Quick Meal Ideas for Those Busy Weeknights
Weeknights make us all feel a little overwhelmed: they’re full of chores, family obligations, and maybe your favorite guilty pleasure TV show after a full day of work. The last thing most of us want to do is worry about dinner. With these quick and easy five-ingredient meals, your family will have full, satisfied stomachs and you won’t feel drained from cooking. You can turn many meals into five-ingredient-or-less recipes with a few simple switches.
All it takes is some slicing, mixing, and stirring to make these five delicious recipes.
Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Pulled Pork
With an easy 5-minute morning prep, this savory pulled pork will be perfect for your busy nights. Throw your meat into the slow cooker and set it to cook for six hours. This juicy sandwich will be done by the time you get home from work.
This recipe calls for:
- 1 pork tenderloin (substitute pork shoulder)
- 1 can of root beer
- 1 bottle barbecue sauce
- 8 hamburger buns
Full recipe and instructions available here.
Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
This recipe is perfect for the cold winter nights in watching your favorite television shows. With only a small amount of prep, you’ll be ready to eat a hot bowl of delicious chili in no time.
This recipe calls for:
- 1 medium white or yellow onion
- 3 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 can salsa
- 1 can black beans
- 2 cups vegetable stock
You can also add any toppings your heart desires. Some topping examples are diced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, tortilla chips, diced red or green onions, sour cream, shredded cheese, and extra jalapeños.
Full recipe and instructions available here.
Balsamic-Glazed Salmon
If you want to elevate your cooking but still don’t have time to spend over an hour in the kitchen, this balsamic-glazed salmon is perfect for you. This melt-in-your-mouth recipe can be paired with rice or veggies on the side.
This recipe calls for:
- 6 oz salmon fillets
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup white wine or low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp olive oil
Full recipe and instructions available here.
Chicken Pesto Pasta
This simple chicken pasta has three easy steps: 1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. 2. Drain pasta. 3. Mix in the remaining ingredients. This cheesy pasta cooks in 10 minutes and can be kept in the fridge for lunch the next day.
This recipe calls for:
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Full recipe and instructions available here.
Red Bell Pepper Hummus
Are you looking for a delicious snack to have after work that’s packed with nutrition? This red bell pepper hummus is the perfect snack to tide you over until dinner. Pair it with veggies of your choosing.
This recipe calls for:
- 1 can garbanzo beans
- 1/2 of a 12-ounce jar roasted red bell peppers
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Full recipe and instructions available here.
We hope you enjoy these recipes! For more tips on eating healthy, check out our blog for ten steps toward eating healthier.
