Easy Dinners

Name: Loaded Hot Dog Mac and Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 boxes Kraft Original Flavor Macaroni & Cheese Dinner 5-7.25 oz. Boxes; 1 pack Oscar Mayer Bacon 16 oz. Package; 4 Wieners Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners 10 ct Pack; 1/2 cup Heinz Tomato Ketchup 38 oz. Bottle; 1/2 cup Heinz Yellow Mustard 20 oz. Bottle; 1/2 cup Heinz Dill Relish 12.7 fl. oz. Bottle

June 11, 2018 Easy Dinners

Loaded Hot Dog Mac and Cheese

This post has been sponsored by Kraft Heinz. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Celebrate the season by serving this classic BBQ side dish, boosted with flavor. You’ll love this Loaded Hot Dog Mac and Cheese, with all the flavors of summer.

As a Midwest girl, I can’t wait for the weather to warm up each year. My family loves to spend all day outdoors, especially on the weekends. Our neighborhood is full of kids, and we love to do impromptu BBQs and outdoor get togethers with our friends.

This Loaded Hot Dog Mac & Cheese is a hit at BBQs, and for a few good reasons–classic Kraft Mac & Cheese with hot dogs and bacon, plus plenty of hot dog-inspired toppings. You’ll love this new classic.

I grabbed all the items for this simple, crowd-pleasing dish at Walmart. My favorite thing about Walmart is the easy shopping experience. They have everything I need for a family BBQ at a budget-friendly price. I picked up Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Yellow Mustard, Oscar Mayer Wieners, Oscar Mayer Bacon, Heinz Dill Relish, and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner Original Flavor.

To make this flavorful side dish, start by cooking up a double batch of classic Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.

In the meantime, cook up 4 Oscar Mayer Wieners and the whole pack of Oscar Mayer Bacon.

Once everything is cooked, cut up the meat, add it to the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, and mix together. Add in 1/2 cup each – Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Yellow Mustard, and Heinz Dill Relish. Stir until mixed together. And it’s ready to serve!

This yummy side dish goes well with any classic BBQ food, which is why it’s become a go-to for us! The kids love it, and it’s perfect for summer!

Want to try it for your next outdoor party–or how about a 4th of July celebration?! Easily order all items for your summer grill out using Walmart Online Grocery Pickup, or simply pick up in store at a Walmart near you.

Yield: 6 servings

Loaded Hot Dog Mac and Cheese

Celebrate the season by serving this classic BBQ side dish, boosted with flavor. You'll love this Loaded Hot Dog Mac and Cheese, with all the flavors of summer.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

2 boxes Kraft Original Flavor Macaroni & Cheese Dinner 5-7.25 oz. Boxes
1 pack Oscar Mayer Bacon 16 oz. Package
4 Wieners Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners 10 ct Pack
1/2 cup Heinz Tomato Ketchup 38 oz. Bottle
1/2 cup Heinz Yellow Mustard 20 oz. Bottle
1/2 cup Heinz Dill Relish 12.7 fl. oz. Bottle

Instructions

Start by cooking up a double batch of classic Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
In the meantime, cook up 4 Oscar Mayer Wieners and the whole pack of Oscar Mayer Bacon.
Once everything is cooked, cut up the meat, add it to the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, and mix together.
Add in 1/2 cup each - Heinz Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Yellow Mustard, and Heinz Dill Relish. Stir until mixed together. And it's ready to serve!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 405

November 14, 2016 DIY fail

Fresh & Easy Weeknight Meal Solutions

Tips & shortcuts to get a fresh, wholesome meal on the table in minutes. A practical guide for busy parents to make easy weeknight meals.

My family is absolutely loving these new MorningStar Farms® Veggie Bowls. That dish up there looks like I spend hours in the kitchen, preparing a hearty pot pie dinner. It’s actually straight from the freezer, and baking it up is as easy as pie. (couldn’t resist)

I mean, look at those fresh veggies. So colorful! Definitely not your typical freezer meal.

And even with all the veggies… my kids will eat it up. They love the gravy sauce & the biscuit on top.

Really, a biscuit can win over anybody. And I love that the 100% vegan chik’n strips offer my family 23g of protein at 150 calories. WIN.

My favorite part is that it’s freezer-to-table in minutes. It’s convenient cuisine that can be served up “as-is”. That’s just what I need some nights! Gotta love quick & easy weeknight meals.

Hearty, tasty, and wholesome? Love this new meal solution.

Other tips & shortcuts I rely on during the weekdays to feed my herd?

-Prep as much ahead of time as possible. Trying chopping up a bunch of veggies for snacks or meals while cooking up Sunday night dinner.

-Create a simple (keyword there!) meal plan with go-to dinner ideas that can whipped up with minimal effort. Check your calendar and plan meals around your schedule. Make it work for you.

-Try out some new meals that look easy, with few ingredients… I keep recipes that are quick, easy, wholesome, and that the family agrees are delicious. Can’t go wrong!

-Double up your meals, and serve extras later in the week with slight variations. For instance, make a big bowl of stir fry that you can use in tacos, casseroles, or soups throughout the week.

-Have a few freezer meals ready to heat up at a moment’s notice. Make extra batches of food and freeze half.

Hope that gives you a few new ideas for easy weeknight meals! A little goes a long way. Try a few tips & see how it simplifies things. I’m rooting for you, friend!

Love easy weeknight meal ideas? Check out this 4-Ingredient Chicken Parmesan.

I’d love to know, what are some of your busy weeknight meals?

September 16, 2016 Dinner

Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Wrap

This post was sponsored by Eat Smart as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. I received product samples to facilitate my review.

You’ll love this easy Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Wrap for a quick lunch or dinner. Toss together a healthy & delicious meal in minutes with Eat Smart Gourmet Vegetable Salad Kits!

Looking for a smart lunch or quick dinner idea? These salads are your new go-to for fast, tasty, healthy meals to fill up your family.

We loved all the varieties, but especially enjoyed the Strawberry Harvest. I think it was the Poppyseed dressing. YUM.

I am ALL about salad kits and the convenience they offer for a healthy lunch or dinner. Protein, fiber, fresh veggies… these kits have it all! And if you ask my family, they are mighty tasty.

I kept thinking the salad kits would be delicious with grilled, sliced chicken. Gives the dish some added protein, plus it changes things up a little bit. And I know that my kids will eat (pretty much) anything in a wrap–yours too?– so I rolled up some tortillas and made it a meal.

Don’t you just love the colors? Eat the rainbow, people, it’s good for you!

So much crunch… so much flavor. This meal earned rave reviews, and took no time at all. Seriously, I even used pre-cooked chicken strips, although you could certainly grill up some chicken if you prefer.

Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Wraps… it doesn’t get much easier than that.

We stocked up on Eat Smart Gourmet Vegetable Salad Kits to always have on hand for a quick weeknight meal. They make it refreshingly easy to get a wholesome dinner on the table. One that I can feel good about serving to my family.

Plus I love how versatility of the kits. You can use them as a shortcut for any gourmet dish you want to make in a snap. They can be side salads, full entrees, or even the appetizer… veggie lettuce wraps, anyone??

We love to make ours kid-friendly by tucking it into tortilla wraps. Salad wraps are where it’s at for my seven-year-old and two-year-old. Healthy finger food? Works for my house!

Love this Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Wrap? Check out this super simple BLT salad!

Yield: 4 servings

Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Wrap

Toss together a healthy & delicious meal in minutes with Eat Smart Gourmet Vegetable Salad Kits!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

Eat Smart Gourmet Vegetable Salad Kit, Strawberry Harvest
16 oz, sliced, grilled chicken
8 to rtilas

Instructions

Combine all salad ingredients from kit, set aside.
Lay out all 8 torillas, add 2 oz. of chicken to each.
Layer salad on top of chicken.
Roll up tortillas and serve!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 280

August 15, 2016 Dinner

4 Ingredient Chicken Parmesan

Looking for recipes using frozen breaded chicken tenders? Just 4 ingredients to make this twist on classic chicken parmesan! This 4 ingredient chicken parmesan will be your hero on busy weeknights.

Got a hungry family to feed every night? Me too! This hearty meal will satisfy any appetite, and it takes minutes to make. It couldn’t be simpler.

My family loves chicken parmesan (who doesn’t?!), but it is such a time-consuming dish! This recipe tastes just like a home-cooked meal and it comes together in a flash.

Start with some frozen chicken tenders. So tasty, and already pre-cooked! They just need to be heated up in the oven.

While the chicken strips are heating, boil up some pasta. When the chicken strips are nearly done (about two minutes left on the timer) pull them out and top them with pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Pop ’em back in the oven and set to high broil for about a minute. Keep an eye on them. The idea is to melt the cheese to perfection…

…like so.

You definitely want to bake them on parchment paper, so you can easily transfer all that baked cheesy goodness to your serving dish. I love a good ceramic baking dish. They are great for function and if you are entertaining they look great!

Add spaghetti and more pasta sauce, and that’s it! Perfect if you’re looking for chicken recipes with little ingredients.

So easy, right?! You got this dinner thing down.

Serve with a salad or breadsticks, and pass italian seasoning and parmesan cheese at the table. Your family will devour it. It’s a deliciously filling meal, and perfect for busy back-to-school season. So simple and so delicious! And kid-approved, I assure you.

Be ready for the back-to-school season! We can all use some shortcuts. Especially when they turn out this delicious.

Love this 4 ingredient chicken parmesan? Try this Easy Caprese Calzone!

Yield: 6 servings

4 Ingredient Chicken Parmesan

Just four ingredients to make this twist on classic chicken parmesan!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 package, frozen Chicken Strips
1 lb, spaghetti
1 jar, pasta sauce
2 cups, shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Heat chicken strips on a prepared, nonstick cookie sheet according to package instructions. Remove two minutes before cook time is complete.
Meanwhile, boil spaghetti in a pot of water until al dente (about 10-12 mins). I love this pot that you just slide the strainer out to drain the pasta, no more dumping!
Drain spaghetti.
Top each chicken strip with 1/4 cup of pasta sauce and a generous sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.
Bake on high broil for another minute or until cheese is melted.
Add spaghetti to bottom of serving dish. Top with a cup of sauce and chicken strips.
Enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320

July 22, 2016 Dinner

Cheesy Chicken Rotel Pasta

Chicken, veggies, and pasta in a Rotel cheese sauce makes for an easy weeknight meal that’ll fill your family up! This Cheesy Chicken Rotel Pasta will quickly become a family favorite. It’s a budget-friendly, kid-approved dinner, full of veggies!

This is one of our absolute, all-time favorite family dishes. It’s easy, tasty, and frugal. Oh, and kid-tested.

By far one of the best meals I’ve found for getting kids to eat veggies and protein. Pretty sure you can get your kids to eat anything if you serve it in cheese sauce…but I haven’t fully tested that theory.

Husbands/Wives/Significant Others love it too. It’s filling and well-balanced, but with enough cheese to feel like a cheat. I get cheers every time I make it, which is pretty often.

And bonus points for being a one pan meal– literally just cubed chicken, frozen veggies, pasta, velvetta cheese, and Rotel. It’s what I call a “pantry” dish, meaning that you can keep the ingredients in the pantry (or freezer) for months and cook it up whenever you need a quick & easy meal.

Try it out, and I promise it’ll make it into the weeknight meal rotation. So yummy.

Love this Cheesy Chicken Rotel Pasta? Try this 4-Ingredient Chicken Parmesan!

Yield: 6 servings

Cheesy Chicken Rotel Pasta

Chicken, veggies, and pasta in a ROTEL cheese sauce makes for an easy weeknight meal that'll fill your family up!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut
into 1-inch pieces
2 cups water
1 teaspoon olive oil, for cooking
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut
into 1-inch pieces
2 cups water
3 cups rotini pasta, uncooked
1 pkg., 16 oz. frozen broccoli, cauliflower and
carrot blend
1 can, 10 oz. RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green
Chilies, undrained
1/2 lb. 8 oz. VELVEETA®, cut into 1/2-inch
cubes

Instructions

Heat a large skillet to medium, add olive oil.
Cook and stir chicken in large skillet 5 min. or until no longer pink on the outside.
Stir in water. Bring to boil. Add pasta; stir. Cover; simmer on
medium-low heat 10 min. or until pasta is tender. (You may need to add more water to make sure the pasta is covered, you can always drain excess water once pasta & chicken are cooked)
Add remaining ingredients; stir. Cook, covered, 5 to 7 min. or
until VELVEETA is completely melted.
Reheats well for leftovers.

Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 310