Category: Gluten Free Dinner Ideas

Gluten Free Veal Osso Buco

Osso Buco is a classic Italian dish of Milanese origin.  Traditionally made with veal shanks, slowly braised in an aromatic wine sauce, it is the perfect dish for a Sunday afternoon.  Serve it over risotto, polenta or pasta for a 5-star meal.  This would be an amazing dinner for 2, that will really impress your special someone!  Or, you can double or triple the recipe for a dinner party.

Dinner for 2

Ingredients:

  • 2 veal shanks
  • 1/4 cup gluten free flour
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 sweet onion, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 small carrots, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1-1/2 cups beef stock
  • 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes
  • fresh rosemary, thyme and bay leaf
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • Italian parsley for garnish

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Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 325º.

Pat the veal shanks dry with paper towels.  Tie them with twine, then sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Add the flour to a bowl or breading tray.  Dredge the veal shanks to coat both sides with the flour.

Heat olive oil in an ovenproof deep skillet with cover.  I used a stainless-steel everyday pan.  Brown the veal shanks on both sides then remove to a plate.

Next add the carrots, celery, onion and garlic to the skillet with salt and pepper to taste.  Stir frequently for 2-3 minutes.

Add the wine, stir well and simmer a few minutes, to let some of the alcohol evaporate.

Finally, add the beef stock and tomatoes to the skillet and nestle the veal shanks in the center.  Top with the fresh herbs.

Cover and place in the oven for 2 ½ hours.

To serve, transfer the veal shanks to dinner size bowls, one shank per person and keep warm.  Remove the herbs from the skillet and puree the veggies into a sauce.  Simmer with the cover off to thicken.

Spoon sauce over the veal shanks and garnish with Italian parsley.

I served mine with Taste Republic Gluten Free Tortellini and this dinner was amazing!  You can serve the veal with regular pasta or risotto and don’t forget to bring grated cheese to the table.  

Notes ♪♫ This is another great Italian recipe that is easily converted to gluten free.  The only ingredient that I had to change was the flour.  Use any gluten free all-purpose flour, or a single grain flour like a fine grain rice flour.  Check labels on prepared ingredients, like beef stock.  I used Swansons, my favorite brand as far as flavor and their beef stock is gluten free.

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Gluten Free Sausage Ragu

This hearty Sausage Ragu was inspired by one of many regional dishes originating in Sardinia, Italy.  It has an incredible flavor profile starting with Italian pork sausage, combined with aromatic veggies, tomatoes, wine and saffron.  Check out the full recipe below.  This sauce pairs perfectly with the Malloreddus Pasta that I made in the previous post.  The dish is traditionally finished with Pecorino Romano cheese, and I added some fresh parsley from my herb garden.  Mangia!

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3-4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 4 links gluten free Italian sausage, about 10 oz.
  • 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 8 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup carrot, diced
  • 1/4 cup celery, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • 1/2 tsp. oregano
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine
  • pinch of saffron, combined with 1 tbsp. water

Preparation:

Heat a deep skillet with 1 tbsp. olive oil.  Cut the carrots, celery and onion into small dice.  Add them to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.

Remove the sausage casings and cut the sausage into small pieces.  Add to the skillet with the veggies.

When the sausage starts to brown, push the meat and veggies to the sides of the pan and add the tomato paste in the center.

Let it toast for a few minutes, then stir it into the sausage and veggies.

Add the wine, and saffron water, garlic, basil, oregano and bay leaf.

Let the wine cook off for a few minutes, then add the crushed tomatoes and the tomato sauce.  Stir well, and simmer 30-45 minutes with the lid slightly ajar to allow the sauce to thicken as it cooks.  Stir the sauce every 10 minutes while it simmers.

Serve this wonderful sauce over your favorite pasta and finish with grated cheese.  Pecorino Romano is traditional with this dish, but you can use Parmigiano Reggiano.

Notes ♪ You’ll want to choose a pasta that can stand up to a chunky sauce like this.  Corkscrew pastas like fusilli, or ridged pasta like rigatoni work especially well.  For a special treat, check out the Gluten Free Malloreddus Pasta that I made from scratch to go with this sauce.

Notes ♫ The sausage in this recipe contains plenty of salt, so if you are watching your sodium intake you can use unsalted tomatoes to balance things out.

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Gluten Free Malloreddus Pasta

What is Malloreddus Pasta?

Malloreddus pasta is a type of gnocchi originating in Sardinia, Italy.  There are a few things that distinguish this regional pasta from other types of gnocchi.  First, look at the ridges on the Malloreddus paddle on the left, vs. a typical gnocchi paddle on the right.  The ridges are wider and deeper on the Malloreddus paddle, to create the distinctive grooves.  They really soak up the sauce!

What about gluten?

Malloreddus pasta is traditionally made with semolina flour and water.  Of course, semolina is off limits on the gluten free diet, so for my gluten free adaptation, I used the new Gluten Free Bread Flour from Better Batter.  You can try this recipe with any one-to-one gluten free all-purpose blend.  I added water, salt and just a bit of olive oil, to help the dough come together.

Wait, no eggs?

Did you notice that there are no eggs in the ingredient list?  Traditional Malloreddus Pasta is egg free.  Only flour, water and salt.  I know that some of my readers can’t have eggs, if you are one of them then this pasta is for you!

Another unique feature.

Did you know that Malloreddus pasta is sometimes infused with saffron?  Just a pinch gives the dough beautiful color, it almost looks like I added an egg yolk!

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4 Servings (depending on your appetite!)

Ingredients:

For the pasta

Preparation:

For the pasta, add a pinch of saffron to 1/4 cup warm water.  Let it steep for 15 minutes.

Whisk together the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Pour in the infused liquid through a sieve, reserving the saffron threads.

Drizzle in the olive oil and mix on low speed with the paddle attachment.  You may need up to 1/4 cup of additional water to achieve the right consistency.  If the dough looks crumbly like this, it is too dry.

Add the remaining water 1 tbsp. at a time until you have a very soft, smooth dough, like this.

Hint– If you need to add the additional water, pour it over the strained saffron threads so you get more of the coloring.

Use a spatula to gather the dough into a ball, then cover and let it rest at room temperature for about 20 minutes.

When you’re ready, flour a cutting board and divide the dough into 4 pieces.  Working with one section at a time, roll the dough into a thin rope, about 1/2″ wide.  Use a bench knife or butter knife to cut the rope into 1/2″ pieces, (this is a small pasta, don’t make the pieces too large).  Working quickly, roll each piece between floured palms to form small marbles.

Now roll each piece over the Malloreddus paddle, you can use your fingers or a bench knife.  Be sure to keep the paddle generously floured as you work.  A flour shaker is convenient to have on hand.

Arrange the pasta on a lightly floured baking pan in a single layer.  I lined mine with wax paper.  At this point, you can cover the pasta with plastic wrap and refrigerate it until you are ready to start cooking.

For longer term storage, place the pan in the freezer for a few hours, then transfer the pasta to a freezer safe bag.

When your sauce is ready, heat a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.  Add the pasta and set a timer for 3 minutes maximum.  Be careful not to overcook, as soon as the pasta floats to the top, it’s done!  Use a spider strainer to gently lift it out of the water, drain and place it directly into the sauce.  Finish with grated cheese and fresh Italian parsley.

I see you ogling that sauce! 😉 It’s a hearty Sausage Ragu, perfect for ridged pasta like this one.  Want to know more?  Be sure to check out the next recipe!

Notes ♪♫ Some of my readers have mentioned that they would like a gluten free pasta made without eggs.  This one is for you, friends.  The dough is every bit as soft and supple as egg pasta, so whether you can’t have eggs for dietary reasons, pricing or availability, this pasta is one you must try!

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Honey Glazed Pork Chops

Pork chops are an easy and economical main course.  There are so many ways to prepare them!  I have always breaded and baked mine, but in the summer, I want something a little lighter.  This simple recipe is the one to keep handy for your weeknight rotation.  You will love the honey glaze, and the pork chops come out tender and juicy every time.

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Choose chops that are all about the same size, so that they finish cooking at the same time.  Whisk together the olive oil, honey, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce in a baking dish large enough to hold your pork chops in a single layer.

Add the pork chops and marinate for 30-45 minutes at room temperature, turning every 10 minutes.

I cooked the chops in a large non-stick grill pan, you want them spaced out in the pan, not touching.  Coat the pan with cooking spray and heat over medium low.  Add the pork chops, sprinkle with seasoning, then cover and cook 4 minutes.  Keep the cover on, and don’t move the chops around in the pan.

Turn the pork chops over, drizzle any remaining marinade over the top and sprinkle more seasoning.  Cover and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chops and how you like them done.  According to food safety guidelines, pork should be cooked to a minimum of 145° and for me this is perfect.  Check with a thermometer to be sure.

Now turn them once more to coat both sides in the honey glaze and cook 30 more seconds.

Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with chives.  I served with roasted cauliflower and sweet potato.

Doesn’t that look good?  Now that you know how easy it is, surprise your family with a delicious pork chop dinner this week.  Make it once and it will become an instant favorite!

Notes ♪♫ The secret to tender juicy pork chops is to not overcook them.  Use a skillet with a cover, to keep the moisture in.  For best results, cook on medium low heat, use a timer, and check with a thermometer.  

Originally published 07/05/2019         Updated 08/26/2025

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Tri-Color Gluten Free Pasta

Tri-Color Gluten Free Pasta  

I love making pasta by hand and have been experimenting with coloring the dough.  I have been wanting to do this for a while and had so much fun making this test batch!

Using spinach powder and tomato powder to color the dough was inspired by browsing the tri-color pasta at the supermarket and noticing what they listed for ingredients.  That was how I got started with this recipe. 

Read on to see how easy it was to put this together!  It was a time consuming but fairly easy process using a scale, small food processor or electric chopper and gnocchi board.

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

Set up 3 bowls.  Place 1/8 tsp. salt in each bowl.  To one bowl add 1 tbsp. spinach powder, and to another bowl add 1 tbsp. tomato powder.  Add enough flour to each bowl, to equal 100 g. including the vegetable powder and salt.

Next, working with one bowl at a time, add one egg to the bowl of a small food processor and pulse to break it up.  Add the flour from the first bowl with 2 tbsp. of ice water and pulse several times, just enough to bring it together into a rough dough.  Continue with the next 2 bowls, combining the flour mixture with 1 egg, and 2 tbsp. ice water.  As you finish each color dough, press it into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap.

Hint: make the white dough first, so that you don’t have to wash the chopper in between batches.

Let the dough balls rest at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Lightly flour a large cutting board.  Working with one color dough at a time, divide the ball in half and roll each section into a rope.  Be patient, if it doesn’t roll easily dust with a little flour and gently press down with your palms as you roll the dough back and forth.

Use a bench knife to cut the ropes into 1/4″ pieces.  Remember, the pasta will grow when it cooks, so don’t make the pieces too large.

Roll each piece of dough between your palms then use your hand or a bench knife to roll it over a floured gnocchi board to create the ridges.

Place the finished pasta in a single layer on a floured baking sheet.  I lined mine with wax paper.

Be sure to follow food safety guidelines and refrigerate egg pasta within one hour if you are not going to cook it immediately.

You can keep the pasta in the refrigerator if cooking the same day.  Beyond that I recommend freezing it in an airtight container or freezer safe bag.  I placed mine in the freezer right on the baking sheet and when they were firmed up, I transferred them to a Ziploc® bag.

To cook, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.  Add the pasta (do not thaw frozen pasta, just throw it into the pot), stir and cover so that the water returns to a boil quickly.  Cook for 3 minutes.  Be sure to set a timer, fresh pasta cooks very quickly, so don’t overcook!  It’s done when it floats to the top.

Drain the cooked pasta and toss with your favorite sauce.  I did mine with crumbled sausage, roasted sweet potato and cauliflower, all drizzled with a good olive oil and grated cheese.  Use simple ingredients to let the color and flavor of the pasta shine.

Making the pasta was a little time consuming, but I did it on a Sunday and froze it to have during the week.  Freezing did not affect the texture at all, and the pasta cooked perfectly to al dente.

Notes ♪♫ I used Better Batter bread flour in this recipe.  If you use a different flour, you may have to play with the amount of water needed to bring the dough together.  When you shop Better Batter, be sure to use my Promo Code MGFC30 for 30% off at checkout! 😉

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Gluten Free Rice-a-Roni

“Sauté and simmer, the flavor can’t be beat” ♪♫♪♫

You don’t even need a recipe, right?  The jingle tells you how to make it!  When was the last time you had “the San Francisco treat”?  For me I think it’s been decades.

If you miss boxed mixes like Rice-a-Roni® on the gluten free diet, step into the kitchen with me, and I’ll show you how I made this gluten free copycat version, all fancied up with a little bit of veggies and slivered almonds.  Only one ingredient swap was needed to make this recipe gluten free.  In place of the vermicelli, I used these thin rice noodles from Thai Kitchen.

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Servings: 3-4

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Break the rice noodles into small pieces.  I placed mine inside a zip lock bag so they wouldn’t go all over the place.  Heat the butter in a deep skillet with a cover.  Add the rice and noodles and sauté over medium low heat, stirring frequently for about 10 minutes.  Add the carrots and continue cooking for another 5 minutes.

Pour in the chicken broth, sprinkle with seasoning and bring to a simmer.  Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Remove from heat and keep covered until ready to serve.  Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with fresh chives and slivered almonds.

Notes ♪♫ This was so easy to make, and it is such a versatile recipe.  If you need a low sodium option, use unsalted or low sodium broth.  For vegetarian, use vegetable broth.  Change up the veggies, use what you like or what you have on hand.  Vary the seasonings for a different flavor profile.  Make it a complete meal by adding a protein.  You get the idea!

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Gluten Free Honey Balsamic Pork Chops with Pasta and Peas

This easy and delicious meal is an old favorite of mine.  I’m not quite sure where the original recipe came from, but I have been making it for 25+ years and converted it to gluten free just by changing the pasta and soy sauce.  It comes to the table in a casual but impressive presentation that will bring on the compliments!

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Way back when, I always used orecchiette pasta when making this dish.  I have struggled for years to find a gluten free substitute- until I had the good fortune to find Gluten Free Orecchiette from Farabella.  They were just what I wanted, but feel free to use your favorite gluten free pasta.

Serves 6 (can be scaled)

Ingredients:

  • 24 oz. thin slice lean boneless pork chops
  • 8 oz. gluten free pasta
  • 1-1/3 cups frozen peas
  • 1 cup sweet onion, diced
  • 3 tbsp. honey
  • 2 tbsp. gluten free soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp. arrowroot (or corn starch)
  • pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil, divided
  • salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Bring salted water to a boil for the pasta.  Whisk together the honey, gluten free soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, arrowroot and red pepper flakes.

Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes less than the package directions.

Heat a deep skillet or Sauteuse Pan with 2 tbsp. olive oil.  Season the pork with salt and pepper and brown 2 minutes per side on medium heat (they will not be cooked through at this point).  Drizzle with 1 tbsp. of the balsamic mixture, remove to a plate and keep warm.

Add the onions to the skillet with an additional tbsp. olive oil.  When the onions are translucent, add 2 tbsp. of the balsamic mixture.  Cook, stirring frequently until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Return the pork chops to the skillet with the peas and drizzle with the remaining balsamic mixture.  Continue to cook for several more minutes, until the pork chops are heated through.

Drain the pasta, add to the skillet and toss to coat.  Remove from heat and serve right in the pan for a casual dinner.

Notes ♪♫ I loved the Gluten Free Orecchiette pasta from Farabella that you see in this dish.  But did you know that this is a fun pasta shape to make from scratch?  Check out my homemade Gluten Free Orecchiette in this post for complete instructions!

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Soup du Jour – Chickpea and Spinach – Cooking from the Pantry

Ah, the benefits of a well-stocked pantry.  It’s been a week of chilly temperatures and nonstop rain here in New England.  So, I decided that a pot of soup would hit the spot, but no way was I running to the store for an ingredient!

Check out the recipe and see what I pulled out of my pantry!  A little this and a little of that, I even combined different types of stock.  My “use it up” recipe turned out to be one of the best soups of the season.  I hope are inspired!

6 servings

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Ingredients:

Preparation:

For me, going through the pantry includes the freezer.  There I found the last 2 containers of homemade stock that I had made over the winter.  The larger one is chicken stock, and the smaller one is turkey.  Between the two I had about 32 oz. total.  You can, of course buy a 32 oz. carton of stock (I won’t tell)!

From the refrigerator, I had carrots, celery and baby spinach.  From my dry pantry, I had cartons of chicken and beef broth, canned chickpeas (we call them Ceci beans), gluten free pasta and every seasoning under the sun.

To get started, dice the onion, carrots and celery and slice the garlic cloves very thin.  Heat a 5 qt. pot or Dutch oven over medium low with about a tablespoon of olive oil and add all the veggies.  Season with salt and pepper, give it a good stir and cook for 5 minutes.

Add the stock (mine was still a bit frozen), broth (I used 8 oz. each chicken and beef broth) and seasonings.  Cover and simmer 30 minutes.

Drain and rinse the chickpeas and add them to the pot.  Continue simmering another 30 minutes.  When finished, add all of the spinach.

Stir well, cover and turn off the heat.  The residual heat will be enough to wilt the spinach.

Cook the pasta separately.  I had a 6 oz. bag of gluten free cavatelli from Farabella.  It was just the right amount for a pot of soup.

There it is- dinner ready and made completely from my pantry.

Notes ♪♫ If you like a thicker soup, you can partially puree the ingredients before adding the spinach.  You can top it with grated cheese or gluten free crackers such as Schar Table Crackers.

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Whole Roast Chicken

Everyone loves a traditional roast chicken dinner.  It’s a great option for a casual get together, or even on a holiday when a turkey is just too large.

Don’t be intimidated by roasting a whole chicken, it’s easy and makes a beautiful presentation.  In this post, I’ll show you how to prepare a bird that is golden brown on the outside, moist and juicy on the inside.  Lemon, garlic and fresh herbs really bring out the flavor.

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Ingredients:

  • 4-6 lb. roasting chicken
  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 2 lemons, zested
  • several sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme
  • 1 whole head of garlic
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 large onion, peeled and quartered
  • cooking spray

Preparation:

Wash and dry the lemons and herbs.  Zest both lemons and cut in half (Need a zester?).

Peel the garlic cloves and slowly warm them in the olive oil over lowest possible heat.  A simmer mat is great for this application.  Turn the cloves every 10 minutes until softened.

Mince half of the rosemary and thyme and add to the butter along with the lemon zest.  Mash it together with a fork.

-Preheat the oven to 425º.  Remove the giblets packet from the chicken.

-Rinse the chicken, inside and out and pat dry.  Mist a roasting pan or casserole with cooking spray and set the chicken breast side up.

-Fit as many pieces of lemon as you can into the cavity of the chicken, along with the garlic cloves and remaining rosemary and thyme sprigs.

-Rub the butter mixture all over the chicken, be sure to coat the wings and legs.  Season with salt and pepper.

-Tie the legs together.  Quarter the onion and tuck slices under the chicken, along with any extra pieces of lemon.

Roast uncovered for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until a thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165º.  (A 4 lb. chicken will cook in just over an hour but allow a full hour and a half for a 6 lb. bird.)

The skin should be nicely browned.  Be sure to let it rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Notes ♪♫ I got a whole chicken (4 lb.) for just $4.00!  From that little chicken I had a great dinner, with leftovers.  The carcass and wings went into the stock pot for a big pot of soup that I shared with a neighbor, so nothing was wasted.  With today’s prices I’d say that’s quite a value!

Originally posted 02/23/2020       Rephotographed 03/11/2025

 

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Spinach and Ricotta Beef Rolls

It’s no secret I’m a little obsessed with bundled meat recipes!  Check out these thin slices of beef, rolled and stuffed with a spinach ricotta filling.  The rolls are then wrapped in prosciutto and baked.  Oh my!  The meat was so tender, this dish would be a wonderful choice for date night or a small dinner party.

You won’t find any strange ingredients in this recipe.  All are naturally gluten free and commonly available.  I am fortunate to live in an Italian neighborhood, where thin sliced top round is sold for making Bracciole.  If you don’t see it in the meat case, ask your butcher.

Ingredients:

  • 6 oz. bag baby spinach
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 4 oz. prosciutto, thin sliced
  • 1¼ lb. top round cut into 1/4″ thin slices.
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

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Preparation:

Heat olive oil in a nonstick skillet with a lid.  Cut the garlic clove in half and add to the oil.  Cook for 2 minutes over low heat to infuse the oil with garlic flavor.

Add all of the spinach to the skillet.  It looks like a lot, but it will cook down.  Cover and cook for 10 minutes total, stirring after 5 minutes.

What did I tell you? 😉

Drain the spinach, let it cool slightly then stir in the ricotta (discard the garlic).  Season with a pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper.

Cover your work surface with wax paper or plastic wrap.  Lay out the beef slices and spread the spinach ricotta mixture over each one.

Starting at the short end, roll the slices up into a bundle.

Next, wrap each meat bundle in 1-2 slices of prosciutto.

Cover and refrigerate the meat bundles for 2-3 hours.

Preheat the oven to 400º.  Set up a roasting pan with rack and mist with cooking spray.

Secure each bundle with a toothpick.  Place the beef rolls on the rack and bake for 30 minutes.

Brush the tops with honey during the last 5 minutes of baking.

Cover and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.  Serve over pasta or risotto.  Leftovers can be warmed in the microwave and are just as good the next day!

Notes ♪♫ I hope you loved this recipe and plan on giving it a try!  Check out some of my other bundled meat recipes, not only for beef, but chicken and fish too!  Bracciole, Italian Skirt Steak Rolls, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Crab Stuffed Sole.

Originally published 10/26/2021        Updated and rephotographed 4/02/2025

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