5 Easy Weeknight Dinners Your Whole Family Will Love

 

I grew up in a time and age where you could always tell what day of the week it was by what was sitting on the dinner table. It was always the same week-in and week-out, with very little variation. This is simply what worked for our mother. She worked outside the home and so having a plan was very important to her, and streamlining it was even more important!

Because nothing changed, she also had a weekly grocery list that never changed. She could whip through the shop at the speed of light and be done in no time at all. She knew exactly what she wanted and never fell prey to the powers of impulse buying!  If it wasn't on the list, it didn't make it into her shopping cart!

I have always been the exact opposite. Although I have always been a compulsive menu-planner, I only ever very rarely was able to stick to the plan. More often than not the menus I planned on Saturday for the week ahead were filled with things that, "on the day" I went to cook them, I no longer craved or felt like cooking. 

I also wanted my meals to be spontaneous and exciting. I never wanted the meals that I served to be humdrum or predictable. (I did try to use up everything I had, however, and make good use of everything. My leftovers were always reinvented in delicious ways. Mom always said I could make an old boot taste like a feast.)

School will soon be starting up again here in the Valley, in just a few weeks. (I know that it has already started back up in many places in the U.S.) That first week of school can be really hectic and busy. Everyone is having to get used to being on a schedule again.  

There are many days that I miss having a family to plan and cook for.

I thought it would be fun today to put together a week's worth of meals that are not only economical, and easy to make, but also delicious and family friendly. Five days' worth of tasty meal suggestions that won't break the bank or your back! Enjoy!

MONDAY NIGHT FAMILY FAVORITE WITH OVEN HASH

Economical and honest ingredients combined to make a delicious meal that your family will love. Not a hash with potatoes, but a delicious mixture of spiced minced beef, baked with tomatoes, onions and noodles. Comfort food. Family food. Simple, maybe . . . but never plain.

This is an old family favorite from the original Betty Crocker Cookbook. You cannot fault it in any way. I have been making this for my family for over fifty years now. It's also very easy to make it your own with a bit of this and a bit of that. I love recipes like that! All you need is some crusty bread and perhaps a salad on the side.

TACO TUESDAY WITH FRIED CHICKEN TACOS

We love celebrating Taco Tuesdays, and these delicious Fried Chicken Tacos are the perfect way to do it! What you have here is tender diced chicken sautéed with mild chili powder, cumin, and green chilies. This is then tucked into soft tortillas and pan-fried until irresistibly crisp. The result? A taco that’s crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready to be loaded with your favorite toppings—think melty cheese, sour cream, fresh tomatoes, and a splash of hot sauce. 

 Whether you use corn or flour tortillas, this recipe is all about bold flavor and fun, messy bites. It’s quick to make, easy to customize, and absolutely delicious! 

You can vary the toppings according to everyone's likes and dislikes. Shredded lettuce, chopped veggies, guacamole, sour cream, taco sauce, etc. You do you and your family!  These tacos are simply amazingly delicious.

 

WEDNESDAY PORK CHOPS

WITH 

CREAM GRAVY

Who can resist a pork chop, golden seared and bone-in. Seasoned with bold Montreal Steak spice and cooked to tender and juicy perfection? The real magic happens when you serve them along with a silky, peppery cream gravy.  Rich, savory and utterly indulgent.

I like to slash the fatty edge of the chops before searing to help keep them flat in the pan for even browning. Old fashioned and hearty, these are nothing short of delicious.

I like to serve them with fluffy buttery mashed potatoes and a vegetable or a salad on the side. I don't think anyone will be turning their noses up at these!

 

FOUR CAN CHILI

THURSDAY CROCK POT SPECIAL

What can be any simpler for a weeknight supper than a delicious chili.  Four simple ingredients are popped into the slow cooker, leaving you hands-free to get on with whatever needs doing. You can either have it done and on the table in two hours of crock pot time, or you can take up to nine hours. It all depends on the temperature and time you set it to on your crock pot. 

If you work outside the home, you might want to get it started before you go to work in the morning. That way you have a delicious hot meal ready when you get home from work and the kids get home from school.

Either way it makes for a very simple and delicious supper or lunch for that matter. I can imagine a thermos of this would go down really well along with a few crackers. Easy, economical and delicious!

FRIDAY NIGHT HOT DOGS

WITH 

MAC AND CHEESE DOGS

A nostalgic mashup of two old favorites. Creamy macaroni and cheese is piled onto smoky frankfurters that have been nestled into crisp buttery toasted buns.  Indulgent, playful and perfectly delicious. Topped with crispy salad onions the assembled dogs are baked for a short to get that perfectly golden finish.

These are lovely served with a tossed salad on the side. Bake any excess macaroni alongside to serve with the filled hot dogs. This is a great way to end an already delicious week and lead into the weekend!

And there you have it, Five Easy Weeknight Dinners that your whole family will love. At least my family would have loved them. Thank you so much for indulging my fancy today. I will be back tomorrow with a fresh new recipe!

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