Cool evenings call for dinners that are warm, filling, and full of flavor. These 31 hearty recipes are simple enough for weeknights but satisfying enough for any night you want a comforting meal. From tender chicken dishes to flavorful soups and pasta, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. With easy preparation and bold flavors, these dinners make it simple to serve meals that feel complete and satisfying.
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Start with tender broccoli and melted cheddar for a creamy soup that fills the table with flavor. The recipe comes together quickly but still has a rich, satisfying taste that feels like a complete dinner. Make this soup for a filling meal that turns a few simple ingredients into a memorable dinner everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken
Let chicken cook slowly with lime and tomatoes for a tender dinner that bursts with flavor. The recipe is easy to make and pairs perfectly with simple sides for a complete plate. Serve this chicken to create a hearty, satisfying dinner that everyone will want seconds of.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Mix ground beef, rice, and melted cheese for a filling dinner that comes together with minimal effort. The flavors are rich, comforting, and satisfying, making it a reliable option for any night. Try this casserole to turn simple ingredients into a hearty meal that fills the table.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Tender chicken, noodles, and rich broth come together to create a filling and flavorful soup. The recipe is quick to prepare without losing depth or satisfaction in every bite. Make this dish to bring a comforting, complete dinner to the table that everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup
Creamy potatoes blended with seasonings make a hearty soup that doubles as a full dinner. The recipe is simple, quick, and full of approachable flavors that satisfy without extra work. Serve this soup to transform a few basic ingredients into a rich and filling meal.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup
Cheesy Stuffed Shells
Stuff pasta shells with ricotta and spinach, then bake in a creamy sauce for a hearty and flavorful dinner. The recipe is easy to follow while delivering rich textures and comforting taste. Make these shells to turn a few ingredients into a meal everyone will remember.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Stuffed Shells
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Blend roasted butternut squash into a smooth soup that balances sweetness and savory flavors for a filling dinner. The recipe is simple to make yet full of satisfying taste in every spoonful. Serve this soup to turn basic ingredients into a rich and approachable meal.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Toss pasta with grape tomatoes and creamy ricotta for a quick dinner that feels fresh and satisfying. The recipe is fast, simple, and full of approachable flavors that make a great meal. Try this pasta to transform a few pantry staples into a hearty, flavorful dinner.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Crockpot Mexican Beef in Masa Cups
Slow-cooked beef with bold spices fills crispy masa cups for a dinner that stands out at the table. The recipe is simple yet packed with satisfying flavors that everyone will notice. Make this dish to bring a fun, hearty dinner that makes mealtime exciting.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Mexican Beef in Masa Cups
Potato Gnocchi
Toss soft potato gnocchi with a favorite sauce for a comforting dinner that’s both filling and flavorful. The recipe is versatile enough to pair with different toppings or flavors for variety. Serve this gnocchi to create a meal that turns a few simple ingredients into a hearty dinner.
Get the Recipe: Potato Gnocchi
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Combine flaky tuna with sweet tomatoes and perfectly cooked pasta for a quick, satisfying dinner. The recipe is simple but delivers fresh, balanced flavors everyone will enjoy. Make this pasta to make a filling, approachable dinner that works on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Let garlic-seasoned pork cook slowly until tender for a dinner packed with rich flavor. The recipe is effortless while the taste develops naturally over time. Serve this roast pork to create a hearty, satisfying dinner that feels special with minimal work.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Chicken and Dumplings
Mix tender chicken with soft dumplings in a rich broth for a classic dinner that is both filling and comforting. The recipe is simple to follow while delivering a satisfying, hearty taste. Try making this dish to bring a warm, approachable meal to the table that everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Dumplings
Potato Corn Chowder
Creamy potatoes and sweet corn make a hearty chowder that doubles as a complete dinner. The recipe is smooth, simple, and packed with satisfying flavor. This chowder turns a few staple ingredients into a meal everyone will come back for.
Get the Recipe: Potato Corn Chowder
Crockpot Chili
Combine meat, beans, and spices in the slow cooker for a bold, hearty dinner full of flavor. The recipe is easy to prepare while allowing flavors to deepen naturally. Serve this chili to create a filling meal that leaves everyone fully satisfied.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chili
Semi-homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Mix rotisserie chicken with cheese and sauce for a quick and flavorful dinner. The recipe is simple while delivering familiar, satisfying flavors everyone will love. Make this recipe to create a hearty, easy meal that works for any night.
Get the Recipe: Semi-homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Crockpot Carnitas
Slow-cook pork until it is tender and full of bold Mexican-inspired flavors for a hearty, satisfying dinner. The recipe is simple to prepare and allows the flavors to develop deeply without much effort. This versatile dish works perfectly for tacos, bowls, or burritos, creating a meal that is filling, flavorful, and sure to impress everyone at the table.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Carnitas
Crock Pot Italian Pot Roast
Let a pot roast cook slowly until it becomes tender, juicy, and packed with rich, savory flavors that fill the kitchen. The recipe is simple and allows the flavors to develop fully over time, creating a dinner that feels hearty and satisfying. Pair this roast with easy sides to bring a filling, memorable meal to the table that leaves everyone impressed.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Italian Pot Roast
Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Make creamy mac and cheese with a flavorful twist for a hearty, cheesy dinner that satisfies every craving. The recipe is simple enough for weeknights but still feels special enough to impress anyone at the table. Bring this dish to the table and create a comforting, filling meal that turns a few simple ingredients into a dinner everyone will remember.
Get the Recipe: Grown-Up Mac and Cheese
Thai Chicken Chili
Combine tender chicken with bold spices to create a chili that is rich and full of flavor. The recipe is approachable while delivering a dinner with depth and satisfaction. Serve this chili to add a bold, hearty meal that stands out at the table.
Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken Chili
Italian Meatball Soup
Simmer tender meatballs in rich, flavorful broth for a hearty soup that feels complete and satisfying. The recipe combines approachable ingredients with bold, comforting flavors that make it a standout dinner option. This soup turns a few simple ingredients into a warm, filling meal that leaves everyone at the table satisfied and content.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Soup
Chicken and Rice Soup
Combine tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and rich broth to create a hearty, satisfying soup that works perfectly as a complete dinner. The recipe is simple to prepare but delivers full, comforting flavors that fill the table with warmth. This dish turns a few basic ingredients into a filling, approachable meal that leaves everyone content and ready for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Rice Soup
Slow Cooker Pork Chili
Combine tender pork with beans and bold spices to make a rich, hearty chili that fills the table with flavor. The recipe is simple to prepare, while the slow cooking brings out a deep, satisfying taste in every bite. This chili turns a few basic ingredients into a filling, memorable dinner that everyone will want to come back for.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Chili
Honey Glazed Chicken
Coat chicken in a sweet and savory glaze to create a dinner that is both flavorful and filling. The recipe is simple to make while still feeling special enough to impress anyone at the table. This chicken transforms a few basic ingredients into a hearty, memorable meal that leaves everyone satisfied and coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Pesto Salmon
Spread zesty pesto over flaky salmon for a bright, flavorful dinner that cooks quickly. The recipe uses fresh, approachable ingredients to create a filling meal. Serve this salmon to turn a few simple flavors into a dinner everyone will notice.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Tamale Pot Pies
Try this twist on a classic by baking savory tamale filling inside a golden, crispy cornbread crust for a hearty dinner. The recipe is simple to prepare and packs bold, rich flavors that make every bite satisfying. These pot pies turn a few easy ingredients into a creative, filling meal that will impress at the table.
Get the Recipe: Tamale Pot Pies
Chicken Fried Rice
Combine tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and seasoned rice to create a colorful dinner that’s both quick and filling. The recipe comes together fast while packing bold, approachable flavors that everyone will appreciate. This fried rice turns simple ingredients into a satisfying, flavorful meal that can brighten up any weeknight table.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice
Creamy Pea Pasta
Toss creamy sauce with sweet peas for a filling pasta dinner that comes together easily. The recipe is quick and simple while delivering satisfying flavors in every bite. Serve this pasta to turn a few fresh ingredients into a hearty, memorable meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Mix tender chicken with soft, pillowy tortellini in a rich, flavorful broth to create a filling and approachable dinner. The recipe is simple to make while delivering comforting flavors in every spoonful that satisfy without fuss. This soup turns a few basic ingredients into a hearty, memorable meal that fills the table with warmth and flavor.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken Tortellini Soup
Lemon Garlic Chicken
Cook tender chicken with lemon and garlic for a bright, flavorful dinner that feels satisfying. The recipe is simple and approachable while delivering bold, balanced flavors. Serve this chicken to create a meal that is hearty, filling, and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Chicken
Roasted Asparagus Soup
Give roasted asparagus a quick blend with broth to make a smooth and satisfying soup that works as a complete dinner. The recipe is simple to follow while bringing fresh, approachable flavors to the table. This dish transforms a few basic ingredients into a hearty, flavorful meal that feels both comforting and filling.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Asparagus Soup