35 New-Mom Dinners That Don’t Collapse the Moment the Baby Cries

A friend texted me asking what she could make with one hand that wasn’t toast. Her son was only a week and a half old and she was trying to type while he was sleeping so it took her awhile to send the message.

I guess this is sort of the long answer. None of it is a two-hands-the-whole-time thing, or a real stretch of focus; there usually isn’t one. A lot of it survives being abandoned partway and come back to later. The thing up top asks how many hands you’ve actually got free right now which felt like the honest place to start.

1) Sheet Pan Chicken

I have to confess, chicken thighs are a bit of a comfort food for me. They stay moist even if you’re interrupted in the middle of cooking to do a slightly dramatic diaper change.

Toss thighs and halved baby potatoes with olive oil, salt, pepper, and whatever dried herbs you can find.

Pair it with a pre-packaged salad and you’ve got a full meal.

2) Tomato Basil Pasta

When I have no other ideas, this is what I make for dinner.

Simmer a simple marinara (jarred is fine) and toss with spaghetti, penne, whatever you’ve got.

It’s awesome if you can stir in a handful of spinach, but if not, that’s great too. Put some in containers right now! Your future self will definitely be hungry at 11 a.m.

3) Chicken Tacos

Rotisserie chicken is basically a small miracle you can buy.

To prepare this meal, shred it, warm the tortillas, and put out some basic toppings such as salsa, avocado, and any other topping that is not wilted. I felt like I was truly multi-tasking while eating it because I was standing at the counter and bouncing a baby on my knee. If you feel like it, try to get a little fancy and toast the tortillas in a dry pan for 30 seconds on each side.

4) Salmon Rice Bowl

Even if your hair looks messy, and even if there is salmon stuck to it, it is still going to give you the impression of being a bit more organized than usual, and that’s a good thing because it shouldn’t take you long to throw this together.

Roast or pan-sear salmon until just opaque and flaky, then serve with microwave rice and sliced cucumbers tossed with salt and a squeeze of lemon.

It’s okay if soy sauce is the only thing you add to the meal. In some cases, it may be the only thing on the menu for the evening, and that’s perfectly fine!

5) Breakfast for Dinner

Eggs are the most forgiving protein in the house.

You can also include a little cheese and some toast on the side. I personally feel a bit better about the meal if I add a handful of frozen spinach (which I’ve squeezed a bit). When the baby finally goes to sleep, you’re fortunate enough to be able to have a meal while seated.

6) Lemon Orzo

Orzo is a speedy cooking option and can be considered a more laidback version of risotto.

Simmer it in broth, stir in peas near the end, then finish with lemon zest and parmesan.

The soft texture makes the day feel smoother. Adding leftover chicken is effortless.

7) Salsa Chicken

This is a real food meal that’s simple to prepare.

Put chicken breasts or thighs in a slow cooker with salsa and a pinch of salt, then let time do the work.

Shred and serve alongside some rice. If you have beans or corn, you can add those as well. It also freezes well which is the highest compliment I can give a meal right now.

8) Turkey Pesto Meatballs

Meatballs can be compared to an unconventional kind of insurance policy.

Mix ground turkey with breadcrumbs, egg, salt, pepper, and a spoonful of pesto, then bake until cooked through.

We won’t judge how you eat it – put it in a sandwich, eat it straight from the fridge at midnight, or toss it in with some pasta. Making a double batch is something you’ll be thankful for (just quietly because the baby is sleeping).

9) Veggie Fried Rice

Fried rice is the best use of yesterday’s rice and today’s low patience.

Take some frozen mixed veggies, chop up some leftover rice and mix in with some soy sauce, and, if available, some sesame oil. If you want to fill it up more, you can add a fried egg on top. You might want to add some scallions on top to get it fancy, but let’s be honest, you’re probably just digging in with any clean spoon.

10) Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are patient, which is certainly more than I can say for most weeknights. Bake (or microwave) until the potatoes are soft, then split and fill with warm black beans and salsa. If you want extra creaminess, you can add cheese or Greek yogurt. If your appetite can be a bit erratic, it’s kind of nice to have something that’s filling but not heavy.

11) Chicken Noodle Soup

For those days that you need soup to get you feeling more put together start with some boxed broth. Add some sliced carrots and celery and let it simmer until they are tender. Before finishing toss in some shredded rotisserie chicken and some egg noodles. It will give the impression you put some effort in when in reality you didn’t.

12) Quesadillas

Quesadillas are similar to a pick your own adventure type of dinner. However, they don’t have too many options. If you want to keep it easy, grab some cheese with a tortilla, and fold it in half. If you want to get fancy, add some leftover chicken or beans before toasting it in a pan. After it is nice and crispy, slice it into wedges. If you are eating two wedges over the sink, don’t worry, you are not alone.

13) Creamy White Bean Soup

Canned beans are an under rated food in the pantry. For a quick meal, warm up the beans and some broth. Add in some cream or cream cheese. While this is happening, sauté some garlic. Add garlic to the beans along with some spinach and stir until the spinach wilts. Serve with some toast to change the meal from just beans to dinner. If your baby waits, you can even squeeze some lemon and pretend to be in a cafe.

14) Shrimp Scampi Linguine

It might be a little suspicious how quickly shrimp cooks. For the shrimp, cook in butter or olive oil with lots of garlic, and add a pinch of chili flakes. After that, mix with the linguine and a squeeze of lemon. To keep the sauce from thickening, add a little bit of the pasta cooking water. If you aren’t able to do seafood at the moment, you can still do chicken, but it will take longer to cook.

15) Greek Snack Plate

I appreciate dinners that don’t require cooking, timing, or emotional labor.

Put hummus, pita, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta on a plate and call it a meal.

This is a dinner you can throw together one-handed and add leftover chicken for extra protein and make it more filling.

16) Cheesy Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes are like a blank canvas for you to create on! They also will forgive you if you didn’t go grocery shopping.

Microwave or oven-bake a russet until fluffy, then pile on steamed broccoli and cheddar.

With butter and salt, you’re all set for ht and comforting food. If you’re short on fresh broccoli, don’t sweat it. Just make sure to drain your frozen broccoli and you’ll be good!

17) Ground Turkey Skillet

While this may look simple, the meal offers better flavors than you might expect.

Brown ground turkey with onion (or onion powder), add chopped zucchini, and cook until tender.

Add some salt, pepper, and a little Parmesan cheese. If your stomach is being picky, it’s probably mild, and pretty flexible and friendly.

18) Tuna Melts

This feels like childhood in the best way (and yes, my kids still love a good tuna melt).

Mix the tuna with a little bit of mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt), a dash of mustard, and some pepper. Before serving, melt cheese over the mixture and then toast it. For accompaniment, use any tomato soup that you have, whether it’s boxed, canned, etc. I can’t even count the times I’ve burned my mouth on this combo because I never wait for the soup to cool.

19) Lentil Stew

Lentils are a food I enjoy eating. I feel responsible eating them. However, I find it difficult to keep eating them since I feel like I’m just suffering through another bland responsible meal.

Simmer lentils with carrots, onion, garlic, and broth until tender, then finish with lemon.

The waste is more of a gift to the creator. If you are out of stuff, give yourself the pleasure of buying pre-chopped mirepoix

20) Pesto Tortellini

Refrigerated tortellini cooks in minutes, which is my preferred timeline lately.

For dinner, you can combine prepared pesto with some peas (if you time it right, you can boil them together). You can add lemon or more Parmesan, which is also a nice addition. A meal like this can make you feel a little bit lucky and a little bit fancy.

21) Chicken Caesar Wraps

At times a meal is needed that can be eaten with one hand.

Toss chopped romaine with Caesar dressing, add sliced chicken (leftover or rotisserie), and roll into a wrap.

I like using shaved parmesan and black pepper since they add a stronger and more genuine taste. You can also head to the couch with wraps because they’re more portable, and you could be living there for a while.

22) Cheesy Baked Polenta

Gentle Polenta is soft to start. You can use soft polenta or even pre-cooked slices. Add cheese and bake it in marinara until bubbly. It can be served with a green salad, or go without it. Sometimes the food you re eating can be very complicated. And that is when this comfort food is needed. It is uncomplicated and does not require a ton of complicated chewing.

23) Breakfast Burritos

I have great appreciation for a burrito from the freezer.

Fill tortillas with scrambled eggs, cheese, and sautéed potatoes or hash browns, then wrap tightly.

Once you need to reheat, freeze in a single layer. You’re still fed, and at least you still have a burrito even if you left one in the microwave and it got a little rubbery.

24) Beef and Broccoli

This is how I prepare dinner when I wish for something a little less formal and just want something quick and savory. I quickly cook sliced beef, broccoli, soy sauce, garlic, and either brown sugar or honey. It is served with rice, which can also be a leftover. If you happen to be using frozen broccoli, just be sure to dry it as best as you can so that your sauce doesn’t become too watery.

25) Creamy Tomato Beans

Based on my experience, I find that canned food, butter beans are on the soft side, and I usually find them to be a little over the top. Try heating them in tomato sauce with some butter and a little cream. Season it with a little more than a pinch of salt and pepper. Try it with toast. I remember doing this while softly foot-bouncing a baby and thinking to myself, “Okay, this can be done.”

26) Sausage and Peppers

Another shortcut is using sausage. To do this, brown sliced sausage in the same pan and cook the peppers and onions until they are soft and a bit caramelized. It’s also great served in buns, on rice, or alongside roasted potatoes. Honestly, even if the baby is crying, it still tastes good lukewarm. It’s sad, but it’s true.

27) Cottage Pie

Cottage Pie (aka Shepherd’s Pie) is great and all, but I’m not here to assign homework. It might sound complicated at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s an easy dinner to have. Brown ground beef or turkey with frozen mixed veggies and a little Worcestershire, then top with instant mashed potatoes.

28) Baked Feta Pasta

There is a reason this went viral online. It is really simple. Put the feta, cherry tomatoes, and some olive oil in the oven. Once baked, they get soft and you can mash them. Mix the mash with some pasta. To make it greener, you can add spinach. It’s really rich, so you actually don’t need that much. This is perfect for when you don’t have a big appetite.

29) Chicken and Vegetable Soup

This is my gentle soup.

Simmer broth with cooked chicken and rice along with vegetables until everything tastes like itself but friendlier.

Add lemon to make it a little brighter. If you don’t have much energy, use the pre-cooked rice and skip to the eating part.

30) Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a classic for a reason, and adding vegetables doesn’t ruin the vibe.

If you want to be a little sneaky, you can add some puréed cauliflower, peas or steamed broccoli into the mix. You can use a simple roux or even evaporated milk for this. Some people like to add hot sauce to make it spicy, while other people like to keep it plain and original.

31) Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry

I would consider bagged stir fry vegetables a miracle of modern science, and that is a hill I will die on. You take some cooked chicken (or tofu), throw it in, some pre or stir fry veggies, pour in some ready to use teriyaki sauce, and serve it over rice or noodles, and it smells like you worked so much harder than you did. Not to mention how pretty, and how quick it is!

32) Creamy Mushroom Toast

Sometimes you just want a meal that is pleasant to eat, but doesn’t have that heavy feeling afterwards. Sauté the mushrooms until they start browning, and then pour a splash of cream, or you can use a spoon of cream cheese. Spread this mixture onto some toast, and then toss an egg on top for some extra staying power. It may not make sense, but in the newborn haze it can be really nice.

33) Chickpea Curry

Canned chickpeas plus curry paste is dinner with almost no negotiation.

Boil the chickpeas and canned tomatoes until thickened. Next, add in curry (either paste or powder) and coconut milk. This dish can be served with rice or naan. If spicy foods are bothersome, feel free to leave it out. Remember, heat is optional, dinner is not.

34) Whatever Pasta

This is the kind of dinner you make when the fridge is empty and looks like a sad stage prop.

Finishing with parmesan and pepper, warm olive oil with sliced garlic (don’t let it burn) and toss with hot pasta.

If you have them use capers, canned tuna, or a handful of greens. It does the job, even if it is simple.

35) Dumpling Soup

Making freezer dumplings is probably quicker than convincing yourself to eat cereal for dinner. Just boil some broth and then add spinach or bok choy to finish it off with soy sauce and a little sesame oil. It’s warm, salty and strangely restorative. And hey, even if you only do the dumplings and broth you still did something.