3 fast, easy and delicious weeknight meals

September is often a busy time of year for families, but this October has been similarly hectic for a lot of households. Between work, extracurricular activities, school events and social obligations, it can be hard to find time to blink, let alone cook dinner! As we head towards November, things aren’t slowing down—hello, holiday season ahead!—but you’ve still got to put food on the table every night.

VG Meats is here to help. Here are three fast, easy and delicious dinner recipes that you can whip up any day of the week. If you’re looking for some great slow cooker recipes, be sure to check out last week’s blog post as well! We’ve got everything you need in store or online at VGFarmToCity.ca.

Sheet pan chicken, potatoes and vegetables

This great recipe gives you a complete dinner that can be roasted on a sheet pan in less than 30 minutes. Start with our boneless skinless chicken breasts or substitute them for pork chops, if you prefer—adjust your timing as needed to make sure the meat isn’t overdone. The prep time for this dinner is minimal and you can take care of other tasks while it’s roasting (get a head start on any dishes that are in the sink, go through the mail, set the table, or maybe even put your feet up for a few minutes). Because everything is cooked together on one sheet pan, there’s minimal clean-up to deal with later. We recommend trying this dish with our Mediterranean spice blend—it’s great on chicken and potatoes, and it makes this meal prep even easier!

Mexican beef and rice skillet

Another one pot meal that is packed with flavour! This simple yet tasty recipe comes together in no time and will leave you with some great leftovers for lunch the next day. It’s got plenty of protein from the beef and legumes, plus the rich, spicy, indulgent taste of your favourite Mexican food. And did we mention we love a meal that has minimal clean-up? You’ve got better things to do than scrub dishes all night! To give this dish a try, start with our regular ground beef or lean ground beef. You could also try making it with ground pork or even ground turkey! (Putting a few slices of avocado on top isn’t a bad idea, either.)

Homemade mac n’ cheese with BBQ beef

Here’s a secret: you can make homemade macaroni and cheese in about 15 minutes, throw some of our homestyle pulled BBQ beef on top and enjoy a delicious, hearty meal in no time. The rich, cheesy pasta pairs beautifully with the tangy, flavourful Ontario beef—plus, you can let individual family members decide how much of each component they want to put on their plate. If you’re not in the mood for beef, use our BBQ pulled chicken or pulled BBQ pork instead—anything goes! This is a pretty rich meal, so a little goes a long way—we recommend serving it with a crisp green salad or some steamed broccoli on the side. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading and for supporting local food by shopping at VG Meats. We look forward to seeing you in store soon!