Meals are always a topic that I'm constantly throwing around with other mom friends! It seems as though meals can sometimes be as inspiring as they can be daunting when it comes to little picky eaters and the natural ebbs and flows of busy mom life. But I'm a believer that sometimes we just need a little inspiration and confidence, knowing that it doesn't take a whole lot to make a good meal. There are lots of recipes that can have multiple steps, extra sauces to make, and extra bowls to fill, but my favorite recipes are the ones that are more focused on simplicity, variety in flavor, seasonings, nutrient dense, and can be thrown into a pot or pan with little prep (and comes out in about 30 minutes or so). It's always fun to see what kinds of meals people are gravitated towards, based on their upbringing or their definition of comfort food, but the best comfort food is also nourishing and feeling good about what we are eating. Below are my delicious go-to healthy recipes from around the world that even my kids love to eat! Feel free to click on the links for the full recipe I use!
The chicken pomodoro is a fun way to mix up an simple chicken recipe, and is a great way to use up some extra tomatoes if you don't know what to do with them. Last fall, I had a couple friends over for a farm-to-table dinner I made from everything in our garden, including some cherry tomatoes that were perfect for the pomodoro. With a few seasonings, the chicken is cooked to perfection with the tomatoes, white wine and chicken broth, leaving it moist and flavorful. It can easily be topped onto some pasta or compliment a side of rice with some other veggies. You can't go wrong with a pomodoro!
This is one of my favorites due to it being one of the easiest throw-together-in-one-pan-and-into-the-oven kind of meal! It's loaded with nutrients with it's veggies and has incredible flavor with rosemary and garlic sprinkled on top before roasted! Although there is some preparation with chopping the chicken and veggies beforehand, it's straight forward and well worth it! The balsamic glazed chicken is a must-try!
With quick and easy prep in the morning before you throw it into the slow cooker, the slow cooker beef stew is a classic staple that feels like comfort food, is nutrient dense, and filled with flavor. You can also pressure cook it if you want and it will still turn out amazing! Stews can be often forgotten or underestimated, but rain, or shine, this recipe will easily be a family favorite!
I grew up hearing my dad talk about how he was raised on shepherd's pie (aka bubbles and squeak in his British upbringing terms), and since I was a little girl, shepherd's pie always felt like a treat (even though the concept came from throwing leftovers together in a dish and roasting it in the oven). It's packed with veggies and is topped with creamy mashed potatoes and contains herbs that bring out so much flavor! I will one day have this on my website, but for now, I make mine closest to this recipe here. Ever have loads of leftover mashed potatoes? Top them onto some meat and veggies and throw it in the oven!
5. Fajitas
Fajitas are great for larger gatherings or for quick meals, either served with tortillas or made into a bowl over rice and beans. Either way, grilling some chicken with bell peppers, onions, and a few spices is a simple way to spice up a meal. Fajitas are my easy go-to when I've run out of options and want something doctored up in 30 minutes or less on a busier day. I'm always down for fajitas!
This is one my kids LOVE! I'm not sure if it's because they love rice, or if it's the sauce, maybe a combination of both! Teriyaki chicken gets rotated probably the most because I'll make anything my kids like! And this recipe is actually healthy as it is a paleo recipe and is as simple as it gets. You can substitute most of the ingredients for a teriyaki sauce if you don't have them on hand, but sometimes I will even just cook everything in coconut aminos and that's all I need! I love how you can do as much or as little as you want with this recipe!
I am a pasta lover, I admit! I especially love pasta that has spinach and sausage in the mix! I love everything about this recipe (maybe minus the cayenne and chili flakes) as I love Italian food, but whether you love spicy or not, this pasta is an easy and quick recipe to make and will give you a small taste of Italy! If you are craving a good pasta dish one day, try this one!
8. Chili
Chili is a rainy day favorite in our household, but it is such a crowd pleaser either way! This recipe calls for multiple canned goods, but you can also make do with fresh cooked legumes and tomatoes! Another great recipe that can be cooked for hosted gatherings or parties, chili can be either prepped in the morning and slow cooked, or thrown into an instant pot and ready within an hour! Don't underestimate that this is a Wendy's copycat recipe, it sure is tasty!!
Another fun and cultural recipe that my kids love is this Greek Lemon Chicken and Orzo recipe. Thankfully orzo can easily be substituted with rice if you don't have it on hand, but the combination of cooked and fresh ingredients is what makes this meal so delicious! It is refreshing and can be enjoyed year round! If you're looking for a switch up, this quick and easy recipe is a great one to try!
I also grew up on meals that had lots of sauce to go around, and if you love a creamy sauce, this chicken marsala with bacon will not disappoint! To me, it just feels like home. Plus anything that calls for bacon in a recipe is a done deal (I know my husband agrees). This recipe also calls for mushrooms, which are high in zinc and great for immunity, and if you prefer to leave them out, that's totally ok too. This recipe in particular is paleo as well as whole 30, so simple substitutions can be made if you don't have certain ingredients on hand. Either way, it's full of flavor and I definitely recommend it on all levels!
Which recipes are you wanting to try this month? If there's anything to enjoy, it's a good meal that's been made with love. And whether it was made quick and easy, or long and labored with love, meals are what bring us together. My hope is that you leave here feeling inspired and confident to make meals that will nourish your family, as they will also bring you all together. I have learned that we don't always need fancy meals or ingredients to make a meal special, and you certainly don't need to spend hours on end making it perfect (although some meals are just labored with love and it's definitely appreciated). It's about the love and thought put into whatever you make, whether it's thrown together creatively, or fully thought through or adorned with every topping. Its not just warmth and comfort that food brings, it's the togetherness, and that is what makes food special.