quick meal ideas

can anyone suggest meal ideas that can be done in 10-15 minutes or less? DH and I aren't home much and therefore don't really have time cook a full meal, sit and eat. Then that tumbles over to lunch - because we didn't have time the night before, we don't have lunch the next day which results in the purchasing of more meals out than I'd like to admit. So i need either ideas that can be purchased but are cheap or stuff that can be done in the house super duper fast. Our nights tend to look like this:

7pmish - home from work
take care of the puppy

7:45ish - I leave for yoga
8ish - DH leaves for spin
10pmish - we get home

At this point we have not had dinner yet. half the time i end up with a cup of chili from wendy's, which is cheap enough ($1.79) that I wouldn't complain but i can't eat that every night and i know it isn't a good choice multiple times per week. and then lunch the next day is on average $10.

We usually do our own thing 3x week during the week but i want to start a 30 day bikram challenge so that means I will be gone 4 nights during the week.

ETA: We try to keep to a high protein, low carb diet. i try to limit carbs to one meal a day, but dh won't eat pasta/rice.

Message edited 10/2/2011 11:23:33 AM.

Re: quick meal ideas

How about cooking up a big pot of chicken chili or soup on the weekends so you can heat it up quickly during the week. You could cook some rice separately and add that to just yours.

Omelettes would be another quick, high protein meal. Again, you can chop up veggies in advance and throw them in easily.

Re: quick meal ideas

Re: quick meal ideas

Sounds like you need to start using a slow cooker, that way when you get home you can have chili, pulled pork and all sorts of stuff ready.
Grill chicken, sautee peppers, etc and you can warm in microwave and make fajitas or quesadillas.
Make pasta on the wknds and reheat
tacos are quick to make
burgers
salads
shrimp cooks super fast and so does fish

Re: quick meal ideas

Chicken fajitas- use the shortcuts chicken and pre-chopped peppers and onions.

Re: quick meal ideas

Re: quick meal ideas

Maybe you can grill up a bunch of meats over the weekend to heat up and serve on a tortilla, flatbread or in a salad.

I NEVER feel like cooking when I get home from yoga during the week, which is the same time you do.

Some times I will prep foods and DH will put in the oven or on the grill at 9:30 when he knows class is ending.

If your DH is also out though, I know that won't work.

There's also always tuna and PB&J.

I do really like the idea of chili in advance.

Or some kind of chicken, pork or beef in the crockpot on low all day.

Re: quick meal ideas

you can cook up some meals during the weekend and freeze them for the week. maybe chili, stews, sauces that you can use for pasta. rachael ray has a show where she does someething like this. i think it's called 'week in a day'

Re: quick meal ideas

Thanks for these great ideas! I am eating a cup of my homemade chili now and have packed some for tomorrow.

Also bought the Perdue short cuts for fajitas !

Any other ideas let me know. And thank you so much!

Re: quick meal ideas

I actually REALLY like the trader joes bbq chicken. You can make it in the microwave in 5 minutes. Its super easy. I add some of their veggie fried rice and a zip and steam bag and we are all set. That is actually what we are having for dinner Weds when we get home late!

Re: quick meal ideas

I totally agree with using a crockpot. Come home and dinner is DONE. Best thing ever. here are a few other quick recipes like:

Vodka Sauce:
Simmer 3 cups of fave sauce with 1 cup vodka. (about 20 min.) Stir in 1/2 cup room temp heavy cream (or 1/2 & 1/2 ). Remove from heat & add 1/2 cup grated cheese. I also like to add some frozen peas or baby spinach leaves.

Turkey Roll ups
Buy some Boars Head turkey breast. Make some box stuffing. Put some in the center of a slice or 2 of turkey. Roll it up. Lay them in pan.
Mix can of cream of chicken soup (Campbell’s) with 3/4 cups milk. Pour mixture over roll ups. Bake uncovered at 350 for 20 min or so.

Pasta with Chickpeas
Cook pasta shells. Meanwhile heat up a can of chickpeas (undreained) add some salt, pepper, garlic powder (and red pepper if you like). Once pasta is done, pour chickpeas with juice over and mix. Add a bunch of grated cheese.

Tortellini Soup
Pour the carton of broth into a pot. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Season the broth with pepper, to taste. Add the tortellini. Simmer over medium heat until al dente, about 7 minutes. Add some fresh or dried parsley. You can also add some baby spinach leaves at the end. Serve with grated cheese.