It’s dinner time and everyone is hungry. You’ve worked all day and the last thing you feel like doing is becoming a master chef in your kitchen. Few people in the world can afford takeout every night, plus it’s just not healthy. And no one really wants something that came from a box or can.

It’s easier than you think to put together a fabulous restaurant-quality dinner though. Here’s how you can make quick and easy meals without running yourself ragged.

1. Use your slow cooker

There are thousands upon thousands of slow cooker recipes available, most of which require you to simply dump everything into it, turn it on, and then serve it when you get home. From soups to stews and roasts to lasagna, you can have a hot and delicious meal waiting for the whole family, one that didn’t come out of the box. Winning tip: prep and package all your slow cooker meals in advance so you can literally just dump the contents of your prepped bags into the slow cooker and walk out the door.

2. Even better, go Instant Pot

The internet has truly been abuzz about Instant Pot. This pressure cooker can have a feast on your table in less than 20 minutes. Some of them can even make yogurt too as an added bonus.

3. Go for one-pot meals

Didn’t plan ahead? You can make a delicious pasta meal in one pot with spaghetti, fresh herbs, tomatoes, garlic and a few other items. There are also countless recipes to browse through that require ingredients you’ve likely already got on-hand.

4. Plan and prep during your downtime

It might seem like a total downer to spend your free time planning and prepping, but when you do, you’ll find you have more free time to relax and unwind after a hectic day. Cut up portions of your proteins and produce and label them accordingly. Load up your freezer too. By getting things ready in advance, you can come home and get dinner onto the table in less than 20 minutes.

5. Make extra for leftovers

No matter how much you and your family love chili, lasagna, or other favorite meals, they get boring very quickly. Still, it’s so much easier to make a big batch and save the rest for leftovers. Using freezer bags and portioning out leftovers to stack flat and store in the freezer is a smart move. You might not want to eat that chili every day for the next 2 weeks, but in 2 more weeks, you will be glad you stashed your portions in the freezer for easy reheating of a hearty meal everyone can enjoy.

The trick to quick and easy meals is all in planning, prepping, and making your kitchen appliances work for you. Once you do it a few times, you’ll never spend more than 30 minutes cooking dinner ever again, except maybe on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but that’s a different story!