Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Recipe: French Onion Meatballs

I wanted to share this easy slow cooker meal on the blog! I timed myself and it only took me 5 minutes (not counting cutting the onions but you can buy some frozen from the grocery store too!) to dump everything and go! This was easy and flavorful and can even take the leftovers and add to bread with some cheese for a delicious sandwich! Hope you enjoy!

French Onion Meatlballs

Ingredients:

1 bag frozen meatballs

2 cans French onion soup

1 large onion thinly sliced (optional)

4 tablespoons of butter

1/2 packet of au jus gravy mix

1/4 -1/2 packet of ranch fry mix (this can be salty, you can add some and then add more if needed)

2-3 cups of beef broth 

Directions:

Add meatballs, onions, soups and seasonings to the slow cooker and mix. Add butter and broth and then set on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours (depending on your slow cooker)

Serve with mashed potatoes or rice and veggies or on a bun for easy sandwiches. Enjoy!

This Week’s Menu – 9/23 thru 9/29

Monday- leftover spaghetti

Tuesday – Pinto beans, rice and cornbread with baked chicken

Wednesdays- leftovers

Thursday- Air Fryer Salmon with pasta and broccolini

Friday- FFY Saturday- Baked Potato Soup

Sunday – Salad with grilled shrimp or eat out

What’s on your menu this week?

Love Ricki

Spin the Block Chicken (Really Marry Me Chicken…but I can’t make no promises!)

So this recipe has many names, Tuscan Chicken, Marry Me Chicken and now Spin the Block Chicken, HA! I named it this because men can be weird and I can’t make any promises if you make this that said man will propose but I DO KNOW if you make this he will keep coming back! So let’s make it!

Ingredients:

  • 6-7 chicken thighs or 4-5 chicken breasts (I prefer thighs, it’s just better flavor and I also like it with the skin and bones, again it gives the recipe flavor)
  • 2-3 tablespoons of sun dried tomatoes
  • 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons of butter
  • 1/4 cup of chopped onions
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon of chicken base (like better than bouillon) or you can just use another 1/4 cup of chicken broth instead of adding water
  • 1/4 cup water (omit if using 1/2 cup chicken broth)
  • 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream
  • 3-4 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh basil
  • Seasonings of your choice ( I used garlic and onion powder, garlic salt, all purpose seasoning and Trader Joes 21 seasoning salute, and black pepper)

Directions:

Preheat over to 375 degrees. Season chicken and then sear in butter and oil in a saucepan (preferably cast iron) on medium high heat. Once chicken is browned on both sides remove from pan and lower heat to medium – medium low. Remove excess oil from pan except for about a teaspoon. Add another tablespoon of butter, and then sauté your onions and garlic. Then add the wine or chicken broth to deglaze the pan. Add chicken base and more water if using. Then add sun dried tomatoes and heavy whipping cream and then stir for about a minute or two. Add Parmesan cheese and stir another minute. Add back in chicken (and any juices) and cover. Bake in a preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes. Once finished baking skim in excess fat (if you are using chicken thighs or skin and bones their will be fat that rises to the top) and then baste chicken with sauce. Add more cheese and fresh basil. Serve with pasta or rice or over mashed potatoes. You can also add spinach to this when adding the garlic and onions and you won’t even have to fix a vegetable!

Pro Home Cook Tip: If you are cooking for a large party or family sear your chicken in two pans. If you overcrowd the pan the chicken will not sear or brown, it will steam instead.

Pro Home Cook Tip: If cooking with dairy, make sure it’s room temperature to prevent it from curdling.

I hope you try this recipe and please tag me on Instagram @severalpeoplesmama and also follow me on TikTok @severalpeoplesmama4

Love, Ricki

Greek Chicken and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

My goal for the summer is to spend the least amount of time possible in the kitchen and the perfect way to accomplish that is to cook meals that require me not standing around the stove! Sheet pan dinners are perfect for this!

Now this meal did require some prep but you can cut down by not marinating the chicken ahead of time or preparing during a weekly meal prep. Let’s cook!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of chicken (I used boneless, skinless chicken tenders and thighs to cut down on cooking time. If you use larger pieces or skin cook for an extra 20-25 minutes or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 degrees)
  • 1 cup Greek Vinaigrette (I used Ken’s)
  • 2-3 tablespoons of oregano
  • 2-3 tablespoons of garlic salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons of all purpose seasoning (I used Trader Joe’s 21 seasoning salute but Italian seasoning can work here as well)
  • 1/4 cup of olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
  • 8-10 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1/2 red onion finely chopped
  • 1 lemon
  • 1-2 cups zucchini sliced into coins
  • 1-2 cups yellow squash sliced into coins
  • 1-2 cups of yellow potatoes quartered

Directions:

Place chicken in bowl and add 1/3 of olive oil, 1/3 cup of Greek vinaigrette, 1/3 of minced garlic, 1/3 garlic salt, 1/3 oregano, 1/3 all purpose seasoning & 1/3 red onion. Add juice of 1/2 lemon. Add all of red wine vinegar. Mix until chicken is coated and set aside to marinate for at least one hour. When ready to cook, pre heat oven to 400. As a shortcut I pre-cooked my potatoes only in the microwave for 3 minutes so they would be fork tender. In another bowl add potatoes and 1/3 of Greek vinaigrette, oil, seasonings, garlic and red onion. Mix to coat and add to sheet pan sprayed with oil. Repeat with zucchini and squash in same bowl and then add to sheet pan. Add juice of the other half of the lemon over veggies. Cook in oven for 45-50 minutes or chicken reaches internal temp of 165 then (you may want to check and turn the chicken and veggies about 20 minutes into baking). Set oven on broil and broil for 5-8 minutes. I garnished with crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, and banana pepper rings. Then dinner is done!!!

The flavors of this meal were amazing and we all enjoyed it. It was even better the next day as leftovers. We will definitely add this to the rotation. Make sure you check out my reels on Instagram to see how I made this!

Love Ricki

Cajun Sausage Ravioli

Recently I was gifted some delicious sausage from a friend and I challenged myself to come up with a quick 30 minute meal using it. The sausage is Lord & Barrett Sausage Co. Creole Style Green Onion Smoked Sausage & I highly recommend because it was delicious and I’m personally not a big fan of smoked sausage. Let’s make the recipe!

Ingredients:

  • Smoked Sausage (sliced)
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup of peppers chopped (I used a combo of red, yellow and orange mini sweet bell peppers but you can certainly just use a green bell pepper)
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese
  • 2 packages of fresh ravioli – I only used one but you definitely need mor because not a lot come in the package
  • Seasonings- I used Cajun seasoning, garlic & onion powder
  • 1-2 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1-2 tbsp of butter
  • Chopped fresh or dried Basil (optional)

Directions: Prepare water to boil for pasta according to package. Heat skillet on medium heat and add a tablespoon of oil and sauté sausages until crispy or cooked though which took me about 5-8 minutes. Remove sausage and drain oil excellent for about a teaspoon. Add butter and cook onions, garlic & peppers until soft. Make sure once water boils to add ravioli and cook til al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water in case you need to thin your sauce out later. Season lightly & then add heavy whipping cream to onions and peppers mixture. Let cook until simmering and then add sausage, cooked ravioli and Parmesan cheese. Taste for more seasoning and add if needed. Top with more cheese and Basil.

This recipe is delicious, quick, doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and easy to make. Perfect to get you in and out of the kitchen during the summertime! I also made a video to show how I made this on Instagram. Follow me @severalpeoplesmama Let me know if this is something you or your family would enjoy!

Love Ricki