12 Low-Effort Dinners That Include Meat
Solve the weeknight dilemma with these easy recipes featuring hamburger, chicken, pork, and more.
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
We’ve all been there: a weeknight when you’re stressed and want an easy meal that’s going to please everyone…but everyone at your table wants meat at suppertime. Can you pull off a protein-forward dinner that’s low on effort but high on flavor? The answer is yes, thanks to these 12 easy recipes that feature hamburger, chicken, pork, and even corned beef!
Cheesy Hamburger Rice Casserole
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
With just five ingredients and absolutely no muss and no fuss, this casserole was called “Hamburger Jazz” by the recipe submitter’s grandmother. It’s a complete meal in one dish, but you can add a small salad if you are craving some crunch.
Simple Beef Stroganoff
Snacking in the Kitchen
This classic beef stroganoff ups the protein ante when you might have been thinking of whipping up just pasta for dinner. And buttery egg noodles topped with a creamy meat sauce is peak comfort food for a cozy weeknight at home.
Reuben Casserole
If you love a Reuben sandwich, you’ll adore this casserole version of the traditional deli treat. Layers of sauerkraut, corned beef, Swiss cheese, rye bread crumbs, and Russian-style salad dressing make for a baked dish that comes together quickly and satisfies completely.
Super Easy Sloppy Joes
mominml
One of the easiest meat-forward suppers to throw together will always be sloppy joes. This sweet and savory meat sauce can be served in the traditional way inside a bun, or you can get inventive. Try it as a topper for a baked white or sweet potato, on top of rice or pasta, or even with polenta.
Broccoli Chicken Divan
Reyna
This chicken dish may feel a bit retro–my mother made it on the regular back in the 70s–but it was popular for a reason. A true one-dish meal, broccoli, chicken, and cheese come together with a sauce made of cream of broccoli soup that is at once nostalgic and new all over again.
Chicken Pesto Pizza
Think homemade pizza can’t be simple? This version leans into store-bought crusts, precooked chicken strips, and a jar of pesto for a take on pizza that dare we say brings a bit of elegance to a toss-together dish.
Creamy Chicken Marsala
fabeveryday
If you have 20 minutes, this chicken marsala can be on your table! Pair this classic recipe with microwaved or boil-in-bag rice to make your life even easier.
Mississippi Pot Roast
bb
Sometimes easy dinners mean some early-in-the-day prep. This slow-cooker recipe can be tossed together at breakfast and simmered all day so that you come home to a hot meal.
Slow Cooker Dump and Go Cheesy Chicken
Paula T
Another slow-cooker fave, this cheesy chicken is so simple your kids can make it! Just five ingredients and a low simmer in your slow cooker, and you have the basis for a great dinner with hands-off ease.
Oven-Fried Pork Chops
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
Pork chops are a great cut for simple dinners, but when you don’t have the bandwidth for fussing over a pan, let the oven do the work! You’ll have all the crunch of a fried pork chop in less than 20 minutes.
Bacon and Parmesan Penne Pasta
Christina
If you love carbonara-style pasta but don’t want to fool around with eggs, try this updated version of bacon and Parmesan penne, which packs a great bacon punch in a quick and easy weeknight supper.
One Pan Orecchiette Pasta
We love a one-pan pasta dish, and this version of a traditional orecchiette with sausage and greens has everything you need for a hearty and satisfying dinner. And there’s just one pot to wash when you’re finished!
