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Solve Weeknight Dinner Dilemmas with Great Value Pasta Sauce

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

A recent conversation with my husband went something like this:

“So Reid has soccer on Monday nights and Ryder has language therapy on Tuesdays. They both have swimming on Wednesday nights and on Thursdays, don’t forget Ryder has martial arts…”

Sounds like your family too? Weeknights are hectic, I know. In fact, I spend an inordinate amount of time fussing over what to serve for dinner, only to fall back on tried-and-true favourites that I know the boys will eat (preferably, but not always, without complaint). My standby is pasta; spaghetti, macaroni, penne, rotini, fusilli… pair it with a great-tasting pasta sauce and I know they’ll clean their plates.

But kids cannot live on pasta alone.

The good news? I’ve found three new recipes to add to my repertoire thanks to Great Value Pasta Sauce. I know what you’re thinking – more pasta? Nope! These affordable dishes incorporate the deliciousness and versatility of pasta sauce in inspiring new ways. Plus, the recipes are easy to follow and ready in just 20 minutes or less. They’re perfect for crazy weeknights when time (and patience!) is limited!

Easy, Affordable Recipe #1: Cheesy Chicken Nachos
Kids love nachos, so this one’s a no-brainer. However, when was the last time you made nachos with Alfredo sauce? (I just blew your mind, didn’t I?) It’s creamy and pairs perfectly with Mexican-inspired grilled chicken and crispy blue corn tortilla chips. 

Hero Product: Great Value Alfredo Pasta Sauce
Hero Tip: Use fully cooked chicken strips to save time!
Serves 4
Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 20
Cost per serving: $5.10

2 boneless chicken breasts
1 tbsp (15 ml) Tex Mex seasoning
1 large bag of blue corn tortilla chips
1 ½ cups (375 ml) Great Value Old Cheddar, shredded
1 ½ cups (375 ml) Great Value Alfredo Pasta Sauce
½ cup (125 ml) tomatoes, chopped
2 jalapenos, sliced into coins
4 green onions, chopped
½ cup (125 ml) black olives
Sour cream

Directions:

Heat grill to medium high. Season chicken breasts with Tex Mex seasonings. Grill for four minutes on one side, flip, and grill for another four minutes (or until internal temperature is 165F [75C]). Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

In a medium saucepan, heat Alfredo Great Value Pasta sauce over medium heat. Chop chicken into cubes and add to sauce. Keep warm.

On a microwave safe platter, place tortilla chips in a single layer, top with ½ cup (125 ml) of chicken and Alfredo sauce, then ½ cup (125 ml) of shredded Cheddar. Repeat for two more layers.

Microwave for 90 seconds or until cheese is melted.

Remove from microwave and top with tomatoes, jalapenos, green onions and olives. Serve with sour cream.
I honestly never thought to microwave shredded cheese until melted. Not only does it save time and energy – it works! Using leftover chicken breasts that I grilled over the weekend, I was able to assemble and serve this delicious dinner in under 10 minutes.

Easy, Affordable Recipe #2: Shakshouka Goes to Italy!
Shakshouka is a traditional Israeli or Tunisian dish of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, peppers and onions. While it’s normally served at breakfast or brunch, we absolutely love eggs for dinner and the Italian twist on this recipe really elevates it to comfort food status.

Hero Product: Great Value Garlic & Onion Pasta Sauce
Hero Tip: This is a one pot meal! Serve Shakshouka with garlic toast or slices of fresh baguette.
Serves 4
Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 20
Cost per serving: $2.35

1 tbsp (15 ml) canola oil
½ cup (125 ml) white onion, chopped
½ cup (125 ml) sweet peppers, chopped (red, orange or yellow)
1 650 ml jar Great Value Garlic & Onion Pasta Sauce
4 large eggs
Salt and pepper
½ cup (125 ml) fresh basil, chopped

Directions:

In a large skillet, heat canola oil to medium high. Add onions and peppers and cook for three minutes, stirring often.

Add Great Value Garlic & Onion Pasta Sauce and stir to combine with onions and peppers. Bring sauce to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Make four indentations in the sauce and break in the eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until eggs are set.

Remove from heat, top with fresh basil.

With a large serving spoon, transfer two eggs to a pasta bowl.  Divide remaining sauce evenly between bowls. Serve with grilled garlic toast.
I was worried about the “kid-friendly” aspect of Shakshouka but the boys gobbled it up! They enjoyed dipping slices of toasted baguette in the rich-tasting sauce. This recipe has officially entered our rotation for easy weeknight dinners.

Easy, Affordable Recipe #3: Powerhouse Pizza Rollups
They’re bite-sized, made of buttery puff pastry and allow mom to sneak in some colourful veggies, too. Could Powerhouse Pizza Rollups be the most perfect food? Plus, with a robust four-cheese sauce for dipping, they’re a savoury treat that doubles as a late-night snack when the kids are in bed.

Hero Product: Great Value Four Cheese Pasta Sauce
Hero Tip: Switch it up! Try pepperoni and mozzarella, broccoli and cheddar or asparagus and asiago.
Serves 4
Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 20
Cost per serving: $2.50

1 package refrigerated crescent rolls
1 cup (250 ml) Great Value Four Cheese Pasta Sauce
1 cup (250 ml) fresh baby spinach
1 medium red pepper, cut into thin strips
½ cup (125 ml) feta, crumbled

Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Separate crescent rolls into eight triangles and space evenly on baking sheet.

At the wide end of each triangle, place a generous teaspoonful of Four Cheeses Great Value Pasta Sauce. Top with three or four baby spinach leaves. Add three or four pepper strips and one teaspoon of feta to each triangle. Roll up each triangle loosely. Careful not to overload contents, as it could result in improperly cooked rolls.

Transfer sheet to oven and bake for 11-13 minutes. Serve with remaining Great Value Four Cheese Pasta Sauce for dipping.
I know I’m supposed to reinforce the importance of eating together at the dining table, but the truth is, what I love most about these pizza rollups is that they’re portable. Having dinner on the way to practice is a reality for our family, so we all give this meal two thumbs up!

So, what do you think? I bet you didn’t know you could do so much with pasta sauce! Great Value Pasta Sauce is only $2.27 for a 650 mL jar and made with quality ingredients you can actually read. Whether you’re looking for weeknight dinner solutions or just want to move away from the every day, I hope you try these inspiring new recipes featuring Great Value Pasta Sauce!

All of these recipes can be found at Walmart.ca/recipecentre.

To help you create a school weeks’ worth of meals, one lucky Listen to Lena reader will win a $100 Walmart Gift Card! To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada as part of the Great Value Pasta Sauce program. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cathy Oppedisano

    First, I’ll try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos recipe because I like cheese based sauces the most.

  2. kristen visser

    oh my gosh! everything looks so delicious! I think the first thing I would try would be recipe #3 : Powerhouse Pizza Rollups <3 Looks absolutely delish, easy to make, I know my kids would love it and hey I would eat anything pizza like everyday if I could LOL

  3. Lynda Cook

    Cheesy Chicken Nachos,we love nachos but usually use beef, this one looks and sounds sooo good!! this would be the first one I make!!

  4. Piroska

    I’m definitely making the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups. They look so delicious, and a healthier version of pizza. Quick, too.

  5. Angela Massis

    These all look like great recipe ideas and all worth exploring but first on my list is going to be the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups because I can personalize them for the picky eaters but I do know that the 4 Cheese Pasta Sauce will be a hit with everyone.

  8. Susan T.

    I’ve been meaning to try Shakshouka so maybe using a jarred sauce will make it easy enough for me!

  9. kathy downey

    Hi,it all looks delicious but i think the first thing I would try would be the Cheesy Chicken Nachos because I’ve only ever made beef and chicken would be a welcome change!

  10. Jackie M

    I would try the Four Cheese pasta sauce – I love tomato sauce for my pasta and will try it in other recipes as well.

  12. Judy Cowan

    I think I would try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups, they look like something my family would really enjoy having as a treat.

  13. Mary

    I’m definitely making the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups!!! They look amazing, and I know my kids with go crazy for them!

  15. Mandy

    I would try the Shakshouka Goes to Italy! The dish looks so yummy, great that it’s a 1 pot dish so less dishes to clean, and I like all the ingredients in it so I’m sure I’ll enjoy the dish.

  16. Debbie White Beattie

    All of these recipes look and sound delicious but if I’m picking the first recipe I want to try then I would have to say “Powerhouse Pizza Rollups” because I know that everyone in my house would love it.

  20. Krista M

    I would really like to make the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups using Great Value pasta sauce! And what a great way to sneak in a couple veggies to my picky-eater son!

  21. Rachel

    I will definitely try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos. It would be nice to sub out beef for a change

  24. Ira

    I’d love to try 4 Cheese Chicken Alfredo. Actually, I’d try anything with Alfredo Sauce – LOVE it!

  28. Lilly Wong

    I would try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos because we have the ingredients : Chicken, & Tortilla Chips in the house.

  29. Dianne G.

    I will make the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups first. I am always looking for different ideas for my hubby’s lunches and I think he would enjoy the combination of ingredients and flavours together.

  30. Carole D

    The first thing I would try would be the cheesy chicken nachos. But I’m saving all the rcipe as I will try them all! Thank you for sharing!

  31. Jennifer P.

    I would definitely try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups first for two reasons. First, I think my whole family would like them. Second, we are on the go a lot so they are an ideal portable meal we could eat en route to practices, games etc.

  32. Carina vause

    Powerhouse Pizza Rollups have been added to this week’s menu

    Thanks for the inspiration

  34. Jonnie

    I will try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups because they look so quick and easy and pack some great nutrition in a super affordable dish.

  36. Pam

    We love exploring with different toppings for our nachos. I love the idea of putting on Alfredo sauce.

  37. Florence Cochrane

    I would use the Alfredo sauce to make Alfredo chicken. A recipe that my family loves.

  38. Terri Baker

    I am going to try Shakshouka. It sounds so delicious. It’s the perfect meal packed with protein from the eggs and great flavour from the Great Value sauce. Pass the bread please!!! You can feed the entire family for a very small amount of money. Now that is what I call “Great Value”

  39. Lara Maynard

    I’d have to check out the nutritional info and ingredients before deciding to use either. Prefer to make my own sauces normally.

  44. Deena Resnickoff

    I definitely want to try Powerhouse Pizza Rollups because I absolutely love pizza!!!!

  46. Glogirl

    I would like to try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos because it looks like it would make for a great appetizer my whole family would love.

  47. Elizabeth Matthiesen

    I’ve not heard of Shakshouka before but it certainly sounds like it would be a favourite here and the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups would always be a hit with kids too.

  48. Jeannie Lam

    I would try the powerhouse pizza rollups because it looks like something my kids would love because it’s like a calzone!

  50. Jenn

    I would have to try the Great Value Alfredo Pasta Sauce first because the whole family loves it! I have only ever tried one brand of alfredo sauce (creature of habit!) but I would love to give the Great Value one a taste!

  52. Soozle

    I love the sounds of the pizza roll ups as a snack or appetizer so the Great Value Four Cheese Pasta Sauce would be my first choice

  53. Christy E

    I would try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups first because they look great, easy and also lots of different variations of veg etc you can try

  58. nicolthepickle

    I have never heard of Shakshouka, but we make this thing called baked eggs all the time. And it’s just the same. I would definitely make that recipe. Just add a little fresh basil from the garden.

  60. Tara Betterley

    I would want to try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos and the Pizza Rolls. I think the Pizza Rolls would be great to put in the kids lunches!

  63. Treen Goodwin

    I would def love to try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos recipe , , it would be great for all our get together’s with friends and family , it would be something we never had before , i love trying new recipes and this would be a hit in our home :)

  64. Marlene J

    Recipe #1: Cheesy Chicken Nachos, we love chicken & nachos
    & from Walmart website
    Pulled Chicken Potatoes, we love chicken & potatoes

  68. Shelley Hickey

    Cheesy Chicken Nachos would be my first recipe but not my last….I would try them all!! Being foodies and cooks, we love to try new dishes and new products!

  70. Andrea Amy

    I would try the powerhouse pizza rollups because I think its a versatile recipe that I would be able to make work for my entire family

  74. Guppy

    I’d try making Cheesy Chicken Nachos because it sounds like a great twist on one of my favorite dishes!

  78. Donna Maroulis

    I really enjoyed your Facebook post about the Calgary Zoo. The Lemurs are so fascinating !

  80. Alayne Langford

    I will definitely try the grilled chicken and crispy blue corn tortilla chips, as it looks like a crowd pleaser!! ????

  83. Dana Miller

    I am excited to first make the Cheesy Chicken Nachos using Great Value Pasta Sauce. My family will like the Alfredo sauce twist! This is a recipe that I can enlist the help of my daughter.

  84. Juliee Fitze

    I would like to try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups the kids would love to have them with just cheese and sauce.

  87. Christine Murray

    I would try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups first because my daughter’s schedule is super crazy and they seem really quick to make and great for her to grab and go. Thanks for the chance.

  88. Tara

    The Shakshouka looks really interesting and we always have too many eggs with our own chickens. This looks like a neat way to cook them.

  90. Shelley N

    Cheesy chicken nachos since my sons love fajitas, tacos and nachos. this is a natural one for them

  93. Gillian Morgan

    I would try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups because I think its something everyone in my house would like and enjoy.

  100. Mary Boudreau

    I’d try #1: Cheesy Chicken Nachos. They look delicious and would be great when we have the whole family over

  105. shirley oflynn

    Everything looks so delicious! I would like to try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups recipe first. It looks like a fun dish for summer.

  106. Jolie

    Love the Cheesy Chicken Nachos, it will definitely get everyone’s approval in in my family :)

  109. Erika Letson

    I would like to try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos first because my family loves Alfredo sauce and this recipe sounds delicious!

  110. Monique L.S.

    I would like to try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups as I think my girls would really enjoy them. Fun and delicious to eat.

  111. Jason E Woods

    I would try the Great Value Garlic & Onion Pasta Sauce first as it sounds like it would be good on its own, or as a base for added ingredients to make a meal.

  113. Christine Holliday

    First of all the Cheesy Chicken Nachos, they look delish and appear to be the quickest and easiest

  116. Sarah alexis

    Cheesy Chicken Nachos – these sound fab (substituted with legumes instead of chicken for us veggies! LOL)

  122. LILLIAN BROWN

    I would try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups because I think my family would like these a lot.

  124. Robyn Bellefleur

    I would love to try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups. I think they would be a hit with my family.

  126. Alison Braidwood

    The Powerhouse Pizza Rollups look awesome. They’re different, but made with ingredients I usually have on hand.

  127. Brenda Penton

    I’d make the 4 Cheese Chicken Alfredo with the Great Value Alfredo Pasta Sauce. Alfredo is my favourite and this looks delicious!

  129. nicky

    I would make Shakshouka Goes to Italy! because it looks delicious and something everyone in my family would like.

  130. Elaine G

    We try the The Powerhouse Pizza Rollups first. They look easy to make and the kids can put what they want in them.

  131. Violet P

    I would make the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups and can use to many items to fill up the roll ups and great idea to use the sauce for dipping!

  134. Tanyab79

    I would love all of them but would start with the alfredo because I love it mixed with pasta along with lots of veggies.

  135. Josie Tusa

    I would try the Shakshouka recipe. It looks very tasty and reminds me of a dish my Mom used to make for us when I was younger.

  136. Peter Tusa

    I would try the Powerhouse Pizza Roll-Ups because they look like a lot of fun to make and taste delicious.

  139. Rhonda

    The Shakshouka is a recipe I’d make. My husband is on a low carb dinner diet so this would be good for him.

  143. Rosanne Robinson

    These are all terrific recipes, the first thing I would try would be the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups, because they sound super yummy and my family will love them.

  144. ginette4

    I would make the try the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups, such a healthy snack that can be whipped up when time is a factor..these would have helped when my daughter was younger and was dancing 4 days a week..in lieu of quick trip to local drive through I would have loved for her to have a healthier quick snack

  152. Lisa Hansen

    I’d try Shakshouka Goes to Italy! first. It sounds like a really interesting combination of ingredients and it would be filling. Yum!

  155. Wendy Jensen

    The easy, affordable recipe using Great Value Pasta Sauce recipe I would try first is the Balsamic Beef with Roasted Red Pepper Aioli.

  156. Eva Mitton-Urban

    Pizza Roll-Ups – Because BTS routines and schedules need to fall back in place. Something quick and tasty ideal for first day back to school supper.

  157. rose

    I have to try the nachos with alfredo sauce. Never thought of it but why not? It is a great way to make a decadent meal, even more decadent! Nice flavour twist!

  172. travelbuds

    I think the Powerhouse Pizza Rollups would be a hit in my house for my kids. The Great Value Four Cheese Pasta Sauce sounds great.

  174. Stephanie LaPlante

    I would first try the Cheesy Chicken Nachos recipe because I absolutely LOVE trying new nacho recipes. It’s just my thing.

  184. Trisha Pedros

    Cheesy Chicken nachos is what I am going to make first then all the other awesome recipes. Thank you for the great ideas!! Love Walmart ????

  186. Chandra O'Connor

    I would never have thought to put the sauce on nachos. the other recipes look very tasty

  187. Calvin

    Many great valu products are nice.. save a little and get them. I haven’t tried pasta sauce yet