Quick Dinner Recipes

I have gone crazy with ordering all the latest cooking books or magazines lately and I must say there are some great Quick Dinner Recipes out there.

The ideas popular food networks or famous chef’s come up with are amazing. I have to admit I do not have the talent to throw some ingredients into a pot and create a delicious tasting meal. I try but I know it wasn’t a hit when the pot is still full and the family isn’t requesting seconds. 

I ordered the Betty Crock Quick & Easy Cookbook a month ago and have used it almost nightly – no kidding. These are simple and inexpensive recipes and all are 30 minutes or less to prepare.

Most of these quick dinner recipes are less than $10 per family meal and many under $5 per meal. What a great concept, save money and time and get it all within one book. 

I own a lot of cook books and I subscribe to more cooking magazines than I should, so I get excited when I find one that works for me.

Of the chicken recipes I have tried so far, these are my favorite:

Barbecue Chicken and Vegetable Supper

Credits: Betty Crocker Quick & Easy Cookbook

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Start to Finish: 25 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups frozen whole green beans
  • 2 cups refrigerated red potato wedges (from 20 oz. bag) **SEE BELOW FOR SIMPLE SUBSTITUTION**
  • 1 Jar (12 oz.) chicken gravy
  • 1/3 cup barbecue sauce

Directions:

1. In a 12-inch nonstick skillet heat oil over me-high heat. Add chicken and sprinkle with salt. Cook 4 minutes turning once until brown.

2. Add beans, potatoes, gravy and barbecue sauce, stir to coat and mix. Cover and cook 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until beans and potatoes are tender and juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170 degrees).

***Easy substitution: try substituting frozen potato wedges or steak fries (no Need to thaw first)!!***

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Credits: Betty Crocker Quick & Easy Cookbook

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Start to Finish: 20 Minutes

Makes: 6 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups shredded rotisserie or other cooked chicken breast
  • 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 package (10 oz) pre-baked thin Italian pizza crust (12 inch)
  • 3 Roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 450 degrees. In small bowl mix chicken and barbecue sauce. Place pizza crust on ungreased cookie sheet, spread chicken mixture over crust. Arrange tomatoes over chicken and sprinkle with cheese. 

2. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is browned. Sprinkle with cilantro (optional)

SPEED IT UP: No time for pizza? Substitute 6 flour tortillas, spread chicken mixture evenly over wrap within 1 inch of edge.

Top with tomatoes, cheese and cilantro. Roll tortillas up tightly.

May 8th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , | Category: Dinner Recipes, Dream Dinners Made Cheap, quick dinner recipes | One comment

Free Food Coupons For A Cheap Dinner Tonight!!

Okay who wants to cook tonight? Not me! I’m looking for an cheap dinner idea and I have found it. I love it when I can find free fast food coupons to print off. My sister-in-law gave me the heads up on this one. 

The free food coupon is for the new Arby’s Roastburger. Along with some great TV ads – the newest one with the guy laying in bed and his wife serves his fantasy with Arbys food is my favorite – they are now offering the Arby’s Roastburger as an alternative to the greasy hamburger.

 I haven’t tried one yet but I did go and print off 10 of the free food coupons. I figure we can try one for dinner tonight and my hubby can use one for lunch later this week.

To get the free Roastburger you have to purchase a drink at menu price. It doesn’t say what size so I will go for the cheapest, the small size. The coupon expires Saturday March 14, 2009 so you better hurry while it lasts. You can also join the Arby’s club if you are a super freak for Arby’s food, like my sister-in-law. Join and they will e-mail you coupons for free food or at a discounted saving.

If you know of any other freebies like this offer, please share with us. Leave a comment or send me an e-mail. As we all try to watch out food budget, eating out isn’t an option most of the time but it can be with a free offer here and there!

Let Arby’s fix an easy dinner tonight! (CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR COUPON)

 

PRINTABLE FAST FOOD COUPONS FOR ARBY’S

March 9th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Dream Dinners Made Cheap | 13 comments

Crock Pot – Pot Roast – Yankee Pot Roast Recipe

A traditional family dilemma – no time – needs a modern solution – crock pot pot roast. I am the first to say with all the demands on my time, I find it difficult to get a healthy meal on the table.

This is the main reason I cook with the crock pot. I know that if I just hurry and get the meal done it is going to pay off tonight when I get home. If I haven’t convinced you yet then here we go again, CROCK POT COOKING is truly the most affordable way plan cheap meals for your family.

When I do make the time, it is usually spent finding free recipes and breaking them down to be cost effective cheap meals that are easy to prepare. But I do have a few old time favorites that I wouldn’t dare dream of converting. This traditional Yankee Pot Roast Recipe is one of those. I have prepared my Pot Roast Dinner with this exact recipe since, well the beginning of time – lol okay since I got married and decided I better learn to cook or at least make the attempt anyway. It’s a simple dinner recipe, the ingredients are basic and of course with crock pot cooking you can add and omit as to your preference but my recommendation would be to leave it alone, its that good.

And for those you need a little guidance with the homemade gravy recipe after the Yankee Pot Roast is done, I have just the article for you. I myself faced this dilemma with my first Pot Roast and Potato meal.

This is a great step-by-step guide on How To Make Gravy.

How to Make Gravy – Homemade Gravy Recipe That Is!

(just click the link, it will open in a new window)

Crock Pot Pot Roast – Yankee Pot Roast Recipe

Rival Crock Pot Recipes

Crock Pot - Pot Roast

Crock Pot - Pot Roast

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 8 1/2 to 9 hours on Low
Serves: 10-12

 

Cheap Cooking Ingredients:

  • 1 beef chuck roast (about 2 1/2 lbs.)
  • 3 unpeeled baking potatoes (about 1 lb.) cut into quarter
  • 2 large carrots, cut into 3/4 inch slices
  • 2 stalks celery, cut into 3/4 inch slices
  • 1 medium onion – sliced
  • 1 large parsnip, cut into 3/4 inch slices (optional but even better with it)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp. dried rosemary
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 cup beef broth*

Easy Dinner Directions:

  1. Trim excess fat from beef and discard, cut beef into serving size pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  2. Combine potato, carrot, celery, onion, parsnip, bay leaves, rosemary and thyme in crock pot.
  3. Place beef on top of vegetables and pour broth over beef.
  4. Cook on low 8 1/2 to 9 hours or until beef is fork tender.

*Use reduced sodium beef broth heart healthy crock pot recipe.

Looking for some different quick dinner recipes? Take a look at these:

7 Quick Dinner Recipes With Chicken

February 16th, 2009 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Category: Best Crockpot Recipes, Dream Dinners Made Cheap | 13 comments
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