How do you get dinner on the table after a long day at work?

[HotJerZMama]

I have never been good at cooking which was never an issue until I had a family. When it was just me I was happy just eating a bowl of cereal or heating up some ramen noodles. But now with a family to feed i'm struggling to find recipes that taste good but don't take long to make. I work full time and by the time I get home from work it's usually 7pm. How do you get dinner on the table after a long day of work? What are some of your favorite quick recipes?

[deccaf]

Spaghetti. Make a big pot on a weekend, then freeze in family size portions. All you have to do is cook the pasta and defrost the sauce.

[Babujai]

One of my fav fast dinners is parmesan crusted tilapia with mashed potatoes and green beans. The tilapia is a Rachel Ray recipe. I keep the parmesan mixture in the fride and the fish cooks in the oven in 12 minutes. I use instant mashed potatoes (just add boiling water) and cook canned green beans in the microwave for 3 minutes. From beginning to end it takes about 20 min to cook and serve.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/five-ingredient-recipes/Parmesan-Crusted-Tilapia

[Babujai]

I also make a fast chili that's good the first night, but even better the next night. Brown ground beef, add a can of chili beans, a can of rotel tomatoes, a can of tomato paste and some brown sugar. Stir and let it simmer while you set the table. Serve with crackers.

[Sat.Wed]

Do you have a slow cooker aka crock pot? if so there are lots of things you can do

[the3Rs]

I second the crockpot. Lifesaver.

[mickstinator]

my husband and i split the days of the week in half for who is responsible for dinnertime depending on our schedules. i make dinner saturday and sunday. he makes it wednesday and thursday. we order out on fridays since neither of us are home until 6 or 630. mondays we eat at his parents' house. tuesday is the variable. it's date night, so plans differ every week. 

[adamsmom0116]

Crock pot is a lifesaver! Also, our kids are older, so they pitch in now, too. For example, if someone wants to have grilled burgers for supper, then one of the kids will be tasked with starting the grill and having the burgers pattied so when hubby gets home at 5:30, he can slap them on the grill right away.

I also do a lot on the weekend. Menu planning, grocery shopping, and LOTS of prep work. I make a huge salad so that we have an instant side dish for every supper. Also do a lot of frozen veggies or put fresh veggies in the steamer. Takes 15 minutes in the steamer.

We also have a lot of quick to prepare dinners. Spaghetti, tacos, fried rice, pizza, pancakes.

[mrsary]

Slow cooker!! :-P

[Nighttiger]

Homemade burritos. DS LOVES them. Just refried beans, cheese, onions, lettuce, salsa, etc. The only time it takes is to cut up the veggies and its the best way to get veggies in DS.

[queenbee2boys]

BUMP!