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Salmon Patties

Using canned salmon is a great, budget friendly way to eat this heart healthy fish. These Salmon Patties are so simple to make. Try eating them on a bun, on top of a salad, or on their own with one of our yummy side dishes. You can replace the salmon with canned tuna if you’d like or try a combination of the two!

Makes: 9 Servings

Ingredients
1 can (15 oz)salmon, canned in water, drained
1 cup cereal or crackers, whole-grain, crushed
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup 1% milk
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 Tbs vegetable oil

 

Instructions

  1. Use a fork or clean fingers to flake salmon until very fine.
  2. Add cereal or cracker crumbs, eggs, milk, and pepper to salmon. Mix thoroughly.
  3. Shape into 9 patties.
  4. Heat oil in a skillet. Over medium heat, carefully brown both the sides until patty is thoroughly cooked.

*Nutrition information includes whole-grain cereal in analysis.

Source: What’s Cooking – USDA

Mozzarella Chicken with Garlic Spinach

This recipe is so easy to pull together and is perfect for dinner on a busy night. Adding garlic to spinach is a great way to add flavor. Don’t like cooked spinach? Try making this Mozzarella Chicken with a one of our other side dishes!

Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
4 chicken breasts (about 6 oz each), boneless and skinless
1/4 cup bread crumbs, plain, crushed
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, part skim, shredded
2 cloves garlic, minced
10 oz frozen spinach leaves
1 Tbs olive oil, or other vegetable oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; pound chicken to½ inch thick.
  3. Coat chicken with bread crumbs and place on a foil-covered baking sheet. Discard remaining bread crumbs. Bake for 20 minutes.
  4. Top chicken with cheese; bake 4-5 minutes until cheese is melted and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  5. While chicken is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute stirring consistently so it doesn’t burn.
  6. Add the spinach and cook for 2minutes, or until wilted, stirring occasionally. Serve with chicken.

Fajita Chicken Bake

This simple one dish meal is a family favorite that is perfect for busy nights. It can be eaten on its own with rice, or you can use it as a filling for fajitas or tacos. Looking for other taco filling ideas? Try these Vegetarian Tacos or Fish Tacos.

Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb of chicken breast, boneless and skinless
1 medium red onion, sliced thinly
2 large bell peppers, seeded and sliced thinly
1/2 cup shredded low fat cheddar cheese, or Mexican blend
2 Tbs low sodium taco seasoning or homemade Fajita Seasoning
1 Tbs olive oil or vegetable oil of choice

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Lay chicken breasts flat on the bottom of a 13×9 inch pan or casserole dish. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the top of the chicken.
  3. Add onions and peppers and drizzle olive oil over the top.
  4. Sprinkle with cheese and place in the oven. Cook for 35-40 minutes or until the juice of the chicken runs clear.
  5. Serve over brown rice, quinoa, or fill a tortilla with this blend!

BBQ Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Using vegetables as a base to fill with toppings is a great way to make a quick and healthy meal. Like this idea? Try some similar recipes like Southwest Baked Potatoes, Stuffed Summer Squash or Southwestern Pepper Cups!

Makes: 2 Servings

Ingredients
2 medium sweet potatoes or large white potatoes
1 boneless chicken breast (about 8 oz),without skin
2 cups broccoli, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, low fat
2 Tbs BBQ sauce
1 tsp + 1 Tbsp olive oil, or vegetable oil of your choice

Optional: salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Pierce potatoes in several places with a fork and place on a baking sheet.
  3. Add 1 tsp olive oil, salt and pepper to the chicken breast and place on the baking sheet next to the potatoes. Cook in the oven for 10 minutes.
  4. Cut up your broccoli while the potatoes and chicken are cooking. Drizzle broccoli with 1 Tbs olive oil. Remove the pan from the oven and add the broccoli. Cook for an additional 15 minutes, or until the juices of the chicken run clear and the potatoes are softened.
  5. Cut the potatoes in half and use a fork to mash the inside.
  6. Add your toppings to the potato. Slice the chicken and put ¼ chicken breast in each potato half. Add broccoli, cheese and a drizzle of BBQ sauce to each potato half. Place back into the oven for 3-5 minutes to melt the cheese.

Salsa Chicken

This recipe is a SNAP4CT staff favorite! What could be easier than throwing two ingredients in a crock pot and having a meal ready in a few hours? Serve this chicken in tacos, over rice or quinoa, or on top of eggs. The options are endless!

Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
1 lb chicken breast
1 cup chipotle salsa, or salsa of your choice

 

Instructions

  1. Place chicken breasts in the Crock Pot and pour salsa over the top.
  2. Cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
  3. Once the chicken is done, take two forks and shred the chicken.

One Pan Pesto Chicken and Veggies

This one-pan meal is very easy to throw together. Use any vegetables you like to switch up the flavors!
Pro-tip: try veggies that last a long time.

Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
1 lb chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled, chopped (about 2 cups)
12 oz brussels sprouts, ends chopped off, sliced
1/4 cup basil pesto(try this recipe!)
2 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbs olive oil, or vegetable oil of your choice
salt and pepper to taste

 

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Peel and chop sweet potatoes, slice brussels sprouts. Place sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts on opposite sides of a large baking sheet.
  3. Pour 1 tsp olive oil and1 tsp garlic powder over each set of veggies. Toss to coat evenly.
  4. Place chicken in the center of your baking sheet, and coat both sides with basil pesto.
  5. Place sheet in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the juice of the thickest chicken breast runs clear.

Mango Salsa

Salsa is an easy way to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your diet. Fruit salsa your thing? Try our Melon Salsa recipe too.

Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
1 mango, peeled and chopped
1/4 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
1 lime, juiced

 

Instructions

  1. Mix all the ingredients together and serve.

Source: Iowa Department of Public Health.

Greek Cucumber Yogurt Dip

This simple dip combines the cool and tangy flavors of cucumber, lemon, garlic, and dill with your favorite plain Greek yogurt. So easy and a great choice for a healthy, party snack that people will crave!

Makes: 6 Servings

Ingredients
1 cup Greek yogurt, plain, non-fat
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and grated
2 Tbs lemon juice, juice from half a lemon
1 Tbs fresh dill or 1 tsp dried dill
1 garlic clove, finely chopped

 

Instructions

  1. Drain the water from the grated cucumber by placing it in paper or cloth towels and letting it sit for a few minutes. Wring the towel tightly and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
  2. Mix yogurt, drained cucumber, lemon juice, dill, and garlic in a serving bowl. Chill for 1 hour.
  3. Serve with raw vegetables for dipping, as a spread on sandwiches or wraps, or on top of fish.

Guacamole

Our easy guacamole recipe is simple and sure to be a hit at your next party. And of course, every salsa needs a guac! Make sure your avocados are ripe and garnish with some chopped cilantro!

Makes: 4 Servings

Ingredients
2 avocados
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 ripe tomato, chopped
1 lime, juiced
salt and pepper, to taste

Optional: diced jalapeno

Instructions

  1. Peel and mash the avocados in a medium serving bowl.
  2. Stir in onion, garlic, tomato and lime juice.
  3. Season with pepper to taste.
  4. Chill for a half an hour to blend the flavors (optional).

Layered Black Bean Dip

It’s not often you find a healthy, delicious black bean dip that only uses five ingredients. If this is more your style, check out our other Five Ingredients or Less recipes.

Makes: 8 Servings

Ingredients
1 can (15 oz)black beans, drained and rinsed
½ cup non-fat Greek yogurt
1 tsp of Taco Seasoning
½ cup salsa
½ cup shredded cheese

Optional: cilantro, tomatoes

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mash beans or blend beans together with Greek yogurt and taco seasoning. Spread into a baking dish.
  3. Layer with salsa and cheese.
  4. Bake for 15minutes, top with tomatoes and cilantro for garnish (if desired) and serve.