Chicken meatballs moroccan style. Served over couscous with seared mixed squash and a yogurt sauce.

Oh and a big pot of shredded Mexican chicken that can be made into tacos/tostadas/enchiladas/rice bowls.

These are what are in rotation right now in our kitchen:

My kids love "jacket" potatoes (I picked that up from IG and they love it) with beans and cheese!

Regular beef and black chili but also chicken and white bean chili.

Curries.

Spaghetti and meatballs.

Shepherd's/cottage pie.

Beef and broccoli over rice

Try homemade poutine.
Buffalo chicken sandwiches.
Chicken teriyaki

All are easily made with air fryers and rice cookers. Wegmans is your friend. You can go their app, pick a recipe, and it will load the ingredients into your shopping list.

This week I made chili with cornbread, Sesame chicken with rice and broccoli, shrimp okonomiyaki with gyoza, creamy chicken vegetable soup with homemade bread, and tonight my youngest has requested Kraft macaroni for his birthday dinner. Lol

One thing that works for me with my teen boys is to stretch meat with vegetarian protein. My kids crave protein, so I will make something like Smitten Kitchen pizza beans, and then serve sausage and peppers on the side.

Or, I will roast chicken thighs or salmon and serve them on a bed of lentils and vegetables.

Or vegetarian taco soup with lots of beans, and chicken quesadillas.

If I serve just meat then they will eat so much that I am broke.

Chicken noodle soup (made with leftover rotisserie chicken)

I’m excited to be getting back to soup season. Others in heavy rotation: cream of cauliflower, chili, chickpea and tomato, or tomato. Sometimes with grilled cheese.

Salmon, baked potatoes and vegetable of choice is another easy one as is Chicken in a simmer sauce with rice, naan, and veggies.

Roasted chicken thighs with hot honey and lime- NYT recipe that always gets inhaled every time I make it. Will serve with broccoli and rice pilaf.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025221-roasted-chicken-thighs-with-hot-honey-and-lime?unlocked_article_code=1.vk8.l5aM.NUwgeayHPDE3&smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share

I made a creamy thick stew with carrots, celery, broccoli, navy beans, mushrooms, soy milk thickened with flour. Two servings and teen boy athlete 6’2 full and satisfied.

Home made black bean burgers ,( that I froze previously)

Creamy Italian sausage soup, garlic bread, roasted green beans

We did salmon bites in the air fryer yesterday with green beans and rice as sides.
This is good weather for stews finally.
My kids love home made breaded chicken tenders or thin sliced breasts and mashed potatoes. They will eat that for many meals in a row.
Sheet pan chicken thighs are easy as well. Marinade for as long as you can and bake at 400 for under 20 min and then crisp up in the broiler. Slice over rice, cous cous or stuff into pita with some chopped veg.

We aren't having it tonight, but my teen boys love breakfast for dinner:

If someone is home to cook they like:

Brussel sprouts panfried with bacon
Scrambled eggs with cheese and salsa
Whole grain toast
Smoothie made with frozen fruit, a little spinach, and whole milk greek yogurt


If we're in a rush, I keep breakfast burritos (I make them, but you can also buy them) in the freezer, and serve them with fruit smoothies.

What are you cooking for dinner tonight? I have two active teenage boys and have run out of ideas beyond tacos, pasta, rotisserie chicken (and from that list you can see we are rather basic cooks). TIA.