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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Cheap Easy Dinners for When You’re Too Tired to Cook

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on September 20, 2025, updated August 27, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    After a long day, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. Here are 22 simple and budget-friendly dinner ideas that require minimal effort but still deliver on flavor. These meals are perfect for those nights when you just want something quick and satisfying.

    Vegetable Korma

    A bowl of vegetable korma.
    Photo credit: My Pure Plants.

    This korma is packed with chickpeas, carrots, green peas, potatoes, green beans, and mushrooms. It's a hearty dish that everyone will want to have more of. Perfect for a cozy dinner, this meal is both satisfying and easy to prepare.

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    Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili

    Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Fall is the perfect time to enjoy pumpkin, and this Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chili is a great way to do just that. It features pumpkin puree and a hint of pumpkin spice, bringing a warm and cozy flavor to your meal. This dish is simple to prepare and perfect for busy nights when you want something comforting without a lot of work.

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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.

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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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    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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    Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin

    Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Au Gratin.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This recipe is a great option for a filling meal. With tender Russet potatoes, ground beef, and straightforward flavors, it's sure to be a hit with the family. It's an easy dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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    Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

    Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Pasta is a creamy dish packed with flavor. Using Olive Garden Italian Dressing adds a delicious twist that makes this meal stand out. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something tasty without a lot of work.

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    Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

    Crockpot chicken salsa topped with avocados.
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    This dish features healthy, tasty, and super tender chicken that you can easily prepare in the Crock Pot. It's perfect for busy nights, family gatherings, or when you want to get ahead on meal prep.

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    Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken and Rice Casserole

    Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken and Rice Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting and filling meal. It's packed with flavor and is perfect for busy nights when you want something easy to prepare. Just throw everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you. This dish combines chicken, rice, and a creamy sauce for a satisfying dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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    Slow Cooker Land Your Man Baked Beans

    Slow Cooker Land Your Man Baked Beans.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This easy meal features hearty ingredients like ground beef, bell peppers, and onions. The real magic comes from the seasonings that bring everything together and give the dish its unique flavor. It's a simple yet satisfying option that can be enjoyed any night of the week.

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    Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta

    Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Savory Experiments.

    Garlic Parmesan Linguine is a super simple dish that's perfect for dinner. It's so easy to make that even grandmothers might raise an eyebrow, but that's alright. This meal is quick to whip up and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Creamy Broccoli Pasta

    Broccoli pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta is packed with vegetables, making it a healthier option that everyone will enjoy. It's a simple and satisfying meal that brings together fresh ingredients in a delicious way. Perfect for busy nights, this dish is easy to prepare and full of flavor.

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    Chickpea Gyros

    Chickpea Gyros.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Chickpea gyros are a simple vegetarian dinner that you can whip up in just 10 minutes on the stovetop, with only a few minutes needed for prep. This means you can come home and be enjoying your meal in about 15 minutes. It's a quick and satisfying option for busy evenings.

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    Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

    Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    This dish features tender, shredded Italian beef mixed with pepperoncini, all piled onto warm sandwich rolls topped with melted provolone cheese. It's a comforting meal that comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy nights. With just a little bit of prep, you can enjoy these delicious sandwiches without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Turkey Chili with Wild Rice

    Turkey Chili with Wild Rice
    Photo Credit: Tried and True Recipe.

    Turkey chili with wild rice is a hearty dish that will keep you feeling full for a long time. It's simple to prepare and packed with nutritious ingredients. This meal is perfect for busy nights when you want something comforting without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Thai Red Curry Fried Rice

    Fried rice with curry.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Thai Curry Fried Rice is a quick and simple meal that you can whip up at home in just 15 minutes, including prep time. It features genuine Thai flavors from ingredients like fish sauce, Thai curry paste, cashew nuts, lime, and cilantro. If you like a bit of heat, you can easily add some Sriracha sauce to spice things up.

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    Green Chili Soup

    Green Chili Soup.
    Photo Credit: Evergreen Kitchen.

    This vegan Green Chili Soup is a quick and tasty meal that comes together in just 30 minutes. With ingredients like salsa verde, beans, and rice, it's full of flavor. You can add toppings like crushed tortilla chips, pickled onions, avocado, and sour cream, or simply enjoy it on its own.

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    Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup

    Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup is a hearty dish packed with beans and brown rice, all seasoned with flavorful spices and enchilada sauce. It's a comforting meal that comes together easily, perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without a lot of work. This soup is great for feeding the family and can be enjoyed any day of the week.

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    American Goulash

    American Goulash
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    American Goulash is a simple, one-pot dish that combines ground beef, tomatoes, and macaroni noodles. It's a classic comfort food that's great any time of the year and often tastes even better the next day. This dish is perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty and satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

    Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup.
    Photo Credit: Salted Mint.

    This creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a comforting blend of tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, and hearty wild rice in a rich, creamy broth. Perfect for chilly days, this easy-to-make soup will quickly become a family favorite.

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    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: Savory Experiments.

    Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs offers the deliciousness of a homemade pasta meal in just about 10 minutes. This dish combines tender meatballs and perfectly cooked spaghetti, making it a quick and satisfying option for dinner. It's a great choice for busy evenings when you want something hearty without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

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    Garlic Lemon Gemelli

    Gemelli Garlic Lemon Pasta.
    Photo credit: The Fresh Cooky.

    This dish comes together in under 30 minutes and is sure to please everyone at the table. With a bright garlic and lemon flavor, it's a simple yet satisfying meal that will have your family asking for more. Perfect for busy nights, this pasta is a quick and tasty option that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      26 Dump-And-Go Recipes You’ll Want to Try This Week
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      19 Hearty Dinner Casseroles That Keep You Warm and Cozy
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      26 Top Rated Dump-and-Cook Dinners You Can Make in a Snap
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      18 Quick and Easy Pasta Dinners You Can Set and Forget

    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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