17 dinners so easy you can make them in your sleep

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Even on the busiest of nights, whipping up a tasty dinner can be as easy as pie. These recipes practically make themselves, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more on what matters. From savory slow cooker delights to quick, one-pan wonders, these meals are hassle-free yet flavorful and prove that simple doesn’t mean bland.

Smashed white bean quesadillas on a cutting board.
Smashed White Bean Quesadillas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Ground Beef Stir Fry

Ground beef stir fry in a skillet.
Ground Beef Stir Fry. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This one-pan stir fry with ground beef and veggies is quick, easy, and beats any takeout. The homemade garlic ginger sauce adds a great touch to a dinner that’s perfect for a hassle-free weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry

Kale and Feta Egg Bake

Kale and feta egg bake in a white ramekin with a piece of toasted bread to the side.
Kale and Feta Egg Bake. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Throw some eggs, kale, and feta together for an individual bake that’s super easy. It’s the kind of meal that’s perfect for a night when you’re too tired to even think about cooking.
Get the Recipe: Kale and Feta Egg Bake

Pesto Salmon

Pesto Salmon. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Oven-baked pesto salmon is as simple as it gets. Five ingredients and less than 25 minutes to a healthy, flavor-packed dinner that’s perfect for any night.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon

Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes

Roasted chicken thighs with sweet potatoes and pecans.
Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This dish combines chicken and sweet potatoes with caramelized pecans on a single sheet pan for an easy cleanup. It’s a no-brainer for a satisfying dinner that practically makes itself.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken & Sweet Potatoes

Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu & Vegetables

Sheet pan tofu and vegetables with BBQ sauce on a plate.
Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu & Vegetables. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Throw tofu, broccoli, peppers, and sweet potatoes on a sheet pan, add some BBQ sauce, and you’ve got a veggie-packed dinner that takes care of itself. It’s the perfect plan for a no-effort yet hearty meal on a busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan BBQ Tofu & Vegetables

Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta

Lemon pasta with spinach, feta and cherry tomatoes in a bowl.
Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Mix lemon, spinach, and feta with pasta for a meal that’s both simple and packed with flavor. You can eat it just like that or add any protein you have. It’s the kind of dinner that’s perfect for when you want something quick and without hassle.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta

Sheet Pan Maple Mustard Chicken

Maple mustard chicken breasts with brussels sprouts, squash and cranberries.
Sheet Pan Maple Mustard Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Chicken, Brussels sprouts, squash, and cranberries all bake together on one pan. It’s an effortlessly good dinner that makes weeknights a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Maple Mustard Chicken

Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Garlic chicken bites with peppers and mushrooms in a skillet.
Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

In just 20 minutes, you can have garlic chicken bites cooked with mushrooms, onions, and red peppers. This one-pan dinner is a great solution for a hassle-free evening.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Salsa Chicken

A white dish with chicken in a tomato sauce.
Salsa Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Chicken breasts baked with salsa, corn, and cheese make for an incredibly easy yet hearty dinner. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is great for when you want something tasty without the effort.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken

Gochujang Chicken

Chinese gochujang chicken in a skillet on a table with black kitchen towel wrapped around the handle.
Gochujang Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Need something fast and flavorful? This gochujang chicken is ready in 30 minutes and packs a punch with its spicy-sweet sauce. Serve it over rice for an easy dinner win.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Chicken

Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp

Bucatini pasta with shrimp in a white bowl.
Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Garlic shrimp tossed with bucatini and cherry tomatoes makes for a meal that’s not only quick to prepare but also loaded with flavor. It’s the kind of dinner that’s perfect for a weeknight rush.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp

Blackened Cod

Blackened cod served with tri color quinoa.
Blackened Cod. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Spice up your cod with some common spices, give it a quick pan-sear, and boom – you’ve got yourself a fantastic dinner. It’s so easy, you could make it with your eyes closed, making it a great choice for a busy night.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod

Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas

Shrimp and steak fajitas with peppers and onions.
Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Steak and shrimp fajitas couldn’t be easier. Season them, toss them on a sheet pan, and pop them in the oven. In less than 20 minutes, you’ve got a surf and turf dinner that’s great for any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey garlic chicken in a bowl served over rice.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Drop everything in the slow cooker and let it do its thing. This honey garlic chicken, with pineapple bites throughout, is a crowd-pleaser. It’s incredibly simple and beats takeout any night.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Smashed White Bean Quesadillas

Smashed white bean quesadillas on a cutting board.
Smashed White Bean Quesadillas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Smash white beans and kale, stuff them in tortillas with cheddar, and cook until crispy. Top with creamy BBQ sauce for an easy, meatless meal that’s great for a laid-back dinner.
Get the Recipe: Smashed White Bean Quesadillas

Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Bucatini cacio e pepe in a bowl with a gold fork and a pepper mill off to the side.
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

With just a few ingredients, you can whip up this creamy, cheesy pasta. It’s an easy and cost-effective meal that feels like a treat without all the work.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Greek Shrimp Skillet

Shrimp skillet dinner with kalamata olives, tomatoes and feta.
Greek Shrimp Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This easy meal features shrimp with tomatoes, spinach, olives, feta, and a burst of lemon. It’s a 30-minute dinner that’s perfect for when you need something quick but still want a lot of flavors.
Get the Recipe: Greek Shrimp Skillet

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