This time of year we really lean in on salads and cold dishes. Cold sesame noodles. Bean salads. Almost infinite possibilities. Easy to assemble a quick grilled protein.

Mix 1 can refried beans with 1 C bisquick, 1 4oz can green chiles and 1/4 c of salsa, and put into greased 8x8 pan. Spread mixture in dish. Top with 3/4 c salsa and 4oz shredded cheddar, and bake at 375 uncovered for 30 mins. After you remove from oven, let stand for at least 5 mins before cutting. Top with lettuce, tomato, sour cream, scallions, etc. I serve with Spanish rice.

It's delicious, healthy (if you buy the right beans -- you can get fat free, low sodium, etc, these days; Amy's brand makes some good ones), vegetarian (again, if you buy the right beans), extremely easy (can put it together in under 10 mins and just put in fridge til ready to bake), kid-friendly, and costs almost nothing.

Shepherd's Pie/Cottage Pie

Enchiladas

Meatballs

There are (surprisingly) a few sheet-pan shrimp dinners that I've had success with - but honestly shrimp is so fast anyway that it takes less time that even cooking or reheating several of the things mentioned above (even if you've already prepped them.

Also if you're not already doing this - convenience items can be your friend time-wise. Bagged salads, boxed rice pilaf, that kind of thing. Then you're only expending your energy and time on one or two items rather than several.

This is easy to google. Here's the first link I found: https://www.allrecipes.com/lazy-casserole-recipes-8728689

when you make a dinner double the recipe. same work, two meals. freeze one.

if you have freezer room, take one day and make several things.

this is going to be most successful if you make things you know your family likes instead of all new things.

I have an entire America's Test Kitchen cookbook of make ahead meals because we like ATK.

Each make-ahead version of a meal is about twice as long as just making it the night of. Admittedly half the length is the reheating time. But still - not a timesaver. I was so disappointed.

We prefer just throwing extra stew-type meals in the freezer when we make them anyway.

Many stew type dishes taste better the next day-chili, lentil soup, dal etc.

Can make them a day (or a few days) before and heat up with some salad and bread.

why not get a slow cooker? If you want to make meals during the day, that is the way to go....

I make a variety of lasagnas. Butternut squash with white sauce or a spinach one.
Also sheet meals that you just throw in the oven. Longest is preheating the oven to 400 so the chicken thighs crisp up.

I grill extra hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken breasts and freeze individually. My kids know to pull one serving from the freezer if I'm not home. I let them know ehrn I have fresh buns for the hamburgers and hotdogs, and they use the chicken for quesadillas or salads.

lasagna
meatloaf

Chicken and rice and casserole with broccoli and cheddar cheese

sheet pan maple salmon with green beans-have the pan ready to put in 1/2 hr before dinner.

Smitten kitchen’s “pizza beans”

Quiche.

Sheet pan meals. Precut all the veggies & meat (marinate if necessary). Keep the prepped ingredients in a bowl in the fridge until ~an hour or so before dinner time.

Take the bowl out of the fridge and let it sit for 15-20 minutes while the oven preheats (i.e. let the food come closer to room temp). Then toss the ingredients with some oil, spread them evenly on a sheet pan, and roast for 30-40 minutes depending on your ingredients.

Our family is trying to save money and time. What are some meals I can make during the day to help with our busy evenings? Note-I don't love to cook so please make it very simple for me. For example, we just had baked ziti. I am looking for other casserole type ideas. We don't use a crock pot.