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    Home » roundup

    10 Weeknight Dinners That Practically Cook Themselves

    Modified: Apr 13, 2026 · by Shelby Stover · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Busy weeknights call for dinners that don’t demand all your attention. These weeknight meal recipes practically take care of themselves, giving you one less thing to worry about. They’re perfect for hectic schedules, tired evenings, and those “what’s for dinner?” moments. Minimal prep, simple ingredients, and big flavor. What more could you want? Just set it up, let it cook, and enjoy the results!

    Creamy Chicken Pot Pie

    Wooden spoon scooping our dairy-free chicken pot pie from a slow cooker.
    Photo Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Thick, creamy, comfort food made all in just one slow cooker. This dairy-free chicken pot pie has all the traditional pot pie flavors but with a healthy gluten-free twist. And because it’s made in a slow cooker, it’s a great option for chilly, busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe: Chicken Pot Pie In The Slow Cooker

    Delicious Honey Mustard Chicken

    Black slow cooker with honey mustard chicken thighs topped with parsley and a wooden spoon in it.
    Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    An effortless weeknight dinner. This slow cooker honey mustard chicken is cooked to perfection in a sweet and tangy glaze. Perfect for busy days this gluten-free chicken recipe will soon become your favorite, hassle-free family dinner. To learn more: Honey Mustard Chicken

    Savory Beef Fajitas

    Beef fajitas in tomato sauce with peppers in a black slow cooker.
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    The perfect recipe to come home to! These slow cooker beef fajitas are delicious no matter how you serve them. Made with homemade, healthy fajita seasoning and simmered all day in a savory blend, these steak fajitas are a recipe you’ll want to keep on hand!

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas

    Gluten-Free Hawaiian Chicken

    Slow cooker Hawaiian chicken inside a crockpot.
    Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Tender, juicy, sweet chicken all cooked easily while you’re at work. This slow cooker Hawaiian chicken makes for a versatile, easy, dairy-free, and gluten-free dinner recipe you’ll want to devour. Made with a lightly sweet but tangy sauce this pineapple chicken recipe can be used for easy meal prep or a busy night dinner.

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken

    Healthy Chicken Teriyaki

    White bowl with rice and teriyaki chicken topped with green onions with chop sticks on the bowl and more green onions behind it
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    A tender, slow cooker teriyaki chicken recipe that takes under ten minutes to prep! This easy teriyaki chicken recipe is sweetened with honey to give you a sweet but healthy teriyaki sauce.

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

    Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken

    Hunters chicken thighs on a black plate with red onions on it and a slow cooker behind it.
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Tender, juicy chicken simmered to perfection in a savory medley of tomatoes, mushrooms, and herbs. This slow cooker hunters chicken recipe is a fail-safe staple for busy weeknights!

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken

    Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken

    White bowl with tuscan chicken, rice, leeks and sundried tomato in it with fresh basil beside it.
    Photo Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    A creamy, dairy-free Tuscan chicken recipe made in the slow cooker. Infused with garlic, leek, and basil undertones, this crockpot Tuscan chicken could be right out of Italy. Made with a base of coconut milk and bone broth, this easy weeknight dinner is also paleo and whole30 approved.

    Get the recipe: Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken

    Dairy-Free Chicken Alfredo

    white bowl with chicken pasta with sundried tomatoes and peas and garlic and a light linen around the bowl
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Save time in the kitchen and enjoy a classic comfort with this slow cooker chicken alfredo! Made with a creamy, dairy-free alfredo sauce this crockpot chicken recipe is a staple for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo

    Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak

    White plate with salisbury steak on it and a mushroom on top of them.
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Deliciously seasoned ground beef patties cooked in the slow cooker and then smothered in a savory mushroom gravy. This gluten-free Salisbury steak recipe makes for a tasty Sunday night dinner. To learn more: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak

    Tender & Juicy BBQ Chicken Thighs

    Slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs in a black slow cooker with green onions on top.
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Tender, juicy, and simmered in a gluten-free, homemade BBQ sauce! Skip the grill and save your oven space, these slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs make the easiest weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

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    Welcome!

    I'm Shelby, a Certified Strength & Nutrition Coach who has spent the last 10 years helping women feel more comfortable in their skin though home strength training and healthy food- no diets, no shortcuts

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