Healthy, Easy to Follow Recipes for Busy People with Littles

Ground Beef Orzo with Tomato Cream Sauce

While I was cooking it I was like OMG this is mush what have I done. And then by the end it looked better but still wasn’t sold…. Ya’ll it was SO good. Everyone ate two helpings.

I would say I used extra garlic and Italian seasoning…and probably twice what the recipe calls for when it comes to parm and spinach.

Only negative would be having to constantly stir it so that the pasta wouldn’t stick to the bottom… hard to do during the witching hour with a 6mo and toddler.

Roasted Veggie with Feta

I used a wild fun shaped pasta… and as I am typing this realize I forgot the lemon and arugula… will be making this again in a week or so and will def remember bc I bet those two ingredients will make it even better.

I don’t think there are any leftovers so next time I will double it so we all have lunch the next day covered!!

Asian BBQ Salmon and Brussels

Healthy and light. Wish i thought ahead to add a pasta or rice cooked in bone broth to make it more filling.

Bc its fish, we personally don’t plan on leftovers so I didn’t double this recipe.

BBQ salmon weirded me out at first but its really more Asian flavored than where my head went thinking BBQ

Egg Roll in a Bowl with Creamy Chili Sauce

Okay so another meal that caught me off guard. Wish I had doubled this recipe!

Definitely should have tossed in more cabbage. I also think that crispy wontons would be a great addition to this…and rice!!! Put this over a bed of rice and it would be even better.

I didn’t add the siracha during the cooking process bc I didn’t want the pork to be spicy for Roan and then at the very end I made her bowl before mixing in the creamy chili sauce but it wasn’t even spicy so it probs would have been toddler friendly.

Hot Honey Chicken Bowl

This was a big ol miss for us. Won’t be making it again… however if you want to go for it, here is what I would do/did do.

Made my own coleslaw (thin sliced cabbage, lime, mayo and S&P) the day before and this was great.

Wish I would have just used Butcher Box frozen chicken strips bc they would get so much crispier.

Wish I would have added more siracha… it was all sweet, no kick… and I don’t think the mayo mix they say to make is necessary so I would omit that.

I also got sweet relish instead of pickles and it mixed in nicely.

Fully Loaded Burger Bowl with Special Sauce

We loved this one. Was worried it wouldn't be filling without the bun but it was great. Kinda fills the burger craving when it’s not grilling season.

Light yet filling… the “special sauce” is basically a twist on thousand island dressing so if you wanted to save time you could buy that… also i bought guacamole instead of making it just to save some time.

Sheet Pan Mini Meatloaves and Veggies

Tweaked this one a lot … made garlic mashed potatoes bc I make THE BEST….Made one big meatloaf and poured half cup bone broth around it to maintain moisture. Went with cauli and broc as our veggies… SO GOOD Roan loved this meal.

Smothered Lime Honey Chicken Burrito

Chicken and Smothered Black Bean Taco Recipe 

New all time favorite taco recipe … we used “pink beans” because Roan found them in the store. I don’t think he made a huge difference.

We also used tiny street taco shells and they were SO GOOD. This will be our family’s go to chicken taco recipe from here out!

If you are vegan, you could easily swap chicken for jack fruit or veggies.

Honey Ginger Asian Meatballs

Chicken Taquitos

Tex Mex InstaPot Tri Tip

Salsa Chicken Casserole

One Pot Creamy Tuscan Pesto and Artichoke Pasta

Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Pasta with Sausage

Rigatoni with Sausage, Tomatoes and Zucchini 

Creamy Chicken Orzo Skillet

In laws loved this one but it wasn’t my personal favorite… they said it would be really good with frozen peas or even shrimp added. I agree.

It was super easy to make… stir it constantly bc the orzo will stick to the bottom.

I put way more spinach in than what it calls for…

Big Mac Casserole

Sausage, Brussel Sprouts and Parmesan Pasta

Fall Veggie Sheet Pan Dinner with Maple Mustard Sauce

Chicken Pot Pie

Creamy Chicken Lemon Orzo Soup

One Pan Mediterranean Rice

1 cup rice

1 can butter beans rinsed and drained (I used canelli beans bc they were easier to find)

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 cup sliced italian olives for more (no olives for me)

1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes ecipes

1 cup chopped sundried tomatoes

2 cups chopped spinach

110oz jar marinated artichoke hearts

1/2 lemon juiced

1/2 cup coconut milk

2.5-3 cups water (I did chicken stock)

1 tsp salt

Mix all together in a casserole dish making sure the rice is covered well. Bake for 40 min or until rice is cooked at 400 F. Garnish with feta and parsley!

Coconut Curry Chicken in a Crockpot

*I made this in a Dutch Oven instead*

4-6 chicken thighs ( I did 4 breasts)

1 can coconut milk

1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz)

1 onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

3 tbsp curry powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

2 cups organic spinach (add in at the end)

Instructions: Add chicken, coconut milk, tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, and spices into the crockpot.

Cook on low for 8 hours. Add spinach 15 minutes before serving to wilt.

Mom’s Healthy Rice Paper Dumplings

Spaghetti Limone from Blanca

1/2 box of spaghetti (DeCecco or Garafalo)

1 lemon zested

2 lemons sliced into petals or cheeks

*about 4 T of butter

Hunk of Parmesan, grated or microplaned

*about half a cup of grated plus more for on top!

First get a big pot of salted water, and bring it to a boil. Then drop about half a box of spaghetti in.

In a separate saucepan melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the zest of one lemon over medium heat. Juice two of your lemon cheeks and drop them in the pan so they can infuse the butter while the pasta cooks.

Cook pasta according to directions. Before drain reserve a coffee cup of pasta water.

Add the drained pasta to the sauté pan on medium heat. And begin to stir rapidly. add your remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, the cheese, and about half of your coffee cup of pasta water (approx 2 oz). Stir until the sauce is thick and creamy. You may need to add more cheese, more butter, more pasta water to make it the right consistency. Think creamy and slick, not sticky. Then taste and season with more lemon juice, salt, pepper, and cheese.

Creamy Chicken Parmesan with Crispy Potatoes

5-6 chicken thighs

2 lbs baby potatoes

1 1/4 c chicken stock

2 tsp minced garlic

3/4 c heavy cream

1/4 c Parmesan or as much as you like to thicken sauce

1 head of broccoli

Pan fry the chicken in 1 tbs oil until golden brown and cooked through then set aside.

Boil potatoes, smash and put in oven at 400 (flip to golden both sides)

Add the stock to lift all the lovely crispy chicken bits.

Add garlic in for 90 seconds then add stock.

Add the cream and Parmesan. Mix well.

Simmer for 5 mins and grate in the broccoli

Simmer for another 5 mins