{"id":1953,"date":"2025-09-30T15:40:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/?p=1953"},"modified":"2025-09-30T15:40:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T15:40:27","slug":"this-is-one-of-my-hubbys-fave-weeknight-meals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/this-is-one-of-my-hubbys-fave-weeknight-meals\/","title":{"rendered":"This is one of my hubby\u2019s fave weeknight meals!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This&nbsp;<strong>Hearty Skillet Protein &amp; Veggie Simmer<\/strong>&nbsp;is a quick, nutritious, and satisfying weeknight meal that comes together in&nbsp;<strong>one pan<\/strong>. Packed with your choice of protein, a medley of colorful vegetables, and a rich, spiced tomato sauce, it\u2019s perfect for busy nights or meal prep. Serve over rice, quinoa, or pasta for a complete, family-friendly dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ingredients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protein &amp; Veggies:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1 lb protein of choice<\/strong>\u00a0(chicken breast, ground beef, turkey, or tofu for a vegetarian option)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2 tablespoons olive oil or butter<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 medium onion<\/strong>, diced<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>3 garlic cloves<\/strong>, minced<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 bell pepper<\/strong>, sliced (any color)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 zucchini<\/strong>, diced (optional)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sauce:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 cup chicken or vegetable broth<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2 tablespoons tomato paste<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 teaspoon smoked paprika<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>1 teaspoon dried oregano<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>\u00bd teaspoon red pepper flakes<\/strong>\u00a0(optional, for a little heat)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Continue reading on next page\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--nextpage-->\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Salt and pepper<\/strong>, to taste<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">To Serve:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cooked rice, quinoa, or pasta<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fresh parsley or cilantro, for garnish<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Instructions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Saut\u00e9 the Protein<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Heat the olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add the diced onion and saut\u00e9 for 2\u20133 minutes until softened.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add raw protein (chicken, ground beef, or turkey). Cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it into bite-sized pieces. If using tofu or pre-cooked protein, add it later with the sauce.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your protein releases excess fat, remove it and drain before proceeding.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Cook the Vegetables<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the same skillet, add bell pepper and zucchini (if using).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saut\u00e9 for 5\u20137 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Build the Sauce<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stir in diced tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, smoked paprika, oregano, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Return the protein to the skillet and stir to combine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Simmer for 5\u201310 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and flavors meld.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4: Serve<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spoon the mixture over cooked rice, quinoa, or pasta.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and sprinkle with grated Parmesan, if desired.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serve warm and enjoy!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chef\u2019s Tips<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Meal Prep Friendly:<\/strong>\u00a0Doubles beautifully for leftovers or freezing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protein Flexibility:<\/strong>\u00a0Swap in shrimp, sausage, lentils, or chickpeas for variety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add Greens:<\/strong>\u00a0Stir in spinach or kale at the end for extra color and nutrients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adjust the Heat:<\/strong>\u00a0Increase red pepper flakes or add hot sauce for a spicier version.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Thicker Sauce:<\/strong>\u00a0Drain the diced tomatoes slightly before adding to the skillet.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>This one-pan skillet meal is simple, flavorful, and endlessly versatile\u2014perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or impressing your family with minimal effort.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This&nbsp;Hearty Skillet Protein &amp; Veggie Simmer&nbsp;is a quick, nutritious, and satisfying weeknight meal that comes together in&nbsp;one pan. Packed with&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1954,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1953","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1953"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1953\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1955,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1953\/revisions\/1955"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1953"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1953"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tbdig.com\/sirbenet\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1953"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}