If you’ve ever opened a can and thought, “This again?” it’s time for a change. These 19 recipes are all about simplicity and freshness, with no canned goods in sight. From appetizers to main courses, each dish is easy to make and full of natural flavors. It’s like giving your family and palates a vacation from the tin can aisle.
Grilled Steaks With Cowboy Butter
Grilled Steaks with Cowboy Butter shows that sometimes homemade isn’t just about the main ingredient—it’s about the toppings, too. By avoiding pre-made marinades and butters, you’re ensuring that every bite is as natural as it is flavorful. This straightforward recipe focuses on quality, from the choice of steak to the fresh herbs in the butter. This approach brings unparalleled freshness to your plate.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steaks With Cowboy Butter
Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka
There’s something rewarding about making restaurant-quality pasta at home. Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka celebrates what it means to cook from scratch. This recipe proves that you can create a meal that rivals your favorite eatery’s offerings with a few high-quality ingredients. And best of all, it’s completely free of preservatives and canned goods.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka
Roast Pork With Apples
Think about pulling a dish out of the oven, already anticipating the flavors because you’ve selected every ingredient by hand. That’s the essence of Roast Pork with Apples. It redefines Sunday dinner with a focus on freshly sourced items, turning a traditional meal into a statement about quality and care. There are no shortcuts, just good home-cooked food.
Get the Recipe: Roast Pork With Apples
Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche
Isn’t it wonderful when a meal feels like it just brings freshness to the table? Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche does exactly that. It demonstrates how a few fresh, high-quality ingredients can come together to create a nourishing and inviting meal. With no cans in sight, it’s a testament to the sheer treat of homemade, wholesome cooking.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus & Ricotta Quiche
Carne Molida: Mexican Ground Beef
If you’re aiming for authenticity and flavor, Carne Molida: Mexican Ground Beef doesn’t miss. It’s a testament to how ground beef can be upgraded to a fancy meal without a single canned ingredient in sight. This dish is perfect for tacos, burritos, or just on its own. It demonstrates the value of homemade cooking with a rich taste that comes from fresh, carefully chosen ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Carne Molida: Mexican Ground Beef
Chicken Piccata
Making your meals from scratch means you know exactly what you’re eating. Take Chicken Piccata, for instance. It’s a meal that proves simplicity often leads to the best flavors, all while ensuring you’re not reaching for a premade sauce or canned ingredients. Fresh, light, and perfect for a weekday dinner, this dish will have you proud to say it’s homemade.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Piccata
Beefy John Wayne Casserole
Who said comfort food couldn’t be made from scratch? Beefy John Wayne Casserole is all about layering flavors without needing prepackaged mixtures. It’s hearty and filling and a great way to feed a crowd without compromising on the quality of ingredients. This casserole is a nod towards making family favorites healthier and more wholesome.
Get the Recipe: Beefy John Wayne Casserole
Copycat Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
If you love the excitement of recreating restaurant favorites at home, Copycat Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken is a must-try. It challenges the notion that convenience food can’t be fresh. By choosing the homemade route, you’re opting for a meal free of canned ingredients but full of flavor. It’s a dish that promises fulfillment without the shortcuts.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
Leftover Steak Quesadilla
Got leftovers? Leftover Steak Quesadilla turns yesterday’s meal into today’s treat. It’s a smart, flavorful way to repurpose steak while embracing the scratch-cooking philosophy. By focusing on fresh ingredients, this dish shows that making food from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s all about maximizing flavor with what you have.
Get the Recipe: Leftover Steak Quesadilla
Cottage Cheese Toast With Blueberries
Upgrading your breakfast or snack doesn’t have to be hard. Cottage Cheese Toast with Blueberries is as simple as it gets, with freshness in every bite. It’s a testament to the power of combining basic, fresh ingredients to create something fulfilling. This dish shames canned fruit, showcasing how natural ingredients are better.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Toast With Blueberries
Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs bring back the joy of anticipation as you wait for them to slowly simmer to perfection. It’s a dish celebrating the slow cooker without resorting to canned soups or sauces. Instead, it relies on fresh ingredients to deliver a taste that feels both comforting and wholly homemade. It’s a reminder that good things come to those who wait, especially when it involves real, fresh food.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs
Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken
Sometimes, the simple things in life, like Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken, make mealtime special. This dish celebrates the beauty of mixing fresh herbs and spices without needing bottled marinades or dressings. It’s proof that homemade doesn’t mean hard—it means having control over what you’re eating and ensuring every ingredient is fresh. It makes for a meal where simplicity and flavor meet.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Lemon-Herb Chicken
Korean Galbi Ribs
Embracing the art of making Korean Galbi Ribs from scratch is a course worth taking. It’s about more than just avoiding cans; it’s about honoring the tradition and flavors of Korean cooking with fresh ingredients. These ribs prove that some of the best dining experiences come from your kitchen, where you control the quality and taste. They’re a celebration of homemade cooking at its finest.
Get the Recipe: Korean Galbi Ribs
Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken
With Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken, you’re not just making dinner; you’re setting a standard for simplicity and flavor. It’s one pan and a handful of fresh ingredients away from being the star of your dinner table. Choosing to go can-free means embracing the beauty of homemade meals that don’t skimp on taste or quality. It’s all about getting back to the basics but making it feel gourmet.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Lemon-Rosemary Chicken
Ground Beef Fried Rice
This dish brings vibrant, fresh ingredients to the forefront, proving that homemade meals can be both easy and extraordinary. Ground Beef Fried Rice turns a simple idea into a grand execution by emphasizing freshness. It’s a perfect example of how ditching the cans does not mean losing out on flavor. It’s about getting the most out of what you cook, with a focus on quality.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Fried Rice
Copycat Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp
Craving takeout but committed to homemade? Copycat Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp brings the restaurant experience to your kitchen without fast food additives. It’s an example of how a little effort can yield pleasing and fresh dishes. This recipe is a favorite for anyone looking to replicate that signature taste while controlling the quality of their ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Panda Express Honey Walnut Shrimp
Turkey à La King
When it’s cold outside, a homemade dish brings warmth to any meal. Turkey à La King combines the comfort of home cooking with the fulfillment of making it all from fresh ingredients. There are no cans here, just real food that brings people together. It’s the perfect recipe for using up leftovers in a way that feels brand new.
Get the Recipe: Turkey à La King
Copycat HelloFresh Crispy Shallot Pork Croquettes
For fans of subscription meal kits looking to take their cooking into their own hands, Copycat HelloFresh Crispy Shallot Pork Croquettes offer a homemade alternative. It’s about bringing that gourmet feel to your kitchen without the need for prepackaged ingredients. This dish demonstrates that with a little effort, anyone can create comforting, fresh meals from scratch.
Get the Recipe: Copycat HelloFresh Crispy Shallot Pork Croquettes
Pizza Pasta Salad
With Pizza Pasta Salad, you get all the flavors of your favorite pizza without reaching for a phone or a can. It’s about bringing together the joy of pizza in a fresh, new way. This salad is a nod to homemade freshness, with a combination that’s as unexpected as it is delicious. It’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a fulfilling meal at home.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad