Being a new mother is hard. And that is putting it mildly. With a crying newborn at home, the easiest of tasks can now seem insurmountable. Want to go take a shower? Ruled out! Want to read a book? Go, head to Utopia!
In such a scenario, cooking dinner can feel like a battle. When all your body wants is sleep, food can seem like a luxury. But you need to eat, as does your
family. If you are nursing, you need to eat well to keep your milk supply up. And your body needs the nutrients to heal from the wear and tear of pregnancy and childbirth.
No, you don’t have to order take-outs every day! You can cook easy meals, without spending hours in the kitchen. Don’t believe us? Check out these easy dinner ideas!
1. One Pan Lasagna:
Image: Shutterstock There is something about lasagna that appeals to all taste buds. And if you thought making lasagna was a difficult task, think again! It is filled with veggies and will be great for your digestion too.
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean beef
- One can tomatoes
- Four baby carrots
- One small onion
- One garlic clove
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1⁄2 cup ricotta cheese
- 3 ounces spinach leaves
- Four lasagna noodles
- 4 ounces mozzarella
How To Make:
- The first step is to preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Next, heat the oil in a large skillet.
- Now add the beef and cook for 5-7 minutes.
- While the beef is cooking, mix the tomatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic in a food processor and chop coarsely.
- Let’s move to the beef now! Once the meat is browned, add the tomato mixture, chicken stock, ricotta, and spinach and combine well.
- Dip the noodles in the sauce and garnish with mozzarella.
- Now bake the lasagna, uncovered. Once the cheese has melted, remove the pan and serve warm!
2. Chicken With Goat Cheese and Basil:
There is something very comforting about chicken. This dish is easy to make and is also packed with protein. Serve it with brown rice for a wholesome dinner.
Ingredients:
- Three boneless chicken breasts
- 4-5 oz. goat cheese
- Three large basil leaves
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
How To Make:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Take a sheet pan and line up the chicken breasts on it.
- Remove the skin while keeping one edge attached.
- Cut the cheese into thick slices. Now add one or two of these slices as well as a large basil leaf under each chicken piece.
- Next, rub the chicken pieces with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake for 25-40 minutes.
- Once the meat is cooked through, remove from over.
- Serve hot or at room temperature
3. Vegetarian Gumbo:
The one thing you definitely need as a new mother is a slow cooker! This easy to make recipe is nutritious and won’t take too much effort either.
Ingredients:
- Nonstick baking spray
- Black beans
- Tomatoes
- Mixed vegetables – stir-fried
- 2 cups okra
- 2 to 3 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 3 cups hot cooked white or brown rice
How To Make:
- Combine the beans, tomatoes, vegetables, okra and Cajun seasoning in a slow cooker.
- Now let it cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours. If you want it done quicker, let it cook on high heat for 3 to 4 hours.
- Serve with rice
4. Yangchow Fried Rice:
Are you craving for some Chinese food? Make some at home with next to no effort!
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 2 tbsp chicken stock or water
- Two tsp soy sauce
- One tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 8 shrimp
- 1/2 cup ham
- 1/2 cup cooked chicken
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup tiny peas
- 3/4 cup bean sprouts
- 1/4 cup green onion
How To Make:
- Combine the stock (or water), soy sauce, salt, and sugar in a pan.
- Chop the cooked shrimp into small chunks.
- Take a deep skillet, add the oil and put it over high heat.
- Now add the ham, chicken, chopped shrimp and cook for about one minute.
- Next, add the rice and toss. Keep cooking for about one minute. Add chicken stock mixture and toss to mix. Add the peas.
- Cook the rice till it is tender. Finally add the bean sprouts as well as the green onion and give it a final toss well. Transfer to a serving platter, and serve hot or warm.
- Serve hot.
5. Greek Salad With Warm Pita Crisps:
Healthy, tasty, and easy to make – this is the perfect recipe for new moms. You can even add grilled chicken if you want some extra protein.
Ingredients:
- Four pieces pita bread
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- One tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 285g romaine salad greens
- 1 cucumber
- 1 tomato
- 1 cup black olives
- Two green onions
- ½ cup Greek Dressing
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
How To Make:
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Now place the pita on a baking tray or sheet. Drizzle some olive oil on top and sprinkle dried oregano, salt and pepper. Cook till the pita is crisp.
- Chop the cucumber, tomato, black olives and green onions coarsely and combine.
- Add ¼ cup dressing and garnish with the cheese and warm pita. Serve hot.
6. Chicken Tacos:
Got some leftover chicken? Make some chicken tacos!
Ingredients:
- 3 oz grilled skinless chicken breast
- Two 6 inch corn tortillas
- 1/4 cup black beans
- 1/4 rice
- 1/4 cup avocado
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa
How To Make:
- Wrap the grilled chicken breast into the warm tortilla along with lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, and salsa.
- Enjoy with black beans and rice.
7. Easy Chicken Noodle Soup:
Looking for some chicken soup for your soul? Try this quick recipe.
Ingredients:
- One chicken breast
- One whole chicken leg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Two medium carrots
- Two celery stalks
- 1/2 yellow onion
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Dried thyme
- 6 cups chicken stock
- Bay leaf
- One instant ramen noodles
- Italian parsley leaves
How To Make:
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat and add the chicken. Cook for about 6-8 minutes.
- Add carrot, celery, onion, salt, pepper, and thyme to the pan and combine. Make sure the flame is on low heat. Cook until the vegetables are soft.
- Next, add the broth. Add bay leaf and the chicken pieces.
- Increase the heat again and bring to a boil. Now, lower the flame and let it simmer for about20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the soup.
- Shred the chicken and add it back to the pan.
- Add the noodles and combine. Cook for about five minutes. Season with salt and pepper!
8. Pasta Carbonara With Peas:
This heavenly Italian dish is just what the doctored ordered to heal your body and soul!
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 6 ounces pancetta
- Salt
- 1 pound linguine
- 3 eggs
- Two egg yolks
- 1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
- 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 1 cup peas
- Black pepper
How To Make:
- Heat the oil and add the pancetta.
- Cook for about 12 to 14 minutes.
- Cook the pasta as per instructions.
- Whisk the eggs, yolks and the cheeses together.
- Add the egg-cheese mixture, pancetta, peas, pepper, and pasta cooking water to the pasta. The final texture should be creamy.
- Garnish with grated cheese and serve immediately.
9. Braised White Beans With Chard:
This wholesome dish is healthy and super easy to make. Give it a try.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound Swiss chard
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- One yellow onion
- Five garlic cloves
- Black pepper
- Four cans cannellini beans
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/3 cup Italian parsley leaves
- 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
How To Make:
- Trim the chard and place in a small bowl. Keep the stems aside.
- Heat the oil in a pot over medium heat.
- Add the chard stems, onion and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Stir until the vegetables are cooked.
- Now add the chard leaves, beans, broth, and salt. Continue to simmer for about five minutes.
- Once done, remove from heat and add parsley and vinegar.
10. Slow Cooker Beef Stew:
Nothing can quite beat the taste of beef stew. And when prepared in a slow cooker? Heavenly is the word!
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- Two medium celery stalks
- One medium carrot
- One medium yellow onion
- Two medium garlic cloves
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 2 tbs Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- Two tsp kosher salt
- Black pepper
- One boneless chuck roast
- 1/2 pound cremini mushrooms
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- One bay leaf
- 1 cup peas
- 2 tbsp Italian parsley leaves
How To Make:
- Heat the oil and add celery, carrot, onion, garlic, and thyme and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and cook till it no longer tastes raw.
- Now add the wine and mustard.
- Let it simmer for about five minutes.
- Add flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl and combine.
- Cut the roast small cubes. Add the cubes and mushrooms to the flour mixture and coat.
- Now add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and combine.
- Cover and let it cook for about 5 hours.
11. Teriyaki Chicken:
You can serve this amazing dish with rice and treat your family to some awesome dinner!
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Black pepper
- Four tsp vegetable oil
- Two medium scallions
How To Make:
- Simmer the soy sauce and honey until the honey has completely dissolved.
- Add the ginger and combine.
- Remove from heat.
- Season the chicken with pepper.
- Heat oil in a pan.
- Add the chicken and cook for about three minutes. Now flip and cook for another three minutes.
- Reduce the heat and slowly pour the sauce.
- Cook until the chicken is cooked through.
- Cut the chicken into 1/2-inch pieces. Serve warm.
Some of these recipes may look complicated on paper. But when you come down to it, these are super easy recipes that you can prepare with your eyes closed! So, give yourself a break and pamper your taste buds!
Which your favorite easy to make dinner idea? Tell us!
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