Cooking Essentials for the Perfect Holiday Meal

The holidays are the busiest time of the year and it gets even busier when it’s your turn to host your family and friends. Luckily, our expert chefs and mixologists know a few tricks and essentials to help you get through the rough parts and maybe even cut your cooking time in half. From classic spices to a kitchen appliance that cooks meat to perfection every time, this list gives you everything you need to cook a holiday meal you'll remember. 

An Indoor Grill That Does All the Work

If you’re planning a holiday meal with several dishes, you’ll probably need some help from the Ninja 5-in-1 Indoor Grill. Using unique Cyclonic Grilling Technology, it allows you to air-fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, and most importantly grill food to perfection in the comfort of your kitchen. As a professional chef, Charles Webb loves that the Ninja 5-in-1 Indoor Grill can reliably cook food in just a few minutes without requiring a lot of preparation. You can just let it do the work, giving you time to make appetizers and maybe sneak a sip of wine or two before any guests arrive. 

Want to learn more about the Ninja 5-in-1 Indoor Grill? Watch Chef Charles Webb’s review then check out his How-To for a closer look at how the Ninja Indoor Grill works.  

Elevate Your Recipes with these Spices and Condiments

Make your holiday meal a little extra special with a few chef-recommended spices and condiments you can find at your local grocery store. When it comes to quality and reliability, Chef Charles Webb turns to Ponti products which have been around since 1867. Even though Chef Charles has tried and loved everything from Ponti, there are a few favorites he always goes back to including the Ponti Glaze with Balsamic Vinegar from Modena, Ponti Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, and Ponti Rich and Creamy Cherry Gourmet Condiment. Each of these condiments can be used to elevate any dish whether it’s sweet or savory. 

Watch Chef Charles Webb’s review to learn how to use Ponti products in your recipes. You can also see them in action in Chef Charles's Spiced Grilled Chicken and Veggies recipe.  

When it comes to adding flavor to her meals, Chef Halee Raff sticks with the classics. McCormick is a brand she has used her entire life and spices such as the coarse black pepper and hot Hungarian paprika are her favorites and they’re always within reach. No matter what you’re planning on cooking for the holidays, McCormick has a spice for it. 

Learn more by watching Chef Halee Raff’s review on McCormick spices. 

Using cheese in your holiday meal? Try Kite Hill’s Vegan Ricotta. It’s Chef Sasha Sincic’s favorite dairy-free cheese alternative because it cooks and tastes just like real ricotta cheese. Made from creamy almond milk, you can use it in savory recipes such as pasta, or in place of mascarpone in desserts. As a personal chef, Sasha doesn’t have the time to make vegan ricotta cheese from scratch but with the Kite Hill Vegan Ricotta, she’s never limited with her recipes.

Watch Chef Sasha Sincic’s review to learn more about Kite Hill Vegan Ricotta. For tips on how to use vegan ricotta in a recipe, check out Chef Sasha’s Vegan Ricotta and Broccoli Stuffed Shells Recipe.

Essentials for making the Perfect Holiday Cocktail

If you’ve ever been to one of those really fancy cocktail bars, you might have had an extra ingredient not many people think of: smoke! With the Crafthouse by Fortessa Smoking Cloche, you can add a little bit of smoke to your own creations and really impress your guests. Watch Mixologist Garn McCown’s review, and then learn how to use it. 

Want to take your holiday cocktail recipe to the next level? Try using Scrappy’s Bitters to add a unique, delicious taste that enhances any cocktail you make. Every batch of Scrappy’s Bitters is made using organic ingredients with no artificial flavors. Check out Garn’s review to learn more.

Once you stock your kitchen with these expert-recommended essentials, your holiday cooking will be a lot easier whether you're cooking for a whole table or just a few guests. For easy recipe ideas for the holidays by the chefs and mixologists in this article, check out the list below.

Recipes that are Perfect for the Holidays

Spiced Grilled Chicken and Veggies Recipe by Chef Charles Webb

Baked Stuffed Lobster Recipe by Chef Halee Raff

Easy and Delicious Pastry Tart Recipe by Chef Halee Raff

Vegan Ricotta and Broccoli Stuffed Shells Recipe by Chef Sasha Sincic

Smoked Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe by Mixologist Garn McCown