Spend less time in the kitchen with these quick dinner ideas.
If you are a working mom, then you know how valuable your time can be. Between juggling your kids, work, and your social life (if you are lucky enough to have one still), you are pretty much always strapped for time. Today, we are going to go over some of the best quick dinner ideas to wrap up your day. Having an easy fix to dinner will allow you less time in the kitchen and more time for yourself and your family.
1. Shrimp Scampi Linguini
This first quick dinner idea is perfect for all seafood lovers. Not only is it super tasty, but it is super quick and easy to make. While there are so many different variations to this recipe, if you stick with the basics you are sure not to go wrong. For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients
- Two cups of linguini (you can also use any other type of pasta)
- Prego Garden Variety tomato sauce
- One pound of colossal shrimp
- One tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- Two minced garlic cloves
To get this dish started, You will want to begin by getting your linguini ready. In a medium or large bowl, add 3 cups of water and about a 1/2 tablespoon of salt. Once the water begins to boil, add in your linguini. Quick tip: snap your linguini in half if you want shorter strands when serving. As the linguini cooks, you can begin on your preparing your shrimp.
Begin by heating up a large saucepan that is coated in olive oil. Once the olive oil is heated, add in your two minced garlic cloves. Let this simmer at low heat for about 2 minutes. Next, add in your shrimp. After you add in your shrimp, drizzle on your balsamic vinegar as well as your salt. You can be generous with the balsamic vinegar depending on how tart you want it to be.. Let the shrimp cook until it develops a nice pink color. Be sure not to overcook the shrimp or else it will have a rubbery texture. Once the shrimp has cooked, reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Then add in your Prego Garden Variety tomato sauce. Fold the tomato sauce in with the shrimp until everything is nice, even, and hot.
When everything is cooked you are ready to put the meal together. Begin by draining your linguini. Once your linguini is drained, pour it directly into the saucepan with the shrimp. Fold the shrimp and linguini thoroughly, then you will be ready to serve it up. For some great flavors, serve up your shrimp scampi linguine with a nice side of garlic bread.
2. Ground Beef Nachos
This next quick dinner idea is super easy to make and tastes incredibly delicious. Although this delicious meal requires several ingredients and a lot of prep work, it is one that you need to keep on your list of quick and easy To make some ground beef nachos, you will need the following ingredients:
- Half a pound of ground beef
- Taco seasoning
- Queso blanc
- Two tomatoes
- 1/4th a red onion
- One cup of black beans
- Shredded lettuce
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Shredded cheese
- Tortilla chips
You will want to begin by thoroughly cooking your ground beef. In a small pot, add in your ground beef and brown it. While it starts to brown, add in your taco seasoning to cook up along with it. For additional flavor, you can add in salt or pepper to taste as well. Once your ground beef has thoroughly cooked, add in your black beans to cook along with it for a couple of minutes.
As your ground beef cooks, you can get started on prepping the rest of your nachos. Start by taking your tomatoes and dicing them into small pieces. Next, take your red onion and finally dice it as well. If you would like to use yellow onion or sweet onion you can substitute that in too. Once your tomatoes and onions are diced, mix them in a small bowl and adding salt and pepper to taste. You can even add in a dash of lemon juice if you want more of a sour taste.
After your nachos are cooked, it is time to put everything together. Take your tortillas (for a healthy tortilla chip, click here) and place them in a large serving dish. If you would like to make individual servings, then you can use smaller serving dishes instead. Next, add and in your queso. Aim for generous dollops of queso in each corner and then two or three queso dollops in the middle. You will want there to be a generous amount, so do not be conservative when adding it in.
Next, take your ground beef and black bean mixture and generously spread it over the nachos. Then, take your tomato and onion mixture and add it on top of the ground beef. The sour cream and guacamole come next. You can add as much or as little depending on your taste. Finally, top your nachos off with your shredded lettuce and shredded cheese. If you would like to serve warm, place your serving tray in the oven and let it broil for about one minute. Once it is finished in the oven, it is ready to be served. This delicious treat is one that will not disappoint. Not only that, but it is perfect at any gathering, especially game day gatherings
3. Chicken Quesadilla
This next dish is super easy to make and exceptionally delicious. These chicken quesadillas make the perfect finger foods to serve in any potluck, sports gathering or entertaining you will be doing at home. To make these delicious chicken quesadillas, you will need the following ingredients
- Whole wheat tortillas
- Two cups of shredded chicken
- Taco Bell taco seasoning
- One cup of black beans
- Two tomatoes
- One sweet onion
- Shredded cheese
You will want to start by getting your hands on some shredded chicken. There are several ways you can do this. You can use shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken or make your own shredded chicken at home. If you are going to make your own shredded chicken at home, then we recommend boiling your chicken, shredding it, and then mixing in your taco seasoning.
Next, you will want to take your tomatoes and your sweet onion and finely diced them. Add in a dash of salt and pepper to taste after you have diced them. Next, get your black beans, and shredded cheese ready, because it is time to assemble this quick dinner idea.
Once you have your chicken on the side, you are ready to put your quesadilla together. Take your whole wheat tortilla and add a generous amount of shredded cheese onto half of it. On the same half, scoop a couple servings of diced tomato and diced onion. Next, add in your shredded chicken to the top of the diced tomatoes and onions. Finally, add more shredded cheese to the top of the chicken and close your tortilla in half. Repeat this process until you have used up all your tortillas or have made all the quesadillas that you want.
To cook them, you will want to begin by getting a large non-stick pan. You can apply nonstick spray to your pan if you would prefer, but if your pan is non-stick you should be fine. You will want to carefully place one of your quesadillas into the pan and let it cook on medium heat. Once the bottom has been nicely browned, flip it over to cook on the other side. Continue doing this for all your quesadillas. To serve, simply cut your quesadilla into four pieces. Serve alongside sour cream and guacamole, and dinner is served!
4. Hamburgers
Who says you need a grill to make one of the best quick dinner ideas. To make some tasty burgers, you only need some staple ingredients that you probably already have on hand. Let's take a look at your ingredient list.
- One Pound of ground beef
- One red onion
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of ginger powder
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- One tomato
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 cup of cilantro
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- romaine lettuce
- Cheese of your choice
- Hamburger buns
- Condiments such as ketchup and mustard
In a large mixing bowl, begin by mixing your ground beef with your paprika, ginger powder, black pepper, turmeric, and salt. Finely chop your cilantro and add it to the bowl and mix well. Then, take a fourth of your onion and finely chop it. Add this onion to your ground beef mixture. Once you have the mixture Begin your ground beef into generous size patties.
Next, prepare your vegetable by slicing your tomato and onion into thin strips. You also want to wash wash and cut your romaine lettuce. After your vegetables are chopped and arranged on a serving tray, you are ready to go back to your ground beef patties. In a large grill pan, take your hamburgers and place them in the pan with a generous amount of space in between. If you are using a nonstick pan, you do not have to worry about using any spray. But it is recommended to use a nonstick spray if you will be cooking in any other pan. Once your burger has cooked on one side, flip it over so that you can cook it on the other side. You will know your burger is cooked all the way through when you see that the juices do not run red anymore.
Next, take your hamburger buns and place them in the oven to warm up for a couple of seconds. Once they are warmed, begin assembling your hamburger. Ass on your sliced tomatoes, onions, cheese and condiments as you please. Serve with a nice glass of Coca-Cola and you are good to go. Without a doubt, this is the tastiest quick dinner Ideas after a long day of work.
5. Steak Dinner
You don't have to go to the steakhouse to get some yummy steak. Make it right at home with one of the best quick dinner ideas ever one needs to know. For this hearty meal, here is what you will need:
- 4 Potatoes
- Green beans
- Two garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup of butter
- 2 T-bone steaks
- 1/2 cup milk
- Salt
- Pepper
This meal will have three parts. You will want to start by getting your mashed potatoes ready. Start by washing your potatoes and dicing them into large parts. After you have washed them, put them in a large pot to boil. Allow them to boil for about 20-25 min. After your potatoes have cooked, take them out of the water, peel them, place them in a bowl and mash them up. As you mash, add in 1 teaspoon of salt, your butter, and your milk. Add milk as needed until you get the desired consistency.
While your potatoes boil, get your green beans ready. Start by cutting the ends off your green beans. Then in a pan with olive oil under medium heat, begin to saute them. Dice and add in your garlic cloves along with a dash of salt and mix well as you stir constantly. After five minutes of cooking, turn off the heat, and cover the pan with a lid.
Next, prep your steak. Tenderize your steak and then rub a generous amount of salt and pepper onto both sides of the steak. Then sprinkle a liberal amount of olive oil on top. Next, set your steak to the side and fire up your pan. Once your pan is hot, carefully place your steak in the center of the pan and let it cook on each side for about three minutes or until it is cooked at your desired consistency.
To serve, arrange your steak, green beans, and mashed potatoes together on a plate. Pair it with a refreshing drink, and you have got yourself one of the best quick dinner ideas.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to quick dinner ideas, you don't have to stress. Try out these five quick dinner ideas to get your week going worry free! For some more great dinner ideas that are also healthy, click here.
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