3 Quick Meal Recipes For Busy People

Are you ready for some quick meal recipes? Life is so busy, isn’t it? For me, it’s the kids and school, managing my husband’s medical practice, and the dreaded preparation of year-end financial statements.

I feel like the days are never long enough. Cooking tends to go on the back burner when I get busy. Priorities, right?

This week, I focused on a few quick meals that are delicious but super FAST.

Keep in mind, my kids are the pickiest eaters on the planet, so it’s hard for me to find things they will eat.  If at least 3 out of 4 in my family like the meal I cook, it is a successful dinner.  The 4th usually makes noodles with butter or a bowl of cereal.

I used to try saying “You will eat what I prepare or starve!” But that didn’t work because both my boys would gladly starve than eat something they don’t want. They got their dad’s skinny genes. So the rule is, I make a meal. If you don’t like it, you can make yourself something on your own.

Quick Meal Recipes I Made This Week

1. Four Ingredient Chili

I LOVE McCormick’s Chili package.  Looking at the ingredients, the only thing I wasn’t sure of was thiamine mononitrate which I read is just a synthetic form of vitamin B1.  It seems the package is simply a mix of spices which I’m happy to purchase in one efficient pouch.

When I mix sauteed ground beef with a few cans of beans, tomato sauce, and the McCormick’s chili package, it turns out delicious every time.

I can make the ground beef in the morning in 5-10 minutes and throw it in a crockpot with cans of various beans, sauce and the spice package.

I mix it up and turn the crock pot on high for a few hours. Then I set the temperature to low and let it simmer all day until dinner time. Add some cheese and avocado, maybe a little sour cream, and Ta Da. Dinner!

Ingredients

• 1lb ground beef, cooked and drained of fat.
• McCormick’s Chili spice package
• 3 cans of beans (I like pinto, black, and kidney but use whatever you like)
• 28oz or larger can/package of tomato sauce (add a little more tomato sauce if you want to add more cans of beans. I use smooth sauce because my kids won’t eat chunky)
• Condiments: avocado, cheese, sour cream

Add condiments to the chili, and you have a delicious and healthy meal. My friend, Leila, gave me the great idea of serving this with Fritos to scoop up the chili! A fun way to eat for the kids.

2. Matzo Ball Soup with Edamame or Peas and Egg Noodles

I get my Matzo Ball soup from Bristol Farms, a gourmet grocery store in town. You can find either matzo ball or chicken noodle freshly made at any gourmet grocery. Recently, I even used canned Campbell’s and the kids still loved it.

• Buy a rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breast from the prepared food section to add to the soup.
• Make a package of frozen peas or shelled edamame and drain.
• Make a package of extra wide egg noodles and drain.
• Add carrots and whatever vegetables you and your kids like. If your veggies need softening, cook separately before adding.
• Combine and put on low heat until heated through.

Ingredients

• 1lb Gourmet Matzo Ball or Chicken Noodle Soup
• 1 package of egg noodles (cook and drain)
• 1 rotisserie or roasted chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 package of frozen peas or edamame (cook and drain)
• optional: carrots (cook and drain)

3. Rao’s Marinara Meat Sauce and Angel Hair Pasta

I mentioned Rao’s sauce in my Zucchini Is My New Favorite Food post a while back. I found this sauce many years ago and haven’t used any other sauce in a jar since. It is pricier than different sauces, but it’s worth it!

My family likes to have leftovers for the next day so I usually dilute the Rao’s Marinara jar with a large Hunts tomato sauce container, and it tastes just as delicious. It is so tasty you don’t need to add anything else to the sauce other than cooked ground beef.

• Heat sauce
• Add cooked ground beef
• Serve over spaghetti or angel hair pasta
• Sprinkle some parmesan on top

I said quick meal recipes, right? I wasn’t kidding! Also check out my Favorite Easy, Healthy Recipes. You will also like my post on recipes your whole family will love. Will you try any of these? Did you already know about Rao’s Sauce? What are some of YOUR quick dinners you make often?

Flavor Your Life with an Ounce of Salt. A lifestyle blog by Jen Oliak.