My Favorite Quick-and-Easy Dinners

When my kids were babies, I thought I was busy.

Then they got bigger. And now I wonder what in tarnation I did with my time back then.

Something has just kicked in. Over the past year, between soccer, football, school work, tournaments, mock trials, and a zillion other things, our kids are busy…which, once I throw in a husband who’s trying to run a cattle ranch, and the fact that the kids are his primary work crew, and the fact that we also shoot our show for Food Network, and the fact that I still have to make time to watch Real Housewives, makes for a nutso household.

And people say the country is bucolic and peaceful. Haha.

My whole food-related point, since this is the Cooking section of my website, is that more and more, I am expanding my arsenal of relatively quick dinners that can be ready in a jiffy.

(Does anyone say “in a jiffy” anymore? Please say yes.)

For quick reference, I put together a bunch of my very favorite quick-and-easy dinners here on The Pioneer Woman Cooks! I hope you find a handful that make your life (or at least your life at dinnertime) easier. Note that for some of these (Pasta Puttanesca, anyone?) I may want to serve some grilled chicken alongside it to satisfy the carnivores in my house. Just tailor each recipe to fit your household!

(Just click on the photos or links below to get to the printable recipes.)


Beef and Bean Burritos. This remains a favorite supper among Marlboro Man and the kids, and they couldn’t be easier.




Shrimp Scampi! Oh, my. So delicious, so easy. So good!




Fried Round Steak. Serve it with mashed potatoes and veggie, or between two pieces of white bread. This is my favorite way to eat round steak. The flavor is amazing.




Chicken Florentine Pasta. Ahh…one of my favorites. Chicken, tomatoes, spinach, pasta…perfectly simple and good.




Roasted Red Pepper Pasta. I use jarred roasted red peppers to make this dish over-the-top quick and easy. Everyone I’ve ever made this for has closed their eyes and sighed. So scrumptious!




Pepperoni Pizza Burgers. A great way to take regular ol’ burgers to the next level. Just add marinara, pepperoni, and mozzarella!




And if that piques your interest…try these Surpreme Pizza Burgers after that. Wow.




Chicken Bacon Ranch Panini. Couldn’t be easier! (If you don’t have a panini maker, just grill it in a skillet. Yum!)




Pasta Puttanesca! Ready in no time, gone in minutes. At least when I’m around.




Mini Meatball Sandwiches. Another quick-and-easy crowd pleaser. These are great if you have a group of kids over to your house.




An oldie but a goodie: Pasta with Vodka Sauce! I could eat a whole pan of this. It’s to die for.




Tortellini Primavera. Use storebought cheese tortellini, make a veggie/ham/Parmesan/cream sauce…and dinner is served!




Chicken Mozzarella Pasta! Truly one of the easiest and most delicious quick dinner there is. Marlboro Man and the kids love it…and I love it, too!




Quick-and-Easy Philly Cheesesteaks. Okay, so they aren’t THE original, authentic cheesesteak…but they’re still utterly delicious.




Ooooh. If you haven’t tried this Buffalo Chicken Salad…you’ve gotta make it soon!




Another main course salad: Chicken Taco Salad. So much flavor, so much texture…so good!




And mmmmmm…Shrimp Tacos. Fresh, flavorful, fantastic.




Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce. Takes sauteed chicken up a notch. Great for guests!




And of course…French Bread Pizzas. The possibilities are endless!

Hope you find some good stuff, friends.

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