Here’s this week’s edition of “Quick Dinner Ideas.”
To me, “quick” dinner ideas doesn’t necessarily mean a meal you can throw together in five minutes. To me, the quick part comes before dinner time by:
- having a plan for this week’s dinners
- having the ingredients on hand–(a.k.a. a trip to the grocery)
That is the biggest hurdle to jump in having a quick dinner. Once you do that, for the most part you are set!
For those nights however, that you literally may have minutes to spare, plan a few super simple dinner ideas:
- light all beef kosher hot dogs (nitrate free if you can find them)
- pasta
- scrambled eggs
- frozen veggie burgers
- burritos with whatever fillings I have on hand
- frozen chicken, veggie and pasta “dinner in a bag” from the freezer section of the grocery
- a crockpot meal that you started in the morning and is ready at dinner time
- keep raw veggies and fruits on hand to add to a less than ideal dinner
Check out my post 10 Ways to Make “Making Dinner” Easier.
To help with menu planning and grocery shopping, be sure to check out my free printables:
Dinner Planner and Grocery List Printable
Weekly Meal Planner
Printable Grocery List
Sometimes we get in a rut for breakfast and lunch, so here’s some ideas to get you started:
Breakfast Ideas:
(Any combination of the following)
French toast
Cereal
Fruit
Waffles
Toast
Eggs
Oatmeal
Poptarts
Egg whites and spinach (hubby’s choice)
Pancakes
English muffins
Muffins
Baked oatmeal
Breakfast cookies
Quiche
Cinnamon rolls
Pumpkin pancakes
Baked eggs and cheese casserole
Toasted peanut butter & banana sandwich
Coconut Quinoa Granola
Lunch Ideas:
(We like to add fruit and/or carrots to any of these “entrees”)
Pasta (my kids love it)
Ravioli
Macaroni and cheese
Vegetarian corn dogs
Vegetarian hamburgers
Hot dogs (We like Hebrew National)
Chicken, turkey or ham sandwiches
Graham crackers and milk
English muffins
Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches
Whole wheat toast
Soup
Yogurt or cheese sticks, crackers
Leftovers
Okie doke, on to this week’s quick dinner ideas:
Grilled Cheese in the oven with raw vegetables
Grocery list: Bread, cheese, butter and raw vegetables
Corn Chip Chili Bowl
Grocery list: Canned chili, corn chips, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and Cheddar cheese
Crockpot Bacon and Ranch Chicken & Pasta with a salad
Grocery list: Chicken breasts, bacon, garlic, dry ranch salad dressing mix, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, pasta and salad ingredients
Chicken fried rice
Grocery list: Chicken, rice, eggs, soy sauce, frozen peas and carrots, onion and parsley
Tuna, broccoli & pasta casserole and cheddar biscuits
Grocery list: Tuna, broccoli, pasta, cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs
Cobb Salad
Grocery list: Romaine lettuce, leftover turkey, grape tomatoes, avocado, bacon, Blue cheese and dressing
While you’re here, be sure to check out my post on a homemade sink cleanser that smells fantastic!
Hope you have a great week!
Rita says
What a great list of ideas! Thanks!
Margo says
Hope you find a new favorite! 🙂
Keri says
Salads are always so pretty. I love a colorful meal!
Margo says
Me too, it makes it taste better I think! 🙂
Rachel says
I love quick dinners and I keep a list in the front of my cookbook of them. Tonight we are having chicken nachos (I build them up high with lots of taco veggie toppings so it’s healthier).