10 Dinner Recipes for Busy Families

Balancing a busy schedule while trying to serve up delicious dinners can be a challenge for any family. That’s why we’ve put together this collection of 10 Dinner Recipes designed for hectic weeknights. Featuring favorites like Homestyle Burgers, Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole, and Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken, each recipe helps you cut down on prep or cooking time without sacrificing flavor. Let’s make every family dinner a little easier and a lot tastier!

Homestyle Burgers

Total time: 20 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Ground beef, seasonings, buns and condiments

Learn more and get the recipe: Homestyle Burgers

Homestyle Burgers are simple, juicy, and delicious. Start with high quality ground beef, add the seasonings, and cook until done to perfection.

Sloppy Joes

Total time: 55 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Ground beef, onion, bell pepper, tomato sauce

Learn more and get the recipe: Homemade Sloppy Joes

My Homemade Sloppy Joes is a classic recipe that we just never get tired of. It’s one of my most reliable and popular dinners for school nights. Serve it with fries or chips and some dill pickles or a salad on the side.

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Chicken, Ritz crackers, butter, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup

Learn more and get the recipe: Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

You’ll love my Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole recipe! It’s creamy and tangy with a nice crunch from the cracker topping. Perfect for family dinner any night of the week.

Southern Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

Total time: 20 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Bulk breakfast sausage, flour, milk

Learn more and get the recipe: Southern Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

If you’ve never had a breakfast of Southern Sausage Gravy and Biscuits, get ready to be amazed! This hearty country breakfast featuring rich, savory sausage gravy and warm buttermilk biscuits with baked, herbed tomato slices on the side will quickly become a favorite in your household.

Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice

Total time: 40 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Chicken, long grain rice, chicken broth, onion, celery, butter

Learn more and get the recipe: Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice

This old-fashioned one pot Chicken and Rice recipe is pure, hearty comfort food. For this simple recipe, chicken, rice, celery, and onions are combined and steamed to perfection all in one pot. It’s a great meal to make on a weeknight or when you need something that really sticks to your ribs!

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Total time: 45 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Chicken, poppy seeds, cream of chicken soup, cheddar cheese

Learn more and get the recipe: Easy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

My Easy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is pure comfort food. It takes about 15 minutes to mix it up, and then it’s ready to pop in the oven. This hot, fast, creamy, comforting casserole will be a new family favorite!

Ham and Noodle Casserole

Total time: 50 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Ham, egg noodles, onion, bell pepper, sour cream, cheese

Learn more and get the recipe: Easy Ham and Noodle Casserole

Use leftover ham to whip up a delicious weeknight dinner with my recipe for Easy Ham and Noodle Casserole! This comfort food dish features egg noodles and ham in a cheesy, creamy sauce.

Bistro Chicken

Total time: 30 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Chicken breasts, bacon, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms

Learn more and get the recipe: Bistro Chicken with Cheese and Bacon

Craving a cozy dinner that feels like a hug on a plate? Try my Bistro Chicken with Cheese and Bacon recipe, a simple yet hearty dish that brings the comfort of a weeknight meal to new heights. With chicken simmered in a rich tomato and mushroom sauce, then topped with gooey cheese and crispy bacon, it’s your ticket to a satisfying dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes.

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

Total time: 1 hour
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Whole chicken, lemon, olive oil, seasonings

Learn more and get the recipe: Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken

I believe that one of the best items to come on the market over the past few decades is the grocery store rotisserie chicken! They’re so juicy and tender on the inside with seasoned crispy skin outside! Well, now you can easily create them at home with about 5 minutes of prep using my recipe for Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken.

Steak Tips with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Sirloin or top round steak, onion, garlic, mushrooms

Learn more and get the recipe: Steak Tips with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Spend just 20 minutes prepping my Steak Tips with Creamy Mushroom Sauce and get rave reviews from the whole family! They’ll love these tender, bite-sized tidbits of steak, seared until golden brown and cooked in a savory mushroom sauce served over rice, potatoes, or noodles. This comfort food classic uses pantry staples to create the perfect family dinner.

My Southern Table Cookbook

If you like these recipes, you’ll love my new cookbook! It’s 348 pages filled with 246 recipes, each with a full-color photo. Visit my blog at Lana’s Cooking for more information.