30 Minute Skillet Pizza Pasta

This pizza pasta is made with six ingredients in one skillet and it's ready in less than 30 minutes! 

It's a perfect meal for any night of the week and one that the whole family will love!

Happy New Year! I know I'm a few days late, but better late than never right? I'm excited to share a new recipe with you today but really I am just thrilled to be back blogging again. As I'm sure you've noticed, I haven't been around much the last year or so. I had a lot going on with my job and my family and I felt it was best to take a break for a bit. I've missed being here so much, it feels amazing to be back! 

Pumpkin Chili

This Pumpkin Chili is loaded with veggies and two kinds of beans, and is a hearty and delicious vegetarian chili recipe. It's perfect for those chilly Fall days!

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!

Red Chile Chicken Flatbread Pizzas

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

#KingOfFlavor #FieldToBottle #CollectiveBias

These rich and flavorful Red Chile Chicken Flatbread Pizzas come together quickly and 

are perfect for tailgating or as an easy weeknight meal!

Fall is finally in full swing here in Michigan. After a week or so of being in the 80's, the temps have dropped, leaves are changing, and we are in the thick of football season. My favorite thing! I've been spending the weekends watching games with my friends and family and making lots of delicious dishes so no one goes hungry. I like to focus on recipes that are easy to make and don't take a lot of time, and these Red Chile Chicken Flatbread Pizzas are no exception. Just a handful of ingredients is all you need to make these hearty and flavor packed pizzas.

One shortcut I've been touting for years is store bought rotisserie chicken. One chicken can go a long way and can be used in so many different recipes. When I bring one home I immediately pull the chicken off the bones and shred it up. I pack it up in a large plastic bag and it's ready to go whenever I need it. 

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

PRINT

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 17

Happy Friday, friends! I know I haven't been around much the last couple of weeks and I apologize for that. I've been so busy with work, trying to enjoy summer, and getting my kids ready to go back to school. I honestly can't believe how fast the summer has went by. Like how are we already two weeks into August?! Even more disturbing is the fact that both of my boys are in college now. My baby will be a freshman and my oldest a senior....mama is about ready to have a breakdown over here!

So before I have that small mental breakdown, let's switch gears and talk about food. This weeks' menu plan is filled with plenty of delicious dinners. From grilled steak to kebabs and even stuffed peppers, these are meals that the whole family all love. We've also got muffins that are perfect for snacking or breakfast, and a delicious homemade ice cream recipe! Let's dig in, shall we? 

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! 

Mexican Chicken Tortilla Casserole

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

All opinions are mine alone. #CampbellsShortcutMeals #CollectiveBias

This scrumptious Mexican Chicken Tortilla Casserole is perfect for busy weeknights 

because it's simple and easy to prepare. Plus it's pure comfort food! 

I know it's only July and we are still in the thick of summer, but it's time to start thinking about the kids going back to school. I know, I know, it's early, but it will be here before we know it! Once that first day of school rolls around our lives seem to get turned upside down and the craziness ensues. I love shopping at Walmart because they have great deals on everything I need to prepare simple, quick, and delicious meals at home, especially Campbell Soup Company products. Take this Mexican Chicken Tortilla Casserole for example. You may think this looks time consuming to make, but it's not! It can also be made ahead of time which is a huge time saver. 

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 13

TGIF! You have no idea how happy I am that it's Friday...what a week it's been! Work was really busy, it's been super hot and humid, plus it rained a couple of days. All of that equals up to one tired mama haha. Other than hitting up the local farmers market for some fresh produce, I plan to chill at home with my boys and cook up some delicious food. 

Speaking of food, this weeks' summer menu plan theme is Sandwiches and Picnics! We've included some fabulous recipes that are easy to cook, quick, and don't heat up your kitchen. Those are definitley my kind of recipes! 

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 12

Happy Friyay! Wow, it has been a week! Work was crazy busy and I only had the 4 off so I am very excited that the weekend is here. Tomorrow I'm visiting a creamery and ice cream shop and I can't wait to share my experience with you all. The rest of the weekend will be spent with family and hopefully relaxing. Do you have anything exciting on your agenda for the next few days?

This weeks' summer menu plan theme is Salads! Summer is the perfect time to enjoy main dish salads for dinner and with choices like Thai Chicken Salad, Spicy Chicken Avocado Salad, and Grilled Pork and Pineapple Salad, there's something for everyone to love!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 11

Hey friends! I hope you've had a great week and are ready for the holiday weekend. I really can't believe that today is the last day of June...where in the world did the month go?! It's went by fast, I know that, but I'm excited to spend the 4th with my family. I'll be manning the grill and cooking up some delicious eats to celebrate the day. Will you be traveling for the holiday or staying close to home? 

This weeks' summer menu plan theme is Red, White and Blue! From hot dogs to chicken on the grill, delicious salads, and fresh fruit popsicles for dessert, we've got everything you need for a rockin' potluck or cookout!

Grilled Hawaiian Dogs

Take your tastebuds on a trip to the tropics with these delicious and flavorful Grilled Hawaiian Dogs!

With the holiday weekend right around the corner I'm finalizing my meal plan and getting my grocery list ready. We typically don't go anywhere for the 4th so I have my family over and we grill out and eat our favorite summer foods. My mom's homemade potato salad is a staple on our table during the summer, and we also love baked beans and corn on the cob. Pretty much the quentessential summer meal, am I right? What I throw on the grill depends on what we're in the mood for. Sometimes it's steak, other times it's chicken, and more often than not it's hamburgers and hot dogs. There's just something about a delicious grilled burger or dog that makes the 4th of July special.

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 10

Happy Friday, friends! I'm off to Kansas today for a super fun trip where I'll be visiting a ranch and learning all about the farmers and their cattle and, of course, eating lots of delicious food! Be sure to follow the action on Instagram where I'll be posting pictures and Instastories about my adventures. What are your plans for the weekend?

The Dinner Divas have decided to do something fun this summer and have themes for our menu plans. Week 10 is all about grilling! From my shrimp on barbie to Comfortably Domestic's gorgeous steak salad to Girl In The Little Red Kitchen's BLAT hot dogs, there is plenty of delicious food to be eaten! Take a look at this week's recipes and let me know what you're excited to make.

Grilled Pork and Pineapple Salad with Simple Vinaigrette

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Smithfield® Marinated Fresh Pork. 

The opinions and text are all mine.

#RealFlavorRealFast @SmithfieldBrand

Juicy and flavorful pork, fresh pineapple and heirloom tomatoes are topped with a simple 

vinaigrette to create a hearty summer salad that the whole family will love! 

Summer has finally arrived and you know what that means...it's grilling season! Most summer evenings you can find me on my back deck, cooking on the grill, enjoying an icy beverage, and eating my dinner at my outdoor table. Since warm weather season isn't around too long in Michigan I try to enjoy every single moment that I can outside. Grilling just happens to be one of my favorite activities and I can proudly say that, after years of practice, I am Queen of the Grill!  

One reason I love to grill is that there is less mess in the kitchen. If I can throw my meats and veggies on the grill, there is no need for extra pots and pans in the house! Another plus is that it's quick, and you don't need to think too hard about what's for dinner. I try to keep a lot of meats and fresh veggies on hand so that I can pull together a quick grilled meal in no time.

Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken

Simple grilled chicken gets a boost of flavor with an easy homemade peach barbecue sauce. 

Perfect for weeknight dinner, it's a meal the whole family will love!

Summer is in full swing here. It's been in the high 80's/low 90's for over a week, which is really warm for Michigan in June. I've been soaking up all the sun I can and loving how late it stays light out. That's a food bloggers dream to have so many hours of daylight, but I also love it because it means more time for the kids and I to spend outdoors. We've been spending a lot of time out on the deck and I've been grilling a lot of our meals lately. This Grilled Peach BBQ Chicken is made with a simple homemade peach barbecue sauce that's so flavorful and delicious. I'm also using ingredients in this recipe that supports one of my favorite campaigns, so please read on to learn more!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 9

TGIF! After a long, hot week I am so happy that the weekend is here. We've got another round of graduation parties to attend, but other than that I plan on relaxing at home and hopefully catching up on some blog work and cooking. What are your plans for the weekend? 

Since it's been so hot and humid this past week I've been turning to quick skillet dinners or no-cook meals so that I don't have to turn my oven on. This weeks' menu plan has some great recipes to keep the kitchen cool. I've been on a strawberry kick lately so the Summer Strawberry Mango Salad with Strawberry Poppyseed Vinaigrette is right up my alley. And those Pork Banh Mi Burgers? Yes please! What are you looking forward to trying this week?

Grilled Southwestern Beef & Tomato Kebabs with Lemon Orzo

Flavorful cubes of sirloin steak and fresh tomatoes are grilled to perfection, then served atop a bed 

of creamy, lemony orzo. It's the perfect summer meal and best enjoyed al fresco!

Father's Day is just around the corner and I'm already planning dinner for my dad. It's been a tradition for years now that I cook for him on this special day. There's no going out to eat around here, everything is homemade! He's pretty easy to please, but I always ask him if he's craving something or has any special requests. This year when I asked he told me that he'd love steak on the grill. Instead of cooking a whole steak, I've decided to make these Grilled Southwestern Beef & Tomato Kebabs with Lemon Orzo. The beef is tossed in southwest spices and grills up tender and juicy. The sweet grilled tomatoes add the perfect pop of flavor!

Dinner Divas Weekly Menu Plan - Week 8

Happy Friday, friends! Do you have any big plans for the weekend? Other than a million graduation parties to attend, I hope to get some gardening, cooking, and a little relaxation in. We are expecting temps in the 90's for the next four or five days, so a trip to the pool may be in order too! 

Looking at this weeks' menu plan has me totally drooling. The Rosé Sangria will definitely be enjoyed at cocktail time tonight, and I'd love to do some grilling and give the Sweet Heat Burgers and Shrimp Skewers a try. And that Soft Shell Crab BLT? Oh my! That definitely needs to be made soon. What do you think of the menu this week? Anything you're really excited to try?

Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo

With just a handful of fresh ingredients and 30 minutes of time, you can have this creamy 

and delicious Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo on the dinner table!

High school graduation is over, the party is over, and now it's back to reality. Back to the realization that my babies aren't babies anymore, although they'll always be my babies. Ya' know what I mean? We really did have a fantastic weekend and E's graduation party turned out marvelous, but it's hard to come to terms with the fact that we busted our butts for a couple of weeks to get everything ready and then in a matter of hours it was all over. I'm sad!