7 Easy Meatless Dinners for Busy School Nights
If your family’s schedule is anything like mine, after-school activities mean that dinner happens at 4 p.m. and/or 9 p.m. From dance to drama club, soccer to Scouts, family members are going in different directions and eating at different times.
But dinner doesn’t have to be another hurdle to climb at the end of a long day. Work smarter, not harder with these easy meatless dinners that you can whip up between carpool runs.
Chili Wraps
Skip the drive-through and instead elevate frozen veggie chili when you turn it into chili cheese crunch wraps. Warm the chili in a slow cooker, on the stove or in the microwave. Spoon it into flour tortillas, and top with shredded cheese, corn chips and your other favorite fixin’s.
Naan Pizzas
Pizza is a brainless crowd-pleaser, so why not keep it in the rotation? Spread pesto or marinara sauce onto store-bought naan. Top with mozzarella and fresh veggies, and bake in the toaster oven if everyone’s eating at different times.
Mediterranean Bowls
A bed of salad greens, add a scoop of quinoa, farro or another protein-packed grain. Top with falafel from your supermarket’s freezer section, cherry tomatoes and a scoop of hummus. Picky eaters can eat the falafel separately and dip it in whatever they’ll tolerate—ranch dressing, perhaps?
Lazy Lasagna
In a baking pan, layer store-bought ravioli, your favorite jarred pasta sauce and shredded Italian cheese. Throw in some leftover roasted veggies if you’ve got ‘em. Bake and serve with crusty bread.
Quick Quesadillas
Enjoy the flavors of Taco Tuesday any night of the week, without creating a million dirty dishes. In a blender or food processor, pulse canned black beans with salsa. Spread the mixture over tortillas—fold in shredded cheese and maybe some onions and peppers if you’re fancy—and warm in a frying pan. Serve with a side of corn on the cob or baby carrots.
Baked Potato Bar
If you have the time and energy to bake potatoes in the oven earlier in the day, go for it. Otherwise, prick the potatoes with a fork and nuke them in the microwave. Set out whatever toppings you can scrounge up and let this dinner double as a fridge cleanout—leftover chili, cheese, sour cream, veggies, sauteed peppers and onions or whatever else you’ve got.
One Pot Pasta
Straining noodles in a colander? Ain’t nobody got time for that. In a large pot, place your pasta of choice, cherry tomatoes, rinsed cannellini beans, minced garlic, a drizzle of olive oil and a good pinch of salt. Pour in just enough water to cover the pasta. Cover and cook according to the instructions on the pasta package.