Life a Little Brighter

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Easy Dinners

Dinner

Ground Turkey Taco Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyCrockPotSummer #CrockPotRecipes #CollectiveBias

Spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your summer! This Ground Turkey Taco Recipe makes tacos that are just 4 ingredients and full of flavor.

Ground Turkey Tacos on a cutting board

How to Cook Ground Turkey for Tacos

Hover over the photo above to click through and purchase the Crock-Pot® Express 6-Quart Pressure Cooker.

Right now, we’re all about the Crock-Pot® Express 6-Quart Pressure Cooker. It cooks meals up to 70% faster than traditional cooking, which is perfect for summer entertaining. The Crock-Pot® Express Crock helps us get our meal on the table fast!

Crock-Pot Instant Pot

With the Express Multi-Cooker’s 8 pre-set pressurized settings for various foods, we can have dinner ready in minutes or use the slow cook setting and come back to a hot meal later. So convenient! I also love that you can steam, brown, or sauté your food before programming, making it the ultimate in one pot cooking. 

The Crock-Pot® Express gives me the opportunity to make good food on my schedule, which is so helpful in the summer months. Truly, everyday is different around here when the kids are out of school. With easy, one pot cooking, I can quickly make a delicious dinner or side dish for family and friends. And did I mention the six-quart non-stick cooking pot is dishwasher safe? Seriously, it’s a kitchen super star.

Lately, I’ve been using mine to make all kinds of tacos. Because tacos are the ultimate summer food, amiright?

We love tacos around our house because everyone can pick their own toppings. It’s super convenient for picky eaters! Just choose a simple taco recipe with a few ingredients– like ground turkey, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, and flour tortillas. Cook in the Crock-Pot® Express and then serve whichever toppings you love! Seriously, this meal took 8 minutes to cook– amazing!

ground turkey tacos in an instant pot

ground turkey and diced tomatoes cooked in an instant pot

For this dinner, I added chopped cilantro, pico de gallo, and a squeeze of lime. Fresh, simple flavors. What does your family like on their tacos? 

Ground Turkey Tacos with salsa and chips

Yield: 8 tacos

Ground Turkey Taco Recipe

Ground Turkey Taco Recipe

Spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your summer! This Ground Turkey Taco Recipe makes tacos that are just 4 ingredients and full of flavor.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 can, diced tomatoes and chopped chilies
  • 1 packet, taco seasoning
  • 8 small or medium flour tortillas
  • Optional, for topping: chopped cilantro, shredded cheese, fresh salsa, lime wedges

Instructions

  1. Add ground turkey and cooking oil to Crock-Pot® Express 6-Quart Pressure Cooker.
  2. Press the sauté function button and let the ground turkey simmer for about two minutes, to lightly brown it.
  3. Turn the sauté function off. Add the taco seasoning and chopped tomatoes. Give everything a good stir to evenly distribute seasoning.
  4. Place the lid on appliance and make sure it's locked into place. Follow cooking instructions for Crock-Pot® Express 6-Quart Pressure Cooker. Cook everything for 8 minutes on high pressure.
  5. While the turkey cooks, prep your toppings.
  6. When the cooking is done, carefully move the valve to venting for a quick release. Be cautious as hot steam will spit out of the valve. Once all of the steam escapes, open the lid.
  7. Serve on tortillas with your favorite toppings! 

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

2
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 217 Total Fat: 13g Saturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 8g Cholesterol: 64mg Sodium: 413mg Carbohydrates: 8g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 2g Protein: 16g
© Alison
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Entree
Check out the Crock-Pot® Express 6-Quart Pressure Cooker and Save $15 on Crock-Pot® Express 6-Quart Pressure Cooker at Target until 7/29/19.

 

Appetizer

Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

This post has been sponsored by Tyson Foods, Inc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Looking for a quick weeknight meal idea? Try these Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas with all the Tex-Mex toppings you love!

Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas with Tyson chicken strips

I’m all about easy meal solutions, and these Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas are on weekly rotation at my house. Using Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips from Jewel-Osco, you can whip this dinner together in minutes. Definitely quicker than take out!

These Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips are perfect for busy parents! As we get back on schedule with after-school activities, it’s a life-saver to have simple, tasty meals ready to go. Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips are made with white meat chicken and are 100% all natural. Plus, they’re minimally processed with no artificial ingredients. They’re fully cooked and ready to serve!

Check out more recipes and tips/tricks as well as coupons at this Tyson® Back-To-School product page!

 

Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips on a cutting board

I love that they’re protein-packed and easy to prep; my kids just love the taste! They’re perfect in these Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas.

Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas served with salsa

Does your family love Mexican dinner night as much as mine?! They can’t get enough tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, etc. And each of those dishes are great ways to add in extra veggies and protein.

We use colorful bell peppers and onions, plus Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. You could also add cooked spinach, diced tomatoes, or even diced zucchini. It all tastes delicious with grilled chicken and melty cheese.

fajita veggies on a cutting board

Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas being cooked in a skillet

Grill up in a skillet and they’re ready in a flash. I serve with fresh cilantro, salsa and Greek yogurt. You could also do guacamole, pico de gallo—anything goes!

Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas served with salsa

 
Yield: 4 servings

Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

Looking for a quick weeknight meal idea? Try these Grilled Chicken Fajita Quesadillas with all the Tex-Mex toppings you love!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp, olive oil
  • 1 green pepper, sliced into strips
  • 1 red pepper, sliced into strips
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced into strips
  • 1 packet, fajita seasoning
  • 1 tsp, butter
  • 16- 8" flour tortillas
  • 1 package, Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
  • 2 cups (or more as desired) shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • optional, for serving: chopped cilantro, salsa, guacamole, sour cream (or Greek yogurt)

Instructions

  1. Heat a skillet to medium, add olive oil.
  2. Add veggies to pan and cook until softened, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add fajita seasoning and cook for 2-3 more minutes, stirring to incorporate.
  4. In a separate skillet, heat to medium and melt butter.
  5. Add one tortilla to skillet, top with 1/4 of veggies, chicken, and cheese.
  6. Allow to heat until cheese begins to melt.
  7. Top with another tortilla and press down.
  8. Flip quesadilla over in pan and cook until tortilla is slightly golden and cheese is melted.
  9. Remove from pan and cook remaining three quesadillas, adding more butter as needed.
  10. Cut quesadillas into quarters and serve immediately with favorite toppings.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 697 Total Fat: 30g Saturated Fat: 15g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 14g Cholesterol: 107mg Sodium: 1523mg Carbohydrates: 68g Fiber: 6g Sugar: 5g Protein: 38g
© Alison
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Entree

Enjoy a twist on quesadillas tonight with Tyson® Fully Cooked Refrigerated Grilled Chicken Breast Strips and Jewel-Osco! You can grab them in-store in the refrigerated section. And don’t forget to check the Jewel-Osco mobile app for additional saving on your grocery haul for the week.

Tyson Grilled Chicken Strips in a Jewel-Osco bag

Dinner

Fajita Bowl Recipes

Looking for an easy, family-friendly, healthy recipes for quick weeknight dinners? These Fajita Bowl Recipes are a delicious dinners made simple.

Chicken Fajita Bowls with toppings

Healthy Fajita Bowl Recipe

With two picky little kids and a husband who likes hearty meals, it can be tough to find easy, budget-friendly meals that everyone likes. What I’ve learned is to start with a wholesome base and let everyone customize it to their liking.

Next, top the bowls with Mexican-inspired ingredients! We like chopped peppers (the more color, the more nutrients!), pico de gallo, and sour cream. You can swap out sour cream for Greek yogurt to get a protein boost, which is always welcome.

Steak Fajita Bowls with quinoa

Fajita Toppings Ideas!

  • shredded cheese (try different types, like Colby Jack, Sharp Cheddar, or queso fresco)
  • fresh pico de gallo
  • guacamole (bonus points if it’s homemade!)
  • shredded lettuce
  • sliced radishes (adds crunch and a slight spicy taste)
  • sliced or diced peppers
  • sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • queso sauce
  • enchilada sauce
  • hot sauce
  • chopped cilantro

Can fajitas be healthy?

It depends on how you cook the protein source (chicken, beef, beans, etc) and which toppings you add, but fajitas can be quite healthy when you grill the meat and add lots of veggies!

How many calories are in a chicken fajita bowl?

About 500-600 calories in a restaurant-style chicken fajita bowl.

Are burrito bowls served hot or cold?

Either! Typically you heat up the meat first and then add cold toppings (such as cheese or lettuce) when ready to serve.

Must-Have Kitchen Tools for the Best Fajitas:

Non-stick pan for sheet pan fajitas

Microplane for zesting limes & adding flavor

Mini whisk for mixing up marinade

Fajita Bowl Recipes

Looking for an easy, family-friendly, healthy recipes for quick weeknight dinners? These Fajita Bowl Recipes are a delicious dinners made simple.

Fajita Egg Muffins

Fajita Egg Muffins

Check out this yummy fajita egg muffins recipe, perfect for quick breakfasts or school day lunches. This egg fajita recipe is totally customizable for picky eaters!

Continue Reading
Steak Fajita Bowl

Steak Fajita Bowl

Looking for an easy, family-friendly, keto recipe for quick weeknight dinners? This Steak Fajita Bowl is a delicious dinner made simple.

Continue Reading
Pulled Pork Fajita Quesadillas

Pulled Pork Fajita Quesadillas

You’ll want to add this easy, Mexican-inspired dish to your grilling menu– pulled pork fajita quesadillas!

Continue Reading
Easy Chicken Fajita Bowls

Easy Chicken Fajita Bowls

Try these easy chicken fajita bowls tonight for a satisfying, wholesome meal that your family will love. Just add a few ingredients for a fresh dinner that beats take-out any night!

Continue Reading

Appetizer

Crescent Roll Italian Sandwich Ring

This Crescent Roll Italian Sandwich Ring is a fun & easy way to enjoy all the flavors of an Italian sub sandwich in a delicious crescent ring appetizer. Paired with your favorite dip, it’s the perfect dish for the holidays, game day, or any time of the year.

Italian Sub Crescent Ring with dip

layered italian crescent ring

We paired a few of our favorite flavors of Heluva Good! Dip with this Italian Sub Crescent Ring and it was delicious! Crescent rings, or “meat rings” as they’re sometimes called, are crescent rolls laid out on a pan, covered in meat and toppings, and then rolled up into a ring shape. Bake until golden brown, and they’re ready to serve to hungry guests.

Heluva Good Dip

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS ITALIAN CRESCENT RING:

  • 2 cans (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
  • 1/2 cup sliced banana peppers (from a jar), divided
  • 4 slices provolone cheese, halved
  • 1/3 lb sliced salami
  • 1/4 lb sliced ham
  • 1/4 lb sliced pepperoni

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING THIS ITALIAN CRESCENT RING:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Roll out crescent rolls (keep them in rectangle shape, as opposed to triangles) and overlap onto a prepared baking sheet- see photos.
  3. Layer deli meats evenly on top of crescent rolls, then add a half of a slice of cheese and 1-2 banana pepper slices on top.
  4. Roll up crescent roll dough towards the center and pinch to secure. (Does not need to be perfect)
  5. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown on top.
  6. Serve immediately with your choice of dip and the remaining peppers on the side.

italian sub crescent ring

Crescent rings have been a trendy appetizer for a while now, and I love how they can easily serve a crowd. My family loves their Italian sub sandwiches, so I knew it would a hit with them. Layers of ham, salami, and pepperoni went onto the crescent rolls, topped off with slices of provolone and a few banana peppers to really give it that sub sandwich flavor. Yum!

handy tools to make this italian crescent ring a little easier:

crescent roll meat ring

Bake it up in the oven, and then it’s ready for dipping. Heluva Good! Dips come in a variety of flavors including French Onion, Bacon Horseradish and Buttermilk Ranch. We all had our favorites, but in my opinion, the French Onion adds just the right kick to the dish. Try it, you’ll love it!

Italian Sub Crescent Ring with dip

FAQs

Are crescent rolls the same as puff pastry?

They’re made using very similar ingredients and techniques, but crescent rolls differ from puff pastry in their use of yeast. There is no yeast in puff pastry dough.

Are crescent rolls and crescents the same thing?

The only thing they have in common is shape. The types of bread and the way they are made is completely different, and croissants are usually bigger. Crescent rolls are basically dinner rolls, croissants are sweeter and flakier, often used as a breakfast food.

Can you save uncooked crescent rolls?

You should not save uncooked crescent rolls. Cook them up and then freeze them.  They will be great thawed, but the raw dough will not keep. 

Yield: 12-16 servings

Crescent Roll Italian Sandwich Ring

Crescent Roll Italian Sandwich Ring

This Crescent Roll Italian Sandwich Ring is a fun & easy way to enjoy all the flavors of an Italian sub sandwich in a delicious crescent ring appetizer. Paired with your favorite dip, it's the perfect dish for the holidays, game day, or any time of the year.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cans (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
  • 1/2 cup sliced banana peppers (from a jar), divided
  • 4 slices provolone cheese, halved
  • 1/3 lb sliced salami
  • 1/4 lb sliced ham
  • 1/4 lb sliced pepperoni

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Roll out crescent rolls (keep them in rectangle shape, as opposed to triangles) and overlap onto a prepared baking sheet- see photos.
  3. Layer deli meats evenly on top of crescent rolls, then add a half of a slice of cheese and 1-2 banana pepper slices on top.
  4. Roll up crescent roll dough towards the center and pinch to secure. (Does not need to be perfect)
  5. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown on top.
  6. Serve immediately with your choice of dip and the remaining peppers on the side.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 165 Total Fat: 12g Saturated Fat: 5g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 38mg Sodium: 575mg Carbohydrates: 4g Net Carbohydrates: 0g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 1g Sugar Alcohols: 0g Protein: 10g
© Alison
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Appetizer
If you loved this Italian Crescent Ring recipe then you must try my Mini Burger Sliders. They are great for entertaining or a quick weeknight meal!

Dinner

Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie

You’ll love this Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie for an easy dinner that feeds a crowd! Use puff pastry, rotisserie chicken, and frozen vegetables as recipe shortcuts to a delicious, home-cooked meal.

chicken pot pie cooked in a dutch oven

Dutch Oven Pot Pie

Love chicken pot pie but think it’s too much of a hassle? I’m right there with you! This recipe comes together in minutes and bakes up quickly enough to serve on a weeknight. Awesome, right? Use shredded rotisserie chicken, frozen vegetables, and soup for the base, then top it off with puff pastry. 

INGREDIENTS

  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • onion
  • milk
  • flour
  • cream of chicken soup
  • potato
  • frozen vegetables (corn and carrots variety)
  • rotisserie chicken
  • puff pastry dough

HOW DO I MAKE A PUFF PASTRY TOPPED CHICKEN POT PIE?

With a couple short cuts, this recipe comes together in no time at all.  Prepare the filling, top with the puff pastry and then bake it.  This is a dish that can be served to impress guests or prepared as an easy weeknight meal.  Use one of these beautiful, colored dutch ovens and you will even impress with your serving dish.

chicken pot pie filling in a dutch oven

Yep, this gorgeously golden chicken pot pie can be on your family’s table in about 40 minutes, with only 10 minutes of hands-on time. Check it out!

puff pastry on a chicken pot pie

What are the best things to serve with a dutch oven chicken pot pie?

I really like to let this dish shine on its own, so I serve it with a simple garden salad and a great french bread.  With your meat and potatoes all in one dish, this is literally all you need. You don’t really need to serve with bread, because of the pastry topping, but carbs really are great (aren’t they)?!?

puff pastry-topped chicken pot pie

What other dutch oven chicken recipes should you be trying?

You can make many things in a dutch oven, including soups, stews, rice dishes, and even risotto.  This site has 18 delicious dutch oven chicken dishes recipes that will all impress!  I cannot wait to try the Creamy Chicken Risotto and the Lemon Butter Chicken. 

Yield: 8 servings

Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie

You'll love this Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie for an easy dinner that feeds a crowd! Use puff pastry, rotisserie chicken, and frozen vegetables as recipe shortcuts to a delicious, home-cooked meal.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon, olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 3/4 cup, milk
  • 1/4 cup, flour
  • 2 cans, cream of chicken soup
  • 1 potato, chopped
  • 16 oz, frozen vegetables (corn and carrots variety)
  • 2 cups, rotisserie chicken, shredded
  • 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry dough

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat a dutch oven to medium, add olive oil.
  2. Remove puff pastry from freezer, allow to thaw to room temperature. (this makes it easier to handle)
  3. Add onions and garlic to the pot, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until softened.
  4. Whisk together milk and flour, and add to pot. I am loving these silicone whisks so I don't have to fret about scraping my pans.
  5. Add all other ingredients, except chicken and pastry dough.
  6. Simmer until potatoes are cooked through.
  7. Add chicken to pot, stir to combine.
  8. Unfold puff pastry and using the dutch oven lid as a guide, trim the corners of the rectangular dough to fit the inside of the dutch oven. A rough cut is fine.
  9. Place puff pastry on top of soup mixture in dutch oven and bake pot pie for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown and soup bubbles up around the edges.
  10. Rest for 5 minutes and serve!

Notes

***If you're short on time, eliminate the potatoes. Just heat up the other ingredients- which takes about 5 minutes- then bake in oven as usual.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8 servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 410
© Alison
Cuisine: American / Category: Dinner
If you love the Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie, then you must try this Loaded Pizza Pasta Casserole!