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Whipping together a healthful dinner after a long workday and not opting for a quick bowl of cereal is sometimes a true test of personal willpower but it doesn't have to be. The next time you catch yourself staring blankly into an open fridge, stomach grumbling, wondering how to piece together a meal that's remotely nutritious, think about this list of easy go-to recipes—You'll love the ease of cooking an entire chicken and vegetable meal on one sheet pan, or baking a single casserole that will provide you with an entire week's worth of lunches. Now that's a no-brainer.
2 of 31 Jeran McConnel
Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks
For a meal that's easy, budget friendly, and highly adaptable, baked chicken drumsticks are a great option to keep in mind when hunger strikes. Prepare other sides while they cook, and save the bones for homemade bone broth.
Ashley Manila 3 of 31
"Hard-Boiled" Eggs in Muffin Pans
Never again will you have to worry about setting a pot of water on the stove—This recipe will teach you how to bake hard boiled eggs in a muffin pan that practically peel themselves.
Ashley Manila 4 of 31
Hashbrown Casserole
This comforting side is hearty enough to be served as a main and loaded with cheesy goodness. Our recipe only requires a few ingredients and no more than 15 minutes of prep time, plus you can store this in the freezer for a few weeks. Emergency casserole, it's a thing.
Julia Mueller 5 of 31
Sheet Pan Chicken with Broccoli, Potatoes and Red Onions
Just imagine feeding your entire family, with only one pan to clean at the end of dinner. Would we lie to you?
Charity Curley Mathews, founder of Foodlets.com 6 of 31
Chicken and Spinach Skillet Pasta
When you've got a family to feed, hearty one-pot dishes can be your saving grace. This recipe, with juicy chicken, creamy sauce and fresh spinach, is sure to please even the pickiest eaters at the table.
Valerie Brunmeier 7 of 31
Prosciutto Carbonara Pasta
The prosciutto called for in this recipe doesn't take long to crisp, making it perfectly suited for those nights when you're juggling one too many things and still want to eat something delicious. Ready in 20 minutes or less!
Shaina Olmanson 8 of 31
Slow Cooker White Bean Beer and Ham Soup
This slow cooker soup of dreams is like a bonus round gift during holiday season: a warm soup that utilizes leftovers, takes little effort to prepare and even freezes well.
Jackie Dodd 9 of 31
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
We all know baking potatoes in the oven takes forever. But do you realize that you can easily cook baked potatoes in an Instant Pot in about half the time, depending on their size? Just add toppings!
Jessica Kielman 10 of 31
Instant Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
A Mississippi Roast is usually cooked in a slow cooker and can take up to 6 hours before it's ready to eat. The Instant Pot strikes again with this spin on a classic recipe that cuts cook time in half.
Jessica Kielman 11 of 31
Freezer-Friendly Chicken Marinade Recipes
A whopping five healthy, flavor-packed chicken marinades that are freezer-friendly and will keep those weeknight pizza-dialing fingers in check.
Trisha Sprouse 12 of 31
Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Skillet
Can anyone truly have enough of these wonderful, one-pot recipes at their disposal? We think not.
Valerie Brunmeier 13 of 31
Simple Shredded Chicken Tacos
We're hoping this recipe will inspire you to cook a double batch so that you can make Wednesdays "Pulled Chicken Enchilada Night" as well. Trust us, no one will complain.
Jackie Dodd 14 of 31
Easy Taco Casserole
This spin on a classic casserole is easy to make ahead of time or serve fresh out of the oven, plus you'll find tons of flavor and spiciness variations to suit your family's preferences.
Charity Mathews, founder of Foodlets.com 15 of 31
Make-Ahead Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
A warm casserole is the ultimate comfort food. But why buy store-bought casseroles that may be frozen, filled with artificial ingredients, or lacking in flavor, when you can make this tasty and straightforward version at home?
Ashley Manila 16 of 31
Asparagus Cooked in the Microwave
Don't be afraid to turn to your trusty microwave on busy evenings to cook up some fresh vegetables quickly.
mikdam/iStock/Getty Images 17 of 31
Italian Pasta Salad
Italian pasta salads are the universal stand-by for office potlucks, barbecues or a quick weeknight meal. Prep this recipe on Sunday so you have a fast, ready-to-eat, healthful one-dish meal during your work week.
Sweet Caroline\’s Cooking 18 of 31
One-Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta
This recipe may sound fancy but it is incredibly easy to make. Oh, and it's all done in one pan in under 30 minutes.
Abbey Rodriguez 19 of 31
Pan-Seared Salmon
With this method of cooking salmon, you will end up with a perfectly seared piece of fish every single time.
Leigh Ann Chatagnier 20 of 31
One-Pot Whole Wheat Shrimp Pesto Pasta
To cut calories, cheese is omitted from the pesto in this recipe and kale added for extra nutrients. You may also switch out the whole grain pasta for a rice pasta to make this whole meal gluten-free, depending upon your family's tastebuds and dietary needs.
Leigh Ann Chatagnier 21 of 31
One Rotisserie Chicken = 3 Make-Ahead Salads
Did you know that all you need is one rotisserie chicken to make up to 10 lunches for a week of healthy eating? No, really!
Jeran McConnel 22 of 31
One-Pot Caprese Pasta
Pasta is the perfect answer for a pre-soccer practice meal, with plenty of fresh mozzarella and a bit of basil so that it harkens to your favorite summertime salad, the caprese, of course.
Shaina Olmanson 23 of 31
Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage with Sweet Potatoes, Onions and Apples
Roasting these flavors together on a single sheet pan and the juices will mix and mingle for the perfect blend of sweet and savory in every bite. Mmm.
Charity Curley Mathews, founder of Foodlets.com 24 of 31
One-Pot Stroganoff
This one-pot update makes the classic eastern European dish even easier to create at home, with all the same creamy, tangy and satisfying flavors of the original.
Charity Curley Mathews, founder of Foodlets.com 25 of 31
Sheet Pan Salmon with Dill, Butternut Squash and Sugar Snap Peas
For a colorful and healthful meal bursting with flavor, implement this simple cooking strategy in order to have each item ready at the same time and be one step closer to absolute efficiency.
Charity Curley Mathews, founder of Foodlets.com 26 of 31
One-Pot Butternut Squash and Sausage Pasta
Use your favorite type of cheese in this recipe—Parmesan, Gruyere, or Gouda come highly recommended. Plus you may replace the butternut squash with any winter squash or even sweet potato for endless fall flavor combinations.
Julia Mueller 27 of 31
Quick and Easy Basil Pesto Linguine
For this dish, remember that the quality of your ingredients is crucial. Opt for the good stuff, like real Parmigiano Reggiano, which will make for pesto that's savory, nutty and nothing like the stuff you see for sale in a green tube.
Jennifer Farley 28 of 31
Cheesy Eggs Baked in a Muffin Tin
While these savory treats taste best fresh out of the oven (but what doesn't?), they're also ideal for busy families because you get a whopping 12 servings at once that you can easily refrigerate or even freeze to enjoy much later and pop in the microwave to eat on-the-go.
Jennifer Farley – SavorySimple.net 29 of 31
Sheet Pan Pancakes
After reading this recipe, you may never go back to making pancakes the traditional way ever again.
Leigh Ann Chatagnier 30 of 31
Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce
Truly nothing beats homemade pizza, especially the sauce. Follow this simple recipe and you'll never want to waste money on jarred pizza sauce again.
Jennifer Farley – SavorySimple.net 31 of 31
Applebee\’s Spinach Artichoke Dip
The creamy, dreamy way this dip clings onto bread or chips, the tang of the cheese and bite of artichokes make this gooey appetizer a crowd favorite—This version is just as easy as it is delicious, it'll be your new go-to.
Jackie Dodd