Looking for make-ahead dinner ideas

[spinbaby]

I’ve been picking my grandson up from school lately and babysitting him until dinner time when a parental unit picks him up, usually staying for dinner. The thing is, I can’t cook with grandson underfoot, so have been relying on things I can put in a slow cooker ahead of time and casseroles I can assemble ahead of time. I’m tired of tuna casserole, lasagna, pot roast, and chili. Please give me some ideas..

[SheltieLover]

1. Chicien tacos

Place meat & contents of a jar of salsa in crock pot.

Wala. Yummy!

[Unwind Your Mind]

12. Really good with green salsa too

[Nay]

2. Spaghetti and meatballs; homemade mac and cheese (heat up at dinnertime); homemade chicken soup

with lots of veggies and chicken; tuna melt sandwiches; fruit plate with cheese cubes and rotisserie chicken.

[jmbar2]

3. Do one "cookathon" a month on a weekend.

Some of my go-tos
- Teriyaki chicken thighs- prepare a big package, cook in oven, freeze in serving size bags, serve over rice with side salad.
- Rotisserie chicken soup. (Make the soup base ahead of time, then add noodle, rice, or whatever to the reheated soup).
- Rotisserie chicken enchiladas
- Premake taco meat and freeze.
- Freeze ahead spaghetti sauce--> pizza sauce, eggplant parmesan



Other fast stuff
- Packaged pizza crust, Jar sauce and toppings
- Burritos- bean, guac, salsa
- Microwave corn-on-the-cob. Remove outermost husks, leave clean inner husks on and mic for 2-3 mins.
- Cous cous salad - prepare pearl cous cous per package, add veggies, canned tuna, avo, whatever you like, mix with an Asian-style dressing of seasoned rice vinegar, oil, sesame oil, and seasonings.
- Fettucini. Pick up some packaged smoked salmon and keep on hand. Prepare noodles, quick sauce of butter, cream, parmesan, salt and pepper.
-Chili cheese dogs

Good luck!

[Lars39]

4. Pinterest has a ton of dump and go meals

that start from frozen.

[Me.]

5. Hearty & Comforting Soups

https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g3924/winter-soup/


https://themodernproper.com/30-best-soup-recipes

[jmbar2]

7. These look wonderful

Lots of new ideas for me. Thanks

[gab13by13]

6. I am doing the same with my grandson,

I don't have time to make his meals. My answer was easy, he loves pasta. I made up a big batch while he was in school.

He ate the pasta for supper. The next morning I was prepared to make him potato pancakes for breakfast when he said, I want pasta, no problem I said. I did throw in a roast, carrots and potatoes in a slow cooker one day, which also tastes better the 2nd day.

Your ideas sound just fine to me.

[lillypaddle]

8. Do you have an instant pot?

They are a real time saver, and super easy. If you don't have one, I highly recommend you make the investment.

But anyway, back to the slow cooker - Chicken stew, beef stew, I cook a roast until it falls apart, and then add a bottle of BBQ sauce, put it on hamburger buns.

If you haven't, go browse easy recipes (or easy slow cooker recipes) on Youltube.com. I get tons of ideas from there, most of which are excellent.

What a good grandmother you are! Good luck.

[lillypaddle]

9. Give these a view - there are 73 of them.

https://www.delish.com/cooking/g3849/best-slow-cooker-recipes/

[Retrograde]

10. Can you get your grandson to "help"?

Even three-year-olds can do simple jobs like putting silverware on the table (just don't be too picky about everyone getting the right number and kinds - maybe some people really do want 15 spoons and no fork!) or letting you know when the parental unit shows up.

Otherwise, consider making large batches of things that reheat well, such as stews and soups, and freeze them in smaller portions suitable for one or two. And try varying your standards: instead of chili made with ground beef and tomatoes, try a chili verde made with green chiles, tomatillos, and diced chicken. The Brits have a standby - spag bol (short for spaghetti Bolognase, which most Italians consider a travesty) that's a meaty tomato sauce that can be ladled on top of all kinds of pasta. Quiches are quick - especially if you buy frozen pie crusts - and good cold the next day.

I'll second the recommendation for the Instant Pot: it's especially handy if you decide you want a bean dish tonight and not two days from now. It's also good for stewing tougher cuts of meat.

[spinbaby]

11. He can't help

That’s one of my issues trying to cook with him here. He’s eight, but has autism and functions more like a two-year-old.