Quick Easy Recipes for Busy Mom, More Dinner Ideas

Here are eight more delicious, quick and easy dinner recipes. If you're looking for more great recipes, be sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page.

Featured recipes here are:

• Lemon Dijon Baked Fish
• Lemon-Pepper Mahi-Mahi
• Maple Salmon
• Penne Vodka
• Quick Quiche
• Kid-friendly Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce
• Three Cheese Baked Ziti
• Turkey Sausage Patties

Lemon Dijon Baked Fish

2 lbs orange roughy fillets

1 tbsp butter, melted

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

½ tsp dried dill weed

Approximately 15 Ritz crackers

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a 9” x 13” baking pan with non-stick spray or coat with olive oil and arrange the fillets in pan.  Melt butter in microwave.  Whisk in mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire and dill weed.  Brush mixture over fish fillets.  Crush the Ritz crackers in a sealed plastic baggie.  Sprinkle crumbs over sauce and fish.  Bake for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Tip:  You can use any type of fish with this recipe; salmon is delicious like this! 

Lemon-Pepper Mahi-Mahi (on the grill)

4 pieces mahi-mahi fillets

½ stick butter

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning (salt free)

In a small saucepan, melt the butter.  Remove from heat and add the soy, Worcestershire and lemon pepper.  Place mahi-mahi fillets in a shallow baking pan and pour marinate over the fish, turning the fish to coat both sides.  Let fish marinate while the grill is pre-heating, about 15 minutes.  Grill for 6 minutes on each side (for a 1-inch fillet).  Baste with marinade during first half of the cooking.  Fish is done when it is firm and opaque. 

Maple Salmon

4 (8 oz) salmon fillets

¼ cup orange juice

1 cup maple syrup

3 tbsp soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Combine all the ingredients (except fillets) in a bowl.  Pour over salmon fillets on a baking dish.  Bake, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes, depending on thickness of fillets. 

Penne Vodka

2 tbsp olive oil

½ cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 (32 oz) can plum tomatoes with juices

½ cup vodka

½ cup chopped, roasted pepper

½ cup heavy cream at room temperature

1 (1-pound) package Penne pasta

Chopped fresh basil for garnish

Heat oil in a medium skillet.  Add onion and sauté until tender but not browned about 5 minutes.  Stir in garlic and sauté for 1 minute.  Add the tomatoes, vodka, and red pepper and simmer, stirring to break up tomatoes with the side of spoon, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.  Season with salt.  Meanwhile, cook Penne in boiling water until al dente, or firm to the bite (check package directions for cooking time.)  Toss Penne with sauce and add basil on top for garnish. 

Quick Quiche

4 eggs

8 oz half & half

4 oz mayonnaise

2 tbsp flour

1/3 cup minced onions

Pinch salt and garlic powder

8 oz shredded Swiss or cheddar cheese

1 pckg frozen chopped spinach

1 unbaked pie shell (9-inch)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, mayonnaise, and flour.  Add remaining ingredients.  Pour mixture into unbaked pie crust.  Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the top is golden brown. 

Kid-Friendly Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

12 oz spaghetti

2 tbsp olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

¾ lb ground beef

Kosher salt and pepper

1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes

½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

¼ cup grated parmesan

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and garlic to cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the beef, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley. Serve the pasta with the sauce and sprinkle with the parmesan.

This is definitely a very kid-friendly one!

Three Cheese Baked Ziti

1 (15 oz) part skim ricotta cheese

2 eggs, beaten

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

1 (16 oz) box ziti pasta, cooked and drained

1 jar Ragu Chunky Garden Style pasta sauce

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, eggs and parmesan cheese , then set aside. In another bowl, combine pasta and pasta sauce. In a 9” x 13” baking dish, spoon in ½ the pasta mixture. Evenly top with the cheese mixture, then the remaining pasta. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Turkey Sausage Patties

1 lb lean ground turkey breast

½ tsp cumin

½ tsp cayenne pepper

½ tsp garlic powder

1 tsp coriander

¼ tsp black pepper (preferably freshly ground)

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp basil

½ cup sodium-free chicken broth

Combine turkey and dry spices in a large bowl and mix together thoroughly. Add chicken broth, mixing well. Let stand 15-20 minutes. Form turkey into 8 patties, approximately ¾ inch thick. Cook patties in non-stick skillet over medium heat, 7-8 minutes on each side, or until thoroughly cooked.

Variations: Try this recipe with ground pork instead of turkey, but make sure it’s very lean. If you like it spicy, add I teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper and 3 tablespoons tomato paste (sodium free.) If you prefer a more Italian flavor, add ½ teaspoon marjoram, ½ teaspoon coriander, and ½ teaspoon rosemary.

These patties are easy to make and they store well. Try doubling the recipe so you have leftovers to heat up during the week. Use leftovers chopped up and tossed into an omelet!