Easy yet satisfying dinner ideas that will stop us from eating out?

[Anonymous]

Our school’s spring break is next week, and we also took the week off from work. We are having a sort of “staycation” and have something planned most of the days, so we will be busy and away from home most days until evening. I don’t want to spend $100 a night on eating out, but also don’t want to spend hours cooking.

So far I know we will have: pizza, a couple of those take and bake meals from Costco.

Any other ideas?

[Anonymous]

Trader Joe's frozen Chinese food. Tastes like takeout but much cheaper.

Charcuterie and snacks night.

[Anonymous]

If it's warm enough, grill burgers.

Make a meatloaf in the morning, do fun things during the day, then pop it in the oven when you get home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trader Joe's frozen Chinese food. Tastes like takeout but much cheaper.

Charcuterie and snacks night.

Oooh, good ideas! We love charcuterie night AND we love TJ’s frozen Chinese. How did I forget about that?!?! See, good thing I asked! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Giant salad with roasted chicken from the store

[Anonymous]

BBQ pulled pork or chicken in the crockpot.

Breakfast for dinner

[Anonymous]

Meal delivery. 30 minute prep, all fresh ingredients, tons of different recipe combinations, sent right to your door. We are hooked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BBQ pulled pork or chicken in the crockpot.

Breakfast for dinner

These are great when you are out all day

[Anonymous]

Spaghetti with meat sauce. Microwave onions, peppers or other veggies, brown with minced meat, beef or turkey, jar of Rao tomato sauce.

[Anonymous]

Sort of Chicken pot pie.
Rotisserie chicken or cut chicken breast
Frozen vegetables
2 Jars of Trader Joe’s green or yellow curry/Thai sauce, or a fettuccine sauce
You can stop here and continue later

Heat the mix and put in oven proof ceramic form
Layer strips of TJ pie crust over it
Bake in oven until brown

[Anonymous]

Do you normally spend hours cooking? You have no quick, easy dinners ?

Rotisserie chicken is your friend. Can make quesadillas or nachos. ( Can do the same with blackbeans)
Add to a packet of chicken noodle soup or ramen with carrots and celery.
Marinate salmon and serve with rice and a veggie.
Tortellini or ravioli with sauce of choice.

[Anonymous]

Second the rotisserie chicken. Addtl ideas:
Quesadillas
Chicken rice soup
Chicken Fried Rice

Definitely Trader Joe’s Kung Pao chicken
(Cauliflower) pizza with make your own toppings

Costco lasagna
Grilled cheese sandwich and soup
Chili

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trader Joe's frozen Chinese food. Tastes like takeout but much cheaper.

Charcuterie and snacks night.

Which Chinese meals in particular are good?

[Anonymous]

Spaghetti squash and meat sauce

Baked salmon and spinach and rice

Vegetable soup with toasted bread

The more you cook the easier it gets and less onerous/more natural it feels. Highly recommend just getting in the habit.

[Anonymous]

My kids particularly love:

Taco “mess” - seasoned meat, all the fixings, crumbled chips on a plate with salsa.

Breakfast for dinner - pancakes and bacon or bagels and fruit.

Greek salad bowls - big chunks of tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, some vinegar and olive oil, feta, olives, and either rotisserie chicken or canned chickpeas. Takes less than 10 minutes and tastes great + loads of veg.