13 Food Mashups That You’d Never Expect But Are Totally Genius
A burger and pepperoni pizza? We’re in!
Picture this: It’s dinnertime. You’re craving a bowl of soup, but the kids are set on chicken parm. And let’s be real—you’re not making two different meals. Ree’s solution? Mash them up into something new: chicken parm soup.
“Mashups are the best way to expand your recipe box!” says Ree. “Just think of your favorite go-tos and look for ways to combine them.”
Not only can a mashup satisfy two cravings at once (and avoid a dinnertime debate!), but it’s also an easy way to shake up your usual family meals. Chili mac and cheese has always been one of Ree’s favorite comfort foods and she’s dreamed up plenty of other delicious combinations over the years, including BLT baked potatoes and chicken Caesar salad pizza. So if you need a little inspiration for your next meal, these fun food mashups are a great place to start.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Ready in 30 minutes or less, this dish combines hearty chili with ooey gooey mac and cheese for a kid-friendly one-pot meal that just might remind you of eating Hamburger Helper as a kid.
Get Ree’s Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Pepperoni Pizza Burgers
Two takeout favorites in one? It’s hard to beat pepperoni pizza burgers! The patties mix ground beef with Italian sausage, then pile on all the pizza-inspired fixings for a burger that’s pizza-fied from patty to bun.
Get Ree’s Pepperoni Pizza Burgers recipe.
Fish and Chips Salad
Skip the side salad and make it part of the main event! This fish and chips salad piles crispy battered fish and golden fries right on top of fresh greens. (Don’t knock it ’til you try it!)
Get the Fish and Chips Salad recipe.
Chicken Parm Soup
“Chicken parmigiana has always been one of my go-to family meals,” Ree says. “There's something so richly satisfying about the combination of tender chicken, tomato sauce, and melty cheese. Add pasta to the mix, and I'm instantly weak in the knees.”
Get Ree’s Chicken Parm Soup recipe.
Cap’n Crunch Chicken Strips
You’ve probably heard of cornflake-crusted chicken, but what about chicken coated in Cap’n Crunch? The sweet cereal gets extra crispy and caramelized as it fries, giving these chicken strips a sweet-and-savory crunch.
Get Ree’s Cap’n Crunch Chicken Strips recipe.
BLT Baked Potato
A classic BLT is all about bacon, lettuce, and tomato—which, as it turns out, also make pretty great baked potato toppings! Pile them onto a fluffy spud with a few extra fixings for a fun twist on the beloved sandwich.
Get Ree’s BLT Baked Potato recipe.
Reuben Casserole
Think of this casserole as a Reuben sandwich with a breakfast twist! All the deli favorites—corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing, and marbled rye—are layered over a bed of shredded hash browns, then baked together until hot and crispy.
Get the Reuben Casserole recipe.
Mashed Potato Pancakes
Not only is this a fun dinnertime mashup, but it’s also a clever way to give leftover mashed potatoes new life! Just mix in a few extra ingredients, form the potatoes into patties, coat them in breadcrumbs, and fry until golden and crispy. Don’t forget the dipping sauce!
Get the Mashed Potato Pancakes recipe.
Taco Spaghetti
It’s Taco (and Pasta!) Tuesday with this fun combo! A packet of taco seasoning gives spaghetti and ground beef a Tex-Mex twist, while all your favorite taco fixings piled on top bring the dish together.
Get the Taco Spaghetti recipe.
One-Pot French Onion Pasta
Taking the best parts of French onion soup and pasta, this cozy dish pairs caramelized onions with tender farfalle for the best of both worlds. Better yet, the one-pot meal is topped with thin slices of French bread and melty Gruyère cheese.
Get the One-Pot French Onion Pasta recipe.
Cheeseburger Pie
Not in the mood to fire up the grill? This easy cheeseburger pie packs all those classic burger flavors into a casserole you can pop right in the oven. Plus, it skips the bun altogether, meaning more filling and less bread!
Get the Cheeseburger Pie recipe.
Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza
“Boy, do I love a good Caesar: crisp romaine, creamy-tangy dressing, and those big, toasty croutons I can't resist sneaking off the sheet pan,” Ree says. “And pizza? Around here, it’s nothing short of an obsession. So a marriage between the two just makes sense.”
Get Ree’s Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza recipe.
Beef Enchilada Casserole
Craving enchiladas but not all that stuffing and rolling? Here’s the answer: Simply layer salsa, green chiles, corn, cheese, and onion with all the other fixings, then bake until everything is warm, melty, and ready to dig into.
Get Ree’s Beef Enchilada Casserole recipe.
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