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The Busy Bite

Your go-to source for quick, delicious dishes.

Fast and Easy

Quick and easy ideas for getting delicious food on the table in no time. Satisfy your family and your guests with recipes, cooking tips, and kitchen tricks that'll make your life easier all season long.
FAQ

How much food and drink do you need per person?

Use this cheat sheet to ensure your guests have enough to eat and drink and save time in the kitchen by only making as much as you need.
  • Wine: 4 6-ounce pours per person
  • Appetizers: 6-8 pieces per person
  • Cheese: 2 ounces per person
  • Whole Turkey: 1 1/2 pounds per person
  • Rolls: 2 small rolls per person
  • Pie or cake: 1 3-inch wedge per person
  • What's the fastest way to thaw frozen meat?

    Transfer the meat to a resealable plastic bag (or keep it in the original airtight packaging). Set the meat into a bowl or dish in the sink and fill the vessel with cool water. Change the water every 30 minutes to ensure that it stays cold enough to keep the meat in a safe temperature zone. If you need it thawed in less than an hour, try running a slow trickle of room-temperature water into the bowl until it's thawed completely.

    How long does it take to cook chicken breast?

    Set your oven to 450 degrees and you'll only need 15 to 20 minutes to bake chicken breast through. There are plenty of healthy chicken recipes that require such a short cooking time, but if you're planning to cook a whole chicken you should allot about an hour for cooking time, depending on the size of your bird.

    How do you convert slow-cooker recipes to an Instant Pot?

    First, lower the meat-cooking time. If the meat dish cooks in 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high in the slow cooker, it will cook in 25-30 minutes in the Instant Pot. Make sure the Instant Pot setting reads "sealing" and not "venting" to ensure it's cooked properly. If you're cooking meat from frozen in an Instant Pot, just add 5 or 10 more minutes to the total cook time until it's done. Don't forget that Instant Pots need more liquid to function properly, so if your recipe doesn't already call for at least a cup of liquid (such as broth or water), add it.

    How long does it take to boil eggs in an Instant Pot?

    If you use the egg setting on your Instant Pot you will have hard-boiled eggs in about 15 minutes. This includes a 5-minute warmup period, 5 minutes of cook time, and a 5-minute cool down period.

    What is the best 5-ingredient dish to make for dinner?

    Throw precooked chicken and microwaveable quinoa into a bowl with cooked veggies (they only take 20 minutes in the oven!) and you've got dinner, and a healthy one at that. This quick meal is just one of many 5-ingredient dinner ideas you can pull together in no time.

    What is the easiest, quickest appetizer to make?

    Short on time and inspiration? Look no further than baked goat cheese for your next appetizer. This impressive-looking and delicious dish takes 15 minutes to cook and even less time to prep. Serve with a fresh baguette, crostini, or your favorite crackers and it'll look like you planned for weeks.

    What is the easiest way to make cocktails for a group?

    When one cup just isn't enough, turn toward pitcher cocktails to refresh your party guests. There are plenty of adult drinks that are easy to make in bulk, including margaritas, mojitos, and punches.