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.

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

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 24 sliders

Ingredients
24 Hawaiian rolls
24 slices smoked or baked deli ham
6 slices sliced cheese, quartered
1 cup Mayonnaise (about 2 teaspoons per slider)
½ cup butter melted

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Cut each roll in half and spread mayonnaise on each side of the roll. Fold a slice of ham in half, then in half again and place on the roll. Top with small slice of Havarti cheese. Place top of roll back on to form sandwich.
Place rolls close together in a 13×9 baking pan until pan in completely full. More than one batch will be needed to make all 24.
Brush the melted butter generously over the tops of all the rolls. Let the rolls set until the butter has set up a bit.
For a toasted bun, bake uncovered. For softer rolls, cover pan with aluminum foil. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Rolls can be made a day ahead and stored in fridge until ready to bake.

10-Minute Egg Fried Rice

Source: https://fastflavormeals.com/quick-easy-10-minute-egg-fried-rice-an-amazing-ultimate-recipe/print/7142/

Total Time: 10 minutes Servings: 2-3 Ingredients
– 2 cups cooked white rice (preferably day-old)
– 2 large eggs
– 2 tablespoons soy sauce
– 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or sesame oil)
– 1 cup mixed vegetables (like peas, carrots, and corn)
– 2 green onions, sliced
– Salt and pepper to taste


Instructions
1. Heat the Oil: In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
2. Scramble the Eggs: Crack the eggs into the skillet. Scramble them until they are fully cooked. Remove the eggs from the skillet and set aside.
3. Stir-fry Vegetables: In the same skillet, add the mixed vegetables. Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes until they are tender.
4. Add Rice: Stir in the cooked rice, breaking up any clumps. Allow it to heat through for about 2 minutes.
5. Mix in Soy Sauce: Pour the soy sauce over the rice, stirring well to ensure it is evenly distributed.
6. Combine Everything: Add the scrambled eggs back to the skillet, along with the sliced green onions. Stir everything together, heating for another minute.
7. Season: Taste and season with salt and pepper according to preference.
8. Serve: Remove from heat and transfer to plates for serving.

Black Bean Taco Salad

Adapted from: https://peasandcrayons.com/black-bean-taco-salad/

Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

SALAD
2-3 cups chopped romaine lettuce (I used bagged salad)
1 red bell pepper
1 cup black beans (drained + rinsed if canned) (I used a full can of pinto)
1 cup corn (canned or steamed from fresh/frozen) (I used a full can of corn)
½ cup freshly diced or chopped tomatoes (I used more than this but didn't measure)
1/4-1/3 cup sliced green onion (greens and whites)
½ cup grated cheddar cheese (I added more)
¼ cup crushed tortilla chips (I didn't crush any; I just served them on the side)

CREAMY SALSA DRESSING

 ¼ cup sour cream
2 TBSP red salsa
½ tsp ground cumin
⅛ tsp salt or season to taste
½ lime (didn't have any, so I skipped it this time)

Instructions
To make the dressing, combine sour cream with salsa, cumin, and salt. Juice half a lime and whisk into the dressing. If your salsa is chunky and you'd like a more uniform dressing, simply puree using a blender or immersion blender.
For the salad, cook corn via your favorite method. You can grill or boil it right on the cobb then cut it off for this salad, or simply steam from frozen.
Chop all your veggies up super small for a little bit of goodness in every bite. Finely chop romaine lettuce, bell pepper, and tomatoes, and thinly chop/slice green onion. Combine with black beans, corn, crushed tortilla chips, and grated cheese. Toss to combine. **(I didn't mix the bagged salad in with the other ingredients so things wouldn't get soggy. I mixed the veggies and beans and added some of of the creamy dressing, but then I put the chips and salad on plates and added the veggie mix on top.) For a little dressing in every bite, toss salad in a few TBSP of dressing and mix to coat right before serving. Serve with extra toppings/dressing on the size for a custom salad. (My kids added cheese salsa and guacamole.)

Notes
Recipe yields 4 side salads or 2 large meal-sized taco salads.

Chicken Taco Salad or Burritos

Adapted from: https://butterwithasideofbread.com/fiesta-ranch-chicken-pasta-salad/)
This was the original recipe...and I didn't like it as a pasta salad. However, I did like it without the noodles as a filling for tacos.

Ingredients

3 boneless chicken breasts cooked and diced
1 packet taco seasoning mix
15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
15 oz can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
16 oz corn frozen or canned
1 cup onion chopped
1 pepper chopped (ed, orange, or yellow)
3 oz olives sliced
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
2 tomatoes chopped

Instructions
Combine all of the other ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Serve cold with tortilla chips for taco salad or warm with tortillas for burritos.