Back-to-school season means busy schedules, homework, sports, and figuring out what’s for dinner after a long day. The good news? With just a little prep, you can have several family-friendly meals ready to make the week much easier.

For my TV segment, I challenged myself to prepare three delicious dinners in about an hour using simple, everyday ingredients and a few smart shortcuts.

Oven-Baked Taco Casserole is a family favorite layered with seasoned ground turkey, black beans, corn, flour tortillas, and plenty of melted cheese. It’s hearty, comforting, and perfect for leftovers.

Chicken & Mozzarella Tortellini Bake comes together in under 30 minutes thanks to refrigerated cheese tortellini, rotisserie chicken, your favorite marinara sauce, and slices of fresh mozzarella that melt into a bubbly, cheesy topping.

If you’re looking for a one-pan meal, my Chicken Sausage, Peppers & Potatoes is always a winner. Chicken sausage, baby potatoes, red onions, and bell peppers roast together on a sheet pan until everything is perfectly caramelized. It’s simple, colorful, and cleanup is a breeze.

One of my favorite ways to make weeknight dinners easier is to embrace convenience without sacrificing flavor. Rotisserie chicken, prepackaged tortellini, and fully cooked chicken sausage are pantry and refrigerator staples that help get dinner on the table faster while still tasting homemade.

A little planning at the beginning of the week can take so much stress out of mealtime. Whether you’re feeding little ones heading back to school or just looking for simple family dinners, these recipes prove that delicious, homemade meals don’t have to take hours.

Here’s to making back-to-school season a little easier—one delicious dinner at a time.

With love,

Lisa Washington

Set the Table with Love.

Oven-Baked Taco Casserole

Serves: 6–8

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground turkey
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• ½ cup water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen or canned corn, drained
• 8–10 small flour tortillas
• 2½ cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
• Optional toppings: cilantro, diced tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, green onions

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Cook the ground turkey until browned.
3. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
4. Add diced bell pepper, black beans, and corn. Cook another 3–4 minutes.
5. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
6. Layer:
   • Flour tortillas
   • Turkey mixture
   • Cheese
7. Repeat the layers, ending with cheese on top.
8. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
9. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing.

Lisa’s TV Tip: Cut the tortillas into wedges instead of keeping them whole—they layer easier and make serving simple.

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Chicken & Mozzarella Tortellini Bake

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 (20-ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil or parsley (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain.
3. In a large bowl combine:
   • Cooked tortellini
   • Marinara sauce
   • Rotisserie chicken
4. Pour into a lightly greased baking dish.
5. Top with slices of fresh mozzarella and sprinkle with Parmesan.
6. Bake 20–25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
7. Garnish with basil or parsley before serving.

Lisa’s TV Tip: Rotisserie chicken is one of my favorite shortcuts. It gives this dish homemade flavor in under 30 minutes.

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One-Pan Chicken Sausage, Peppers & Potatoes

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 4 fully cooked chicken sausage links, sliced
• 1½ pounds baby potatoes, halved
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into chunks
• 1 large red onion, cut into wedges
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Toss potatoes with olive oil and seasonings.
3. Spread potatoes on a sheet pan and roast 15 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and add:
   • Chicken sausage
   • Red onion
   • Bell pepper
5. Toss everything together.
6. Roast another 20–25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender and vegetables are caramelized.
7. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Lisa’s TV Tip: Everything cooks on one sheet pan, so cleanup is just as easy as dinner.