This post sharing my four easy dinner hacks was originally a sponsored campaign. All opinions remain my own.
Today is our last day of school. For the next 82 days, I have not only my kids home but my husband, too. That means I’ll get “What’s there to eat?” at least 738 times between now and when they go back to school.
I still have to work, and the fact that I take time to spend with them means I have to get creative about when (and where) I work. Often that means my 12 and 14 year old need to fend for themselves a bit.
They can cook, and they have some meals they love to make (with supervision) that are super easy and tasty from garlic Asian noodles to my son’s go to chicken salad to tuna and tomato pasta and more.
This summer, I’m scoping out not just these but all the easy meals that they can handle themselves that still provide the taste and nutrition they expect when I cook. And while my kids have skills in the kitchen, they don’t always have the inclination to use them.
For example, my daughter adores chicken fried rice. She actually had me make it for her birthday party a couple years ago.
It’s not that hard to make, but she never wants to. Sometimes, you have to cheat and keep the frozen version on hand.
Do my kids enjoy just heating up these entrees and calling that dinner? Absolutely they do.
But.
I found some easy great dinner hacks that take these entrees and elevate them. These additions take just a few minutes, but they give even more variety to our meal planning.
How to Use Asian Frozen Meals for Easy Dinner Hacks
Instant Chicken Chow Mein Noodles Soup
The best part about this is that the soup makes enough to feed two from a single entree container. Just heat 12 ounces of chicken stock in a medium and bring it to a boil.
Add one package of frozen Chicken Chow Mein and one cup of shredded carrot to pot of boiling stock and bring to boil again.
Season soup with sesame oil and salt and pepper to taste. Top with cilantro leaves if desired.
Serve immediately. If your kids are old enough and responsible enough to boil pasta, they can make this soup in just about 10 minutes!
Easy Chicken Fried Rice with Egg
My fried rice loving daughter could eat it night and day. But fried rice for breakfast is actually a thing! Take the chicken fried rice and cook it per the package directions.
You can also do this with leftover homemade fried rice in addition to a frozen version.
Fry one to two eggs in a pan with a touch of oil until the whites are cooked and the yolks are still runny. My son makes himself fried eggs like this almost every morning for breakfast, so again older kids who have some kitchen experience can help make this!
Top the chicken fried rice with the cooked eggs and serve immediately. This bulks up breakfast so ideally my kids don’t ask for more food about 10am.
And yes, you absolutely could enjoy this for lunch or dinner instead of breakfast, too.
Pepper Steak stuffed in Bell Peppers
This easy dinner hack takes just five minutes to prep, but then you need a little patience while they cook.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cook the Pepper Steaks in the microwave for three minutes. They’ll finish cooking in the oven later.
While they cook, cut the tops off 3 red or yellow bell peppers. Remove and discard the seeds and white membranes inside. Peel and shred a carrot.
Add the carrots into the frozen food container and stir to distribute. Spoon the Pepper Steaks into the three bell peppers, dividing it equally.
Return the tops to the peppers and place on a sheet pan in your 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
Rice wrapped Orange Chicken
I love spring rolls of all shapes and flavors. This is a fun one that requires no stove or oven, making the prep even more kid-friendly. This may be my favorite of the easy dinner hacks.
Cook the Orange Chicken according to package directions in the microwave.
Open a package of spring roll skins (I almost always find mine with the refrigerated produce at my grocery stores). Add warm water to a plate and dip each skin in the water on both sides as you prep each roll.
Place a piece of lettuce over the spring roll skin, leaving a two inch border on all sides. Add two tablespoons orange chicken atop the lettuce.
Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately with plum sauce or soy sauce with lemon.
What do you think of these easy dinner hacks?
All I can say? Let’s just hope the kids give me a bit of a break with the, “Hey, Mom!” I seem to get nonstop. All these easy dinner hacks are ones they can handle, which will make all our lives easier!
Whether my kids eat the entrees “straight” or enjoy some of these options, we save time. With vibrant Asian food that’s ready in minutes, meal prepping can wait. And this summer, it needs to.
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