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15 BBQ Side Dishes You Can Make In 15 Minutes

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Bring a tasty side dish to your next party or BBQ, even if you’re short on time.15 BBQ Side Dishes You Can Make In 15 Minutes | Tastefully Frugal

One of my favorite things about summer time is getting together with friends and family and enjoying some good eats. As fun as it is to get together with a group of people sometimes it can be stressful planning food for everyone. Sometimes it’s a last minute get together, sometimes your spending time cleaning or getting the house together, or sometimes life just happens and you don’t have time to prepare an extravagant menu. 

Well have no fear. Today I’m sharing 15 super tasty, super easy to make side dishes all that take less than 15 minutes to make. Let’s dive in!

Strawberry Mango Salsa: The perfect addition to any summer BBQ | Tastefully FrugalStrawberry Mango Salsa from Tastefully Frugal

GABY_LAYS_02-copyPotato Chip Pretzel Fudge from What’s Gaby Cooking

chick-fil-a-cole-slaw-3-600x900Copy Cat Chick-fil-A Cole Slaw from Shugary Sweets

watermelon-feta-salad-recipeWatermelon Feta Mint Salad from Frugal Living NW

Easy-Creamy-Corn-Dip5 Minute Creamy Corn Dip from Favorite Family Recipes

Supreme-Pasta-Salad1-e1433816154377Supreme Pasta Salad from Love To Be In The Kitchen

Guacamole Chipotle CopycatCopy Cat Chipotle Guacamole from Bite of Delight

smores-snack-mix-3S’Mores Snack Mix from Like Mother, Like Daughter

Chicken-Bacon-Avocado-Chopped-Salad-3-576Chicken Bacon Avocado Chopped Salad from Gimme Some Oven

Cauliflower-Hummus-2Low Carb Cauliflower Hummus from Dessert Now, Dinner Later

moms-best-macaroni-salad-02Mom’s Best Macaroni Salad from Tried & Tasty

grilled_pineapple_3-680x1024Grilled Pineapple with Cinnamon Honey Drizzle from Wine & Glue

BLT-Pasta-Salad2-1BLT Pasta Salad from Life In The Lofthouse

the-best-make-ahead-crowd-pleasing-salad-ever-749x999Frito Corn Salad from Easy Peasy Pleasy

roasted-tomatoes-with-parmesan2+srgb.-426x640Parmesan Asiago Cheese Roasted Tomatoes from Cooking Classy

 

 

 

 

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15 Minute Chicken & Shrimp Chow Mein

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This 15 minute Chicken & Shrimp Chow Mein is sure to cure any Panda Express cravings you may have.

15 Minute Chicken & Shrimp Chow Mein: A fast, healthy(ish) alternative to Panda Express

It seems like at least once a month I have a hankering for Panda Express. We don’t go out to eat often and when we do it’s usually somewhere that has a place for our boys to run around so Panda usually isn’t an option. So when I plan our meals for the week I try to think about what types of food I have been craving recently and add those meals to the list. You can only come up with so many recipes on your own ya know!

When I was planning the second half of February’s meals I asked my husband what sounded good to him and to my amazement he said Chow Mein from Panda Express; sah-weet! My cravings are starting to rub off on him. So when I was searching Pinterest for dinner recipes and I stumbled upon this Chow Mein Recipe from Damn Delicious and I couldn’t wait to try it!

15 Minute Chicken & Shrimp Chow Mein: A fast, healthy(ish) alternative to Panda Express

I made it that weekend and it was so good! I made it with all the veggies and I liked them but my boys just threw them on the floor. So I decided to skip the veggies the second time around and it was an even bigger hit; the pan was empty in less than 10 minutes. So the third time around (yes, we’ve had this 3 times in less than a month) I added some shrimp and it was like my candy to my boys. I finally had to tell them no more because I was worried it would make them sick.

15 Minute Chicken & Shrimp Chow Mein
Serves 4
A quick and easy alternative to Panda Express
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Prep Time
2 min
Cook Time
13 min
Total Time
15 min
Prep Time
2 min
Cook Time
13 min
Total Time
15 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite sized pieces
  2. 1/4-1/2 lb cooked shrimp
  3. 1 package chow mein noodles
  4. 1/2 cup soy sauce
  5. 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  6. 4 tsp minced garlic
  7. 1 tsp ginger
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet add 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 Tbsp brown sugar and 1 tsp minced garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
  2. Over medium to medium-low heat cook chicken pieces in soy sauce mix (about 7 minutes)
  3. Bring 2 qts of water to a boil in a large pot and cook chow mein noodles for 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  4. When chicken is almost done (after about 5 minutes) add shrimp to skillet. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
  5. In a small bowl combine remaining soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic and ginger.
  6. Add chow mein noodles to skillet and drizzle soy sauce mix on top.
  7. Stir with wooden spoon and let cook for 3 minutes.
Notes
  1. The original recipe called for 2 tsp of ginger but that had a bit too much heat for me. If you like spicier foods increase the amount of ginger used.
Adapted from Damn Delicious
Adapted from Damn Delicious
Tastefully Frugal http://tastefullyfrugal.org/

 

You can add cabbage, celery, carrots or whatever veggies you like to this recipe and you can even switch out the chicken for beef or take out the shrimp but any way you cook it be prepared for it to be gone within minutes! Not a chow mein fan? Try my Better Than Takeout Sesame Chicken.

Sesame Chicken: All the flavor and taste of take-out with out the msg

What’s your favorite Chinese Food? 

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15 Minute Tomato, Macaroni & Bean Soup

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This tomato, macaroni and bean soup is so easy to make and a family favorite, especially with the kids.

15 Minute Tomato Macaroni & Bean Soup.: A quick and easy family favorite. Also makes a great a freezer meal!

Have you ever had one of those days where it seems like you are going non-stop from the moment you wake up until you go to bed? As my boys get older it seems like this happens more often than those laid back days when they were still babies and were happy cuddling for hours at a time. On the days when we are going full speed until nap time, dinner is the last thing that is on my mind. And then 4 o’clock hits and I remember ‘Oh yeah, we have to eat tonight’.

I have made a commitment to myself and my husband that we will not eat out at all in the month of February. Well at least dinners, we got one of those free frosty key chains from Wendy’s so of course we have to go once a week and get 2 or 3. Today’s recipe I created by mistake actually, I had planned on making a different soup, but upon looking in the cupboard I realized I didn’t have everything I needed and my basil had gone bad. One of the downfalls of shopping only twice a month. I’m learning though to create the meals that have the shortest shelf (or fridge) life ingredients first vs. waiting to cook those on the last few days of our meal plans. 

15 Minute Tomato Macaroni & Bean Soup.: A quick and easy family favorite. Also makes a great a freezer meal!

Any who, it was at the end of our first of January meal plan and I didn’t have many other options. Plus, it was 6 o’clock and everyone was starving! So I threw a few of my boys’ favorites in a pot, heated it up and poured it in their bowls all the while hoping they would eat at least some of it. Much to my amazement they gobbled it down and asked for more…twice. I figured maybe they’re just super hungry so that’s why this soup is all gone. But I made it again two weeks later (when they weren’t growling at me like a pack of hungry wolves) and same thing, no leftovers. I’ve put this one on 2 of the last 3 meal plans I’ve made because it’s perfect for those days when dinner is the last thing on my mind.

Tomato, Macaroni and Bean Soup
Serves 4
A quick and easy soup that the whole family will love!
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Save Recipe
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Prep Time
2 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
17 min
Prep Time
2 min
Cook Time
15 min
Total Time
17 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  2. 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  3. 1 can diced tomatoes (15 oz)
  4. 1 can tomato sauce (8 oz)
  5. 4 cups tomato broth
  6. 1 cup macaroni
  7. 1 tsp chili powder
  8. 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  9. salt and pepper to taste
  10. shredded cheese and sour cream (optional for toppings)
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients except macaroni in a large pot and bring to boil.
  2. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
  3. Cook macaroni according to package directions.
  4. Drain macaroni and add to soup mix for last 2 minutes.
Notes
  1. If you don't have tomato broth you can use vegetable or chicken broth.
Tastefully Frugal http://tastefullyfrugal.org/
This soup is perfect for a freezer meal too! Just cook same as above, let cool and then place in a freezer safe container. Thaw in fridge for a few hours before cooking and heat over medium heat. Looking for more soup recipes? Check out my Soup Pinterest Board!  Follow Tastefully Frugal’s board Soups on Pinterest.

 

Do you have any go-to meals for those crazy hectic days?

 

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