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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    Simplify Your Summer Nights with These 20 Set-It-and-Forget-It Dinners

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on August 10, 2025, updated July 15, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer nights can be busy, and the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. These 20 easy dinners let you set everything up and walk away, so you can enjoy your evenings without the hassle of cooking. From slow-cooked meals to simple sheet pan recipes, these ideas will keep your evenings relaxed and delicious.

    Slow Cooker Dry Rub Ribs

    Slow Cooker Dry Rub Ribs.
    Photo Credit: Sweet Caramel Sunday.

    Slow Cooker Dry Rub Ribs are incredibly tasty. With a flavorful dry rub and a long, slow cook, these ribs turn out tender and packed with flavor. After cooking, a quick grill with some sauce adds a nice finish. This dish is perfect for satisfying your meat cravings any time.

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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. With just a little chopping at the beginning, you can let it cook on its own while you take care of other things. It combines chicken, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce all in one pan, making cleanup a breeze.

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    Cajun Chicken Foil Packs

    Cajun Chicken Foil Packets.
    Photo credit: Camp Grill Eat.

    Foil packets are a simple way to enjoy a meal on the grill, featuring tender boneless chicken thighs along with colorful sliced peppers and onions, all seasoned with Cajun spices. This meal is quick to prepare and cooks up in just 30 minutes, making it a great option for summer dinners. Plus, cleanup is a breeze since everything is cooked in the packets.

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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 a relaxed dinner, allowing you to focus on other things while it cooks.

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    Mississippi Chicken

    Mississippi Chicken
    Photo Credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

    Mississippi Chicken is a super simple dish to prepare in a crockpot. With just five easy ingredients, it packs a lot of flavor and is sure to please everyone. This recipe is perfect for those busy evenings when you want a tasty meal without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Serve it over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice for a satisfying dinner.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein

    Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Slow Cooker Chicken Chow Mein is a great way to enjoy a homemade meal without spending too much time in the kitchen. This dish combines tender chicken with fresh vegetables and a tasty chow mein sauce that’s simple to prepare. It’s a fantastic option for a cozy dinner at home, offering a satisfying alternative to takeout.

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    Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Drumsticks.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Chicken drumsticks are a delicious option, especially when you use a slow cooker. This dish is coated in a sweet and tangy pineapple barbecue glaze that really enhances the flavor of the chicken. It's easy to put together and will be ready in just a few hours, making it ideal for a relaxed meal. With very little work involved, you can enjoy a hearty dinner without having to spend all day cooking.

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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. The outside has a flavorful herby crust, while the inside stays juicy and tender. With just a handful of easy ingredients, this dish is perfect for a family meal.

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    Cast-Iron Roast Chicken

    Cast-Iron Roast Chicken.
    Photo Credit: My Chef's Apron.

    This roast chicken is juicy and has a nice golden-brown color, with flavorful pan juices made from garlic and olive oil. Stuffed with creamy Brie, it’s a great choice for family dinners and special occasions. It's simple to prepare and will impress everyone at the table.

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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 prepped in about five minutes and on the table in under forty. It's perfect for those warm summer evenings when you want a quick and satisfying meal.

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    Buffalo Chicken Chili

    Buffalo Chicken Chili (Slow Cooker)
    Photo Credit: The Nessy Kitchen.

    This slow cooker buffalo chicken chili is a breeze to prepare and is ideal for busy weekdays or game days. Using just a handful of simple ingredients, it blends the classic tastes of chili with the spicy kick of buffalo wings. It’s sure to become a go-to recipe for your family.

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    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Cowboy baked beans are an easy and delicious meal to whip up. All you need is a big can of baked beans, some lean ground beef, a sweet yellow onion, and a few seasonings to bring it all together. This dish is great for gatherings or a relaxed dinner at home.

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    Crock-Pot Honey Bourbon Steak Tips

    Honey Bourbon Steak Tips (Crock-Pot)
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    Honey Bourbon Steak Tips are cooked slowly in the crockpot, resulting in tender and juicy pieces of meat. They are covered in a tasty sweet and savory sauce that adds a lot of flavor. This dish is perfect for summer dinners when you want something easy and satisfying.

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    Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Chicken tortillas soup.
    Photo credit: Peas and Crayons.

    This 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. Just toss everything in the crock-pot and let it do the work for you.

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    Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Eating.

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef is a simple and convenient dinner option. This dish results in tender barbecue beef with very little preparation needed. It's perfect for those busy summer evenings when you want a hearty meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken

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

    Slow cooker pineapple chicken combines tender chicken with bell peppers, onion, and garlic in a delicious pineapple sauce. This dish brings a sweet and savory flavor that’s perfect for summer dinners. It’s an easy way to enjoy a tropical meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs

    Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs.
    Photo Credit: My Chef's Apron.

    Ribs are rubbed with a perfect spice blend and cooked in the slow cooker until deliciously tender. A flavorful family dinner idea that you can easily pair with any vegetable side dish.

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    Baked BBQ Chicken

    Baked BBQ Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    This chicken recipe is ideal for a quick weeknight meal. The chicken thighs turn out tender and juicy, covered in a tasty glaze that everyone will enjoy. It's a simple dish that brings great flavor without taking up too much of your time.

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    Crockpot Steak Bites

    Crockpot Steak Bites
    Photo Credit: Easy Family Recipes.

    Crockpot Steak Bites are a fantastic way to enjoy affordable cuts of beef. Each piece turns out tender and juicy, with a rich, flavorful sauce that's perfect for dipping with some crusty bread. This slow cooker meal is super simple to prepare, needing just a few minutes of your time. It's a great option for busy evenings when you want a hearty dinner without much effort.

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    Beanies and Weenies

    Beanies and Weenies.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    Using just two ingredients and a slow cooker, you can whip up a classic meal that brings back memories. Beanies and Weenies are perfect for a camping trip or a cozy family dinner at home.

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    More Recipe Roundups

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      17 Simple Family Dinners You Can Just Dump and Forget
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      24 Easy Crockpot Recipes You’ll Want to Make All the Time
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      23 Must-Have Southern Potluck Dishes for Every Occasion
    • A spoonful of cheesy tortellini casserole.
      24 Casseroles So Good, You'll Forget They're Easy to Make

    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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