Suggestions for make-at-home dinner for family with two young children?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have a go-to dinner idea that is quick, for when you have maybe one hour until dinnertime but are too exhausted for anything complicated? (not frozen things like frozen pizza?) I feel like I am making the same things over and over again (steak on the grill, chicken in the oven, pasta......), it feels like Groundhog Day every three days...

[Anonymous]

Tacos, quesadillas, beans and rice. Chicken and rice in the crockpot. Chili in the crockpot.

[Anonymous]

Lasagna
Chicken teriyaki
Bbq
Chicken Parmesan
Meatballs

[Anonymous]

Try chicken tikka masala

Looks complicated, but it's not. Don't let the long list throw you, most of the list is spices. You are doing like three things: making a past, cooking chicken in a pan and combining everything to cook. Try it on a Sunday to get a hang of it and serve it that night and monday. For the kids drop the jalapeño and get some naan.

1 tbsp. ground turmeric
4 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. red food coloring (optional)
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1  2 1/2" piece ginger, peeled and chopped,
   plus julienned strips for garnish
1 jalapeño, stemmed and chopped
1  28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts,
   cut into 1 1/2" cubes
1/4 cup Greek yogurt, such as Fage
Kosher salt, to taste
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tbsp. paprika
2 small yellow onions, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
Cilantro leaves, for garnish
Cooked basmati rice, for serving

1. In a blender, purée turmeric, 2 tsp. garam masala, coloring, garlic, ginger, jalapeños, and 1?2 cup water. Put paste into a bowl. In the same blender, purée tomatoes. In a bowl, mix 2 tbsp. paste, chicken, yogurt, and salt; marinate for 30 minutes(you can do this the night before or in the morning, cover and put in the refig).Place oven rack 4" from heating element; heat to broil. Transfer chicken to a foil-lined sheet tray; broil until cooked, 5–6 minutes; set aside (or just cook the chicken in a large pan and remove when cooked- one less thing to clean up)

2. Heat butter in 6-qt. saucepan(same pan you used to cook the chicken, don't clean it)over medium-high heat. Add coriander and cumin; toast 4–6 minutes. Add paprika and onions; cook until soft, 6–8 minutes. Add remaining paste; brown for 5–6 minutes. Add tomatoes; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in cream and 1 cup water; boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thickened, 6–8 minutes. Stir in remaining masala and chicken; season with salt. Serve with garnishes and rice.

[Anonymous]

Breakfast for dinner (eggs, pancakes etc)
Stir fry with noodles or rice
Tacos with guacamole
Baked potatos w/ fixing bar

[Anonymous]

On the weekend put a pound of chicken in the crockpot with 1 jar of salsa & 1 packet taco seasoning. Cook on low and shred chicken. Use during the week for tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas or over rice.

Baked tacos are our new fav, saw this online. Line your hard shell tacos in a baking dish and fill them with meat, cheese, taco sauce. Bake 10-15 minutes and then top with whatever. Crunchy and so good with everything hot and melted together.

Sloppy joes
Fish
Grilled chicken sandwiches
Naan make your own pizzas
Chicken Caesar salad
Pulled pork
Meatballs
Breakfast for dinner
Stirfry

[Anonymous]

Grilled cheese and soup is nice this time of year. We buy Panera soup at BJs
Chili in the crockpot. We make it on the weekends and then that weeknight I'll make cornbread
Frozen meatballs add a jar of sauce and cook them in the crock pot all day for sandwiches or with pasta

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Breakfast for dinner (eggs, pancakes etc)
Stir fry with noodles or rice
Tacos with guacamole
Baked potatos w/ fixing bar

These are great ideas! OP, for the stir fry you can use spaghetti noodles, throw them in last with some stir fry sauce, and call it lo mein. Let the kids sprinkle on peanuts and sesame seeds.

[Anonymous]

Put your grilled chicken on a bed of spinach, add tomatoes, mandarin oranges from your pantry, crunchy chinese noodles from your pantry, and a peanut or ginger salad dressing. Even picky kids can eat parts of this salad. (my kids won't eat the spinach but they love the chicken dipped in peanut dressing with oranges and crunchies.

[Anonymous]

OP here- Thanks very much to everybody for taking the time to post suggestions! I will definitely try these!

[Anonymous]

OP - a few people mentioned tacos. They're perfect- cheap, healthy depending on meat and toppings, and fast.

Baked salmon with a simple side

Chicken thighs in the oven, simple side of potatoes, green beans

All kinds of pasta dishes

An hour is enough time to make chicken parmigiana (kid favorite)

Meatloaf

[Anonymous]

My kids love coconut coated chicken tenders. Buy tenders or cut up breast pieces. Dip tenders in an egg wash then in coconut and bake.

[Anonymous]

I find that just switching up the protein helps keep dinner from not feeling the same every night. I make a lot of chicken and salmon, but when those feel too repetitious, I'll sprinkle lemon pepper on boneless pork chops and saute, or will coat thawed frozen shrimp in soy vey, pop them onto skewers, and grill or broil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try chicken tikka masala

Looks complicated, but it's not. Don't let the long list throw you, most of the list is spices. You are doing like three things: making a past, cooking chicken in a pan and combining everything to cook. Try it on a Sunday to get a hang of it and serve it that night and monday. For the kids drop the jalapeño and get some naan.

1 tbsp. ground turmeric
4 tsp. garam masala
1 tsp. red food coloring (optional)
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1  2 1/2" piece ginger, peeled and chopped,
   plus julienned strips for garnish
1 jalapeño, stemmed and chopped
1  28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts,
   cut into 1 1/2" cubes
1/4 cup Greek yogurt, such as Fage
Kosher salt, to taste
6 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1/2 tsp. cumin seeds
1 tbsp. paprika
2 small yellow onions, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream
Cilantro leaves, for garnish
Cooked basmati rice, for serving

1. In a blender, purée turmeric, 2 tsp. garam masala, coloring, garlic, ginger, jalapeños, and 1?2 cup water. Put paste into a bowl. In the same blender, purée tomatoes. In a bowl, mix 2 tbsp. paste, chicken, yogurt, and salt; marinate for 30 minutes(you can do this the night before or in the morning, cover and put in the refig).Place oven rack 4" from heating element; heat to broil. Transfer chicken to a foil-lined sheet tray; broil until cooked, 5–6 minutes; set aside (or just cook the chicken in a large pan and remove when cooked- one less thing to clean up)

2. Heat butter in 6-qt. saucepan(same pan you used to cook the chicken, don't clean it)over medium-high heat. Add coriander and cumin; toast 4–6 minutes. Add paprika and onions; cook until soft, 6–8 minutes. Add remaining paste; brown for 5–6 minutes. Add tomatoes; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in cream and 1 cup water; boil. Reduce heat; simmer until thickened, 6–8 minutes. Stir in remaining masala and chicken; season with salt. Serve with garnishes and rice.

Lady, you are smoking some interesting crack if you think an 18-ingredient dish is easy or quick for someone who is exhausted and hangry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids love coconut coated chicken tenders. Buy tenders or cut up breast pieces. Dip tenders in an egg wash then in coconut and bake.

Say more about that. Flesh out the details for me - this is veddy interesting to me.