Creamy Tomato Baked Mac and Cheese

Creamy Tomato Baked Mac and Cheese

Who doesn’t love a big warm pan of comfort food on a cool and dreary day? This Creamy Tomato Baked Mac and Cheese is a new twist on an old classic. There are a lot of different variations of Mac and Cheese, but this is one that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

The secret to this recipe is the delicious creamy cheesy tomato sauce–not only does it taste great, but it has hidden nutrition powers thanks to canned tomatoes. These are a pantry superpower, and are teeming with vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Plus, canned tomatoes actually have a higher lycopene content than fresh, as the cooking and canning process enhances the availability of the nutrient, making it easier for your body to absorb. Additionally, tomato products are great shelf-stable products that are affordable and also good for the environment. What’s not to love about that?!

Creamy Tomato Baked Mac and Cheese is perfect for all occasions: from a quick family dinner, to a work potluck, it’s sure to be a crowd favorite.

Creamy Tomato Baked Mac and Cheese

Creamy Tomato Baked Mac and Cheese

Who doesn’t love a big warm pan of comfort food on a cool and dreary day? This Creamy Tomato Baked Mac and Cheese is a new twist on an old classic. There are a lot of different variations of Mac and Cheese, but this is one that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
  • 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 3 Tbsp. all purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ¼ tsp. pepper
  • 1 (14 oz.) can stewed tomatoes with juice
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¾ cup plain panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. 
  2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a sprinkling of salt to water and add in the macaroni pasta. Cook until it is a few minutes away from becoming al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside. 
  3. Heat a medium-sized oven safe skillet over medium heat. Add in the butter and allow it to melt. Then mix in the flour until combined. Cook the flour for about 1 minute then, while whisking,  pour in the milk. Heat the milk for about 5 minutes then mix in the salt, pepper, and tomatoes. 
  4. Bring the sauce to a simmer while stirring constantly. Cook for 5-6 minutes until it has thickened. Add in the cheese and mix until fully melted. Then add in the pasta and mix until well combined.
  5. Top the mac and cheese with the breadcrumbs and transfer the pan into the oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbling. Enjoy!
For other delicious comfort food recipes, check out some of our favorites:

Puttanesca Pasta
Pasta with Marinara and Roasted Vegetables
Walnut and Mushroom Ragu

Pizza Soup

Pizza Soup

Pizza soup is one of those recipes that is even more delicious than it sounds! All of the best ingredients of pizza combine to make this cozy and filling soup. Plus, it takes hardly any time to put together, making this an ideal recipe for any night of the week.

This recipe is a great way to utilize pantry staples like canned and dried goods, as these ingredients are shelf stable and affordable. Canned tomatoes are one of these canned goods that are easy to use while being extremely nutritious, which is why adding them to soups is a simple way to boost the nutrition content. They are also rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that has been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diease, as research shows that tomato products play an important role in preventing platelet aggregation (i.e. reducing the amount of blood clots that can lead to cardiovascular diseases). Additionally, tomato products can improve cholesterol by improving lipid profiles, as studies have found that consumption has lead to a significant decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as well as body weight and fat percentage.

So, what are you waiting for? Pull out the crockpot and cozy up to this delicious pizza soup.

Pizza Soup

Pizza Soup

Pizza soup is one of those recipes that is even more delicious than is sounds! All of the best ingredients of pizza combine to make this cozy and filling soup. Plus, it takes hardly any time to put together, making this an ideal recipe for any night of the week.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs. ground italian sausage
  • 1 (5 oz.) bag mini pepperonis
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
  • 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 1 (6 oz.) can tomato paste
  • 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans beef broth
  • 1 (24 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
  • 8 oz. onion and chive cream cheese, softened
  • Breadsticks, for serving
  • Mozzarella cheese, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the Italian sausage. Cook and crumble the sausage until it is fully cooked then transfer it into a crock pot. 
  2. Add the pepperonis, garlic, minced onion, Italian seasoning, sugar, tomato paste, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, beef broth, and spaghetti sauce into the crock pot. Mix to combine then cover and cook on low for 6 hours. 
  3. Uncover the crock pot and mix in the cream cheese until well combined. 
  4. To serve, top with mozzarella cheese and enjoy with breadsticks. 
For other delicious soup recipes, check out some of our favorites:

California Walnut Firehouse Chili
Creamy Tomato Soup with Popcorn
Fideo Soup

Toasted Ravioli with Vodka Dipping Sauce

Toasted Ravioli with Vodka Dipping Sauce

Toasted ravioli is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, or the main course. Whip up this decadent and creamy Vodka Dipping Sauce, and it will taste just like going to a fancy restaurant, but from the comfort of your own home! 

As with most Italian sauces, the main flavor comes from tomatoes. Not only do tomatoes offer sweetness and acidity to this recipe, they have important health benefits. Cooked tomato products (found in canned tomato products) contain an ingredient called lycopene, which is a powerful antioxidant that has been proven to protect the body against many chronic diseases. Similar to most nutrients, it’s more natural to obtain lycopene from foods rather than supplements. In order to achieve maximum health benefits associated with lycopene, it is recommended to consume tomato products with a heart healthy fat, such as olive oil or avocado. That’s why we recommend enjoying lycopene and its health benefits through delicious foods such as this recipe. So, what are you waiting for? Enjoy some canned tomato products today with this tasty recipe for Toasted Ravioli!

Toasted Ravioli with Vodka Dipping Sauce

Toasted Ravioli with Vodka Dipping Sauce

Toasted ravioli is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side dish, or the main course. Whip up this decadent and creamy Vodka Dipping Sauce, and it will taste just like going to a fancy restaurant, but without the added cost.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 (19 oz.) package four cheese ravioli
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 ¼ tsp. red chili flakes
  • 2 Tbsp. vodka
  • ¾ cup tomato paste
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. heavy cream
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ cups Italian breadcrumbs
  • vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add in the shallot, garlic, and ¼ teaspoon of the red chili flakes.
  2. When the shallots turn translucent, mix in the tomato paste and tomato sauce. Cook down for 5-10 minutes. Then add in the vodka and cook for another 5-10 minutes until the alcohol reduces. Mix in the heavy cream, butter, and salt and pepper to taste. Set the sauce aside.
  3. Fill a pot with a few inches of vegetable oil. Heat it to 350˚F.
  4. Add the beaten eggs and breadcrumbs into separate dishes. Dip the raviolis into the egg and allow any excess liquid to drip off. Then place them into the breadcrumbs. Fully coat the raviolis in breadcrumbs then gently place them into the hot oil. Fry until golden brown and toasted. Remove the raviolis from the oil and onto a baking sheet lined with paper towels to drain. Sprinkle them with salt.
  5. Serve the toasted raviolis with the vodka dipping sauce and enjoy!
For other delicious pasta recipes, check out some of our favorites:

Puttanesca Pasta
Pasta with Marinara and Roasted Vegetables
Walnut and Mushroom Ragu

Crockpot Chicken Burrito Bowl

Crockpot Chicken Burrito Bowl

When it comes to weeknights, we are always looking for new quick, easy, and family friendly meals. This Chicken Burrito Bowl checks all of the boxes, and is especially great for those families that have a picky eater or have different dietary restrictions. It’s easily customizable to fit your needs and preferences, while still being nutritious!

What makes this meal so delicious (and nutritious) is the combination of lean protein and canned tomatoes. The chicken add a heafy dose of protein, while the canned tomatoes provide a plethora of antioxidants (such as lycopene) that play an integral role in the reduction of certain types of diseases and cancers. In fact, numerous studies have linked lycopene consumption with prostate cancer protection. While lycopene is present in other fruits such as watermelon and pink grapefruit, tomatoes, which are the second most consumed vegetable (second to potatoes) in the U.S., account for more than 85% of the lycopene in the American diet. Interestingly, cooked tomato products—as in processed tomatoes, including tomato sauce and canned tomatoes—may hold particular significance. The lycopene from cooked and processed tomatoes is more bioavailable than that of fresh tomatoes. Heating or processing breaks down the tomato cell matrix and promotes isomerization of lycopene from all-trans isomers to the more bioavailable form of cis-isomers. Research shows that single daily servings of processed tomato products produce significant increases of lycopene concentrations in blood and buccal mucosal cells in healthy adults.

So, what are you waiting for? Try out this Chicken Burrito Bowl for a recipe that’s easy, delicious, and sure to be a family favorite!

Chicken Burrito Bowl

Chicken Burrito Bowl

When it comes to weeknights, we are always looking for new quick, easy, and family friendly meals. This Chicken Burrito Bowl checks all of the boxes, and is especially great for those families that have a picky eater or have different dietary restrictions. It's easily customizable to fit your needs and preferences, while still being nutritious!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tsp. chili powder
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup uncooked brown rice
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • shredded cheese, for serving
  • chopped cilantro, for serving
  • sour cream, for serving
  • sliced avocado, for serving
  • salsa, for serving
  • jalapeno slices, for serving

Instructions

  1. Add the chicken, diced tomatoes with the juice, chicken broth, chili powder, salt, and cumin into a slow cooker. Make sure the chicken is fully covered by the broth. Add more broth if necessary. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours. 
  2. Uncover and add in the black beans, rice, and corn. Cover and continue cooking for another 3-4 hours. In the last hour of cooking, mix the rice two times to ensure it is cooking evenly. If the crock pot gets too dry and the rice is not fully cooked, add more broth. If the rice is cooked but there is still a lot of broth, cook on high to allow it to evaporate. 
  3. Use two forks to shred the chicken. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary. Serve with shredded cheese, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, or salsa. Enjoy!
For other dinner dishes, check out some of our favorites:

Shakshuka Pita Pizzas
Curried Veggie Rice Bowl
Swiss Chard Pecan Lasagna

Slow Cooker Chili

Slow Cooker Chili

Slow cooker meals are ideal for those busy weeknights! With a little prep work, you can have dinner ready with minimal effort. It’s easy to have everything ready to toss in the crockpot, turn it on, and come home after work to an already made dinner, which is why this Slow Cooker Chili is sure to be your new recipe BFF.

While this dish is a good source of protein, it also has a high lycopene content from the canned tomato sauce. Since canned tomatoes are a critical part of any chili dish, it’s important to not skip this ingredient. It makes the chili juicy, adds more flavor, and contributes a boost of nutrient-rich value, as they contain vitamins C, vitamin E, fiber, and potassium. They also contain lycopene, which is a plant compound (carotenoid) that gives tomatoes their vibrant red color and when it’s cooked into meals, the nutritional value is increased. In this recipe, a healthy fat (olive oil) is mixed into the pot, which increases the nutritional value of the dish because studies have shown that consuming tomato products with a healthy fat enables you to achieve maximum health benefits. When you increase the amount of tomatoes in your diet, you are also reducing your risk of certain diseases and cancers due to the positive correlation between lycopene and health benefits. In addition to its numerous health benefits, canned tomato products are easily accessible and affordable for the general public. They have a long shelf life, which enables you to stock up your pantry and reduce your grocery store runs—especially when time is of the essence. 

So, the next time you are looking for an easy dinner idea, start up the slow cooker and make some chili. Not only will it make your life easier, your house will smell amazing when you open the front door!

Slow Cooker Chili

Slow Cooker Chili

Slow cooker meals are ideal for those busy weeknights! With a little prep work, you can have dinner ready with minimal effort. It’s easy to have everything ready to toss in the crockpot, turn it on, and come home after work to an already made dinner, which is why this Slow Cooker Chili is sure to be your new recipe BFF.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 lbs. ground beef
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 3 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • ½ Tbsp. chili powder
  • 2 ½ tsp. ground cumin
  • 2 tsp. paprika
  • 2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp. granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp. ground coriander
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 (15 oz.) can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (15 oz.) can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
  • Jalapeno slices, for serving
  • Sour cream, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic into the pan and saute until the onions turn translucent. Transfer the mixture into a crockpot.
  2. Heat the same skillet over medium high heat and add in the beef. Cook and crumble the beef until fully cooked. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan then transfer it into the crock pot.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, chili powder, cumin, paprika, cocoa powder, dugar, coriander, and salt and pepper to taste into the crock pot. Mix until combined then cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours. 
  4. Mix the dark and light red kidney beans into the chili and cook for 2 minutes. Serve chile with shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy!
For other chili recipes, check out some of our favorites:

California Walnut Firehouse Chili
Wrangler’s Beef Chili
Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Chili