This potatoes au gratin recipe is creamy, cheesy, and so delicious. Thinly sliced potatoes and onions are layered in a rich cheese sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly. This is a cozy side dish that’s perfect for holidays or family dinners.

Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! With this premade meal plan, take the stress out of mealtime. Save time and money while being inspired to try new recipes!

With only 15 minutes of prep, this slow cooker ham comes out tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The rich brown sugar glaze caramelizes beautifully as it cooks, making every slice sweet, tangy, and irresistible.

These creamy Swedish meatballs are one of those dinners that never fails. Cozy, comforting, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have, they’re perfect over egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

We love simple recipes, and these three-ingredient haystacks are incredibly easy and delicious! ❤️WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE These are the perfect holiday treat and you can make them very quickly. Only 3 ingredients and super versatile. These haystacks start with crispy chow mein noodles and they are so good with any form of sweets….

These Viral Candied Cranberries are a holiday hit! Sugared cranberries or Candied Cranberries are easily one of the most beautiful treats, made with only 3 ingredients! They are a sweet-tart snack that you’ll be popping into your mouth all throughout the party!

Last winter we went on a night hike to a Christmas star that’s lit up on a mountainside in Davis County, Utah. It was so much fun and the perfect way to bring a little magic to a mundane week. Afterwards we enjoyed a little birthday cake with a friend that was delicately decorated by their teenage daughter with candied cranberries!

Instantly I realized that I’d never shared our own recipe for the Viral Candied Cranberries!

Ingredients for Candied Cranberries

• Fresh Cranberries: These are the star of the recipe. Their natural tartness balances the sweet coating, and their firm skin helps them hold their shape during the candying process.
• Sprite: The soda acts as a sweet, citrusy soaking liquid that lightly infuses the cranberries with flavor and helps the sugar adhere. Its sugars also contribute to the sticky coating that allows the powdered sugar to cling.
  • NOTE: Any lemon lime soda works great — 7 Up, Starry, Fresca, even Mtn Dew would work. Just don’t use diet soda!
• Powdered Sugar: This provides the delicate, frosty coating. Its fine texture clings easily to the cranberries, creating that pretty snowy finish while adding a sweet counterpoint to the tart berries.

How to Make Sugared Cranberries

1. Prep: Preheat oven to 200℉ and the cranberries and remove any shriveled ones.
2. Soak in Sprite: Place in a bowl and cover with sprite. Allow to sit for 20 minutes and drain in a colander then pour back in a large bowl.
3. Coat in Sugar: Add the powdered sugar. Shake vigorously to evenly coat all berries evenly without clumps.
   • NOTE: If they look slimy, add more powdered sugar. They should look dry.
4. Bake: Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cranberries onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 200℉ for 3-5 minutes.

What to Do With Candied Cranberries (Besides Just Snacking!)

I love to put a bowl of these out during the holidays for the family or friends to snack on but they can be used for many things. They make a great topping for oatmeal or yogurt, and they add a delicious tart bite to a salad.

I’ve seen them used as a decorative garnish for holiday cakes or cupcakes as well just the one we had for my friend’s birthday. They are so gorgeous! You can add them to a charcuterie board for a gorgeous festive touch!

Can Orange Juice Be Used Instead of Sprite?

I haven’t ever tried it, but I can’t imagine orange juice working the same way that Sprite does.

Can I Use Frozen Cranberries?

Yes, I use frozen berries all the time. No need to thaw them first. Just rinse them and follow the instructions as written.

Storage Information

Candied cranberries should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and will keep for up to 5 days. If they start to look a little damp, toss them in more powdered sugar.

You can freeze candied cranberries but they will become damp as they thaw. To help with this, toss them in more powdered sugar.

These candied cranberries are little sparkly bites of magic! They’re so simple to make, but look absolutely stunning on holiday desserts and are irresistible as a holiday snack. I love how the sugar crunch gives way to that juicy cranberry burst…it’s the perfect mix of festive and fun for the whole family.

More Holiday Snacks to Try:

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
• White Chocolate Christmas Chex Mix
• 5 Minute Christmas Snack Mix
• Rolo Pretzel Bites
• Simple Fudge Recipe

This is the perfect pot roast recipe for hearty comfort cooking at its best. A flavorful chuck roast is slow cooked in the oven with potatoes and aromatic veggies until fork tender, then served with a delicious, savory gravy.

This copycat PF Chang’s spicy chicken recipe is my quick weeknight version of their delicious sweet and spicy stir-fry! Make it in one skillet and serve this sticky fried chicken with rice, sprinkled with green onions. 

Put the takeout menu down and cook your favorites at home, from this Chang’s copycat recipe to Panda Express orange chicken and classic Mongolian pork.

Who else loves the sweet and spicy chicken from PF Chang’s?

Continue reading PF Chang’s Spicy Chicken at Cookies and Cups.

If you’ve ever wondered how restaurants get their roast chicken so juicy and full of flavor, the secret is simple — it’s all in the brine! This brined Roasted Chicken and Potatoes is one of those meals that makes you slow down and savor every bite.

The kids voted this was the best chicken and potatoes I’ve ever made and it was one pan and so dang easy.

The overnight brine infuses the meat with moisture and a subtle, herby flavor, while the garlic butter under the skin keeps every bite tender and golden. Add in roasted Yukon Gold potatoes that crisp up in the chicken drippings, and you’ve got a family dinner that is pure comfort food — with hardly any effort.

Why Brining Makes the Juiciest Chicken

The short answer is science! First, the salt in the brine breaks down the tight protein strands in chicken (or any poultry) which makes the structure more open to holding liquid molecules so it can retain more moisture.

When the chicken is submerged in the brine, the chicken soaks up the brine making it more juicy and more flavorful. The additional flavor in the brine like the lemon, fresh herbs and garlic all soak into the chicken so it’s flavored from the inside out!

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Brine

• Water: The base that helps distribute the salt and flavors evenly.
• Kosher Salt: Draws moisture in and out of the chicken, resulting in juicy, seasoned meat.
• Honey: Adds a subtle sweetness and helps with browning during roasting.
• Peppercorns: Infuse mild spice and depth into the brine.
• Lemons: Brighten the flavor and help tenderize the meat.
• Bay Leaves: Add an earthy, aromatic note.
• Parsley & Thyme: Fresh herbs that lend light, savory flavor.
• Garlic: Deepens the flavor and complements the herbs beautifully.

For the Chicken

• Whole Chicken: The star of the recipe — roasting the entire bird keeps it juicy, flavorful, and beautifully golden while naturally basting the potatoes as it roasts.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances flavor, draws out moisture for crisp skin, and seasons both the chicken and potatoes evenly.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps the skin turn golden and crispy while keeping the meat tender and moist.
• Garlic: Brings depth and savory aroma to the butter mixture and infuses flavor into the chicken and potatoes.
• Fresh Thyme: Adds bright, earthy notes that complement the chicken’s richness and balance the buttery flavor.
• Lemon: Infuses the meat with a fresh citrus aroma, helps tenderize the chicken, and adds brightness to the pan juices.
• Red Onion: Adds sweetness and moisture to the roasting pan, enhancing flavor and preventing dryness.
• Yukon Gold Potatoes: Perfectly soak up the drippings from the chicken — soft and buttery inside with crisp, golden edges.
• Olive Oil: Prevents sticking, promotes browning, and adds a layer of richness to both the chicken and potatoes.

How to Make Lemon Butter Roasted Chicken

1. Dissolve: Mix the water, salt and honey in a large pot over medium heat and stir until the salt is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let the water cool.
2. Brine: Add the remaining ingredients to the pot, then add the chicken to the brine solution and let it brine in the fridge overnight.
3. Prep the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the brine and pat it dry. Sprinkle with salt and place in the fridge uncovered for a day.
4. Preheat: Place a cast iron skillet in the over and heat the oven to 425℉.
5. Make the Garlic Butter: Add the butter, garlic, thyme and lemon zest to a small bowl and combine thoroughly.
6. Rub: Lift the chicken skin and rub the garlic butter all over the chicken under the skin and on top of the skin.
7. Assemble the Dish: Pull the skillet from the oven and drizzle it with olive oil. Place the chicken in the pan (breast side up) and place the potatoes around it. Drizzle everything with olive oil and sprinkle the potatoes with kosher salt.
8. Roast: Place the pan back in the oven and roast for 1 hour. Rotate the pan halfway through the cook time.
   • NOTE: You want an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the thigh.
9. Serve: Slice the chicken and serve with the potatoes and the pan juices.

What to Serve with Brined Roast Chicken

You will already have those golden, melt-in-your-mouth potatoes on the side, so let’s add some veggies and a yummy bread! Some of our favorite vegetable side dishes to go with roasted chicken and potatoes are broccoli salad, strawberry spinach salad, or air fryer smashed broccoli.

For a tasty bread recipe, we love our potato rolls, unleavened bread, or homemade Hawaiian rolls.

Roasted Chicken FAQs

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Leftover roasted chicken should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
It will keep for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

To reheat roasted chicken, place it in an oven safe dish and reheat in a 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes. You can also reheat in a microwave for 2-5 minutes. 

Leftovers can also be frozen. Place the cooled chicken in ziploc freezer bags and press out as much air as possible before sealing the bag. It will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months.

I have walked you through each step for making a perfectly roasted whole chicken, and when that beautiful golden chicken comes out of the oven, it will be impossible not to feel a little proud. The aroma alone will have everyone drifting into the kitchen asking, “Is it ready yet?”

This Brined Roasted Whole Chicken with Crispy Potatoes is the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table. The brine does all the work for you, keeping every bite juicy and flavorful, while the potatoes soak up all that buttery, lemony goodness. Whether it’s Sunday dinner or a special night in, this is one of those recipes you’ll come back to again and again — simple, classic, and full of love.

More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

• Smoked Whole Chicken
• Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
• Roasted Chicken Thighs
• Sticky Mexican Chicken
• Smoked Chicken Thighs
• 15 Minute Chicken Stir Fry

Check Out This Video to See How it’s Made…