Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas For Moms With No Time.

Easy weeknight dinner ideas that the whole family will LOVE. This list was made for busy moms with no extra time.

This is a guest post written by Satya Nauth of Satyanauth.com

Busy is an understatement for us moms. Preparing dinner often feels like an overwhelming task.  It’s hard to find easy weeknight dinner ideas that the whole family will LOVE.

Yes, we prefer to feed our families good healthy meals without having to constantly break the bank, or take hours doing it. 

But when we’re at our wit’s end, we settle. 

If you’re stuck in a rut of easy weeknight dinner ideas, consider this your simple guide to healthy and super quick dinners that your family will love.

Note:  These dinners include recipes and are geared towards more intermediate cooks, if you’re still learning the basics of cooking… you should start with these dinners…

You don’t need to overspend or overtax yourself to feed your family! 

Try These Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas To Get You Started. 

1. Scrumptious Thai Rice Bowls  

STOP! Don’t throw out your cold rice. Cold rice stored in the fridge makes the absolute best Thai Rice Bowls. As a matter of fact, if you already have leftover meat in the fridge, better yet!  

Ingredients 

• 11/2 cups of cooked rice 
• Cooked chicken/any other cooked meat 
• 1 diced onion 
• 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper 
• 1 tbsp. of oil (sesame or regular) 
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce 
• 1 tbsp. of fish sauce 
• 1 tbsp. hoisin sauce 
• 1/4 tsp. five-spice seasoning  
• 1 tsp. sugar 

How To Make Scrumptious Thai Rice Bowls 

1. Heat oil in skillet. 
2. Add onions and sauté for a minute. 
3. Add cooked rice and mix well with onions. Next, add soy sauce, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, sugar,  five-spice seasoning and combine well. 
4. Cook on med-high heat for 5-7  minutes. 
5. Then, add cooked chicken. 
6. Cook for a few more minutes and add the bell peppers as you turn the stove off. 

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 These ideas are field-tested by hundreds of thousands of our readers and are guaranteed to help even the most overwhelmed mom stick to a meal plan.  

And we’re giving it to you 100% free right now for a limited time. 

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2. Yellow Rice Medley 

Making yellow rice is not only colorful, it’s a simple and healthy way to get dinner accomplished in under 20 minutes or less.  

Ingredients 

• 11/2 cups of cooked rice (cold rice) 
• 1 tbsp. of avocado oil or olive oil 
• 1 diced onion 
• 1-2 tbsp. blended ginger and garlic 
• A handful of lightly roasted almonds  
• 1 tbsp. of ground turmeric 
• A handful cranberries 
• Salt and pepper 
• Goya seasoning 
• Optional-chicken or seafood 

How To Make Yellow Rice Medley 

1. Add diced onion to med-high temperature oil and sauté for a minute, lower the heat to med-low and put in blended ginger and garlic. 
2. Sauté for two  more minutes. 
3. Add cold cooked rice, turmeric, a dash of Goya, salt and pepper to taste, cranberries and meat or seafood (cook separately then add) if you’d like a non-veg meal. 
4. Give it a good mix to evenly distribute the ingredients and to create the yellow rice. 
5. Cook for 7-10 more minutes. 
6.  Add almonds in the end.  

3. BreakFast Dinner (Waffles and Chicken) 

Much like its name, making breakfast for dinner is a great way to give you a  break from innovating complex dinner ideas and creating simple, delicious food fast! Children love breakfast and you can make it for dinner! 

You can literally pick up a box of frozen chicken tenders, or a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store, add waffles and now you’ve made chicken and waffles.   This is my kids FAVORITE of the easy weeknight dinner ideas.

Ingredients 

• Grilled or fried chicken (boneless) 
• Maple syrup or honey 
• Waffles  

How to Make Waffles and Chicken (My favorite easy weeknight dinner ideas of all time).

This is literally the easiest dinner…ever! 

1. Warm your store-bought boneless chicken in the oven while you make your waffles. 
2. You can make them from scratch or buy either Belgium or regular waffles from Trader Joe’s. 
3. The  Belgium waffles are thicker so the chicken needs to be thinly sliced for children to munch comfortably. 
4. Drizzle honey or maple syrup over the chicken or the entire sandwich. 

This will be the most fun easy weeknight dinner ideas!  

4. Ultimate Chicken Salad  

On nights where work, lots of homework, or late after-school activities overwhelm you. Here’s an easy weeknight dinner ideas that can be pre-made,  refrigerated, taken out of the fridge cold, and eaten as such!  

Ingredients 

• 1lb Cooked boneless chicken thighs 
• 2 heaping tbsp. of Mayo 
• 1 1/2 tbsp. coarse dijon mustard 
• Handful of lightly toasted walnuts  
• 1/4 cup cranberries 
• Salt and pepper 
• Goya seasoning 
• A handful of finely chopped fresh rosemary 
• Seedless grapes cut in halves 
• Arugula 
• Buns 

How To Make Ultimate Chicken Salad 

1. Strip or chop the cooked boneless chicken thighs, add mayo, dijon mustard, walnuts, cranberries, salt and pepper to taste, a dash of Goya seasoning, and rosemary. 
2. Mix well. 
3. Set aside in the fridge. 
4. You can have it as soon as it’s made or you can pre-make it for another day. 
5. Place chicken salad on the bun and top with arugula and grapes. 

Your children will be so impressed! 

5.TJ’s Nuggets and Fries 

Trader Joe’s has some of the best tasting and healthier versions of frozen nuggets on the market. You can prepare dinner for less than $10 in under  20 minutes. What’s not to love? For crunchier fries, flip them in the oven halfway through cooking. Follow heating directions on the packaging.  

6. Masala Chickpea With Veggies 

Chickpea should be in every busy mom’s pantry. Masala chickpea with veggies is a simple recipe that can be done in under 15 minutes! Leaving you with more time to spend with family, maybe even take an evening walk,  bath, or whatever your heart desires.  

Ingredients

• 2 cans chickpeas (drained) 
• 1 tbsp. olive oil 
• 1 chopped onion and 2-3 cloves of minced garlic 
• 1 tsp. masala 
• 1 tsp. ground cumin 
• 1 thinly sliced carrot 
• 1 sliced celery stick  
• Salt and pepper 
• Goya seasoning 

How to Make Masala Chickpea With Veggies

1. Heat olive oil to medium heat and add onion and garlic. 
2. Sauté for 30  seconds to a minute. 
3. Add drained chickpea, masala, cumin, carrot, celery,  dash of Goya, salt and pepper.
4.  Increase temperature to med-high and cook for 10 minutes or until the carrots have reached the desired softness.  

7. Pan Seared Salmon 

Pan-seared salmon is a great source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids. In addition, it’s a yummy dish that the entire family will enjoy! 

Ingredients 

• 1lb. skinless salmon fillets 
• 1 tbsp. Old bay seasoning 
• 2 tbsp. olive oil 
• 2 tbsp. butter 
• 1 blended onion and 4 cloves garlic 
• 2 prigs of finely chopped rosemary 
• Salt and pepper 
• Finely chopped parsley to top 

How To Make Pan Seared Salmon 

1. Pat dry and season salmon with onion and garlic blend, old bay, rosemary,  salt, and pepper and drizzle olive oil all over salmon.
2.  Be sure to rub the seasoning on all sides of the salmon.
3.  Heat oil and 1 tbsp. butter on med-low until it’s sizzling, add 3-4 salmon fillets at a time.
4.  Sear undisturbed for  3-4 minutes until golden. (You can learn how to sear salmon here…)
5. Then, flip the fillets and sear for another 2-3  minutes. 
6. Add remaining butter and cook for 1-2 more minutes. 
7. Cut the thickest part of the salmon to check if it has reached the desired doneness. 
8. Sprinkle parsley over the salmon. 
9. Serve with veggies, pasta, or rice.  

8. Reinvent Leftovers with Salmon and Eggs 

Salmon and eggs are by far one of the most delicious, versatile meals. It can be breakfast or it can double as dinner. This is ideal especially if you have leftover salmon and are not sure how to reinvent a new dish. 

Ingredients 

• 5-6 large Eggs 
• Old bay seasoning 
• Salt and pepper 
• Finely chopped rosemary 
• 1 chopped onion 
• 1 tbsp. olive oil 
• 1 tsp. butter 

How to Make Salmon and Eggs 

1. Whisk eggs, add salt and pepper, a dash of old bay, and set aside.
2.  Heat oil and sauté onion for a minute, lower the temperature to med-low and add eggs and rosemary. 
3. Combine well and cook for a minute. 
4. Add cooked salmon and butter.
5.  Cook for an additional 2 minutes.  

9. Shirataki Noodles With Choice of Seafood or Chicken 

This shirataki noodles recipe is quick, healthy, and cooks in under two minutes! Yes! And guess what? It’s healthy! Shirataki noodles are made from the root of a vegetable, so it has very little to no carbs. They are 97%  water and 3% fiber.  

Ingredients  

• 1lb. shrimp (peeled and deveined)  
• 2 packages of shirataki noodles 
• 1 tbsp. blended garlic 
• 1 blended onion 
• 1 tbsp. of olive oil 
• 1 tsp. soy sauce 
• Old bay seasoning 
• Goya seasoning 
• Salt and pepper
• Mushrooms (Optional)  

How to Make Shirataki Noodles With Shrimp 

This recipe is one of the simplest easy weeknight dinner ideas and can literally be done in under 10 minutes! It will be every mom’s dinner obsession. It saves you time, money, and energy!

1.  Drain and rinse the shirataki noodles with clean running water. 
2. Set aside. 
3. Heat oil to med-high heat and sauté onion and garlic for 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
4. Add shrimp, soy sauce, and a dash of Old Bay Seasoning and Goya Seasoning.  
5. Combine well and cook for 2-3 minutes. 
6. Add the drained noodles and lightly sprinkle salt and pepper over the dish.
7.  Cook for another 1-2 minutes and remove from heat.  

10. Homemade French Bread Pizza.

Here’s an opportunity to get the kids involved in making scrumptious homemade pizza in a jiffy. Purchase a loaf of French bread and you’re halfway there! 

Ingredients 

• 1 French bread cut lengthwise and crosswise (the soft kind not  baguette) 
• 1 14.5 oz. can tomato sauce  
• Butter to drizzle on bread 
• 8 oz. mozzarella cheese  
• A handful parmesan cheese  
• Salt  
• Dry Italian seasoning (oregano and basil)  

How to Make Homemade French Bread Pizza 

Get your kids involved to help you with this one. It’s a good opportunity to bond after a long, busy day. 

Preheat the oven to 425℉. Smash the bread, cut side facing up, with a baking sheet to flatten. 

1. Lightly brush each piece of bread with butter. Sprinkle parmesan and mozzarella over the surface of the bread. 
2. Next, spread a layer of tomato sauce and lightly sprinkle salt over the bread. 
3. Add another layer of cheese and sprinkle the Italian seasoning blend to top it off. 
4. Bake for 10 minutes.  

11. Penne a` la Yummy Sauce 

Be prepared to be yet again, the world’s best mom and cook! This meal is hearty and rich in flavor. The vodka (i.e, penne a` la vodka) is replaced with out-of-this-world yummy sauce. You can be done with dinner in under 20  minutes!  

Ingredients  

• Box of penne  
• 1 16 oz. Barilla tomato sauce 
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste 
• 1 chopped onion 
• 3 cloves of garlic (minced) 
• 1 tsp. olive oil 
• Fresh/dry Italian herbs (Basil, Rosemary, Oregano) 
• Salt and pepper 
• Parmesan cheese 

How to Make Penne a` la Yummy Sauce 

1. Follow the directions on the box to boil the pasta. 
2. Heat oil in a medium-sized saucepan and add onion, garlic and tomato paste. 
3. Sauté for 2  minutes while you turn it consistently. 
4. Lower the temperature to med-low.  
5. Add the sauce, pinch of each Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. 
6. Drain (don’t rinse) the pasta and drizzle olive oil over it so it doesn’t stick together and add to the sauce. 
7. Mix well and sprinkle a generous amount of parmesan over the dish.  

12. Creamy Mac and Cheese 

Who doesn’t love Mac and cheese? Your children will most likely request this meal several times over the week because it’s that good! In addition, mac and cheese can be prepped (follow all the steps except bake it the day you’ll have it for dinner) a day or two in advance. This frees up your time even more when the days are busier than usual.  

Ingredients 

• 16 oz. elbow pasta  
• 1 stick of butter 
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour 
• 1 cup whole milk 
• 2 1/2 cups half and half 
• 1/2 cup heavy cream 
• 4 cups sharp cheddar (grated is better) 
• 1 cup parmesan cheese 
• 1 cup gruyere cheese 
• Salt and pepper 

How to Make Creamy Mac and Cheese 

1. Preheat your oven to 350℉. You have your hands full so if it’s easier to buy shredded cheese that’ll work too. Of course, it’s always better to grate your own cheese. 
2. Follow the directions on the packaging to boil your elbow pasta. Remember the rule of thumb when you’ve drained your pasta is to drizzle a bit of olive oil to keep from clumping. 
3. In the meantime, grate and mix the cheeses. You’ll need half for the sauce and half for the top layer. 
4. Melt butter over medium heat and slowly add flour while whisking vigorously. 
5. Cook for about a minute until it becomes smooth. 
6. Carefully pour half the milk, half and half, and heavy cream while mixing consistently.  
7. Remove from heat when the sauce thickens and add salt and pepper. Mix drained pasta with cheese sauce and pour into a greased 9’’x13’’ pan.  
8. Spread the remaining cheese over the top and bake for 15 minutes.  

13. Easy Portobello Burgers 

Your kids will think this easy weeknight dinner ideas is an actual meat burger! Portobello burgers are juicy and absolutely mouth watering! The great thing about this meal is you can prep it ahead of time and that will undoubtedly save you precious time.  You can serve it on a bun with lettuce and tomato just as you normally would. 

Ingredients 

• 8 Portobello mushroom caps 
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 
• 3-4 tbsp. olive oil 
• 1 tsp. basil 
• 1 tsp. oregano 
• 2 tbsp. minced garlic 
• Salt and pepper 
• Whole milk Mozzarella (enough to cover the top of each mushroom cap) 

How to Make Easy Portobello Burgers 

Hint:  If you don’t season your burgers right away, store them in a brown paper bag.  Never leave portobellos in plastic packaging. They start to rot progressively when left in plastic. Season in 1-2 days max.

1.  Remove the stems and save them to use in another meal. 
2. Use a spoon to carefully remove the gills from the mushrooms. 
3. Mix the balsamic vinegar, oil, basil,  oregano, garlic, and salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. 
4. Pour the mixture into a large enough ziplock to fit all the mushrooms.
5. Add mushrooms,  turning a few times. 
6. Seal the ziplock and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.  
7. Heat your grill and brush grate with oil. 
8. Grill for about 5-8 minutes on each side or until desired doneness has been reached. 
9. Use the marinade to brush the mushrooms frequently. 
10. Add a generous amount of mozzarella a  few minutes before you remove from the heat.
11.  Place on a bun and add your fixings. 

14. Nacho Night Yums

Nachos night yums will be an instant hit with the kiddos! It’s fun, crunchy,  cheesy, and delicious…what’s not to love? Trader Joe’s carries the blue corn tortilla chips for about $2.99. The secret to having crunchy nachos is baking your chips before you add all the toppings. 

Ingredients

• 1 party sized tortilla chips 
• 1 lb. ground turkey or beef 
• 1 can refried beans or black beans
• 1 bell pepper thinly chopped  
• 1 red onion chopped  
• I thinly diced and seeded tomato 
• 1 tbsp. taco seasoning 
• 1 onion, handful cilantro, and 3 cloves garlic (blended) 
• Cheese 
• 1 1/2 cups cheddar or Mexican cheese blend 
• Sour Cream (topping) 

How to Make Nacho Night Yums 

1. Start by preheating your oven to 400℉. 
2. Drizzle a smidge of oil in your skillet heated at medium-high. 
3. Add your onion, garlic, cilantro blend and saute for a minute. 
4. Add meat, taco seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. 
5. Cook until golden brown. 
6. Bake chips for about 5 minutes.
7.  Spread the refried beans (or drained black beans) over the chips, next add meat, vegetables and spread cheese evenly throughout the pan. 
8. Bake for 10-15 minutes.  

15. Creamy Linguine  

True to its name, creamy linguine is a scrumptious meal that the entire family will rave about!  

Ingredients 

• 16 oz. linguine 
• 1 cup heavy cream 
• 3 cloves of garlic (crushed or minced) 
• 3/4 grated parmesan 
• 2 tbsp. fresh parsley 
• 1 tsp. rosemary 
• Salt and pepper 
• Tsp. Olive oil

How to Make Creamy Linguine 

1. Start by preparing the linguine per the instructions on the packaging. 
2. Heat oil to med-low and saute garlic for about 1 minute. Be careful not to burn. 
3.  Add linguine, heavy cream, parsley, rosemary, salt and pepper, and parmesan. 
4. Mix and cook for 5-8 minutes.  

16. Sweet and Sour Chicken 

My kids will eat sweet and sour chicken every night of the week if I served it to them. It’s certainly a kid and adult-friendly meal.  

Ingredients 

• 2 lb. chicken boneless, skinless breasts (chopped into small pieces)  11/2 cups of jasmine rice 
• 1/4 cup oil 
• 1 tbsp. sesame oil 
• 1 chopped onion 
• 1 head of broccoli  
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic 
• Salt and pepper 
• 3/4 cup corn starch 
• 2 large eggs 
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce 
• 2 tbsp. hoisin sauce 
• 1/4 cup sugar 
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar 

How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken 

1. Heat oil in a skillet to med-high heat. 
2. Dredge chicken in corn starch, dip in whisked eggs, and then place in oil. 
3. Allow to fry and crisp for 2-3 minutes on each side. 
4. Make sure all sides are covered with oil.
5.  Check the first batch to make sure the chicken is cooked well and to your liking. 
6. Next,  combine apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, hoisin sauce. 
7. Now, heat sesame oil to med-high and saute onion and garlic for 1-2 minutes. 
8. Add the chicken, cook for a few more minutes. 
9. Pour the sauce over the chicken and lower the heat. 
10. If you’d like a thicker consistency for the sauce, then add a  smidge of corn starch. 
11. The broccoli can be added in the end. 
12. Cook for one more minute and remove from heat. 
13. Serve this dish with jasmine rice.  

17. Stir Crazy Veggies With Chicken

Every mom wants their kids to eat more veggies. Here’s a quick and delectable meal that will encourage the kids to eat all their vegetables.  One of the best easy weeknight dinner ideas on this list.

Ingredients 

• Grilled or fried chicken chunks 
• 1 tbsp. sesame oil 
• 1 bell pepper chopped 
• 1 head of broccoli 
• 1 blended onion 
• 3 cloves garlic minced 
• 1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce 
• 1 tbsp. hoisin sauce 
• 1 tsp. mushroom sauce 
• Salt and paper 
• Dash of Goya Seasoning 
• 1 tbsp. honey 

How to Make Stir Crazy Veggies With Chicken 

1. The chicken can be grilled or fried in corn starch like the sweet and sour chicken (previous dish). 
2. Heat sesame oil to med-high, add onion and garlic, and sauté for a minute. 
3. Add the cooked chicken, soy sauce, hoisin sauce,  mushroom sauce, salt, and pepper to taste and sprinkle a bit of Goya seasoning. 
4. Combine well and cook for 5 minutes. 
5. Add the bell pepper,  broccoli, drizzle the honey over the entire meal and mix well. 
6. Cook for another 2 minutes. 
7. Serve this meal with or without jasmine rice.  

18. Chow Mein

Preparing Chow Mein for the kids is the easiest meal ever! All you need is 15 minutes.  

Ingredients 

• 1 pack chow mein 
• 1 tsp. garlic powder 
• Dried thyme 
• Salt and pepper 
• 1 tbsp. butter/olive oil 
• 1 tsp. Chinese five-spice 
• 1 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce 
• 1 tsp. mushroom sauce  
• Chopped Long beans (optional) 

How to Make Chow Mein 

1. Boil and prepare chow mein per the packaging instructions. Typically chow mien takes about 10 minutes to soften when boiled. 
2. Drain, don’t rinse. 
3. Add a drizzle of olive oil and mix to prevent the noodles from sticking together. 
4.  Heat butter on medium heat and add chow mein. 
5. Cook for 1 minute. 
6. Then sprinkle thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper, five-spice, soy sauce, and mushroom sauce. 
7. Use a tong to mix well. 
8. Cook for about 3-4 minutes and add the chopped long beans in the end.  

19. Cheesy Broccoli 

You’ve got 5 minutes? That’s all you need! 

Ingredients 

• Broccoli 
• 1/4 shredded Parmesan 
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese 
• Garlic powder 
• Salt and pepper

How to Make Cheesy Broccoli 

1. First, sauté broccoli in olive oil for 3 minutes until golden brown.
2. Next, add the cheeses, garlic powder, salt, and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. 
3. Serve with chicken fingers or fish sticks.  

20. Chicken Sandwiches 

Another quick meal to leave you with the alone time or family time you desire!  

Ingredients 

• Ciabatta bread (cut lengthwise and crosswise)  
• Mayo 
• Mustard 
• Ketchup  
• Lettuce and tomato (optional) 
• Pickles  
• Grilled/pan-seared chicken 

How to Make Chicken Sandwiches 

1. You can easily pick up the prepared chicken from your local grocery store or you can pan-sear chicken breasts or thighs for 3-4 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the meat and the level of doneness you require. 
2. Spread mayo and mustard on the bread, add the chicken, pickles, and any additional fixings and condiments. 
3. Plate and enjoy!

21. Tuna Sandwiches 

The tuna spread can be prepped in under 5 minutes and stored in the refrigerator for dinner time that day or the next. Preparing your tuna in advance will not only save you time, but it’ll give the tuna and ingredients a  chance to meld well. 

Ingredients 

• 2 cans of tuna 
• 4 tbsp. mayonnaise  
• 3 tbsp. coarse dijon mustard 
• 1 tbsp. old bay seasoning 
• Half a red onion diced 
• Cheese (optional) 
• Croissants/soft French bread 

How to Make Tuna Sandwiches  

1. Drain the water from the tuna. 
2. If you have a pair of gloves I would recommend squeezing the water out. 
3. In a mixing bowl, add mayo, dijon mustard, old bay seasoning, red onion, and mix vigorously. 
4. Spread unto the croissant and enjoy. Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for another evening or can be served with crackers as a snack.  

22. Cheesy Tortellini 

Craving cheesy, buttery, scrumptious stuffed pasta? Got 20 minutes? Then this is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinner ideas! 

Ingredients 

• Tortellini 
• 4 bacon strips (optional) 
• 1 blended onion 
• 3 cloves garlic 
• 3 tbsp. butter 
• 1/3 cup chicken broth 
• 1/2 cup heavy cream 
• 1 cup grated parmesan 
• 1-2 sprigs rosemary 
• 1/4 cup basil

How to Make Cheesy Tortellini 

1. Cook tortellini per the instructions on the packaging. 
2. Heat 2 tbsp. of butter and sauté onion and garlic for 1-2 minutes. 
3. Add broth and bring to a  simmer for about 3 minutes. 
4. Pour the heavy cream next with rosemary and basil. 
5. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Add the parmesan cheese and toss in the tortellini with the thickened sauce. 
6. Cook for a few more minutes and remove from heat.  

23. Soft Scrambled Eggs 

When time is all but fleeting breakfast never fails. We can always put an exciting spin on dinner.  

Ingredients 

• 5-6 eggs whisked 
• 1 tbsp. butter 
• 1 onion sliced thin 
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese 
• Salt and pepper 

How to Make Soft Scrambled Eggs 

1. First, heat butter on low heat and bring to a sizzle, being careful not to burn it. 
2. Second, add onions and cook until caramelized. 
3. Third, add the eggs, cheese and salt, and pepper. 
4. Finally, flip the eggs in 30 secs and enjoy with a side of toast or avocado.  

24. Beans and Rice 

Whether you choose to make this meal vegetarian or to add protein is completely up to you. Either way, it’ll be a go-to comfort meal that’s oddly simple to put together.  

Ingredients

• 1 cup long-grained or basmati rice 
• 3-4 cans of black beans 
• 1 tbsp. avocado oil 
• 1 onion chopped 
• 4 cloves garlic (minced) 
• 1/4 cup cilantro (chopped) 
• Salt and pepper 
• Goya seasoning  
• 1 green bell pepper (chopped) 

How to Make Beans and Rice 

The general rule of thumb when preparing rice is a 2:1 ratio. 

1. You want to boil 2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice. 
2. Bring water to a boil, add washed rice and lower the temperature to low heat. 
3. Cover the pot tightly and simmer for 18-20 minutes. 
4. Heat avocado oil to medium heat, add onions and garlic, and sauté for 1-2 minutes. 
5. Next, add the black beans along with the salt and pepper, cilantro, a dash of Goya, and the bell pepper. 
6. Cook on med-low for 7-10 minutes. Enjoy with a side of avocado or guacamole.  

25. Raid your Pantry  

Furthermore, let’s raid the pantry. An essential aspect of creating quick and easy weeknight dinner ideas is having a pantry stocked with these items: 

• Beans  
• Chik peas 
• Canned Vegetables  
• Rice  
• Soy sauce  
• Hoisin Sauce  
• Honey 
• Seasonings  
• Fish sauce 
• Pasta/noodles 
• Chicken stock 
• Tomato sauce 
• Tomato paste
• French/ciabatta bread 
• Mayo 
• Mustard  
• Onion  
• Garlic 
• Cheese  
• Peanut butter 
• Taco shells 
• Bread crumbs 

And there you have it.  25 easy weeknight dinner ideas for busy moms the whole family will LOVE. 

Satya Valicia Nauth is an author who writes for companies, blogs, magazines, and is currently working on her first book, After Kids, A Guide To Weight Loss, Sanity & Self Love. Satya’s Blog has given her the opportunity to inspire self love and empower women to lead fulfilling lives by taking charge of their wellness and beauty. You can also find advice on parenting and home and garden on her blog.  Additionally, Satya’s background is deeply rooted in helping small businesses to establish an online presence and develop thriving social media communities. Find her on social media: Instagram.

P.S. Hate meal planning? And wish you had a giant list of easy suggestions (like tacos, spaghetti, quesadilla’s, chicken salad sandwiches, etc.) and not complicated recipes? So did I. So I spent several weeks creating a master list of cheap and easy dinner ideas.  And you know what? It completely revolutionized meal planning for us. 

These ideas are field-tested by hundreds of thousands of our readers and are guaranteed to help even the most overwhelmed mom stick to a meal plan.  

And we’re giving it to you 100% free right now for a limited time. 

Grab it for free here…