16 Kitchen Tools That Make Cooking For A Family So Much Easier

From slow cookers to sheet trays.

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If you're the lucky person in charge of making dinner for your family, you know just how hard it is to fit cooking into a busy schedule.

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That's why we created a week's worth of dinner recipes that are perfect for picky eaters, busy parents, and anyone trying to juggle a hectic schedule.

And to help make the week easier, we turned to a few of our favorite kitchen tools to make cooking a breeze. These were some of the most helpful:

1. An 11-piece cookware set to cook grains, chilis, and just about anything else you can think of...

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This set has every pot and pan you could ever need — and the nonstick coating makes cleanup a breeze.

Get the set from Walmart for $88 (available in three colors).

2. And a set of 19 kitchen utensils to cover all your cooking needs.

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Because if your cooking equipment is bright and colorful, maybe cooking will be more fun.

Get the set from Walmart for $31.81.

3. A set of three food storage containers that are both easy to clean and leakproof.

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Because we understand that fitting cooking into your week is a challenge — so these babies let you get a head start on prepping and allow you to store your food in your fridge without the risk of bursting open.

Get it from Amazon for $13.99.

4. A magnetic dry-erase board so you can plan out your dinners for the week.

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That way, your whole family is on the same page and knows exactly what to expect during the week.

Get it from Amazon for $5.39.

5. A set of three baking sheets so you can start making quick and easy one-pan dinners.

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The best part about sheet pan dinners? You'll only have one dish to clean up. ✓

Get them from Walmart for $9.97.

6. A roll of parchment paper so you can keep things from sticking to those pans...

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Once you're done, just crumple it up, toss it, and your sheet tray is basically clean.

Get a roll from Amazon for $12.09.

7. And tin foil, too — that way, you can cook multiple things on one pan and section them off so they aren't touching.

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Perfect for picky eaters who don't like their foods touching.

Get a roll from Amazon for $9.49.

8. A can opener because canned veggies are the real MVPs of weeknight dinners.

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You couldn't make chili without canned beans and tomatoes — and who doesn't like chili?

Get it from Walmart for $6.44.

9. A three-piece set of glass mixing bowls for all your mixing needs.

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Because having a good set of mixing bowls honestly makes cooking so much easier.

Get them from Walmart for $17.44.

10. A slow cooker so you can get dinner started before heading to work or school...

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A truly life-saving kitchen tool for people who are so busy they forget what day it is. Just dump everything in, walk away, and dinner practically makes itself.

Get it from Amazon for $34+ (available in black and stainless steel).

11. And a cookie scoop so you can drop perfect cornbread dumplings on top of chilis and stews.

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Or, you know, so you can scoop cookie dough, too.

Get it from Amazon for $13.75.

12. A good cutting board, chef knife, and serrated knife.

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So you can chop and prep everything with ease — and the serrated knife so you can slice breads for BYO pizza night.

Get the chef knife for $15.19, the serrated for $22.58, and the cutting board for $10.99, all on Amazon.

13. A sturdy cast-iron skillet to bake mac 'n' cheese, casseroles, and all kinds of crowd pleasing comfort foods.

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Because a good cast-iron skillet can pretty much cook anything.

Get it from Amazon for $14.88.

14. A large nonstick wok so you can make impromptu stir-fries with ease.

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Perfect for using up all those veggies you have hanging out in the fridge.

Get it from Walmart for $19.98.

15. A set of eight unbreakable bowls that'll survive every situation imaginable...

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So you don't have to worry about your kids breaking anything and hurting themselves.

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $12.99.

16. And a set of four stainless steel drinking glasses that are both unbreakable and super easy to clean.

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The perfect alternative to delicate glasses and dingy plastic cups.

Get a set of four from Amazon for $16.50.

Now that your kitchen is fully stocked to tackle weeknight dinners, check out a full week's worth of family dinner recipes and put these tools to use!

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Get the recipes, shopping lists, and everything else you'll need to own this back-to-school season.

You got this!

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