(Family Features) Jam-packed calendars and little spare time at home can make heads spin. When those hectic weeknights are giving your family fits, turn to delicious recipes you can have ready in 30 minutes or less.

Start with kitchen staples like chicken and rice – they’re easy to prepare and versatile enough to let you cook a variety of meals without feeling like you’re stuck in a dinner rut. For example, these Air-Fryer Bang Bang Chicken Tenders with Rice offer a kid-friendly take on bang bang chicken that’s both sweet and spicy.

This air-fryer favorite requires just half an hour in the kitchen and calls on the quality and convenience of Success Boil-in-Bag Jasmine Rice to make busy weeknights a breeze. In just 10 minutes, the aromatic rice cooks up soft and fluffy with a uniquely delicious flavor that’s naturally gluten free, Non-GMO Project Verified and free of MSG and preservatives.

For a real escape from the everyday hustle and bustle, invite island flavors to dinner with this simple yet satisfying Grilled Hawaiian Chicken and Coconut Rice. Remember, high quality doesn’t have to be high maintenance.

Ready in 10 minutes, Success Boil-in-Bag Basmati Rice is a quick, easy and mess-free option that is guaranteed to always cook right. It’s an appetizing addition to this tropic-inspired meal that can help you tackle hectic schedules without sacrificing flavor.

Find more ways to solve dinnertime dilemmas at SuccessRice.com.

Air-Fryer Bang Bang Chicken Tenders with Rice

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

• 1 pound chicken tenders
• 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce, divided
• 1/4 cup sriracha hot sauce, divided
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 bag Success Jasmine Rice
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 bag (12 ounces) coleslaw mix
• 1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced
• toasted sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
• green onions, for garnish (optional)

1. Toss chicken tenders with 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce and 1 tablespoon sriracha. Drizzle with sesame oil.
2. Preheat air-fryer to 400 F. In two batches, without overfilling basket, air fry chicken tenders, turning basket halfway during cook time, 10-12 minutes, or until chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
3. Prepare rice according to package directions. Stir mayonnaise with remaining sweet chili sauce and sriracha until blended. In large bowl, toss coleslaw mix with 1/4 cup bang bang mayo sauce.
4. Divide rice among four bowls. Top with chicken, coleslaw mix and cucumber. Drizzle with remaining bang bang mayo sauce.
5. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and green onions, if desired.

Grilled Hawaiian Chicken and Coconut Rice

Prep time: 5 minutes, plus 4 hours for marinating
Cook time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

• 4 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup white onion, chopped
• 1 bag Success Basmati Rice
• 2 cups coconut milk
• 4 pineapple rings
• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut, shredded

1. In 1-gallon bag, combine chicken with soy sauce, water, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic and onion. Marinate in refrigerator about 4 hours.
2. Heat grill to medium heat.
3. Prepare rice according to package directions, replacing 2 cups water with coconut milk.
4. Once finished marinating, remove chicken and pat dry. Grill about 7 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165 F.
5. Pat pineapple rings dry and grill about 1 minute per side.
6. Mix shredded coconut with rice. Place pineapples on top of chicken and serve with rice.

SOURCE:
Success Rice

(Family Features) Resisting the weeknight urge to call for takeout or order delivery starts with an approachable at-home menu with recipes you can prep in an instant. Especially during back-to-school season when schedules are jam-packed with activities, easy meals and desserts you can rely on allow you and your loved ones to ease tension in the kitchen.

Simplicity is the key to putting dinner on the table in 30 minutes or less, and these Taco Salad and Taco Mac and Cheese recipes offer mealtime solutions that make cooking duty a breeze. Make all that classroom effort worth it with a kid-friendly dessert you can prepare over the weekend and keep refrigerated for weeknight treats with these No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars.

Find more recipe ideas to simplify hectic back-to-school schedules at Culinary.net.

Make Dinner Happen in 30 Minutes

If you’re looking for a go-to meal for your hungry family, search no more. This Taco Salad calls only for pantry staples so you can spice up busy evenings in just half an hour.

Visit Culinary.net for more quick dinner solutions.

Taco Salad

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans
• 1 can (15 ounces) corn
• 2 cans (14 ounces each) diced tomatoes with chilies
• 1/2 cup half-and-half or milk
• 2 tablespoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons mesquite seasoning
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• salt, to taste
• 1 lime, juice only
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• romaine lettuce
• 2-3 cups shredded cheese
• 1 tub (16 ounces) sour cream
• crushed tortilla chips

1. In pan over medium heat, brown beef until cooked through; drain. Add black beans and corn. Stir in tomatoes with juices and half-and-half. Add onion powder, garlic powder, mesquite seasoning and pepper. Season with salt, to taste. Bring to simmer.
2. Add lime juice; stir. Sprinkle with cilantro.
3. Wash and chop lettuce. Place cheese and sour cream in bowls for toppings.
4. On plates, top crushed tortilla chips with meat sauce, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, as desired.

A Sweet Treat to Make School Days Special

Sometimes a long day in the classroom and tough homework assignments call for a cool treat. Rewarding all that studying can be a cinch with a no bake cheesecake bar that lasts throughout the week.

These No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars allow you to keep things cool in the kitchen without cranking up the oven. Plus, they’re made with C&H Sugars that are perfect for adding a little something special to school days.

Find more back-to-school desserts at chsugar.com.

No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars

Prep time: 35 minutes
Rest time: 6 hours
Yield: 16 bars

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons C&H Light Brown Sugar
• 1 pinch salt

Bars:

• 1 small fresh dragon fruit, peeled and cubed small
• 1/4 cup C&H Granulated Sugar
• 12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups C&H Powdered Sugar
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, full fat, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, cold

1. To make crust: Line 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave 2-inch overhang of paper on both sides. In medium bowl, mix graham cracker crumbs, butter, brown sugar and salt until well combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press into even layer. Place in freezer.
2. To make bars: In small saucepan over medium heat, cook dragon fruit and granulated sugar until sugar is completely dissolved, dragon fruit is soft and mixture reduces in size, 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool completely.
3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add powdered sugar and mix until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla and yogurt. Beat until combined.
4. In separate bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into cream cheese mixture. Pour half of mixture into prepared crust. Add 5 tablespoons dragon fruit mixture to remaining cream cheese batter. Mix until well combined. Pour over plain cream cheese mixture. Place in refrigerator to set at least 6 hours, or overnight.
5. Cut into 16 bars.

Spice Up Weeknights

Macaroni and cheese is a beloved comfort food that’s easy to make on busy weeknights. With just a few extra ingredients and steps, you can turn boxed mac and cheese into a filling dinner.

To make this Taco Mac and Cheese, simply prepare your favorite boxed mac and cheese according to the package instructions and stir fry the meat and vegetables together. (Hint: You can even chop vegetables the night before to make cooking the next day even easier.) Then add taco seasoning and combine for a new take on a classic dish.

Visit Culinary.net to find more quick and simple recipes.

Taco Mac and Cheese

• 1 box macaroni and cheese
• 1/4 cup milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 orange bell pepper, diced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons taco seasoning

1. Prepare boxed mac and cheese with milk and butter according to package instructions.
2. In skillet, brown ground turkey over medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Add taco seasoning.
3. Stir turkey mixture with mac and cheese to combine.

SOURCE:
C&H Sugar

Improve hydration, skip added sugars with better-for-you beverages

(Family Features) How you start your morning can impact the rest of your day. If you’re looking to incorporate healthier choices into your morning routine, try a concept known as “habit stacking.” Building tiny, healthier habits into routines you already have, like enjoying a morning beverage or breakfast before you check your email instead of jumping right into the day’s tasks, can make it easier to stick to a new habit when it’s built into an existing routine.

If you already enjoy the routine of breakfast to start the day, consider swapping sugary drinks for beverages without added sugars like unsweetened green or black tea. When incorporated as part of an overall healthy diet, unsweetened tea can help support heart health.

If you need help getting started, Lipton, a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Life is Why campaign, created these easy-to-make, better-for-you tea recipes.

A small handful of ingredients makes a big splash in Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies, ideal for an on-the-go breakfast. For a little refreshment any time of day, simple Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers offer a solution with 0 grams of added sugars while non-alcoholic Green Tea Mojito Mocktails provide natural sweetness with 100% fruit juice.

Choosing beverages with no added sugars can contribute to a healthy heart, according to the American Heart Association, making these recipes perfect for daily habit stacking. Water is needed to keep your body running at its best, and because unsweetened tea is 99.5 % water, it provides a delicious way to help hydrate.

Discover more ways to improve daily routines at Heart.org/eatsmart.

Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies

Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

• 3 cups water
• 8 single-serving green tea bags
• 16 ounces frozen mixed berries (about 3 cups)
• 2 medium bananas, peeled, cut in half and frozen
• 1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons fresh-grated peeled gingerroot (optional)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)
• 2 teaspoons chia or flax seeds (optional)

1. In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
2. In food processor or blender, process tea, berries, bananas and yogurt until smooth. Add gingerroot and vanilla, if desired, and process until smooth. Pour into four glasses. Sprinkle with chia seeds, if desired.

Nutritional information per serving (without optional ingredients): 136 calories; 1 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 3 mg cholesterol; 23 mg sodium; 29 g carbohydrates; 5 g fiber; 18 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 8 g protein.

Green Tea Mojito Mocktails

Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

• 4 cups water
• 4 single-serving green tea bags
• 32-40 sprigs fresh mint, plus additional for garnish, divided
• 2 cups ice cubes
• 1 cup 100% white grape juice
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 medium limes)
• 1 medium lime, cut into four wedges or lime zest twists (optional)

1. In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
2. At serving time, add mint leaves to four glasses. Using muddler or wooden spoon, mash mint leaves several times to release juices. Don’t mash into pulp. Add ice.
3. Stir white grape juice and lime juice into tea mixture. Pour into glasses. Garnish each with lime wedge and mint leaf.

Tip: To get more juice from citrus, before slicing, microwave fruit on high 30 seconds, or until warm. When cool enough to handle, use citrus reamer or handheld juice press to juice citrus.

Nutritional information per serving: 45 calories; 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 7 mg sodium; 13 g carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 10 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein.

Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers

Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

• 4 cups water
• 4 single-serving green tea bags
• 1 cup 100% cranberry juice or 100% cranberry-pomegranate juice
• 2 cups ice cubes
• 1/2 cup seltzer (flavored or plain) or low-sodium club soda, chilled
• 4 orange slices or lime wedges (optional)

1. In small saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil. Remove pan from heat. Submerge tea bags. Steep 4 minutes. Discard tea bags. Let tea mixture cool 30 minutes. Pour into pitcher. Stir in cranberry juice. Refrigerate 2 hours, or until chilled.
2. At serving time, put ice cubes in four glasses. Pour tea mixture into glasses. Top each serving with seltzer. Garnish with orange slices.

Tip: To create cranberry-flavored ice cubes, fill ice cube tray with 100% cranberry juice and freeze.

Nutritional information per serving: 32 calories: 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat, trans fat, polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 4 mg sodium; 8 mg carbohydrates; 0 g fiber; 8 g total sugars (0 g added sugars); 1 g protein.

SOURCE:
American Heart Association