Dinner in a Flash: 5 Quick and Healthy Recipes for Busy Nights
After a long day of work or running errands, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen cooking dinner. But at the same time, you don't want to resort to unhealthy takeout or fast food. So, what's the solution? Quick and healthy recipes that can be made in a flash!
Here are five delicious and nutritious recipes that are perfect for busy nights:
1. Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies
Sheet pan chicken and veggies is a delicious and easy meal that can be prepared in one pan. Here is a simple recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 cups of fresh or frozen veggies (such as broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini)
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Wash and chop your veggies into bite-sized pieces.
Place the chicken breasts on one side of the sheet pan and the veggies on the other side.
Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken and veggies, making sure to coat them evenly.
Sprinkle the dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper over the chicken and veggies.
Toss the veggies around to make sure they are coated with the seasoning.
Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the veggies are tender.
Remove the sheet pan from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy sheet pan chicken and veggies!
2. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
One-pot lemon garlic shrimp pasta is a quick and easy meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. Here's a recipe that will help you make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of linguine pasta
- 1 pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 1/4 cup of lemon juice
- 2 cups of chicken broth
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, bring salted water to a boil and cook the linguine according to package instructions until al dente.
Drain the pasta and set it aside.
In the same pot, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter is melted.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to the pot and bring it to a simmer.
Add the shrimp to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until they turn pink.
Add the cooked linguine to the pot and toss it with the shrimp and sauce.
Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.
Serve the pasta hot and enjoy!
This one-pot lemon garlic shrimp pasta is a perfect meal for a quick and easy dinner.
Tuna and avocado salad is a healthy and delicious meal that is easy to prepare. Here's a recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of tuna, drained
- 2 ripe avocados, diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine the drained tuna, diced avocado, red onion, and red bell pepper.
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the tuna and avocado mixture and toss gently to combine.
Add the chopped cilantro to the salad and mix well.
Serve the tuna and avocado salad chilled or at room temperature.
Enjoy your healthy and delicious tuna and avocado salad!
Veggie quesadillas are a quick and easy meal that can be made with a variety of vegetables. Here's a recipe to get you started:
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Veggie quesadillas are a quick and easy meal that can be made with a variety of vegetables. Here's a recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 4 large flour tortillas
- 1 cup of shredded cheese (such as cheddar or Monterey Jack)
- 1/2 cup of black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup of corn kernels, fresh or frozen
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add the sliced red bell pepper and red onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until they start to soften.
Add the black beans, corn kernels, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper to the skillet and stir to combine.
Cook the vegetable mixture for another 2-3 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
Remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside.
Heat a clean skillet over medium-high heat.
Place a flour tortilla in the skillet and sprinkle shredded cheese over half of the tortilla.
Spoon some of the vegetable mixture over the cheese.
Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling to create a half-moon shape.
Cook the quesadilla for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the cheese is melted and the tortilla is golden brown.
Repeat with the remaining tortillas and vegetable mixture.
Serve the veggie quesadillas hot with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, guacamole, or salsa.
Enjoy your delicious and healthy veggie quesadillas!
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Instant Pot beef stew is a hearty and comforting meal that can be made in a fraction of the time it would take on the stove or in a slow cooker. Here's a recipe to get you started:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds of beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 4 cups of beef broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons of water
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Turn on the Instant Pot and select the "saute" function. Heat some oil in the pot and add the beef stew meat. Cook the meat for 3-4 minutes until browned on all sides.
Add the chopped onion, sliced carrots, sliced celery, and minced garlic to the pot. Stir to combine and cook for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
Add the tomato paste, beef broth, bay leaves, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir to combine.
Close the Instant Pot and set it to "manual" or "pressure cook" mode for 35 minutes.
Once the cooking time is up, use the quick-release method to release the pressure from the Instant Pot.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water. Stir the mixture into the beef stew to thicken the sauce.
Serve the Instant Pot beef stew hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Enjoy your delicious and easy Instant Pot beef stew!
In conclusion, it's possible to prepare a healthy and delicious dinner in a flash, even on busy nights. These five recipes are simple to make, require minimal prep work, and are packed with wholesome ingredients. By using a combination of fresh vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains, you can create satisfying meals that will keep you feeling energized and nourished. So the next time you're short on time but still want to make a healthy meal, try one of these recipes and enjoy a stress-free dinner in no time!
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