One of the topics that I am frequently asked to cover is quick and easy family recipes. For many of us, getting dinner on the table at the end of the day is no easy feat. Some of you are juggling sports practices, events and activities. Some of you may tackle evenings solo so your partner can work late. Some of you may be in the cranky witching hour toddler phase. Regardless of what your evenings look like, I think we all struggle to find meals that are fast, easy and approved by most family members.
We all have that one family favorite recipe that is rotated constantly, right? Maybe it’s a super simple sheet pan meal, or a 2 ingredient crock pot dinner or a recipe you can cook once and turn into several meals throughout the week…
This new page is for us to share our favorite family recipes with one another in hopes we can each discover new meal ideas from our community recipe bank!
Just drop your recipe in the comments below! I will try and pick a recipe to make and feature from time to time so make sure to leave your name so I can give you credit!
Alright, here is our family go to dinner…
Greek Chicken Bowls
All you need to do is pour one bottle of Greek dressing into a crockpot with 2 lbs of chicken and cook on low for 8 hours. Then shred! From there you can get as creative as you want — top your chicken with your favorite toppings. We love tomatoes, feta cheese, cucumber (quickly marinated in olive oil, red wine vinegar and squeeze of lemon juice), hummus and tzatziki sauce!
The best part about this recipe is that you can make it in a large batch and use the leftovers for lunches! I like to add a base layer of lettuce in my to-go containers and use the leftover cucumber marinade for our salad dressing.
TEST
Super easy go to for us- I get 9 slices of boars head chicken from the deli counter cut on the thicker side. Lay a slice of Muenster on each, spoonful of cooked Stovetop stuffing, roll closed and secure with 2 toothpicks. Throw a jar of chicken gravy over the top in a baking dish and cook on 350° until warm.
This Smitten Kitchen recipe is a favorite in our house. It’s quick to prepare and we usually have all of the ingredients on hand. Our kids (4 & 1) devour it.
Peas and Shells Alfredo
from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman
Yield: serves 3-4
Salt to taste
1/2 pound dried small pasta shells
1 cup fresh shelled peas (about 1 pound in the pod, but we used canned peas because we’re lazy)
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the pasta and cooking according to package instructions. Add peas to cook during the last 30 seconds of pasta cooking time. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, and set aside. Drain the pasta and the peas together.
Dry out the pasta pot and pour in the heavy cream. Bring the cream to a simmer, and cook it until slightly reduced, about 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the butter, and stir it until it has melted. Generously season the sauce with freshly ground black pepper, add a pinch of salt as well as the lemon zest. Add 3/4 cup of the Parmesan, and stir it until the sauce is smooth, then toss in the drained pasta and peas. Cook the pasta in sauce for 2 minutes, until the sauce has slightly thickened. Add the reserved pasta water by the spoonful if needed to loosen the sauce.
Divide the pasta among bowls. Garnish with remaining Parmesan and the flat-leaf parsley.
This is my go to: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/one-pan-healthy-sausage-and-veggies/
https://pinchofyum.com/instant-pot-sweet-potato-tortilla-soup
Chop everything the night before, throw it in your instant pot and 10 minutes later it’s done!
https://pumpsandiron.com/2015/07/28/stupid-easy-slow-cooker-shredded-mexican-chicken/
So easy and good for tacos/nachos/taco salad etc
Mine isn’t a recipe but I will put 4 or 5 chicken breast in a crock pot on Monday. Shred that evening and then use for the week to make things like chicken fried rice, barbecue chicken, chicken tacos etc.
https://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/one-pan-cheesy-chicken-broccoli-rice/
Super easy, quick, includes the 3 food groups I try to serve at each meal (protein, veggies, carbs), and the toddlers love it
Caprese chicken bake!
Put 4 thin cut chicken breasts in a baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Spread pesto on each piece. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Pull out of the oven and top each breast with sliced roma tomatoes and shredded mozzarella. Return to oven and bake for another 10 minutes or until cooked through. Serve alongside roasted broccoli seasoned with TJs everything bagel seasoning.
So quick and easy!
Cooked out of what I had in my fridge which turned into a frequently requested dinner: Cheese meatballs. Combine ground chicken, egg, Italian seasoning, salt/pepper, bread crumbs and cheddar cheese. Form the meatballs and bake in 350 oven for about 20 mins. Serve alone or with noodles!
White bean chicken chili – no chopping!
1 pkg chicken breast (1ish lbs)
1 can garbonzo beans, drain/rinse
1 can white beans, drain/rinse
1 bag frozen white corn
1 or 2 cans diced green chilies
32 oz chicken stock
3 chicken bouillon cubes if you have them
Olive oil, 1 T chili powder, 2 tea cumin, chopped onion (I use frozen)
Heat oven to 450
Saute olive oil, onion, spices until fragrant
Combine all other ingredients in large baking dish, pour spices and oil on top
Cook for 50 mins, remove from oven and shred chicken. Return to oven for 10 mins.
Serve with hot sauce (Texas pete is my fav), oyster crackers, and cheese (jack, cheddar combo). Kid approved!
https://pin.it/jnwgqaefqh5ro2
Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
Make the meat in the instant pot, microwaveable rice, microwaveable broccoli and done. Honestly as good as takeout.
https://www.howsweeteats.com/2019/01/sheet-pan-gnocchi/ this is a go to in our home that everyone (kids and adults!) like. Sometimes we add chicken sausage for to add more protein.
Thank you for sharing this one! I made this tonight with chicken cutlets and it was a huge hit.
Easy Slow Cooker Chili
2lbs ground beef, browned
2 cans dark kidney beans
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
2 packets mild chili seasoning
Low for 8 hours (or longer if you’d like) or High for 4 hours
Our favorite quick dinner
https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-broccolini-chicken-sausage-and-orzo-skillet-234135
Nothing fancy but chicken taco meat in the crockpot. Tacos for dinner and leftover meat to go on my salads for lunch the next couple of days! (Chicken breast, salsa, taco seasoning, low all day)
Stuffed pepper stove top casserole:
1 bell pepper diced
1/2 sweet onion diced
1 lb ground sausage
2 cups minute rice cooked
Shredded mozzarella
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 large can of tomato sauce.
Cook rice
Sauté the diced veggies in olive oil then drain on a paper towel.
Brown the sausage and drain
Combine rice veggies sausage and tomato sauce and cheese in sauté pan until warmed through and cheese is melted.
Tip: I have owned bulky veggie choppers and all those types appliances. I’ve seriously tried them all. I payed 5 dollars for a pull string veggie chopper at Walmart made by Tfal and it is a game changer. I enjoy chopping veggies now and it is always my “favorite thing” to bring to favorite thing parties!
Best Roast I’ve ever had, Whole 30 too!!
https://pin.it/b7lja7ktpzrump
Instant pot burrito bowls. Add cheese and sour cream to yours if you’re not vegan. Sooo good. I usually add extra pepper to get more meals out of it. https://pin.it/gp3vixqzshzmry
I just made this last night and it was so easy and a huge hit!
Olive Garden Copy Cat 5 Cheese Marinara
2 Jars of Marinara sauce (I used Bertoli)
1 Jar of Alfredo sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion
1 teaspoon of garlic
2 cups of Italian cheese blend
1/2 cup of ricotta (I used cottage cheese)
1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
Saute garlic and onions in the oil. Add the sauce and seasoning, simmer about 30 minutes. Add cheese and simmer another 10 minutes or until melted. Serve over noodles (I used bowtie).
PS: I added shredded chicken to this
Salsa Chicken
1lb chicken breaks or chicken tenders
1 green pepper cut in chunks
1 jar salsa
1/4 cup brown sugar
2T. Dijon mustard
Combine all ingredients and pour over the chicken in a baking dish. Cook at 375 for 20 minutes or until bubbly. I usually use chicken tenders, so if you have larger breast, it might take a little longer to back. Serve with tortillas, or over rice or pasta.
https://organicallyaddison.com/whole30_burger_bowls/
These Whole30 Burger Bowls are so fun and totally customizable! My whole family loves these since we can each make our own and add our personal favorite toppings!
Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken and broccoli with frozen fried rice!
Easy! Tomato Alfredo and Spinach Pasta
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when done & set aside.
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 yellow or white onion, minced
1 jar Bertolli Alfredo Sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1-2 c spinach chopped
2 baked chicken breasts (optional)
Fresh parmesan cheese
In lg skillet, saute garlic & onion for 2-3 min then add Alfredo sauce and can of tomatoes. Heat to simmering.
Add spinach and cook 1-2 min.
Add cooked pasta and toss to coat.
Top with parmesan cheese & chicken.
My 1 yo eats 2-3 servings every time! 🙂