5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (2024)

5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (1)

Working parents have it tough. I have no earthly idea how it's possible to work 40+ hours a week, run errands, go to PTA meetings, put Band-Aids on boo-boos and prepare dinner for hungry families. But mom and dad are superhuman - and manage to fit more activity into one day than seems remotely reasonable. So here are five quick, easy international recipes that will hopefully have everyone around the dinner table chewing and murmuring appreciatively at your culinary prowess. A tip of the hat to mom and dad.

5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (2)

After a long day at work, the last thing you want is a complex, time consuming and messy hour in the kitchen. These savory and hearty veggie-filled pork rolls are a total no-brainer. You'll have dinner on the table before SpongeBob SquarePants hits the second commercial break.
Total Cooking Time: 17 Minutes
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5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (3)

It's tough to get the kids to voluntarily eat their veggies. But trust me when I tell you these zucchini cakes have a flavor and texture that borders on meaty indeed. Aside from the zucchini, some leftover spaghetti sauce and grated Parmesan are about all you need to whip up a post-swim-meet Italian crowd-pleaser.
Total Cooking Time: 25 Minutes
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5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (4)

Yes - you could make a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese for dinner (confession: sometimes I like a little taste from the 'blue box'). But it doesn't take much more time to whip up a macaroni dish that is intense, hearty and nuanced. And the addition of soy sauce might have your future honor-student asking what umami is while (hopefully not) sticking macaroni in their nose.
Total Cooking Time: 27 Minutes
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5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (5)

Fish sticks get a bum rap. The school cafeteria version can only be made palatable if you drown them in enough ketchup or tartar sauce. These Thai fish sticks aren't breaded, but still turn out crunchy on the outside with an herbaceous, fluffy interior. A dunk in the punchy dipping sauce totally beats a ketchup packet!
Total Cooking Time: 21 Minutes
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5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (6)

Sometimes the kids just need a hearty snack, and you're out of Lunchables. Japanese rice balls have been a favorite of mine since I was wearing Hello Kitty pajamas. And with savory chicken, rice, carrots and ginger - that's a whole lot of food groups wrapped up in one delectable bite.
Total Cooking Time: 15 Minutes
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5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (2024)

FAQs

What's a good lazy dinner for family? ›

30 lazy dinners to make on weeknights
  • Ramen carbonara. 4.666665. 4.7. 30 Minute Cheesy Chicken Risoni. 4.3617. 4.4. ...
  • Asian-style Scrambled Eggs. Cheeseburger Jaffle. 4.166665. 4.2. Sri Lankan Coconut & Cashew Chicken with Saffron Rice. 4.188975. ...
  • Salmon and Egg Brown Rice Salad. 4.166665. 4.2. Tuna Melt. 3.67857. 3.7.

What can I cook for my parents? ›

Cooking For My Parents
  • Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes Carrots and Zucchini. Linda Sansone. ...
  • Best Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder Soup! Linda Sansone. ...
  • Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes. Linda Sansone. ...
  • Easy Homemade Beef Stew. Linda Sansone. ...
  • POOR MAN'S STEW EASY RECIPE | YOUR LIFE. ...
  • Our (Printable!) Wedding Invitations From Minted.

How do you feed a busy family? ›

Get your kids involved in coming up with meal ideas and writing out the meal plan. When they are old enough, get them to make one meal a week, or contribute to baking. Once a week, at the dinner table, bring a pen and paper and get everyone to vote for meals and snacks they would like.

What to cook if I'm lazy? ›

These lazy dinner recipes are anything but boring.
  1. 1Cheeseburger nachos. ...
  2. 2Crispy Japanese sushi salmon patties. ...
  3. 310-minute vegetarian pad Thai. ...
  4. 4Chicken Lorraine. ...
  5. 5Creamy Italian salmon tray bake. ...
  6. 6Creamy French onion chicken pasta bake. ...
  7. 7The ultimate cheat's gozleme. ...
  8. 8Honey soy chicken with noodles.

What a 10 year old can cook? ›

With an adult supervising, a 10-year old should be able to scramble eggs, stir fry vegetables or flip a pancake on an electric stovetop (you may want to wait longer if you have a gas range). Safety tip: Be sure to teach them to tie back long hair and never wear loose clothing around the stove. Prepare a sandwich.

What food can a 12 year old cook? ›

"By 12 years old, children should be able to bake a cake independently and cook simple meals, such as beans on toast, eggs, or porridge.

How do you feed a family of 5 for $10? ›

Cheap Family Meals Under $10
  1. Spanish Rice Soup. ...
  2. Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Vegetables. ...
  3. Crescent Roll Sausage Egg Casserole. ...
  4. Chicken and Rice Casserole with Broccoli. ...
  5. Creamy Tomato Bacon Pasta. ...
  6. Easy Cheese Manicotti. ...
  7. White Bean and Spinach Soup. ...
  8. Black Bean Enchilada Casserole.
Apr 2, 2023

How to make 5 small meals a day? ›

How to Eat 5 Small Meals a Day
  1. Plan ahead. Five meals a day equals breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. ...
  2. Stock up. Face it: You're going to grab whatever food is closest. ...
  3. Go for taste. Choose snack foods that will sustain you and taste good. ...
  4. Whip up a smoothie. ...
  5. Combine carbs and protein to stay full longer.
Aug 15, 2014

What is lazy cooking? ›

It means making smart or clever adjustments that make cooking quicker and easier. Think of it as pandemic cooking 2.0—good, healthy food made convenient. It's all about sheet pan dinners, pressure cookers and any meal you can make in one vessel. It likely involves fewer steps and fewer ingredients.

What is the most easiest thing to cook? ›

From noodles, stir-fries, soups and salads, you'll find something for everyone.
  • 1Kung pao chicken noodle tray bake. ...
  • 25-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
  • 310-minute cheat's fried rice. ...
  • 4Easy beef stir-fry. ...
  • 5Easy tuna, sweetcorn and rice slice. ...
  • 6Quick fish finger burgers. ...
  • 7Japanese-style pork and soba noodle stir-fry.

What to make for dinner when you're tired? ›

  • 1Creamy chicken and risoni tray bake. ...
  • 2Easy slow-cooker lasagne. ...
  • 3One-pan creamy chicken pesto pasta bake. ...
  • 4Chicken chow mein tray bake. ...
  • 5One-pot creamy chicken ravioli. ...
  • 6One-pan miso chicken drumsticks. ...
  • 7Chicken, chorizo and olive tray bake. ...
  • 8Slow-cooker beef brisket bourguignon.

What is a good family dinner? ›

Best of all, these easy family dinners are kid-and Mama-approved.
  • 01 of 78. Slow-Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken. ...
  • 02 of 78. Ravioli Lasagna. ...
  • 03 of 78. French Onion Soup Casserole. ...
  • 04 of 78. One-Pan Ranch Chicken And Vegetables. ...
  • 05 of 78. Extra Easy Lasagna. ...
  • 06 of 78. Chicken Nachos. ...
  • 07 of 78. Mini Meatloaves. ...
  • 08 of 78.
Dec 4, 2023

What to make for dinner when you don't have much food? ›

These simple dinner ideas use only a handful of ingredients so you can still whip up a meal using whatever you have in the cupboard.
  1. 15-ingredient sausage rolls. ...
  2. 2Creamy mushroom gnocchi. ...
  3. 3Fast falafel bowl. ...
  4. 45-ingredient satay beef skewers. ...
  5. 55-ingredient meatball carbonara. ...
  6. 6Speedy wild rice and salmon salad.

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