If you're a parent who's responsible for making dinner every night, you know how time-consuming the process can be. Getting your kids to actually eat what you've prepared can be more of a challenge, particularly if you have a picky eater. If you're crunched for time and need some quick dinner ideas, there are a number of recipes that kids of all ages are sure to love.
There are lots of easy dinners you can make for hungry kids. Photo Credit dinner image by anna karwowska from Fotolia.com
Skillet Lasagna
Skillet lasagna is a faster alternative to traditional lasagna that's just as delicious. You need ground beef, pasta sauce, oven-ready lasagna noodles, ricotta and mozzarella cheese. Disney Family Fun says to brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain it and stir in two cups of pasta sauce. Add a layer of oven-ready noodles and ricotta cheese, and top with the remaining sauce and mozzarella cheese. Simmer on medium-low heat for approximately 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
Quesadillas
If your kids are tired of tacos, quesadillas are an easy, tasty alternative. Kids can stuff large flour or whole-wheat tortillas with their choice of chicken, steak, black beans, bacon, ham, tomatoes, onions, peppers, corn, jalapeno peppers, zucchini, shredded cheese and other favorite ingredients. Better Homes and Gardens recommends cooking your stuffed quesadillas in a pan with 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil over low heat for approximately 2 minutes on each side. Once the cheese has melted, slice and serve with salsa, sour cream or guacamole.
Turkey Chili
If you don't have time to slow-simmer traditional chili, turkey chili can be done in less than 30 minutes. Brown one pound of turkey and drain. In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the browned turkey, chili powder, black pepper, salt, cumin, black beans, pinto or red beans, yellow kernel corn and chicken broth. Stir over medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until the chili begins to thicken. Top with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
Potato Skin Pizza
If your kids love pizza and potatoes, combine their favorites into pizza-stuffed potato skins. According to Disney Family Fun, all you need is six large baking potatoes, 2 1/2 cups of pasta sauce, shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheeses and assorted toppings. Use black olives, sauteed green peppers or onions, mushrooms, bacon, tomatoes, pepperoni and any other kids' favorites. Bake the potatoes until they become tender, halve them lengthwise, and scoop out the center. Put the skins on a baking sheet and top with sauce, toppings and cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Kabobs
Kabobs are a quick and easy meal that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes. You need wooden skewers, chicken breast or stew beef cut into cubes, and your choice of vegetables. Disney Family Fun suggests using cherry tomatoes, and you can also use mushrooms, onions, bell peppers or even chunk pineapple. Skewer your ingredients, brush with your favorite marinade and broil or grill for 10 to 15 minutes.
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