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30 Minutes or Less

Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

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air fryer sweet potato fries on a plate with ketchup

Perfectly crispy, yet healthy sweet potato fries! Four ingredients and 15 minutes is all it takes for this addictive appetizer or side dish. Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, I’ve included an oven-baked option that still yields incredibly crispy fries!

close-up overhead image of air fryer sweet potato fries on a plate with ketchup on the side

The air fryer is truly the kitchen device of the century (ok, well it’s right up there with the Instant Pot). I only just got my hands on about a year ago, and holy moly it changed the homemade fry game for me, forever. After quite a bit of research for the best air fryer out there, I eventually landed on the Cosori Pro Air Fryer. It’s fairly priced and works like a champ, can’t recommend it enough!

What You Need To Make Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet Potatoes – The star of our show! You can use any variety of sweet potatoes you’d like for this recipe. Just remember, peel them and then slice them into thin matchsticks. Thinner = crispier. And try your best to cut them as evenly as possible, so that they “fry” evenly.

Avocado Oil – My oil of choice, but you can use any oil you’d like here. Just one tablespoon is all you’ll need, that’s A LOT less oil than if you deep-fried these!

Salt – Duh! Salt is non-negotiable for fries of any kind. Though start small and add more salt once the fries are done. You can, of course, salt to your preference.

Garlic Powder – This is my little special touch. I love the extra flavor garlic powder gives these fries, and I promise you will too. Though if you’re not a garlic fan (how?!), then you can leave this ingredient out.

air fryer sweet potato fries being dipped into ketchup

Tips and Tricks

  • The secret to these crispy sweet potato fries is working in batches when you air fry them. Just a single layer at a time, avoiding cramming too many into the air fryer, will give you the crispiest non-deep-fried sweet potato fry of all time.
  • No air fryer? No problem! See below for an oven baked option.
  • If you’re looking for something to pair with these sweet potato fries, I can’t help but recommend these crispy air fryer buffalo chicken wings! The perfect healthy game-day, or any day, appetizer duo.

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: SidesDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

Perfectly crispy, yet healthy sweet potato fries! Four ingredients and 15 minutes is all it takes for this addictive appetizer or side dish. Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, I’ve included an oven-baked option that still yields incredibly crispy fries!

Ingredients

  • 2 large sweet potatoes, see Notes

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

  • In the air fryer:
  • Preheat air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit. While the air fryer preheats, peel and slice sweet potatoes into 1/4-inch sticks.
  • Toss sweet potatoes in a bowl with olive oil, salt and garlic powder. Make sure each fry is evenly coated in oil and spices.
  • Transfer a third of the potatoes to the air fryer, then spread in an even layer and cook for 15 minutes. Pause air fryer to shake pan halfway through.
  • Remove fries and repeat for remaining batches.
  • In the oven:
  • Preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit. While the air fryer preheats, peel and slice sweet potatoes into 1/4-inch sticks.
  • Toss sweet potatoes in a bowl with olive oil, salt and garlic powder. Make sure each fry is evenly coated in oil and spices.
  • Spread potatoes in an even layer on a large baking sheet – space fries about 1/8-inch apart.
  • Bake for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Sweet Potatoes: Use any variety of sweet potatoes you’d like, white sweet potatoes are my favorite!

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30 Minutes or Less

Roasted Beet Hummus

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close-up image of beet hummus in a bowl.

A stunningly vibrant, simple, and healthy beet hummus recipe, made in under 5 minutes! The perfect plant-based snack, appetizer, or side dish. This roasted beet recipe will quickly become one of your favorite ways to sneak more veggies into your diet.

overhead image of roasted beet hummus in a bowl with crackers on the side

I had the BEST roasted beet hummus a few weeks ago while visiting Salt Lake City, Utah. It was perfectly smooth, tangy, and all-around delicious. We ordered it as an appetizer ahead of our meal, but I quickly (…like ate the whole bowl in under a minute) filled up on it. So as I was sitting there, belly fuller than full on the most incredible beet hummus, I took out my phone and made a note to recreate that out-of-this-world appetizer recipe as soon as I got home!

Fast forward a few days, I’m home and stocked up on everything I’ll need for this recipe. Roasted beets, cans upon cans of chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, plenty of garlic, lemons, and of course salt. I quickly began experimenting and I can’t lie, it took a few tries, but I eventually achieved that same flawless, stunningly pink beet hummus as I had in SLC!

What You’ll Need

Roasted Beets – Use as many or as few roasted beets in this recipe as you’d like! I bought pre-roasted beets to save myself a bit of time, but you can definitely roast the beets yourself instead. For instructions on how to cook beets, check out this post I wrote for 40 Aprons.

Chickpeas – Chickpeas are the base to every single hummus recipe out there! They’re high in protein, and blend up super smooth, creamy, and delicious. You can of course cook your own chickpeas for this recipe, but I almost always opt for the pre-cooked canned chickpeas in my recipes. They’re easier, just as good, and will save you a bunch of time. Regardless of what kind of chickpeas you’re using for this recipe (canned or homemade), be sure to drain and rinse them well ahead of placing them in a food processor or blender.

Tahini – Here’s another ingredient you’ll find in all hummus recipes. Tahini is ground sesame seeds, it has a nutty flavor with a slightly bitter finish. This nut-free spread is delicious on its own, slathered on toast, and of course, in this easy beet hummus recipe.

roasted beet hummus being scooped out of a bowl with a cracker

Top Tips

  • Use either a food processor or high-speed blender to blend all ingredients together! I’ve tested both appliances for this recipe, and they honestly both work great. The food processor achieved an ever-so-slightly smoother beet hummus, but the difference was negligible.
  • Homemade hummus can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Yes, the store-bought kind lasts longer, but doesn’t even come close in flavor and freshness to this homemade recipe!
  • Serve this easy snack or appetizer however you’d like! I went with gluten-free crackers, but pita bread, or even a sliced baguette would pair beautifully with this recipe. Also, for an even healthier option, serve your beet hummus with fresh cut veggies such as cucumber, carrots, and bell peppers!

This Roasted Beet Hummus Is…

  • Plant-Based
  • Vegan
  • Gluten-Free
  • Nut-Free
  • Super Healthy
  • & Delicious!

Roasted Beet Hummus

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: Appetizers, SnacksDifficulty: Easy
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

A stunningly vibrant, simple, and healthy beet hummus recipe, made in under 5 minutes! The perfect plant-based snack, appetizer, or side dish. This roasted beet recipe will quickly become one of your favorite ways to sneak more veggies into your diet.

Ingredients

  • 1-2 roasted beets

  • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

  • 1/3 cup tahini

  • 1/3 cup olive oil

  • 1-2 garlic cloves

  • juice and zest from 1/2 lemon

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

Directions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth.

Recipe Video

Notes

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30 Minutes or Less

How to Make a Vegan Charcuterie Board

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overhead image of the entire vegan charcuterie board with white wine, utensils, and bread on the side

A flawless vegan charcuterie board, perfect for any occasion! An assortment of fresh fruits, veggies, crackers, bread, and vegan cheeses create the perfect spread. Have fun with this vegan charcuterie board, feel free to switch things up and make it your own!

half a vegan charcuterie board with glasses of white wine on the side

What You’ll Need

  • Hummus – Either homemade or store bought hummus will work on your charcuterie board! As much as I love a homemade hummus, I usually prefer to save myself a bit of time by buying pre-packaged hummus from the store. Whole Foods make a delicious hummus, as does Trader Joe’s and Hope Hummus!

  • Crackers – Any and all crackers are welcome on this snack board! I typically use gluten-free crackers to keep my spread gluten-free friendly. Though feel free to use whatever crackers you like best.

  • Nuts – Nuts are always an exciting, crunchy addition! You can get fancy here and purchase marcona almonds or flavored nuts for your board. Though I kept things simple with raw walnuts and pecans. I love using nuts on any charcuterie board, as they’re the perfect item to fill any empty space. Nuts are especially amazing on this vegan charcuterie board thanks to their high protein content and nutritional value, keeping things hearty yet healthy!

  • Vegan Cheese – This is a totally optional addition, but I have a few vegan cheese brands I love featuring on my charcuterie board! I’m pretty picky when it comes to non-dairy cheese though, and avoid any that taste too fake and/or are overly processed. Spero Foods make some of my all-time favorite vegan soft cheeses. Their herb cream cheese and goat cheese are perfect for this recipe! They’re all deliciously tangy, smooth, and incredible on crackers or toast. Though my runner-ups for this charcuterie board are Kite Hill vegan cheeses, and a handful of Myoko vegan cheese flavors.

How to Make a Vegan Charcuterie Board

  1. Begin every charcuterie board by prepping the ingredients you’ll be placing on your board. This includes washing fresh fruit, cutting bread, slicing cheese, etc. Once prepped, you’ll be able to see every element of your board and decide in which order you’d like to place them.


  2. Pick a large board or surface to lay everything on, then place small bowls around the board. These bowls don’t have to be in any particular pattern or order, so simply evenly space them around your board.


  3. Fill those small bowl with things like hummus, soft cheese, dips, olives, or really anything that would make a mess if placed directly on your board/surface.


  4. Now that your bowls are all filled, go in with remaining larger items such as crackers, sliced bread, and fruit – working with one ingredient at a time.


  5. Once the vegan charcuterie board looks mostly complete, then fill in any gaps with your small items (in this case, I used nuts). Continue doing this until your board is fully loaded and ready to be served!

Optional Add-Ons

There really is no wrong way to jazz up a charcuterie board, so any of the following would make delicious additions to your vegan board:

  • Pickles
  • Strawberries
  • Chocolate Squares
  • Dried Fruit
  • Jelly/Jam
  • Mustard
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Apple Slices
  • Carrots
Vegan Charcuterie Board
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Vegan Charcuterie Board

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: AppetizersDifficulty: Easy
Servings

12

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

A flawless vegan charcuterie board, perfect for any occasion! An assortment of fresh fruits, veggies, crackers, bread, and vegan cheeses create the perfect spread. Have fun with this vegan charcuterie board, feel free to switch things up and make it your own!

Ingredients

  • cucumber, sliced

  • olives

  • hummus

  • baguette, sliced

  • grapes

  • mandarin oranges, partially peeled

  • nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, or walnuts)

  • radishes, sliced

  • vegan cheese, see Notes

Directions

  • Prep all ingredients – wash fruits and veggies, slice or chop items, etc.
  • Lay down the surface you’ll be arranging your items on, then start by placing small bowls evenly throughout the surface. You’ll need about 3-4 bowls for your olives, hummus, and vegan cheese.
  • Fill the bowls, then begin arranging items on your surface, leaving smaller items like nuts for the end. Finish by filling any gaps on your charcuterie boards with nuts or any other ingredients that may fit.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Vegan Cheese: Vegan cheese brands I love are Spero Foods, Myoko, and Kite Hill!

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Appetizers

The Best Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

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close-up overhead image of lemon pepper chicken wings on a plate

Incredibly zesty lemon pepper chicken wings are super quick and easy to make in the comfort of your own home! Bake ’em in the oven or air fryer, then finish off with a simple 4-ingredient lemon pepper sauce. These wings are irresistibly crispy and loaded with delicious flavor!

lemon pepper chicken wings in a bowl with beer and lemon slices on the side

What You’ll Need

Chicken Wings – Pick up 3 pounds of either drums, flats, or a combination of both for this chicken wing recipe. I typically reach for the “party pack” of wings at the grocery store, but honestly anything you can find/prefer will work. Once you unwrap your chicken wings, make sure you pat each wing dry with a paper towel before cooking. Getting the wings as dry as possible will ensure they bake up super crispy in the oven (or air fryer!).

Lemon Pepper Seasoning – You can either purchase a jar of lemon pepper seasoning, or simply make it yourself! I couldn’t find any pre-made seasoning near me, so I quickly threw together a homemade batch of my own. To do this, I cooked lemon peels in the oven at 170° Fahrenheit for 1 hour until super dried out. Then, I added the peels to a blender along with some whole black peppercorns and a pinch of salt. There are plenty of lemon pepper seasoning recipes out their on the internet, so do a little research and follow one that’s easiest for you! Or, of course, just buy lemon pepper seasoning from the store if you’d like.

Top Tips

  • Don’t crowd your baking sheet/rack with chicken wings before baking. Place each wing at least an inch apart to ensure that all sides crisp up evenly!
  • Switch up this lemon pepper chicken wings recipe however you’d like! For a little more spice, add in an extra pinch of freshly cracked black pepper. For extra tang, finish off with an extra squeeze of lemon juice. And for a bit more sweetness, use an additional teaspoon or two of honey!
  • Avoid using frozen chicken wings! If your wings are frozen, thaw them completely in the fridge before baking.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

  • Make it Dairy-Free: Sub the melted butter in this recipe for non-dairy butter to have a completely dairy-free and delicious appetizer!
  • Make it Paleo: For paleo lemon pepper chicken wings, simply use ghee instead of butter and make your own seasoning by drying out lemon peels in the oven and grinding them with black peppercorns and salt.

How to Cook Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

  1. Pat chicken wings dry with a paper towel, then add to a bowl along with olive oil, salt and black pepper. Toss to coat wings in oil and seasoning.
  2. Transfer chicken wings to air fryer tray or basket in an even layer (work in batches if necessary), cook at 360° Fahrenheit for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, flip the wings over then cook for another 12 minutes.
  3. Once all wings are cooked and crispy, toss in your homemade lemon pepper sauce and enjoy!
The Best Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
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The Best Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

5 from 2 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: AppetizersDifficulty: Easy
Servings

6

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Total time

50

minutes

Incredibly zesty lemon pepper chicken wings are super quick and easy to make in the comfort of your own home! Bake ’em in the oven or air fryer, then finish off with a simple 4-ingredient lemon pepper sauce. These wings are irresistibly crispy and loaded with delicious flavor!

Ingredients

  • For the wings:

  • 3 pounds chicken wings

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • For the lemon pepper sauce:

  • 1/4 cup melted butter, I used non-dairy

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice

  • chopped parsley, for serving

  • lemons, sliced

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil, and top with a wire baking rack.
  • Pat chicken wings dry with a paper towel, then add to a bowl along with olive oil, salt and black pepper. Toss to coat wings in oil and seasoning.
    • lemon pepper chicken wings step 1
  • Transfer wings to an even layer on the prepared baking sheet with baking rack and bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
    • lemon pepper chicken wings step 2
  • Mix together all lemon pepper sauce ingredients in a large bowl, then once wings are cooked toss them in the sauce until evenly coated.
    • lemon pepper chicken wings step 3

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30 Minutes or Less

Fresh and Easy Guacamole Salsa

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close-up image of guacamole salsa with chips on the side

Super fresh and addictive guacamole salsa is the perfect game day, party, or potluck appetizer! Simple, yet delicious ingredients are blended into a smooth and creamy dip. Enjoy this guacamole salsa with crispy tortilla chips, or sliced carrots and celery for a healthy snack!

guacamole salsa in a bowl with chips on the side along with tomatillos and a sliced avocado

What You’ll Need To Make This Recipe

Tomatillos – These little green Mexican tomatoes are sold in most grocery stores. They’re wrapped in a papery green husk, that’s easily peeled away to reveal a beautiful, bright green tomato. To prepare your tomatillos for this dish, simply peel away the husk. Then, give each tomatillo a good rinse before using them in this recipe!

Jalapeño – A whole jalapeño may seem like a lot, but trust me, it yields very little spice in this guacamole salsa! One jalapeño is perfect for a mild salsa, while two is ideal for a medium salsa, and three for a full-blown spicy salsa. So pick your poison and add as many jalapeños as you’d like!

Avocados – Select three medium to large avocados for this recipe. The key to any avocado is making sure it’s ripe, but not overly ripe, before eating. The best way to tell whether an avocado is ripe is by giving it a gentle squeeze. If the skin feels firm, but gives just a little bit, then the avocado is perfect! Though if it’s hard (feels like you’re squeezing a rock), then it’s not yet ripe – store at room temperature for another day or two before it’s ready.

Cilantro – A large handful of cilantro gives this guacamole salsa its delicious, fresh flavor! Cilantro also has a number of great health benefits. It’s high in antioxidants, is a proven antibacterial, and has even been studied to reduce the risk of heart disease. You’ll want to wash your cilantro well under cold water before using in this, or any recipe. Once clean, gently pat it dry with a dish towel before slicing and removing the stems. Then, toss the cilantro leaves into a food processor along with the rest of the ingredients.

Top Tips

  • Boil the tomatillos and jalapeño until they’re soft and are easily pierced with a fork. Not boiling enough will make them tough to blend, and boiling too much will cook off some of their delicious flavor. Therefore, just about 10 minutes in boiling water is all they’ll need.
  • After you’ve blended your guacamole salsa, give it a taste! At this point, you can adjust the flavors in this recipe based on your preferences. Sometimes an extra pinch of salt or squeeze of lemon juice is all your dip needs!
  • Serve this easy app any way you’d like! I love enjoying mine with a big ole’ bowl of grain-free tortilla chips for a healthy, yet delicious snack. Though for an even healthier option, serve your salsa with some fresh cut veggies such as carrots, celery, and/or bell peppers!

How To Store It

To keep this guacamole salsa looking bright green and fresh, follow the storage steps below:

  1. Place in an airtight container, but do not secure the lid just yet.
  2. Take a sheet of plastic wrap and place it over the container, gently pressing down until it comes in contact with the top of the salsa. Ensure that all of the exposed salsa is in contact with and covered by the plastic wrap.
  3. Then, secure lid on top of the container before storing it in the fridge for up to three days!

When ready to serve, simply remove the lid and plastic wrap, then give everything a gentle stir before enjoying.

Fresh and Easy Guacamole Salsa
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Fresh and Easy Guacamole Salsa

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: AppetizersCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

12

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

15

minutes

Super fresh and addictive guacamole salsa is the perfect game day, party, or potluck appetizer! Simple, yet delicious ingredients are blended into a smooth and creamy dip. Enjoy this guacamole salsa with crispy tortilla chips, or sliced carrots and celery for a healthy snack!

Ingredients

  • 10 tomatillos, husked and washed

  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and deveined

  • 3 avocados, peeled and pitted

  • 1 garlic clove, smashed and peeled

  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil tomatillos and jalapeño until soft, about 10 minutes.
  • Strain tomatillos and jalapeño from water, then add to a high-speed blender or food processor with remaining ingredients.
  • Blend until smooth, then serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Recipe Video

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