8 cooking tips for those that work full time and can't spend a lot of time in the kitchen

Everybody wants to be able to come home to a nice home-cooked meal after a long day of work. But when you're the one in charge of making that meal, the end result often doesn't seem worthwhile simply because you're feeling rushed, panicked, and without a clue of what to make. It's for this reason that so many end up grabbing fast food on their way home or ordering takeout.

But now, you can throw those menus away (or at least save them for the weekends) because getting a quick meal on the table, even on the busiest of weekdays and nights, is easier than you might think. With a little preparedness, you can keep calm and be ready to cook on. And the tips below are sure to help.

Although it would be nice to walk into a kitchen that's outfitted much like a grocery store, with every single ingredient on hand, for most that's just not feasible. And while we're not saying that you have to make sure you have every imaginable fruit, vegetable, and dried good, there are a few staples you should always have on hand.

Your family's favorite vegetables, eggs, grains such as rice and pasta, and canned beans, should always be kept on hand. These ingredients can help a busy home cook pull together a great meal in a short amount of time; and without the need to run to the grocery store to do it.

Creating a meal plan might sound like something that only super controlling Type A personalities would do. But even the most laid back people can be thrown into a frenzy when it's dinnertime and they have nothing to serve. And to keep this problem at bay, meal plans can be a great help. Use a calendar template on a tablet or computer, or even a day calendar that can be written into, and write down what you're going to eat for dinner each weeknight. Every night, look at it to determine if there's something in the freezer that needs to be defrosted, or if you need to get a marinade going. Also remember to bring the meal plan with you when you go grocery shopping, or make a separate list, so you will always have what you need for your week of meals.

Sometimes cooking can be made a lot easier when there aren't a lot of sides to go along with a main dish; and there's a way to make this a lot easier on yourself too. Things like rice, quinoa, and pasta have a pretty long life in the fridge, up to four days usually. These can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge so that while you're focusing on the main portion, you can simply warm these up in the microwave or a low-heat oven.

No, we're not talking about those fully prepared meals that just need to sit in an oven for a little while. The point after all, is to get a nice home-cooked meal. But that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of your freezer. Buy an assortment of frozen vegetables such as corn, peas, or broccoli so you can use them in a wide variety of dishes. These can be added to stir-fries, in salads, or even as a side all their own. Frozen vegetables often cook far quicker than fresh, and you won't have to feel wasteful if you don't use them all. They'll simply stay nicely in the freezer for the next meal prep when you want to save a little time.

5. Make one-pot meals
The only thing worse for the tired cook than having to get a full meal on the table quickly is to face a dirty kitchen with dishes piled high afterwards. And for this problem, one-pot meals can be a lifesaver. Think chilli, beef stew, soup, or even a casserole that can just have the ingredients added and then bubble away in the oven. Not only are these easy to make, and extremely versatile since you can toss in whatever you have on hand, but they'll also save on cleanup, helping you out after dinner's been made and you're even more tired than you were when you first got home.

The home cook can enjoy a home-cooked meal just as much as everyone else when they don't actually have to cook it. And that's easily done when you have a slow cooker out on your counter doing all the hard work for you. There is a multitude of dishes that can be made in the slow cooker, and even many websites and cookbooks dedicated to the small kitchen appliance. You can throw everything in before you leave in the morning, or even assemble it the night before in the insert and leave it in the fridge so the next day you really do just have to pop it in and go.

Roast chickens can be the ultimate comfort dish all on their own, or they can be stripped of their meat so it can be used in salads, stir-fries, tacos and more. But roast chickens can take an awfully long time to cook. So on a weeknight when you happen to come home a little early, or during a lazy Sunday, pop two roast chickens into the oven instead of just one. Enjoy fully roasted legs, breasts and thighs one night and then use the other to just keep on hand in your fridge. It's a quick protein that's so extremely versatile and will make those busy dinners a snap.

There are few people that don't like meatballs, and most kids will eat them for every meal if given the chance. But not only are meatballs extremely tasty, they are almost just as versatile as chicken. Make a big batch and then use them in spaghetti, on subs, or even as one of your slow cooker ingredients with a sweet and sour or barbecue sauce poured over them. You'll be eating the same ingredient but when you mix it up like that, you won't feel like it.