Dinner shouldn’t feel like a chore, and these recipes get that. Forget slaving away for hours — these meals are all about maximum flavor with minimum effort. Whether you’re just too busy or flat-out can’t be bothered, these dishes make it ridiculously easy to whip up something that tastes way better than it should. You’ll be amazed at how little work it takes to create a dinner that feels like you actually tried.
Blackened Mahi Mahi
Blackened mahi mahi comes together in minutes with a simple homemade seasoning and a quick broil. It’s a great dinner option when you want something both quick and packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Mahi Mahi
Bomb Meatloaf
This meatloaf is easy to make, tender, and juicy, with a sweet and tangy glaze that coats each slice perfectly. It’s the kind of recipe that makes dinner feel special without all the extra work.
Get the Recipe: Bomb Meatloaf
Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Chicken and sweet potatoes with caramelized pecans are cooked together on one sheet pan. This is a dinner that’s quick, satisfying, and doesn’t leave you with a pile of dishes to clean up afterward.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Sheet Pan Pork Chop Dinner
Pork chops, red cabbage, potatoes, and apples are roasted together on a single sheet pan. It’s an easy, all-in-one meal that’s perfect for hectic weeknights when you need something simple but delicious.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Pork Chop Dinner
Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas
These steak and shrimp fajitas are the easiest way to enjoy surf and turf at home. Simply season, bake, and enjoy—all in under 20 minutes, making it a quick and satisfying dinner choice.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Skip the takeout and make this honey garlic chicken right at home in your slow cooker. With a sticky-sweet sauce and chunks of pineapple, this recipe is easy to prepare and sure to become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Smashed White Bean Quesadillas
These smashed white bean and kale quesadillas are packed with melted cheddar and topped with a creamy BBQ sauce. It’s a simple meatless dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor and can be made in no time.
Get the Recipe: Smashed White Bean Quesadillas
Spaghetti Alfredo with Broccoli
This lightened-up spaghetti alfredo with broccoli is creamy and cheesy while being a bit healthier than the original. It’s a comforting meal that comes together quickly and is perfect for an easy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Alfredo with Broccoli
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Marinated in garlic, ginger, and soy sauce, these air fryer salmon bites cook to tender perfection. They’re served with a flavorful dipping sauce, making this a quick, tasty dinner for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Thinly sliced shaved beef is ideal for a quick stir-fry dinner that you can whip up in minutes. Paired with broccoli and a crave-worthy sauce, this recipe brings big flavor with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp
This easy bucatini pasta recipe with garlic shrimp and cherry tomatoes is ready in under 30 minutes. It’s a simple yet satisfying meal that’s perfect for weeknights when you want dinner on the table fast.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp
Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet
A 20-minute, one-pan dinner featuring garlic chicken bites, mushrooms, onions, and red peppers. This meal is packed with flavor and perfect for nights when you need something quick and hearty.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet
Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet
This southwestern-inspired ground beef and sweet potato skillet is an easy, one-pan meal that’s great for dinner and even better for meal prepping. The leftovers are just as good, making it a practical choice for busy weeks.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet
Ground Beef Pasta Skillet
This ground beef pasta recipe can be made in under 30 minutes with any pasta you have on hand. It’s a quick dinner option that tastes like it’s been simmering all day.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Pasta Skillet
Ground Beef Stir Fry
This ground beef stir fry recipe is made in one pan with a mix of fresh vegetables. It features a garlic ginger sauce that’s both quick to prepare and packed with flavor, making it a great alternative to takeout.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry
Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry
A quick and easy stir fry using ground pork, cabbage, and mushrooms in a flavorful sauce. This dish is perfect for dinner when you want something satisfying but don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry
Pretzel Crusted Pork Chops
These baked pretzel-crusted pork chops are served with a simple maple dijon sauce. It’s a crunchy, flavorful dinner that’s easy to prepare and packed with lean protein.
Get the Recipe: Pretzel Crusted Pork Chops
Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
Ground beef and cabbage come together in this easy skillet dinner that’s loosely inspired by an Asian stir fry. With aromatic spices and a light savory sauce, this 30-minute meal is perfect for weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
Bucatini cacio e pepe is a simple, classic Italian dish made with just five ingredients. The creamy pasta uses Pecorino Romano cheese and starchy pasta water to create a rich, satisfying meal that’s easy to make any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
Pecan Crusted Chicken
Pecan-crusted chicken served with a honey dijon yogurt sauce makes for a crunchy, flavorful dinner. This easy weeknight meal is one that everyone will ask for again and again.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Crusted Chicken
Cod Piccata
This tangy, bright cod piccata is a seafood take on the classic piccata recipe. Dredged in almond flour and pan-fried, the cod is finished with capers, lemon juice, and shallots, making it a flavorful and easy dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Cod Piccata
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.