Easy Ways to Jazz Up Frozen Veggies

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We all know we should integrate more vegetables into our diet, especially those green ones, but sometimes it's really hard. The USDA recommends that people get 2.5 cups of vegetables in a typical 2,000 calorie diet, but fresh produce can be cost-prohibitive, not easily accessible, or simply out of season—and even when you do find and buy the veggies you love, you have to prioritize cooking them ASAP lest they go bad and go to waste.

Enter frozen vegetables, which generally retain most of their nutritional value (all those vitamins and minerals!) even when they've been sitting in your freezer for months. If packaged produce feels a little uninspiring, we've gathered a few tips to help your final green, healthy dishes taste just a little bit better and more exciting. Go forth and make Popeye proud.

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Pop 'Em In the Air Fryer

Frozen vegetables can get a little mushy, but when cooked in the air fryer, they're sure to cook up nice and crispy.

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Make Them Into a Frittata

Clean out your freezer and increase your veg intake by adding frozen vegetables to your next omelette or frittata at brunch.

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Sauté Them

While you could just cook frozen vegetables in the microwave or boil them, sautéeing those carrots and corn brings out a lot more flavor.

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Layer on Some Cheese

If you are having trouble getting your crew to eat veggies as a standalone, adding cheese will definitely improve your odds. Hide those leafy greens under a layer of melted cheese by popping them in the oven in a casserole dish.

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Add Bacon

Brussels sprouts are a chore to eat when steamed like your mama used to make them, but roast sprouts in the oven with bacon or pancetta and you've got a savory treat that everyone will be fighting over.

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Shake on Plenty of Spices

No matter if you are baking, broiling, sautéeing or microwaving, all frozen veggies are greatly improved by the addition of your favorite seasonings. Try something like Trader Joe's Everyday Seasoning, which will add some dynamic flavor to your side dishes.

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Toss Them Onto a Pizza Topping

If you've got frozen pizzas in the freezer, add mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, or any other favorite frozen veggies on top before you bake to pump up the flavor and vitamins.

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Turn Kale Into Chips

If you've got bags of kale in the freezer and you just can't bring yourself to eat it, try placing it on a roasting pan with some salt and olive oil (and a little garlic never hurt) for some delicious kale chips.

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Add Them to Mac & Cheese

Mac & cheese is always crowd pleaser, especially if you've got kids around. Broccoli is hardly noticed among all that yummy richness.

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Eat Them While They're Fresh

Even though those frozen green beans can survive in the depths of your freezer for a year and still be edible, that doesn't mean they should be eaten after that much time. Most best-by dates are within a year of purchasing, which is when they'll have the most flavor. Consuming these staples before they get freezer burn or lose their nutrients is key to making them taste better.

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Make a Smoothie

Since they are already frozen, these veggies make the perfect smoothie ingredients. Instead of adding a ton of ice to water down your drink, the cold veggies chill your drink as you blend everything together. A smoothie is also a great chance to use up some of the frozen fruit in your freezer, too.

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Turn Them Into Soup

If you've got a big pot or a slow cooker, you can put your frozen faves, like carrots, cauliflower and spinach, into your recipe with chicken and broth for some good soup on a cold day.

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Turn Them Into Dip

While you can't put out a platter of frozen vegetables to dip in ranch dressing, you can turn the frozen ingredients into a delicious dip (like a spinach and artichoke variety) and then pair with some fresh vegetables to give your guests, or just you, the best of both worlds.

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Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/g38285276/how-to-spruce-up-frozen-veggies/