Is cooking difficult for you? Don’t worry, it is for a lot of people. Figuring out recipes, shopping for the ingredients, cooking and washing the dishes can be a lot of work! However, no matter how busy you are, there is no need to eat junk food. Here are 4 easy meals you can make, with all ingredients from a Tacoma specialty market.

We know that when life gets hectic it’s hard to eat healthy. You may want to get busy in the kitchen but find yourself exhausted after work. It’s very easy to get in the habit of eating whatever’s fast and convenient.

The good news is that you don’t need to hit the drive-thru or order take-out on those days that seem so tough. With just a few ingredients, you can make simple, quick meals that are healthy, too!

You should be able to find all of these ingredients at a Tacoma specialty market. As a safe bet, hit up Tacoma Boys or H&L Produce which is bound to have these ingredients and more.  And, you know they’ll be fresh and delicious!

Want to know more? Keep reading to learn 4 these easy recipes.

1. One Pan Chicken

For some recipes, the cleanup can be worse than the cooking itself. Watching those dishes pile up is no fun!

Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about a huge cooking mess when it comes to this simple, one pan, chicken recipe.

Just place your Tacoma Boys vegetables of choice on one side of the pan, thickly diced chicken breast in the middle, and diced potatoes on the other side. Then, bake at 425 for 45 minutes.

You can have fun with a one pan chicken recipe by switching up your veggies and seasonings. Here are some of our favorite ways to add a little flavor:

• Use Italian dressing on the chicken
• Season veggies with some garlic powder and olive oil
• Add some olive oil and pepper on your potatoes.

2. Ahi Tuna Salad

Are you looking for something a little more unique? This Asian-inspired salad will do just the trick. Ahi Tuna is a popular dish at a lot of Pacific Northwest restaurants, but it’s actually very easy to cook at home!

You can get Ahi Tuna steaks, avocados, carrots, bell peppers, and cucumbers from your local Tacoma specialty market. Grate your carrots, slice the other veggies, and toss them with a green spring mix to create a salad base.

For cooking the tuna; first, you’ll want to season it to your liking. We recommend using kosher salt, cayenne pepper and whole peppercorns.

Lightly sear the Ahi Tuna by melting butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Gently place the seasoned tuna in the skillet and cook to a desired doneness, 1 1/2 minutes per side for rare.

Place your cooked tuna on top of your salad mix, and voila! You can finish it off with store-bought or home-made ginger sesame dressing.

3. Pot Roast

Now that fall is here and winter is quickly approaching, many are looking for the perfect comfort food to indulge in. For many of us, that can look like a delicious pot roast.

Just stop in to your local Tacoma specialty market for chuck roast, carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery. Season your roast with some rosemary, garlic salt, pepper, and thyme. Place the roast in a slow cooker with your chopped veggies, diced potatoes, and some beef broth. Cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours (for a 3-pound chuck roast).

Plus, you can use any leftover celery for a healthy snack! Just smear on some peanut butter for the ultimate go-to treat. Same goes with extra carrots, just pick your favorite dip and you’ve got plenty of snacks for later.

4. Shrimp Boil

Are you craving something Cajun? We have just the thing! Enjoy a southern shrimp boil with this easy and cheap recipe.

All you need is:

• Shrimp
• Andouille sausage
• Potatoes
• Corn on the cob

Cut your corn into quarters and dice your potatoes.

Throw everything into foil packets with some olive oil, Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Bake for 12 minutes at 425 and voila!

Tacoma Specialty Market Meals

If you need something quick and affordable for dinner this week, look no further than Tacoma Boys or H&L Produce! We are where folks go when looking for a Tacoma specialty market. Click here for a location near you.