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
This Extra Thick Dutch Baby Is an Extra Comforting Weeknight Dinner
Cheesy, herby, custardy—what’s not to love?
Recipes
Sweet Potato Pie With Marshmallow Whipped Cream
Amplify the standard Thanksgiving sweet potato pie recipe with fresh ginger, a trio of spices, and the coups de grâce: marshmallow-spiked whipped cream.
Cooking
How to Make a Melty, Gooey, Glorious Patty Melt
This iconic sandwich is a formula, not a hard-and-fast rule.
Recipes
Spicy Sausage Patty Melt
Any ground meat can be a patty melt if it dreams big enough. This twist on the diner classic touts spiced chorizo, pickled jalapeños, and creamy Oaxaca cheese.
Recipes
Pork Chops With Frisée-Apple Salad
The classic pairing of pork and apples, reimagined as a weeknight meal. A salad packed with sliced apples and pickled chiles balances simple, saucy pork chops.
Recipes
Spiced Beef and Refried Bean Tostadas
Weeknight dinner can't get much easier—or tastier—thanks to these spiced beef tostadas.
Cooking
No-Cook Tomato Sauce Is a Scam
This barely cooked version has way more flavor, and it clings to pasta just right.
Recipes
Grated Tomato and Miso-Butter Pasta
This (almost) no-cook pasta is an ardent love letter to summer’s ripest tomatoes (and your box grater).
Recipes
Crispy Pork Cutlets With Kimchi Slaw
Kimchi adds heft and crunch to the slaw, while a drizzle of the fermenting liquid acts as a punchy dressing—a perfect side for the crunchy pork.
Recipes
Shrimp and Tomato Toasts
This toast is loaded with bright aioli, punchy tomatoes, and smoky shrimp—it definitely requires a fork and knife.
Recipes
Eggplant Tortas Milanesa
Torta milanesa usually features chicken or pork; this vegetarian version swaps in thin-sliced eggplant, which goes crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
Recipes
Blackberry and Chocolate Ice Cream Icebox Cake
This dessert looks way more complicated than it is—if you have the time to whip some cream, you can throw this layered stunner together.
Recipes
Fried Eggplant With Whipped Honey Feta
Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, this irresistible summer eggplant (and its tangy dipping sauce!) will have you going back for more.
Recipes
Salty Grapefruit Refresher
Step aside, overly sweet mocktails. Thanks to balanced citrusy flavors, this drink tastes like a grown-up Gatorade.
Cooking
Semifreddo Is the No-Churn Frozen Treat of Your Dreams
It's customizable, and easier than ice cream
Cooking
Creamed Spinach Can Be Spectacular—With a Few Tricks
Kendra Vaculin gives this old-school steakhouse side a much-needed makeover.
Recipes
Salmon Rice Bowl With Green Curry Creamed Spinach
This decadent weeknight dinner ups the ante on blah steakhouse creamed spinach with the help of spicy green curry paste.
Recipes
Roasted Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa
This bright and creamy dip is RSVP’ing yes to your next cookout.
Recipes
Root Beer Float Granita
Creamy sweetened condensed milk stands in for vanilla ice cream in this icy and refreshing take on the classic soda shop flavor combination.