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    Home » MSN Slideshows

    25 Everyday Meals That Stop Dinner From Becoming a Problem

    Published: Jan 17, 2026 by Barbara Curry

    Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

    Not every dinner needs to be exciting , it just needs to work. These everyday meals are the ones people rely on to keep the week moving, feed everyone without stress, and avoid last-minute takeout. They’re simple, dependable, and exactly what busy weeknights call for.

    Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Tater Tots

    A serving being taken from a chicken casserole.
    Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Tater Tots. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.


     

    Satisfy your comfort food craving with this buffalo chicken casserole (or hot dish).It’s made with ground chicken, ranch dressing, hot sauce, and frozen tater tots.
    Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Casserole With Tater Tots

    Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes

    Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!

    FREE EMAIL BONUS: Southern staples made simply & cozy

    This fall apart, melt-in-your-mouth slow cooker pot roast recipe is complete with veggies and gravy. Classic recipe for weeknights or Sunday supper.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Carrots And Potatoes

    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

    Grilled Tequila Chicken Recipe (Chicken Marinade)

    A platter with a fork and grilled chicken.
    Grilled Tequila Chicken Recipe (Chicken Marinade). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Tequila Lime Chicken – so EASY with a marinade of Tequila, agave, orange and lime juice, a family favorite and perfect for Cinco de Mayo.
    Get the Recipe: Grilled Tequila Chicken Recipe (Chicken Marinade)

    Crock Pot Pork Chops In Mushroom Soup

    Mushroom soup and rice with a slow cooker pork chop on a plate.
    Crock Pot Pork Chops In Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This recipe produces the most tender and moist bone-in pork chops! Cooked slowly in a crockpot, the marinade is a scrumptious homemade mushroom soup.
    Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Pork Chops In Mushroom Soup

    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

    Skillet Sausage And Pepper Pasta

    A bowl of sausage and pepper pasta next to crusty bread.
    Skillet Sausage And Pepper Pasta. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This super easy, one pot, sausage and pepper pasta recipe is perfect for a busy weekday night. Perfect easy weeknight dinners in 30 minutes.
    Get the Recipe: Skillet Sausage And Pepper Pasta

    The Juiciest Bone In Grilled Pork Chops

    Two grilled pork chops on a metal platter.
    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

    Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Pineapple Salsa

    A platter of pork tenderloin 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

    Tender And Juicy Beef Carnitas In A Slow Cooker

    Two beef tacos on a platter.
    Tender And Juicy Beef Carnitas In A Slow Cooker. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    With only 15 minutes of prep time, beef carnitas are full of flavor all by themselves but even better with pineapple mango salsa.
    Get the Recipe: Tender And Juicy Beef Carnitas In A Slow Cooker

    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

    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

    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

    Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin

    A serving of coq au vin
    Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Coq Au Vin in the slow cooker gives you comfort food without having to heat up your kitchen. A French chicken stew with layers of flavor that would make Julia Child proud and is sure to be a family favorite.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin

    Chicken In Puff Pastry With Mustard Cream Sauce

    A golden-brown pastry square topped with creamy white sauce and cracked black pepper, served on a dark plate—perfect for easy meals.
    Chicken In Puff Pastry With Mustard Cream Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Impress your family and friends with this elegant chicken in puff pastry, drizzled with a creamy mustard sauce that adds rich flavor to this easy-to-make dish.
    Get the Recipe: Chicken In Puff Pastry With Mustard Cream Sauce

    Fall-Off-The Bone Slow Cooker Baby Back Pork Ribs

    Barbecue ribs with a bowl of sacue.
    Fall-Off-The Bone Slow Cooker Baby Back Pork Ribs. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Crock pot dinners is all about convenience, and this recipe is the perfect example. Ribs have never been this easy to eat!
    Get the Recipe: Fall-Off-The Bone Slow Cooker Baby Back Pork Ribs

    Pf Chang’s Mongolian Beef

    A black platter of rice topped with Mongolian beef stir fry.
    Pf Chang’s Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    A copy cat of PF Chang’s Mongolian beef with tender sliced beef in a sticky savory sauce makes for a quick and fun weeknight dinner.
    Get the Recipe: Pf Chang’s Mongolian Beef

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers With Italian Sausage

    Three stuffed bell peppers, inspired by classic 1980s recipes, two red and one orange, filled with rice and topped with shredded cheese and chopped fresh herbs, served on a light-colored plate.
    Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers With Italian Sausage. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Italian sausage, bell peppers, onions, and garlic are cooked in the slow cooker for a low-effort weeknight dinner.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers With Italian Sausage

    Tender And Juicy Apricot Chicken Recipe

    A plate of apricot chicken on a bed of rice.
    Tender And Juicy Apricot Chicken Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Apricot Dijon Chicken is a quick dinner you can prep in just 10 minutes that comes out tender and juicy every time.
    Get the Recipe: Tender And Juicy Apricot Chicken Recipe

    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

    Baked Meatballs With Gravy (In The Oven)

    A serving platter with egg noodles and meatballs with gravy.
    Baked Meatballs With Gravy (In The Oven). Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Looking for easy weeknight dinners? Try these baked meatballs with parmesan, fresh herbs, and a simple white gravy. Serve over egg noodles for a Southern-inspired meal.
    Get the Recipe: Baked Meatballs With Gravy (In The Oven)

    Easy Homemade Shake And Bake Pork Chops

    A fork with a bite of shake and bake pork chop.
    Easy Homemade Shake And Bake Pork Chops. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    With panko bread crumbs, classic seasonings, and buttermilk, this homemade shake and bake pork chop recipe is a satisfying weeknight dinner.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Shake And Bake Pork Chops

    Creamy Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken Recipe

    Creamy Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken Recipe . Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

    Deliciously creamy Italian Mississippi Chicken with tender chicken breasts, spicy Italian banana peppers, & heavy cream. Quick 10-minute prep!
    Get the Recipe: Creamy Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken Recipe

    Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops With Gravy

    Pork chops on a plate covered with ranch gravy.
    Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops With Gravy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    This ranch pork chops recipe is made in the slow cooker with just a few ingredients. Perfect golden brown pork chops in a thick and flavorful gravy.
    Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Chops With Gravy

    These Are the 30-Minute Meals I Make Once a Week, No Matter What

    A collage showing why these quick dinners are perfect for back to school weeknights: breaded pork chops with knife and fork; glazed pork tenderloin with pecans; and peppered steak with brown gravy and mashed potatoes.
    These Are the 30-Minute Meals I Make Once a Week, No Matter What. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

    Some recipes just earn a permanent spot in the weekly lineup, and these 30-minute meals are exactly that. They’re quick to pull together, light on the cleanup, and always satisfy without any fuss. When the day’s been long and energy is low, these dishes are the ones I can count on to keep dinner stress-free and still completely delicious.
    Grab it here: These Are the 30-Minute Meals I Make Once a Week, No Matter What

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    Barbara holds a tote bag filled with flowers, baguettes, and fresh produce at an indoor market.

    Barbara Curry is the culinary adventurer of Butter & Baggage. With a dedicated enthusiasm for real butter made from happy cows she is in constant pursuit of delicious recipes and tasty dishes. She shares her experiences, ventures, and occasional misadventures because let’s face it things can get messy in any kitchen.

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