Good and Easy Eats for Your College Kid!
Does your student love to cook? Or just tired of eating out? I've got some great recipes that are easy and delicious! Pass them along and tell them to give it a shot!
1. One-Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta: All the great chicken parmesan flavors are combined in one easy one-pot pasta dish that's ready in 30 minutes!
Ingredients 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces
1 tsp Italian seasoning 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 medium yellow onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz dried short-cut pasta (I used rigatoni)
24 oz jar of your favorite marinara sauce (I used Newman's Own)
water to fill an empty marinara sauce jar 1 cup mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup parmesan cheese salt and pepper, to taste additional dried Italian seasoning, optional fresh parsley and/or basil, minced for garnish
Instructions
To a large pot or skillet, add a drizzle of olive oil and heat over MED-HIGH heat. Add chicken, and season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Cook about 5 minutes, until chicken is most of the way cooked through. Remove to a plate.
Add onion and garlic to the pot and cook for about 2-3 minutes, until soft. Pour in marinara sauce, fill up an empty sauce jar with water and add to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a strong simmer.
Add chicken and pasta, stir, then cover and cook for 10-15 minutes, until pasta is cooked to your liking. Stir in parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese on top of the dish and cook another 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and gooey.
Sprinkle with additional Italian seasoning if desired, and garnish with parsley or basil.
2. Chicken or Steak Fajitas: A very flavorful meal that is simple to make for homemade fajitas.
Ingredients
For the chicken: 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts Salt 2 tablespoons canola, safflower, peanut, or extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion, sliced lengthwise (root to tip) into 1/4-inch strips 3 bell peppers of various colors, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
For the marinade: 2 tablespoons lime juice 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 jalapeño, seeded and minced 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
For serving: 8 to 12 flour tortillas Salsa Sliced avocado Sour cream Thinly sliced iceberg lettuce dressed lightly with salt and cider vinegar
Instructions
Cut thick chicken breasts in half horizontally
Marinate chicken
Remove the chicken from the marinade
Sear chicken on high heat: -Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large cast iron frying pan on high heat for a minute or so. As soon as the oil begins to smoke, lay the chicken breast pieces in the pan. Depending on the size of the pan, and if you have had to cut the chicken breasts, you may have to work in batches. Let the chicken cook undisturbed for 2 to 3 minutes until you have a good sear. Once seared well on one side, turn the pieces over and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until well seared on the second side. 5. Stack seared breasts, cover with foil, and let rest. Sauté peppers and onions 7. Slice the chicken and serve
3. Chicken noodle soup: Easy 30-minute homemade chicken noodle soup that is a classic and comforting meal!
Ingredients: Olive oil Carrots Celery Sweet Vidalia onion
Garlic Chicken broth
Bay leaves Fresh thyme
Dried oregano
Wide egg noodles
Instructions:
To a large pan, add the oil and heat over medium-high heat to warm
Add the carrots, celery, onion, and sauté until the vegetables begin to soften
Add the garlic and sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, and pepper, and bring to a boil.
Allow mixture to boil gently for about 5 minutes or until vegetables are fork-tender
Add the egg noodles and boil the mixture until the noodles are cooked through.
Add the chicken, parsley, and optional lemon juice and boil until the chicken is warmed through.
These are all SO easy and they taste good too! Now get to the kitchen, get to cooking and Bon Appetit!