Whether you're ready or not, it's that time of year again: Back to School.
Whether you're rushing to night school, rushing out the door, or just trying to keep up with your family's complex schedule, everyone needs a little help. Especially at time.
So we've put together a checklist of seven easy and very practical dinners that you can add or subtract to please everyone in your family.
You can mix and match, cook them all, or do the same thing over and over again - it's up to you!
The recipes are designed to be easy to prepare, convenient and appealing to everyone, because we understand how hectic back-to-school can be.
For your convenience, we've created grocery lists for each recipe. And if you're planning to make all seven dinners in one week (which is totally possible!), we've created a master list that will allow you to prep all week.
We assumed you already had a few items in your pantry. (If not, just add those things to your shopping list).
Everyone loves a good potato casserole - it's almost impossible not to - but they're not always the healthiest. This version incorporates a ton of veggies (like corn, carrots, and tomatoes) without sacrificing the deliciousness. In fact, we don't think your kids (or you) will even notice!
Here's what you'll need:
The recipe is very flexible. You can put in any vegetables you want. We even made it with chopped cauliflower and it worked great. To serve, just garnish with cilantro, tomatoes, avocado or whatever you want to spice it up!
Here's how to make it:
Just saute the veggies you like (we used carrots, black beans and corn) and add milk and flour to make a sauce. Add cheese, top with tater tots (!) and cook until bubbly.
Garnish with diced tomatoes, red onions, jalapeños and cilantro. You can also garnish only half of it to suit everyone's taste.
Slow cooker chili is the MVP of weeknight dinners. Just throw everything in before work and come home to a hot meal ready to enjoy.
This version takes it a step further and cooks cornbread balls with the chili. As soon as you get home, put some cornbread batter on top of the cooked chili, let it sit for another hour or so, and you're all set.
Here's what you'll need:
For the dumplings, you'll need butter, brown sugar, eggs, milk, flour, cornmeal, baking powder and cheddar cheese, but you can leave those out if you like.
Here's how to make it:
Just put everything in a slow cooker, let it cook all day, then add a simple cornbread dough. After an hour or so, the dumplings will be tender and cooked through, and will be ready.
Dress them up : Garnish them with cilantro, green onions and jalapeño peppers, or leave them as is for a comforting classic.
Everyone loves crispy chicken strips. This recipe gives you the crispy texture of pan-fried chicken, but bakes it in the oven. And it contains two different types of vegetables so you can have a complete meal ready in no time. Oh, and it's the perfect opportunity to splurge on sauces.
Here's what you'll need:
And serve with whatever sauces your family likes (we love mustard with these - and we've included a recipe so you can make it yourself).
Here's how to make it:
Dredge some chicken strips in flour, and breadcrumbs and place on a baking sheet. Then toss slices of sweet potato and broccoli with oil and seasonings and place on another baking sheet. Bake both at the same time and serve with sauces.
Instant ramen is the ultimate of the week. It's quick, easy and ridiculously cheap, but it's not always as tasty or filling. This recipe completely transforms the staple food into a satisfying, no-cook stir-fry that the whole family will love. It's like your favorite takeout, but and on the table in less than 20 minutes.
Here's what you'll need:
Yes, just the good old instant ramen blocks. They are perfect for this recipe!
Here's how to make it:
Pour boiling water over the instant ramen, let it sit for a few minutes, then drain. Cook some vegetables and steak in a pan, throw the noodles in and stir-fry until golden brown - this should take less than 20 minutes. ✓
Garnish : Garnish with some green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds.
This classic skillet mac and cheese is the perfect recipe for picky eaters big and small - and once you add the roasted tomatoes and fresh basil on top, it becomes something fresh, flavorful and exciting.
Here's what you'll need:
The tomatoes and basil are for garnish - but feel free to leave them out.
Here's how to make it:
Make a quick with flour, butter, milk and cheese, then add the cooked pasta. Stir in the spinach, add the cheese and bake until bubbly.
Dress it up: Before baking, top with sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella - and as soon as it comes out of the oven, garnish with grated basil. Don't hesitate to cover only half of it if someone in your family isn't a fan. Without them, you're left with classic, comforting macaroni and cheese - and who doesn't love that? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
What's better than a party? A "build your own pizza" party! These French bread pizzas are quick and easy to make, so everyone can have their own without the hassle.
Here's what you'll need:
Just grab some bread, sauce, and whatever toppings you want. (We highly recommend making a margarita variation and a barbecue chicken version - the steps for both are included at the bottom of this article).
Here's how to make it:
Just cut baguettes in half, spread some (tomato, BBQ, Ranch - whatever you want!), pile on the toppings and pop them in the oven. Someone doesn't like tomatoes? Leave them out. Someone likes pepperoni? Give it a whirl! The BYO aspect allows everyone to build a they love.
Consider this taco recipe a complete meal kit in one. Just quickly roast some veggies and steak on a griddle (with tortillas to warm them up), then serve it all up with a bunch of toppings. Set it out and let everyone help themselves - creating the tacos of their dreams with as many (or as few) toppings as they want.
Here's what you'll need:
And toppings your family loves - we recommend everything from to shredded cheese to lime curd (which we've included the recipe for).
Disqus Conversations