Some nights are packed from start to finish, and other nights you just don’t feel like doing much. Either way, dinner still needs to happen. These 25 recipes are simple, quick, and full of flavor without making a big mess. It doesn’t matter if you’re running low on time or just don’t feel like cooking, these dinners have you covered.
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Crockpot Carnitas
Let the slow cooker handle everything while the pork turns tender and easy to shred by dinnertime. It’s great for tacos, rice bowls, or sandwiches, and doesn’t need much from you. Add this to your list of simple and tasty dinners for the busiest or laziest nights.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Carnitas
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Toss cooked chicken with buffalo sauce, pile it on greens, and top it with something creamy for a full meal in no time. It’s quick to throw together and still gives you crunch, heat, and flavor. This is a go-to dinner recipe when you want something bold without any work.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Cacio e Pepe
All you need is pasta, cheese, and pepper to make a cozy meal that comes together in one pot. It’s rich, savory, and faster than ordering takeout. Try this easy dinner recipe when you’re too busy to think but still want something good.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Tomato Lime Chicken
Sear the chicken, simmer it in a simple sauce, and you’ve got dinner that’s full of tangy flavor. You can use pantry staples and still end up with something that tastes fresh and bright. Keep this recipe around for nights when you want to cook but don’t want a lot of steps.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Lime Chicken
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Stir creamy ricotta into tomato sauce for a pasta dish that’s rich and full of flavor without needing anything fancy. It feels like comfort food and comes together with almost no effort. This is one of those easy dinner recipes that’s good to have on hand when you don’t want to think too hard.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Weeknight Lasagna Roll-Ups
Skip the layering and roll everything up for lasagna that bakes faster and still tastes just right. The cheesy filling and quick baking time make it feel like a win on busy nights. Make this when you want something filling that still leaves you with time to sit down.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Lasagna Roll-Ups
Weeknight Carrot Chicken Soup
Simmer carrots, chicken, and broth for a soup that feels like a warm hug in a bowl. It’s easy to make, flexible with add-ins, and great when you want something quiet and steady. This is one of those simple dinners that’s always there for you when you need it most.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Carrot Chicken Soup
Canned Chicken Salad
Open a can of chicken, mix in what you like, and dinner is done before you know it. It’s light, easy, and doesn’t need any cooking at all. Keep this one in your back pocket for nights when you want to eat fast and get back to resting.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Salad
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Use pantry staples like tuna and canned tomatoes for a meal that feels comforting and tastes like more than it is. It cooks in one pot and comes together fast with zero stress. Save this for nights when you want something good but don’t feel like doing much.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Pesto Salmon
Spread jarred pesto on salmon and let the oven do all the work while you take a break. The fish turns out flaky, flavorful, and looks like you worked harder than you did. Try this when you want dinner to feel fancy but your energy is low.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Slow Cooker Thai Pork
Let pork cook low and slow in a sweet, savory sauce that takes care of itself while you handle your day. It’s good over rice, in wraps, or on its own and fills you up without much effort. Keep this easy dinner recipe nearby for the nights you don’t want to be in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Thai Pork
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Use rotisserie chicken and jarred sauce to make enchiladas that taste homemade without all the steps. They’re cheesy, saucy, and hit that just-right spot when you want comfort food. This one’s great when you want to feel like you made something from scratch without actually doing it.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Italian Meatball Soup
Toss meatballs, pasta, and veggies into a pot for a soup that’s hearty and full of flavor without taking much time. It feels warm and filling and makes just enough without a pile of dishes. This recipe is a keeper for nights when you want a real meal with almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Soup
Thai Chicken Chili
Cook chicken with bold spices and a few pantry staples for a one-skillet meal that brings the heat fast. It’s a simple mix but packs a ton of flavor with almost no cleanup. Try this one when time is short and you need something that wakes up dinner.
Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken Chili
Honey Glazed Chicken
Use one pan and a few ingredients to make chicken with a sweet, sticky glaze that tastes great over rice or noodles. The sauce thickens on its own and turns into something special without much work. This is one of those easy dinners that feels like more than it is.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Crockpot Chili
Dump everything in the slow cooker and walk away while it turns into thick, cozy chili with almost no help. The flavors build all day, so by the time you’re ready to eat, it’s ready too. Keep this dinner on standby for nights when all you want to do is eat and rest.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chili
Creamy Pea Pasta
Cook pasta with peas and stir in something creamy for a one-pot meal that’s simple and satisfying. It uses basic ingredients but still comes out rich and comforting. This easy dinner recipe is great for when you’re tired but still want something warm and filling.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Toss pork in the slow cooker with garlic and let it cook until tender and full of flavor with no extra steps. It’s great with whatever sides you have and makes enough for leftovers that taste even better. Keep this one in rotation for easy dinners that don’t wear you out.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Breaded Panko Pork Chops
Coat pork chops in panko for a crispy outside and juicy inside without using a deep fryer. They bake up fast and bring a lot of texture and flavor to the table. Make this recipe when you want something that feels homemade but doesn’t take all night.
Get the Recipe: Breaded Panko Pork Chops
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Add everything to the Instant Pot and let it cook up a soup that’s spicy, hearty, and full of chicken and beans. It’s fast, easy, and tastes like something that took a lot more effort than it did. This is one of those dinners that works hard so you don’t have to.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Toss chicken in the air fryer and coat it in a sticky red sauce for a meal that feels like takeout without the cost. It’s crisp, sweet, and doesn’t leave you with a mess to clean up. Save this one for lazy nights when you still want something fun.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
Stuffed Caprese Chicken Hasselback
Slice chicken and stuff it with tomatoes and cheese for a meal that’s juicy and looks impressive with little effort. It bakes fast and comes out tasting like something from a restaurant. Try this when you want dinner to feel special without spending all night on it.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Caprese Chicken Hasselback
Curry Chicken with Onion
Cook chicken and onions in a simple curry sauce that comes together quickly and fills the kitchen with a warm smell. It’s rich, cozy, and tastes like more than the few ingredients used. This one’s perfect when you want a dinner that feels big but isn’t hard to make.
Get the Recipe: Curry Chicken with Onion
Easy Shrimp Mei Fun
Stir-fry shrimp, rice noodles, and veggies for a meal that comes together fast and doesn’t need much help. It tastes like something from your favorite restaurant and doesn’t take long at all. Add this to your list of no-stress dinner recipes that still feel like a win.
Get the Recipe: Easy Shrimp Mei Fun
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Cook chicken quarters in the air fryer until the skin is crisp and the meat stays juicy with almost no attention from you. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it kind of dinner that doesn’t ask much. Keep this one around for nights when cooking needs to be as easy as possible.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters