Lunch & Dinner Recipes - Cooking with Cassandra

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...

Greek Sheet Pan Chicken

Looking for an easy, delicious dinner idea? This Greek Sheet Pan Chicken is packed with Mediterranean flavor, juicy marinated chicken, and roasted veggies—all cooked on one pan. It’s everything you want in a weeknight dinner: quick, healthy, and always a hit. I even featured it as one of my go-to recipes in the Winnipeg Sun, where I write the weekly food column! The simple lemon-garlic marinade adds bold, fresh taste, and the leftovers (if there are any!) are just as good the next day. Whether you're just starting out in the kitchen or you’ve got dinner down to a science, this one-pan...

Creamy French Onion Chicken

If you’re searching for an easy one-skillet dinner that feels fancy but is totally doable this Creamy French Onion Chicken has your name all over it. Juicy, golden-seared chicken breasts simmer in a silky sauce made with caramelized onions, garlic, fresh thyme, and cream—simple ingredients that taste SO good! Serve it on a chilly fall or winter night and let it bring a bit of French-inspired comfort to your table. This easy Creamy French Onion Chicken recipe was such a hit, it was featured as the Recipe of the Week in my Winnipeg Sun column—a cozy, crowd-pleasing dinner perfect for both...

Best Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Recipe

Do you love lasagna? I’ve tried it all from homemade, at my favorite Italian spots, and even the frozen kind from the grocery store. Each one of those experiences has given me the joy of eating comfort food which is just so flavorful and rich. But I love lasagna so much that I tend to overdo it! Is that just me, or can anyone else relate? So, when I discovered the idea of using spaghetti squash to make lasagna, I was excited to try it out. I’m here to prove that comfort food can be both cheesy and healthy! That’s exactly why I created one of my all-time favorites: Spaghetti Squash...

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

Noodle Soup Recipe | cookingwithcassandra.com

There’s nothing better than curling up with a comforting bowl of this one-pot turmeric ginger chicken noodle soup, which delivers on both flavor and nourishment. The power combo of ginger and turmeric is nature’s way of soothing colds and upset tummies, making this the perfect go-to when you're feeling under the weather. Packed with chicken, veggies, and egg noodles, every bite is hearty and satisfying—no more empty spoonfuls of just broth! I’m going to be repeating this recipe, along with my old-fashioned beef stew, all winter long. These are two meals I love to make in big batches,...

Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone)

In just 30 minutes, you can whip up this Creamy Lemon Pasta the most delicious comfort food! It’s quick and easy for busy weeknights but fancy enough for guests. The mix of lemon, rich cream, and Parmesan creates a flavorful sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta. Even my father-in-law who is a basic meat and potatoes guy, asks for this every time he comes over. Trust me, you're going to LOVE this one! Creamy lemon pasta, also known as “Pasta al Limone” in Italy, is a classic, no-fuss dish from the Campania region. It’s especially popular along the Amalfi Coast in places like Amalfi and...

Baked Sesame Ginger Salmon

Sesame Ginger Salmon Baked | cookingwithcassandra.com

This baked sesame ginger salmon is my answer to a lunch meal-prep or a simple weeknight dinner alongside some brown rice and steamed vegetables. This Asian-inspired seafood dish is marinated in sesame oil, ginger, garlic, white wine vinegar, and brown sugar. We will also make a thick honey ginger glaze that tastes sweet, tangy, and a little spicy. Sesame oil is a key ingredient in this salmon recipe. It is normally stocked in the international foods aisle in the supermarket. Just a little splash of it imparts a deep nutty flavor that makes this salmon pretty irresistible. You’ll...

Easy Steak Marinade

How do you like your steak done? Cooking steak to a certain degree of doneness is hands-down one of the hardest things for me to get right. The perfect steak needs to be juicy, tender, and flavorful. Whenever I got a chance to practice, I’d try on so many cuts of steak. Walt became my taste testers when I started get comfortable with the grill. My practice steaks were always the cheaper cuts of beef. We couldn’t afford to burn an expensive steak every time – what a waste that would be. I also learned to make a steak marinade to add some flavor to the steak. My poor taste...