Ten Quick and Easy Meals for Busy Families

As a busy family, I often struggle with figuring out what to feed the family.  So I came up with a list of possible meals that are easy to put together.

On days the Wee One or the Imaginative One asks me what’s for supper, I can show them this list.  Then they can choose a meal from the list.

The links to the recipes from my blog are in red to make it easier for you.

Tacos, chips and salsa, fresh fruit

This is one of the Wee One’s favorite meals.  If you bulk cook the hamburger and then freeze it, this meal will be a snap to put together.  You certainly do not have to make homemade salsa.  Instead use one of your favorite salsas.

Breakfast for Dinner

This is one of my family’s favorite types of dinners.  I usually make pancakes or waffles.  Those are easy meals to put together especially if you already have homemade pancake mixes ready to go in your pantry.  I chose 3 other possible Breakfast for Dinner menus.

1. Eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, and fresh fruit
2. French toast, bacon, and fresh fruit
3. “Chef Mickey’s” Breakfast Pizza and fresh fruit

Baked potato bar

You could plan ahead and prepare the baked potatoes earlier in the cook.  Cook them in the crockpot.  The other option is to wash them, prick the potatoes, and microwave them for about 10 minutes each.  The third option is to once again wash them, prick the potatoes, and the cook the potatoes in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour.
Once the potatoes are cooked, lay out possible baked potato toppings – cheese, cooked broccoli, cooked onions and peppers, sour cream, chives, or bacon.  This would be a great time to clean out your fridge.

Sandwich bar, chips, and fresh veggies

This another easy choice.  Set out different breads, meats, cheeses, and condiments.  Allow the family to make their own sandwich.  You could put out chips or if you have left over soup that would be a great accompaniment to the sandwiches.

Baked Spaghetti, Salad, and Easy Peasy Cheesy Garlic Bread

This is one of my more popular recipes.  You cook up the spaghetti.  Then you mix it up with either store bought or homemade sauce, and then top it with cheese.  Then you bake it.  The garlic bread is easy to put together and doesn’t take long in the oven.

Ravioli, Salad, and Easy Peasy Cheesy Garlic Bread

You cannot get any easier than frozen ravioli.  Just wait for the water to boil.  Place the frozen ravioli in the boiling.  In three to five minutes, the ravioli is cooked.  Top it with your favorite store bought sauce or homemade sauce.  While waiting for the water to boil, you can put together the garlic bread.  Set out your favorite salad ingredients and allow the family to make their own salads.  (This is one of my family’s favorite meals.)

Sloppy Joes, chips, and fresh veggies

If you bulk cooked the hamburger, this is an easy meal to put together.  My family enjoys this meal.

Grilled Cheese and tomato soup, fresh fruit

Such a classic combo.  You can certainly use a canned tomato soup or you can make your own.  If you use a canned soup, add some dry basil or fresh basil for a fresh taste.  Serve it with some fresh fruit for a balanced meal.

Rotisserie chicken from the store, buttered noodles, and veggie of choice

I did this type of meal for one of our most recent meals.  The family loves chicken and buttered noodles so this was a well received meal.  When I served this for our meal, we had steamed mixed veggies which is what the Wee One chose to go along with the meal.  Half of the time he wants corn and the other half of the time he wants mixed veggies.  When they are on sale, I purchase those types of frozen veggies.

Homemade pizza – buy the crust or dough ball at the store or make your own crust

Set out the possible toppings and allow your family members to top their own pizzas.  

Hope these ideas help you with your menu planning.

I wrote a post about 6 Easy Breakfast Foods a few years ago.  Check that out if you are looking for breakfast ideas.

Happy Eating,
Traci