Lettuce

This recipe draws inspiration from the sunny-orange flavor of green salads with carrot-ginger dressing at Japanese American restaurants. The pulpy, aromatic dressing may be the star, but a salad is only as good as its lettuce. After washing and thoroughly spin-drying the greens in a salad spinner (alternatively, you can pat them dry in a clean kitchen towel), one way to maximize their crunch before adding the dressing is to refrigerate them, covered, for at least 30 minutes. Little Gem has a sweet, juicy sturdiness, but regular packaged mixed greens, baby spinach and chopped romaine hearts work, too.

These delicious Blackened Shrimp are the perfect versatile weeknight meal. Try them in tacos, lettuce wraps, on pasta, rice, or simply on their own!

Chicken Lettuce Wraps combines chicken thighs, mushrooms, and water chestnuts in a hoisin-based sauce for a super-satisfying blend of flavors and textures.

Hi, I’m Brooke! You have probably seen me on Social Media as Meals and Munchies. I’m a busy stay at home mom who loves sharing easy, family-friendly meals that come together fast—because let’s be honest, we don’t always have time for complicated. Whether you’re chasing toddlers, working from home, or just trying to get dinner on the table after work without a fuss, you’re in the right place. Meals and Munchies is where I share real-life recipes that are quick, comforting, and made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Easy recipes for every day life- let’s get cooking!Whether you’re juggling naptime, homework, or just trying to make it to bedtime with dinner on the table, these easy recipes are here to save the day. No fancy techniques, no complicated ingredients—just real-life meals you can make fast, with minimal stress and maximum flavor. Because easy doesn’t mean boring! These recipes are all beginner friendly and are so easy, anyone can make them! In fact, I often do them with a baby in my arms. This Burrito Bowl recipe is a fast, flavorful, and customizable meal perfect for lunch or dinner. Made with ground beef, taco seasoning, fresh lettuce, canned corn and black beans, precooked rice, salsa, sour cream, Thousand Island dressing, and shredded Mexican cheese, it’s a complete one-bowl meal packed with protein, veggies, and bold Mexican flavors. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy burrito bowl is perfect for meal prep, weeknight dinners, or a family-friendly Mexican-inspired dish. Serve it for a satisfying and colorful Tex-Mex burrito bowl that everyone will love!

This playful recipe borrows the flavors of sour cream and onion dip and reimagines them into a bright, punchy salad with a creamy dressing. Onion powder is used without restraint here, highlighting the virtues of the reliable pantry staple. Tossing the dressing with a mountain of crisp lettuce leaves tames its intensity and creates a well-balanced salad that makes the perfect accompaniment to any meal. If you like, garnish it with crushed potato chips right before serving for an additional pop of texture and a nod to its inspiration.

This vegan tacos recipe stars a flavor-bursting taco meat with classic toppings like pico and lettuce. An easy vegan dinner in 30 minutes!

A wet burrito recipe made with flour tortillas filled with ground beef, refried beans, and chiles — topped with a generous amount of sauce and cheese. Serve with lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, and tortilla chips.

BLT risotto sounds lovely, but an easy swap of lettuce for basil makes for a much more enjoyable dish and this Bacon, Basil, and Tomato Risotto is the ultimate summer dinner.

Ground Chicken Burgers Stuffed with Buffalo Sauce & Blue Cheese served on a bun with lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and a ranch dressing drizzle!

Just 8 ingredients and super easy to make. Use it any way you like- pile it bun for a pulled tofu sandwich, layer in a taco or in a burrito, use it for lettuce wraps, top on a baked potato, scatter over nachos. Make-ahead and meal-prep friendly. Gluten-free and oil-free options.

This versatile Tex-Mex ground beef and potato skillet works as the filling for a lettuce wrap, as a nacho topping, as filling for tortillas, or as a hash with eggs.

Mini BLT Bites are the perfect way to enjoy the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato combination in a fun, bite-sized form.

This playful take on steak au poivre features chicken thighs that are pan-fried until golden then simmered in a peppery pan sauce until tender and juicy. The caramelized browned bits left on the bottom of the skillet from searing the chicken add deeper flavor to the sauce. Though Cognac is often used in classic au poivre, there is no booze in this version. Instead, a kick of lemon juice brightens the rich, velvety sauce. Serve the chicken over egg noodles or with crusty bread to sop up all that sauce. Tuck any leftovers into sandwich rolls with lettuce and tomato, or chop and toss with pasta and grated Parmesan for a quick lunch.

Also known as "Bo Luc Lac", this Vietnamese dish features tender beef cubes that are marinated and stir-fried with garlic, onions, and tomatoes. Served with a side of rice, this flavorful dish is sure to become a new favorite.

These Sriracha Meatball Lettuce Wraps are a super easy dinner that come together in 30-minutes - plus the meatballs are freezer-friendly! 

In this Big Mac Tater Tot casserole, savory ground beef and melted American cheese create a rich base, while Thousand Island dressing and mustard add tangy balance. Crisp potato tots give crunch, and dill pickles, sesame seeds, and iceberg lettuce provide a fresh, briny finish reminiscent of the classic Big Mac.

At one point in history Taco Bell removed their Doritos Locos Tacos from their menu. But, after the uproar from the community they swiftly put it back on. So, I decided to turn the Doritos Locos Tacos into a casserole and let me tell you it is wildly delicious! The best way to serve this after you make your masterpiece is topped with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, Taco Bell hot sauce, sour cream, and you are going to turn it into a taco salad. Even though there are doritos baked into this casserole instead of serving it with a fork, give a side of doritos to scoop up this taco casserole salad and oh baby it is good!! Make it!

A saucy Asian-inspired ground turkey mixture is gathered up in lettuce leaves to make these easy wraps.

This taco salad combines cold lettuce, warm seasoned beef and crunchy chips with a tangy Catalina dressing for a crowd-pleasing twist on taco night. It is a quick and zesty meal for a busy weeknight.

The dressing in this BLT salad is exceptional! This BLT salad is loaded with fresh lettuce, crispy bacon, bright tomatoes and of course croutons. An easy, excellent salad!

These Big Mac Salad Bowls have everything you love about the famous burger with half the calories. Juicy ground beef, special sauce, crisp lettuce and all the fixings, in one delicious high protein cheeseburger bowl. It's the perfect way to get your fast food burger craving in.

Inspired by PF Changs’ famous recipe, these Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps are quick, easy to make and are full of so much flavor!  Perfect as an appetizer, side dish or even main course for a healthy meal the whole family will love!

This big picnic sandwich is an Italian-style sammie piled high with salami, mortadella, ham, and provolone, spread with a quick-blended red pepper sauce and dressed with crunchy lettuce.

These quick-to-make ground beef lettuce wraps are loaded with savory ground beef and nutritious veggies doused in an umami-rich Asian-style soy ginger sauce! You can enjoy them with the beef filling nestled in crunchy lettuce as appetizers or snacks, or make them substantial enough for lunch or dinner by adding rice or grains. A fast ground beef dinner idea to add to you repertoire, the lettuce wraps come together in only 25 minutes, can be prepared ahead of time, and are easily made gluten free, too!