If these days of your life seem busier than normal, you're not alone. Americans are working more than ever, with an average of 44 hours a week on the timestamp. When you come home, drop your bags and finally take a seat on the sofa, cooking an elaborate meal might just be the last thing on your mind.
However, grabbing prepared food at the market or snagging some to-go on your way home doesn't have to be the only solution to your problem. We're here to share that you can cook in a jiffy, and it doesn't have to be hard. With these 5 quick dinner recipes, you can save time cooking, conserve money and develop healthy habits along the way.
According to Michael Pollan's Cooked, Americans spend an average of 27 minutes a day in the kitchen. This is less than half the time spent back in 1965. The author attributes such a slash in cooking time to the rise of fast and prepared foods, ultimately rendering homemade meals as optional.
However, while cooking is definitely optional these days, Pollan makes a valid point.
"People are starting to realize that unless you cook, you can't control your diet, and you're ceding control of the important elements of your life to corporations that really don't care about your health." - Michael Pollan
So cooking is a way to take back control of your life, and cooking quick and simple meals is a way to do so without a lot of hassle. Perhaps the best part? You can maintain that under-30-minute parameter without giving up your health, money and overall well being to businesses that don't even know your name.
Slow cookers, or crockpots, are a beautiful thing. You can leave them running while you're out of the house, prep meals well in advance and let this magic machine do practically all the work for you.
With this vegetarian chili, the only duties that are on you are dicing a few veggies, pouring some stock, opening a handful of cans and measuring just a few key spices. To add to it, the ingredients this recipe does call for are easy to find, no matter the season. Garlic, onions, beans—these are affordable kitchen staples that you're bound to score with ease.
The process for this Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili is simple, but more importantly, the outcome is well worth the effort. It'll feed a group with ease, or warm the bellies of 1-2 people with enough for leftovers. And if there were ever a reason to get home in a hurry, it'd be to savor the homely scent of a slow cooker that's been hard at work all day long—just like you.
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When you're full, be sure to conserve your leftovers in a tight container in the fridge or freezer. This will allow you to save on money, time and environmental impact. By the time Thursday rolls around, you'll be grateful you held onto those leftovers.
Thai cuisine is a beautiful thing—the seemingly effortless balance of spicy and sweet, the curated base that manages to take on a new aroma with every combination, it's all a drool-worthy affair. But what makes Thai food a perfect staple for the busy bee is not the intricacies, but the ease with which it can be prepared.
Pad Thai can be made a variety of ways. Add chicken or tofu, beef or seitan, whatever suits your cravings come dinnertime. You can even spice things up with extra veggies or mushrooms depending on what your fridge is packin'!
Once you get the Pad Thai technique down pat, you'll be whipping up this simple and flavorful concoction every chance you get. Your roomie or partner will have a whole new reason to look forward to dinnertime with you.
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Cooking with fresh rice noodles is the Thai way to do it, but that doesn't mean it's the only way. By purchasing your noodles dry, you'll save money and avoid having an excess of food that you can't seem to use up. Clip it, cupboard it and be on your way!
Jackfruit is the biggest tree fruit in the world! With a maximum weight of 80 pounds (yes, you read that right), one of these can feed an entire small village. Moreover, it's teeming with fiber, which means it's great as an appetite suppressant or digestion booster.
Cooking with jackfruit doesn't mean you have to deal with a massive, messy fruit. You can easily find this fruit canned, without any additions to mess up the health of it. Because of its mild flavor and meaty texture, it serves as a great vegetarian substitute in traditionally meat-forward dishes.
These BBQ Jackfruit Tacos successfully imitate pulled pork, without the hassle of dealing with slow-cooked meat. They're quick, easy, delicious and—best of all—something that really goes against the grain!
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If you're wondering where the heck you can find canned jackfruit, Trader Joe's has you covered! With locations all across the US, satisfying your newfound jackfruit cravings will come easier than you ever imagined.
Farinata may sound like a fancy name, but the premise of the recipe is easy as pie. Hailing from Italy, the gluten-free batter is just two ingredients, and the toppings can consist of anything you've got in stock! The base of chickpea flour is an affordable, wheat-free alternative to many a floury recipe.
As for the cooking process, this high-heat dish does well during the wintertime. Using the oven is a great way to warm up the house and the cast iron in one fell swoop. With a glass of red wine in your hand, you'll forget about that dropping thermometer in a heartbeat.
Take it from us: this Mushroom & Bok Choy Farinata will be the start of something new in your home. Once you've got the batter down, you'll be ready to switch up the toppings, making a new kind of farinata with every venture.
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If you don't own a cast iron skillet, consider investing in one! They last a lifetime and work amazingly well with a range of recipes. You don't have to worry about the presence of non-stick chemicals. To add to it, these things actually enhance the iron levels in your food in a healthy way.
Mac & cheese is a classic American comfort food. It takes us back to our youth, reminds us that not everything needs to be complicated and gives us a reason to indulge, if only for one night. Making this staple plant based instead of drenched in dairy comes easier than you might imagine.
The sauce for this Plant-Based Mac & Cheese is simple, packed with veggies and calls for ingredients you likely already have on hand. It's also probably the closest thing to a cheesy flavor and texture we've ever found in non-dairy alternatives.
As for the macaroni part? That's just a boil-and-go kind of thing. When all is said and done, you'll have plenty of time to relish in a good movie or time with your loved ones at home, all while savoring every last bite of this too-good-to-be-true treat.
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Nutritional yeast is a clever addition to any dairy-free dish. Its hearty essence does well in lieu of cheese, and it gives you a serious boost in vitamin B12 to boot!
If you're going to become a quick meal connoisseur, you'll have to master the art of preparation and clean up. Here are a few of our favorite tricks of the trade, getting you in and out of the kitchen quicker than you can say dinner's ready!
Have you heard of Lovvett? With meals made from premium surplus ingredients, this company sure has got the quick dinner recipe thing down pat.
Dinner is Served... Already?
Quick dinner recipes like these can help you craft far more than five meals. Over time, you'll be able to switch up each one in unique ways, using up the ingredients you already have and adhering to whichever cravings come your way. With your quick meal tactics, you can take back control of your money, time and health—and make Michael Pollan proud while you're at it.
Whatever the case, if your partner isn't privy to your quick dinner magic just yet, we understand if you take all the credit. When all is served and eaten, some secrets are best dished for dessert.