It was 4 o’clock again, and I had forgotten to let any sort of meat thaw for dinner. Dinnertime was rapidly approaching, and my plans of any kind of decent meal were flying out of the window because… no meat, no dinner. I live with some total carnivores! But then I remembered I had ham in the fridge, and that’s when ham and cheese lasagna roll ups popped into my mind. They’re the perfect effortless weeknight meal.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of chicken. And, ever since I started putting limes in my water, I’ve been trying to keep them on hand more. But last week when I was faced with planning meals, and realized I had more limes and chicken than I could use for water and casseroles, it was time to branch out… with some honey lime chicken!
Oh soup… the perfect, most amazing comfort food. I am a huge fan of soup recipes, because it’s the perfect, warming food! I love soup SO much, I even have it for Christmas dinner. But seriously, sometimes I get in a soup rut, and I’m itching for some new recipes. And, with the help of some awesome bloggers from around the web, we’re going to get you out of a soup rut, too! (And hey, regardless of your dietary needs, there’s something in here for you– I’ve got meaty soups, vegan soups, Weight-Watchers friendly soups, dairy-free soups, gluten-free soups… so keep reading!)
Do you like meat? And easy recipes? And recipes that can be made with leftovers and ingredients you have on hand?
If you answered yes, then you’re going to absolutely love this meat lovers pasta bake. If you answered no to the meat question, stick around… you can make this dish with veggies instead. But the meat part? Oh-so-good.
If you have pasta, cheese, diced tomatoes, and some leftover meat (pretty much any kind will work), then you’ve got dinner. Bonus points if you have pasta-friendly veggies like mushrooms and onions.
Not too long ago, a rule was made that my brother had to pitch in with dinner sometimes. Now, my brother is a pretty good cook, but like all of us, he likes easy, and a lot of times, he sticks to the tried-and-true. So much so that we quickly realized that any nights where it was Jeffrey’s turn to cook, we either got waffles, or we got hobo packs. I started watching him making the hobo packs (as we affectionately call them, but apparently foil packet meal or foil packet dinner also works), and realized why he loved making them so much. They were easy. They were delicious. And most of all, they were versatile. With a family full of picky people, versatile is important.
Summer… it’s the perfect time for campfires, grilling, and all things… well, summery. Growing up, we had these great summer dinners that were easy, no-mess, and delicious. The best part, of course, being that they were no-mess. Who really likes cleaning up after dinner when they could be enjoying an evening swim or lounging outside by a fire pit? I love foil dinners. They’re so versatile, whether you’re making them in the oven or on the grill, or even on that campfire. But I needed a new foil packet dinner to add into my repertoire, particularly one that had a few of my favorite things… like chicken, bacon, and mushrooms.
I like easy dinners. I mean really easy dinners. With Jeffrey playing soccer non-stop, Zach having a great Music and Movement class, and all of the other day-to-day life, sometimes it is almost dinner time and I’ve forgotten to even think about dinner. It has nothing to do with me having trouble putting down the book I’m reading or anything. It’s totally everyone’s schedules. I swear.
Anyway, this dinner is so ridiculously easy that I can’t believe I didn’t make it sooner.
Start out with three-ish chicken breasts. It’s not an exact science. I used 3 because I had 3 thawed, but if they’re really big, use two. If they’re tiny, use more. You’ll also need 3 bags of Birds Eye Steamfresh Specially Seasoned Southwestern Style Rice. It is seasoned, and has bell peppers, onions, and corn already in it. You’ll also want to check into Campbell’s Great for Cooking Soups– a can of Cream of Chicken and a can of Cheddar Cheese soup are perfect. Add in a drained can of Rotel and you’re golden. I used Mild Rotel because my family just can’t take the spice, but if your family is able to handle it, by all means, load that puppy up with some Hot Rotel (or at least Original).
Cook the chicken fully, then shred it into bite-sized pieces.
Pour the still-frozen rice in and break it up. Yes, it will be a little bit icy– that’s part of how it steams. This will cook into the food when you bake the dish. Now, mix in your chicken.
You’re on the home stretch now with this dish… stir in the two great for cooking soups and the drained Rotel, then pop the casserole in the oven at 350 for about 20 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbly.
It serves 6-8 people, and it’s so quick and easy to make that you’ll be out of the kitchen and back to reading… I mean, uh, driving the kids around to all of their stuff… in a heartbeat.
Love easy recipes? Try my Tuscan Sausage and Bean Soup, Pollo Magnifico Freezer Meal, or Hearty Cheeseburger Soup!
What’s your go-to “I forgot to cook dinner!” recipe? Share it in the comments below!