As a busy working mom of 2 who’s down 50 lbs postpartum, fast dinners are my entire personality. When I say I don’t have brain space at 5 PM, I mean zero. These are the real dinners I throw together with a toddler on my hip and Slack pings still happening.

All five are 5 ingredients or less, high protein, and use realistic grocery store shortcuts — H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Whole Foods. Nothing fussy. Nothing you need to “prep” earlier that morning.

Save this post and screenshot the grocery list — these are mom life savers.

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🥘 1. Stuffed Shells Bake (Serves 4)

Cozy, minimal effort, kid-friendly.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 (16 oz) bag H-E-B frozen stuffed shells
• 1 lb Force of Nature ground sausage
• 1 (24 oz) jar Rao’s or Muir Glen marinara
• Optional: 2 cups fresh spinach
• Optional: bagged salad + Primal Kitchen or SideDish dressing

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Brown the sausage.
3. Spread 1 cup marinara in a 9×13 dish.
4. Add shells, sausage, optional spinach, then pour remaining marinara on top.
5. Bake uncovered 45–50 mins until bubbling.

Macros (approx.)
Protein: 28g • Fiber: 3–4g

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🥢 2. Bulgogi Bowls (Serves 2–3)

Better than takeout. I make this weekly.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 tray Trader Joe’s Beef Bulgogi
• 1 bag Grain Trust Frozen Fried Rice
  (or TJ’s frozen fried rice)
• 1–2 cups frozen broccoli
• 1 baby cucumber, sliced
• Optional: chili oil (Trader Joe’s or Momofuku)

Directions

1. Cook bulgogi in a skillet until caramelized.
2. Heat fried rice according to package.
3. Steam or sauté broccoli.
4. Build bowls: rice → bulgogi → broccoli → cucumber.
5. Optional drizzle: chili oil.

Macros (approx.)
Protein: 32g • Fiber: 5g

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🍜 3. High-Protein Chow Mein (Serves 2)

Comfort food but better macros.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 bag Trader Joe’s Chicken Chow Mein
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup stir-fry veggies
• 1 tbsp coconut aminos
• Optional: green onion

Directions

1. Cook chow mein in a large skillet.
2. Scramble 2 eggs in the same pan.
3. Add veggies.
4. Toss with coconut aminos and serve.

Macros (approx.)
Protein: 29g • Fiber: 6g

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🥗 4. Caesar Brussels + Chickpea Bowls (Serves 2)

High protein. High fiber. Minimal thought.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 2 cups shredded Brussels sprouts
• ½ can chickpeas (drained & rinsed)
• 1 cooked chicken breast (or rotisserie)
• Primal Kitchen or SideDish Caesar
• 2 tbsp parmesan

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In a baking sheet: 2 cups Brussels + ½ cup chickpeas + olive oil, salt, pepper.
3. Roast 20 minutes, toss once.
4. Add chicken + Caesar + parmesan.

Macros (approx.)
Protein: 33g • Fiber: 11g

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🍠 5. Sweet Potato Gnocchi Alfredo (Serves 2)

If “lazy cozy dinner” was a dish.

Ingredients (5 or less)

• 1 package Capello’s sweet potato gnocchi
  (or Trader Joe’s)
• 1 tbsp grass-fed butter
• ½ cup H-E-B Midtown Alfredo
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Optional: chili flakes + parsley

Directions

1. Brown gnocchi in a skillet with 1 tbsp butter.
2. Add ½ cup Alfredo and pepper.
3. Simmer 2–3 mins.

Macros (approx.)
Protein: 18g • Fiber: 5g

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🛒 Full Grocery List (with amounts)

Produce

• 2 cups shredded Brussels sprouts
• 1 baby cucumber
• 1 avocado (optional)
• Optional: 2 cups spinach

Protein

• 1 lb Force of Nature ground sausage
• 1 cooked chicken breast (or 1 pkg rotisserie)
• 1 tray Trader Joe’s Beef Bulgogi
• 1 bag Trader Joe’s Chicken Chow Mein
• 2 eggs

Freezer

• 1 bag H-E-B stuffed shells
• 1 bag frozen broccoli
• 1 package Capello’s or Trader Joe’s sweet potato gnocchi
• 1 bag Grain Trust Frozen Fried Rice

Pantry

• 1 jar Rao’s or Muir Glen marinara
• Coconut aminos
• Primal Kitchen or SideDish Caesar
• Optional: chili oil

Dairy

• Parmesan
• Butter

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Check out more:

• 20+ Holiday Recipes
• 10-Minute Meal Prep Burritos
• How ChatGPT Plans My Entire Week as a Mom of Two
• High Protein Soup Roundup

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