This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Here are 5 tips for making dinner time easy, quick and delicious. These ideas will cut down on time, stress and repeating the dreadful question: What’s for dinner? Getting dinner on the table is the last thing you want to think about after a long day at work. But with some planning and these helpful hints, mealtime can be a time to enjoy your family and a comforting meal.
Making meals for your family each night can be daunting, but with a little planning, you can feel confident you can serve healthy and delicious meals everyone will love!
Get my top tips on how to make perfect dinners each night with less stress!
Tip #1: Plan out your meals
Mealtime goes a lot smoother when you are not restricted by the ingredients you have on hand. Meal planning is an excellent way not only to ensure you have what you need, but that you also have a plan for that head of cabbage that seemed like a good purchase at the time.
There’s no need for this task to be daunting. Just think of a few meals for the week when you make your grocery list. Plan for leftovers at least one day during the week. I also like to buy a few ingredients that will be used in various recipes to keep my cart from overflowing.
Tip #2: Buy in bulk
Buying in bulk is a great way to avoid too many shopping trips, while also cutting costs on your most-used or non-perishable ingredients. Buy chicken breast and ground beef in bulk, for example, and freeze in portions.
This enables you to stock more at once without having to make a separate trip to your butcher. Pasta, rice and crushed tomatoes are other items I like to have available in large quantities. A yearly membership to a bulk food store will pay for itself on your first trip to the store, in most cases.
Tip #3: Prepare freezer meals
I would argue that the freezer is your best friend in the kitchen. While free time is hard to come by, take advantage of those rare birthday party-free weekends and do some freezer cooking! What is freezer cooking? It’s applying the same principles of bulk and convenience while using your freezer as your pantry.
I like to make huge batches of meatballs, lasagna and arabic stews. The freezer is also a great way to get healthy vegetables on your plate without having to frequent your local farm market. Frozen vegetables are an excellent substitute for fresh since they retain their nutrients.
Tip #4: Dust off those small appliances
Add some recipes to your repertoire to make in an instant pot that require 5 ingredients or less like mashed potatoes or broccoli soup. My prep time is usually 5-10 minutes and then you just have to press a button.
Another great helper is a grill/panini maker. I use this often to make grilled chicken wraps. Be sure to marinate some of that bulk chicken before you freeze it to make this quicker. I’ve even used my little grill for my favorite – zucchini. Delish! It’s a wonderful tool for making fancy grilled cheese on those extra late nights, with no complaints from the family.
Tip #5: Take advantage of convenience
There are many trends in addition to a food warehouse membership that are making grocery shopping more convenient and efficient. Major grocers are providing shopping services for a minimal fee. You shop online and the store does the legwork. All you have to do is pick it up!
Some stores even offer delivery service so you never have to leave your home. There are also several companies recently offering recipes and the necessary ingredients to make several meals, also delivered right to your door. These are fun alternatives that make meal time a family cooking event, while still managing to keep it quick and stress free!
Easy family meals to try
For more kitchen and cooking tips:
- Food Storage Tips
- Five Steps To An Efficient and Organized Kitchen
- How to organize your fridge
- How to Stock a Freezer
Hope you’ve enjoyed these Easy Dinner Tips! Whatever your routine, incorporating some of these tricks will make dinners what they should be: a time to spend with family while nurturing body and soul. If you try any of these tips, tag #feelgoodfoodie on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter!
