Simple and Easy Crockpot Lasagna

March 26, 2020 By Melissa 2 Comments
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Take the stress out of making lasagna with this simple Crockpot Lasagna recipe. Letting your crockpot do all the work is just part of the fun. The taste and flavor of this recipe will totally seal the deal!

When’s the last time that you cooked an entire meal in your crockpot? If you’re stopping to think, it’s been too long! This slow cooker lasagna recipe will have you never making lasagna any other way ever again.

This is one of those recipes that you can “set and forget” and have it ready and waiting for you when you return home from a long hard day of work. I also like to create this recipe and have it for leftovers throughout the week. What?! Leftovers is meal-planning, right?

Get ready to fall in love with the ease of this homemade lasagna recipe. It’s just that good!

Simple and Easy Crockpot Lasagna

The great part of this recipe for crockpot lasagna is that you don’t need a ton of ingredients to get started.

Ingredients needed for easy crockpot lasagna

2 lbs ground beef
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 large can of tomato sauce
1 can of fire-roasted, diced tomatoes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1 package (12 oz) lasagna noodles
12 oz ricotta cheese
2 (8 oz) packages of mozzarella cheese, shredded
3/4 C parmesan cheese, grated

How to make crockpot lasagna

Prep crockpot with baking spray.

Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet adding the onion until it turns translucent. Add crushed garlic to the skillet. Add the ground beef until brown.

Combine the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and spices in a sauce pan, cooking all ingredients until warm.

Begin to layer the lasagna in the crock pot. Bottom layer of the lasagna a large spoonful meat sauce. The second layer will be uncooked lasagna noodles (break to fit).

Add a layer of cooked hamburger meat. Then top with cheeses. Repeat with sauce, noodles meat and cheeses until all are used up. Top with an extra layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Allow to set briefly prior to serving.

Print Recipe

Crockpot Lasagna

You're going to love the ease and taste of this crockpot lasagna.

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
1 onion
2 garlic cloves
1 large can of tomato sauce
1 can of fire-roasted, diced tomatoes
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1 package (12 oz) lasagna noodles
12 oz ricotta cheese
2 (8 oz) packages of mozzarella cheese, shredded
3/4 C parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

Prep crockpot with baking spray.
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet adding the onion until it turns translucent. Add crushed garlic to the skillet. Add the ground beef until brown.
Combine the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and spices in a sauce pan, cooking all ingredients until warm.
Begin to layer the lasagna in the crock pot. Bottom layer of the lasagna a large spoonful meat sauce. The second layer will be uncooked lasagna noodles (break to fit).
Add a layer of cooked hamburger meat. Then top with cheeses. Repeat with sauce, noodles meat and cheeses until all are used up. Top with an extra layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours. Allow to set briefly prior to serving.

Looking for more great crockpot or slow cooker recipes? Check these out!

Sausage Asparagus Skillet Recipe with Quinoa

March 17, 2020 By Melissa
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

This Sausage Asparagus Skillet Recipe with Quinoa is so quick and easy to prepare and an easy family favorite meal.

Looking for a healthy and easy meal? Check out this Sausage, Asparagus & Quinoa Meal Recipe. This meal is so simple to make but flavorful and sure to become a family favorite. We all love quinoa in my family and this is a great way to prepare it. My youngest requests it often.

Here are a few in process pictures but be sure to check out the full printable recipe below.

Sausage Asparagus Skillet Recipe with Quinoa Recipe Directions

In a medium saucepan, bring the 2 cups of chicken broth to a boil.
Add in the 1 cup of uncooked quinoa. Lower the heat and allow the quinoa to simmer, stirring occasionally, until cooked, about 10-15 minutes.
In a separate pan, saute the fresh asparagus and smoked sausage on medium heat until the asparagus is tender, about 10-15 minutes. I’ve found I didn’t need to add any oil with the sausage.

Next, add in the 2 cups of cooked quinoa and continue to saute 5-6 minutes
Serve immediately. However, leftovers also reheat well.

This easy recipe is perfect for busy nights but still healthy and flavorful. You really can’t go wrong. If you are looking for a new way to try quinoa and asparagus, you really can’t go wrong with this recipe.

Print Recipe

Sausage, Asparagus & Quinoa Meal Recipe

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time25 mins

Course: dinner

Servings: 4

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

1 C. uncooked quinoa makes 2 C. cooked
1 C. fresh asparagus washed and the ends cut off
8 oz smoked sausage cut into quarters
2 C. chicken broth
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

In a medium saucepan, bring the 2 cups of chicken broth to a boil.
Add in the 1 cup of uncooked quinoa. Lower the heat and allow the quinoa to simmer, stirring occasionally, until cooked, about 10-15 minutes.
In a separate pan, saute the fresh asparagus and smoked sausage on medium heat until the asparagus is tender, about 10-15 minutes. I've found I didn't need to add any oil with the sausage.
Add in the 2 cups of cooked quinoa and continue to saute 5-6 minutes.
Serve immediately.
Leftovers also reheat well.

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20 Easy Sheet Pan Meals/ One Pan Sheet Meals

February 20, 2020 By Melissa 1 Comment
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If you love the convenience of easy cleanup and mostly hands-off dinners, then you’ll want to check out this collection of more than 20 easy sheet pan meals. Check out these easy sheet pan dinners that are perfect for busy weeknights. These one sheet pan meals recipes will give you the inspiration to make a variety of meals that your hungry family will adore. We even include some healthy sheet plan meals. You’ll find easy ways to make chicken parmesan, beef or chicken fajitas, deliciously flavored salmon and white fish, delectable sheet pan shrimp meals, succulent pork recipes and more. You’ll even learn how to make scrambled eggs on a sheet pan! Sheet pan clean up is a breeze when you use foil, parchment paper or non-stick silicone baking mats. Let these sheet pan dinner recipes help you make awesome meals, all with the help of a sheet pan and an oven!

Looking for the best one-sheet meals? We rounded them up for you!

Easy Sheet Pan Meals / One Sheet Pan Meals

Luscious pineapple gives a touch of sweetness to this tasty sheet pan chicken meal. A quick teriyaki marinade of just 30 minutes is all that’s required to give the chicken a tender and outrageous flavor. Then it’s just 15 minutes in the oven along with some veggies before serving up this tasty meal.
Sheet Pan Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken by Averie Cooks

No need to stand over a skillet and stir fry this meal when you can easily put it on a sheet pan instead! You’ll still get awesome flavor and tender beef that’s seasoned with a sticky sauce full of garlic and ginger. Don’t forget the green beans for some crunch!
Sheet Pan Mongolian Beef by A Spicy Perspective

Just wait until you taste these delicious Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Apple! These easy baked pork chops are perfect for holiday dinners, weekend family suppers, or just a delicious weeknight meal to gather everyone around the kitchen table.
Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Apple by Everyday Savvy

You’ll love the super easy clean up of this buttery shrimp scampi recipe that’s made right on a sheet pan! Tomatoes and asparagus are the perfect veggies to go with this garlicky shrimp meal. Serve with a side of pasta and be prepared for rave reviews from your family and friends.
Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi by Carlsbad Cravings

Go vegan with this delicious tofu and veggie sheet pan meal. The tofu crisps up perfectly in the oven along with colorful bell peppers and broccoli. Add a homemade peanut sauce to take this Asian-inspired meal over the top!
Sheet Pan Crispy Tofu & Vegetables with Peanut Sauce by Joy Food Sunshine

Cashews add the perfect crunch to this chicken meal that bakes in about 20 minutes on a sheet pan. You’ll love the Chinese-inspired soy, honey and sesame sauce, too. Forget all about take-out with this meal!
Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken by Life Made Sweeter

What could be easier than adding a flank steak to a sheet pan surrounded by sliced green peppers and onions and sliding it into the oven for 30 minutes? Not much! You’ll get steak that’s perfect for slicing thin for your Philly sandwich along with the tender peppers and onions. Add provolone cheese and enjoy this classic meal.
Sheet Pan Philly Cheesesteak by Eazy Peazy Mealz

Carrots and green beans make the perfect side items for these spicy soy sauce and ginger glazed Alaskan salmon fillets. Can you believe you can prep and bake this entire meal in about 15 minutes? Win-win!
Sheet Pan Ginger Soy Glazed Salmon by Eat Yourself Skinny

No frying needed with these simple sheet pan pork chops flavored with a delectable honey mustard sauce. Add cubed sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts to the pan for a deliciously hearty meal.
Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Pork Chops by Simply Recipes

Sausage lovers will appreciate this easy meal full of veggies and tasty Kielbasa slices. Carrots, broccoli, onions and peppers share space with the sausage on a sheet pan that’s baked for just 20 minutes. Serve with a side of rice for a hearty meal.
Sheet Pan Roasted Veggies And Sausage by Recipe Girl

If you need a breakfast meal to feed a crowd, consider this sheet pan egg recipe. Grab several cartons of eggs and get ready to scramble them for the sheet pan that’s at least 1″ deep. Season the eggs and add veggies, bacon, ham, and cheese if you like. Bake for 20 minutes and serve to your hungry family and friends!
Sheet Pan Eggs by Sweet Peas And Saffron

This gorgeous chicken sheet pan meal is full of veggies goodness from Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes and apples. Your kitchen will smell heavenly as these flavors cook. Enjoy this meal knowing that the cleanup will be a breeze!
Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Brussels Sprouts by Well Plated

Make this mild white fish meal of lemon herbed cod along with garlicky green beans and zucchini. You can even make the zesty sauce the day before to save time so all you need to do is load the sheet pan and bake!
Sheet Pan Lemon Herb Cod by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

Eggplant parmesan can be easily made on a sheet pan, and it’s also a great way to make it ahead of time and warm up later. You can even add turkey meatballs to make this a hearty meal for meat lovers. Awesome!
Sheet Pan Eggplant Parmesan by Bunsen Burner Bakery

Cut your chicken breasts into strips and add fajita seasoning to them before placing on a sheet pan. Add your sliced peppers, onions, zucchini and mushrooms to the pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Serve with flour tortillas and all your favorite toppings.
Chicken Fajitas by Sweet Peas And Saffron

Make this sheet pan recipe for breakfast or dinner. Cubed sweet potatoes, red onion and Brussels sprouts bake along with sunny-side up eggs for a delicious meal any time of the day. Oh, and the clean up is a breeze if you use a baking mat on the sheet pan.
Sheet Pan Sweet Potato Hash With Eggs by Zesty Olive

Make this healthy version of fish and chips right at home on a sheet pan. The potatoes spears get tossed with olive oil and get a head start with the roasting process. Coat your fish with Panko breadcrumbs and add to the sheet pan for the last 20 minutes. Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.
Sheet Pan Fish And Chips by Simply Recipes

Even picky eaters will enjoy this tasty chicken parmesan sheet pan meal complete with a side of your choice of veggie. Broccoli is used here, but use what you have on hand. Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, marinara sauce and Mozzarella cheese make this chicken an irresistible entree that the whole family will love.
Sheet Pan Chicken Parmesan by Six Sisters Stuff

Lemon, dill and yogurt give this sheet pan salmon a delicious tangy flavor along with an extra hit of lemon pepper. Add asparagus or green beans to the sheet pan and bake for just 15 minutes. So easy and quick!
Lemon Pepper Salmon by Sweet Peas And Saffron

Here’s how easy this recipe is: toss shrimp, sliced turkey sausage, zucchini, red onion, and bell peppers with a homemade cajun spice blend, turn it out on to a sheet pan and bake. Serve with as side of pasta, if desired, or just gobble it up as is!
Cajun Shrimp And Sausage by Kevin Is Cooking

With just a little bit of prep work and brining before baking you can make the most tender and juicy pork tenderloin ever. It’s easy to do and you’ll love the chili rub that gives the pork an outrageous flavor. Cook potatoes and green beans on the sheet pan, too, and enjoy this awesome meal.
Sheet Pan Chili Dijon Pork Tenderloin by Carlsbad Cravings

More Meal Planning Resources

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Meal Planning – Once a Month Meals

Must-Have Meal Planning Tools

Restricted Diets & Food Allergies Meal Planning Tips

Wondering How to Make a Meal Plan?

Click to Pin for Later

Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

January 23, 2020 By Melissa Leave a Comment
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If you are looking for quick healthy recipes, you will want to check out the 20 healthy Instant Pot recipes that are perfect for your busy life. These top easy healthy Instant Pot recipes are full of flavor and lots of different ingredients so you are sure to find a healthy Instant Pot idea your family will love.

20 Healthy Instant Pot Recipes

It’s no secret that the Instant Pot is a chef’s new best friend for getting meals on the table in record time. It’s also a great appliance for helping you create healthy meals with little to no fuss, thanks to the benefits of pressurized cooking. This collection of healthy Instant Pot recipes is full of menu planning ideas from breakfast and the way through to dessert. You’ll find meal recipes for meat lovers as well as vegetarians. From soups to stews, from fajitas to meatballs and from lentils to veggies, you’ll find inspiration for healthy cooking for a range of dietary needs. With minimal prep, these mouth-watering recipes will practically make themselves allowing you to enjoy delicious and healthy meals in no time at all!

Are Instant Pot Recipes Healthy?

That all depends on the ingriendents you use. Instant pot recipes can be full of fat or full of healthy ingrentients. We rounded up the top healthy instant pot recipes that can make it so easy to eat healthy. cehck out these top rated healthy Instant Pot recipes.

There’s no need to add sugar to naturally sweet apples when you make this healthy pressure cooker version of applesauce. Just core the apples, slice them (leave the peels on) and place them in your Instant Pot. Add a little water, turn it on and come back in 10 minutes to an awesome batch of applesauce. So delicious!
Instant Pot Applesauce No Sugar Added by Detoxinista

This chicken noodle soup that’s full of healthy veggies is a recipe that every Instant Pot owner should master. Good news: it’s so easy! Sauté your carrots, celery, onion and garlic before adding the chicken, stock and seasonings. Noodles go in at the very end for a delicious and hearty soup that the whole family will love.
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup by Taste And See

Forget boiling eggs on the stovetop and instead use your pressure cooker for the perfect hard boiled eggs – every time! You can even batch cook eggs for meal planning purposes so you always have them ready to go for the week. Plus, using your Instant Pot makes the eggs incredibly easy to peel. Awesome!
Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs by Recipes From A Pantry

Try these gluten free turkey meatballs for a change from beef. You can even cook these from frozen and they’ll still be tasty and tender. The turkey meatballs get cooked right in the sauce so all the seasoning and flavors are infused into the meat. They cook in about 10 minutes making this an easy dish to get on the table quickly.
Gluten Free Instant Pot Turkey Meatballs by Flippin Delicious

Give your Instant Pot 20 minutes to make this savory fajita dish full of spices, steak, peppers and onions. No fancy cooking skills are needed; just slice, dump, seal and cook and then come back to plate it up. You’ll love the tender beef and spicy veggies!
Instant Pot Steak Fajitas by Little Sunny Kitchen

Make this batch of healthy chili to feed a crowd or save the leftovers for another meal. Start with sautéing the turkey and onions before adding the rest of the ingredients The butternut squash cubes go in last, on top. Just 15 minute of high pressure renders you a delicious chili that’s family approved.
Butternut Squash Turkey Chili by Fit Mitten Kitchen

If you enjoy the flavors of egg rolls you’ll want to try this deconstructed version that comes together easily in your pressure cooker. Ground beef, cabbage, carrots, ginger, garlic, onion and riced cauliflower combine to make this egg roll in a bowl your new favorite go-to meal for busy nights!
Instant Pot Egg Roll In A Bowl by Awefilled Homemaker

The secret to this healthy cake is chocolate. That’s right! Flavonoids are the key ingredient in dark chocolate that make it a heart-healthy food. Make sure and choose dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa. Oh, and this cake is also gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free. Win-win!
Instant Pot Chocolate Pudding Cake by This Pilgrim Life

Dried red lentil are pressure cooked to tenderness with this zesty vegetarian soup full of beans and veggies in a spicy tomato sauce. Set out your favorite toppings while your Instant Pot cooks this Mexican-inspired soup to perfection. Serve to rave reviews!
Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup by Peas And Crayons

Sauté your meat, onions and garlic in your Instant Pot before building your lasagna. Using a baking pan, layer your lasagna ingredients, minus the noodle layers. Add water to the bottom of your Instant Pot, set the pan on your pressure cooker bakeware sling and cook for 9 minutes. You’ll love the flavor and healthy no-pasta version of this lasagna!
Instant Pot No Noodle Lasagna by Low Carb Yum

If you love oatmeal you’ll want to use steel cut oats for a healthy meal. Your Instant Pot will pressure cook them to tender perfection. Learn how to use just water or a mix of water and milk for the ultimate flavor and best texture results. When cooked, just add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats by A Mind Full Mom

Season these short ribs with a combo of butter, garlic, and fresh thyme for fall-off-the-bone goodness. Sear the short ribs, sauté the seasonings and then pressure cook for 35 minutes. It’s worth the time for these delectable ribs!
Garlic Butter Instant Pot Short Ribs by Delicious Little Bites

Using ground chicken, you can make this easy meal in under 20 minutes. Season the chicken with spices and add some veggies like diced zucchini to add a little more substance. Sauté and then add the liquid ingredients to infuse and cook the meat fully. Use butter lettuce for the perfect rollup vehicle. Savory!
Pressure Cooker Chicken Lettuce Wraps by Simply Recipes

For a protein-pack meal make these spice black beans which turn out tender every time thanks to your pressure cooker. There’s no need to pre-soak your beans. You’ll just sauté your veggies and spices before adding the dry beans and water or broth. Cook for 50 minutes and enjoy these spicy beans as is or use in other recipes throughout the week.
Mexican Black Beans In The Instant Pot by Piping Hot Curry

Give your Instant Pot 30 minutes to make you this delicious plant-based curry. A base of creamy coconut milk flavors the cauliflower and garbanzo beans. Spice it up with onions, garlic, ginger, garam masala and curry powder. Garnish with cashews, if desired. So tasty!
Cauliflower Tikka Masala by The Forked Spoon

Make this immune-boosting soup full of veggies like broccoli, carrots, celery and tomatoes. Beans, along with garlic, basil, and raw buckwheat groats fill out this healthy soup profile. Make a batch for today and stash some in your fridge for later.
Instant Pot Spring Vegetable Soup by Kitchen Of Youth

It only takes 5 ingredients to make this vegan dessert pudding. Dry rice with coconut milk and unsweetened coconut make the creamiest healthy pudding that kids as well as adults will enjoy. Top with fruit, if desired.
Instant Pot Coconut Rice Pudding by Simply Happy Foodie

Pressure cook frozen or fresh heart-healthy salmon in about 20 minutes! Full of omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is also a great source of protein. Just place your salmon fillets on a metal trivet, add a cup of water to the pot and let it work its magic.
Instant Pot Salmon by Detoxinista

No need to simmer this soup all day; just make this easy minestrone soup in your pressure cooker to deepen the flavor. Use kidney beans, cannellini beans and yummy veggies like carrots, green beans, celery, spinach and zucchini for a colorful, healthy and delicious meal.
Instant Pot Minestrone Soup by Life Made Sweeter

Chicken breasts with tangy lemon juice, zest and garlic get pressure-cooked to delicious tenderness. Remove your chicken and finish the meal with asparagus and artichoke hearts. There will be actual awesome sauce left over that you’ll want to spoon on to every delicious bite of this meal!
Instant Pot Lemon Chicken by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen

Need Meal Planning Help?

Learn How an Instant Pot can help with Meal Planning here

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Easy Dinner Ideas for Family

January 11, 2020 By Melissa Leave a Comment
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Looking for easy dinner ideas for family? You have come to the right place. These quick family meals make it easy to get a dinner on the table quickly that your whole family will love.

20 Plus Quick And Easy Dinner Ideas for Family

When you need quick meal idieas and easy dinner to put together, keep this collection of recipes handy. Here, you’ll find easy family meals that can be made in about 30 minutes as well as those can be ready in as little as 10 minutes! Get inspired with savory and meaty meals of chicken, beef, turkey and pork as well as seafood meals of shrimp and salmon. You’ll also find meatless meals for delicious dinner options. One-pan skillet meals, sheet pan meals, as well as pressure cooker meals all help to make your cooking experience quick, easy and nutritious. From pizza and pasta to soup and hot dogs, you’ll find a variety simple dinner ideas for family that will soon become family favorites while saving you time in the kitchen.

[Read more…]

Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Apple Easy Dinner Recipe

November 6, 2019 By Thena Franssen Leave a Comment
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Just wait until you taste these delicious Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Apple ! These easy baked pork chops are perfect for holiday dinners, weekend family suppers, or just a delicious weeknight meal to gather everyone around the kitchen table.

The best part about this oven roasted pork chop recipe is that you only need 5 simple ingredients to get started. And I’m talking easy ingredients!

Once you combine them together and cook them, you’re going to realize that you’ve just found a dependable go-to weekly meal. Everything about this recipe is simple, easy, and delicious.

There’s no reason that you can’t have this into your weekly meal-planning or rotation without any sort of issues!

Sign up for my easy meal planning tips here. Getting dinner on the table doesn’t have to be hard and it saves you time and money!

Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Apple

Packed full of healthy ingredients, get ready to get started!

Ingredients needed to make these easy baked boneless pork chops

4 Boneless Pork Chops
Green Beans
Sweet Potatoes
Olive Oil
1 12oz Can Apple Pie Filler

How to make this roasted pork chops in the oven

Place pork chops on the sheet pan. These is such a simple way to make boneless pork chops in oven. Need a sheet pan? This sheet pan has great reviews.

Clean and slice your green beans. Then place them on the sheet pan.

Slice up the sweet potatoes and place them on the sheet pan.

Drizzle with olive oil.

Preheat the oven to 350 and place in the oven for 30 minutes or until pork chops reach 150-155 degrees.

Remove from the oven and pour the apple pie filling over the entire sheet pan meal.

Place in the oven for an additional 5 minutes.

Serve and enjoy your boneless pork chops with apples and sweet potatoes!

Print Recipe

Sheet Pan Pork Chops with Apple & Sweet Potato

Don't miss out on this delicious Sheet Pan Pork Chops.

Ingredients

4 Boneless Pork Chops
Green Beans
Sweet Potatoes
Olive Oil
1 12oz Can Apple Pie Filler

Instructions

Place pork chops on the sheet pan.
Clean and slice your green beans. Then place them on the sheet pan.
Slice up the sweet potatoes and place them on the sheet pan.
Drizzle with olive oil.
Preheat the oven to 350 and place in the oven for 30 minutes or until pork chops reach 150-155 degrees.
Remove from the oven and pour the apple pie filling over the entire sheet pan meal.
Place in the oven for an additional 5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!

Be sure to pin this recipe for later!

Looking for more great easy pork and beef recipes? Check these out!

Monster Pasta Recipe – Great Halloween Meal

September 2, 2019 By Melissa Leave a Comment
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Looking for a fun and easy Halloween meal idea or a monster theme party meal? Check out this Monster Pasta recipe. Your kids will love it and it is so easy to make. The monster eyes are made with meatballs and olives. We included a homemade marinara sauce recipe but you can always use jarred sauce if you prefer. Also, we included frozen meatballs but you can always make your own as well. The full printable recipe is below. [Read more…]

Slow Cooker Leftover Turkey Chili Recipe

November 16, 2017 By Melissa 13 Comments
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The age old question after Thanksgiving is what to do with the leftover turkey. One great way to use it is this slow cooker leftover turkey recipe. This recipe is so simple and you can easily have all the items on hand for a yummy meal the day after Thanksgiving.

You just need some canned goods, spices, and the leftover turkey. Plus any of your favorite chili toppings such as sour cream, cheese, crackers, etc.

I have this programmable crock pot which I love. It cooks for the required amount of time than just keeps the recipe warm. This means your recipe won’t get overcooked. You can head out Black Friday shopping and come home for a tasty lunch! Be sure to check out the full printable recipe below.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Leftover Turkey Chili Recipe

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

2 cans black beans
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans light red kidney beans
2 cans chili hot beans
2 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1 Spanish onion diced
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
¼ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp approximately freshly ground pepper
3 TBSP Cajun spices
left over turkey

Instructions

Skin and take the leftover turkey off the bones shredding into pieces.
Put the turkey into the crock pot.
Drain the juices out of the black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans.
Stir to mix the ingredients.
Pour the black beans, pinto and kidney beans in a crock pot.
Add the chili beans, roasted diced tomatoes and the broth to the crock pot.
Add the diced onion. Stir well.
Add the spices. Stir well.
Cook on medium for 4-6 hours.
Occasionally stir the ingredients to incorporate all of the spices and other ingredients.
Enjoy with sour cream, cheese, crackers or Fritos.

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Easy Cinco De Mayo Recipes

May 5, 2017 By Melissa Leave a Comment
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Here are some easy and tasty Mexican recipes that will make any Cinco De Mayo special. We have rounded up everything from healthy salsa to slow cooker meals that are so easy to make. You will love this list of easy Cinco De Mayo recipes! [Read more…]

Once a Month Meals – Meal Planning Tips

April 5, 2017 By Melissa 2 Comments
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Are you wanting a month of meals ready to cook so you don’t have to stress week to week or day to day? This is the ultimate method for making weeknight meals easy for anyone in your family to manage. Moms tend to be in charge in the kitchen, but with busy work and family life schedules, it can be frustrating to spend hours a week in the kitchen. These tips will help you prepare a month of meals for your family in no time.

How To Prepare One Month Of Meals Ahead Of Time

Create a master recipe list

It all begins with the recipes. There are a ton of ways to go about preparing a month of meals, but the best place to start is by getting your recipes in order. Most often, this list includes just evening meals, but if you are also trying to include your breakfasts and lunches, you will want to plan ahead and add those recipes to your calendar as well.

These 20 freezer meal plans make it easy. These They include complete shopping lists and assembly instructions. Wondering how to make your favorite recipes into freezer recipes, I give tips on this here.

One great tip for making your recipe list even more cost effective for a month of meals, is to look at the sales at your grocery store for the week you will be shopping. While you want to use your favorite recipes, you may adjust your end grocer list some depending on sales. If chicken breast is much cheaper than chicken thighs you normally buy, you can easily make that substitute. Maybe green bell peppers are on sale in the summer. If so, you can easily add extra to your list to cut and freezer for other meals, or add stuffed peppers to your recipe list instead of another meal.

Once you know what you plan to have each day, you can then break down your recipes by ingredients. This takes a bit of time, but is a great way to make sure you don’t get in the middle of meal prep and find you missed an important ingredient when shopping. I recommend breaking down each recipe, then adding up like items once every recipe is listed to create your master list. If you are using meal plans provided by websites or blogs, you are likely to find this has already been completed for you.

As you create your grocery list from the ingredient lists of your recipes, make sure to double check your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator before adding items to the list. Use what you have on had first to save more money on your grocery budget for a month of meals in advance. What’s left on your ingredient list is your final shopping list.

Shop for ingredients to all recipes. Since preparing a month of meals will take a few hours, you’ll probably want to get groceries at least the day before. This will help you be well-rested and up to the task of shopping. When planning ahead like this, you can easily take advantage of sales on meats, produce, and other items needed for your menu plan.

Tips for making your shopping trip easier:

Divide your list into aisles of your store
Take someone to help you stay on track and load or unload groceries
Eat before you shop so you don’t give into impulse buys
Clip coupons for any items that have extra savings available
Use apps like Checkout 51, iBotta, and Target Cartwheel for more savings and rebates

Prep everything before assembling

The best way to conquer preparing meals in advance is to get everything prepped before you begin cooking or assembling. If you are doing simple prepped meals that will be cooked after thawed, this process isn’t as time consuming. If you plan to cook meals ahead of time, it can be more time consuming, but well worth the result. Prepping things in advance can be broken down into two categories.

Tips for use in any freezer meal style you choose:

Arrange bags or containers on your counter so filling them is easy. Invest in bag holders if needed, and leave containers open with lids off. This keeps things sanitary as you move from recipe to recipe.
Have multiple cutting boards ready for use. Preferably you will have one for raw meat, and another for fruits or vegetables.
Have all tools and utensils washed and ready for use. This includes knives, spoons, bowls for mixing, saucepans, or skillets as needed.
Have sanitizing wipes, paper towels, and cleaner on hand for spills and cleanup as you work.
Empty your dishwasher and sink before you get started so you can load all dirty items directly into them to be washed right away.
Prep each item all at once. Dice, chop, slice, julienne each vegetable then separate into containers as needed. Doing all of your onions, all carrots, etc. at once will cut back on overall prep time, and help keep mix-ups and forgotten items to a minimum. This keeps an assembly line going that makes it take much less time. Do the same with meats.

For freezer meals cooked and reheated later:

Roast, broil, bake, grill, or sauté all meats at once. For example, if you have 3 meals using browned ground meat, cook all at once with just salt & pepper seasoning, then separate and add individual seasonings as needed. Do the same with any vegetables or sauces and broths that will be used in multiple recipes.
Use lined baking sheets to flash freeze items for storing in freezer containers or bags. Spreading items out on a baking sheet to cool, then move into the storage container can make it a lot easier and faster to manage.
Choose your cooking method in advance and prep with that in mind. Bags work well for Crockpot meals. Containers best for items to heat in the microwave. Aluminum pans and trays for casseroles to go from refrigerator to oven.

Enlist help for assembly

This is probably the most important part of preparing a month of meals ahead of time. Getting help to make the process go faster is a great idea. Have kids, your spouse, or a good friend there to help you seal containers, sort items,chop and dice ahead of time, or simply add labels to each recipe as you finish preparing it

For those who want to prepare a month of meals ahead of time, these tips will keep you on track and ready to conquer a few hours of hard work in the kitchen that will save you time and money in the long run.

Not sure about making a whole months of meals ahead? This book Prep-Ahead Meals From Scratch: Quick & Easy Batch Cooking Techniques and Recipes That Save You Time and Money is very helpful to get meals on the table quicker and give tips on how to pre-cook proteins.

If you want to try out just 10 freezer recipes that you can make in an hour, this freezer meal subscription service makes it easy.

Let The Grill Season Begin

March 9, 2017 By Melissa Leave a Comment
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There is nothing like a grilled meal and now that winter is over, it’s time to start the season by firing up your grills. Did you know the over 80% of “mature millennials” – millennials between 25-33 – rank grilling as one of their favorite summer activities? It is one of the good things of summer. But why wait until summer? People who love to grill can’t wait to grill – and these extreme grillers may even do it when it’s not quite time yet.

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher helped Johnsonville grill and serve bratwursts at Sundays Chicago Polar Plunge on March 5, 2017, in Chicago. (Jean-Marc Giboux/AP Images for Johnsonville)

To kick off grilling season, Johnsonville sponsored the 2017 Chicago Polar Plunge, so shivering participants could warm up with piping hot Johnsonville #FirstBrats of the season, fresh off the burners of the Big Taste Grill. The Big Taste Grill is a 20-foot tall, 65-foot long grill, which cooks 2,500 brats an hour or 750 bratwurst at a time on its 40 square feet of grilling surface. Wow! That is a lot of brats!!! Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher helped Johnsonville grill and serve bratwursts at Sunday’s Chicago Polar Plunge on March 5, 2017, in Chicago.

The Plunge was hosted and benefits Special Olympics Chicago, which aligns directly with the charitable mission of the Big Taste Grill. If these extreme plungers were willing to jump in freezing water for a good cause, Johnsonville wanted to be a part of it, as they don’t let the weather get in the way of what they love – grilling brats.

You might have missed this fun event and not have quite as big of a grill but you can still start grilling some brats yourself and start grilling season! I personally love the Johnsonville Chicken sausages. YUM!

You also can enter to win the Johnsonville’s #FirstBrats Contest and the Grand Prize is snow removal or lawn care for a year, a value of $1,500. The Contest begins at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on March 8, 2017 and ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on May 15, 2017.

There are two (2) ways to enter:

Online: During the Contest Period, an entrant may visit www.FirstBratsContest.com, enter his/her email address, and follow the instructions to register by entering all information requested on the registration form. After an entrant has registered, he/she may follow the instructions to upload one (1) photo of his/her “first grill of the season”.

Social Media: During the Contest Period, an entrant may (a) log in to his/her Twitter or Instagram account, follow @Johnsonville on Twitter or @jvillesausage on Instagram (if he/she does not already), and post a Tweet/post that includes one (1) photo of his/her “first grill of the season” and the hashtag “#FirstBratsContest” or (b) log in to his/her Facebook account, visit Sponsor’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/johnsonville/, and post a comment responding to Sponsor’s Invitation Post that includes a photo of his/her “first grill of the season” and the hashtag “#FirstBratsContest.

Following the Contest period, all eligible entries received during the Contest period will be judged by a panel of qualified judges selected by Johnsonville. The judges will score the entries according to the following weighted criteria: creativity, photo quality and relevance to the Contest theme (e.g., entry captures the passion for grilling even if the weather is not ideal for grilling).

Limit one (1) prize per person

There is a limit of one (1) entry per entry method per person per calendar day during the Contest period (i.e., an entrant may receive one entry each via www.FirstBratsContest.com, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) for a total of five (5) entries per day.

Official Contest rules can be found at www.FirstBratsContest.com.

Let the grilling season begin!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Johnsonville. The opinions and text are all mine.

Fresh & Easy Fish Tacos Recipe

March 8, 2017 By Melissa 19 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

Fresh Easy Fish Tacos Recipe

One of my absolute favorite foods is fish tacos. I often order them at restaurants but this fresh easy fish tacos recipe is great to make at home. It really is very simple to make but the fresh flavors are amazing! It is essential to use fresh cilantro in this recipe. The cilantro, tomatoes and yogurt sauce make this one seriously yummy dish. I used corn tortillas in order for the recipe to be gluten free. You can use flour tortillas though if you prefer them.

Print Recipe

Fresh and Simple Fish Taco Recipe

Fresh and simple fish tacos. Clean eating and can be made gluten free. Easy, fast and full of flavor

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time20 mins

Course: fish

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 4

Author: Melissa Buckles

Ingredients

1 cup grape tomatoes chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro chopped
1 lime
1/2 sweet onion finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 cups coleslaw mix or green or red cabbage sliced into narrow strips
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 pound whitefish - Tilapia or other whitefish
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
8 to rtillas use corn if gluten free
1 avocado cut into strips

Instructions

Cut lime in half and juice. Slice other half into wedges.
Combine tomatoes, cilantro, onion, jalapeno, onion, 1/4 teaspoon salt and half the lime juice.
In another bowl, mix yogurt, mayonnaise, and remaining lime juice.
Combine coleslaw mix/ cabbage with 2 tablespoons of yogurt sauce in another bowl.
Reserve extra sauce.
Sprinkle whitefish with chili powder, black pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt
Grill fish or cook in olive oil in a large pan. Cook 3 minutes in pan then flip and cook two minutes more.
Serve by placing whitefish on top of tortillas and then adding homemade salsa, cabbage mix, avocado, and yogurt sauce.

Don’t forget to sign up below for our emails so you are notified of our next simple and tasty recipe (plus lots of other fun stuff!).

Want more easy and tasty Mexican inspired recipes?

Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

Easy Spicy Pico De Gallo Guacamole Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Tostadas

Easy Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

Bite Size Mini Taco Bowls

Instant Pot Meals – How A Pressure Cooker Makes Meal Planning Easy

February 16, 2017 By Melissa 4 Comments
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Instant Pot meals and recipes are all the rage these days, and using your Instant Pot for meal planning is a genius way of saving time, money, and energy in the kitchen. I finally just broke down and bought one myself. If you have invested in an Instant Pot or other pressure cooker for use in your kitchen, then you know how great it is to whip up a simple meal in minutes each night. They do have a bit of a learning curve, but the results are amazing!

Instant Pot Meals

Tips For Using Your Instant Pot For Meal Planning

Many individuals are finding that a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot is ideal for meal planning. Not only does it cook fast and easily, it makes healthy meals even easier to manage. Since fast, easy, and healthy are the most common things people request in recipes, the idea of using a pressure cooker for preparing meals is ideal. They are not like your grandma’s pressure cooker meant only for canning vegetables from her garden or fresh fruit jams and jellies. While many versions still do this and more, the Instant Pot itself is all about creating fast and delicious meals to feed your family.

Get to know your individual Instant Pot

I cannot say this enough. Your Instant Pot is unique depending on the model you have chosen. See the many different varieties of Instant Pots here. If you are using a pressure cooker and not the Instant Pot brand, that has even more unique characteristics. While they all operate in a similar manner, there are differences that can contribute to whether your meal turns out the way you think it should.

Pay attention to liquid recommendations for different types of cooking.

Use different attachments like steamers a few times alone before using along with other cooking methods.
Do test runs in small batches to determine if you like the way the texture, flavors, and recipe comes together as a whole.
Read the manual from your pressure cooker completely, even if you’ve used one that is similar before.

Learn to adjust liquids on traditional recipes.

This is probably the biggest issue people have when using an Instant Pot for meal planning on a regular basis. You can’t just toss ingredients into your Instant Pot and expect the same result you had if you cooked it on the stove top or even in a slow cooker or oven. The liquid variations are vital to how the pressure cooking system works. You absolutely must follow guidelines set out by your particular versions manual. Once you learn more about how it works, and actually cook with it regularly you will be able to create your own recipes for the Instant Pot much easier. It just takes a little bit of practice to make the best Instant Pot Meals.

Understand there will be differences in appearance and flavor with Instant Pot Meals.

If you are used to browning and searing meats, you’ll immediately notice that while you can get some color on items cooked in your Instant Pot, it will never be the same as if you cook on your stove top or in your oven. Some recipes will recommend you remove from the Instant Pot and put into a dish to put in the oven and broil for a few minutes. Others will have you use the saute function on the Instant Pot. Using only one pot and having it done in minutes is the appeal, so, if the color of your food or the crunchy coating are a must, then understand you may have to accomplish this by removing the items from your pressure cooker and finishing them on your stove or in your oven. Otherwise, the food will be cooked through and taste great, it just won’t have the same appearance.

You may also notice that flavor won’t always be as strong on marinades or seasonings as you expect. The addition of liquid to your Instant Pot often means it is a little less strong in flavor. I, personally, find that creating things like beef or chicken dishes in freezer packets that include the marinade in advance help tremendously. This allows those flavors to soak into the meat for a much longer time, and as they thaw the day I plan to cook them, they increase the flavor even more. You will find that you may need to bump flavors up a bit to get a more distinctive flavor profile, but this also varies depending on the meal you are creating in your Instant Pot.

I have been collecting all kinds of Instant Pot Recipes here. Let me know in the comments your favorite Insatnt Pot recipe. I am looking for new recipes to try myself.

Useful Instant Pot Accessories

Additionally, you may to purchase some extra sealing rings and use one for sweet food and another for savoury food. This prevents the odors from transferring among your favorite foods.

If you cook a few thing in a row, you might also want an extra inner pot. Having a secondary inner pot makes it most convenient in preparing multiple types of food with your Instant Pot.

If you plan to use your instant pot as a slow cooker, you may also want a glass lid for your instant pot so you can check on the food while it is cooking.

Create Instant Pot Meals freezer packets of recipes for easy preparation

For those that want to take meal planning with their Instant Pot a step further, you can take your recipes and create freezer packets so you have several meals ready to drop into the Instant Pot at any time. Freezer meals are a common idea in meal planning, and they work great with the Instant Pot. The only consideration would be the amount of liquid included, so you may need to adjust slightly for the right flavor and combination for your Instant Pot. Creating recipes and freezing them raw to be thawed and thrown into your Instant Pot when you get home after a busy day, takes even more time out of your evening meal preparation.

Clean your Instant Pot right away

One big issue with regularly making Instant Pot meals is that you can’t just grab a second one to cook tomorrow night’s meal in if you haven’t done dishes. They are a bit too expensive for most to have more than one in their house. That said, you should always remove the food right away and soak to clean immediately. This will keep food from sticking or drying on, and give you the chance to easily rinse off and use the next night. This is, one of the most important thing for me to do after I use my Instant Pot. If I don’t clean it right away, and it isn’t ready for the next meal, I am much more likely to go off budget and grab take-out on the way home.

Meal planning with Instant Pot recipes is one of the latest and greatest ideas for meal planning. Not only does it make a huge difference in the time you spend in the kitchen, it can easily help you stay within your grocery budget.

More Meal Planning Tips Here.

Meal Planning for Picky Eaters

How Make a Meal Planning Pantry

How To Use a Crock Pot for Meal Planning

Once a Month Meal Planning

Make Your Favorite Recipes Into Freezer Meals

Quick & Easy Red Pepper Chicken Recipe

September 26, 2016 By Melissa 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

I am always on the look out for quick and easy recipes that help me get dinner on the table fast. This easy red pepper chicken recipe does just that. You can make it very simply by seasoning the chicken and cooking it in a pan. This recipe is great for picky eaters too because you can control the amount of seasoning on each chicken piece. My kids prefer a bit less seasoning on their chicken and with recipes like this that is simple. If you want to take this recipe to the next level, you can also make a sauce with a bit of cream cheese, heavy cream and bacon and top everything with it. It isn’t as healthy but it sure is yummy! You really can’t go wrong with heavy cream and bacon. Mmmmm.

See the full printable recipe below.

Looking for other quick and easy chicken recipes? Check these out.

Easy Kung Pao Chicken

Easy Crock Pot Chicken Tostados Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Soft Tacos Recipe

Lemon Dump Chicken Recipe

Quick & Easy Red Pepper Recipe

Print Recipe

Quick & Easy Red Pepper Chicken Recipe

Prep Time3 mins

Cook Time16 mins

Total Time19 mins

Servings: 4 -6

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

2 Pounds chicken breasts
1 Red pepper sliced
3 Garlic cloves minced
¼ Cup green onions sliced
½ Tsp chili pepper chopped
1 Tsp onion powder
½ Tsp ginger powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a bowl, season the chicken with the salt, pepper, chili pepper, onion powder and ginger powder.
Transfer to a skillet or pan over medium heat and cook each side for 8 minutes.
Add the red pepper and cook for additional 4-5 minutes.
Serve, side with rice and corn.
Enjoy.
Tips: You can also make a sauce with a bit of cream cheese, heavy cream and bacon and top everything with it.

Simple & Fresh Homemade Easy Beef Bowl Recipe

September 16, 2016 By Melissa 1 Comment
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Simple ingredients can make the best meals and this easy beef bowl recipe proves just that. This recipe requires a bit of chopping and just 5 minutes of cooking. You can easily get this tasty dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes! If you are strapped for time at night, you can chop everything earlier in the day or even on the weekend. This recipe makes 3 to 4 servings. Depending on your taste you can either leave the cabbage and red pepper raw or cook them with the beef. I personally prefer them cooked with the beef.

If you like easy Asian inspired dinners, you should also check out this recipe.

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Print Recipe

Homemade Easy Beef Bowl Recipe

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time5 mins

Total Time15 mins

Servings: 3 -4

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

2 Pounds beef
4 Tbsps olive oil
2 Tbsps organic soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Red bell pepper sliced
1 Cup grated red cabbage
1 Cup cooked rice noodles
1 Tbsp black sesame seeds
1 Tbsp chopped chives

Instructions

Cook the noodle following the packaging instructions and set aside
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Place the beef, stir with soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
Cook for 5 minutes or until desired doneness.
Place the meat, noodles, cabbage, and red pepper in a bowl.
Sprinkle everything with black sesame seeds and chives.
Serve and enjoy.
Cook the cabbage and red pepper together with the beef if desired

How to Use a Crockpot for Meal Planning

July 7, 2016 By Melissa 4 Comments
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Using your Crockpot or slow cooker for meal planning is a great way to save time and money. Slow cooking foods is ideal for summer months when turning an oven on means heating up an already hot house. It also saves a ton of time for those busy moms who are juggling full-time work, kids, and various activities. Our tips for helping you on how to use your crockpot for meal planning are going to be revolutionary for your menu and budget. [Read more…]

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

July 6, 2016 By Melissa 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

Making asian food at home always has me a bit intimidated. However, this easy Kung Pao chicken recipe is so simple that is perfect for the home cook and is sure to become a family favorite. You need just a few simple ingredients that you cook and mix together for a tasty meal. This recipe is wonderful when you serve with a side of rice. You can also add some sriracha sauce to spice things up.

If you don’t want to steam the vegetables, you can instead add the vegetables to the chicken while it’s getting cooked. The full printable recipe is below. This recipe is great to use up the chicken I purchase in bulk from Zaycon Foods.

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe Ingredients

This recipe requires juts a few ingredients.

½ Pound boneless chicken

1 Tbsp tamari sauce

1 Tbsp rice vinegar

1 Tbsp sesame oil

¼ Cup chopped carrots, steamed

¼ Cup chopped green beans, steamed

¼ Cup peas, steamed

¼ Cup corn, steamed

Sesame seeds to taste

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe Directions

First cut the chicken in cubes and take to a pan over medium heat. Next cook the chicken for 1 minute. Add the tamari sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, and continue cooking until the chicken is golden brown and set aside. In a bowl mix the carrots, green beans, peas and corn. If you don’t want to steam the vegetables, you can instead add the vegetables to the chicken while it’s getting cooked. Add the cooked chicken and mix it. Top with sesame seeds, serve and enjoy. YUM!

Print Recipe

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

1 Tbsp tamari sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp sesame oil
¼ Cup chopped carrots steamed
¼ Cup chopped green beans steamed
¼ Cup peas steamed
¼ Cup corn steamed
Sesame seeds to taste

Instructions

Cut the chicken in cubes and take to a pan over medium heat.
Cook the chicken for 1 minute.
Add the tamari sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil, and continue cooking until the chicken is golden brown and set aside.
In a bowl mix the carrots, green beans, peas and corn.
Add the cooked chicken and mix it.
Top with sesame seeds, serve and enjoy.

Easy Crock Pot Chicken Tostadas Recipe

April 13, 2016 By Melissa 3 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

Easy Crock Pot Chicken Tostadas Recipe

I am always on the look out for easy and tasty crockpot recipes. This easy crock pot chicken tostadas recipe fits the bill. It is so simple to make and requires just a few ingredients. This is great on busy days because when you get back from running the kids around to practice and other after school activities dinner is almost ready for you. I headed to Dollar General and was able to purchase most of the ingredients and they were a great price too! Each spice jar was just $1. You can purchase the ingredients at any store though that is convenient.

[Read more…]

Easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

February 18, 2016 By Melissa 10 Comments
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Here is a great easy slow cooker barbecue ribs recipe. This crock pot baby back ribs recipe is so simple to prepare and requires just 4 ingredients but your guests and family will love it! I use my favorite crockpot with a timer when I cook mine. [Read more…]

Baked Coconut Chicken Nuggets Recipe

January 29, 2016 By Melissa 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

Baked coconut chicken nuggets are a quick healthy recipe that your whole family will love. It is so easy that the kids can help you make them too. My girls are much more likely to eat something when they help make it. This recipe is great for an easy dinner or lunch or you can use as an appetizer at your next party. Works well with a variety of dipping sauces.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Baked Coconut Chicken Nuggets Recipe

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

2/3 C olive oil in a glass measuring cup
Pinch of salt & pepper to taste
1 tsp garlic salt
2 TBSP Caribbean Citrus Seasoning blend salt free
1 container of Panko Bread Crumbs
1 C unsweetened shredded coconut
2 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix all ingredients together except the chicken, panko bread crumbs, and coconut. Stir to blend.
Divide the oil mixture into two cups.
Put cut up chicken in a medium size bowl.
Pour the one container of the oil mixture over the chicken. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
Combine the bread crumbs and coconut together. Toss to blend.
Remove chicken from the refrigerator and toss with 1/2 of the bread crumbs and coconut.
Return to refrigerator for 10 minutes.
Remove from refrigerator and drizzle for the second time the oil mixture and then toss with the bread crumbs for the second time.
Bake at 475 degrees for 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
Serve with a variety of dipping sauces.

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Bite Size Mini Taco Bowl Appetizer Recipe

January 28, 2016 By Melissa 5 Comments
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Looking for a bite size fun appetizer or party snack recipe? Then check out this Mini Taco Bowl recipe. Not only are they tasty they are super cute too. Plus they are easy to make. These would be great for a Super Bowl party! [Read more…]

Easy Barbecue Beef Sliders Recipe with Memphis Slaw

January 25, 2016 By Melissa 4 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

If you are looking for an easy slider recipe you have come to the right place! These mini Barbecue Beef Sliders have a base of a biscuit and are cover with bbq ground beef and memphis slaw. They are so easy to make and serve at any party and would be perfect for a superbowl party. They are hearty and can be used as a mini meal. The cole slaw can either be used as a topping for the beef sliders or as a side dish. Be sure to scroll down for the full printable recipe which is below. [Read more…]

Easy Oven Roasted Veggies Recipe

January 21, 2016 By Melissa 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

If you are looking to get more vegetables in your diet, you will want to check out this easy oven roasted veggies recipe. It couldn’t be more simple but it helps make veggies taste great. There is just something about oven roasting the elevates the taste of the veggies. It takes very little prep time to make these vegetables and only about 20 minutes to roast them. I used cruciferous vegetables including broccoli and cauliflower. Cruciferous vegetables are rich in nutrients, including several carotenoids, beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin); vitamins C, E, and K; folate; and minerals. They also are a good fiber source. The full printable recipe is below. [Read more…]

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Soft Tacos Recipe

September 25, 2015 By Melissa Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links that help support this site at no additional cost to you. Please read my disclosure page for more info.

I am always on the lookout for quick and easy healthy meals for my family. This easy slow cooker chicken soft taco recipe is in the regular rotation. I love that it includes just a few healthy ingredients and the prep time is minimal. We often eat these on days when we are very busy after school with dance and soccer practice. It is great to come home to a meal you can get on the table in just a few minutes. With some planning, you can feed your family healthy meals even when you are busy. Planning meals can help you save time and money too. This meal is very affordable and costs less than getting fast food for your family.

I love to find healthier options for my family and was excited to learn about the new Azteca No Artificial Preservative flour tortillas who sponsored this post and are providing an awesome giveaway. Be sure to enter at the end of this post.

Azteca No Artificial Preservative flour tortillas are made with no high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors or flavors. I love that! I found them at my local Kroger store in the refrigerated aisle. My store has a small refrigerated section right in the main aisle near the other Mexican food items. This keeps the tortillas super fresh! Not only are these flour tortillas better for you, they also taste delicious. My kids ate them for dinner and even had leftovers another night. That is a win in my book.

The No Artificial Preservative flour tortillas are part of Azteca’s better-for-you options, which includes tortillas with added Calcium and Vitamin D, a tortilla option made with Ultragrain® Whole Wheat Flour, Organic, Whole Wheat, Low Carb and more.

This recipe has just a few easy ingredients. You can prep the chicken before you head out for work for the day or in the afternoon if that works better for you. If you are going to be gone all day, it is best to have a slow cooker that has a timer and then when it is done cooking it will just keep the meat warm. That ensures your meat won’t get overcooked. I have this crockpot and really like it.

Print Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Soft Tacos

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time4 hrs

Total Time4 hrs 10 mins

Course: Crock Pot - Slow Cooker

Servings: 4 -6

Author: Melissa Buckles

Ingredients

3 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 cup salsa
1 - 1.5 lb chicken
tortillas
Desired toppings — Mexican style cheese avocado, tomato, lettuce, sour cream, salsa

Instructions

Spray crockpot walls with cooking spray
Add chicken to crockpot
Mix all the spices in a small bowl and sprinkle on top of the chicken
Pour 1 cup of salsa on top of the chicken
Place lid on crockpot and cook chicken on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. (It should be very tender.)
Shred the chicken while adding in the cooking liquid as you desire
Assemble tacos with desired toppings

We have a great giveaway to go along with this recipe. Enter below to win this great prize pack.

$75 Kroger Gift Card
Two (2) Azteca Free Product Coupons
18 Month “Life Planner” with a home-focused extension pack

This giveaway is open to US residents and ends on October 12, at midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lemon Dump Chicken Recipe – Ready For Your Slow Cooker

August 24, 2015 By Melissa 11 Comments
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With back to school, I am all about using my slow cooker. To make thing even easier, I came up with an easy Lemon Dump Chicken recipe that you can prep and freeze. Once you are ready to cook, all you do it dump the whole freezer bag into the slow cooker. Seriously you can’t have dinner made easier than that! The lemon chicken recipe also includes vegetables so you can just add some rolls or rice and you have a complete meal.

If you are looking for a stock up price on chicken, be sure to check out this amazing no hormones chicken deal. I buy it myself and love it.

Here is a picture of the easy ingredients. Be sure to wash all the vegetables and let them dry.

Enjoy this easy and healthy meal and busy nights. Let your slow cooker do the work for you and can prep everything and freeze when you have some free time.

Print Recipe

1 from 1 vote

Lemon Dump Chicken Recipe - Ready For Your Slow Cooker

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

4 boneless skinless, chicken breast
1 bag mini carrots
1 bunch of broccoli
1/2 bag sliced brussel sprouts
2 lemons 1- sliced and 1 quartered
2 TBSP freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 TBSP parsley flakes
1 can Chicken broth
Top with Lemon Pepper seasoning
Pinch of salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Take your chicken and slice your raw chicken on the bias
Wash all vegetables and let dry
Lemon cut into quarters
Add all ingredients into a Ziploc bag seal and date. Can be frozen up to 2 months
Dump everything in your crock pot cooking on high for 4-6 hours. Check crock pot occasionally.

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Great Deal on 100% Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken (No Hormones)- $1.89/ lb

August 20, 2015 By Melissa 1 Comment
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An attendee at one of my classes mentioned what a great deal this is. I have also ordered myself and love it. There is still time to put in your order. It is a great way to get hormone free meat at a stockpile price! Locations will sell out so if you are interested be sure to put in your order soon.

In How to Save 50% off on your groceries in under an Hour a Week, I talk about how important it is to pick up meat at low prices and stockpile. That way you are not at the mercy of grocery stores cycles. Here is an amazing deal from Zaycon food. You can get boneless, skinless chicken breast for just $1.89/lb. This is a stock-up price!

What makes this deal even better is that this chicken is 100% natural with no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients. I am buying this again because the quality is exceptional and this is a stock up price for even lesser quality meat.

It does come in bulk but you can then freeze it in meal size portions.

Comes directly from the processor and has never been frozen
Sold by the case – 40 lbs in each case
Case dimensions–18 in wide x 12 in deep x 7 in tall

Forty pounds seem like a lot of meat and it is but after prepping and freezing in my family’s portion sizes. I could fit all 40 pounds on just two shelves in my side by side freezer. I loved that I was stocked for quite a few months and I didn’t have to worry about finding the best deal on chicken at the grocery store.

The pick up dates vary by location but they are available across the whole country!

How do you get in on this great deal:

Check out Zaycon Foods to find a location near you.
Order your 40 lb. box of boneless, skinless chicken breast = $75.60
On the day of pick-up, head to the location at the specified time with your printed receipt to pick up your chicken.

Zaycon Foods has sales in most of the country. Just check out the Zaycon foods website to find out if and when they’re coming to your area. Plus once you sign up over at Zaycon, they will email you once a sale is coming to your area so you don’t miss out. There are locations all across the United States. Does 40 pounds of chicken seem like to much for you? You can always split with a friend but really it doesn’t take up all the much space once you package it in meal sized portions. I was suprised by how little room it took up. We do not have an extra freezer and I was able to fit all 40 pounds in just two baskets in my side by side freezer!

Want to learn more about this chicken? Check out this video

Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs Recipe

August 17, 2015 By Melissa 24 Comments
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Looking for a fun grilling meal that the family will love? Then try out this Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs Recipe. It is easy to make and so tasty too. These are great for a party. You can pre-make the kabobs and then throw them on the grill when your guests arrive.

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Kabobs Recipe

Author: Melissa

Ingredients

1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 green bell peppers cut into 2 inch pieces
1 large onion peeled and cut into wedges
1 1/2 cups whole fresh mushrooms
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves cut into cubes
1/4 cup of shredded coconut
skewers

Instructions

In a large sealable plastic container, add the teriyaki sauce, honey, and garlic salt.
Shake well
Soak the skewers for 1 hour in room temp. water .
Place red bell peppers, onion wedges, mushrooms, and chicken on the skewers and place in the bag with the marinade.
Close, and refrigerate 4 to 24 hours.
Preheat grill for medium-high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate.
Grill skewers for 10-15 minutes, turning as needed, or until meat is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
Sprinkle shredded coconut on top of the cooked chicken kabobs.
Serve over a bed of lettuce/kale mixture.

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Crock Pot or Slow Cooker Heart Healthy Chicken Tacos

February 25, 2015 By Melissa 1 Comment
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Last week I told you about the awesome Address Your Heart with Campbell’s Pinterest sweepstakes and a little bit about how I am trying to live a more heart healthy life.

Campbell has a whole section on the Campbell’s Kitchen website of easy great recipes that are heart healthy and I adapted their slow cooker chicken taco recipe for my family. It is so easy to make and EVERYONE in my family loved it. That is a huge accomplishment because there always seems to be one person who isn’t very happy with dinner. I will admit both girls were a little worried about the chicken when they saw it but they loved it once they tried it. I didn’t include the green peppers and onions because I knew my daughters would balk at eating those. If you have a more adventurous family, I would be sure to include them. [Read more…]

Plan Your Summer Party – Easy Party Plan

August 12, 2014 By Melissa 27 Comments
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I love to entertain at my home but I also love to get most of the work done before the party so I can enjoy my time with my guests. I hosted 12 family members at my home for my youngest daughter’s birthday. Aldi offered to sponsor the party with one of their summertime party plans. Since I already love Aldi, I could get everything in one spot, and they even helped with the menu planning, I was all in. [Read more…]

15 Easy Chicken Recipes

February 27, 2014 By Melissa 2 Comments
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Looking for some new easy chicken recipes? Check out these 15 easy chicken recipes that your family will love. There are many different options. Some are healthy chicken recipes and some not so healthy chicken recipes. Check them out today!

Grilled Chicken with Strawberries, Feta and Pecans by Crumbs & Chaos
Coconut Crusted Chicken with Mango Pepper Salsa by Crumbs & Chaos
Cheesy Green Chile Chicken by The Vintage Modern Wife
Creamy Artichoke Chicken by The Pinning Mama
Ridiculously Easy Creamy Italian Chicken by A Pinch of Glitter
Skillet Bruschetta Chicken Recipe by Coupon Closet
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken by The Grant Life
Poppy Seed Chicken by Julie’s Eats and Treats
Crock Pot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta by Julie’s Eats and Treats
Italian Chicken Meatballs by Covered in Mod Podge
Chicken Proscuitto with Mushroom Sauce by Generation of Savings
Easy Chicken Tostadas by Bargain Shopper Mom
Teriyaki Chicken with Udon Noodles by Juggling Act Mama
Honey Garlic Fried Chicken by Moms Test Kitchen
Olive Garden’s Chicken & Gnocchi Soup by Couponing and Cooking