Make It a Tasty Week
Need easy, weeknight meal ideas? We’ve got you covered with five weeknight meals that minimize prep and ingredients, and maximize smiles and dinnertime fun for your family. Complete with grocery list and instructions, here are simple, time tested, kid-approved recipes from my home to yours! Recipes are written to serve four, adjust based on your family’s appetite!
-Jodi, Lincoln Kids Designer and Mother of Two
Monday
PASTA WITH MEAT SAUCE AND CRESCENT ROLLS
Brown 1 lb ground beef with 1 chopped onion, and 1⁄2 tsp of salt, pepper, and onion powder, then drain. Add 1 jar of pasta sauce and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
At the same time, cook pasta and crescent rolls according to package directions. Serve rolls with pasta topped with parmesan cheese.
Tuesday
SWEET CHICKEN WITH RICE AND CANDIED CARROTS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place baby carrots in a pot with 1⁄4 cup butter, 1⁄4 cup brown sugar, 1⁄8 cup water, and 1⁄8 tsp salt. Cook with lid on at low heat for 45 minutes, stir occasionally. Combine 1⁄2 c dijon mustard with 1⁄4 c maple syrup in bowl. Place boneless chicken breasts in a greased, oven-safe baking dish and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour mustard and syrup mix over chicken. Bake for 40 minutes or until meat is 165 degrees. Cook rice according to package directions. Serve chicken over rice with carrots on the side.
Wednesday
TUNA MELTS WITH SLICED APPLES
Mix 1 can tuna with 1⁄4 cup mayonnaise, 1⁄4 tsp salt, pepper, onion powder and paprika. Repeat for number of cans needed. For each sandwich, spread mayonnaise on one side of bread slice and place on a non-stick pan heated on medium heat. Top with tuna mix, shredded cheddar cheese, and bread slice with mayonnaise facing up. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve with apple slices and peanut butter or fruit dip.
Thursday
OVEN NACHOS & TACO SALADS
Brown 1 lb ground beef with 1 chopped onion and 1 package taco seasoning. Spread tortilla chips on foil-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with cooked beef, salsa, and cheese. Broil in oven for 4-6 minutes. Remove from pan and place baked chip portions onto plates, or, for taco salads, place shredded lettuce in a bowl and mix with crushed, baked chip portions. Top with lettuce, black olives, beans, and sour cream.
Friday
PERSONALIZED MINI-MUFFIN PIZZAS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place English muffin halves on a foil-lined baking sheet. Spread pizza sauce on muffins and top with mozzarella cheese. Add toppings (pepperoni, black olives, mushrooms). Bake for 10 minutes and serve.