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Crazy work days and busy lives mean we’re all short on time and in a hurry! These dinner ideas are perfect for nights when you’re short on time and your troops are hungry. Perfect how? Well, they are 3 ingredient main dishes (and maybe a pantry staple or two) and are prepped or ready in 30 minutes or less. Sounds perfect to me!
Let’s see what deliciousness we can whip up in no time! These eleven 3-ingredient recipes answer the constant question of “what’s for dinner?”
Skirt Steak with Corn and Salsa
Who doesn’t love grilled skirt steak? This meal can be made on the grill or in a grill pan (which has solved my problem of not having a grill at our apartment!) in 30 minutes or less depending on how you prefer your steak. Food & Wine has the recipe for Grilled Skirt Steak with Poblano Corn-Sauce and Salsa.
3 Ingredient Sea Scallop Carbonara
Doesn’t this look amazing? No one will believe this beautiful dish was so easy to make. Elevate Your Plate has the recipe. If you don’t like scallops, leave this ingredient out and enjoy more pancetta!
Slow Cooker Chicken Salsa
Gimme Some Oven has tons of great recipes and this 2-ingredient Chicken Salsa is delicious AND easy! This is perfect for tacos, quesadillas or even to top baked potatoes. Make extra and use it for two dinners in the same week, which is a huge time saver. This has practically no prep time whatsoever- just add the chicken to your slow cooker and top with your favorite salsa and you’ve made dinner!
Maple Mustard Salmon
Salmon is one of my favorite quick and easy dinners to make when we are short on time. This Maple Mustard Salmon from Cardamom and Coconut looks delicious! I am adding this to my short list to serve with couscous (as suggested) or rice, and maybe asparagus as the veggie.
Apple Cider Glazed Porkchops
My husband *loves* pork chops and is going to love this easy one-pan dinner, too! Find the recipe for Apple Cider Glazed Pork Chops at Complete Recipes. Have you tried the microwavable mashed potatoes found in the refrigerated section of your grocery store? They are SO GOOD! We like the Simply brand. They are ready in about 5 minutes and will be a great side for these chops.
Orange Chicken
Cheaper than Chinese! And maybe quicker, too! This Orange Chicken from Crafty Morning is quick to prepare and perfect with boil-in-the-bag rice (my favorite because I *cannot* cook rice for some reason!) and a side of steamed broccoli.
3-Ingredient Chicken
It doesn’t get much easier than this! Skinny Points has this incredibly easy recipe that is prepped in just a couple minutes and baked in less than 30. With the main ingredient being chicken this is sure to become a family favorite.
Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork
Dr. Pepper to make pulled pork? Yup! And it is *shockingly* good! You have to give it a try with this Pulled Pork recipe from Living on a Dime. What do you like with your pulled pork? We love coleslaw! We also love coming home after a rushed day to dinner that is practically ready in the slow cooker.
3 Ingredient Chili
Cool days call for comfort food and this 3 Ingredient Chili from Yellow Bliss Road is soooo goood! Simple ingredients often make the best dishes. Top with optional sour cream, scallions and shredded cheese- or leave them out for a more calorie-friendly meal.
Cheesy Ravioli Bake
Lil’ Luna has an easy recipe for this yummy Cheesy Ravioli Bake! It’s loaded with gooey cheesy goodness. Add a side salad and garlic bread and dinner is served!
Avocado Chicken Salad
Hip2Save has an easy Avocado Chicken Salad recipe that is perfect for dinner- and the leftovers will be perfect for lunch!
I hope these recipes make you ready to take on this week’s meal planning! I know I am ready to try a few new dishes that are ready in no time and have simple ingredients. If you want to read about how I save money on groceries (without clipping coupons!) this post is for you!
LOOKS LIKE HAPPY’S FAVORITE TIPS, TRICKS AND KITCHENWARE:
- Tip: Shop sales, and base your recipes around what’s on sale. If you find a *really* good buy and the product can be frozen or has a long shelf life, now is the time to stock up! Short on storage space? Think about adding a storage bench to your décor. My kids sat on a goldmine of snacks for *years* before they realized their bench at the dining table was storage for all kinds of goodies. Just be sure to choose one with a seat that can be wiped off or with a darker, busy pattern to hide kid stains.
- Meal prep (see our “Meal Prep Like a Pro” series below) to save yourself tons of time and stress during the week.
- Make dinners you can double.
- Freeze one for another week.
- Package leftovers for work lunches.
- Consider investing in a slow cooker that is programmable, has a timer, and switches to “warm” once your dish is cooked. I have this one and I love it!
Ready for more quick dinner ideas? Then you’re not going to want to miss these roundups!
12 Mavelously Melty Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
12 Ways Taco Tuesday Just Got 12 Times Tastier
Also, be sure to take a look through our most popular recipe roundups in our “Meal Prep Like a Pro” series!
Meal Prep Like a Pro With These 10 Yummy Recipes
Meal Prep Like a Pro- Part Two: 10 Awesome Recipes to Try This Month
Meal Prep Like a Pro: Part Three- The Lunch List
Meal Prep Like a Pro: The School Lunch Edition – No Parents Allowed!
Be sure to check out our Dinners – Quick and Easy board on Pinterest for hundreds of quick dinner ideas from other great bloggers!
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