23 One-Hour Dinners We Keep Making Because They’re Just That Good

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23 One-Hour Dinners We Keep Making Because They’re Just That Good

One-hour dinners are the real MVPs in our kitchen because they’re quick, straightforward, and so good we keep coming back to them. These 23 recipes make any night better without too much hassle. They’re the ones you’ll rave about to friends and come back to when you need something quick yet impressive.

Cheesy spinach and chicken casserole.
Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

Stuffed bell pepper casserole in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This meal is ready in 45 minutes and cuts out the extra work of stuffing peppers while still giving you all the flavors you’re looking for. It’s perfect for beginners and becomes a go-to for a fast, hearty meal. With its quick cooking time, this casserole is something you’ll want to make again and again, especially when you need something dependable for dinner during the week.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole

Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

A casserole dish with broccoli and cheese.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Get a veggie-rich dish on the table in just 30 minutes. This casserole combines broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, and bacon, all while using frozen vegetables to keep things easy. It’s designed to be simple from the beginning to the end, which means you spend less time cooking and cleaning. This is the kind of meal you’ll find yourself returning to for a quick, healthy dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Cabbage and Sausage

Cabbage and sausage in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Cabbage and Sausage. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This dish proves that simple ingredients can create something really flavorful, all in less than 30 minutes. Using just cabbage and sausage, it’s an easy meal that doesn’t skimp on taste. It’s a perfect example of how you can turn a few ingredients into a quick dinner solution, especially on those nights when you’re short on time but still want something good to eat.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

A person is holding a wooden spoon full of chicken bites in a garlic butter sauce.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Get dinner ready in 20 minutes with Garlic Butter Chicken Bites. This quick and tasty dish involves bite-sized chicken cooked in a delicious garlic butter sauce. It’s an easy recipe that suits any skill level in the kitchen. Pair it with rice and veggies for a filling meal, or toss it over a salad for a lighter dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

A casserole dish filled with pasta and peas.
Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole is a perfect weeknight family meal that takes less than 1 hour to make. It’s straightforward to prepare and reheats well, so any leftovers will make for a convenient meal tomorrow.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole

Broccoli Casserole

A casserole dish with broccoli and cheese in it.
Broccoli Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Broccoli Casserole is a delicious family dinner option that comes together in only 50 minutes. It’s easy to make and a great choice for beginner cooks or anyone who doesn’t want to spend endless time actively cooking in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

A skillet full of meat and rice with a spoon.
Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Here’s a meal that gets everything done in one pan within 30 minutes. The combination of ground beef, cheddar cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms makes for a filling dinner that’s easy to make. It’s especially handy for those evenings when you’re busy but still want a meal that’s good for you and tastes great. Plus, it makes for excellent leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Spinach Chicken Bake

A dish of cheesy spinach casserole with a spoon.
Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Ready in just 30 minutes, this chicken bake mixes chicken thighs with spinach, cream cheese, and mozzarella for a creamy and hearty meal. It’s baked until golden and is the kind of dinner you go for when you want something comforting but don’t have a lot of time. This recipe is a solid choice for a quick dinner that leaves everyone at the table happy.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

A pan with shrimp, tomatoes and spinach in it.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This seafood dinner is a quick, 40-minute meal that brings together shrimp, grape tomatoes, and spinach in a delicious garlic sauce. With a hint of paprika and red pepper flakes, it offers extra flavor without extra time. It’s the perfect pick for a weeknight when you want something a bit special but still easy and fast to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Hungarian Mushroom Soup

A bowl of Hungarian mushroom soup with a spoon.
Hungarian Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

In just 45 minutes, this Hungarian Mushroom Soup offers a rich and comforting meal. The mushrooms are sautéed and simmered in a creamy broth, creating a hearty soup that’s ideal for a busy weeknight. It’s easy to pair with bread, salad, or veggies for a complete meal that doesn’t require much effort.
Get the Recipe: Hungarian Mushroom Soup

Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

A pot of sweet potato and red pepper soup with sour cream and parsley.
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Ready in just one hour, this soup combines sweet potatoes and red peppers for a creamy, flavorful meal. It’s an easy recipe that’s perfect for a cozy dinner at home. Customizing it to your taste allows for a meal that’s both warming and enjoyable, with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

A baking sheet filled with vegetables and sausages.
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Streamline your dinner routine with this 30-minute Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Just toss everything on a sheet pan and roast to perfection. It’s an effortless way to whip up a flavorful dinner, great for those evenings when you’re looking for something simple yet gratifying.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

Sausage Curry

A bowl of rice and sausage curry on a table.
Sausage Curry. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Ready in 45 minutes, this Sausage Curry mixes sautéed sausages and veggies in a rich curry sauce for a dish that’s easy to make but full of flavor. It’s a great pick for a quick family meal, providing a hearty and flavorful dinner without a lot of work.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry

Fajita Baked Chicken

Fajita baked chicken in a baking dish with salsa and sour cream.
Fajita Baked Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Fajita Baked Chicken, ready in 30 minutes, seasons chicken breasts with fajita spices, cream cheese, sweet peppers, and mozzarella. It’s a hassle-free dinner option that pairs well with a salad or steamed veggies, making for a complete and enjoyable meal on any weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Baked Chicken

Creamy Dijon Chicken

A pan with chicken, spinach and bacon in it.
Creamy Dijon Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Whip up Creamy Dijon Chicken in just 30 minutes, featuring chicken thighs simmered in a creamy Dijon mustard sauce with spinach and bacon. It’s an easy recipe that uses simple ingredients for a quick and hearty meal, perfect for wrapping up a busy day.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

A pan with bacon and cabbage in it.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe combines green cabbage, bacon, and onion in just 25 minutes, creating a meal with a perfect balance of flavors. Serve it as a light main course, adding a delicious and easy vegetable dish to your meal plan.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Chicken with creamy mushroom sauce in a skillet.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

In just 30 minutes, enjoy chicken thighs covered in a smooth mushroom sauce. This one-pan meal makes both cooking and cleanup easy. It’s a simple yet flavorful choice for dinner any night, ensuring you get a great meal on the table quickly.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Thai meatballs in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Spice up your dinner with Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs, ready in 45 minutes. With ground turkey seasoned in Thai spices and cooked in a coconut curry sauce, this dish brings a lot of flavors without a lot of work. It’s a quick, appetizing way to make dinner something special.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Chicken thighs with sun dried tomatoes in a white bowl.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Get a filling dinner ready in 30 minutes with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. This meal, made in one skillet, combines chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmesan in a rich sauce. It’s an easy, fast way to have a comforting meal at the end of a long day.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Chicken with spinach and cream sauce in a skillet.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Tuscan Chicken, ready in just 40 minutes, combines chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach in a creamy sauce. Cooked all in one pan, it’s a great meal for a filling dinner on a busy night. The simplicity of preparation and cleanup makes this dish a practical choice for any weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon

A white bowl of asparagus noodles with bacon and sauce.
Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Enjoy Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon in just 30 minutes. This dish uses asparagus shaved into noodles, topped with homemade Alfredo sauce and bacon, for a fun and quick veggie-rich dinner. It’s a great way to eat more greens in a delicious, easy-to-make meal.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon

Creamy Garlic Chicken

A white dish with chicken breasts in a creamy garlic sauce.
Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This 30-minute Creamy Garlic Chicken is a straightforward, one-pan dinner with chicken breasts in a rich garlic sauce. It’s a great choice for a fast, great-tasting dinner on busy nights or for impressing guests. Pair it with rice or a side for a complete, comforting meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Keto Zuppa Toscana

Two bowls of soup with bacon and kale.
Keto Zuppa Toscana. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

Enjoy a filling, one-hour dinner with this Keto Zuppa Toscana, inspired by Olive Garden but tailored for a low-carb lifestyle. It combines garlic, sausage, radishes, and kale in a creamy soup that’s great for tonight and as leftovers. This easy-to-make soup is a great choice for a hearty dinner on a busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana

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