Frozen breaded fish filets or shrimp and easy mac Breaded chicken strips and frozen fries Ravioli lasagna - layer frozen cheese ravioli, jarred sauce and mozzarella cheese - bake for about 45 minutes
Costco has Indian food that is surprisingly good! It’s in the refrigerated food section. So we get the chicken tikka masala that you microwave (it even has the pan included that you throw away so zero clean up). We serve with rice and naan. My kids love rice, so we always make twice as much rice as we need, then the next day serve rice with something like Costco rotisserie chicken and steam-in-the-bag broccoli.
We used to be really good about “two for one cooking,” where we would turn leftovers from one night into dinner the next night. Like have ham with Mac and cheese and a veggie, then leftover ham sliders on night 2. Or rotisserie chicken one night, then use chicken for easy chicken noodle soup (literally the leftover chicken, 2 boxes of broth, a little bit of diced onion, and a package of refrigerated linguini noodles boiled all together for 5 minutes). It’s a little more planning but really worth it.
It's warming up here so my favorite quick go-to is wraps. They're cheap, easy and I don't have to turn on the oven! And everyone can just fill them with what they want. Last night I had them with a side of pickles, olives, cucumber slices and protein chips.
I take chicken nuggets, cook them (air fryer if you have one), cut them up with kitchen scissors, mix with jarred marinara, place on a sourdough roll, top with shredded mozzarella and bake until the cheese is melted. If I’m feel fancy, I put garlic butter on the bread before adding the chicken. Serve with a bagged salad or frozen French fries.
Post by midwestmama on May 2, 2024 15:40:45 GMT -5
I'm sorry about your husband, jobae1234, and wishing him a full recovery!
My quick and easy go-to's are sloppy joes, sandwiches, breakfast for dinner (eggs, toast, ham), mac and cheese (boxed) and sausage, hot dogs, spaghetti, frozen lasagna. For sides, you could do easy sides like bagged salad, pre-made salads from the deli (potato, coleslaw, etc.), veggies (frozen bagged veggies), chips, fries, whole fruit (apples, pears, etc.), canned baked beans, and/or minute rice.
Also, easy mezze or, Dips for Dinner. Cut up veg, pita chips, olives, feta or other cheese, frozen falafel if you’re feeling fancy, & your favorite hummus/tzaziki/whatever
I second many of these. Plus make your own subs (probably mentioned), grilled cheese and tomato soup, breakfast sandwiches and smoothies (sometimes also tater tots with this), regular alfredo sauce! (Joy of Cooking where it's literally heavy cream, butter, and cheese...it's so good) with chicken, shrimp, ravioli or whatever pancakes and Canadian bacon (cooks super fast and no mess) or frozen sausage; applesauce
Do you have an Instant Pot? If so, I would add... Instant Pot spaghetti (dump frozen meatballs, sauce, some water, raw pasta in pot and start it) Instant Pot chicken alfredo (similar but with raw chicken, pasta, heavy cream, chicken broth, parm)
I also like to get the big steelhead (or salmon) fillet from Costco and put on a big sheet pan drizzed with a little olive oil. Put it in at 425 and start white rice in my Instant Pot. Both done in about 20 minutes or so and I cook a bag of Costco frozen broccoli (use any frozen quick veggie). Kids put butter and parmesan on the rice.
Post by InBetweenDays on May 2, 2024 16:50:43 GMT -5
So sorry about your husband. I hope he heals quickly!
If you have a Trader Joe's near you they have great freezer meals. Gnocchi, fried rice, pot stickers, edamame, frozen veggies, quesadillas, etc. They are so handy to have on hand.
Bagged caeser salad. Add dicdx avocado and breaded chicken strips I bought in the deli for a hearty chicken Caesar salad
Google NY times Dutch baby recipe - easy and yummy, I add fruit and frozen hash browns for sides
Soba noodles are quick, yummy, and good protein. Add whatever you want - chicken, tofu, cooked veggies, green onions, mushrooms. Either a jarred Asian sauce or make one with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger
Fried egg sandwiches, yum.
Strawberry spinach salad with red onions and cashews.
Sauté ground beef, add broccoli, frozen rice (just nuke it) jarred oyster sauce or similar Asian sauce
Jarred pesto with pasta and peas
I double sloppy Joe meat and the next day make Sloppy Joe pasta which is just the meat, pasta, and cheddar mixed in
Refried bean burritos. Warm up beans in a pot, add to torilla, top as preferred. Done. Can be done with pinto or black beans.
Another method is smothered. Wrap beans in tortillas and place multiple in bottom of glass pan. Smother with salsa or green chile and cheese. Add toothpicks so wrap doesn’t stick, Cover with Saran and microwave til bubbling and cheese is melted, add toppings as desired.
Any kind of pasta + jarred sauce. Brown some ground turkey or veggie crumbles and put in the sauce for something different. I like to let it sit in the sauce on low for 5 minutes. Soup+grilled cheese Costco/grocery store rotisserie chicken. Shred and put on bagged salad. Use bottled dressing or olive oil+vinegar. Breakfast for dinner-eggs/omelettes (your choice of cheese and precut veggies from the produce dept.), toast, instant grits or oatmeal. Bagel pizzas-cheese, sauce (pasta sauce works fine), pepperoni, choice of toppings. Either heat in the air fryer til cheese melts or the microwave (keep and eye on it in the micro! Probably about 40-50 seconds) Take out (come on, ya'll know me by now!)
Whenever I think my lack of executive function is all in my head I'll come back to this list of "easy" meals, lololol.
Friend, let me help you out. This is how I eat on work days: -Taco Salad: Bagged Salad, Rinse a can of beans (microwave if you're feeling fancy), top with jarred salsa and pre-shredded cheese -Taco Bowls: Open can of refried beans, add cheese and or salsa, microwave. Eat with spoon or chips if you have them. -Chickpea Curry: Rinse can of chickpeas, pour over jar of curry sauce, add frozen veggies of choice on top, microwave.
-Mediterranean Salad: Drain a can of chickpeas, sprinkle TJs "Green goddess" seasoning over top and shake. Pour over bagged salad. Add greek yogurt and/or purchased greek dressing.
-Chili: To crockpot or pan on stove add 2 cans of beans and 2 jars of tomatoes (Diced, crushed, or jars of salsa for more flavor). Scale as needed. Serve with greek yogurt or cheese on top. Eat this for days, it keeps for a week in the fridge.
-Cheese on crackers, cheese on eggs, cheese on toast
Meat is so much harder to cook but I guess if you must they sell it pre-cubed or pre-shredded and you can substitute for the beans in the above recipes. Good luck!
Post by basilosaurus on May 3, 2024 3:27:46 GMT -5
I'm guessing ramen with a can of tuna and frozen peas isn't an option? That's a go-to for me when I'm just not feeling like cooking.
For me, probably the fastest and easiest is cutting up whatever veg I have and throwing it in couscous. Bonus if I happen to have feta on hand to add to it. Fast, easy, healthy, cheap.
A few minutes more will give you pasta with same additions. I don't eat a ton of meat, but on occasion I'll add some diced prosciutto or chorizo ,whatever my market has at the moment. I don't really get many options. Usually it's pesto plus white or garbanzo beans, tomatoes, and a handful of spinach whenever I can find it fresh.
Dump into a 9x13 dish: - One box (16oz) uncooked penne - One jar tomato-based pasta sauce of your choice - Fill empty jar 2/3 with water, and dump the water in
Stir to make sure it’s combined, and that all dry pasta is covered with liquid. Cover with foil, bake on 425 for 35 minutes. Remove foil and stir in 1-2 cups of shredded mozzarella or Italian blend. Bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted. Add bagged salad and garlic bread.
You can add browned Italian sausage if you want. I’ve tried ground beef and it was kind of bland, but might work if you season it really well.