Fast Meal Ideas

Published

I am about to start my second semester, and so far I have had a hard time finding fast dinner ideas for those long days. Basically every day next semester, I walk in the door at dinnertime. I've tried freezing meals, but all those recipes want to be heated in the oven for an hour, yeah right! My husband can't cook, so he's no help. So, any ideas? I'm sure we can all benefit from fast meals!

I agree with the crock pot! I don't think that I would like it all the time, but when busy days are coming up, there is nothing better than having the meal done for you when you get home and the house smells so yummy! Other easy ideas are: sloppy joes, tacos (shred the cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc the night before), spaghetti, etc. The new frozen steam meals are so good, too! 5 minutes in the microwave and you are good to go! I try and stay away from frozen meals all the time, but they are better than most fast food.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Like everyone else says, crockpot meals are awesome. They even sell some frozen meals you can put in your crockpot.

Like another person said, train your husband to put the casserole dish in the oven an hour before you get home. It's how my boyfriend started cooking :)

My favorite easy meals are pasta + storebought sauce, sometimes with frozen meatballs nuked in the microwave; stirfry (if you vary the protein and the veggies and the sauce, it can taste different each time) over a carb (rice, pasta, potatoes, rice noodles....); curry (curry powder/paste + 1 can coconut milk + protein + frozen veggies); and fajitas (my store sells preseasoned meat for fajitas)

You might want to check out a cookbook called Cheap. Fast. Good! There are some good quick meals, and some meals that are based on batch cooking.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for all the great ideas. I actually do have a crockpot. I have used it a few times this semester. My husband doesn't like pot roast or stew, so that limits my crockpot options. I am always looking for new recipes. My husband gets home at the same time I do, or sometimes even later, so he can't start anything in the oven. I think I just feel some guilt about not having a big meal ready when he gets home. I used to, but things are different now. He's fine eating a frozen Hungry Man every night. We have two kids too, who ,of course, are picky eaters. I will definately try some of those cook books mentioned. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I like to do leftovers at least 2 nights/week. This helps out a ton!! Crockpot, tacos, stirfry (with frozen ready to go veggies), pasta, grilling, oven pizza - those are all pretty quick. I also like to have a glass of wine when I get home, so that tends to make the cooking experience so much better! :cheers:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, Trauma.

My quickest meals revolve around the rotisserie chickens from Publix...I just pair it with refrigerated mashed potatoes and a big salad...or shred it and mix with Frank's hot sauce and shredded cheeses and make buffalo quesadillas...or cut up and mix together with that 90 second microwaveable wild grain rice, thawed chopped spinach, and some feta or goat cheese. Another quickie is to use those bobolli pizza crusts and make your own pizza, we like to top with spinach and tomatoes or just pepperoni for the kids; takes only 10 minutes to cook.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I buy hamburger in bulk and fry it all at once then freeze it in 1.5 lb increments. Then it's easy to pull it out of the freezer and thaw in the microwave for a quick meal (sloppy joes, tacos, sphaghetti). Another thing I always have on hand is alfredo sauce, linguini, and Costco-brand canned salmon. So easy to throw that all together (sometimes add some pesto or sun dried tomatos) and my family loves it. Serve it with some frozen spinach (thawed and fried for a few minutes in peanut oil and sea salt - delish!).

Every week I cook a big pot of pinto beans in the crock pot. You can refrigerate them then take them out as you need them for burritos. I will make burritos by mixing some refried beans and hamburger together (the precooked that's in my freezer), and taco seasoning. Add some salsa, cheese, and sour cream and my family absolutely loves them. I'll usually serve frozen corn with them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nene RN - the buffalo quesadillas sound great - I'll have to try that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Heres another idea for quick meals. George foreman grill....just awesome. I buy the thin slice boneless chicken breasts. Store them in the freezer...I pull it out when i get home, thaw if in the micro just enough so I can separate them and plop them on the foreman grill. There are many marinades you can spoon over them, or sprinkle dry italian dressing mix and close the lid, it cook in less than 5 minutes. Baked potato in the microwave, salad or steam veggies in the micro (they have them in the frozen section you can just steam right in the bag). We also do hamburgers on them, shrimp...and panini sandwiches...the list is endless. Even my husband is good with the foreman grill. If you decide to buy one of these...get the one with the cooking grills that are detachable...it is easier to clean. If you spray them with pam before you cook, you can rinse them when you are finished cooking and put them in the dishwasher for easy cleanup. Love love love my foreman grill.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Another quick dinner is ham steaks, they're already cooked do all you need is 10 minutes on each side on broil and you're done! Salad/veggies & rice on the side, my (very picky) kids love this!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The crockpot has been a lifesaver! At Barnes and Noble I bought a cookbook with 100 crockpot recipes for under $10. Another thing I do is I will cook up 5lbs. of hamburgers on the grill, wrap them individually and freeze them. Throw them in the microwave and you have a burger that tastes just like it came off the grill.

I bought one of those foodsaver machines and when I have time I cook meals all day and freeze them in portions just right for me to carry with me or heat up when I get home.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU - CCRN, IR, Vascular Surgery.
My quickest meals revolve around the rotisserie chickens from Publix...I just pair it with refrigerated mashed potatoes and a big salad...or shred it and mix with Frank's hot sauce and shredded cheeses and make buffalo quesadillas...or cut up and mix together with that 90 second microwaveable wild grain rice, thawed chopped spinach, and some feta or goat cheese. Another quickie is to use those bobolli pizza crusts and make your own pizza, we like to top with spinach and tomatoes or just pepperoni for the kids; takes only 10 minutes to cook.

Buffalo quesadillas?! That sounds SO GOOD! You should try making a buffalo sauce pizza with those Boboli crusts, they're really good :) I tried making chicken enchiladas this week and it was way easier than I had expected. I can totally see myself making those on the weekend and then packing them for school lunches.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion