These easy dinner ideas take the stress out of mealtimes, letting you enjoy delicious, healthy meals without the hassle.
With minimal prep and fewer dishes to wash, you’ll have more time to spend with your family and less time stuck in the kitchen.
I love making these recipes for my daughters because they enjoy them, but these meals also make weeknight meals a breeze when we’re so busy.
It’s such a relief to have simple, go-to dinners that everyone loves and that fit into our busy schedules.
Read on for 35 easy dinner ideas that will simplify your evenings and keep your family happy, too!
Key Takeaways: Easy Dinner Ideas For Busy Moms
- Easy dinner solutions: I’ve put together quick and stress-free dinner ideas for us busy moms, focusing on slow cooker meals, sheet pan dinners, and one-pot dishes.
- Slow cooker meals: I love how slow cooker recipes allow me to prep in the morning and come home to a ready-to-eat, hearty meal without much effort.
- Sheet pan dinners: These one-pan meals are my go-to when I need something quick and easy, with minimal dishes and clean-up and no time standing at the stovetop.
- One-pot dishes: I always appreciate a good one-pot meal that saves me time and leaves fewer dishes to wash while still delivering a flavorful dinner my family loves.
- Family-friendly recipes: The recipes I’ve shared are all kid-approved, making it easier to get a meal on the table that everyone will enjoy without stress.
Slow Cooker Meals
1. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Slow-cooked pulled pork sandwiches are a great choice for a casual family dinner. Just add coleslaw and your favorite sides, and you’ve got a meal the whole family will love.
2. Slow Cooker Chili
My simple slow cooker chili is packed with beans, ground beef, and spices for a hearty dinner. It’s perfect for busy days when you want to come home to a warm meal. My husband loves adding extra cheese on top, and I’m happy to do it!
3. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Chicken tacos are always a crowd-pleaser, especially when the chicken is cooked into tender pieces in a slow cooker. Serve your tacos with your favorite toppings like sour cream, guacamole, and salsa, and let your kids customize their tacos!
4. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Creamy, comforting beef stroganoff is a family favorite that comes together effortlessly in the slow cooker. We serve it over egg noodles for a dinner everyone will enjoy—even picky eaters can’t resist!
5. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
My honey garlic chicken slow cooker recipe has the perfect blend of sweet and savory. Serve it over rice for a dinner that always gets rave reviews.
6. Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Skip takeout and make this slow cooker beef and broccoli at home. It’s flavorful, tender, and so much better than anything you can order!
7. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
This creamy white chicken chili is a warm, hearty dish packed with flavor. What’s even better, my slow cooker does all the work! It’s a perfect comfort food that our family loves, and the kids enjoy eating it with tortilla chips.
8. Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Comfort food at its finest, chicken and dumplings made in the slow cooker is a must-try. My family can’t get enough of this cozy meal!
9. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This slow cooker beef stew is hearty, comforting, and packed with tender meat and veggies. It’s a family favorite in our home, especially on chilly nights.
10. Slow Cooker Meatballs (For Pasta or Subs!)
Juicy meatballs simmering in marinara sauce in the slow cooker make for the best meatball subs and spaghetti recipes. Add some melted cheese, and you’re all set for either dish!
11. Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
Tender, fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs made in the slow cooker are always a hit. Serve with coleslaw and cornbread for a complete meal.
12. Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Chicken curry from the slow cooker is rich, flavorful, and easy to make. Serve it with jasmine rice or garlic naan bread for a comforting, satisfying meal.
13. Slow Cooker Carnitas
My slow-cooker carnitas are juicy and flavorful, perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls. Our family loves how tender the pork turns out, and the kids enjoy making their own taco creations!
Sheet-Pan Dinners
14. Sheet-Pan Chicken and Rainbow Veggies
Sheet-pan dinners like this one are great for busy weeknights. Toss chicken, broccoli, and sweet potatoes on one pan and bake—easy, healthy, and minimal clean-up!
15. Sheet-Pan Sausage and Peppers
Sausage, bell peppers, and onions make a savory sheet-pan meal full of flavor. Our kids love this served over rice or in a hoagie roll!
16. Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon
For a lighter, healthy dinner, try this lemon garlic salmon sheet-pan meal. Pair with roasted veggies, and you’ll have a nutritious dinner in under 30 minutes.
17. Sheet-Pan BBQ Chicken Thighs
BBQ chicken thighs paired with roasted potatoes and green beans make an easy sheet pan meal. Our girls always ask for extra BBQ sauce with this one!
18. Sheet-Pan Steak Fajitas
Toss steak, bell peppers, and onions with fajita seasoning for a quick and easy sheet-pan dinner. Serve these fajitas up with warm tortillas and all your favorite toppings—our kids love these!
19. Sheet-Pan Nachos
Perfect for a family movie night, sheet-pan nachos are a fun, easy dinner idea. Pile them high with cheese, ground beef, and your favorite toppings—our kids go crazy for these!
20. Sheet-Pan Pork Chops and Apples
Pork chops and apples roasted together on one pan create a savory-sweet combo that’s hard to resist. Our kids love the caramelized apples!
21. Sheet-Pan Greek Chicken
This sheet pan meal with Greek-seasoned chicken, tomatoes, red onions, and more veggies is a flavorful, healthy dinner option. Serve with a side of tzatziki for dipping!
22. Sheet-Pan Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki chicken and veggies roasted on a sheet pan make a delicious, family-friendly dinner. Our kids ask for seconds every time we make this!
23. Sheet-Pan Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp tacos made on a sheet pan are quick, easy, and loaded with flavor. They’re perfect for taco night, and our daughters love having Taco Tuesdays every week in our meal plan!
24. Sheet-Pan Chicken Parmesan
Chicken parmesan cooked on a sheet pan is a lighter, easier version of the classic dish. The crispy coating and melty cheese make this a favorite at our house.
One-Pot Dishes
25. One-Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
This one-pot spaghetti dish saves you the trouble of boiling water and dirtying multiple pans. Just toss everything in and let it simmer – a guaranteed hit with kids who love meatballs and noodles.
26. One-Pot Chicken Alfredo
This creamy chicken alfredo comes together in one pot in less than 30 minutes. Perfect for those nights when you need something quick but delicious.
27. One-Pot Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy, and ready in no time, this one-pot mac and cheese is a hit with kids and adults alike. Plus, you’ll have fewer dishes to clean!
28. One-Pot Chicken and Rice
Chicken and rice come together in one pot for a simple, satisfying dinner. I love how easy it is to clean up afterward!
29. One-Pot Minestrone
This hearty minestrone is full of vegetables and beans, making it a nutritious one-pot meal. It’s perfect for chilly evenings!
30. One-Pot Shrimp Pasta
This shrimp pasta dish is light, fresh, and ready in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for nights when you want something quick but fancy!
31. One-Pot Mexican Rice Casserole
This one-pot Mexican rice casserole is full of flavor and takes less than 30 minutes to make. For an extra treat, add your favorite toppings, like sour cream and guacamole.
32. One-Pot Taco Soup
Taco soup is quick to make and loaded with flavor. We top it with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream—the kids love making their bowls just as they like them.
33. One-Pot Lasagna Soup
Lasagna soup offers all the flavors of traditional lasagna with a fraction of the effort. I love how quickly it comes together in just one pot!
34. One-Pot Asian Beef and Rice Skillet
Beef and rice cooked together in one pot makes a simple, satisfying meal. Add some veggies, and you’ve got a complete dinner in no time.
35. One-Pot Chicken Parmesan
This one-pot chicken parmesan is a weeknight winner. Breaded chicken, marinara, and melted cheese come together in under 30 minutes.
FAQs
Can I freeze slow cooker meals ahead of time?
Yes! Slow cooker meals are great for freezer prep and I have meal plans completely focused on this!
You can add most recipe ingredients to a freezer bag, label it (with the date, too!), and freeze it for up to 3 months. Then, thaw the bag in the refrigerator before cooking, following the recipe’s instructions.
How do I prevent my slow cooker meals from becoming too watery?
To avoid watery slow cooker meals, reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe. Slow cookers don’t allow for evaporation, so liquids don’t cook down as much.
You can also keep the lid slightly ajar for the last hour of cooking to help release some steam and moisture from the pot.
Can I use frozen meat in my slow cooker?
I don’t recommend using frozen meat in the slow cooker and thawing the meat overnight whenever possible.
Why? Bacteria can grow while the meat thaws in the slow cooker; being low and slow gives the bacteria time to run wild.
Some recipes call for using frozen raw meat, but I never do that to avoid the risk of food poisoning.
What are the best vegetables for sheet pan dinners?
Vegetables like carrots, potatoes, squash, zucchini, broccoli, and bell peppers work best for sheet pan dinners.
They roast well without overcooking and pair perfectly with meats like chicken, sausage, and salmon.
Can I make sheet pan dinners ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the ingredients for sheet pan dinners ahead of time and store them in the fridge.
I’ll cut the vegetables on Sundays to prep them for meals all week long, and then I can just throw them on the pan and get them in the oven in less time.
Final Thoughts
As a busy mom, finding quick, easy dinner ideas has been a game-changer for me, and I couldn’t wait to share them with you.
From slow cooker meals to sheet pan dinners, these recipes are perfect for families who want delicious home-cooked meals without the fuss.
Whether you’re having a busy weeknight or want a fast meal over the weekend so you can get back to relaxing, these easy dinner ideas will help you save time, reduce stress, and enjoy more moments around the dinner table with your loved ones.
