Lunch & Dinner Recipes - Cooking with Cassandra

Chicken with Pan Sauce

Golden chicken breasts in a skillet with a buttery pan sauce being spooned over the top.

Chicken with Pan Sauce This Chicken with Pan Sauce is made with crispy skin-on chicken breasts and a buttery white wine pan sauce with shallots, garlic, thyme, chicken stock, and fresh lemon. It is simple, flavorful, and ready in about 30 minutes, but tastes like something you would order at a restaurant. Chicken4 skin-on chicken breasts (boneless)salt and pepper (to season both sides of the chicken)3 tablespoons grapeseed oil6 tablespoons unsalted butter2 sprigs fresh thyme (for basting)Pan Sauce1 small shallot (finely diced)4 garlic cloves (minced)⅓ cup dry white wine1 cup chicken...

Baked Halibut Recipe with Garlic Tomato Butter Sauce

Baked halibut with cherry tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and lemon in a white baking dish with a spoon lifting a piece of fish

Baked Halibut Recipe This baked halibut recipe is tender, flaky, and cooked in a rich garlic tomato butter sauce. It’s an easy, elevated dinner made with simple ingredients and ready in under 45 minutes. 6 garlic cloves (minced)1 shallot (finely chopped)1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)2 ½ cups cherry tomatoes½ cup chicken broth1/2 teaspoon salt4 tablespoons salted butter (cubed)3 tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley (chopped, plus extra for garnish)1.5 lbs fresh halibut1/2 large lemon (freshly squeezed)salt and pepper (to taste) Preheat oven: Set your oven to...

Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Pasta

Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Pasta Recipe This garlic parmesan chicken and pasta is made with tender, juicy chicken and fettuccine coated in a rich, velvety parmesan garlic sauce. Creamy, comforting, and layered with flavor, it’s the kind of dinner that makes everyone go back for seconds. For the Chicken4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil1 tablespoon paprika1 tablespoon dried oregano2 teaspoons garlic powder1 teaspoon dried thyme½ teaspoon black pepper½ teaspoon saltFor the Pasta12 oz fettuccine pasta (cut in half for easier eating)For the Sauce4...

Healthy Marry Me Chicken

Boneless chicken breasts in creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with fresh basil in a skillet.

Healthy Marry Me Chicken Recipe Healthy Marry Me Chicken is a lighter take on the classic creamy sun-dried tomato chicken. Made with coconut milk, garlic, parmesan, and fresh basil, this one-pan dinner is rich, balanced, and ready in about 45 minutes. 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato oil (from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes)1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil8 cloves garlic (minced)1 13.5-ounce can full-fat coconut milk (shaken well before opening)½ cup chicken broth1 teaspoon dried oregano¾ cup sun-dried tomatoes (roughly chopped)½ cup parmesan cheese...

Crispy Baked Tacos with Ground Beef

Crispy baked tacos filled with seasoned ground beef and melted cheddar cheese, drizzled with avocado lime crema and garnished with fresh cilantro and lime wedges on a sheet pan.

Baked Tacos Recipe Crispy baked tacos made in the oven with seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, and avocado lime crema. A simple sheet pan tacos recipe that’s perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. Taco Seasonings1 teaspoon chili powder1 teaspoon oregano1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon paprika1 teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon cumin1 teaspoon onion powder½ teaspoon celery salt¼ teaspoon cayenne pepperTaco Ingredients1 pound lean ground beef1 medium yellow onion (finely chopped (I throw mine in a food processor to get a super fine chop))4 garlic cloves (minced)1 tablespoon cilantro stems...

Green Curry Chicken and Rice (Easy One-Pot Dinner)

One-pot green curry chicken and rice topped with lime wedges and fresh cilantro in a Dutch oven.

This green curry chicken and rice has everything I want in a weeknight dinner: it’s quick to prep, cozy, and packed with bold flavor. The best part? It all comes together in one pot. The jasmine rice simmers right in the coconut green curry sauce, making this one-pot green curry chicken and rice extra flavorful as it cooks. What you get is tender chicken, fluffy rice, and fresh veggies all wrapped in a creamy curry that tastes like takeout — only easier and healthier. What makes this recipe special is that the rice isn’t served on the side, it’s part of the curry itself. That means every...

Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas

I love a good quesadilla, but standing over a skillet flipping them one by one while everyone else is already eating? Not exactly my idea of a good time. That’s why these Sheet Pan Chicken Quesadillas are such a game-changer. They bake all at once, slice beautifully, and the best part? I get to sit down and enjoy them with everyone else. It might just be the easiest, most crowd-pleasing appetizer I’ve ever made. These chicken quesadillas are crispy, cheesy, packed with flavor, and made to feed a crowd—no stovetop required. This isn’t your average Tuesday-night quesadilla situation. It’s...

Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

Fully glazed brown sugar ham sliced and served with orange slices and rosemary on a white platter.

Looking for the perfect holiday ham that’s packed with flavor, easy to make, and guaranteed to impress your guests? This Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham recipe is everything you need and more. It’s sweet, savory, juicy, and has the yummiest sticky glaze with hints of garlic, orange, and warm spices. Whether it’s Christmas, Easter, or a cozy Sunday dinner, this ham will be the star of the table. And yes—it's so much better than the store-bought glaze packets. Once you try this homemade brown sugar glaze, you’ll never go back! And if you're feeling a little intimidated by cooking a whole...

Best Beef Chili Recipe

A bowl of hearty beef chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and fresh cilantro, served with toasted baguette slices.

Are you on the hunt for the best beef chili recipe? Look no further! This hearty, flavorful chili is my go-to comfort food, and I’m sure it’ll quickly become yours too. There’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of chili on a chilly night (I couldn’t resist). Packed with tender beef, my secret ingredient smoky bacon, beans, and a special blend of spices with a hint of brown sugar, it’s the perfect combo of rich flavors. In our home, we find it hard to stop eating—I've even had to explain to my husband that we can’t have this for dinner every night! If he had to pick just one dinner for the...

Lasagna Soup

There’s something just so comforting about a big ol' bowl of lasagna soup. It captures all the rich flavors of traditional lasagna—savory meat, tangy tomato sauce, and creamy cheese—but in a warm, spoonable form. It’s the perfect easy dinner for cold nights when you’re craving lasagna but don’t have the time or energy for layering and baking. What makes this lasagna soup recipe extra special? It’s the flavor and the ease. We’re talking ground beef, garlic, Italian herbs, and a swirl of cream for that velvety finish. Add a generous sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of ricotta on top, and...

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

Pot of Pasta alla Vodka topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil

There’s something about a big bowl of creamy Pasta alla Vodka that just speaks to my soul—especially when the sauce is rich, garlicky, and clings to every bite of rigatoni. It’s one of those dishes that feels a little fancy but is surprisingly simple to make at home. The tomato paste gives it depth, the cream makes it silky, and the vodka? That’s the secret to pulling all the flavors together into one irresistibly smooth sauce. I’m sharing my secrets for making authentic, restaurant-worthy Pasta alla Vodka right at home. For this easy pasta recipe I toss the onion in a food...

Beef Enchiladas

Introducing a timeless favorite that's perfect for a bustling dinner party, a cozy night in, or sharing with friends — my beloved beef enchiladas! Bursting with Tex-Mex flair, these enchiladas are packed with tender ground beef, refried beans, onions, garlic, cheese, and a luscious homemade red enchilada sauce. Baked to golden perfection, then garnished with creamy avocado slices, fresh cilantro, and crumbled cotija cheese, these enchiladas are guaranteed to steal the show, every time. Ideal for prepping ahead, this recipe is a lifesaver for effortless entertaining or a quick fix after a...