Need good make ahead dinner ideas

K

kathleen

Well-known member
My little boys all have music lessons on Wednesdays that don't get over until 6. So, when we arrive home at 6:15 they are famished. I need some ideas of meals that I can make ahead of time that will be pretty much ready when we get home. As it is in single digits here, a hot meal is important to me.

So far, I have been making chili, chowders, blts, spaghetti and meatballs, pulled pork. What else can I make? Thinking of dinner tomorrow night and nothing is bubbling up as a good dinner idea.

Thanks

 
A few ideas for you....

pot roast

lasagna

manicotti

stuffed shells

meatloaf

chile verde (recipe above), can be made with chicken instead of the pork

sloppy joes

macaroni and cheese

tacos, burritos, enchiladas

stuffed zucchini and red bell peppers (at the link)

most of the above can be made ahead and reheated

or how about breakfast for dinner...waffles or pancakes or eggs/omelet

and of course crockpot items timed to finish when you arrive home

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=112577

 
LAARB! I love Cathy's rec; I follow Mar advise and make into one big salad. So good and easy!

 
Thanks for all the ideas

We have done breakfast for dinner a couple times. The last time I made the lemon ricotta pancakes that someone had posted on the Best of the Year thread a couple weeks back.

We have done tacos in a bag as well.

I think I am going to try the apricot chicken crock pot idea. I can set my rice cooker's timer and so everything could be ready when we get home.

Thanks for the ideas. That link of Dawn's was very helpful.

 
Two more ideas- Rec: Meat & Potato Pie, Mom's Saturday Night Tuna Melt

MEAT AND POTATO PIE (serves 6)

1 -1/2 lb hamburger or ground turkey
1/3 cup medium salsa
1 egg
1/3 cup dried bread crumbs
1 chopped onion,
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
Mix all this together and pat into pie tin to make a “crust.” Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Drain or pat off fat with a paper towel.
Mix together the following ingredients and Mound this mixture in the “crust”.:
Mashed potatoes for 6
2 T butter
1 tsp celery seed
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp of any of the herbs used above
2 T sour cream if desired
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
Layer these on top and bake another 15-20 minutes: fresh tomato slices onion slices cheddar, jack, or American cheese slices parmesan cheese. Once baked you can keep this in the fridge, cut slices of it and "nuke" to heat up for the kids.


MOM'S SATURDAY NIGHT TUNA MELT
(makes 4 large sandwiches)
When Mom made these my sisters and I loved them! Mom would make a bunch and freeze them. We'd pop them in the oven for a hot lunch treat in the winter. Add a bowl of soup and you have a terrific dinner.

2 Cans (6-1/4 oz each) water pack tuna, drained and flaked
2 chopped stalks celery
1 chopped onion
1/2 C cubed American or cheddar cheese
1/2 C cubed pepper jack cheese
1 T Beau Monde seasoning or 1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
2 T sweet pickle relish (optional)
1-1/2 C Miracle Whip or mayonnaise

Mix together. Cut a French Baguette into 4 equal pieces. Slice each piece almost in half horizontally. Tear 4-16" square pieces of aluminum foil and place bread in center of each. Spoon tuna mix into bread and gather foil around each sandwich leaving the top open 1". Put "bundles" in a baking pan and bake in a preheated 350° oven for 15 minutes or until cheese melts.

 
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