110 Easy Dinner Recipes for Your Family's Busiest Weeknights
Many dishes are ready in under an hour.
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Making dinner should be easy—and fun! And you don't need to be a professional in the kitchen to make a meal that your family will love. That's Ree Drummond’s motto, after all! "I find myself gravitating toward recipes that are delicious but don't require a lot of prep or fuss," she says. Whether that means whipping up a quick 30-minute dinner for busy weeknights or making a one-pot meal with minimal clean-up, Ree is always prepared to take on the dinnertime rush. Luckily, she loves to share her favorite easy dinner recipes to make your weeknights just as tasty, too.
When deciding what to make for dinner, you can choose from recipes for steak, pork, salmon, and chicken, not to mention some outside-the-box pasta recipes and other imaginative ideas to ensure you'll never be stuck in a cooking rut again. For instance, you can try the pretzel-crusted chicken with broccoli, the skillet lasagna, or the sloppy joe casserole for an updated take on a comfort food classic. There are also several air fryer recipes like the crispy air fryer pork chops served with mashed potatoes—it comes together in just 12 minutes! So whether you're cooking for a crowd or just dinner for two, these easy recipes will become your weeknight heroes—because take-out just isn't the same as a home-cooked dinner.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Saucy, smoky BBQ chicken has never been easier thanks to your handy slow cooker! You can make a big batch up to three days in advance, then use the chicken for sandwiches, tacos, or bowls throughout the week.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
Honey Soy Salmon
You only need 15 minutes to make this delicious fish dish. The key is making a homemade sauce that's sticky and sweet. Pair it with a pile of rice and dinner is served.
Get Ree's Honey Soy Salmon recipe.
Air Fryer Falafel
Crispy, golden falafel piled into a pita with lots of veggies is such a scrumptious vegetarian meal. And now you don't even need to heat up a pot of oil to make it! Just let your air fryer do the work.
Get the Air Fryer Falafel recipe.
White Chicken Enchiladas
This is one of Ree's favorite family meals! She has a few handy shortcuts, like using a rotisserie chicken and a carton of chicken broth from the grocery store, that help make the dish even easier.
Get Ree's White Chicken Enchiladas recipe.
Grilled Sesame Pork Kebabs
Whether you're firing up the grill or using a grill pan, these easy kebabs will be your new go-to! The hearty pork and flavorful marinade are even better when served up over rice with a quick cucumber salad.
Get Ree's Grilled Sesame Pork Kebabs recipe.
Arroz con Pollo
You can't go wrong with chicken and rice. The classic combo comes together in one pot for easy cooking and clean up. Best of all, it’s loaded with veggies and flavor-packed adobo seasonings.
Get the Arroz con Pollo recipe.
BLT Turkey Burgers
If you love a classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, just wait until you try this fun twist in the form of burgers. The crispy bacon is chopped up and added right to the turkey burger patties.
Get Ree's BLT Turkey Burgers recipe.
Pan-Fried Pork Chops
This basic pork chop recipe requires minimal effort and only 10 minutes to make. Just be sure to set your timer and pay close attention so they stay juicy and tender. Then, serve them up with a simple wedge salad.
Get Ree's Pan-Fried Pork Chops recipe.
Pasta Alla Vodka
This restaurant-worthy pasta dish is creamy and cheesy—and sure to impress the whole family! Little do they know, it takes less than an hour to make. Just serve it up with a side salad and crusty piece of garlic bread for the ultimate Italian dinner.
Get the Pasta Alla Vodka recipe.
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Tacos
Taco night is so easy when you make a big batch of shredded BBQ chicken. Pair it with another barbecue favorite: crunchy broccoli slaw!
Get Ree's Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Tacos recipe.
Gnocchi Primavera
If you've only got 20 minutes on your hands, make this pasta primavera with pillowy gnocchi! The fresh veggies and creamy sauce come together in just a matter of minutes.
Get Ree's Gnocchi Primavera recipe.
Seared Steak with Sesame Noodle Salad
These noodles are tossed in a flavorful dressing made with soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, sesame oil, sugar and red pepper flakes. You can serve them up warm or cold with slices of perfectly seared steak on top.
Get Ree's Seared Steak with Sesame Noodle Salad recipe.
Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs
These crispy, lemony chicken thighs are easy to prep ahead. Simply marinate the chicken with the lemon, parsley, basil, and garlic the night before. Then, all you have to do is cook and serve with fluffy couscous and a fresh snap pea salad.
Get Ree's Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs recipe.
Turkey Meatballs
There are so many ways to enjoy these turkey meatballs. They can be tossed in marinara sauce and served with pasta for a lightened-up take on spaghetti and meatballs or served with dipping sauces as a fun weekday appetizer. Either way, your family will love them!
Get the Turkey Meatballs recipe.
Stuffed Bell Peppers
Stuffed peppers are one of those meals that makes everyone in the family smile. They're colorful, hearty, cheesy, and delicious. Plus, you can prep all the components separately ahead of time to make assembly easy.
Get Ree's Stuffed Bell Peppers recipe.
Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls
Rice bowls are all the rage these days so why not make an easy one topped with sweet and spicy baked salmon?! The cool cucumber slices and avocado are topped with a homemade spicy mayo for even more kick!
Get Ree's Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls recipe.
Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi
In just 35 minutes, you can have the creamy gnocchi on the table for your family to enjoy. It's loaded with Italian sausage, a creamy tomato-based sauce, spinach, and toasted garlic breadcrumbs sprinkled over the top.
Smothered Chicken
These chicken thighs are cooked in one of our favorite ingredients: bacon drippings! It makes them extra crisp on the outside and even more flavorful when topped with creamy homemade gravy.
Get the Smothered Chicken recipe.
Manicotti
Manicotti are tube-shaped pasta noodles that are best made when filled with cheese! Each noodle gets stuffed with a mixture of ricotta, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan. Then, it's layered with a hearty meat sauce and covered in more melty cheese.
Get the Manicotti recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
You can whip up a big batch of this saucy, tender pulled pork in your slow cooker to enjoy throughout the week. Pile it onto a plate of nachos, or serve on pretzel buns with a smear of mustard.
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
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