Regardless of whether you’re over the age of 70, or you’re a 30-something raising 4 kids, most people can agree that sometimes cooking dinner is the last thing they feel like doing.
Yet love it or hate it, cooking and preparing food is a part of adult life! And while you may not necessarily need to be a five-star chef, you should know how to prepare recipes that will nourish your body and keep you strong.
Having a few go-to easy dinners in your repertoire can make meal planning easier, help you stay healthier, and ultimately even save you money on groceries.
All it takes are a few common ingredients, and you can manage to throw something together even on the busiest nights of the week. If you’re looking for ways to make meal prep more of a breeze, here are three easy dinners that everyone should have in their recipe arsenal.
Pasta and Garlic
It sounds so simple, yet it’s one of the most delicious things you can possibly imagine. Pasta with garlic and olive oil is a classic Italian dish that requires just a few staples. Choose any pasta, from fusilli to spaghetti, and saute a little garlic on the side.
Toss the garlic that was sauteed in olive oil into the pasta and finish with a sprinkle of cheese. If you want to add a little protein, feel free to add a little grilled chicken or shrimp. Voila! You’ve got yourself dinner in less than 20 minutes.
Chicken and Vegetables
On your busiest weeknights, when you’d like to eat more than just carbohydrates and protein, and would like to increase your vegetable intake, “one pan” chicken and vegetables is your lifesaver. Add seasoned chicken breasts or thighs into the oven with a few potatoes, carrots or bell peppers, and roast it for 45 minutes. During that time you can bathe the kids, or catch up on a few last-minute emails—all while your dinner cooks itself.
Tacos
Who doesn’t love taco night? Not only are tacos endlessly fun, but they’re versatile and easy to prepare. It’s as simple as frying up some ground beef with a little taco seasoning and using some beans to bulk it up. You can serve tacos in crunchy tortillas or soft ones, and add a little fresh salsa and avocado for a delicious addition.
To make taco night even more fun, consider adding a few more ingredients, particularly if one of you is a vegetarian. You can have all sorts of fun with different types of cheeses and beans, and allow everyone to assemble their own tacos. Don’t forget to add a little cream and lime slices to the mix for a truly authentic Mexican treat.
