5 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Days
Our busy and fast-paced lives leave very little time to cook elaborate and hearty meals. What’s more, it can be challenging to come up with unique and easy meals. Thanks to quick recipes online, you don’t have to call your mom for ideas anymore. Whether you are looking for a quick dessert recipe or dinner ideas, the internet has got you covered. You can find all kinds of easy-to-make healthy options without compromising on flavor.
Chicken and veggie stir fry
This quick chicken recipe is highly nutritious and delicious, thanks to the combination of meat and vegetables. The best part is that you can choose any veggie that you have in your refrigerator, be it mushroom, broccoli, carrots, onion, bell pepper, or peas. This recipe tastes even better when paired with a simple, flavorful sauce that brings the dish together.
Ingredients
Chicken breast
Broccoli florets
Mushroom, sliced
Garlic, minced
Ginger, minced
Soy Sauce
Chicken broth
Brown sugar
Flour
Salt
Pepper
Oil
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan. Add the chicken and season it with salt and pepper. Sauté until cooked completely and browned. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
Add a tablespoon of oil to the same pan and add mushrooms. Add broccoli when the mushrooms begin to soften and sauté until the broccoli is tender. Remove the veggies from the pan and set them aside.
In the same pan, add a tablespoon of oil again and heat it. Add ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add the ingredients for the sauce (soy sauce, brown sugar, chicken broth, and flour) and stir until the mixture becomes thick and smooth.
Add cooked chicken and veggies to the pan and stir until combined and heated.
Serve with hot rice or noodles.
Black bean tostadas
If you are looking for a healthy, vegetarian option, try this quick dinner recipe that uses just 5 ingredients. Black beans are packed with protein and fiber and help in maintaining healthy bones, lowering blood pressure, managing diabetes, and preventing heart disease.
Ingredients
Canned black beans (rinsed and drained)
Tostadas
Shredded pepper jack cheese
Sliced avocado
Hot sauce
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, add a cup of water and beans to a saucepan over medium heat. Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes or until the beans are warm. Smash a portion of the beans with a wooden spoon. Add water for a smoother consistency.
Place tostadas on a large baking sheet and add shredded cheese to each piece. Bake until the cheese melts.
Top the tostadas with beans, sliced avocados, and hot sauce.
Fried rice
Here’s another quick and easy recipe that can help you utilize leftover rice. Also, you can add many different veggies to the recipe.
Ingredients
Cooked rice
Eggs (beaten)
Bacon, diced
Scallions, chopped (whites and greens separated)
Red bell pepper, diced
Carrots, diced
Frozen peas, defrosted
Garlic, minced
Ginger, minced
Soy sauce
Oil
Directions
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add eggs and cook, and keep stirring until they are light and fluffy. Transfer eggs to a plate. Add bacon to the skillet and cook until crisp.
Add carrots, red bell pepper, and scallion whites and cook them until soft. Add ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Over medium-low heat, add peas and rice and cook until heated. Fold in the eggs and season with soy sauce and oil. Top with scallion greens and serve right away.
You can find several variations of this quick recipe online.
Mexican baked fish
If you are craving fish, try making this limited-ingredient, protein-rich quick dinner recipe. Mexican baked fish can be enjoyed hot or warm and can be paired with rice, black beans, and warm tortillas.
Ingredients
Cod fish filets
Salsa
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Corn chips (coarsely crushed)
Avocado, sliced
Sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Run fish filets under cold water. Pat them dry with paper towels and lay the filets on a lightly greased baking dish. Pour salsa over the fish, and sprinkle shredded cheese. Top with crushed corn chips.
Bake until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Top with sliced avocado and sour cream before serving.
One-pot creamy chicken and mushroom pasta
Whether it’s a week night or the weekend, pasta never disappoints. You can use store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken for this quick and easy recipe.
Ingredients
Rotisserie chicken, coarsely shredded
Shiitake or cremini mushroom, sliced
Whole-wheat penne
Chicken broth, unsalted
Sour cream
Sherry vinegar
Parmesan cheese, grated
Pepper, ground
Salt
Oil
Parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, pepper, and salt, and cook until tender and golden brown.
Add vinegar and let it cook for about 30 seconds, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Pour in broth and bring it to a boil.
Add the pasta and chicken. Cover and cook until the pasta is slightly chewy. Take the Dutch oven off the heat.
Add sour cream and cheese and garnish with parsley before serving.