This Week: Sticky Korean Beef, One-Pot Mac and Cheese and DIY Granola Trail Mix—RECIPES INSIDE!

Plus more weeknight dinners, the best breakfast hack, and more.

June 01, 2026

There are some weeks when you need exciting new recipes. This is not one of them. As we limp our way toward the finish line of the school year, this week's Family Feed focuses on practical wins: easy suppers, lunchbox inspiration, a make-ahead breakfast trick, a snack that can be endlessly customized and a simple cake that's worth turning on the oven for.

Here's to working smarter, not harder—and making it to summer vacation with at least a little fuel left in the tank!

Katie Dupuis
Editor, ParentsCanada

Weeknight recipes that work even when your patience does not.

Grilled Chicken Lollipops
These fun skewers are perfect for little hands, making them an easy win for backyard dinners and summer get-togethers.

Summertime Ribs
Sticky, tender and packed with barbecue flavour, these ribs demand extra napkins and dinner alfresco.

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna
Let your slow cooker do the heavy lifting, transforming layers of noodles, veggies and cheese into a melty, satisfying supper.

Quinoa Salad with Roast Chicken and Mango
Sweet mango, a grocery store rotisserie chicken and protein-packed quinoa come together in this fresh, colourful salad.

Sticky Korean Beef
This sweet and savoury beef pairs perfectly with rice and whatever vegetables are hanging out in your fridge.

Tiny tricks, big payoff.

Freeze Pancakes for Future Breakfasts

Eggos schmeggos. Who needs ‘em? (Well, you might. They are delicious and easy. But we digress.) The next time you make pancakes, consider this: Mix a double batch (we love these Lazy Weekend Pancakes), feed the kids and then cook up the remaining batter. Cool pancakes completely, then stack them with small squares of parchment paper between each one and freeze them in a large freezer bag or airtight container. (The parchment prevents the pancakes from sticking together, so you can pull out exactly what you need on busy mornings instead of defrosting the entire batch.)

A quick trip through the toaster or microwave and you’re plating with fruit and syrup before anyone has time to ask what's for breakfast six times.

Bonus: This works just as well for waffles and French toast, too!

Lunches kids might eat and parents can repeat.

This stovetop mac and cheese skips the fuss of making a traditional cheese sauce by letting the milk, cheese and flour melt directly into hot pasta. It's creamy, comforting and makes enough for multiple lunches throughout the week. For an extra nutritional boost, try using whole grain or higher-protein pasta. You can also easily customize this dish with peas, broccoli, leftover ham…you name it.

Mac and cheese stays warm packed in a good insulated container, but here’s a hot tip (literally): Before you pack the pasta, boil a kettle of water, fill the container and put the lid on. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then dump the water and dry well before filling. This creates additional heat to help food stay toasty until the lunch hour.

Lunchbox formula: Mac and cheese + carrot sticks + apple wedges + whole grain crackers + chocolate-covered raisins

For the 3:15 p.m. snack-mergency.

This sweet-and-salty snack mix is the kind of thing kids start reaching for the minute you set it on the counter. Crunchy granola, pretzels, chocolatey bites and mini marshmallows make every handful a little different, while the homemade granola adds a boost of whole grains and protein. The best part? Once you've mastered the granola base, you can customize the mix with whatever your family loves, from dried fruit and pumpkin seeds to cereal, coconut chips or different chocolate treats.

The unofficial highlight of the week.

Not too sweet and packed with citrus-y flavour, this lemon poppyseed loaf feels a little special without requiring too much effort. The tender cake gets finished with a simple lemon glaze that soaks into the warm loaf, creating a sweet-tart finish that pairs perfectly with coffee, tea or an afternoon snack.

How to serve it: If this one’s a bit of a tough sell to the kids, we can fix that. Pair it with vanilla ice cream and fresh strawberries, or top with a drizzle of strawberry sauce.