21 Easy Recipes You Can Prep in Minutes and Forget About Until Dinner

Cooking doesn’t have to be a daily stress-fest. These easy recipes are all about quick prep and zero babysitting, just throw them together, walk away, and come back to something delicious. They’re perfect for hectic nights, low-energy days, or whenever you need a no-fuss meal to basically make itself.

Pork Chops and Applesauce

Pork chops and applesauce might sound old-school, but this version is weeknight gold. Season the chops, sear them up, spoon on that simple applesauce mix, and let everything finish while you walk away. It’s low effort with big comfort, and you’ll have a hot dinner meal ready without hovering over the stove.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops and Applesauce

Rump Roast

This rump roast is a set-it-and-forget-it kind of dinner that feels way fancier than the effort it takes. Just season, sear if you like, then toss it in the slow cooker or oven and let time do its thing. The beef turns out incredibly tender, full of rich flavor, and perfect over a bed of roasted veggies or mashed potatoes, a no-fuss meal that feels like a win at the end of a hectic day.
Get the Recipe: Rump Roast

Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

This honey mustard chicken is all about bold flavor and barely any work. Throw chicken, mustard, honey, garlic, and lemon into the slow cooker and forget about it until dinner. It simmers into a tender, tangy-sweet meal that tastes like you fussed over it for hours, but you did the work in five minutes.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli casserole takes minutes to throw together, and then the oven handles the rest while you go do anything else. Tender broccoli, a creamy cheese sauce, and a crunchy cracker topping make it both a comfort classic dinner and a sneaky way to get veggies on the table. It’s reliable, always earns compliments, and demands almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

Apricot Tart

Chilled apricot tart is an ideal make-ahead dessert that helps you stay out of the kitchen when the day’s already packed. With a simple graham cracker crust, cream cheese filling, and soft apricot topping, it comes together fast and sets up in the fridge while you forget all about it. Serve it straight from the fridge for a no-sweat after-dinner treat that still feels special.
Get the Recipe: Apricot Tart

Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker

Dump-and-go doesn’t get better than this salsa chicken. Just toss chicken breasts and salsa into your slow cooker and forget about it for hours, and by dinner, you’ve got tender, juicy meat ready to shred and stuff into tacos, bowls, or wraps. It’s quick to start, low effort, and turns out great every time, exactly what weeknight cooking should be.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker

Avocado Salad

Avocado salad is one of those easy dishes that looks fancy but takes almost no time at all. Just chop, toss, and step away while the flavors mingle; this recipe practically handles itself. It’s crisp, cool, and a total breeze to prep, especially if you’re in a “get in, get out” cooking mood, great as a side, lunch, or even a light dinner, this one’s always ready to serve.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Salad

Baby Back Ribs

These baby back ribs come together with just a few minutes of prep, and after that, you can walk away while your slow cooker or oven does all the heavy lifting. A simple spice rub and sticky-sweet glaze turn them into fall-off-the-bone goodness by dinnertime. You’ll look like a kitchen hero without even trying, and it rewards you hours later with flavor worth the wait.
Get the Recipe: Baby Back Ribs

Tiramisu

This no-bake tiramisu is the ultimate make-ahead dessert when you want something impressive without hovering in the kitchen. Just layer espresso-soaked ladyfingers with creamy mascarpone, dust with cocoa, and pop it in the fridge. While it chills, you can move on with your day and come back to a restaurant-worthy after-dinner treat.
Get the Recipe: Tiramisu

Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Spinach and artichoke dip is the definition of effortless; just mix a few ingredients, toss them in the slow cooker, and walk away. A few hours later, you’ve got a warm, cheesy dip ready to go without breaking a sweat. It’s great for dinner parties, movie nights, or whenever you want a cozy snack without hovering over the stove.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Sheet Pan Chicken

Sheet pan chicken is dinner made simple: toss everything on one pan, season well, and bake. In just a few minutes of prep, you’ve got a full meal that roasts while you go do anything else, and with tender chicken and colorful veggies, it’s filling without any drama. Less dishes, less effort, and more flavor, what’s not to love?
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken

Ham and Cheese Sliders

These ham and cheese sliders check all the boxes for fast prep, big flavor, and no stress. Layer everything into soft rolls, pour on the buttery topping, and pop them in the oven, done in under 30. You can get these ready ahead and bake when it’s time, making them a solid go-to for busy nights, whether it’s dinner or a last-minute gathering.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Cheese Sliders

Peanut Butter Fudge

Peanut butter fudge is the kind of treat you can throw together in minutes and then totally forget about until dessert time. Just mix, pour, chill, and walk away; it’ll be ready and waiting to be served after dinner. With that creamy peanut butter flavor and soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture, it tastes way more indulgent than it actually is to make.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Fudge

Herb Crusted Chicken

This herb-crusted chicken brings big flavor with barely any prep. Coat your chicken, bake or air fry, and let the oven do its thing while you walk away. It’s the kind of easy recipe you can throw together on autopilot and still feel like you made something great; no marinades, no babysitting, just a fast dinner with crisp, herby goodness.
Get the Recipe: Herb Crusted Chicken

Parmesan Potatoes

With just a bit of chopping and seasoning, these parmesan potatoes are ready to roast while you forget about them until they’re golden and crispy for dinner. The cheesy crust, buttery interior, and hint of garlic make them downright addictive. Slide the pan in and go, you’ll come back to a side that’s always a hit and couldn’t be easier.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes

Smoked Salmon Dip

This smoked salmon dip is one of those easy recipes you can serve at dinners that takes barely any effort to make but tastes fancy. Just mix it up and let it chill in the fridge until you’re ready, no extra steps, no mess. Creamy, smoky, and loaded with fresh herbs, it’s the kind of dip that makes veggies, crackers, and even plain old spoons feel special.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon Dip

Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes in a slow cooker? Yep, and it’s a total game-changer. Dump in your ingredients, walk away, and come back to fluffy, garlicky, buttery goodness that’s ready to mash and serve for dinner. This is the easy comfort food upgrade that practically makes itself.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes

Baked Chicken Wings

These baked chicken wings are as easy as season, bake, and walk away. In no time, your oven turns them golden, crispy, and loaded with flavor from parmesan, butter, and herbs. They’re perfect when you need a hands-off recipe that still tastes like a win, great for lazy weeknights, dinner, or anything in between.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Wings

Bacon Wrapped Pineapple

Bacon-wrapped pineapple takes just a few minutes to prep, then you can leave them to bake while you get everything else done. The sweet and salty combo practically melts in your mouth, and they come out of the oven looking like you spent way more time than you did. This easy snack or dinner party bite feels fun and special, even though it’s ridiculously easy.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Pineapple

Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

Toss a few pantry staples into your slow cooker in the morning, and by dinner, this apricot chicken is saucy, savory-sweet, and totally ready to serve. Juicy chicken thighs soak up all the flavor from apricot preserves, broth, and spices without any extra effort. One quick prep session, and you’re done until it’s time to plate up.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges

If you’ve got ten minutes, you’ve got everything you need to prep these air fryer sweet potato wedges. Toss them with seasoning, hit start, and let the air fryer do its magic. They come out crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and totally ready for dinner; no flipping, no babysitting, just prep and go.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges