Ground Chicken

Think of this weeknight-friendly pasta recipe as a lighter take on the classic Italian ragù that features cherry tomatoes, a red chile for some heat, and tons of fresh basil.

Low investment and high reward, this not-so-traditional larb is the unofficial late-night meal of much of the BA staff.

For this soup recipe, we skipped browning the meatballs and poached them instead. This will keep them very tender and their flavor light, which is ideal for this seasonal dish.

Instead of just using plain rice, make your own medley! Try a mix of white rice, millet, and/or quinoa, which all cook in about the same time. You can also sub kale for the Napa cabbage.

Your most essential larb recipe: a spicy minced meat meant to be eaten with your hands along with herbs, sticky rice, and various vegetables.

Harissa, a spicy North African paste of chiles, garlic, and spices, is available in many large grocery stores and Middle Eastern markets—some brands come in tubes, others are sold in jars. If you can’t find it, though, substitute by mixing together your favorite hot sauce, tomato paste, a pinch or two of ground cumin, and a drizzle of olive oil. Keep playing with the ratios until you have a medium-spicy paste.

This white chili recipe works well with ground chicken or turkey, too.

Leftovers are the key to packing lunches easily—and this recipe is perfect for that. Plus it freezes well, too; if you freeze in small portioned containers, all you have to do is reheat and go.

For this meatball recipe, ground chicken is leaner than other meats, but less fat doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor—these meatballs are loaded with aromatics like scallions, ginger and garlic, and served alongside delicious Chinese broccoli.

Chop whatever veg you've got in your fridge to make this soup.

There isn't a drop of alcohol in this dish—the name refers to how much you'll want to drink to combat the heat. We suggest a nice cold beer or sparkling wine. This recipe is finished with Thai basil, but you can use sweet basil if that's all you have.