As we’re transitioning into a new school year, a new season, and a change in seasonal ingredients, many of us could use some fresh recipe inspiration to bolster our weeknight meal rotation.
With that goal in mind, we’ve compiled a collection of easy, home-cooked meals that we (and our regular readers) return to again and again. It’s every day stuff, not too fussy. At the same time, many of the following recipes are worthy of guests.
For example, the slow roasted chicken will rival your favorite rotisserie chicken and is so very easy, yet it’s elegant too. Friends will be thrilled if you serve them flavor-packed sheet pan fajita bowls or Gruyere Dijon turkey burgers, and I’ve brought the broccoli salad to countless potlucks and team dinners over the years. (The bowl is always scraped clean and people request the recipe!) Similarly, fall slaw is a weeknight go-to around here that has also been a staple on many readers’ holiday tables.
But again, the emphasis here is on easy, everyday meals. To that end, there are lots of advance prep options and meals that can be stashed in the freezer. (Hello baked meatballs and chicken and wild rice soup!) From pasta, fish, and beef to plant-based options and breakfast fare (breakfast for dinner anyone?), there’s a little something for everyone.
To that end, I hope some of our every day favorites soon become your everyday favorites and make the daily lift of getting meals on the table feel a little bit lighter.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
Customizable chicken fajita bowls are simple to make with a convenient sheet pan approach and are sure to become a weeknight favorite.
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Cheater Macaroni and Cheese
This shortcut recipe is ideal when you’d prefer not to clean messy pots and pans. You don’t even have to precook the noodles!
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Jen’s Incredible Baked Meatballs
These tender, flavorful baked meatballs have been a family and reader favorite for many years. Hundreds of readers have called them the best meatballs ever! Serve with spaghetti and tomato sauce.
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Slow Roasted Whole Chicken
This longtime reader and family favorite effortlessly produces tender, juicy chicken every single time. It’s wholesome comfort food that never grows old!
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Chicken Alfredo
Lighter than the traditional Alfredo but equally irresistible, this flavorful pasta dish comes together easily with minimal ingredients. Plus, there are options to add favorite vegetables and vary the protein.
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Gruyere Dijon Turkey Burgers
Dijon mustard and Gruyere cheese take ground turkey to new heights in these juicy, flavor-packed burgers that cook quickly on the grill or stovetop. Enjoy on a bun or as a salad topper!
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Brussels Sprouts Salad with Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette
Exceptional flavor and versatility are the hallmarks of this vibrant salad, which makes a meal out of virtually any protein, from chicken and pork to salmon, shrimp, steak, and burgers.
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Yakisoba Noodles
Yakisoba is a Japanese stir fry with a noodle base, lots of veggies, and a speedy sauce that’s salty-sweet and a little bit tangy. A kid favorite!
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Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowls
Super satisfying Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowls rely on a few flavorful components to create one memorable meal. For added ease and variety, the components can be made and enjoyed separately throughout the week.
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Fall Slaw
A bag of slaw mix offers a convenient shortcut in this crisp, wholesome, seasonal salad. The easy vinaigrette is loaded with flavor and can be used in a variety of meals as a sandwich and burger topper or a side!
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Simple Salmon in Foil (grill and oven options)
A short list of everyday ingredients makes this quick-cooking salmon recipe shine. The simple foil packet locks in flavor and moisture–and makes cleanup a snap!
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My Favorite Broccoli Salad
Perfect for an easy dinner side, or a satisfying lunch, this tried-and-true rendition of the classic broccoli salad can be assembled in advance in minimal time and varied according to preferences.
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Chicken Gyro Rice Bowls
Greek Chicken Gyros with all the classic add-ons and a shortcut tzatziki are easy to recreate in your kitchen. Try them bowl-style or stuffed in a pita!
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Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
The simplest of ingredients meet a flavor-packed sauce for a prep-ahead meal that’s destined to become a weeknight favorite!
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Pizza Chicken
The flavor of pizza adds excitement to this family friendly chicken dinner – and just like regular pizza, you can choose your toppings.
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Stovetop Lentils with Veggies
Colorful vegetables and hearty lentils come together with ease in this one pot dish that can be served as a filling vegetarian stew, a flavorful side dish, or topped with your favorite protein.
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Unstuffed Pepper Skillet Dinner
This family-friendly, one-pan meal brings all the great flavors of the traditional preparation with a fraction of the work.
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Roasted Veggie Pesto Pasta
Quite possibly my favorite pasta, which I make on repeat, this satisfying meal is nourishing comfort food at its best. And packs in the veggies!
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Pasta with Speedy Baked Cherry Tomato Sauce
An irresistibly easy way to use an abundance of cherry tomatoes, this flavorful recipe relies on a short list of pantry staples and makes a super satisfying, versatile meal.
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Crunchy Chicken Wraps with Peanut Dressing
Crunchy slaw and protein-rich chicken are bathed in a peanutty dressing then rolled into a handy wrap in this Asian-inspired meal that is sure to become a family favorite.
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One Pan Teriyaki Salmon & Vegetables
One shortcut ingredient adds ease and loads of flavor to this heart-healthy, veggie-rich dinner that cooks in a single pan. Our families gives this meal high marks!
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Budget Sushi Bowls (with canned tuna)
Eating well on a shoestring budget is easy with these flavor-packed bowls, which conveniently rely on canned tuna. Perfect for a speedy weeknight meal or packable lunch!
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Super Crunchy Oven Fried Drumsticks
Crispy, crunchy, and no fryer needed! Perfect for family dinners, packed lunches, and more because they may be served warm, cold or room temperature－and note the helpful advance prep options!
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One Pan Spanish-Style Chicken & Rice
This all-in-one meal is a weeknight favorite that’s loaded with filling protein, satisfying carbs, healthy vegetables and lots of great flavor.
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Inspired by the tomatoey beef stew that my mom and grandmother used to make, this comforting, all-in-one meal is loaded with tender meat and wholesome vegetables and comes together in snap.
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BBQ Tofu Bowls
Easy to customize with grains and vegetables of choice, these colorful, plant-based bowls are equal parts nourishing and delicious. (With convenient meal prep option!)
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Pasta with Sausage and Shortcut Broccoli Pesto
Thanks to a somewhat unconventional method of preparation, a generous serving of broccoli goes almost undetected in this filling, flavorful meal that is ready in about 20 minutes.
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Aunt Peggy’s Turkey Chili
Quick, easy, and super satisfying, this flavorful chili is a go-to on busy nights and reheats beautifully. This recipe is quick and easy chili at its best. As an option, serve over the perfectly baked potatoes below!
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Perfectly Baked Potatoes
This basic technique guarantees potatoes with crisp, flavorful skins and light, fluffy insides every time. Enjoy them as a side with butter or sour cream or stuff with your favorite add-ins like the chili above!
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Crock Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup (with freezer bag option)
A classic comfort food that’s wholesome and easy to make. All it takes is a morning prep (and dump into the slow cooker!) to come home to a delicious weeknight meal everyone loves.
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Tuscan Lentil Soup
A hint of sausage supplies smoky, savory flavor in this one-pot soup, which is packed with plant-based protein, colorful veggies and satiating appeal. Wholesome comfort food at its best!
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Prosciutto Wrapped Pan Seared Halibut (or Tilapia, Flounder, etc.)
No need to sacrifice flavor for the sake of simplicity with this speedy meal, which is as effortless to cook for one person as it is a crowd.
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Cottage Casserole with a Kick
Homemade hearty breakfasts are a great start to a big day. This all-in-one meal is as satisfying as it is easy! The ingredients mix up in a single bowl and may be prepared a day in advance.
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Egg Scramble in a Cheddar Hash Brown Crust
The tastiest, 3-ingredient crust makes an irresistible frittata crust and a super satisfying meal out of simply scrambled eggs.
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Crunchy Top Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
This tried-and-true breakfast offers a deliciously wholesome, make-ahead way to start the day. The recipe even won a national contest!
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Slow Cooker Maple Applesauce
A small amount of maple syrup is the key to a wholesome applesauce that allows the natural sweetness and flavor of the apples to truly shine. Nice at breakfast, as well as a dinner side dish.
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Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats
Five minutes of prep reward you with a hearty, nourishing, grab-and-go breakfast that’s brimming with pumpkin and warm spices.
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Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties
Ground pork and a short list of spices create a healthy alternative that tastes just like sausage and can be used in make-ahead breakfast sandwiches below or as a breakfast side on its own!
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The Best Egg Sandwiches
Eggs are baked to light, fluffy perfection (easy and so good!) and then layered with the classic additions. Great for grab-and-go breakfasts or packed lunches throughout the week.
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Coconut Pumpkin Granola
Pumpkin works as a tasty replacement for a portion of the sugar and oil in this crunchy granola, which offers just the right notes of sugar and spice!
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No-Bake Energy Bites
Chewy granola bar meets cookie batter in these easy-to-make bites, which include whole oats and a whopping half cup of heart-healthy flax meal. Works as a grab-and-go breakfast or snack!
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Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal Muffins
The classic flavor of banana bread meets wholesome baked oatmeal in these personal-size muffins that are ideal for busy mornings. There’s an option for added protein, and the muffins freeze well.
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