Quick and Easy Family Recipes for Busy Weeknights

February 20, 2024

Spring is on the horizon! Since busier schedules often accompany longer days, you may be searching for quick and easy recipes that the whole family will enjoy. When you’re short on time, these one-pot-wonders come together in minutes and are sure to please even the pickiest eaters. 

Tomato Basil Pasta

When you’re looking for a hearty yet healthy dinner, this tomato basil pasta won’t disappoint. It’s packed with bright and tangy flavors and is ready in just 30 minutes. It’s also super customizable, so you can keep it vegetarian by using vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. Need to up the protein? Just add chicken! 

Chicken Enchilada Skillet Casserole

If your family loves the taste of enchiladas but you don’t want to spend all evening on a laborious dish, this chicken enchilada skillet casserole is the perfect solution. Be sure you have an oven-safe skillet on hand, because this deliciously cheesy casserole needs to bake at 350 degrees after being assembled. 

Sheet Pan Pizza

Looking for an easy pizza recipe? This sheet pan pizza is about as simple as it gets, and it’s sure to please a crowd. This dish can be made using homemade or store bought dough and sauce, so you can trim even more prep time off if you’re in a hurry. Plus, you can customize by adding your favorite toppings!

Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a family-friendly classic, but if you want to spice it up a bit, try this twist on the original! This recipe features rotisserie chicken, finely chopped veggies, and three types of cheese. Because it’s so creamy and only calls for a three-quarters of a cup of hot sauce, most won’t find it too spicy, but feel free to scale this ingredient back if you’re serving to a younger crowd! 

Lasagna Soup

There’s nothing more comforting than a bowl of soup on a chilly evening. If you’re ready to try a new soup recipe, this lasagna soup is definitely one to put on the weeknight dinner rotation. It has all the best flavors of classic lasagna, but doesn’t require a lengthy prep time. Top it with some cheese and pair with crusty bread, and you’re not likely to have leftovers! 

When life gets busy, it can be challenging to keep up with meal preparation. Luckily, the recipes highlighted here require minimal prep and cleanup time. If you’re ready to create one of the dishes mentioned above in your brand new kitchen, take a look at the move-in ready new homes in our community. Independence offers meticulously crafted homes and family-oriented amenities that you’ll love. To learn more about availability, please contact us.