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Quick way to grow 3 Easy School Night Dinners

These three easy school night dinners are designed to be quick and simple, perfect for busy weeknights. Featuring kid-friendly options, they offer variety and convenience for the whole family.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet
  • Saucepan

Ingredients
  

Dinner 1: Cheesy Chicken & Rice

  • 2 cups Cooked chicken shredded
  • 2 cups Instant rice
  • 3 cups Chicken broth
  • 1 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
  • 0.5 cup Frozen peas

Dinner 2: Speedy Beef Tacos

  • 1 lb Ground beef
  • 1 packet Taco seasoning
  • 12 Taco shells
  • 1 cup Lettuce shredded
  • 0.5 cup Tomatoes diced
  • 0.5 cup Sour cream
  • 0.5 cup Salsa

Dinner 3: Pasta with Quick Marinara

  • 12 oz Pasta
  • 28 oz Canned crushed tomatoes
  • 2 Garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 tsp Dried basil
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions
 

Cheesy Chicken & Rice

  • In a large pot, combine chicken broth, instant rice, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in shredded chicken, frozen peas, and shredded cheddar cheese until heated through and cheese is melted.

Speedy Beef Tacos

  • Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, then drain any excess fat.
  • Stir in taco seasoning and a small amount of water according to package directions, simmering until sauce thickens.
  • Warm taco shells and set out toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa for assembly.

Pasta with Quick Marinara

  • Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain.
  • While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat; add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  • Stir in crushed tomatoes and dried basil, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10-15 minutes.
  • Toss the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce and serve topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

These recipes are designed for speed and convenience; feel free to customize with additional vegetables or spices to suit your family's taste. Make sure to have your ingredients prepped ahead of time to make these dinners even quicker!