Weeknight Recipes

I have always loved to cook. Growing up, my Mom always made the best meals and gave me good hands on experience in the kitchen. After becoming a mother myself, I realized I still needed to find a way to make great dinners, but ones that are easy enough for anyone. 

This post is going to be 5 of those recipes that are the easiest for me & yummiest for our family. I find a lot of my inspiration through pinterest, and then make my own version based on that! 

I hope you enjoy some of these as much as we have. Happy cooking!

1. Tostados

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

2 Garlic Cloves- Minced

1 Half of a Sweet Onion- Chopped

1 Jalepeno (seeded)- Chopped

1 Tablespoon Cumin

2 Teaspoons Chili Powder

1 Can Red Kidney Beans- Draines

1/4 Cup of water

Hard Tortillas

Mexican Cheese

Salsa

Lettuce

Sour Cream

-Heat oven to 375.

-Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, onion, and jalepeno and cook until softened. Add the kidney beans. Take a large fork or masher, and mash mixture in skillet until smooth with some chunks. Add the spices and mix. Add roughly the 1/4 cup of water and simmer until no longer runny. 

-Spread mixture evenly onto about 6 hard tortillas. Top with cheese and bake for 5-7 minutes. Cheese should be golden and bubbly.

-Top with whichever remaining ingredients you like!

2. Taco Salad

1 LB Lean Ground Beef (turkey or chicken taste great as well)

1 Packet Low Sodium Taco Seasoning

2 Cups Ranch Dressing

1 Bottle Medium Taco Sauce

1 Can Black Beans

1 Can Yellow Corn

1 Bag Chopped Romaine Lettuce

Tortilla Chips

1 Cup Mexican Cheese

-Brown meat in the skillet until fully cooked.

-Meanwhile, combine ranch and taco sauce.

-Add lettuce, black beans and corn, tortilla chips, and cheese to a bowl and mix together.

-Toss dressing and salad. Put servings in a bowl and top with the prepared meat! 

3. Hawaiian Chicken Thighs

2 Packages of Chicken Thighs (usually 4 come in a pack)

2 containers of Hawaiian Marinade

1 Pineapple

1 Bag of Saffron Yellow Rice

1 Can Red Kidney Beans

-Rinse chicken and place in a container with marinade and let sit 4 hours, or overnight.

-Prepare rice according to package, and add the can of kidney beans, rinsed & drained, while rice is cooking.

-Heat grill to 400. Cook thighs about 12 minutes per side.

-Slice pineapple and grill until charred.

-Add all to plate and serve!

4. Sun Dried Tomato Pasta

1 Box Penne Pasta

1 LB Chicken Breasts

1 Packet Italian Seasoning

1/2 Cup Sundried Tomatoes w/ Herbs and Oil

1/3 Cup Chicken Broth

1/2 Cup Spinach

-Boil pasta according to package.

-In a skillet, heat sundried tomato oil over medium-high.

-Prepare chicken, and coat with 1/2 packet Italian seasoning.

-Cook chicken until it has reached 165 internal temperature.

-Add tomatoes, chicken broth, and spinach, and rest of italian seasoning.

-Toss with pasta and serve.

5. Tex Mex Chili

1 LB Ground Beef (again, turkey or chicken taste great too_

1 Packet Tex Mex Seasoning

1 Can Yellow Corn- drained

1 Can Black Beans- drained & rinsed

1 Can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes

Tortilla chips

Mexican Cheese

Sour Cream

-In a pot over medium high, brown beef until throughly cooked.

-Add corn, beans, tomatoes and seasoning. 

-Reduce heat to simmer for about 15 minutes.

-Serve in bowl topped with remaining ingredients.

Well, there you have it. My top 5 weeknight meals. These are super easy to put together, and all bursting with flavor!

Look in the future for more posts like this, along with a baked goods version.

Happy Eating!