Weeknight Meals That Don't Need Your Full Attention

These recipes are perfect for busy parents who want delicious, home-cooked food without the huge time commitment. A little prep, a little heat, and you are free to handle the rest of your evening. No tricky steps or nonstop stirring. Just dependable dishes that turn out great with minimal effort. From slow cooker wonders to easy sheet bakes, these meals give you the space to breathe and still deliver real flavor.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

barbecue chicken legs inside a crockpot — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Juicy bites of kitchen coated in a savory, seasoned sauce, these crockpot BBQ chicken legs are perfect for busy weeknights or potluck dinners. Made with just 3 ingredients these slow cooker drumsticks are a budget-friendly way to feed a crowd.

Get the recipe: Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs

Dairy-Free Beef and Zucchini 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

Easy 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

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

Honey Garlic Shredded Chicken

Paleo honey garlic chicken shredded on white rice in a bowl. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender, juicy bites of shredded chicken simmered in a paleo honey garlic sauce. This 5 ingredient crockpot chicken makes for the perfect weeknight dinner.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Dutch Oven Roasted Whole Chicken

Roasted whole chicken topped with green onions in a Dutch oven with a blue linen, cutting board, knife and baster behind it — Photo Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

This easy Dutch oven whole chicken comes out to juicy perfection every time. Seasoned with cumin and garlic, with a crispy skin on top, this roast chicken recipe is one you’ll want to hang on to!

Get the recipe: Dutch Oven Whole Chicken

Gluten-Free Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup with carrots in a white mug with lemon and a spoon beside it. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Made from scratch in the slow cooker this gluten-free chicken noodle soup is a comforting blend of ingredients perfect for chilly nights. To learn more: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

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

Honey Garlic Steak Bites

Slow cooker steak bites mixed with soy honey garlic sauce. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender bites of beef simmered all day in a honey garlic sauce these slow cooker steak bites are an effortless recipe. Made with only four ingredients you can use these steak bites for easy meal prep, a tasty appetizer, or just a high-protein snack.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Steak Bites

Slow Cooker 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