Quick, healthy and tasty. Who says you can't have it all?
21 Recipes That Start with a Bag of Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Updated on Jul. 08, 2024
Puff Pastry Chicken Potpie
When my wife is craving comfort food, I whip up this chicken pot pie with puff pastry. It’s easy to make, sticks to your ribs and delivers soul-satisfying flavor. —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
1/21
2/21
Shrimp Fried Rice
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This delectable shrimp fried rice is filled with color and taste that makes it vanish fast. Our family of four can't get enough of it. Bacon adds crispness and a hint of heartiness. Consider it when you need a different main dish or brunch item. —Sandra Thompson, White Hall, Arkansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 332 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 236mg cholesterol, 422mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein.
3/21
Slow-Cooker Beef Barley Soup
Total Time
8 hours 50 min
Servings
8 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s a stick-to-your-ribs type of slow-cooker beef and barley soup. I’ve also used a chuck roast, rump roast and London broil that’s cut into bite-sized pieces with tremendous success. —Jane McMillan, Dania Beach, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 233 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 53mg cholesterol, 644mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 20g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch.
4/21
Chicken Lo Mein
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple, yet scrumptious chicken lo mein recipe is the perfect stir-fry meal. Follow our handy step-by-step video below for a spur-of-the-minute supper special enough to serve guests! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 410 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 940mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 4g fiber), 32g protein.
5/21
Easy Dutch Oven Minestrone Soup
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings (2-3/4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This Dutch oven minestrone soup is quick to prepare with shortcut ingredients and is ready in less than an hour. Add a salad and a warm, crusty loaf of bread to round out the meal. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 384 calories, 15g fat (6g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 1467mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 9g fiber), 21g protein.
6/21
Chicken and Dumplings
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
8 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Homemade chicken and dumplings from scratch hearken back to my childhood and chilly days when we devoured those cute little balls of dough swimming in hot, rich broth. It's one of those types of soup you'll want to eat again and again. —Erika Monroe-Williams, Scottsdale, Arizona
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 470 calories, 24g fat (8g saturated fat), 104mg cholesterol, 892mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 32g protein.
7/21
Cheese Chicken Soup
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings (22/3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Kids won’t think twice about eating their vegetables after tasting this cheesy soup. —LaVonne Lundgren, Sioux City, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 429 calories, 22g fat (11g saturated fat), 116mg cholesterol, 1464mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 33g protein.
8/21
Weeknight Beef Skillet
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This mild but hearty family fare is chock-full of veggies, Italian seasoning and nutrition. It’s a quick-and-easy meal that just might become one of your family’s favorites! —Clara Coulston, Washington Court House, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups beef mixture with 3/4 cup noodles : 400 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 638mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 11g fiber), 31g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable.
9/21
Mom's Paella
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I enjoy cooking ethnic foods, especially those that call for lots of rice. Like my mom, I often prepare this dish for special Sunday get-togethers. Traditional paella uses saffron, but turmeric is a budget-friendly alternative. —Ena Quiggle, Goodhue, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 258 calories, 14g fat (3g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 711mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 15g protein.
10/21
Tangy Bean Soup
Total Time
6 hours 45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This soup has a great southwestern flavor and is a real winner with my family. I love it because I can have the soup cooking in my crock pot, and when I get home from work, I can quickly make the dumplings and fix dinner in a jiffy. —Joan Hallford, N. Richland Hills, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 334 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 774mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 12g fiber), 16g protein.
11/21
Crescent Turkey Casserole
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
How do you make a dinner of turkey and vegetables appealing to kids? You turn it into a pie, of course! My version tastes classic but doesn’t take any time at all. —Daniela Essman, Perham, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 453 calories, 28g fat (6g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 671mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein.
12/21
Best Chicken Potpie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
2 potpies (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the best chicken potpie recipe! Chock-full of chicken, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other for a busy night. —Karen Johnson, Bakersfield, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 475 calories, 28g fat (14g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 768mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 15g protein.
13/21
Italian Veggie Beef Soup
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings (4 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
My sweet father-in-law, Pop Pop, would bring this chunky soup to our house when we were under the weather. We like it so much, we take it to our own friends who need comfort. It always does the trick. —Sue Webb, Reisterstown, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 159 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 646mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 15g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch.
14/21
Pastry-Topped Turkey Casserole
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My friends tell me this is the best potpie they've ever had. Hearty and full-flavored, my comforting classic never lets on that it’s also low in fat and a good source of fiber. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 280 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 696mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
15/21
Chicken Noodle Soup
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings (about 3-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
My first Wisconsin winter was so cold, all I wanted to eat was homemade chicken noodle soup. Of all the chicken noodle soup recipes out there, this type of soup is my favorite and is in heavy rotation from November to April. It has many incredibly devoted fans.—Gina Nistico, Denver, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 239 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 1176mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 18g protein.
16/21
Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After my first child was born, I needed meals that were satisfying and fast. This easy chicken fried rice is now part of our regular dinner rotation. —Alicia Gower, Auburn, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups: 548 calories, 25g fat (5g saturated fat), 163mg cholesterol, 934mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 38g protein.
17/21
Pierogi Beef Skillet
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Hearty and thick with beef, veggies and potatoes, this is a complete meal in one. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1-3/4 cups: 654 calories, 31g fat (12g saturated fat), 102mg cholesterol, 1157mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 7g fiber), 34g protein.
18/21
Spicy Orange Quinoa
Total Time
55 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A creative way to serve the super grain quinoa, this recipe combines the flavors of citrus, crunchy Brazil nuts, vegetables, garlic and saffron. Cayenne and roasted peppers add a spicy accent. —Kathy Patalsky, New York, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1-3/4 cups: 480 calories, 23g fat (5g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 583mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 11g fiber), 14g protein.
19/21
Chicken & Vegetable Fettuccine
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is very simple to make when you have cooked a whole chicken and have leftovers. My boys always loved this comfort food, especially after a busy day of hockey! It’s nice with a side salad and breadsticks. —Andrea Bergen, Altona, Manitoba
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup pasta with 3/4 cup chicken mixture: 565 calories, 29g fat (17g saturated fat), 114mg cholesterol, 954mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 25g protein.
20/21
Muffin-Tin Chicken Potpies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I made these personalized chicken pot pies in muffin tins for my kids, and they gobbled them up. For the record, the grown-ups did, too! —Melissa Haines, Valparaiso, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
2 mini potpies: 330 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 28mg cholesterol, 1049mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 15g protein.
21/21
Stovetop Goulash
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this recipe after trying goulash at a local restaurant. The blend of spices gives it fabulous flavor, and it’s so easy to make on a weeknight! —Karen Schelert, Portland, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/2 cups goulash with 1 cup potatoes: 605 calories, 22g fat (9g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 1425mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 8g fiber), 28g protein.
