Being a teacher, mama, and wife means back to school is the busiest season of life. Between setting up a classroom, getting ready for a new bunch of kiddos, and spending quality time with my family, I don’t have much extra time to plan out our weeknight eats. Here are some of our “go-to” weeknight recipes that hit the spot…and usually, make enough for leftovers (hello lunch taken care of too!).
Mom’s Chili Con Carne
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
1 sweet onion diced
6 cloves of garlic crushed
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can great northern white beans
4 (more if you like some kick) tablespoons chili powder
Directions:
- Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant (about 2 minutes)
- Add in ground beef or ground turkey. Cook thoroughly
- Add cans of tomatoes and chili powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer. Simmer for 20-30 minutes
- Add in cans of black beans. Heat until beans heated through.
- Add salt and pepper to taste
*We like to serve this with cornbread, cheddar cheese, green onions, and sour cream on top.
Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
1 egg
2 pieces of bread, crust removed
¼ cup milk
½ cup Italian breadcrumbs
½ cup parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Soak two pieces of bread in milk
- Mix ground turkey, egg, soaked bread, breadcrumbs, cheese, Italian seasoning by hand in large bowl
- Form meatballs into golf ball size
- Put meatballs onto a greased cookie sheet
- Cook for 15 minutes. Flip. Cook for about 10 or until cooked through
*We serve with pasta and sauce or spaghetti squash and sauce
Salmon Cesar Salad
Ingredients:
1 lb Salmon
6 cloves garlic crushed
Juice from ½ lemon
2 romaine lettuce heads chopped
4 pieces of sourdough bread chopped
Olive Oil
Salt and pepper
¾ cup parmesan cheese
For the dressing:
6 cloves garlic crushed
Juice from ½ lemon
Olive Oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Put salmon in zip lock baggies with garlic cloves, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Marinate for 20 minutes.
- While salmon marinates, toss sourdough with olive oil and salt and pepper. Put on a cookie sheet, bake until crispy.
- Put salmon in the oven, bake until flaky. About 25 minutes depending on the thickness of salmon.
- While salmon bakes, make the dressing.
- For the dressing, mix all ingredients. Olive oil and lemon should be balanced.
- Toss salad, dressing, sourdough croutons, and parmesan cheese. Top with salmon.
Other quick go-to ideas:
- Stir fry: stir fry frozen veggies and protein of choice with olive oil. Serve over rice. Add soy sauce and siracha.
- Breakfast: burritos, egg and bacon, sandwiches… you get the idea.
- Grilled sandwiches and soup
- BBQ: Grill a protein, veggies, potatoes, etc.
Happy cooking! Share your favorite weeknight eats with us in the comments.
