Go-To Crock Pot Chicken

Who doesn't need another go-to chicken recipe? Can't get enough of those! This one is quick-promise....and super yummy. Kids eat it-need I say more?


2-3 chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 can chicken broth
1 packet onion soup mix

Cut chicken in bite size pieces (before you put in the cp, or after it has cooked for a bit) and place all ingredients in the crockpot. Let cook for about 3-5 hours (depending on high or low cook setting) and Serve over pasta or rice (whichever your kids will eat better).

Luke's hamburger stroganoff

I could not get a clear picture and got tired of trying, so this is what you get.
But trust me, even if the picture isn't appetizing, the food is!

1 pound hamburger, browned
2 cans of Cream of Mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 cups corn (we all like the frozen white corn from Costco)

1 pound of pasta (penne, egg noodles, etc)

Simmer browned hamburger, cream of mushroom soup, milk and corn until warmed through.
Serve over pasta. 

Toppings:  Mrs. Dash (really yummy on this meal!), cheese, tomatoes

***Luke - please edit if I have anything wrong! :)

Three cheese chicken penne pasta bake

This was delicious!!! I found it in one of my Kraft Food magazines. I did make some variations.

1 1/2 cups multigrain penne pasta, uncooked (I used more and I didn't have multigrain)
1 pkg (9oz.) fresh spinach leaves (I used 6 oz.)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp. dried basil leaves (I didn't have any)

1 jar (14 1/2 oz.) spaghetti sauce

1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes drained (I used 4 fresh tomatoes)

2 oz (1/4 of 8 oz. pkg) cream cheese

1 cup mozzarella cheese, divided

2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375 F. Cook pasta, adding spinach to boiling water for last 1 min. Cook and stir chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat for 3 minutes. Add sauce and tomatoes; bring to boil. Simmer 3 min or until chicken is done. Stir in cream cheese.

Drain pasta mixture; return to pan. Stir in chicken mixture and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spoon into 2-qt baking dish. Bake 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Bake 3 minutes.

Red Cream Sauce

(I forgot to take a photo of the meal I made, so I borrowed the photo from THIS site.)

My garlic cloves were a little big, so I think I'll use a little less next time. Also, make sure you have enough salt so it isn't bland. :) 

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2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
2 cans (15 oz. each) Tomato Sauce 
Salt And Pepper, to taste
Dash Of Sugar (more To Taste)
1/2 C. Half and Half or Cream
1/2 C. Milk
Grated Parmesan Cheese, To Taste
1 tsp. dried basil
1-½ lb. Pasta

Saute onion and garlic in oil until onions are translucent.  Add tomato sauce, salt, pepper, basil and sugar.  Simmer on low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Cook pasta according to package directions.  Add half and half and milk to sauce, stirring to combine.  Sprinkle in cheese then toss with cooked pasta.  Serve with additional parmesan cheese if desired.

Baked Lemon Pasta

 Ingredients

§  1 pound Thin Spaghetti

§  4 Tablespoons Salted Butter

§  2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

§  2 cloves Garlic, Minced

§  1 whole Lemon, Juiced And Zested

§  2 cups Sour Cream

§  ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt, Or More To Taste

§  Plenty Of Grated Parmesan Cheese

§  Flat-leaf Parsley, Chopped

§  Extra Lemon Juice

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook spaghetti until al dente.

In a skillet, melt butter with olive oil over LOW HEAT. When butter is melted, add minced garlic. Squeeze lemon juice into the pan. Turn off heat.

Add sour cream and stir mixture together. Add lemon zest and salt. Taste, then add more salt if necessary. Pour mixture over drained spaghetti and stir together, then pour spaghetti into an oven safe dish.

Bake, covered, for 15 minutes. Then remove foil and bake for an additional 7 to 10 minutes. (Don’t bake too long or the pasta will dry out.)

When you remove it from the oven, squeeze a little more lemon juice over the top. Top generously with Parmesan cheese, then chopped parsley. Give it a final squeeze of lemon juice at the end.

Serve with crusty French bread and a simple green salad.

Creamy Baked Ziti

We ate green salad with this dish and it was really good. I think next time I'll throw in some chicken chunks or browned hamburger.
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4 cups ziti pasta, uncooked (I used whole wheat Penne pasta instead)

1 jar (26 oz.) marinara sauce

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

6 oz. (3/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed

3/4 cup Sour Cream

1 pkg. (8 oz.) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 

1/3 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

HEAT oven to 375ºF.

COOK pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt. Remove from pan; drain. Meanwhile, add marinara sauce, tomatoes and cream cheese to same pan; cook on medium heat 5 min. or until cream cheese is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently. Return pasta to pan; mix well.

LAYER half the pasta mixture in 13×9-inch baking dish; cover with layers of sour cream, 1 cup mozzarella and remaining pasta mixture. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.

BAKE 20 min. or until heated through.

Make Ahead: The pasta dish may be covered and refrigerated up to 8 hours before baking. Increase baking time to 30 to 35 min. or until heated through.

Chicken Alfredo

Chicken Alfredo

1 lb pasta (Fettuccine or whatever. I've been using whole wheat Penne pasta.)

1/2 c. parmesan cheese

1/2 c. butter (or margarine)

1 c. milk (or cream)

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 c. parsley (chopped)(fresh is best, but dry is ok)

2 cooked chicken breasts* (diced)

tomatoes, green onions (diced) (opt)

grated mozzarella cheese (opt)

salt & pepper

Cook & drain pasta.

In a small pan heat milk and butter on low heat. Do not boil. (While it is heating I put the parmesan cheese and spices together in a bowl so they are ready to throw in.)

Add spices & cheese. Heat through.

Add sauce to pasta and toss gently to coat. Mix in diced chicken.

Sprinkle diced tomatoes, onions, & chopped parsley on top. Can sprinkle with a little extra parmesan cheese & a little mozzarella. Salt & pepper to taste.

Serve immediately.

*I cooked my chicken in the crockpot for a few hours on high. Super easy! Then just chopped it up in bite size pieces and mixed it in. Or you can boil it in water on the stove, or grill it. I also like to sprinkle the chicken with a little garlic salt...

Four Cheese Pasta Florentine

3 cups mostaccioli, uncooked
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach
4 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1 cup cottage cheese
2 eggs
1 pkg (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile cook spinach as directed on package; drain well. Place in large bowl. Add cream cheese; stir until melted. Stir in cottage cheese and eggs until well blended. Drain pasta and add to spinach mixture with mozzarella. Mix lightly. Spoon into 8 or 9 inch square baking dish. Top with parmesan. Bake for 25 minutes.

This was really good. I am going to add chicken next time to make it even better!

Ham n Cheese Pasta

8 ounces pasta (bow tie, elbow, flower, etc.)
1/4 cup butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 1/2 cups shredded Colby cheese
4 ounces cooked ham, diced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.

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In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Saute garlic 30 seconds. Whisk in flour and pepper. Cook and stir until smooth. Pour in milk, a little at a time, stirring constantly. (Don't let it burn!) Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Stir in mustard and Colby. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted. Remove from heat and stir in pasta and ham.
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Pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

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Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

Pizza Pasta

1/2 lb - 1 lb Rotini pasta (other pasta will work also)
1-3 cup Spaghetti Sauce (I used Hunts Traditional Spaghetti Sauce)
1 can olives
1/2 can pineapple tidbits
1/2 pkg sliced pepperoni
Colby jack cheese
Parmesan cheese

*You can put any of your favorite pizza toppings in this! (hamburger, sausage, Canadian bacon, peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato, etc.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Boil your pasta until tender. Pour in 9x13 casserole dish. Pour spaghetti sauce in. Mix in all of your toppings, except your cheese. Sprinkle desired amount of cheese on top (use any combination of cheese). Heat for 20-30 min until everything is heated through and the cheese is melted on top.