Go Back
Various easy school night dinners laid out for a family meal

Quick way to grow 3 Easy School Night Dinners

This recipe provides three easy and quick dinner ideas perfect for busy school nights, ensuring a delicious and stress-free mealtime for the whole family. Each dish is designed for minimal prep and cook time without compromising on flavor or nutritional value.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dinner 1: Quick Chicken Stir-fry
  • 2 lbs chicken breast
  • 4 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 carrots sliced
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp ginger grated
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups rice cooked
Dinner 2: Speedy Sausage and Veggie Bake
  • 1 lb chicken or turkey sausage pre-cooked
  • 2 bell peppers assorted colors, sliced
  • 1 zucchini sliced
  • 1 red onion sliced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
Dinner 3: Quick Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
  • 1 lb pasta penne or rotini
  • 1/2 cup pesto sauce
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 cups spinach fresh
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts toasted, optional

Equipment

  • large skillet or wok
  • large baking sheet
  • large pot
  • bowls

Method
 

Dinner 1: Quick Chicken Stir-fry
  1. Slice chicken into bite-sized pieces and prepare all vegetables. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic to make the stir-fry sauce.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, then remove from the skillet.
  3. Add broccoli and carrots to the same skillet, stirring frequently until tender-crisp. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet.
  4. Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and vegetables, tossing to coat everything evenly. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens, then serve immediately over cooked rice.
Dinner 2: Speedy Sausage and Veggie Bake
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the pre-cooked sausage and all vegetables.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the sliced sausage, bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper, tossing until everything is well coated.
  3. Spread the seasoned sausage and vegetables in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized, flipping halfway through.
Dinner 3: Quick Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water until al dente. While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes.
  2. Drain the cooked pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Return the hot pasta to the pot.
  3. Add pesto sauce, halved cherry tomatoes, fresh spinach, and grated Parmesan cheese to the pasta. Toss well to combine, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to create a saucier consistency.
  4. Serve warm, garnished with toasted pine nuts if desired. The residual heat from the pasta will wilt the spinach and warm the tomatoes and pesto.

Notes

These recipes are designed for speed and convenience; feel free to adjust ingredients based on what you have on hand. For a vegetarian option, substitute chicken in the stir-fry with tofu or tempeh, and use plant-based sausage for the bake. The pesto pasta can also be made vegan by using a dairy-free pesto and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan. Enjoy these quick and healthy meals that are perfect for any school night!