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5 Tips For Simplifying Weeknight Meals + $50 U by Kotex Giveaway!

September 16, 2014 by Tara Kuczykowski 50 Comments

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Weeknight dinners are my nemesis… Just when I think I’ve got it all under control, I sometimes find myself getting derailed, and you know what that means — I’m calling up our local pizzeria for delivery. So what’s a mom to do? Get right back in the saddle with an easy recipe like the One Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken With Corn & Black Beans pictured above, of course!

If you often find yourself in the same situation, here are five more tips that will help simplify your weeknight meals:

Meal Planning

Meal planning involves mapping out a plan for your meals on a weekly or monthly basis. It can be as detailed or loose as you’d like, but it allows you to plan meals around sales to save money at the same time. I’ll be completely honest, though — meal planning is not my strength. It definitely works if you’re disciplined enough to stick with it, though! I’ve shared some thoughts on meal planning on Unsophisticook, so you can get more info there.

Have A Go To Plan

I find that a “go to plan” is a better method for my family. We have some basic main dishes and sides that all pair well together, and we keep the ingredients for them stocked at all times. Our plan looks something like this: a main protein (burgers, veggie burgers, grilled chicken, grilled pork chops, etc.), a grilled or roasted veggie side (grilled veggies, roasted asparagus, roasted potatoes, grilled avocado, etc.), and a grain or pasta side like coconut milk rice, quinoa, or a fluffy couscous.

Use Your Slow Cooker

There are a number of tools in my kitchen that I consider essential to getting dinner on the table quickly on busy weeknights — my immersion blender, kitchen scissors, and Le Creuset French oven to name a few. But my slow cooker tops them all! here are six of my favorite tried and true slow cooker recipes to get you started.

Freezer Meals

I love the concept of preparing meals ahead of time that can be easily frozen and reheated or cooked upon thawing. Not all recipes are conducive to this treatment, but with a few substitutions, most can be adapted to become a freezer meal. The easiest way I’ve found to stock the freezer is to simply double all of my freezer compatible meals when I make them — one for that evening and one to be frozen for later use. Or if a freezer cooking day to stock your freezer for a month sounds appealing, check out Once A Month Meals, where my friend Tricia has put together an amazing resource for freezer cooking fanatics!

Healthy Snacks

When all else fails, it pays to have some healthy snacks on hand to tide the family over through homework and sports practices, allowing you more time to figure out the all important dinner menu. Find five of our favorite recipes here, including an amazing recipe for healthy homemade granola bars!

What is your favorite tip for getting dinner on the table in a hurry? Share in the comments and you could win a U by Kotex prize package valued at $50!

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This post is brought to you by Kimberly-Clark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Filed Under: saving money Tagged With: giveaway, giveaways, pick up the values, u by kotex coupons

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. beth

    September 16, 2014 at 8:03 am

    Enjoy the great deals that you offer :)

    Reply
  2. Shawnda

    September 16, 2014 at 8:14 am

    Trying to prep for dinner throughout the day so it all doesn’t have to happen at dinner time.

    Reply
  3. shelleyb

    September 16, 2014 at 9:31 am

    Some steps to get the dinner out to table early… I have pots/pans out a little early. Water glasses out- for the kids to help fill.
    I have a paper list to add “as I notice” them low or out.

    Reply
  4. Tara

    September 16, 2014 at 9:37 am

    I also like to double meals sometimes, so I can freeze half of it for a later dinner!

    Reply
  5. Michelle

    September 16, 2014 at 9:59 am

    Plan ahead and do as much earlier in the day that I can.

    Reply
  6. Melanie

    September 16, 2014 at 11:52 am

    I put my food in a crock pot in the morning to have dinner ready in a hurry.

    Reply
  7. Michelle

    September 16, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Do as much ahead of time as possible.

    Reply
  8. Jane

    September 16, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    Make extra so you have leftovers for the next day.

    Reply
  9. Norb

    September 16, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    Make meals ahead of time on the weekend.

    Reply
  10. Sophie

    September 16, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    Make hamburger patties the night before so you just have to cook them the next day.

    Reply
  11. Scott

    September 16, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    Chop up vegetables for potato salad, etc. ahead of time and put them in containers. Then you just have to mix it together before you eat.

    Reply
  12. Kim

    September 16, 2014 at 1:03 pm

    Have a second freezer in the basement so you can cook in bulk and thaw it out for a meal.

    Reply
  13. Renee

    September 16, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Cooking foods in the crockpot like sweet potatoes and meatloaf.

    Reply
  14. brittany

    September 16, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    I try to start making dinner early so im not in such a big hurry when dinner time comes.

    Reply
  15. Claudia

    September 16, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    I prepare dinner in the morning and use the crockpot a lot.

    Reply
  16. One Frugal Girl

    September 16, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    Get help where you can get it. Bagged, microwaveable rice for example. Just pop it in the microwave and be ready in 90 seconds. Such a time saver.

    Reply
  17. marcie

    September 16, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    Love the crock pot

    Reply
  18. Lisa

    September 16, 2014 at 5:33 pm

    I try to always have some lean meat marinating (or frozen in marinade) so that I can quickly broil it when I get home. The ready-to-heat-and-eat pre-cooked brown rice is also a lifesaver. I need to get a slow cooker this winter!!

    Reply
  19. Bill

    September 16, 2014 at 6:02 pm

    we make big batches of freezer meals!

    Reply
  20. scott schluter

    September 16, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    crockpot, crockpot, crockpot

    Reply
  21. Mari M.

    September 16, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Make a weekly grocery list according to the recipes you decided on for the week, that way, you don’t buy random things and waste extra money!

    Reply
  22. Becca

    September 16, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    I love using the crockpot! That way when you get home, your dinner is ready to go!

    Reply
  23. HS

    September 16, 2014 at 7:30 pm

    Freezer cooking on weekends can help.

    Reply
  24. Lee Broom

    September 16, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    My quick meal is to grab some kind of chicken breast or round steak, season them, cut them in strips and grill them on my electric grill. Then I just do some quick pasta roni noodles (5 min), and a canned veggies or salad. Very easy.

    Reply
  25. Laura F

    September 16, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    Have some pre-cooked chicken ready to toss into rice, potatoes–anything!

    Reply
  26. Maralea

    September 16, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    I like to make freezer meals on the weekends to have them ready to pop in the oven during the week.

    Reply
  27. Vicki Wurgler

    September 16, 2014 at 8:35 pm

    I plan ahead and know what I will cook that night

    Reply
  28. theresa

    September 16, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    My tip is to prep food on the weekend that can be used during the week.

    Reply
  29. Karen

    September 16, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Buy pre-made healthy foods that just need to be nuked in the microwave. Pre-made chicken, frozen vegetables, and 90 second brown rice is my go-to meal.

    Reply
  30. Elaine

    September 16, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    Double the meal so I can serve one and freeze one for later.

    Reply
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Hey there — nice to meet you!

I'm Tara: mom of 5 teens/tweens and one 80-lb. Weimaraner, who fancies herself a lap dog. Born and raised in Ohio (GO BUCKS!!!), my fave things include cooking + baking, my JEEP Rubicon, the 4x4 beaches at OBX, and checking out the local craft beer scene...
 
As you can imagine, all of this puts a good dent in my monthly budget. So I've learned how to save on the things I NEED, so I can spend on the things I WANT. Read more.

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