7 Easy Weeknight Dinners
To help the transition from summer mode to school schedule, we asked our readers to submit their top quick-and-easy recipes. These seven delicious recipes are full of hacks and shortcuts that save time, but don’t mince flavor.
Thanks to everyone who submitted and congrats to our $50 Kroger gift card winner! Watch @LittleRockFamily on Facebook and @LRFamily on Instagram for your next chance to share (and win).
Easy Taco Soup
Submitted by: Whitney C.
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 pound ground beef
• 32 ounces beef stock
• 1 taco seasoning packet
• 1 ranch dressing packet
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 2 cans corn drained or family-size package of frozen corn
• Topping options: corn chips, shredded cheese, sour cream
DIRECTIONS:
1. Cook beef over medium high heat, then drain grease.
2. In a large pot mix beef stock, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, beans, corn and drained cooked beef.
3. Cover with lid and let simmer.
4. Serve over corn chips, add shredded cheese and sour cream.
Easy Instant Pot Vegetarian Fajitas
Submitted by: Amy L.
INGREDIENTS:
• 4-5 medium potatoes
• 1/2 cup water
• 16 ounce bag fajita mix frozen veggies
• 1 fajita seasoning packet
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• Topping options: tortillas, cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Cube the washed potatoes and throw them into the Instant Pot along with 1/2 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, a bag of frozen fajita mix veggies along with the spice packet.
2. Set to manual for 10 minutes.
3. When done, release pressure and enjoy the veggies with tortillas and your favorite toppings.
Pizza Pasta
Submitted by: Rachael W.
INGREDIENTS:
• Noodles (any kind will work, I use egg noodles)
• Pizza sauce
• Your favorite pizza toppings: bell peppers, onions, olives, pepperoni, sausage
• Mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS:
1. Cook pasta according to box directions.
2. Stir in pizza sauce and toppings.
3. Don’t forget to top with cheese.
Easy Chicken and Dumplings
Submitted by: Terry P.
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cans crescent rolls
• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can chicken broth
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Shred chicken.
3. Place a portion of shredded chicken inside each roll and roll to close.
4. Put all filled rolls in a baking dish.
5. Pour cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soup over the top of the rolls.
6. Then top with the chicken broth.
7. Bake for 30 minutes.
Sausage Rice Casserole
Submitted by: Jennifer D.
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 pound sausage
• 1 dry chicken noodle soup packet
• 1 cup uncooked minute rice
• 2 cups water
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Brown sausage and drain.
3. Mix sausage, soup mix, rice and water in an 8x11 glass baking dish.
4. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, until most of the water has evaporated.
Taco Salad
Submitted by: Melody D.
Inspired by: Charro’s Mexican Food’s Taco Salad
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 taco seasoning packet
• 1 bottle taco sauce
• 1 container sour cream
• 1 bottle Thousand Island dressing
• 1 container grape tomatoes
• 1 head of lettuce (or, to make things even easier, I use a bag of shredded lettuce)
• 8 ounces shredded cheese
• 1 family-size bag Doritos (or plain tortilla chips)
• Topping options: olives, jalapenos, avocado
DIRECTIONS:
1. Brown ground beef and drain.
2. Return beef to skillet and mix in taco seasoning according to the packet.
3. Once taco meat is done, grab a plate.
4. Place a layer of chips on a plate, then top with about a cup of taco meat.
5. Pour a little taco sauce on top to your liking.
6. Top with lettuce and grape tomatoes.
7. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
8. Pour on a little Thousand Island dressing to your liking and top off with sour cream.
Easy Chicken Pot Pie
Submitted by: Judy C.
Source: Ranae Phelps
INGREDIENTS:
• 5 ounce can chicken
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 16 ounce can mixed vegetables, drained
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 4.5 ounce can buttermilk biscuits
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
2. Combine the first five ingredients, mixing well. Spoon into lightly greased 10x16 baking dish.
3. Separate biscuits and place them on top of pie.
4. Bake for 20 minutes.