Mac and Cheese Cups

Mac and Cheese Cups
Yield: 12 servings | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 40 minutes | Total time: 55 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups elbows pasta
2 tbsp Panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp Parmesan
1.5 tsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp flour
1 cup milk
2 cups sharp cheddar
1 egg salt
pepper

Instructions
1. Prep & Pasta: Preheat oven to 425°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin. Boil and drain elbow pasta.
2. Topping & Sauce: Mix Panko, Parmesan, and olive oil for the topping. Melt butter, sauté garlic, whisk in flour and milk, simmer until thick, then melt in cheddar, egg, and pasta.
3. Bake & Serve: Scoop into the muffin tin, top with the Panko mixture, bake 18–20 minutes until golde.

Chicken Enchiladas (using canned chicken)

Ingredients:

Kirkland Signature Chicken Breast: 2 cans (12.5 ounces each) 

Cream Cheese: 1 block (8 ounces), softened to room temperature and diced

Taco Seasoning: 1 packet

Enchilada Sauce: 1 can (15 ounces), red or green sauce

Shredded Cheese: 2 cups of Mexican-blend or cheddar cheese 

Tortillas: 8 to 10 soft flour or corn tortillas 

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Mix the Filling 

1. Drain the chicken, then dump into a mixing bowl and shred into tiny pieces. 

2. Add the softened cream cheese, the taco seasoning packet, and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese into the bowl.

3. Stir everything together until the chicken is completely coated and looks like a thick, creamy paste. 

Roll the Enchiladas

4. Pour just a little bit of the enchilada sauce into the bottom of a large baking pan. Use the back of a spoon to paint the bottom of the pan with the sauce so the tortillas don't stick.

5. Lay one tortilla flat on a clean plate or cutting board. Scoop 3 big spoonfuls of the creamy chicken mixture right into the middle of the tortilla. 

6. Roll and tuck: Roll the tortilla up tightly, tucking ends in. Place into your baking pan, seam facing down against the bottom of the pan so it stays closed. 

7. Repeat for all your tortillas until your filling is all gone and your pan is lined with rolled tortillas. 

8. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of your rolled tortillas. Make sure every tortilla gets covered in sauce so they don't get dry. 

10. Sprinkle the rest of your shredded cheese over the top of the sauce. 

11. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. It is ready when the cheese is completely melted and bubbling at the edges! 

12. Let the pan sit for 5 minutes to cool down before serving.

Ham & Cheese Lasagna

Source: https://www.thekitchenismyplayground.com/2013/04/ham-cheese-lasagna.html

Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 75 min

Ingredients:
• 9 to 12 lasagna noodles
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 T. butter
• 3 T. all-purpose flour
• 2 c. milk
• 1 c. cottage cheese
• 2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
• 2 c. finely chopped fully cooked ham
• 1 (8 oz.) package fresh mushrooms {or substitute 8 oz. canned mushrooms}
• 1 T. dried parsley

Instructions: 

1. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add chopped onion and mushrooms (if using raw); cook until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Blend in flour until onions are well coated. Add milk all at once; cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and just beginning to bubble, about 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Add cottage cheese and 1 cup of the shredded Monterey Jack cheese; stir until melted. Stir in the ham, mushrooms (if using canned), and parsley. Remove from heat.
5. In a 9x13" baking dish coated with non-stick cooking spray, arrange three lasagna noodles and top with 1/3 of the ham mixture. Repeat to create two more layers of noodles and sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese on top.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove lasagna from the oven and let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

***I covered it with foil, even though it didn't say to, and the noodles came out a little tough. So try it without the foil next time!

Vegetarian Pizza Casserole with White Beans and Rice

Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 small zucchini, diced (1-2 cups)
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced
1 cup diced mushrooms, I used white button
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 (15 oz) cans white beans, I used great northern beans
2 cups cooked rice, white or brown
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees F. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil, diced bell peppers, onion, zucchini and mushrooms. Season with a pinch of salt and cook veggies until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add in the minced garlic, dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix together and cook for another 2-3 minutes. I like to turn up the heat a little bit so that my vegetables get nicely browned.
Next, add in the white beans, rice and marinara sauce. Mix together until completely combined and turn the heat off. Stir in 1 cup of shredded cheese and the fresh herbs. You can also add extra salt at this time, if needed.
Transfer the entire mixture to an oven safe baking dish.* Evenly top the casserole with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese and cover tightly with foil. Bake the pizza casserole for 20 minutes with the foil on, remove foil and bake for another 7-10 minutes, until cheese is completely melted. You can broil the top for a minute or two, if needed.
Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley, parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, if desired, and enjoy.

One Pot Black Bean Fajita Pasta

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
To assemble ahead:
2 bell peppers (sliced)
¼ cup red onion (sliced)
15 oz can of diced tomatoes
15 oz can of black beans (drained and rinsed; or 19 oz)
7 oz can corn kernels (1 cup)
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt

Add fresh when cooking
1 cup stock
2 cups small pasta shapes (6.5 oz; see note *)
Just before serving
½ lime (juiced; 1 tablespoon)
1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Instructions
In a medium pot, combine all ingredients including pasta and stock. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes.
Stir in the lime juice and mozzarella cheese, until evenly distributed and melted.
(Optional) Serve with lime wedges and cilantro.

To assemble ahead:
Combined all 'assemble ahead' ingredients in a large meal prep container or in a heavy duty freezer bag.
Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
If frozen, thaw completely before cooking as directed above. You may need to remove the pot lid during the last 5 minutes of cook time to allow the liquids to reduce.

Notes
Black beans can be replaced by two large chicken breasts cut into bite-sized cubes.
*this recipe was tested with rotini and fusili. Any small pasta shape should work, but adjust the cook time as needed if you do try a different one

Vegetarian Peppers and Rice Casserole

Note to self: This tastes good! (I realized that for some reason, looking at pictures of or even smelling rice and tomatoes/tomato sauce together turns my stomach, but this really does taste good--and it smells great once it's cooked!)

source: https://herrecipebox.com/vegetarian-stuffed-pepper-casserole-recipe/

Ingredients
For the Casserole Base:
Bell Peppers: 2 large, multi-colored , cored and chopped into 1-inch pieces
Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons, extra virgin
Yellow Onion: 1 large, chopped
Garlic: 4 cloves, minced
Long-Grain White Rice: 1 cup, uncooked
Black Beans: 1 (15-ounce) can, rinsed and drained (I used pinto because I was out of black)
Diced Tomatoes: 1 (15-ounce) can, undrained
Tomato Sauce: 1 (8-ounce) can
Vegetable Broth: 1 ½ cups, low-sodium (I used beef broth and water, because I had beef broth to use up)
Chili Powder: 1 tablespoon
Cumin: 2 teaspoons, ground
Smoked Paprika: 1 teaspoon
Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon, or to taste
Black Pepper: ½ teaspoon, freshly ground

For the Cheesy Topping:
Shredded Cheese: 2 cups, a blend of Monterey Jack and sharp cheddar works well

For Garnish (Optional):
Fresh Cilantro: ¼ cup, chopped
Sour Cream or Greek Yogurt

For serving:
Avocado: Sliced or diced

Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish or a large, deep cast-iron skillet with olive oil or cooking spray.

 
2. In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chopped yellow onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes, until it becomes soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to let it burn. Add the chopped bell peppers to the skillet. Continue to cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the peppers to soften slightly but still retain a bit of their crispness, as they will continue to cook in the oven.

 
3. To the skillet with the peppers and onions, add the uncooked rice, rinsed black beans, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together for about one minute. This step is crucial as it “toasts” the rice and spices, waking up their flavors and allowing them to coat every ingredient evenly.

 
4. Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and vegetable broth. Stir thoroughly to combine, ensuring the rice is fully submerged in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

 
5. Once the mixture is simmering, carefully transfer the entire contents of the skillet into your prepared 9×13 inch baking dish. If you used a large, oven-safe skillet (like a cast-iron skillet), you can skip this step and bake it directly in the same pan. Spread the mixture into an even layer.

 
6. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. This traps the steam, which is essential for cooking the rice properly. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. At this point, the rice should be tender and should have absorbed most of the liquid.

 
7. Carefully remove the foil from the baking dish. Sprinkle the 2 cups of shredded cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. (I actually mixed some in, to get the cheese all through the casserole, not just on top.) Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted, bubbly, and just beginning to turn golden brown on the edges.

 
8. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest on a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes. This is a critical step! It allows the casserole to set, making it easier to serve and allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully. After resting, garnish generously with fresh cilantro and serve hot with your favorite toppings.

Chicken Enchiladas (2 versions)

 White Chicken Enchiladas

1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup flour
1-1/2 cups milk
8 oz shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked, shredded or cubed
1-2 cups shredded zucchini
1/2 cup salsa

8 flour tortillas (6 inch)

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Whisk dressing and flour in medium saucepan until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened. Add 1 cup cheese; cook until melted, stirring constantly. Reserve 1 cup sauce.
Add chicken, salsa and parsley to remaining sauce; scoop 1/4 cup down center of each tortilla. Roll up. Place, seam-sides down, in 13x9-inch baking dishes sprayed with cooking spray; top with reserved sauce and remaining cheese.
Bake 25 min. or until heated through.

Results: I thought they were kinda bland. So, I adjusted the recipe to have double the amount of salsa that I used originally and I'll add some seasonings next time. (The next time I made them, I left the salsa the same, but I added a small can of red enchilada sauce. GOOD!)

Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chili Sour Cream Sauce

10 tortillas
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan
Mix chicken and 1 cup cheese. Roll up in tortillas and place in pan.
In a sauce pan, melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add broth and whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
Stir in sour cream and chilies. Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream.
Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.
Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 min to brown the cheese.

White Chicken Enchiladas

source: https://www.alyonascooking.com/white-chicken-enchiladas-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-8281 

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 23 mins
Total: 33 mins

Ingredients:
10 8-inch flour tortillas
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 cups Colby & Monterey jack cheese shredded
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 4oz can of diced green chilies

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan or any baking dish.
Mix the chicken and 1 cup of cheese. Roll up tortillas and place into the prepared pan.
In a saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
Stir in sour cream and chilies. Do not bring to boil. You don't want curdled sour cream.
Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 min then under high broil for three more minutes to brown the cheese.

**This is the recipe as it was written. I personally think the filling is a bit dry; next time I might try mixing some of the sauce with the chicken and cheese to see if that makes it less dry. (I like the taste of these a lot; I just want to experiment with the texture a bit.)

Mini Sheet Pan Tostadas

Mini Sheet Pan Tostadas

Source: https://wholesomemadeeasy.com/mini-chicken-sheet-pan-tostadas/#wprm-recipe-container-4263

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 tostadas

Ingredients
12 street taco size corn tortillas, approximately 4-inch
3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil, or as needed
16 ounce can traditional refried beans, I used just shy of 1 can
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast meat
2 cups shredded cheese, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack

For Garnish
⅓ cup sour cream, or as needed
¼ cup finely diced red onion, or as needed
¼ cup chopped or torn cilantro leaves, or as needed
6 cherry or grape tomatoes, chopped into small pieces

Instructions
Line a large baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Brush both sides of the tortillas with oil and place on the prepared cookie sheet) they’ll be very close together but will shrink slightly after first bake). Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, or until firmed up but not overly browned or crisp (they’ll crisp up a bit as they rest and during 2nd bake).
Remove the baking sheet and let the tortillas rest for about 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
Flip the tortillas over and spread each one with refried beans and top with chicken and cheese. Return the tostadas to the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 6 minutes or until the beans and chicken are heated through and the cheese is melted.
Top each mini tostada with a small dollop (about 1+ teaspoon) of sour cream, a little diced onion, 2 pieces of cherry tomato (stuck in sour cream), and a little cilantro. Serve with the hot sauce.

Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas

 Creamy White Chicken Enchiladas

source: https://allourway.com/chicken-enchiladas/

Ingredients

White Enchilada Sauce:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup flour
3 cups chicken broth
4 ounces can diced green chilies
1 cup sour cream
½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Filling:
2 cups cooked chicken breasts shredded
6 ounces cream cheese softened
½ cup sour cream
4 ounces can diced green chilies
1 teaspoon cumin
1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
10 tortillas 8-inch
Topping:
2 cups Monterey Jack cheese
chopped cilantro for garnish

Instructions

To Make White Enchilada Sauce:
In a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat, add the butter and melt. Whisk in the flour and create a roux.
Slowly add in chicken broth and whisk. Add in the diced green chilis, sour cream, and Monterey Jack cheese. Whisk until it starts to thicken and remove from heat.

To Make the Filling:
In a medium-sized bowl combine the chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, green chilies, cumin, and Monterey cheese.

To Assemble Enchiladas:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch dish with cooking spray. Lay a tortilla on a flat surface.
Divide the filling evenly and roll the tortilla up and put it in the baking dish. Continue until you have used all of the tortillas.
Pour the sauce on top of the tortillas and sprinkle with cheese.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly.
Garnish with cilantro if desired.


NOTES: The enchiladas can be frozen (before being cooked) for up to 3 months. Cover them with a double layer of plastic wrap to protect against freezer burn, and make sure the sauce is completely cool before wrapping. When you're ready to cook the enchiladas, let them come to room temperature before cooking as per the original directions.

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

 

Slow Cooker Potato Soup

32 oz chicken broth
5 cups diced peeled russet potatoes (about 5 medium)
1.5 cups onions, chopped

Optional add-ins: 2 cups banana squash, ham, cheese
Optional topping: green onions

Put the broth, potatoes, and onions in slow cooker on low for 8 hours. (If using raw ham or raw squash, add those, too. Otherwise, add them just before blending.) Blend with immersion blender.

Slow Cooker Potato Soup (version 2)

Prep Time: 15 minis
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours, 15 mins

Ingredients
3 lbs gold potatoes peeled and chopped
10 slices cooked bacon broken into pieces
1 large onion diced
6 cloves garlic minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon dried parsley or 3 tablespoon fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
3 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 ⅓ cups sour cream
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
green onions for serving

Directions
Put the diced potatoes, bacon pieces, onions, garlic cloves, chicken broth, parsley, salt, garlic salt and pepper into the slow cooker. Reserve a bit of bacon for serving. Set to HIGH for 4 hours.
When the 4 hours is complete, mash the potatoes until you reach your desired consistency. Alternatively, use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth.
Stir in the sour cream and yogurt, mixing until well blended into the soup. Add shredded cheddar cheese and stir until melted and the broth is smooth.
Taste and season with more salt and pepper if desired. Serve topped with cheddar, green onions or chives, and bacon bits.

Spicy Sausage Pasta

Spicy Sausage Pasta

  Source:https://www.kevinandamanda.com/spicy-sausage-pasta/

Prep Time: 10 minutes 

Cook Time: 20 minutes 

Total Time: 30 minutes 

Yield: 4 servings 

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb smoked sausage
1.5 cups diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 tsps minced garlic)

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 (10 oz) can Ro-Tel tomatoes and green chiles, Mild
1/2 cup heavy cream
8 oz penne pasta
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper   
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions 

Instructions
Add olive oil to an oven-safe skillet over medium high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and onions and cook until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broth, tomatoes, cream, pasta, salt and pepper and stir. Bring to a boil, cover skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until pasta is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/2 cup cheese. Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle with scallions. Broil until cheese is melted, spotty brown, and bubbly.