If there’s one thing I’ve discovered as a mom, it’s that dinnertime can be chaotic. It’s one of my favorite times of the day, but between keeping Four busy, making sure Blake is okay, and getting dinner prepped, things can get kind of crazy.
I used to spend a lot more time working on dinner, but these days, I try to keep things as simple as possible. The crockpot or Instant Pot have become my BFFs. Basically, anything that takes less than 15 minutes to prep is a win in my books.
I’ve heard from a lot of you who have this same struggle, so I thought I’d share some of the recipes I go back to regularly when I need a stress-free way to get dinner on the table.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Whenever I’m making dinner, I usually have to take into consideration what Four and Blake will eat (which seriously limits what I can make!). Four does LOVE rice and beans though (and they’re easy for Blake to eat too), so I find myself putting together this easy sheet pan chicken fajita recipe a lot. I’ll serve Four some small pieces of chicken and a little avocado with his rice and beans, then make a couple of fajitas for myself. We always have leftovers for the next day’s lunch too!
Turkey Burgers
This recipe is way easier than it may look. I have the patty recipe memorized, and since I cook them on the stovetop, it literally takes me 10 minutes from start to finish. I usually try to cut up some lettuce and tomatoes on Sunday for any sandwiches I might make during the week, so I’ll add some of that to my burger, and voila! Four basically gets a deconstructed version of what we’re eating. I usually make him his own patty with melted cheese, which I cut into small pieces. I get super nervous with Blake eating ground turkey since she’s still learning how to chew, so I’ll typically just serve her something else that I’m more comfortable with.
Crockpot Salsa Chicken
There is no easier recipe on the planet. Hands down. The prep time for this meal is 5 minutes. All you do is add chicken, salsa, and taco seasoning to your slow cooker and set the timer. I cook mine for 6 hours. Then you’ve got super moist chicken to use for tacos or burrito bowls, or you can eat it by itself. The kids love this meat too! I’ve also made this chicken in the Instant Pot a couple of times when I forgot to put it in the crockpot early enough.
Breakfast for Dinner
This is really any variation of breakfast for dinner — although I do love a good egg sandwich. Sometimes I’ll make us pancakes or omelets for dinner. I’m not sure why, but it always feels like a special treat… and the best part is that whatever I make typically takes 10-15 minutes max.
Kid-Friendly Spaghetti and Meatballs
This is an awesome option for moms who have picky eaters. This meatball recipe is so easy and includes veggies! These meatballs freeze well too, so if you don’t plan to eat them all, you can save them for a while. But Four basically devours these, and Blake loves the noodles, so it’s a win-win! I’ll usually serve a side of steamed broccoli or a salad as a side with this to get a little extra green.
