Busy moms need dinnertime ideas that are easy to fix and don’t require a lot of clean up. These fast prep, few pots, easy to prepare meal ideas should make moms happy.

Turkey Chili is an all-in-one meal. Just put everything in the crockpot at the beginning of the day, and it will be ready for dinner. Make sure you know how your crockpot works and adjust your settings for cooking accordingly. If I’m cooking the chili all day long, I can keep my crockpot on warm and everything will be cooked through.

Spray the inside of your crockpot with cooking spray. Add 2 chopped onions, 1 chopped green pepper, and 3 teaspoons of garlic. Add 1 pound of ground turkey, 1 can of fire roasted diced tomatoes, ½ - 1 jar of your favorite spicy salsa, and 1 can of chili beans. Next add crushed red pepper, cumin, chili powder, oregano, along with a dash of cocoa powder and another dash of sugar. Adjust the spices according to your own family’s preference. Serve with a salad and store bought corn bread and you have yourself a meal.

Clean up: one pot, one cutting board and dinner dishes

Chicken Curry stir fry is a simple dish to prepare and easy to make ahead and freeze. Prepare rice in your rice cooker and then add this simple chicken and vegetable mixture on top for a complete meal.

Heat 2-3 Tablespoons of oil in the wok. Add 4 cloves of garlic and 2 chopped onions until softened. Next add ½ cup of green pepper, 4-6 chicken breasts (cut into chunks), and 2 cups of tomato sauce. Add 2 tablespoons of flour, 2 tablespoons of curry, and ½ cup of fresh lemon juice. Stir-fry until chicken is cooked through.

Clean up: wok, cutting board, dinner dishes

Meatless Monday Dinner - Families across the country are participating in Meatless Mondays, a day devoted to meat-free dinners. The positive impact that this movement has on the environment is inspiring! A simple and filling vegetarian meal consists of pearled couscous (these are basically small balls of pasta that are cooked in boiling water) with steamed vegetables. Save on dishwashing time by using a vegetable steamer over the couscous pot and cook your broccoli while your couscous is boiling. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice or Italian dressing for a flavor boost and season to taste with salt and pepper. If a veggie bowl doesn’t feel filling enough, serve with a soy-based chicken patty on a whole-wheat bun.

Clean up: one saucepan, cutting board, dinner dishes

It always surprises me how quickly a full meal can be prepared in a short amount of time. The bonus comes when the clean up is quick too. Keeping a notebook with all your quick-to-prepare recipes can be a real help when you’re having one of those days when the hours get away from you and dinner sneaks up quickly.