Post-holiday cooking should be easy and stress-free. These 23 quick, simple recipes are perfect for relaxing evenings when you’re exhausted from the recent running around. With one-pot meals and few ingredients, these dishes ensure a delicious dinner with minimal effort. Enjoy hearty casseroles, warming soups, and easy main courses that make mealtime effortless and enjoyable so that you can unwind after the holiday season.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
The Chicken Pot Pie Soup, ready in one hour, offers a creamy and comforting meal perfect for family dinners. It’s easy to make with basic ingredients, providing a warm, homey dish during those relaxed evenings after the holiday bustle.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
The Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner, ready in 30 minutes, is a complete meal cooked on one pan. It combines roasted sausage with vegetables and is perfect for a quick dinner. Its simplicity makes it great for times when you’re tired of extensive holiday cooking.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
In just 30 minutes, you can whip up this Creamy Italian Sausage Soup in a single pot. It’s a hearty meal, combining Italian sausage, cream cheese, tomatoes, and cream. This soup is a fantastic option for easy dinners, particularly during the days after the holidays when you’re looking for simplicity in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Spinach Chicken Bake
This Spinach Chicken Bake is a 30-minute, one-pan dish, blending chicken, cream cheese, mozzarella, and spinach. It’s a great choice for a no-hassle dinner, especially when you’re looking for something simple and quick after a busy holiday season.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
This casserole, featuring broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, and bacon, is straightforward to prepare. It’s a great choice for a warm, comforting meal, perfect for those days when you need something simple and hearty.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Fajita Baked Chicken
Fajita Baked Chicken is a 30-minute dish that’s easy to make. Combining chicken, cream cheese, sweet peppers, and mozzarella, it’s perfect for a quick, no-fuss dinner, especially when you’re winding down from holiday cooking.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Baked Chicken
Canned Chicken Patties
With just 20 minutes of preparation, Canned Chicken Patties are a quick and versatile meal. They’re great for busy evenings, offering a straightforward and easy dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Patties
Crock Pot Taco Soup
Set this Crock Pot Taco Soup to cook and forget about it; it needs just 20 minutes of prep. It’s a great choice for an effortless meal, featuring ground beef and pantry staples, a perfect choice for a post-holiday meal.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
The Twice Baked Potato Casserole combines bacon, potatoes, sour cream, and cheese. You can even prepare it in advance, making it a great option for easy, comforting meals during busy weeks.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
In just 20 minutes, you can cook Garlic Butter Chicken Bites in a savory butter sauce. This easy stovetop recipe is great for a quick meal, pairing well with a variety of sides, and is a great option for relaxed family dinners after busy holiday days.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
This 30-minute Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice is a simple, one-pan dinner. It combines ground beef, cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms for a straightforward weeknight meal, especially welcome after a stretch of elaborate holiday cooking.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup, taking about an hour to make, is a comforting one-pot meal. It’s a good choice for a laid-back family meal, particularly on weekends following the holiday season when you’re in need of something warming yet easy.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Creamy Garlic Chicken, ready in 30 minutes, is a one-pan meal with a rich garlic cream sauce. It’s an easy-to-follow recipe and pairs well with either veggies or rice, making it a great dinner choice for those evenings when you want something quick yet flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Ready in 30 minutes, the Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach is a straightforward dish that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner. It’s also great for leftovers, simplifying meal planning for days when time is short.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
The Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad combines the heat of jalapeños with a smooth mayo dressing and chicken, making it hearty enough to stand alone as a main dish. It’s easy to put together, and the leftovers are just as delicious the next day.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Cabbage and Sausage
A simple combination of cabbage and sausage, this one-pan meal is a complete dish by itself, perfect for busy family nights. It’s a reliable recipe that’s easy to make, especially when you’re looking for straightforward cooking after the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Create a flavorful chicken dish in just 30 minutes with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. This one-pan recipe is easy, even for beginner cooks, and pairs nicely with rice or pasta for a quick family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Fried Cabbage with Bacon, ready in 25 minutes, is a one-pan meal that combines cabbage, bacon, and onion. It’s a straightforward dish, offering a warm and easy dinner option, especially on nights when you’re looking for simplicity.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Chicken Corn Soup
This Chicken Corn Soup, ready in under an hour, mixes tender chicken with veggies in a flavorful broth. It’s simple to make and a great choice for family dinners, especially on those evenings when you want a complete meal without extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Soup
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
In 45 minutes, you can enjoy this warming Hungarian Mushroom Soup. It’s a straightforward, one-pot recipe that’s perfect for any night of the week, offering a hearty soup that’s especially welcome during the relaxed days after the holidays.
Get the Recipe: Hungarian Mushroom Soup
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
In just 30 minutes, you can prepare Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. This single-pan recipe is straightforward and complements well with rice or noodles. It’s an excellent choice for a fast and flavorful dinner, particularly suited for evenings when you want to wind down from holiday cooking.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Shawarma Kebabs
Shawarma Kebabs, ready in about 30 minutes, bring a burst of flavor to your table. Whether grilled or broiled, these kebabs are easy to make and serve with rice or salad. They’re perfect for a complete meal on busy nights, especially after a period of heavy holiday meals.
Get the Recipe: Shawarma Kebabs
Wild Rice Mushroom Soup
This Wild Rice Mushroom Soup, taking about an hour, offers a creamy, nutty flavor. It’s a filling soup where everything cooks together, saving you time and effort. This dish is always a hit with families, especially as a comforting option in the days following the holiday festivities.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Mushroom Soup