It’s always handy to have a few go-to meals ready and waiting. Here are three of my favorite because they require no meat defrosting/prep, use simple ingredients that I usually have on hand, and can be made in under 30 minutes. Perfect for weekend dinners or busy weekday nights.
Chicken Pockets
I grew up on these. Not sure where my mom got the recipe–maybe she invented it. But it’s one of my kids’ favorites.
Ingredients:
Canned chicken
4 oz cream cheese
Can of crescent rolls
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 (or whichever temp your crescent rolls say)
Drain can of chicken and shred into a bowl
Add softened cream cheese and mix (my kids are plain, but you could add fresh rosemary or chopped green onions for extra flair)
Open crescent rolls. Fuse two triangles together to make a square (you should get 4 squares). Spoon chicken mixture onto each square, fold over, and pinch sides so seal.
Bake for about 15 min (or however long crescent rolls say) until golden.
Enjoy!
Cream Pasta
This is a basic dish that can be freshened up in different way. Here are the staples:
Pick a Carb: gnocchi, penne pasta, or farfalle
Pick a Protein: bacon, diced ham, Italian sausage, or panchetta
Pick a Green: peas, broccoli, or asparagus
Add heavy cream and parmesan cheese (freshly grated is best)
Directions:
Cook your carb according to package.
Cook your protein in skillet (if using bacon or sausage, crumble)
Cook your Green (steam peas, steam broccoli, or roast asparagus with olive oil and sea salt for about 7 min)
Mix Carb, Protein, Green together in pot. Mix in parmesan. Add heavy cream. Stir and serve.
Hawaiian Roll Grill Cheese
I found this idea on Pinterest, and it is a family fave.
Ingredients:
Hawaiian rolls
American cheese
Deli ham
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350
Do not separate rolls. Slice horizontally through them to make a top and bottom.
Layer cheese and ham in the middle like a giant sandwich.
Place on cookie sheet and cover with foil.
Bake in oven about 15 min. Check that cheese is melted. Cut rolls apart into individual grill cheese sandwiches.
Enjoy!
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