Category Archives: Dinner

Chicken, Chicken, Chicken, Crockpot, Dinner, Soup

Chicken, Kale, And Sweet Potato Soup – Crock Pot Easy!

Leave a comment

Chicken, Kale, And Sweet Potato Soup is a healthy soup that tastes delicious. This is a very easy to make crock pot soup recipe. Just a few minutes of preparation and the hearty soup slow cooks while you go about your day!

It’s the beginning of a new year and boy do we need a new year after a tough 2020! I’m starting the new year off right by eating cleaner and healthier. I love Christmas time and all the cheese, wine, and desserts that are part of the Christmas season, but you can only take so much in such a short amount of time. It’s time to get back to basics where we cut back on the cheese and bump up the veggies. Do you remember what vegetables are? It’s been a while since you’ve had them after all! Nonetheless, eating healthier doesn’t have to equate to eating cardboard, tasteless food. No way! I’m opting for delicious meals that taste amazing, but are less calories, fat, and carbohydrates. It can be done. And this soup is proof of that!

Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is a classic soup that is well liked by pretty much everyone. And what’s not to like? It has chicken broth, chicken (of course!), and usually has some kind of starch whether it’s rice or pasta of some sort. Many people like to add vegetables as well. Common veggies of choice are carrots, onions, and leafy options like escarole or spinach.

People love to eat chicken soup, when they are sick. Not only does it taste good, but according to some studies, chicken soup can actually help fight colds. Yes, it’s true, it’s not just a myth! The soup helps ease up nasal congestion. Additionally, chicken soup hydrates the body which is essential for sick bodies. Further, the salt and electrolytes in the broth retain hydration. And finally, chicken soup can also improve the cilia function in your nose which then provides protection from contagions entering your body. Chicken soup is pretty amazing. And it tastes good so you can get the health benefits of soup even when you aren’t sick!

Ground Turkey Rice Soup Vs. Crock Pot Chicken, Sweet Potato Soup

My recipe for Ground Turkey, Kale, and Brown Rice Soup, was the inspiration for this chicken, kale, and sweet potato soup. Well, technically it was that recipe and reading another recipe for a crock pot soup which consisted of chicken, kale, and sweet potatoes. However, the soup recipe I came across had no seasonings in it at all. As a result, the reviews on that soup were mixed; some loved the soup and others said it was too bland. It got me thinking about mixing the two different recipes together and coming up with my own crock pot chicken, kale, and sweet potato soup.

I was nervous about how it would turn out. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was! And now I’m excited to add this soup to my family’s dinner rotation. It tastes great and it’s very healthy as well. Oh, and it’s very easy to make. It’s a win-win-win!

Although the seasonings for the Ground Turkey, Kale, and Brown Rice Soup and the Chicken, Kale, and Sweet Potato soup are very similar, the soups actually taste very different. While both delicious in their own right, they do not taste the same. I was actually surprised by this. However, it does make sense that the each soup tasted differently. After all, chicken and ground turkey don’t exactly taste the same. And sweet potatoes and brown rice certainly have different flavors, not to mention textures. Both soups have a flavorsome taste which is great because you could make them in the same week and have completely different dinners!

Which Is Healthier?

Sweet Potato Or Brown Rice?

Both sweet potatoes and brown rice are a great source of fiber. In fact, they have almost equal amounts of fiber.

When it comes to carbohydrates, both sweet potatoes and brown rice are excellent sources. However, brown rice has almost 3 times as many calories and a higher amount of carbs than sweet potatoes.

So while it might sound like sweet potatoes are the healthier option for a soup, it should be noted that brown rice actually has 5 times as much protein than sweet potatoes.

Therefore, we can only conclude that both sweet potatoes and brown rice are healthy in their own right. Deciding on which is the healthier choice for a soup or any snack/meal will really come down to what it is your are trying to accomplish. If you are trying to lose weight, the lower calorie option might be better. Thus, sweet potatoes could be the winner. However, if you are looking to increase your protein intake, brown rice would be the winner. Either way, moderation is key as well as eating each with a balanced diet and regular exercise. That is always the formula for a healthy body.

Crock Pot Soup

I’m a huge fan of cooking in a crock pot. Just like a baby bjorn carrier frees up your hands while holding a baby, a crock pot frees up your time to do other things while your food cooks. Maybe not the easiest analogy to follow, but slow cooking food in a crock pot is a huge time saver. And that time can be spent on lots of other things which I’m sure you can appreciate as much as me.

This crock pot soup really makes life easier on many levels. It takes approximately 10 – 15 minutes to prepare (which is basically just cutting and chopping). After the prep work is done, you go about your day and get things done. Don’t you love checking things off of your to-do list? I sometimes think I make lists just to check off the items on it.

Chicken, Kale, & Sweet Potato Soup Ingredients

If you are like me, you probably won’t want to see an ingredients list that consists of more than 5 items. Don’t get discouraged that this crock pot soup recipe consists of 11 ingredients. The number of ingredients don’t add a significant amount of time to the cooking of this delicious meal, but they do add a ton of amazing flavor!

  • 3 lbs Chicken Boneless
  • 2 cups Sweet Potatoes Cut into small pieces
  • 1 Shallots Chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup Baby Carrots Cut into 1/2″ pieces
  • 2 tbsp Garlic Minced
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper Chopped into small pieces
  • 1 can Diced Tomatoes 14 oz can
  • 2 tbsp Herbs de Provence
  • 5 cups Chicken Broth I prefer low sodium, no fat chicken broth
  • 1 bunch Kale Cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

  • Add chopped sweet potatoes and chicken to the crock pot.
  • Next, add shallots, garlic, carrots, bell pepper, diced tomatoes, and herbs de Provence to crock pot.
  • Then add in. chicken broth
  • Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
  • Approximately 15 – 30 minutes before serving, stir in kale. Mix it in so that it’s submerged in the liquid and cooks down.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and add parmesan cheese to each bowl.

More Soups To Love

It’s soup season! What better time to make a hearty soup that is super easy to make? Like they say, there is no time like the present!

Check out these easy soup recipes:

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Ground Turkey, Kale, & Brown Rice Soup

Seafood Chowder

Desserts To Devour

And since you are being so good by eating soup for dinner, you deserve a tasty dessert.

Check out these easy to make dessert recipes:

Rolo Cookies

Cheesecake Cookie Cups

Lemon Blueberry Dump Cake

Crock Pot Chocolate Covered Peanut Clusters

NO BAKE Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pie

Must Make Martinis

If dessert isn’t really your thing, maybe you should try a dessert martini instead. These martinis are delicious and strong so sip slowly:

French Martini

Pistachio Martini

S’Mores Martini

Bananas Foster Martini

Chocolate Amaretto Martini

Follow Me On Social Media

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

chicken, kale, and sweet potato soup is a healthy soup that tastes delicious. Crock pot soup that takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and is an easy dinner recipe that tastes delicious!
Print

Chicken, Kale, & Sweet Potato Soup

Delicious Soup Recipe That Is EASY To Make!
Course Main Course, Main Dish, Soup
Keyword best soup, crockpot, hearty soup, homemade soup, kale, kale soup, soup
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings 12 people
Author jenahoward

Equipment

  • Crock Pot

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs Chicken Boneless
  • 2 cups Sweet Potatoes Cut into small pieces
  • 2 tbsp Garlic Minced
  • 1 Shallots Chopped into small pieces
  • 1 cup Baby Carrots Cut into 1/2" pieces
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper Chopped into small pieces
  • 1 can Diced Tomatoes 14 oz can
  • 2 tbsp Herbs de Provence
  • 5 cups Chicken Broth I prefer low sodium, no fat chicken broth
  • 1 bunch Kale Cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

  • Add chopped sweet potatoes and chicken to the crock pot.
  • Next, add shallots, garlic, carrots, bell pepper, diced tomatoes, and herbs de Provence to crock pot.
  • Then add in. chicken broth
  • Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
  • Approximately 15 – 30 minutes before serving, stir in kale. Mix it in so that it's submerged in the liquid and cooks down.
  • Ladle the soup into bowls and add parmesan cheese to each bowl.
  • Enjoy!
    chicken, kale, and sweet potato soup is a healthy soup that tastes delicious. Crock pot soup that takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and is an easy dinner recipe that tastes delicious!

Dinner, Pork

Tempting And Easy Apple And Gouda Stuffed Pork Chops

Leave a comment

Apple And Gouda Stuffed Pork Chops are an easy dinner to make that tastes exceptionally delicious. The gouda cheese and apples makes this a perfect fall dish that gives it sweet and savory elements. Additionally, this meal can use up some of those apples your kids picked!

A well rounded dinner that everyone loves and takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish. And the sauce…wow…it really is incredible and will have you licking your lips to get every last bit!

Stuffed Chops

Pork chops are an easy dinner that cook quickly and make it a great weeknight dinner for most people. Because we are all usually short on time during the week, cooking up a few pork chops can get dinner on the table in less than 15 minutes. And they taste great! You don’t have to do much to a pork chop to make it taste delicious. I tend to add a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder and cook them on the grill for a simple and tasty dinner.

However, if you want a change of pace these apple and gouda stuffed pork chops are really a great way to step things up, while keeping the ease of dinner. All you need to do is slice up an apple or two and some gouda cheese. Make a slit in the chops. Add in the apple and cheese and you are pretty much ready to cook them up.

You could also stuff pork chops with other tasty items as well. For example, you could add spinach, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Or maybe another fruit like pears with gouda – keeping the sweet and savory theme going. Additionally, you could keep it even simpler by adding some regular stuffing to the pork chops to make this a hearty stuffed chop. The sky is really the limit and you can be as creative as you want. If you like it, add it!

Gouda Cheese

Gouda cheese is considered a mild flavored cheese that has a semi-soft consistency. Some describe the flavor to be nutty, however, I describe the flavor as bacon-y. Is that a word? I’m not sure, but the taste of gouda seems to have a hint of bacon to it. The cheese originated in the Netherlands. Ironically, it did not originate in the town of Gouda like many people would assume. Rather, Gouda is the town that trades cheese and that is where the name for this delectable cheese came from.

Did you know that gouda is one of the most popular cheeses? I actually did not know that until I wrote up this post! I never knew what gouda was until I was in my late 20s and had some at a wedding. I added the yellowish cheese to my appetizer plate during the cocktail hour and after I finished the pieces on my plate, I found myself returning to the cheese bar for more of that unknown cheese! After asking a few people, I was informed that this delicious cheese was gouda. I had heard of it, but never tasted it which was very unfortunate because it was one of my new favorite cheeses!

Other Cheeses To Try

While gouda is the preferred cheese for these amazingly tasty apple and gouda stuffed pork chops, there are many other cheeses that can be substituted if you are out of gouda. A few of my personal favorites that you might already have in your refrigerator are cheddar, mozzarella, and monterey jack cheese.

Cheddar

While cheddar cheese is considered a more semi-hard cheese than gouda (which is considered a semi-soft cheese), I would use it in a heartbeat if I didn’t have gouda cheese on hand. I love the strong flavor of cheddar cheese. Further, if you use shredded cheddar to stuff the pork chops, the cheese will melt easily making it a delicious addition to these apple stuffed pork chops.

Mozzarella

Mozzarella cheese is considered a mild and semi-soft cheese. As such, it shares similar characteristics of gouda cheese. Thus, substituting mozzarella for gouda is somewhat seamless. You could use fresh mozzarella or shredded. Of course, fresh mozzarella is preferred because it has the gooey cheese appeal. However, shredded mozzarella will do just fine as far as meltability and taste is concerned.

Monterey Jack Cheese

Monterey Jack Cheese is a great substitution for gouda because of it’s soft cheese characteristics. Additionally, it has a mild flavor that stands out. If you are a fan of white cheese that melts beautifully, monterey jack might be a perfect option for you when making apple stuffed pork chops.

Ingredients

  • 6 Pork Chops
  • 2 Apples
  • 0.25 lb Gouda
  • 2 tbsp Sage
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 tbsp Thyme
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch

Instructions

Preparation

  • Preheat grill so that it gets to 350-400 degrees F.
  • Make slit in each pork chop that goes 3/4 to the other side (make sure not to cut all the way through).
  • Slice apples into 1/2″ thick slices.
  • Cut gouda into 1/2″-3/4″ slices, similar to the size of each apple slice.
  • Stuff 1 or 2 (depending on your preference) of apples and gouda into each pork chop.
  • Season pork chops on both sides with sage and thyme.

Grilling The Pork Chops

  • Grill on medium heat for 4 minutes (maybe more or less time depending on thickness of your pork chops).
  • Flip pork chops. Continue to cook for another 4 minutes (again, maybe more or less time depending on thickness of your pork chops).

Sauce

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add chicken broth and sage and stir well.
  • Add thyme and continue to stir well for another 5 minutes.
  • Whisk in cornstarch into the saucepan. Continue to cook for another 8 minutes so that it thickens.
  • Season with more sage/thyme, if needed.
  • Pour sauce over cooked pork chops and serve immediately.

How To Cook The Pork

My preferred way of preparing these apple and gouda stuffed pork chops is by grilling them over a preheated grates at around 350 degrees F. However, you can cook these up any way you prefer. Here are some ways that will best prepare this yummy meal.

Grill

The fastest way to cook pork chops is directly on a heated grill. An average pork chop thickness will take anywhere from 6 to 10 minutes to cook. Meaning a thinner pork chop will only take 3 minutes per side to cook through to a temperature of 145 degrees F. Conversely, a thicker pork chop can take upwards of 5 minutes per side for a total of 10 minutes to cook through.

With the apple and gouda stuffed pork chops, the filling will thicken the pork chop, thus it will take longer to cook so keep that in mind. You want to make sure that inside of the meat cooks thoroughly. Therefore, the thicker your filling, the longer the pork will take to complete cooking to a safe temperature.

Oven

If you don’t have a grill accessible to make stuffed these apple and gouda stuffed pork chops, you can cook these in the oven. Just put them on a baking sheet or 9 x 13 pan in a preheated oven set to 350 degrees F for approximately 35 minutes.

An easy reference guide for temperatures and time is:

  • 350°F – bake 35 minutes
  • 375°F – bake 22-25 minutes
  • 400°F – bake 17-19 minutes
  • 425°F – bake 15-17 minutes
  • 450°F – bake 14-16 minutes

Stove Top

And if grilling and cooking these apple and gouda stuffed pork chops aren’t up your alley, you can pan sear them on the stove. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and heat up the pan for approximately 1 minute. Add the pork chops to the pan and cook each side for about 5 to 6 minutes each side. Again, the cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the chops. Using a meat thermometer, you can test the temperature of the thickest part of the chop and alter the cooking time accordingly, making sure that the chops reach a temperature of 145 degrees F.

More Pork Recipes

I love cooking pork for a variety of reasons, but have to say that my top two reasons are the flavor and the simplicity. Of course, flavor is pretty self-explanatory. If you enjoy the taste of something, that’s a good reason to make that again and again.

When I say that pork has simplicity, I mean that it cooks fairly quickly, especially pork chops. You can cook a great pork meal in less than 30 minutes. In fact, most dinners that consist of pork can be cooked in less than 15 minutes. How’s that for simplicity? It’s great, if you ask me!

If you can’t get enough of pork, try out some of my other must-try recipes:

Mango Pork Loin

Honey Parmesan Crusted Pork

Marsala Pork Chops

Print

Tempting And Easy Apple And Gouda Stuffed Pork Chops

Apple and Gouda Stuffed Pork Chops are an easy way to serve a delicious dinner that is sure to please your entire family. Tastes gourmet, but cooks in under 15 minutes!
Course Dinner
Keyword pork chops
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Servings 6 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

  • 6 Pork Chops
  • 1-2 Apples
  • 0.25 lb Gouda
  • 2 tbsp Sage
  • 2 tbsp Butter
  • 1 cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 tbsp Thyme
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch

Instructions

Preparation

  • Preheat grill so that it gets to 350-400 degrees F.
  • Make slit in each pork chop that goes 3/4 to the other side (make sure not to cut all the way through).
  • Slice apples into 1/2" thick slices.
  • Cut gouda into 1/2"-3/4" slices, similar to the size of each apple slice.
  • Stuff 1 or 2 (depending on your preference) of apples and gouda into each pork chop.
  • Season pork chops on both sides with sage and thyme.

Grilling The Pork Chops

  • Grill on medium heat for 4 minutes (maybe more or less time depending on thickness of your pork chops).
  • Flip pork chops. Continue to cook for another 4 minutes (again, maybe more or less time depending on thickness of your pork chops).

Sauce

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add chicken broth and sage and stir well.
  • Add thyme and continue to stir well for another 5 minutes.
  • Whisk in cornstarch into the saucepan. Continue to cook for another 8 minutes so that it thickens.
  • Season with more sage/thyme, if needed.
  • Pour sauce over cooked pork chops and serve immediately.
  • ENJOY!
Chicken, Chicken, Crockpot, Dinner

Easy To Cook, Creamy Crock Pot Chicken With Peas

1 Comment

Creamy Crock Pot Chicken With Peas is a recipe that I concocted years ago. I kind of just threw a few things in the crock pot and let it cook all day. Right before sitting down for dinner, I made some rice so serve the creamy chicken with. Wow. That’s what I thought. What a simple way to cook such a tasty dinner! It quickly became a favorite and I would look forward to making it on a regular basis.

Crock Pot Cooking

I’m sure most people know what a crock pot is. However, they might not know how it works or how to cook with it. Let’s start with how it works, shall we? Unlike an oven or stove top burner, crock pots (sometimes referred to as slow cookers) cook food at a low temp for long stretches of time. Have you heard the phrase, low and slow? It is the motto of crock pots! The slow cooker cooks the food consistently with low heat so that it cooks by trapping the heat. Thus, it cooks the meat thoroughly, but does not dry it out, assuming you add a decent amount of liquid to the pot.

Texture & Flavor

One of the greatest things about cooking in a crock pot is that the food simmers for long periods of time and the food, most especially, the meat becomes very tender. It literally falls apart without needing a knife. If you like tender meat, slow cooked meats in a crock pot is sure to be a favorite for you. Not only is the texture soft, but because the meat and veggies breaks down during the cooking process, the juices from the food keep the meal moist as it simmers. As a result, this provides a tasty sauce that you will want to savor with each bite.

Cook Times

Cook time in a crock pot can vary from dish to dish. I mainly cook dinners in my crock pot so at this point, I’ll keep this pretty simple to understand as far as meats are concerned. We will delve deeper into cooking times for desserts and appetizers in other recipes, but for now, let’s stick with cooking times for meats only.

Large Roasts & Pork Loins

Larger roasts such as roast beef and pork loins generally take at least 8 hours on low. Generally, 8 – 10 hours on low is the best way to cook roasts in a crock pot. Typically, I won’t cook big hunks of meat like these on the high setting. Personally, I prefer the low and slow methodology and stick to it whenever possible. I just have to budget my time accordingly because low and slow is really the best way to cook a roast or large pork loin.

Chicken & Pork (small cuts)

However, when it comes to chicken and smaller cuts of pork, those typically cook in 5 hours (somewhere between 4 to 6 hours) on low. If you were to use the high setting on a crock pot, you could cook chicken and thinner cuts of pork in as little as 3 hours. I’m always nervous that the meat will become dry so I prefer the lower temperature for longer periods of time. Just be sure to add some liquid to whatever meat you are cooking so that it cooks evenly without becoming dry.

Convenient Dinner

The purpose of the crock pot is to make cooking easy and to come home to a yummy dinner that is ready to eat. That is the beauty of crock pot dinners! To get to this point, you do have to do some preparation at the beginning of the day. And, if your house is like mine, mornings are hectic. Who really wants to prepare dinner while you are getting kids ready for school, yourself ready for work, and trying to make it out of the house on time? Suddenly, that easy to cook dinner becomes a hassle!

Preparation

I love making easy crock pot meals. To be fair, most crock pot meals are usually very easy to cook. However, some need more preparation than others. I’m a huge fan of crock pot meals that consist of dumping ingredients into the pot and turning on the temperature. What home cooked meal is better than that? I certainly can’t think of anything off the top of my head!

Since even the simplest recipes can seem overwhelming in the chaotic mornings, being prepared is key. You can prep your crock pot dinner the night before. Did you know that? It’s true and it’s a game changer. I’m sure you can find an additional 5 to 10 minutes before you head to be to prep your dinner for the next evening. Just put the necessary ingredients in the crock pot and keep it in the refrigerator overnight. Rather than prepping your dinner in the morning, all you need to do is pull the crock pot out of the refrigerator as you are getting everyone ready. By the time you are heading out of the house, the pot will be room temperature and you can set it and forget it. Oh wait, that’s another cooking device, isn’t it? Well, no matter, it holds true here as well!

Making Creamy Crock Pot Chicken

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Chicken boneless
  • 3 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup I prefer Campbell’s healthy request for lower fat and calories
  • 10 oz Peas frozen
  • 3 cups Rice cooked

How To Make

  • Place chicken in the crock pot.
  • Top chicken with cream of mushroom soup.
  • Turn crock pot on low and cook for approx 6 or more hours (cook for 3 hours on high).
  • Approx. 30 minutes before time is done, add peas and stir. (if you prefer, you can add the peas with the chicken and cream of soup from the beginning).
  • Once done, serve over rice or pasta.

What To Serve With

Rice (Brown or White)

The most obvious way to serve this creamy crock pot chicken with peas is over rice. You can opt for white rice, brown rice, jasmine rice, basmati rice, whatever rice you want. The stickiness of the rice is perfect for holding on to the creamy goodness of the sauce. That way, you can soak up as much sauce in each bite as possible. It’s a delicious and easy way to eat this family favorite dinner.

Pasta

Pasta is one of my favorite starches, if not, my most favorite starch! Therefore, it is not surprise that I suggest serving the creamy crock pot chicken and peas over pasta. A noodle type of pasta such as spaghetti or linguini would be a perfect choice for maximizing your bites with all the sauce! However, ziti is a great choice for creamy sauces because it’s easy to eat and can hold onto the sauce inside the pasta. How’s that for maximizing your taste buds?!

Keto Friendly

And finally, if you are on a keto diet and want to eliminate starches wherever possible, you could skip the rice, pasta, and potatoes, and opt for just the main dish of chicken, peas, and that yummy cream of mushroom sauce! All the protein you need without sacrificing taste. It’s a great way to stay focused with preferred dietary needs.

Must Try Crock Pot Recipes

Once you try this creamy crock pot chicken and peas, I know you will add this to your dinner rotations of easy meals. It really is a no-brainer when it comes to easy of cooking that tastes delicious.

And since you will love this dish so much, you might want to check out some other very easy cooking (crock pot) meals that are equally as tasty!

Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Hawaiian Chicken

Mango Pork

Honey Parmesan Crusted Pork

Incredible Martini Recipes

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini

Bananas Foster Martini

Sugar Cookie Martini

Pistachio Martini

Follow Me On Social Media

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

Print

Easy To Cook, Creamy Crock Pot Chicken With Peas

Creamy crock pot chicken with peas is an easy recipe that slow cooks all day on it's own. A deliciously simple dinner any night of the week.
Course Dinner
Keyword chicken, crockpot, easy dinner
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Servings 6 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Chicken boneless
  • 3 cans Cream of Mushroom Soup I prefer Campbell's healthy request for lower fat and calories
  • 10 oz Peas frozen
  • 3 cups Rice cooked

Instructions

  • Place chicken in the crock pot.
  • Top chicken with cream of mushroom soup.
  • Turn crock pot on low and cook for approx 6 or more hours (cook for 3 hours on high).
  • Approx. 30 minutes before time is done, add peas and stir. (if you prefer, you can add the peas with the chicken and cream of soup from the beginning).
  • Once done, serve over rice or pasta.
  • ENJOY!
Dinner, Fish, Salad, shrimp, shrimp

No Cook Cilantro Shrimp Salad Is Healthy And Delicious

Leave a comment

Cilantro Shrimp Salad is the absolute best dinner you can choose on a hot summer night. Loaded with nutritional value and lots of tasty salad ingredients such as corn, black beans, cucumbers, lime, and avocados along with shrimp, your stomach will be in heaven and your hips will certainly thank you!

And if you buy cooked shrimp, you won’t have to cook at thing with this delicious dinner. You won’t have to turn on your oven and heat up your house on a hot night. Nor will you have to slave over a blazing grill and sweat your butt off when making dinner. This dinner requires no cooking, is filling, and tastes great sounds like a great idea. And, you know what? It is!

Shrimp Facts

Shrimp are crustaceans with elongated bodies that primarily swim versus walk on the bottom of the ocean floor. They are abundant and adapt to a wide range of environments, generally feeding on the ground within different bodies of water such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. They generally live anywhere from 1 to 7 years. And they play an important role in the food chain. They are a source of food to fish, whales, and, of course, human consumption.

Some of the great benefits that shrimp provide to us humans are:

  • Low Calorie Food
  • High In Protein
  • Many Nutrients

Low calorie

Other than the delicious taste of shrimp, another added bonus is that they are low in calories. One medium shrimp is only about 7 calories, which equates to less than 85 calories for a dozen shrimp!

One jumbo shrimp (often served in shrimp cocktail), is approximately 14 calories. Therefore, three jumbo shrimp is about 45 calories. Are you suddenly in the mood for shrimp or is it just me?!

High in protein

Shrimp are consist of water and lots of protein. Here’s a fun fact, three ounces of shrimp is about 20 grams of protein. To put that into perspective, that is about the same a three ounces of chicken. Who would have thought that this tiny shellfish contains approximately the same amount of protein as white meat. Further, shrimp not only are a great source of protein, but they contain very little fat and carbohydrates. This cilantro shrimp salad is sounding better and better!

Nutrients Galore

Beyond the high protein, low fat, and low carbs that shrimp contain, they are also full of nutrients. To name a few, there is selenium, vitamin B12, phosphorous, choline, copper, and iodine. Additionally, shrimp are a source of antioxidants.

Selenium helps your immune system and thyroid function. It also fights off particles that can damage DNA, leading to premature aging and disease. I guess you could say that selenium is a fountain of youth. And the antioxidant that provides the primary color in shrimp, helps reduce inflammation which can add to premature aging and disease. I don’t know about your, but I’ll take more shrimp please!

Ingredients

I love, love, love this yummy cilantro shrimp salad. It has some key ingredients like shrimp, black beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, red onions, lime and avocado (to name a few) that come together deliciously! It’s like taking some of your favorite traditional salad items and mixing them with pasta salad items. And it is magical!

Here is what you will need for this tasty and nutritious dinner:

Dressing

  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/2 cup Lime Juice
  • 2 tsp Garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro finely chopped

Salad

  • 2 lbs Jumbo Shrimp cooked and peeled
  • 1 can Corn drained
  • 1 can Black Beans rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup Red Onions diced
  • 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1 Cucumber chopped into large pieces
  • 2 Avocados peeled, pitted, and chopped
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro finely chopped

Instructions

I not only love the taste of this cilantro shrimp salad that is truly a meal, but I absolutely love that it is super easy to make! And, I can’t stress it enough, you don’t have to cook this delicious meal…just get the pre-cooked shrimp, then you just have to chop, mix, and serve!

Here is what you will need to do:

Dressing

  • Combine dressing ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together until combined.

Salad

  • In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients and mix well.
  • Add dressing to the salad and combine well.

More Healthy Dinners

I’ll admit, I’m not the healthiest eaters all the time. I do try to eat healthy meals (sometimes, anyway!). Hey, if you can eat healthy food that tastes great and doesn’t take hours to prepare, why not eat like that on a regular basis? And if life is all about balance and moderation, eating healthy dinners can allow you to have those not-so-healthy desserts and drinks!

Here are some other dinner ideas that are pretty healthy, easy to make, and taste yummy!

Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Honey Garlic Salmon
Grilled Haddock with Lemon
Tomato Cod Butter and Herbs

Follow Me On Social Media

Don’t forget to leave a reply below or share the recipe with on social media – sharing is caring!

Print

Cilantro Shrimp Salad

Cilantro Shrimp Salad is so yummy and the perfect summer salad. It's packed with healthy ingredients that come together to make a delicious meal. Super easy to make and a family favorite.
Course Dinner, Salad, Side Dish
Keyword easy side dish, healthy dinner
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/2 cup Lime Juice
  • 2 tsp Garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro finely chopped

Salad

  • 2 lbs Jumbo Shrimp cooked and peeled
  • 1 can Corn drained
  • 1 can Black Beans rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup Red Onions diced
  • 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1 Cucumber chopped into large pieces
  • 2 Avocados peeled, pitted, and chopped
  • 1/4 cup Cilantro finely chopped

Instructions

Dressing

  • Combine dressing ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together until combined.

Salad

  • In a large bowl, combine all the salad ingredients and mix well.
  • Add dressing to the salad and combine well.
  • ENJOY!

Notes

Please note that if you don’t have pre-cooked shrimp, you will need to cook the shrimp before adding to the salad.  You can boil or saute the shrimp, either works fine.  Once cooked, let them cool in cold water for at least 15 minutes before adding to salad.
Chicken, Dinner

Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash

3 Comments

Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash is a delicious and different way to eat buffalo chicken. Served by itself, it is a great low carb or keto friendly meal. Or you could pair this with fresh bread, rice, quinoa, or cous cous and you have a well rounded, traditional meal.

Buffalo Chicken

Whether you love spicy food or can’t handle it, we can agree that we all have heard of buffalo chicken, right? Do you know when buffalo chicken originated or how we got to this era where we (to quote Frank’s Hot Sauce), “put that sh%t on everything!” ? Gather around kids. It all started back in 1964 when Teressa Belissimo used her own special sauce to cover chicken wings at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY. The wings were served with blue cheese and celery because that was available, when they were first served. Now, blue cheese is an absolute must when eating buffalo chicken. They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly!

Over the years, buffalo chicken wings gained popularity and more and more people ventured out with buffalo chicken recipes and started making buffalo chicken tenders, then putting the tenders on pizzas, in macaroni and cheese, as appetizer dips (who doesn’t love a good buffalo chicken dip?!), and so much more!

So with all the innovative ways of eating buffalo chicken, why not eat it with spaghetti squash, right? Skip the starch and go directly to the meat with buffalo chicken spaghetti squash!

Squash – Fruit or Vegetable?

If you haven’t tried spaghetti squash or haven’t heard about, it’s a pretty interesting food. While most people think of squash as being a vegetable, did you know that it is actually a fruit? I, for one, did not realize this! It’s true though.

Squash are classified as winter and summer squash. The winter varieties include butternut, acorn, pumpkin, and spaghetti squashes. While the summer squashes consist of zucchini and yellow squash. Regardless of their seasonality, they are all brightly colored, like fruit, but have mild and savory tastes, like vegetables. Therefore, it’s confusing to figure out where squash falls; fruit or vegetable?

Since fruits contain seeds and grow from flowers, and all types of squash grow from flowers, they are considered a fruit. Weird, I know!

Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash is a small, watermelon-shaped (fruit!) which can range from 2 to 5 pounds on average. It is a yellow color and consists of a very mild, nut-like flavor. When squash is cooked, the inner flesh breaks down and resembles spaghetti noodles. Making spaghetti squash a great low carbohydrate substitute for pasta.

As previously mentioned, spaghetti squash is a winter vegetable that is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Because of its low calorie, high fiber content, many believe it can assist with weight loss and aids digestion.

Ingredients Needed

Now that I’ve convinced you that this is a must-try dish, here is what you will need to make this addictive, yet healthy meal:

  • 1 Spaghetti Squash
  • 2 Celery Stalks chopped
  • 1 Orange Pepper chopped
  • 1 Red Pepper chopped
  • 4 Green Onions chopped
  • 1 pkg Ranch Dressing dry
  • 1 cup Ranch Dressing low fat, salad dressing
  • 3/4 cup Buffalo Sauce or more, if preferred
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

Making This Masterpiece

Before you look at the instructions, I’m going to warn you that it looks like a lot. However, you need to trust me, I am not a fan of complicated recipes. This is not complicated and everything can be prepped and cooked at the same time. It’s an efficient recipe so to speak : )

Here is what you will need to do (and believe me, it’s SO worth it!):

  • Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Wash and dry spaghetti squash.
  • Cut the spaghetti squash in half, lengthwise.
  • Remove the seeds and the stringy parts of the flesh. Best scooped out with a spoon.
  • Drizzle half of the olive oil all over the 2 halves and season the inside with salt and pepper.
  • Place the squash cut side down on the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 35 – 40 minutes. Poke it with a knife to check if the flesh is tender.

Buffalo Chicken

  • While the spaghetti squash is cooking, dice up the celery, peppers and green onions.
  • Next, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add chicken and season generously (both sides) with salt and pepper and some of the ranch packet . Cook until no longer pink, 10 minutes per side.
  • Transfer chicken to a plate.
  • While the spaghetti squash is cooling (at least 5 minutes), cut up the chicken in to bite size pieces, then mix together chicken, peppers, celery, and onions.
  • Add in the remaining ranch packet and stir well.
  • Turn the squash around and with a fork, gently pull the squash flesh from the skin so that it starts to look like spaghetti strands.
  • Spoon spaghetti strands into the chicken, peppers, and green onion mixture and gently mix together.
  • Next, add in the ranch salad dressing and mix well.
  • Add in the buffalo sauce and mix well.
  • Place filling mixture back into the spaqhetti squash shells.
  • Top with bleu cheese crumbles.
  • Place back in oven and cook for 10 minutes.

Low Carb

Spaghetti squash is low in calories, yet is high in fiber. Thus, making it a great food for a well rounded weight loss diet. With only 42 calories per cup, eating spaghetti squash as a low-calorie alternative in recipes like pasta, rice, or potato dishes can help promote weight loss. After all, one cup of cooked spaghetti noodles has about 200 calories and 40 grams carbohydrates.

Conversely, one cup of cooked spaghetti squash has just 40 calories and 10 grams carbohydrates. Not to mention, spaghetti squash has 2 grams of fiber per one-cup serving and has the added benefits of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and niacin.

Because spaghetti squash is a nutritious squash and is high in fiber, it is a popular low carb, low-fat, gluten-free, and vegan alternative to spaghetti noodles. Of course, it doesn’t taste exactly the same as traditional pasta, but it’s a really good compromise considering the health benefits. And with the right sauce or flavoring, you might not notice the difference at all!

More Recipes To Love

I’m sure you will love this buffalo chicken spaghetti squash. I have many other recipes that you might like. They might not all be the same taste, but they all taste great! In addition to the yummy flavor, you will be sure to love some additional healthy options.

Here are a few meals you should try:

Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Tomato Cod Butter & Herbs
Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Print

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

This buffalo chicken stuffed spaghetti squash is the best way to eat your favorite spicy food! It is a healthy and delicious meal without grease and added carbs. Nothing but yummy flavor!
Course Dinner
Keyword chicken, low carb
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 people
Author jenahoward

Ingredients

  • 1 Spaghetti Squash
  • 2 Celery Stalks chopped
  • 1 Orange Pepper chopped
  • 1 Red Pepper chopped
  • 4 Green Onions chopped
  • 1 pkg Ranch Dressing dry
  • 1 cup Ranch Dressing low fat, salad dressing
  • 3/4 cup Buffalo Sauce or more if preferred
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste

Instructions

Spaghetti Squash

  • Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Wash and dry spaghetti squash.
  • Cut the spaghetti squash in half, lengthwise.
  • Remove the seeds and the stringy parts of the flesh. Best scooped out with a spoon.
  • Drizzle half of the olive oil all over the 2 halves and season the inside with salt and pepper.
  • Place the squash cut side down on the baking sheet.
  • Bake for 35 – 40 minutes. Poke it with a knife to check if the flesh is tender.

Buffalo Chicken

  • While the spaghetti squash is cooking, dice up the celery, peppers and green onions.
  • Next, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add chicken and season generously (both sides) with salt and pepper and some of the ranch packet . Cook until no longer pink, 10 minutes per side.
  • Transfer chicken to a plate.
  • While the spaghetti squash is cooling (at least 5 minutes), cut up the chicken in to bite size pieces, then mix together chicken, peppers, celery, and onions.
  • Add in the remaining ranch packet and stir well.
  • Turn the squash around and with a fork, gently pull the squash flesh from the skin so that it starts to look like spaghetti strands.
  • Spoon spaghetti strands into the chicken, peppers, and green onion mixture and gently mix together.
  • Next, add in the ranch salad dressing and mix well.
  • Add in the buffalo sauce and mix well.
  • Place filling mixture back into the spaqhetti squash shells.
  • Top with bleu cheese crumbles.
  • Place back in oven and cook for 10 minutes.
  • ENJOY!
Dinner, Fish, haddock

Grilled Haddock

1 Comment

Grilled Haddock is the perfect meal to serve in the summer time. Actually, it is the perfect meal to serve any time of year! If you live in colder climates in the winter, just make sure your grill is accessible and you can make this yummy dinner year round.

You will love the ease of this dish, not to mention, you will love the delightful taste of haddock, lemon, dill, and just a touch of butter. Simple, yet delicious!

Haddock

Haddock is a saltwater fish that is found in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a popular white fish which consists of a mild taste just like that of cod. Additionally, haddock has many of the same health benefits as cod. A little trivia for you…young, fresh haddock and cod fillets are often sold as scrod in Boston, Massachusetts. Have you ever heard of Scrod before? Probably not, if you live outside of Boston area! The size of the fish dictates whether it is called Haddock, Cod, or Scrod. Weird, right?

Haddock is a lean protein, making it better for you than red meat. Additionally, there are many other benefits that come along with haddock such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and magnesium. These vitamins and minerals improve digestion, level hormones, strengthen bones, promote brain function, and help to prevent cancer, along with many other health benefits.

Dill

Dill which comes from dill weed is a plant in the parsley family. It is boosts digestion and can provide relief with hiccups, diarrhea, menstrual disorders, respiratory disorders, and various types of cancers. Dill is widely used with pickles. And, it just so happens that my favorite potato chips are Lay’s Dill Pickle Flavored Potato Chips. Therefore, I am a huge fan of this combination! Another popular use for dill is to flavor fish with it. It brings a mild tasting fish like haddock to a whole new level of tastiness. Also, it raises up the healthy factor a few notches as well.

If you are looking to grow this amazing herb, you should know that it is an annual herb that is closely related to celery. As such, it tends to replant itself and spreads widely. A low maintenance herb! Ideal for someone who doesn’t want to tend to their garden constantly.

Grill Mats

I recently bought grill mats as Father’s Day gift and just tried them out. I’m obsessed! First of all, your grill stays clean! No more scrubbing grill grates after you finish cooking your meal. No more wasting propane to heat the grill grates for easier cleaning. Just wash the grill mats with soap and water, let them dry (they dry quickly!), and then put them away.

Additionally, you when grilling fish, veggies, or small pieces of meat, you won’t need foil to keep your food from slipping through the grill grates. Just place it directly on the grill mat and cook away! I have the Aoocan Grill Mats, but there are many out there to choose from. If you have tried a grill mat, you know how great they are. If you haven’t tried one yet, do yourself a favor and get one!

Ingredients Needed

You don’t need many ingredients to make this deliciously healthy dinner. Just a few key items and you will be ready to go!

  • 2 lbs Haddock
  • 2 Lemons juiced
  • 1/2 bunch Dill fresh – and chopped
  • Sea Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp Butter melted

How To Make

Whether it is too hot to turn the oven on or you just want a change of pace, grilling is a great way to cook dinner. Grilling offers a healthy way of cooking and it is so easy to clean up!

Here is what you need to do to make this yummy dinner:

  • Preheat the grill to medium heat. Add grill mat(s) to the grill.
  • Pat the haddock with paper towels to soak up the liquid in the fish.
  • Add sea salt and pepper to the fish (both sides).
  • Cover the haddock with the juice from the lemons, making sure to evenly cover the pieces.
  • Top haddock with dill, there is no such thing as too much!
  • Once grill reaches at least 400 degrees F, add the haddock to the grill mat(s).
  • Reduce heat to medium low and pull grill cover down.
  • Cook for 5 minutes. Then check how the haddock looks.
  • Cook for an additional 3-5 more minutes (depending on thickness of the haddock).
  • Melt butter in the microwave in a microwavable safe dish.
  • Remove haddock from the grill and drizzle melted butter over haddock.
  • Serve immediately.

Healthy Dinner

After reading through this recipe for grilled haddock, it is apparent that this is a healthy dinner that is easy to make. The haddock itself has numerous health benefits and the dill does as well. Appreciate eating clean with this minimal ingredient meal that is grilled versus fried. Thus, this dish is a super healthy meal that is perfect for a delicious, eat outside, dinner. Nothing says summer more than grilling and eating dinner outside in the fresh air! Ah, summer!

More Healthy Meals

For more healthy meals that taste great and are easy to make, check out the following recipes! Check out the meals with fish, chicken, and ground turkey recipes as well. Of course, these are not the only healthy meals that I have recipes for, but these are definitely worth checking out. Add them to your meal plan for this month. They are all great for any season. And did I mention they are easy to make?

Tomato Cod Butter & Herbs
Honey Garlic Salmon
Hawaiian Chicken
Egg Roll In A Bowl
Print

Grilled Haddock

Grilled Haddock is a quick and easy dinner that tastes great! A healthy meal that consists of haddock, lemon, dill, salt, pepper, and a dash of melted butter right before serving.
Course Dinner
Keyword fish, Haddock, healthy dinner
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs Haddock
  • 2 Lemons juiced
  • 1/2 bunch Dill fresh – and chopped
  • Sea Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • 2 tbsp Butter melted

Instructions

  • Preheat the grill to medium heat. Add grill mat(s) to the grill.
  • Pat the haddock with paper towels to soak up the liquid in the fish.
  • Add sea salt and pepper to the fish (both sides).
  • Cover the haddock with the juice from the lemons, making sure to evenly cover the pieces.
  • Top haddock with dill, there is no such thing as too much!
  • Once grill reaches at least 400 degrees F, add the haddock to the grill mat(s).
  • Reduce heat to medium low and pull grill cover down.
  • Cook for 5 minutes. Then check how the haddock looks.
  • Cook for an additional 3-5 more minutes (depending on thickness of the haddock).
  • Melt butter in the microwave in a microwavable safe dish.
  • Remove haddock from the grill and drizzle melted butter over haddock.
  • Serve immediately.
  • ENJOY!