Great Back-To-School Recipe of Cheesy Zucchini and Pepper Rice
Some families look forward to heading back-to-school, while others dread it completely. My family is somewhere in between – I think my son is excited to see all his friends, but he could live without all the homework heading his way. I’m looking forward to getting back to a routine. Back-to-school means stocking up on lunch box items and planning out some quick, easy and yummy week night meals. Easy and delicious recipes are so important. Less time in the kitchen means more time for all the fun stuff (including helping with homework).
I try to serve well rounded meals that are high in protein whenever I can. Chicken is something that we all like and have often. This Cheesy Zucchini and Pepper Rice recipe pairs perfectly with Chicken Sandwiches made with Tyson® Chicken Patties.
The Chicken Patties are the perfect size, have no artificial ingredients and are also a good source of protein – not to mention they are yummy. We served ours with lettuce and tomato on a whole wheat bun.
I tend to make the same recipes over and over, so I thought it would play around with a recipe that I had for cheesy rice to incorporate some of the fresh veggies from our garden. The dish turned out wonderful – filled with zucchini, peppers and gooey cheddar cheese goodness. Bonus: it’s all made in one saucepan and can simmer away while you are putting the rest of your meal together. You can easily have this meal on the table in 30 minutes or less!
INGREDIENTS:
2 Tablespoons Butter
Two Cloves Garlic – diced
2 Cups Chicken Broth
1 Cup White Rice
2 Cups shredded Zucchini
½ Cup diced Yellow Pepper (use your favorite kind of peppers)
1 Cup shredded Sharp Cheddar
Salt and Pepper to Taste
DIRECTIONS:
Melt the butter in a large saucepan and sauté the garlic and peppers for a few minutes, just to soften them.
Add the chicken broth and white rice and stir.
Bring the mixture to a boil then cover and reduce heat to a slow simmer. Cook until the liquid is gone about 15-18 minutes.
Remove the pan from the heat and add the zucchini and cheese.
Stir, replace cover and let the mixture sit for a 3-4 minutes. Remove the lid and stir thoroughly. Serve.
In addition to having some great dinner ideas up your sleeve that you can crank out quickly it’s a good idea to have some creative lunch box options. My son likes to eat the same thing for lunch everyday at school. I can’t allow that! How about this unique sandwich idea? The sandwich features Hillshire Farm® Naturals Slow Roast Turkey, slice of Swiss cheese and coleslaw. This lunchmeat is delicious and all natural, just like the Tyson® Chicken Patties. You can keep the coleslaw in a separate small container and add right before eating the sandwich, that way it won’t get soggy. The sandwich is flavorful and a great way to sneak some protein and veggies into a lunchbox.
I found both of these great products at my beloved Meijer. You can find a money saving coupon on mperks – Save up to $2 on Back to School Essentials.
What are some of your favorite Back-To-School Meals?
