10 Simple Dinners That Make Busy Nights Feel Manageable

Does your family calendar ever look more like a logic puzzle than a weekly plan? I’ve found that the best way to handle a hectic week is to have a handful of reliable, breezy meals that practically cook themselves. These simple dinners are my favorite way to reclaim those lost hours, focusing on recipes that are fast to assemble and even faster to enjoy. Make weeknight cooking feel like a win instead of a workout!

Dairy-Free Beef Veggie Casserole

Beef and zucchini casserole topped with zucchinis in a baking dish. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Weeknight dinners just got better with this veggie-packed, high-protein, beef and zucchini casserole. Lean ground beef coated in a rich and creamy tomato sauce spread of zucchini and sweet potato noodles. You can make this dairy-free casserole in advance as well making busy weeknights that much easier. To learn more: Beef and Zucchini Casserole

Orange Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

Seasoned chicken breasts on a baking tray lined with tin foil and roasted brussels sprouts around them — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Made with an orange garlic sauce, this one pan chicken and potatoes is a 30-minute dinner recipe that's tasty for the whole family. The juicy chicken and soft brussels in a sweet orange drizzle that's a sure-fire way to light up your taste buds. To learn more: One Pan Chicken and Potatoes

Sweet Peach and Beans Curry

Sweet peach curry with green beans over rice in a black bowl. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

A flavorful sweet peach curry recipe made with immune-boosting ingredients. This easy curry recipe is the perfect blend that combines traditional curry flavors with a sweet twist. A 30-minute meal perfect for weeknights. To learn more: Peach Curry

Sticky Teriyaki Meatballs

Gluten-free meatballs on rice with bell peppers with chopsticks being held over the bowl and teriyaki sauce and a linen behind it — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

A 30-minute, weeknight dinner, this easy, gluten-free meatball recipe is perfect for busy nights. These dairy-free meatballs are tender, simple, and flavorful. Furthermore, they're topped with a sticky, homemade teriyaki sauce! To learn more: Teriyaki Meatballs

Italian Sausage Peppers and Rice Skillet

Black skillet with rice, sausages, and peppers in a tomato sauce. — Image Credit: Image credit goes to.

This Italian Sausage and Rice Skillet is a cozy, one-pan dinner made for busy weeknights. Savory sausage, sweet bell peppers, leeks, and garlic are simmered in a simple tomato sauce for big flavor with minimal effort. Naturally gluten-free and hearty enough to feed a family, it’s the kind of meal everyone goes back for seconds of.

To learn more: Sausage Peppers and Rice Skillet

Easy Steak Bites

Close up of air fryer steak bites with parsley on them with soy sauce and more parsley around it. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Cooked in just 10 minutes these air fryer steak bites come out tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned! With a blend of cumin and garlic, these steak cubes work just as well as a game-day appetizer as they do as part of a busy weeknight dinner.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Steak Bites

Slow Cooker Maple Balsamic Chicken

Large chicken breast in a white bowl with rice and lime. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender, juicy chicken breasts with just 5-minutes of prep! This slow cooker gluten-free balsamic chicken is as easy as it gets for a weeknight dinner. Soaked in maple balsamic dressing and cooked slowly over the day, this chicken recipe makes the perfect busy mom, weeknight dinner.

Get the recipe: Maple Balsamic Slow Cooker Chicken

Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Gluten-free chicken wings in honey garlic sauce on a grill pan with cilantro and lime on them — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender, juicy chicken wings coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce and cooked on a grill pan. These gluten-free chicken wings are a perfect blend of sweet and sour flavors. To learn more: Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Sheet Pan Sausage and Green Beans

Sausage, green beans, cherry tomatoes, on a sheet pan with sauerkraut beside it. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

An easy sheet pan dinner recipe for busy nights! This sausage and green beans come together in just 30 minutes. Juicy sausage bites covered in a quick honey garlic sauce and paired with whole-30 approved vegetables. To learn more: Sheet Pan Sausage and Green Beans

Easy BBQ Chicken Taco

Cooked chicken skillet, with cheese, pepper, avocado and cilantro on it. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Juicy pieces of chicken coated in a homemade seasoning before being sauteed sticky in your favorite barbeque sauce. This chicken taco skillet hits the dinner table in just 30 minutes and makes for a delicious, simple weeknight meal.

Get the recipe: Easy Chicken Taco Skillet