Quick and Easy Meals for Busy December Nights
Inside: simple meal ideas for busy December nights you can east on repeat all month long.
Let’s be honest, no matter how much we plan and prepare, December just feels full.
Even though I enjoy being in the kitchen and cooking delicious and nourishing meals for my family, there are often so many things on my plate this time of year that I just want to keep things simple.
In this blog post I’m going to share five simple recipes that are nourishing, cozy, and come together quickly for busy nights. These recipes are great any time of year, but they’re especially great when you’re needing something easy.
While I do practice meal planning and find it saves me so much time and headache, I’ve never been one to really meal cycle, or do the same things over and over. This December I am going to try something different and choose just a handful of simple recipes and use them on repeat all month long so that I can enjoy the festivities and holiday traditions worrying about my meal plan.
Most of these are one pot options and you’ll notice I love using my cast iron since it can go directly in the oven from the stovetop. Definitely a piece worth investing in.
If you need a place to start with your holiday planning, be sure and check out my free holiday home planner that includes the 21-day decluttering checklist, as well as lots of Christmas printables to help your Christmas homemaking be smoother and more peaceful.
Simple Recipes for December
Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherds pie is one of my family’s favorite winter meals. It’s so cozy and nourishing and can be made in one pot making cleanup a breeze.
It’s easy to switch out the veggies, depending on what your family likes or you already have on hand. This is an especially quick meal if you already have mashed potatoes prepared ahead of time.
Find the Shepherd’s Pie recipe here.
Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas
These creamy green chili chicken enchiladas are a real cloud pleaser and come together quickly. Make a big pan and eat the leftovers for another meal.
Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients
- 8 Flour tortillas, medium size
- 3 cups shredded chicken
- 3 cups cheddar or colby-jack cheese
- 3 TB butter
- 3 TB flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 4oz diced green chilis
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Grease a 9x13in pan.
- Combine the chicken and 1 cup of cheese and toss. This is the filling.
- In a small skillet, melt the butter. Add flour and stir for one minute until it begins to thicken.
- Whisk in broth and stir until it begins to thicken. Let it cool.
- Add sour cream and chilis, stir.
- Place 1/4 cup chicken mixture into a tortilla and roll tightly. Place in greased pan.
- Continue to fill and roll tortillas until all the meat is used.
- Cover with sauce. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.
- Serve with shredded lettuce, sour cream, and salsa.
Vegetable Fried Rice
Rice has so many delicious flavors and has packed full of vegetables and nutrients. You can make this meatless or add some shredded chicken or ground beef pour some extra protein. It’s so easy to add vegetable Ables and seasonings that your family prefers to make this a very family, friendly meal, not super budget friendly.
Vegetable Fried Rice
Ingredients
- 1 TB olive oil
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1/2 cup carrots, diced
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 1/2 cup peas
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 2 eggs, scrambled
- 2-3 TB soy sauce
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a heavy skillet.
- Add carrots, peas, and onion and sautee until soft.
- Stir in garlic and ginger and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
- Add rice and soy sauce, stirring to coat the rice.
- Make a well in the center of the rice and pour in the eggs. Gently stir the eggs as they begin to cook.
- Continue to stir the rice and cook it until heated through, eggs are cooked, and rice beings to brown and crisp.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately.
Beef Stew
Beef stew is on repeat in our home all winter long. I rarely make it the same way twice, but vary it with different vegetables depending on what I have in the freezer. You can easily start this recipe in the morning and your crockpot and forget about it until supper time making it the ultimate, quick and easy weeknight dinner
Beef Stew
Ingredients
- 2 TB olive oil
- 2 pounds beef stew cubes
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound potatoes, peeled and diced
- 4 carrots, peeled and diced
- 3 sticks celery, chopped
- 3 cups beef broth
- 16oz tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 3 bay leaves
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a skillet and brown the beef cubes on all sides over medium-high heat.
- Transfer the beef and any juices to the crockpot.
- Add the onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until tender, then stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Transfer to the crockpot.
- Add the remaining ingredients to your slow cooker and stir well.
- Cook on low for 10 hours or until the beef is tender.
I hope these recipes have give you some inspiration for cozy, quick meals you can make this month. If you need simple, make ahead breakfast ideas, be sure and check out this blog post.
