Carter Family Recipes

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Main Courses

A main course gives a meal its center, whether that is a piece of meat, a seafood preparation, pasta, or a vegetable-based dish. Casseroles, sandwiches, rolled dishes, and filled tortillas bring different serving styles to this collection. Begin with an ingredient or dish type, then choose a preparation suited to the table you are planning.

Browse the posts below, or choose a subcategory when available.

  • Barbecue

    Chicken thighs with white barbecue sauce, glazed thigh rolls, and a layered barbecue pie offer different expressions of barbecue flavor. Browse these dishes for the cooking method and serving style described in each recipe.

  • Beef

    Beef carpaccio, stuffed cabbage rolls, steak preparations, and other dishes bring different cuts and cooking methods into this collection. Choose a beef main course by its texture, accompaniments, and preparation.

  • Burritos

    Filled tortillas become a portable meal or a portion to slice in these burrito preparations. Breakfast wraps, Thai peanut chicken, and shrimp Alfredo variations offer different fillings within a rolled form.

  • Casseroles

    A casserole brings several ingredients into a dish that can be portioned at the table. Poblano chicken, chiles rellenos, and barbecue pie offer different flavors and layers within the collection.

  • Egg Dishes & Entrées

    Eggs can anchor a meal beyond breakfast through an omelette, a sandwich filling, or another savory preparation. These dishes offer ways to bring a familiar ingredient into an entrée.

  • Enchiladas

    Sauced tortillas and baked layers are at the center of these enchilada recipes. Mother’s cheese enchiladas, chicken casseroles, and sausage-gravy breakfast variations offer different ways to bring a warm tortilla dish to the table.

  • Freezer-Friendly Meals

    Croissant breakfast casseroles, meatball pasta bakes, and stuffed shells offer dishes to prepare with freezer storage in mind. Follow each recipe’s directions for freezing, thawing, and reheating the finished meal.

  • Lamb

    A raspberry-balsamic and pecan-crusted rack of lamb represents this small collection. Fruit acidity and a nut coating offer contrasts around the lamb in this main-course preparation.

  • Pasta

    Orzo, noodles, and other pasta forms carry sauces and accompanying ingredients in different ways. Browse pasta dishes from a shrimp preparation to chicken and noodle recipes with contrasting cooking styles.

  • Pork

    Pork chops, stuffed cabbage, and tenderloin Wellington bring different cuts into the main-course collection. Browse by the cut, cooking approach, and accompaniments that suit the meal you want to prepare.

  • Poultry

    Chicken, turkey, and pheasant provide several starting points for a poultry meal. Skillet dishes, smoked preparations, pies, and rolled servings give this collection a range of methods and textures.

  • Quesadillas

    A crisp tortilla and a warm filling give quesadillas their appeal in this collection. Egg, crab rangoon, and cheese preparations offer different flavors within a folded or layered tortilla dish.

  • Roulades

    A roulade gathers filling and an outer layer into a rolled serving. Turkey with ricotta and spinach, steak pinwheels, and porchetta offer different approaches to shaping and slicing the main course.

  • Sandwiches

    Egg salad, chicken Parmesan, and other fillings turn bread into the center of a meal. Browse sandwiches for the combination of bread, filling, and sauce that suits the serving you want.

  • Seafood

    Shrimp chowders, salmon preparations, and other fish and shellfish dishes bring seafood into the main course. Browse by ingredient and cooking method for a dish with the texture and accompaniments you want.

  • Tacos

    Jerk shrimp, Kung Pao chicken, and chipotle shrimp offer different fillings for tacos. The collection includes adaptations and fusion dishes alongside other preparations built around a tortilla and its toppings.

  • Tamales

    Vegetables, cheese, and green chiles provide fillings for these tamales. The collection includes calabacitas con queso and poblano preparations, with the method shaping each wrapped serving.

  • Vegetarian

    Vegetable rollatini, butter beans, and pasta dishes offer main-course ideas with a vegetarian direction. Browse by the ingredients and method, checking the full recipe for the suitability you need.

In this collection

  • Creamy White Chicken Chili Cottage Cheese Bake

    Creamy White Chicken Chili Cottage Cheese Bake

    Zesty, creamy, and protein-packed, this White Chicken Chili Cottage Cheese Bake is comfort food with a clean-eating twist. Rich cottage cheese and sour cream create a luscious base,…

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  • Königsberger Klopse

    Königsberger Klopse is a cornerstone of historic East Prussian cooking, reflecting the ingenuity of German coastal and agrarian kitchens. Traditionally made with finely textured meatballs gently poached rather…

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  • Mini Savory Croissant Breakfast Casseroles

    These individual casseroles are made in 3.2 oz Rubbermaid Brilliance pans for perfectly portioned, grab-and-bake breakfasts. Each mini casserole layers buttery croissant, cheese, bacon, and herbs for a fluffy,…

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  • Smoky Mozzarella Pasta and Meatball Bake

    Smoky Mozzarella Pasta and Meatball Bake

    This hearty, smoky pasta bake combines tender penne, flavorful fire-roasted tomatoes, and savory meatballs, all layered with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese. The addition of fresh spinach adds…

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  • Creamy Spinach and Shrimp Stuffed Shells

    These jumbo pasta shells are filled with a rich mixture of shrimp, spinach, and creamy cheeses, then smothered in a velvety white sauce. Designed for make-ahead convenience, they…

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  • Jalapeño Air Fryer Salmon Burgers

    These Jalapeño air fryer salmon burgers are bold, juicy, and perfectly crisp without the need for pan-frying. Fresh salmon is blended with herbs, lemon, and finely diced Jalapeño…

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  • Fresh Egg Pasta

    This is traditional fresh egg pasta made with modern precision. The KitchenAid mixer handles proper kneading, while the optional Anova chamber vacuum step accelerates hydration — giving you…

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  • Creamy Tomato Cannellini

    Tender white beans cooked in an Instant Pot are combined with a rich, creamy tomato sauce, fresh spinach, and fragrant herbs to create a hearty, comforting dish. Using…

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  • Make-Ahead Lasagna

    Make-Ahead Lasagna

    This lasagna is rich, hearty, and layered with perfectly seasoned meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and gooey melted cheese. Divided into four 4.7‑cup Rubbermaid Brilliance containers, it’s perfect…

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  • Rich & Rustic Italian Lasagna

    Rich & Rustic Italian Lasagna

    This lasagna lives up to its legendary reputation — a rich, slow‑simmered meat sauce layered with tender noodles and three kinds of cheese creates an unforgettable Italian‑style baked…

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