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.
Cooking
I Make This Chicken Chili When I’m Bored of Other Comfort Food
It comes together in one pot in less than an hour.
Recipes
Cajun Chicken Gravy and Biscuits
A savory and spiced twist on the classic breakfast duo, featuring Cajun spice blend and sour cream biscuits that come together in a flash.
Recipes
Ponzu Salmon and Avocado Toast
When the flavors of a savory salmon poke bowl crash land on a slice of avocado toast, you’ve got a lunchtime power player on your hands.
Cooking
This Spicy-Sweet Ginger Tonic Is My Go-To Coffee Replacement
Just as invigorating—without any caffeine crash.
Recipes
Cabbage Quiche With Apple-Radish Salad
A custardy quiche—filled to the brim with caraway-scented cabbage and leeks—is best served with a bright, crisp, and crunchy salad.
Recipes
Blood Orange–Rosemary Olive Oil Cake
In case the blood orange caramel cascading over this cake isn’t tempting enough, the tender crumb is also delicately perfumed with woodsy rosemary sugar.
Recipes
Turmeric-Lime Chicken With Pumpkin Seed Salsa
A spiced lime and yogurt marinade tenderizes and flavors this spatchcocked chicken, served with a salsa made from vegetables and pepitas roasted alongside.
Recipes
Grapefruit Crudo
Treating grapefruit like raw fish gives you permission to get as fancy as you’d like plating and arranging this textural winter salad.
Recipes
Spicy Lemon-Ginger Tonic, Two Ways
Top this concentrate with hot water to make a steamy, cold-busting elixir, or pour it over ice with sparkling water for a sweet-spicy refresher.
Recipes
Lemon-Chile White Fish With Chickpeas
Don’t be fooled by the short ingredient list: Jammy sliced lemons, sizzled garlic, and mild Aleppo-style pepper make this speedy fish dinner one to remember.
Recipes
Banana-Blueberry Smoothie With Tahini
A grown-up drinkable take on the classic combo of PB&J, with tahini for nutty richness and cinnamon and vanilla for a little added complexity.
Recipes
Citrus-Braised Pork With Crispy Shallots
This slow-simmered pork shoulder essentially makes itself, becoming fall-apart tender in a glossy soy-and-orange sauce with barely any intervention from you.
Recipes
Lemon-Poppy Seed Tart
Simple but party-worthy, this tart features a tender shortbread press-in crust and bright custardy filling that sets on top while it bakes.
Recipes
Creamy Strawberry-Ginger Smoothie
Sweet strawberry, zingy ginger, and creamy yogurt join forces in this punchy pink refresher. Added dates ensure the final smoothie isn’t overly tart.
Recipes
Mango and Greens Smoothie
This green smoothie gets its kick of nutrients from a heap of spinach or kale and its energizing tropical vibes from coconut water.
Recipes
Skillet Chicken With Tangy-Sweet Peperonata
Seared chicken and salty cheese on a skillet of rustic, stewy sweet peppers—this weeknight-friendly dinner goes from the oven to the table with ease.
Cooking
Jarred Red Peppers Are the Holy Trifecta of Speedy, Smoky, and Sweet
It’s a shortcut to toppings, sauces, braises, and more
Recipes
Cozy Wonton Soup
An aromatic pork filling and finishing scoop of chili crisp make this homey wonton soup as flavorful as it is comforting.
Recipes
Spinach Pilaf Pie
Slices of this bright and lemony greens-packed pilaf hold their shape once wrapped in a simple yogurt dough and baked until golden brown.