Need Good Child Friendly Quick and Easy Recipes Please!

Updated on April 07, 2010
S.W. asks from Woodinville, WA
11 answers

Hi Moms, my husbands schedule has changed and isn't home for dinner now and I am having a hard time finding good recipes that my kids would like that are quick and easy! I would love it if you could share your favorite (or your kids favorite) recipe with me. I really would love some good crock pot recipes too since my son does sports after school and it leaves me no time to cook! Thanks so much!

2 moms found this helpful

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Thanks for the ideas ladies! I was hoping for some more crock pot recipes but thats ok, I did get a lot of great ideas! Too bad my son hates mexican food or a lot of these would have been great. :)

Featured Answers

C.P.

answers from Dallas on

It is not a crock pot recipe but here goes..

one box of toquitos (beef, chicken or cheese whichever you prefer)
shredded cheese
1 can enchilada sauce..

preheat oven to 400
place toquitos in a baking pan
top with enchilada sauce and cheese
bake in oven.. take about 10 -15 min..

you have easy enchiladas!!! My girls LOVE them!

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I have a 2.5 year old and 7 month old and daddy is gone Mon-Friday nights working so we do very minimal work for dinner...LOL

The quick and easy meals I make are: Mac and Cheese with Chix Nuggets, Breakfast (this can be eggs and toast or waffles, pancakes, etc), Cereal, Lunchmeat and Soups.

Crockpot favs are:
*Cream Cheese Chicken (frozen chicken, cream cheese, cream of mushroom soup). Cook all day on low then make noodles or rice to pour it over.
*Taco Chicken: (Frozen chicken, salsa, black beans, corn, cumin) cook on low all day then shred and put into tortillas or over lettuce with cheese, salsa, ranch and tortilla chips.
*This is a Weight Watcher Meal:
Pineapple Chicken
4 (3-oz) boneless, skinless, chicken breasts
paprika
black pepper
1 (19 oz) can unsweetened pineapple tidbits (undrained)
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
Spray Crockpot with cooking spray. Arrange chicken in bottom of Crockpot. Sprinkle with paprika and pepper. Mix soy sauce, pineapple and mustard together, pour over chicken. Add minced garlic. Cover and cook on low for 7-9 hours.
*Another Weight Watcher Meal:Philly Cheese Steaks (7 pts)
spray(s) olive oil cooking spray   
1 medium onion(s), thinly sliced   
1 pound(s) raw lean flank steak, cut into 8 thin slices   
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce   
1/4 tsp table salt   
1/4 tsp black pepper   
4 roll(s) reduced-calorie hot dog bun(s)   
1/4 cup(s) low-fat shredded cheddar cheese   
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; set pan over medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add onion and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove onion from pan; set aside.
Add steak to skillet and sauté until browned and cooked through, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Add Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper; cook until liquid is absorbed.
Divide steak evenly between buns and top with onion and cheese. Wrap in foil, transfer to oven and bake until cheese melts, about 5 to 7 minutes. Yields 1 sandwich per serving.
*Chix Nugget Pizza - (frozen chix nuggets or patties, spaghetti sauce, cheese, french bread or garlic bread). Cut bread or take out of freezer if pre-made garlic bread, cover with sauce, cheese and then chix nuggets. Cook in oven for 7-8 minutes.
*Potatoes with broccoli, cheese, chili, etc. Use up whatever you have leftover in the fridge!
*Beans are good - soak them overnight then throw into the crockpot for chili, bean soup, etc.
*Have hotdogs and chili on hand for chili dogs.

Most if not all of my meals are made and on the table in 15 minutes (not counting time in crockpot!).

5 moms found this helpful

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

throw in a bunch of skinless boneless chicken breasts in the crockpot and sprinkle taco seasoning on top. Cook on low all day. Shred/chop and use for tacos, bbq sandwiches, pasta dishes, salad, etc.

I do the same thing with hamburger. I brown about 5-6 pounds with onions and put in 5-6 quart size baggies and store in the freezer. Then I take out as needed for tacos, spaghetti, pastas, burritos, soups, etc.

not healthy but quick and easy is chili mac: make 2 boxes of mac and cheese as instructed on box. mix in 2 cans of chili and heat up. i serve with biscuits and green beans.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.D.

answers from Portland on

These layered enchiladas use only 4 ingredients and take less than 10 minutes to assemble. Any leftovers can be warmed in the microwave for a quick lunch or snack.

Ingredients:
One 26 oz. can mild green enchilada sauce
3/4 to 1 pound thinly sliced deli turkey (the least expensive kind works fine)
Shredded cheddar, jack, or other similar cheese 2-4 cups
1 dozen corn tortillas

To assemble, pour a thin layer of sauce in baking pan that will hold 3 stacks or into individual pie pans. Brush each side of tortilla with sauce, place in pan and cover with a slice of turkey and some shredded cheese. Repeat for 2 more layers. take 4th tortilla, spread with sauce, and place on top of stack. When 3 stacks are made, pour generous amount of sauce over the stacks, allowing them to sit in a small pool of sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, until heated through. Before serving, sprinkle on some more cheese. Cut in wedges to serve. I usually have a steamed vegetable or a salad with this.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Santa Barbara on

My son is also very busy with sports. A staple at my house is baked potatoes with chili (and sour cream for my son and cheese for me), carrot sticks round it out: filling, tasty, cheap, healthy, fast! I use the 98% low fat turkey chili.

I also do the hamburger with taco seasoning (or ground turkey)-- works in tortillas, pitas, on buns. You can also add it with a can of diced tomatoes to macaroni and cheese for a healthier chili mac. If you use Annie's organic brand mac n cheese then you get the whole grain pasta too!

Sloppy Joe's are a favorite at our house, too

1 mom found this helpful
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C.A.

answers from Seattle on

Fast tip: Brown a bunch of ground beef in one day and freeze in 1 pound packages.

Beef/noodle/corn
1 pound ground meat (beef, chicken, or turkey)
1 can of corn
1package of Top Ramen (pick appropriate flavor - beef, chicken, teriyaki, etc.)
water

Brown meat. Drain. Add about 2 cups water, water from can of corn and seasoning packet. Boil. Add noodles. Cover and cook until the noodles tender. Uncover and simmer to desired consistency.

Due to allergies, we have adapted it as follows:
homemade broth powder instead of seasoning packet
macaroni or other noodles instead of Top Ramen (regular noodles take longer to cook than Ramen noodles.)

(B/N/C is often requested for birthday dinners. :) )

Quick:
Sloppy Bobs
BBQ sauce mixed in 1 pound ground meat, heat and serve on burger buns
(It's like sloppy joes, but with "bob-e-que" sauce) ;)

Beans and franks
1 can beans (pinto, red, kidney)
1 cooked, cut up hot dog (microwave 30 seconds)
BBQ sauce
Ketchup
Brown Sugar
Drain and rinse beans (cuts down on gas); add cut up hot dog; add BBQ sauce, Ketchup, and Brown Sugar to taste.
Heat through (2 minutes? in microwave)
This recipe is easy to multiply.

Crockpot ideas:

BBQ chicken
put chicken pieces in pot, cover with BBQ sauce

... I know there's more, but I have to go for now. I'll try to get back to add more later. Happy cooking! :)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.T.

answers from Portland on

On nights I need a quick dinner - we do breakfast. Whole Wheat pancakes with applesause and either diced apples/cinnamon or mashed bananas. Sides of cottage cheese and fruit. My 2.5 year old can't get enough! Plus I can freeze the extra pancakes.

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

Whenever you do cook, cook at least twice as much as you need. Freeze the extra for another night. This will save you lots of time.

Chocolate Meal Shake: http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sk...

Available in vanilla too.

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M.L.

answers from Seattle on

My daughter loves quesadilas. If you get pre-"chunked" chicken, they're super quick and easy. My favorite crock pot recipe is "sloppy lennies". I think the recipe is on recipes.com. It says to cook for 30 minutes on the stove, but 4 hours on high in the crock pot was right. Serve over hamburger buns or homemade biscuits if you have the time.

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

You'll eventually get used to cooking without your husband there. My husband is gone 5 nights a week at the least. Because of that, I can cook whatever I want. He is really pick and anti veggie, seafood and other things. So, lucky me I made bbq shrimp one night and veggie stir fry the next....something I couldn't do if he was there :-) Anyway, one thing that really helps me is to keep the individually packaged chicken breasts in the freezer. If I don't have anything else or don't feel like preparing something then I just take 2 out and either let cool water run over them or just pop them in a casserole and bake at 350 for about an hour and a half uncovered. You can season with sallt and pepper, montreal chicken seasoning, or cover them with bbq sauce during the last 10 minutes. Pair with veggies and you have a super quick easy meal. Good luck!

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S.C.

answers from Des Moines on

Home Made Pizza!! And as a bonus it's a GREAT way to use leftovers! Are two favorites are Sloppy Joe pizza (leftover sloppy joes and cheddar) and BBQ (whatever meat you have leftover, shredded with BBQ sauce) You can make your own crust or use tortilla's or english muffins

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