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Easy Dinners for Crazzzy Nights!
Spaghetti Carbonara – Use leftover bacon (I know- put a few slices in a ziploc *before* your set the plate full of bacon on the table for your family to devour so you actually have “leftover bacon”) to turn this into a super fast, super easy, super pleasing dinner. Add a salad and frozen breadsticks and call it a night. Update: I love carbonara, and almost always order it if it a menu option, so I have had goooood carbonara before. But this? This was sooo good!! For something that is so easy to make, it is unbelievably tasty. Even my husband liked it and he is a pasta-with-sauce guy.
Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast – This melt in your mouth pot roast is a guaranteed to be a hit with everyone in the house. Baby carrots and refrigerated microwavable mashed potatoes will make this a dinner everyone loves. Update: This is amazing. he flavor is fantastic- this is our new “go to” pot roast recipe! The balsamic is a game changer!
Cuban Sliders – King’s Hawaiian rolls, sauteed onions (your kids will actually eat), ham and swiss make for an easy make-ahead dinner. Saute the onions the night before and prep the sandwiches in the morning (takes 5 minutes max) and this dinner is ready to go in the oven when you walk in the door. (I also make these all the time for lunch when we have a weekend crowd. There are never leftovers and even the kids love them!)
Crispy Egg & Sausage Burritos – Breakfast for dinner? Yes, please! These yummy breakfast burritos use 4 main ingredients, and can easily be tailored to your family’s likes. Serve with toast and fruit and everyone is happy. You can even make extras to freeze for future breakfasts on busy mornings.
20 Minute Tuscan Chicken with Penne – This quick pasta dish is sure to fill up the hungriest of tummies! (Use one rotisserie chicken for this dish and the ravioli dish below!) Serve with a salad and garlic bread for a quick meal that is sure to please.
Brown Butter Ravioli with Rotisserie Chicken, Toasted Walnuts, and Crispy Sage – How delicious does this look? I think I know what we’re having for dinner very soon! Use rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even easier to make.
Easy French Dip Sliders – Warm and cheesy french dip sliders- so easy! Prep the night or morning before and add the au jus mixture right before baking. Serve with wedges and a veggie side. Yuh-ummmmm! Get the recipe at Chelsea’s Messy Apron. Update: These are even better in real life! Omgggg. So good. I made these for a crowd and everyone loved them. There was not even one left!
Easy Chicken and Gravy – This recipe is so ridiculously simple and basic I almost feel silly posting it. Almost. The truth is, it is *so* good. It’s one of those good ‘ol warm slow cooker meals. Refrigerated microwavable potatoes, corn on the cob and rolls and you have the easiest, yummiest dinner. We make this at least once a month in the fall and winter. It is so good. Do I keep saying that? :p
Pizza Pasta Casserole – Prepped the night before, this recipe makes enough for two dinners. Freeze one for another busy night- your kids will be begging for more. We sub Italian sausage for ground beef, and you can add additional ingredients based on your family’s likes. Serve with a salad and this is one dinner your kids will devour!
Chicken & Broccoli Shells & Cheese – Picky eaters may just eat this yummy dish with cheese covered broccoli! Use a rotisserie chicken and one pot to make this already easy recipe even easier!
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 frozenor 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 googies. 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 time, 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!
Happy easy dinner planning!
Allison
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