Savor the Sunshine: 14 California-Inspired Recipes to Brighten Your Plate

By Mia R. • May 07, 2024

Embark on a tasting journey through the Golden State with these 14 California-Inspired Recipes! From the ripened flavors of fresh avocados to juicy citrus and beyond, the rich diversity of California's produce and cultural influences are woven into each dish on this list. So, kick back, hang loose, and delight in California's unique and eclectic food scene from your very own kitchen!

1. Beach Boys Chicken

Wouldn't it be nice if dinner was joyous, inspired by the California coast and Surfin' USA? Beach Boys Chicken brings good vibrations, and it truly is fun, fun, fun! Grilled chicken, marinated in balsamic vinegar and honey for a delicate balance of sweet and sour, topped with melty mozzarella cheese, creamy avocado, and bright tomato for a taste like the warmth of the sun. Beach Boys Chicken will become a darlin' in your kitchen, and you don't have to go to Kokomo to enjoy it!

2. California Salad

From its glistening beaches to its star-studded streets, you never really know what kind of fun you'll run into when you're in The Golden State! Well, while you're dreaming of the palms and the rock stars, munch on some California Salad. It'll give you that fresh, tropical taste that's fit for the biggest V.I.P! Juicy, smooth, citrusy, and sweet, California Salad really has it all!

3. Route 66 Chili

Route 66 in the United States runs straight through Tex-Mex country, through the top of Texas, cutting New Mexico and Arizona almost in half on its way to California. Route 66 Chili tastes like all the flavors picked up across the American Southwest: hearty, tender pork and beef, spicy stew broth, rich tomatoes, and beans, with strong succulent seasonings. When the road gets bumpy and dusty, it's wonderful knowing there's a heaping bowl of Route 66 Chili cooking itself for you in your slow cooker. Happy trails are sure to follow!

4. California Sheet-Pan Nachos

California Sheet-Pan Nachos are the easiest and quickest way to satisfy that nacho craving so universal to humanity. In 20 minutes, you can have a tray of crispy, crunchy nachos smothered in melty, stretchy cheese and juicy beef fresh out of the oven. Savory, hearty, and livened up with sweet onion and rich tomatoes, California Sheet-Pan Nachos are a spicy snack that will be a bright spot in your day.

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5. California Burger Bowls

California Burger Bowls have ambitions. They want to amaze your tastebuds while also offering a healthy, easy, and speedy lunch or dinner. And they succeed! In less than half an hour, California Burger Bowls whip up juicy, savory turkey burgers loaded with the easygoing heat of the West Coast sun and topped with tangy and sweet bites of tropical fruit with the smooth creaminess of avocado. Each bowl is pure happiness all the way down; it leaves you feeling good and your taste buds feeling elated.

6. Skinny California Roll-Ups

Skinny California Roll Ups - 100 - 23-10-23

Looking for a lighter lunch or dinner? Well, let's wrap this up for the week! Skinny California Roll-Ups are a wonderful change of pace that will also help curb the urge for weekend sushi. Whole-wheat tortilla wraps are loaded with crabmeat and a tasty brown rice mixture that's topped with juicy tomatoes, chilled cucumbers, and creamy avocados. All that is tightly wrapped to keep the delicious flavors all smushed together. These Skinny California Roll-Ups will perk up any meal and get you rolling towards the weekend. There you have it; the perfect answer to a perfect weekday meal. And that's a wrap!

7. California Chicken

Does your typical chicken breast recipe need a little something extra? This recipe for California Chicken takes the basic protein and adds some healthy fat and freshness to it. First, the breasts are marinated with balsamic vinegar and Italian seasonings for up to 1 day. Then, after the chicken is cooked, it's topped with a version of Caprese salad with mozzarella, avocado, tomatoes, and basil. California Chicken brings the west coast sunshine straight to your fork!

8. California Dreamin' Wraps

If you are California-dreamin' of a fresh new bite, we have a surfing-good idea! Try these cool dude, amped up California Dreamin' Wraps and you will be set to hang ten in no time! Having a mouthful of swell and crunchy veggies and a wave of tender crabmeat will be the bomb! We are so stoked for you to get onshore and get the California Dreamin' Wraps in your lunch lineup! They are a pocketful of mouthwatering rad-ness! So don't wipe out from hunger, make ya some today!

9. California Club Sammie

Ahh, there's nothing like a day at the beach soaking up the sun as the palm trees gently sway in the wind. It's therapeutic and so good for the soul. But all that time catching rays can make you hungry, so you need a California Club Sammie to keep the good vibes rolling. This hearty handheld is the perfect pick-me-up and always hits just right. The crunchy, toasted sourdough, creamy, tangy sauce, fresh, crispy lettuce, juicy, red tomato, rich, smooth Muenster cheese, salty, hearty meats, healthy, sweet avocado, and sour, sharp pickles pile up to make the most satisfying bite after you hang ten. The California Club Sammie is like the sunset for your taste buds... and a beautiful ending to a perfect day!

10. California Spaghetti

Celebrate the Golden State with a pasta populated with amazing flavors! California Spaghetti is seasoned with spices beloved all across the Pacific coast, featuring tomatoes as bright as the Californian sun, as well as the most juicy and savory chicken. It's aromatic, it's light, it's refreshing... it's a joy! California Spaghetti will make you feel sunny and satisfied!

11. Baja Salad

Baja Salad is like a beam of West Coast sunshine in salad form! This salad is light, nourishing, and filled with hearty beans and crunchy tortilla chips! With sharp feta cheese, creamy avocado, and a tangy homemade dressing, you'll have a dish you won't soon forget. It only takes 20 minutes to whip up a Baja Salad, so you can have it whenever you need a little California experience!

12. West Coast Spaghetti Salad

You probably never thought you'd see "West Coast" and "spaghetti salad" in the same sentence... but here we are! This West Coast Spaghetti Salad will have you California dreamin' at your next food gathering. You know they love their fresh veggies over there, so you can count on a bunch of those in this dish, intertwined with the daintiest spaghetti there is! The sweet yet savory dressing mixed in will have you feelin' like you walked straight out of Hollywood. After one bite of West Coast Spaghetti Salad, you might never return to any other kind from any other coast!

13. California Sunshine Muffins

Star-studded Hollywood, cliff-lined beaches, redwood-filled forests–the Golden State is a wondrous dreamland, so it's no surprise the sunny-day inspired California Sunshine Muffins follow suit. Buttery, creamy batter is mixed together with juicy pineapple, sweet coconut, and nutty pecans and baked to perfection into the fluffiest, golden-brown morning treat. Every bite of California Sunshine Muffins will leave your taste buds starstruck and your day filled with sunbeams!

14. California Grilled Chicken Salad

Take a bite of California sunshine no matter where you are! California Grilled Chicken Salad balances light and refreshing flavors with a satisfying heartiness for the best of both worlds; creamy avocado, tangy mangoes, savory grilled chicken, and a tart vinaigrette come together to make a truly unforgettable salad. California Grilled Chicken Salad is quick, easy, and loaded with West Coast taste!