“What’s for supper?” My tried and true one pot, ready in a jiffy meals!

I'm a mom to six children, specifically two girls and four boys. I also have a grandson, with another grandbaby on the way! My heart and home are brimming with love! I often need quick, delicious, healthy, or semi-healthy meals ready FAST! Our household is busy, but we treasure family meals together; they create some of the best memories, conversations, and fellowship. Three of my six children still live at home, but I aim to gather everyone a couple of times a month. I'm going to share some of my simple yet delicious meals that are consistently popular with everyone I feed.

I'm not the type of blogger who takes you on a trip down memory lane before getting to the main point. Nope, I don't have time for that, and I'm guessing you don't either! So, let's dive in! First up is Ground Beef Mac N' Cheese. You'll need a box or two of your favorite store-bought Macaroni and Cheese. I opt for the healthiest choice when I shop, but you can choose whichever your family prefers. While it's not hard to make from scratch, using a boxed Mac N' Cheese saves a lot of time. This is a one-pot dish. How, you ask? Well, grab a pot and I'll show you! Your pot needs to be large enough to hold both the pasta and the ground beef. Start by cooking and seasoning the ground beef. Keep it simple with just salt and pepper. Once the ground beef is fully cooked, add water and the pasta. Yes, you heard right! The fat from the ground beef helps prevent the pasta from sticking together and to the pot's bottom. Once the pasta is al dente, you're ready for the next step. At this point, I like to ensure there's not too much water, as I don't want a runny cheese sauce. I might drain a bit if needed. Next, I add the cheese packet (the best ones have a creamy sauce instead of powdered cheese). I stir it all in to mix thoroughly. You can add peas or serve a salad on the side for some veggies. Sometimes, I add a bit of heavy cream if it needs thinning out. That's it! You're ready to eat! It's a comforting meal that my kids love to enjoy repeatedly!

Another family favorite is Skillet Steak, Potatoes, and Green Beans! It's delicious! You can choose any cut of steak, just ensure it has some fat to keep it tender and juicy. My family enjoys thin strips of steak, but you can cut it into bite-sized chunks if you like! Add some oil to a large enough skillet for all the ingredients. Heat it up and add your steak first—I season it with salt, cracked pepper, and garlic. Stir it around to brown slightly. Then, add the potato chunks! Did I mention to cut the potatoes into bite-sized chunks? No? Well, make sure to do that before cooking! They should be similar in size to the steak. Once the meat and potatoes are in the skillet, cover and let them cook. Check occasionally to ensure the potatoes aren't sticking. They should be fork-tender when ready. Lastly, add the green beans, some more seasoning, and cover again to let the green beans steam cook. You want them to keep a nice, bright green color! Once done, stir to combine and serve! So tasty!

Here's another one for you! This is my oldest son's absolute favorite! He requests it almost every year for his birthday. He calls it goulash, but I'm not sure if it's a true goulash. You'll need elbow macaroni, ground beef, petite diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, yellow onion, green bell pepper, beef broth, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic. Just like with the Ground Beef Mac N' Cheese, start by cooking and seasoning the ground beef with the onion. Then, add the beef broth, tomato sauce, petite diced tomatoes, and dry pasta. Cook until the pasta is soft and tender, then add the green bell pepper. Dice the onion and bell pepper. Add more seasoning to the pot and give it a taste test! Isn't it delicious? You can top it with grated cheese, fresh parsley, or leave it plain—it's your choice!

Here you have it! Three quick, tasty one-pot meals that I hope your family will enjoy just as much as mine does. Bon Appétit!

xoxo Lori