Help me break out of my chicken routine!

[skyblu]

Okay, so my family groans at dinner time: "Chicken? AGAIN????"

I love chicken. It's so versatile, cheap, easy to make into different things!

So I have a chicken problem, and end up cooking with it (whole chicken, ground chicken, chicken breasts or thighs, chicken sausage) almost every night.

Can you guys give me some chicken-less recipes that are easy to make? For example, although I'm a pretty good cook, I just don't know how to cook beef (other than on the grill).

Good recipes, anyone?

Thanks!
~Sky

PS: I'm allergic to fish and seafood.

[Medako]

BBQ Cups

Prepared biscuit mix (or 1 tube of biscuits)
Browned hamburger
BBQ sauce
Grated cheese


Line muffin tins with biscuits. Mix hamburger & BBQ sauce. Fill tins. Bake according to biscuit directions. Top with cheese & melt.


Taco Lasagna

1 lb. browned hamburger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
¼ c. water
Salsa
Grated cheese
Sour cream (optional)
Corn tortillas


Simmer meat, seasoning & water for 10 minutes. In an 8x8” pan, layer tortillas, salsa, meat, cheese and a few dollops of sour cream. Repeat.

Bake at 375 F for 35-45 minutes.



Easy Enchiladas

Shredded chicken (or hamburger)
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 can red enchilada sauce
Grated cheese
Corn or flour tortillas

Mix chicken, soups, sauce, & cheese. Fill tortillas & roll. Place in a 9x13” baking pan. Use remaining mixture on top of rolled enchiladas. Top with more cheese.

Bake at 350 F for about an hour.



Hobo Dinners

Chicken breasts (or hamburger patties)
Thinly sliced potatoes
Frozen or canned vegetables
Salt, pepper, lemon pepper (optional)


Place chicken on a sheet of foil. Top with your choice of frozen veggies (broccoli, carrots, corn, etc). Season with your choice of spices. Wrap each breast & veggies individually in the foil & bake at 350 F for about an hour. I've found that potatoes, corn, green beans, salt & pepper work well with beef, while the broccoli, carrots & lemon pepper work best with chicken)

**To prepare with beef as a casserole use an 8x8” dish and layer raw hamburger meat, potatoes, & veggies. Cover in foil and bake.



Taco Soup

1 lb. browned hamburger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Canned or frozen corn (or mixed vegetables)
1 lg. can stewed tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
Water

Place all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low heat for several hours until thoroughly heated.

Sprinkle with grated cheese or add a dollop of sour cream before serving if desired.



Mexican Pizza

Pizza crust, baked
Refried beans
Salsa
1 lb. browned hamburger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
Grated cheese (cheddar, Colby/ Jack, etc.)


Add taco seasoning to browned hamburger according to package directions.

On pizza crust layer beans, salsa, taco meat, & cheese. Bake at 350 F until the cheese melts.



Hamburger Steak With Mushroom Gravy

1 lb. ground beef
½ c. bread crumbs
1 ¾ c. milk
1 t. onion powder
1 t. seasoning salt
1 t. vegetable oil
8 oz. slice mushrooms
2 T. flour
Salt & pepper to taste

Mix beef, bread crumbs, ¼ c. milk, onion powder, & seasoning salt in a bowl. Heat oil in a 12” skillet. Meanwhile, shape the meat into patties & add them to the skillet as you make them. Sprinkle mushrooms around the patties, on the outsides part of the skillet. Cover & cook for 5 minutes.

Combine remaining milk & flour until any lumps disappear. Set aside.

Turn patties and cook through. Place on a serving plate, leaving the mushrooms in the skillet. Reduce heat & stir in milk & flour. Stir constantly until gravy is heated through & reaches desired consistency. Spoon over patties & serve.

[Raven_Girl]

This is one of my favorite pasta dishes and I get rave reviews whenever I serve it. (VERY EASY!!!!)
Orzo With Spinach and Feta
Source: Cooking Light magazine

Yield: 8 servings

Brain, not brawn: Popeye might have downed spinach to get big muscles, but if he'd been smarter, he'd have known the leafy green powerhouse gets its real punch from abundant antioxidants, which can keep you thinking sharply.


RECIPE INGREDIENTS


5 cups water

2 cups uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)

5 cups coarsely chopped spinach

1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt



RECIPE METHOD


Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add orzo. Cook 10 minutes; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain.


Combine pasta, spinach, and feta in a large bowl. Combine oil and remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle lemon mixture over pasta mixture; toss well to coat.


Serving size: 1 cup


Recipe reprinted by permission of Cooking Light magazine. All rights reserved.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nutrition Facts

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Yield: 8 servings
Facts per Serving


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Calories: 244 Fat: 6g Carbohydrates: 34g
Cholesterol: 13mg Sodium: 335mg Protein: 9g
Fiber: 2g % Cal. from Fat: 22% % Cal. from Carbs: 56%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[laurenc]

i occasionally post recipes on my LJ -- you can find them here (http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=manasam&keyword=recipes&filter=all) . i'm trying to be more diligent about adding recipes as i try them, so check periodically for new ones! :)

(there's one chicken recipe in there, but also my favorite pasta dish and a really yummy veggie stew)

[skyblu]

Oooh, yum! Thanks! Keep 'em coming!

[jarm]

Most of these are stolen from either WC or other places.

Galley Ho Skillet Dinner
Quick recipe and yummy

Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
1 lb lean ground beef
3/4 c onion (hydrated ok)
1 can stewed tomatoes (do not drain)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 c elbow macaroni
1/2 c parmesan cheese
3/4 c cheddar cheese, grated

Preparation
Melt butter in large skillet with cover. Add beef and onions, and saute. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and bring to a boil. Add macaroni. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, or until tender. Add Parmesan cheese. Stir. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover and allow to stand for 5 minutes.

Lo Mein
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup snow peas, halved on a diagonal
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into match stick size pieces
1/2 pound assorted mushrooms, coarsely chopped
4 scallions, thinly sliced on a diagonal
cups fresh bean spouts
2 inches fresh ginger root, minced or grated with hand grater
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound lo mein noodles or thin spaghetti, cooked to al dente and drained well
1/2 cup aged tamari soy sauce (regular soy sauce works fine)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, several drops

Heat a wok-shaped skillet or large non-stick skillet over high heat. When pan is very hot, add oil, (it will smoke a bit) then, immediately add the snow peas, pepper, mushrooms, scallions, and bean sprouts. Stir fry for 1 minute to flavor the oil, then add the ginger and garlic, and stir-fry 2 minutes. Add the cooked noodles and toss well to combine. Add the soy sauce and toss the ingredients to coat noodles evenly with sauce. Transfer the lo mein to a serving platter and garnish with a drizzle of toasted sesame oil.

Cooked shredded pork, chicken, or small de-veined shrimp may be added to this dish in any combination.

Sloppy Joes
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons brown sugar
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.

Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Thai Steak Salad
**I make the steak without the salad.
Salad
1 lb. London broil, 1 in. thick
2 tbs. soy sauce
1 tbs. vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, minced
½ tsp. grated ginger
1 bag (16 oz) cole slaw mix
½ bunch green onions, sliced
1 med. Carrot, grated

Dressing
¼ c. white vinegar
2 tbs. sugar
1 tbs. vegetable oil
¾ tsp. grated ginger
½ tsp. salt

1. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine London broil with soy sauce, vegetable oil, garlic and grated ginger. Refrigerate several hours.

2. Heat grill pan over high heat. Cook steak 6 minutes, turn over and cook 6 more minutes for medium-rare. Let rest.

3. In large bowl, combine cole slaw mix, green onions and carrot. In a small saucepan, combine all the dressing ingredients. Heat to boiling over medium high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Toss warm dressing with vegetables. Cut steak into slices and add to salad.

Cornbread Bake
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
chopped onion
1 can corn
1 can Ro-tel
1 can Pinto beans
Jiffy cornbread mix

Preparation
Brown ground beef and chopped onion. Combine in casserole dish with corn, Ro-Tel, Pinto Beans. Top with jiffy cornbread mixture -prepared-and bake according to directions on box.

Meatloaf Muffins (w/ BBQ sauce)
1 2/3 to 1 3/4 pounds ground sirloin
1 medium onion, cut into chunks
2 ribs celery from the heart of the stalk, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 green bell pepper
1 large egg plus a splash of milk, beaten
1 cup plain bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
1 cup smoky barbecue sauce
1/2 cup tomato salsa
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Vegetable oil or extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Put ground beef into a big bowl. Put onion and celery into a food processor. Cut the bell pepper in half, rip out the seeds and throw them into your garbage bowl. Cut the pepper into a few pieces and add to the food processor. Pulse the processor blades to finely chop the vegetables into very small pieces then add them to the meat bowl. Add egg, beaten with milk, bread crumbs and grill seasoning to the bowl. Next, mix together the smoky barbecue sauce, the salsa and the Worcestershire sauce. Pour half the sauce mixture into the bowl with the meatloaf mix. Mix the meatloaf together with your hands. Wash up. Brush a 12-muffin tin (1/2-cup each) with vegetable oil or extra-virgin olive oil. Use an ice cream scoop to help you fill meat into a each tin. Top each meat loaf with a spoonful of extra sauce. Bake about 20 minutes. Cut open 1 muffin to test that the middle is cooked through.

[jarm]

Here are a couple more
Quiche Antipasto
2 packages (8 each) refrigerated crescent rolls
1/4 pound provolone cheese slices
1/4 pound Swiss cheese slices
1/4 pound baked ham slices
1/4 pounc hard salami slices
1 jar (24 oz) roasted red peppers, drained (or use 3-4 fresh roasted peppers)
3 large eggs
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Lightly grease a 9x13 pan or coat with cooking spray. Unroll 1 package of rolls and cover the bottom of the pan, pressing perforations to seal. Layer one layer of cheese, covering all the dough, then layer the second cheese over the first. Next lay ham over the cheese; cover with salami. Lay peppers flat over salami.

Mix eggs, Parmesan and pepper together. Pour 3/4 of the mixture over the peppers.

Unroll the remaining can of rolls over the top of the peppers and eggs mixture (press perforations to seal). Stretch dough to cover peppers.

Brush the top of the dough with the remaining egg mixture. Cover the pan with foil and bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until top is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly before cutting.

Caramel Apple Pork Chops
Ingredients
4 (3/4 inch) thick pork chops
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced
3 tablespoons pecans (optional)

Preparations
Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Place a medium dish in the oven to warm.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush chops lightly with oil, and place in hot pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, or until done. Transfer to the warm dish, and keep warm in the preheated oven.

In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add butter to skillet, and stir in brown sugar mixture and apples. Cover, and cook until apples are just tender. Remove apples with a slotted spoon, and arrange on top of chops. Keep warm in the preheated oven.

Continue cooking mixture uncovered in skillet, until sauce thickens slightly. Spoon sauce over apples and chops. Sprinkle with pecans.

[Sposa06]

I agree - chicken is great! But here are a few chicken-less recipes worth trying:

Honey Mustard BBQ Pork Chops
1/3 cup honey
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon white wine
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons onion powder, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 thin cut pork chops

Place honey, orange juice, vinegar, wine, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, tarragon, and mustard in a large resealable plastic bag. Slash fatty edge of each chop in about three places without cutting into the meat; this will prevent the meat from curling during cooking. Place chops in the plastic bag, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Preheat grill for high heat. Lightly oil grill grate. Place chops on grill, and discard marinade. Cook chops for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once, or to desired doneness.

Beef Stroganoff

6 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup butter
2 pounds lean ground beef
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups beef broth
1 cup sour cream
1 (12 ounce) package egg noodles, cooked and drained

Saute mushrooms and onions in 2 tablespoons of butter or margarine until soft and remove from pan. Add additional butter or margarine to the pan and melt. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add flour and salt and sti well. Add beef broth and cook all until slightly thickened. Add mushrooms and onions, then sour cream. Heat to simmer. DO NOT BOIL. Serve over cooked egg noodles.

Turkey Burgers

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey breast
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 egg, lightly beaten (optional)
6 hamburger buns

In a large bowl, mix the turkey with the onion soup mix, pepper, garlic powder, soy sauce, and egg. Refrigerate the mixture about 10 minutes, then form into 6 patties. Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the patties on the grill. Cook for 20 minutes, turning once, or until well done. The inside of the burgers will look whitish in color when cooked through. Serve on buns.

[Etoile]

A couple easy crock pot recipes:

Tasty Pork Chops:
layer some pork chops in the bottom of the crock pot. add one onion, chopped, one can of cream of mushroom and roasted garlic soup, 1/4 stick of butter, and 1/4 cup cream or milk. let cook all day on low. the meat will be tender and falling apart. serve with rice or noodles.

Pot roast:
Get a beef pot roast. put it in the crock pot with 2 tsp minced garlic, a package of french onion soup mix, a chopped onion, and a can of cream of mushroom soup (haha, notice a theme here?) let cook on low all day, serve with mashed potatoes.