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Various easy school night dinners laid out for a family meal

Quick way to grow 3 Easy School Night Dinners

This recipe provides a quick and efficient way to prepare three distinct, easy school night dinners, perfect for busy weeknights. It focuses on maximizing efficiency by utilizing shared ingredients and preparation techniques to save time.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Shared Ingredients
  • 2 lbs Ground Beef
  • 1 large Onion
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 3 medium Bell Peppers (various colors)
  • 2 14.5 oz cans Canned Diced Tomatoes
  • 4 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 4 cups Chicken or Vegetable Broth
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Black Pepper
Dinner 1: Pasta with Meat Sauce
  • 1 lb Pasta
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan Cheese for serving
Dinner 2: Beef & Bean Chili
  • 1 15 oz can Kidney Beans
  • 1 15 oz can Canned Corn
  • 2 tbsp Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 0.5 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese for serving
  • 0.25 cup Sour Cream for serving
Dinner 3: Sloppy Joes
  • 4 Hamburger Buns
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Brown Sugar

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Cutting Board
  • Knife
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Wooden Spoon or Spatula
  • Containers for Portioning

Method
 

Preparation (All Dinners)
  1. Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and chop the bell peppers. Cook the ground beef in a large pot with olive oil until browned, then drain any excess fat.
  2. Add the onion, garlic, and bell peppers to the pot and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes and chicken or vegetable broth. Bring to a simmer, then divide the mixture into three equal portions in separate containers.
Dinner 1: Pasta with Meat Sauce
  1. In one portion of the meat mixture, simmer for 20-25 minutes until the sauce thickens. Cook pasta according to package directions.
  2. Serve the meat sauce over the cooked pasta, and garnish with Parmesan cheese.
Dinner 2: Beef & Bean Chili
  1. To a second portion, add drained kidney beans, corn, chili powder, and cumin. Simmer for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
  2. Serve the chili hot, topped with shredded cheddar cheese and a dollop of sour cream.
Dinner 3: Sloppy Joes
  1. In the third portion, stir in Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce is slightly sticky.
  2. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto hamburger buns and serve immediately.

Notes

Meal prepping the base meat mixture saves significant time on busy school nights. Feel free to adjust spices in each dinner to your family's preferences. You can serve the sloppy joes with a side salad or fries.