Quick Easy Dinner Recipes

Easy Meal Ideas from Scratch

I have more than just quick easy dinner recipes, check out more dinner ideas at the end of the page.

I have listed my favorite homemade dinner recipes - chicken dinner recipes first, and my beef casserole recipes follow.

Quick Easy Dinner Recipes

Easy Chicken and Rice Recipe
(photo left)

Nothing better for dinner than this easy casserole. These chicken dinner recipes are comfort food at it's finest.

CHICKEN AND DRESSING DELUXE CASSEROLE

CUT UP:
4-1/2 to 5 lb stewing chicken and cover with water.

Add 1 teaspoon of salt and simmer until tender. Do NOT boil. Cover and cool overnight (in liquid) - in refrigerator if you have the time.

The next morning skim off the fat; reserve 1/2 cup of fat for gravy. Keep chicken stock. Remove skin from the chicken and grind in blender. Bone chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

GRAVY
Make gravy with stock using:

1/2 cup chicken fat
3/4 cup flour
1-1/2 quarts chicken stock

Place chicken fat in skillet over medium heat and add the flour. Whisk in chicken stock, stirring until smooth. Add more salt if necessary.

BREAD DRESSING

1 loaf day old (stale) bread ripped in small pieces

First:
1/3 cup chicken fat or butter
all the ground chicken skin
1-1/2 cups diced onion
2-1/2 cups diced celery

Cook butter or fat with chicken skin, onion and celery. Now pour this over the ripped up bread.

Add:
1 tsp ground sage
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Spoon dressing into greased 9x13 inch pan and arrange chicken over the dressing. Pour chicken gravy over this, then cover with buttered dry bread. Bake for 1 hour.

Chicken and Biscuit Casserole

Here's another quick easy dinner recipe. This easy shrimp casserole is a different twist on tuna noodle casserole.  No shrimp?  Try leftover chicken.

SHRIMP NOODLE CASSEROLE RECIPE

1 cup uncooked medium width noodles
1 can homemade cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
2 cups cooked small shrimp
1/2 cup frozen peas
3-1/2 oz can french-fried onions
parsley flakes

PREHEAT oven 350 degrees. Grease a casserole dish; set aside.

Cook noodles and drain. Add milk slowly to soup. Heat and stir until smooth. Add chicken, noodles, peas and 1/2 of the french-fried onions. Pour into prepared dish and bake for 15 minutes.

Top with remaining french-fried onions. Bake another 5 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley flakes before serving.

The next quick dinner recipe is addicting...

Can you say quick easy dinner recipe? That's this one, and it's wonderful.

CHICKEN NOODLE CHOW MEIN CASSEROLE

1 boiled chicken, deboned/skinned and cut into pieces
1 large onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 cup mushrooms, chopped (optional)
2 TBS butter
2 cans homemade cream of chicken soup
1 to 1-1/2 cups chicken broth or water
1/2 pkg noodles, cooked and drained
chow mein noodles

PREHEAT oven to 300 degrees. Grease a casserole dish.

Fry onions and celery in butter until tender. Add cream soup. Add chicken broth (or water) and whisk together. Stir in mushrooms and noodles; mix well. Pour into prepared casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes. Add chow mein noodles on top - bake for another 15 minutes. Serve with fresh salad and my homemade salad dressing.

You will love this quick easy dinner recipe.

SWISS CHICKEN CASSEROLE

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
6 slices Swiss cheese
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup milk
2 cups herb seasoned stuffing mix
1/4 cup butter, melted

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x13 pan.

Arrange the chicken pieces in the bottom of the prepared baking dish and top each pieces with Swiss cheese.

Combine the soup and milk; whisk well. Spoon this mixture over the chicken and cheese and then sprinkle with the stuffing mix. Drizzle with melted butter and bake for 50 minutes.

Crock Pot Method
Spray the inside of the crock pot with vegetable oil and place the chicken breasts on the bottom. Then add the cheese on top of the chicken, top with milk and soup mixture - then sprinkle with dry stuffing and pour melted butter over stuffing.

Cover and cook 3-4 hours, longer if using frozen chicken breasts. It will NOT be dry so do not add anything more to this recipe. This is certainly a quick easy dinner recipe at my house.

For this quick easy dinner recipe, I have included a wonderful mushroom sauce. Wonderful. Just wonderful.

CHICKEN-n-STUFFING SCALLOP

Prepare 1/2 (1-3/4 cups) herb-seasoned stuffing according to package directions. Spread into bottom of greased 10"x6" baking dish.

Top with 1-1/2 cups cooked chicken pieces

PREHEAT oven to 325 degrees.

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
3 eggs, slightly beaten

In a saucepan, melt the butter and blend in the flour and a dash of salt and pepper. Add the broth and cook until mixture thickens. Stir in 1/2 cup of this mixture in with the eggs (temper) and then return back to the hot mixture. Mix well and pour over chicken in the baking dish.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted off-center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes to set and then cut into squares and serve hot with mushroom sauce (recipe below).

Mushroom Sauce

1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
2 TBS milk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 TBS chopped pimento(optional)

Mix the above ingredients together in a saucepan and heat through. Serve over chicken dish above.

This quick easy casserole recipe is outstanding. Sounds like a lot of work - but it's not. Enjoy.

CHICKEN VOTEL

2 large chicken breasts
1 lb spaghetti, brake into pieces
1/2 lb Velveeta cheese, grated
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 TBS sherry wine
1 tsp homemade worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup butter
3 TBS flour
1 whole small onion, peeled
3 celery stalks, chopped

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan.

Parboil chicken* in salted water with the whole onion and chopped celery. After 15 to 20 minutes, remove the onion and keep the liquid. Skin chicken and slice thin. Parboil spaghetti** in salted water. Rinse in cold water and remove the fat from the chicken broth.

Sauce
1/2 cup butter
4 TBS flour
4 to 5 cups broth (from parboiling chicken)

Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the flour. Mix together and slowly whisk in the broth to make a heavy sauce. Add worcestershire sauce, mushrooms and half of the grated cheese.

Place a layer of parboiled spaghetti (drained) in a 9x13 inch pan. Then a layer of chicken, then a layer of cheese sauce. Alternate layers, with cheese being the final layer on top. Sprinkle with paprika (optional). Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*Parboiling is similar to boiling, but done at a simmer (rather than a full boil). Bring salted water to a boil and add chicken breasts. Lower heat and simmer for fifteen to twenty minutes. This takes a big chunk out of the cooking process. For a quick easy dinner recipe tip - do this to chicken before you grill it.

**Parboiling pasta is the same thing. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Once the pasta "wilts" and water comes to another boil - it's ready. Drain.

You can use these methods in any easy casserole recipe or dish. Parboil pasta in the morning (before the afternoon heat) and toss lightly with oil. Refrigerate in resealable bag. Boil for a couple minutes before you need it and it's ready for the recipe. Ta-da.

This is down right sinful (but I love it). The next quick easy dinner recipe is delightful and can be served for company. It's simple to prepare and delicious.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE CASSEROLE

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 TBS olive oil
2 cups spinach, chopped
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
3 tsp garlic, minced
2 TBS butter
1 TBS lemon juice
can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 TBS Italian seasoning
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
3/4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x13 inch pan with vegetable oil.

In a heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of  canola oil until hot. Sauté the spinach and mushrooms and place in bottom of dish then placed the uncooked chicken on top.

Melt 2 TBS butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stirring constantly, mix in the garlic, lemon juice, cream of chicken soup, Italian seasoning, heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Pour the sauce over the all and top it off with the crumbled bacon. Bake for 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and top with cheese. Continue to bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese is light brown and bubbly.

NOTE:
Here's another way to prepare this chicken casserole recipe.

1.) Cut up chicken into chunks.

2.) Cook chicken and minced garlic together in a pan with a few tablespoons of olive oil.

3.) After chicken was cooked, add the soup, cream, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, and lemon juice.

4.) Stir it all up on medium heat til creamy and then poured the entire mix on top of the spinach and mushroom layer as stated in the recipe. Then sprinkle crumbled bacon on the top and baked for 25 minutes. Eat this on top of buttered pasta.

For the following quick easy dinner recipes, I am using ground beef.

More Quick Easy Dinner Recipes

Homemade Beef Casserole Recipes

CHEESEBURGER PASTA DISH

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2  tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
can of condensed cheddar cheese soup
1/2 cup milk
2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
1 cup (4 oz) Velveeta cheese
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 TBS butter, melted

PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9x13 inch pan.  Set aside.

In a large pan, cook the beef, onion and garlic until meat is cooked through; drain.  In a bowl, combine
the two soups and milk; mix well.  Stir in the beef mixture.  Fold in the macaroni and cheese.

Pour into a well greased 9x13 inch pan.  Toss bread crumbs and butter together and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.  Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes or until heated through.

Use burger toppings - very easy to put together.  Enjoy.

FRENCH FRY CASSEROLE

1 lb hamburger
1 tsp homemade garlic powder
1 tsp homemade onion powder
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 lb freshly cut french fries
fresh mushrooms, garnish
cooked bacon, garnish
shredded cheese, garnish

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees.

Press raw hamburger into the bottom of a square baking dish. Add garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper to taste. Mix the two soups together and pour over the seasoned hamburger. Top with french fries and bake for 1 hour.

Baked Chop Suey Recipe

HAMBURGER HOT DISH (Mexican Hot Dish)

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2  tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 green pepper, chopped
14.5 oz can Mexican stewed tomatoes (or chili style tomatoes)
1/2 cup water
1/25 oz package taco seasoning mix
2 cups elbow macaroni (or small shells), cooked and drained
2 cups shredded Mexican or cheddar cheese

PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees and grease a 11x7 inch pan.  Set aside.

In a large pan, cook the beef, onion and green pepper until meat is cooked through; drain.  Sprinkle with meat with garlic and onion powder.   Add the tomatoes, water and taco seasoning; simmer for 7 to 10 minutes – stirring occasionally.  Toss the pasta in with the meat mixture.

Spoon approximately 3 cups of mixture into the prepared pan.  Sprinkle with 1 cup of cheese; top with remaining meat mixture.  Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  

Uncover and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.  Return to the oven and bake another 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. 

I have mixed the cheese through the casserole instead of sprinkling it on the top; turns out well.

This is quick easy dinner recipe is a different take on the usual hamburger casserole.

HAMBURGER AND RICE RECIPE FROM SCRATCH

1 lb ground beef
1 tsp homemade garlic powder
1 tsp homemade onion powder
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can chicken rice soup
1 can homemade condensed cream of chicken soup
4 TBS homemade soy sauce
1/2 cup raw rice
2 cups water

PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees. Butter a casserole dish.

Brown the hamburger (with the celery and onion together until tender). Place the the prepared baking dish and season with garlic and onion powder.

Mix the remaining ingredients together and pour over burger. Bake, covered, for 1-1/2 hours.

This homemade quick easy dinner recipe is requested often.

CHOPPED SUEY HAMBURGER CASSEROLE

2 lbs hamburger
1 pkg homemade dry onion soup mix
frozen bag fancy Chinese vegetables
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 can homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 can milk
3 TBS molasses
3 TBS homemade soy sauce
Chinese noodles - topping

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large casserole dish.

Brown the hamburger and drain.

Mix the onion soup mix, mushroom soup, milk, molasses and soy sauce together. Add the vegetables and ground beef; mix well and place in prepared baking dish. Bake for 1 hour. Remove and add Chinese noodles on top. Bake another 10 to 15 minutes.

This quick easy dinner recipe is delicious. Try this one tonight and see what your family says...

HERBED MEATBALLS IN MUSHROOM SAUCE

1 lb ground beef
1/4 lb pork sausage (bulk)
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp homemade garlic powder
1/2 tsp homemade onion powder
1/2 tsp thyme
2 TBS tomato paste
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 TBS vegetable shortening
1/2 lb cooked noodles
mushroom sauce (recipe below)

Combine ground beef, pork, bread crumbs, seasoning, tomato paste and egg. Mix well and lightly shape into 1-1/2 inch balls. Brown in shortening, reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Serve over cooked noodles with mushroom sauce.

Easy Mushroom Sauce
1 can homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp thyme
pinch of garlic powder

Combine soup with 1/2 cup water and remaining ingredients. Mix well and heat thoroughly.

Grab some French bread for this quick easy dinner recipe. We love this homemade "casserole."

SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

1 cup onion, minced
3/4 cup green pepper, minced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
2 TBS butter
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp homemade garlic powder
1 tsp homemade onion powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp white sugar
3-1/2 cups cooked tomatoes
cooked and drained spaghetti (8 oz uncooked)
grated parmesan cheese, for serving

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large baking dish.

Saute onion, green pepper and mushrooms until tender in a skillet with butter. Add ground beef and season with garlic and onion powder. Fry until no longer pink.

Meanwhile, place tomatoes in a saucepan and add the salt and white sugar. Heat until dissolved. Mix everything together in a large bowl and place in prepared baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve with grated parmesan cheese, garlic bread and a fresh salad with my homemade salad dressing.

I hope your family enjoys these quick easy dinner recipes as much as we do. Please bookmark this page, because I will be adding more delicious quick easy dinner recipes in the future.

Pizza Cavatini (photo)

Quick easy dinner recipe - all American favorite.

One Pot Meals in the Crockpot

BEST Homemade Hamburger Recipes