The days leading up to Thanksgiving can feel like a chaotic marathon of grocery runs, table-setting debates, and figuring out how to cook a turkey without it resembling shoe leather. The last thing you want to do is spend hours making dinner when your kitchen is already a war zone of pie tins and cranberry sauce experiments. That’s where these low-effort dinners come in to save your sanity. They’re quick, easy and your pre-holiday survival kit for getting a decent dinner on the table.
Cheddar Chicken Bake
Utilize leftover chicken for this cheddar chicken quinoa bake. It’s an easy, healthy choice for busy nights, combining convenience with taste for a meal that’s both satisfying and simple to throw together.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake
Ground Beef Stir Fry
Whip up this ground beef stir fry when you’re short on time. It’s a one-pan meal that combines fresh veggies with a homemade stir fry sauce, delivering a healthier and faster alternative to takeout.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry
Blackened Cod
Blackened cod is a quick and easy option, using simple pantry seasonings for a flavorful meal. It’s perfect for lazy nights when you want something light yet satisfying with minimal kitchen time.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod
Greek Shrimp Skillet
This Greek shrimp skillet is a 30-minute marvel, bursting with Mediterranean flavors. It’s quick, packed with fresh ingredients, and requires minimal effort, making it a top pick for a flavorful yet easy weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Greek Shrimp Skillet
Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
For a quick, no-fuss dinner, try frozen salmon in the air fryer with maple mustard sauce. Cooking straight from the freezer, it’s an ideal solution for busy evenings when time is limited but you still crave something savory.
Get the Recipe: Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Set and forget this slow cooker honey garlic chicken, a perfect lazy weeknight meal. It combines sweet, sticky sauce with tender chicken, requiring minimal effort for a deliciously satisfying dinner that beats any takeout.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Brisket Chili
Brisket chili is a comforting choice, especially for using up leftover meat. It’s a hearty meal that’s easy to assemble, perfect for cozy, lazy evenings when you want something warming and flavorful with little effort.
Get the Recipe: Brisket Chili
Burger Bowls
For a lazy weeknight, these burger bowls are a go-to. Quick to assemble with a homemade sauce, they offer all the flavors of a classic burger without the hassle. Perfect for when you want something tasty but effortless.
Get the Recipe: Burger Bowls
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Air fryer salmon bites are a simple yet flavorful weeknight fix. Marinated and cooked to perfection, they pair wonderfully with a dip, offering a gourmet experience with little effort – ideal for those lazy evenings.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Smashed White Bean Quesadillas
These quesadillas, filled with smashed white beans and kale, are a quick, tasty choice for meatless nights. Oozing with melted cheese and topped with a creamy sauce, they offer maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Smashed White Bean Quesadillas
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
Bucatini cacio e pepe is a straightforward, classic dish, perfect for a low-effort yet indulgent dinner. With just a few ingredients, it’s an ideal choice for those nights when you want something delicious but easy.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
For a quick and easy dinner, try the ground beef and cabbage skillet. Inspired by Asian stir-fry, it brings together aromatic spices in a light savory sauce, offering a fulfilling meal with minimal cooking time.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
This one-pan meal of chicken and sweet potatoes is ideal for when you’re short on time but crave something hearty. With minimal prep and caramelized pecans for an extra kick, it’s a hassle-free, flavor-packed dinner solution.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.