Letโs be honest โ for most of us mamas, the kitchen is not just a place where food magically appears. Itโs command central. Itโs where the โWhatโs for dinner?โ interrogation happens approximately 1,762 times a week. Itโs where snacks vanish faster than you can unpack the groceries. And for some reason, itโs where everyone in the house suddenly needs to stand when youโre cooking.
If youโve ever wished you could wave a magic wand and make dinner faster, cleaner, and easierโฆ well, I canโt give you a wand, but I CAN give you 5 of my favorite Crazy Busy Mama kitchen hacks that have saved my sanity more times than I can count.
These are simple, practical, and youโll wonder why you didnโt start doing them sooner. Bonus? A couple of these are so fun, the kids might even pitch in (keyword: might).
1. The Ziplock Marinade Trick ๐ฅฉ
Weโve all been there โ itโs 4:57 p.m., the chicken is still frozen solid, and youโre staring at it like it personally betrayed you.
Hereโs how to never be in that spot again:
Next time you buy meat, divide it into portions and place each portion in a ziplock bag. Add your marinade of choice (even something as simple as Italian dressing works wonders). Flatten the bag before sealing โ this is key. Then lay them flat in your freezer.
Why this works like magic:
- Flat bags thaw WAY faster than big clumps of meat.
- While theyโre thawing, theyโre also soaking up all that flavor.
- You literally just pull it out in the morning, toss it in the fridge, and by dinner time itโs ready for the oven, grill, or slow cooker.
Itโs the meal-prep hack that feels like a gift from your past self to your future self.
Here is an example of a few delicious Crazy Busy Mama Sheet Pan meals with this kitchen hack in action!
2. The Cutting Board Catch-All ๐ฅ
You know how chopping vegetables somehow turns into half the carrot on the counter and an onion peel stuck to your elbow? Same.
Hereโs the fix: Place a rimmed baking sheet under your cutting board. As you chop, slide scraps right onto the baking sheet. When youโre done, dump it straight into the trash or compost.
Why this is genius:
No more running back and forth to the trash.
No bits of garlic hiding under your salt shaker.
It makes cleanup so fast, youโll actually want to chop your own veggies. (Okay, maybe not wantโฆ but at least tolerate.)
3. Dishwasher Produce Wash ๐
This one sounds wild, but stick with me.
If youโve got a pile of produce โ grapes, apples, peppers, cucumbers โ and youโre dreading washing each one individually, try this: Place them on the top rack of your dishwasher, select the cold rinse cycle, and hit start. No soap, no heat โ just a gentle rinse that does all the work for you.
Why mamas love this:
The kids think itโs hilarious and might even eat more produce just because it โwent for a ride.โ
Itโs perfect for bulk washing after a grocery haul.
You can wash a weekโs worth of snacks in one go.
4. The Slow Cooker Double-Up ๐ฒ
Slow cookers are the real MVP of busy weeknights, but hereโs how to make them work even harder for you: Every time you make a slow cooker meal, make twice as much.
Serve one batch for dinner tonight, then let the second batch cool, portion it into freezer bags, and store it for another day.
This is perfect for smaller portions or even doubling a recipe so you can bring a dinner to a friend in need.
If you don't have these bag holders -HERE they help so much in planning and prepping additional slow cooker meals
Why this is a game-changer:
Your future self will love you even more than your kids love mac & cheese.
Youโre already chopping, cooking, and washing dishes โ might as well get two meals for the same effort.
On crazy days when you forgot to defrost meat, youโll have a ready-to-go homemade meal waiting.
Also, don't forget to bookmark these incredibly easy and mouth watering Slow Cooker Meals HERE or grab yourself your very own CRAZY BUSY MAMA SLOW COOKER COOKBOOK with 30 Scrumptious Slow Cooker meals for you and your family.
5. Panini Press Everything ๐ฅช
If you think your panini press is only for grilled cheese, youโre missing out. This little gadget can do way more than you think.
Some of my favorites:
- Quesadillas (melty in minutes!)
- Leftover pizza (crispy crust, gooey cheese)
- Cinnamon rolls (yes, really โ they cook in half the time and get a delicious golden crust)
Why it works:
Youโll feel like a gourmet chef without actually trying.
It heats from both sides, so food cooks evenly and FAST.
Itโs fun for the kids to help make their own snacks.
Looking for a panini? I love this Beautiful Press -HERE I got it from my mom for Christmas last year and it has been a game changer especially on sandwich nights!
Bonus Tip for My Fellow Crazy Busy Mamas ๐ก
Want to make these hacks even more powerful? Pair them with a family โhack night.โ Once a month, pick a couple hacks, try them out together, and let the kids vote on their favorite. Not only does it get them involved, but it also teaches them a little independence in the kitchen (and maybe, just maybe, theyโll start making their own sandwiches someday).
Final Thoughts
Mama, your kitchen should work for you โ not the other way around.
These 5 hacks may seem small, but theyโll save you time, cut down on mess, and maybe even make cooking a little more fun.
So the next time you feel like youโre running a 24/7 diner, try one (or all!) of these tricks. And remember โ being a Crazy Busy Mama doesnโt mean you have to do it all the hard way. Work smarter, not hungrier.
Which hack are you trying first? Or do you have a genius kitchen tip that saves YOU time? Drop it in the comments โ Iโm always looking for ways to make this mama life just a little bit easier.
Hope this helps you ditch that dinner time stress save time in the kitchen and put that extra time around the dinner table enjoying your family #ReclaimTheTable with intentional time.
Love ya! – Lori
PS- Looking to ditch dinner time stress for at least the next 30 days? Let Crazy Busy Mama help with this 4 WEEK MEAL PLAN
