Italian Chicken & Tortellini Broth Bowls

These Italian Chicken & Tortellini Broth Bowls are a budget friendly version of a restaurant favorite that you can have on your dinner table in around 30 minutes...

A couple of weeks ago I found myself hit hard with some kind of a head cold. It was one of those colds that leaves you feeling absolutely exhausted by late afternoon each day. 

And when this mama has sick days, the kitchen is usually closed for dinner on those days. Thus, I found myself texting my husband three evenings in a row that week asking him to pick up dinner for the family before he came home from work. 

On the one evening when I was feeling the worst, I had him swing by Panera to pick up some feel good comfort food for me. I wanted soup (I mean, who doesn't want some comforting soup when they are feeling sick?), but none of the daily selections were really appealing to me. As I was perusing their online menu, I found their broth bowls section. Yep! That is exactly what I wanted! :)

Instantly I gravitated towards their Ricotta Sacchettini with Chicken Broth Bowl. Cheese filled pasta, chicken, fresh broccoli & spinach covered in a nourishing broth and topped with pesto and lemon? I mean, YES. That was the feel better food I was looking for. 

And even though I cringed at the price ($9 a bowl!) when ordering it, I knew it was what my sick self was craving. After taking one bite of this broth bowl, I also knew that I had to come up with a copycat recipe for it that I could make at home. 

These easy to make Italian Chicken & Tortellini Broth Bowls are my homemade version of my new Panera favorite...

Turkey Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Hearty baked potatoes are simply steamed in the microwave, & then topped with a homemade chili that's packed with turkey and beans in these Turkey Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

Some of my favorite healthy recipes are the ones you don't realize are healthy. They're so filling and flavorful, your taste buds and appetite totally believe they're splurging and enjoying a naughty meal. 





These Turkey Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes totally fall into this category, folks. Hearty baked potatoes are simply steamed in the microwave, then topped with a homemade chili that's packed with turkey and beans. Topping them with a sprinkle of shredded cheese and a dollop of low-fat plain yogurt takes these tasty stuffed baked potatoes over the top, without the guilt.

Italian Style Buddha Bowl

This easy to make Italian Style Buddha Bowl is a protein packed, family pleasing weeknight dinner idea...

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Birds Eye® through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Birds Eye®, all opinions are my own.

I have to admit it, folks. Sometimes it is a struggle to get more protein and whole grains into my and my family's diet. I try, but sometimes convenience wins out and pizza gets delivered or a trip through the fast food drive-thru happens. 

It's not that I don't want to make sure that my family is eating healthier and getting all the good stuff that they need to grow and power them through their day. But there are days when I just run out of time or energy, and oftentimes both of those things happen at the same time. 

That is why I was so glad to recently discover Birds Eye® Protein Blends at my local grocery store! These quick and easy to make Protein Blends side dishes come in four delicious flavors- Southwest Style, California Style, Italian Style, & Asian Style. 

Since Italian food is a favorite in my home, I grabbed the Birds Eye® Protein Blends Italian Style and started brainstorming a quick and tasty way that I could use it to get more whole grains, protein, and veggies into my family's diet more often. This fresh and healthy Italian Style Buddha Bowl was the family pleasing end result! :)

It starts with the Birds Eye® Protein Blends Italian Style, a delicious side dish packed with a blend of whole grains, lentils, spinach, broccoli, white beans, & a tasty sauce. Then I filled the rest of the bowl with fresh baby arugula, whole wheat penne, ripe grape tomatoes, olives, and crunchy sliced almonds. Finish it off with a drizzle of oil & vinegar or your favorite light Italian dressing, and a healthy dinner is served in minutes...