Easy dinner ideas for busy people like all we are today are widely offered over thousands of pages on the Net. These very simple ideas to prepare dinner for your family quickly and easily can be lifesaver when you live a busy lifestyle. Once you have on hand the right type of food ingredients preparing a quick dinner is piece of cake. All you need to do is take some time out and make a plan of action to get meals completed in no time. Of course, buying all the ingredients you need ahead of time will allow you to quickly adapt to any rush situation during dinner time.
You cannot compare homemade food to those available from fast food chains. Even if you are busy in your life, foods you cook at home are certainly healthier and cleaner and if you follow these tips and easy recipes you can still cook your own dishes while maximizing time of cooking.
- Do a quick search for easy dinner recipes
- Plan and prepare everything you will need ahead of time
- Decide on the meals you are going to cook and make a shopping list
- Buy frozen and already cut up vegetables to save time
- Once you get all the ingredients stick to the plan
- A little extra preparation can make these recipes ever faster.
If you are looking for easy dinner recipes the ideas shared in this article will be great baseline to get you started with a recipe that is simple to make, healthy and tastes great.
Rice
Eating rice is a great start for every beginner. It’s not only super cheap but also easy to make. Eating rice will leave you feeling full and satisfied. How easy is to prepare rice see for yourself:
For every 1 cup of plain rice use 1.5 cups of water, toss in about half a teaspoon of salt, or if that sounds too basic for you then try replacing the salt with about one teaspoon of chicken or beef bullion.
Pastas
Pasta is the most basic and easiest foundation for any meal. Stir fry vegetables with pasta, add your favorite cheeses along with your own or some readymade sauce from the store and you are ready to go.
Linguine, spaghetti and bow tie pasta – these too are examples of various pastas you can prepare just in a few minutes. Add your favorite sauce and one of the meats: ground beef, grilled chicken or even seafood and you have a complete and quick dinner meal ready.
And here’s an easy and quick to prepare recipe to prepare Lazy Lasagna:
Ingredients you’ll need to prepare:
- 1 lb ground Beef
- 18 oz (1 jar) pasta sauce
- 1/2 pack of broad egg noodles
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
In a skillet brown the ground beef and drain it. Stir in the pasta sauce and simmer uncovered over med-low heat for 10 minutes. In a large pot of boiling water cook noodles until tender and drain them. Combine mozzarella with sour cream. In the bottom of a 8 cup casserole or baking dish spread half the noodles.
Next layer the mozzarella-sour cream mixture and as another layer half the meat mixture and the rest of the noodles and remaining meat. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese. Cover it all and bake at 350 F degrees for about 25 minutes. Uncover and cook another 5 minutes. Your easy dinner is ready.
Chicken
Chicken can be a very versatile protein that can be used in so many different ways. Both savory and sweet, the possibilities really are endless when you are planning a menu around chicken.
Rotisserie chicken is always available at the local store and it easily can be prepared, cooked and ready to serve in just about a half an hour to your family. You can have an entire meal that is served with less the expense of a full meal at a restaurant if you add some salad greens from the market.
Many quick and easy dinner recipes include chicken breasts. Chicken quickly can be cooked and sautéed in olive oil. Add a can of cream of mushroom soup for flavor and gravy and you can have a testy meal. Also, a minute steaks are round steaks can be seasoned and sautéed in olive oil or butter. Along with addition of vegetables, bread and a salad it easily can make you a dinner. On top of that, put a potato into the microwave and bake it to complete your meal.
Chicken can easily be boiled, cut up and frozen in freezer bags in whatever quantity you wish. I like to make a quick chicken salad to stuff in pita bread for a fast dinner. You can also use canned chicken; add a diced tomato, a little poultry seasoning, some mayo and a diced onion. Freezing the pre-cooked ingredients for a future meal is a great time and money saver.
Basic Casserole Recipe
Casseroles are wonderful and can be prepared in minutes. Ingredients for a basic green bean casserole:
- can of green beans,
- cream of mushroom soup,
- frenches fried onions.
Cheese and Corn Casserole Recipe
Ingredients you will need:
- 2 cans corn
- 1 small bag elbow macaroni
- 1/2 stick of Velveeta Cheese
- 1 stick of butter
Directions:
Bring butter to room temperature, boil water and cook macaroni as directed on package till ready. In a casserole dish mix the cooked macaroni with the corn, cheese and butter.
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Recipe
Ingredients to prepare:
- 3 lb. whole chicken (cooked)
- 3 oz dry bread stuffing mix
- 10 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 10 oz can condensed cream of celery soup
- 1/3 c. and 2 tbsp chicken broth
- 1/4 c. and 2 tbsp evaporated milk
Directions:
Into the pre-heated to 350° F oven put the mixture of cut up chicken and layer of the meat in a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
Sprinkle the stuffing mix over the chicken: mixed together the soups, broth and evaporated milk in a large bowl, stir this mixture well and pour it over the stuffing layer. Ensure that mixture gets to the bottom of the baking dish, poke it down with a fork, and bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until it starts to bubble in the center.
Recipe of Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
Ingredients you will need:
- 2 packages frozen broccoli
- 2 to 3 cups cooked chicken – cut up
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 c. shredded cheese
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 c. mayonnaise
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 stick butter
- 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers, crumbled
Directions:
Cook broccoli according to package directions then drain, mix all ingredients together with the exception of the Ritz crackers and butter, and pour the mixture into a baking dish.
Melt the butter then add the cracker crumbs and it mix well and add to the top of the casserole. Place into pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F and bake until hot and bubbly about 15 to 20 minutes. The mixture is baked for about 30 minutes.
You can prepare a rump steak with quick mushroom and red wine sauce:
Here is a list of Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 2 rump steaks (about 200g/8oz each)
- 140g mushrooms, quartered
- 2 thyme sprigs, leaves removed
- 150ml red wine
- 1 tbsp butter
Directions:
Heat the oil in a pan. Season the steaks, and then fry for 2-3 min’s each side for medium rare, or cook more to your liking. Remove from the pan, and then set aside to rest.
Add the mushrooms and thyme leaves to the pan, then cook for a couple of min’s until softened and golden. Pour in the wine and bubble until syrupy, then turn off the heat and stir in the butter. Season.
Serve the steaks with the mushroom sauce poured over, along with creamy mash and some crunchy spring greens.
Steak with creamy mushrooms
Cook steak as before, then set aside. Fry the mushrooms and thyme for 2 min’s. Stir in 100ml double cream and 1 tsp wholegrain mustard. Bubble for 1 min, season, and then spoon over the steaks.
Quick Beef Stroganoff Recipe
Ingredients you will need:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, 3/4-inch thick, cut into thin strips
- 2 tbsp chopped onions
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/8 tsp dried parsley flakes
- 1 3/4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 3 cups uncooked medium egg noodles
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Directions:
- Heat the oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add the beef and cook until it’s well browned, stirring often.
- Add the onion, garlic and parsley and cook until the onion is tender-crisp. Stir the broth and mushrooms in the skillet and heat to a boil. Stir in the noodles. Reduce the heat to low.
- Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Stir the sour cream in the skillet and cook until the mixture is hot. Your meal is ready.
Cook with confidence; Enjoy your quick and easy dinner and save money. Bon Appetit!