4 Fast Family Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights
Family dinner ideas are always in short supply. But just getting everyone around the table at one time is something to strive for, especially when kids get a little older and their schedules stack up. Between sports practices and study groups, my two teenage daughters are now busier than their parents, putting the premium for quick-to-make, easy-to-love dinners at all-time high. Here are four meals that deliver exactly that.
Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple
The shortcuts to a super-speedy taco night? One baking sheet and a hot broiler. You start by charring the pineapple under that heat, and you're rewarded with juicy, tender, slightly smoky bites. A tip for pineapple shopping: Choose one that's fragrant, feels heavy for its size, and gives slightly when pressed at the base. The shrimp gets broiled next (same baking sheet!) until it's just cooked through. Starting with frozen shrimp? No problem. Throw them in a resealable bag and set in a bowl of cool running water in the sink—you'll be good to go in 10-15 minutes.
Salad Pizza
Who says all pizza needs red sauce and melty mozzarella? We swapped those classics for a crisp lettuce tossed in a bracing dressing—and we're into it. Pro tip: Let the pizza dough sit out for 20-30 minutes makes it easier to handle and stretch. While you're waiting, make a double batch of the pickled onions that go on top. You can keep them around and layer in sandwiches, salads, and tacos that need a pick-me-up throughout the week.
Panko-Crusted Roast Chicken Thighs with Mustard and Thyme
You get the best of both crispy, crunchy chicken tenders here thanks to the layering of panko, and also the juicy, tender thigh meat. The butter, dijon, and thyme mixture is a genius way to make the panko stick to the skin of the chicken while also providing a huge amount of flavor. Don't forget to spoon that schmaltz-y pan sauce all over the carrots when you're done; you don't want it to go to waste.
Wheat Berry Bowl with Merguez and Pomegranate
Cooked a big batch of grains on Sunday? Congratulations—you're halfway to a weeknight dinner. Yep, that's right, you can use any grain you have around. Freekah, barley, and farro all work well in place of the wheat berry. And no merguez? No problem. Sub with sweet Italian pork or chicken sausages instead. Now about that pomegranate... Want to seed it in record time? All you have to do is cut the fruit in half through the equator line, then hold it over a bowl of water cut side down. With a wooden spoon, smack the skin assertively and repeatedly and watch the seeds hail down.
Related: Check out more fast family dinner ideas here
And make sure to read Jenny Rosenstrach and Andy Ward's 50 lessons from feeding kids in the past 6 years (it's a gold mine!).
