5 Easy Weeknight Meals to Make Back-to-School a breeze

Summer trips have come to an end, and back-to-school season is taking over. Kids are buzzing with excitement, ready to see their friends and moms’ are preparing themselves to hear the dreaded age-old question…

Whether it’s waiting in the school pickup line, driving to and from sports practices, or going to the grocery store and spending endless amounts of money on food, parents have plenty on their plate this time of year..

But this time around, there’s no need to worry! With AdapTable Meals pre-seasoned meats, flavor and convenience go hand-in-hand.

We have five easy weeknight meals, all ready to be served in 45 minutes or less, to make your back-to-school season a breeze. Enjoy more time with your family and less time worrying about dinner!

Here are 5 Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Lemon Chicken & Pasta

This Lemon Chicken and Pasta recipe only takes 20 minutes to perfect. So grab your AdapTable® Meals Lemon Peppercorn Chicken Breast and prepare to make a delicious meal!

Total: 20 mins | Servings: 8

Ingredients

• AdapTable® Meals Lemon Peppercorn Chicken Breast

• 9 oz. fresh fettuccine pasta (dry pasta can be used as a substitute)

• 6 to 10 oz. bagged baby spinach

• 2 C grated parmesan + additional for garnish/roughly 6 ounces

• 2 large lemons

• 6 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tsp salt

• 1 C reserved pasta water

• 2 Tbsp olive oil

• 6 Tbsp butter

• Parsley for garnish (optional)

Method

1. Cook the Pasta:

   - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

   - Add the linguine noodles and cook according to package directions.

   - Reserve one cup of pasta water, then strain the pasta and set aside.

2. Prepare the Chicken:

   - Remove the chicken from the package and pat dry with a paper towel.

   - Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

   - Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

   - Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.

3. Make the Sauce:

   - In the same skillet, add butter and garlic, cooking until fragrant.

   - Add 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water and lemon juice, simmering on medium heat while loosening any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

   - Add parmesan cheese and stir until melted.

   - Add spinach to the pan and gently stir. Before the spinach is fully wilted, add the pasta and coat evenly with the sauce. Remove from heat.

   - If the sauce is too thick or the pasta is stiff, use additional reserved pasta water (1/4 cup at a time) to thin.

4. Combine and Serve:

   - Add the chicken back into the pan to coat with the sauce.

   - Serve family-style or portion onto plates.

   - Top with additional parmesan cheese.

Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes

Enjoy tenderness, crispiness, and the aroma of spices with this Sheet Pan AdapTable Meals® Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes recipe.

Cooked in 45 Minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• AdapTable Meals® Onion, Garlic, and Bell Pepper Boneless Pork Half Loins

• ⅓ cup brown sugar

• 2 tsp. garlic

• 2 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce

• 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

• ⅛ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

• ¼ tsp. smoked paprika - optional

• 1 ½ – 2 pounds baby red and gold potatoes - halved

• 3 tbsp. Oil

• salt and pepper to taste

• ½ tsp. Italian blend herbs

• ½ tsp. garlic powder

• ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese

Method

1. Preheat and Prepare:

   - Preheat oven to 425°F.

   - Grease a sheet pan.

   - Line one half of the sheet pan with foil, folding up the sides about 2 inches from the edge to create a "tray" for the pork.

2. Prepare the Pork Tenderloin:

   - Place the tenderloin in the center of the foil tray.

   - Pat the tenderloin dry with a paper towel.

   - Mix brown sugar, garlic, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, red pepper flakes, and paprika.

   - Pour the mixture over the pork tenderloin, turning the tenderloin over a couple of times to ensure all sides are coated.

3. Prepare the Potatoes:

   - Arrange the potatoes on the other half of the sheet pan (non-foil half).

   - Drizzle the potatoes with oil and toss to coat.

   - Season with salt, pepper, Italian herbs, garlic powder, and parmesan cheese.

4. Bake:

   - Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes.

   - Use tongs to turn the pork over in the sauces every 5-10 minutes.

   - Optionally, switch the oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes to brown the pork and potatoes, observing to prevent burning.

5. Serve:

   - Allow the pork to rest for 5 minutes before slicing into 1-inch sections.

   - Serve the pork tenderloin slices with the roasted potatoes.

Tomato Herb Chicken with Honey Whipped Feta

4 AdapTable Meals® Tomato Herb Chicken Breasts is the way to go with this Tomato Herb Chicken and Honey Whipped Feta recipe. It features russet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and a hint of spiciness.

Total: 30 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 AdapTable Meals® Tomato Herb Chicken Breasts

• 4 medium russet potatoes, cut into wedges

• 6 tbsp. olive oil, divided

• salt and black pepper

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes

• pinch of red pepper flakes

• 3 garlic cloves

• 2 fresh thyme sprigs

Honey Whipped Feta:

• 1 block feta (8 ounces)

• 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• 2 tsp. honey

Method

1. Preheat the Oven:

   - Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Roast Potatoes:

   - Toss the potatoes with two tablespoons of olive oil on a sheet pan and season generously with salt and pepper.

   - Roast for 20-25 minutes, tossing halfway through.

3. Sear the Chicken:

   - Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat with two tablespoons of olive oil.

   - Once hot, sear the chicken for about 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown.

4. Add Tomatoes and Aromatics:

   - During the last couple minutes of searing, add the tomatoes, garlic, thyme, and remaining two tablespoons of olive oil to the skillet.

   - Season lightly with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

5. Finish Cooking in the Oven:

   - Transfer the skillet to the oven and finish cooking alongside the potatoes, about 8-12 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

   - Remove from the oven and gently smash some of the tomatoes with a fork to release their juices.

6. Make the Whipped Feta:

   - Meanwhile, add all the whipped feta ingredients to a food processor or blender.

   - Pulse until smooth and creamy.

7. Assemble and Serve:

   - To serve, spread the whipped feta onto plates.

   - Top with potatoes and chicken.

   - Spoon the tomato sauce over the chicken and potatoes.

   - Garnish with fresh basil.

Easy Chorizo Pasta

Saucy pasta plus AdapTable Meals® Chorizo Pork Sausage makes a tasty dish to treat your family with!

Prep: 10 min | Cook: 20 mins | Total: 30 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• AdapTable Meals® Chorizo Pork Sausage cut into small pieces

• 8 oz. uncooked pasta

• 1/2 tbsp. olive oil

• 1/2 small onion chopped finely

• 3 cloves garlic minced

• 1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes with juices

• 1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Method

1. Cook the Pasta:

   - Boil a large, salted pot of water for the pasta.

   - Cook the pasta until al dente according to package directions.

2. Cook the Chorizo:

   - Meanwhile, add olive oil and chorizo in a skillet over medium-high heat.

   - Fry the chorizo until it just starts to get crispy (around 5 minutes).

3. Add Onion:

   - Add the onion to the skillet and cook until softened (about 5 minutes).

4. Make the Sauce:

   - Stir in the garlic, tomatoes, and cream.

   - Let the sauce cook for another 5 minutes or until the sauce is reduced to your liking.

   - Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

5. Combine and Serve:

   - Toss the sauce with the cooked pasta.

   - Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese if desired.

BBQ Chicken Salad

This BBQ Chicken Salad recipe is one to try if you’re looking for a quick and easy dish to make.

Total: 15 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• AdapTable® Meals Kansas Style BBQ Chicken Breast

• 1/4 C Roasted Corn

• 1/4 C Black Beans

• 1/4 C Tortilla Strips

• 1/4 C Red Onion

• 1/2 C Cherry Tomatoes

• 1 Avocado

• 4 C Iceberg Lettuce

Jalapeno Cilantro Dressing

• 3/4 C Greek Yogurt

• 1 Lime, juiced

• 2 tsp Salt

• 1/2 C Fresh Cilantro

• 1/4 of a Jalapeño (more if desired)

Method

• Combine all the Jalapeño Cilantro Dressing ingredients and blend them in a food processor.

• Then, assemble your salad ingredients in your favorite bowl, add the dressing, and garnish with fresh cilantro.

There’s More Where That Came From!

AdapTable Meals has a wide range of pre-seasoned pork, beef, and chicken products, ready to be cooked. You can also find more Meal Ideas here.

Then check out our Store Locator to find AdapTable Meals near you.