23 easy end-of-week dinners for when you’re too tired to cook

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By the end of the week, cooking can feel like a marathon you didn’t sign up for. That’s where these easy, low-effort dinners come in—perfect for nights when you just want something delicious without the fuss. Each recipe is simple to make and exactly what you need to wrap up the week on a stress-free, tasty note.

A slice of cheeseburger pie being lifted, showing layers of meat and melted cheese.
Easy Cheeseburger Pie. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Cheeseburger Skillet

A wooden spoon scoops a portion of cooked ground meat with melted cheese from a pan.
Cheeseburger Skillet. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This cheeseburger skillet gives you all the flavor of a juicy cheeseburger without the hassle. Ready in 20 minutes, it’s a creamy, carb-free twist on the classic, perfect for those Friday nights when you just want to dig into something comforting and satisfying with minimal cleanup. It’s the ultimate no-fuss way to kick back and wrap up the week on a tasty note.
Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Skillet

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole with Hamburger

Image shows a wooden spatula cutting philly cheesesteak casserole from baking dish.
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole with Hamburger. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Craving something hearty but can’t muster up much effort? This Philly cheesesteak casserole has only five ingredients, takes 30 minutes or less, and brings bold, cheesy flavors straight to your table. With this dish, you’re just a few steps away from a cozy, end-of-week treat that feels indulgent without all the work.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheesesteak Casserole with Hamburger

Italian Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

A wooden spoon lifting a serving of italian ground beef skillet garnished with parsley from a cast-iron skillet.
Italian Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This Italian beef skillet with cauliflower rice brings cozy, Italian flavors to your plate without any extra fuss. Just throw everything in a skillet, top with melty mozzarella, and you’ve got a filling, low-carb meal ready in 30 minutes. Perfect for when you’re winding down and need something tasty but totally effortless.
Get the Recipe: Italian Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Skillet

A close-up of ground beef taco skillet being served with a metal spoon.
Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Skillet. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

All the best parts of taco night, but with way less work. This taco skillet is loaded with all your favorite taco flavors and is ready in 30 minutes—just grab a skillet, mix in ground beef, cheese, and seasonings, and you’re done. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a “taco night” vibe at the end of a busy week without all the hassle.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Skillet

Copycat Alice Springs Chicken

A picture of Alice Springs chicken on white plate.
Copycat Alice Springs Chicken. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

When you’re looking for restaurant vibes but have zero energy to go out, this Alice Springs chicken copycat is the answer. Juicy chicken, smoky bacon, melty cheese, and a tangy mustard sauce make every bite a flavor bomb, and it’s surprisingly easy to whip up. The best part? You get that “eating out” feeling while staying cozied up at home.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Alice Springs Chicken

Chicken Francese

A skillet filled with chicken francese garnished with chopped herbs, being stirred with a wooden spoon.
Chicken Francese. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

If you’re craving something a bit fancy to wrap up your week, Chicken Francese brings a touch of elegance without the effort. With a light lemon sauce and crispy chicken, this quick meal feels like dining out but can be done in your slippers at home. It’s a low-stress way to add a little something special to your end-of-week dinner routine.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Francese

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Beef stew in a white pot served with a spoon.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Let your slow cooker handle dinner with this beef stew that’s hearty, warming, and zero-stress. Packed with tender beef and vegetables, it’s the kind of comfort food that feels like it cooked all day—because it did, just without you standing over the stove. This is the ultimate “set it and forget it” dinner for winding down and warming up.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Easy Cheeseburger Pie

A slice of cheeseburger pie being lifted, showing layers of meat and melted cheese.
Easy Cheeseburger Pie. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

When you’re short on time but need a dinner everyone will love, this cheeseburger pie comes to the rescue. Made with everyday ingredients and little prep, it’s a family-friendly meal that’s as simple as mixing and baking—your oven does the rest. End your week with a dish that’s as easy as it is satisfying, and let the oven do all the heavy lifting.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Copycat Ruth’s Chris Stuffed Chicken

Ruth chris stuffed chicken on a plate, resting on a bed of creamy, cheesy spinach mixture.
Copycat Ruth’s Chris Stuffed Chicken. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Take it easy with this restaurant-style stuffed chicken that feels indulgent but is a breeze to make. Filled with creamy cheese and baked to golden perfection, it’s perfect for when you want a comforting meal that feels a little special without leaving home. This is one of those meals that looks impressive but lets you stay in full relax mode.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Ruth’s Chris Stuffed Chicken

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Slow cooker beef and broccoli with onion in brown bowl.
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This beef and broccoli is the effortless way to bring takeout vibes home without any hassle. Toss the ingredients in the slow cooker and come back to a savory, tender dish that’s perfect for winding down after a long week. This one’s a lifesaver when you want something flavorful but can barely lift a finger.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

A picture of Slow Cooker Pot Roast with carrot and parsnip.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This pot roast is a throwback to cozy family dinners but requires zero effort on your part. Just add your ingredients to the slow cooker, and by dinnertime, you’ll have a tender, flavorful roast with all the trimmings, ready for a relaxing end to your week. Kick back, let it cook, and look forward to a perfect comfort meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Plate of chicken cordon bleu topped with creamy sauce and black pepper.
Chicken Cordon Bleu. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Want a crowd-pleaser without the work? This Chicken Cordon Bleu has all the gooey cheese and savory ham in a delicious chicken roll-up, plus an easy creamy sauce. It’s fancy comfort food that looks impressive but takes minimal effort, perfect for treating yourself to a low-key, fancy dinner as you wrap up the week.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

A fork lifting a portion of chicken bacon ranch casserole from a white plate.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

End your week on a delicious note with this chicken bacon ranch casserole—it’s a cheesy, bacon-filled hug in a dish. Ready in just 30 minutes, it brings together tender chicken, creamy ranch, and melty cheese in one pan, so you can relax while dinner basically cooks itself. Perfect for when you’re craving something comforting but don’t want the effort.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken

A close-up of slow-cooker-crack-chicken being stirred with a wooden spoon.
Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Too tired to even think about dinner? Let your slow cooker handle it with this cheesy ranch chicken that’s all about rich, creamy goodness and zero hassle. Just toss in your ingredients, walk away, and come back to a crowd-pleasing, melt-in-your-mouth meal that’s as easy as it is satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken

Green Bean Hamburger Casserole

Green bean casserole being served with wooden spoon.
Green Bean Hamburger Casserole. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This green bean hamburger casserole is the ultimate no-fuss meal—comforting, cheesy, and budget-friendly. Ground beef, green beans, and a layer of creamy cheese all come together in the oven, giving you a one-dish wonder for when you’re too exhausted to cook up a storm. Plus, it’s a family favorite that’ll have everyone happily digging in.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Hamburger Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Casserole

A wooden spoon scooping chicken broccoli alfredo casserole out of a serving dish.
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Casserole. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Craving Alfredo but not the work? This chicken broccoli Alfredo casserole has your back with creamy, cheesy goodness and tender broccoli all baked together in one easy dish. It’s ready in just 30 minutes, leaving you more time to kick up your feet and unwind after a long week.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Casserole

Deconstructed Egg Roll Soup

A hand holds a spoonful of egg roll soup over a white bowl.
Deconstructed Egg Roll Soup. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Get all the flavors of an egg roll in a comforting soup that’s simple, one-pot, and ready in a flash. This egg roll soup is perfect for when you want something warm and healthy but can’t handle complex steps. Plus, it’s totally customizable to fit any diet, so you can feel good about it too.
Get the Recipe: Deconstructed Egg Roll Soup

Ground Beef and Broccoli Casserole

A baked casserole dish with ground beef and broccoli casserole and a wooden spoon.
Ground Beef and Broccoli Casserole. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

End your week with this cozy, cheesy ground beef and broccoli casserole that’s loaded with flavor but light on effort. With just a few ingredients like ground beef, cream cheese, and broccoli, this dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for nights when you just want something easy and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli Casserole

Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo

A skillet containing a creamy cabbage and sausage alfredo garnished with herbs.
Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This cabbage and sausage Alfredo skillet is your weeknight hero—quick, creamy, and packed with flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes, it combines sausage with creamy Alfredo and tender cabbage noodles for a hearty meal that doesn’t demand a lot from you. Perfect for when you need something comforting but can barely muster the energy to cook.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo

Herb-Crusted Chicken

A picture of Herb-crusted Chicken Texas Roadhouse copycat recipe.
Herb-Crusted Chicken. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Add a little flavor boost to your tired week with this easy herb-crusted chicken. It’s juicy, packed with herby goodness, and ready in no time, so you can have a delicious meal on the table without a big production. Great for when you want to wrap up the week with something tasty but totally effortless.
Get the Recipe: Herb-Crusted Chicken

Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Ground beef and cabbage stir fry being scooped out from a skillet.
Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This ground beef and cabbage stir fry is the ultimate one-pan meal that’s fast, tasty, and cleanup-friendly. With only 20 minutes from start to finish, it’s perfect for nights when you’re looking for maximum flavor and minimum effort. It’s simple, satisfying, and just what you need to wind down your week.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

A person holds a bowl of creamy beef stroganoff garnished with parsley.
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Slow cooker beef stroganoff brings comfort to your table without any hassle—just set it and forget it. With tender beef, savory mushrooms, and a creamy sauce, this dish is like a warm, cozy blanket for your taste buds. Ideal for those nights when you want a rich, comforting meal but don’t have the energy to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Ground Beef Egg Roll in a Bowl

A white bowl filled with egg roll in a bowl.
Ground Beef Egg Roll in a Bowl. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

This egg roll in a bowl is like the best part of takeout, minus the extra calories and fuss. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s packed with ground beef, veggies, and seasonings for a one-pan wonder that’s as easy as it is delicious. Perfect for when you’re too tired to think but still want big flavor.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Egg Roll in a Bowl

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