Rachael Ray’s Top Ten Recipes To Try in 2012 - Pastas, Pizza, and Famous burgers

Read More:  Our Favorite Recipe Thai Whole Grilled Fish with Tangy Sweet Sauce, Recipes Using Fruits And Veggies

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She is known as America’s sweetheart, who reigns in creating a homemade meal in 30 minutes or less.  Rachael Ray began her culinary adventure at a gourmet food specialty shop, where she hosted a local broadcast that centered around the ever popular phrase “30 minute meals.“

Her out spoken nature and contagious laughter has been her backbone to her followers and fast road to stardom.  While her daytime show is on five days a week, finding Rachael Ray’s top ten recipes to try is inspired by her love for ‘sammies’, pastas, pizza, and her ever famous burgers.  These are the best in each of those categories:

1.) Best Burger Recipe:

Double Bacon-Beer Braised Sirloin Burgers

If you love bacon, really love bacon, and beer, then this burger recipe is a must to prepare at home.  The recipe calls for two types of ground beef, chuck and sirloin, smoky bacon, dark stout, white cheddar, with all that who needs the bun?  The burger is well rounded with fresh tomato, pickles, and leafy greens for the condiments as well as the hint of dark stout that lingers throughout the beef.

2.) Best Sammie Recipe:

Croque Madame With Fresh Asparagus

This particular sandwich is ideal for brunch or even as a dinner entrée.  It is a knife and fork kind of sandwich complete with Gruyere cheese, fresh asparagus and mild cured ham.  The béchamel sauce that is included in the recipe adds a velvet smooth texture and another depth of flavor, think of it as a French gravy.  A mixed green salad with a simple dash of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil makes this Sammie recipe a well balanced meal.

3.) Best Pasta Recipe:

Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie.
Pasta Ribbons With Peas, Proscuitto, Cream, and Spring Pesto

Fresh herbed inspired pesto sauce paired with English peas and Italian cured ham makes a great beginning to the break of spring weather.  The tarragon and mint add a burst of flavor as well as an incredible sauce for the pasta ribbons to coat.  For a great vegetarian versions just omit the ham and add extra peas.  When in season, English peas are ideal for this recipe, they can be added raw and only need a few minutes to cook.

4.)  Best Casserole Recipe:

Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie


Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie.

The ultimate comfort dish, filled with poached chicken, button mushrooms, carrots, and peas, with hints of fresh tarragon and Dijon mustard.  The recipe calls for store bought pie crust, making this classic dish even easier and quicker to get to the dinner table.

5.) Best Dip Recipe:

7 Layer Chili Dog Dip

Savory con carne is paired with bacon, hot dogs, and gooey cheese, all baked together, then served with tortilla chips and fresh sour cream.  In reality this could be “what’s for dinner” for it’s hearty ingredients and zingy flavors.  For an extra added spice, substitute pepper jack cheese and some Tabasco sauce.

6.) Best Chili Recipe:

Spanish Chorizo And Chicken Chili


Spanish Chorizo And Chicken Chili.

A great twist to chicken chili, the Spanish chorizo along with the smoky cumin just begin to touch the intense flavors of this dish.  Vegetable juice and roasted red peppers add an element that marry well with the chicken.  Fresh cilantro and cheddar cheese top the dish, creating the ultimate bounty of complex flavors and textures.

7.) Best Lasagna Recipe:

Mile High Lasagna

This recipe is the best of bests, bolognaise sauce battles béchamel sauce, rich, creamy provolone cheese is stacked with lasagna noodles, then topped with fresh basil.  The time to prepare this incredible dish is well worth the wait.  When you can not decide between a white sauce base or the classic meat sauce, this is the answer, both!  

8.) Best Salad Recipe:

Grilled Romaine With Caesar-cado Dressing


Grilled Romaine With Caesar-cado Dressing.

Grilled romaine is a unique twist to liven up the idea of salad, not to mention the addition of avocados to the tangy Caesar dressing.  This is a great first course to a meal or add some grilled chicken for an extra smoky punch of flavor.  Don’t stop there either, why not brush some bread with extra virgin olive oil and toss on the grill as well?

9.) Best Soup Recipe:

Pasta e Fagioli with Sausage Dumplings

Imagine a soup filled with a hearty serving of vegetables, white beans, little pasta shells, and meaty sausage dumplings, here it is.  This recipe is seriously a one pot wonder and just gets better as it sits.  It is also easy to double and freeze in an air tight container for a quick homemade meal.  

10.) Best Pizza Recipe:

White Pizza

If you are a cheese lover, then this is the ultimate pizza recipe for you.  The sauce is a ricotta blended with fresh garlic, then topped with mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan cheese, baked to a bubbly ooze of heaven.  For the meat lovers, adding some of your favorite pizza meats such as pepperoni, sausage, and bacon, this is a win-win meal for all.  

These recipes top ten recipes created by Rachael Ray to try, are linked to the live videos for ease and reference.  Some of the individual selections are ideal when paired with another, like the grilled romaine salad and the white pizza.  Enjoy the flavors as well as the inventive techniques Rachael Ray uses, as well as the motto “30 minutes or less” however some do extend this, but well worth it.