Of course, you can’t have a cocktail party without some wow-worthy holiday appetizer recipes. Start with a tray of Mini Cranberry Meatballs—sweet, tangy, and gone in a flash. Pair those with Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms, which are warm and savory with just the right pop of flavor. And for a touch of elegance, serve up Paula’s Walnut Praline Brie and Fruit Platter that features the most decadent sweet and crunchy topping—plus, it’s just plain pretty!

Now, for the sippers! Mix up a batch of Paula’s Christmas Martinis for a festive and fruity holiday cocktail recipe. Bonus—they look downright magical with a little sugar rim and a beautiful garnish of rosemary and cranberries. And if you prefer to serve up something cozy, a mug of Hot Buttered Rum will warm everyone right down to their boots.

Round out your Christmas cocktail party menu with a sweet bite or two. Paula’s Peppermint Pinwheels are as cute as they are tasty, and a tray of Old-Time Chocolate Fudge adds a nostalgic quality that we just adore this time of year.

Pull out your prettiest platters, light some candles, and crank up those carols. With this mix of finger foods and festive drinks plus plenty more options below, your holiday gathering will be the talk of the town. Happy holidays, y’all!

The post 20 Recipes for a Christmas Cocktail Party appeared first on Paula Deen.

You’ll need the following ingredients:

• 4 quarts water
• 1 (10¾-oz) can condensed cream of celery or cream of chicken soup
• 1 teaspoon Paula Deen’s House Seasoning
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 (2½-lb) chicken
• 2 cups all-purpose flour mixed with 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup ice water
• 2 tablespoons corn starch (optional)

You’ll start with the homemade chicken broth. Be sure to cut the chicken up, but leave the skin on—you’ll remove the skin and bones later, but in the meantime, they add a lot of flavor! Add the chicken, celery, onion, bay leaves, bouillon, and House Seasoning to a large stock pot with four quarts of water. Cook it at a low boil for 30 to 45 minutes, until the meat starts falling off the bones. At that point, you can remove the skin and bones, along with the bay leaves. Return the skinned and de-boned chicken back to the pot.

While the chicken is boiling, start prepping the dumplings.

Put the flour and salt mixture in a mixing bowl, form a bowl in the flour, and start adding a little dribble of ice water to the center of it. Using your hands, work the water, flour, and salt mixture from the center of the bowl to the sides of the bowl, adding a bit more water at a time until all the flour is incorporated. The batter should feel tough at this point.

Now, start to knead the dough and form it into a ball. Flour your counters or dough board and use a rolling pin to roll it until it’s 1⁄8-inch thick. The dough will be firm, and you should be sure to work from the center when rolling. Set the dough aside to air dry for a few minutes.

Once your dumplings are prepped and you’ve returned the chicken to the pot, you’ll add the condensed soup to the stock pot, letting it continue to boil. It’s your choice whether you prefer cream of celery or cream of chicken soup—both create a thick, creamy, and flavorful base for your chicken & dumplings. At this time, you can decide if you want a thicker stock. If you do, create a slurry by combining the cornstarch with ¼ cup of water. Add this slurry to the stock.

Now, return to your dumpling dough, cutting them into 1-inch-wide strips. Add the dumplings to the pot one at a time to prevent sticking. Do not stir after the dumplings have been added to the pot. Instead, shake the pot gently in a circular motion until the dumplings are submerged.

Cook the dumplings until the dumplings float and are no longer doughy. This should take approximately 3 to 4 minutes, but be sure not to overcook them. Once they’re finished, you’re ready to serve!

Making a Southern chicken and dumplings recipe from scratch is a labor of love, but after just one bite, you’ll realize why it’s worth it!

Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t great shortcuts if you really need them. Instead of starting the dumplings from scratch, you can swap out the dough by using 3 cups of Paula Deen Original Recipes Mix combined with 1½ cups of buttermilk. Then roll out the dough and cut into strips. You can also purchase frozen dumplings in most supermarkets if you don’t have time to make them yourself. In fact, even Paula uses frozen dumplings at times!

If you want to see the Queen of Southern Cuisine make her Southern chicken & dumplings recipe for herself, you can watch her here.

Have you tried making Paula’s recipe from scratch or do you employ some shortcuts, like store-bought dumplings? Let us know in the comments below!

The post How to Make Paula’s Famous Southern Chicken and Dumplings Recipe appeared first on Paula Deen.

In addition to saving money, you can also save some calories by lightening up your drinks with lower fat milks and sugar substitutes. There’s something comforting about knowing exactly what’s in your drink. No mystery ingredients needed! Plus, we can’t forget the biggest paferk of all—you can make your drink exactly how you like it. No more too-sweet coffees or too-hot teas—we’re going for the Goldilocks of it all and making it juuuuust right.

From fancy lattes and frappes to decadent hot chocolate and spiced teas, Paula has a recipe for all sorts of cozy coffee shop drinks. Let us know in the comments what your go-to coffee shop order is and if you’ll be swapping it out for one of Paula’s cozy drink recipes.

The post 12 At-Home Coffee Shop Drinks appeared first on Paula Deen.

Paula has some great cider recipes that run the fruity gamut, from apple, pear, and cranberry to lemon and mixed fruit. Not only do these homemade cider recipes taste incredible, but they also act as a kind of potpourri. As they warm in your kitchen, the incredible fragrance of the fruits and spices will fill your home with all the best scents of fall!

If you want to learn how to make apple cider at home, check out Paula’s great homemade hot cider recipes below. We promise they help make a cool fall night a whole lot cozier! Which cider recipe will you make? Be sure to let us know in the comments!

The post Warm Up with These 7 Hot Cider Recipes for Fall appeared first on Paula Deen.

Whether it’s a broth-based soup or a heartier chili, ground beef is a perfect addition. Today we’re sharing everything from a traditional vegetable soup recipe and a pasta-filled Tastes Like Lasagna Soup recipe to a Chocolate Chili—yes, you read that correctly! Chocolate. Chili. These ground beef soup recipes are out-of-this-world, y’all! The ground beef adds a bit of heartiness to these soups, as well as some extra protein and texture.

So if you, too, love some ground beef soups, then buckle up, y’all, because things are about to get real tasty!

The post 12 Ground Beef Soup Recipes appeared first on Paula Deen.

While there are many recipes that can be made ahead (and we’ve supplied quite a few here in this blog), we know that sometimes it’s just helpful to have a little guidance on what kinds of recipes work best to make ahead and then either freeze or refrigerate, what parts of a recipe can be made ahead, and what would be best to leave until the day-of.

1. Make doughs ahead of time and freeze them, unbaked. We’re talking cookies, pie crusts, rolls, you name it. We recommend letting the dough thaw in the refrigerator before baking them in the oven. Want to save even more time? You can bake breads completely before serving, and just allow them to thaw prior to dinnertime.
2. Prep your fruits and veggies. This is often one of the most time-consuming and messy parts of cooking. Save yourself a little clean-up and a lot of time by chopping your fruits and veggies a couple days in advance.
3. Similar to the point above, chop or toast nuts ahead of time. Paula uses nuts in everything—dressings, desserts, salads, and sides. You can safely prep them ahead of time, and they’ll be just as flavorful when it comes time to use them! Just make sure they’re stored in an airtight container.
4. Make your soup, and freeze it. To maximize storage space in your freezer, put it in zip-top storage bags, and lay them flat in the freezer. Simply thaw in the refrigerator and then re-heat it on the stove top before serving.
5. Pre-make dips and dressings. We recommend assembling these a day or two before, popping them in the refrigerator, and baking them off the same day. Just skip the cheese until they’re ready for the oven.
6. Avoid freezing raw eggs or dairy. While sour cream, yogurt, and buttermilk should never be frozen, you technically can freeze milk; however, most experts advise against it to avoid a change in texture. This includes freshly whipped cream, as it won’t hold for long. And raw eggs? Don’t think about freezing them either. If you have a recipe that calls for eggs or dairy, we recommend assembling up to that point and freezing it, adding the eggs and dairy the day-of, or baking it off completely, saving the cheese topping for the day-of.
7. Let casseroles thaw in the refrigerator for a day or two, then bring to room temperature prior to baking. This speeds up the baking process, freeing up valuable oven time for other menu items. And while times and temps do vary, a good rule of thumb is to reheat casseroles at 325˚F or 350˚F for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until they are hot and bubbly.
8. And last, but certainly not least, make sure you have enough bakeware and serving ware ahead of time. After all, you don’t want to find yourself in a pickle on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day with no stores open. If possible, invest in some disposable aluminum bakeware so as not to tie up all yours in the freezer for the days or weeks leading up to Christmas.

Did we miss anything? Share your tips for prepping recipes ahead in the comments below. Happy prepping, y’all!

The post Make-Ahead Christmas Recipes appeared first on Paula Deen.

Christmas appetizers work perfectly, as most guests prefer to graze on snacks rather than eat a big sit-down meal due to the vast number of soirees they have to attend! So for your event, consider Christmas party appetizer recipes, like Paula’s Salmon Dip, Air Fryer Fried Ravioli, and Mini Cranberry Meatballs. Plus, she has more easy Christmas appetizers, like her Sugar-and-Nut Glazed Brie, which is fabulous served with some fancy crackers and fruit, and her popular Bacon Pinwheels.

Even without a big feast, your guests and loved ones will eat well with a little help from Paula’s Christmas party appetizers! Will you be making any of these for your holiday gatherings? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Festive Party Starters: 9 Christmas Appetizer Recipes appeared first on Paula Deen.

Today we’re sharing 9 of our very favorite chili recipes, including chili with chocolate for added richness, super spicy Five Alarm Chili served in a delicious and adorable Biscuit Bowl, and a chili with a taco twist!

Now, every family is different. While the Deens tend to prefer both beans and beef in their chili recipes, yours may be different! Let us know how you like your chili in the comments section below.

Happy eating, and happy National Chili Day!

The post 9 Chili Recipes for National Chili Day appeared first on Paula Deen.

Have you ever noticed that a lot of winter meals are comprised of comfort foods, including breads, pastas, and root veggies? While they may not be as light as our go-to summer dishes, they have a way of putting a big smile on our face. And they can always take us back to fond memories from childhood. We all think fondly on those days of playing outside in the chilly winter weather and coming inside to a bowl of something warm & cozy.

Whether you’re in the mood for soups, pasta, chili, grits, or some other winter comfort food recipe, you’ll find something cozy, delicious, and warm right here. And they’re extra wonderful because you’ll find that the leftovers are just as good when reheated!

Have y’all tried any new must-try winter meals lately? Be sure to share them with us in the comments below!

The post 12 Must-Try Southern Winter Meal Recipes appeared first on Paula Deen.

If you’re planning on hosting your friends and family for a gourmet Christmas dinner, we’re here to help streamline your menu-planning process. We’ve compiled an assortment of gourmet Christmas recipes for each category of food you’ll likely need. You’ll find Christmas appetizer recipes, soup & salad ideas, Christmas main course recipes, holiday side dishes, and fabulous Christmas dessert recipes.

Simply pick as many as you like from each category for a beautiful meal.

Appetizers:

Sugar and Nut-Glazed Brie

Easy Lamb Meatballs with Cucumber-Dill Dipping Sauce

Fig-Balsamic Blue Cheese Crostini

Sun-Dried-Tomato and Arugula Bruschetta

Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms en Croute

Soups & Salads:

French Onion Soup

Oyster and Brie Champagne Soup

Curried Squash and Apple Soup

Wedge Salad

Roasted Beet Salad with Cocoa Vinaigrette

Caesar Salad with Parmesan Crisps

Entrées:

Roast Prime Rib of Beef with a Rich Pan Sauce

Vanilla and Peppercorn-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Vanilla Bean Butter Sauce

Braised Turkey Shanks

Turducken

Roasted Turkey with Maple-Cranberry Glaze

Foolproof Standing Rib Roast

Side Dishes:

Green Beans with Walnuts, Cranberries, and Blue Cheese

Mrs. Hoggle’s Stuffed Cranberry Sauce

Apple-Cranberry Stuffing

Spinach and Mushrooms

Green Bean Bundles with Bacon-Vinaigrette

Mashed Potatoes with Sautéed Mushrooms

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Desserts:

Chocolate Bundles with Chocolate Ganache

Gingered Caramel Pear Shortcakes

Chocolate Cream Puffs with Hazelnut Filling

Never-Fail Chocolate Soufflé

Paula’s Cherries Jubilee

Crème Brûlée

So what dishes made the cut for you? Share your dream menu from this list in the comments section below.

We wish you a beautiful, blessed, and very Merry Christmas, y‘all!

The post A Gourmet Christmas Dinner appeared first on Paula Deen.