In our experience, dinnertime is like the witching hour. The kids are tired and hungry — never a good mix — and you just want to get something on the table fast. So this week we’ve found 5 family-friendly meals that are all 30-minutes or less to get on the table.
Because with everything else you have going on during the week, you’d rather spend your time sitting around the table talking than slaving over a hot oven.
So, grab your pen and make your grocery list, then stock up on the ingredients you need to make next week’s dinners run smoothly!
At top: Easy Chicken Gyros & Tzatziki Sauce at Creme de la Crumb; Thai Meatball Lettuce Wraps at The Garlic Diaries
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One of my kids’ favorite meals to eat — and help cook — is this Easy Chicken Gyros & Tzatziki Sauce at Creme de la Crumb. The only part you have to cook is the chicken, which makes it fast. (Want it even faster? Just add some spice to a rotisserie bird.) The homemade tzatziki sauce is so delicious that you’ll be pouring it over any leftover chicken and lettuce for a great, quick lunch salad the next day.
No matter how many Thai Meatball Lettuce Wraps I make, I never have any left over. My picky kids were skeptical — Thai food?!? — but they devoured these. The recipe at The Garlic Diaries says that this takes 45 minutes, but I make the meatballs smaller — they’re easier to eat and will cook a lot faster too.
I love this Balsamic Chicken Tortellini Pasta at Multiply Delicious as a quick dinner on a busy night, because the only thing you need to cook is the pasta…if you use rotisserie chicken, that is. I’ve packed this up to take with me to ball games, picnics, and back-to-school events. You can make it ahead and serve it cool. It’s one of our top go-to meals.
Related: 15 truly 30-minute meals for families
Every once in a while I like to shock my kids with a salad for dinner, and this BBQ Chopped Chicken Salad at I Heart Naptime is about as kid-friendly as they come. In fact, they can almost get full without eating a single bite of lettuce. Well played, kids.
Instead of ordering in, whip up this Orange Chicken with Stir Fry Veggies at Bless This Mess instead. Cook time is just 25 minutes, which is probably faster than waiting for delivery anyway.
I’m not over icebox cakes yet, even though summer is winding down. And I’m definitely not over the lemon-and-lavender combo. It’s hard to find a cake recipe that will take you less than 30 minutes, but this Icebox Lemon Lavender Angel Food Cake dresses up a store-bought angel food cake. Brilliant!
