven until impossibly tender, then finished on the grill (or under the broiler) with a sticky, caramelized BBQ glaze. This foolproof method guarantees juicy, flavorful ribs every time — no smoker required.

Classic Homestyle Meatloaf

Classic Homestyle Meatloaf

A timeless, no-fuss meatloaf that delivers every time — moist, tender, and packed with savory flavor. Made with a simple blend of ground beef, aromatics, and pantry staples, then finished with a sweet-tangy ketchup glaze. This is the kind of comfort food that brings everyone to the table and tastes even better the next day.

Classic Home Pot Roast

Classic Home Pot Roast

A deeply comforting, fall-apart tender pot roast slow-braised with hearty vegetables in a rich, savory broth. This timeless one-pot classic is the ultimate Sunday dinner — minimal hands-on effort with maximum reward. The long, slow cook transforms an affordable chuck roast into meltingly tender beef surrounded by silky carrots, potatoes, and a deeply flavorful pan sauce.

Baked Mac and Cheese

Baked Mac and Cheese

A classic, crowd-pleasing baked mac and cheese with a rich, velvety cheese sauce and a golden, crispy breadcrumb topping. Made with a simple roux-based béchamel and a blend of sharp cheddar and Gruyère, this is the kind of comforting, reliable recipe that becomes a family staple. No fancy techniques — just straightforward, deeply satisfying mac and cheese every time.

Sides

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Learn how to make crispy, oven baked sweet potato fries! Tossed with olive oil and sea salt, sweet potato fries are an easy and healthy homemade snack or side dish. Recipe yields 4 side servings.

Creamy Coleslaw

Creamy Coleslaw

A classic, crowd-pleasing creamy coleslaw with crisp shredded cabbage and carrots tossed in a tangy, sweet, and rich dressing. This well-tested recipe strikes the perfect balance — not too sweet, not too sharp — and gets better as it sits. Perfect for BBQs, picnics, potlucks, or alongside any grilled or fried main.

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Learn how to grill the BEST corn on the cob! With this grilled corn recipe, you'll achieve perfectly tender and flavorful corn with just the right amount of char. Make as much grilled corn as you'd like, leaving a couple of inches around each cob (my grill can fit up to 8 at once).

Classic Mashed Potatoes

Classic Mashed Potatoes

Creamy, buttery, and perfectly smooth — this is the gold-standard mashed potato recipe every home cook needs. Made with Yukon Gold potatoes for their naturally buttery flavor, warm cream, and plenty of real butter, these mashed potatoes are rich without being heavy. Simple technique, reliable results, every single time.

Breads

Classic Homemade Cornbread

Classic Homemade Cornbread

A golden, tender, and slightly sweet cornbread with a crispy crust and fluffy crumb. This reliable, from-scratch recipe comes together in minutes and bakes up beautifully every time — perfect alongside chili, soups, BBQ, or simply slathered with butter and honey. Baking it in a cast iron skillet gives you that irresistible golden-brown crust that makes homemade cornbread truly special.

Desserts

Balsamic Stone Fruit Sundae

Balsamic Stone Fruit Sundae

A super simple summer dessert featuring balsamic roasted stone fruit (peaches, plums and cherries) and vanilla ice cream. Feel free to wing the amounts—my friend just tossed the fruit with sugar and balsamic vinegar until they seemed "pretty well coated."

Favorite Carrot Cake

Favorite Carrot Cake

This carrot cake recipe will become your new favorite! This moist and delicious carrot cake is easy to make with basic, wholesome ingredients. It's the best! Recipe yields one double-layer 9" cake.

Classic Apple Pie

Classic Apple Pie

A timeless, from-scratch apple pie with a buttery, flaky double crust and a perfectly spiced, tender apple filling. This well-tested recipe strikes the ideal balance — not too sweet, not too tart — with a golden, crisp crust that holds together beautifully when sliced. Whether you're baking it for a holiday table or a cozy Sunday dinner, this is the apple pie recipe you'll come back to again and again.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

The gold-standard homemade chocolate chip cookie — crispy on the edges, chewy in the center, and loaded with melty chocolate chips. This tried-and-true recipe uses browned butter and a touch of cornstarch for that bakery-style texture every time. No chilling required, no fancy equipment — just a bowl, a whisk, and a baking sheet.

Classic Fudgy Brownies

Classic Fudgy Brownies

Rich, dense, and deeply chocolatey — these classic fudgy brownies are the gold standard home recipe. Made with real melted butter and chocolate, they bake up with a crackly top, chewy edges, and a moist, fudge-like center. Simple pantry ingredients, one bowl, and foolproof every time. Perfect for bake sales, weeknight treats, or satisfying a serious chocolate craving.

Snacks

Almond Coconut Granola Bars

Almond Coconut Granola Bars

These homemade granola bars are a healthy and delicious snack! Made simply with almonds, coconut, oats, almond or peanut butter, and honey or maple syrup. These bars require about 15 minutes of prep time, then an hour-long rest in the refrigerator to set. Recipe yields 16 granola bars.

Drinks

Fresh Lemonade

Fresh Lemonade

Bright, refreshing, and perfectly balanced — this classic fresh lemonade is made the right way with a simple syrup base that dissolves completely for smooth sweetness in every sip. No grainy sugar, no shortcuts, just real lemons, water, and a touch of sweetness. It's the kind of lemonade that disappears fast at picnics, backyard BBQs, and lazy summer afternoons.

Root Beer Float

Root Beer Float

A timeless American classic that never goes out of style — creamy vanilla ice cream meets ice-cold root beer for a frothy, dreamy float. Ready in minutes with just two ingredients, this nostalgic treat is beloved by kids and adults alike. The secret is in the ratio and the pour: go slow, go cold, and enjoy the fizz.