50 Best Easy Dinner Recipes for Every Night of the Week
Consider this your go-to list for feeding your family.
Life can be hard. So, do yourself a favor and keep this list of the best easy dinner recipes handy because they are anything but. Think of this collection as your ultimate resource for quick, crowd-pleasing dinners for any night of the week. You'll find so many simple family meal ideas, from sheet pan dinners that save time on clean-up to speedy 30-minute meals that fill everyone up fast.
Lazy dinner ideas don't equal boring, either. These are the same dishes Ree Drummond prepares at home, where she likes to focus on flavor without all the fuss. "I find myself gravitating toward recipes that are delicious but don't require a lot of prep," she says. That's why you'll find several slow cooker recipes, for example, that you can just set and forget until it's time to eat. So, if you're anything like Ree, these easy dinner ideas are sure to be weeknight winners in your home!
When deciding what to make for dinner, you can choose from recipes for steak, pork, salmon, and chicken. There are also plenty of outside-the-box pasta recipes and other imaginative ideas to ensure you'll never be stuck in a cooking rut again. Try the baked ravioli, cheeseburger soup, or the sloppy joe casserole for an updated take on a comfort food classic. There are also several air fryer recipes, like the air fryer salmon that come together in just ten minutes. It doesn't get much easier than that!
Buffalo Mac and Cheese
This fiery mac only takes a little more effort than the typical boxed version. With just ten minutes of prep, you'll be on your way to a steaming bowl goodness with extra protein and a spicy twist.
Get Ree's Buffalo Mac and Cheese recipe.
Sheet Pan Chicken With Butternut Squash and Cauliflower
The fragrant spices on the veggies and the crisp skin of the chicken make this dish an all-time favorite, especially when the weather is chilly. Plus, it's ready in under an hour!
Get Ree's Sheet Pan Chicken with Butternut Squash and Cauliflower recipe.
Cacio e Pepe Ravioli
Spruce up that pack of ravioli sitting in your fridge with a few ingredients you probably have on hand: black peppercorns, butter, heavy cream, and grated pecorino cheese.
Get Ree's Cacio e Pepe Ravioli recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Beef up your go-to mac and cheese—literally! The addition of ground beef makes a hearty, family-friendly meal that whips up in just a half hour.
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Veggie Fajitas
It only takes half an hour to make this Tex-Mex favorite. Keep things simple with an array of veggies or add protein with your favorite grilled steak or chicken. Just don't forget the pico de gallo!
Get Ree's Veggie Fajitas recipe.
Coconut Shrimp Curry
Wondering what to do with that can of coconut milk in your pantry? Whip up this easy weeknight curry! The quick-cooking shrimp and creamy sauce will taste so good over a bowl of rice.
Get Ree's Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe.
Cheeseburger Soup
This dish is everything you love about a cheeseburger in soup form. There's ground beef, crispy bacon, cheese, and even a few chunks of potato, so it's like having a classic side of fries, too.
Get the Cheeseburger Soup recipe.
Caprese Chicken
This skillet supper transforms chicken cutlets into a stunning main course with marinated tomatoes, pesto, and melty mozzarella cheese. The finishing touch is a drizzle of balsamic reduction and fresh basil.
Get Ree's Caprese Chicken recipe.
Oven Baked Pork Chops
Ree swears this is one of the "easiest and most delicious ways to prepare pork chops." They're coated in a tangy BBQ glaze and popped in the oven on a sheet pan for a fuss-free dinner.
Get Ree's Oven Baked Pork Chops recipe.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Beef stew typically requires time and patience, but this recipe lets the slow cooker do that work for you. Thanks to the handy kitchen appliance, the meat becomes meltingly tender and full of beefy flavor.
Get the Slow Cooker Beef Stew recipe.
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
This recipe makes it easy to recreate the flavors of Thanksgiving any night of the week! All you need is shredded rotisserie chicken and store-bought stuffing mix for the base.
Dumpling Soup
The key to keeping this soup quick and easy is using a bag of frozen potstickers from the store. You can find chicken dumplings, pork, tofu, or even mixed veggies to adjust to your tastes.
Get the Dumpling Soup recipe.
Shrimp and Grits
This speedy version of shrimp and grits is ready in just 20 minutes! But don't worry, it's still full of comforting flavors like melty cheese and smoky bacon.
Get Ree's Shrimp and Grits recipe.
Slow Cooker Bolognese
This hearty meat sauce tastes just like the kind that cooks low and slow for hours on a Sunday afternoon. But the slow cooker does all of the work! Just toss it with pasta and dinner is served.
Get the Slow Cooker Bolognese recipe.
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
No more grease splatters on the stove! With a flavorful rub and a moist interior that comes out perfect every time, you'll be shocked that your air fryer can work so much magic.
Get the Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin recipe.
Creamy Lemon Chicken
This chicken thigh recipe looks impressive with it's bright and creamy sauce that's packed with fresh herbs. But surprisingly it only takes 25 minutes to make!
Get the Creamy Lemon Chicken recipe.
Pierogi and Meatball Skillet
Creamy Swedish meatballs meets potato-stuffed pierogi in this comforting dish. The one skillet dinner will quickly become a new favorite.
Get the Pierogi and Meatball Skillet recipe.
Marry Me Chicken
Your family will fall head over heels for this recipe every time you make it! It's just an easy boneless, skinless chicken breast recipe that's smothered in a delicious sun-dried tomato sauce.
Get the Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Whip up a big batch of this BBQ chicken to use throughout the week. It can be made three days in advance, then scooped onto rolls for easy sandwiches or piled onto salad bowls for a healthy dinner.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
Pasta Alla Vodka
There are tons of pasta recipes out there, but none are as creamy as this restaurant-worthy dish! The classic sauce is made with vodka, but it cooks off as it simmers, so you can serve it to the whole family. Just don't forget the garlic bread on the side!
Get the Pasta Alla Vodka recipe.
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