3 Fast Weeknight Meals

Schools starts in Atlanta in less than 2 weeks, which means back to school for our high schooler and back to work for me. I work part-time as a substitute teacher, which is a blessing to me in many ways. (But that’s another blog post for later.) It also means sports practices and other extra-curricular activities all start back, too.

I really struggle to cook after coming home at the end of the day. Our day starts at 5:30 a.m., and most nights I can truly go straight to sleep the minute we walk in the door. When we get home the last thing I want to do is to cook dinner. And really, I can’t even think of what to cook.

If you’re like me, and you just need a quick, easy idea for what to make for dinner on hectic weeknights, here are 3 ideas for you. The key to all of these is having what you need waiting for you at home. Over the weekend, plan out your meals.

1.Costco Street Tacos plus Rice OR Tortilla Chips

Costco sells a Street Taco Kit. It includes grilled chicken, slaw, shredded cheese, corn tortillas, limes, a cilantro lime crema, and salsa. It is priced by the pound. Most of the kits are around $15. It’s enough to feed at least 4 people depending on the size of the kit that you buy. I recommend making rice ahead of time so that you can just warm it up. I usually make a week’s worth of white rice on Sunday, but we also like Zatarain’s spanish rice, which calls for a can of diced tomatoes. If you pair the taco kit with a bag of tortilla chips or pre-cooked rice, Dinner is ready in 5 minutes or less. If you have to cook the rice, dinner is ready in less than 20 minutes.

2. Aldi Cauliflower Cheese Pizza with a Salad Kit

Any frozen pizza will do, but we enjoy the gluten free cauliflower pizza from Aldi. Aldi sells a big selection of ready to bake pizzas. They are ready in 7-11 minutes, depending on the one you buy. Pair your pizza with a salad kit, and dinner is ready in about 10 minutes.

3. Filled Pasta with Steamed Broccoli and Bread

I select a refrigerated pasta that has some sort of meat in it, either chicken or sausage. My guys like to feel like they ate some meat in their meal. The refrigerated pasta cooks quickly, and the broccoli is cooked in the microwave for around 5 minutes. Your whole meal will be ready in about 10 minutes or less.

I hope these ideas help you when you’re tired after a long day at work.