Category Archives: Make Ahead

Easy Day Before Casserole

7 oz. macaroni (uncooked)
1 can celery soup
1 can mushroom soup
1 small jar pimentos (optional)
4 oz. mushroom pieces
1 small onion, chopped
2 c. milk
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese diced
1/4 c. green pepper diced
2 c. ham, chicken or turkey, cooked and chopped
1 can water chestnuts, sliced
Combine all ingredients. Place in buttered 3 quart or 9×13 inch pan. Refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 1 hour before baking. Preheat oven to 350. Bake one hour.
8  Servings

Spicy Sweet Glazed “Dump” Chicken

Thumbs up for this easy recipe!  Served it with Jasmine rice and steamed broccoli.  I omitted the Tabasco for the sake of the kiddo and just sprinkled crushed red pepper on my serving.

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
2 Teaspoons Minced Garlic
2/3 cup Apricot Preserves
1/3 cup Soy Sauce
1/3 cup Ketchup
1 Teaspoon Tabasco

For immediate cooking: Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Place all ingredients into a large baking dish, turn chicken to coat. Bake until chicken juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts).

For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat in freezer.

To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make sure the baggie is completely closed. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer). Preheat the oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts).

Creole Dump Chicken

1 1/2 Pounds Chicken Pieces
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/4 cup Chopped Onion
1/4 cup Bell Pepper
1 Clove Minced Garlic
14 oz can Whole Tomatoes (Chopped and undrained)
2 Teaspoons Worcestershire
2 Teaspoons Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 Teaspoon Dried Basil
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Pepper Sauce (Optional)

For immediate cooking: Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Place all ingredients into a large baking dish, turn chicken to coat. Bake until chicken juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts).
For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat in freezer.
To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make sure the baggie is completely closed. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer). Preheat the oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken breasts).
6 Servings

Creamy Chicken Lasagna

3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
6 uncooked lasagna noodles
1 cube chicken bouillon
1/4 cup hot water
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
     
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
Meanwhile, place the chicken in a saucepan with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes, or until no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove from saucepan, and shred.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dissolve the bouillon cube in hot water. In a large bowl, mix the chicken with the bouillon, cream cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Spread 1/3 of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Cover with the chicken mixture, and top with 3 lasagna noodles; repeat. Top with remaining sauce, and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven.
16  Servings

Citrus Ginger Chicken

Dump Recipe: Dump ingredients in a  large Zip-loc baggie and freeze.  When ready to cook, thaw out then dump it in your baking dish and pop it in the oven or slow cooker.  Doesn’t get any easier than that!

1/4 cup Orange Marmalade
1 Tablespoon Honey-Mustard
3/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/8 Teaspoon Red Pepper (Optional)

For immediate cooking: Pre-heat oven to 350 F. Place all ingredients into a
large baking dish, turn chicken to coat. Bake until chicken juices run
clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30 minutes for chicken
breasts).

For freezing: Place all ingredients into a 1 Gallon freezer bag. Lay flat
in freezer.

To thaw and cook: Take the bag out of the freezer the night before, make
sure the baggie is completely closed. Place the Bag on a shelf furthest
from the freezer (It works best if the bag is laying flat, although this
may not be the best option with a side-by-side fridge/freezer). Preheat the
oven to 350 F. Empty the contents of the bag into a large baking dish and
bake until the juices run clear (45-60 minutes for chicken pieces, or 20-30
minutes for chicken breasts).