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Home » Trending

18 Dinner Recipes That Make Weeknights Feel Like a Treat

Published: Dec 6, 2025 by Janelle This post may contain affiliate links - read my disclaimer for full details... Leave a Comment

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Weeknight dinners don’t have to be sad or rushed—these 18 recipes prove it. From sizzling skillets and saucy comfort foods to cozy, hearty bowls, each dish brings bold flavor, fun textures, and a little culinary mischief. Quick enough for busy nights but delicious enough to impress, these dinners make your evenings something to actually look forward to.

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole. Photo credit: From Ice Cream To Steak.

Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole is the ultimate comfort food for busy days! Just toss everything in and let your slow cooker do the work. With seasoned beef, tender potatoes, sweet corn, a creamy sauce, and plenty of melted cheese, you’ll have a hearty, cozy meal that the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole

Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Green Beans & Corn

Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Green Beans & Corn
. Photo credit: Lara Clevenger.

This easy sheet pan dinner brings together juicy chicken thighs, tender potatoes, crisp green beans, and sweet corn for a hearty, flavor-packed meal. Everything roasts together on one pan, making cleanup a breeze while delivering a perfect balance of savory, fresh, and comforting flavors. It’s a weeknight winner you’ll want on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Green Beans & Corn

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff. Photo credit: From Ice Cream To Steak.

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff is a rich, comforting dish that combines tender strips of beef with a creamy, savory mushroom sauce. Served over egg noodles, rice, or even mashed potatoes, this classic recipe offers a satisfying balance of protein and carbs in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo

A picture of cabbage sausage white plate wooden fork.
Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo! This easy skillet meal combines cabbage noodles, Italian sausage, and creamy Alfredo sauce for a tasty dish your whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Chicken tater tot casserole with a spoon in a casserole dish ready to be served.
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Chicken Tater Tot Casserole is a cozy, comforting dish that’s ready in under an hour—perfect for any day of the week!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Slow Cooker Pork Chops & Vegetables

A plate of cooked steak garnished with herbs, served with roasted potatoes, mushrooms, carrots, onions, and covered in a brown sauce. A fork is placed on the right side of the plate.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops & Vegetables. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

Enjoy a hassle-free dinner with these Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Vegetables! Fork-tender chops, cooked in a crock pot, are perfectly coated in a savory mushroom and onion gravy—making this meal a family favorite.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Chops & Vegetables

One Pot Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff

A close-up of a pot of beef stroganoff with wide egg noodles being scooped by a spoon, showcasing one of our 14 easy dinner recipes. The dish is garnished with parsley.
One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

Enjoy a hassle-free dinner with these Slow Cooker Pork Chops and Vegetables! Fork-tender chops, cooked in a crock pot, are perfectly coated in a savory mushroom and onion gravy—making this meal a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Ground Beef Stroganoff

Tuscan Smothered Pork Chops

A spoonful of creamy vegetable stew with visible carrots, herbs, and a rich sauce highlights the simplicity of 10 skillet meals enjoyed any night of the week.
Easy Tuscan Smothered Pork Chops. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

Add some Italian charm to your Southern comfort food with these Tuscan Smothered Pork Chops! The quick brine keeps the chops tender, and the creamy Parmesan gravy, with onions, tomatoes, and spinach, will have your family craving this meal weekly.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Smothered Pork Chops

20-Minute Instant Pot Spicy Chicken Ramen

A hand holding a bowl of ramen topped with sliced mushrooms, carrots, soft-boiled eggs, green onions, and cilantro, with a drizzle of sauce and chopsticks on the side. Ingredients surround the bowl in one of these 10 no-fuss bowls.
20-Minute Instant Pot Spicy Chicken Ramen. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

This Instant Pot Spicy Chicken Ramen is a 20-minute winner for your weeknight dinner! A spicy broth, tender chicken, and crunchy veggies come together for a flavorful, comforting, and healthy meal.
Get the Recipe: 20-Minute Instant Pot Spicy Chicken Ramen

Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken

A dish of braised chicken, enhanced with 12 onion pieces, served with various small potatoes and garnished with herbs in a white bowl.
Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

Comfort food at its best, this Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken is a crowd-pleaser! With tender chicken, caramelized onions, baby potatoes, and rich Gruyere cheese, this one-pot meal is perfect for your family’s dinner rotation.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken

Instant Pot Carnitas Tacos

Three tacos filled with shredded meat, slices of avocado, radishes, and other vegetables on a wooden board, garnished with lime wedges and served alongside a bowl of corn salsa.
Instant Pot Carnitas Tacos. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

Spice up your Taco Tuesday with these Instant Pot Carnitas Tacos! In just an hour, you’ll enjoy tender, garlic and citrus-infused pulled pork for the most flavorful tacos around.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Carnitas Tacos

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese

Bowl of pasta with creamy sauce, garnished with chopped green onions and drizzled with a dark sauce. A fork is in the bowl, making it one of the top 10 instant pot recipes for quick and delicious meals.
Instant Pot BBQ Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

Add something extra to your next cookout with BBQ Chicken Mac and Cheese! Made in your Instant Pot in just 30 minutes, this creamy, cheesy pasta with leftover grilled chicken is a flavorful twist on a classic side dish.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot BBQ Mac and Cheese

Chicken Tikka Masala

In this delectable recipe, a black bowl contains rice topped with chunks of meat in a creamy orange curry sauce, garnished with cilantro. A piece of naan bread sits on the side, all presented on a dark surface.
Chicken Tikka Masala. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

Why order takeout when you can make this Chicken Tikka Masala in your kitchen? Tender, spiced chicken in a creamy tomato sauce with ginger, garlic, and Indian spices—perfect for enjoying with naan on a chilly evening.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala

Tender Marinated London Broil Recipe

Slices of medium-rare beef steak being drizzled with a dark sauce, displayed on a wooden cutting board with a knife in the background.
Tender Marinated London Broil Recipe. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

This Marinated London Broil is all about perfect timing! A day in a simple balsamic-wine marinade transforms it into a tender, flavorful dish that cooks up in no time—ideal for any dinner.
Get the Recipe: Tender Marinated London Broil

Easy Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut

A blue ceramic dish filled with a sauerkraut and sausage casserole is shown, featuring chunks of sausage, pieces of meat, and garnishes—an ideal recipe for 10 instant pot dinners. Two bowls of the same dish are in the background.
Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut. Photo Credit: The Crumby Kitchen.

This Pork and Sauerkraut recipe isn’t just for New Year’s—it’s perfect for cozy winter meals! Savory, low-carb, and full of flavor from kraut-infused pork and kielbasa, it’s easy to make in the Instant Pot, oven, or slow cooker.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Pork and Sauerkraut

Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole

A baked casserole dish filled with a cheesy, golden-brown lasagna garnished with fresh parsley leaves, just one of the 21 addictive casseroles you need to try.
Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

A creamy, cheesy dinner everyone will love, this Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole with bacon, ranch, and broccoli is quick to prepare and will become your family’s new favorite one-pot meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole

Meatball Pasta Bake

A casserole dish with meatballs and pasta.
Meatball Pasta Bake. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

Want a hassle-free meal? This easy meatball casserole is your answer! Toss everything into one pan, give it a stir, and bake for a deliciously simple dinner.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Pasta Bake

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

Chicken enchilada casserole with corn and jalapenos.
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole is the perfect blend of comfort food and a spicy kick. Flavor-packed and versatile, this dish is sure to satisfy cravings for something bold and comforting.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

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Hi, I’m Lara, a Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer with a passion for food and travel.

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