Quick and Easy Dinners for Busy Dads

By Wayne Parker

Updated 10/23/17

More and more dads are getting more involved than ever before in dinner preparation. Gone are the days when moms stayed home and cooked every night. With families becoming busier and busier, quick and easy meals are becoming an imperative.

Fathers who have to run fast to get through every day both need and appreciate recipes that make dinner preparations quick and easy. These recipes offer meals that take only a few minutes to prepare and taste great.

  • 01 of 06
    Roast Beef Stromboli
    Beef Stromboli
    Stephanie Gallagher

    A stromboli is like a turnover, but instead of fruit, it is filled with meat, veggies and/or cheese.  A refrigerated pizza crust and deli roast beef make quick work of this quick and easy dinner. You can cut the stromboli into small pieces, and let the kids eat with their hands. About 15 minutes of prep time and 25-35 minutes in the oven.

  • 02 of 06
    Sloppy Joes
    Sloppy Joes
    Creative RF / Getty Images

    My family has long loved sloppy joes. With a mixture of meat, onions, ketchup, brown sugar (and sometimes celery), sloppy joes are a quick, fun and filling meal. This is a great recipe. About 20 minutes from start to finish.

  • 03 of 06
    Crockpot Chili
    Brian Hagiwara/Getty Images

    I love using crockpots for preparing dinner. All the ingredients go in and then you go about your day. A few hours later, dinner is ready and cleanup is a snap. Two kinds of beans, lean ground beef and vegetables make this chili recipe healthy. While is has the distinctive chili flavor, it is not too spicy for the little guys in your family.  It takes about ten minutes of prep time and 8 hours in the crockpot.

  • 04 of 06
    Pesto Meatballs with Fettuccine
    Pesto Spaghetti
    Creative RM / Getty Images

    Pesto is a well-loved Italian sauce made with garlic, pine nuts, and cheese.  This recipe is one of my favorite quick Italian meals and uses those frozen meatballs from the grocery store. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish and is a lot of fun to prepare and eat with the family.

    Continue to 5 of 6 below.
  • 05 of 06
    Apple Cinnamon Glazed Chicken
    Apple Glazed Chicken
    Creative RM / Getty Images

    If you like to cook on the charcoal or gas grill, then this is a great family recipe. We love grilling at our house, and this recipe will result in moist, well-seasoned chicken.  You can serve it with rice for a complete meal.  Only about 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes on a hot grill. A low-fat entry with applesauce and cinnamon.

  • 06 of 06
    Dianne's Crockpot Beef Fajitas
    Beef Fajitas
    Creative RM / Getty Images

    Fajitas are another family favorite for our household.  Another great crockpot recipe. Flank steak, salsa, and peppers highlight these tasty fajitas. Serve on steamed flour tortillas. It takes about 15 minutes to prepare and 8 hours in the crockpot, so it is a good dinner to prepare on a busy weekend day.  And if you are running a little late for dinner, the food will keep until you are ready to serve and eat.