Time-Saving Tips for Cooking on Busy Weeknights

Cooking a filling meal that the whole family will agree on during the week isn’t an easy task. Between running errands, shopping for food, and managing everyone’s schedules, figuring out an easy dinner can easily get lost.

That’s why I decided to focus on these time-saving tips and prioritize weeknight dinners with my family. The tips are super easy to add to an everyday schedule and make it so I can figure out meals on the fly. To help save time during the week, I’m going to share some of my best tips for cooking during a busy week.

Meal Prepping For Busy Nights

Meal prepping may seem like a simple tip, but trust me, it will save you hours during the week! While it might take a while to get everything on your list done, it will be worth it when you are enjoying a relaxing meal during the week.

Here is what I like to do to meal prep for the week.

Tips For Meal Prepping

1. Cut and Chop. If my meal calls for a lot of vegetable cuts or chopping, I like to cut the ingredients so they are ready to go. That way, I can add them to the pan or dish without getting out the cutting board.
2. Marinate. If a protein is on the menu, chances are it needs to be marinated. In most cases, you can marinate the meat ahead of time and leave it in the refrigerator until it is ready to cook.
3. Cooking Ahead. There are some parts of recipes that sit well in the fridge until it is time to use them. Grains, roasted vegetables, cooked meats, pasta, and certain sauces can be cooked and placed in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Embrace Leftovers and Batch Cooking

Learning to love leftovers and batch-cooking meals will be a true game changer during the week. As long as you have all the ingredients and tools out in the kitchen, why not cook more than you need?

Here are some of the best tips to get started.

Using Leftovers and Batch Cooking Meals

1. Leftovers. Make more than you need to stretch the meal and make it last for more than one night. If it’s a small portion, keep it in the fridge. If it’s a large meal, like a casserole, make two and stick one in the freezer for an easy already prepared meal.
2. Batch Cooking. If you are cooking chicken on the grill or in the oven, why not cook a few more pieces? Everything is already out and ready to go. Freeze the extra pieces of chicken or whatever you prepare. That way, you have a protein to add to any meal.
3. Freezer Friendly Meal. Keeping a few meals ready to go in the freezer will be a game changer on nights when dinner doesn’t exactly go to plan. Make a meal with a protein, grain, and veggies, or a slice of a hearty casserole in single-serve portions in the freezer. With the meals ready to go, you can warm up just what you need.

Use Kitchen Tools to Save Time

Instant Pots, Crock Pots, and Air Fryers are key for saving time in the kitchen. They help me cut down on cooking time in the kitchen and still help me create tasty, delicious meals that everyone in my family loves.

Here are some of my favorite meals to make using those kitchen tools when cooking on busy weeknights.

Using Instant Pots, Crock Pots, and Air Fryers

1. Instant Pots. The nifty kitchen tool works like a pressure cooker to cut down on meals that typically take a long time. My Instant Pot Tortellini, Instant Pot Whole Chicken, and Instant Pot Lasagna Soup are excellent recipes to use the kitchen tool.
2. Crock Pots. Crock Pots are great for prepping ahead of time and then letting the gadget do the rest of the work. My Crock Pot Chili, Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, and Crock Pot Ham are some favorites I like to cook with the Crock Pot.
3. Air Fryer. The Airfryer is a tool that is constantly used in my kitchen. Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer French Fries, and Air Fryer Meatballs are a staple in my house.

Staying Organized in the Kitchen

Being organized in the kitchen seems like a basic tip and can easily be ignored. However, it is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten to keep on schedule. Knowing my goal when I cook, reading the recipe beforehand, and having all my gadgets ready to go is key.