For me, it's all about the dishes. It's not that I don't know what to cook or how to cook it, but if I have to dirty three pots and pans for the main course and another 2-3 dishes for side dishes, I'm beat.
For other people, it's the number of ingredients. Anything over five ingredients, and they can't be bothered. Too much hunting through cabinets for long-lost spices.
For some people, it's the total time it takes to get dinner on the table. The kids have homework and activities, you have chores and emails to attend to. Nobody has a lot of time to spend on dinner prep. So quick dinners need to take less than 30 minutes to prepare, start to finish.
Still other folks say it's a matter of doing anything in the kitchen at all. They don't care if it takes 8 hours to slow cook a meal, but if they have to spend more than 15 minutes throwing it together, it's too much work.
Don't Miss: Cheap Recipes
Yet we all know that home-cooked meals are not only generally more nutritious than packaged or restaurant food, they're cheaper, too. So what's a busy parent to do? Read on.
Quick One-Pot Dinner Ideas
If, like me, washing dishes is the problem for you, check out these easy one-pot dinner ideas:- BBQ Chicken Recipe - This recipe is made entirely in an electric skillet (compare prices), which lets the chicken cook slowly without burning, absorbing the flavors of the barbecue sauce as it cooks. Kids love this dinner.
- Mexican Rice Casserole Recipe - With rice, beans, chiles, peppers, pork and cheese, this casserole has all the flavors of Mexican food that kids love. And the only thing you have to do is dump everything in a 5-quart dutch oven and let it bake.
- Tortilla Pizzas with Spinach - If you're a fan of white pizza, you'll love this quick recipe. Any it's so easy, the kids can make it themselves. Think the kids won't eat spinach? Think again - they'll hardly taste it when it's covered with two kinds of cheese.
Don't Miss: Pizza Recipes You Can Make at Home
Quick Dinner Ideas with 5 Ingredients or Less
- Baked Chicken and Potatoes - This is one of those meals-in-a-dish that everybody loves. This recipe is full of flavor, short on ingredients and designed to appeal to the whole family.
- Meatball Subs - Pre-cooked meatballs make this meal a snap to prepare. You can have this dinner on the table in less time than it takes to check your email.
- Pigs in a Blanket - Five ingredients too many for you? How about two? All you need are hot dogs and refrigerated crescent rolls for this easy recipe. Look for uncured, nitrate-free hot dogs and natural crescent rolls.
