
Dinner SOS by Bon Appétit
A last-minute party with no menu inspiration. A kitchen with no space. A toddler who will only eat buttered pasta. Name your dinner emergency—Bon Appétit is here to help. Dinner SOS is the podcast where we answer desperate home cooks' cries for help. In every episode, food director Chris Morocco and a rotating cast of cooking experts tackle a highly specific conundrum and present two solutions. The caller will pick one, cook through it, and let us know if we successfully helped rescue dinner. Write to us at podcasts@bonappetit.com! For the recipes featured in Dinner SOS and more, head to bonappetit.com or download the new Epicurious App in the iOS App Store. You can find episodes of our previous podcast, Food People, here.
Latest episodes

Mar 25, 2025 • 30min
I Need Elevated Weeknight Meals (Rerun)
Cait often devotes her weekends to involved kitchen projects that yield restaurant-quality results. But she's looking to bring that feeling into her weeknights, when time is harder to come by. Chris enlists Kendra Vaculin's help to give Cait's weeknight cooking that chefy quality she's been missing.Recipes & Links: Meatball Soup with Beef Stew VibesGorgeous Green Shrimp Everything-Spice Fish with Tomato SaladCreamy Spinach and Chickpeas
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Mar 18, 2025 • 28min
I Need Plant-Based Protein
George struggles with cooking quinoa despite its reputation as a superfood. Discover the power of lentils and tofu, which outshine quinoa in protein content. The hosts provide practical tips to master quinoa's texture and flavor, while also exploring diverse ways to incorporate plant-based proteins into meals. They share innovative recipes and personal cooking experiences, highlighting the versatility of lentils and the cooking techniques needed to transform tofu into a delicious experience. Tune in for a flavorful exploration of plant-based cooking!

Mar 14, 2025 • 43min
Back to Basics: The Cooking Mindset
Welcome to Back to Basics Week! All week, Chris and his Bon Appétit colleagues are answering listener questions about the fundamentals of cooking, to help level you up as a home cook.In this final installment, Chris and Shilpa talk about the intangibles of cooking— how to get into the right mindset, manage your time efficiently, and course correct when something goes wrong. They also answer a grab bag of sliiightly more advanced questions to help listeners with everything from salt to the perfect batch of pancakes.Recipes & Links:BA's Best Chocolate Chip CookiesLazy Day Pancakes
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Mar 13, 2025 • 38min
Back to Basics: Mastering Sauces
Welcome to Back to Basics Week! All week, Chris and his Bon Appétit colleagues are answering listener questions about the fundamentals of cooking, to help level you up as a home cook.Today, Chris and sauce king Jesse Szewczyk stir up a discussion on the wide world of sauces, dressings, glazes, and more. They dive in to aromatics, making the case for the humble shallot, and discuss the art of making pan sauces and delicious finishers with pantry staples. Recipes & Links:The Five Mother SaucesMake 'Em Sweat (Veggies, That Is)It's Time to Stop Making These Garlic Common Mistakes and Start LivingHow to Make a Pan SauceOrange-Wine-Braised Chicken ThighsDark and Stormy–Braised Pot RoastHow to Make a Roux for Mac and Cheese, Gumbo, Gravy, and More
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Mar 12, 2025 • 37min
Back to Basics: The Perfect Pot of Rice (Or Any Other Grain You Can Think Of)
Welcome to Back to Basics Week! All week, Chris and his Bon Appétit colleagues are answering listener questions about the fundamentals of cooking, to help level you up as a home cook.Why is making stovetop rice so dang hard?! Today, Chris and Kendra Vaculin address the world of grains, including how to make the perfect pot of rice and why the package directions might be the reason behind a bad batch. Plus, Kendra makes the case for her favorite quick grain and dissects when it's time to pull out the colander and just cook your grains like pasta.Recipes & Links:The Perfect Pot of RiceThere are 40,000 Types of Rice in the World—Here's How to Pick the One You NeedDo You Need to Rinse Your Rice?Kokuho Rose Rice21 Typles of Whole Grains and Pseudo Grains and How to Cook Each OneBulgur is the Whole Grain for Busy People One-Pot Salmon and Shiitake RiceKendra's Crispy Rice Method
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Mar 11, 2025 • 34min
Back to Basics: Conquer Protein
Welcome to Back to Basics Week! All week, Chris and his Bon Appétit colleagues are answering listener questions about the fundamentals of cooking, to help level you up as a home cook.Animal proteins can be the most expensive part of your dish, and that's a lot of pressure. So today, Chris and Amiel Stanek are here to make perfection attainable, from juicy chicken breast to tender steaks and delicate seafood. Grab your meat thermometer and kosher salt; we're diving in!15 Ways to Make Your Fresh-Off-the-Grill Steak Even BetterHow to Roast a Chicken: The Ultimate Recipe, Tips, and MoreThe Optimal Temperature for Every Part of a ChickenThermoworks Thermapop ThermometerWhat Is Salsa Verde? 4 Types to MemorizeHow to Make Beurre Blanc (Because Everything Tastes Better with Butter)Chicken PiccataShrimp ScampiShrimp and Basil Stir-Fry
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Mar 10, 2025 • 41min
Back to Basics: Get Your Head (and Kitchen) in the Game
Welcome to Back to Basics Week! All week, Chris and his Bon Appétit colleagues are answering listener questions about the fundamentals of cooking, to help level you up as a home cook.Today, Chris and Shilpa Uskokovic break down how to really read a recipe — and what some common recipe language means. Then, they'll talk about the basic equipment that your kitchen needs... and what to skip!Recipes & Links:Samosa-dillas with Cucumber SaladBA 56 RecipesS&B Curry Powder (Shilpa's favorite!)Chef's KnivesParing KnivesBread KnivesKitchen ShearsNonstick PansStainless-Steel PansDutch OvensCarbon Steel PansSilicone SpatulasSheet PansCutting BoardsBlendersKitchen Scales
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Mar 4, 2025 • 36min
BA Bake Club: Tiramisu Basque Cheesecake
Join Shilpa and Jesse as they dig into Shilpa's Tiramisu Basque Cheesecake—a delicious, shockingly easy, and decadent bake. They'll discuss the ins and outs of ingredient choices and the recipe development process, plus end with an Ask a Baker segment all about the perfect chocolate chip cookie.You can find instructions for joining the Club at bonappetit.com/bakeclub - and of course, you can always send your questions to bakeclub@bonappetit.com.Joy of Baking Pan ConversionsRecipe Walkthrough VideoJesse's Cookie Book, Cookies: The New ClassicsBrown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Feb 25, 2025 • 36min
From This Is TASTE: Baking Is Like Karaoke with Abi Balingit
Abi Balingit, author of "Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed" and co-founder of Cakezine, shares her infectious passion for baking. She draws intriguing parallels between baking and karaoke, emphasizing the importance of personal style. The conversation dives into the joy of nostalgic desserts, with highlights on unique Filipino flavors like ube. Balingit also discusses her journey in cookbook creation, revealing the balancing act of maintaining personal vision while navigating social media. Her vibrant insights make baking feel like a colorful celebration!

7 snips
Feb 18, 2025 • 32min
I Need Fast, Filling Lunches
Join the hosts as they help a grad student, Karen, tackle cooking challenges in her dorm kitchen. Discover innovative no-cook lunch ideas and the versatility of a rice cooker for quick meals. From a flavorful one-pot salmon dish to chickpea salad sandwiches, the tips shared make cooking on a budget exciting. Plus, hear about thrilling travel destinations for culinary exploration. Cooking doesn’t have to be complex—embrace simplicity and creativity, even in a shared space!