Meal Ideas for 6

Choosing the Right Meal Ideas for Six

• Keep basic vegetables on hand.
  
  Choose meal ideas for six people with quantity and cost of ingredients in mind. Pick ingredients that can be used for more than one meal. Go with casseroles, pastas, single-dish and slow-cooker meal ideas. Affordable beef cuts, precut chicken and frozen fish like tilapia and other white fish save money and can be used in more than one meal. Precooked meatballs and chicken save time and money as well. Keep basic vegetables like onions, bell peppers, garlic, tomatoes and lettuce around for easy access. These are simple vegetable ingredients that can make or break the meal. Plan for meals in advance so that you are sure to have all the necessary ingredients.
  
  

Celia's Honey Chicken

• Serve chicken with steamed rice as a quick and easy side dish.
  
  This chicken recipe is not only easy with only three ingredients but is also healthy.
  
  Ingredients:
  12 chicken drumsticks or thighs
  1/2 cup honey
  1/2 cup soy sauce
  
  Directions:
  Heat oven to 400 degrees. Clean and place chicken in baking dish. Set to the side. Mix 1/2 cup of honey and 1/2 cup of soy sauce together in mixing bowl. Pour mixture over chicken and cook in oven for an hour.
  
  Serve chicken with steamed rice and salad of choice.
  
  

Carne Asada Nachos

• Round or triangular tortilla chips make a fun and tasty nacho meal.
  
  This a great single-dish idea for a party of six.
  
  Ingredients:
  14 oz. sirloin steak, thinly sliced
  2 garlic cloves, minced
  juice of 1 lime
  2 tbsp. white vinegar
  1/4 cup and 2 tbsp. olive oil
  15 oz. jar cheese dip
  13.5 oz. bag tortilla chips
  1 large red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  6 green onions, sliced
  1 avocado, pitted, chopped and mashed
  1 cup sour cream
  2 jalapenos sliced
  
  Directions:
  In a resealable bag, put steak slices, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and 1/4 cup of oil. Close bag and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  
  Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in large pan on medium-high. Cook steak until pinkness is gone. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove steak from heat.
  
  Prepare cheese dip according to package directions. Place equal amounts of chips on eight plates. Drizzle each chip with heated cheese. Add steak slices, bell pepper, green onions, avocado, sour cream and jalapenos. Serve nachos immediately.
  
  

Overnight Meatball and Pasta Casserole Recipe

• Prepare for eight-hour refrigeration of casserole dish in advance.
  
  This one-dish casserole is sure to please a crowd of six.
  
  Ingredients:
  1 jar (14 oz.) spaghetti sauce
  1 can (10 3/4 ounce size) condensed cheddar cheese soup
  1 cup water
  3 cups uncooked mini lasagna noodles (mafalda)
  1 cup frozen bell pepper and onion stir-fry---large pieces cut up
  1 package (16 ounce size) frozen precooked Italian meatballs
  1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  
  Directions:
  Combine spaghetti sauce, soup and water in 2-quart dish. Mix well. Add meatballs, bell pepper, onion and uncooked noodles. Turn ingredients into soup mixture. Make sure all noodles are covered in soup mixture. Cover tightly with foil and place in refrigerator for eight hours.
  
  When ready to cook, heat oven to 350 degrees. Cook dish covered for 45 minutes. Uncover. Sprinkle casserole with cheese and parsley. Cook for another five to 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
  
  Remove from oven and serve once cooled.
  
  

Baked Seasoned Tilapia with Mixed Salad

• Add a mixed green salad to enhance the light taste of tilapia.
  
  This light fish meal is ideal for a summer night dinner.
  
  Ingredients:
  6 tilapia fillets
  3 cloves finely minced garlic
  3 tablespoons butter
  2/3 teaspoon paprika
  1 teaspoon dried parsley
  Salt and pepper to taste
  
  Directions:
  Heat oven to 350 degrees. Add paprika, butter, salt, pepper and garlic in small pan. Allow butter to melt over low heat. Remove mixture from heat. Line baking dish with foil paper. Brush butter mixture on bottom of foil paper. Place fish in buttered dish. Brush the remainder of mixture over fish.
  
  Bake fish up to 15 minutes or until fish flakes with fork.
  
  Serve meal with a salad of mixed greens, tomatoes and scallions.
  
  

Chicana

• Look for chuck roast with the least visible amount of fat.
  
  Slow-cooker meals are perfect for a party of six. Before starting the day, throw the simple ingredients in the slow cooker and return to a full, satisfying meal.
  
  Ingredients:
  3 lbs chuck roast cubed
  3 bell peppers chopped (any color)
  3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
  1 medium onion, chopped
  2 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes
  6 oz can tomato paste
  1/4 chili powder
  salt and pepper
  minced cilantro for garnish
  
  Directions:
  Put the roast, peppers, onion, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, chili powder and salt in slow cooker. Mix ingredients well.
  
  Set timer for eight hours. Serve Chicana with refried beans and rice (store bought beans and rice are a simple way to go).