Nope. Not feeling it tonight.
I think I spent too much time in the kitchen baking yesterday…And I just didn’t feeling like cooking tonight!
I thought about just making some spaghetti…my typical “go to” meal…
But thankfully, I managed a quick throw together dinner instead. Stashed in the freezer, I found the chicken taco bake I froze a few weeks ago. Paired with some tortilla chips that the Hubs brought home from an office party, and we were good to go!
(The benefits of a stocked freezer are many…the main being, it prevented me from calling for takeout and spending WAY too much $$ on dinner!)
Ingredients
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken ($1.50) Click here for instructions
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed ($.25)
1 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes (diced tomatoes with green chilies), undrained ($.69)
1 15 oz. can (or 2 cups) black beans ($.59)
1/4 red onion, diced ($.20)
Tortilla Chips (free from office party…needed to use them up!) Use corn tortilla chips for a GF meal
1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese ($.75)
Salsa ($.25)
2 large broccoli heads ($.79)
Directions
1. In saucepan, combine chicken, corn, Rotel tomatoes, black beans and onion. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often.
2. Place tortilla chips onto plate and top with the chicken mixture. Top with shredded cheese and microwave for 1 minute, or until cheese melts. Top with a “dollop” of salsa.
3. Steam broccoli in stovetop steamer, or in microwavable bowl with 1/2 cup of water and covered with plastic wrap, for 4-5 minutes.
4. Serve Chicken Nachos with Broccoli.
Cost $5.02
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
May be just leftovers, but it still looks great!
Thanks for the loads of great dinner ideas. Every time I consider spending a fortune taking the whole family out I think of you and know I’d better get cookin’! I gave you an award at my blog. Go visit to accept the award. http://www.layers-of-learning.blogspot.com (We also have another blog you may be interested in– http://www.theexecutivemom.com) Thanks again for all the inspiration and ideas!
this looks yummy! can’t wait to try it!
This looks really delicious.
Mmm, chicken nachos. This sounds like my kind of quickie dinner. Come to think of it, maybe I can make this tonight. I have leftover black beans I need to use up anyway!
Ha ha. I had a night like this on Wednesday. Didn’t feel like cooking, but whipped up some black bean and chicken nachos! So yummy…and way EASY!
Try this:
In a crockpot, pour one can of beer, one can of either tomatoes or Rotel, can of corn and chicken breasts, lime juice. Add whatever spices you prefer (I always use a ton of cilantro). Once done, fish out the ‘chunky stuff’ and shred the chicken. This makes the yummiest shredded chicken. I toss in over salads, make nachos, enchiladas. So easy to bag up and freeze leftovers for another time.
Thanks Erin….I have been faithfully going to your website each day and love it. You have great ideas and are very motivational. Up here in Canada where I live prices are higher than where you are but I seem to keep my budget under $100.00/week and I have 2 active teenage athletes in my house. I even went down to Idaho one weekend with my family for a sports event and printed out the Fred Meyer ad and coupons and saved a ton ! (eg, cheese was $3.99 for a pound,in Canada the cheapest is usually $7.99 and I got milk for $1.68, here it is $4.19 and eggs for $.68 here they are $2.00) so THANKS SO MUCH for your dedication to your website….
@Vicki,
You are most welcome! Keep up the good work! And get to Fred Meyers whenever you can!!!
Erin
Great idea! I have all the ingredients in the fridge or the pantry – no need to head to the store. Perfect for a Friday night.
BTW, I really like your website!
Not sure if you’ve ever tried this, but add basil to your broccoli when you are steaming. It is SO GOOD! All 3 of my girls love it and usually ask for seconds. In fact, when my oldest was little, she would prefer broccoli cooked this way to chocolate cake. She has since changed her preference, but still likes broccoli.
@Shannon,
Love the basil with broccoli idea! Will have to try that!
Made this last night. Was a BIG hit. I made a white sauce and added some chicken gray mix to the sauce. I also put in the oven @350 for about 10 mintues to melt the chesse. Will make this again!
Will be making this tonight…thanks for so many wonderful ideas…
perfect. you creative cook, you! i have leftover chicken breast halves!
how long does it take for the chicken to defrost? I have to leave mine for over night or the whole day so if i don’t do it in time, hubby submerges into hot water for a bit. He used to work at a resturuant so he knows the tricks of the trades. its why i prefer him cooking.
Is there a way to make rotel tomatos less spicy? I don’t care for spicy too much…
How come there isn’t a link (or at least I don’t see one) to add this to my ZipList recipes? That is so handy because I always have all the recipes with with at the store.