Quick, balanced, and toddler-friendly dinners you’ll actually want to repeat.
If your weeknights feel chaotic but you still want to eat well (without overthinking it), this post is for you. These 5 easy meals are some of my most-loved recipes—simple, nourishing, and loaded with protein to keep you full longer. Each one is uses accessible ingredients with minimal prep.
Whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, or just trying to stay on track, these meals actually work.
1. Caprese Chicken Sausage Tortellini
This one is creamy, cozy, and full of flavor. It comes together in under 20 minutes with a little help from pre-cooked sausage and cheese tortellini.
🛒 Ingredients:
- 1 package Bilinski’s Caprese Chicken Sausage, sliced
- 1 container cheese tortellini
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1–1.5 cups marinara sauce
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella
- Olive oil, garlic powder, salt to taste
🔥 Instructions:
- Boil tortellini according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, sauté chicken sausage in olive oil until golden. Add in carrots and cook until softened.
- Stir in marinara and cottage cheese until warmed through.
- Toss with cooked tortellini. Top with mozzarella and broil on 500°F for 4–5 minutes until bubbly.
Serve with: Caesar Brussels Sprouts or your favorite salad kit.
2. Chimichurri Steak Bites with Arugula + Potatoes
This one feels elevated but is surprisingly easy—and the chimichurri makes it taste restaurant-level.
🛒 Ingredients:
- 6 oz sirloin or flank steak, cubed
- 1 ½ cups arugula
- 2 tbsp chimichurri (recipe below)
- ½ cup baby potatoes, quartered
- Parmesan
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Optional: squeeze of lemon on arugula
🔥 Instructions:
- Toss potatoes with olive oil, salt, garlic powder. Roast at 400°F for 15 minutes. (Time saving hack – microwave 3 mins, then toss in olive oil & seasoning, then put on cookie sheet, smash with the back of a water glass, top with parm and broil for 5 mins.)
- Sear steak bites in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and cook 2–3 minutes per side.
- Toss arugula with lemon juice and olive oil.
- Plate steak over arugula, drizzle with chimichurri, and serve with roasted potatoes.
Quick Chimichurri Recipe:
Mix 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, and salt.
Macros: ~520 cal / 38g protein / 26g carbs / 4g fiber / 28g fat
3. Frozen Lasagna Protein Hack
You know those nights when you’re running on fumes? This frozen lasagna hack has 38g of protein, takes zero brain power, and is toddler-approved. Not fancy—but absolutely hits.
🛒 Ingredients:
- 1 frozen lasagna (I like clean brands like Rao’s* or Whole Foods options)
- ~½ cup cottage cheese (I use Good Culture)
🔥 Instructions:
- Cook frozen lasagna according to package directions.
- Once hot, top with ~½ cup cottage cheese.
- Broil for 5 minutes until golden and bubbly.
💡 Time-saving tip: Microwave the lasagna first (~15 minutes), then broil to finish.
Serve with: Caesar Brussels Sprouts or any pre-made salad kit.
4. 2-Minute Italian Lunch Wrap
High-protein, high-fiber, and major Italian sub vibes—this one is my favorite fast lunch or wrap-for-dinner situation.
🛒 Ingredients:
- 1 high-fiber or low-carb tortilla (like La Tortilla Factory*)
- 3–4 slices deli turkey
- 3–4 slices turkey pepperoni
- 1 slice sharp cheddar or provolone
- Arugula
- Olive oil, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes
- Optional: sliced tomato or roasted red pepper
- Optional spread: AYOH Dill Aioli* or cherry pepper aioli
🔥 Instructions:
- Layer turkey, pepperoni, cheese, arugula, and optional toppings.
- Drizzle with olive oil + season.
- Roll up and eat cold—or toast in a skillet until warm and crisp.
5. Peaches & Cream Toast
Sweet, salty, and a little indulgent. This cottage cheese toast is a summer staple that works for breakfast or snack time.
🛒 Ingredients:
- 1 slice sourdough (or gluten-free bread of choice)
- 1–2 tbsp cottage cheese
- ½ ripe peach, thinly sliced
- Optional toppings: honey, cinnamon, hemp seeds, flaky salt
🔥 Instructions:
- Toast bread.
- Spread with cottage cheese.
- Top with peach slices and any optional toppings.
💡 Final Thoughts
These are the meals I truly rely on when life gets busy and I still want to feel good about what I’m eating. Most of them come together in 20 minutes or less and use ingredients you likely already have on hand.
If you try any of these:
✅ Tag me on Instagram @kee_to_wellness so I can see your creations
📧 Join my email list for new meal ideas, clean swaps, and product roundups
🛒 Check out my Amazon Storefront for all my go-to kitchen + pantry staples
And don’t forget to follow along for more protein-packed meal ideas, mom life hacks, and wellness content that actually works in real life.
