Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

We've all been getting home late lately and by the time we get in the door and I do a couple quick things, it's already 7pm and DS is walking around like a broken record, "Hungry, hungry, hungry..." DH winds up giving him snacks while I'm cooking and by the time dinner is ready, DS isn't hungry anymore and just ate a lot of junk.

So, I need secrets to really quick and easy recipes. Things even DH could handle doing (who can barely boil water). Right now, my only fallback is ravioli cause it's done in like 8min! I'd prefer if it had a little more nutritional content than ravioli too!

Thanks!

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

I would appreciate whatever anyone else says since we need info like this also

However, what DH and I do is make stuff on the weekends which we freeze and then it is good to go during the busy weeknights

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

I make chicken quesadillas. I either quickly grill up the chicken or I buy the Perdue shortcuts chicken already cooked. I use 94% fat free tortillas and reduced fat cheese along with scallions. Put it all together and grill in the pan until the cheese is melted- about 10 minutes total and pretty healthy.

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

Right now I tend to cook a lot on Sunday to get us through the week. I'll make 2 trays of some pasta (ziti, lasagna) and store those in the fridge. I make chicken cutlets and we go through those during the week with different meals.

I also make sauce on the weekend so we can use it during the week. I can boil pasta (penne, raviolis) and warm up the sauce at the same time.

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

while i don't have children yet - Dave (my dh) works until 9:00 at night, and at times, after food shopping, we're not home until late.

A great fallback for us is always anything with the Perdue Short Cuts. They're grilled chicken pieces that you put in the microwave for 45 seconds with a paper towel on top.

We've made them with mac & cheese, Lipton Noodles & Sauce (another quick, 10 minutes in the microwave and done thing), Lipton Rice & Sauce (same as noodles, but it's rice)....

There are also steamed veggies that are delicious and are done in the microwave in 2 minutes or less. I'm blanking on who makes them, but they come in INDIVIDUAL serving bags and the corn is outstanding and Dave likes the peas a lot too!

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

slow cooker meals are always great for the late days, just put all the ingredients in in the AM and leave it on low

then there is always grilled cheese & soup

the fajita or taco kits, it give you everything you need but the meat, just throw it in a skillet & cook the meat, add the seasoning. we love them

breakfast for dinner - bacon & eggs, pancakes

anything shake & bake is easy & quick

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

Two words - crock pot! I use mine twice a week and most other things are leftovers. Mine has the timer so it turns to warm to avoid overcooking.

I try to make a double batch of things when I do cook during the week or on the weekends so I can freeze some for later dates (turkey meatballs, meatloaf, chicken nuggets, chicken cutlets)

The rotisiree chickens are great and healthy (I get them at BJ's) - we usually slice up for one meal and then I use the leftovers for chicken pot pie, chicken salad, quesadillas, etc...

Sometimes a quick homemade soup and either grilled cheese or egg salad is something I fall back on. Some form of pasta with veggies is quick and easy as well.

DD loves hamburgers and french fries which are pretty quick but I save for days with a little more luxury.

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

-Make your own pizza night-Bobli makes great crusts and sauce, just get some toppings!

-I just made chicken tenders on my oven, they were frozen from BJs, run the tenders under cold water to get the ice off.....mix 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and an envelope of Good Seasons with a little garlic powder. Roll the wet tenders in the mixture, pop in the oven for 20 min, then broil for a few minutes till brown.....Gavin gobbled them up!

2-I make chicken cutlets and freeze them, so easy to throw in the toaster oven, or add a little sauce and cheese for parm with some spaghetti.

3-I'll stop at the supermarket and buy a rotisserie chicken and make some sides to go with it. Use the leftovers for chicken salad, quesedillas or fajitas (there's a great fajita kit inthe supermarket)

4-Nothing beats grilled cheese and soup! I make an adult version open faced with rustic bread, fontina, mozzarella and grated cheese...great for diping in the soup too!

Now I'm hungry!!!

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

These are all great ideas!!

Thanks for posting!

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

meatloaf is SO easy just have the ground beef defrosted. Add in seasonings/ketchup and bake.

I also take thin chicken cutlets...sprinkle with paprika, dill and seasoning salt. Bake for about 15 min. Its really good!

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

Throw some baked potatoes in your oven in the morning and set your oven to automatically turn on about 45 minutes before you arrive home (assuming your oven does this). One easy easy thing is thin sliced boneless pork chops. Season both sides with salt and pepper, add a little olive oil to your pan, wait until your pan is hot and the oil starts to smoke...toss in your chops. About 3 minutes tops on each side. Invest in some great sauces like BBQ, Chipotle pepper, etc and pour some over the chops a minute before they are done for a great glaze. Do this with chicken also. Mix and match starches and veggies and you'll eat delcious easy meals!

Message edited 2/27/2009 1:30:52 PM.

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

If DH & I are eating later than DD. Sometimes I'll make her scrambled eggs. You can add cheese, tomato, etc.. Basically any leftover veg.

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

This one is EASY

put 4 chicken breasts in baking dish

mix 1/2 cup mayo with 1/4 cup parmesan (low fat versions of both work perfectly)

spread mix on chicken, sprinkle Italian bread crumbs on top bake 375 for 25 minutes, its really good!

add any side you want like bakes potatoes in microwave
or a rice mix and a salad
viola!

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

Tofu and stir fried veggies are super quick and easy. You can either prep your own veggies or buy frozen and the tofu just needs to be cubed & heated. I use a little soy & sweet n sour sauce in my mix.

We also buy salmon burgers from Costco and those are also fast. From the supermarket, I buy spinach or broccoli pancakes (made by Dr. Praegers, usually in the organic frozen section). They only need to nuked for less than 2 minutes. My DD likes them mushed up but they are also delicious on a bun.

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

Costco has some really good ready made dinners that all you have to do is heat up. My favorite is the penne and chicken alfredo

Re: Need help making super-quick/super-easy dinners!

For something really fast, I would say leftovers of some kind, or chicken salad. I make it if we have a piece of leftover chicken.

Does DC like humus? That, a pita, and some veggies would be good. Or melt cheese on bread in the microwave, not as tasty as grilled, but it's really quick. Chicken nuggets are another thing.