17 easy weeknight meals for anyone who hates cooking

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Easy weeknight meals are perfect for anyone who hates cooking. These 17 recipes are simple, quick, and don’t require complicated steps or ingredients. They’re designed to get dinner on the table fast, with minimal fuss and effort. If you want to make good meals without spending much time or energy in the kitchen, these recipes are exactly what you need.

Sausage and veggies sheet pan dinner with a spoon.
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Loaded broccoli cauliflower casserole in a baking dish garnished with green onions.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole is a great pick for an easy weeknight meal. It combines frozen broccoli, frozen cauliflower, cheese, and bacon in an uncomplicated way. You just need to prepare the ingredients, bake for 30 minutes, and your dinner is ready. Tip: Pre-shredded cheese and pre-cooked bacon can save prep time, making this dish even more effortless.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Cabbage and Sausage

A fork in a bowl of cabbage and sausage.
Cabbage and Sausage. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

For a simple dinner, try Cabbage and Sausage. This one-pan meal combines cabbage and sausage and is ready in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for those who aren’t fond of cooking, as it uses basic ingredients and requires minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Crock Pot Taco Soup

Two bowls of Crock Pot taco soup with cheese and sour cream.
Crock Pot Taco Soup. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

Crock Pot Taco Soup is a great choice for a stress-free cooking experience. It involves simple steps: brown the ground beef and then add it to the slow cooker with other ingredients. It’s a straightforward recipe, great for those who want a filling meal with minimal kitchen time. Tip: Use pre-cooked ground beef to cut down on prep time.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup

Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

A baking sheet filled with vegetables and sausages.
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

The Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner is a perfect choice for an uncomplicated meal. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and requires only one pan for cooking. The recipe is straightforward, combining various vegetables and sausage, perfect for those who prefer quick meals with minimal fuss. Tip: Chop veggies in advance to speed up the cooking process.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Creamy Italian sausage soup in a pot with a spoon and garnishes on the side.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is great for anyone new to cooking. It’s a simple one-pot recipe that brings together sausage, cream, and tomatoes for a hearty soup. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a straightforward choice for a quick dinner. Tip: Using pre-cooked sausage can make this soup even easier to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Creamy ground beef skillet with cauliflower rice with a wooden spoon.
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Try this Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice for an easy weeknight dinner. This dish, ready in 30 minutes, is made in one pan and combines ground beef, cheddar cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms. It’s a great option for those who want a quick, flavorful meal. Tip: Pre-made cauliflower rice can save time in this recipe.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Spinach Chicken Bake

A serving spoon serving of creamy spinach chicken bake.
Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

The Spinach Chicken Bake is an excellent option for easy cooking. It requires just 30 minutes and simple ingredients like chicken thighs, spinach, cream cheese, and mozzarella. This recipe is effortless to make and always turns out well, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Use pre-shredded cheese for an even quicker preparation.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Fried cabbage with bacon garnished with parsley in a pot.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Fried Cabbage with Bacon is a straightforward recipe that’s hard to mess up. You simply sauté the ingredients and season to taste. In just 25 minutes, you can enjoy a flavorful dish. Tip: Pre-cut cabbage can be used to make this recipe even quicker.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Tuscan garlic shrimp and spinach with tomatoes in a pan.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach is a great recipe for beginners. It’s quick, takes only 30 minutes, and combines shrimp, grape tomatoes, and spinach in a garlic sauce. This dish is perfect for a simple yet impressive meal on busy nights. Tip: Use pre-peeled shrimp and jarred minced garlic to cut down on prep time.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Chicken with creamy mushroom sauce in a pan.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce recipe is straightforward and great for those new to cooking. In 30 minutes, you can cook chicken thighs in a creamy mushroom sauce, all in one pan. It’s a great pick for a hassle-free dinner. Tip: Buying pre-sliced mushrooms can make this dish even quicker to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Canned Chicken Patties

Chicken patties with broccoli on a plate.
Canned Chicken Patties. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Canned Chicken Patties are perfect for a quick and simple meal. Using canned chicken, these patties are ready in just 30 minutes. They are easy to make and pair well with steamed vegetables or as part of a sandwich for a fast lunch or dinner.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Patties

Creamy Garlic Chicken

A skillet of creamy garlic chicken garnished with fresh herbs.
Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Garlic Chicken is an easy recipe, especially suited for beginners in the kitchen. This one-pan dish, which takes only 30 minutes, features chicken breasts in a creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce. It’s a straightforward recipe with ingredients that are often readily available in most grocery stores. Tip: To save time, use jarred minced garlic instead of fresh.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad

Bowl of creamy dill cucumber onion salad in a bowl with spoons.
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is easy and refreshing. After slicing cucumbers and onions and making the dressing, you just toss everything together. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s a great way to enhance your cooking skills. Tip: Use a mandoline slicer for quick and uniform cucumber and onion slices.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

A skillet of creamy sun dried tomato chicken with a wooden spoon.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken is a surprisingly simple-to-make yet extra flavorful dish. It combines chicken thighs and sun-dried tomato sauce in one skillet. This recipe shows that great cooking can be easy and stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken

Cheesy chicken fajita bake in a baking pan.
Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken is a great choice for a weeknight dinner. Seasoned chicken breasts are baked with cream cheese, sweet peppers, and mozzarella. It’s ready in 30 minutes and is made in just one baking dish. This recipe is good for both beginner and experienced cooks. Tip: Pre-cut fajita veggies can be used for a faster preparation.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken

Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Cheesy beef casserole with cauliflower rice and spinach being spooned out of a baking dish.
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach is an easy choice for beginners in the kitchen. This recipe bakes ground beef, cauliflower rice, spinach, and cheese into a simple casserole. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and is a hearty, flavorful meal. Tip: Use pre-riced frozen cauliflower to cut down on prep time.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Shawarma Kebabs

A plate of shawarma kebabs with greens and lemon slices.
Shawarma Kebabs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Shawarma Kebabs are surprisingly easy to make, even for those new to cooking. This recipe involves marinating chicken pieces, skewering them, and then baking. It’s straightforward and requires minimal hands-on effort.
Get the Recipe: Shawarma Kebabs

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