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5 Quick Dinner Ideas for Busy Homeschool Moms (includes shopping lists)

Writer: Beth LeeBeth Lee

Updated: May 5, 2023


As a homeschooling mom, your day can be filled with lessons, activities, and errands. By the time dinner rolls around, you may find yourself short on time and energy. Here are some quick and easy dinner ideas that will satisfy your family and save you time in the kitchen.




Spaghetti Night – Pasta, Sauce, Garlic Bread, and Salad

Spaghetti is a classic family favorite that can be thrown together in no time. Cook up some spaghetti noodles and heat up a jar of your favorite pasta sauce. Brown some ground beef, add it to the sauce, and let it simmer for a few minutes. Serve with a salad kit and garlic bread on the side. To make garlic bread, use any bread you have on hand, butter it, sprinkle it with powdered garlic and salt, and toast it under the broiler.


Spaghetti Night Shopping List:

  • Spaghetti noodles

  • Jar of pasta sauce

  • Ground beef

  • Salad kit

  • Bread (of your choice)

  • Butter

  • Garlic powder

  • Salt


Quick Chili & Corn Bread

Chili is a hearty and easy meal that can be made in under 30 minutes. Heat up canned chili or make your own by rinsing three cans of pinto beans, draining a can of corn, and adding a can of tomato sauce, cumin, garlic, pepper, chili powder, and salt to taste. Brown some ground beef and add it to the pot. Let it simmer for 20 minutes while you bake some cornbread. Serve the chili with hot cornbread, butter, honey, and toppings like cheese and sour cream.


Quick Chili & Corn Bread Shopping List:

  • Cornbread mix (or ingredients to make from scratch)

  • Canned chili (or ingredients to make your own)

  • Pinto beans (or any beans you prefer)

  • Canned corn

  • Canned tomato sauce

  • Cumin

  • Garlic powder

  • Chili powder

  • Ground beef

  • Cheese (optional)

  • Sour cream (optional)


Alfredo Pasta

This simple and delicious pasta dish can be made in just 20 minutes. Cook your pasta of choice and heat up a jar of alfredo sauce with clean ingredients. Add in some canned chicken or frozen precooked chicken to the sauce. Toss the pasta with the sauce and chicken and serve with a Caesar salad kit on the side.


Alfredo Pasta Shopping List:

  • Pasta of your choice

  • Jar of Alfredo sauce

  • Canned chicken (or precooked frozen chicken)

  • Caesar salad kit



Breakfast for Dinner

German Pancakes (High Protein) with Cut Up Fruit and Sausage or Bacon Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 6 eggs

  • 1 cup of milk

  • 1 cup of flour

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla

  • 1 teaspoon of salt

  • Half a cube of butter

  • Jam

  • Real maple syrup

  • Lemon juice

  • Powdered sugar

  • Bacon or sausage

  • Cut up fruit

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and spray a 9x13 pan with oil.

  2. Melt half a cube of butter in the pan while preparing the batter.

  3. Whisk or blend together 6 eggs, 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 teaspoon salt until smooth.

  4. Pour the batter over the melted butter in the hot pan.

  5. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges have risen high and are golden brown.

  6. Remove from the oven. It will deflate, but that’s supposed to happen.

  7. Cut into squares.

  8. Serve with jam, real maple syrup, lemon juice, powdered sugar, bacon or sausage, and cut up fruit.


Breakfast for Dinner Shopping List:

  • Eggs

  • Milk

  • Flour

  • Vanilla extract

  • Salt

  • Butter

  • Jam

  • Maple syrup

  • Powdered sugar

  • Bacon or sausage

  • Fruit (of your choice)



Pesto Chicken Bake


Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

  • 1 pound baby potatoes

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes

  • 1/3 cup pesto

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, toss the chicken thighs, baby potatoes, and cherry tomatoes with pesto, olive oil, salt, and pepper until everything is evenly coated.

  3. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and spread it out evenly.

  4. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked through.

  5. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Serve the Pesto Chicken Bake hot with your favorite sides, such as steamed vegetables, a fresh salad, or crusty bread. Enjoy!


Pesto Chicken Bake Shopping List:

  • Chicken thighs

  • Baby potatoes

  • Cherry tomatoes

  • Pesto

  • Olive oil



Other quick ideas:

  • Roasted Sheet Pan Dinners – search online for sheet pan dinner recipes that your family will enjoy.

  • Store-bought Rotisserie Chicken, Steamed Frozen Veggies, Baked Beans, and Steamed Rice.

  • Grass-fed Burgers on Organic Buns, Frozen Sweet Potato Fries.

  • Taco Night – make tacos with your favorite toppings.

  • Grass-fed Hot Dogs on Organic Buns – turn it into a chili dog by adding canned chili on top.

In conclusion, these quick and easy dinner ideas will help you save time in the kitchen and satisfy your family's hunger. Whether it's spaghetti night or breakfast for dinner, these meals will leave you with more time to spend with your loved ones.

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