cayenne pepper Archives - Cooking Classy with a sprinkle of fancy Sun, 24 Aug 2025 04:10:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 44235149 Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala https://www.cookingclassy.com/crockpot-chicken-tikka-masala/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/crockpot-chicken-tikka-masala/#comments Sun, 24 Aug 2025 04:06:15 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=75969 Rich and well spiced Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala! Made with bite size pieces of chicken, bright tomato puree, plenty of earthy spices, plus yogurt and cream to highlight. It's a go-to dinner for busy days!

Slow cooker chicken tikka masala garnished with cilantro in a black crockpot.

Yes that's right a crockpot chicken tikka masala that doesn't require any browning meat, sautéing aromatics, or the extra step of pureeing sauce. Everything is simply added right into a slow cooker, tossed together, cooked through, then finished off with a fair amount of cream.

It is the simplest way to cook this savory Indian-British dish and the final result is a full flavored, perfectly impressive curry style dinner. Who doesn't love a dinner recipe that takes minimal effort but yields maximum flavor!

This near effortless dish simmers low and slow allowing all the flavors to meld and soak into the chicken, and its generous allotment of cooking time allows for all those spices to marry together in a overall unified flavor.

The key to a good slow cooker curry style dish like this is just to use plenty of spices, fresh aromatics (garlic, ginger and onion), and never forget the cream (it compliments the tomato beautifully). Serve it with basmati rice cooked in a rice cooker for continued ease, and pair with a side of steamed peas or green beans to include a veggie.

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Burger Bowls https://www.cookingclassy.com/burger-bowls/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/burger-bowls/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2025 03:33:05 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=77042 A summery Burger Bowl that can be prepared any day year round, no grill required! Made with seared ground beef, tender oven fries, tart baby dill pickles, tangy cheddar, sweet tomatoes, vibrant onions, crisp lettuce and a flavorful burger sauce.

Single serving burger bowl showing ground beef, pickles, tomatoes, cheese, onion, baked fries and lettuce.

Burger bowls may seem all wrong at first glance because many of us grew up eating a classic burger not long after we could chew. So to take that special something that's American tradition that we've eaten for decades and modifying it to something that looks like a salad can just seem so strange. But to that I'd say, wait to give it your final opinion until you've tried them yourself and tasted of their exceptional flavor!

Burger bowls are simply a deconstructed burger made with the best things you get in a diner style burger and then some. The typical bun is traded for golden brown oven fries and it's polished off with a generous drizzle of savory burger sauce. A sauce that's similar to the spread at In-n-Out or Smash Burger sauce - being lightly sweet, slightly tangy, and extra creamy.

It's an exciting new way to switch up the typical piled high burger on a bun, into a piled high bowl spread out into an appetizing blend of colors and a satisfying variety of textures. It's a must try recipe for all burger lovers!

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Blackened Chicken https://www.cookingclassy.com/blackened-chicken/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/blackened-chicken/#comments Tue, 28 May 2024 04:50:23 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=71739 Blackened Chicken is a quick chicken dish made with lean chicken breasts generously coated with a spicy cajun style seasoning, and it's pan seared in a hot cast iron pan for a light blackened char. And for a hint of richness we finish them with butter!

Row of blackened chicken breast on a white oval platter over a marble surface with a green cloth to the side.

Fast and Easy Blackened Chicken

Smoky, spicy, highly flavorful seasoned chicken kissed with a blackened exterior that envelops a juicy tender interior. It's a tastebud tantalizing recipe to make any day of the year!

It's so simple to make and cooks quickly. It's just a brisk mixing of spices, then generously seasoning the chicken and from there cooking in a super hot skillet for that beautiful finish.

There's a plethora of delicious sides to pair with it (lots of ideas below), and there's also so much you can do with this chicken. My personal favorites for serving are pairing with coconut rice, corn, and mango avocado salsa (for a bit of that sweet + heat) but there's endless options.

And it doesn't just need to be served solo. Try it in tacos, add it to pasta (like creamy alfredo), or toss into a salad.

Blackened chicken breasts with serving suggestion of corn salad, mango and avocado.

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Blackened Shrimp https://www.cookingclassy.com/blackened-shrimp/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/blackened-shrimp/#comments Fri, 24 May 2024 03:08:24 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=71734 Flavorful Blackened Shrimp - A cajun dish made with savory shrimp generously coated with a spicy blackened seasoning and pan fried in a hot skillet until lightly charred. Then to highlight them they're drizzled with melted butter for a rich enhanced finish.

Seasoned blackened shrimp on a white serving platter with a green cloth to the side.

What You'll Love About Blackened Shrimp

  • This shrimp dish is incredibly easy to make.
  • It cooks super fast, in about 2 minutes!
  • It's bursting with well seasoned, crave-worthy flavor.
  • The shrimp are delicious on their own or you can chop them up and use as a taco filling.
  • They pair well with fast and simple side dishes like baked potatoes, rice, grits, pasta, fresh bread, a simple side salad, coleslaw and so much more.

Blackened shrimp garnished with parsley shown on a white oval platter with lemon slices.

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Tofu Tacos https://www.cookingclassy.com/tofu-tacos/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/tofu-tacos/#comments Fri, 10 May 2024 15:07:56 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=71477 Fast, easy and flavorful Tofu Tacos! Made with inexpensive, protein rich, well seasoned tofu, corn tortillas and plenty of fresh toppings. You'll likely be surprised to find your whole family loving these!

Close up photo of tofu tacos.Healthy Tofu Tacos

For a long time tofu has had have a bad name. Not many people seem to care for it, and I used to be one of them. But I'm telling you if you season it right it can actually be really delicious and even something you'll want to make again and again!

In these tofu tacos the tofu is abundantly seasoned with a variety of Mexican spices, soy sauce and lime juice which builds up much more depth and a welcome vibrant flavor.

Believe it or not you may find you like them just as much as the classic ground beef tacos! And these are a healthier alternative to rotate with, plus tofu is about half the price of ground beef and ground turkey.

These tacos come together quickly for a simple weeknight meal, they are perfectly filling, and they make a great leftover lunch the next day if you have any left.

If you haven't given tofu a chance yet I'd say this is an excellent place to start. And as always with tacos, just be sure to pile high all those tasty toppings!

Row of ground tofu tacos shown from the side with lime wedges for serving.

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Vegetarian Chili https://www.cookingclassy.com/vegetable-chili/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/vegetable-chili/#comments Tue, 06 Feb 2024 17:46:30 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=36129 Healthy Vegetarian Chili is jam-packed with fresh nutritious veggies, two types of beans, and it's all simmered in a deeply spiced tomato base. It's a delicious stew-like soup, ideal for those chilly autumn and winter days and it's so tasty served with homemade cornbread.

Vegetarian chili in a large white pot.

Easy Vegetarian Chili

You'll love that this is a vegetable chili you can feel great about eating and feeding the family, and it doesn't taste too much different than a meat-heavy chili thanks to all those flavorful Mexican spices.

It comes together quickly, it's just a bit of chopping and has a fairly short simmer time compared to that of traditional chili. It's hearty and filling thanks to the beans and fiber rich vegetables and it's still a great base for piling on all the best chili toppings.

We love it with avocado, cheese, and sour cream atop but if you if you want to make this a vegan chili then opt for a vegan cheese and sour cream, or just omit them both altogether.

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Elotes Mexican Street Corn https://www.cookingclassy.com/grilled-mexican-street-corn/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/grilled-mexican-street-corn/#comments Mon, 24 Jul 2023 03:36:10 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=29364 Grilled Mexican Street Corn is one of the ultimate summer side dishes! This homemade version is just as good as the elote corn you'll find from the vendors in Mexico. When served at parties and cookouts it will be the first thing to go!

Elotes finished with mayonnaise, crema, cotija, cilantro and Mexican hot sauce.

What is an Elote?

Elotes, also known as grilled Elote Mexicano, Mexican street corn, or Mexican grilled corn, is a popular Mexican street food. “Elote” means “corn on the cob” in Spanish, and the recipe consists of corn on the cob that has been grilled and slathered with a mayo or crema sauce, topped with Cotija cheese, and dusted with chili powder.

In Mexico, it is sold to locals and tourists from street carts much like pretzels or hot dogs in New York. Once you try elotes for the first time you'll be wondering "Where has this been all my life?!"

It's perfectly juicy and crisp, it has a delicious balance of sweet and spicy heat, the creamy coating with a zip of lime and chili powder perfectly compliments it's mellow flavor, and the cheese finish makes it amazingly crave-worthy.

This is a side dish you do not want to miss out on! I'd dare say it's a summer staple and should regularly be added to the dinner rotation.

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Beef Shawarma https://www.cookingclassy.com/beef-shawarma/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/beef-shawarma/#comments Mon, 19 Jun 2023 17:11:15 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=67813 This Beef Shawarma recipe is a delicious homemade take on a classic Middle Eastern street food! Steak pieces are marinated with some bright acidity and warm spices, then seared to tender perfection on a sizzling hot pan. It’s a remarkably flavorful, easy beef recipe that’s sure to satisfy! 

Close up photo of beef shawarma steak strips.

What is Beef Shawarma?

If you’ve never had beef shawarma, you’re in for a treat.! A famous Middle Eastern street food, shawarma is made with chicken or beef that is heavily marinated in oil, lemon juice, and warm spices. Then, it is placed on a vertical rotisserie or spit and slow-roasted for days until it is unbelievably tender. 

Most commonly, it is shaved off and served stuffed into bread with fresh toppings and a drizzle of tahini or tzatziki. However, you can also find it presented as part of a platter along with sides like tabbouleh and hummus. No matter how it’s plated, it’s always incredible and is guaranteed to leave you coming back for more. 

Don’t worry, though. You don’t need a fancy spit to make your own beef shawarma at home. I’ll show you how to create the same bold flavor and tender texture by searing on the stovetop instead! 

Seared beef shawarma strips shown on a platter with serving suggestions.

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Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder https://www.cookingclassy.com/creamy-chicken-corn-chowder/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/creamy-chicken-corn-chowder/#comments Sat, 01 Oct 2022 16:06:12 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=13881 Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder - A rich and creamy soup made with tender rotisserie chicken, hearty potatoes, flavorful peppers, sweet corn and crisp bacon finish. It’s a fall staple!

Chicken corn chowder in a serving bowl with oyster crackers to the side.

Creamy Chicken and Corn Chowder

This is the coziest of soups! It’s loaded to the max with delicious, fresh ingredients and it’s that creamy broth and salty bacon that will keep you craving more.

It has a handy shortcut of pre-cooked chicken, which can be from a rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken.

From there it’s just a bit of chopping, sautéing and allowing enough time on the stovetop to simmer to perfection.

Serve it with cornbread or 1-hour dinner rolls for an ideally comforting meal.

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Cajun Seasoning https://www.cookingclassy.com/cajun-seasoning/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/cajun-seasoning/#comments Sat, 17 Jul 2021 04:59:23 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=56900 A simple Homemade Cajun Seasoning. It’s a DIY recipe that’s perfect for chicken, beef, seafood, vegetarian dishes, and more. You’ll only need eight staple spices.

Photo: Homemade cajun seasoning blend in a glass spice jar on a small plate with a spoon to the side and a dark napkin in the background.

Cajun Seasoning to Taste

The great thing about making your own homemade cajun seasoning is that you can control the heat and the sodium, simply by adjusting the cayenne pepper and the salt to taste.

It’s also handy if you are ready to make a recipe but you are out of your go-to store-bought option. You will likely have most of the ingredients ready in your pantry! Plus, if you buy spices in bulk this is a great inexpensive option.

You’ll find it has the perfect blend of sweet and vibrant spices and flavor-enhancing herbs for southern cuisines like Caribbean (hello, Jamaican Jerk Chicken!) and Creole.

It’s easy enough it can be thrown together in minutes so you might as well try it out. Homemade spice blends are such a great way to go!

Photo: Eight glass jars of spices that are used to make cajun seasoning shown on a marble surface.

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