Cheesy Crockpot Meatball Pasta

 

Cheesy Crockpot Meatball Pasta

Super easy and delicious, a nice change from just my regular spaghetti recipe. Usually frozen meatballs aren't that great, but this brand was really good....we were impressed! The only change I made was I added an onion, because I had one already chopped. I liked that it was pretty much dump and go, without being too salty and generic like most easy crockpot recipes are.

Click here for the Cheesy Crockpot Meatball Pasta by Cooking In The Midwest

Taco Pasta

 

Taco Pasta

I forgot to grab a picture! Dinnertime is a bit chaotic because the baby is about ready for bed by then so he's a bit grumpy.

This was okay. I wouldn't make it again unless someone asked for it, but it was easy and budget friendly. It was a smidge bland and could have used more cheese. My son didn't say anything about it, and my husband was on a work trip so he didn't try it.

Click here for the Taco Pasta recipe from BudgetBytes

EveryPlate Creamy Tomato & Pork Sausage Linguine

 

EveryPlate Creamy Tomato & Pork Sausage Linguine

This was really good, easy to recreate at home too. I threw in half a chopped giant zucchini since we have so much from the garden, and some red pepper flakes. Other then that I made the recipe as written! I'd get it again for sure. I really liked the ciabatta with the homemade garlic & herb butter!

Cheesy Sausage Pasta

 

Cheesy Sausage Pasta

This was really good! I have to say I was worried because it doesn't actually call for any spices. So I did add salt, pepper and garlic powder just in case. I also added in some jarlic and a couple small bell peppers because I had them to use. I also had to substitute the monterey jack cheese for fiesta cheese because that's all they had. I used Target brand andouille chicken sausage. I'd make this again! I actually was going to add in some of the refrigerated squeeze cilantro because we have it, but I forgot. I bet it would add some bright flavor. 

Click here for the Cheesy Sausage Pasta recipe from BudgetBytes

Caesar Protein Chicken Veggie Pasta

 

Caesar Protein Veggie Pasta

   This is super good! 

I just used:

- 1 rotisserie chicken

- 1 bag of mini cucumbers

- 1 pint of cherry tomatoes

- 1 box Barilla protein pasta

- 1 bottle Bolthouse caesar dressing

- 1/4 red onion

- Juice of 1 lemon

- salt, pepper, garlic powder, dry dill

Not pictured:

- Chopped lettuce

I just chopped and mixed everything together. Next time for a higher protein/lower calorie option I might try half a bottle of Bolthouse with half greek yogurt and extra seasoning to make up for the loss of flavor. Bolthouse is already low calorie but more protein is always good. The lettuce I'm adding per bowl so it doesn't get soggy.

I love love love this and need this in my fridge at all times now. 

Creamy Rigatoni with Boursin Cheese and Parmesan Green Beans

 

Creamy Rigatoni with Boursin Cheese and Parmesan Green Beans 

   This was really good and really quick, I'll definitely make this again. The green beans were just microwaved steamable that I added a little bit of butter with salt/pepper/garlic and parmesan cheese.

Click here for the Creamy Rigatoni with Boursin Cheese recipe from What'sMomCookin

Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta with Basil

Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta with Basil

Recipe inspired by BritsCookin on Tiktok

   I was trying to use up some chicken thighs we had and no one wanted the boring chicken, side dish veggie that I do a lot. I found this video on Tiktok and pretty much followed it.

   I cooked the pasta the same but used rigatoni since that's what we had. While the rigatoni was cooking I chopped up 3 chicken thighs and tossed it in garlic powder/salt/pepper/Italian seasoning. I cooked it in a skillet in some olive oil until done. Then I removed the chicken and cooked 1/2 a big white onion in the same skillet, then I added some jarlic and red pepper near the end of the onion being done. I tossed in a stick of butter (such a healthy recipe) until that melted then 1 cup of the reserved pasta water and added everything together (with a handful of chopped basil from the garden) until it thickened. 

   I didn't have any fresh parm to grate over it so I just used a big handful of shredded mozzarella. Once that was melted I plated it and added some more red pepper, canned parm and a few more bits of chopped basil.

Yummy and easy.

 

Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

 

Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta 

   This wasn't very good, it just tastes too processed with the BWW sauce. I knew it would probably taste too processed but I was hoping with all the rest of the ingredients it would be okay. I did roast up 3 bell peppers and added in some spinach to add in veggies. But I won't be making this again.

   Click here for the Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta by Pound Dropper

UPDATE:

    This actually tasted amazing the next day as leftovers, I guess it just needed a little time to marinate, and we will be making it again. 

High Protein Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

 

High Protein Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

  This was SO GOOD. I used Banza chickpea pasta for the extra protein, and you really can't even tell when it's mixed with the rest of the ingredients. The caesar dressing is also delicious, I'm picky with caesar and I'll definitely be making it again! Everyone loved it. I did just eyeball the ingredients for the dressing but it's very forgiving. Oh I also used a rotisserie chicken to make it even easier. 

  Click here for the caesar pasta salad recipe by Pound Dropper
  Click here for the caesar dressing recipe by Pound Dropper

Nashville Hot Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Caesar Salad

 

Nashville Hot Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Caesar Salad

     This was a quick clean out the pantry meal, and it was delicious. I just diced and tossed chicken in Nashville Hot Seasoning, then sauteed until cooked. I made the pasta and when it was draining I added garlic and pepper with a little butter and a jar of alfredo to the pot. Then mixed the pasta with that to warm it all up. The caesar salad is just a salad kit and I added a few Texas Toast crotons on top. 

Homemade Mac & Cheese with Green Beans

Homemade Mac & Cheese with Green Beans 

    This mac and cheese was just okay, it was kinda bland. I hand grated sharp cheddar but maybe I should of used extra sharp. I had a mac & cheese recipe a few years ago that was amaaaaaazing, I wish I could find it! The green beans were just a steamable bag that I added salt/pepper/garlic seasoning with a splash of lemon juice. Still on the hunt to get a great mac & cheese recipe!

  Click here for the Simple Mac and Cheese recipe by Amanda & Styles
 

Lemon Chicken Parm Pasta

 

Lemon Chicken Parm Pasta

  This recipe was not that great. It was so bland!. I even only added about 3/4 of the cooked pasta, I felt like it was going to be too much pasta. I also added about a half cup of reserved pasta water with chicken broth to help give it some moisture. Next time I'd add more lemon and check out other recipes to make more off a sauce since it's so dry. There is a million recipes like this so I'd probably find another one, because I usually love lemon pasta.

Click here for the Lemon Chicken Pasta recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch

Hello Fresh Chicken Sausage Rigatoni In a Creamy Sauce

Hello Fresh Chicken Sausage Rigatoni In a Creamy Sauce

    I thought I was getting some Korean bbq thing so I don't know what happened lol. I thought this was pretty good, my husband didn't really care for it since he doesn't really like rigatoni. I liked the hint of lemon with the red pepper, and it worked out okay even though I forgot to reserve pasta water. I wouldn't order it again though. 

 

Hello Fresh Southwest Beef Cavatappi Skillet

 

Hello Fresh Southwest Beef Cavatappi Skillet

 Click here for the recipe card for Hello Fresh Southwest Beef Cavatappi Skillet

  This was good, it's not normally something I'd make because my family have told me many times they don't really like southwest/tex-mex. I do, I love it lol. But everyone liked it, and it wasn't very spicy so my son could eat it just fine. My husband added hot sauce.

Cheesy Cajun Sausage Pasta

 

Cheesy Cajun Sausage Pasta

  This was delicious, but I added some cajun seasoning and it ended up too salty tasting even though I didn't add any additional salt. Oh well, next time I'll just add a bit less cajun seasoning. 

  Click here for the Cheesy Cajun Sausage Pasta recipe by Budget Bytes

UPDATE: I wanted to note, that Ethan LOVED this and wanted the leftovers for lunch. He never does that lol.

One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

 

One Pot Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

I've made this recipe before and it's delicious. The only thing I did differently was I cooked the onions and chicken together with minced garlic and added some cumin to the spice mix. I didn't remove the chicken mixture, I just added the rest of the ingredients. Delicious and very flavorful.

The broccoli was just a bag of steamable broccoli that I mixed with a little butter, garlic, salt/pepper, and lemon juice. 

Click here for the Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe from Budget Bytes

20 Minute Creamy Tuna Pesto Pasta

   It's not the prettiest dish, but this 20 Minute Creamy Tuna Pasta by Homemade Mastery is delicious! My favorite part is that it's all pantry staples! If you like tuna melts or really anything with tuna that you'll love this. The pesto adds so much flavor, and it's full of veggies so that makes me happy. Everyone loved it so I'll be making it again for sure.

  As a side I just steamed up some broccoli and tossed it with a little lemon juice, garlic, salt/pepper, and butter.

Quick Weeknight Garlic & Herb Red Lentil Pasta 6 Points

 

  I had planned for leftovers tonight, but there was way less leftovers then I had thought there would be! So I threw this pasta side dish together with what I had on hand. I just cooked the pasta and at the last 2 minutes of cooking time I tossed in the peas and spinach. Then once drained, I dumped it back in the pot and mixed everything together. It's not very pretty much it's healthy, tasty and filling.

- 1 box red lentil pasta. Each cup is 5 points.

- 3/4 cup of peas. 0 points.

- Half a bag of frozen spinach. 0 points.

- 5 Laughing Cow Garlic and Herb cheese wedges. 1 wedge is 1 point, so I just estimated there was a point worth on each serving.

- Seasoned with my heart these following seasonings: garlic, onion, pepper, salt, red pepper flakes, and Italian. 

- 1 splash of milk. This probably wasn't necessary but I felt like the Laughing Cow cheese wasn't quite wet enough.

- Fat Free Parm

  This could easily be a meal by adding a protein, or to make it even EASIER, just air fry some frozen Tyson chicken for like 8 minutes.