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Busy Moms (and Grandmas) need Easy Weeknight Dinners every now and then. Lets face it, there are times when we don’t feel like doing much in the kitchen. But we still need to feed our families. So rather than succumb to fast-food, here are some of my favorite quick and easy recipes to make at home.
Many of the recipes below are one-dish dinners that can be made in a skillet or casserole pan. Some are sheet pan dinners, but all of them are delicious and easy to make. I often turn to these recipes to share at Potluck Dinners, so they also work for feeding large families or for having leftovers.
One Dish Dinners
Lets begin with One Dish Dinner Ideas. These recipes may take a few minutes of advance preparation, but they are easy to make and you have only one dirty pan to clean in the end!
1
Skillet Fiesta Chicken
This Skillet Fiesta Chicken recipe is perfect for a weeknight meal or to take to a potluck dinner. Loaded with chicken, rice, corn, and black beans, it’s then seasoned with plenty of heat and topped with grated Colby Jack cheese.
Cabbage and Sausage Rigatoni is comfort food, perfect for weeknight dinners. Packed with Italian sausage, cabbage, cannellini beans, and wonderful flavor, it’s a new favorite I will be making often. Add a simple side salad for a complete dinner.
Kielbasa Sauerkraut and Potatoes is an easy one-dish recipe to make for your family as a weeknight dinner. Flavored with onion, garlic, thyme, and sage, it’s quite satisfying. Be sure to add this one to your favorite German or Polish recipes.
Hamburger Cabbage Skillet is an easy, one-pot dish to serve your family on a busy weeknight or when you just don’t feel like doing much in the kitchen. Made with hamburger, cabbage, tomatoes, onions and carrots, it's a full meal-in-one.
Here's an old family recipe that we always enjoy. Easy and delicious! Perfect for a weeknight dinner. Serve with bread and butter or a salad for a complete meal.
Creamed corn adds sweetness to the cornbread, and the green chilies give the dish a little heat. Combine it all with hamburger and cheddar cheese, and it’s a very satisfying meal. Add shredded lettuce and salsa for a complete dinner.
Here's an old favorite to serve your family when you want a satisfying yet quick meal. Serve with bread and butter and a frozen veggie heated in the microwave.
This recipe is a mix between Easy Macaroni and Cheese and Goulash. Made from lean ground burger, Cavatappi pasta, tomatoes, and processed cheese, it’s easy to put together, and a great meal for weeknight dinners.
If you have a bit of time, you might consider making a casserole for your family. Casseroles take little time for preparation, but possibly more time baking in the oven. They are still a nice option for easy weeknight dinners.
10
Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Here's a simple recipe to make for your family when you're craving some comfort food.
Our family loves John Wayne movies, so when I discovered this dish, adapted from an actual recipe that John Wayne submitted for a cookbook, I had to try it. This John Wayne Venison Casserole is perfect for your next potluck dinner. It always goes over very well.
Sheet Pan Dinners are one of the easiest weeknight dinners to prepare. I find myself making this type of dinner at least once a week, especially during the busy days of summer. Plus, they are very adaptable for the fresh vegetables and meat in your kitchen supply, whether it’s chicken, pork, or bratwurst!
13
Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
This Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner is perfect for summer. I make it practically every week, and it never ceases to amaze me at how quick and easy it is to prepare, and how very delicious it is.
Bratwurst with Roasted Vegetables (and Gnocchi) is an amazingly easy sheet pan dinner to prepare for your family. Packed with vegetables, it's loaded with roasted potatoes, green peppers, onions, zucchini, mushrooms, and brussels sprouts. Plus it has the added bonus of crisp, yet chewy and oh, so delicious potato gnocchi.
These next recipes are those that use leftovers to help it along. For instance, dishes that require leftover meats or mashed potatoes. Or if in a pinch, you could use “instant” mashed potatoes. I promise not to tell.
15
Cheesy Ham and Rice with Broccoli
Cheesy Ham and Rice with Broccoli is the perfect dish to make with any leftover ham you might have from the holidays. I made this recipe from items I had in my refrigerator and it was so delicious, it became a family favorite and works well after Christmas or Easter!
We love this recipe for Spicy Chicken and Cheese Taquitos. They are easy to make and perfect for weeknight dinners. Soft and Creamy Chicken Filling with Plenty of Jalapeno Heat.
Not all easy dinners are created equal. Some may be simple to make, but may require an extra step or two to finish out. For instance, it may require a side of potatoes, egg noodles, or even a grilled flour tortilla. I’m finishing this post with dishes that are just too good not to include as an Easy Weeknight Dinner.
19
Easy Swedish Meatballs
Easy Swedish Meatballs are a great choice when you want a simple, yet filling dinner for your family. The meatballs are tender and delicious, served over a mound of noodles or mashed potatoes with a dreamy, creamy sauce.
Irish Bangers and Mash is a quick and easy dinner too delicious to serve only on Saint Patrick's Day. Add a side of peas or mixed vegetables for a complete dinner.
So there you have it. Twenty-four of my favorite recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners. I hope you have enjoyed this post and that you will find a favorite or two for your family!
