Time-Saving Tips for Cooking on Busy Weeknights

The struggle is real when it comes to weeknight dinners! These time-saving tips for cooking on busy weeknights will help you prep meals faster, reduce kitchen stress, and get delicious dinners on the table in no time!

My Tried-and-True 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 in the shuffle—or feel completely overwhelming.

As a busy mom, I get it. A few years ago, I sat down and really thought about all the pain points that were causing me dinnertime stress and came up with strategies to overcome them so I could prioritize weeknight dinners with my family.

These tips for cooking on busy weeknights are super easy and you can pick-and-choose which ones are practical for your family. Let’s dig in!

Meal Prepping For Busy Nights

Meal prepping will save you hours during the week! While it might take a while to get everything on your list done, future you will be SO grateful.

What can make meal prep feel overwhelming is when you approach it as having to cook your entire meals for the week all in one day. You don’t have to do that! Instead, prep components of your meals or make a dinner or two on a Sunday night when you have some extra time. Every little bit helps!

1. Cut and Chop. If a recipe calls for a lot of vegetable prep or chopping, I like to wash and 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, it may need 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. Rice, roasted vegetables, cooked meats, pasta, and certain sauces can be cooked and refrigerated until ready to use.

Embrace Leftovers and Batch Cooking

Learning to love leftovers and batch-cooking meals is 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.

1. Leftovers. Make more than you need to stretch the meal so it lasts 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 prepared meal. You can also reinvent leftovers to make them feel like a different meal—chili one night and chili cheese fries the next, for example.
2. Batch Cooking. If you’re cooking chicken on the grill or in the oven, why not cook a few more pieces? Freeze the extra chicken (or whatever you prepare) and have it on hand for a meal in the future.
3. Freezer-Friendly Meals. 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 up a hearty casserole to freeze in single-serve portions. 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 while still making delicious homemade 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.

1. Instant Pots. This nifty kitchen tool works like a pressure cooker to cut down on meals that typically take a long time, but it also shaves time off of making pasta, soups, and more. My Instant Pot Tortellini, Instant Pot Whole Chicken, and Instant Pot Lasagna Soup are excellent recipes to make in the Instant Pot!
2. Crock Pots. Crock Pots are great for prepping your meal ahead of time and having it done by dinner. My Crock Pot Chili, Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, and Crock Pot Ham are some favorites for the slow cooker.
3. Air Fryer. The air fryer cooks food lightning fast! Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer French Fries, and Air Fryer Meatballs are staples in my house.

Share With Us!

I hope you find these tips on saving time cooking on busy weeknights helpful! If so, please share your experience in the comments below. Don’t forget to share your delicious creations on social media @allthingsmamma using #allthingsmamma. Happy cooking!