Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals

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Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals

By The Paula Deen Test Kitchen

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Lather, rinse, repeat. Right?

Coming up with weeknight meals, especially for those of us on the go or chained to an office desk can seem like a daunting task. It’s easy to get stuck in the same rut of takeout or microwaveable meals.

Paula and the Test Kitchen have come up with four easy tips to help you become a weeknight mealtime warrior.

Keep it Simple
Let’s face it. After spending eight or more hours at work, the last thing we want to do is to come home and spend another portion of our day slaving away in the kitchen. Your weeknight meals don’t have to gourmet, so keep it simple! Here are some quick recipes to get you started:
Hurry Up Chicken Pot Pie
Fast and Furious Thai Chicken Pizza
Walk Away Baked Spaghetti

One Pot Wonders
Furthermore, not only are we not keen on spending all of our time cooking, we’re also not looking forward to spending all evening cleaning up after dinner either. Take it from us, one dish meals will really save you time and money when you’re preparing weeknight meals, which will give you more time to spend with your family.
Chicken Chili Stew
Quick Crab Stew
Tastes Like Lasagna Soup

Breakfast for Dinner
Take it easy! Offer your family one night a week where breakfast is on the menu! Most breakfast dishes are a flash to prepare and don’t take a lot of preparation. We’ve got some quick and easy breakfast dishes that will have you sitting at the table in no time.
Omelette for a Crowd
Hash Brown Quiche
Sausage Pancake Egg Sandwich

We Love Leftovers!
…and we’re not talking about yesterday’s microwaved meatloaf, either! (Although, Paula’s meatloaf recipe is one of the staples in our kitchen.) We’re talking about a good old-fashioned dinner remix. Take last night’s leftovers and reinvent them to become a second (or sometimes third) completely different and absolutely delicious meal.
Pot Roast into Pot Roast Soup
Buffalo Chicken Po Boys
Baked Ham into Simple Southern Ham and Bean Soup
Prime Rib Sandwich
Grilled Tilapia into Creamy Coconut Soup
Ham Fried Rice

Reader Comments:

Paula, I love your recipes, over 3 years ago I found I had diabetes, so I hated to give up my southern foods, so I began using splenda and honey when the recipes called for sugar, and lite brown sugar for the flavor I was trying to maintain. I hope your new products come out with soulfoof seasoning. I currently use a dollar store brand, but it would be nice to be able to your get your products. Love you, have been watching for about 10 years. You are looking good, keep it up. Say hello to Michael.

By Margaret Myers on June 11, 2013

Tuna burger sound very good to me. Paula deen i like to meet you and want to see you. and i to talke you

By Donna on February 15, 2013

Those that judge you do not walk in your shoes. I love that you can be yourself and do not care what people think. You are beautiful within and out. If everyone were like you, this would be a better and happier world. There will always be those that will have a superior attitude and these people will always be critical of others. We love you Paula . . .your wonderful personality is infectious and would love to meet you.

By Mary B on March 05, 2012

Paula the world loves you. Don't pay any attention to all the gossip that goes around. You are a special person and we all love you just the way you are. Your recipes are great.I'm a diabetic myself but still love a piece of cake or pie once in a while. these people that had something to say about you in a negative way are nuts. You are still the Paula we all love and adore. hang in there. Love you.

By Wanda on March 01, 2012

I have tried all of paulas recipies that are appeling to me and they have been the best my family of 9 enjoy them also, sometimes i forget to add a few things but they still come out geat

By Debora J Ward on February 28, 2012

Paula Deen for President!

By Carlene Reeves on February 11, 2012

How come when i cook chicken or pork in the crock pot it still comes out chewy or even a bit tough. I cooked country style pork ribs with sauerkraut and cooked all night in crock pot and it was still kind of chewy. What is the best way to make tender pork and chicken? Please ask Paula{lol}

By nancy mcdowell on August 05, 2011

awesome ideas thank you..Blessing

By chantalstewart on July 30, 2011

We do breakfast meals for dinner often. MY husband was a bricklayer and when he got laid off during the winter, I found that it was cheaper to fix brekfast for dinner.

By Sandy on July 19, 2011

always great,great recipes from paula. love her.

By debbie mcgruder on July 19, 2011

Pauladeen.com

Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals