Bette Fraser, Recipe Tester

Our easy and elegant solution when you buy not-quite-spring spears of asparagus from the grocery store? Just add cheese and butter and bread crumbs.

• Quick Glance
• 10 M
• 30 M
• 10

Chicken is coaxed to tenderness in beer in this braised chicken with root vegetables. Simple to make, complex in taste, prepare for kudos.

• 25 M
• 1 H, 15 M
• 17

Bathed in buttermilk and spiced ever so slightly, this Cajun-style fried hen is memorably moist inside, superlatively crisp outside, and gosh darn perfect through and through.

• 35 M
• 35 M
• 21

We’ve got stars in our eyes…and our bowls…and our spoons…all thanks to pastina, the teensy star-shaped pasta. It just may be the cutest supper in the solar system.

• 10 M
• 20 M
• 55

We’re not certain which we find more incredulous, the sheer genius behind these bacon fat gingersnaps or the resulting flavor of said genius.

• 20 M
• 45 M
• 33

An effortless, elegant side that fancies up the form as well as the flavor of two enduring entertaining icons: the stuffed mushroom and Thanksgiving stuffing.

• 25 M
• 1 H, 10 M
• 14

Beautiful burger buns. Were ever three words joined in such harmonious sequence? Actually, let’s add buxom and buttery.

• 25 M
• 1 H, 45 M
• 38

Plonk unpeeled onions on a baking sheet. Shove in oven. Come back later for achingly sweet, tender, mellow oniony goodness. Accept accolades. See how easy that was?

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 1 H
• 14

Get out your go-go boots, halter tops, and cocktail umbrellas. The ’60s are back. In a big way. And they’re groovier than ever.

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 5 M
• 0

Seafood gumbo loaded with shrimp, such as this classic Cajun recipe, screams for a cold beer and a lazy weekend afternoon dedicated to nothing but cooking.

• 1 H, 45 M
• 5 H, 15 M
• 58

Plump pork chops are pounded into satisfying submission before being breaded and gently sautéed to perfection.

• Quick Glance
• 30 M
• 30 M
• 0

Rite of passage as well as rite of tailgating, Frito Pie is legendary. In case you’d forgotten about it, here’s proof.

• Quick Glance
• 5 M
• 5 M
• 6

This unexpected yet enticing melding of sweet and smoky makes for a sassy summer dessert you’ll be craving year round.

• Quick Glance
• 30 M
• 6 H
• 8

All’Amatriciana—go on, roll that “r” like they do in Italy—means a spicy pasta sauce of tomatoes and pancetta or bacon. Prego.

• Quick Glance
• 35 M
• 1 H
• 2