Tell me if this is you:
- wanting a homemade dinner with healthy ingredients
- not enough time or energy to cook anything complicated
- craving something cozy and comforting (and please let it be delicious)
This is me, most of the time! And that's how so many of these recipes were born.
I thought you might like to see the easy dinner recipes I turn to on busy weeknights. They have earned a permanent spot in my meal plans because they're just that dependable. Short ingredient lists, straightforward steps, and the whole family loves them! These delicious homemade meals are the perfect thing to make it feel like you actually have your life together.
Really Quick Dinner Ideas - Under 30 Minutes
When time is tight, you can still pull together a delicious dinner even on busy nights. These are some of our tried and true family favorites that can land on your table in 20 minutes. BTW, the cassoulet and the 10 minute tomato soup go great with grilled cheese sandwiches or quesadillas.
One Pot Chili Mac Recipe - Gluten Free, Dairy Free
This comforting Chili Mac, with its spicy ground beef and tangy tomato sauce, is a super fast family favorite!
One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice (Gluten Free)
Creamy rice with juicy bites of chicken and veggies, swirled in classic, comforting cream of chicken soup. Gluten free and on your table in less than 30 minutes.
Beef and Bean Quesadillas
My son has officially declared this the best quesadilla I've ver made. His actual words - "this should be in a restaurant!" I have to admit, it was so good we had it for lunch 2 days in a row, and now I'm planning to serve it for dinner, too. And it was so very
Gluten Free Mac and Cheese in an Instant Pot
This super easy recipe can be made in an Instant Pot in only 20 minutes. The sauce is rich tasting and smooth, with a tangy, sharp flavor coming from 2 kinds of cheese, and the pasta is cooked to perfect creaminess. This is absolutely the best tasting gluten free mac and cheese I've ever had!
10 Minute Tomato Soup Recipe
Super quick, gluten free tomato soup that tastes like the kind you had as a kid - but with no unhealthy additives!
20 Minute Chicken Tostadas
Juicy chicken breast chunks and creamy refried beans on a crisp corn tortilla - this healthy meal comes together in only 20 minutes!
20 Minute Hot Hoagies
Hot, savory, cheesy sandwich with a special ranch butter sauce - all ready in 20 minutes!
20 Minute Chicken Noodle Soup
Chunks of chicken, carrots, celery, and garlic serve up homemade flavor in only 20 minutes, and it's gluten free, too! You can easily substitute cooked rice for the noodles for a delicious Chicken and Rice Soup.
20 Minute Cassoulet
Sausage, beans, and carrots combine to make a hearty, savory stew. It will taste like it simmered all day, but you can get this on your table in only 20 minutes!
More Easy Recipes
These are still really quick recipes, but take just a little more time. But you can still get these home-cooked meals ready to eat in about 30 minutes.
Quick and Easy Gluten Free Tuna Noodle Casserole
Simple pantry ingredients and a perfect balance of flavors come together to make this easy gluten free tuna casserole. Tender slurpy noodles punched up with melted cheese and crispy crumb topping will have you diving in with your fork again and again.
20 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Breast {Super Juicy}
Golden brown, sizzling and savory, this air fryer chicken breast is seasoned to perfection! The simple dry rub / marinade is what makes it so tender and juicy.
20 Minute Italian Chicken with White Beans
Chicken, basil and garlic in a rich tomato sauce with creamy white beans - topped with fresh grated parmesan. So good on a busy, cold night!
Low-Carb Cheese Enchiladas
These low carb enchiladas are filled mostly with low fat cottage cheese, and are low in carbs thanks to Mission Almond low carb gluten free tortillas.
Chicken Dijon with Low Carb Mushroom Sauce (Easy)
You'd never guess that the delicious mushroom sauce on this chicken gets is decadent creaminess from cottage cheese! A sprinkle of crumbled turkey bacon and fresh herbs add the finishing touch.
Breakfast for Dinner - A Delicious Meal Option
This is just a friendly little reminder that breakfast for dinner is one of the easiest choices out there, and is generally loved by everybody!
Slow Cooker Breakfast Frittata ( Easy, Low Carb)
Cozy, creamy, throw-it-all-in-a crockpot, easy, cheesy, and delicious - this low carb healthy breakfast is done in only 30 minutes! Let the crockpot make you breakfast while you get ready for the day.
Easy Breakfast Fried Rice Recipe with Bacon and Eggs
This unique twist on fried rice combines crispy bacon, sausage, eggs, and all the yummy veggies you love in an omelette in one bowl for a grab and go breakfast!
If you have some leftover rice, some leftover protein like bacon or sausage, and some diced veggies - in a few minutes you can create an easy breakfast even on a busy day. I think it just might become your new favorite breakfast!
Gluten Free Banana Protein Pancakes
These banana protein pancakes are made with a banana, cottage cheese, eggs, and oatmeal - and that's it! No need for added sweeteners or leavenings, and they're gluten free. One of my favorite breakfasts!
Gluten Free Honey Oat Pancakes - Easy & Healthy
Golden and gorgeous, whole-grained and healthy - we think you will absolutely LOVE these gluten free pancakes! They are tender and delicious, just like pancakes made with wheat.
Gluten Free, Egg Free Waffles
Gluten free and egg free waffles are crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They are are one of the few breakfast foods that will fill you up, but don't contain wheat or eggs.
Pumpkin Protein Pancakes
These pancakes are jam packed with protein and fiber! The silky smooth texture and delectable pumpkin/cinnamon flavor combo will have you choosing these for breakfast again and again.
Instant Pot Blueberry Coconut Oats
Steel cut oats are softened in an instant pot to creamy coconutty perfection, with sweet little bite sized bursts of blueberry flavor. Make a batch for a week's worth of healthy breakfasts in less than 20 minutes!
Add These Quick Sides to Make it a Full Meal
Keep these side dish options in your back pocket to look like a total meal-making marvel. Lots of times my husband will just cook up a protein (like chicken, pork chops, or burgers) and I'll just make one of these quick side dishes and we pat ourselves on the back for a job well done.
My single best idea I've ever come up with for always having healthy meal options ready to go at a moment's notice: a salad bar. Read that post to see why it's been such a genius move in our household for over 12 years.
And do you know what our go-to easiest meal of all is? Cooked ground beef, one of the rice recipes on this list, and a fried egg. There, now you know my best dinner secret!
How to Make a Salad Bar - Update
Back in 2012, I came up with a great idea to make it even easier for our family to eat our vegetables. Many of you must have liked it as well, because it's been my most popular post ever since! That great idea was How To Make a Salad Bar. In the past two years
Broccoli Carrot Salad with Coleslaw Dressing
Bright, beautiful broccoli and carrots, deep red cranberries, and salty sunflower seeds get folded into a light and creamy dressing. It will make raw broccoli feel like the best decision you've made all week.
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
You'll love the balance of flavors in this fresh and citrusy rice. Dotted with green chiles and a hint of garlic, this steamy side dish is sprinkled with fresh chopped cilantro for the perfect finish.
Low Carb Half Calorie Rice
Are you looking for a way to lower your blood sugar levels without giving up your favorite grain? Look no further than this delicious, low glycemic, low carb rice! This amazing rice recipe is made from the fluffy, steamy, starchy REAL white rice you love, but is made in a special way so you only
Low Carb Coleslaw Dressing
This dressing uses monk fruit sweetener to cut carbs, and Greek yogurt to cut back on fat so you can enjoy creamy, tangy coleslaw without all the calories.
Chopped Salad Recipe with Crispy Chickpeas and Cucumbers
Tender greens, crisp cucumbers, a sharp bite from parmesan cheese, and a burst of crunch from the crispy chickpeas, cashews and savory breadcrumbs. Topped off with a sweet lemony dressing, this salad is an absolute star of a side dish for any meal.
Sweet Chili Cucumber Salad
Garden fresh, crunchy cucumbers and a light, spicy/sweet dressing pair up for the perfect summer salad that's quick to throw together, and low in carbs and calories.
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