ET Recipe of the Month: Easy School Day Meals

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Resisting the weeknight urge to call for takeout or order delivery starts with an approachable at-home menu with recipes you can prep in an instant. Especially during back-to-school season when schedules are jam-packed with activities, easy meals you can rely on allow you and your loved ones to ease tension in the kitchen.

Simplicity is the key to putting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less, and these Taco Salad and Taco Mac and Cheese recipes offer mealtime solutions that make cooking duty a breeze. Find more recipe ideas to simplify hectic back-to-school schedules at Culinary.net.

Taco Salad

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”. Total time: 30 minutes. Servings: 6

YOU WILL NEED :


  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans
  • 1 can (15 ounces) corn
  • 2 cans (14 ounces each) diced tomatoes with chilies
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half or milk
  • 2 tablespoons onion powder
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons mesquite seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • salt, to taste
  • 1 lime, juice only
  • 1 cup chopped cilantro
  • Romaine lettuce
  • 2-3 cups shredded cheese
  • 1 tub (16 ounces) sour cream
  • Crushed tortilla chips

HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT :

In pan over medium heat, brown beef until cooked through; drain. Add black beans and corn. Stir in tomatoes with juices and half-and-half. Add onion powder, garlic powder, mesquite seasoning and pepper. Season with salt, to taste. Bring to simmer.

Add lime juice; stir. Sprinkle with cilantro. Wash and chop lettuce. Place cheese and sour cream in bowls for toppings.

On plates, top crushed tortilla chips with meat sauce, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, as desired.

#17138.   Source: Family Features

Taco Mac & Cheese

YOU WILL NEED :


  • 1 box macaroni and cheese
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • 1 Red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 Yellow bell pepper, diced
  • 1 Orange bell pepper, diced
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • 2 teaspoons taco seasoning

HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT :

Prepare boxed mac and cheese with milk and butter according to package instructions.

In skillet, brown ground turkey over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Add taco seasoning. Stir turkey mixture with mac and cheese to combine.