Easy Baked Chicken with Cream of Chicken Soup and Rice and Beans

This recipe is ridiculously easy, and was a hit with the family this evening.

Ingredients

• Thinly sliced Chicken Breasts (4-6) or 1-1 1/2 lbs Chicken Cutlets (which will cook much quicker, 35-45 minutes compared to 60-90)
• 10 oz. can cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt and Pepper
• Montreal Chicken Seasoning
• 1-2 bags of 10 minute rice
• 1 can green beans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. If using chicken breasts, slice in half or buy already thinly sliced then lay them in a baking dish. If using cutlets simply place them in a baking dish.
3. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and montreal seasoning across each piece.
4. In a bowl, mix the soup and milk together. Pour over chicken.
5. Cook in oven for 45-70 minutes (until chicken is 165-170°).
6. Prepare rice as directed. Drain, empty into pot, and mix in 2-3 tablespoons butter.
7. Heat the green beans over medium.
8. Once the chicken is done cooking, let sit for a minute. Cut into desired size pieces. Mix with the rice and green beans, and a little more butter (if desired) and serve.

This goes great with a good dinner roll and some tea.

Weeknight Meal Plan: Pasta Bake

This is a quick and easy meal plan, requiring ingredients that are pretty much on hand, and fast enough to find and checkout in the express lane.

Ingredients

1 lb cooked and drained spaghetti, rotini, or macaroni noodles

1 16-24 oz can or jar tomato sauce of choice

1/2 lb of ready to use pepperoni, cut into strips

3/4 cup ricotta cheese (optional)
1/4-1/2 cup parmessan cheese

2-3 balls (8-10 oz) of mozzarella cheese, cut into thin circles

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Cook pasta according to box directions, drain.
3. Pour 1/4 cup sauce on bottom of a 2 quart or 13x9 baking dish.
4. Cut mozzarella and pepperoni in thin slices.
5. Mix pasta, remaining sauce, pepperoni, ricotta, and parmessan together in a bowl, until well mixed.
6. Pour into baking dish, and place slices of mozzarella on top.
7. Bake for 25 minutes, then turn oven to broil, and cook another 5-8 minutes (until browned a bit).

Serve with garlic toast (French bread with butter and garlic rubbed on or garlic salt, browned under broiler), and some fresh simple salt and pepper green beans.

The whole family will love this, and it is simple as can be!