Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole

One of our resolutions this year is to budget and save money , and one of the ways I have started doing that is making sure to save more and be thrifty when it comes to groceries. If you have an Aldi store nearby, they are a great resource amazingly affordable food like this Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole!

I try to balance our meals not only with homemade and healthy, but also with affordable quick and easy meals as well. This meatball casserole is super easy, only takes about 10 minutes or so to prepare, and 15 minutes to cook!

Can I freeze Meatball Casserole?
Yes! You can freeze it, or just store the leftovers in fridge in a airtight container for a few days. We never have enough left over to freeze, we usually eat the leftovers for lunch so they are gone fast!

What is a good Vegetarian option for this casserole?
Honestly it’s quite simple – leave out the meatballs, add some veggies – and viola! I do have a veggie loving child (I know, weird!) so I usually will make her a small batch and add some tomatoes, green peppers, black olives onion and whatever else I might have on hand. 

Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole

Ingredients

• 16oz Bag Noodles
• 8oz Block Mozzarella Cheese
• 24oz Jar Pasta Sauce
• 32oz Bag Meatballs

Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil noodles and places cooked/drained noodles into a large casserole dish. Add in thawed meatballs.

Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole
2. Pour in the pasta sauce.
3. Mix well.

Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole
4. Shred the mozzarella cheese and cover the top of the casserole.

Meatball Casserole Step 3

5. Place in preheated 350 oven for 15 minutes. 6. Serve & enjoy.

Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole

               Did you like the Aldi Quick & Easy Meatball Casserole? Make sure to share – or pin for the future and  be sure to check out our other recipes for other quick and easy dinner ideas!

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Keto Samoa Cookie Bars

So one of the biggest complaints (well concerns I guess) from some newbie Keto folks is the cravings for sweets. Trust me, I get it! A lot of people don’t realize all the alternatives you can have of some of your favorites and still stay on track.  It just isn’t convenient, and it does take some planning; but it is well worth it! Since everyone seemed to love the Keto Thin Mints recipe, we decided we’d share the Keto Samoa Cookie bars for you Girl Scout Cookie loving Ketoers!

Keto Samoa Cookie BarsThese are a great alternative to your favorite coconut Samoa Girl Scout Cookies, and I Swear the flavor is totally on point! Trust me! Make them and let me know!

Ingredients:

Almond Flour Crust 

Chocolate Filling and Drizzle:

Coconut Caramel Filling:

  • 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut 
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup Swerve Brown
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 tsp  pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt

    Keto Samoa Cookie Bar Ingredients

Instructions:

Almond Flour Crust:

Keto Samoa Cookie Bars Step 1

    1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Whisk together the almond flour, stevia sweetener, and salt. Melt butter and into flour mixture until the mixture is well incorporated and crumbly.
    2. Flatten out the mixture into an 8×8 baking pan and press firmly into the bottom. You can also add a layer of parchment paper in the bottom if you want an easier way to pull the bars out.  

 

  • Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until just golden brown. Remove and let cool.  While this is cooling you can prepare your filling.

Chocolate Filling/Drizzle:

  1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and coconut oil stirring in between, I did 30 second increments until melted and smooth. 
  2. Use about 2/3 of the chocolate mixture and spread over the cooled almond crust. 

Coconut/ Carmel  Filling:

Keto Samoa Cookie Bars Step 2

  1. Over medium heat in a small skillet spread the coconut. Stirring frequently, until toasted and light golden brown. Set aside. 
  2. Over medium heat in a large saucepan, combine the butter and sweeteners. Cook until melted and then bring to a boil. Boil approximately 3 to 5 minutes. 
  3. Remove from heat and add the vanilla, cream and salt. The mixture will bubble and this is normal.

    Keto Samoa Cookie Bars Step 3

  4. Slowly stir in the toasted coconut. Spread the mixture over the chocolate-covered crust. Let cool (about 1 hour), then cut into squares. Reheat remaining chocolate mixture and drizzle over the bars.

Keto Samoa Cookie Bars

 

Keto Samoa Cookie Bars

Keto Samoa Cookie Bars

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 cup Stevia sweetener
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted
  • 4 oz sugar free chocolate chips
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1/2 cup Swerve Brown
  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Method
 

Almond Flour Crust
  1. Preheat the oven to 325F. Whisk together the almond flour, stevia sweetener, and salt. Melt butter and into flour mixture until the mixture is well incorporated and crumbly. Flatten out the mixture into an 8x8 baking pan and press firmly into the bottom. You can also add a layer of parchment paper in the bottom if you want an easier way to pull the bars out. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, until just golden brown. Remove and let cool. While this is cooling you can prepare your filling.
Chocolate Filling/Drizzle:
  1. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and coconut oil stirring in between, I did 30 second increments until melted and smooth. Use about 2/3 of the chocolate mixture and spread over the cooled almond crust.
Coconut/ Carmel Filling:
  1. Over medium heat in a small skillet spread the coconut. Stirring frequently, until toasted and light golden brown. Set aside. Over medium heat in a large saucepan, combine the butter and sweeteners. Cook until melted and then bring to a boil. Boil approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the vanilla, cream and salt. The mixture will bubble and this is normal. Slowly stir in the toasted coconut. Spread the mixture over the chocolate-covered crust. Let cool (about 1 hour), then cut into squares. Reheat remaining chocolate mixture and drizzle over the bars.
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Keto-Friendly Chocolate Brownies

OK so for the most part I try not to partake in any additional sweets, or flours of any kind. Even though on the weekends I go a little crazy with some keto dessert recipes. I keep them very limited (ok, I try to) because I feel like my body responds better to a strict Keto diet. But sometimes you just want a treat – and these keto-friendly brownies are just the thing! I would recommend some whipped cream to add for moistness, and maybe even some heavy whipping cream to be added to the recipe. This was my first time making them, and I’m sure I’ll play around with it a bit more before it’s just right.

Ingredients

3/4 cup almond flour
1/2 cup stevia or other sugar substitute
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, melted
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup 90% dark chocolate
Optional: Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup

Preheat oven to 350.
In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, stevia, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Whisk to combine

In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, eggs and vanilla

Add the butter mixture to the almond flour mixture and stir.

Stir in the dark chocolate – put batter in an 8×8 greased pan

Cook for approximately 30 minutes

Allow the brownies to cool for at least 5 minutes before cutting.

Top with whipped cream, strawberries, or a keto-friendly icing. And enjoy

Per serving (1 brownie)

calories 191
total fat: 17.2
carbs 5.5
(fiber 2.6)
net carbs 2.9
protein 3.2

Keto Brownies

 

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Keto Smothered Chicken Recipe

Chicken is a staple in the Keto diet just like kiss my keto. However after awhile grilled or baked chicken can get to be a little, well drab. (Not to mention if you are like me and you take leftover dinner for lunch the next day, it can be pretty dry). I am constantly experimenting with different ways to keep the chicken moist – and of course delicious. I love salsa chicken, or bbq chicken, or spicy chicken, any chicken that is seasoned with taco or fajita seasoning (I’ll be posting some of those later this month) but this Keto smothered chicken is a bit of a winter comfort food for me – and since it’s Keto/Low Carb I wanted to share.

If you have family or friends that are non-Keto, you can even add a little pasta (and just some veggies for you – I like cutting up my chicken and mixing it up with some green beans). This recipe takes less than 10 minutes to throw together, and then it bakes for about 30 minutes, so it’s rather simple dish that can be thrown together quickly (think kids ball games, practices, etc) and it’s delicious, so its a win/win!

I have made this Keto Smothered Chicken before when I didn’t have Parmesan cheese and just mozzarella, it works in  a bind, but the parm makes it taste better in my opinion.

So here’s what you’ll need: chicken breast, sour cream, garlic powder, seasoned salt , pepper and salt, Parmesan cheese and a nice baking dish.

Preheat oven to 375 F

Coat a 9-13 in baking dish with a non-stick spray (I use virgin olive oil or coconut spray)

In a mixing bowl mix your sour cream, the garlic powder , seasoned salt, pepper and about 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese well (make sure the cheese is mixed well, sometimes it will clump)

salt and pepper your chicken and place in a hot skillet, browning both sides (should only take about 2 minutes per side once the skillet is hot)

Place your browned chicken in the baking pan evenly, making sure they do not overlap

Spread your mixture on top of the chicken , and then sprinkle the rest of the Parmesan cheese on top

Bakes in the oven 25-30 minutes, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked

Enjoy!

Keto Smothered Chicken

Keto Smothered Recipe

This Keto Smothered Chicken is a delicious low carb dish that your non-keto family and friends will love as well. Super simple and bakes in 30 minutes!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
  • salt & pepper for seasoning the chicken breast

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F
  2. Coat a 9-13 in baking dish with a non-stick spray (I use virgin olive oil or coconut spray)
  3. In a mixing bowl mix your sour cream, the garlic powder , seasoned salt, pepper and about 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese well (make sure the cheese is mixed well, sometimes it will clump)
  4. salt and pepper your chicken and place in a hot skillet, browning both sides (should only take about 2 minutes per side once the skillet is hot)
  5. Place your browned chicken in the baking pan evenly, making sure they do not overlap
  6. Spread your mixture on top of the chicken , and then sprinkle the rest of the Parmesan cheese on top
  7. Bakes in the oven 25-30 minutes, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked
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Keto Thin Mint Cookies Recipe

If you are worried about missing out on those delicious Girl Scout Cookies – look no further! This Keto Thin Mint cookies  recipe is DELICIOUS!
I think its crazy that the Girl Scouts start selling their amazing cookies right when every once is making their new years resolutions and starting diets. I always felt like I was missing out, or that I had to buy a box or two to put in the freezer just so there were there just in case. But not any longer.  There are so many options for alternatives for your favorite Girl Scout Cookie and this is definitely a favorite!

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Combine all ingredients except the last three ingredients in a bowl.

Stir to form a dough. Freeze your dough for about 5-10 minutes as it makes it much easier to roll out and cut. Once frozen roll out, cut dough into circles with a cookie cutter or small jar lid.  I found the shape of a champagne glass turned upside down was perfect.

Bake 7 minutes. As they cool they will firm up.

While you make the chocolate coating freeze the cookies so the chocolate will stick well. For the coating, add in come coconut oil and carefully melt the chocolate chips. The coconut oil makes the chocolate much smoother and easier to coat. Once melted stir in the peppermint extract. Dip cookies in chocolate and place on a parchment-lined plate, and freeze.

keto thin mint cookies

Can you freeze keto thin mint cookies?
I stored these in the freezer once done for the classic crispiness of Thin Mints!

keto thin mint cookies

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