We all know how busy weeknights can get! You still want to pack in a decent dinner and a few hours of relaxing time with your family once the kids are in bed. Afterall, you don’t want to be completely fried for the next workday.
1. Tuna Carbonara:
In this recipe, rather than using a sauce like some recipes call for, I bake the pasta (spaghetti, linguine or gemelli) in water, milk and a little oil. Then I grate in some parmesan and toss in a salad. It is a delicious yet super easy and simple meal. I especially love this when I use gemelli as I can pack in even more healthy veggies. You can use asparagus instead of broccoli…. whatever your little heart desires.
2. Chicken Wonton Bowl:
Using wonton wrappers as a wrapper for meats, fish and vegetables, then creating a bowl with fresh veggies and a tangy sauce, is a great way to create a fanciful meal that can be ready in minutes. You can also add in steamed rice if you have the time. Loved by young and old alike, these are in my regular rotation.
3. Teriyaki Salmon Bowl:
This fishy goodness cooks up in the time it takes to soften the rice. To spice it up a bit, I added some sliced red pepper, red onion and mandarin oranges, plus a small piece of ginger and a tablespoon of brown sugar. You can add in whatever you like!
4. Teriyaki Chicken:
This is another teriyaki chicken recipe, but it’s one of the ones that’s more “right out of the box”. I love how quick and easy this is…. and who doesn’t love the taste of teriyaki chicken? I usually double this recipe for a cast iron pan of stir-fried vegetables, like broccoli, cherry tomatoes, carrots, red pepper, butter beans, etc. The kids are happy because they get a meal on their plates and I’m happy because they’re eating veggies. This is what I’d call a win-win.
5. Ground Turkey Stir-Fry:
Cooking times will vary depending on how soft or firm you like your veggies. I don’t like mushy vegetables so I cook mine a little longer, to ensure they remain al dente. This recipe is even more economical if you use ground turkey breast; however, the nutritional value of ground turkey thigh meat is higher.
6. Rice Bowl with Unagi Sauce:
While this recipe calls for Japanese-style unagi sauce, we prefer to use Filipino-style grilled unagi sauce. It is an extremely easy recipe to whip up and most importantly, it tastes so good. And sneaking in a few more vegetables in the form of bean sprouts and spinach is a good thing! To make this meal even simpler, you can learn how to cook jasmine rice in a rice cooker. Once the rice is done, you can prepare the rest of the food, cook it through and serve it with the rice.
Verdict:
Weeknights can be hectic but with these recipes you can make sure that your family still gets quality, nutrient-dense meals every time.
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