Super Quick Black Bean Soup
Canned black beans, refried beans and tomatoes with green chilis transform into a quick and easy black bean soup. Customize the seasoning with whatever you’ve got on hand, like chili powder, ground cumin and oregano. Brighten it up with a squeeze of fresh lime (or vinegar). It’s delicious topped with avocado, shredded cheese or a […]
Pantry Recipe: Curried Pumpkin Bean Burgers
If you’re one to stock up on canned pumpkin during the fall months, you likely have everything on-hand to make these quick and easy weeknight veggie burgers. Be sure to use 100% canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. These burgers are warmly spiced and savory thanks to a bit of curry powder. Serve them on […]
Italian Tuna Melts with Tomato and Basil
My kids always surprise me when I serve these Italian Tuna Melts and they gobble them up, usually asking for seconds (as long as I haven’t added tomato to theirs!). This is a staple pantry recipe in our home and helps us hit that goal to eat more fish. You can also prep the tuna […]
Smokey Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
I am quick to rely on canned black beans for weeknight chili, veggie burgers, and our favorite huevos racheros hack, but thanks to the slow cooker I can also bust out a super flavorful, nearly foolproof, zero-prep-required smokey black bean soup using a pound of dried black beans, stock or water, and a handful of […]
BBQ-Style Rotisserie Chicken Flatbreads
Add this to your “things to make with leftover chicken” or “ways to use a rotisserie chicken” lists. These are total crowd (i.e. kid) pleasers and require only a handful of basic pantry and fridge staples. Naan flatbreads are the perfect weeknight alternative to wrangling pizza dough and can be frozen and quickly thawed on […]
Tuscan Tuna Sandwiches
Proven to convert even the most staunch tuna haters, these Tuscan Tuna Sandwiches are a bit more involved than the ol’ standard, but totally worth a few extra minutes. The white bean spread and tuna salad are also easily prepped ahead for easy-to-pack lunches or quick assembly-style weeknight dinners.
Trader Joe’s Recipe: Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
As if we needed another reason to eat (healthier) festival/fair/carnival food on a weeknight, this recipe requires just three ingredients from your neighborhood Trader Joe’s (or substitute your fave grocery brands, see sidebar) and 30 minutes. Save yourself the dishes and let people dig in, family-style. Round it out with a side of fresh cut […]
Pantry Recipe: Mixed Bean Tacos
If you’re facing down a near-empty fridge with a gaggle of hangry kids raiding the snack shelf, let me help. Mixed Bean Tacos are the ultimate “make somethin’ from nothin’” recipe, adaptable to whatever types of canned beans lurk in the pantry.
Trader Joe’s Recipe: Cowboy Flatbread
Make it Tex-Mex pizza night, any night of the week, with this 3-ingredient Trader Joe’s dinner hack! Cowboy Caviar may be a bit spicy for some, so feel free to swap in any other mild corn and black bean salsa.
Slow Cooker Masala Lentil Dal
A meager pantry, bare fridge, and next to no time to chop ingredients led me to create an “old faithful” slow cooker recipe that never fails me. It’s a true dump-set-and-forget sort of deal (the best kind). Prep this Slow Cooker Masala Lentil Dal in 5 minutes before work and walk in to the kind […]
Asian Salmon Patties with Teriyaki Mayo
Spiked with soy sauce, orange zest, and ginger, these Asian Salmon Patties taste like weekend party food on a weeknight time and energy budget. And speaking of budget, wild caught Alaskan canned salmon is your answer to affording this nutrition powerhouse any night of the week.
Spiced Skillet-Toasted Chickpeas
A quicker, more weeknight-friendly alternative to roasting chickpeas, these Spiced Skillet-Toasted Chickpeas come together in well under 10 minutes. Serve them atop salads or soups in place of croutons, or jazz up a bowl of rice and roasted vegetables.