After breakfast, experts believe dinner is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, around 39% of Americans don’t eat dinner at all.
Mostly, a busy life today can often come in between you and a delicious dinner. This is especially true if you’re juggling many jobs simultaneously and don’t have much time to cook. But don’t fret; these simple and easy dinner ideas will save you ample time in the kitchen while satisfying those hunger pangs. So, prepare these recipes in your kitchen for easy and fulfilling meals!
- Quesadillas
Making this cheese-filled, meat-rich, and spicey Mexican delicacy takes anywhere from 15 minutes to half an hour. Just procure a corn/flour tortilla, and you can create an amazing dish with little effort.
Fill your tortillas with corn, cheese, black beans, and also some diced bell peppers. Then, use a skillet to cook them until the cheese begins melting; that’s a sign of a well-done quesadilla. Serve it to your family with salsa and guacamole. That’s a quick and easy dinner recipe anybody can make!
- Tossed Salad
If you’re running low on time, then consider cooking some salad options for a nutrient-rich dinner. A dish composed of tossed green salad would be an incredible side dish to hone the flavor of any meal you can think of! This salad’s simplicity and the easy availability of the required ingredients are the reasons why it’s the go-to recipe for a busy professional looking for a quick dinner.
So, check out this healthy salad recipe by Le Crème De La Crumb and prepare a healthy serving for the whole family in 15 minutes. It’s easily customizable and can be made a main by adding a protein on top.
- Huli-Huli Chicken
Contrary to what you’re imagining, this Hawaiian delicacy asks that you spend just 30 minutes in the kitchen. It’s a grilled chicken delicacy made by BBQing meat over wood and then marinating it with a paste called huli-huli sauce. If you ever try to grill it to perfection (for a special occasion, perhaps), it can take more than 2 hours. So, keep it easy and simple to enjoy a quick dinner with your family.
If you’re interested in homemade huli-huli sauce, then this teriyaki-style paste is composed of brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, and other ingredients.
- Caprese Sandwiches
If you have tried Caprese salad, then this sandwich variety would be the best meal for dinnertime in your house. The term “Caprese” means you have to add tomatoes and mozzarella to your sandwich with some optional basil leaves and olive oil. Carefully placed tomatoes will prevent your sandwiches from sagging, retaining the three colors of the Italian flag (the “Caprese touch”!).
Preparing this sandwich is a feat demanding 20 minutes with a few ingredients. Choose whole-grain bread to improve the flavor and sprinkle with balsamic glaze for a quick sandwich.
- Vegetarian Tacos
If you have half an hour to spare and the family is craving tacos, then try making this vegetarian spin on the Mexican delicacy. “Tacos for dinner?” you may ask. Well, each serving of this delicious veggie dish is filled with 6 to 13 grams of protein, making it an awesome improvement on your palate.
Just fill taco shells with some black beans, shredded cheese, and guacamole. Don’t forget to sauté your vegetables before placing them inside the tacos with some salsa verse to bolster the favor.
That’s a simple trick for a meat-free taco night, especially if you have an avocado dip as a side dish.
- Skillet Shepherd’s Pie
Cooking a skillet shepherd’s pie doesn’t require you to be a skilled chef. You need 30 to 45 minutes only to make it. Ingredients include ground beef, mashed potatoes, cheddar cheese, gluten-free flour, and some green beans or other vegetables. This cottage pie is composed of beef and veggies with a very appetizing topping of mashed potatoes. Season with herbs, salt, and pepper.
Just keep baking this mixture until the top gets golden brown. Then sprinkle the pie with cheese and broil to add extra flavor. Now, that’s a quick and easy dinner idea for super-busy families.
- Beef-Stuffed Zucchini
This recipe only takes 30 to 35 minutes. Cook good quality minced beef with onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Then try adding some tomato sauce, herbs, and spices for more taste. Now, fill the zucchini with this beef mixture and top them with cheese. You will bake till the zucchini becomes tender, and the cheese starts melting (a telltale sign that the dinner is ready).
You should also add a large beaten egg and some bread crumbs to bolster the flavor. That’s why a beef-filled zucchini is a very rustic, simple dinner idea for a busy family.
- Pasta With Pesto & Tomatoes
Use pesto, the second-most popular pasta sauce in the US, to prepare saucy, tasty pasta at home. It will take less than half an hour, but you’ll end up cooking a sample and flavorful dish for the whole household. Start by tossing well-cooked paste with fresh pesto and then add halved cherry tomatoes to create an enticing flavor. Top the dish with grated Parmesan cheese, and you’re done!
Some folks like to be creative with this dish by adding balsamic vinegar, pine nuts, and diced onions. Thus, the recipe is blatantly customizable, and you can easily modify the flavor to your liking.
- Mushroom & Spinach Risotto
This delicacy takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to prepare. You just have to cook some Arborio rice in a cooker. Add garlic, spinach, mushrooms (of course!), and vegetable broth to come up with a mouthwatering risotto with a creamy texture.
Add a touch of butter and Parmesan cheese to your risotto, making it worth a satisfying evening. If you want to go crazy, then choose portobello mushrooms while embellishing that risotto with some white wine and sundried tomatoes for that flavor sizzle.
Conclusion
This article shares some easy-to-make yet finger-licking delicious dinner ideas for working mothers and busy professionals. Cook these recipes in a few minutes and get all the required nutrients in a lightning-fast manner. No more wasting hours preparing a lousy dinner for you! From tacos and salads to risotto and sandwiches – these dinner ideas are designed to make your evenings more relaxed and enjoyable.
