These quick and easy 5-ingredient recipes are perfect for those busy weeknights when you need to have a dinner on the table asap. They are quick, you might have the few ingredients needed in your pantry already and most importantly they are all kid-approved😎.

Most parents know the feeling of dread when you realize that the kids are already starving but the dinner is not yet started up. Just a short while ago that was me almost every evening. But then I started to make a list of easy and fast recipe ideas and planning a bit ahead my family’s dinners. If you would like some tips on how to start meal planning, go check out my post on Meal Planning Basics.

Having an idea bank really helps with planning out my meals. These simple recipes can be lifesavers on hectic days. In this post I am giving you 5 meal ideas that all have max 5 ingredients and come together in under half an hour.

You can give the kids some cucumber or carrot sticks if the waiting time seems too long. As part of my meal prep I always make sure to have some around. When you chop up a bunch of carrots in the beginning of the week, you just have to get the bowl out on the counter for them to serve themselves😉.

So without further ado, here are your next 5 favorite weekday dinner recipes.

1. Sheetpan Chicken and Vegetables (chicken, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, red onions) – 25-30min of baking time (can be made ahead)

2. Pesto-Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes (penne or butterfly pasta, pesto, cherry tomatoes, optionally grated cheese) – the cooking time for the pasta + 2 minutes to stir in the rest (about 10 min total)

3. Salmon Papillotes and Lemony Zucchini (salmon chops, cherry tomatoes, smaller zucchinis, lemon) 20 min baking time

4. Creamy Bacon and Mushroom Sauce over Rice (cubed bacon, mushrooms, heavy cream, rice) – ~15 min total

5. Spicy Coconut-Pumpkin Soup (pumpkin puree, coconut milk, curry paste, water, if you wish add croutons and/or pumpkin seeds as toppings) – 10 min

The reality of having to have dinner on the table every night at moment’s notice is hitting home hard sometimes. I hope these easy recipe ideas help you out on tougher days!

If you found this useful, follow me on also Instagram for more tips and recipes.

You should also check out my list of 30 Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids where you’ll find 15 savory and 15 sweet snack ideas that are fun and delicious but also good for your health!