My easy weeknight dinner ideas are for busy families looking for a quick and satisfying meal after work or school. These convenient casseroles and family-favorite recipes never disappoint and can be thrown together quickly. Just bookmark this page for the inevitable 'what's for dinner' days!
Check out my full collection of family dinner recipes and my guide to making family meals easier for tips, tricks, and more meal ideas.
Jump to:
- 1. Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice
- 2. Air Fryer Meatloaf
- 3. Crockpot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
- 4. Shake and Bake Pork Chops
- 5. Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
- 6. Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel
- 7. Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- 8. Baked Chuck Steak
- 9. Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
- 10. Taco Stuffed Shells
- 11. Baked Ranch Pork Chops
- 12. Crispy Panko Chicken Tenderloins
- 13. Pork Tacos
- 14. 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
- 15. Taco Pasta
- 16. Easy Beef Stroganoff
- 17. Oven Fried Catfish
- 18. Dirty Rice
- 19. Cabbage and Noodles
- 20. Kung Pao Shrimp
- 21. Steak Stir Fry
- 22. Pineapple Chicken
- 23. Ground Beef Taquitos
- 24. Air Fryer Frozen Burgers
- 25. Drunken Noodles
- 26. Crab Cakes
- 27. Blackened Mahi Mahi
- 28. Instant Pot Jambalaya
- 29. Crockpot Cube Steak
- 30. Mac & Cheese with Hot Dogs
- 31. Broiled Pork Chops
- 32. Sloppy Joes
- 33. Pan Seared New York Strip
- 34. Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
- 35. Ground Beef Stir Fry
- 36. New England Lobster Rolls
- 37. Cream Cheese Chicken
- 38. Tacos Dorados
- 39. Slow Cooker Goulash
- 💭 Tips For Making Weeknight Meals Easier
- What Are Some Budget-Friendly Weeknight Dinner Ideas?
- How Can I Prep Dinner Faster On Busy Weeknights?
- What Are Some Freezer-Friendly Weeknight Dinners?
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 29+ Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas For Busy Families To Make!
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
I'm always on the hunt for quick and delicious meal solutions to simplify my family dinners, and I've discovered a few favorites over the years that are just too good not to share. So I gathered these recipes specifically with busy weeknights in mind!
Hearty one-pan dinners, speedy skillet meals, and easy 5-ingredient casseroles all make an appearance. Wave goodbye to dinner planning stress and hello to effortless family meals.
1. Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice
This one-pot masterpiece combines chicken, broccoli, rice, and lots of cheese in the slow cooker for a fuss-free casserole. It's a family-favorite chicken breast recipe that cooks while you work.
2. Air Fryer Meatloaf
Thanks to your air fryer, you can make a classic meatloaf dinner in half the time it normally takes. Meatloaf freezes well in general, so you can always- make your favorite meatloaf recipe and freeze it for easy family meals, too.
3. Crockpot Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
This cheesy combination of tender chicken, savory bacon, and pasta is an effortless crockpot dinner you can set and forget. A quick batch of air fryer garlic bread is the perfect side.
4. Shake and Bake Pork Chops
If you prepare my homemade shake & bake breading in advance, you can quickly whip up these crispy shake-and-bake pork chops! See my favorite side dish and serving suggestions on the what to serve with shake and bake pork chops page.
5. Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
This kid-favorite casserole is delicious and made with a bag of frozen tater tots, meaning easy prep! Assemble and freeze it on the weekend for an easy freezer meal you can pop in the oven after work.
6. Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel
Chicken spaghetti with canned Rotel tomatoes is easy, cheesy, and delicious. I use rotisserie chicken on super busy evenings to cut the prep time down even more!
7. Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Everything there is to love about enchiladas in one super simple slow cooker casserole. When I have time, I use homemade red enchilada sauce, but a jar of store-bought sauce works fine in a pinch.
8. Baked Chuck Steak
Baked chuck steak is a simple and delicious weeknight dinner option. Just season the steak with my homemade steak seasoning and pop it in the oven until it is tender and juicy!
>>>See All Of My Recipes Here!<<<
9. Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
My 20-minute lemon and garlic shrimp pasta is the perfect weeknight dinner for seafood lovers. It's a quick and easy shrimp recipe that requires minimal effort but is big on flavor!
10. Taco Stuffed Shells
Can't decide between Mexican cuisine or Italian for dinner? Compromise with these easy 5-ingredient taco beef and cheese stuffed pasta shells.
11. Baked Ranch Pork Chops
Coat pork chops in ranch seasoning mix, place them on a baking sheet, and bake until golden brown and juicy. For side dish suggestions, check out what to serve with pork chops.
12. Crispy Panko Chicken Tenderloins
Chicken tenderloins tossed in a Panko breadcrumb coating and baked to crispy golden perfection. They're waiting to be dipped in marinara, ranch dressing, honey mustard, or your favorite chicken tender condiments.
13. Pork Tacos
If you make pulled pork on the weekend, you can use the leftovers for these zesty 15-minute pork tacos. See what to serve with pork tacos for my top side dish ideas.
14. 4 Ingredient Potato Soup
This potato soup is made with potatoes, milk, onion, butter, and seasoning. It's quick to prepare and perfect for cozy evenings.
A sprinkle of crumbled bacon, crackers, or crusty French bread for dunking is a must!
15. Taco Pasta
Taco seasoning and browned ground beef tossed with salsa, milk, pasta, and lots of cheese for a fun and flavorful taco pasta. Garnish with your preferred taco toppings to customize it to your taste.
16. Easy Beef Stroganoff
My easy beef stroganoff with flank steak is rich, creamy, and ready to eat in just 30 minutes. I like to ladle it over egg noodles for that classic feel, but you can see all my favorite things to serve with beef stroganoff here for more suggestions!
17. Oven Fried Catfish
Oven-fried catfish has the same crispy coating as deep-fried catfish, but without all the grease and mess. Serve with tartar sauce and cool, creamy Southern coleslaw, and call it a day.
18. Dirty Rice
Dirty rice is classic Cajun comfort food made by combining white rice with aromatic seasoning, veggies, and a savory blend of ground beef and pork. It takes only 30 minutes to prepare from start to finish, and you don't need any side dishes!
19. Cabbage and Noodles
Cabbage and noodles are simple yet delicious, with tender egg noodles, caramelized onions, salty bacon, and sauteed cabbage in one warm, comforting bowl. It's a quick, all-in-one meal that the whole family will enjoy.
20. Kung Pao Shrimp
Kung pao shrimp is a fan-favorite takeout recipe that tastes even better made from scratch. Shrimp cooks quickly, so it's a flavor-packed meal you can have ready and on the table in 30 minutes or less.
21. Steak Stir Fry
Stir-fries are great for a quick meal, and you can customize them to use up any produce you have in your fridge. The stir-fry sauce can be made in advance and refrigerated, or you can grab a jar at the grocery store if it's more convenient!
22. Pineapple Chicken
Sweet and savory pineapple chicken is full of tender chicken thighs, juicy canned pineapples, and bell peppers in a sticky sauce. Serve it over white rice or fried rice for an easy meal any day of the week!
23. Ground Beef Taquitos
Just brown ground beef with seasoning, roll it up in corn tortillas, and bake until crispy. Serve with your favorite toppings like salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.
24. Air Fryer Frozen Burgers
Frozen burger patties cook to juicy perfection in just 10 minutes when using an air fryer. Grab buns and your favorite burger toppings for an easy burger night.
Once the burgers are ready, air fry a bag of frozen fries for a classic burger and fry combo!
25. Drunken Noodles
Drunken noodles are a simple and flavorful Thai dish made with wide rice noodles stir-fried with vegetables, chicken, and a savory sauce. It's quick to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights, and can be customized with your favorite ingredients and spice level.
26. Crab Cakes
Made with lump crab meat, Ritz crackers, and mayonnaise, crab cakes easy to prepare and cook in just a few minutes on the stovetop. Serve them with a green garden salad or roasted vegetables for a delicious and satisfying meal!
27. Blackened Mahi Mahi
Generously coat mahi mahi with blackened seasoning and pan sear until flaky and tender for a quick seafood dinner. Check out what to serve with mahi mahi for the best side dish pairings.
28. Instant Pot Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a flavorful one-pot meal loaded with chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, and plenty of Cajun seasoning. Normally, it has to simmer for a while but with a pressure cooker it's ready to eat in 30 minutes.
29. Crockpot Cube Steak
Cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix combine to make the most fabulous mushroom gravy that tastes incredible on tender cube steak. Best of all, you can start it in the morning and have it ready by dinner without hardly lifting a finger!
30. Mac & Cheese with Hot Dogs
Mac and cheese with hot dogs might seem like it's for the kids, but I have to admit it is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I probably enjoy it just as much. You could even add hot dogs to your favorite boxed mac and cheese if you're crunched on time.
See all of my favorite mix-ins for macaroni and cheese right here!
31. Broiled Pork Chops
My recipe for broiled pork chops has to be one of the easiest ways to get them perfectly cooked in minutes. All of my pork chop recipes are delicious, but when it's a weeknight and the day has been long, this quick method is my go-to.
32. Sloppy Joes
Don't let your memories of canned sloppy Joe meat deter you from making my homemade version. Once you see what a real Sloppy Joe should taste like, it's hard not to become a fan!
In fact, I have an entire page dedicated to what to serve with sloppy Joes because my family enjoys them so much.
33. Pan Seared New York Strip
My perfectly pan-seared method will work for bone-in or boneless NY strip steaks. They are seasoned with my steak seasoning and then basted with butter, garlic, and fresh herbs for incredible flavor in 15 minutes.
34. Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
This crockpot soup has everything there is to love about lasagna without, you know, having to make a whole lasagna. Top it off with a scoop of ricotta cheese and serve with a side of garlic bread.
35. Ground Beef Stir Fry
I like to keep ground beef stocked in our freezer because it can be used for so many quick and delicious meals that require little more than browning the meat. Pan-fry your favorite veggies like onion, zucchini, carrots, or mushrooms with stir-fry sauce, add the ground beef, and bam, an easy 15-minute dinner.
36. New England Lobster Rolls
Hot dog buns, some leafy green lettuce, and my quick lobster salad recipe are all it takes for homemade New England lobster rolls. Make the salad the night before and let it chill in the fridge so the flavors can marry, then the next day, all you have to do is slap it in a bun!
37. Cream Cheese Chicken
My pan-seared cream cheese chicken thighs are rich and velvety with a slight tang that is hard to resist. It's delicious on its own, but sometimes I like to serve it over buttered egg noodles so that none of the delectable sauce goes to waste.
38. Tacos Dorados
Hard-shell taco fans will flip over the king of crispy tacos- tacos dorados. These tacos are assembled and then pan-fried for a perfectly crispy and golden shell.
There are no rules against adding your favorite taco toppings, but they hardly need more than seasoned beef taco meat and cheese!
39. Slow Cooker Goulash
I can't get enough of crockpot recipes when I'm too busy to spend much time in the kitchen, and it's hard to deny it makes some of the best comfort food. Goulash is one of my childhood favorites that I still make to this day, with tender noodles, seasoned ground beef, and a savory tomato sauce.
💭 Tips For Making Weeknight Meals Easier
Planning ahead is key to reducing the stress of weeknight dinners. Here are a few of my favorite hacks to streamline the dinner-making process:
- Prep what you can ahead of time: Try to take a little bit of time on the weekend or less busy evenings to prep ingredients. I chop vegetables, marinate meats, prepare sauces, and mix seasonings ahead of time when possible.
- One-pot meals are the best: Look for recipes where you can cook everything in one pot, pan, or dish. Not only is it a time-saver, but it keeps you from having to wash many dishes!
- Convenient kitchen appliances: If you have a slow cooker, pressure cooker, or air fryer, it's perfect for hands-off weeknight meals.
- Freezer-friendly meals: When making meals that freeze well, like soups, stews, or casseroles, double the recipe and freeze half for another busy night. This way, you'll have a homemade meal without the effort.
- Leftovers night: Make one night a week 'leftovers night,' where you can clean out the fridge and enjoy a buffet-style meal of whatever's leftover from previous dinners!
What Are Some Budget-Friendly Weeknight Dinner Ideas?
Generally, recipes with few ingredients are going to be the most cost-effective. Try out my budget-friendly or 5-ingredient casseroles if you're grocery shopping on a budget!
How Can I Prep Dinner Faster On Busy Weeknights?
To speed up dinner prep, assemble casseroles, measure ingredients, and slice vegetables the night before. Using frozen or pre-cut vegetables is also an option. If you have them, it's a great time to rely on kitchen gadgets like pressure or slow cookers for hands-off cooking!
What Are Some Freezer-Friendly Weeknight Dinners?
Most casserole recipes, soups, stews, and many proteins are freezer-friendly! If you have time on the weekend, assemble and freeze lasagna, chicken pot pies, or shredded chicken enchiladas for easy heat-and-eat meals.
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📖 Recipe Card
29+ Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas For Busy Families To Make!
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast cubed boneless, skinless chicken - thighs can also be used
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper to taste
- 8 oz cream cheese cubed
- 16 oz alfredo sauce
- 1 packet ranch seasoning
- 6 slices thick cut bacon crisped, chopped
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 16 oz pasta cooked and drained, short pasta is best - use cellantini, penne, rigatoni, or rotini pasta
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Add the cubed boneless, skinless 1 lb chicken breast to your crockpot and season with ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper salt, pepper, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Top the seasoned chicken with cubed 8 oz cream cheese, 16 oz alfredo sauce, and then the 1 packet ranch seasoning.
- Cook on the low setting for 4-6 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours.
- Stir the 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 6 slices thick cut bacon into the chicken in your crock pot or slow cooker and turn to warm while the pasta cooks.
- Prepare the 16 oz pasta according to the boxed instructions to an al dente texture, then drain and rinse in cold water.
- Pour the pasta into your chicken bacon ranch mixture, stir to combine, and serve immediately.
Notes
- 16 ounces alfredo sauce is 2 cups (see recipe for homemade sauce).
- Ranch dressing packets are typically 1 ounce of seasoning mix.
- You can use any kind of pasta you want, but I highly recommend using short pasta like cellantini, penne, rigatoni, or rotini pasta as they hold up well in slow cooking.
- In general, the cooking times are 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low for the cubed chicken and 3-6 hours for whole chicken breasts if you prefer to shred them.
- Remember to check the chicken's internal temperature to ensure it's fully cooked at 165°F (74°C).
- To store: Place your leftover chicken pasta into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- To freeze: Allow the chicken bacon ranch pasta to cool to room temperature. Then transfer it and sauce into airtight, freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags. Remove as much air as possible to minimize the risk of freezer burn. Store in your freezer and enjoy within 2-3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- To reheat: When you're ready to enjoy your leftover pasta, you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat.
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