5 Tips For Getting Dinner on the Table Fast

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Since whipping through the drive-thru isn’t really an option for us (and not really healthy either!) I needed to figure out a way to make sure I get food on the table every night with minimal effort and grumbling.

Here are my top five tips for getting dinner on the table fast!

#1 Make a meal plan

This is my number one tip because it is the one thing that keeps me on task (and saves us money). Having a plan means that I know what I need to cook, what I can prep ahead of time, and how long it’s going to take from start to finish.

I used to get all type A about this. This year I’ve discovered having a loose plan works better for me, at least in this season of life. I make a list of 7 dinners for the week and buy groceries for those 7 dinners. I don’t assign them to a day, I just make a list and pull whatever I feel like cooking that day.

If I don't feel like cooking any of them, we have breakfast for dinner! Hey, if it's good enough to start the day, it's good enough to end it.

Grab yourself a free printable meal planner here.

#2 Prep Ahead of Time

Prepping is a very important time saver!  I can’t stress that enough. Chop veggies, shred cheese, cook meats, etc...anything you can do ahead of time to make getting dinner on the table throughout the week quick and easy.

For example, if I’m making a chicken vegetable soup one week, I will cook the chicken, shred it, and store it in the freezer. I will also chop carrots, celery, onions, etc. and store them in the fridge. When it’s time to cook I dump the veggies, chicken (still frozen), broth, and spices in the pot and walk away. Doesn’t get much easier than that.

When you have a meal plan (see tip #1) prep work is easy. Since you have a list of what you’ll be cooking all week you know exactly what you can do ahead of time.

#3 Keep the Kitchen Clean

For me, there are few things more frustrating than trying to cook in a messy kitchen with dirty dishes everywhere. Make sure that your kitchen is clean before you start cooking, and keep it clean as you go!

I keep a sink of hot soapy water while I’m cooking and clean as I use things. This makes after dinner clean up go very quickly as well.

#4 Keep the Kitchen Organized and Decluttered

It’s a waste of precious time having to hunt down measuring spoons, pots, lids, etc. while you’re trying to get dinner on the table fast. Keeping everything organized and decluttered will help make sure that you can find whatever you need within a few seconds.

Pinterest will provide all of the kitchen organization ideas you could possibly need!

#5 Don’t Cook From Scratch

Sometimes convenience is absolutely worth the money. Grab that bag of frozen biscuits and save yourself the hour it would take to make them from scratch.

A bag of frozen carrots tastes as good as fresh ones in your soup, and you don't have to chop them up.

If getting dinner on the table fast is a goal for you, then brainstorm ways that you can save time by using convenience items. I use tons of both frozen and canned vegetables because I hate chopping veggies (just keeping it real).

There you have it, my top 5 tips for getting dinner on the table fast! 

I'm certain there are tons more, so what are your best tips for getting dinner on the table fast? I'd love to learn from you!