Did you know, an entire genre of meme’s exist, describing the anguish and constant turmoil of the mom’s vs dinner battle? It’s true! Planning two weeks of weeknight meals may not be the best topic at a party, but it’s definitely a conversation constantly turning in the back of a mother’s mind. This month Bibs & Business Magazine scoured the internet for the top mom-rated reviews and tastiest dinners. Mom’s, you wanted easy to prepare and super tasty meals, and we definitely delivered! These quick mom-meals are also interchangeable with a Keto diet! Check out the details below, sit back, and let us plan your next two weeks of dinners!
Try meal prepping with one night cooking, and eating leftovers the next. Another useful tool, is using the leftovers to create another meal (mashed potatoes and chicken can become Shepherd’s Pie the next evening).
Dinner #1 – Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo:
Ingredients:
- 2 Chicken Breast or 4 chicken thighs
- 1/2 c. flour (keto version: use 1/2 c. coconut or almond flour)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 TBSP Olive Oil
- 4 c. Broccoli
- 1 lb pasta
- butterfly, linguine, oriechette (keto version: use zoodles instead)
Alfredo Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 c. butter
- 2 minced cloves of garlic
- 1 pint heavy whipping cream
- 1 c. or more of Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- salt to taste
Directions:
- Add flour and all of the spices to a bowl or glass dish (easy to mix flour in).
- Heat skillet on medium heat- don’t add olive oil until pan is hot.
- Butterfly chicken breast.
- Coat the chicken in flour to make a light breaded covering (no egg needed).
- Add olive oil to skillet.
- Fry chicken on each side until golden brown and fully cooked.
- Set chicken aside once internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
- Boil water and cook pasta as indicated on box; add the broccoli the last 2-3 minutes before draining.
- Use a large skillet to start melting butter for Alfredo sauce.
- Mince garlic and add to butter, cooking slightly.
- Add heavy whipping cream, bring to a a simmer, and then add Parmesan cheese. Stir frequently until cheese melts and sauce thickens. Pour over pasta, and broccoli & serve with fresh Parmesan grated on top.
Dinner #2 – Chicken, Corn, & Avocado Salad (with Cilantro Lime Dressing):
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. chicken thighs or breasts (seasoned and baked)
- 4 ears of corn (char-grilled or boiled) (canned corn and frozen corn work just as well! Try frying in skillet for that added charred flavor)
- 1 diced English Cucumber
- 1 c. quartered cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 a small red onion diced
- 2 avocados peeled and diced
Cilantro Lime Dressing (gratitude to www.carlsbadcravings website for this delicious recipe!):
- 1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 c. chopped cilantro
- 2 TBSP chopped mint
- 2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 TBSP fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/8 tsp salt
- pepper to taste
Directions:
- Bake chicken and shred or cut into cubes.
- Cut corn off ears after char-grilling or boiling.
- Dice cucumber, onion, and quarter tomatoes.
- Add everything to a large bowl.
- Prepare dressing using a blender or food processor.
- Pour dressing over salad, toss, and serve.
Dinner #3 – Lemon Garlic Chicken (easy crock-pot meal):
Ingredients:
- 6-8 boneless chicken thighs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 stick butter
- zest of 1/2 a lemon
- Juice of whole lemon
- 1/3 c. chicken broth
Directions:
- Place chicken thighs on bottom of slow cooker.
- Add all ingredients to crock pot and give a quick toss in the ingredients (covering all pieces of chicken).
- Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on HIGH or 6-8 hours on LOW.
- Try serving over: Couscous, Jasmine Rice, Steamed Cauliflower, Zoodles (Zuccini-noodles).
Dinner #4- Asian Glazed Meatballs:
Ingredients:
- 2 lb ground turkey/chicken
- 2/3 c. panko bread crumbs (2/3 c. Almond Flour for Keto Version)
- 1 large eff
- 3 TBSP soy sauce (Low Sodium)
- 1 Jalapeno (optional; if used remove seeds & mince)
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 TBSP ginger paste or minced
Sauce for Meatballs:
- 1 c. Sweet & Sour Sauce (check out: myketokitchen.com for low-carb S&S recipe)
- 1/2 c. BBQ sauce
- 1/4 c. Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- 1 TBSP Rice Wine Vinegar
- 2 Cloves of garlic minced
- 1 TBSP Sesame Seeds (optional)
Directions:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Mix bread crumbs, egg, soy sauce, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger in a large bowl.
- Add in ground meat of choice and mix evenly until bread crumbs combine.
- Form 2-inch balls and lay on a covered baking sheet.
- Cook for 40-45 minutes (internal temp must be 165 degrees).
- Add all sauce ingredients to a large pan and bring to a boil. Turn off heat and set aside.
- Add meatballs to sauce once cooked and serve over jasmine rice with a veggie side of your choice (green beans, snow pea pods, edamame, or even broccoli.)
Dinner #5 – Shepherd’s Pie:
Ingredients:
- 3 large Russet or Idaho Potatoes (Cauli-mash if using Keto Friendly recipe)
- 2 TBS butter
- 1/2 c. milk
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 lbs ground beef, lamb, or turkey
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 cloves of garlic minced (2 cloves if you love garlic!)
- 1/2 tsp salt & pepper
- 1 TBS cornstarch
- 2.5 TBS tomato paste
- 1 c. beef broth
- 1/2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 tsp dried Oregano
- 1.5 c. frozen peas & carrots
- 1 c. shredded mild cheddar cheese
Directions:
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Make mashed potatoes with the butter and milk, adding in 1 tsp garlic powder. Season with salt to taste. Set to the side (prepare the Cauli-mash for Keto recipe), OR try 1/2 mashed potatoes & 1/2 Cauli-Mash.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground meat, and then add the diced onion & minced garlic. Cook until onion is translucent.
- Add in the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire Sauce, oregano, and salt & pepper. Let simmer slightly 5-10 minutes.
- In a small bowl add in the cornstarch and use some of the liquid from the browned meat to make a slurry (stir sauce and cornstarch for a paste-like consistency). Pour back over the meat mixture and let simmer for 3-5 mins, until sauce thickens slightly.
- Add in the frozen peas & carrots.
- In a deep baking dish, add meat to bottom of dish, then add mashed potatoes to the top. Sprinkle cheddar cheese to top of mashed potatoes and bake for 30-35 minutes until casserole is bubbling. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving, the casserole will be extremely hot!
Dinner is Done!
Dinner shouldn’t be giving mom’s a headache, but they do! It’s definitely a task to identify what the whole family will eat and plan meals around those ideas, plus, don’t forget adding enough vegetables into the mix. The five meals identified in the recipes above can easily be swapped out or tweaked for a completely different recipe. Instead of Asian Glazed Meatballs, try the same sauce, but with chicken and broccoli over rice. Maybe, make mini Shepherd’s Pie’s, and freeze them. Pop in the oven/microwave, and get dinner instantly after a long night of kids weekly sports. The possibilities for dinners are endless, and with these amazing recipes, family meals won’t be a chore!
Let us know what your “go-to” mom meals are! Do you prefer to change your recipes into Keto-friendly meals, or do you stick with the classics? We’d love to hear from you!
