My Family's Brilliant Hack For an Easy Weeknight Dinner

We know the drill: you go into dinner prep swearing that you're going to put your foot down and stick to making one single meal for your family this time. Fast forward 20 minutes, and that plan has been totally abandoned because you've realized it's easier to make three separate meals for three different people rather than fight over who's eating what — until now. This one-pot pasta and shrimp recipe is perfect for busy moms who are sick of surviving solely on chicken nuggets and boxed mac and cheese.

This recipe is a staple because it's super versatile, meaning if your picky kids don't like anything past basic spaghetti and marinara (read: seafood, cherry tomatoes, and everything in between), that's perfectly OK. You can serve your smaller family members before adding the last few "adult" ingredients that give pasta and sauce a much-needed upgrade. The key? Adding a dash of red pepper flakes and relying on a seafood option you don't need to run out and buy the night of. When I was growing up with two siblings, this dish became a weekly ritual. My parents loved the elevated flavor, and my younger brother and sister gobbled up the hearty sauce that's way less sweet than the canned options at the supermarket.

What's more? You can sub out whole-grain pasta for the gluten-free variety if your mini me has allergies. And the crushed tomatoes are pretty much a blank slate for spices — whether they're fresh or dried — so go as crazy or as mild as you want while seasoning it.

The bottom line? There's finally a quick dinner option that everyone in the family will eat, so add it to your rotation ASAP.