Cooking in the Midwest

Full week of dinners for my family of 4 1/2! Let me know which recipes you want to see first! #dinner #dinnerideas #mealideas #easydinners #easyrecipes

This Parmesan Garlic Chicken and Veggies is an easy sheet pan recipe my family loves! INGREDIENTS 1 lb chicken tenders Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic sauce 1 pack kielbasa Small head of broccoli, chopped 24 oz baby potatoes Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika Oil or spray beef tallow Parmesan cheese INSTRUCTIONS Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray. Wash the baby potatoes and boil a pot of water. Add the potatoes to the boiling water. Boil for about 8 minutes or until the potatoes are almost fork tender. Drain potatoes. Add the chicken tenders, kielbasa, broccoli, and boiled potatoes to the sheet pan and spray the chicken and veggies with a little bit more of the Beef Tallow Spray or spray olive oil. Season well with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Brush some Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic sauce over the chicken and put the sheet pan back in the oven. Broil for just a few minutes. Top everything with some shredded Parmesan cheese. Enjoy! #easyrecipes #easyfood #sheetpanrecipes #sheetpanmeal #dinner #mealideas

Chicken Bacon Ranch Alfredo Pasta Bake is an easy dinner recipe the whole family likes! INGREDIENTS 1 lb of Cellentani Pasta 1 lb cooked chicken, chopped or shredded 15 oz jar of Alfredo Sauce 1 Ranch seasoning packet 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese 1 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese 6 pieces of cooked and crumbled bacon INSTRUCTIONS Cook at least 6 pieces of bacon and chop into small pieces. Boil one pound of pasta according to the directions on the package. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. Pour the cooked pasta into the bottom of the baking dish. Add 1 lb of cooked chicken, one jar of Alfredo sauce, and a ranch seasoning packet. Add some of the mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and some of the bacon and stir everything together well. Top with a little bit more cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, and crumbled bacon. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes. Serve and enjoy! #easyrecipes #dinner #pasta #chickenalfredo

#sponsored Jalapeño Popper Chicken Tacos are easy to make and perfect for Summer! These tacos aren’t complete without Dean’s Jalapeño Popper Dip! @Dean’s Dip INGREDIENTS 6 pieces of bacon 1 lb chicken breast, cut into cubes Oil 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper 1 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika 2-3 jalapeños, sliced White corn tortillas Shredded cheddar cheese Dean’s Jalapeño Popper Dip INSTRUCTIONS Cut 1 lb of chicken breast into small cubes. Heat a griddle over medium-high heat. Add the bacon to one side of the griddle. Once the bacon is fully cooked remove it from the griddle and set aside on some paper towels to drain the grease. Add the chicken to the other side of the griddle with some oil. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Stir well. Add the sliced jalapeños to the griddle. Stir them into the cooked chicken. Add more oil to the griddle and lay out the corn tortillas. Flip the tortillas over once browned. Add shredded cheddar cheese, the chicken, and jalapeños. Fold tacos over and cook them on both sides until golden brown. Top the tacos with Dean’s Jalapeño Popper Dip and crumbled bacon. Enjoy! #easyrecipes #griddlerecipes #tacos #jalapenopopperdip #chickentacos

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Apple Dump Cake is an easy and delicious dessert! INGREDIENTS 3 (21 oz) cans of apple pie filling 1 box Cinnamon Toast Crunch Coffee Cake Mix 1 stick of butter thinly sliced INSTRUCTIONS Pour pie filling into a 12 inch cast iron skillet. Pour cake mix on top of the apple pie filling. Spread the cake mix out over the filling but don’t stir it together. Top with Cinnamon mixture that comes with the cake mix. Place butter on top. Smoke on the smoker at 350 degrees F for about an hour. If you don’t want to smoke it, it can be baked in an oven at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy! #easydessert #dessert #easyrecipes #applecrisp #dumpcake #smokerrecipes #recipe

Animal Style Cheeseburger Burritos are easy to make and won’t disappoint! INGREDIENTS 1 onion, chopped 2 tbsp butter Mustard 1 lb ground beef (4 patties) McCormick Hamburger Seasoning Burrito size tortillas Crinkle cut fries American Cheese SAUCE 1/2 cup mayo 1/4 cup ketchup 1 tbsp mustard 2 tbsp sweet relish 1 tbsp vinegar 1/4 tsp garlic powder and smoked paprika INSTRUCTIONS Make the homemade animal style sauce by combining ketchup, mayo, mustard, sweet relish, vinegar, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Once the sauce is made store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to build the burritos! Cook the bag of fries in an air fryer or oven following the directions on the package. Heat a griddle over medium high heat and add the chopped onions to the griddle with butter. Stir well. Next, add the burger patties to the griddle. Use a burger smasher to smash the burgers into the griddle. Cover the patties in yellow mustard and season with Hamburger seasoning. Once a nice crust has formed flip the burgers over and let finish cooking. Chop the burgers into smaller pieces. Lay out a large burrito size tortilla. Add the homemade sauce, a handful of crispy fries, a slice of American cheese, the cooked burger, grilled onions, another slice of cheese, and more of the homemade sauce. Carefully roll up the burrito and place on the griddle seam side down. Cook on medium heat until both sides are golden brown. Enjoy! #easyrecipes #griddlerecipes #burrito #cheeseburger #animalstyle

Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are an easy dinner recipe! INGREDIENTS 1 lb chicken breasts 1 chopped red onion 1 tsp each of salt, pepper, paprika 1 tbsp ranch dressing seasoning 1 tbsp minced garlic 1 tbsp white vinegar BBQ Sauce (I used Buffalo Wild Wing’s Honey BBQ) Buns/hoagie rolls Colby Jack cheese slices Bacon INSTRUCTIONS Spray a crockpot with cooking spray. Chop a red onion. Add the chicken, onion, minced garlic, vinegar, and all of the seasonings to a crockpot. Add some BBQ sauce on top. I don't use exact measurements for this part. I usually just do enough to cover the chicken, but you can really use as much as you'd like. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Shred the chicken, stir well, and add a little bit more BBQ sauce if needed. Toast the buns/hoagie rolls in a skillet over medium heat. Build sandwiches with the bbq chicken, bacon, and cheese. Enjoy! Let me know if you try it out! #crockpot #bbqchicken #dinner #recipe #mealideas #easydinner #sandwiches

Cheesy Italian Sausage & Rice is an easy one pan meal that can be made in about 30 minutes! INGREDIENTS 1 lb of mild Italian sausage 1/2 tsp pepper 1 tsp each paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes* 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp minced garlic 10 oz can of diced tomatoes (not drained) 8 oz can of tomato sauce 1 1/2 cups of beef broth OR chicken broth 1 cup of long grain white rice (uncooked & rinsed) 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese Parmesan cheese Dried parsley INSTRUCTIONS Brown 1 lb of Italian sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and season with pepper, paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Let that cook until sausage is cooked through and onions have softened. Drain any extra grease from the skillet. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, minced garlic, broth, and the uncooked (rinsed) rice to the skillet. Stir well, cover with a lid, and cook on medium-low heat for about 18-20 minutes or until rice is cooked (I stirred it once about half way through). Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and let it melt or pop it in the oven on broil. Top with Parmesan cheese and dried parsley. Enjoy! *Between the Italian sausage and red pepper flakes this was spicy! Omit the red pepper flakes if you don’t want a kick of heat. #easyrecipes #onepanmeals #dinnerideas #italiansausage

Parmesan Garlic Chicken with Tortellini and Veggies made on the griddle! INGREDIENTS 2 Zucchini, chopped 1 Red onion, sliced 1 heaping cup cherry tomatoes Pepperoncinis, chopped Salt, pepper, garlic powder 19 oz bag frozen cheese tortellini Italian dressing Parmesan cheese 1 lb chicken breast Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic 1 1/2 cups Italian style breadcrumbs 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese Dried parsley INSTRUCTIONS For the veggies and tortellini, add all of the veggies to the griddle and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir and cook until the vegetables are cooked. Add the bag of frozen tortellini with a little bit of water. Cover with a large griddle dome for a few minutes, or until the tortellini are tender. Once the tortellini and veggies are cooked, pour some Italian dressing over them and stir well. Top with Parmesan cheese. Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make them thinner. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Add them to a bowl and cover in Buffalo Wild Wings Parmesan Garlic Sauce. Stir until the chicken is well coated in sauce. Next, in a separate bowl or container combine the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Dredge the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture making sure both sides are well breaded. Heat a griddle over medium heat. Add some oil to the griddle and carefully lay the breaded chicken in the oil. Cook until golden brown and flip to cook the other side. Cook until both sides are golden brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. Once the chicken is fully cooked, you can lay the chicken out on paper towels to drain any extra grease. I like to top the chicken with some Parmesan cheese and dried parsley! Enjoy! *The pepperoncinis made the tortellini and veggies spicy! Use banana peppers instead, or completely omit them if you don’t want any spice! #griddlerecipes #parmesangarlic #chicken #easyrecipes #dinner

#sponsored Making a super easy sheet pan meal from Aldi using @Subway Sweet Onion Teriyaki sauce! INGREDIENTS Teriyaki pork tenderloin 1 head of broccoli, chopped 1 onion, chopped 3 green bell peppers, chopped Olive oil Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika 1 small pineapple, chopped Subway’s Sweet Onion Teriyaki sauce 2-3 green onions, chopped INSTRUCTIONS Start by chopping the broccoli, onions, peppers, and a pineapple into chunks. Add all veggies to a sheet pan. Add some olive oil and season well with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Add the chunks of pineapple and stir everything together well. Add the pork tenderloin to the middle of the sheet pan. Smoke on a smoker at 375 degrees F for about 45 minutes or until the veggies are cooked how you like them and the pork tenderloin temps at 145 degrees F. Pour Subway’s Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce over the pork tenderloin and place it back on the smoker for just a couple of minutes for the sauce to tack up. Slice the pork tenderloin into thin slices and serve with the veggies and pineapple over white rice. Top with chopped green onions and more of Subway’s Sweet Onion Teriyaki Sauce. Enjoy! OVEN DIRECTIONS This sheet pan meal can bake in an oven at 375 degrees F for about 45 minutes or until the pork tenderloin reaches an internal temp of at least 145 degrees F and the veggies are cooked how you like them! Cooking times can vary depending on how big the pork tenderloin is. Mine was just over 1 lb! #subway #subwaysauce #easyrecipes #sheetpanmeal #smokerrecipes

#sponsored Jalapeño Popper Pasta Salad is an easy and delicious side dish for all of the Summer get-togethers! @Land O’Lakes INGREDIENTS 16 oz cooked pasta, any shape 1 cup mayo 1 ranch seasoning packet 1/3 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped 1 tbsp of the juice from the jar of jalapeños 8 oz bag Land O Lakes® Sharp White and Medium Cheddar Cheese Cubes 8 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 fresh jalapeño, sliced INSTRUCTIONS Boil 16 oz of pasta according to the directions on the box. Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water, and let cool completely. In a large bowl, combine mayo, a ranch seasoning packet, chopped pickled jalapeños, and 1 tbsp of the juice from the jar of jalapeños. Stir everything together well. Add the cooked pasta, Land O Lakes® Sharp White and Medium Cheddar Cheese Cubes, and most of the bacon to the bowl. I like to save some bacon and a few cheese cubes for the top of the pasta salad. Stir well and top the pasta salad with more bacon, a few cheese cubes, and some sliced fresh jalapeños. Enjoy! I like this best served right away, but you can chill it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to one hour before serving. #easyrecipes #pastasalad #jalapenopopper #easysides #summerrecipes

Crockpot Swedish Meatballs are a great weeknight dinner! Recipe 1 bag of frozen meatballs 10 oz can cream of mushroom soup 2 cups of beef broth 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp Steak Sauce 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper 1 tsp each of parsley flakes and onion powder 1 tbsp of minced garlic 1 onion, chopped 1/2 cup of sour cream 12 oz bag egg noddles Steps Add one bag of frozen meatballs to a crockpot. Next, add cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Steak sauce, and Dijon mustard. Season everything with salt, pepper, parsley, onion powder, and minced garlic in a slow cooker. Add a small chopped onion and stir everything together well. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. After 4-6 hours boil 12 oz of egg noddles according to the directions on the package. Add sour cream and 12 oz of cooked egg noodles to the crockpot and stir well. Top with dried parsley. Enjoy!! #easyrecipes #crockpot #meatballs #crockpotrecipe #swedishmeatballs

Cheesy Fiesta Taco Rice is an easy one pan dinner! INGREDIENTS 1 lb of ground beef 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper 2 tsp chili powder 1 tsp each of cumin and dried cilantro 1 onion, chopped 1 tbsp minced garlic 10 oz can of Rotel, not drained 8 oz can of tomato sauce 10 oz can of corn, drained 10 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed 1 1/2 cups of chicken OR beef broth 1 cup of long grain white rice, uncooked & rinsed 2 cups of shredded Colby Jack cheese Sour cream Cilantro Pico de gallo Taco sauce INSTRUCTIONS. Brown 1 lb of ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, add all seasonings, and the onion. Let that cook until beef is cooked through and onions have softened. Drain any grease from the skillet. Add the minced garlic, Rotel, tomato sauce, black beans, corn, broth, and uncooked rice to the skillet. Stir well, cover with a lid, and cook on medium-low heat for about 15-20 minutes or until rice is cooked (I stirred it once about half way through). Stir in half the shredded colby Jack cheese and top with the rest of the cheese. Let it melt or pop in the oven on broil. Serve and top with sour cream, taco sauce, cilantro, and fresh pico & tortilla chips. Enjoy! #easyrecipes #skilletmeal #easydinner #tacorice