Easy recipes are a lifesaver for those of us who have better things to do than spend hours in the kitchen. Whether you’re juggling a busy work schedule, managing family life, or simply prefer to spend your free time doing anything but cooking, this collection of 21 recipes is perfect for you.
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Make this Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup when cooking is the last thing on your mind. Toss dried split peas, carrots, celery, herbs, spices, and broth into the slow cooker and let it handle the rest. With just a few steps, you’ll have a comforting soup ready when you are. And if you have any leftovers, you can freeze them for quick meals later. This recipe is great for busy days when spending hours in the kitchen just isn’t an option.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Cabbage and Sausage
This Cabbage and Sausage comes to the rescue on those nights when cooking feels like a chore. Just sauté cabbage, sausage, and onion, add your favorite seasonings, and in about 25 minutes, dinner is ready. Feel free to try different sausages or pair this with a salad or rice to round out the meal. Plus, the leftovers store well, so you can have a delicious meal the next day without any extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Shake and Bake Pork Chops
This Shake and Bake Pork Chops is a winner for anyone who’d rather be doing anything but cooking. Instead of traditional breading or batter, you’ll coat them with a thin layer of mayonnaise before shaking them in a storage baggie with the homemade seasoned breadcrumb mixture. The mayonnaise helps keep the pork chops moist and acts as a binder for the breadcrumbs and spices, giving them that delicious crust after baking. Ready in just 25 minutes, make this when you need something easy, flavorful, and filling that won’t keep you in the kitchen for hours.
Get the Recipe: Shake and Bake Pork Chops
Crock Pot Taco Soup
Crock Pot Taco Soup is your hero on days you can’t deal with cooking. Brown the ground beef, toss it with the other ingredients, and let the crock pot do its thing. It’s a great way to enjoy a filling meal with minimal effort — just 20 minutes of prep, and you’re free. Add a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle shredded cheddar before serving to make it more flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
These Garlic Butter Chicken Bites are a lifesaver when you can’t even think about cooking. All you need is chicken, butter, garlic, and 20 minutes to whip up this flavorful meal. Feel free to play with the spices for a bit of variety and pair them with veggies or rice for a complete dish. Their versatility doesn’t stop there — toss them into salads, wraps, or even over pasta. The options are endless!
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Sheet pan dinners are simply the best, especially when you’re not in the mood for cooking. In this recipe, you’ll arrange the sausages and veggies on a pan, season them, and let the oven do the rest — it’s that easy. This sheet pan dinner is also very customizable, as you can use any veggies you have on hand. Serve it with your favorite protein or sides for a simple dinner. If you have any leftovers, they will taste just as good reheated.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
This Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole is perfect for days when you don’t want to spend forever in the kitchen. Combine bell peppers, ground meat, tomatoes and rice, top them generously with cheddar, and broil until the cheese is golden and bubbling. Everything comes together in just one pot and can be served in just 45 minutes, making it a great go-to for nights when you’d rather be doing anything but cooking.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
Baked Ravioli
When the kitchen is the last place you want to be, this Baked Ravioli is just what you need. Reminiscent of the classic lasagna but way easier, this recipe uses frozen cheese ravioli to cut down on prep time. You’ll layer it with marinara sauce and melted cheeses, bake them together and have a creamy and savory dish in just one hour. It’s an easy but impressive dinner that is perfect for family dinners or impressing guests without too much stress.
Get the Recipe: Baked Ravioli
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
For those days when cooking feels like a chore, try this Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole. Ready in less than an hour, it uses common ingredients you probably already have, like egg noodles, canned tuna, and cheddar cheese. You’ll combine the casserole ingredients and bake them all together until the top is perfectly browned. It also stores and reheats well, so you can have a ready-made dinner for the next day without cooking again.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Chicken Tortellini Soup
On days when you just can’t deal with cooking, this Chicken Tortellini Soup comes to the rescue. Simmer shredded chicken, cheese tortellini, veggies and broth in a pot and in 40 minutes, you’ll have a cheesy and hearty dinner ready for everyone. Everything is cooked in just one pot, meaning less cleanup after. Pair it with crusty bread, a fresh salad, or your favorite veggies to round out the meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Here’s another easy yet impressive dinner perfect for days when you’d rather not cook. In this recipe, you’ll cook juicy chicken breasts on the stovetop in a creamy white sauce made with grated Parmesan cheese, garlic, and heavy cream. It’s ready in 30 minutes and made in just one pan, so you’ll spend less time in the kitchen cooking and cleaning.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Spinach Chicken Bake
This Spinach Chicken Bake is one of the easiest dishes you can make when you’re not in the mood to cook. This casserole recipe features chicken thighs, spinach, cream cheese, and mozzarella cheese baked together until golden. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an especially great option for beginner cooks who are new to making family dinners. Serve it straight from the oven with your favorite sides for a simple yet hearty meal that makes any dinner feel effortlessly special.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
For those nights when cooking is the last thing on your mind, this veggie-packed casserole is here to save the day. Broccoli and cauliflower are steamed and then mixed with creamy cheese sauce and bacon before being baked to golden, bubbling perfection. This casserole recipe is ready in 30 minutes and conveniently uses frozen veggies, which can help reduce extra time spent in the kitchen rinsing and chopping.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
White Bean Soup
White Bean Soup is your go-to for an easy but hearty meal that comes together in just 40 minutes. To make this, you’ll saute the veggies, add the beans and broth and then simmer until ready. This soup is thickened by puréeing half of the white beans, making it creamy and filling all at once. Top it off with grated Parmesan and crusty bread on the side to complete the meal.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Soup
Fajita Baked Chicken
This Fajita Baked Chicken is a savory and cheesy oven dish you can make in just 30 minutes. Seasoned chicken breasts are topped with cream cheese, mini sweet peppers, and mozzarella and baked until bubbling and golden. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you want to spice up your dinner routine without spending hours in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Baked Chicken
Broccoli Casserole
If cooking tonight feels like a drag, this Broccoli Casserole is an easy and simple solution to your dilemma. Steam the broccoli florets, mix them with the cheesy mushroom soup sauce, top with shredded cheese, and pop it in the oven to bake. Ready in less than an hour, this recipe is a great choice for beginner cooks or anyone who doesn’t want to spend endless time actively cooking in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
This Fried Cabbage with Bacon is the perfect recipe when you want something quick, easy, and flavorful. Using only one pan, you’ll saute cabbage, bacon, and onion together, adjust the taste to your preference, and then serve. Ready in only 25 minutes from prep to cooking, it’s a simple but hearty meal with the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Serve it as a side or a light main course for a wholesome and filling dinner.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Italian Sausage Soup
This Italian Sausage Soup is reminiscent of a creamy tomato soup but with added flavor from the Italian sausage and shredded Parmesan. Ready in just 30 minutes, you’ll cook the sausage, then simmer it with the creamy and savory soup base — it’s as easy as that. Everything also cooks in just one pot, meaning less cleanup and more time relaxing outside the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage Soup
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
The Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice is a simple yet flavorful option for days when you just don’t feel like cooking. Using just one skillet, you’ll cook ground beef, cauliflower rice and mushrooms, and top it generously with cheddar. Make this 30-minute recipe on nights when you need to quickly get a hearty dinner on the table.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
This casserole is your one-stop recipe for a quick and hearty dish that’s ready in just 30 minutes. You’ll cook simple pantry ingredients like ground beef, cauliflower rice and spinach, top it with cheese, and pop it in the oven to bake. It’s simple, filling, and a great way to get some veggies in your meals. This recipe is also freezer-friendly, so you can make it ahead and have a ready-made meal when you just don’t feel like cooking.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
In this recipe, sweet potatoes, red peppers, onions, and spices come together to create a smooth and creamy soup without much effort. After you have the ingredients prepped, all you have to do is sauté, simmer, blend, and garnish. Plus, it’s customizable and can be tailored to your taste by adjusting the seasonings or making it creamier. Ready in about an hour, make this hearty and wholesome soup on those days when you just can’t be bothered to cook.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup