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Cozy Busy Parent Weeknight Dinner

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A quick, easy, and comforting weeknight dinner perfect for busy families, made with simple pantry staples and minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 pound (450g) ground turkey
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup (150g) frozen peas
  • 1 ½ cups (360ml) low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup (190g) brown rice, uncooked
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • A handful fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion and carrots, mince the garlic, and chop fresh parsley. Measure out broth, tomato paste, and spices. (About 10 minutes)
  2. Rinse 1 cup brown rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine rice with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 40 minutes until tender. Alternatively, use a rice cooker.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and carrots, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant (5-7 minutes). Add minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute.
  4. Increase heat to medium-high, add ground turkey to the skillet. Break it up and cook until no longer pink (6-8 minutes). Season with salt and pepper while cooking.
  5. Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and 1 teaspoon dried thyme, coating meat and veggies evenly.
  6. Add 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth and 1 cup frozen peas. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
  7. Once rice is cooked and fluffy, add it directly to the skillet. Stir thoroughly to blend all ingredients. Let simmer together for 5 minutes to marry flavors.
  8. Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top before serving.

Notes

If mixture looks too dry, add a splash more broth or water. Use pre-cooked rice or rotisserie chicken to save time. For vegetarian version, swap turkey for tofu or lentils and use vegetable broth. For low-carb, substitute rice with cauliflower rice. Add red pepper flakes or smoked paprika for spice.

Nutrition

Keywords: weeknight dinner, busy parent meal, quick dinner, ground turkey recipe, easy family dinner, comforting meal, one-pan dinner

Find it online: https://elaraeats.com/cozy-busy-parent-weeknight-dinner-ideas-for-easy-no-stress-evenings/