Lazy Chicken Alfredo

 

I usually make this with thin spaghetti noodles. The kids loved it when they were little and I made it often because it was easy and I worked full time. It’s still a family favorite and it’s also a pantry meal, meaning everything you need to make it is in your pantry. I need to do some experimenting to see if I can make it without cooking the noodles first. Stay tuned!!!

Lazy Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients

1 (16oz) bag penne pasta

2 (10oz) cans chicken breast (rinsed and drained)

1 (16oz) jar Alfredo sauce (my favorite brand so far is Ragu)

Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste

A little bit of milk

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain.

2. In the pot you just used to boil the pasta, add the pasta sauce and chicken. Pour a little bit of milk or half and half into the pasta jar and shake with the lid on to get as much sauce out as possible.  

3. Add the seasonings to taste. Heat up on the stove and mix well.

4. Add the noodles to the sauce and stir until well combined. Enjoy!

Serves 6

Faith’s Taco Salad

I had some leftover cooked hamburger in the freezer so I thought I’d grab a few things at ALDI to make a taco salad. You can use any variety of the items I have listed. I just threw this together and the family loved it! It’s a keeper for sure!

Faith’s Taco Salad

Ingredients:

Shredded iceberg lettuce

Cooked hamburger with taco seasoning (I used fajita seasoning)

Bag of 90 second quinoa/brown rice 

Can of black beans, rinsed

Can of whole corn, drained

Shredded Mexican cheese

Jar of chunky salsa

Bag of nacho cheese flavored Doritos, crushed

Sour cream (I forgot this but it would be delish)

Salad dressing, optional (I used Ranch but French or whatever your favorite would be good too)

Directions:

1. Start with the lettuce and add to your large salad bowl. 

2. Then add some of each thing on top of the lettuce. 

3. Stir and enjoy!

NOTES: I put each item in its own bowl so each person can pick what they want in their own salad. You could also put everything in a large bowl mixed together for a potluck but be aware the Doritos and lettuce will get soggy fast. 

Grandmas enchiladas

 

My mom was married to a Mexican man for a very short time when I was about 5. This is how she learned to make enchiladas. Yesterday was her 78th birthday. (I’m naming them “grandmas enchiladas” because this blog is for my kids). ❤️❤️❤️😋😋😋

Grandmas enchiladas

Ingredients:

• Flour tortillas burrito size (about 10)
• Large can of mild red enchilada sauce
• 2# hamburger 
• 1 small yellow or white onion diced small
• 1 can corn drained
• 1 can large black olives drained
• 4 cups shredded Mexican cheese
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°
2. Brown hamburger and diced onions with taco seasoning.
3. Add can of corn. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
4. Simmer until it’s heated through.
5. Pour some enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13“ baking dish.
6. Take one tortilla and add in some of the meat mixture. Add 4 to 5 black olives on top of that and cover with some shredded cheese. Roll tightly into an enchilada.
7. Continue to do this until the pan is filled with enchiladas. Push them together so they are in their tightly.
8. You may have some meat left over as well as olives, tortillas, cheese, etc. You can use these for quesadillas for lunch the next day. LOL
9. Once you have the tortillas filled and rolled into enchiladas, pour the remainder of the enchilada sauce on top covering the enchiladas. Add whole black olives to the top and cover with remaining cheese.
10. Depending on how filled up your pan is, you may need to tent the top of the tinfoil so it doesn’t stick to the cheese.Cover the pan with the tinfoil.
11. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until everything is hot and bubbly.
12. This makes a large pan and serves probably 6 to 8. ENJOY!!!

Low carb chicken broccoli bake

 

I’m trying to find super easy recipes since diagnosed with AFib. This is one of the easiest dump meals and a hit with the family! 

Low Carb Chicken Broccoli Bake

Ingredients:

1 bag (22oz <1.37pounds>) frozen Tyson grilled and ready diced chicken breast

1 bag (2pounds)  frozen broccoli florets

1 jar (25.1 oz) Ragu classic Alfredo sauce

2-3 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Parmesan cheese (the one you put on spaghetti)

Garlic powder, pink salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Pour bag of frozen chicken into a 9x13 baking dish. 

3. Pour bag of frozen broccoli on top of chicken.

4. Pour jar of sauce over the broccoli. 

5. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Do not stir.

6. Cover with foil and bake for 40 min. After 40 minutes, stir, cover then put back in for 20 more minutes.

7. Remove from oven. Uncover and stir. Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over the top. Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. 

8. Return to oven uncovered for about 5 min until cheese melts. Serve and enjoy! Makes enough for about 4-6.

NOTES: You don’t really have to measure but remember the meat and broccoli will shrink after heating. If using rotisserie chicken and fresh broccoli you don’t have to heat as long. Also, you could probably make this in the crock pot following the same steps. 

Hamburger, cheese and rice casserole

 

This has to be one of the easiest casseroles on the planet. Especially if you have precooked hamburger! It’s a family favorite. 

Hamburger, cheese and rice casserole

1 lb ground beef

1/2 medium onion, diced or some dried minced onion

1 can(s) cream of chicken soup*

1 can(s) cream of mushroom soup

1 1/2 empty soup can of milk

2 c instant white rice (not cooked first)

2 c shredded cheddar cheese

salt & pepper to taste

Directions

1. Brown beef and diced onion. Season with salt and pepper. Drain well.

2. Preheat oven to 375*. Have a 9x13 baking dish ready.

3. In a medium bowl stir together rice, soups, and cheese.** Add meat and onions and stir. Add salt and pepper. 

4. Cover with foil and bake 35-45 minutes, or until bubbly.

*I only had 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup and it was delicious. 

**If you’re using precooked hamburger you can just put everything in the 9x13 and stir it all together so you have a one dish meal and don’t have to wash an extra bowl.