I think it is important that a mom’s arsenal of evening meals should contain some quick, easy, recipe-less options. I rely on my recipes pretty heavily, but some nights I just need to get something out and don’t have the time between a late afternoon playdate and dinner time to focus on reading about what I need to do. I normally serve these main dishes with fresh fruit or a veggie, and sometimes both, or sometime none if the meal seems pretty balanced.
1. Hot Dog Mac-n-cheese, Side: Shredded Carrots with Lemon Juice and Salt
Prepare box of mac-n-cheese according to directions. Microwave hotdogs. Slice and place on top of prepared mac-n-cheese. Squeeze lemon juice from one lemon on carrots, season with salt.
2. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Many ways to add variations on the grilled cheese, such as adding turkey bacon and tomato slices for extra protein.
3. Black Bean Nachos
Lots of variations exist for this one too. Tonight I chopped up an tomato and avocado, and added a dolp of sour cream. I didn’t add the avocado and tomato to the kids nachos, but they did have a side of corn for their veggie.
4. Quesadillas and Beans and Rice
Again, the grown-ups can add more veggies such as mushrooms and spinach, while the kids version would have veggies more to their liking like broccoli or cauliflower.
5. Veggie Burger Topped with Hummus, Shredded Carrots, and Sprouts, Side: French Fries, Broccoli
This is a new one I’ve started using. I really like how I can make the Veggie Burger look monstrous by adding the hummus, shredded carrots, and sprouts. Again, minimal cooking on my part, just quick easy assembly. I roast the broccoli and the fries at the same time.
6. Frozen Pizza, Fresh Fruit, Salad Greens
I was using this one almost every week, because I don’t have to do much on this one. Put the pizza in the oven, chop up a cantaloupe, make sure the greens are clean.
7. Le Pig in Low Fat Croissants, Carrot Sticks, Tater Chips
Pillsbury makes low fat crescents, and Hebrew National has a fat free hotdog. This was a great meal when I was doing Weight Watchers because each Le Pig was 2 points. It was heaven to be able to eat two hotdogs for dinner. The potato chips could be baked, also allowing for low calories.
8. Deli Turkey and Broccoli Stuffed Baked Potatoes
I like not having to tend to every turn of a meal. I could bake the potato in the oven, play with the kids, or I could do the same with the microwave. Steam some broccoli, cube thick slices of deli turkey, top the baked potato and add cheese or sour cream.
9. Easy Calzones
Using a prepared pizza dough, I can make one giant turkey pepperoni and cheese stuffed calzone. Mix together cheese and ricotta, top half of the pizza dough with mixture. Place turkey pepperoni on top of cheese mixture. Fold pizza dough over and pinch close, bake pizza dough according to directions.
10. Pasta with Veggie Mix
We recently joined a vegetable co-op in which we get a random assortment of vegetables. I make the pasta according to the directions. Steam some broccoli, saute some mushrooms in white wine, then added green beans to the mushrooms. I added all the veggies to the pasta, drizzled olive oil, grated parmasean, and added some toasted pine nuts. Pretty darn good.
***How about you, what are some almost no brainer meals you prepare for your family? I’m always on the lookout for easy meals to prepare.
"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it." - Danny Kaye
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I love your list! The meals are easy and healthy. I also like to add my own freshness to a meal. Side salad, veggie sticks, fresh fruit chunks. I buy jarred spaghetti sauce and then add all kinds of fresh veggies and spices to it and freeze 4-5 meals worth at one time. What a huge time sver to have on crazy days!
Oh wow! What great ideas! I’ll have to bookmark this list for later use. Thanks!
Hi Sara! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Love your little urban village. These are super go to meals for kids, I especially Le Pig! That was always a fav in my house. Good luck with the challenge!
Love the meal ideas, Sara! Came to you via my BlogFrog visitors widget on my blog. One of my favorite no-brainer foods to fix (not my kids’ favorite mind you) is grilled or baked vegetables. I simply cut up vegetables (usually tomato, mushrooms, peppers, onion, squash or zuchinni) and place them in aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice from a fresh lemon, add garlic, basil and rosemary. I prefer for my husband to grill them with fish, but if the weather prevents I just pop them in the oven at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Some prep time is required, but the result is worth the effort! We usually sprinkle fresh parmesan cheese on top and eat with fish and lemon pasta.
M husband and I eat #1 & #2 whenever we dont feel like cooking. Fabulous post.
I think #9 is my next on the list to try
Sounds yummy! Going to give that a try some time. Can’t go wrong with olive oil and parmesan cheese.
You’ve got a great go to list there! Quesadillas are on our go to list as well, along with grilled cheese. Some nights I’ll whip up a quick homemade mac and cheese as well and throw some broccoli or other veggie in to “healthy” it up a bit.
Thanks for stopping by! I love your blog and can’t wait to check it out a bit more!
This post is making me very hungry here at 11:30 at night. I LOVE Nacho’s!!
Thanks for dropping by my blog. Hope the challenge is going well for you too!
Me again!
I forgot to answer you question LOL. I have a baby book for each of my kids and I do my best to write down the cute things they say. Though I admit my daughter’s book needs a lot of work (being the 3rd child)
Hi Sara! Found you through the 31 day challenge! Love your site and I love these ideas. My fast and easy meal is to pre-brown ground beef and rinse, place 1 cup portion in baggies to freeze. Then I am sure to keep a nice jar spaghetti sauce and noodles stocked. Just add the frozen meat to the sauce and noodles, very quick and easy! Been so busy lately, if I DO cook, it is usually this, lol! Come by and visit sometime!
Ahh! I see Colleen. I might need to keep a notebook close by just for that purpose to document what they say. Sounds easy enough, now I’ll need to use it!
This post has been selected as one of my great posts of the week. Her is the list to my post: http://www.jdaniel4smom.com/2010/08/great-posts-i-came-across-this-week.html.