Sweet Shoppe Mom | Phoenix Lifestyle & Mom Blogger

  • Home page
  • Teenlife
  • Midlife Momlife
  • Family
  • home
  • food
  • holidays
    • New Year’s Eve
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • 4th of July
    • Super Bowl
    • Thanksgiving
  • travel
  • Arizona
  • About
    • Contact
    • Work with Us

The BEST Cookbooks for Easy Weeknight Dinners

By: dmvollmercomment

Anyone else finds it a struggle to get dinner on the table during the week? With work, taking care of the home, driving the kids around town, and everything else we’re trying to manage, being prepared for dinner for the family every night is not easy. 

As I see it there are 6 ways I can get dinner ready easily for busy weeknights

  • Freezer Meals
  • Easy prep, quick-cook meals
  • Start dinner in the morning in a Slow Cooker
  • Making use of semi-prepared foods
  • Meal-prep service
  • Take out restaurant food

Keeping the freezer stocked with a few freezer meals really helps to make weeknight dinners easy. Not only is it fast to reheat, but there are fewer dishes than if I had to start from the beginning. Sometimes I take a Sunday to cook a few meals to stock the freezer. Other times I will double or triple a meal so that there’s extra to stock the freezer.

I have been passionate about cookbooks for almost 25 years now and have quite a large cookbook collection. Over 100. If I’m being honest, it’s closer to 200. Some people say cookbooks are going away because of the internet. I disagree. I love them. I’m still adding to my collection. I use them weekly.

I’ve created a few other BEST cookbooks lists:

  • The BEST Keto and Low Carb Cookbooks
  • The BEST Paleo and Whole30 Cookbooks

Best cookbooks for weeknight meals

Sharing some of my favorites that have helped simplify weekdays and help to get a home-cooked meal on the table most nights.

Favorite Freezer Cooking Cookbooks

freezer cooking books

  • Don’t Panic, Dinner’s in the Freezer, Martinex, Howell, and Garcia
  • Don’t Panic, More Dinner’s in the Freezer, Martinex, Howell and Garcia
  • Not Your Mother’s Make-ahead and Freeze Cookbook, Jessica Fisher
  • Skinnytaste Meal Prep: Healthy Make-ahead Meals and Freezer Recipes to Simplify Your Life, Gina Homolka
  • You’ve Got It Made: Deliciously Easy Meals to Make Now and Bake Later, Diane Phillips

best freezer meal cookbooks

  • Fix, Freeze, Feast, Neville and Tkacsk
  • Super Suppers Cookbook, Judie Byrd
  • Dream Dinners, Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna
  • Once a Month Cooking, Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg
  • Happy Holidays Diva of Do-Ahead, Martines, Howell and Garcia
freezer cooking

Don’t Panic More Dinner’s in the Freezer

Weeknights are not the time for recipes that cook for hours and use a million ingredients. Recipes with short cooking times, minimal steps, and just a few ingredients are a win for weeknight cooking. 

cookbooks for weeknight meals

Favorite Easy Dinners Cookbooks

These cookbooks have recipes with just a few ingredients, few steps, and a cooking time that’s usually 30 minutes or less.

  • Not Your Mother’s Weeknight Cooking, Beth Hensperger
  • 30 Minute Meals and 30 Minute Meals 2, Rachel Ray

easy weeknight cooking cookbooks

  • The Six O’Clock Scramble, Aviva Goldfarb
  • SOS! The Siz O’Clock Scramble to the Rescue, Aviva Goldfarb

Using a slow cooker is another great way to have dinner ready for the family. Start the meal in the morning before work or getting the kids to school and you don’t need to think it about during the day as your day gets busier.

I own 3 Crock-pot Slow Cookers. The 6 qt Crock-Pot is perfect for making larger meals so that there’s extra to freeze. A 3.5 quart Slow Cooker that is perfect for meals for 2-3 people. And a 1 qt that I use for dips or fondue. 

the Best Slow Cooker Cookbooks

Slow cooker cookbooks

  • Not Your Mother’s Slower Cooker Cookbook, Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann
  • Skinnytaste Fast and Slow: Knockout Quick-Fix and Slow Cooker Recipes, Heather Jones
  • The Gourmet Slow Cooker, Lynn Alley
  • Get Crocked, Slow Cooker 5 Ingredient Favorites, Jenn Bare
  • Fit it and Forget-It Big Cookbook, Phyllis Good
  • Crock-Pot Recipe Collection
Get Crocked Slow Cooker Cookbook

Get Crocked Slow Cooker 5 Ingredient Favorites

A few other ways to get dinner on the table

We take advantage of a lot of semi-prepared foods for easy dinners. So many healthier and tastier options are now available. Trader Joe’s and Costco are my favorite places to stock up. We usually keep spring rolls, potstickers, and edamame in the freezer for an easy Asian night. Frozen meatballs and a can of marinara sauce make for an easy and tasty meal of meatball sandwiches. 

Meal prep subscriptions are a great option for easy home-cooked weeknight meals. The kits include everything you need so no shopping needed. The recipes are pretty easy and quick. Home Chef and Hello Fresh are two popular services.

I try to minimize resorting to take-out food because it usually ends up being fast food close to the house that isn’t the healthiest option. We prefer to save our restaurant budget for supporting local restaurants as a planned night out.

disclosure: Sweet Shoppe Mom uses affiliate links which means we may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links in these posts. For more information, see the Privacy Policy and Disclosures tab

The BEST Cookbooks for Easy Weeknight Dinners

 

Related Posts

  • 10 BEST Keto Low Carb Cookbooks10 BEST Keto Low Carb Cookbooks
  • The Best Paleo CookbooksThe Best Paleo Cookbooks
  • Salsa Chicken Pinwheels with Dipping Sauce Perfect for Easy LunchesSalsa Chicken Pinwheels with Dipping Sauce Perfect for Easy Lunches
(Visited 39 times, 4 visits today)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Hi there and welcome to Sweet Shoppe Mom. My name is Dana and my son is Brendan, also known as B. Welcome to our blog where we chat about every day life with tweens and teens.

more about us

Did I commit a crime? With B at home for #virtual Did I commit a crime?

With B at home for #virtuallearning and me #workingfromhome we’ve been making an effort to find ways to get out of the house while being safe with regards to the pandemic and supporting local businesses. The past few years local businesses have popped up that we haven’t yet tried so I made a list. B has been wanting to try @urbanbobateahouse at @shopsatnorterra so we took an after school break for some #bobatea 

Now here’s question for you. I removed the boba tea cover from my drink and B was horrified 🤣 I don’t think it was a big deal. BUT apparently in the eyes of teens I committed a crime (he even backed up his claim by snapchatting his friends for confirmation). Let me know in the comments whose side you’re on

#momofteens #boymom #teenagersareawesome #momofteenagers #midlifemom
💛💚💜 Happy Mardi Gras!! 💜💚💛 Did y 💛💚💜 Happy Mardi Gras!! 💜💚💛 Did you have your paczkis and King cake today? 

Usually we head to Southern Rail, a local restaurant for their Mardi Gras celebration (we go for an early dinner before it turns into too much of a party scene). Jambalaya, beignets, fried okra, Sazerac (for me), and of course King Cake. This year we’re making Jambalaya at home.

#mardigras #kingcake #arizonamom #momofteens
❤️ Pizzas for dinner. A Valentine tradition we ❤️ Pizzas for dinner. A Valentine tradition we’ve been doing since B was just old enough to start helping with dinner.

@lillunakristyn pizza dough recipe + @traderjoes pizza sauce 😋

Yes, it’s Feb 15th and Valentine’s Day was yesterday. When you #coparent, sometimes your kids aren’t with you for a holiday. We just pick our own day to celebrate. Bonus for B, he gets to celebrate holidays twice. 

#valentinesday #pizza #lifewithteens #teenagersareawesome #coparenting #divorcedmom #arizonamom #momofteens #familytraditions #cookingwithteens #kidsinthekitchen #teensinthekitchen
Happy Valentine’s Day 💕 Double Chocolate Hea Happy Valentine’s Day 💕

Double Chocolate Heart-shaped Pazookie 😋 as requested by B. Slowing down because of the pandemic, has given me the chance to cook more. I’ve been baking lately...after owning a cake shop for 8 years (and then closing it) I was burned out on baking but now a few years later I’m starting to enjoy it again. B is a big sweets fan, so that makes it fun too.

#valentinesday #pazookie #heart #dessert #chocolate #instayum #valentinesdessert
Disneyland or Disney California Adventure - which Disneyland or Disney California Adventure - which is your favorite???

Happy 20th Disney California Adventure! Looking forward to the day we can visit again. I took this photo at the end of February 2020 not realizing it would be my last visit for awhile. I even upgraded my ticket to a season pass and had plans for bring @wheresbnow for a visit soon (he’s never been). Next year ✈️

#disneyland #disneycaliforniaadventure #visitanaheim #visitcalifornia #pixarpier
Death by Chocolate 😋 We took an after school br Death by Chocolate 😋 We took an after school break and went to check out a new sweet shop. We really needed a break and to get out for a bit. @sodajerkmilkshakebar opened in @highstreetaz near the end of 2020 and its been our list. Cute little shop with over the top shakes and floats. B went for the Death by Chocolate and it was 👍👍. Lots of outdoor tables set up for a safer dining experience.

#sodajerk #milkshake #teenagersareawesome #momofteenagers #momofteens #boymom #highstreet #phxeats #phoenix #visitphoenix #arizona #arizonamom
Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? 💘 This Do you decorate for Valentine’s Day? 💘

This was my mantel a few years ago. I like to add a few festive touches to the house for Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, Easter and July 4th. Passing this year because I’m in the middle of a massive decluttering and some redecorating of my kitchen and family room. I had the stucco mantel pop-out removed but haven’t yet had a wood one yet.  It’s a slower process than I’d like but balancing work, parenting, home, pandemic, we do what we can do. We will be celebrating Valentine’s day with a few of our traditions including making a heart shaped pizza and heart attacking my door.

#valentinesday #valentinesdecor #valentinemantel #myhome #holidaydecor #momofteens #momofteenagers #arizonamom
A few days ago I was invited to experience The Fai A few days ago I was invited to experience The Fairmont Princess’s newest event Winter at The Princess ❄️In true @fairmontscotsdl style the has a brand new event was a magical experience. The grounds have been transformed into a winter wonderland with campfires & s’mores, ice rink, axe throwing, cocktails and eats at The Lodge and the new Alpine Skate trail.  Plus a separate kids zone. Going on now through March 21st.

#fairmontprincesspartner #scottsdale #absolutelyscottsdale #scottsdaleresorts #winterattheprincess #campfire #firepit #arizona #visitarizona #experiencescottsdale #visitphoenix #attheprincess
He’s 15 and now taller than me. I took somewhat He’s 15 and now taller than me. I took somewhat of a social media break over the holidays during all the political events but now that its February, I’m back to posting regularly. During my break, this kid turned 15. Amazing and proud to watch become a teenager. 

I let B plan his day and like most teenagers it revolved around food. Our birthday breakfast tradition of pancakes in the shape of his age. For dinner he wanted our homemade pizza. I let him choose his cake (I did used to own a cake shop, so choices are endless) but he chose a Chocolate Chip Skillet Cake - it was quite yummy and so much easier than a decorated cake so the decision was fine with me. 

This kid is chicken obsessed 🐓 Especially fried chicken, chicken nuggets and chicken wings. The foodie in him is always searching for the best so as part of his celebration we made a list of all the fast food fried chicken places in town that he will taste to determine the best. Because you can only eat so much food in one day, he tackled 2 places the first day and we covered the rest over the next few weeks...video and his picks coming soon. Now he wants to do chicken strips - maybe for next year’s birthday as I need a fast food break.

#momofteens #teenlife #thisisfifteen #teenagersareawesome
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Search This Blog

disclosure & privacy policy
copyright 2012-2020 Sweet Shoppe Mom

Copyright © 2021 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design