Is there any better feeling than making dinner and hearing “mom, this is delicious! I love it!” Truly, no better words than a dinnertime meal compliment out of the mouth of our kids. We’re setting aside the Chef Boyardee, the applesauce pouches, and the frozen pizzas for tonight, and sharing a few of our family’s go-to dinners that have the kids asking for seconds!
Dorito Casserole
Dorito Casserole
My whole family loves this recipe! I usually serve this with a salad, beans and applesauce or sliced apples or pears to complete the food groups. It's filling and delicious!
Ingredients
- 1 tube Crescent Rolls or Crescent Sheet
- 1 lb Ground Beef can substitute turkey or chicken
- 1 pkg Taco Seasoning
- 3 T Water
- 8 oz Tomato Sauce
- 8 oz Sour Cream
- 1 cup Shredded Cheese I prefer cheddar
- Doritos any flavor, amount to liking
Instructions
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Spray 9×13 pan. Unroll crescent roll into pan, covering the bottom as a crust. Preheat oven to 350°.
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Brown meat, drain and dispose of grease.
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Add taco seasoning and water to cooked hamburger. Once absorbed, stir in tomato sauce and cook for 1-2 minutes. Spread over crescent roll crust in pan.
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Spread sour cream over the meat mixture, top with cheese and crushed Doritos.
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Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
Recipe Notes
Not only is this recipe a favorite with my family for taste, my kids love it because they’ve been helping to make it for years! I love it because it gives an opportunity for increasing skills and responsibility as they get older.
It’s a great one to make with helpers of any age! Toddlers can crush Doritos with a rolling pin when placed in a gallon size baggie, and sprinkle cheese and Doritos. Preschool and elementary students can unroll crescent rolls and spread sour cream. Now that they’re older, my boys help brown the meat and mix in ingredients after I drain it.
What type of Doritos you ask? My family is divided on preference so we just use both Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese. You can sub in any flavor you’d like, or swap out for Fritos or tortilla chips.
Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
The most delicious, easy chicken tacos!
Ingredients
- 2 Large Chicken Breasts
- 1 packet Taco Seasoning
- 1 packet Ranch Dressing Mix
- 2 cups Chicken Broth
Instructions
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Add all ingredients into slow cooker. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours. Shred chicken, return to juice for 30 minutes on low.
Recipe Notes
Double the recipe, saving half for another easy meal later in the week. Works great for quesadillas, soups, nachos and casseroles.
Chicken BBQ Quesadillas
Chicken BBQ Quesadillas
Delicious from the buttery crisp crust down to the customizable ingredients! Make this recipe your own by easily adding your favorite flavors.
Ingredients
- 1/4 prepared Chicken Breast shredded
- 1 Tortilla buttered
- 1 slice Bacon pre cooked
- Shredded Cheese
- Onions, if desired chopped
- BBQ Sauce
- Ranch
Instructions
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Shred or cube pre cooked Chicken Breast.
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For a crispy and delicious shell, lightly butter the outside of your tortilla with softened butter or margarine.
Pre cook Bacon, 1 slice per quesadilla. HINT: Chop the bacon into small pieces with clean kitchen scissors before cooking. Remove grease from skilled, wipe clean with paper towel. -
Over medium heat, add Tortilla to skillet, butter side down. Sprinkle desired amount of cheese over full surface of tortilla. Add to one half of tortilla- chicken, bacon and onions (if using) and lightly drizzle with BBQ Sauce and Ranch.
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When cheese begins to melt, fold tortilla in half (covering side with ingredients with the half only covered in cheese). Cook until bottom is browned and cheese on bottom is melted, approximately 3 minutes. Flip quesadilla to other side to finish browning and melting cheese, approximately 3 minutes.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Image Credit: Sweet & Savory Meals
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Ground Beef
- 16 oz Tomato Sauce
- 1/2 cup Ketchup
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Prepared Mustard
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 6 Hamburger Buns
- 6 Slices Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
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Brown the ground beef in a large pan over medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper and drain.
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Transfer cooked ground beef to the slow cooker and add in the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine.
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Cook on high for 3 hours, or low for 6 hours.
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Serve the meat on hamburger buns, top with cheese, and enjoy!
Li’l Cheddar Meat Loaves
Image Credit: Taste of Home
Li’l Cheddar Meat Loaves
Ingredients
- 1 Egg large
- 3/4 cup Milk
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/2 cup Quick-Cooking Oats
- 1/2 cup Chopped Onions
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 2/3 cup Ketchup
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar packed
- 1 1/2 tsp Prepared Mustard
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Stir in the cheese, oats, onion and salt.
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Crumble beef over the mixture and mix well. Shape into 8 loaves; place in a greased 13×9-in. baking dish
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In a small bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar and mustard; spoon over loaves.
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Bake, uncovered for 25-30 minutes.
Spaghetti Pie
Spaghetti Pie
Ingredients
- 8 oz Spaghetti Noodles
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 14 oz Tomato Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Minced Onion
- 4 oz Cream Cheese
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
- 3 Green Onions chopped
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook spaghetti noodles according to package. Drain.
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Meanwhile in a skillet, brown the ground beef, breaking up until no longer pink. Drain.
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In the skillet with ground beef add the tomato sauce, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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In a bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions, and minced onion. Stir until well mixed.
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In a greased 9×13 baking dish, layer the spaghetti noodles, cream cheese mixture, meat mixture and top with shredded cheese.
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Bake for 30 minutes.
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Enjoy to your heart [and stomachs] desire!
Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
Image Credit: Together as a Family
Crockpot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
Ingredients
- 2-3 Frozen Chicken Breasts
- 1 can Black Beans
- 1 can Corn
- 1 can Mild Rotel Tomatoes
- 1 TBSP Chili Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Cumin
- 1 packet Ranch Dressing Mix
- 1 package Cream Cheese
Instructions
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Place Frozen Chicken Breasts in Crockpot.
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Add Rotel and Corn [not drained] on top of Chicken.
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Drain and Rinse Black Beans. Add to Crockpot.
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Add Chili Powder, Onion Powder, Cumin and Ranch Seasoning Packet to the crockpot.
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Stir to combine.
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Top with opened package of cream cheese.
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Cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 6 hours.
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Stir half way through to combine melted cream cheese.
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Break up the chicken in crockpot after cooking.
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Serve with Tortilla Chips, Shredded Cheese, Green onion, Hot Sauce and/or Sour Cream.
English Muffin Pizzas
Image credit: Well Plated
English Muffin Pizzas
Ingredients
- English Muffins, sliced in half
- Pizza sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Pizza toppings [pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, etc]
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
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Bake plain english muffin halves for 4 minutes Remove english muffins from oven.
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Top english muffins with pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings to your liking.
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Bake for approximately 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Photo Credit: Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen
Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Ingredients
- 24 oz Frozen Chicken Tenders
- 1 pkg Hawaiian Rolls
- 1 jar Marinara Sauce
- 1 pkg Parmesan Cheese, sliced
- fresh basil
- 1/2 cup butter, cubed
- 1 Tbsp parm cheese, grated
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil
- pinch salt
Instructions
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Use an air fryer [or oven] to cook the chicken tenders per package directions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees
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Cut horizon rolls horizontally and place the bottom half in 13×9 dish
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Once the chicken tenders are cooked, cut them into halves and place on top of the bottom half of the rolls
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Layer with marinara, sliced parmesan, fresh basil, and top of hawaiian roll.
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For topping, melt the butter in the microwave and then add minced garlic, chopped fresh basil, parmesan cheese and stir.
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Lightly brush the topping on top of the rolls and bake for 10 minutes until cheese is melted! Be careful not to put too much topping, or the rolls will become soggy!
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Remove from and dab on a bit more topping! Enjoy!
Meatball Subs
Meatball Subs
Easy 3 Ingredient Recipe for a quick dinner! Use meatballs for meatball subs or spaghetti!
Ingredients
- 1/2 bag Frozen Meatballs
- 1 jar Spaghetti Sauce
- 1/2 bottle Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
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Pour all ingredients into slow cooker. Cook on High for 4 hours.
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Serve as meatball subs or with spaghetti. Tip: I like to bake sub buns with butter, garlic powder and parmesan cheese before topping with meatballs. 5 minutes at 400 degrees. YUM!
