Fresh Chefs
Delicious, Simple Meals from the 4-H Family
4-H Favorite Recipes
What’s better than cooking at home? Making meals that are both inspired and easy to make. This collection of recipes from the 4-H community hits those marks on every page.
Featuring nearly 50 recipes from 4-H’ers, supporters, and 4-H alumni — including celebrity chef, author, and Tennessee 4-H alumna Carla Hall — the Fresh Chefs digital cookbook includes healthy everyday recipes and celebratory dishes for youth and families to enjoy.
Dig in to discover recipes for every occasion, starting with a few of our favorites below.
Fresh Chefs was made possible by generous support from the Walmart Foundation.

A Note from Carla Hall
Celebrity Chef, Author, 4-H Healthy Habits Program Ambassador, Tennessee 4-H Alumna
For me, healthy eating habits begin with mindfulness and a thoughtful attitude towards food. Mindful eating means being honest with yourself and serving as your own advocate when it comes to what you’re eating, how you’re eating and why you’re eating.
Featured Recipes

Chipotle Chicken & Sautéed Hominy
2 hours, 15 Minutes
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with this tasty chicken dish with a spicy twist. Watch the cooking demo with our very own 4-H’er Guillermo Estrada and Chef Aarón Sánchez.
Aarón Sánchez, Chef, Food Network Personality, and Author

Cauliflower Steaks with Sautéed Porcini & Poached Egg
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
This brunch (or anytime) dish propelled chef Anne Burrell to victory on a Food Network competition. Nutritious and satisfying, it will score big in your home, too.
Anne Burrell, Host of Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition, New York 4-H Alumna

Creole-Spiced Black-Eyed Peas Salad on Crusty Toast
30 Minutes
This celebratory dish has roots in Southern and black culture, and is great for any occasion. When using canned beans, it can be whipped up in no time.
Lazarus Lynch, Chef, Author, Activist, New York 4-H Alum

Oven Smothered Chicken
2 Hours
This updated version of a comforting Southern classic is not only cooked completely in the oven for a perfect weeknight meal, but it's fall-off-the-bone delicious.
Carla Hall, Celebrity Chef, Author, 4-H Healthy Habits Program Ambassador, Tennessee 4-H Alumna

Easy Egg and Sausage Casserole
1 Hour
This filling dish has everything you like about breakfast in one place. Plus, it’s perfect for prepping ahead of time, then popping into the oven the morning of.
Tracey, Mississippi 4-H

Chicken Stir Fry
1 Hour
You can take this recipe and make it your own – once you master the basics of this healthy dish, you can mix it up by using different veggies every time.
Wyatt, South Carolina 4-H

Sock-It-To-Me Cake
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
This coffee cake with cinnamon, cardamom and honey is a Southern tradition gone gluten-free. It’s easy to make and so good, it’ll make you shout, “Sock it to me!”
Laila Ali, Cookbook Author, TV Host, Former Boxing Champion and Creator of Laila Ali Lifestyle

JoAnn’s Louisiana Blue Crab Dip
30 Minutes
This prizewinning party food favorite comes from a 4-Her’s great-great-grandma. With just a few ingredients, it’s quick to make and sure to disappear even more quickly.
Aubrie, Louisiana 4-H

Mini Blueberry Pies
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
It’s almost too easy to make these irresistible desserts. Just gather blueberries, pie crust, and not much else, and pretty soon the house will smell like baking berry pie.
Cady and Madison, Louisiana 4-H
Featured Recipes

Oven Smothered Chicken
2 Hours
This updated version of a comforting Southern classic is not only cooked completely in the oven for a perfect weeknight meal, but it's fall-off-the-bone delicious.
Carla Hall, Celebrity Chef, Author, 4-H Healthy Habits Program Ambassador, Tennessee 4-H Alumna

Cauliflower “Steaks” with Sautéed Porcini and Poached Egg
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
This brunch (or anytime) dish propelled chef Anne Burrell to victory on a Food Network competition. Nutritious and satisfying, it will score big in your home, too.
Anne Burrell, Host of Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition, New York 4-H Alumna

Creole-Spiced Black-Eyed Peas Salad on Crusty Toast
30 Minutes
This celebratory dish has roots in Southern and black culture, and is great for any occasion. When using canned beans, it can be whipped up in no time.
Lazarus Lynch, Chef, Author, Activist, New York 4-H Alum

Watermelon Slush
10 - 15 Minutes
Loaded with hydration to spare, this bright and fruity slush is a delicious, refreshing snack to replenish your body – and lift your spirits – on hot days.
Elisabeth, California 4-H

Easy Egg and Sausage Casserole
1 Hour
This filling dish has everything you like about breakfast in one place. Plus, it’s perfect for prepping ahead of time, then popping into the oven the morning of.
Tracey, Mississippi 4-H

Chicken Stir Fry
1 Hour
You can take this recipe and make it your own – once you master the basics of this healthy dish, you can mix it up by using different veggies every time.
Wyatt, South Carolina 4-H

Sock-It-To-Me Cake
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
This coffee cake with cinnamon, cardamom and honey is a Southern tradition gone gluten-free. It’s easy to make and so good, it’ll make you shout, “Sock it to me!”
Laila Ali, Cookbook Author, TV Host, Former Boxing Champion and Creator of Laila Ali Lifestyle

JoAnn’s Louisiana Blue Crab Dip
30 Minutes
This prizewinning party food favorite comes from a 4-Her’s great-great-grandma. With just a few ingredients, it’s quick to make and sure to disappear even more quickly.
Aubrie, Louisiana 4-H

Mini Blueberry Pies
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
It’s almost too easy to make these irresistible desserts. Just gather blueberries, pie crust, and not much else, and pretty soon the house will smell like baking berry pie.
Cady and Madison, Louisiana 4-H
Featured Recipes

Oven Smothered Chicken
2 Hours
This updated version of a comforting Southern classic is not only cooked completely in the oven for a perfect weeknight meal, but it's fall-off-the-bone delicious.
Carla Hall, Celebrity Chef, Author, 4-H Healthy Habits Program Ambassador, Tennessee 4-H Alumna

Cauliflower “Steaks” with Sautéed Porcini and Poached Egg
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
This brunch (or anytime) dish propelled chef Anne Burrell to victory on a Food Network competition. Nutritious and satisfying, it will score big in your home, too.
Anne Burrell, Host of Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition, New York 4-H Alumna

Creole-Spiced Black-Eyed Peas Salad on Crusty Toast
30 Minutes
This celebratory dish has roots in Southern and black culture, and is great for any occasion. When using canned beans, it can be whipped up in no time.
Lazarus Lynch, Chef, Author, Activist, New York 4-H Alum

Watermelon Slush
10 - 15 Minutes
Loaded with hydration to spare, this bright and fruity slush is a delicious, refreshing snack to replenish your body – and lift your spirits – on hot days.
Elisabeth, California 4-H

Easy Egg and Sausage Casserole
1 Hour
This filling dish has everything you like about breakfast in one place. Plus, it’s perfect for prepping ahead of time, then popping into the oven the morning of.
Tracey, Mississippi 4-H

Chicken Stir Fry
1 Hour
You can take this recipe and make it your own – once you master the base of this dish, you can mix it up by using different veggies every time.
Wyatt, South Carolina 4-H

Sock-It-To-Me Cake
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
This coffee cake with cinnamon, cardamom and honey is a Southern tradition gone gluten-free. It’s easy to make and so good, it’ll make you shout, “Sock it to me!”
Laila Ali, Cookbook Author, TV Host, Former Boxing Champion and Creator of Laila Ali Lifestyle

JoAnn’s Louisiana Blue Crab Dip
30 Minutes
This prizewinning party food favorite comes from a 4-Her’s great-great-grandma. With just a few ingredients, it’s quick to make and sure to disappear even more quickly.
Aubrie, Louisiana 4-H

Mini Blueberry Pies
1 Hour, 30 Minutes
It’s almost too easy to make these irresistible desserts. Just gather blueberries, pie crust, and not much else, and pretty soon the house will smell like baking berry pie.
Cady and Madison, Louisiana 4-H
Fresh Chefs Music Video with Carla Hall
Check out this music video with 4-H alumna Carla Hall and Virginia and Tennessee 4-H'ers showing how to have fun in the kitchen!
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