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

  • Japanese Curry Rice with Crispy Panko Egg

    Japanese Curry Rice with Crispy Panko Egg

    A rich, savory-sweet Japanese curry served over steamed short-grain rice and topped with a crisp panko-coated fried egg. The contrast is the whole point: crunchy breadcrumbs, a soft…

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  • Smoked Crab Rangoon Stuffed Mushrooms

    Smoked Crab Rangoon Stuffed Mushrooms

    Creamy crab Rangoon filling made with imitation crab, cream cheese, green onions, lemon, and Cajun seasoning, spooned into tender mushroom caps and finished with a sweet and spicy…

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  • Creamy Tuscan Shrimp

    Creamy Tuscan Shrimp

    Tender jumbo shrimp in a rich, savory cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan, spinach, basil, and a touch of lemon. White wine adds depth and acidity, while…

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  • Shrimp Carbonara

    Shrimp Carbonara

    Shrimp Carbonara is a rich yet surprisingly light pasta dish featuring tender shrimp, crisp bacon, and perfectly cooked spaghetti enveloped in a silky Parmesan and egg sauce. Rather…

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  • Championship BBQ Pie

    Championship BBQ Pie combines smoked pulled pork, creamy smoked mac and cheese, crispy fried onions, tangy Carolina-style barbecue sauce, and a jalapeño buttermilk cornbread crust in one dramatic…

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  • Chicken Bacon Ranch Tortilla Bake

    Creamy Chicken, Bacon, and Cheddar Wrapped in Golden Flour Tortillas This crowd-friendly tortilla bake combines tender chicken, smoky bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, ranch dressing, and sour cream inside…

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  • Mediterranean Garden Frittata

    Mediterranean Garden Frittata

    A colorful, vegetable-forward frittata inspired by the Mediterranean diet. Loaded with fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs, heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil, and high-quality protein, this versatile dish is equally suited…

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  • Cantonese-Style Silky Scrambled Eggs

    Cantonese-Style Silky Scrambled Eggs

    These Cantonese-style scrambled eggs are adapted specifically for the Breville Control Freak, using precise surface temperature control to consistently produce glossy, silky eggs with delicate, tender curds. Instead…

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  • Ultimate Tavern-Style Pickled Eggs

    These Ultimate Tavern-Style Pickled Eggs deliver the perfect balance of tangy, savory, and aromatic flavors. A carefully balanced blend of white vinegar and apple cider vinegar provides bright…

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  • New York–Style Chopped Cheese Sandwiches

    A chopped cheese is a hot, messy, deeply savory sandwich made with seasoned ground beef, sautéed onions, and American cheese chopped together on a griddle. The filling is…

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