If You Give a Kid a Casserole Dish: Chicken Cobbler

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

Chicken Cobbler is a TikTok-famous recipe that presents a new and updated way to make a chicken pot pie by layering a few pantry and freezer staples right in a casserole dish. With just 15 minutes of prep time, this recipe will have a hearty weeknight dinner on the table in no time flat!

Chicken Cobbler

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

3 1/2 - 4 cups shredded, cooked chicken

12 - 20 oz. frozen mixed vegetables

11.36 oz. box Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix and enclosed seasoning packet

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken broth

10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Add butter to 9 X 13 casserole dish and put in oven while preheating. (When butter has melted, remove casserole dish from oven and swirl around until the butter coats the bottom of the dish. Set aside.)
2. Spread shredded, cooked chicken evenly over the butter in the dish.
3. Top shredded chicken with the frozen mixed vegetables in an even layer.
4. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix, contents of the enclosed seasoning packet, and milk until just combined.
5. Pour the biscuit mixture over the frozen mixed vegetable layer, being careful not to mix the layers.
6. Using the same mixing bowl as before, add the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, onion powder, garlic powder, and pepper. Whisk until fully combined with no lumps of soup remaining. Carefully pour the soup mixture over the biscuit mixture, being careful not to mix the layers.
7. Bake uncovered for 60 minutes, or until the crust has risen around the edges, is lightly golden brown, and the liquids are bubbly. Let it sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Ingredient Substitutions):

4 cups of shredded chicken equals approximately:

• 2 pounds of chicken breasts cooked and shredded
• 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
• 3 12.5 oz cans shredded cooked chicken, drained

You can substitute:

• Your favorite frozen vegetables for the frozen vegetables in the recipe (we used mixed peas, carrots, corn, and green beans)
• Canned mixed vegetables for frozen mixed vegetables.

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Measuring ingredients
• Preheating an oven
• Reading and following a recipe
• Setting a timer

Mama Said Knock You Out (Prep Ahead for Easy Dinners):

You can cook the chicken ahead of time for this recipe and assemble the rest of the recipe on a different day.

If cooking chicken breasts ahead of time, add them to a crockpot in a single layer. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, checking at the earliest time. Use your meat thermometer to be sure the chicken has reached 165 degrees F. Let rest 10 minutes before transferring to a clean bowl or cutting board to shred. 

If you have more than the 4 cups of shredded chicken needed for this recipe after you're finished cooking it, it will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator and can be used in other recipes. If needed, you can let it cool, and then portion it out into freezer bags or reusable plastic containers to freeze for other recipes in the future. Make sure to label and date any food item that you freeze.

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days

Special thanks to Your Barefoot Neighbor on TikTok for the original recipe. 

If You Give a Kid a Crockpot: Crockpot Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken in the crockpot is the perfect "set it and forget it meal." It's sweet and savory and makes the perfect busy weeknight meal when served with rice and a side of steamed broccoli or on Hawaiian buns as sliders.

Crockpot Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 Tbsp sesame oil

1/4 cup brown sugar

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 Tbsp salt

1/2 Tbsp pepper

1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)

20 oz can pineapple chunks, drained with juice reserved for sauce

1 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp cold water

Garnishes (optional)

sesame seeds

green onions, chopped

1. In a small bowl, whisk together, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes (if using), and 3 Tbsp of reserved pineapple juice. 
2. Place chicken in crockpot and evenly pour the sauce over top.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2.5-3 hours, until chicken is tender and easily shredded.
4. During the last 30 minutes of cooking, in a small bowl, whisk together 1 Tbsp cornstarch and 2 Tbsp cold water to make a slurry. 
5. Stir cornstarch slurry into sauce along with drained pineapple chunks.
6. Turn the crockpot to high and cook 15-30 minutes until sauce is thickened.
7. Shred the chicken and stir back into sauce. Serve over rice or on slider buns.

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Recipe Substitutions):

• Substitute boneless chicken thighs for the boneless chicken breasts.
• Substitute apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar.
• Substitute olive oil for the sesame oil. 
• Substitute garlic powder or jarred minced garlic for fresh minced garlic.

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Chopping vegetables
• Measuring ingredients
• Reading and following a recipe
• Setting a timer
• Shredding chicken
• Using a crockpot

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Pot: One Pot Taco Soup

Over the next several weeks, we'll be bringing you recipes for beginning cooks designed to teach basic cooking skills. So be on the lookout for all the recipes in the series. Today's recipe is part of the Cooking Challenge series.

With only one pot needed to make this soup, it's an easy-to-make dinner!

As written, the recipe is a healthy, high protein meal that makes a BIG pot of soup. This is a great one for beginner cooks because you can get dinner on the table in 30 minutes and have plenty of leftovers for later in the week or to freeze for later.

One Pot Taco Soup

Soup Ingredients

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 large onion, diced

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 15 oz. can light red kidney beans, undrained

1 15 oz. can dark red kidney beans, undrained

1 15 oz. can canneloni beans, undrained

1 15 oz. can chili beans, undrained,

1 15 oz. can black beans, undrained

1 15 oz. can pinto beans, undrained

1 15 oz. can corn, undrained

1 15 oz. can Rotel, undrained

2 15 oz. cans diced tomatoes, undrained

1 28 oz. can tomato puree

4 cups water

1 1/2 1 oz. packets Taco Seasoning Mix, or 4 1/2 Tbsp. homemade taco seasoning mix

1 oz. packet Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning, or 3 Tbsp. homemade ranch dressing mix

1 1/2 pound ground beef (optional)

Garnishes

green onions, chopped

fresh cilantro, chopped

jalapenos, sliced for serving

avocados, peeled and diced

sour cream

hot sauce

shredded cheese

1. Heat olive oil in a large 8-quart pot over medium heat. Saute onion until soft and translucent. If adding ground beef, brown it along with onions, about 5-6 minutes. Drain grease before proceeding with the rest of the recipe as written.
2. Add the minced garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
3. Add tomatoes and spices, stirring to combine.
4. Add remaining soup ingredients, and stir to combine.
5. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer covered for 25 minutes.
6. Serve topped with garnishes of your choice (optional).

You Can Get with This or You Can Get with That (Ingredient Substitutions):

• If interested in making a smaller quantity of soup, use only 3 cans of beans, tomato puree (omitting diced tomatoes), and 1 packet of Taco Seasoning Mix.
• Substitute garlic powder or jarred minced garlic for fresh minced garlic.
• All garnishes are optional.

This Is How We Do It (Kitchen Skills You'll Learn in This Recipe):

• Boiling vs. simmering
• Browning ground meat (optional)
• Chopping vegetables
• Measuring ingredients
• Reading and following a recipe
• Sauteing vegetables
• Setting a timer
• Using a can opener

Mama Said Knock You Out (Prep Ahead for Easy Dinners):

You can either freeze taco soup before cooking, or you can cook it first and then freeze to reheat later. (This works well with leftovers.) Either way, the flavors in the soup will remain the same. Taco soup can be stored in the freezer for 4-6 months.

If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge

This recipe is part of the three-part If You Give a Kid a Cooking Challenge recipe series. These recipes are designed to: 

• be easier to make
• have a minimal number of ingredients (minus pantry staples like oil and spices)
• be quick to prep 
• make enough for one person to have leftovers for a few days