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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    19 Easy Dinners Your Family Will Love

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on September 9, 2025, updated August 27, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Finding easy dinner ideas that the whole family will enjoy can be a challenge. Here are 19 simple and delicious meals that are sure to please everyone at the table. From comforting classics to quick weeknight options, these recipes will make dinner time a breeze.

    Crockpot Mexican Casserole

    Crockpot Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef.
    Photo Credit" Haute & Healthy Living.

    This crockpot Mexican casserole is packed with all the delicious flavors you love from Mexican cuisine. It's a simple and affordable option that’s perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking. Plus, it’s a healthier choice compared to takeout, making it a great dinner for the whole family.

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    Ramen Scrambled Egg

    A bowl of ramen scrambled egg.
    Photo Credit: Spoons of Flavor.

    Ramen scrambled eggs are quick and easy to make, perfect for a satisfying meal. This dish is a great option for anyone who enjoys instant ramen. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a delicious and filling dinner in no time.

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    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for quick weeknight meals. With just a little chopping at the beginning, it’s mostly hands-off and comes together easily. You’ll have delicious chicken, veggies, and plenty of sauce all cooked in one pan.

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    Chicken Bacon Risotto

    Chicken and bacon risotto being spooned onto a plate.
    Photo credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    A quick weeknight risotto with rotisserie chicken and bacon is a great option for dinner. It's simple to prepare and packed with flavor, making it a dish you'll want to enjoy again and again. This meal is perfect for busy evenings when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta

    Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta.
    Photo Credit: My Chef's Apron.

    This creamy vegan pumpkin pasta sauce is a simple and tasty dish that you can whip up on the stovetop. With ingredients like onion and spinach, along with flavors from dried sage, marjoram, and garlic, it brings a comforting touch to your meal. It's a great option for a quick weeknight dinner, but it's also fancy enough to impress guests or serve during the holidays.

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    Ground Beef Chili

    Ground Beef Chili.
    Photo Credit: The Rustic Foodie.

    This healthy chili is made in the slow cooker with beans, corn, peppers, and masa harina. It’s packed with delicious Southwest flavors and is perfect for a cozy meal. This dish is easy to prepare and is great for busy nights when you want something hearty without a lot of work.

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    One-Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup

    A bowl of One-Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Chicken tortellini soup is a comforting dish that warms you up from the inside out. It comes together quickly, taking just a little over 30 minutes to prepare. With its rich flavors, this soup is perfect for a cozy evening at home or when you want a quick and satisfying meal.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Tater tot casserole with chicken and bacon is a simple and satisfying meal that you can prepare in the slow cooker. With just a few ingredients, this dish comes together easily and is ready in about five hours. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something hearty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

    Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
    Photo Credit: Dinner at the Zoo.

    Flank steak is seasoned with garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and soy sauce, creating a dish that brings the flavors of a Chinese restaurant right to your table. This meal is simple to prepare and offers a delicious way to enjoy a classic favorite. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts

    15-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts
    Photo credit: always use butter

    This 15-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts is a great option for a quick meal. It's easy to prepare and packed with flavor, making it a satisfying dish on its own. Adding a nice piece of mozzarella or burrata cheese on top takes it to the next level.

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    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken features a rich, creamy sauce packed with Mediterranean flavors. This dish is simple to prepare and perfect for a weeknight dinner. Just set it up in the morning, and you'll have a tasty meal waiting for you in the evening.

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    Homemade Sloppy Joes

    Homemade sloppy joes with a golden bun.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Homemade sloppy joes are packed with flavor and can be ready in about 30 minutes using just one pan. This dish is simple to scale up, making it easy to serve a larger group. They also work well as a make-ahead meal, perfect for busy nights.

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    Air Fryer Salmon Patties

    Air Fryer Salmon Patties.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These Air Fryer Salmon Patties are quick and simple to prepare, taking only 6-8 minutes to cook. Made with fresh salmon and flavored with powdered seasonings, they are full of taste without the need for any chopping. This dish is perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

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    Tortellini Carbonara

    Tortellini carbonara.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This version of carbonara is simple and quick to prepare, using everyday ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. It's a great option for a weeknight meal when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen. With just a few steps, you can have a delicious dinner ready in no time.

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    Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

    Slow Cooker Butter Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Supergolden Bakes.

    Butter Chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani, is a creamy and flavorful dish that's simple to prepare in your slow cooker. It's perfect for a cozy dinner and pairs well with pilau rice or cauliflower rice if you're looking for a low-carb option.

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    Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Chicken tortillas soup.
    Photo credit: Peas and Crayons.

    This crock-pot chicken tortilla soup is a hit with the family. It's packed with flavor and is a healthy option that you can easily freeze for later. Perfect for a cozy meal, this soup is simple to prepare and will quickly become a favorite.

    Get the recipe

    Mushroom Wild Rice Soup

    Mushroom Wild Rice Soup (Vegan!)
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie Blog.

    This creamy soup is loaded with all the classic, comforting flavors you'd expect, minus the dairy! There's just enough creaminess that it feels indulgent but it's also loaded with veggies, so you can feel good about feeding it to your family. And it comes together all in one pot, in about an hour!

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    Sheet Pan Orange Chicken

    Sheet Pan Orange Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

    Sheet pan orange chicken is a simple and tasty dinner option. This homemade dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something quick and satisfying. With minimal effort, you can enjoy a flavorful meal that everyone will love.

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    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This red pesto pasta is quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes from start to finish, with only 15 minutes of actual cooking time. It's loaded with vegetables and flavor, making it a satisfying meal. You can use either homemade or store-bought pesto, and it tastes great whether served hot or cold.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Chicken bacon pasta.
      24 Slow Cooker Comfort Foods That Will Make You the Potluck Star
    • Queso chicken tacos.
      22 Cheap Crockpot Meals We’re Making Every Week
    • Beef and potato hot pot.
      23 Hearty Casseroles for Comfort Food Cravings
    • Baked ham pasta.
      23 Simple Pasta Recipes That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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