As you settle back into the school-year routine, we’re here with practical recipes, time-saving versatile blends, and simple tips to make dinner doable—no matter how packed your calendar gets. Because flavor and family time shouldn’t fall off your plate, even on the busiest nights.
With a stocked pantry and a little planning, you can skip the “what’s for dinner?” dilemma. Turn weeknight meals into something you can look forward to, one cozy, doable dinner at a time, so you can focus on the moments that matter.
Tips to Master Meal Planning
Make Time To Plan & Shop
Set aside a little time each week to prep and plan your meals. Mix it up so dinner never feels dull.
- Scroll for fresh ideas, bookmark a new recipe, or finally try that pasta you keep hearing about.
- A quick scan of your fridge and pantry can spark inspiration and help avoid double-buys.
- Make a shopping list before you head out, and include veggies, proteins, grains, and healthy fats for balanced meals.
Don't Meal Plan & Prep Solo
It’s tough to dream up dinner every week—so invite your family to help.
- Ask your family to suggest recipes that sound good or help with prep.
- Get the kids to pick a recipe or two.
- Turn on your favorite podcast or playlist and make it a ritual you actually look forward to.
Prep Smarter, Not Harder
A little prep on Sunday can save you a week’s worth of stress. When it’s time to start dinner, you’ll breeze through busy nights with less stress.
- Wash and chop veggies ahead of time.
- Roast or blanch them so they’re ready to toss into any dish.
- Batch-cook grains like rice or quinoa.
- Marinate meat (or tofu) ahead of time.
- Prep sauces in advance.
Keep Your Kitchen Organized
An organized kitchen, pantry, and refrigerator make meal prep, grocery shopping, and cooking easier.
- Keep your recipes in one spot, whether it’s an old-school binder, Pinterest board, or a folder on your laptop, whatever works best for you.
- Jot down what you loved, what flopped, and tweaks you made to recipes. Over time, you’ll have a greatest-hits list that makes planning even easier.
Stock Your Pantry
A well-stocked pantry is key to success and can save you time and money. Shop your pantry shelves, fridge, and freezer first, use what you have on hand and then fill in the gaps. You may even discover a new favorite recipe in the process.
Spice Things Up
Spices make a difference between an amazing meal and one that's just ok. Keep your favorites close, and try adding one new herb or spice to your collection weekly. It'll help keep flavors interesting and soon you'll have the knowledge and spices to add warmth, zest, or depth to any dish.
Choose The Right Tools
You don't need a ton of fancy kitchen tools. Most of the time a few great knives is all you need. But a few kitchen tools make it easier to make dinner when you're short on time.
- If you aren't a fan of chopping and slicing, pick up a high-quality mandolin.
- A food processor, immersion or regular blender can help with soups and sauces.
- A slow or pressure cooker is a must-have, and they aren’t just for cold weather. They’re a year-round, weekday essential for busy lives.
Plan For Leftovers
If you don’t have time to cook every day of the week, plan to make enough to have leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. Less waste and more time is always a win.
- If you don't love leftovers, get creative and reinvent them into something new.
- Turn leftover chicken into soup, freeze extra servings or sauce for a busy day, or toss last night’s roast chicken and veggies into a grain bowl.
Weeknight Dinner Wins
Discover simple weeknight recipes made with our signature and bold flavor blends that pack the flavor and are ready in no time.
One Pan Dinners
Summit County
Whole Roasted Chicken with Lemon Potatoes & Fennel
Nantucket Herb & Citrus Rub
Lemon Chicken Cacciatore
Lake Barkley Fried Chicken Seasoning
Instant Pot Roast Chicken
Easy Weeknight Dinners
Family Style Fajita Seasoning
Family Style Fajitas
Tandoori Seasoning
Curry Cauliflower with Crispy Chile Tofu
Black Dust Cowboy Coffee Rub
Everyday Everyway Meatloaf
Mt. Olympus Greek Style Seasoning
Lemon Dill Orzo with Paprika Crusted-Chicken
Cajun Blackening
Black River Creole Sauce with Sausage & Rice
Quick & Easy Pasta
Spice & Easy Classic Marinara Sauce
Baked Feta Pasta
Nantucket Herb & Citrus Rub
Lemon-Herb Garden Pasta
Wash Park Garlic Pepper
Steak Mushroom Alfredo
Black Garlic Salt
Black Garlic Shrimp Scampi
Black Dust Cowboy Coffee Rub
Rigatoni with Coffee Spiced Sausage
Spice & Easy
Stop digging through your spice cabinet and juggling jars. Let pre-mixed blends do the heavy lifting. Open a packet, toss it in, and let dinner come alive. Big, cozy flavor is just a shortcut away, even on your busiest nights.
- Spice & Easy Meal Starter 10-pack
- Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner Collection
-
Meal Starter Main Dishes & Soups
Bundles For Fast, Flavorful Meals
No More Boring Chicken Bundle
Back-to-routine doesn’t mean boring. With the right blends, even the quickest meals can be full of flavor. This bundle is here to help you keep easy dinners tasty and on track—whether you’re winding down after a long day or racing between pick-ups. Includes:
- Nantucket Herb & Citrus Rub
- Mt. Hood Toasted Onion Rub
- Gold Coast Tropical Poultry Rub
- Bajan Seasoning
Weeknight Hero Bundle
Dinner doesn’t need to be complicated to taste amazing. Busy lives still deserve bold flavor. This bundle brings all-purpose blends with everyday flavors to your spice pantry, making even your busiest weeknights feel a little more doable (and a lot more delicious). Includes:
- Santa Maria Sea Salted BBQ Rub
- Mt. Elbert All-Purpose Seasoning
- Summit County
- Citrus Pepper Seasoning
Everyday meals don’t have to feel like a chore, and mealtime doesn't have to be fancy to be meaningful. With a bit of planning and a dash of spice, dinner can be the best part of your day—even on a weekday.
Even on the busiest days, make room for flavor, connection, and conversation with loved ones. We’re here to help you make it doable, delicious, and (almost) effortless one bite at a time.