• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • about
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

One Lovely Life

  • Recipes
  • lovely living
    • Books
    • favorite things
    • Travel
    • Disney
  • subscribe

My Trick for Last-Minute Dinners

Dairy FreeGluten FreePaleoVeganWhole30

September 21, 2015 | Leave a Comment |This post contains affiliate links.

5 Easy Dinners from One Easy Ingredient! from www.onelovelylife.com

I’m a meal planner through and through. It’s one of the only ways we’ve stayed on budget for the last many years and the only way to keep me on track when we’re so busy with school, therapy, dance class, errands, and more.

Still, despite the best-laid plans, sometimes the afternoon has gotten away from me. Maybe someone is going on hour three of a Super Tantrum, or errands took longer than usual, or a therapist was running late. Maybe I just flat out don’t want to cook dinner after a crazy day. Well, when dinner o’clock rolls around, I’ll have two very impatient little people staring at me saying “I’m HUNGRY! Can we eat now?”

On days like this, I have a back-up plan. And that back-up plan usually revolves around salad. I nearly always pick up a salad or at least some salad greens for the week, and I’ve found that having a packaged salad is a really great springboard for all kinds of last-minute meal ideas.

5 Easy Dinners from One Easy Ingredient! from www.onelovelylife.com

They make all kinds of superfood salad blends and plant powered protein salads, but our favorite for the last four years has been Eat Smart‘s Sweet Kale salad. I started buying it in bulk at Costco when I was pregnant with Sophie and it’s been a favorite ever since. Open the package and inside is a packet of dried cranberries and pepitas, a sweet creamy poppy seed dressing, and a fabulous mix of greens and super foods that I LOVE.

The greens mixture–kale, green cabbage, chicory, broccoli, Brussels sprouts–is a delicious mix of crunchy and bright flavors that I’ve found goes really well with a lot of dressings and toppings. That’s why it’s my go-to emergency dinner. With one bag of salad and just a few minutes’ time, I can put together at least five easy emergency dinners and know there’s going to be something delicious and nutritious on the table.

The best pasta with tomato sauce + 4 other easy last-minute dinner ideas from www.onelovelylife.com 1. Pasta + Salad

Some nights, I make up a quick batch of pasta and sauce and serve the salad exactly as it is. The poppy seed dressing is gluten and dairy free, so we won’t have any food issues, and Sophie happily eats up all the pasta she can get her hands on. Win-win.

Make a big batch of sauce one afternoon or evening and freeze it. It basically makes itself (seriously it needs almost no attention at all) and then you’ve got it all ready any time you need it! 

Asian Chicken Salad + 4 other last-minute dinner ideas from One Lovely Life 2. Asian-Inspired Main Dish Salad

Other nights, I skip the poppy seed dressing and mix up an Asian inspired ginger dressing and toss in a bit of leftover chicken or beef for a big main dish salad. Add any veggies in your fridge (I like carrots and cabbage or peppers), mandarin oranges, and toasted almonds for bonus points.

Chicken & Apple Sausages, salad with honey mustard dressing & pear sauce + 4 other last-minute dinner ideas from One Lovely Life 3. Chicken & Apple Sausages

We love chicken and apple sausages. Pair them with Sweet Kale Salad served with honey-mustard dressing + a side of fruit. If you have 30 minutes, you might also make a batch of these sweet potatoes. So easy and SO delicious. No one will even know it was an emergency dinner.

Honey-mustard dressing: 1 Tbsp dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp honey, 2-3 Tbsp oil (we like olive or avocado), salt and pepper to taste. 

5 Simple last-minute dinner ideas on One Lovely Life 4. Pizza + salad

Yep, pizza. Order it or pull it out of your freezer. We always keep a bit of pizza sauce in the freezer for nights like these. Next time you make pizza crust, mix up a double batch. Pre-bake one crust without toppings for 5-8 minutes. Cool, wrap and store in the freezer till you need it. If you’re not gluten free, pitas, naan, or bagels also do the trick.  Add a salad and call it a day!

This is our favorite make-ahead pizza dough (you can freeze it or refrigerate it for up to 3 days before baking!). For a gluten-free/paleo version, this has been our favorite so far. 

Poached eggs, salad with an awesome vinaigrette + 4 other delicious, healthy dinner ideas from www.onelovelylife.com 5. Eggs + Salad + Toast

I’m a believer that eggs are one of the universe’s most perfect foods. Scrambled, fried, poached, or a quick omelet + salad topped with a quick balsamic vinaigrette. Finish it off with fruit, toast, or a baguette (if you’re not GF). Easy-peasy.

Easy balsamic vinaigrette: 1 tsp dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, 2-3 Tbsp olive oil + salt and pepper. 

What’s your go-to emergency dinner? 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Filed Under: beef & pork, chicken & turkey, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Kitchen Tips + Basics, Main Dish, meatless main dishes, Paleo, Salads, Sponsored Posts, Vegan, Whole30

Reader Interactions

Previous Post September Favorites
Next Post Healing from Diastasis Recti

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

about emily

Hi, I’m Emily! I create fresh, flexible family recipes to help you feel more confident in the kitchen. Whether you’ve got picky eaters, food allergies/intolerances to navigate, or just a serious craving to satisfy, I want to help you eat delicious, gorgeous meals without a lot of fuss.

let’s be friends

more about emily

Simplify Your Weekly Meal Plan With Our Free Mini-Course!

Learn how to DIY delicious meal plans in minutes to make meal planning a breeze.  

Privacy Policy

One Lovely Life will use the information you provide to be in touch with you & provide email updates.

join the lovely list + never miss a recipe

get recipes + tips + favorites + more by signing up below

Footer

  • Favorite Things
  • Our Home
  • Kids and Family
  • Travel
  • Disclosures
  • Privacy Policy
  • about
  • Contact
Back to Top

Copyright © 2022 • One Lovely Life • Privacy Policy

Design by Grace + Vine Studios

istisnasız her gün profesyonel sporlarla uğraşan sikiş yengesi bir süredir kapalı olan mekanlar yüzünden çok porno büyük sıkıntıya düşmüştür parası çok olan kadın porno özel bir eğitmen tutarak spora devam etmek istediğini sex söylediğinde yüzmeyi güneşlenmeyi ve bikini ile güneşin altında porno izle saatlerce uzanıp hiçbir şey yapmamayı çok seven porno izle sarışın kız evine çok uzakta olan sahil kesimine sex video gitmeye üşendiği için mahallesinin sonunda bulunan porno lüks villayı gözüne kestirerek kimsenin modern sex izle ve gelişmiş bir toplumun parçası olmak isteyen hd porno bir kafa yapısına sahip olan mature aşırı fazla porno bir modern yapısına evrilmiştir