When the day is already full, having dinner cook with less hands-on work can make the evening easier. These 21 recipes include slow-simmered stews, rich curries, homemade breads, and filling pasta dishes for nights when you need something substantial. Some make good use of a Dutch oven, while others offer different ways to prepare a warm meal without standing over the stove the entire time. From a pot of beef stew to a loaf of freshly baked bread, there are plenty of ways to put a little more time back into your day.
Baked Ziti
A bubbling pan of Baked Ziti makes dinner easier when everyone wants something hearty after a long day. Ziti pasta, sweet Italian sausage, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil come together under a layer of melted cheese. The recipe takes 60 minutes, making it a practical choice for an evening when you have time to let dinner finish in the oven. Serve it with a simple green salad and save any remaining portions for another meal.
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Chocolate Sourdough Bread
A dark, cocoa-colored crust makes Chocolate Sourdough Bread an interesting change from the usual homemade loaf. Cocoa powder, vanilla, sugar, and almonds give the sourdough a rich flavor that works well for breakfast or an afternoon snack. The dough needs a long fermentation period before baking, so plan to begin well ahead of serving. Once the loaf has cooled, cut thick slices and serve them with butter or a cup of coffee.
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Pasta alla Norma
A rich tomato sauce coats every forkful of Pasta alla Norma, giving this pasta dinner plenty of flavor without a complicated preparation. Eggplant, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes bring depth to the sauce, while the pasta makes it substantial enough for a family meal. The recipe takes 40 minutes, making it suitable for a weeknight when you want something warm without spending hours cooking. Serve it with a little extra Parmesan and a simple side salad.
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Stuffed Cabbage
Tender cabbage leaves wrapped around a savory filling make Stuffed Cabbage a filling choice for a slower evening at home. The rolls cook in a tomato-based sauce flavored with onion, garlic, oregano, and a little balsamic vinegar. With a total preparation and cooking time of 130 minutes, this is a dish to start when dinner does not need to be rushed. Serve the rolls with mashed potatoes or bread to make the most of the sauce.
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Spaghetti Marinara
The aroma of a gently cooking tomato sauce makes Spaghetti Marinara a welcome dinner after a busy afternoon. Fresh plum tomatoes, onion, garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes form the sauce before it meets the spaghetti. The recipe takes 50 minutes and keeps the meal simple without relying on a long list of ingredients. Bring the pasta to the table with fresh basil and some grated Parmesan, then add bread or a salad if you want something alongside it.
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Olive Sourdough Bread
A savory loaf with plenty of character, Olive Sourdough Bread brings chopped Kalamata olives and sun-dried tomatoes into a homemade sourdough dough. Bread flour, whole wheat flour, and an active starter provide the base, while oil from the tomatoes adds more flavor. Allow time for the dough to ferment before baking rather than treating it as a quick bread. Slice it alongside soup or stew, or use it for sandwiches when you want something more substantial than ordinary bread.
Get the Recipe: Olive Sourdough Bread
Chickpea Curry
A fragrant pot of Chickpea Curry makes a filling dinner when the evening calls for something warm and easy to serve. Chickpeas and potatoes cook with onion, garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and curry powder, creating a thick sauce that works well over rice. The recipe takes 60 minutes, making it a manageable choice when you can leave the curry cooking while preparing the rest of the meal. Serve it with warm flatbread for scooping up the sauce.
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Air Fryer Lasagna
Layers of pasta and a rich meat sauce make Air Fryer Lasagna a hearty dinner without using a full-size oven. Precooked lasagna noodles are layered with ground beef, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and cheese before cooking in the air fryer. The recipe takes 42 minutes and is a useful alternative when you want lasagna without a long baking session. Serve generous portions with a crisp salad and bread for a filling family meal.
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Chicken and Biscuits
A golden biscuit topping gives Chicken and Biscuits the look of a homemade dinner that has been cooking all afternoon. The creamy filling combines chicken with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, thyme, and cream of chicken soup. It takes 60 minutes, making it a good choice when you want a complete meal from one baking dish. Spoon out portions while the filling is warm, making sure everyone gets some of the soft biscuits and savory sauce.
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Sourdough Bread
A crisp crust and tender center make Sourdough Bread worth preparing when you have a little extra time at home. Bread flour, water, sourdough starter, and salt create a simple dough that develops its flavor as it rests. The recipe takes 375 minutes, including the time needed for the dough to rise before baking. Slice the finished loaf for sandwiches, or set it beside a bowl of soup when you want fresh bread to complete dinner.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Bread
Beef Stew
Slow cooking gives Beef Stew its rich flavor and tender chunks of meat, making it a natural choice for a cool evening. Beef cooks with bacon, onions, celery, carrots, and garlic in a savory broth until everything is ready to serve. The recipe takes 135 minutes, so it works well when you can start dinner earlier in the afternoon. Ladle generous portions into bowls and serve with crusty bread to soak up the broth.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stew
Cheeseburger Soup
All the savory flavor of a cheeseburger comes together in Cheeseburger Soup, making it a filling alternative to an ordinary bowl of soup. Ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato paste, beef broth, and milk form the base, with Worcestershire sauce adding more depth. The recipe takes 50 minutes, making it a manageable dinner for a busy evening. Serve it with toasted bread or a few crackers when you want something with a little crunch beside the creamy soup.
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Turmeric Sourdough Bread
A golden-colored loaf makes Turmeric Sourdough Bread stand out before you even cut the first slice. Turmeric and finely chopped onion bring color and savory flavor to a dough made with bread flour and an active sourdough starter. The bread requires an extended fermentation period, so it is better suited to a day when you can plan ahead. Once baked and cooled, slice it for sandwiches or serve it alongside a bowl of soup or curry.
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Lamb Stew
Rich spices and tender meat give Lamb Stew plenty of character without requiring an elaborate dinner menu. Cubed lamb cooks with onion, garlic, cumin, fire-roasted tomatoes, and beef broth, while mint brings a fresh finish to the dish. The recipe takes 70 minutes, giving the ingredients time to develop their flavor together. Spoon the stew over rice or serve it with warm bread for a substantial meal when the evening calls for something filling.
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Atta Sourdough Bread
A hearty homemade loaf, Atta Sourdough Bread uses whole wheat atta flour and a sourdough starter to create a bread with a distinct wheat flavor. The dough develops through a long fermentation period before baking, making this a good project for a day when you can plan around the resting time. Once the loaf has cooled, cut it into slices for sandwiches or toast. It also makes a useful addition to a simple soup dinner.
Get the Recipe: Atta Sourdough Bread
Japanese Chicken Curry
A thick, savory sauce makes Japanese Chicken Curry a filling dinner that is easy to serve in bowls. Chicken thighs cook with potatoes, carrots, onion, ginger, garlic, and Japanese curry roux, with apple and honey adding a little sweetness. The recipe takes 40 minutes, making it suitable for an evening when you want a substantial meal without a long cooking session. Spoon the curry over short-grain rice and let the sauce soak into every bite.
Get the Recipe: Japanese Chicken Curry
Cheese Sourdough Bread
A golden crust gives way to pockets of cheddar in Cheese Sourdough Bread, making each slice a little more interesting than an ordinary loaf. Chopped jalapeños add heat, while bread flour and an active sourdough starter form the dough. The bread needs a long fermentation period before baking, so begin the preparation well ahead of serving. Cut thick slices to accompany soup or stew, or toast a piece when you want a savory snack with melted butter.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Sourdough Bread
French Onion Dip
Deeply browned onions give French Onion Dip its rich flavor, making it a useful choice when you want something homemade to serve with snacks. Sliced yellow onions cook with olive oil, sherry vinegar, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce before being combined with sour cream. The recipe takes 60 minutes, allowing the onions time to develop their sweetness. Serve the finished dip with potato chips, crackers, or fresh vegetables for an afternoon snack or a casual evening at home.
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Shrimp Etouffee
A rich Cajun-style sauce makes Shrimp Etouffee a substantial dinner that brings plenty of flavor to the table. Shrimp cooks with onion, bell pepper, celery, Cajun seasoning, and a butter-and-flour roux that thickens the sauce. The recipe takes 40 minutes, so it works well when you want something filling without spending the entire evening in the kitchen. Spoon the shrimp and sauce over warm rice and serve it while everything is hot.
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Sourdough Charcoal Bread
A striking dark crust makes Sourdough Charcoal Bread an unusual addition to a homemade bread basket. Activated charcoal gives the loaf its distinctive color, while bread flour, whole wheat flour, sesame seeds, and sourdough starter form the dough. The recipe requires a long fermentation period before baking, making it better suited to a day when you can plan ahead. Once the loaf has cooled, slice it for sandwiches or serve it with a warm bowl of soup.
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Beef Bourguignon
A deeply flavored sauce gives Beef Bourguignon the kind of richness that makes a slow-cooked dinner worth planning ahead for. Beef brisket or chuck cooks with bacon, carrots, celery, garlic, and tomato paste, allowing the savory flavors to develop together. The recipe takes 110 minutes, making it suitable for a slower afternoon when dinner can cook without being rushed. Spoon the tender beef and sauce over mashed potatoes, or bring out crusty bread to serve alongside it.
Get the Recipe: Beef Bourguignon