These 50 easy dinner ideas are tested in my kitchen, approved by my 8 kids, and made with simple grocery store ingredients. You’ll find quick skillet meals, easy crock pot dinners, and budget friendly copycat recipes for busy weeknights.
Why These Are Our Go-To Easy Family Dinners!
- Grocery-store ingredients. Nothing fancy or hard to find. If your regular store carries it, you can make these.
- Kid-approved. Every recipes has been tested in my kitchen and served to my 8 kids.
- Budget-friendly. Each recipe card shows an estimated cost per serving, so you can plan dinners around your grocery budget.
- Over 14 years of testing. These are the recipe that have stayed in our rotation since I started making recipes.
What Should I Make for Dinner Tonight?
Not sure where to start? Find the night you’re having and pick one of these.
- I need dinner fast: One Pot Spaghetti, Easy Chicken Fried Rice, Walking Tacos, or Chicken Stir Fry.
- We won’t be home until dinnertime: Crock Pot Chicken and Rice, Crock Pot Pot Roast, or Crockpot Creamy Ranch Chicken. Start them in the morning and walk it to dinner.
- I have picky eaters: Walking Tacos, Bubble Up Pizza, Homemade Flatbread Pizza, or Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets.
- Money is tight this week: Easy Chili, Taco Rice Casserole, Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup, or Easy Sloppy Joes
- I want leftover for lunch: Easy Chili, Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti, or Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup
- We’re craving takeout: Mongolian Beef and Noodles, Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli, Crockpot Orange Chicken, or Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets
- I want to prep ahead: Mexican Casserole, Chicken Hashbrown Casserole, or Easy Meatballs
Quick and Easy Skillet and Stovetop Dinners
These are my go-to dinners when I didn’t plan ahead. Most cook in one skillet or one pot, so cleanup is quick too. Ground beef, chicken, pasta, and rice do most of the work, and they’re all easy to find at any grocery store.
1. Easy Sloppy Joes
Saucy, sweet-and-savory ground beef piled onto soft buns. It’s cheap, filling, and easy to double when you’re feeding a crowd.
Estimated Cost: $9.53, $1.59 per Serving
2. Chicken Stir Fry
Tender chicken and crisp veggies in a simple stir fry sauce. It’s faster than waiting on takeout and a great way to use up the vegetables in your fridge.
Estimated Cost: $12.99 Recipe, $2.17 per Serving
3. Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Leftover rice turns into a better-than-takeout dinner with chicken, eggs, and veggies. Day-old rice works best, so this is a smart way to use up leftovers.
Estimated Cost: $9.18 Recipe, $1.53 per Serving
4. One Pot Spaghetti
The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so there’s no draining and only one pot to wash.
Estimated Cost: $11.95 Recipe, $1.99 per Serving
5. One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Taco night meets cheesy pasta, all in one pot. It’s a creamy, family-friendly dinner the whole table can agree on.
6. Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet
Chicken and rice cook together in one skillet and get finished with melty cheese. Comfort food that’s easy on the budget and easy on cleanup.
Estimated Cost: $10.90, $1.82 per Servings
7. Mongolian Beef and Noodles
Sweet, savory, takeout-style beef tossed with noodles. Make this when your family is craving takeout but your budget isn’t.
Estimated Cost: $11.70 Recipe, $1.95 per Serving
8. Walking Tacos
Taco meat and toppings spooned right into a bag of chips. No plates needed, which makes them perfect for busy nights, ballgame nights, and feeding a crowd.
Estimated Cost: $18.64 Recipe, $2.33 Per Serving
9. Taco Spaghetti
Spaghetti tossed with taco-seasoned ground beef and cheese. A fun twist that turns a pound of ground beef and a box of pasta into a big family meal.
Estimated Cost: $8.55, $1.43 per Serving
10. Blackened Chicken Alfredo
Blackened chicken over creamy Alfredo pasta. It tastes like a restaurant dinner, but you can make it at home for a lot less.
Estimated Cost: $19.55 Per Recipe, $3.26 Per Serving
11. Easy Chili
A big pot of hearty chili made with pantry staples. Leftovers make easy lunches, and extra portions freeze well.
Estimated Cost: $19.01 Recipe, $3.17 per Serving
Easy Oven Dinners and Casseroles
Once these are in the oven, your hands are free to help with homework or set the table. Many of these casseroles can be put together earlier in the day and baked when you’re ready, and leftovers reheat well for lunches.
12. Simple Oven Baked Pork Chops
Seasoned pork chops bake in the oven while you make the sides, so there’s no standing over the stove.
Estimated Cost: $13.09, $2.18 per Serving
13. Mexican Casserole
Seasoned meat, cheese, and Tex-mex flavor baked into one dish. Assemble it ahead and bake it when you get home.
Estimated Cost: $19.77, $3.30 Per Serving
14. Hamburger Potato Casserole
Ground beef and potatoes baked in a creamy, cheesy sauce. A meat-and-potatoes dinner in one pan.
Estimated Cost: $17.82, $1.78 per Serving
15. Chicken Stuffing Bake
Creamy chicken topped with stuffing. It tastes like a holiday dinner but uses simple grocery-store ingredients any night of the week.
Estimated Cost: $14.39 / $2.40 per serving
16. Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole
Ground beef, hashbrowns, and cheese baked together for a hearty casserole that fills everyone up.
Estimated Cost: $21.60 Recipe, $2.70 per Serving
17. Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken enchiladas smothered in a creamy sour cream sauce and baked until bubbly. A great way to use leftover or rotisserie chicken.
Estimated Cost: $9.65, $1.21 Per Serving
18. Taco Rice Casserole
Taco seasoned beef, rice, and cheese baked together. It stretches a pound of ground beef to feed the whole family.
Estimated Cost: $22.20, $1.85 per Serving
19. Chicken Hashbrown Casserole
Creamy chicken and hashbrown in one dish. Easy to put together ahead of time and bake when you’re ready.
Estimated Cost: $13.56, $1.70 per Serving
20. Bubble Up Pizza
Biscuit dough, pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings baked into a pull-apart pizza casserole. Kids can help tear the biscuits and add toppings.
Estimated Cost: $10.77, $1.80 per Serving
21. Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin is lean, affordable, and cooks quickly in the oven. Slice it and serve it with potatoes and a veggie for a Sunday dinner.
Estimated Cost: $11.98, $2.00 per Serving
22. Baked Tilapia
Mild, flaky fish baked with simple seasonings. A great first fish recipe for families who are new to cooking fish.
Estimated Cost: $5.60, $1.40 Per Serving
23. Easy Meatballs
Homemade meatballs baked in the oven, no frying needed. Serve them with spaghetti, on subs, or freeze extras for another night.
Estimated Cost: $13.28 Recipe, $2.21 per Serving
24. Homemade Flatbread Pizza
Skip delivery and make pizza night at home. Everyone gets to top their own.
Estimated Cost: $7.25, $1.21 per Serving
Lazy Dinner Ideas: Dump-and-Go Crock Pot Meals
On the busiest days, the crock pot does the cooking for you. Add the ingredients in the morning, and dinner is ready when everyone gets home. Slow cooking also turns budget cuts like cube steak and chuck roast tender, which is a big money saver.
25. Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie
All the creamy filling of chicken pot pie made in the slow cooker. Serve it with biscuits for an easy comfort food dinner.
Estimated Cost: $14.64, $1.83 per Serving
26. Crock Pot Chicken and Rice
Creamy chicken and rice cooks low and slow, so dinner is ready when you walk in the door.
Estimated Cost: $13.05 Recipe, $2.18 per Serving
27. Crock Pot Lasagna Soup
All the flavor of lasagna with none of the layering. Every bowl gets a cheesy topping.
Estimated Cost: $17.49, $2.92 Per Serving
28. Crock Pot Cube Steak
Cube steak is a budget-friendly cut that turns fork-tender in the slow cooker. Serve it with gravy over mashed potatoes.
Estimated Cost: $18.78, $3.13 Per Serving
29. Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing
Chicken, creamy sauce, and stuffing cook together for a cozy, set-it-forget-it dinner.
Estimated Cost: $13.05 Recipe, $2.18 per Serving
30. Crock Pot Pot Roast
A classic Sunday pot roast you can make on a weeknight with almost no hands-on work.
Estimated Cost: $16.32, $2.72 Per Serving
31. Crock Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
Creamy Cajun chicken pasta made in the slow cooker. Serve with a side of garlic bread for a complete meal.
Estimated Cost: $16.34, $2.04 Per Serving
32. Crockpot Pepper Steak
Tender strips of beef with peppers and onions in a savory sauce. Serve ove rice for a takeout-style dinner at home.
Estimated Cost: $15.50, $2.58 Per Serving
33. Crockpot Steak Bites
Bite-size steak cooks until tender in the slow cooker. An easy way to serve steak to the whole family without the steakhouse price.
Estimated Cost: $15.62, $2.60 Per Serving
34. Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti
Cheesy, creamy chicken spaghetti made in the slow cooker. It feeds a crowd and reheats well for lunches.
Estimated Cost: $15.70, $2.62 Per Serving
35. Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli
Takeout-style beef and broccoli made in the slow cooker. Serve over rice.
Estimated Cost: $27.01/ $4.50 per Serving
36. Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken
Chicken in a creamy sun-dried tomato and Parmesan sauce. It tastes fancy but takes just minutes to prep.
Estimated Cost: $18.49 Recipe, $3.08 per Serving
37. Crockpot Creamy Ranch Chicken
Chicken simmers in a creamy ranch sauce and shreds easily. Serve it over rice, noodles, or on buns.
Estimated Cost: $10.00 Recipe, $1.67 Per Serving
38. Crock Pot Sausage and Potatoes
Smoked sausage and potatoes cook together for a hearty, budget-friendly dump-and-go meal.
Estimated Cost: $12.73, $2.12 per Serving
39. Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup
Creamy, cheesy broccoli soup made right in the slow cooker. Serve it with bread for dipping.
Estimated Cost: $8.87 Recipe, $1.48 per Serving
40. Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Soup
All the flavors of stuffed peppers without any of the stuffing.
Estimated Cost: $15.62, $2.60 Per Serving
41. Crockpot Vegetable Beef Soup
Hearty beef and vegetable soup that simmers all day. A great way to stretch a little beef into a lot of meals.
Estimated Cost: $16.92, $2.12 Per Serving
42. Crock Pot Street Tacos
Tender, seasoned taco meat that cooks itself. Set out toppings and let everyone build their own.
Estimated Cost: $38.34, $6.39 per Serving
43. Crockpot Orange Chicken
Sweet and tangy orange chicken with no frying. Skip the takeout line and serve it over rice.
Estimated Cost: $8.80, $1.47 per Serving
Easy Air Fryer and Instant Pot Dinners
Short on time? The air fryer and Instant Pot get dinner done fast without heating up the whole kitchen.
44. Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops
Juicy pork chops with a golden outside that cook quickly in the air fryer, with no need to heat up the oven.
Estimated Cost: $15.10 / $3.78 per Serving
45. Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Classic comfort food made faster with the pressure cooker.
Estimated Cost: $13.11, $2.19 per Serving
Copycat Restaurant Favorites (for Less Than Takeout)
These are the restaurant meals my family asks for most, made at home with grocery-store ingredients. You get the same flavors you love for a lot less than ordering out.
46. Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets
Crispy chicken nuggets that taste like the drive-thru version. Make a big batch at home for less than a drive-thru run for the whole family.
Estimated Cost: $10.57, $2.64 per Serving
47. Wendy’s Chili
Thick, hearty chili like the Wendy’s classic, made in a big pot that feeds the whole family.
Estimated Cost: $23.60, $1.97 Per Serving
48. Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken
Juicy chicken with a savory herb crust, like the steakhouse favorite.
Estimated Cost: $9.11 Recipe, $2.28 per Serving
49. Olive Garden Shrimp Scampi
Garlicky shrimp and pasta like the restaurant favorite, without the wait for a table.
Estimated Cost: $16.29, $2.72 per Serving
50. Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
Classic, tender meatloaf with a tomato glaze, just like the Cracker Barrel version.
Estimated Cost: $16.40, $2.73 per Serving
Tips for Easy, Cheap Weeknight Dinners
- Brown ground beef in bulk. So many of these recipes start with cooked ground beef. Brown a few pounds at once and freeze it in 1 pound portions for Sloppy Joes, Taco Spaghetti, Walking Tacos, and more.
- Make two casseroles and freeze one. Casseroles like the Mexican Casserole or Chicken Hashbrown Casserole take about the same amount of work to make twice. Bake one tonight and freeze the other for a busy night.
- Prep crock pot meals the night before. Chop and measure everything into a bag or container in the fridge. In the morning, just dump it in and turn it on. For even more ways to prep meals, check out our Lazy Day Cooking Club.
- Use rotisserie chicken. A store-bought rotisserie chicken is a shortcut for the enchiladas and other recipes that call for cooked chicken.
- Keep a backup dinner on hand. Keep the ingredients for one pantry-friendly meal, like One Pot Spaghetti or Easy Chili, so you’re never stuck ordering takeout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Walking tacos and One Pot Spaghetti are two of the easiest. Walking tacos need no plates, and the spaghetti cooks in one pot with no draining.
Recipes build on ground beef, chicken, rice, pasta, and beans stretch the furthest. Easy chili, taco rice casserole, crockpot vegetable beef soup, and easy sloppy joes are great budget recipes.
Casseroles like the Mexican Casserole and Chicken Hashbrown Casserole can be assembled ahead and baked later.
Walking Tacos, Homemade Flatbread Pizza and Crock Pot Street Tacos work well because everyone picks their own toppings.
