20 creative ways to use your KitchenAid mixer

A friend of mine recently said she received a KitchenAid mixer for Christmas, but didn’t know what to use it for. If you too have one of the bright-colored beauties just sitting on your countertop, let me share with you 20 favorite ways I use my KitchenAid. I admit, I was a bit slow to take to it at first, too, but after eight years together, we’ve whipped up some pretty delicious stuff.

1. Mix meatballs or beef for burgers

Whether it’s seasonings for meatballs or burgers, dump all your ingredients into the bowl and mix until combined. Keep an eye out — you don’t want to overmix — but using your KitchenAid to make meatballs means you’re free to prep other items.

2. Shred chicken, pork or beef

Place your roasted or slow cooker meat in the mixing bowl, attach the dough hook and run on low for about 20 seconds at a time. You’ll have perfectly pulled chicken or pork or beef.

3. Make guacamole

Making a small batch of guacamole isn’t so bad, but when you need to mash three, four, five or more avocados, you’re talking about a pretty big job. Your mixer will speed up the process immensely.

4. Make granola or granola bars

Store-bought granola bars can be loaded with added sugars, and the healthy ones can be pretty pricey if you want to make them a regular part of your diet. Make your own at home by mixing granola or oats with peanut butter or melted coconut oil, honey, vanilla, crushed pretzels and other fun add-ins like pumpkin seeds or mini-chocolate chips.

5. Mix delicious dips

There are tons of dips out there that call for you to add cream cheese and other flavorings. I used to avoid making any of those because they turned out so lumpy. But with the help of a KitchenAid, your mixes will be smooth and delicious.

6. Mix egg salad

Roughly chop all your ingredients then let the whisk attachment do the rest.

7. Make food stuffings

I’m not talking about Thanksgiving here. I mean the food fillings that you stuff into things like ravioli, manicotti, stuffed mushrooms or stuffed French toast.

8. Pizza dough

Put that bread hook to work.

9. Homemade bread or cinnamon rolls

While you have the bread hook out …

10. Mix cake or cupcake batter

You’re going to dirty a bowl anyway. Might as well use one that will attach to your KitchenAid and mix itself. Try these yummy margarita cupcakes.

11. Brownies

Baking is always easier with a KitchenAid. Set your batter to mix, while you chop walnuts, cherries, chocolate chunks and more.

12. Meringue

Turn egg whites into firm, glossy peaks in no time.

13. Whipped cream

Still whipping cream by hand? Still buying it at the store? Both of those sound like pretty boring options when you can have fresh whipped cream at home with zero effort. You’ll quickly be able to experiment with flavorings like raspberry or peppermint, too.

14. Frosting

Buttercream icing is not easy to make, but a stand mixer makes it SO much easier. Say goodbye to store-bought.

15. Cookies

Evenly distribute chocolate chips, walnuts, raisins or just about any other delicious add-in with ease with your KitchenAid.

16. Marshmallows

Yup. Homemade marshmallows are actually pretty easy to make with a stand mixer. Hot chocolate and homemade marshmallows sound like the perfect little Friday night in.

17. Mix settled foods

So you buy or make foods and sometimes they separate. Offender #1: natural peanut butter. It’s so delicious and actually pretty good for you, but it always has that gross layer of oil at the top. If you dump that oil, your PB will go dry. Instead, try this: Scoop the entire container into your KitchenAid, mix it up and scoop it back into the jar. Voila!

18. Scrambled eggs

Sure, making scrambled eggs for one or two people isn’t a big deal, but when you need to scramble eggs for a whole household, your KitchenAid comes to the rescue.

19. Mashed potatoes

Use the paddle attachment to mash potatoes while they’re hot. Slowly add your milk or other liquid. As always, just avoid overmixing or they’ll come out gummy.

20. French toast

Just like scrambled eggs, make French toast for two or 22 in no time. Crack your eggs into the bowl and mix. Then use the bowl to hold your mixture while you soak your bread slices a few at a time.