10

easy
dinners
by: Lisa Longley of SimpleJoy.com
 EASY. SIMPLE. DELICIOUS

table of contents
3 Crock Pot Italian Beef 8 Creamy Shrimp Pasta

4 Chicken Wraps 9 Ham and Cheese Sliders

5 Philly Cheese Steak Casserole 10 Broccoli Pasta

6 Butter Chicken 11 Easy Chicken Tostadas

7 Chicken Tacos 12 Beef and Broccoli

meet lisa
Hi there! I'm so happy to be sharing these recipes with you! I believe that
dinnertime can be simple and easy. There is a sweet joy in sharing food with those
we love. So make these fast dinners and enjoy the time around the table that
follows. Time around the table is as important as what is on it.
 Serves: 8 sandwiches

Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Made with red wine and slow cooked, this Italian Beef is both tender
and full of flavor. It is the perfect recipe to come home to.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 8 hours, 10 minutes

Ingredients Instructions
3 cups low sodium beef stock 1. In the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker combine the beef stock, giardinieara mix, Italian
2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning seasoning, garlic, peperoncinis, and peperoncini juice.
2 garlic cloves 2. Heat a heavy bottom skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and heat until the oil just
16 ounces giardiniera mix (whole jar begins to smoke.
with the liquid) 3. Season the chuck roast with salt and pepper on both sides. Add it to the hot skillet and
1 cup pepperoncinis brown for about two minutes on all sides. Then transfer to the slow cooker.
1/4 cup pepperoncinis 4. With the heat still on the skillet, add the red wine and using a wooden spoon, pull up the
3 pound chuck roast pan drippings. After about 30 seconds, add the liquid from the pan to the slow cooker.
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Cook on low for 8 hours.
1/2 cup red wine 5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
8 soft Italian rolls 6. Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Return the shredded beef
butter to the crock pot.
mozzarella cheese 7. Add shredded beef to rolls. If desired, butter the rolls, top the beef with cheese, and put
the sandwiches under the broiler in the oven. Watch closely to make sure they don't burn.

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 Serves: 4 wraps

Chicken Wraps
This recipe is such an easy dinner. Done in about 25 minutes and
delicious, these will become a regular meal in your house.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes Total Time: 21 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups cooked chicken
2 cups chopped Romain lettuce
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 small red onion, diced fine
1 cup finely shredded Colby Jack Cheese
1/2 cup sauce (BBQ sauce, Ranch Dressing, or Chick Fil A Sauce)
4 nine inch flour tortillas

Tip!
We love this recipe with homemade Chick Fil A
Sauce. You can find the recipe on SimpleJoy.com.
This recipe is also amazing with BBQ sauce and
Ranch Dressing!
Instructions
1. Heat a grill to medium low heat.
2. Divide the chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and cheese evenly among the
tortillas.
3. Top each one with your chosen sauce. Fold in the ends about two inches, and
then roll up the wraps.
4. Lightly grease the grill, and add the wraps. Cook for 2 minutes on each side.

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 Serves: 6 servings

Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

This recipe is one of my most popular! While it made all of Philadelphia angry
with me, lots of readers have fallen in love with how easy and delicious it is.

Prep Time: 20 Minutes Total Time: 40 Minutes

Ingredients Instructions
1/2 pound small shells 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

32 ounces beef stock + 32 ounces 2. Combine the beef stock with 32 ounces of water and cook the shells in it according to

water package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining the noodles.

2 tablespoons butter 3. In an oven proof skillet, melt the butter, cook the garlic clove for thirty seconds, then add

2 garlic cloves, minced the bell pepper and onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

1 pound hamburger meat 4. Add in the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook through. Drain the grease,

8 ounces cream cheese then return to heat and stir in the cream cheese until melted.

1 green pepper, diced 5. Stir in the reserved cooking liquid from the noodles, the noodles, and the shredded

1/2 yellow onion, diced mozzarella.

1/2 cup reserved pasta water 6. Top with sliced provolone. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the provolone is completely

1 cup shredded mozzarella melted.

6 slices provolone cheese

Tip!
If you don't have an oven proof skillet, you can transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13 inch
baking dish. Then top with provolone and put in the oven.

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 Serves: 4 servings

Butter Chicken
This recipe has become a staple in my house and my friends' houses.
It's easy to make and tastes like a delicious takeout meal.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon chili powder
1 yellow onion, diced small 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon grated ginger 8 ounces tomato sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 pound chicken, cut into bite sized 2 teaspoons lemon juice
pieces 1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon garam masala 1 cup half and half

Tip!
One of our favorite parts about this recipe is the
amount of sauce it makes. It's perfect for coating
rice you serve with it. Because there is so much
sauce, you can add more chicken to stretch this
meal to more servings!
Instructions
1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Add diced onions and stir regularly, cooking until
the onions are translucent - about 4 minutes.
2. Add the butter and allow to melt completely. Stir in ginger and garlic, cooking for
until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chicken and cook, stirring often until
cooked through - about five minutes.
3. Stir in garam masala, chili powder, salt and black pepper. Pour in the tomato
sauce, tomato paste, lemon juice, yogurt and half & half. Stir and bring to a
simmer and cook for about 10 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce.
4. The sauce will reduce but still be quite saucy. Serve with rice and naan.

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 Serves: 6 servings

Chicken Tacos
My family is obsessed with this recipe! We eat it about once a week, and we
love the amazing flavor of the chicken. Try it, I know you will love it.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 2 hours

Ingredients Instructions
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken 1. Combine the vegetable oil, lime juice, liquid smoke, chili powder, kosher salt, paprika,

thighs onion powder, garlic powder, and chipotle powder. Whisk until smooth.

1/4 cup vegetable oil 2. Pour the marinade over the chicken thighs. Flip several times to make sure that the thighs

2 tablespoons lime juice are completely coated. Marinate for 2 to 24 hours.

1 tablespoon liquid smoke 3. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs. Cook for 7 minutes, then flip

1 tablespoon chili powder them and cook for another 6 to 7 minutes or until an instant read thermometer registers

2 teaspoons kosher salt 165. (Depending on the size of the thighs, some might hit that temperature before others.)

1 teaspoon paprika 4. Transfer to a cutting board and dice. Serve in taco shells with lettuce, rice, tomatoes,

1 teaspoon onion powder beans, cheese, and salsa.

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chipotle powder

Tip!
While I do recommend marinating the chicken for at least 2 hours, you can get away with
only 20 minutes in a pinch. You will still have a delicious Chicken Taco recipe!

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 Serves: 6 servings

Creamy Shrimp Pasta

You will fall in love with this one pot dinner! Simple enough for
weeknights, but delicious enough to entertain with.
Prep Time: 5 Minutes Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
29 ounces crushed tomatoes
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 tablespoon dried basil
1/2 tablespoon dried parsly
16 ounces penne
1 pound shrimp raw and deveined
1 cup heavy cream
shredded parmesan for serving
fresh basil for serving

Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or stock pot over medium high heat. Add garlic
and fragrant, about 30 seconds.
2. Add crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, basil, and parsly, stirring
to combine. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
3. Stir in penne and bring a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes (or
until the penne just has a small bite to it), stirring occasionally.
Tip!
4. Stir in shrimp and cook until it just turns pink. Stir in the heavy cream and remove
The garlic brings great flavor to this recipe! Make
from heat.
sure that it does not burn though. If it does, just
5. Top with parmesan and fresh basil to serve.
start over before adding the next ingredients.

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 Serves: 6 servings

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Don't think of sliders only for parties! They are the perfect easy dinner recipe,
and your family will love this simple version.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 35 Minutes

Ingredients Instructions
1/2 cup butter melted 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2 tablespoons brown sugar 2. Mix together the butter, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, onion.

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 3. Cut the rolls in half and put the bottom in the prepared baking dish. Top with half the

1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce ham. Add the cheese, and top with the remaining ham.

1 tablespoon poppy seeds 4. Add the tops of the rolls and pour over the butter mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 15

1 tablespoon dried minced onion (or 1 minutes.

1/2 teaspoons onion power) 5. Remove from the oven and remove the foil. Return to the oven and bake for an additional

1 pound Hawaiian Rolls 24 small or 12 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, cut and serve immediately.

large
1 pound deli ham thinly sliced
1 pound Swiss cheese

Tip!
I have a great recipe for dinner rolls on the blog that work fantastic in this recipe. Plus, I
have lots of other spins on sliders.

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Tip!
I strongly advocate for freshly grated parmesan
cheese in this recipe. It has a stronger taste that
brings something beautiful here.
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Serves: 4 servings
Broccoli Pasta
This was a recipe my dad made all the time growing up. It is near
to my heart, and you will love it's simplicity.
Prep Time: 5 Minutes Total Time: 26 minutes
Ingredients
1/2 pound pasta shells cooked 2 tablespoons olive oil
according to package instructions, 2 cloves minced garlic
reserving 1/4 cup cooking water before 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
draining 1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound broccoli (3 small heads or 4 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan
cups florets) cut into small florets cheese,plus more for topping
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta according to instructions, reserving 1/4 cup of cooking water
before draining.
2. While the water is coming to a boil, prep the rest of the ingredients: cut the
broccol, mince the garlic, and shred the cheese.
3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. Add garlic and red pepper
flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant, being careful not to burn
it.
4. Add the broccoli, pasta water, and a teaspoon of salt. Cook until the broccoli is
tender, about 4 minutes.
5. Toss with the cooked pasta. Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
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 Serves: 8 tostadas

Easy Chicken Tostadas

These are crazy easy and have the best flavor. They are a perfect meal
for a busy weeknight.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
8 corn tortillas (6 inch)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
8.5 ounces corn drained
1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
8 ounces salsa
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
15 ounces black beans, drained and
rinsed
cups colby jack cheese shredded
fresh cilantro
tomatoes
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Lay the tortillas on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush the
tortillas with the canola oil. Thick enough so that the whole side is shiney, but not so thick
that you can see pools of oil. Flip them and brush the other sides. Bake for 10 minutes,
flipping the toritllas half way through and rotating the pan.
2. While the tortillas are cooking, in a medium to large sauce pan, combine chicken, salsa,
taco seasoning, corn, and black beans over medium heat. Cooking, stirring occasionally,
until it is cooked through. About 5 minutes.
3. Add 1/2 a cup of the mixture to the top of each tortilla. Top with 1/4 a cup of cheese each,
and place back in the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese is compltely melted.
4. Top with cilantro and diced tomatoes.

Tip!
While this recipe calls for making your own tostada shells, don't let that hold you back from
this! If you don't have time to do that buy some and enjoy an even simpler meal.

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 Serves: 4 servings

Beef and Broccoli

We love this easy recipe! It reminds us of takeout, but is faster and
easier that picking up that little white carton.

Prep Time: 10 Minutes Total Time: 23 minutes

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound flat iron steak sliced thin
1 head of broccoli cut into
floretsapproximately 4 cups
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon corn starch
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 tablespoon minced ginger
1 – 2 teaspoons chili paste
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Tip!
If you don't have low sodium soy sauce, use 1/3
cup soy sauce and the rest water to make 1/2 cup
total liquid.
Instructions
1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the beef and cook until no longer
pink, about 6 minutes. Remove it from the pan.
2. While the beef is cooking, whisk together the soy sauce, corn starch, brown sguar,
ginger, garlic, chili paste, and red pepper flakes.
3. Add the broccoli and sauté until tender, about 4 minutes. Add more oil as needed
so the broccoli does not burn.
4. Return the meat to the pan, and stir in the sauce. Cook until the sauce has
thickened, about three minutes. Serve with rice.

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