When it comes to making dinner, the last thing I want to do after a crazy long day is spend more than a half hour cooking up something delicious. The meal is my favorite meal to conjure up, but the facts are that, generally, it takes longer. Why's that? Because there are so many more fun options when it comes to dinner. Fun outside of the box things like pasta, casseroles, rice dishes … these things take time.
So what's a lady who loves good food to do? Find those few great go-to recipes that are awesomely delicious, but don't take forever to make. Check out these 5 easy recipes for a busy weeknight:
What are your go-to meals when you're in a time crunch?
Image via Emily Abbate
Sesame Quinoa With Chicken
I've only recently jumped on the quinoa bandwagon, and I've got to be honest, it makes me nervous. No, not because it's high in calories or anything like that (trust me, it's not!), but because I've been eating so much of it that I think soon I may actually turn into a whole grain.
Recipe: Sesame Quinoa With Chicken from How Sweet Eats.
Caribbean Chicken Kabobs
Kabobs are a fun, easy meal to fix up in minutes. The best part? You can customize them for the picky eaters. Have a kid that doesn't like green peppers? Give them extra zucchini pieces instead. Customization is the spice of life.
Recipe: Caribbean Chicken Kabobs from The Hill Hangout.
Shrimp Stir Fry
One of my must-buy items at the grocery store is the frozen shrimp that come pre-cooked, peeled, deveined, and without the tail. They are totally easy to throw into all sorts of yummy dishes from salads to pastas. My favorite, though, is an easy shrimp stir fry.
Recipe: Shrimp and Vegetable Stir Fry from Sassy Girl Kitchen.
Barbecue Chicken Pizza
Salad and pizza go together pretty well, but have you ever tried salad ON pizza? This recipe for barbecue chicken pizza is my absolute favorite, and my ultimate go-to dish when casually entertaining friends. Yeah, it involves some prep time earlier in the day. However, with only 15 minutes of prep time at night — it's an easy crowd-pleaser.
Recipe: California Pizza Kitchen's Barbecue Chicken Pizza from The Pioneer Woman.
Simple Taco Salad
Other than ordering in, there's absolutely nothing easier than throwing together a salad at the end of a long day. Who wants a plain salad, though, when you could get creative with it? Spice things up by giving it some Mexican flair, adding in some beef and some sour cream. I promise you that, soon, this tasty dish will be a household favorite.
Recipe: Taco Salad from Taste of Home.
