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quick dinners

5 Quick and Easy Recipes For When You Have No Time (Or Energy) To Cook Dinner

By August 15, 2018 All Things Food, Recipes

Happy Hump Day! How has your week been going? This week has seriously got me like:

 

Yep, pass out on the floor of the grocery store tired. BTW, if you haven’t watched the hilarious Sharon Horgan on Amazon’s show, Catastrophe, you have seriously been missing out! Anyway, I’m frickin frackin exhausted, but for some reason, these kids still expect me to feed them, and I should probably have something to go with my favorite dinner.

Sorry, not sorry

All of these recipes are:

  • Made with 10 ingredients or less
  • Done in 30 minutes or less
  • Full of healthy, whole food ingredients

 

Photo credit: Gimme Delicious

Healthy Roasted Chicken and Veggies

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2
Author Layla from Gimme Delicious

Ingredients

  • 2 medium chicken breasts chopped
  • 1 cup bell pepper chopped any colors you like
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 1 zucchini chopped
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup tomatoes chopped or plum/grape
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 500 degree F.
  2. Chop all the veggies into large pieces. In another cutting board chop the chicken into cubes.
  3. Place the chicken and veggies in a medium roasting dish or sheet pan. Add the olive oil, salt and pepper, italian seasoning, and paprika. Toss to combine.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes or until the veggies are charred and chicken is cooked. Enjoy with rice, pasta, or a salad.

Shrimp Fried Rice

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Defrosting 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Author esorkin916

Ingredients

  • 1 dozen small frozen shrimp
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic
  • 1 cup frozen stir-fry veggies
  • 1/2 cup frozen edamame
  • 1 tsp sesame oil optional
  • 1 tsp fish sauce optional
  • 3 cups cooked or frozen brown rice - sub with cauliflower rice if you want to go low-carb
  • 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Defrost the frozen shrimp- Place them in a strainer and then submerge the strainer in a large bowl of ice cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes and then replace the water in the bowl with more cold water for another 5 minutes. 

  2. While the shrimp is defrosting, heat a large skillet or wok with the 1 tbsp. olive oil.
  3. Add the 1/2 tbsp. of garlic and, after 30 seconds, the edamame and stir-fry veggies and cook for 3 minutes.
  4. Add the brown rice, 1 tsp. of sesame oil, 1 tsp. of fish sauce and 2 tbsp. of soy sauce to the veggie mixture and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  5. Take the defrosted, pre-cooked shrimp, dice it into bite-sized pieces and add it to the rice.
  6. Finally, push the rice mixture over to one side of the skillet and add the two eggs to the other side. Mix the eggs until scrambled and the fold them into the rice mixture. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

You can substitute brown rice with lower carb cauliflower rice or even cooked soba noodles.

Feel free to add in any extra veggies that your family would enjoy.

Spicy Baked Turkey Burgers

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Author esorkin916

Ingredients

  • -2 lbs. of 93/7 lean ground turkey
  • -3/4 cup of plain greek yogurt
  • -1/4 cup diced white onion
  • -1/4 cup of sweet peppers red yellow, orange
  • -1 Tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce
  • -1 Tablespoon of minced garlic
  • -1 teaspoon of fennel seeds
  • -1 teaspoons of red pepper flakes
  • -pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
  2. Add ground turkey, along with all other ingredients, to a large bowl.
  3. Mix ingredients well with your hands and roll into patties.
  4. Place patties on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake the patties for 20 minutes.

Recipe Notes

If you don't like spicy food or making this for little ones, feel free to omit the hot sauce and red pepper flakes and sub with garlic powder, smoked paprika or any spice you prefer.

I like to eat these turkey burgers on top of salad or on their own topped with a large dollop of greek yogurt and hot sauce. 

 

Photo credit: Life as a Strawberry

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Taco Bowls

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6
Author esorkin916

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 2 tsp taco seasoning
  • 1 cup black beans
  • 1 cup shredded spinach

Instructions

  1. Place chicken breast into the Instant Pot, sprinkle with taco seasoning, add spinach and black beans and then pour chicken broth and salsa on top to cover.

  2. Seal the instant pot, hit the poultry button and set the timer for 15 minutes. 

  3. While the chicken is cooking, chop the tomatoes, avocados, cilantro, lettuce and anything else you want to add to your taco bowls

  4. When the timer goes off, turn the nozzle on the cover to naturally release the steam.

  5. When all of the steam has been released, about 5 minutes, shred the chicken inside the pot with a fork.

  6. Serve the salsa chicken over brown rice or cauliflower rice or you can use it as taco filling in tortillas. 

Recipe Notes

If you don't own an Instant Pot, this recipe can be made in a slow cooker with the same low level of effort, but it will take longer. Throw in all ingredients on low for 4-6 hours and go about your day.

Our favorite taco bowl toppings are:

  • Shredded lettuce
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Diced red onion
  • Diced jalapeños
  • Diced avocado or guacamole
  • Chopped cilantro
  • Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • Extra salsa

 

Photo Credit: Kitchn.com

Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Author Sheela from Kitchn

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh shelf-stable or frozen gnocchi
  • 2 medium bell peppers or one bag of frozen bell peppers cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1 small red onion cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves optional
  • Grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions

  1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 450°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with foil
  2. Place the gnocchi, peppers, tomatoes, onion, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Drizzle with the oil and gently toss to combine. Spread the gnocchi mixture out evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
  3. Roast, stirring halfway through, until the gnocchi are plump and the vegetables are tender and caramelized, 18 to 20 minutes total.
  4. To serve, spoon the gnocchi and vegetable mixture into individual bowls and garnish each bowl with the basil and grated cheese, if using.

If the thought of making another dinner has you more like this….

.

YAAASS

than this….

Why is this weirdo so happy to be slicing tomatoes?!

You need to try one of these quick and healthy meals, and don’t forget your “fruit salad”!

♥ Erin

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Vegan Lentil Soup-Hearty, Healthy, Delicious and Ready in 30 Minutes!

By December 1, 2017 All Things Food, Recipes

My kids are on a lentil soup kick right now. What can I say? I grow ’em wonderfully weird. I made this recipe last week, and it was such a hit that I’m making it again today, this time with my pal, Ingrid.  This recipe is perfect for this time of year. It’s vegan, and full of fiber and vitamin-C rich greens, so it’s a good detox food to try in between all of those Christmas cookies. Try it tonight!

If you don’t yet own a beautiful goddess like Ingrid, you can still make this recipe. Just see the note below on increasing the cook time.

Vegan Lentil Soup

Course Main Course
Cuisine Instant Pot, Soup
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow or white onion chopped
  • 2 carrots peeled and chopped
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves pressed or 2 T minced
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric curry powder or other spices you enjoy
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1 large can 28 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 cup brown or green lentils picked over and rinsed
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 cups chopped fresh greens- spinach kale, collards-tough ribs removed
  • Juice of ½ to 1 medium lemon 1-2 Tablespoons, to taste
  • Feta cheese optional

Instructions

  1. Hit “Saute” button on Instant Pot. Add oil. When hot, add the onions, carrots, and celery.
  2. Saute, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
  3. Add the 2 T garlic, 2 tsp cumin, 1 tsp turmeric or curry powder, 1/2 tsp. thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring constantly, for one minute.
  4. Add the cup of lentils and pour in the 4 cups of broth, 2 cups of water and can of diced tomatoes. Stir.
  5. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the release valve is in the “sealing” position. Press the “Manual” button and set the timer at 12 minutes.
  6. The Instant Pot will warm up for about 10 minutes and then start cooking. After the 12 minutes is up, quick-release by flipping the release valve to “venting” (a little bit at a time at first).
  7. Once venting is complete, remove the lid of the Instant Pot. Stir in the spinach. Serve sprinkled with feta cheese and seasoned with salt and pepper, if needed.

Recipe Notes

  • Keeps in the refrigerator for about 3 days, and freezes well too.
  • If your kids, like mine, prefer more of a pureed soup, throw 3 cups of the cooked soup into the blender. Blend until smooth and then stir back into the pot.
  • I omitted the celery and carrot when I made this for my kids because they won't eat them, but upped the greens to three cups.
  • If you don't have an Instant Pot yet, you can make the soup on the stove, but increase the cook time from 12 minutes to 35 minutes. 

Recipe adapted from: KitchenTreaty.com and CookieandKate.com


Happy healthy eating…..or happy cookie eating! I don’t judge.

♥ Erin

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Quickie Dinner Series-Easy Shrimp Fried Rice

By September 14, 2017 About, All Things Food, Meal planning, Recipes

Come back for another quickie, eh? Glad you’re here! This meal is one of my favorites because it’s not only fast,  but you can also make it with whatever you have on hand. I like to add frozen edamame,  asian stir-fry veggies, and some scrambled egg. You can personalize this dish however you want and it’ll still taste great!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 dozen small frozen shrimp
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic
  • 1 cup frozen stir-fry veggies
  • 1/2 cup frozen edamame
  • 1 tsp sesame oil optional
  • 1 tsp fish sauce optional
  • 3 cups cooked or frozen brown rice - sub with cauliflower rice if you want to go low-carb
  • 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  1. Defrost the frozen shrimp- Place them in a strainer and then submerge the strainer in a large bowl of ice cold water. Let sit for 5 minutes and then replace the water in the bowl with more cold water for another 5 minutes. That should do the trick.

  2. While the shrimp is defrosting, heat a large skillet or wok with the 1 tbsp. olive oil.

  3. Add the 1/2 tbsp. of garlic and, after 30 seconds, the edamame and stir-fry veggies and cook for 3 minutes. 

  4. Add the brown rice, 1 tsp. of sesame oil, 1 tsp. of fish sauce and 2 tbsp. of soy sauce to the veggie mixture and cook for another 2-3 minutes. 

  5. Take the defrosted, pre-cooked shrimp, dice it into bite-sized pieces and add it to the rice.

  6. Finally, push the rice mixture over to one side of the skillet and add the two eggs to the other side. Mix the eggs until scrambled and the fold them into the rice mixture. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

As you can see above, I used Green Giant's riced cauliflower instead of brown rice. I'm desperately trying to get swimsuit ready for an October couples trip! It was actually really good that way though. Even my kids ate it!

You can sub any protein on hand for the shrimp, and skip the defrosting step, or even just eat this as a vegetable fried rice. 

I buy my frozen, pre-cooked shrimp in bulk from Costco, because 'Merica.

For more thorough directions on quickly, and safely, defrosting frozen shrimp, please check out this link from leaf.tv.

This tastes like take-out, but it’s chock full of veggies and protein, so you can eat it without the guilt! Happy eating

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