Kendra Vaculin
Contributor
Originally from the San Francisco East Bay, Kendra has worked in food media (Epicurious, Eater, Food52) and test kitchens (Blue Apron) across New York City since 2014, as a writer, recipe developer, food stylist, and producer. She was Bon Appétit's Test Kitchen Editor until 2025, where she thought a lot about what you should make for dinner, developing recipes for her monthly column Speedy Does It and overseeing the Dinner Is Served section of the print magazine. Outside of weeknight cooking, she loves back-pocket desserts, produce-centric picnic food, and stuff to make for a party. She likes ice cream more than vegetables, but it's much closer than you'd think.
Recipes
Cabbage and Bacon Okonomiyaki
Comprised of a custardy pantry-forward okonomiyaki batter studded with shredded cabbage and bacon, this Japanese pancake is a fast track to dinner.
Recipes
Lentil Soup With Greens and Rice
Inspired by the flavors of qorma-e-sabzi, an Afghan spinach stew, this simple soup relies on pantry staples and a box of frozen spinach.
Cooking
These 15-Minute Greens Taste Like They Braised All Day
They’re buttery, smoky, and speedy as can be.
Recipes
Orange-Coriander Salmon
Bright coriander (as a crust for salmon and in a velvety orange sauce) takes center stage in this weeknight dinner bursting with citrusy flavor.
Recipes
Ragù Paprikash
Classic Hungarian chicken paprikash is reimagined as a bright pasta dinner, with ground chicken, aromatics, and a dollop of sour cream swirled in for richness.
Recipes
Pork and Chickpea Stew With Cinnamon
Bust out the cinnamon sticks for this simple, cozy one-pot braise—they’ll imbue the dish with a gentle warming flavor over 4 hours of hands-off cook time.
Recipes
Roasted Cauliflower With Turmeric Sauce
Plain roasted cauliflower? Snore. Dress it up with this turmeric-spiked coconut milk sauce and a handful of crunchy toppings.
Recipes
Cumin Steak and Scallion Pitas
This super quick weeknight steak dinner uses ground cumin two ways: as a rub for the beef itself, and stirred into yogurt as a creamy condiment.
Recipes
Pearl Onion and Sweet Pepper Skillet
With a bag of frozen pearl onions (so cute, no peeling required!) and a bag of mini sweet peppers, you’re well on your way to dinner.
Recipes
Seedy Cumin Sprinkle
A crispy, crunchy granola-like topping you can make on the stovetop featuring honey and cumin seeds. It goes well atop salads as well as your yogurt.
Recipes
Blueberry Compote With Coriander
Fresh or frozen blueberries team up with ground coriander in a versatile compote you can enjoy over yogurt, ice cream, or even toast.
Recipes
Cinnamon Butterscotch
No need for a candy thermometer in this easy recipe for butterscotch hit with warming ground cinnamon and a hefty pinch of salt.
Recipes
Beets and Farro With Honey Goat Cheese
We love precooked beets—and this speedy, hearty dish proves why.
Recipes
Balsamic Mushroom and Sausage Pasta
Dark and moody in color but surprisingly bright and light to eat, this satisfying dish comes together in just 30 minutes.
Recipes
Lemon Pepper Chicken Salad
The beloved bar food gets transformed into a 20-minute salad featuring broiled chicken thighs, crunchy celery, and a bright, creamy dressing.
Recipes
Gnocchi-Leek Soup With Greens
Shelf-stable gnocchi makes this play on potato-leek soup a speedy one-pot cozy wonder.
Recipes
One-Pot Chicken and Rice With Olive Gremolata
Spiced, schmaltzy rice and tender braised chicken legs cook together in one Dutch oven—and the result feels like a warm hug.
Recipes
Honey Mustard Pretzel Roast Chicken
Fans of those tangy, oniony honey mustard pretzels will love this one-skillet chicken dinner—complete with pretzel breadcrumbs.