How to Make 7 Quick and Easy Meals

In today's society with work, family and all of one's other social obligations it is difficult finding the time to prepare meals at home. Often we resort to take out and prepackaged meals to fill our needs and that can become expensive and can be unhealthy. Over time I have come up with several meal options that are prepared easily and are inexpensive so they don't put a pinch on your wallet. These meal plans all taste great and are derived from meals we all love, I have just devised ways of making them that save time.

The first meal is one my family loves and is always a guest favorite as well.

Chicken Parm Sandwiches:

To make this meal you will need the following ingredients:

Pre-cooked Breaded Chicken Patties

Kaiser Rolls

Marinara Sauce

Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

This one is real simple, you cook the breaded chicken patties according to package directions. During the last five minutes of cook time you take them out of the oven, add the sauce and sprinkle each piece of chicken with some shredded cheese. Return them to the oven and let them cook until the cheese is completely melted and starting to bubble. After you have removed them from the oven, let them sit for about five minutes, this way you avoid the cheese sliding off when placing them each on their rolls. To finish, place each piece of chicken on a roll and serve. I usually serve this with French Fries because you can place the baking sheets for both items side by side in the oven and they both have about the same cook time and temperature.

This next meal I got the idea for while dinning out, it's really good and a bit different then some of the others.

Cheesy Mexican Cheddar Chicken:

To make this meal you will need the following ingredients:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese

Mesquite Flavored Barbecue Sauce

To begin making this dish, you will start by trimming any fat from each piece of chicken and then placing them in a glass baking dish. Lightly coat each piece with the Barbecue sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the chicken is done. Remove from oven, and coat each piece with barbecue sauce again. Sprinkle each piece with Shredded cheese and place back in the oven for 10 minutes or until cheese has melted. I serve this dish with Spanish rice and a vegetable.

This next recipe, is by far one of the easiest and everyone loves it which makes it even better.

Chicken Quesdillas:

To make this dish you will need the following ingredients:

Tyson Fajita or Southwest Chicken Strips

Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese

Whole Wheat Tortilla

Salsa

Sour Cream

Preheat oven to 425 degrees, place one tortilla on baking sheet sprinkle small amount of cheese, spread some chicken out over entire area of tortilla. Sprinkle additional layer of cheese over chicken and place second tortilla on top. Bake in oven for 10 minutes, cut in triangles and serve with salsa or sour cream for dipping. I serve this with a bagged Garden Salad.

The kids really love this next recipe, so this is one I make often.

Pizza Turnovers:

To make this dish you will need the following ingredients:

Pillsbury Pizza Dough

Pizza Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

Cooking Spray

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Take dough out of can and roll out flat on floured surface. Split dough in two halves and separate. Spread sauce then cheese on each half, fold each half and pinch ends together so pouches are sealed. Bake in oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. These are great by themselves or with French Fries or a bagged Garden Salad.

This is one my Mom always made and I still love it!

Beef Cubes and Gravy:

To make this dish you will need the following ingredients:

1 lb Beef Cubes cut for stew

2 Cans Brown Gravy

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Brown Beef cubes in frying pan over medium heat until cooked through. Prepare mashed Potatoes in Microwave according to directions. After Beef cubes are cooked completely through add gravy and reduce heat to low setting. When gravy starts to bubble, serve meat and gravy over mashed potatoes. I serve peas with this meal, but most vegetables go well.

This is another dish from my childhood, my dad used to make this for us instead of Stuffed Peppers.

Peppers and Rice:

To make this dish you will need the following ingredients

1 lb Ground Beef

2 Green Peppers

Instant Rice ( about 1 cup )

1 regular size jar of Spaghetti Sauce

Dice green pepper and cook in microwave for 2 minutes on high or until soft. Brown ground beef over medium heat in large skillet. While browning meat prepare instant rice per package directions in microwave. Combine pepper, rice, ground beef and spaghetti sauce in skillet in let simmer for 10 minutes or until sauce bubbles. Serve with Garlic bread or a Baguette.

This is always a party favorite, but sometimes I make this one on an average night because my daughter loves it.

Pepperoni Bread:

To make this dish you will need the following ingredients:

Pillsbury Pizza Dough

1/2 lb of Pepperoni

Cooking Spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and lightly coat baking sheet with cooking spray. Roll out pizza dough flat on floured surface. Sprinkle dough with layer of cheese, and make three rows of pepperoni horizontally and vertically. Sprinkle with cheese again and make one more layer of pepperoni. Roll dough into a loaf, fold the ends of the loaf together and pinch ends closed. Bake loaf in oven for 20 -25 minutes or until loaf is golden brown in color. Slice loaf and serve. I usually serve this with a bagged Garden Salad.

As you can see I didn't give exact ingredient amounts on all the dishes. How much you would need for each dish is purely based on the amount of individuals you would be feeding, because most of these dishes are based on individual servings. All of these dishes are inexpensive to make and are dishes that I have been making and enjoying for a long time. Cooking quick easy meals that my family enjoys has always been my goal, that way I spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying life.