Jesse Szewczyk
Senior Test Kitchen Editor
Jesse Szewczyk holds the distinction of being named one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in the food and drinks landscape for 2021. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Jesse held positions at The Kitchn and BuzzFeed Food before joining the food team at Bon Appétit and Epicurious. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Food Network, TODAY, Food52, The Washington Post, King Arthur Baking, Food & Wine, and more. He is the author of Tasty Pride (Clarkson Potter, 2020), a collection of 75 recipes and stories from the queer food community, which raised $50,000 for GLAAD, and Cookies: The New Classics (Clarkson Potter, 2021), named one of the best cookbooks of the year by The New York Times and The New Yorker.
Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs
A holiday on a sheet pan—with green beans, potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
Recipes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes With Sesame-Soy Butter
The secret ingredient is a baking staple you probably already have.
Recipes
Quick-and-Spicy Cocoa Shrimp
Tossing shrimp into a quick and spicy pan sauce made with cocoa powder and lime juice makes for a flavorful weeknight dinner that comes together in no time.
Recipes
Cocoa-Blackened Chicken Thighs With Stone Fruit
Dusted in a blend of cocoa powder and Old Bay and cooked until blackened and charred, these quick chicken thighs make an ideal weeknight dinner.
Recipes
Cucumber-Lime Electrolyte Drink
Loosely based on the WHO’s rehydration formula, this DIY electrolyte drink with cucumber, lime, and mint is the perfect salve for hot summer days.
Cooking
For the Juiciest Grilled Meat, Marinate It in Soda
Soda’s acidity tenderizes meat like chicken, while its sugar boosts caramelization.
Recipes
Ginger Beer and Mustard Pork Chops
Quick-cooking, thin-cut pork chops can often get dry on the grill, but this ginger beer marinade keeps the lean cut moist and flavorful.
Recipes
Sprite-Grilled Chicken Skewers
The secret to these tender, spicy-sweet chicken skewers? A splash of Sprite in the punchy marinade.
Recipes
Kimchi-Bacon Shrimp
One jar of kimchi does a lot in this saucy, one-pan dinner. The chopped kimchi adds texture and tang while the brine from the jar bulks out the pan sauce.
Recipes
Soy-and-Cola-Marinated Steak
Upgrade your grilled skirt steak with this Coca-Cola-spiked marinade, which both tenderizes and caramelizes the meat.
Recipes
Dirty Martini Chicken Thighs
This cheeky chicken recipe crams all of the iconic flavors of a dirty martini—olive brine, vodka, vermouth, and all—into a savory one-pan meal.
Recipes
Pecan Sandie Wedges
Tender, buttery, and pleasantly crumbly, these salty-sweet shortbread wedges studded with toasted pecans are a grownup version of the childhood favorite.
Recipes
Crispy Fried Shrimp and Giardiniera
How do you make fried shrimp better? By adding giardiniera to the mix. Here the duo gets coated in a vodka-spiked batter to create a remarkably crisp exterior.
Recipes
Earl Grey Martini
Quickly infusing vodka with earl grey tea bags creates a distinct floral foundation for this fun (and caffeinated) take on a martini.
Recipes
Double Dark Chocolate No-Churn Ice Cream
This fuss-free ice cream doubles down on the chocolate flavor with a rich dark cocoa base and a glossy fudge ripple—no churning required.
Recipes
One-Pot Pantry Orzo With Chickpeas
Staring down a bare pantry and fridge? This one-pot wonder—which pairs protein-rich chickpeas and briny olives and capers with tender orzo—will save dinner.
Cooking
You Name a Booze, We’ll Give You a Braise
From bourbon-sloshed short ribs to cider-simmered pork chops.
Recipes
Herby Cauliflower Fritters
Frozen cauliflower deserves to be more than a side. Here a quick zap in the microwave primes the veggie crumbles to become a hearty vegetarian main.
Recipes
One-Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Skip the the roux and the extra pan. Thickened with cornstarch, this cozy one-pot broccoli mac and cheese recipe comes together in just 35 minutes.