30+ Truly Easy Dinner Recipes (And What to Serve With Them)
Inside: An ever-growing collection of actually easy dinner recipes for those days where you just can’t …but you have to.
What makes a dinner easy, really? It’s not the time it takes… a slow cooker recipe could be 8 hours of cooking but still be easy. It’s also not the amount of ingredients. Opening 7 cans instead of 3 is no big deal.
Really, an easy recipe means easy prep, and it’s better to think of what it shouldn’t be. No dicing chicken into cubes. No chopping onions and peppers and garlic. (Pick one!) But above all, zero tolerance for mutiple pots and pans. We just can’t have it.
Save this list for a lazy day when even hunting down a recipe for dinner feels like too much. Next to each, I’ve written some ideas of what to serve as sides.
Chili Cornbread Casserole
It’s easier than it looks! You make a simple chili, layer cornbread batter on top, and bake the whole thing together. It’s so good. Serve with a salad and you’re done.
Flank Steak Tacos
Tender meat with a bright citrus-chipotle marinade. These cook quickly under the broiler, making them to quick to get on the table after marinating. Serve with chips and (store bought or made by a helper) pico de Gallo.
Crispy Baked Beef Chimichangas
Serve this with chips and guac and some Mexican rice. I always make Mexican rice by cooking yellow rice in my rice cooker with some turmeric, onion powder, and garlic powder. I’m fairy certain this is not very authentic.
The Best Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
Using canned soup to make homemade soup? Yes. It’s easy and delicious. Serve it with grilled cheese. Or a plate of cheese and crackers.
Sausage and Zucchini Skillet
I almost didn’t include this one because we’re chopping quite a few veggies. But! Slicing up smoked sausage is so easy I decided it could stay. I would be fine serving this with fresh fruit and nothing else.
Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks
These do have a few steps, but I’ll allow it because none of them are hard, and you’re chopping absolutely nothing. Serve with corn on the cob and baked beans. (Use store-bought barbecue sauce on a lazy day, of course.)
White Chicken Chili
Serve this with cornbread muffins. You can use a mix. They’re good! A plate of sliced apples rounds it out just fine.
Chili Dogs
I am honestly confused every time I serve them because of how much everyone loves them. It feels like cheating like I’m serving boxed mac and cheese or something, but everyone flips for them. Serve with fresh fruit and (yes) chips.
One-Pan Chicken Marsala
This one is good—good enough for a fancy-ish meal. Serve with cooked fettuccine and (ahem) bagged Caesar salad. Nothing wrong with that at all.
Crockpot Baked Ziti
Easy! You can even add ground sausage or ground beef without too much effort. Pair with frozen garlic bread. Skip the salad, it’s too cold out.
Crockpot Ranch Chicken and Potatoes
This is one of the easiest dinners you’ll ever make. There are seasoning packets–don’t freak out. I consider this a complete meal, but you might want to throw in a salad or fruit.
Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops
Very easy. I pair these with nicer sides, but they would also be good with simple sides like baked potatoes and green beans.
Asian Marinated Flank Steak
This is easier on the grill than the broiler because you don’t need to worry about smoking yourself out of the kitchen. I love this with sliced pineapple and scalloped potatoes.
Nachos in a Cast Iron Skillet
Your trusty skillet takes these nachos from stovetop to oven to table. I make half with allllll my favorite toppings, and half plain with just meat and cheese for my weird children.
Shredded Crockpot Barbecue Chicken
Probably the easiest one on the list! Serve it on sandwiches and some chips and pickles on the side.
Lemon Spinach Parmesan Chicken
Creamy and lots of flavor. Make some orzo on the side.
Shrimp Fajitas with Chipotle Crema
To make this easier, you can skip the chipotle crema. Store-bought pico is a great topping, and you can serve the rest with chips.
Our Favorite Tuna Salad
Serve it on a plate or make it into a tuna melt. Carrot sticks on the side.
Cast Iron Skillet Fried Rice
It’s super easy, even if you add meat. I recommend shrimp because chopping chicken is not allowed on this list. Frozen spring rolls and fresh broccoli are great additions.
Cast Iron Skillet Cajun Pasta
Yummy, creamy and spicy. Pair with a bagged salad.
Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet With Creamy Tomato Sauce
One pan, thirty minutes, no chopping, and kids WILL eat it. Salad and garlic bread is all you need.
Rigatoni Al Forno
You don’t need a side! It’s super hearty and filling. Garlic bread. From the freezer. You got this.
Tortellini al Forno
Creamy, cheesy, and easy, this simple dish comes together quickly and is super satisfying
Easy Chili Hashbrown Casserole
This casserole recipe is easy on the budget and loved by the whole family. It is cheesy, delicious, and simple to make.
Ham Mac and Cheese
I always make these with raw broccoli and I’m not sure why. Also nice soft rolls from the freezer. Very cozy.
Oven-Baked Chicken Wings
You can make these with other homemade appetizers, or you can, um, make a frozen pizza.
Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Ask someone else to chop the toppings, the hardest part of making burgers. And make some frozen curly fries.
Cast Iron Pork Tenderloin
Juicy, flavorful, and with a perfect browned crust. I like to serve this over buttered noodles and make any green veggies.
Crockpot Mississippi Chicken
Serve over egg noodles with orange slices on the side.
Party Sub Sandwich
Make this ahead of time and serve it with a lovely bag of chips and some apple slices.
Monterey Chicken
Make someone else chop the tomatoes and get the bacon ready. Serve with steamed broccoli and some rolls that you made on a day with more energy and put in the freezer for later.
So the next time the dinner doldrums hit, don’t despair. Embrace the lazy day. Lean into the easy recipes. Because dinner doesn’t have to be a gourmet masterpiece every night. Sometimes, simple, no-fuss meals are the most satisfying.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.