Take 5: Easy Weeknight Meals

Let's face it... not every night is a cooking night. I consider there to be three different types of nights, actually.

1) Full-blown cooking: A well-balanced meal that I spent a decent amount of time on

2) Half-hearted attempts: What you see here. Still kind of homemade, but surprising easy, and requiring few ingredients.

3) Cook? Me?: Lean Cuisines, Hot Pockets, cereal, etc.

1. BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Marinate one chicken breast in your favorite BBQ sauce for a few hours, or overnight. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for one hour. Remove from oven and shred chicken with two forks. Serve on buns with additional BBQ sauce.

2. Easy Chicken Tacos

Marinate one large chicken breast in taco sauce for at least a few hours. Grill or pan fry until fully cooked and no longer pink in the middle.

Serve with taco fixin's: lettuce, shredded cheddar, red onion, diced tomato, taco sauce, sour cream, and guacamole.

3. BBQ Chicken Salads:

Mixed greens topped with thinly sliced red onion, crumbled blue cheese, croutons, sliced BBQ chicken, and tossed in ranch dressing.

Marinate chicken in BBQ sauce for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight, and then grill. I typically marinate and toss in the freezer so that the term "easy" weeknight meal actually takes effect.

4. Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwiches, with sausage

Scramble 2 eggs (or 3 egg whites) with minced green onion, salt, and pepper. Top with a slice of American cheese (preferably Kraft singles) and allow to melt. Transfer to a bun and serve with sausage or bacon.

5. Hot & Spicy Kung Pao Chicken Seasoning Mix:

Follow directions on the back of the packet. Makes a great meal and is quick and easy!

The finished product: