We tend to connect around food and everyone in our home gets a chance to show off their skills. This week it was the kids. They knew they’d be cooking dinner and have the task of cleaning up the kitchen. They were making a teen friendly nacho bake. It’s one of the first full meals I teach my kids to make because it’s so easy to prepare and clean up after.

I stopped by Walmart earlier in the week to buy the groceries we’d need. 

I bought ground turkey, shredded cheese, tortillas, taco seasoning, black beans, and jalapeno for the meal. I also bought dish soap and new sponges for the cleanup. I picked up the new Palmolive® Fusion Clean™ Baking Soda & Grapefruit dish liquid because I loved the scent and pretty color. I also like products with baking soda in them. Back in the day when we were clawing our way out of debt, baking soda was my frugal way to clean just about everything. 

Teen Friendly Nacho Bake

So let me tell you how easy this recipe is for your teens to make. 

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs. of ground meat
• 2 cups of shredded cheddar 
• 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 cans of black beans
• 1 jalepneo
• tortilla chips

Before making the nacho bake, the kids set up a sink full of hot water with a little bit of Palmolive® in it. That way, as they prepped the meal they could drop the dirty dishes in the soapy water to soak.

To make the nacho bake the kids used ground turkey that has been browned in olive oil. I usually brown up a couple pounds of ground turkey every week and keep 2 pound batches in the freezer. 

They also use canned black beans, 2 cups of shredded cheese (divided in half), taco seasoning, about a quarter cup of water and jalapenos.

They combine the cup of shredded cheese, the meat, taco seasoning, beans and water into the casserole dish and mix well. Next they top the dish with the remaining shredded cheese and chopped jalapenos.

I had them prepare the the afternoon before church, cover it with foil and pop it in the fridge until dinner. Once that’s out of the way they wash the dishes, wipe the counters and we’re all set for dinner.

At dinner time we pop the casserole into the oven on 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes and serve over tortillas.

My goal is to encourage you to enjoy the tasks involved with homemaking and parenting. Take 15 minutes this week to plan a fun family dinner where your teens prepare the food and cleanup.