10 Dump and Bake Dinners for Seniors Living Alone (No Chopping, No Mixing)

The Appalachian Kitchen with Ritsy Jean, Complete Edition: https://ritsyjean.com/ Some nights the cooking isn't what beats you. It's the standing. Every supper tonight goes into one little loaf pan cold, straight from the bag or the can. A sheet of foil goes on top, and the oven does the work while you sit down. Each pan makes two helpings: supper tonight and lunch tomorrow. In this video: RECIPES 1. CHICKEN THIGHS OVER POTATOES & CARROTS 6–8 baby potatoes (whole), handful baby carrots, 2 spoons frozen onion, ½ cup broth or water, 1–2 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs on top, salt, pepper, paprika. 400°F/200°C: 35 min covered, then 25 min uncovered. Done at 165°F/74°C. 2. PORK CHOP ON STUFFING ½ box stuffing mix + the water for that half, minus about a quarter. 1 spoon frozen onion, a few apple slices or 2 spoons applesauce. 1 boneless chop (¾ inch) on top, pepper only. 375°F/190°C: 40 min covered, 15 uncovered. Done at 145°F/63°C, rest 3 min. 3. SMOKED SAUSAGE, POTATOES & GREEN BEANS ½ ring smoked sausage in coins, handful baby potatoes, 1 can green beans (drained) or a handful frozen, 1 spoon frozen onion, pepper, drizzle of oil. No salt. 400°F/200°C: 40 min covered, 15 uncovered. 4. RED BEANS & RICE ½ cup raw long-grain white rice, 1 can red kidney beans WITH liquid, water/broth to bring liquid to 1¼ cups total, handful frozen pepper-onion mix, 1 spoon jarred garlic, a little smoked sausage or ham, pepper, bay leaf, pinch cayenne. Stir once. 375°F/190°C: about 50 min, covered the whole time. Rest 5 min before lifting foil. 5. FISH IN A FOIL PACKET 1 thawed white fish fillet on heavy foil, pat of butter, salt, pepper, handful frozen vegetables. Seal into a loose tent, set right on the rack. 400°F/200°C: 20 min (1-inch fillet), 15 if thinner. Flakes / 145°F/63°C. Lemon at the table. 6. NO-BOIL PASTA BAKE 1½ cups dry short pasta, 1½ cups jarred sauce, 1½ cups water. Stir once. Parchment on the sauce, then foil. 400°F/200°C: 35 min covered, then cheese on, 10 min uncovered. 7. TACO RICE ½ cup raw long-grain rice, 1 can black beans (drained & rinsed), 1 cup thick salsa, 1 cup water, handful frozen corn. Parchment, then foil. 375°F/190°C: 45 min covered, then cheese + crushed chips, 10 min uncovered. 8. FROZEN MEATBALLS 6–8 small frozen cooked meatballs, 1½ cups jarred sauce, 1 cup dry short pasta, 1 cup water. Parchment, then foil. 375°F/190°C: 40 min covered, cheese on, 10 uncovered. Hot to 165°F/74°C. Ravioli version: 1 bag frozen ravioli, 1 cup sauce, ½ cup water. 375°F/190°C: 25 min covered, 10 uncovered. 9. CHICKEN & DRESSING ½ box cornbread stuffing mix + its water, 1 cup pulled rotisserie chicken, 1 spoon frozen onion (and frozen celery), ½ can cream of chicken soup or ½ cup broth. Mix in the pan. 350°F/180°C: 30 min covered, 15 uncovered. Hot to 165°F/74°C. 10. THE FOUR-PART PATTERN Starch (raw rice, raw short pasta, stuffing mix, baby potatoes) + protein + something already chopped + liquid. Raw rice or pasta: about twice as much liquid as dry starch. No raw starch: ½ cup liquid. Canned liquid counts. 350–400°F (180–200°C), about 40 min, foil off for the last 10–15.