10 Quick and Easy Family Meals
Having a hard time getting motivated to make dinner? Yes, me too! I want to put a great meal on the table, but let’s be honest…right now with minimal effort. There is just something about being home all day that tends to suck out all your energy! Plus, my husband is still working outside the house…so I have to make sure he has leftovers to bring in for lunch. I typically make a monthly meal plan (click here to see how I make a meal plan), and the one thing I always say are meals have to fit your lifestyle and schedule in order to actually work. So if you are struggling to find energy for dinner (like myself)…then simple meals are key! A fabulous meal does not have to take all day, in fact, if you are a mom, sometimes the easiest meals get the most compliments. So here are 10 quick and easy family meals that look like they took hours! I promise I won’t tell, if you don’t.
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QUICK AND EASY FAMILY MEALS: MEXICAN
Chicken Street Tacos
We love mexican food in our house! While I typically don’t buy pre-made meals, I have to admit lately I have loved the ease of putting this meal on the table. Note, both of my mexican meals listed here are from Costco and they do deliver groceries (check out the details on their website). If you don’t have access to costco, you could easily create this meal by cooking up some chicken of your own! It would definitely still be a quick and easy meal.
The chicken street tacos below are found in a kit and all you need to do is heat up the chicken! I love that it is simple, but also fresh…plus the kids can’t get enough of this meal.
What’s included? It comes in a tray with meat (enough for 5 people, with a little leftover), mexican blend cheese, a cut cabbage mix, corn tortillas, salsa and cilantro sauce.
I typically slice up bell peppers along with chips and salsa to complete the meal.
Taquitos
OK, this is my first disclaimer, I do not typically buy frozen meals. However, I happened to pick these up one time and they bake in 13 minutes. The family loved them! It was hard to deny a quick and easy meal the family loved, so it comes back into the mix every other month or so. I have to admit, they really are delicious! It comes in two packages and our family of 5 only eats one package (15 Taquitos) at a time.
To complete the meal, I add mexican rice and fresh pepper slices.
QUICK AND EASY FAMILY MEALS: ITALIAN
Sausage and Cheese Tortellini
My son is in love with this sausage and cheese tortellini! He is always asking for it! The best part is, it only takes about 2-5 minutes to cook the tortellini? You will just need to cook your sausage up as well. Once the tortellini and ground sausage are cooked, mix in a can of pasta sauce (around 24 oz) and heat for a few minutes. Once hot, you are ready to serve.
I tend to keep a bag of tortellini on hand, it’s easy to cook up at a moments notice. To complete the meal, you can add some garlic cheese biscuits (YUM!) and a salad.
Sausage Tortellini
Equipment
- Stove
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground sausage
- 1 24oz Hunts Pasta Sauce Four Cheese
- 2 19oz Cheese Tortellini
Instructions
- Cook sausage according to package direction.
- Cook Tortellini according to package direction.
- Drain tortellini, add sausage and sauce to pot. Stir together and remove once heated through.
- Ready to serve. Can sprinkle parmesan on if desired.
For the Garlic Cheese Biscuits:
2 Cups Bisquick
2/3 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese
Spoon batter onto baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes…keep a close eye on them. When they are golden brown, remove them.
Melt butter and add garlic salt (to taste), then brush on top of biscuits right after they come out of the oven. Serve warm.
Pesto Mozzarella Chicken Pasta
Pesto! Our family loves pesto, sometimes we add it to tortellini instead of the red sauce and sometimes we make it with rotini and chicken. I found this recipe on Pinterest and love that it is an easy crock pot recipe. However, to make it a quick and easy meal, you can also cook it on the stovetop.
For this meal, we love Buitoni pesto! Every pesto is a little different, so if you haven’t tried Buitoni yet…I highly recommend it!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE from the Magical Slow Cooker
Naan Pizzas
If pizza is a staple at your house, like it is at ours…Naan pizzas is a must! Buy Naan bread at Costco or any grocery store, add sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. Cook in the oven at 375 for about 8 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Delicious quick and easy pizzas!
QUICK AND EASY FAMILY MEALS: SANDWICHES
French Dips
Not everyone loves sandwiches for dinner, but these are a little above just a simple cold sandwich. French dips are quick and easy to make…and always taste delicious. Start with an Au Jus packet. I have to admit I love Louie’s Au Jus Seasoning Packet, but the flavor is a little too strong for the rest of my family, so we normally go with a McCormick Au Jus seasoning packet. You just add water and cook it on the stovetop. It has great flavor, but isn’t too strong.
For meat, I either throw a roast in the crockpot or I buy sliced roast beef at the grocery store. The roast adds incredible flavor…but you have to remember to get your meat in the crockpot early. Buying sliced roast beef truly makes it a quick and easy meal. Grab some french rolls, melt some swiss cheese on top, add some chips and you have yourself a great family meal!
Pork Sandwiches
Once again we find ourselves back at Costco. This pork is delicious and super easy for creating meals! You can make pork tacos, or pork sandwiches within minutes! The pork comes in two separate packages, for a family of 5…one package is plenty. So we get two meals out of one package. It heats up great if you have leftovers!
For sandwiches, we add slider buns, Lawry’s seasoning and for my husband and son, barbecue sauce! To make the meal complete, add chips and fruit.
QUICK AND EASY FAMILY MEALS: HEARTY HOME COOKING
Buttered Noodles With Chicken
Buttered Noodles is a simple recipe, but delicious. I normally throw in chicken to add a little protein as well. To complete the meal, I add cut fruit and a side salad.
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE from Southern Spicy Kitchen
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese (Panera Copycat recipe)
My girls love Panera, and honestly, who doesn’t! However, as a family it can get a little pricey. To please my girls constant craving for Panera mac and cheese, I found this copycat recipe! It is easy to make and tastes delicious!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE from Yellow Bliss Road
QUICK AND EASY FAMILY MEALS: FISH
Tortilla Crusted Tilapia
Need an idea besides pasta!? I hear you. Try this incredible Tortilla Crusted Tilapia from Costco. It is packaged so you can easily place it on a baking sheet, cook and you are done! Some pieces are thicker than others…so just make sure the thickest piece is white and flaky, then you know they are done. The crust is a little spicy, but has great flavor.
To complete this meal, I steam baby potatoes and coat them with olive oil, garlic salt and parmesan. Even my middle child, who doesn’t love fish…will eat this meal. It is definitely a family favorite!
Making dinner can be a struggle right now…so I hope you find a little inspiration with the meals listed above! Remember, keep it simple because putting a great meal on the table doesn’t have to take a lot of time!
Do you have a quick and easy meal your family loves? I would love to hear about it in the comments section below!
Thanks for checking out my post! Happy cooking!
