Practice moved up an hour and dinner is now
The email came at 4:40 saying the field opened early. You have until 5:45 and nothing thawed. Twenty-four frozen meatballs go in a skillet with half a cup of teriyaki and they are hot in eight minutes.
Six meatballs with rice is a real dinner for a ten-year-old. Ten is too many before a session with any running in it, and you will hear about it at the water break.
Ingredients
The recipe serves 4. Plan on about 15 minutes.
- 24 frozen fully cooked meatballs (about 1 lb)
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 2 cups frozen stir-fry vegetable blend
- 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)
How to Make It
- Microwave the frozen meatballs according to the package, usually 3 to 4 minutes, until heated through to 165F.
- Microwave the frozen vegetables with 1 tablespoon water for 3 minutes until hot, then drain.
- Combine the meatballs and teriyaki sauce in a skillet over medium heat and simmer 3 minutes until glazed.
- Divide the warm rice among bowls and top with the vegetables.
- Spoon the glazed meatballs over the top and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
Timing Before Practice
Frozen meatballs make this nearly instant, so 20 minutes before you leave is plenty.
- T-minus 20: start the rice and microwave the vegetables
- T-minus 10: glaze the meatballs and build bowls
- T-minus 5: water bottles and shoes, no new cooking
Make It Ahead or Save Leftovers
Everything reheats well, so make a double batch and bank a second dinner.
- Cook a full bag of meatballs and refrigerate half for later
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave with a splash of water
- Pack a cooled bowl for the next day's lunch
- Serve with: edamame, cucumber slices
Parent Tip
Keep a bag of frozen meatballs and a bag of stir-fry vegetables on hand and this dinner can come together in about 15 minutes.
Make it fit tonight
Small changes that make this one fit your night
The whole bag cooked, half saved
Cook all forty-eight and refrigerate half, because Thursday is coming and it looks exactly like tonight.
Frozen stir-fry blend in the microwave
Two cups get hot in three minutes while the meatballs glaze and nobody has to chop a pepper.
Sauce cut with a spoon of water
Teriyaki straight from the bottle is thick and salty; a tablespoon of water thins it out.
Sesame seeds for the kid who wants it fancy
A teaspoon over one bowl makes it look like takeout and costs about four cents.
Edamame from the freezer alongside
A cup steamed in a mug of water gives them something to pick at while the rice finishes.
Plan the next step
Stock your freezer shortcuts
Keep a couple of freezer-staple dinners ready for the nights planning just did not happen.