3 Everyday Recipes that take 45 Minutes or Less

Time is precious, and when I have very little of it, I tend to repeat meals or feel less confident about the food choices I make.

I don’t know about you, but I came to college with a list of recipes from my mom and began to frequently exhaust the same recipes that took under an hour. If you’re like me and always on the search for new recipes, preheat your oven and change up your week with these three easy and delicious meals.

---

Burrito Bowls

Ingredients:

• Choice of meat: turkey, chicken, ground beef

• Rice

• Optional toppings:

  • Lettuce

  • Cheese

  • Salsa

  • Queso

  • Pico de gallo

  • Sour cream

  • Guacamole

Instructions:

1. Choose your meat (I typically choose ground turkey) and season it with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. You can also season the meat with taco seasoning.

2. Brown it in a skillet for about 15 minutes. Make sure the meat is no longer pink.

3. Follow the instructions on how to cook your rice and add your toppings. My favorite thing about this recipe is how easy it is to customize, so go crazy with the toppings of your choice!

Salsa Fresca Chicken

Ingredients:

• Pico de gallo

• Mozzarella cheese

• 3 chicken breasts

• ¼ teaspoon cumin

• ¼ teaspoon garlic salt

• ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

2. Lay the chicken flat in a 9x13 inch baking dish and sprinkle evenly with cumin, garlic salt, and pepper.

3. Cover the chicken with pico de gallo and top with mozzarella cheese.

4. Bake on the middle rack for 35-45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

5. Serve with your favorite side dish such as rice, sliced potatoes, quinoa, etc.

Mandarin Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• ½ cup sliced almonds

• 5 tablespoons sugar

• ½ head iceberg lettuce

• ½ head romaine lettuce

• 1 cup chopped celery

• 1 cup whole green onions, chopped

• 1 11 oz. can of mandarin oranges, drained

• 2 chicken breasts

• Dressing:

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • Dash of pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley

  • 2 tablespoon vinegar

  • Dash of tabasco sauce

Instructions:

1. In a small pan over medium heat, cook the almonds and sugar while stirring constantly until the almonds are coated and the sugar is dissolved.

2. Cool the almonds and store in an air-tight container.

3. Sprinkle the chicken evenly with salt and pepper and sauté until the chicken is cooked through.

4. Mix all of the dressing ingredients and chill.

5. Combine the lettuces, celery, and onions and add the almonds, oranges, and chicken just before serving.

6. Toss with dressing.

---

I hope these meals make your week more flavorful and nutritious. Let us know what you think in the comments!

Be well, Auburn.

---

Photography: Kazmine L.