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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    23 Simple Dinners That Come Together Without the Fuss

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated June 10, 2026 · Published June 12, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    Finding time to cook a nice dinner can be tough for busy families, especially on Sundays when everyone is winding down from the weekend. Here are 20 easy dinner ideas that are quick to prepare and sure to please everyone at the table. From simple pasta dishes to hearty roasts, these meals will help you enjoy quality time together without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Creamy Chicken Pasta with Red Wine & Mushrooms

    Red wine chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Creamy Chicken Pasta is ready in just 30 minutes and is always a hit. With rich flavors from red wine, mushrooms, and thyme, it's a simple dinner that's great for leftovers the next day.

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    Air Fryer T-Bone Steak with Homemade Garlic Butter

    T-bone steak with garlic butter.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Juicy T-bone steaks come out perfectly in the air fryer, making dinner a breeze. Pair them with homemade garlic butter or your favorite sauce for a satisfying family meal.

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    Juicy Slow Cooker Corned Beef

    Juicy Slow Cooker Corned Beef.
    Photo Credit: The Kitchen Girl.

    This is an easy way to prepare a classic corned beef and cabbage dinner. Cooking it slowly makes the meat really tender and flavorful.

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    Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup

    Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    This Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup is perfect for a cozy family dinner. It's packed with tender beef, fresh vegetables, and hearty barley, making it a filling meal for everyone.

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    Easy Meatball Sandwich

    Meatball sandwiches on a plate.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This meatball sandwich is a quick and easy dinner that your family will love. In just 30 minutes, you can have a delicious meal on the table.

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    Slow Cooker Steak, Potatoes, and Corn

    Slow Cooker Steak, Potatoes, and Corn
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow cooker.

    Steak bites, potatoes, and corn all cook together in a slow cooker with a tasty garlic butter sauce. This is a great meal for family dinners.

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    Creamy Steak and Potato Soup

    Creamy Steak and Potato Soup.
    Photo Credit: Delicious Little Bites.

    This dish features tender beef and potatoes in a creamy, cheesy broth, making it a filling meal. It's perfect for keeping everyone cozy and satisfied on chilly evenings.

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    Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

    Slow Cooker Pepper Steak.
    Photo Credit: The Short Order Cook.

    Tender beef and bell peppers cooked in a flavorful sauce is a great addition to your dinner plans. This simple dish has Asian flavors and pairs perfectly with rice for a satisfying meal.

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    Slow Cooker Goulash

    Slow Cooker Goulash.
    Photo Credit: Somebody Feed Seb.

    This Slow Cooker Goulash is a filling meal with tender beef in a tasty tomato sauce. It's great for busy weeknights since it requires little prep and cooks itself while you go about your day.

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    Spinach Lasagna

    Spinach lasagna with tomato sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This vegetarian lasagna version is so loaded with good stuff like sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and cheese that no one will even think about the meat. Easy to make, delicious to eat!

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Steak Pasta Casserole

    Steak pasta casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish features a creamy steak and mushroom pasta paired with a cheesy casserole. It's a cozy and elegant dinner that you can whip up in just 45 minutes, all in one pan to keep cleanup easy.

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    Air Fryer Roast Beef

    Sliced roast beef.
    Photo credit: alwaysusebutter.com.

    This Air Fryer Roast Beef is a simple and delicious option for a family dinner that can be ready in just 50 minutes. With a flavorful herby crust and a juicy, tender center, it's sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers

    Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers without Rice
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Stuffed peppers are a quick and tasty option for Sunday dinner, ready in just 45 minutes. Packed with Tex-Mex flavors and topped with cheese, they're great on their own or paired with tortilla chips.

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    Chicken Stuffed with Feta Cheese

    Feta stuffed chicken.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Chicken filets topped with Feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil create a delicious meal that everyone will enjoy. This is a great option for a family Sunday dinner.

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    Penne Pomodoro

    A bowl with penne pomodoro (pasta with basil tomato sauce).
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Make Penne Pomodoro from scratch in just 20 minutes with a perfectly balanced tomato-basil sauce. Quick, easy, and everyone loves it!

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    Massaman Chicken Curry

    A bowl of massaman chicken curry.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Massaman Chicken Curry is a simple one-pot meal that comes together in about 45 minutes with the help of store-bought curry paste. It's creamy and slightly sweet, featuring chicken, potatoes, and peanuts, making it a great choice for family dinners.

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    Duck With Orange Sauce

    Duck Breasts with Orange Sauce
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    Duck breasts with orange sauce is a fantastic dish that combines sweet and tangy flavors. This is a great option for family dinners, and it's surprisingly simple to prepare, making it easy to get ready in advance.

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    Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

    Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.
    Photo Credit: 4 Sons R Us.

    Slow cooker whole chicken is a simple way to enjoy a delicious roast chicken any night of the week. Just set it up and let it cook, giving you a warm and comforting dinner with minimal effort.

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    Tuscan Chicken Bake

    Tuscan chicken bake.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    The Tuscan chicken bake is a creamy and cheesy dish loaded with flavor. Featuring chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach mixed with pasta in a rich coconut milk and cheese sauce, this is a good dinner for busy nights or a cozy weekend meal.

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    Creamy Coconut Lentil Soup

    A bowl of coconut lentil soup topped with chili flakes and cilantro.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This simple soup is creamy, warming, and ready in under 30 minutes - whether made on the stove top or in your instant pot. Despite being so simple to make, it has amazing flavor from coconut milk, ginger and garlic, and is perfect for quick and cozy weeknight dinners.

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    Pork Chops with Red Wine & Mushrooms

    Cast iron skillet pork chops.
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    These Cast Iron Pork Chops are juicy and full of flavor, ready in just 25 minutes. With garlic, mushrooms, and thyme, they are seared and simmered in red wine for a satisfying dinner.

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    Instant Pot Bolognese

    A bowl of instant pot bolognese served over pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot bolognese is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic pasta sauce. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have a rich and hearty meal ready in no time.

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    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

    Baked lamb chops with veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet pan meal is a simple way to enjoy lamb without the stress of overcooking it. The lamb chops cook in the flavorful juices from the vegetables, resulting in tender meat that everyone will love.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Chicken thigh tray bake.
      22 Dump-and-Go Meals So Good You'll Forget How Easy They Were to Make
    • Stuffed peppers.
      27 Summer Slow Cooker Dinners That Keep Your Kitchen Cool
    • 22 Impressive Father's Day Dinners That Are Easier Than They Look
    • Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
      14 Go-To Dinners I Come Back to Again and Again

    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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