Need HELP with quick meals at home

[LuckyBelle81]

We spend WAY too much money getting take out/fast food bc there are many days that we just aren't home to cook or get in too late to prepare a full meal. What are some of the things y'all keep on hand or can throw together super fast?? We have 3 kids (9,6,2) and DH is a pretty picky food snob so its hard to make everyone happy, but whatever suggestions you have I will happily take! Thanks!!

 

[Sadie22]

I use my crock pots to cook big batches of healthy chili or stews, then freeze in meal-size portions. We keep frozen veggies on hand. Hint: An adult can learn to try new things right along with kids.

 

[LuckyBelle81]

LOL. He's up for trying new things but they are usually weird and exotic things that I don't care to try, much less cook! I try to freeze servings of soups and casseroles and that has been helpful. My main prob is those days where I failed to plan ahead (or the plans fell apart) and dinner time rolls around and there's nothing to eat. I'm fine w eating cereal or whatever but I just wish I had some more ideas for "quick" stuff.

 

[bbak30]

Sandwiches, cereal.
I like to make big batches of spaghetti sauce. That heats up quick and can be on the table in 15 minutes.
Frozen pizza.
Leftovers are good too. I purposely make enough for leftovers.
I am not a HUGE fan of the crockpot, but I will throw a pork roast in there and shred for pork sandwiches.

 

[TwoMisfits]

LOL. He's up for trying new things but they are usually weird and exotic things that I don't care to try, much less cook! I try to freeze servings of soups and casseroles and that has been helpful. My main prob is those days where I failed to plan ahead (or the plans fell apart) and dinner time rolls around and there's nothing to eat. I'm fine w eating cereal or whatever but I just wish I had some more ideas for "quick" stuff.

If he's for weird and exotic things, you can pick up really good jarred Indian sauces (Tikka Masala, Jalfrezi, Korma) and cut up and pan cook some chicken breast (or have it precooked in the fridge) and then dump in a can of chickpeas with the jarred sauce, warm for 5-10 minutes and serve over a quick-cooking rice. This transitions well to kid food by keeping some chicken plain and serving with the rice and a banana/apple.

Quick foods I keep around - frozen pizzas, frozen all beef meatballs, frozen ravioli, bacon, tons of fresh fruit, the makings of salad, tortillas and bread, eggs, taco/fajita seasoning, salsa, marinara sauce, pesto sauce, shredded cheddar and parm, black beans, and a few boxes of pasta. You can make so many different 20 minute dinners with these ingredients (spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli in pesto sauce, BLTs, bacon and eggs with smoothies, nachos, breakfast burritos, pasta carbonera, meatball subs, omelettes, french toast with a fruit sauce, pizza with toppings or plain, grilled cheese, etc)...

 

[T00dles]

When that rolls around for us we go with appetizer dinner. Some type of meat (pepperoni, salami, good canned tuna) cheese, crackers, fruit, veg (pickles etc). Sometimes we do canned soup with rolls from the freezer. Spaghetti with frozen meatballs. Sandwiches with oven fries.

 

[MrsNick]

I prepare most dinners before we leave the house in the morning for school and work. Sometimes everything is cooked, others everything is prepped and ready to go in the oven. When that happens, foods can be baked by whomever is home first or while DD is taking a shower.

To make it easy on myself I do buy a lot of fresh, already trimmed veggies, such as broccoli florets and organic trimmed green beans from Costco. Sweet potatoes and Idaho potatoes are quickly washed and either placed in the oven or poked with a fork and zapped in the microwave. Once a week we get a rotisserie chicken from Costco. That can be paired with vegetables and starch for a quick healthy meal.

I also buy boneless skinless chicken breasts or thinly sliced chicken cutlets. The cutlets in particular cook very quickly and can be sautéed or tossed in panko and then sautéed. I usually buy salmon fillet once a week and that can be put in a baking pan, dotted with a little butter, sprinkled wit salt and a little Italian seasoning and baked.

Good luck! It is a challenge to provide meals with a busy schedule, but it is worth it knowing your family is eating well balanced meals without a lot of sodium or other additives. I love not walking in the door tired from work and having to throw a meal together.

 

[TwoMisfits]

. I usually buy salmon fillet once a week and that can be put in a baking pan, dotted with a little butter, sprinkled wit salt and a little Italian seasoning and baked.

Fresh salmon fillets are another great idea (this goes on a great sale about every month or two and is worth getting). I bake mine at 350 for 15 minutes after squeezing 1 segment of lemon (about 1/4 of it) and 1 tsp oil per 1lb of filet, rubbing that in, and then sprinkling dill, salt, and pepper, and then dotting with 1 tsp butter (you can do this before the oven is even preheated). It is heavenly!

 

[kymom99]

I make spaghetti with frozen meatballs as a quick meal all the time. Also I make a big pot of chicken noodle soup one night and have it ready to eat on a day when we are in a hurry. I also like to make a ham steak. 20 minutes in the oven and some baked potatoes made on a previous day warmed in the microwave and we are all set. Nothing gourmet or earth shattering, but staples that we all like in our house.

 

[DnA2010]

I keep already browned ground beef portions in my freezer- I pull it out in the am and then can easily throw together tacos, taco salad, hamburger helper with frozen veg added, sloppy Jo's, chili, shepards pie, pasta bake, taco lasagna (you use a circular cake pan that fits tortillas which you use as thnoodles and layer with taco beef, canned beans, salsa, fresh peppers etc), hamburger pizza. I also keep already cooked chicken breast strips and use for fajitas.
Other quick favs:
Pirogies and sausages
Frozen soup and grilled cheese
Stir fry
George Forman grilled fish and quick rice

 

[QueenIsabella]

It sounds like you could do better on the planning aspects. Definitely make good use of your freezer--on a slower day, cook 3-5 pounds of ground beef, and freeze a couple meal-sized portions. Then, you're only 10 minutes away from spaghetti in meat sauce, taco night, whatever. Similarly, when we grill chicken on weekends, I have DH grill extra. You can slice and freeze the leftovers, freeze them if you like--again, you're minutes away from chicken fajitas, grilled chicken on salad, etc. Extra pancakes can be frozen, as can extra bacon. I probably wouldn't freeze cooked vegetables, but I'd put them in the fridge and use them the next day (omelets? Soup?)

I like my crockpot, but I find the meat gets too mushy for my taste for some recipes.

Another aspect that might help you is, plan out your meals for the week. Then check daily after dinner, to see what you need to prep/thaw. That really helps to avoid the "Oh, crap!" moments when you realize you ran out of ketchup or forgot to thaw the chicken.

A book I really like is "Cheap, Fast, Good"--I believe it's also a blog. Every single recipe is under 30 minutes of prep/cook. Some are crockpot meals, lots are variations on a theme. The authors have kids, so plenty of kid-friendly, reasonably healthy meals there.

 

[Southernmiss]

Cook 2 or 3 extra meals on the weekends or days off. This is a big help at our house. We have teens with big appetites and activities every night. Much cheaper and healthy. We heat up what we want when we want it during the week. I freeze single servings that are left.

Use your leftovers. Left over meat of any type becomes tacos or fajitas.

I agree that it's the planning you need.

 

[scrhsa]

On those days I usually will make spaghetti. Either meatless, straight out of the jar or starting with frozen hamburger meat. Just add about an inch or two of water and cook away I'll do that with tacos as well. Boboli pizza breads are good too. Add whatever you like to them. If I don't have pizza sauce I will use bbq sauce and canned(or left overs) chicken with some onions and cilantro. With the boboli anything is possible Or I'll just make a giant pot of mac n cheese( with picante sauce added) with salad.

 

[tasha99]

Fresh salmon fillets are another great idea (this goes on a great sale about every month or two and is worth getting). I bake mine at 350 for 15 minutes after squeezing 1 segment of lemon (about 1/4 of it) and 1 tsp oil per 1lb of filet, rubbing that in, and then sprinkling dill, salt, and pepper, and then dotting with 1 tsp butter (you can do this before the oven is even preheated). It is heavenly!

I do this, too. Leftovers make wonderful salads--I always have salad fixings, and my very favorite is lettuce/veggies topped with salmon and avocado.

 

[kristenrice]

BBQ chicken sandwiches in less than 2 minutes!

Canned chicken + BBQ sauce
Microwave for about 1 minute
Serve on hamburger buns

 

[Narnia_girl]

It sounds like you could do better on the planning aspects. Definitely make good use of your freezer--on a slower day, cook 3-5 pounds of ground beef, and freeze a couple meal-sized portions. Then, you're only 10 minutes away from spaghetti in meat sauce, taco night, whatever. Similarly, when we grill chicken on weekends, I have DH grill extra. You can slice and freeze the leftovers, freeze them if you like--again, you're minutes away from chicken fajitas, grilled chicken on salad, etc. Extra pancakes can be frozen, as can extra bacon. I probably wouldn't freeze cooked vegetables, but I'd put them in the fridge and use them the next day (omelets? Soup?)

I do the above (bolded) and I can tell you it makes a huge difference when you are crunched for time. I found a recipe on Pinterest called "Perfect Chicken" and I try to make that every weekend using a huge package of fresh boneless, skinless breasts from Sam's Club. It seasons and perfectly cooks the chicken so it is ready for any kind of meal: soups, tacos, fajitas, casseroles, etc.. plus it's great on its own. Sometimes I follow the directions below, sometimes I grill the chicken.

2-4 boneless chicken breasts with or without rib meat
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
1/2 t. paprika
2-3 T. olive oil
Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika in a small bowl. Coat the chicken breasts in the seasoning, rubbing in to coat. Pour olive oil in the bottom of a Dutch oven, and heat to med-high. When nice and hot, add chicken to the pan. Cook 2-3 min per side. If any chicken has been removed, add it back to the Dutch oven. Place uncovered Dutch oven in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes or until juices run clear. Let sit on a plate 5-10 minutes before cutting, shredding, or eating.​

 

[pjlla]

Not taking the time to read all of the replies, but here are a few suggestions. Sorry if they are duplicates of what others have said. BTW, we have a poultry allergy here in the house, so I use a LOT of pork loin in place of chicken in lots of recipes.

CROCKPOT!! My best friend! Yes, you still need to do some prep work usually.... but WOW...you can create SO MANY great foods in a crockpot! Stews, soups, casseroles, even whole meals like meatloaf and baked potatoes! Some of my easy "go-to" crockpot meals that require very little prep (like maybe 15 minutes or less)......

pulled pork (I avoid all of those recipe that call for cooking the meat in root beer or coke).... cook a fairly lean pork loin all day with (or without) some sliced onions and then shred at the end of the day and top with a store--bought (or homemade) BBQ sauce..... serve on wraps, rolls, or even lettuce leaves. Side of broccoli or some pre-washed salad greens and you are done! Could do the same with beef or chicken.

Pot roast..... yes, it is BETTER if you can brown the meat first, but it isn't a total loss if you can't/don't have the time. Put the roast into the crockpot and surround with baby carrots, small potatoes (anything you DON'T have to peel and cut if you want to make it easier), onions, parsnips, celery.... whatever you want. Put in about a cup or so of beef stock and let it cook all day... DONE!

Creamy southwest pork (or chicken) and black beans........put a lean pork loin into the crockpot and cover with a jar or two of your favorite savory salsa (or even a can of diced tomatoes works). Let it cook all day until you can shred the meat. After you shred the meat, toss in a can or cup (or two) of beans (I prefer black but kidney, pinto, or white work well too) and about a half a brick of cream cheese (most of the time when I see this recipe it calls for a whole brick, but I find that to be too much) and stir around until the beans are warm and the cheese is melted throughout. Serve in tacos, on tortillas, on bulky rolls, over rice or just in a bowl! We like onion a lot here, so I usually slice up a large sweet onion and put that in at the beginning too. We watch our carbs here, so often this is served plain or over a hot veggie like sauteed greens or steamed cauliflower.... but it is great over rice and DS likes to top it with tortilla chips.

Other ideas that don't involve crockpot........

frozen veggie burgers..... you should be able to find a flavor that your family likes (my men like the MorningStar Farms tomato basil pizza burger best).... easy to leave in the freezer for emergencies..... serve as a burger on a roll.... or chopped up in a wrap or in a taco shell. Easy to cook on the grill (no pot to wash!), or in a skillet on the stove..... serve with a green side of some variety and you are done! Maybe add a frozen potato option (french fries maybe) and you are done! Somehow "burgers" for dinner seem fancier than just sandwiches, even though they are essentially just a hot sandwich!

Eggs..... SO quick and easy.... you can throw together a frittata or quiche super quick (although they take about 30 minutes to actually cook) and serve with toast or corn bread and a small salad.

"Refrigerator" wraps..... I dig around in the fridge and pull out whatever we have available.... a bit of chicken, some greens, some cooked broccoli from a previous meal, maybe a bit of cheese, a hunk of meatloaf...........put together individual wraps or tortillas with something to bind it together. For cold wraps I like a shmear of hummus or even a bit of light cream cheese..... for wraps that I will grill or cook in a skillet (like a quesidilla) I prefer shredded cheese. I can use up leftovers and customize a wrap to everyone's liking! It tends to create more dishes because I end up with more tupperwares to wash, but other than that it is a one-pot night. I usually serve fruit as a side.

Hope this helps.................P

 

[Hikergirl]

I do alot of what is mentioned here. I also keep the fridge stocked with produce, I'll grill extra chicken breasts or steak (when we have it) so I can always throw together a salad with one of them quickly. I also keep a dozen hardboiled eggs on hand all the time.
I do a big batch of shredded chicken in the crockpot to use for things like chicken salad, enchiladas, nachos, BBQ sliders. With the chicken already cooked most meals are super quick.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I keep already browned ground beef portions in my freezer- I pull it out in the am and then can easily throw together tacos, taco salad, hamburger helper with frozen veg added, sloppy Jo's, chili, shepards pie, pasta bake, taco lasagna (you use a circular cake pan that fits tortillas which you use as thnoodles and layer with taco beef, canned beans, salsa, fresh peppers etc), hamburger pizza. I also keep already cooked chicken breast strips and use for fajitas.

I do this. We will buy 4 - 5 pounds of ground meat and good it all. Then divide it up. I can throw it in a pot with stock and frozen veggies for soup, make tacos, hamburger helper, etc.

I also always have eggs. Eggs are cheap and easy. The whole family loves breakfast for dinner.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

For really fast meals here, we'll do tacos, fajitas or ham steaks with a fast vegetable like asparagus that can cook in the oven in 5 minutes and a salad. Spaghetti can be done in 30 minutes with bread sticks. Add a salad and you are done.
Breakfast is a huge hit with my family too - eggs and toast if we are really in a hurry. I also will make waffles sometimes and that usually only takes 15 minutes to do.

And stir fry - I keep sliced peppers in the freezer and can whip up a stir fry in 15 minutes. I just add onion and whatever other vegetables we like plus cook some rice on the side. I also keep sliced london broil usually in the freezer and use that to add some beef. If I have chicken done already, I'll use that instead. I always have some sort of stir fry sauce in the cupboard - although once I did use one that was so hot and spicy we could hardly eat it. Ooops.

I can cook a meal faster than we can drive to the place, order and get the food. LOL