Quick Easy Dinner Recipe for a Busy Night

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I don’t know about your family, but it seems that every night is a busy night for my family. It’s important to us that we sit down together for dinner, but some days it’s really tough to get a meal together that will make everyone happy. It’s also tough to meet everyone’s dietary preferences and restrictions with one meal. Oh, and because I’m a mom, I want to make sure that we work protein and vegetables into every meal, too.  I’ve found that this quick easy dinner recipe works for my family on a busy night and it works wonderfully when my kids have friends over for dinner, too.

This quick easy dinner recipe came about because my son and his friends get together several times a month to play games and hangout. I’m thrilled to host my son’s friends at our house and I’m happy to feed them. But let’s be honest, it’s tough enough to pull dinner together on a busy weeknight for my family and it’s that much tougher when you add five tween boys. There are also dietary restrictions included with some of the boys. I wanted to make something that would be very easy to make, would make everyone happy and include protein and veggies, too.  Our Easy Chicken Quesadilla meal was born. My family loves it as much as my son’s friends do and because I seem to be busy most of the time, this has become my busy night meal.

On a busy night or game night, I run by Walmart on my way home and pick up the Rotisserie Effortless Meal, which includes a Marketside rotisserie chicken, a side of potato salad and a 2-liter bottle of Coke Zero (that’s for me!).  There are also Marketside pizzas and Deli sandwiches available as Effortless Meals bundles. It’s so convenient to purchase Effortless Meals. I found the chicken and Coca-Cola in the Effortless Meals display right by the checkout lanes. You can also pick up other Effortless Meal options in the deli.

I also grab a package of flour tortillas and a package of shredded cheese. I usually have fresh salsa at home in the fridge, but if I don’t I include a package of salsa, too.

While my family is settling in after a long day at work, school and activities, I get started on dinner. It usually takes me 5-10 minutes to get dinner on the table. I shred the rotisserie chicken meat while the pan is heating up on medium heat. I add a tortilla, then shredded cheese, salsa and shredded chicken. I cook the tortilla until the cheese melts and the tortilla is nicely browned. Then I fold the tortilla in half in the pan, cut it in half with the spatula in the pan and place it on a platter.  Doing it that way makes fewer dirty dishes. Yea!

In minutes I’ve made a dinner that includes three different meal options for my family and friends:

Traditional rotiserie chicken with a side of salsa and potato salad

Chicken quessadilla with salsa and potato salad

Cheese quesadilla with salsa and potato salad

There’s something to meet the needs and preferences of everyone eating dinner and it only took about 10 minutes to make.

My family loves having a fresh home-cooked meal and I love that I give them an effortless meal with protein and veggies. 

What’s your favorite quick easy dinner for your busy nights? Be sure to check out more ideas for delicious effortless meals.