In the past two weeks, I have found myself at the emergency room with the boys three different times. This is especially amazing to me because I had never been to the ER in six years of parenthood until now. The kids are thankfully both fine, although The Tall One is now nursing a broken bone. All this to say, I have been extra weary lately, but weariness doesn’t make me any less hungry for delicious dinners! This week I bring you mostly casseroles and one-dish meals with easy sides, just what the doctor ordered when you want a comforting meal without a lot of work.
(Please note that most of the casseroles come together quickly but have a 45-60-minute bake time, so plan accordingly.)
- Breakfast for Dinner Casserole with Fruit Salad – This casserole can be made up to 24 hours ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake. For fruit salad, just dice up your favorite fruits (stir in a small handful of mini marshmallows if you want to keep it klassy). I suggest apple, strawberries, and bananas.
- “Good” Sausage Pasta – This is called the “good” sausage pasta at our house for a reason. It is amazingly flavorful for being so simple, plus it’s very healthy. Great leftover if it isn’t all devoured.
- Thai Salmon Salad – Are you looking to impress your family with an elegant dinner but not work very hard doing so? Look no further than this tasty salad. Goes great with No-Knead Bread of course!
- Chicken and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole – There’s even a casserole just right for Fiesta Night. This recipe is great as written, although I would suggest mixing the sour cream into the chicken and bean mixture. To suit your taste, you can substitute reduced fat cheese and sour cream, use dried cilantro instead of fresh, or use green enchilada sauce instead of red. I serve on a bed of finely shredded cabbage. Perfect with Weary Chef’s Margaritas if you are so inclined.
- Simple Shrimp Boil – In our family, celebrating birthdays means eating shrimp. Nothing says a party like stuffing yourself with shellfish and carbs. You don’t have to wait for a birthday to enjoy shrimp at your house, but this meal is probably better suited for a weekend dinner than a busy weeknight.
- Chicken Stroganoff – Giving this a little attention during the cooking process gives an even better result, but if you need to set it and forget it, it will still turn out great. This time I made my own Zesty Italian Dressing Mix with great results. Serve with a side salad.
- Chicken and Dressing Casserole – Sometimes I get a craving for turkey and dressing, and I wanted an easy way to get my fix. Serve with Roasted Brussels Sprouts (bake them at the same time and temperature as the casserole). Cranberry sauce on the side is optional.
There you have it. Now it’s time to go shopping, and here’s your list, all ready to go in doc and pdf formats.
