Tasty Queso Taco Soup

Ingredients:

2 TBS olive oil
1/2 onion, diced

1 pound ground turkey*

1 tsp garlic powder

salt, to taste

black pepper, to taste

1 packet taco seasoning

6 ounces cream cheese, softened

two cans (10 ounces each) diced tomatoes with green chilies

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 1/2 cups beef stock

optional toppings:

shredded cheese

cilantro 

green onions

sour cream

avocado

jalapeno 

Directions:
1. Cook onion in olive oil until soft and translucent 

2. Add meat and season with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and taco seasoning. Cook until meat is browned throughout 

3. Add cream cheese, mixing well to make sure it is distributed evenly (no chunks)

4. Add diced tomatoes, heavy cream and beef stock

5. Simmer on low, covered for about 30 minutes

6. Serve with toppings of choice such as: shredded cheese, cilantro, green onions, sour cream, avocado, and jalapeño 

*could sub for ground hamburger/other meat

**Note: made 2/19/2025 - next time double for our family of 7 so there will be leftovers

Adapted from here

Cauliflower Noodle-less Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 cauliflower head, chopped

1 TBS olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped

2 TBS garlic, minced

1 pinch red pepper flakes

1 lb ground beef

salt and pepper

2 TBS tomato paste

1 tsp. oregeno

1 jar spaghetti sauce

2 cups ricotta cheese

2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add cauliflower. Cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, ground beef, salt and pepper and cook until beef is browned. 
• Stir in tomato paste, oregano and spaghetti sauce. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes covered. Remove from heat. 
• Pour cooked cauliflower into meat sauce (if pan is big enough) and stir to combine. 
• In a 9x13 baking dish, create layers by spreading half of the cauliflower/meat mixture on bottom. Layer next with half the ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. 
• Add the rest of the cauliflower/meat mixture and top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 25 minutes. 

Original recipe adapted from here

Carnivore Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:
12 oz breakfast sausage*
12 eggs
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 TBS red hot sauce

2 green onions, chopped
1/4 tsp. pepper

1/8 tsp. salt**

*alternate meat includes ham, ground beef, turkey, bacon

**may need to add more salt /season meat if using ground beef or turkey

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
• Cook meat thoroughly (season if using non-salty meat) and break into pieces
• Spread cooked meat in bottom of 9x13 baking dish
• In a large bowl, whisk eggs, cheese, whipping cream, hot sauce, green onions, salt and pepper
• Pour egg mixture over cooked meat in baking dish
• Bake 35-40 minutes

Recipe adapted from here

Zesty Avocado Veggie Bowl

Ingredients:
2 cucumbers, peeled and seeded
2-3 avocados

2-3 roma tomatoes

1 bell pepper

Mozzarella cheese (fresh is best)

Garlic salt

V8 vegetable juice

balsamic vinegar - drizzle on top as desired

Rotisserie chicken

Directions: 

Cube cucumbers, avocados, tomatoes, bell pepper and cheese. Sprinkle garlic salt. Pour in V8 juice and stir to coat. 

For added protein - add some grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken

Mississippi Chicken

Ingredients:
8 chicken thighs (can use 4 chicken breast, but will not be as moist)

12 pepperoncini peppers + 1/4 cup juice from the jar 

1 (1 ounce) packet ranch seasoning mix (could use 3 TBS from a jar instead)

1 (1 ounce) packet au jus seasoning

1/2 cup butter (1 stick) cut into pieces

Directions:

• Add chicken to your slow cooker or pressure cooker set to "slow cooker" (preferred method as chicken holds more moisture)
• Pour pepperoncini juice and add peppers on/around chicken.
• Sprinkle chicken with ranch and au jus seasonings
• Place butter on top
• Cook 6-8 hours on low (could do 3-4 hours on high, but won't be as moist)

Note: Serve over rice or cooked veggies (zucchini is a great choice)

Egg Roll in a Bowl

Ingredients:

1 TBS sesame oil

1/2 onion, chopped

2 TBS minced garlic

1 TBS ginger root, minced

1-2 pound ground pork

4 cups coleslaw

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 TBS sriracha sauce

1 TBS chili sauce

Directions:

• In a large pan, cook onion, garlic, ginger and sesame oil
• Add pork - cook through
• Push pork to one side and add coleslaw, stir (may need to use a large pot if doubling)
• Add soy, sriracha and chili sauces, cook approx. 5 min. until veggies are tender

Note: can use pre-made coleslaw mix from a bag or chop cabbage and grate carrots

Jalepano Chicken

Ingredients:
2 TBS oil (olive or sesame)

1 pound chicken, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp soy sauce
1 TBS Sriracha sauce
1 tsp lemon juice
1 jalapeno, finely chopped
pepper to taste
¼ cup cream cheese*
¼ cup heavy cream or milk

Garnish:
1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
green onion  

Directions: 
Heat oil in a wide pan over medium heat.

Add the chicken, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, Sriracha sauce, lemon juice, finely chopped jalapenos, and pepper. Mix everything together.

Cover the pan and cook for about 8 minutes on medium high heat until chicken is fully cooked.

Remove the lid and let it cook for a few more minutes. When the water has almost evaporated, lower the heat and add cream cheese and heavy cream. Mix thoroughly and cook for about 1 minute.

Garnish with jalapenos and green onions.

Serve immediately with a side of rice or cauliflower. Enjoy!

*lighter version - swap cream cheese for cottage cheese that has been blended in a food processor, can also use food processor to blend jalepenos for sauce 

Chicken Broccoli Bacon Cheese Casserole

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken, cooked (rotisserie is a great option)

3 cups broccoli florets (can use frozen, thawed)

2 TBS butter

2 tsp. garlic minced

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 cups cheddar cheese, grated and divided

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

1/3 cup bacon pieces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Prep chicken: if using raw chicken- cut into bite size pieces and cook with seasoning, if using rotisserie- shred/cut into bite size pieces

Prep broccoli: If using fresh broccoli- blanch broccoli in boiling water until it is just starting to become tender, if using frozen broccoli- run under warm water to start to thaw. 

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, then add minced garlic sauté for 30 seconds.

Pour the heavy whipping cream into the pan along with 1 cup of cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese. 

Once cheese is melted, add bacon pieces.

In a large mixing bowl mix broccoli, cooked chicken and cheese sauce with bacon. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish. 

Sprinkle remaining one cup of cheese on top and bake for 20 minutes

Add additional bacon pieces of garnish if desired and serve. 

Pizza Cauliflower Casserole

 Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1 pound sausage
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
12 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
1 1/2 cups pasta sauce (divided into three 1/2 cups)
1/2 green pepper, chopped (or another pepper of choosing)
1 can sliced olives
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Sauté mushrooms (can season with pepper and garlic salt) and cook Italian sausage (approx. 15 min), drain and set aside

Steam cauliflower (if using the microwave: add cut florets to a microwave safe bowl, add one cup of water, cover with a damp paper towel, microwave approx. 6-9 min. until cauliflower is slightly tender). Drain the cauliflower pat dry with a paper towel. Set aside.

Cauliflower Mixture: In a large bowl add the cauliflower, cooked Italian sausage, mushrooms, and peppers. Toss together until well mixed.

Parmesan Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl mix together the Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. 

In a 9x13 dish layer in the following order:

1. ½ cup pasta sauce
2. cauliflower mixture (approx. ½)
3. ½ cup pasta sauce
4. pepperoni (make a layer)
5. mozzarella cheese (approx. ½)
6. cauliflower mixture (approx. ½)
7. ½ cup pasta sauce
8. pepperoni (make a layer)
9. mozzarella cheese (approx. ½)
10. sliced olives
11. Parmesan cheese mixture, sprinkle evenly on top

Place in the oven and bake at 400 degrees F. for 30 minutes, or until warmed through and the cheese is fully melted.