6 Simple Upgrades to Your Family Dinner This Week

When you’ve had a busy day at the office, are trying to help your kids finish their homework, and find yourself on a tight budget, it can be challenging to wear your chef’s hat and get creative with your meals. While your family may salivate over your cooking — or maybe not quite — adding a delicious and effortless spin on their favorite dish is sure to put a smile on their faces. Sometimes all it takes to enhance a meal is a single ingredient. Other times, you may find yourself swapping out your typical vegetable go-to for something new or serving up traditional breakfast spreads at night. Here are eight simple ways you can upgrade your family dinner this week.

1. Add Breadcrumbs

Whether you’re making macaroni and cheese, string beans, or baked chicken, breadcrumbs can enhance the flavor and texture of your meal. 

Sprinkle them on your food before popping it in the oven to give your dinner a crispy, crunchy taste. You can also add seasonings, such as an Italian blend, parsley, and black pepper for a bit of heat. 

If you’re struggling to get your kids to eat their vegetables, try roasting broccoli and cauliflower in a breadcrumb and parmesan cheese blend. They’re bound to love it. 

2. Breakfast Casserole

Is there anything better than breakfast food? Thankfully, there aren’t any rules that say you can only enjoy breakfast in the morning.  

An average-sized egg is low in calories and contains 6-7 grams of protein, making it a healthier option at dinnertime. However, you’re probably tired of having them scrambled or over-easy. Perhaps it’s time to try something different. 

Casseroles take only minutes to throw together and are a simple way to upgrade your next meal. Better yet, if you know you have a hectic day coming up, it’s something you can whip up the night before. Then all you’ll have to do is put it in the oven before you’re ready to eat.

Feel free to add sausage, your favorite vegetables, and cheese to give it a bold, new taste. 

3. Lobster Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is a classic dish loved by everyone, but it can get a little boring from time to time. Sure, you can ramp things up with something different like provolone, Swiss or Colby Jack. However, if you really want to make jaws drop, melt some brie between two slabs of multigrain. Either way, it’s still just cheese and bread.

How do you go about making your grilled cheese a bit fancier? Combine these staple ingredients with fresh, sweet lobster meat. Your family is bound to love the taste of a buttery lobster grilled cheese sandwich with a side of chips or tomato soup. You could always buy your lobster precooked from the store to save time.

4. Pizza Bagels

Who doesn’t love pizza? How about bagels?

Homemade pizzas can be a fun cooking activity the whole family can do together. However, making pizza dough is time-consuming, and not everyone enjoys the same toppings on a pie. 

Put a spin on your next pizza night by making pizza bagels instead. Cut a bagel in half, smear it with fresh tomato sauce, sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese and fresh herbs, and add your vegetables and pepperoni on top. 

Pizza bagels are perfect if you’re not looking to have a ton of leftovers and are just enough to fill you up. 

5. Cauliflower Fried Rice 

If your family is trying to eat healthier, cauliflower “fried” rice is a quick and easy meal option you need to try. 

Cauliflower has many health benefits, including high nutritional value and antioxidants, and is an excellent low-carb alternative to grains. 

Save yourself some time by buying packaged riced cauliflower and vegetables in the frozen section at the grocery store. You can also purchase fresh produce you can chop yourself. 

Experiment with different seasonings and sauces, such as teriyaki, Korean barbecue, or traditional stir fry to add a sweet and tangy flavor. 

Feel free to toss in your choice of protein to the dish, as well. Shrimp, chicken, beef, pork, and even eggs are all possibilities.

6. Sheet Pan Shrimp

Shrimp takes practically no time at all to cook, especially if you buy them frozen and already peeled and deveined. 

Toss your shrimp in a bowl with a bit of olive oil, seasonings, and herbs. Bake them in the oven on a sheet pan for 8-10 minutes at 400 F. That’s it!

Roasted shrimp tastes great over ramen noodles, rice, or even cauliflower fried rice. You can also dunk them in cocktail sauce or throw them in a scampi. 

Weekly Dinners the Whole Family Will Love

There are so many different ways you can spruce up your weekly dinners. From adding simple ingredients like breadcrumbs to finding new ways to incorporate vegetables your kids will love, cooking was never this much fun before. Plus, you can enjoy making these easy dinners as a family. What’s not to love about that?

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