Weeknight Meatball and Pepper Skillet

This post is sponsored by Farm Rich, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This easy Weeknight Meatball and Pepper Skillet is a quick and flavorful meal that's ready in less than 30 minutes!

Hello friends! I know it's been a little quiet around here lately and I apologize for that. You see, I started a new job the first of the year which has rocked. my. world. I love the job and love what I do but it is extremely busy. I've been working 9+ hour days and still keeping up with the normal mom/family/animal/household stuff, which has left me a bit tired haha. I finally feel like I'm getting into a nice routine and am excited to be recipe developing, cooking and photographing once again. What that means for you is new recipes...yeah!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 20

Happy Friday! Who's ready for the long holiday weekend? I know I am! This has been the longest week ever. So busy at work, so busy getting my boys ready to get back to school, and my firstborn turned 21 a few days ago. Crazy, huh? I honestly can't figure out how my baby is 21 years old already! I will be welcoming the long weekend with open arms and can't wait to spend some time with my family relaxing.

This weeks' menu plan is filled with plenty of tasty food and I know I'll be kicking off my weekend with one or two of the Pastry Chef Online's amazing Top Shelf Margaritas. Saturday breakfast will definitely be Comfortably Domestic's Huevos Rancheros Savory Oats. And for dessert? I can't wait to make a batch of our favorite Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream! Let's dig in, shall we? 

#AD Chicken Fajita Pasta

This post is written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.

All opinions are mine alone. #StockUpMakeSmiles #CollectiveBias

Loaded with tender chicken, lots of veggies, and a flavorful sauce, this one pan

Chicken Fajita Pasta is incredibly delicious and super simple to make!

I can't believe it but school is almost back in session! So tell me, are you excited that the kids are headed back to school? Or are you sad? In talking to my friends I've found about a 50/50 split between those that are ready to get back to their routines and those that want to keep the kids home. Now that my youngest is starting college it feels a little different this year. Although it's not a standard 8 - 3 day and he's no longer playing sports, we are still busier than ever. He'll be taking classes four days a week plus working, and my full time job is keeping me on my toes. That's why I love to have simple and delicious meals like this Chicken Fajita Pasta at the ready to get dinner on the table fast!

One of my favorite products to always have on hand is Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Refrigerated Chicken Breast Strips found in the refrigerated meat aisle at Walmart. Made with white-meat chicken, it's 98% fat free and fully cooked and ready in minutes for a wholesome, tasty meal. Not only do I use it in dishes like this pasta, but it's perfect in quesadillas, wraps, nachos, and so much more!

This Chicken Fajita Pasta recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients and comes together in just 30 minutes. It truly is the perfect back to school weeknight meal! It's full of chicken, delicious veggies, and pasta, making it a meal the whole family will love. I use frozen fajita veggies and canned tomatoes, making prep super simple. It's also made in one pan, so clean up is a cinch!  

Chicken Fajita Pasta

Author: Sarah Bates | The Chef Next Door

Serves 4

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Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons olive oil

16 ounce package frozen fajita blend vegetables

1 envelope taco seasoning

2 cups chicken broth

1 can diced tomatoes

3 cups dried penne pasta

2 - 6 ounce packages Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Refrigerated Chicken Breast Strips

Salt and pepper, to taste

Cotija cheese and chopped cilantro, if desired

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and taco seasoning and cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are tender.

Add the broth, diced tomatoes and uncooked pasta. Stir to combine and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Add the chicken to the skillet and stir to combine until heated through, about 2-3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with crumbled cotija cheese and fresh chopped cilantro, if desired.

Bon Appétit!

You can find Tyson® Grilled & Ready® Refrigerated Chicken in the refrigerated meat section of your local Walmart!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 14

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you all had a great week. It's been pretty busy around here and I'm really looking forward to a little downtime this weekend. Do you have any plans? I'm hitting up our local farmer's market tomorrow morning and then prop shopping for the blog...two of my favorite things!  

I hope you stopped by hungry because this weeks' summer menu plan theme is Breakfast for Dinner, and who doesn't love that? Every couple of weeks I do this and we have homemade waffles or pancakes, sometimes French toast. My family loves it and it's so easy to make! This week you'll find recipes for delicious omelettes, cinnamon rolls, a casserole, and even homemade English muffins. Let's dig in! 

Southwest Chipotle Grilled Chicken Bowl #SundaySupper #Nourish2Flourish

Think you can’t have a healthy and nutritious lunch that’s also quick and easy? Think again! 

This hearty Southwest Chipotle Grilled Chicken Bowl is full of veggies, black beans, 

and chicken, and will keep you full all afternoon long!

At the start of a new year we see everyone making resolutions. Resolutions to lose weight, to eat better, to exercise more. I used to be one of those people too, but a couple of years ago I gave up “resolutions,” and instead just gave myself attainable goals. One goal is to drink more water, so I have a big reusable bottle with me at all times and I aim to drink three of those in a day. Another goal is to eat more fruits and veggies, so each week when I go grocery shopping I pick up my favorites and go right home and prep them so they’re easily accessible when I feel like snacking. Of course I would love to exercise more, but the truth is I really hate exercising. I’ve given myself a goal to just get more physical activity. Period. I do enjoy walking, so I asked for a new pair of really nice walking shoes for Christmas (which I did get!), so I’m off to a good start already.

This year I’m adding a lunch revamp to my goal list. Since I primarily work from home, I find myself either eating “snacks” for lunch, sometimes leftovers, and occasionally cereal. I know, that’s ridiculous! I’ve decided to plan better so that I can enjoy a healthy, hearty, and nutritious meal for lunch, and one that will give me energy and get me through the rest of my day.

Bucatini with Spinach Pesto #SundaySupper

Looking for an easy dinner recipe? This Bucatini with Spinach Pesto is the best! 

Fresh pesto is tossed with hot cooked pasta for a simple yet flavor packed meal!

Happy New Year, friends! Can you believe that 2017 is already here? I'm still trying to wrap my head around how quickly 2016 went by. I hope you all had a fun and safe evening last night. As for me, I chilled at home with my son. We played games, watched football, and of course, watched the ball drop. I've never really been one for going out on NYE and am quite content being home with my family. Big party animal I am, huh? 😉

Now that the holidays are quickly coming to a close, the kids will be back to school before we know it and our hectic lives will begin again. One of the biggest challenges that we all face is dinner. The kids get home from school and are starving, and the last thing us parents want to do when we get home from work is stand in the kitchen for an hour cooking. How about we enjoy an easy supper recipe to get us back into the swing of things?

One Pan Taco Rice Skillet #SundaySupper

This One Pan Taco Rice Skillet is easy to make and is filled with veggies and beef, making it the 

perfect protein packed meal to feed your family on any busy night!

Our weeknights have gotten increasingly busy now that school has started. I know many of you are in the same boat, between school and sports and other extracurricular activities. It seems like our nights are short with so much to get done in such little time. Eating dinner is such an important part of our evening, but there often isn't a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. That's why I love one pan meals. They are typically easy to make, can be made in 30 minutes or so, and easy to clean up. All of that equals a win for me!

BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizzas

These simple and tasty BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizzas come together in no time at all. 

Perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a snack, they're a treat the whole family will love! 

Let's celebrate, it's officially summer! No more school for the kids! We can stay up late and sleep in! {Well the kids can, not me} No more packing lunches every day! You know what though? Even though there aren't any more lunch boxes to be packed, lunch still needs to be made. What a bummer, huh? I was hoping to let that one slide, but the kids didn't really agree. Haha! 

I like to serve different things for lunch, not the same ole', same ole'. That can get pretty boring and eventually the kids get a little antsy for something new. These BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizzas are our new favorite. They are simple to make and super delicious, which makes them the perfect summertime meal.

Effortless Chicken & Veggie Ranch Wraps

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

#EffortlessMeals #CollectiveBias

Busy school nights call for quick and easy dinners! Whip up these healthy and delicious chicken and veggie ranch 

wraps in no time. Perfect for dinner at the table or on the way to practice! 

School has officially started here which means it's time to go, go, go! My youngest is playing varsity football so after a full day of school he immediately has a couple hours of practice, then comes home starving. Sound familiar? I try to prepare meals ahead of time as much as I can, and I especially look for meals that are quick and easy to make. These Effortless Chicken and Veggie Ranch Wraps are one of our family favorites, and I have the Effortless Meals available at Walmart to thank for that!

The deli at Walmart offers Effortless Meals solutions including Marketside rotisserie chickens and Marketside pizzas. These are perfect for busy families on the go! I love using rotisserie chicken for so many things, but it's especially perfect in these wraps. I also like to pair my wraps with the Walmart deli macaroni salad - it tastes just like homemade! It's great because the Rotisserie Chicken meal includes a side as well as 2 liter Coca Cola product, so I had everything I needed for dinner!

Heirloom Tomato & Basil Pizza

Gorgeous, fresh Heirloom tomatoes are the star of this simple but tasty summer pizza!

One of my favorite things about summer, other than the beautiful sun, gorgeous blue skies and warm temps of course, is the bountiful fresh fruits and veggies we get here in Michigan. I can hardly wait for this time of year since we get so much available to us that is grown locally. 

I'm first in line when our nearby farmers markets open up, and can't wait to get my hands on all the produce. I'm a sucker for a fresh, juicy, ripe tomatoes. From tossing them in a salad, to making a spicy salsa, to topping a pizza, the options are endless with tomatoes.

Easy Meals with Kahiki Foods!

 

As a busy working mom with two hungry teenage boys, sometimes it's hard to get dinner on the table in a timely fashion. As much as I love cooking from scratch, there are days when there isn't time for that! I need something quick, something delicious, and of course, something healthy. We are not a family who eats fast food on a regular basis, so I often turn to prepackaged meals to help me through these days.

Kahiki Foods is a great choice for me and my family. They offer delicious, simple recipes, that are made with no additives, preservatives or MSG. They combine Asian spices and seasonings with nutritious, wholesome ingredients, so you can feel confident you are giving your family something good!