After a busy and/or chaotic day, there are some nights you just. can't. deal. when it comes to dinner. If you're strapped for time, ideas, or energy, that's where these super quick recipes come in. Clocking in at 20 minutes or less from start to finish, they're great to lean on when the temptation to heat up a frozen meal or order takeout is high, but you're in the mood for something homemade.
Use these recipes as jumping-off points to inspire you when it comes to busy weeknight dinners. The omelette featured here is seasoned with mozzarella, roasted pepper, and basil, but all of those could easily be swapped out for another melty cheese, wilted spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, and other fresh herbs like chives or dill.
Once you get the hang of grilled pizza, you'll be bummed at all the time you lost NOT tossing your pizza onto the grill. Replace the pesto with tomato sauce and top with different combos of veggies (quick-cooking or precooked ones work best here) like grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms, or tomato slices.
The turkey club salad recipe takes a classic sandwich and turns it into a veggie-packed meal; we've kept all the same flavours, but played around with the proportion of ingredients. Toasted bread slices become crunchy croutons and crisp lettuce forms the base, with keep bacon, deli turkey, and tomatoes in the mix, all tossed with a creamy lemon- and mayo-based dressing. Try this same idea with other classic sandwiches like a reuben, BLT, or a cheeseburger (is a burger a sandwich? Debate amongst yourselves).
It's also helpful to have some super simple sides in your arsenal to supplement your meals. Think microwave-in-the-bag veggies like green beans, Brussels sprouts, or broccoli florets, quick-cooking cauliflower rice or quinoa, or keeping cooked whole grains like brown rice or farro in your freezer to reheat in a flash.
With these tips and tricks, you can stop worrying about dinner and start wondering what new TV show to start streaming tonight.