NaTaya Hastings

NaTaya Hastings is a food and recipe writer for Insanely Good Recipes. She’s an educator, boy mom, dog mom, and whatever-stray-enters-the-yard mom. As a result, she's constantly cooking for both humans and animals.

Luckily, she enjoys it!

Though born, raised, and still living in Alabama, her specialty is NOT down-home Southern cooking. Instead, she loves to experiment with Asian, Mexican, Italian, and other ethnic cuisines. She has two mottos when it comes to cooking. “The more spice, the better!” and “There’s no such thing as too much garlic!”

She’s also pretty good with desserts. Especially the easy, no-bake ones.

Her favorite things are cuddling with her four giant dogs, traveling, reading, writing, and hanging out in nature. She’s also pretty excellent at Dominoes.

Baked apple slices served with vanilla ice cream on a white bowl.

Baked Apple Slices with Cinnamon Sugar

These baked apple slices are coated in warm cinnamon and sugar. Served with vanilla ice cream, they’re an irresistible treat!

Roasted zucchini on close up.

Roasted Zucchini

This roasted zucchini is light, healthy, and delicious! Seasoned with lemon and Parmesan, it’s an easy side dish everyone will love.

Savory homemade pulled pork sliders with coleslaw and bbq sauce

Easy Pulled Pork Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

These pulled pork sliders are sweet, savory, and full of goodness! Tender pork is coated in a tangy BBQ sauce and stuffed into Hawaiian rolls.

A slice of cake with chopped pecans and cream cheese frosting sitting in a white plate

Elvis Presley Cake Recipe

I can’t help falling in love with this soft, fluffy, and flavorful Elvis Presley cake. Once you try it, you’ll be all shook up, too! It’s that good.

Beef and cheddar cheese sliders with poppy seeds on top served on a white plate.

Beef and Cheddar Sliders

These gooey beef and cheddar sliders are bursting with flavor! Packed with tender beef, melty cheddar cheese, and a tasty BBQ sauce, they can’t be topped!

Square sliced pecan pie bars stacked on a parchment paper.

Pecan Pie Bars Recipe

These sweet, sticky pecan pie bars with buttery shortbread base are just as addictive as they sound. Better yet, they’re ready for the oven in just 15 minutes!

Mashed potatoes in a plate topped with sausage and onion gravy.

Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy

Bangers and Mash is a fun British dish featuring succulent pork sausages, creamy mashed potatoes, and a savory onion gravy you’ll dream about all week.

Ding dong cake with buttercream and chocolate ganache

Ding Dong Cake Recipe

If you love Ding Dong snack cakes, you’ll love this homemade Ding Dong cake! It’s rich, extra chocolatey, and everything about it screams indulgence!

Easy Bubble and Squeak Recipe

Authentic bubble and squeak is easy and delicious! This dish is full of potatoes, veggies, and onions. Fried to golden perfection, it’s such a delicacy!

Mini pizza sliders with pepperoni, cheese and herbs in a platter

Pepperoni Pizza Sliders

Pepperoni pizza sliders are just as delicious as they look. Trust me, between the gooey cheese and tangy pizza sauce, the kids will love them!