Life often gets busier than we anticipate. Earlier, you thought you had a ton of time to get ready for that dinner date you promised your significant other. You also said you could handle everything by yourself. What you didn’t take into account is that cooking requires food, a trip to the grocery store to buy the food, a slot of time, and a little skill in the kitchen. You picked out at least 10 recipes weeks ago and pinned them to your food board on Pinterest just for this occasion. But, when you open up the said recipes, you notice they either need to cook for eight hours, or they contain a ridiculous amount of ingredients, and let’s be honest–ain’t nobody got time for that.
So, the next time you are in a situation like this, check out the 15 recipes below that will have your man saying, “Wow babe, this is one of the best things I’ve eaten in a long time!”
Foil-pack Chicken Fajita
Via: kraftrecipes.com
To make this delicious recipe, you will need to combine all of the ingredients into just a few pieces of foil. This recipe is pretty much fool-proof and isn’t time-consuming. There are about seven ingredients (depending on what you like in a fajita) and it will only take about 10 minutes to prepare. There are very few men that don’t like Mexican-style food, so this one should please your man.
The ingredients are as follows: white rice, hot water, Taco Bell Taco Seasoning Mix (if you don’t have that, any taco seasoning mix will suffice), small boneless, skinless chicken breasts, one green pepper, one red pepper (both peppers should be cut into strips), Taco Bell Thick & Chunky Salsa (you can use just about any salsa your heart desires, though), and KRAFT Mexican-Style Taco Cheese.
While prepping, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Once all of the ingredients are tightly tucked into the foil pieces, fold up all of the sides of each sheet of foil to form a one-inch rim, and spray with cooking spray. Then, bring up each foil side to make four packets. Place them in a pan. Then, bake for 30 to 35 minutes (or until your chicken reaches the correct temperature). To steam before eating, cut slits in the foil before completely opening packets. Get the recipe here.
Can-can Chicken
Via: tasteofhome.com
When you think of the ideal meal that your guy will enjoy, it’s likely that beer and wings come to mind. You can fulfill his fantasy by making this can-can chicken. You may need to head out to the garage for this recipe (or use a portable grill), though, since it recipe requires a grill. While being quite a simple recipe, the cook time is a bit longer than usual. All you need is seven ingredients for the rub on the chicken. After applying the rub on the chicken, let the rub set on it for about one hour in the refrigerator.
While you are waiting for the chicken, cover a baking pan with foil so the chicken doesn’t stick. To make this type of chicken, you will need a beer-can chicken rack, as well. You will then need to place the beer-can chicken rack in the pan. At this point, you will remove about half of the beer from the can, while making additional holes on top of it. Stand the chicken on the rack and place it back on the grill. Cover the chicken and grill it over medium heat, until it’s cooked to the correct temperature. Lastly, remove the pan from the grill, wrap the chicken with foil, and let it stand for 15 minutes before carving. As mentioned before, the cooking time is a bit longer and requires a few more cooking gadgets to complete this dish. But for the most part, this recipe is very easy and will satisfy a man who is a fan of chicken and beer.
Crock Pot Meatball Subs
Via: flouronmyface.com
Crock pots are magical. They are a great tool in the kitchen, they are easy to use, and any meal that requires a bit of time can be made during the work day to be ready for dinner. This recipe only requires four ingredients, which makes the task at hand even more simple! To make this hefty sandwich that will be sure to satisfy, you will need: a bag of frozen meatballs, a block (or bag) of mozzarella cheese, spaghetti sauce, and a pack of sub rolls. A standard grocery store usually has more than one type of meatball choice, so depending on what your man likes, you can get turkey or beef.
For this particular recipe, it is recommended to put the crock pot on high (which is good if you’re strapped for time). To start, put the spaghetti sauce in first, to fill the bottom of the crock pot. Then, add the whole bag of meatballs, and pour the rest of the spaghetti sauce over the frozen meatballs. The meatballs should be fully cooked in about three hours if the crock pot is at its highest temperature. Once the meatballs are done, add the cheese on the meatballs. Place the lid on again. Cook the meatballs a bit longer so the cheese is melted, and enjoy! Get the recipe here.
Quick Cinnamon Rolls
Via: food.com
Every great meal ends with dessert, right? Plus, every man likes dessert. If not dessert, they like a good breakfast item. Usually a cinnamon roll takes more time than you have, but not this one. The total time is 50 minutes (30 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook).
The dough requires flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter, and milk. Not so healthy, but definitely enjoyable. The filling requires butter, brown or white sugar, and cinnamon. Finally, the glaze only requires powdered sugar, and milk. Mix this all together, put in softened butter, stir in milk, form mixture into about 18 small rolls, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Drizzle on the glaze and voilà! You’ve got cinnamon rolls that don’t need to be tended to overnight!
Cheeseburger Casserole
Via: 12tomatoes.com
Finger food is great—it’s easy to make, simple to eat, and usually only requires a minimal amount of ingredients. What takes these burger sliders to the next level is teaming it up with a casserole. Burgers make you think of summer, but this one can be made at any time of the year, wherever you may live. This recipe takes a total of 45 minutes to prepare and is so worth it.
Ingredients for this delicious-looking recipe are pretty straight forward. It includes: a pound of beef, 12 dinner rolls, a few slices of sharp cheddar cheese, one can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, garlic cloves, a white onion, and spices. When it comes to the spices, you can pretty much use any spice of your choice to give the burgers some flavor. Finally for the glaze, the recipe calls for unsalted butter, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and sesame seed to garnish. Seems like a lot of ingredients, but to prevent the burger from being bland, these will help turn your dish into a sought-after meal your man will want over and over again. Get the recipe here.
Pizza-stuffed Chicken
Via: delish.com
Does your guy like pizza, but wants to hold back on the carbs that come hand-in-hand with it? If so, this is the recipe to make. The preparation time is 10 minutes, and the total time to make this dish is only 35 minutes.
Pizza-stuffed chicken requires boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella, pepperoni slices, fresh basil leaves, extra-virgin olive oil, dried oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. While all of these ingredients are being prepared, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Slice a pocket in each chicken breast, and stuff with the pizza sauce, mozzarella, slices of pepperoni, and a basil leaf. Put it in an oven-safe baking dish, brush it with olive oil, sprinkle with oregano, and again, use salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about 30 minutes, and garnish with basil. Yum!
Primavera Skillet Pizza
Via: delish.com
Pizza is a man’s best friend. Well, pizza is practically everyone’s best friend. This pizza recipe is also semi-healthy because of the vegetables included, but still offers loads of flavor to make for a tasty pizza recipe. First, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Toss your chosen vegetables with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Cook the vegetables for about 20 minutes, and remove from heat. This is when you will increase the oven temperature to 500 degrees.
Next, use the olive oil again, to brush over an oven skillet. On a surface, sprinkle some flour, and use your hands to roll out the pizza dough until it reaches the skillet’s edges. Transfer it to the skillet, and brush the dough with olive oil all over. Like a typical pizza, sprinkle on ricotta and mozzarella cheese, leaving a round border for the crust. Top with the previously cooked vegetables, and again, use that olive oil. The estimated cooking time is around 12 minutes, and when time is up, you will have a tasty pizza prepared for your man.
Grilled Cheese with Tomatoes and Bacon
Via: delish.com
Like most of America, men love bacon. A tasty sandwich is also something that is easy to make and isn’t time-consuming. All this sandwich requires is seven ingredients to make it into something your man will love, and will ask for again and again. The ingredients are: tomatoes, sea salt, bacon, mayonnaise, bread, sliced gruyere cheese, and provolone. You will sprinkle the tomatoes with salt, cook the bacon to the desired crispiness, spread a layer of mayonnaise on each bread slice, layer with gruyere cheese on one side and provolone cheese on the other, add the bacon, then add the tomato. To cook, put a stove burner on medium-heat, and cook until the outside of the sandwich is a golden brown. Perhaps side it with some fries or fruit and it’s a full-blown dinner! Get the recipe here.
Steak Taco On a Stick
Via: delish.com
One of the best ways to prepare food is by cooking it on the grill. The taste is better, it’s way more fun being outdoors, and it’s healthier than frying your food. Anyone will enjoy this recipe, but the fact that it has steak on it, will probably entice your man more than anyone else because most men like their meat. The prep time might take a while, but the recipe is simple to conquer.
Just to give you a sneak peak, this is what the recipe calls for: garlic cloves, half of a chopped jalapeño, cilantro, ground cumin, lime juice, vegetable oil, kosher salt, and almost a pound of steak. To produce the marinade, you will need to mix together the garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, cumin, lime juice, vegetable oil, and top it off with salt. Set half of what you just mixed together aside, and mix the other half with the steak. In a bowl, combine the avocado, red onion, and tortillas. Then, toss them with the rest of the marinade. Heat the grill, skewer the kebabs, and grill for approximately eight minutes. Finally, top them off with hot sauce and lime juice. YUM!
Asparagus Quinoa with a Fried Egg
Via: delish.com
Do you have a significant other that doesn’t eat meat or likes to eat more on the healthy side? This dish will inspire you. To create this asparagus quinoa with a fried egg, you will need: quinoa, kosher salt, one bunch of asparagus chopped into rounds, Panko bread crumbs, a garlic clove, chopped parsley, lemon zest, extra-virgin olive oil, eggs, black pepper, sea salt to top it off, and hot sauce for serving. The total preparation time is around 25 minutes–with five minutes for preparation, and the remaining 20 minutes to cook the dish. For the most part, the ingredients are fresh, they are good for you, and can be cooked for basically any meal of the day. If you are feeling really adventurous, other proteins could possibly be added as well.
Roasted Tomato Spaghetti
Via: delish.com
Spaghetti is one of the easiest meals to whip up. Just about everyone loves it, you can modify it depending on if your audience doesn’t like a certain ingredient, or is a vegetarian. It is also a great entrée to pair with side dishes as well. For this recipe, instead of using store-bought marinara sauce with ingredients you probably aren’t aware of, you will use cherry tomatoes instead (which will not take away from a flavorful dish).
For this recipe, you will need: cherry tomatoes cut in half, kosher salt, ground black pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic cloves, fresh chopped oregano, one pound of spaghetti noodles, crushed red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. Bon appétit!
Twice-baked Potato Casserole
Via: justapinch.com
A casserole is comfort food for the fall season and a perfect potluck dish for Sunday football, too. A great thing about this recipe is that it can be combined into one casserole dish to make the clean up easier. Not only does it look delicious, but the ingredient count is low as well. The website in which this recipe was located even states that this recipe was a huge hit with the guinea pigs that tried it (the said guinea pigs were actually guys).
All you need for this meal are: medium red potatoes, salt and pepper, a pound of bacon (YES) that is cooked and crumbled, sour cream, shredded mozzarella, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions. The last step, before combining all these tasty ingredients together, is to boil the potatoes so they are thoroughly cooked. Cook at 350 degrees for up to 25 minutes and you have a man-approved meal. Get the recipe here.
Shrimp Scampi
Via: damndelicious.net
Looking at the picture above, you might think that this next dish might take up some time. In reality, this recipe will only take a total of 15 minutes! The time-consuming part of this recipe is preparing the shrimp that you will need to peel by hand. If you are on a time crunch, you can always buy pre-peeled shrimp instead. This recipe was made for people that have busy lives; so if you and your man have a weekday date night, or if it’s just your turn to cook dinner, this dish is something you should definitely try.
The ingredients for this dish are: linguine, unsalted butter, peeled medium shrimp, cloves of crushed garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, white wine (chicken stock can be substituted for wine if that is your preference), fresh lemon juice, kosher salt, ground black pepper to taste, zest of one lemon, chopped parsley leaves, and grated Parmesan cheese to top it off. I know what I’m making tonight!
Blueberry Pancake Bites
Via: .cincyshopper.com
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So, surprise your guy with an easy breakfast that he can take on-the-go, to makes everyone’s lives easier. Another plus is that these little muffin balls of heaven are very simple to make. Basically, these are bite-sized pancakes without the mess. If your dude doesn’t prefer blueberries, try another add-in instead. Just in case there are any left over (there probably won’t be, though), they can be popped into the freezer for another day. When they’re ready to be eaten, put them in the microwave, and it’s as simple as that–another easy breakfast for the day.
To make these, all that is needed is: flour, baking powder, sugar, an egg, vanilla, milk, melted butter, and the preferred fruit, chocolate, etc. Instant hit! Get the recipe here.
Ham & Cheese Pockets
Via: sallysbakingaddiction.com
Lastly, we have homemade Hot Pockets. A Hot Pocket is cheap, easy to make, and can be taken in the car, plane, walk to work, or whatever your man uses to get to his destination. To add extra effort and love into their lunch, try homemade ham & cheese pockets. Making them yourself is probably a lot healthier and most likely will taste better (because let’s be honest—sometimes Hot Pockets taste like blocks of cheese, and cardboard). This recipe takes a bit more time to prepare, but the ending result is worth it.
The ingredients needed are: Red Star Platinum yeast, warm water, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, olive oil, salt, and one large egg beaten with milk. For the ooey-gooey filling, you will need slices of cheese (or shredded cheese), and thin slices of deli or cubed ham. Instructions of how to make these yummy morsels are available on this website.
There you have it—a compiled list of recipes that your man will love! Not only are all of the recipes above easy to make, but the ingredient list isn’t two pages long (which makes for a smaller mess in the kitchen). Also, hopefully you won’t have to spend as much money at the grocery store. If he doesn’t like at least a few items on this list, he is way too picky of an eater. At this point, you should probably question his taste in food. Happy cooking!
The post Wow Your Man Tonight With These 15 Simple (But Delicious!) Recipes appeared first on TheThings.