21 Easy but Real Dinners I Make When My Energy Tank Is Empty

Some nights, cooking feels like climbing a mountain in flip-flops—doable, but why? That’s when I pull out my list of easy but real dinners I make when my energy tank is empty. We’re talking meals that don’t require three trips to the store or a sink full of dishes, but still taste like I actually tried. Because let’s be honest, even on our laziest days, we still deserve something satisfying.

Super Tender Grilled Skirt Steak

Marinated skirt steak grilled and sliced on a cutting board. — Super Tender Grilled Skirt Steak. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Infused with tequila, soy sauce, and brown sugar, this skirt steak recipe yields juicy and flavorful meat every time.
Get the Recipe: Super Tender Grilled Skirt Steak

Seafood Foil Packets With Old Bay

Two shrimp boil packs with toasted bread. — Seafood Foil Packets With Old Bay. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Shrimp boil foil packets are an easy way to get the great flavor of a shrimp boil without standing over the stove. A terrific summertime meal, ready in 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Seafood Foil Packets With Old Bay

The Juiciest Bone In Grilled Pork Chops

A grilled pork chop next to a sweet potato on a plate. — The Juiciest Bone In Grilled Pork Chops. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Perfect, juicy grilled pork chops in less than 20 minutes! You never need to have dry pork chops again! (Easy recipe!)
Get the Recipe: The Juiciest Bone In Grilled Pork Chops

5-Ingredient Cheese Quesadillas Homemade Recipe From Scratch

Learn how to make homemade cheese quesadillas your whole family will love. It’s easy with this step-by-step guide. Crispy golden!
Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient Cheese Quesadillas Homemade Recipe From Scratch

Bone-In Oven Roasted Pork Chops With Peaches

Three seasoned pork chops on a baking sheet, surrounded by sliced peaches and red onions, all roasted and slightly caramelized—a perfect example of effortless sheet pan meals. — Bone-In Oven Roasted Pork Chops With Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Pork chops with peaches are sweetened with roasted peaches for a sheet pan meal that comes together in less than 10 minutes and ready in 25.
Get the Recipe: Bone-In Oven Roasted Pork Chops With P e aches

Shrimp Scampi With Zucchini Noodles

Cheese dropping onto a plate of shrimp scampi — Shrimp Scampi With Zucchini Noodles. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Looking for a healthy, quick and easy dinner tonight? Try keto shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles. Garlic and butter coat the zoodles, you won’t even miss the pasta.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi With Zucchini Noodles

Pork Marsala With Mushrooms

A serving spoon in a skillet of pork marsala medallions — Pork Marsala With Mushrooms. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Sweet and savory Marsala sauce dripping over pork tenderloin in this Pork Marsala with Mushrooms will make any weeknight dinner seem like a holiday.
Get the Recipe: Pork Marsala With Mushrooms

Beef Stroganoff With Homemade Cream Of Mushroom Soup

A serving dish of creamy beef stroganoff. — Beef Stroganoff With Homemade Cream Of Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This one-pot Beef Stroganoff is made with ground beef and homemade mushroom soup for an extra flavor boost.
Get the Recipe: Beef Stroganoff With Homemade Cream Of Mushroom Soup

Easy Honey Bbq Chicken

Chicken wings are on a white plate with sauce. — Easy Honey Bbq Chicken. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

Honey BBQ Chicken is made with my homemade Honey BBQ sauce & tender boneless skinless chicken thighs. So easy to do on the grill, oven & more!
Get the Recipe: Easy Honey Bbq Chicken

Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy

A spoon pouring gravy over pork chops. — Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Seared until golden brown and served with a rich sauce, these Smothered Pork Chops with Boursin Gravy are the perfect comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops With Boursin Gravy

Southern Chicken Fried Steak With White Gravy

A close-up shot of crispy chicken fried steak topped with creamy gravy, garnished with chopped parsley and black pepper. One piece is partially cut, showing the inside, with a fork holding a small bite. The meal is served on a textured metal plate. — Southern Chicken Fried Steak With White Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Tender, juicy, and crispy chicken fried steak is served with creamy white gravy and all of your favorite sides.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken Fried Steak With White Gravy

Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple Salsa

A plate of sliced pork tenderloin on rice with pineapple salsa. — Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple Salsa. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A juicy pineapple pork tenderloin that is first marinated and then cooked on the grill for an easy dinner in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple Salsa

Grilled Shrimp Quesadillas

A close-up of a grilled quesadilla filled with shrimp, corn, melted cheese, green onions, and fresh cilantro on a plate—perfect for adding to your Cinco de Mayo recipes. — Grilled Shrimp Quesadillas. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fire up the grill for easy shrimp quesadillas stuffed with grilled corn and marinated shrimp. Grilled corn and green onions make all the difference for this light and simple dinner.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Quesadillas

Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone

Parmesan being added to shrimp and pasta. — Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This easy shrimp and spinach pasta with mascarpone is rich and creamy and can be on the table in less than 25 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone

Pan Seared Buttery Garlic Ribeye Steak

A pan seared steak sliced on a serving platter. — Pan Seared Buttery Garlic Ribeye Steak. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Restaurant-quality, tender juicy steak right in your own kitchen in about 10 minutes. So easy, this garlic herb butter steak will melt-in-your-mouth.
Get the Recipe: Pan Seared Buttery Garlic Ribeye Steak

10 Minute Chicken Quesadillas With Mango

Three quesadillas next to toppings. — 10 Minute Chicken Quesadillas With Mango. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Chicken mango quesadillas combines tortillas with tender chicken, shredded cheese, and fresh mango. A 10 minute meal your family will love!
Get the Recipe: 10 Minute Chicken Quesadillas With Mango

Pecan Pork Chops With Honey Glaze

A honey glazed pork chop on a plate with a knife and fork. — Pecan Pork Chops With Honey Glaze. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

With their flavorful, caramelized edges and sticky sweet sauce, these Honey Glazed Pork Chops will have your whole family asking for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pork Chops With Honey Glaze

Grilled Pork Kabobs With Fresh Peaches

Pork removed from a skewer on a platter. — Grilled Pork Kabobs With Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Tender pieces of pork are paired with juicy chunks of peaches for a fresh summertime take on classic Pork Kabobs.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Kabobs With Fresh Peaches

30 Minute Meatball Stroganoff

A bowl of egg noodles covered in stroganoff meatballs. — 30 Minute Meatball Stroganoff. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This made from scratch beef stroganoff meatball recipe has a creamy sour cream sauce with no canned soup in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: 30 Minute Meatball Stroganoff

Spicy Thai Chicken Recipe

Three pieces of grilled chicken breast, a standout among chicken dishes, topped with shredded coconut and fresh basil, served on a dark plate with a flavorful sauce. — Spicy Thai Chicken Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This spicy Thai chicken recipe cooks up juicy, flavored packed chicken breasts in 30 minutes for an easy weeknight meal everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Thai Chicken Recipe

Creamy Au Poivre Sauce With Peppercorns

Sliced steak au poivre topped with peppercorn sauce served next to creamy mashed potatoes on a white plate, with a fork and a piece of bread visible in the background. — Creamy Au Poivre Sauce With Peppercorns. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Steak au Poivre recipes starts with peppercorns crusted steaks that are covered in a rich cognac and cream sauce. It comes together in 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Au Poivre Sauce With Peppercorns

Explore Recipes

MSN Slideshows