Meal Planning

14 Hacks To Make Cooking Easier + #AmazonGiveaway

by Terion
Hacks To Make Cooking Easier

Many families today eat a lot of fast food and prepared convenience foods due to the lack of time they believe they have. The problem is, these foods will end up being very expensive ‒ not only at the supermarket, but also will result in more visits to the doctor due to the lack of nutrition and unhealthy ingredients in such foods.

Thankfully, you don’t have to give up healthy meals or avoid cooking just because you’re busy. You can eat well, and cook too, without giving up anything ‒ including time.

14 Hacks To Make Cooking Easier

Plan Ahead – Trying to start cooking without a plan is like going on a trip without a road map or GPS. You need to know what your final goal is before you even write one thing down on a shopping list. Plan meals, plan when you’ll cook, and plan who will help.

Cook Assembly Line Style – Get all the ingredients out and measured first, putting containers away immediately, then put it together in order like an assembly line. Get help from the family to make it even easier and a time of bonding.

Shop and Cook Weekly – Shop with your weekly flyers to buy what’s on sale and in season. Then the next day organize it and prepare it all for reheating and enjoying throughout the week.

Feed the Freezer – Whenever you cook, double the recipe and freeze half. This will make a homemade TV dinner to use when time is short or you simply don’t feel like cooking.

Have a Cooking Party – Want to make a bunch of one item? You can organize a cooking party. Everyone brings something to the event; everyone helps cook (and eat), then everyone takes home a portion to put in their freezer for eating later.

Have a Pot Luck Party – Another way to cook less, yet eat more, is to have a pot luck. You need no reasons to organize a pot luck. Make the invites, clear the times of the party, and you’ll have fun visiting and save time too.

Swap Cooking Duties – Take turns with friends and family having “family meal night”. If you had five friends willing to participate, you would eliminate five nights of cooking for yourself and them.

Keep Plastic Wrap Cold –You know how hard it is to get plastic wrap to cooperate, and you end up with a horrible mess. But, you can end that today by storing your wrap in the refrigerator. This will cut down on the static and help it stick only to the dish you’re covering.

Use Parchment Paper – This is a great way to keep your pans cleaner and avoid sticking food. Just use to line any pan you plan to bake with parchment paper before putting the food on it. Once the food is done, toss. Side note: Using parchment paper also cuts down on how much fat you have to add.

Use Equipment Creatively – Did you know you can use your waffle iron to make other things besides waffles? Take a baked potato; smash it in a hot waffle iron – instant crispy delicious hash browns.

Make Lunch Salads in a Jar – Put dressing on the very bottom, add cherry tomatoes, then everything else, ending with the lightest ingredient such as lettuce and spinach. Seal jar tightly. Shake before eating to distribute dressing. Eat right out of the jar.

Stop Overcooking Veggies – Sadly, most people overcook their veggies to the extreme. Most veggies taste best and are most healthy when lightly steamed or roasted. . You’ll save time, and improve your health too.

Sneak in More Veggies – Add extra veggies to all your meals to up the nutritional component of them. For example, chop zucchini and add to chili, or shred carrots to add to spaghetti sauce. You can also add veggies to mac & cheese; just use your imagination.

Cook Ahead – Using a crockpot you can start your oatmeal before bed. Or for a real energy pick-me-up, serve fruit smoothies each morning from frozen fruits and veggies. This takes literally minutes and can be enjoyed on the go.

If you plan it right, you can have dinner on the table within 30 minutes each evening, lunches prepared in advance, and never miss breakfast again. Cooking no longer has to be a dreaded chore that sends you to the drive-thru.

$100 Amazon e-Gift Card Giveaway

Giveaway open Worldwide. Must be 18+ or have parents permission to enter. Only one entry per household allowed. Prizing and samples provided by Motherhood Defined. Giveaway ends June 3, 2019. Visit Giveaway Terms & Conditions for additional details and rules.

About the author
Mrs. Hatland is a 30-something married, mom of 7 and the face behind the popular online publication, Motherhood Defined. Known as the Iowa Mom blogger by her local peers and “The Fairy Blogmother” worldwide. She has professional experience in working closely with clients on brand ambassadorships, client outreach services, content creation and creative social media advertising exposure.

285 Comments

  2. Lately, I’ve been really into making stuff for tacos/nachos/burrito bowls, etc. I cook up the meat, beans, rice, prep the fruit and veggies, etc and everyone can do their own thing! Big crowd pleaser too.

  6. My favorite home cooked meal is Eggplant Parm!!!! (Thick circular slices of eggplant, not thin long slices!)

  7. My favorite meal cooked at home is four cheese macaroni and fried chicken.

  13. My favorite meal to cook at home is vegetable stirfry! It’s so healthy and easy but tastes so good.

  14. I love cooking for my family and just made turkey meatballs and pasta last night.

  19. I like quick and easy, so my favorite dish bbn is ranch chicken tacos with homemade guacamole.

  21. Pulled pork bbq from a pork shoulder in the Smoker with Sweet Baby Ray’s bbq sauce and Uncle Ray’s bbq chips

  34. My favourite meal cooked at home is Butter Chicken and rice….healthy, versatile and tasty, as well as being popular with the kids.

  35. I like cooking fish in foil in the oven with lemon slices.
    Thanks for the contest.

  39. Oh man! You have to get an Instant pot to make your life easier! Spaghetti and Meatballs is a favorite cooked in it! You can make so much stuff quick and easy and the meats fall off of the bone, tender!

  42. Cooking Tip: Even good cooks make mistakes. They just know how to fix those mistakes. For example, if you over-salted a soup, you can add potatoes to it to cut the salty taste.

  43. Although not really a tip, my favorite way to cook is to go to the store and find what is on sale, buy whatever is on sale, and make a meal like on chopped.

  44. Once a month I clean out my freezer and cabinet. Everything that I think has been in there too long goes in a soup pot. I then add spices and potatoes or rice.

  46. I made up a breakfast pasta dish that my family loves and that is my favorite dish to make right now.

  55. I like to cook Tuna Noodle, or Chicken Noodle Casseroles. Yum! Thanks and God bless!

  62. My favorite thing to cook at home is slowcooker meals such as pulled pork or barbecued beef.

  65. My favorite is fried chicken, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. All bad for you but all so good.

  67. My favorite at home meal is roasted chicken and sauteed zucchini and summer squash.

  70. I like to make a veggie stir fry and switch out the sauces to get different flavors and variety.

  72. Mississippi pot roast is my favorite meal to make. Comfort food at it’s finest.

  77. My favorite meal cooked at home is homemade heirloom tomato soup with grown up grilled cheese sandwiches.

  80. Any kind of pasta dish; we make it really tasty esp in the summer with garden veggies!

  83. Depends on the season, but i really love my homemade chili, my grandmothers apple pie, or my mom’s tater n beef casserole

  90. Stir fries for sure! I can use whatever leftover vegetables I have on hand and make something quick and healthy in no time.

  92. A good cook is part Scientist and part Artist. Exact and unpredictable. I write notes after I have made a meal as to how to improve it next time.

  95. My favorite meal that I cook at home is steak chowmein. It is easy to make and delicious

  96. Make sure you let meat ” rest” after cooking it. Makes a big difference especially with steak,!

  100. My favorite meal we cook at home is a pasta dish with a spicy, thin sauce with shrimp, scallops, calms, and mussles.

  107. I’d have to say my favorite dish to make is a super rich multi cheese pasta dish.

  116. Always keep your pantry stocked with staples so that any missing recipe items you are sure to have.

  118. My favorite meal: Grilled pork chops, mushroom risotto with either a salad or grilled asparagus. Ice cream for dessert.

  122. My favorite meal cooked at home is fajitas, with all the trimmings.

  123. Lasagnas are hard to cook properly, but when they are it’s a treat, and my favorite !

  126. As it get cold I love cooking Chili (best damm chili recipe).

    Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with some well seasoned or marinated chicken breast – baked or grilled

  132. I love pasta cooked at home. Lasagna and penne alla vodka are my favorite.

  142. I really love making home made burrito bowls at home. Thanks for the nice giveaway!

  148. Love these! Always looking for ways to save time and headaches while cooking 🙂

  149. My homemade cheesy mac and cheese just like my grandmother used to make.

  157. White pizza, with the crust brushed with EVOO and crushed garlic and broiled lightly. Then you top it and cook it with cheese.

  158. My cooking tip is add a paper towel to your veggie bins to keep the veggies fresher longer. Change it when it gets damp.

  165. My most favorite meal is ribs, sauerkraut & potatoes in the crock pot.
    thank you

  169. I love making breakfast for dinner. It’s a hit everytime. Tip for bacon. Put it into a COLD non preheated oven at 400 for 13 to 20 minutes.

  170. I like making casseroles (shepherd’s pie or a chicken/turkey pot pie) because it’s the easiest way to get my family to eat vegetables.

  178. I love it when my husband grills steaks at home. My kids love it when I make spaghetti and meatballs.

  179. I love a good beef roast served with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts.

  188. Ohmigosh, prawns! Prawns, with a ton of butter, garlic, white wine, and freshly squeezed lemon, over fresh white rice. You gotta add some nice, fresh white wine to drink, and bread and butter to sop up the sauce.

  192. I am terrible at cooking but I guess my favorite meal I cook is salmon and rice.

  194. I love to make Chicken with Apricot Sauce. It is soooooo wonderful. Put it with green beans and mashed potatoes!

  198. Our favourite meal is making homemade pizza on naan bread. So fresh and tasty!

  202. My favorite home cooked meal is a pot roast, gravy and mashed potatoes. So good!!

  203. Lots of good Hacks, I need all the good suggestions I can get. Thanks

  206. Dont cook much but help out with the dishes so it makes clean up faster!

  209. My favorite meal at home is a pot roast with potatoes, carrots, onions and gravy! So good that the meat just falls apart and tastes so yummy and juicy!

  213. I think I really enjoy a good home crafted salad with lots of greens and some chicken.

  216. I usually prepare meals for the week on Sunday afternoon to save some time.

  219. My tips would be to make ahead things that can easily be frozen. That way they can just be popped in the oven on busy days!

  223. My cooking tip would be to make sure you use the right oil for your cooking. Some oils burn in high heat and some are just for flavoring (like sesame).

  225. Our favorite meal to make at home is Taco Pie! Originating with friends, we’ve taken the taco and put it into a deep dish pie,…it. is. delicous!

  226. My Fiancee cookes carne asade con verde and rice and it is so delicious. Quick. easy and spicy!! Delicious

  229. My favorite recipe to make is my delicious chicken fajitas and anything Mexican. I do love a delicious Beef stew though.

  230. Great tips. I never though of cooling plastic wrap to make it easier to manage.

    My favorite home cooked meal has always been Shephard’s Pie. It’s my ultimate comfort food.

  232. i really enjoy making chili because we make it a family affair allowing each person to take turns making suggestions/

  241. my favorite would have to be ribeye steak with friend gators and a green salad

  243. My favorite home cooked meal to make my family is chicken fajitas. I cut up all the veggies ahead of time in one bag and cut-up chicken and put it in a marinade in another bag and it’s so easy to throw together in a sheet and put into the oven at dinner time. Best part is my kids love it!

  246. Como buen español mi comida preferida es la tortilla de patatas y la paella

  249. We like to make homemade pizza. It is one of the few times our kids can “help” in the kitchen and actually be helping!!! SE make smaller pizza crusts for each of them, and let them decorate their own pizza. They love it!!

  251. Nothing better th a spaghetti with meat sauce. However, I don’t like to cook the spaghetti noodles in the sauce. It makes it too starchy tasting. Cook the noodles in boiling water separately.

  252. My favorite homemade dish is definitely pizza. We just started making them at home and it’s not so hard!

  253. I really like too make and eat meatloaf at home. So good with mashed potatoes and green peas!

  262. I like meals that are healthy, tasty, and easy to make. I like seasoning chicken and veggies and roasted them in the oven!

  263. I don’t know why but my fav thing I make at home is hashbrowns for breakfast.

  264. My tip is when you are following a recipe, espeically if its the first time, make sure you read it through completely before cooking anything. That way you know if you have all the necessary ingredients and tools available plus it helps with time management.

  268. My favorite meal to cook is one that is on the grill. I think those are the easiest and best since I get to hang outside!

  270. My favorite home cooked meal is chicken and sausage gumbo, with steamed broccoli and a garden salad.

  278. My favourite thing to cook at home would be stir fries. Suitable ingredients are always at hand to make sure the dish comes out tasty! I agree with what you say about people overcooking veggies. Constant pet peeve of mine!

  282. I love roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roasted carrots and gravy.

  284. There are so many things I love to cook.. Now that the weather is warming up, we are BBQing a lot – chicken, burgers, veggies.. And there are a lot less dishes (pots and pans) involved, so that is a bonus of using the BBQ, too. If I’m not feeling in the mood for a lot of cooking I will buy a bag salad and a roasted chicken. It is easy and healthy.

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