My Go-To Meals

I'm not one to make a menu for the week and buy my groceries based on what I plan to make. Why? Because I like to feel inspired in the kitchen.

...Okay, really, I just like to cook whatever I'm craving around 5:30.

Which means, at any given time, our pantry usually looks like this:

It may seem a little excessive for two people. But I assure you it is all eaten. And no I did not organize my shelves for this picture. Labels-facing-forward is a 24/7, 365 days/year insanity of mine. Straight lines and front-facing labels make me happier than they should.

These are the items you will most likely always find in my pantry, fridge, or freezer:

• Soups (Cream of Chicken, Mushroom, and Celery to be exact)
• Rotel
• Rice a Roni and Pasta Roni for sides
• Pasta (duh)
• Tuna
• Canned Chicken
• A jar of sauce if I don't have any of my homemade one frozen
• Black Beans
• Corn
• Chicken Stock
• Cream Cheese
• Pillsbury french bread (which can double as a last-minute pizza crust or calzone dough)
• Sour Cream
• Shredded Cheese (usually cheddar, sometimes mozzarella)
• Garlic
• Sweet Onions or Shallots
• Parmesan
• Meats: Chicken breast, ground beef, pork tenderloin, tilapia, shrimp
• Broccoli, broccoli, and more broccoli (plus carrots, green beans, and cauliflower)

Most of those items can be used to make as one of these go-to meals:

• Chicken Divan
• Spaghetti
• Tuna Noodle Casserole
• Beef Stroganoff
• BBQ Chicken Mac or Taco Mac
• Black Bean Burritos
• Ravioli
• Sloppy Joes (I promise they're good! ha)
• Breakfast for dinner (waffles, eggs, and turkey bacon, OR Sausage Cream Cheese Braid)
• Vidalia Onion Chicken Bake (one of Matt's favorites!)
• Fish Tacos
• Pierogies
• Pork Terderloin (Either this crock pot version, or this baked version)
• Pasta with Vodka Sauce (with shrimp or grilled chicken)
• Chicken Broccoli Braid
• Homemade Pizza (BBQ Chicken usually- or occasionally calzones... but the peach one is my fave!)

And when one of those items does not sound appetizing, or when I am running late from work, or when I just don't want to cook (yes, I love cooking, but no, I do not always want to do it)- Papa Johns Pizza (half cheese for me, half pepperoni for Matt) or Publix rotisserie chicken with a side of their steam-in-bag broccoli and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese fills the what-do-I-cook-for-dinner void. Yes. I cook Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. This one or this one to be exact. 

So maybe I'll become a meal planner one day, but for now, I'll stick to my overloaded (and over-organized) pantry and fridge so that I can have all kinds of options for what to make. :)

So what works for you? Are you a meal planner or impromptu-cooker? Have any go-to meals I need to add to my rotation?! 

Have a great Tuesday!