20 dinners for when you don’t want to cook

Dinner feels like a struggle again? These 20 dinners for when you don’t want to cook are too good to ignore. Quick fixes that make busy nights feel under control!

Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

A bowl of chili with beans, corn, diced avocado, sour cream, sliced peppers, and cilantro, garnished with tortilla chips. — Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Low-energy nights call for something simple that still feels like dinner. With Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili, everything cooks on its own while the day moves along. Less time in the kitchen makes this a solid pick for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Fried Chicken Tacos

Quick dinners feel easier when assembly is all that’s needed. Fried Chicken Tacos come together fast and keep things casual at the table. Great for nights when cooking feels like too much but a real meal still matters.
Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken Tacos

Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken

A bowl of stir-fried beef with green onions, dried red chilies, onion slices, and sesame seeds, served alongside a bowl of white rice. — Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Busy days need meals that handle themselves in the background. Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken keeps prep light and cooking hands-off. Perfect for dinners for when you don’t want to cook but still want something ready at mealtime.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken

One-Pot Greek Pasta

Plate of pasta salad with fusilli, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, feta cheese, and herbs on a clear glass dish with a fork. — One-Pot Greek Pasta. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Fewer dishes always sound like a win at the end of a long day. One-Pot Greek Pasta keeps everything in one place and cuts down cleanup. Easy to fit into dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Greek Pasta

Slow Cooker Barbacoa

A dish of sliced potatoes, onions, and sausage in a creamy sauce, garnished with parsley, served in a bowl on a wooden table. — Slow Cooker Barbacoa. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Long days feel easier with meals that cook without attention. Slow Cooker Barbacoa runs in the background and turns into a full dinner. A smart choice for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Pumpkin Tortilla Casserole

Simple dinners work best when everything goes into one dish. Pumpkin Tortilla Casserole keeps prep short and cleanup easy. Fits right into dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Tortilla Casserole

Parmesan Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin

Sliced herb-crusted meatloaf on a platter garnished with fresh herbs, surrounded by small dishes of potatoes and rice on a marble surface. — Parmesan Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Some nights need a straightforward dinner that still feels complete. Parmesan Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin keeps things simple without extra steps. Works well for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

An overhead image of slow cooker tikka masala in a bowl with rice, with a slow cooker on the background. — Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Hands-off cooking makes busy evenings more manageable. Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef cooks while other things get done. Easy to include in dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Barbacoa tacos on a tray topped with peppers and onions. — Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Long days call for meals that take care of themselves. Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew simmers away with little effort. A go-to for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala

A bowl of shredded teriyaki chicken garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, served over white rice. — Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Plant-based meals can still be easy to manage on busy nights. Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala keeps prep simple and cooking hands-off. Works well for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tofu Tikka Masala

Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast

A white bowl with slow cooker Italian pork roast, potatoes and carrots. — Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

Set-it-and-leave-it meals make evenings less stressful. Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast cooks slowly without needing attention. A great fit for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast

Teriyaki Soba Noodles

A purple bowl filled with noodles tossed with sliced red bell peppers, edamame, and green onions on a rustic white wooden surface. A few carrot slices and green onion leaves are partially visible on the side. — Teriyaki Soba Noodles. Photo credit: All The Noodles.

Quick meals help when time feels tight. Teriyaki Soba Noodles come together fast and keep things simple. Perfect for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Teriyaki Soba Noodles

Easy Chicken Madras Curry

A pot of chicken curry garnished with cilantro, displayed on a white surface. — Easy Chicken Madras Curry. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Straightforward meals help take the pressure off dinner time. Easy Chicken Madras Curry keeps things moving without extra effort. A solid option for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Madras Curry

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

A bowl of creamy potato corn chowder topped with bacon and cheese, next to a wooden spoon, bread slices, and a green plant on a red checkered cloth. — Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Letting dinner cook itself can make the whole evening easier. Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken keeps things low effort from start to finish. Ideal for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Best Vegetarian Bolognese

A plate of spaghetti topped with tomato-based sauce, lentils, chopped parsley, and grated cheese, with a fork resting on the dish. — Best Vegetarian Bolognese. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Some nights call for a simple meat-free option that still feels like a full meal. Best Vegetarian Bolognese keeps things easy and manageable. Fits right into dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Best Vegetarian Bolognese

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot

A bowl of beef stew with chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and garnished with parsley. — Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot. Photo credit: xoxobella.

Flexible meals make dinner less stressful on busy days. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot cook with little effort and are easy to serve. Great for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot

Marry Me Roasted Vegetable Medley

A bowl of creamy soup with roasted cauliflower, red peppers, carrots, and onions. — Marry Me Roasted Vegetable Medley. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

Light meals can still work when energy is low. Marry Me Roasted Vegetable Medley keeps prep simple and cleanup quick. A good addition to dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Roasted Vegetable Medley

Slow Cooker Turkey and Rice Soup

One-pot meals help keep things simple at the end of the day. Slow Cooker Turkey and Rice Soup cooks slowly without much attention. Works well for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey and Rice Soup

Slow Cooker Sriracha Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Busy nights feel easier with meals that don’t need constant checking. Slow Cooker Sriracha Honey Garlic Pork Chops handle the cooking on their own. A strong pick for dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sriracha Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf

Image shows a Bite of tomato lime chicken on a fork with rice and the rest of the bowl in the background. — Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Easy dinners help take the pressure off after a long day. Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf cooks slowly and keeps things simple. Fits right into dinners for when you don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf