Easy Meal Ideas For Busy Weeks
School is back in session here in Nashville and our days just seem to get busier and busier. With athlete kids I’m always looking for quick and easy meals to help feed our family well, but that don’t take up a lot of time. Sharing some favorite recipes of ours and ideas from the community. Hope this helps you find some tasty meal ideas for those busy nights.
Easy Meal Ideas
Bowls – rice, lettuce, protein, beans, veggies. So easy to customize but if you need some ideas, here is a list of 30 best protein bowls.
Breakfast for dinner – Sally from Sally’s Baking Addiction has a really yummy pancake recipe.
Pasta fagioli (Instant Pot): by 265 Days of Slow + Pressure Cooking
Such a feel-good meal and it’s so easy to throw in the Instant Pot.
Pasta fagioli (Crock pot): by Alyssa Rivers
Crockpot meals are everything when you have a busy schedule.
Eggs, Waffles & Smoothies – Smoothies might seem unconventional for dinner but they’re fun and can be loaded with nutrients. Here is a list of 20 delicious smoothie recipes. Pair a smoothie with a quick waffle and top it with an egg, you’ve got a full-rounded dinner.
Breakfast burritos: by Luke at Midwestern Cooking
Easy to make and take when you have to get out the door fast.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup by the Recipe Critic
This lentil soup is such an easy way to get lots of fiber and protein.
Baked Potato Bar: by Meg Quinn
So simple, but really easy to make and prep ahead of time.
Easy Chicken, Pork, & Fish Meal Ideas
Chicken fried rice & spring rolls: by Luke at Midwestern Cooking
A quick and easy meal that’s equally as delicious. Add some spring rolls for a quick dinner.
BBQ pulled pork Robyn at Real Food, Whole Life
Love a good crockpot BBQ recipe.
BBQ chicken sandwiches – Throw chicken breasts in the crockpot and add a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce. Easy peasy.
Chicken tender salad Sarah Crowder at The Kitchn
Airfry a bag of chicken tenders and add to your favorite salad mix.
Chicken salad Kim at Kim’s Cravings
Use left over chicken or grab a rotisserie chicken for an easy chicken salad. Serve on a roll with chips and you’ve got dinner on the table.
Honey Sesame Chicken – Steph Loaiza at Six Sisters Stuff
Sweet and savory. Sure to become a family favorite.
Chicken Cesar Salads Chungah Rhee at Damn Delicious
So yummy and fresh.
BLT Wraps – Easy as grilling some bacon, slicing a tomato, grabbing some lettuce and assembling on a wrap.
Brown Sugar Air Fryer Salmon – Emily Weinberger at Simply Recipes
25 minutes in the air fryer, serve with rice and some vegetables.
Fish and Chips – An easy meal to throw together for fast dinners. Serve with tartar sauce.
Easy Beef Meal Ideas
Meatball subs – Throw meatballs and marinara in a crockpot. Toast rolls if you’re feeling fancy.
Taco bar – make enough meat that you can use the leftovers for nachos or taco salad. Check out this list of the best taco bar toppings.
Sloppy joes – Natasha Kravchuk at Natasha’s Kitchen
A true classic. Comes together easily and great for leftovers.
Chili Mac – Nagi Maehashi at RecipeTinEats
Your favorite chili mixed with your favorite mac ‘n cheese.
Crock pot French dip sandwiches – Carrie Barnard at Eating on a Dime
This recipe looks beyond good plus it’s so easy.
Spaghetti and Meatballs – So simply and easy for quick weeknight dinners.
Air fry burgers and veggies – A really easy way to cook burgers is in the airfryer. Check out how to cook them here. Add some vegetables and dinner is served.
Chili in the crockpot – Jenna at Butternut Bakery
Flavorful, hearty and really easy to throw in the crockpot.
Boston butt (BBQ) in the crockpot – Diana Rattray at The Spruce Eats
Another delicious pulled pork recipe for the crockpot.
Any sheet pan meal – Katie Macdonald at Food52 has curated this list of 20 of the best sheet pan meals.
Easy Meals with Butcherbox
One of the things that helps me to make delicious, easy meals on busy nights is by subscribing to Butcherbox. It’s a meat delivery service that brings delicious cuts of meat straight to your door. You’ll get the highest quality meats direct from the farmers and it tastes so amazing. From now until September 15th, if you use my code TURNER60 you’ll get $60 off ($20 off your next 3 boxes). Plus, free ribeyes, salmon or NY strip steaks for a year. This is a smokin’ deal that you don’t want to miss.
I’m always looking for new ideas that are quick, easy and healthy for our family. What are your go-to recipes for busy weeks?