The Kitchen Season 1 Episode 19 Weeknight Shortcuts

The Kitchen is a culinary talk show where hosts Sunny Anderson, Jeff Mauro, Katie Lee, Marcela Valladolid and Geoffrey Zakarian come together each week to share their favorite recipes, cooking tips, and entertaining ideas. In season 1, episode 19, titled "Weeknight Shortcuts," the hosts offer up their best tips for preparing quick and easy meals on busy weeknights.

As the episode begins, Sunny shares a recipe for one of her favorite weeknight dinners – a super simple beef stir-fry that's ready in just 15 minutes. To make the dish, Sunny marinates strips of beef in a mixture of soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger, before stir-frying them with sliced onion and colorful bell peppers. She serves the stir-fry over a bed of fluffy white rice, garnished with fresh cilantro.

Next up, Jeff shows viewers how to make a tasty shortcut version of classic chicken parmesan, using frozen chicken tenders, store-bought marinara sauce, and a few other pantry staples. He transforms the tenders into crispy, cheesy bites by coating them in seasoned breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese before baking them in the oven. He serves the chicken tenders over a bed of spaghetti and marinara sauce, topped with more parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Katie offers up a delicious and healthy twist on traditional tacos, using grilled portobello mushrooms as a meatless alternative. She marinates the mushrooms in a flavorful mixture of lime juice, garlic, and chili powder before grilling them to perfection. She serves the mushrooms in warm tortillas with a variety of tasty toppings, including sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, chopped cilantro, and tangy salsa.

Marcela shares her recipe for a mouthwatering skillet lasagna that's ready in just 30 minutes thanks to a few clever shortcuts. She makes the dish using no-boil lasagna noodles, store-bought marinara sauce, and a mixture of creamy ricotta cheese and shredded mozzarella. She layers the ingredients in a skillet, then covers the pan and simmers the lasagna on the stovetop until bubbly and hot. Marcela suggests serving the skillet lasagna with a simple green salad and crusty bread for a satisfying and easy weeknight meal.

Finally, Geoffrey offers his tips for making a quick and easy pasta dish that's perfect for when you don't have a lot of time or ingredients on hand. He cooks spaghetti, then tosses it with a simple sauce made from olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley. He finishes the dish with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese before serving.

Throughout the episode, the hosts also share their favorite tips for meal planning, ingredient substitutions, and storing leftovers. They offer up ideas for using up leftover chicken, veggies, and pasta, as well as suggestions for making big-batch meals that can be repurposed throughout the week. They also share their thoughts on the best kitchen gadgets and tools for making quick and easy meals, such as a sharp chef's knife, a non-stick skillet, and a good set of measuring spoons.

Overall, "Weeknight Shortcuts" is a must-watch episode for anyone looking to streamline their weeknight meal prep and make delicious, satisfying meals without spending hours in the kitchen. The hosts' easy-to-follow recipes and clever tips are sure to inspire even the busiest cooks to put healthy, home-cooked meals on the table every night of the week.