When it's too nice not to be outside all day, these are the quick and easy dinners I make.
Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
Every Monday, our editors bring you Simply (Weeknight) Recipes, five quick and easy dinner recipes to make this week.
I have a bit of good news and a bit of bad news. Which do you want first? I'll give you the good news: This week, I will finally get 11 hours of daylight where I live in Virginia. Spring is on its way, meaning daffodils will soon bloom, and before I know it, my family will be having dinner outdoors on the deck. Doesn't that sound nice (and warm)?
The bad news: Things are going to start getting really busy. Longer days and warmth mean soccer and baseball practices, track meets, and playdates at the pool. By dinnertime, my energy is usually zapped from having driven the kids around all day that I don't feel like cooking.
So why am I telling you this? If you've been feeling gloom, as I often do at this time of year, go outside for as long as possible. Enjoy the incoming warmth! Then, know there are plenty of dinners you can whip up for your family—many in under 30 minutes. Here are five of my favorite quick and easy dinner recipes, including tips from our contributors.
Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower
Get Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
I've made this recipe with all kinds of ground meat—turkey, pork, and chicken. Ground turkey and chicken tend to be dry, so I add 1/2 cup of more water and drizzle it with a bit of sesame oil before serving.
Easy Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon
Get Recipe: Easy Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
" This recipe uses a combination of sweet and hot sausages, but if you want a milder dish, use only the sweet sausages and reduce the amount of chili pepper flakes in the recipe. Likewise, if you would like it spicier, use hot sausages and/or bump up the amount of chili pepper flakes." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder
Zuppa Toscana
Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: This Easy Tuscan Soup Tastes Better Than the Olive Garden Classic
"This Zuppa Toscana is especially delicious with crusty bread. You can serve some toasted, olive oil-drizzled bread for dunking, or you can make some quick homemade croutons for garnish." —Nick Evans, Simply Recipes Contributor
Easy Salmon Fried Rice
Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Salmon Fried Rice
"If you don't have day-old rice, you can take freshly made rice, spread it out in an even layer on a sheet pan, and put it into a 200°F (93°C) oven for 12 minutes to dry out a bit." —Elise
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Get Recipe: Make This for Dinner When You Swear There’s Nothing To Eat
Aglio e olio is a true pantry dish. If you don't have one of the ingredients, leave it out! (Though having pasta—any shape!—is pretty critical.)
