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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    26 Easy Gourmet Meals You Can Set and Forget

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated December 9, 2025 · Published January 2, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    Cooking can sometimes feel like a chore, especially after a long day. These 25 hands-off gourmet recipes are perfect for those who want to enjoy delicious meals without spending hours in the kitchen. With minimal prep and cooking time, you can create delicious dishes that will impress your family and friends.

    Ground Beef, Onion and Potato Hotpot

    Minced Beef, Onion and Potato Hotpot.
    Photo Credit: Krumpli.

    This ground beef hotpot is a hearty dish that combines a savory beef stew with layers of sliced onions and creamy scalloped potatoes. It's a comforting meal that's perfect for chilly evenings.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo

    Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This s the perfect dish to add variety to your dinner rotation. The classic sauce has soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and tangy vinegar and goes perfect over rice with steamed vegetables. Elegant and comforting all at once!

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    Vegetarian Ravioli Bake

    Ravioli bake.
    Image credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This is a comforting dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It's so cheesy and packed with flavor!

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    Spicy Baked Salmon

    Spicy Baked Salmon.
    Photo credit: Sims Home Kitchen.

    This baked salmon is fresh and full of flavor. It comes together in under 30 minutes and pairs perfectly with potatoes, veggies, or a salad.

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    Crockpot Steak Bites with Mushrooms

    Crockpot Steak Bites with Mushrooms
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    Crockpot Steak Bites with mushrooms are packed with flavor, featuring beef broth, butter, onion, garlic, beef, and mushrooms. Simply toss everything into the slow cooker for a tasty meal.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Tilapia

    Baked tilapia.
    Photo credit: Organically Addison.

    Baked tilapia is a simple and tasty dish that you can whip up in just 15 minutes. It's juicy and full of flavor, perfect for a quick dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Roast Beef

    Sliced roast beef.
    Photo credit: alwaysusebutter.com.

    This Air Fryer Roast Beef is a simple and delicious dinner that your family will enjoy. With a flavorful herby crust and a juicy, tender center, it comes together with just a few easy ingredients.

    Get the recipe

    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked Mac and Cheese is super simple to prepare. In just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven, you can enjoy a delicious one-pan dish loaded with Cheddar and Gruyere cheese.

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    Pesto Salmon

    Pesto salmon on a serving platter.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Pesto Salmon is ready in just 15 minutes and is a great option for busy evenings. Topped with a mix of Greek yogurt and pesto, this baked salmon is simple to make and packed with flavor.

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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 pantry ingredients, you can whip up a rich and hearty meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

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    Lemon Pepper Salmon

    Baked lemon pepper salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon recipe is incredibly simple, using just three ingredients. It's a great option for a quick and easy dinner.

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    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

    sun-dried tomato pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features cheesy chicken and pasta packed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, creating a hearty and satisfying meal. It's simple to prepare, making it perfect for a cozy dinner.

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    Firecracker Salmon

    Firecracker salmon on a teal plate.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Firecracker Salmon is a quick and easy dinner that you can whip up in just 15 minutes. With its spicy and tangy sauce, this dish is sure to impress everyone at the table.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will definitely provide leftovers. It's a satisfying option for dinner that doesn't require much effort.

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    Bacon Wrapped Salmon with Garlic Butter

    Bacon wrapped salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Salmon filets are topped with garlic butter and wrapped in bacon for a tasty dish everyone will enjoy. This is a great meal for family dinners.

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    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

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

    This sheet pan meal lets you enjoy lamb without the stress of overcooking it. The lamb chops cook in the flavorful juices from the veggies, resulting in tender meat that's very delicious.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare and ready in under an hour. It's packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, making it a tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Teriyaki Salmon

    Teriyaki salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Using store-bought teriyaki sauce or making your own, this easy salmon dish is sure to impress. It's a simple way to enjoy a delicious meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Slow Cooker Steak Chili

    Slow Cooker Steak Chili
    Photo Credit: neighbor food blog.

    Slow Cooker Steak Chili is a classic dish that everyone will enjoy. It features a rich tomato sauce filled with two types of beans, flavorful spices, and tender pieces of steak.

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    Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies

    Sheet pan sausage and veggies.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This sheet pan dinner is super easy and tasty. With garlic and herbs, everything cooks up nicely in the oven and is ready in under 30 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Crock Pot Vegetable Tortellini Soup

    Vegetable Tortellini Soup in Crockpot
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    This creamy Tortellini Soup is a simple slow cooker dish packed with fresh green veggies. With just a few easy ingredients and minimal prep time, it's perfect for a cozy dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Vegetarian Gnocchi Bake

    Baked gnocchi.
    Image credit: Katie Trant.

    This is a simple and delicious way to enjoy comfort food. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without putting in a lot of work.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Fettucine Alfredo

    A bowl of fettuccini alfredo.
    Photo credit: Piping Pot Curry.

    This pasta dish is creamy, rich, and incredibly tasty. It's a simple one-pot meal that does most of the work for you.

    Get the recipe

    Mediterranean Salmon

    Mediterranean Salmon.
    Photo credit: Hungry Healthy Happy.

    This dish combines Mediterranean flavors with salmon fillets for a simple meal that comes together in under 20 minutes. It's perfect for salads, sandwiches, or served alongside roasted garlic potatoes.

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    Easy Wonton Soup

    Wonton soup.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This Wonton Soup is quick and simple to prepare, using frozen wontons and mostly pre-chopped veggies. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something warm and satisfying.

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    Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese

    Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese.
    Photo credit: The Littlest Crumb.

    Creamy goat cheese mac and cheese is a tasty twist on the classic comfort dish. The macaroni is smothered in a rich goat cheese sauce with herbs and finished with a crunchy layer of bread crumbs and parmesan.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • An air fried rib eye steak.
      18 Sizzling Steak Recipes You Can Make Any Night of the Week
    • Steak bites.
      23 Low-Effort Date Night Meals That Still Feel Special
    • Goulash.
      20 Easy High-Protein Meals for When You’re Short on Time
    • Lazy lasagna.
      15 Easy Dump-and-Go Dinners for Effortless Evenings

    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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