Juggling everything the day throws at you is no easy feat—even for Ree Drummond. That's why when it comes time to cooking a family dinner, we like to keep things easy! "I find myself gravitating toward recipes that are delicious but don't require a lot of prep or fuss," The Pioneer Woman says. Luckily, this list of easy dinner recipes will come in handy. Here, you’ll find plenty of quick 30-minute dinners, simple one-pot meals, and sheet pan suppers that aren’t just easy to cook, but easy to clean-up, too. So, no matter how busy life gets, you can always guarantee a fuss-free dinner that your family will love.
When deciding what to make for dinner, you can choose from recipes for steak, pork, salmon, and chicken, not to mention some outside-the-box pasta recipes and other imaginative ideas to ensure you'll never be stuck in a cooking rut again. For instance, you can try the pretzel-crusted chicken with broccoli, the skillet lasagna, or the sloppy joe casserole for an updated take on a comfort food classic. There are also several air fryer recipes like the crispy air fryer pork chops served with mashed potatoes—it comes together in just 12 minutes! So whether you're cooking for a crowd or just dinner for two, these easy recipes will become your weeknight heroes—because take-out just isn't the same as a home-cooked dinner!
1
Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi
In just 35 minutes, you can have the creamy gnocchi on the table for your family to enjoy. It's loaded with Italian sausage, a creamy tomato-based sauce, spinach, and toasted garlic breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top.
Get the Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi recipe.
2
Smothered Chicken
These chicken thighs are cooked in one of our favorite ingredients: bacon drippings! It makes them extra crisp on the outside and even more flavorful when topped with creamy homemade gravy.
Get the Smothered Chicken recipe.
3
Manicotti
Manicotti are tube-shaped pasta noodles that are best made when filled with cheese! Each noodle gets stuffed with a mixture of ricotta, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan. Then, it's layered with a hearty meat sauce and covered in more melty cheese.
Get the Manicotti recipe.
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4
Dumpling Soup
Mini dumplings are the supermarket hero that makes this soup so easy to achieve during the week! They can go straight from the freezer into the broth.
Get the Dumpling Soup recipe.
5
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
You can whip up a big batch of this saucy, tender pulled pork in your slow cooker to enjoy throughout the week. Pile it onto a plate of nachos, or serve on pretzel buns with a smear of mustard.
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
6
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Chicken meatballs are a healthy weeknight dinner, but that doesn't mean they should be boring! Spice them up with buffalo sauce and a cool, creamy cucumber salad on the side.
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe.
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7
Baked Salmon
This simple, healthy salmon is drizzled with a flavorful marinade and ready to serve in just 20 minutes! Add a fluffy bed of rice, a pile of mashed potatoes, or a side salad to make the dinner complete.
Get the Baked Salmon recipe.
8
Chicken Parm Salad
This recipe is everything you love about chicken parmesan, but it's even easier and healthier. The pesto dressing really brings the whole dish together.
Get Ree's Chicken Parm Salad recipe.
9
Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
Making dinner for a crowd? It's simple with these cheesesteak sliders! You can make your own Cheez Whiz, but store-bought is perfectly acceptable if you want to keep things easy.
Get the Philly Cheesesteak Sliders recipe.
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10
Sheet Pan Pizza
Once you try making your own pizza dough, you'll never look back! Especially since you don't need any special tools for cooking the pizza—just a simple sheet pan will do.
Get the Sheet Pan Pizza recipe.
11
Chicken Teriyaki
A sticky, shiny homemade teriyaki sauce is the key to making this popular dish right at home. It's just like the kind you might find at a restaurant—with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Get the Chicken Teriyaki recipe.
12
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
You'll want to keep a jar of sun-dried tomatoes in your pantry at all times, just so you can make this tasty pasta recipe! It's packed with flavor, hearty chicken, and plenty of grated parmesan cheese.
Get the Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta recipe.
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13
Air Fryer Fish
Each tender piece of fish is coated in a spicy breadcrumb and cornmeal mixture that gets extra-crispy thanks to the air fryer. Serve it up with lemon wedges for squeezing, homemade tartar sauce, and french fries.
Get the Air Fryer Fish recipe.
14
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken
Here's a fun way to serve up chicken for dinner again: Wrap it in bacon! Add garlicky broccoli and you won't believe how quickly your family comes to the table.
Get Ree's Bacon-Wrapped Chicken recipe.
15
Chicken Fajita Pasta
It can be easy to get stuck in a dinnertime rut, but this recipe will help keep things interesting. It's a mash-up of two family favorites: pasta and chicken fajitas.
Get Ree's Chicken Fajita Pasta recipe.
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16
Sheet Pan Gnocchi
This is a genius method for making gnocchi that doesn't require you to boil a separate pot of pasta! Simply toss the gnocchi with veggies, spices, and oil, then bake on a sheet pan!
Get the Sheet Pan Gnocchi recipe.
17
Turkey Tetrazzini
Whether you're using a leftover Thanksgiving turkey or a rotisserie chicken, this weeknight pasta has never been easier. Not to mention, it's a creamy and delicious way to eat pasta!
Get Ree's Turkey Tetrazzini recipe.
18
Coconut Chicken Curry
Skip the takeout and try making chicken curry at home instead! This one has a creamy sauce made from ginger, garlic, curry powder, and coconut milk that's even better when served over rice.
Get the Coconut Chicken Curry recipe.
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19
Air Fryer Salmon
Making salmon at home is easy when you have a handy air fryer. It only takes 10 minutes to cook and it comes out perfectly flaky and tender every time. Serve it up with rice, veggies, or salad!
Get the Air Fryer Salmon recipe.
20
Cheeseburger Casserole
Even picky eaters can get behind this cheesy casserole. It's almost like a mac and cheese but with the hearty addition of ground beef!
Get the Cheeseburger Casserole recipe.
