The best kitchen tools for a busy family are the ones that cut hands-on time: a slow cooker, an immersion blender, a skillet that lives on the stove, and containers that make packing lunches quick. Those picks come from my Cozy Fall Mom Life and Moms Must Haves lists on Benable, plus a few Amazon items for cleanup.
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links, including my Benable links, and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Which kitchen tools for a busy family save the most time on a weeknight?
A slow cooker or a pressure cooker, depending on when your day falls apart. My Benable note on the Crock-Pot 6 Qt Cook & Carry Slow Cooker says to dump chili or soup ingredients in the morning and dinner is done by the time everyone is home from school. The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker on my Moms Must Haves list frees up a burner, and my note says it cuts way down on hands-on time for soups, rice, and shredded chicken. If your worst hour is the morning, the slow cooker fits. If it is five o'clock and nothing is started, the pressure cooker fits.
What do you need for soup and skillet dinners with less mess?
An immersion blender and one good pan. The Turelar 1100W 5-in-1 immersion blender blends butternut squash or tomato soup right in the pot, so there is no moving hot soup into a blender in batches. The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 inch, is on my Cozy Fall Mom Life list for cornbread, skillet apples, or a one-pan dinner, and my note says it basically lives on the stove all fall.
Which baking and pantry items make fall cooking easier?
Keep it to a few things that do double duty. The Spice Islands Pumpkin Pie Spice, 2 ounce jar, is on my list because my note says one jar upgrades pancakes, oatmeal, coffee, and actual pumpkin pie. The Harvest Bounty Loaf Pan pours out looking bakery-cute, so pumpkin bread does not need frosting or decorating to look finished. Both are small purchases that stretch across a lot of fall recipes.
How do you pack lunches and snacks faster?
Use containers that match, so nothing goes hunting for a lid. The Meal Prep Containers on my Moms Must Haves list are a matching set, and my note says having one on hand makes packing lunches and portioning leftovers a lot faster. The Canfanni 4 piece snack box set with sauce containers is on my Purple, Marble & Mom Life list, and my note says the reusable four-compartment boxes with sauce cups are a lot cheaper long term than disposable snack bags for a house full of kids.
What makes hot drinks quicker in the morning?
An electric kettle and coffee that works in the pot you already own. My note on the Electric Kettle says it boils water in a couple of minutes, which beats waiting on a stovetop pot for coffee, tea, or oatmeal. The Wawa Pumpkin Spice Ground Coffee, 12 oz bag, is regular ground coffee, so my note says it works in your everyday pot with no fancy syrup needed. On Amazon, my HOME MUST HAVES list includes the Victor Allen caramel macchiato K-cups, 80 count if a single-serve machine is what you use.
What helps with cleanup after cooking for a crowd?
Give wet things a place to go. The same HOME MUST HAVES list has the Cisily kitchen sink sponge holder and the SNTD small dish drying rack. Neither listing has a note from me, so check the listing for size and whether it fits your sink or counter before you buy.
Which of these should you buy first?
Buy for your worst hour of the day. If the morning is where dinner gets lost, start with the slow cooker. If soup night always ends with a blender full of hot liquid, start with the immersion blender. If lunches are the daily fight, start with matching containers and snack boxes. My Cozy Fall Mom Life list on Benable has 15 items and was built for a big family's fall, from easy recipes for feeding a crowd to gear for bonfires and nights in. I am a mom of seven in Wichita, Kansas, and you can read more about who I am or how the days actually work. Prices on Amazon move around, so check each listing before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
What is an easy way to get dinner started in the morning?
A slow cooker. My Benable note on the Crock-Pot 6 Qt Cook & Carry Slow Cooker says to dump chili or soup ingredients in the morning and dinner is done by the time everyone is home from school.
How do you make soup without moving hot liquid into a blender?
Use an immersion blender. My Benable note on the Turelar 1100W 5-in-1 immersion blender says it blends butternut squash or tomato soup right in the pot, with no transferring hot soup into a blender in batches.
What is a cheaper way to pack snacks for a house full of kids?
Reusable containers. My Benable note on the Canfanni 4 piece snack box set with sauce containers says it is a lot cheaper long term than buying disposable snack bags for a house full of kids.