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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    Set It and Forget It: The Ultimate Guide to Easy Weeknight Meals

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 31, 2025, updated June 25, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Busy weeknights can make cooking feel like a chore, but with the right recipes, you can whip up delicious meals in no time. This guide offers simple and satisfying dishes that require minimal effort, allowing you to enjoy home-cooked food without the stress. From one-pot wonders to slow cooker favorites, these easy weeknight meals will help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your loved ones.

    Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup

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

    Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup is a go-to dish for busy days. It combines chicken, potatoes, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese, all mixed with a good amount of buffalo sauce. This hearty soup is perfect for when you want something comforting without putting in a lot of effort.

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    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This tortellini casserole is perfect for anyone who loves cheese and pasta. It combines two delicious cheeses, including a zesty Gorgonzola, and adds a nice crunch with walnuts. Ready in under 40 minutes, it’s a simple and satisfying meal that doesn’t require much effort.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

    Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu.
    Photo Credit: Slow Cooker Meals.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu is an easy dinner option that even picky eaters will enjoy. With layers of ham, cheese, and chicken, it’s a comforting meal that comes together effortlessly. This dish is one of the simplest and most delicious casseroles you can prepare in a crock pot.

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    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This dish features tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and fluffy buttermilk biscuit dumplings all simmered in a rich, creamy broth. It's a comforting meal that's simple to put together, perfect for when you're feeling tired. Just let everything cook together, and you'll have a satisfying dinner ready to enjoy.

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    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something simple and delicious. With just a little chopping at the beginning, you can let everything cook together in one pan. It features chicken, veggies, and a flavorful sauce that all blend nicely, making cleanup a breeze.

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    Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

    Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup.
    Photo Credit: Simple Everyday Recipes.

    Creamy chicken and rice soup is easy to prepare and comforting on chilly nights. It combines carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, chicken, and rice, all seasoned perfectly and finished with a touch of cream. This soup is a great choice for dinner, especially when served alongside grilled cheese or some crusty bread.

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    Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake

    Chicken broccoli bake on a white dish.
    Photo Credit: From Valerie's Kitchen.

    This chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is super easy to prepare and everything cooks together in one dish. It's perfect for days when you don't have much energy or time to spend in the kitchen. Just mix the ingredients, pop it in the oven, and let it do its thing. This is a great option for a simple and satisfying meal.

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    One Pan Falafel Bake

    Falafel bake on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This one pan dinner is easy to prepare and packed with flavor. With premade falafel, beans, tomatoes, kale, and a cheesy topping, it creates a cozy vegetarian casserole that you'll want to make time and time again.

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    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying. It's the kind of comfort food that hits the spot when you just want something warm and filling. Perfect for days when you don't feel like putting in a lot of effort, this recipe delivers great flavor with minimal work.

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    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

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

    This sheet pan meal offers a simple way to enjoy lamb without the stress of overcooking. The lamb chops roast in the flavorful juices from the vegetables, resulting in tender meat that’s full of flavor. It’s a great option for when you want a delicious dinner with minimal effort.

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    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    This cheesy ravioli casserole is one of the simplest dishes you can make. With just four simple ingredients and store-bought shortcuts, you can prep this dish in 5 minutes, and eat in under 40!
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish is incredibly easy to prepare. With just four basic ingredients and some ready-made options, you can have it ready in about 5 minutes and on the table in under 40. It's perfect for those days when you don't want to spend a lot of time cooking.

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    Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken and Red Potatoes

    Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken and Red Potatoes.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    A slow cooker is a great way to whip up a baked ranch chicken meal that your family will love. With only five ingredients, this dish is simple and perfect for busy weeknights. It combines chicken and potatoes for a satisfying meal that requires 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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    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. It's a hearty meal that comes together quickly and easily, perfect for when you want something comforting without putting in a lot of effort. Enjoy a satisfying dinner that hits the spot.

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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 great way to save time while still enjoying a delicious meal. It’s a hearty pasta sauce that captures all the classic flavors, but you can whip it up quickly using simple ingredients you probably already have at home. Perfect for those nights when you just want something comforting without spending hours in the kitchen.

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    Baked Cod in Foil

    A foil pack with cod and potatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These baked cod packs are super easy to prepare, taking only 5 minutes of your time. They combine cod, tomatoes, potatoes, and lemon for a complete meal all in one package. Using frozen cod helps ensure the fish stays perfectly cooked, so you don’t have to worry about it getting overdone.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup

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

    This chicken gnocchi soup is a comforting dish inspired by the classic Olive Garden recipe, filled with rich herbal flavors and tender chicken. It's simple to prepare in a slow cooker, allowing you to enjoy a delicious meal without much effort. Skip the trip to the restaurant and whip this up at home for a meal that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    One Pot Burrito Bowl

    One Pot Burrito Bowl Recipe
    Photo Credit: I Heart Nap Time.

    These Mexican burrito bowls are simple to prepare and packed with flavor, all made in one pot in just 30 minutes. Cleanup is quick and easy, so you can enjoy your meal without the stress. This is a great option for busy nights when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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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 dinner option that takes only 50 minutes to prepare. With a flavorful herby crust on the outside and a juicy, tender center, it's sure to please everyone at the table. You only need a few basic ingredients to whip this up, making it an easy choice for a satisfying meal.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, creating a hearty meal that will definitely fill you up. It's perfect for when you're too tired to think about what to make for dinner. Plus, you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Stuffed pepper soup is a comforting dish that brings all the flavors you love in stuffed peppers into a warm bowl. It's perfect for a filling meal, especially when topped with cheese and served with some breadsticks. This soup is satisfying and easy to enjoy, making it a great choice for a cozy dinner.

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    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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