This period has seen people of varying gastronomical abilities try their hands at cooking. With everyone stuck at home for unprecedented amounts of time, and with so much time on our hands and nothing else to do, some of us undomestic goddesses have wandered into uncharted territory – the kitchen.
If you’re a novice struggling to whip up an easy and delicious meal that will put a stop to your family’s pleas for you to abandon your cooking endeavours, here are five easy recipes from All Recipes to try that are sure to impress.
The best part is, on top of being oh-so-yummy, they’re quick and easy – you can cook up a full meal in under an hour.
Total time (prep + cooking): 45 mins
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
6 slices Swiss cheese
4 slices cooked ham
½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat a 7×11 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 2
Pound chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.
Step 3
Sprinkle each piece of chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Place 1 cheese slice and 1 ham slice on top of each breast. Roll up each breast, and secure with a toothpick. Place in baking dish, and sprinkle chicken evenly with bread crumbs.
Step 4
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from oven, and place 1/2 cheese slice on top of each breast. Return to oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted. Remove toothpicks, and serve immediately.
Total time (prep + cooking): 45 mins
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 ½ cups hot water
1 (1.25 ounce) package beef with onion soup mix
½ cup uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups prepared mashed potatoes
½ teaspoon paprika
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Step 2
In a medium skillet, brown beef over medium high heat and drain. Stir in water, soup mix and elbow macaroni; let simmer all together for 5 minutes.
Step 3
Pour mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with potatoes and sprinkle with paprika. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes and serve hot.
Total time (prep + cooking): 40 mins
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 pound extra lean ground beef
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 small onion, diced
½ teaspoon garlic salt
1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
¾ teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 dash hot pepper sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot®), or to taste
1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
⅓ cup skim milk
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Step 2
Place the beef into a mixing bowl, and season with salt, onion, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce; mix well. Add the milk, Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs. Mix until evenly blended, then form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, and place onto a baking sheet.
Step 3
Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.
Total time (prep + cooking): 45 mins
Yields: 6 servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup dry bread crumbs
⅔ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Step 2
In a bowl, blend the olive oil and garlic. In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and pepper. Dip each chicken breast in the oil mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.
Step 3
Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.
Total time (prep + cooking): 35 mins
Yields: 4 servings
Ingredients:
¼ cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 ½ tablespoons honey
¼ cup dry bread crumbs
¼ cup finely chopped pecans
4 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
4 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, for garnish
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Step 2
In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together bread crumbs, pecans, and parsley.
Step 3
Brush each salmon fillet lightly with honey mustard mixture, and sprinkle the tops of the fillets with the bread crumb mixture.
Step 4
Bake salmon 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a wedge of lemon.