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Easy Pizza Night Ideas

March 20, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Life6 Comments

Fun pizza night at home ideas!

Years ago our family started the tradition of having a monthly Friday movie and pizza night.  The first Friday of each month I make a homemade pizza and we watch a movie together as a family.  We started this tradition when my oldest was 8, and now she’s 16, but all 3 kids still look forward to our monthly movie and pizza night!  I rejoice every time that my teenagers want to spend time with me!  I usually make the pizza, but some nights I just don’t have the time or energy to make, so I have found a few alternative pizza night ideas.  

Here are two of our favorite easy, simple pizza ideas for your next pizza night.  The kids love helping me make these easy pizza night ideas.

 

French Bread Pizza

One easy pizza night idea is to make a French Bread Pizza!  This is a super quick and simple pizza alternative.

First, you need to slice a loaf of French bread in half.

Place both slices of bread on a baking sheet and cook in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes.  You do not want the bread to get golden, you just want to harden it up a bit (it tastes much better this way, promise!).

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After a few minutes in the oven, take out the French bread.  It’s now time to put all of your toppings on.

Choose your favorite toppings, we usually just use pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.  Top each slice of bread with your toppings of choice and then put your French bread pizza back into the oven.

Bake the pizza in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted.  Slice and serve!


 

Roll Pizza

Another fun and easy pizza night idea is to make pizza out of rolls!  These is a very fun hands on activity to help get kids involved in the kitchen!

I like to make roll pizza using Pillsbury Biscuits or Rhodes Freezer Rolls.  This time I used Rhodes frozen rolls.

First you will need to take the Rhodes Freezer Rolls out of the freezer three hours before you will need to eat.  Place the rolls on a baking sheet to thaw.

Once they are all thawed and had a little time to rise (about 3 hours) you are ready to make your pizzas!


 

Gently smoosh, flatten and pull each rolls to form a flat pizza dough circle.  My kids love helping with this step!

Place your pizza dough circles onto a greased pan.  Top each dough with your favorite pizza toppings, let each person choose their own toppings!  Encourage your kids to be creative!


Bake the roll pizzas in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is slightly browned.

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Your mini pizzas are all ready to eat!  Enjoy!

In Conclusion

Our family loves making pizza together, and I hope these easy pizza night ideas can help your family enjoy it too!

 

Related Articles:

Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

Easy Pasta Dinner Recipe

10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Stretch Meals

Pin These Pizza Ideas for Future Reference:

quick pizza recipes to make at home

easy homemade pizza recipes

Enjoy these Easy Pizza Night Ideas during your next family night!

How To Make Flour Tortillas

March 8, 2022 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Easy Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe

I made my kids day last week when I made homemade tortillas for dinner, instead of using store bought.  My homemade flour tortillas recipe is a family favorite around here.  It makes the perfect tortillas that are soft and delicious!

Truthfully, I don’t make homemade tortillas very often because they feel time consuming, and when we are having tacos, I want something quick and easy.  But, the days when I do take the extra 30 minutes to make these, I never ever regret it!

My dad always loved making homemade flour tortillas when I was a kid.  He’s the one that taught me how and I always think of him when I make them.  I remember him standing in the kitchen with his homemade stripped apron rolling out the dough and flipping hot tortillas over the stove.  They are such fond, happy memories and I hope my kids remember me making them too!

homemade tortilla recipe - how to make tortillas from scratch

Sweet Frugal Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

How To Make Flour Tortillas

Homemade flour tortillas are so cheap to make!  The ingredients are all staples in my pantry, so it’s nice to be able to make them homemade every now and then, rather than having to spend money at the store to buy tortillas.

To make flour tortillas you will need to first, mix the below ingredients together in a bowl:

  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder

mixing dry ingredients together

 

Next, use a pastry cutter to cut in 1/2 cup shortening.  You can use a fork if you don’t have a pastry cutter, but I personally prefer the pastry cutter!  Keep cutting until the shortening is mixed evenly throughout the dry ingredients.

cut in shortening

 

Form a well in the bowl and add 2 cups of boiling water.  Using a spoon, mix all ingredients together well.  

pouring water into dry ingredients

 

Knead the dough for 5 minutes and then separate it into 12 equally sized balls.

tortilla dough

 

Next, you will need to roll each ball into a circle until it is flat and very thin.

flour tortilla and rolling pin

 

Fry each tortilla in a hot frying pan for 1-2 minutes, or until it’s just barely beginning to brown.  Flip and fry the other side of the tortilla for 1 minute.  Be careful not to cook the tortilla to long or it will become dry and brittle.

frying flour tortilla

Keep the tortillas warm until it is time to use them.  These flour tortillas are perfect for fajitas, tacos, burritos and enchiladas.

 

Flour tortilla closeup

Flour Tortillas

How to make soft, flour tortillas at home.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 tortillas

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 cups boiling water

Instructions
 

  • In a bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder.
  • With a pastry cutter, cut in the shortening.
  • Add boiling water and mix together well.
  • Knead dough for a few minutes and then separate it into 12 equally sized balls.
  • Roll each ball out until thin and flat.
  • Fry tortilla in a hot frying pan for 1-2 minutes, until it's just starting to brown.
  • Flip over and fry the other side for 1 minute.
Keyword easy dinner recipes, easy recipes, flour tortillas, tortillas

 

Let me know if you try this recipe and how it turned out!  I hope you’ll love it as much as we do!

 

Try These Other Recipes:

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

Simple Banana Bread Recipe

Quick Waikiki Chicken Recipe

 

Pin For Future Reference:

how to make flour tortillas - homemade tortilla recipe

I hope this helped you learn how to make flour tortillas!

Easy Homemade Pizza Dough Recipe

December 19, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

You can make your own pizza with this easy homemade pizza crust recipe!

Over a decade ago we started our friday pizza and movie night tradition with our little family.  The tradition is to eat pizza and watch a movie together as a family on the first Friday of every month.  We started out watching Barbie movies and now as the kids have grown, so has our choice in movies.  However, the one thing that hasn’t changed is we still eat pizza!  Sometimes I make my own pizza using this easy homemade pizza crust recipe, and other times we order out…either way the pizza always happens!

I thought we would grow out of this tradition as the kids grew, but we didn’t.  The kids still look forward to our monthly pizza and movie night!  Today I am sharing my favorite pizza dough recipe.  I have tried many recipes, and this one is by far the best, trust me!

 

easy pizza dough recipe - how to make homemade pizza

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  • Related:  Easy Pizza Night ideas

How To Make Homemade Pizza

Homemade pizza is one of those foods that seem intimidating to make, but is actually SO easy!

First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Next, mix 2 1/4 tsp. of yeast with 1 cup warm water.  Let it sit until the mixture becomes bubbly and frothy.

Add 2 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 2 1/4 cups flour to the yeast mixture and mix well.  You might need to add a little flour.  The goal is for the dough to be slightly sticky, but also able to bounce back when you poke it.

Put your dough into a greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth.  Let it rise for 30-60 minutes or until doubled.

Once risen punch down dough and place it on a lightly floured surface.  Roll it out into a pizza shape.

Place your rolled out dough on a greased pizza pan.  I prefer to use a pizza pan similar to this one.  The holes in the bottom helps the crust to cook evenly.  If you don’t have a pizza pan you can use a cookie sheet!  It will work great!

Top your pizza with your favorite toppings.  Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

 

See how easy that was?!?!?!

Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ¼ tsp yeast
  • 1 cup warm water baby bath temp
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 ¼   cups flour

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • In mixer lightly mix water and yeast together.  Let sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
  • Add the oil, salt, and flour to the yeast mixture.  Mix well.  You may need a little less or little more flour.  You want the dough to bounce back if you poke it.  I also usually keep the dough slightly sticky.
  • Put dough into greased bowl and cover with a dishcloth.  Let rise for 30-60 minutes until doubled.  I will usually put it next to the flour or in the sun to speed up the rising process.
  • Place dough on lightly floured surface.  Roll out into a pizza shape.  (If you don’t have a pizza pan, just use a cookie sheet.  It works great!)  Place on greased pan.  Poke all over with a fork.  Cover with your favorite toppings.
  • Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is golden brown.

The fun thing about homemade pizza is all of the easy ways to customize.  My kids love pepperoni, so that’s what I make most days.  You can make it Hawaiian, cheese stuffed, thick crust, thin crust, and so on.

Encourage your kids to help with making the pizza.  They will love rolling out the dough and covering it with all the toppings!

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Don’t forget to pin this recipe for your next pizza night:

Homemade pizza dough recipe - make your own easy pizza

how to make your own pizza - easy pizza recipe

 

Easy homemade pizza dough recipe.

30 Family Friendly Meals On A Budget

June 18, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out this list of Cheap Dinners For Families.

Looking for some family friendly meals on a budget?  I have you covered in this article!

One of the best ways to save more money is to cook at home more and eat out less.  The problem though is that some of us are busy, some of us have picky eaters, and some of us don’t like to cook.

I hear your frustrations and struggles!  Which is exactly why I found you these 29 simple to cook, and cheap dinners for families.  One (or all!) of these are sure to be a new favorite in your household.

1.  Instant Pot Chicken Enchiladas

If you are looking for a comforting dinner, try these easy instant pot chicken enchiladas!  I love meals that are freezer friendly, and this recipe is just that!  Make these enchiladas and stick them in the freezer to use for later.

2.  Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Got 20 minutes, a pound of ground beef, and some broccoli on hand? You are so lucky: You have the core of this easy Ground Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry recipe all ready to go, the next time you need a quick weeknight dinner idea.

3.  Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken

Craving Chinese takeout?  Try this easy sheet pan cashew chicken recipe instead!  You only need a few ingredients to throw together this quick dinner.

pan with cashew chicken

4.  Cheap and Easy Doritos Nacho Bake

I love this Doritos Nacho Bake because it it is easy to customize for all taste preferences.  Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to whip up, which is always a huge plus in my book!

5.  Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air fryer chicken thighs are cheap and tasty, basically all of my favorite things!  I love the sweet dry rub in this recipe.  It’s so easy to make and budget friendly!

6.  Garlic Olive Oil Pasta

Check out this quick, meatless Garlic Olive Oil Pasta for an easy dinner.  You only need three ingredients for this recipe, and they are all budget friendly.  Win-Win!

7.  Easy Pasta Bake

If you’re needing a quick, kid friendly meal you must try this Easy Pasta Bake.  The prep is so ridiculously easy and my kids always devour it!

8.  American Goulash

I love one pot recipes, they just make cooking (and clean up!) so much easier!  Here is a great one pot recipe using ingredients you probably already have in your pantry!  Check out the American Goulash recipe here!

Big pot filled with cooked Goulash Recipe made with macaroni noodles, tomato sauce, and ground beef.

9.  Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Honestly, I want to try every single instant pot recipe that comes my way!  I’m all about a quick to fix meal!  Instead of buying boxed hamburger helper, just make it yourself in your instant pot with this easy Instant Pot Hamburger Helper recipe!

 

 

10.  One Pot Pasta

All you need is 15 minutes to whip up this one pot pasta.  This is the perfect frugal recipe for those busy days!

11.  Baked Chicken and Zucchini Casserole

Check out this Baked Chicken and Zucchini Casserole recipe for a low carb dinner idea.  It is both frugal and quick to fix!  This would be the perfect meal for using up some of your garden zucchini!

  • Related:  9 Easiest Vegetables To Grow In First Garden

12.  Oven Baked Pork Chops

All you need is 5 minutes to prep these Oven Baked Pork Chops.  This is a simple, budget friendly sheet pan meal that is sure to become a new family favorite!

13.  Chicken Broccoli Instant Pot Casserole

Another budget friendly instant pot recipe is this Chicken Broccoli Casserole.  It has very little prep and cooks extra fast using the Instant Pot.  

A close up of a bowl filled with cheesy chicken broccoli rice sitting in front of an Instant Pot

  • Related:  What To Do With A Costco Rotisserie Chicken

14.  Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

I’m all about celebrating Taco Tuesday, and these Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are the perfect meal to do that!  You can fix it before work and let it cook in the slow cooker.  It will be ready right on time when you get home!

15.  Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken

 Looking for a twist on the traditional pulled pork?  Try this Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken instead!  You probably already have all of the ingredients in your kitchen, plus it will only take 5 minutes to throw it all together!

16.  Easy Chili Verde

You will only need 4 ingredients to make this Easy Chili Verde recipe.  You can serve this meal in tortillas, rice or chips!  It’s so fun to customize it however you want!

17.  Mushroom Aglio Olio

This Mushroom Aglio Olio is a quick, easy and budget friendly dinner. With just six ingredients it’s on the table in twenty minutes.

18.  Easy Skillet Caprese Chicken

If you are a fan of the classic Italian Caprese salad, then you will love this Easy Skillet Caprese Chicken recipe! It has the same amazing flavors added to the top of a sautéed chicken breast. This low carb chicken dinner is a must if you need a quick week night dinner recipe.

  • Related:  Looking for even more family friendly meals on a budget?  Check out Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe ebook where easy cooking and frugal living combine!

19.  Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

Here is an easy way to make a Chicken Pot Pie.  This recipe uses frozen vegetables, which makes the prep minimal!  Feel free to make your own biscuits from scratch (I have an easy recipe in my cookbook) or use refrigerator biscuits for an even easier dinner.  The choice is yours!

20.  One Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice

Another great one dish meal is this Spanish Chicken and Rice.  This meal is so quick and easy, you’ll be eating it in just 30 minutes!

21.  Cream Cheese Pasta

This Cream Cheese Pasta recipe combines a few simple ingredients to create an easy 10-minute recipe that will keep both your budget and mouth happy!

22.  Peanut Butter Chicken

You can use your favorite peanut butter to make this peanut butter chicken recipe.  This is the perfect weeknight meal when you are craving take out!

peanut butter chicken

23.  Skillet Lasagna

This hearty skillet lasagna recipe is easy to make with Campanelle or Bowtie pasta in a skillet on the stove top! It has all of the flavor of classic lasagna, but a fraction of the work!

24.  Cheesy Chicken Burrito Bowl

Love burritos?  Try this Cheesy Chicken Burrito Bowl!  It takes less than 30 minutes to make and is both filling and delicious!

No need to visit the local Mexican restaurant - make a delicious burrito bowl recipe in your own home. So yummy and so filling!

25.  Instant Pot Beef Stew

Whip up a quick beef stew in the instant pot with this recipe.  It’s the perfect hearty meal for a cool autumn day!  I especially love that you can cook it using frozen stew meat!  You don’t even have to remember to thaw it (yay!).

26.  Crockpot Sausage and Tortellini Soup

If you’re a big fan of easy, family-friendly meals, you’ve got to try this creamy and delicious crockpot sausage and tortellini soup. With just 6 simple (and cheap!) ingredients, this is sure to become one of your favorites.

27.  Easy Cola Chicken

You will love this very simple, low prep Cola Chicken recipe.  All you need are 4 ingredients and 30 minutes of your time for a delicious dinner.

28.  Oven Baked Lemon Butter Chicken Thighs

I will try just about any recipe that contains the word lemon in the title!  It is one of my favorite ingredients!  Which is exactly the reason why I fell in love with this Oven Baked Lemon Butter Chicken Thighs recipe.  The recipe is simple to follow and produces a moist, delicious chicken!

29.  Crockpot Chicken Stroganoff

Crockpot chicken stroganoff is a fun spin on the classic stroganoff recipe. It is a family favorite as well as an easy toss and go crockpot recipe.

30.  Quick Waikiki Chicken Recipe

My mom use to make this Waikiki Chicken recipe and it was one of my favorites!  I love making it for my own kids now.  It’s the perfect budget friendly and kid friendly dinner recipe!

You Can Cook At Home!

If you are struggling cooking dinner at home try one of these easy family friendly meals on a budget.  I have found that the easier recipes I find, the more likely I am to actually cook it!

 

Related Articles:

10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

 

Pin For Later Reference:

easy dinner recipes - cheap dinners for families

budget friendly dinner ideas - easy recipes for families

I hope you love these family friendly meals on a budget!

What To Do With A Costco Rotisserie Chicken

April 21, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to get the most out of one Costco rotisserie chicken.

Have you been wondering what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken???  You are not alone!  This is a common question, one I use to have, but I have since learned a few ways to get the most out of each chicken.  I am so excited to share how I use one of their delicious chickens in three different ways!

I started shopping at Costco almost a year ago.  I was a little hesitant at first….worried that I would spend to much money, but I am now obsessed with this glorious store!  It has saved our family money on groceries and we love so many of their products.  Basically a win-win!  One of my very favorite things to buy at Costco is their rotisserie chicken.  It only costs $5, but is HUGE and delicious!  A seriously good deal!

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will be compensated for purchases made from links in this post.

There are many different meals you can make with your Costco chicken, but we have a few favorites that I make every single month.  I am so excited to share those two dinner recipes with you!  (Plus a bonus broth recipe!)

  • Need a Costco membership?  No worries you can grab one here:  Costco Membership

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #1:  Buffalo Taquitos

My husband and I are both huge buffalo chicken fans (my kids….not so much...).  But, we love to try ANYTHING that includes buffalo chicken, and these taquitos are so easy (especially when made using a rotisserie chicken) and delicious.  Two huge wins in my book!

Gather Ingredients For Buffalo Taquitos Recipe

To make these buffalo taquitos you will need:

  • Shredded Chicken (I use half of one Costco Rotisserie Chicken)
  • Buffalo Sauce (I love Franks buffalo wing sauce)
  • Shredded Cheese (I use cheddar, because I always have it at home)
  • Cream Cheese (softened)
  • Flour Tortillas

First thing you need to do is use a hand mixer to mix the softened cream cheese and buffalo sauce together.  This only takes a minute and is so easy.

Next, gently stir in the chicken and cheese.

Place about 2 tablespoons of the chicken mixture on the bottom of a flour tortilla.  Roll it up gently and tightly and then place on a greased baking sheet.

Bake taquitos in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes, or until tortillas are golden and slightly crispy.

  • Related:  The Best Deals At Costco

 

Buffalo Chicken Taquitos

A quick dinner using a rotisserie chicken.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 3 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
  • 1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1/2 rotisserie chicken shredded
  • flour tortillas

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • With hand mixer, beat together cream cheese and buffalo sauce until well mixed.
  • Stir in cheddar cheese and chicken.
  • Place 2 tablespoons of chicken mixture on bottom of tortilla.
  • Starting at bottom, slowly roll tortilla into a tight roll.
  • Place on a greased baking sheet.
  • Repeat until chicken mixture is gone.
  • Bake in oven for 15 minutes, or until tortillas are slightly crispy and golden brown.
  • Serve with ranch dressing for dipping.

 

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #2:  White Chicken Chili

My second recipe when deciding what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken is to make our favorite white chicken chili.  This is another really easy recipe that can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes, but tastes delicious!

Ingredients Needed For White Chicken Chili:

  • Onion, diced
  • Garlic, minced
  • Chicken Broth
  • Shredded Chicken (I use half of one Costco rotisserie chicken)
  • Cumin
  • Diced green chilis (canned)
  • Lime juice
  • White Beans (canned)

The first step to making this delicious white chicken chili is to sauté the onions and garlic in a small amount of oil in a large pot.  Let it cook until they are soft and translucent.

I like to use my frozen onions because it saves me from having to dice them!

Then add the rest of the ingredients into the pot.  Stir and let it simmer on stove for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve chili with tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.

White Chicken Chili

Easy chili recipe using rotisserie chicken.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins

Ingredients
  

  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 2 12 oz. cans chicken broth
  • 1/2 rotisserie chicken shredded
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 4 oz. can diced green chilis
  • 3 Tbsp lime juice
  • 2 15 oz. cans white beans

Instructions
 

  • Sauté onions and garlic in a small amount of oil in pot until soft and translucent.
  • Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 more minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Serve with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.
  • Related:  Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

 

Costco Rotisserie Chicken Recipe #3:  Chicken Broth

And, here is your bonus rotisserie chicken recipe!  I am calling it a bonus recipe because it’s not a recipe for a meal…and it’s not technically a recipe (I just kindof randomly throw ingredients in), but it is a GREAT way to stretch your Costco rotisserie chicken even further….which is what we all want, right?  Right! 

I started making my own chicken broth a few months ago and am currently obsessed!  Someone suggested it to me as a way to get more use from my rotisserie chicken, rather than throwing it away, and it’s perfect!  So, once you are done using the meat from your chicken, turn the leftovers into broth.  It’s really so simple to make and tastes much better than store bought.  Plus, if you make it using kitchen scraps it’s basically FREE!  And, we all like free!

I freeze my homemade chicken broth using these freezer containers.  And then when I make a recipe calling for chicken broth, I just pull one out of the freezer and I’m ready to go!

Ingredients Needed For Homemade Chicken Broth:

  • Rotisserie Chicken Carcass
  • Veggie Scraps, Celery, Carrots, Onions, Garlic, etc.
  • Water

Like I mentioned earlier, I really don’t use a recipe to make this broth.  I just throw it all together! 

First, place your rotisserie chicken carcass in a large stock pot.  Make sure to include any leftover skin, meat, bones, etc.  And scrap out any of the goop on the bottom.  The more flavor you can get, the better.

Next, quickly cut up your veggies.  You can even just use your hand to rip them into smaller pieces.  They don’t need to be nice and even.  I know some people save the ends of their carrots and celery for their broth, you can use those too if you want!

Add your veggies to the pot with the chicken carcass.

Fill your stock pot up with water until chicken and vegetables are covered.  You can also add a bay leaf or two if you have some. Bring water to a boil over high heat.  Once boiling, turn heat down and allow to simmer for 3-4 hours.  Stir occasionally.

After a few hours of simmering, use a fine mesh strainer to strain broth into a bowl.

Ladle the broth into freezer containers to freeze.  Frozen broth will stay good for 3 months.

Or, you can store it in a container in your fridge.  Broth will stay good in your fridge for 1 week.

 

There Are So Many Ways To Use a Costco Rotisserie Chicken

Well, there are my three ways I use one Rotisserie Chicken from Costco.  I love the feeling of getting the most out of everything that I buy.  Remember to be creative with your foods and try to not let anything go to waste!  Your budget will thank you for it!

 

Related Articles:

  • Three Easy Beef Roast Recipes
  • Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer
  • 10 Incredibly Easy Ways to Stretch Meals

 

Pin For Later:

Costco chicken recipes - rotisserie chicken recipes

rotisserie chicken recipes - what to do with a costco chicken

costco chicken recipes - busy day dinner ideas

 

I hope this article helped you decide what to do with a Costco rotisserie chicken.

Quick Waikiki Chicken Recipe

March 17, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Looking for a new easy chicken recipe to try?  You’ll love this one!

Do you ever eat a recipe and it immediately brings you back to your childhood?  Like, when the smell, taste, and look of a specific dish reminds you of something you use to eat regularly as a child?  That is what this Waikiki Chicken Recipe does for me.

This was a staple on the table when I was a child, and I love getting to make it for my own kids.  Plus, it is so easy!  Which is always a HUGE win in my book!

My Waikiki Chicken recipe is a very simple and frugal dinner to prepare, making it perfect for those busy nights.  All it requires is mixing a few ingredients together and cooking a couple of chicken breasts.  I love meals that require little prep work!

Gather Your Ingredients

First, you will need to gather all of your ingredients.  For this recipe you will need:

  • 3-5 chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil
  • 1 8-ounce can crushed pineapple
  • 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground mustard
  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded, cut into rings

How To Make This Easy Waikiki Chicken Recipe

First, heat a couple of Tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

While the oil is heating, stir the flour and salt together on a plate.

Using a fork, dip each chicken breast into flour and then add it to the hot oil.

Let the chicken cook over medium-high heat for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

While the chicken is cooking stir the crushed pineapple (undrained), barbecue sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar and dry mustard together in bowl.

It might not look pretty, but it tastes great!

Once the chicken is done cooking, pour the pineapple mixture over chicken in skillet.

Cover the skillet and allow the chicken to cook in the pineapple mixture for 30-40 minutes.

Garnish the chicken with green pepper rings and serve over hot steamed rice.

This is the perfect, quick-to-fix dinner recipe.  It requires very little prep, and is always a favorite with kids and adults!

 

Waikiki Chicken

Easy, quick to fix chicken recipe.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Tbsp Oil
  • 3-5 Chicken Breasts
  • 1/2 cup Flour
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1 8-ounce can Crushed Pineapple
  • 1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 tsp Ground Mustard
  • 1 Green Bell Pepper Cut Into Rings

Instructions
 

  • Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat on stove.
  • Stir flour and salt together on a plate.
  • One by one, dip chicken breast into flour mixture and then add to hot skillet.
  • Let chicken cook over medium-high heat for 15 minutes. Turning occasionally.
  • Stir together undrained pineapple, barbecue sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar and mustard. Pour over chicken in skillet
  • Cover skillet and let cook on low heat for 30-40 minutes.
  • Garnish with sliced bell pepper and serve over rice.
Keyword chicken, easy dinner recipes, waikiki chicken

In Conclusion

I hope your family loves this Waikiki chicken recipe as much as my family has!  It just might become your new family staple, you never know!

If you are looking for more easy recipes, be sure to check out my Recipe eBook, Mel’s Home Cooking.  This is the spot where I shared our family favorite, quick to fix recipes for easier home cooking!

 

Related Articles:

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

Easy Tin Foil Dinner Recipe

Three Easy Beef Roast Recipes

 

Pin For Future Reference:

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Enjoy this quick Wakiki Chicken Recipe!

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

March 5, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Life56 Comments

How to make Cream of Chicken Soup Mix from scratch!

Did you know that you can make your very own Cream of Chicken Soup Mix from scratch?  Yep!  You can!  And guess what, it’s also incredibly easy and super cheap to whip up (hooray, I love easy and cheap!).  I am so excited to share my tried and true cream of chicken soup mix recipe with you today.

Truthfully, I really don’t like buying the canned soup in the store, but sometimes I just want a good old fashioned recipe with Cream of Chicken Soup in it, ya know???

I came across this recipe years ago and have been using it regularly ever since.  It tastes so much better than the cans, and is a lot less processed.  I use it to replace cans of cream of chicken soup in soups, stews, casseroles, etc.  All you need is a little water added to the mix and you’re ready to cook!  Easy peasy!

FF61C34A-590C-405D-A31E-86CBAF63F074

How To Make Cream Of Chicken Soup Mix From Scratch

This cream of chicken soup mix recipe only takes a few minutes to mix together.  You can even skip a step by just mixing it all together right in the jar rather than a separate bowl.

All it takes is four simple ingredients….and you probably already have these sitting in your pantry!  I love when that happens.

Ingredients

To make this cream of chicken soup mix recipe you will need:

  • 1 3/4 cup flour
  • 1 1/2 cups dry milk powder
  • 3 Tbsp chicken bouillon powder
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp dried chopped onion

Mix all of the ingredients into a bowl and you are done!

To turn your mix into a soup just whisk together 1/2 cup soup mix with 1 1/4 cups water.

  • Related:  Easy French Bread Recipe

I hope you enjoy this recipe!  Let me know if you try it, I would love to hear if you like it or not!

Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe

4.60 from 5 votes
Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 3/4 Cups Flour
  • 1 1/2 Cups Dry Milk Powder
  • 3 Tablespoons Chicken Bouillon
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons Dried Chopped Onion

Instructions
 

  • Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
  • And you are done!  I like to store my mix in a quart sized mason jar.

To Use

  • When ready to use, just mix 1/2 cup of soup mix with 1 1/4 cups water and substitute in any recipe calling for a can of Cream of Chicken Soup.  Be sure to write the instructions on the jar lid, so you'll always remember!  😉

After making your soup mix write the instructions on the lid of the jar so that you always remember the correct ratio for making your soup!

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In Conclusion:

I hope you enjoy this easy cream of chicken soup mix recipe.  It’s been a staple in our house for years and is one of my favorite frugal hacks!  I truly hope it helps you save some extra money like it has helped me!

Don’t forget to pin this recipe for future use:

how to make cream of chicken soup mix

homemade cream of chicken soup mix

 

Related Articles:

What to do with your bulk chicken; including 6 Freezer Chicken Recipes

Homemade Graham Cracker Recipe

What I Learned From the July Pantry Challenge

Make this Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe today!

15 Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

January 21, 2021 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Check out these kid friendly easy cheap dinner ideas!

This month I have been participating in a January Pantry Challenge.  My goal has been to save some extra money by eating the food I already have at home and spending less at the store.  This is not always an easy task, but I love the challenge and pushing myself out of my comfort zone!  As I’ve been trying to cut my grocery expenses I’ve found a few pantry dinner ideas that I am so excited to share with you!

How To Stock A Frugal Pantry

I love having my pantry, freezer, and cupboards stocked with a few of our every day staples.  Having a well stocked pantry makes it much easier to throw together a few easy pantry dinner ideas, without having to go to the store.

The best way to stock up your pantry is to buy a few extra of the items you would normally be buying anyways.  For example, when I need ketchup, I’ll buy 3 bottles of ketchup, rather than just 1.  This gives me the extra food on hand, that I know I buy and use regularly.

When stocking your frugal pantry, try to focus on buying frugal friendly food items.  A few of my favorites are:

  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Pasta
  • Oatmeal
  • Vinegar
  • Beans
  • Eggs
  • Potatoes
  • Popcorn

Related:  Cheap Foods to Buy For a Well Stocked Pantry

pantry dinner ideas - easy dinner ideas for picky eaters

Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

Alright!  Let’s get to it!  Here are a few of my easy pantry dinner ideas.  I hope they will inspire you to use food that you already have at home to put together a few easy dinner ideas.

Most of these dinner ideas are kid friendly and easy to customize and change to your personal eating preference.

1.  Taco Soup

Taco soup is the perfect pantry dinner to throw together using ingredients you already have at home.  It’s really easy to throw together whatever you happen to have in your fridge to make this soup.

Use chicken, beef, or beans (or a combination of all three!) as the base for your soup.  Then, add in onions, tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, and whatever else sounds good to you for a nice, warm, and hearty taco soup.

*My favorite taco soup recipe is included in my Mel’s Home Cooking recipe ebook!

2.  Pasta Bake

Looking for an incredibly easy-impossible to fail-quick to fix pantry dinner idea????  This easy pasta bake is just what you need!  You only need 4 ingredients to throw it together, and one of them is water (seriously.)!  You can find this easy Pasta Bake Recipe here!

3.  Chili With Cornbread Waffles

Have a can of chili sitting in a cupboard and some cornmeal?  Make chili with cornbread waffles!  This is my kids favorite cheap and easy dinner!

To make chili with cornbread waffles, you will first need to heat up a can of chili over the stove on medium-high heat.

While the chili is warming up, make your cornbread waffles using the recipe below.

 

Cornbread Waffles

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup oil
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup buttermilk if you do not have buttermilk just mix 1 Tbsp vinegar into 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions
 

  • In large mixer cream together the sugar and oil.
  • Add eggs and milk and mix well.
  • In separate bowl stir together the baking soda, flour, cornmeal, and salt.
  • Add all at once to egg mixture and mix until smooth.
  • Pour batter onto waffle iron and cook until lightly golden brown.
  • Serve with chili and cheese on top.

Serve the chili on top of the cornbread waffles and sprinkle with cheese.  You will now be your kids favorite person, seriously.

4.  Spaghetti With Garlic Toast

Spaghetti is one of the easiest pantry dinners around!  Have a box of spaghetti noodles and a jar of spaghetti sauce???  All it takes is a few minutes to warm them up on the stove and, boom dinner is ready!

I like to serve spaghetti with a side of garlic toast, which is so easy to make!  Get out a few bread slices from a loaf of bread and spread butter on top and then sprinkle it with garlic salt.  Cook the bread slices on a cookie sheet, under the broiler for 3-5 minutes until brown and toasty.  That’s it!  Garlic toast is a great side for a family friendly dinner.

5.  Burrito Bowl

Burrito bowls are a perfect way to use up ingredients you have sitting in your fridge and pantry.  Layer your burrito bowl with rice on the bottom, and layering with beans, cheese, seasonings.  Top your burrito bowl with your favorite toppings.

A few topping suggestions are:  tomato’s, salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips, lettuce, corn, avocado, cilantro, ranch dressing, and anything else that sounds good to you!

6.  Sloppy Joes

Another great pantry dinner idea is to make sloppy joes.  Sloppy joes can easily be made with some ground beef and a few other pantry staples.  This is a very freezer friendly meal, so I will double the recipe and then freeze half for another day.

  • Related:  19 Foods You Didn’t Know You Could Freeze

These are best served on hamburger buns, but we have used a regular loaf of bread when in a pinch.  All about pantry friendly here!

*My favorite Sloppy Joes recipe is available in the Mel’s Home Cooking ebook.

7.  Tomato Soup With Cheese Toast

We always keep a can of tomato soup stocked in our pantry for nights when I’m to tired, or busy, to make a big dinner.  It only takes a few minutes (and hardly any effort!) to heat up some tomato soup over the stove

I love to serve tomato soup with a side of cheese toast.  Make cheese toast by placing some cheese onto slices of bread and then cooking them on a cookie sheet under the broiler for 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

8.  Tacos

Tacos is another quick and easy dinner you can throw together using pantry ingredients.  Make your tacos using any meat you happen to have at home, such as chicken, pork, or beef.

To make tacos just cook your meat over the stove.  Once cooked add 1/2 cup water and a packet of taco seasoning.

If you don’t have a packet of taco seasoning in your pantry, that’s ok!  You can make it yourself!  Check out my favorite taco seasoning recipe below!

Easy Taco Seasoning Mix

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions
 

  • In small bowl mix all ingredients together.
  • Use 2 Tbsp taco seasoning mix in replace of 1 packet of taco seasoning.
  • Store seasoning in a tupperware container or jar in your pantry.

 

Cook and stir your meat with taco seasoning and water until the water has cooked off, about 5 minutes.

Serve in tortillas with your favorite toppings.  We love cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

9.   Homemade Pizza

We love homemade pizza at our house!  Use this homemade pizza dough recipe to make the crust, and then top it with your favorite toppings, or whatever you have in your pantry.  

Get creative!  You can use barbecue sauce, marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, or even Thai sauce.  For toppings try different kinds of cheeses, vegetables and meats. 

If you don’t feel like making homemade pizza dough, you can even use French bread, biscuits or tortillas to make your pizzas.  Find out how here:  Easy Pizza Alternatives.

10.  Bean Burritos

Another great pantry dinner idea is to make bean burritos!  This is a very quick and easy meal to prepare, and they are freezer friendly!  (yay, I love freezer friendly!) 

To make bean burritos just mix beans (we use black or pinto beans), cheese, rice, and taco seasoning together.  Place mixture on tortillas and gently roll up.

Heat your burrito in the microwave or oven and serve!  Easy peasy!

11.  Stir Fry

Stir fry is another dinner staple at our house!  It’s the perfect meal to make on busy days.  The three steps to a good stir fry are vegetables, protein, and sauce.

Choose whichever protein and vegetables you have in your home already.  A few protein suggestions are:  chicken, beef and shrimp.  There are so many vegetables that make a great stir fry, such as:  peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms and peas.

Sauté your protein in a large frying pan.  Add vegetables and continue to sauté until cooked.  Next, add sauce and stir together.  Cook and stir for a few more minutes until sauce has thickened.

Serve your stir fry over rice or noodles, whichever is in your pantry.

My favorite stir fry sauce is included in my Mel’s Home Cooking eCookbook, but I also really like this 3 ingredient stir fry sauce.

12.  Stroganoff

Stroganoff is another simple and pantry friendly dinner.  You can whip up some stroganoff with ground beef, sour cream, cream of chicken soup mix and some seasonings.  Serve it over noodles or eat it Idaho style, served over a baked potato!  Yum!

13.  Breakfast for Dinner

My kids love when I make breakfast for dinner.  It’s such an easy, fun dinner to make when your pantry is feeling bare.  We love to make waffles, pancakes, eggs and a smoothie for Saturday night dinners once or twice a month.

14.  Twice Baked Potatoes

I grew up on an Idaho potato farm, so potatoes are always a staple at my house.  They are so cheap, easy and filling!

Twice baked potatoes are a great way to make a filling meal out of ingredients you probably already have at home.  I love this recipe from Ree Drummond.

15.  Quesadillas

Have some tortillas and cheese???  Make quesadillas for dinner!  You can customize your quesadilla in whichever way you want!  We use salsa, beans, chicken, onions, peppers and green chilis.

A fun way to serve quesadillas is to set out all of the ingredients you have to make them for a quesadilla bar.  Let everyone fill, and customize their own tortilla and cook on the griddle.

Save Money and Cook At Home

I hope these pantry meal ideas gave you some inspiration for cooking without having to go to the store.  Cooking dinner using your pantry ingredients is a great way to save extra money on groceries. 

Remember, to try to use the foods that you already have at home.  If a recipe calls for something you don’t already have, be creative and find a good substitute, do not run to the grocery store!  Because we all know if we go to the grocery store for “just one thing” we always leave with more (is that just me????).

Related Articles:

How a Pantry Challenge Will Save You Money

Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer

15 Products You Should Always Buy Generic

Pin this article for future reference:

easy dinners to make from the pantry ingredients - easy dinner ideas for homemade cooking

easy dinner ideas when cupboard is bare - quick to fix family dinners

I hope you enjoyed these easy pantry dinner ideas!

Freezer Chicken Recipes and How to Freeze Bulk Chicken

November 20, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

This Check out these easy freezer chicken recipes.

One of my favorite ways to save money on groceries is to buy my chicken in bulk.  Bulk chicken is usually priced much lower than buying smaller amounts.  This is also a great way to save time in the kitchen!  When I buy my bulk chicken, I like to prep some of them for the freezer for quick to fix dinners.  Today I am going to show you how to prep bulk chicken for the freezer and 6 of my favorite easy freezer chicken recipes.

how to freeze bulk chicken - chicken freezer recipes

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Where To Buy Bulk Chicken

There are many different places you can buy your chicken in bulk.  Watch for sales at your local grocery store.  Bulk chicken will go on sale multiple times throughout the year and is usually an excellent deal.

I have also bought bulk chicken at Savory Butcher and Butcher Box, and honestly was so happy with both!

Savory Butcher

Savory Butcher is a meat coop community offering discounted meats to multiple areas around the United States.  Their meat are all humanely raised, antibiotic free and no added hormones.

They are currently delivering meat to areas in Texas, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and more!  Products include beef, pork, seafood, and chicken.

I just tried out Savory Butcher for the first time, and I was SO impressed!  The customer service was incredible and the meat was high quality and delicious!  Plus, the price is right which is so important to me.

I chose to purchase the 40 lb case of chicken, which was only $1.99/lb.  This is a smoking deal!  Their chicken comes fresh from the farm and already trimmed (this makes life easier, trust me!).

Butcher Box

Another great place to buy meat and get it shipped right to your door is Butcher Box!  Be sure to click here for my full Butcher Box review.

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How To Freeze Bulk Chicken

I just spent a couple of hours prepping my bulk chicken.  It makes me happy to stock my freezer full of chicken for quick, easy dinners.  I prepped 8 ready to cook dinners; and 6 bags of plain chicken.  It does take a little bit of effort to prepare your bulk chicken, but the amount of money you save is SO worth it!

 


  • Related:  How to freeze Pancakes for a Quick Frugal Breakfast

If your chicken comes trimmed (like mine did) you can start putting them into freezer safe packaging, right out of the box.  

Sometimes bulk chicken is sold still needing trimmed.  Take a few minute trimming off the fat and then you can begin packaging.

When preparing chicken for the freezer I highly recommend using a vacuum sealer.  This one simple purchase will make freezing bulk chicken much easier and does a great job of preventing freezer burn.

My sealer was not working (resulting in quite a bit of frustration on my part!).  So, I used freezer bags instead.  These don’t work quite as well as a vacuum sealer does, but they can get the job done.

To prep your chicken for the freezer you will need to separate your chicken into dinner sized portions.  For my family I put about 2-3 chicken breasts per bag for my family.  Place each portioned chicken into freezer bag, remove all of the air and seal tightly.

Your chicken is now ready for the freezer!  Yay!  Your chicken will stay fresh in the freezer for 6-12 months.

 


Easy Freezer Chicken Recipes

While you are preparing your chicken for the freezer, you can whip up a few of these easy recipes at the same time.  I love these recipes because I can pull the chicken out of the freezer in the morning, and half of the work for dinner is already done!  They are perfect for busy days, or when you just don’t feel like cooking!

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Slow Cooker Honey Chicken

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs. chicken breasts
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 4 Tbsp diced onion
  • 4 Tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 4 tsp cornstarch
  • 6 Tbsp water

Instructions
 

  • Combine chicken, salt, pepper, honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup and garlic powder in a freezer bag.
  • Let all air out of bag.  Seal tight and freeze.
  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
  • Dump entire bag of chicken and sauce into slow cooker.  Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
  • When finished cooking take chicken out of slow cooker and leave the sauce.
  • Combine cornstarch with water, stir well.
  • Add it into slow cooker with sauce.  Cook sauce on high until it begins to thicken (5-10 minutes).
  • Slice chicken into small chunks.  Return to slow cooker and stir with sauce.
  • Serve over rice.

 

Barbecue Chicken

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs. chicken breasts
  • 1 container of barbecue sauce

Instructions
 

  • Put chicken in a freezer bag.  Pour entire container of barbecue sauce on top.
  • Let all air out of bag.  Seal tight and freeze.
  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
  • Cook on grill.  Top with barbecue sauce to serve.

 

Lemon Garlic Chicken

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb. chicken breasts sliced thin
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Combine chicken, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper in freezer bag.
  • Put chicken in a freezer bag.  Pour entire container of barbecue sauce on top.
  • Let all air out of bag.  Seal tight and freeze.
  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
  • Cook chicken on grill.
  • Serve with rice and veggies.

Balsamic Chicken

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This balsamic chicken recipe is available as part of my Free 5 Days to Frugal ecourse.  You can sign up below and my 5 favorite frugal recipes will be emailed to you on day 3 of the challenge!

 

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Tacos

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb. chicken breasts
  • 1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions
 

  • Combine chicken, tomatoes, brown sugar and red pepper flakes in freezer bag.
  • Let all air out of bag.  Seal tight and freeze.
  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
  • Pour chicken and sauce into slow cooker.
  • Cook in slow cooker on high for 5 hours.
  • When done cooking shred chicken in sauce.
  • Serve in flour tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Grilled (or baked!) Island Chicken

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This grilled island chicken recipe is available as part of my Free 5 Days to Frugal ecourse.

You can sign up below and my 5 favorite frugal recipes will be emailed to you on day 3 of the challenge!

Favorite Baked Chicken

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb. chicken breasts
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in freezer bag.
  • Let all air out of bag.  Seal tight and freeze.
  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
  • Bake in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.
  • Serve with baked potatoes and veggies.
  • Related:  Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe Book

Honey Lime Enchiladas

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. chicken
  • 6 Tbsp honey
  • 4.5 Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 10 oz. can green enchilada sauce
  • flour tortillas
  • shredded monterey jack cheese

Instructions
 

  • Combine chicken, honey, lime juice, chili powder, and garlic powder in freezer bag.
  • Let all air out of bag.  Seal tight and freeze.
  • When ready to prepare take it out of freezer and allow to thaw.
  • Pour chicken and sauce into slow cooker.
  • Cook on low for 8 hours.
  • Shred chicken in sauce.
  • Pour a small amount of green enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 pan.
  • Fill tortillas with shredded chicken and cheese.  Place in pan.
  • Pour the rest of the green enchilada sauce over the tortillas.  Sprinkle with cheese.
  • Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

In Conclusion

I love buying my chicken in bulk.  It has proven time and time again to be a money and time saver for me.  Feel free to try any of these recipes for any chicken, it doesn’t have to be in bulk.  Let me know which one is your favorite!

If you are looking for more easy recipes be sure to check out my very own recipe book!  Mel’s Home Cooking offers 65 simple, delicious and easy recipes for one low price.  You are sure to find a new family favorite!

Related Articles:

How to Freeze Raspberries

8 Foods You Should Freeze in an Ice Cube Tray

Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe Book

Pin For Later:

Love these freezer chicken recipes for the busy mom

 

Enjoy these easy freezer chicken recipes!

Easy Tin Foil Dinner Recipe

August 4, 2020 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

The best campfire dinner recipe.

A few years ago I stumbled upon the best tin foil dinner recipe ever, for reals though…..I’ve tried a lot of tin foil dinners!  I found it originally on Melyssa Saves Instagram Story Highlights.  I’ve since adapted it to our own personal liking, but I still give her credit for introducing me to this amazing campfire dinner recipe.

This recipe has become our favorite camping dinner recipe.  It’s easy to cook over the fire, and perfect for customizing to everyone’s preferences.  We also use it regularly for backyard fires.  When I don’t feel like cooking, or cleaning up a messy kitchen….I whip up these easy tin foil dinners and we eat outside.  The kids think it’s a fun family activity, and I think it was the best way to keep my house clean…..

tin foil dinner recipe - how to make tin foil dinners

Ingredients

Like I mentioned earlier, this recipe is very easy to customize to your own specific taste preferences.  So, don’t be afraid to take my suggestions and add a few of your own!

  • Little Smokies
  • Shredded Cheese (we like mozzarella, but you can also use cheddar)
  • Diced onions 
  • Green Beans
  • Peas
  • Corn
  • Seasoning Salt
  • Shredded hash browns
  • Carrots
  • Jalapeno peppers
  • Butter
  • Salt and Pepper

You will also need:

  • Cooking spray
  • Tin foil

Putting it All Together

Pull out two strips of tin foil and lay them one on top of the other on your counter top.  Spray generously with cooking spray.

Layer hash browns on the top tin foil.  You can add as much or as little as you want.  I always put less on the kids dinners and much more in my husbands (he likes to eat!).

Next add the little smokies.  Again, there is no set recipe.  Just add as many or as little as you want to eat.

Now it’s time for the vegetables.  I try to use whatever veggie is in my garden at the time.  We have used carrots, corn, green beans, diced onion, peas, and jalapeno peppers.  All were good and delicious!

Sprinkle your veggies with your favorite cheese.  We enjoy mozzarella cheese, but cheddar is also delicious!

Next add salt, pepper and seasoning salt to taste.

Add a few pats of butter on top.

And it’s all done!  Look how yummy!  Can you believe it even tastes better than it looks?!?!

All that’s left to do is roll your tin foil packet up and refrigerate until ready to be cooked.

Cook your tin foil dinner over hot coals until thoroughly heated through and cheese is melted.  It usually only takes about 10 minutes, depending on the heat of your fire.

Pull a packet out and peek inside to test for doneness.

I promise you will love this delicious, easy tin foil dinner recipe.

Easy Tin Foil Dinner

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • Shredded Hash Browns
  • Little Smokies
  • Favorite Veggies We like green beans, peas, carrots, corn, onion and jalapenos.
  • Mozzarella or cheddar Cheese
  • Seasoning Salt
  • Butter

Instructions
 

  • Lay two pieces of tin foil on counter top. Spray with cooking spray.
  • Layer hash browns on top of tin foil.
  • Add little smokies on top.
  • Put your favorite veggies over little smokies and hash browns.
  • Sprinkle with cheese.
  • Salt, pepper and seasoning salt to taste.
  • Add 2-3 pats of butter.
  • Wrap tin foil up tightly.
  • Cook over hot coals in camp fire until done.

Related Recipes:

Light and Fluffy Pancake Recipe

Easy Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe

Easy Pasta Dinner Recipe

Pin for future reference:

easiest tin foil dinner - best campfire dinner

easy camping recipe - campfire dinner recipe

What is your favorite tin foil dinner recipe?

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