Just about every list of “easy” dinner recipes I come across has a roundup of meals that require a long list of ingredients, a dozen dirty dishes to wash, and take up your entire night chopping, prepping, boiling, simmering, and then 30 minutes cleaning up the mess. No, thanks!
I’ve rounded up a list of family friendly meals that are ACTUALLY easy to make for those nights when you’re tired of cooking and just want to relax (and maybe squeeze in some time for a little wine and your favorite show).
These budget recipes are all customizable, kid friendly, and much cheaper than going out to eat. I enjoy cooking, but not when I’ve had a long day at work and feel like I’ve been hit by a bus. With that said, my family still needs to eat! So, here you go.
The easiest dinners you’ll ever make!
1. Lazy Lasagna
This popular 3 ingredient dinner requires less than 5 minutes to prepare in just one dish! Customize it to your liking with the ravioli and sauce of your choice, along with any optional add-ins such as ground beef, pepperoni, sausage, or veggies.
Ingredients
- 1 (24oz) bag frozen ravioli
- 1 (24oz) jar pasta sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
Instructions: Lazy Lasagna
2. Taco Macaroni & Cheese
This tasty dinner combines two classic comfort foods, macaroni & cheese and taco meat, to make a creative and fun last minute dinner for a family with picky eaters.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 boxes Velveeta macaroni
- 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Instructions: Taco Macaroni & Cheese
3. No-Peek Chicken Casserole
Dump, bake, eat! This delicious recipe doesn’t require any precooking of the rice, simply place everything into a large baking dish, cover, and let the oven do the rest.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breast
- 2 cups instant rice
- 1 can cream mushroom soup
- 1 can cream chicken soup
- 1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup Mix
- 1 can water
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions: No Peek Chicken Casserole
4. Bubble Up Pizza Casserole
Your kids are going to love this creative way of making pizza in the oven with refrigerated biscuits! Simply layer and top with your favorite toppings such as pepperoni, olives, sausage, peppers, etc.
Ingredients
- 2 cans refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
- 1 (15oz) jar pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- pizza toppings of choice
Instructions: Bubble Up Pizza Casserole
5. Lazy Enchiladas
This is how you turn dry and boring frozen taquitos into a delicious dinner casserole with just a few pantry staples! A creative last minute meal for those busy weeknights when you don’t have dinner plans.
Ingredients
- 1 (20 pack) frozen taquitos
- 1 (16oz) can refried beans
- 1 (19oz) can enchilada sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- sour cream (for serving)
Instructions: Lazy Enchiladas
6. Mini Chicken Pot Pies
An effortless way to make this classic dinner recipe! Thanks to refrigerated biscuits and a muffin pan, you can whip up these tasty little pies for dinner even when you don’t feel like cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen mixed veggies
- 1 (12oz) can chicken breast
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 tube refrigerated biscuits
Instructions: Mini Chicken Pot Pies
7. Chopped Cheeseburger Casserole
No grill needed here! This is how you make cheeseburgers in your oven with just a few cheap and common ingredients. The buttery biscuits turn a classic burger into fun and savory comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tube refrigerated biscuits
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 small onion (optional)
- seasoning to taste
Instructions: Chopped Cheeseburger Casserole
8. Garlic Toast Pizzas
Frozen garlic toast is ideal for making crispy and flavorful pizza crust without any work, making dinner a breeze to slap together! The ingredients are all pantry staples that you can keep on hand for a quick dinner at home.
Ingredients
- frozen garlic toast
- pizza sauce
- shredded mozzarella
- toppings of choice
Instructions: Frozen Garlic Toast Pizzas
9. Creamy Chicken Tacos
Deliciously tender shredded chicken made in your slow cooker with salsa and cream cheese! Serve in warm flour tortillas with the toppings of your choice for a kid friendly dinner your entire family will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 3-4 chicken breasts
- 1 (16oz) jar salsa
- 1 block cream cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- tortillas for serving
Instructions: Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tacos
10. Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
A quick and easy vegetarian meal made with ingredients you probably have at home! This creative dinner is sweet, spicy, salty, and packed full of flavor. Add some veggies or protein if you’d like.
Ingredients
- 1 pack instant ramen noodles
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- Everything bagel seasoning
Instructions: Sweet & Spicy Ramen Noodle Stir Fry
11. Cheesy Meatball Rice Casserole
This dump and bake dinner is simple to make thanks to frozen meatballs and instant rice. There’s no need to precook the rice or the meatballs! Everything gets baked to perfection in a large baking dish covered with foil.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups instant white rice
- 1 (24oz) jar pasta sauce
- 1 (14oz) can Italian diced tomatoes
- 30 frozen meatballs
- 1+ cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan
Instructions: Cheesy Meatball Rice Casserole
12. Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
Serve this creamy shredded chicken over mashed potatoes, rice, or pasta for a crazy delicious crockpot dinner. It’s effortless to make ahead of time and keep warm until your family is ready to eat.
Ingredients
- 2-3 large chicken breasts
- 2 packets chicken gravy mix
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1½ cups water
- seasoning to taste
Instructions: Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
13. Stuffing Meatloaf
Even if you’re not a meatloaf fan, this classic recipe has been elevated with a simple box of store-bought stuffing. Serve over mashed potatoes and watch as everyone leaves the table with full bellies.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 box Stovetop stuffing
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup ketchup or bbq sauce
- ½ cup water
Instructions: The Best Stuffing Meatloaf
14. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
This make ahead meal is awesome for casual weeknight dinners, family gatherings, and even potlucks! Simply keep warm in your crockpot and serve in toasted buns with store-bought coleslaw.
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds chicken breasts
- 1 (12oz) bottle bbq sauce
- ¾ cup Italian dressing
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- sandwich buns
- store-bought coleslaw
Instructions: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
15. Frozen Burrito Casserole
If you’re a busy mom or dad with a big family to feed, this food hack is for you. This is how you turn frozen burritos into a filling and delicious dinner casserole. It doesn’t get any easier than this!
Ingredients
- 8 frozen burritos
- 1 (28oz) can enchilada sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- sour cream for serving
Instructions: Frozen Burrito Casserole
16. Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
This budget meal has been made extra lazy thanks to canned chicken, frozen broccoli, and instant rice. If you have picky kids to feed on busy school nights, this main dish is for you.
Ingredients
- 1 (12oz) can chicken breast
- 2 cups frozen broccoli
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 2 cups corn flakes
- 4 tablespoons butter
- seasoning to taste
Instructions: Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
17. Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
Some nights call for a delicious slow cooker meal that can be prepared ahead of time, and this amazing sausage and pasta soup will soon be a family favorite! The ultimate comfort food made with just a few common ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 2 (15oz) cans Italian diced tomatoes
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 (20oz) bag frozen cheese tortellini
- 3-4 cups fresh spinach
Instructions: Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup
18. Smashed Cheeseburger Tacos
Take your summer bbq up a notch with this unique twist on classic cheeseburgers! Make them in the form of a taco instead for an easy and fun dinner recipe your family will go crazy for.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 6 taco size flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- seasoning to taste
- oil for the griddle
- toppings and condiments of choice
Instructions: Smashed Cheeseburger Tacos
19. Chicken Parmesan Sliders
If you’ve got picky and hungry kids to feed, these mini sandwiches are effortless to make thanks to frozen chicken nuggets! The tastiest finger food for just about any meal.
Ingredients
- 1 (12 pack) Hawaiian rolls
- 12 frozen chicken nuggets
- 1 cup pasta sauce
- 6 slices mozzarella (or shredded)
- ¼ butter
- 2 tablespoon grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions: Chicken Parmesan Sliders
20. Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole
This amazing comfort food is quick to prepare with just a few cheap ingredients. Customize this yummy casserole with the veggies of your choice for a family friendly meal. Everyone will go back for seconds!
Ingredients
- 1 (28oz) bag frozen tater tots
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ diced yellow onion (optional)
- 1 can cream mushroom soup
- 1 can green beans
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- seasoning to taste
Instructions: Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole
21. Creamy Chicken Taco Soup
Add this yummy slow cooker meal to your weekly dinner menu and thank me later! It’s just perfect for an easy weeknight dinner as well as large family gatherings when you need something you can make ahead of time.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds chicken breast
- 1 packet chicken taco seasoning
- 2 cans Rotel diced tomatoes & chilies
- 1 can black beans
- 1 can whole kernel corn
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
- ¾ cup heavy cream
Instructions: Creamy Chicken Taco Soup
22. Chicken & Stuffing Casserole
This stuffing casserole is completely customizable! Use the chicken of your choice, along with your favorite seasonal veggies. It’s packed full of flavor, quick to prepare, and approved by even the pickiest of eaters.
Ingredients
- 1 small rotisserie chicken
- 3 medium zucchinis
- 1 box Stove Top stuffing
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 can cream chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
Instructions: Chicken & Stuffing Casserole
