Appetizers & Salads - Cooking Classy https://www.cookingclassy.com/recipes/appetizer/ with a sprinkle of fancy Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:15:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 44235149 Lemon Blueberry Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/blueberry-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/blueberry-salad/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:12:50 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=76905 Sun-kissed Lemon Blueberry Salad - made with crisp baby arugula and spinach, sweet juicy blueberries, tangy creamy feta, toasted crunchy pecans, and a balanced sweet and tart lemon poppy seed dressing. It may likely become your new go-to summer salad!

Overhead photo blueberry salad poppy seed dressing.

This is truly such a super simple salad that packs in so much flavor! It's a breeze to throw together and can easily be turned into a main entree by adding some chopped rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken to make it more hearty.

You'll love the lemon, poppy seed, and blueberry combo here. It may not be the first thing you'd think to add to salad, maybe perhaps more along the lines of a baked treat, but it works exceptionally well for a salad too.

Its sweet, tart, fruity, nutty, cheesy flavor fusion is completely crave-able, and it's bursting with fresh, nutritious goodness in every bite.

It's a different salad for a change, that's set to satisfy every tastebud and I'd say will likely even brighten your day!

Blueberry salad with spinach, arugula, pecans, feta and lemon poppy seed dressing.

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Tuna Pasta Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/tuna-pasta-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/tuna-pasta-salad/#comments Sun, 01 Jun 2025 04:14:57 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=76134 This refreshing Mediterranean style Tuna Pasta Salad is made with tender curly rotini pasta, an abundance of fresh veggies, and a creamy lemon-dill dressing with a bright zip. It's a nutritious recipe with flavor in every bite!

Tuna pasta salad in a wooden bowl.

This tuna pasta salad can be served as a cool summer lunch, a cook out side dish, or even passes a dinner entree since it also includes a filling protein of nutritious tuna.

It's brimming with layers of flavor thanks to the lemony dressing, its duo of herbs, the rich tuna in oil, and the various blend of veggies which are a blend of fresh, roasted and marinated.

This is also a great dish to make ahead of time. So if you have a busy day the following day you can prep the day before and have it in the fridge ready to go for serving guests or an on the go meal prep.

Canned tuna got a major upgrade thanks to this recipe!

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Cheesy Garlic Bread https://www.cookingclassy.com/cheesy-garlic-bread/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/cheesy-garlic-bread/#comments Fri, 14 Mar 2025 11:41:14 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=20052 Cheesy Garlic Bread is made with soft french bread that's toasted to a perfectly crisp crust, a garlicky butter and olive oil spread, and it's layered atop with plenty of melty cheese and a sprinkling of herbs to polish it off. Simple and satisfying comfort food!

Two halves of cheese garlic bread on a cutting board, one is cut into slices.

A Cozy Cheesy Garlic Bread Recipe

It doesn't get much better then a warm slice of cheesy garlic bread straight from the oven!

This recipe is so easy to make and doubles as a crowd pleasing appetizer or cozy side dish. Perfect for dipping in marinara sauce or serving alongside all your favorite pastas and soups.

It uses a combo of garlic and olive oil for both flavor and so the bread doesn't get bogged down being heavy and overly greasy with a what is traditionally a full stick of butter.

It's also a versatile recipe where you can use fresh or dried garlic, various breads and different types of cheese.

My personal favorite is just as listed, with fresh garlic and the combo of two cheeses. Simple Italian flavor in every bite!

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Avocado Salsa https://www.cookingclassy.com/avocado-salsa/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/avocado-salsa/#comments Sat, 31 Aug 2024 14:59:55 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=13179 Flavorfully fresh Avocado Salsa - Made with creamy avocados, bright tomatoes, crisp onions, herby cilantro and a bright lime dressing. It's the ultimate tortilla chip dip or main dish topping!

Avocado salsa shown with tortilla chips for dipping.

This simple avocado salsa is basically guacamole mingled with salsa or pico de gallo. It's a dip that has the flavors of guacamole but more of a texture similar to a chunky salsa.

It's brimming with nutritious ingredients, and you'll love it's lively flavor. Plus who can resit that tempting blend of textures? Among them a soft bite, bits of crispness throughout, plenty creaminess, and with crunchy flakey chips a truly perfect pairing.

It's a fine-chop dunk-able chip dip, or you can use it as a topping over cooked protein such as pan seared salmon, black bean burgers, or grilled chicken. Another option of course is to heavily layer it over your favorite Mexican food - things like taco salad, chicken street tacos, fajitas, or even add a few spoonfuls to a bowlful of tortilla soup.

I think you'll really come to appreciate all the various ways you can enjoy this salsa!

It's perfectly fitting for weeknight dinner meals and always a crowd pleasing appetizer at parties! People will say it's a welcome upgrade to classic salsa, and for you it may become a go-to way to use up those ever so delicious avocados.

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Panzanella https://www.cookingclassy.com/panzanella/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/panzanella/#comments Mon, 05 Aug 2024 02:57:38 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=72877 Panzanella - An Italian bread salad made with a medley of toasted bread in bite-size pieces, plenty of fresh ripe tomatoes, flavorful sweet basil, bright red onion, and a vibrant vinaigrette. This version also includes refreshing cucumbers and chunks of rich fresh mozzarella to take it over the top!

Panzanella salad in a white bowl over a wooden tray with a purple cloth and fresh basil and tomatoes shown to the sides.

Wondering what to do with that hearty bread that's getting stale on the counter? One of the best options is to make this refreshing, summery, and brightly colorful panzanella salad! Homemade croutons will blow your mind.

Classic Panzanella is a rustic salad that was originally created by the farmers of the central Italian countryside who made it as a way to use up day-old bread and their abundance of fresh homegrown vegetables.

It comes together quickly and it's the perfect side dish to various grilled meats. It's also such a versatile salad with options to swap in other vegetables, use various cheeses, try it with a protein, or add beans.

This is a great base and guide to get you started from there you can adjust it to your heart's content!

Overhead photo of homemade panzanella salad.

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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-caesar-pasta-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-caesar-pasta-salad/#comments Tue, 02 Jul 2024 18:25:52 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=28980 Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is a delicious blend of two incredible side dishes, pasta salad meets a traditional green salad. It's brimming with vibrant flavor, has a satisfying blend of textures, and it's sure to be a hit at your next summer get together!

Chicken caesar pasta salad shown in a brown wooden serving bowl over a red cloth on a white marble surface.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is made with tender penne pasta, lightly charred grilled chicken breasts, crisp romaine lettuce, sweet grape tomatoes, crunchy croutons, rich parmesan and it's all covered in a creamy, lemony caesar salad dressing.

It's a dish so filling and delicious that is could easily pasta for the main entree of a meal.

Plus it's easy to make and there's even a few shortcuts if you want to save some time, such as using rotisserie chicken, store-bought croutons, and even a store-bought caesar dressing (though I'd add some fresh lemon to it).

Or if you love to impress and go all out like I did here, which will create the very best pasta salad, then make the croutons from scratch, go for the grilled chicken option, and make the simple dressing fresh. This pasta salad is a dream and I think you'll absolutely love it!Grilled chicken caesar salad shown from overhead in a wooden bowl with romaine lettuce and wooden serving spoons to the side.

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Grilled Chicken Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/grilled-chicken-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/grilled-chicken-salad/#comments Mon, 20 May 2024 04:32:55 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=71341 A refreshing fully loaded Grilled Chicken Salad! Includes marinated grilled chicken breast, tender romaine lettuce, bright red onion, crisp salty bacon, charred grilled corn, vibrant fresh tomatoes, tangy feta, and creamy avocado. It's truly an ideal summer salad!

Grilled chicken salad with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, corn, avocado, romaine, red onion and feta.

Summery Grilled Chicken Salad

This ultimate grilled chicken salad is piled high with all the best ingredients, each one adding to it's well balanced fusion of flavors and satisfying variety of textures.

And I think you'll appreciate that the dressing also doubles as a chicken marinade so you won't need to make a separate seasoning for the grilled chicken.

This salad is a perfectly filling, ideal entree for a lunch get together but it also makes for an exceptional dinner salad as well.

You can also easily adjust it to use up what you have by substituting different vegetables or create a new flavor profile by using different fresh herbs in the dressing (basil or cilantro would be welcomed options).

If you are looking for a salad people will remember this is it! It includes that trio people just can't get enough of - chicken, bacon and avocado.

And here everything is highlighted by an unapologetically lemony dressing to really make it sing. It will get compliments all around!

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Chicken Taco Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-taco-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-taco-salad/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:58:36 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=68314 Loaded Chicken Taco Salad - Made with protein rich chicken and black beans, fresh veggies, tortilla chips, and all the best toppings. It's brimming with goodness and completely delicious!

Chicken taco salad shown with blue and yellow tortilla chips, corn, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, chicken, cilantro, cheese and sour cream.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

In this bountiful salad you find it's rich in Tex-Mex flavor and has so much freshness in every bite. There's a beautiful variety of color, flavor and textures, with each ingredient enhancing the dish.

It's layered with nutritious Romaine lettuce, crispy tortilla chips, a zesty citrus marinated chicken, salsa coated beans and veggies, plus rich cheese, sour cream, and avocado.

The chicken is pan seared then the taco salad filling is cooked in that same pan. And it's convenient that you don't need a grill for this recipe and it can be made any day of year no matter the season.

If you happen to have any leftover filling you can use it in tacos, quesadillas or burritos the following day for lunch. There's just so much to love about this delicious Chicken Taco Salad!

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Christmas Tree Cheese Ball https://www.cookingclassy.com/christmas-tree-cheese-ball/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/christmas-tree-cheese-ball/#comments Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:15:05 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=69761 A festive and delicious Christmas Tree Cheese Ball! A Christmas appetizer made with rich cream cheese, sharp white cheddar, flavorful herbs and fresh vegetables. It's a holiday party favorite and a tasty twist on the classic cheese ball.

Christmas Tree Cheese Ball made with white cheddar, cream cheese, and covered in parsley, tomatoes, pine nuts and bell peppers.

A Fun Christmas Appetizer Recipe

This eye catching Christmas tree cheese ball is decorated with plenty of earthy green minced fresh parsley, dotted with tiny red tomatoes and yellow bell pepper pieces, its swirled with a ribbon of pine nuts, then finished with a vibrant golden bell pepper star practically shining atop.

It's a holiday classic with a sophisticated upgrade thanks to its enhancements of herby flavors and fresh vegetables (or technically fruits), the welcomed bold white cheddar goodness, a pine nut finish, and its impressive unique appearance. No boring typical rounded shape plus pecan coating here.

And even though it's quite large this savory treat will be devoured in no time. This charming centerpiece will be a highlight of your gathering and a new striking way you'll want to make the holiday cheese ball every year!

Christmas tree cheese ball with lights in the background and crackers around the tree.

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Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board https://www.cookingclassy.com/christmas-tree-charcuterie-board/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/christmas-tree-charcuterie-board/#comments Sun, 17 Dec 2023 02:29:32 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=69601 A bounteous and beautiful Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board! Made with a generous amount of flavorful cheeses, vibrantly colorful fresh fruit, crunchy nuts, bite-size salami coins, and rich Italian olives.  If you love cheese boards, it's an ideal starter for guests of all ages at large holiday gatherings.

Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

Easy Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board has never been so fun to make! Everything you get in a traditional charcuterie board shaped into a festive Christmas tree!

It's simple to assemble, it just takes a little bit of chopping and some basic artistic planning.

This is a family friendly charcuterie board and it's adaptable to swapping out some of the things I've shown here for things you may already have. The idea is just to stick to that simple red, green, and white/yellow theme for those classic Christmas colors. Then of course just keep the "Christmas tree" shape as you go.

A delicious holiday project that may just become a new family tradition at each yearly holiday gathering!

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