See all Posts in the Recipe Corner Series
It’s almost back to school time. Schedules may be getting tighter; work responsibilities might be increasing. That doesn’t matter: dinner still needs to be prepared.
Sometimes there just isn’t time to make a meal completely from scratch. That doesn’t mean you have to give up flavor completely, though. Using a few prepared ingredients can cut prep time and help get a meal on the table more quickly.
Swedish meatballs are a Minnesota favorite. Grabbing a couple of shortcut ingredients can speed up the process so you can enjoy dinner earlier.
Who has time to make tortellini from scratch? Using frozen pasta can help make a delicious chicken soup more satisfying.
Swedish Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ lb ground pork
- 1 box Stove Top stuffing mix
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1 jar gravy (beef or turkey)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Rice or noodles (cooked according to package directions)
Mix first 5 ingredients together and roll into 1-inch meatballs. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes (turning halfway through). Drain on paper towels.
Heat gravy, sour cream, milk and spices to a low simmer. Add meatballs and mix well until all ingredients are warm.
Serve with rice or noodles.
Chicken Tortellini Soup
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium chopped onion
- ½ cup chopped carrots
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon basil
- 3 quarts chicken broth
- 3 cups cooked chopped or shredded chicken (rotisserie, or bake chicken ahead of time and then cut into small pieces)
- 1 20-ounce package frozen cheese tortellini pasta
In a large Dutch oven, sauté onions, carrots, celery in oil until soft (5-7 minutes). Add next 5 ingredients and cook for an additional minute.
Stir in broth and bring to a boil. Add chicken and tortellini and simmer 3-5 minutes (until pasta is soft).
Need Dinner in a Hurry? Try Semi-Homemade Options
Let’s face it: sometimes there isn’t time to prepare a meal from scratch. When in a pinch, try a couple of semi-homemade recipes to get dinner on the table in a snap.
Need Dinner in a Hurry? Try Semi-Homemade Options
Let’s face it: sometimes there isn’t time to prepare a meal from scratch. When in a pinch, try a couple of semi-homemade recipes to get dinner on the table in a snap.
