30 Foolproof Recipes Guaranteed To Wow Your Mother-In-Law

This savory-sweet salmon is quick and easy enough for weeknights (ready in under 30 minutes), but is also fancy enough for special occasions. If you’re a seafood novice, don’t sweat it: Searing fish might seem intimidating, but with our top tips, you’ll be a pro in no time.

Get the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.

Interested in breadmaking, but not sure where to begin? Fluffy and crispy focaccia is an amazing place to start. With no kneading involved and only 6 ingredients, making focaccia is the easiest way to feel like a pro baker, without a ton of effort.

Get the Focaccia Bread recipe.

We laughed at the idea of an Italian meatloaf initially, but after developing this recipe, the joke is on us because it’s ridiculously good. It’s tender, cheesy, garlic-forward, and rich with tomato umami. In short, it tastes like a giant meatball, and you're MIL will be so here for it.

Get the Italian Meatloaf recipe.

Marry me shrimp pasta features a rich sun-dried tomato cream sauce loaded with shrimp, tender spinach, and fragrant herbs, all tossed with perfectly al dente pasta. Taking inspiration from our beloved marry me chicken, this is a new spin on a classic that’s both indulgent and easy to make.

Get the Marry Me Shrimp Pasta recipe.

If your MIL is as completely obsessed with the Dubai chocolate trend as we are, then you've got to make her these Dubai chocolate brownies. The crispy, silky pistachio and tahini layer from the original contrasts perfectly with the soft, fudgy brownie.

Get the Dubai Chocolate Brownies recipe.

Chicken meatballs get a serious upgrade with the fresh, herbaceous magic of green goddess sauce in this easy dinner. The sauce works double-duty and isn’t just for drizzling—it’s mixed right into the meatballs for an extra dose of flavor.

Get the Green Goddess Meatballs recipe.

No one can deny a good chicken Parm. This version, coated with almond flour and LOTS of Parmesan, is both keto-friendly (perfect if you're MIL is still on a low-carb kick) and completely irresistible.

Get the Keto Chicken Parmesan recipe.

Homemade beef bourguignon is a labor of love. It's certainly not a quick weeknight dinner, but that doesn't mean it's too difficult to make for a special occasion. Follow our tips below for a dish that'll make Julia Child (and your MIL!) proud.

Get the Beef Bourguignon recipe.

Need a simple, refreshing meal that comes together fast? You've gotta make this Greek salmon. Topped with all the ingredients from a beloved Greek salad (you can toss it all together while the salmon cooks), this is an under-an-hour dinner that’s worthy to be served at your next dinner party.

Get the Greek Salmon recipe.

Chicken Marsala is a classic Italian-American dish that's crowd-pleasing, quick, and irresistible. The slightly sweet and savory sauce made from mushrooms, aromatics, and Marsala wine is straight-up drinkable. Plus, this dish comes together in just 35 minutes, making it ideal for when you want something special but with very little time or effort required.

Get the Creamy Chicken Marsala recipe.

When it comes to versatile sides, it’s difficult to beat classic roasted potatoes. Whether you’re incorporating them into your breakfast bowl or with your steak dinner, roasted potatoes complete practically any main they’re served alongside.

Get the Roasted Potatoes recipe.

Punchy flavor and interesting texture are like the Thelma & Louise of excellent food—you just need both, and this crispy rice and miso mushroom skillet delivers. This dish is inspired by Momofuku’s Miso Mushroom Rice, but takes cues from Persian tahdig and Spanish paella, so you know it's good.

Get the Miso Mushroom Crispy Rice recipe.

If you’re one of the many who are stunned by the shiny fruit tarts in bakery windows, then this recipe is for you. Good news: It’s surprisingly easy to make a stunning fruit tart right at home! Make it as the star of your holiday brunch, or as an easy, warm-weather treat to indulge in anytime.

Get the Fruit Tart recipe.

The gang's all here in this Cobb salad, except with some big-time summery upgrades: Strawberries stand in for the standard tomatoes, while feta takes the place of blue cheese. Fear not, there's still an extra-creamy buttermilk-based dressing that coats every bite.

Get the Strawberry Chicken Cobb Salad recipe.

We’ll say it: Bacon and ranch is an absolute match made in heaven. If you’re as obsessed with this flavor combination as we are (how could you not be?), then this chicken dinner should be the recipe you whip our next time your in-laws are over.

Get the Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken recipe.

The perfect centerpiece to any holiday dinner, the steps to make this chicken are simple: You season the bird (just salt & pepper!), then roast it at high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh juicy.

Get the Roast Chicken recipe.

Words cannot fully express how we feel about this particular cake. It's fudgy yet light, salty and sweet, and rich as can be. This is the perfect starter lava cake recipe too. It only requires 10 ingredients, and because it’s one large batch, there's no need to stress about overcooking the center.

Get the Big-Batch Lava Cake recipe.

This rice pilaf recipe has enough going on to be the main event, but can also be the supporting role for roasted meats and fish. Textures are the key to giving this dish complexity: A crunch from the almonds, a freshness from the herbs and lemon, and a sharp, briny punch of feta all combine for the perfect bite.

Get the Lemon-Herb Rice Pilaf recipe.

Homemade pie is always incredible, but banana cream pie is always at the top of my list. It's layered with dreamy vanilla pastry cream and slices of banana, all topped with fluffy clouds of whipped cream and our ingredient superstar: toasted coconut chips. Decadent yet light, this is the pie that your MIL is guaranteed to love.

Get the Banana Cream Pie recipe.

This recipe was semi-inspired by the Chinese chicken salad at The Cheesecake Factory. It's sweet, savory, refreshing, and extremely crunchy (we're huge suckers for iceberg lettuce.) The key ingredient in this salad? Uncooked ramen noodles for that irresistible crunch.

Get the Chinese Chicken Salad recipe.