Half-and-half is one of the most versatile ingredients to use in any recipe. It can make a savory cream sauce thick and rich in flavor while also being used to take a dessert to that next level of deliciousness.
Whether you’re looking for some simple, classic recipes or looking to try out something new in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered!
Keep reading to check out some of the most amazing ways to incorporate half-and-half into your next dish!
1. Garlic Cream Sauce
This garlic cream sauce is both simple and easy to make with only six main ingredients going in to it!
You can use this sauce with pasta, chicken, green beans, and even in casseroles! It’s incredibly versatile and is sure to have your dinner guests coming back for more.
This sauce is made using butter, garlic, flour, half-and-half (our titular hero), parmesan cheese, and parsley. That’s it! And it can be prepared in as little as 20 minutes to boot!
This is a great way to get used to using half-and-half in a dish. On top of that, you also get to learn how to make an incredible garlic cream sauce that can go with just about anything! (Well, maybe don’t pair it with a cheesecake.)
(Actually, maybe do. Let us know if it’s good or not.)
2. Chicken Lazone
Chicken Lazone is an incredible Cajun dish that starts with pan-fried chicken breasts in butter. Our mouths are literally already watering.
A homemade seasoning mix flavors the chicken itself, but the star of the show is the incredible sauce that coats the bed of noodles the chicken sits on.
It has the garlic, it has the spice, it has the herbs, it’s just all around incredible. If you’re looking for something to wow your friends and family next time you have them over, this is it!
3. Soft-Scrambled Eggs with Toast
This an old take on a classic that never stops being a crowd pleaser.
Even if it’s just you in the morning, there’s nothing better than sitting at breakfast with a pillowy, custardy pile of scrambled eggs on the table that just melts in your mouth.
This recipe includes the addition of a few herbs and veggies, such as red onion, dill, and carrots.
Even if that’s not your thing, we highly recommend you give those additions a try. Not only do they provide a healthy boost to your meal, but they’ll add a depth of flavor that’ll reinvent scrambled eggs for you!
4. Coconut Cream Pie
If you’re looking to try out some desserts with half-and-half (your newfound cooking/baking best friend), we recommend you start here.
This coconut cream pie recipe is a simple, classic treat made with ingredients that you most likely already have on hand.
The method is simple. Just cook together your liquid ingredients, let them cool, and transfer to your baked pie crust. After letting the pie set up, top with whipped cream and coconut and boom! Coconut cream pie!
It’s one of our favorites and it never fails to make any birthday, graduation party, or walk-through-the-park better. We’re not sure if you need a whole pie to take on a walk, but it certainly can’t hurt.
5. Tres Leches Cake
Tres Leches is Spanish for “three milks”, as in, the three milks you’re gonna need to create this incredible cake.
Half-and-half (of course), sweetened condensed milk, and evaporated milk will all be combined together to drizzle over your cake after it’s done baking.
You’ll need to poke a bunch of holes in the cake before pouring the milks over, as this will allow the cake to soak up and absorb as much of the delicious mixture as possible.
After refrigerating for at least 24 hours (patience is a virtue), you’ll end up with one of the sweetest, most decadent cakes out there.
6. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes are the bread and butter of any hearty dinner, even more than actual bread and butter are. They are the backbone of Thanksgiving and without them, you would be lost in a sea of gravy and Turkey.
Thank goodness we found this recipe for you, then! These mashed potatoes are made with the addition of half-and-half which ups the creaminess factor, so yeah, we’re already fans.
After boiling your little Yukon Golds, melt a stick of butter into some warm half-and-half. Then, it’s just mashing and mixing!
This is an iconic, simple dish that anyone can make, so if you wanna start anywhere to learn how to make mashed potatoes, we recommend you start here.
7. Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine is the quintessential breakfast quiche. Bacon, eggs, AND cheese? Now that’s a triple threat.
The best part about any quiche is that it can be prepped 1-2 days ahead of time before you even need to slice into it. And if you have the right quiche pan, it makes the process that much easier.
You can either use a pre-baked pie shell or make your own dough (which we recommend. Homemade dough is just so fun to make!), but regardless, you’ll pour your egg-onion-bacon-cheese mixture into the pie and bake!
Once it’s done, let it cool a little before serving. Like we said, go ahead and make it a day ahead! This quiche reheats like a champ.
Velvety, cloud-like eggs with bits of bacon and melted cheese throughout. Case closed; it’s that delicious.
8. Vanilla Ice Cream
This is a fantastic, egg-less recipe for vanilla ice cream that’ll prove to be the perfect summer treat.
With the addition of half-and-half, the ice cream will maintain its creaminess while taking on a subtler, lighter quality.
You’ll need your own ice cream maker for this recipe, as you’ll be pouring your chilled not-yet-ice cream mixture into the machine for churning.
If you don’t have an ice cream maker and need some recommendations, worry not! We’ve got you covered.
This recipe is a sure-fire way to cool off in the hotter months, but if you feel moved to have some in the winter, well, that’s never a bad idea.
9. Vanilla Pudding
Vanilla pudding is a delicious, rich treat that can be enjoyed by itself or as a base for berries, granola, or just about anything that sounds good.
Half-and-half, egg yolks, and butter make this dessert velvety smooth. It’s no wonder why this recipe is so highly rated!
It’s a pretty simple pudding to make also! Just make sure when combing your eggs that you’ve let your pudding cool down enough. Otherwise, you’ll end up with vanilla-flavored scrambled eggs!
9 Easy Recipes That Use Half-and-Half
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