5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (2024)

5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (1)

Working parents have it tough. I have no earthly idea how it's possible to work 40+ hours a week, run errands, go to PTA meetings, put Band-Aids on boo-boos and prepare dinner for hungry families. But mom and dad are superhuman - and manage to fit more activity into one day than seems remotely reasonable. So here are five quick, easy international recipes that will hopefully have everyone around the dinner table chewing and murmuring appreciatively at your culinary prowess. A tip of the hat to mom and dad.

After a long day at work, the last thing you want is a complex, time consuming and messy hour in the kitchen. These savory and hearty veggie-filled pork rolls are a total no-brainer. You'll have dinner on the table before SpongeBob SquarePants hits the second commercial break.
Total Cooking Time: 17 Minutes
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It's tough to get the kids to voluntarily eat their veggies. But trust me when I tell you these zucchini cakes have a flavor and texture that borders on meaty indeed. Aside from the zucchini, some leftover spaghetti sauce and grated Parmesan are about all you need to whip up a post-swim-meet Italian crowd-pleaser.
Total Cooking Time: 25 Minutes
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Yes - you could make a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese for dinner (confession: sometimes I like a little taste from the 'blue box'). But it doesn't take much more time to whip up a macaroni dish that is intense, hearty and nuanced. And the addition of soy sauce might have your future honor-student asking what umami is while (hopefully not) sticking macaroni in their nose.
Total Cooking Time: 27 Minutes
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Fish sticks get a bum rap. The school cafeteria version can only be made palatable if you drown them in enough ketchup or tartar sauce. These Thai fish sticks aren't breaded, but still turn out crunchy on the outside with an herbaceous, fluffy interior. A dunk in the punchy dipping sauce totally beats a ketchup packet!
Total Cooking Time: 21 Minutes
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Sometimes the kids just need a hearty snack, and you're out of Lunchables. Japanese rice balls have been a favorite of mine since I was wearing Hello Kitty pajamas. And with savory chicken, rice, carrots and ginger - that's a whole lot of food groups wrapped up in one delectable bite.
Total Cooking Time: 15 Minutes
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5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (2024)

FAQs

What's a good lazy dinner for family? ›

Our 50 Easiest Recipes Ever For Lazy Cooks
  • 01 of 50. Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta. ...
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What are the simplest meals? ›

Our Go-To Easy Dinner Idea? Soup!
  • 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup. As simple and easy as it sounds. ...
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  • Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale. Can we just call this “The Soup”?

How do you cook for busy people? ›

Time-saving cooking suggestions for busy people

Double up on tasks – you can save time if you do 2 things at once. For example, prepare your pasta sauce while your spaghetti is cooking. Prepare one-pot meals – such as soups, risottos, slow-cooked curries and casseroles to save on time and washing up.

What is the most easiest to cook? ›

17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
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What to make for dinner when you're broke? ›

65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
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How do you feed a family of 5 for $10? ›

Ten Healthy Family Meals Under $10
  1. Healthy Fried Rice.
  2. Pasta Salad.
  3. Fettuccini Alfredo… or Bowtie, or Shells, or Rotini.
  4. Rosemary White Bean Soup or Turkey White Bean Chili.
  5. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burritos.
  6. Black-eyed Peas and Pork…with Kale.
  7. Enchilada Casserole.
  8. Down-home Macaroni and Cheese.

What's a good family meal? ›

Best of all, these easy family dinners are kid-and Mama-approved.
  • 01 of 78. Slow-Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken. ...
  • 02 of 78. Ravioli Lasagna. ...
  • 03 of 78. French Onion Soup Casserole. ...
  • 04 of 78. One-Pan Ranch Chicken And Vegetables. ...
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Dec 4, 2023

What's the easiest thing to bake? ›

Easy baking recipes
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What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
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  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What can you cook in 30 mins? ›

30-minute meal recipes
  • Mustard-stuffed chicken. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
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  • 30 minute chicken & tarragon pasta. ...
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How do you feed a busy family? ›

Get your kids involved in coming up with meal ideas and writing out the meal plan. When they are old enough, get them to make one meal a week, or contribute to baking. Once a week, at the dinner table, bring a pen and paper and get everyone to vote for meals and snacks they would like.

How to cook for a lot of people cheap? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
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What to cook on a lazy night? ›

30 lazy dinners to make on weeknights
  1. Ramen carbonara. 4.666665. 4.7. 30 Minute Cheesy Chicken Risoni. 4.3617. 4.4. ...
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  3. Salmon and Egg Brown Rice Salad. 4.166665. 4.2. Tuna Melt. 3.67857. 3.7.

What is a good family dinner? ›

Best of all, these easy family dinners are kid-and Mama-approved.
  • 01 of 78. Slow-Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken. ...
  • 02 of 78. Ravioli Lasagna. ...
  • 03 of 78. French Onion Soup Casserole. ...
  • 04 of 78. One-Pan Ranch Chicken And Vegetables. ...
  • 05 of 78. Extra Easy Lasagna. ...
  • 06 of 78. Chicken Nachos. ...
  • 07 of 78. Mini Meatloaves. ...
  • 08 of 78.
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What to make for dinner when you don't have much food? ›

These simple dinner ideas use only a handful of ingredients so you can still whip up a meal using whatever you have in the cupboard.
  1. 15-ingredient sausage rolls. ...
  2. 2Creamy mushroom gnocchi. ...
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  6. 6Speedy wild rice and salmon salad.

What to do when nothing sounds appetizing? ›

Easy comfort food:
  1. Grilled cheese and tomato soup.
  2. Mac and cheese with frozen peas.
  3. Scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit.
  4. Toast with peanut butter and banana.
  5. Cereal with milk and fruit.
  6. Canned stews or soups.
  7. Spaghetti and frozen meatballs.
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