Last month, I talked all about meal planning. It’s one thing that (if done) makes my evenings run smooth. On the days meals are planned, I’m not running around frantically around 5pm wondering what I can throw together for dinner. I’m not calling hubs to grab something from the store or takeout on the way home. My goal is to cook dinner 4 nights a week. Cooking is something I enjoy and I want dinner to be ready when hubs gets home. While this doesn’t happen every night, one thing that helps put dinner on the table is choosing easy meals to make.
Around 5pm, I finish up work and head downstairs to start dinner. The kids are easy and I usually have their meals ready in 20 minutes. From there, I start the meal for hubs and myself. The key to our meals is EASY. Gone are the days of trying a new recipe each evening, usually one with more ingredients than I could count. Quick and easy meals are where it’s at right now. I’ve included over 30 dinner ideas below, all of which can be made in 20 minutes or less. There are many tried and true recipes in this list, and a good variety….not just all pasta! There are some other quick and easy recipes that I always have somewhere on our menu throughout the month. Recipes like grilled cheese & soup, breakfast for dinner (french toast, eggs & bacon, breakfast sandwiches,) tacos, sandwiches and rice bowls with a variety of toppings.
I think one of the most overwhelming things when it comes to dinner is just deciding what to make. Use this list and my printable menu and you’re off to a great start!
- Sweet Heat Pork Chops
- One Pot Chicken Apple Sausage Pasta
- Spaghetti Carbonara
- Healthy Chicken Parmesan
- Cilantro Lime Salmon
- Tuscan Tortellini
- Shrimp Pasta with Tomatoes, Lemon & Spinach
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Beef Stroganoff
- Italian Sausage & Tortellini Skillet
- French Bread Pizza
- Chicken Apple Sausage Skillet
- White Chicken Chili
- Grilled Chicken Avocado Wraps
- Chicken Teriyaki
- Turkey Chili
- Summer Chicken Sausage Skillet
- Tuscan Chicken with Penne Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
- Mustard Maple Roasted Salmon
- Chicken Caprese
- Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken Tacos
- Cheeseburger Burritos
- Fish Taco Bowls
- Tomato Bisque Soup
- Lo Mein
- Chicken Fajita Pasta
- Healthy Chicken Skillet
- Tuscan Pork Chops
- Orange Chicken
- Monterey Chicken
- Spicy Thai Noodle Bowls
- Chicken & Veggies
- Italian Wonderpot
I’ll be starting with the Tuscan pork chops and working my way up and down the list. May I ask why you have to make two dinners one for the kids and one for you and hubby? Being nosy.
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Absolutely! My kids are picky and I’m not the eat it or don’t eat at all kind of mom. Not knocking it, just not for me. So the kids like pasta, a veggie and fruit. I make most of it on Monday and it’s quick to throw together for the rest of the week. From there, I always give them a bit of what we have. Sometimes they like it, sometimes they don’t.
We are all about easy meals too! And easy clean up! Crock pot meals are my favorite!
This is a great list! Pinning for later. I definitely need some new ideas!
These are all great suggestions! I need some quick dinners for after work. Thanks!
Quick and easy dinner ideas is always a struggle after a long day at work. Thanks for all of the great suggestions! They all sound so delicious! I will be adding some of these to my shopping list. 🙂
Umm… thank you for sharing this! I always need quick and easy and these all sound so good!
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20 minute dinners?!?!?!?! SIGN THIS GIRL UPPPP! 😀 When my hunger hits, it hits HARD!!! So it needs food at least 15-20 minutes later!
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Yum! So many great ideas!
You’ve just made meal planning for August SIMPLE. Thank you! Off to pin these for use next month.
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Let me know which ones are your favorite!
Great round-up! I’m always looking for quick meals for busy nights! Thank you!
Great post!! I needed quick dinner ideas for when the kiddos go back to school
I love chicken caprese! But I love that you compiled this list because I NEED meals that are simple, quick and easy to make! Thank you for sharing!
I’m favoriting this post and printing out recipes now, then heading to the store. This is gold!!!
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