Were you scrambling tonight to figure out something for dinner that everyone would eat and somewhat enjoy? Did you end up swinging through a drive-thru, stopping by Qdoba, or making a grilled cheese to save time and complaining? Do you wish that you had easy, go-to recipes that took you minimal amounts of time but left everyone happy that the meal was not only on time, but delicious?
Yeah, I thought so.
Introducing my Top 5 Quick Meals to Satisfy the Fam (ALL are gluten/dairy-free):
5. Crockpot Chicken & Noodles
Ingredients:
3 boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts
1 diced onion (or 1 package low-sodium dry onion soup mix)
1 package brown rice and/or quinoa pasta
1 carton low-sodium organic chicken broth
2-3 stalks celery
2-3 carrots
Pepper
Directions:
Place chicken breasts in the crockpot and add 1.5 cups water, dry onion soup mix, and cracked pepper. Cook on Low for 6 hours.
With 2 hours to go, shred the chicken and add diced celery, carrots, and chicken broth.
When ready to serve, simply cook pasta until done. Add strained pasta to crockpot, stir, and serve hot.
4. Mexican Brinner Scramble
Ingredients:
Eggs (preferably organic, cage-free brown)
Baby spinach
1 can no salt added black beans
Salsa
Guacamole
Hash browns (optional)
Directions:
Scramble eggs while heating hash browns in a separate skillet. Heat black beans. When done, simply combine in a large bowl on a bed of raw baby spinach. Top with salsa and guacamole for a delicious breakfast-for-dinner treat!
3. Bulletproof Fish & Roasted Brussels
Ingredients:
Thawed fish of choice (wild sockeye salmon preferred)
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Sea salt
Black pepper
Pre-cut/washed brussel sprouts
Directions:
Place fish in baking dish with coconut oil and sea salt/black pepper. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes.
Place brussel sprouts on cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sea salt and bake at 425 (or higher) until browned.
Yum!
2. Crockpot Pulled BBQ Pork
Ingredients:
2.5 lb. boneless pork loin
2 tsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsp. Hickory liquid smoke
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. sea salt
1 cup all-natural BBQ sauce
Slaw mix
Directions:
Place pork in the crockpot with vinegar, smoke, garlic powder, and salt. Cook on High 6 hours.
Transfer to a large dish. Reserve all the liquid to the side. Shred the pork and put it back in the slow cooker along with 3/4 of the juice and BBQ sauce. Cook on High 1 more hour.
Serve on raw slaw mix (or add vinegar to your slaw mix) and voila.
1. Crockpot Chicken Verde Tacos
Ingredients:
3 boneless, skinless organic chicken breasts (or equivalent chicken tenderloins)
Oregano
Cumin
Garlic powder
Verde salsa
Corn tortillas
Broccoli slaw or field greens
Diced avocado
Directions:
Place chicken in the crockpot and sprinkle with oregano, cumin, and garlic powder. Top with a layer of verde salsa and cook on High for 2 hours.
Strain liquid from the crockpot. Shred chicken and cover with fresh layer of verde salsa. Cook on Low for 2 hours.
When ready to eat, simply spoon chicken into warm corn tortillas and top with your choice of broccoli slaw or field greens and diced avocado. Enjoy!