Tag: #mealprep

Meal Prepping Before My Knee Replacement: Crack Chicken, Pork BBQ & Beef & Sausage Queso Bake

Lisa Kidd

Sometimes life gives you a good reason to get a little extra organized in the kitchen.

For me, that reason is knee replacement surgery.

August 17th, I went in for my knee replacement, and while I certainly was a little nervous about what lied ahead, I was trying to focus on the things I could do to make the recovery period a little easier.

One of those things?

Meal prep!

❤️ Cooking for the One Who Will Be Taking Care of Me

My husband is going to be taking care of me while I recover, so I wanted to make sure he wouldn’t have to worry about cooking every single meal.

That meant it was time to put on my apron and get to work!

I decided to make several meals that could be refrigerated or frozen and easily reheated later.

And, of course, I didn’t stop at one recipe.

I ended up making three different meals!

🍗 My Twist on Viral Crack Chicken

First up was my version of the ever-popular Crack Chicken.

I love recipes like this because they’re comforting, flavorful, and perfect for making ahead.

I portioned mine into freezer bags so we can pull out individual meals when we need them.

🐷 Pork BBQ

Next came Pork BBQ.

This is another one of those meals that works beautifully for meal prep. It’s easy to portion out, freezes well, and gives us another option when we don’t feel like eating the same thing day after day.

🧀 Beef & Sausage Queso Bake

And because apparently I wasn’t done cooking yet, I also made my Beef & Sausage Queso Bake!

This is one of my favorite hearty, protein-packed comfort-food-style recipes.

Between the three meals, I ended up with enough food to help keep us going for a couple of weeks.

And honestly?

That makes me feel so much better going into surgery.

🥰 A Little Meal Prep Is a Lot of Love

There’s something special about preparing food for someone you love.

My husband is going to be taking care of me while I recover, and preparing these meals is one small way I can take care of him, too.

I’m hoping that having meals ready in the freezer will mean less stress for both of us while I focus on healing.

This video is a little different from my normal recipe videos because I’m sharing more of the real-life side of Bariatric Living—the good, the challenging, the preparation, and everything in between.

So if you’d like to see what I made and spend a little time with me in my kitchen before surgery, be sure to check out the video.

❤️ Follow Along With Bariatric Living with Lisa

For high-protein, low-carb and sugar-free recipes, bariatric-friendly ideas, meal prep, lifestyle, and plenty of real-life kitchen adventures, make sure you’re following Bariatric Living with Lisa!

Easy Aloha Pineapple Chicken & Rice Casserole

Lisa Kidd

If you are looking for an easy comfort food recipe with a tropical twist, this Aloha Pineapple Chicken & Rice Casserole is absolutely delicious! 🍍🌺

This recipe combines tender chicken, sweet pineapple, savory soy sauce, colorful vegetables, and rice into one simple baked casserole dish. It’s hearty, flavorful, and makes a great family dinner or meal prep recipe.

To make it more bariatric lifestyle friendly, I used a combination of jasmine rice and cauliflower rice. This helps lower the carbs while still keeping that comforting casserole texture.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy one-pan meal
  • Sweet & savory flavor combination
  • High in protein
  • Great for leftovers
  • Perfect for busy weeknights
  • Budget friendly

Ingredients

  • ½ cup brown sugar or brown sugar substitute
  • ½ cup low sodium soy sauce (I used a sweet soy sauce)
  • 2 teaspoon Adobo garlic powder
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 1½ cup uncooked instant white rice (I used ½ cup uncooked Jasmine rice and a frozen bag of Cauliflower Rice, microwaved)
  • 1 diced sweet onion
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 20 ounce can pineapple tidbits or chunks in juice, NOT drained
  • 1 lb. thin-sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenderloins, diced into bite-sized pieces

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. I used a 13x 9 baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and chicken broth.
  • Add uncooked rice, onion, bell pepper, pineapple and it’s juices and chicken. Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake for 50 minutes. Once cooking is done, uncover and stir ingredients.
  • Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
  • Let stand 5 minutes before serving. 

The pineapple gives this casserole a sweet tropical flavor that pairs so well with the savory chicken and soy sauce!

Final Thoughts

This recipe is the perfect combination of comfort food and tropical flavor. It’s filling, protein-packed, and easy enough for busy weeknights.

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think!

Veggie-Loaded Mississippi Pot Roast (Slow Cooker Version)

Lisa Kidd

If you love Mississippi Pot Roast but want a version that’s a little more hearty, veggie-forward, or family-friendly, this one is for you! I made this on vacation and it turned out absolutely delicious. Instead of using pepperoncinis, I swapped in a full blend of vegetables for a comforting, melt-in-your-mouth roast that practically makes itself.

Everything goes straight into the crockpot — no searing, no prep work, no fuss. After cooking low and slow for 10 hours, the roast becomes so tender and flavorful that it falls apart with a fork. The vegetables soak up all the buttery, savory goodness from the ranch and au jus mix, making every bite rich and satisfying.

Ingredients

  • Chuck Tender Roast
  • Red Potatoes
  • Onions
  • Celery
  • Baby Carrots
  • Ranch Dressing Mix
  • Au Jus Mix
  • Water
  • Butter

Instructions

Layer the vegetables in the bottom of your crockpot, place the roast on top, sprinkle the ranch and au jus packets, add water, and place the stick of butter right on top. Cook on low for 10 hours and enjoy the most comforting, fall-apart roast!

This recipe is perfect for busy days, cozy weekends, or anyone who loves easy dump-and-go crockpot meals. It also works great for meal prep — leftovers taste even better the next day.