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.

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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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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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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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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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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Taste easy recipes
5 Easy, Delicious Recipes For Busy Parents (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest food item? ›

32 Quick and Easy Indian Recipes
  • 01 of 32. Masala Kheema - Dry Spicy Minced Meat. ...
  • 02 of 32. Basic Chicken Curry. ...
  • 03 of 32. Mint-Cucumber Raita. ...
  • 04 of 32. Baingan Aloo Ki Subji (Eggplant and Potatoes) ...
  • 05 of 32. Bhajias (Pakoras) ...
  • 06 of 32. South Indian Lemon Rice. ...
  • 07 of 32. Andey Ki (Egg Curry) ...
  • 08 of 32. Bhindi Dopiaza (Okra)
Mar 14, 2024

How do you cook when busy? ›

Prepare one-pot meals – such as soups, risottos, slow-cooked curries and casseroles to save on time and washing up. Use a microwave – it's easier and quicker to microwave foods than cook them in the oven or on the stovetop. Check your manufacturer's instructions on how to best cook different foods using your microwave.

What should I cook when meeting my parents? ›

What are some good things to make for dinner when meeting someone's parents for the first time? Give yourself the gift of time. Try something fail-proof like homemade lasagna (or any casserole style dish), salad, rolls, so that you can pay attention to conversation versus being tied up in the kitchen.

What can you cook in 3 minutes? ›

Three-Minute Meals
  • Mushroom Toast. 1 piece whole-grain toast. ...
  • Spring Salad with Shrimp and Brown Rice. ...
  • Italian-Style Ratatouille with Chicken Sausage. ...
  • Quick Vegetarian Tacos. ...
  • Mediterranean-Style Loaded Baked Potato. ...
  • Breakfast for Dinner: Vegetarian Omelette. ...
  • Asian-Inspired Stir Fry. ...
  • Whole Grain Flatbread Pizza and Salad.
Jun 7, 2017

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 one food that everyone likes? ›

Here is the top 10:
  • Pizza.
  • Burger.
  • Ramen.
  • Paella.
  • Pierogi.
  • Moussaka.
  • Boeuf Bourgignon.
  • Eisbein.
May 24, 2023

What's the easiest thing to bake? ›

Easy baking recipes
  • Classic cheese scones. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
  • Mini bundt cakes. A star rating of 0 out of 5. ...
  • Pear & yogurt spelt cake. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
  • Lemon thumbprint cookies. A star rating of 0 out of 5. ...
  • Salted caramel brownies. ...
  • Mini eton mess cheesecake tarts. ...
  • Spring bouquet traybake. ...
  • Fudgy brownies.

What is everyones least favorite food? ›

The most hated food title goes to the anchovy, with 50% of those polled saying they hated the fish. Of that number, 58% of anchovy haters were women and 43% were men. With Halloween coming up, it might be prudent to stock up on any candy other than black licorice.

How do you cook with no motivation? ›

Planning your menus can make cooking easier. If you wait until you're hungry to decide what to make, you'll probably just end up making something quick and boring or make an unhealthy choice. Mapping things out gives you time to think of some interesting meals and stock up on the ingredients you need.

What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

27 Weeknight Dinner Ideas For People With Literally No Time
  1. Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles. ...
  2. Bacon Avocado Caesar Salad. ...
  3. Cacio e Pepe. ...
  4. 5-Ingredient Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. ...
  5. Italian Chopped Salad. ...
  6. Easiest Garlic Bread Pizza. ...
  7. Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls. ...
  8. Chicken Cucumber Avocado Salad.
Nov 8, 2023

How can I cook at home every day? ›

Here are 6 ways to make cooking part of your everyday routine
  1. Start small. ...
  2. Start with something you enjoy. ...
  3. Cook enough to make leftovers. ...
  4. Enjoy the process. ...
  5. Focus on the benefits of cooking. ...
  6. Set yourself up for success.

How cooking can make family happy? ›

Cooking together as a family does much more than put food on the table. It offers a “time to talk, listen and build family relationships,” says Angela Ginn in ScienceDaily. When we cook with family, it can be a very rewarding experience and helps to increase feelings of connection.

What do parents want in a kids meal? ›

Parents want healthy kids' options

On your kids' menu, focus on lean protein, plant-based alternatives, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and fruit and vegetables while limiting the availability of unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium.

How do you cook food quickly? ›

Want to be a faster cook? Start with these 7 tips.
  1. 1Read the recipe. Multiple times.
  2. 2Check your ingredient supplies.
  3. 3See what can be made ahead.
  4. 4Take advantage of downtime.
  5. 5Let your tools do the work for you.
  6. 6Use good store-bought shortcuts where they make sense.
  7. 7Practice, practice, practice.
Jan 8, 2024

What is the fastest way to cook food? ›

Stir-frying: This method involves cooking food quickly in a hot pan with a small amount of oil. It's a great way to cook vegetables, meat, and seafood quickly and can be done in just a few minutes. Grilling: Grilling is a fantastic way to cook meat, fish, and vegetables quickly.

How to make cooking quick? ›

9 Tips to Simplify the Cooking Process
  1. Read the Recipe Thoroughly.
  2. Use “Mise en Place”
  3. Salt your Water.
  4. Don't Crowd Your Pan.
  5. Line Baking Sheets With Foil.
  6. Clean as You Cook.
  7. Make One Pan Meals.
  8. Use Pre-Cooked Meats.

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