Regardless of whether you work from home or not, it can be difficult to find the time to make a quality dinner for yourself, let alone a family. However, cooking doesn’t have to be a hassle. Listed below are some truly easy and delicious dinners that can fit anyone’s lifestyle and taste buds! If you have an Instant Pot, check out the best Instant Pot recipes.
1. Casserole
Combining simplicity with heartiness, a casserole offers everything you could need in a dinner in just one dish. It is an especially great way to use produce that is in season or any leftover vegetables from other meals. First, sauté your vegetables until tender. Summer squash and zucchini are excellent to start with since a little can go a long way.
After the vegetables are cooked and drained, mix a soup of your choice, preferably a vegetable or cheese, with sour cream and shredded cheese. Once everything has been combined, transfer it to a baking dish then sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Cook until browned and bubbly, then enjoy an easy yet filling meal.
2. French Bread Pizza
Another extra easy recipe, this homemade pizza just requires a sturdy loaf and your preferred sauces and toppings. If you’re serving multiple people, or if you just can’t decide exactly which kind of mini pizza you want, assemble different ingredients on each bread slice.
First mix a little oil, garlic and whatever other seasonings you like on the bread to give even the crust an impressive flavor. Then simply add your sauce and cheese before piling the other ingredients. Top your bread with cooked meat, vegetables or even just more cheese. Once it’s in the oven, wait only about ten minutes before enjoying it.
3. Soup and Sandwiches
This third idea offers both a warm meal and sense of nostalgia for anyone who enjoyed canned soup and grilled cheese as a kid. This combination doesn’t have to end once you reach adulthood. If anything, now you can perfect it with more mature taste buds.
All you need to cook a pot of soup is broth or stock, cream, fresh herbs and whatever main ingredient you desire. Throw in a bag of mixed vegetables, or chop up and roast tomatoes to imitate a classic. Once the soup is cooked and creamy, assemble a gourmet sandwich. Use artisan bread and a fancy, sharper cheese than your regular choice. Caramelize onions too for a truly grown-up grilled cheese then toast it on a skillet. Once finished, grab a bowl of soup and half a sandwich and enjoy a more savory taste of childhood.
4. Vegetable Stir Fry
The healthiest option on our list so far, this method keeps the vegetables crisp and filled with nutrients. This dinner option is also one of the easiest and quickest because everything cooks together, meaning a shorter wait to eat and a shorter clean-up time. All you need is to sauté your vegetables then cook them with an easy homemade sauce.
For best results, choose vegetables currently in season if possible. Heat a little oil over high heat then cook your vegetables until tender. Mushrooms and onions are great to start with, then add broccoli, carrots, peppers and anything else you like to give the stir fry color. For more protein, cook meat or tofu with the vegetables. Once everything is cooked, add soy sauce, broth and herbs until it’s mixed well and thickened. Once finished, you’ll have a hearty and healthy dinner within ten minutes.
5. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Another classic, spaghetti has a variation to fit every preference. Just boil and time the noodles first, stirring occasionally. Focus your time on the sauce, and make it as plain or rich as you desire. If you prefer the latter, combine and cook ground meat, onions and green peppers. Drain the grease, then add tomato sauce, paste and diced tomatoes to the same pan. Since the sauce needs to simmer for about an hour, just remember to return to it to stir.
To make the meatballs, combine eggs, water, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and seasonings. Add the ground beef then form the mixture into about one-inch sized balls. Cook until done, about fifteen minutes. If you don’t want to make the meatballs yourself, buy the premade frozen ones and add your own sauce to spice them up!
6. Garlic Butter Shrimp
While some might consider it more of a side or a topping for linguini, this garlic butter shrimp is so tasty and tempting that it’ll become the main dish. This meal will also cook within a matter of minutes. Peeling and deveining the shrimp will take the most time, but you can also buy shrimp that is ready to cook.
To make this delicious seafood dish, all you really need is garlic, butter and shrimp! Include chicken stock and a splash of lemon for a more refreshing taste, but first just cook the shrimp on each side in the butter. Once the shrimp is pink, set it aside then add and mix the garlic, stock, lemon and even more butter. Return the shrimp to the pan until coated in the garlicy, buttery goodness.
7. Pot Roast and Vegetables
For a truly mouth-watering dinner that you or your family can eat all week, all you need is a skillet and slow cooker. First, season a chuck roast about four pounds with salt, pepper and any mild herb you want. Then heat the roast on a hot skillet in vegetable oil for five minutes on each side.
Time the roast while you chop the vegetables. The heartiest choices that pair best with this roast are potatoes, carrots, celery and onions. Add the chopped vegetables to your slow cooker then put the roast on top. Pour in about a pint of beef broth then simply cover your cooker and let it do the rest of the work! Cook on low for between eight and ten hours, or cook on a higher setting for only five or six hours. While this recipe takes longer to cook, it is easy to prepare and can be left alone for hours.