Favorite QUICK go to meals? (20 min or less)
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »Omelettes/frittata
Cook mixed vegies - good for using odds and ends from the fridge - chuck over some whisked up eggs, a bit of cheese... Voila, a meal! Serve with salad to bulk it up a bit more...
Just what I was about to post!
Saute some vegetables, then add beaten eggs and cook over low heat - no need to stir. My go-to vegetables are mushrooms and onions. A little grated parmesan cheese is a good addition if you want a cheesy flavor but fewer calories.
Btw, sauteed onions closely mimic the texture of eggs, so you can add a lot of them without noticing much. Using a lot of onions instead of extra eggs is an easy and healthy way to bulk up your meal without adding many calories.
Along the same lines as a frittata are tomato scrambled eggs. Here's a very basic and easy recipe I tried out - it was surprisingly good.
https://goodandcheap.website/breakfast/tomato-scrambled-eggs/steps
Am adding in my favorite frittata fixings- thinly sliced purple potatoes, spinach and feta, I also sometimes use beet greens with feta in a frittata (adds beautiful pink color in the eggs:)).
I also like to throw frozen green beans, sliced turkey kielbasa and diced potatoes in a slow cooker as a meal.1 -
storyjorie wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »What's the rush? Besides, some of my favorite childhood memories are of spending time in the kitchen when my parents were cooking. Taking time to cook a meal doesn't mean you have to take time away from your kid. That's an activity that you should be doing with your kid.
Hah hah ha haha. I guess you haven't had one of those nights where you had to help kid #1 with her science project, pick up a gift for kid #2's teacher's birthday party which you just discovered (wrinkled flyer at bottom of backpack--kid #2 isn't always so responsible) oh, and then kid #3 has LICE, and oh, your boss texts you that there is an emergency and you have to call her back ASAP? Otherwise known in our house as "Tuesday." :-p
I like ground lean turkey meat. It cooks pretty quickly and I'll use half a pound for tacos (kids love that) with homemade guacamole (I use lean cheese, 0% greek yogurt instead of sour cream) and then the next day I throw in the other half in marinara sauce, serve with pasta for kids, Zoodles for me, with a salad. The second meal is perfect for those extra-crazy nights.
EXACTLY. Some days you have to rush but also want it to be nutritional -- Mom has to get up early for work and get him to school so he has an early bedtime - we have reading each night, TBall Practice, bath, etc etc etc. I WISH there were more time in the day to not need to rush -- but some days, it's just not possible to take that extra time.
There have been some great ideas here! Thanks and keep them coming
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The ground beef, turkey or sausage recipes with dry shredded cabbage - seems interesting and simple. Do you guys use any sauce with it? One of you mentioned to leave some of the oil in the pan from the meat.
Can of chicken or turkey salad, add mayo, and/or diced celery and/or Bermuda onions. Good with cucumber slices or green peppers.0 -
I usually make an eggy... thing.
Basically, I get a measuring jug, crack a few eggs as if making scrambled eggs then I raid the fridge. It is never the same twice, it depends what I have in but I grab a load of veggies, chop them up tiny and into the jug they go. Usually tomato, spring onion and stuff.
Then into a pan as if doing scrambled eggs. Serve on toast. It's a student meal I keep going back to as I can use up the tiny bits of stuff lurking in the back of the fridge.0 -
TimothyFish wrote: »What's the rush? Besides, some of my favorite childhood memories are of spending time in the kitchen when my parents were cooking. Taking time to cook a meal doesn't mean you have to take time away from your kid. That's an activity that you should be doing with your kid.
I'd say the rush is that she's a single mom trying to cram everything into a day (drop offs, pick ups, work, house chores, exercise, meal prep, sleep, actually raising a kid alone). Not cool to tell her what she "should" be doing when I bet she has the bases covered there, buddy ole pal. She just wants some quick recipes, which is totally reasonable- why waste time on something when you don't have to?
My favorite go-to meal is super easy and requires 3 things- a baking dish, knife, and cutting board! Add aluminum foil for even quicker cleanup.
1. Cut up sweet potatoes (or any veggie really) and pop it in the oven at 425-450 for ~20/25 minutes. I always add olive oil and any spices (onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and basil/parsley are so yummy as a combo!) before baking.
2. Flip the potatoes, then add seasoned chicken breasts (raw or pan-seared) right on top of the potatoes! Put back in the oven for an additional 30 minutes until chicken juices run clear.
3. Voila! All finished. Tastes great, super easy, very filling, and fast cleanup! I always mindlessly put it in the oven and can do whatever while it bakes.
*** if you cook the diced potato/veggies and chicken in a skillet instead (same seasonings) it is usually finished in 25 minutes too!
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tacos, burritos, stir fry, pan seared fish/boneless chicken/steak/chop w sautéed greens/asparagus/broccoli/other quick cooking vegetable, omelet, salad with boiled egg, canned meat/fish
1 can black beans + 1 can salsa = quickest black bean soup ever. Add canned chicken for more protein.1 -
All my meals are that quick, I do rely on frozen protein for dinner. Fresh is cheaper but more work.
Veggie saute with sauce- either red sauce or Alfredo, 400-600g zucchini, 200-300g mushrooms, and then about 400g chicken. (for two)
Taco salads- all I need to cook is the chicken, while that cooks I chop lettuce and tomatoes, weigh out my refried beans, sour cream, and salsa, combine and done.
Cajun Red beans- No rice, but basic red beans. Two cans of kidney beans with no sodium(smash half), two cans of diced tomatoes drained, 400g Bell pepper and 400g mushrooms for texture so we don't miss meat. Then I use Cajun seasoning, some cumin/chili powders, garlic and onion powder, and oregano. Sometimes I use the pressure cooker for 10 minutes or simmer for 15-20. Longer makes it better but I am usually quick about it.
Super simple stir fry- just frozen shrimp/chicken, frozen broccoli, and a store bought sauce. Higher in sodium but the fastest meal on my go to list.1 -
Frozen fish filets and veggies both roast at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Quinoa is a quick 20 minute cook. Your crock pot is a wonder for having dinner on table fast.0
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Check out the Skinnytaste Fast & Slow cookbook.... everything can be prepared in 30 mins or less, or cooks all day in slow cooker (crock pot).
I also learning how to cook in the Instant Pot1 -
TimothyFish wrote: »What's the rush? Besides, some of my favorite childhood memories are of spending time in the kitchen when my parents were cooking. Taking time to cook a meal doesn't mean you have to take time away from your kid. That's an activity that you should be doing with your kid.
This would totally depend on the age of the child. My son is 2, and although he loves to help, his presence makes things harder and slower most of the time. He helps when he can, but sometimes I just need something to throw in without making it a big production.
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ButterballBookworm wrote: »TimothyFish wrote: »What's the rush? Besides, some of my favorite childhood memories are of spending time in the kitchen when my parents were cooking. Taking time to cook a meal doesn't mean you have to take time away from your kid. That's an activity that you should be doing with your kid.
This would totally depend on the age of the child. My son is 2, and although he loves to help, his presence makes things harder and slower most of the time. He helps when he can, but sometimes I just need something to throw in without making it a big production.
My son is almost 5 -- he does help at times but it's mostly clean up or getting things from the fridge, sometimes stirring -- but this is sometimes also his "play time" because he LOVES playing with his action figures or running out back with our dog.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »tacos, burritos, stir fry, pan seared fish/boneless chicken/steak/chop w sautéed greens/asparagus/broccoli/other quick cooking vegetable, omelet, salad with boiled egg, canned meat/fish
1 can black beans + 1 can salsa = quickest black bean soup ever. Add canned chicken for more protein.
The soup.... that sounds good and something he would eat! do you add broth also to keep it from being too thick?0 -
Ready made hamburger patties cooked with green peppers, brown gravy, baked potatoes in the microwave for the carb eaters, squash/broccoli mixed frozen veggies pan roasted with olive or coconut oil.0
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I batch cook meat and reheat it w/ veggies in the microwave all week. If I have a few extra minutes, I will scramble up cheesy egg whites or peanut butter yogurt.
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Down 140lbs: My story.0 -
boiled eggs and veg or a homemade burrito/wrap? you can find frozen rice, beans, and throw in some tomatoes and any other ingredients.0
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Low carb go-to is typically throwing some frozen chicken breasts into the oven to add to salad. Chicken is topped with salt, pepper, and whatever herb I'm feeling before baking. If the chicken is going on a Mediterranean-inspired salad I'll top with oregano.
For the Mediterranean salad
2 cups greens (usually romaine lettuce or spinach for me)
1 oz feta cheese
1/2 cup cucumber
red onion (raw, or pickled)
olives (optional)
3-4 oz of the baked chicken breast
Dressing made from: olive oil, red wine vinegar, squeeze of lemon juice, salt, pepper, and oregano.
Not low-carb, but I'll eat this if I've been low-carb earlier in the day:
(1 serving)
2 oz whole wheat pasta (penne, fusilli, whatever kind of shape) - you could sub zucchini noodle "zoodles" here for low carb - I've done it and it's tasty.
1/2 cup tomato sauce (I use Safeway Organics tomato basil)
2 Trader Joe's frozen turkey meatballs
1.5 oz baby spinach
1 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
I usually have everything on hand - cook and drain the pasta, add the pasta back into the pot and add tomato sauce and spinach and heat until spinach wilts, while pasta is cooking microwave the turkey meatballs until warmed through, add meatballs to pasta, top with cheese.
Pretty much a one-pot kinda deal, so less time doing dishes and ready in 20 minutes or less!0 -
If you can invest in a pressure cooker, it will save you so much time. I can cook a whole chicken, depending on size, in under 20 min. Fresh veggies cook fast, so while that's cooking, you can roast veggies, pan sear them, boil them, microwave them or make a salad.3
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Do you use a slow cooker? I've made this before, coconut curry lentils:
https://www.budgetbytes.com/2016/07/slow-cooker-coconut-curry-lentils/
Put it all in the slow cooker, then when it's done serve it over some rice and you're golden.
It pretty much got demolished, it's really good.1 -
Some of my favorites, mostly because I could disguise veggies in them when the kids were young... homemade sloppy joes (diced or crushed tomatoes, ground beef (or turkey), diced onion, diced zuccini, diced carrot, diced yellow squash, diced red, yellow and green pepper season with a dash of chili powder, some garlic and salt and pepper. I cooked it in the slow cooker all day and it was perfect when we got home. You can serve it open face or bunless for low carb. With some carrot sticks and tomato wedges and cucumber slices it's great. My crock pot/slow cooker has been my best friend for years. You can get it all going in the morning and when you get home you have roast, chicken, bbq, tacos... you name it.1
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I make a chilli. Small amount of mince about 400grams. 2x cans of Hot Chilli Beans， 2x cans of Flavoured tomatoes then herbs and spices. Simmer for 5-10 mins and all good to go. I'll throw it on top of some pasta and if I have enough calories add some cheese very quick and easy! Ill split the chilli into 6 sepetate meals then later in the week put the chilli in a wrap， on some toast， on corn chips. Its versatile， tasty and comes out at about 300 calories per serving. Obviously you could add lots more ingredients if you find it to bland but it does it for me 0
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A pita bread cut in half, and the halves filled with scrambled eggs (veggies optional) you can microwave the eggs in 45 second increments, stir, then 45 more then fill up the pitas!
Very portable and healthy especially if you toss in some spinach to cook with the eggs. I take these to class with me all the time!0 -
Child Protection won't break the door down if you nuke some pre-made meals from the freezer section occasionally.1
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One simple meal I sometimes make is a big baked potato filled with leftover chicken breast (shredded or diced), broccoli, and cheese.
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A quick healthy meal for me is a stir fry.. spray oil on the wok, then I have cut my chicken into small pieces, stir fry them till they're cooked, then add my chopped veggies - hard one first, such as carrot, broccoli, and peppers, then softer veggies such as mushrooms and baby sweetcorn last. I then add my soy and whatever else I'm using and finally noodles last. Only the wok and dinner plate/cutlery to wash up after wards :-)0
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If you can invest in a pressure cooker, it will save you so much time. I can cook a whole chicken, depending on size, in under 20 min. Fresh veggies cook fast, so while that's cooking, you can roast veggies, pan sear them, boil them, microwave them or make a salad.
I do the same with good ol' cast iron cuz I only eat fresh & sometimes we need shortcuts on busy days.
In a Dutch oven place any fresh protein (beef, poultry, fish) with any veggies you'd like. Season as desired. No need to even cut up meat... just ensure it fits in the pot. On an electric stovetop with dial 1-9, I turn it to 3, place the lid on & go to do other things, checking on it every 15-min. I usually have dinner in 30-min, 45 max if I use root veggies or a larger piece of protein. Bonus is cast iron sears nicely, so protein is browned nicely & very tasty.
No need to add broth or water, as there will be plenty of liquid from the fresh foods, but you can use liquid as au jus or make a thicker gravy after removing all cooked food from the pot.
Good luck & enjoy!0 -
TimothyFish wrote: »What's the rush? Besides, some of my favorite childhood memories are of spending time in the kitchen when my parents were cooking. Taking time to cook a meal doesn't mean you have to take time away from your kid. That's an activity that you should be doing with your kid.
Nothing enhances a cooking experience like a hungry young child or toddler with associated tantrum at arsenic hour!
She is a single mum, maybe she has to pick up the child from long day care or after school care after a full day's work, get home at 6, get dinner on the table and kid/s bathed, fed, homework done by 730? SO she needs a quick healthy meal.
Carry on!0 -
I was a single mother when my children were little. It is hard to get everything done and sometimes you feel overwhelmed! Let me just say, you are doing a GREAT job! Hang in there, they are only little for a little while.
I fed my little one's cowboy beans until now neither of them will touch baked beans at all. hahahaha! Cowboy beans in our house was hamburger meat and pork n beans and it was cheap....so we had it a lot! Oh, my! That was 20 years ago and thankfully the times (and my budget) have changed!
Our favorite quick dish now is turkey stuffed peppers. Brown the ground turkey and preheat oven to 350. Add your favorite salsa to the turkey after it is cooked and then add to halved bell peppers. We prefer the yellow and orange ones. Add your favorite shredded cheese to the top and bake for 10 minutes. Serve with your favorite vegetable that you can cook at the same time as you are browning the turkey.
And we are in love with our George Foreman Grill. It cooks meat and veggies quickly and with little mess.0 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »Cut a pocket in a chicken breast, stuff a triangle or 2 of laughing cow cheese in there, close it up, brown each in a saucepan (one only big enough to hold the number of chicken breasts you have flat on the bottom), then pour a jar of salsa over, put a lid on it and simmer until cooked. Serve with veg, or salad, or whatever you want.
Sounds delish!! Approximately how long do you let it simmer? Thank you!0 -
jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken-recipes/gorgeous-greek-chicken/
This is literally amazing. Depending on your skill it can take up to 30 mins to bang this one out but it's well worth it. I find the homemade tzatziki amazing and it's just so fresh and delicious. I reduce the quantity of couscous because I just can't eat the full portion of this meal!
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