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“Mom, what’s for dinner!?” The dreaded question as you walk into the house after a busy day.

These five meals exist for that question. They’re not impressive. Nobody will likely ask for the recipe at a dinner party. But they get real food on the table, they don’t require standing over a stove for forty minutes, and — most importantly — everyone actually eats them.

Here’s what’s actually in our rotation.

1. Roasted Tomato Caprese Pasta

Why it works: The oven does the cooking while you do everything else. Cherry tomatoes roast until they burst and make their own sauce — no jar required.

Best for: Nights when you want something that tastes like summer without much effort.

You’ll need: 1 lb pasta of your choice · 1 pint of cherry tomatoes · 2 cloves of garlic · olive oil · 8 oz fresh mozzarella · fresh basil · salt and pepper

How to make it:

1. Heat oven to 400°. Halve the tomatoes(or not) and toss on a sheet pan with olive oil, garlic cloves, salt and pepper, or try our favorite cajun season: Slap Ya Mamma.

2. Roast 25 minutes, until they burst and start to caramelize at the edges.

3. Boil pasta while the tomatoes roast. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.

4. Toss everything together with torn cubed mozzarella and chopped basil, adding pasta water a splash at a time until it comes together as a sauce.

This is one of our go to summer meals because garden fresh tomatoes and fresh basil make it EVEN better!

The tool that makes it easier: A good chef’s knife. Halving a pint of cherry tomatoes with a dull knife is genuinely miserable — with a sharp one it takes ninety seconds.

→ The knife we use  · Sheet pan

2. Dump-and-Go Chili

Why it works: Everything goes in one pot and time does the rest. It’s better on the second day, which means it’s also tomorrow’s lunch.

Best for: Cold winter nights, and any week where you need one meal to stretch into three.

You’ll need: 1 lb ground beef · 1 small red onion, diced · 6 cans beans (chili, black, kidney, etc.), drained(except chili beans) · 2 cans rotel with juices · 1 chili packet · for extra spice add 1-2 diced jalapeno peppers · add beef or bone broth if it’s too thick

How to make it:

1. Brown the meat with the onion in a large pot over medium heat. Drain any excess fat.

2. Add everything else. Stir.

3. Simmer uncovered 30 minutes, stirring now and then. Longer is better if you have it.

4. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving. As always, a little Slap Ya Mamma makes everything better!

What to serve with it: Fresh garlic or corn bread, tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream and extra jalapenos.

The tool that makes it easier: An enameled Dutch oven. It browns the meat and simmers the chili in the same pot, and it goes straight from the stovetop to the middle of the table.

→ The Dutch Oven we love  

3. Black Bean Quesadillas

Why it works: 20 minutes, five ingredients, and the kids can build their own. This is the meal for nights when there is no plan.

Best for: The evenings you genuinely have nothing figured out and it’s already 6pm.

You’ll need: 8 flour tortillas · 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed · 2 cups shredded cheese(monterey jack or cheddar) · 1 tsp of Slap Ya Mamma or your favorite cajun seasoning · 1/4 salsa (red or green) · olive oil

How to make it:

1. Mash the black beans in a bowl with salsa & spices. Leave it chunky.

2. Spread the bean mixture over the entire tortilla. Top with cheese and cover with another tortilla. Lightly drizzle olive oil on top of the tortilla and sprinkle with cajun seasoning. Repeat 3 times. You’ll need two sheet pans to bake.

3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

4. Remove from oven and let them set for a few minutes. Cut into wedges and serve.

What to serve with it: Rice, guacamole or salsa & sourcream.

The tool that makes it easier: A great multipurpose potato masher. Mashes beans, avocados AND potatoes!

→ Potato masher

4. Crockpot Shredded Chicken Tacos

Why it works: Three ingredients and eight hours of ignoring it completely. You start it in the morning and dinner is finished before you walk in the door.

Best for: Game days, practice nights, and any evening you know you’ll come home with nothing left.

You’ll need: 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts or thighs · 1 jar (16 oz) salsa(red or green) · 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp garlic powder) · tortillas and toppings

How to make it:

1. Put the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the salsa over it and sprinkle the seasoning on top.

2. Cover and cook on low 6–8 hours, or high 3–4.

3. Shred the chicken right in the pot and stir it back through the juices.

4. Serve with tortillas and let everyone build their own.

What to serve with it: Rice, black or pinto beans, guacamole, salsa & sourcream.

The tool that makes it easier: A chicken shredder. Two forks work, but this turns a five-minute job into thirty seconds — and one crockpot of chicken becomes tacos tonight, quesadillas tomorrow, and soup on Thursday.

→ The chicken shredder  ·  Slow cooker  

5. Sloppy Joes

Why it works: It’s the meal every kid at the table will eat without negotiation. Twenty minutes start to finish, one pan to wash.

Best for: Weeknights when you need zero resistance and fast cleanup.

You’ll need: 1 lb ground beef · 1 onion, diced · 2 tsp chopped garlic · $1/2$ cup ketchup · ¼ mustard · ¼ bbq sauce · 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce · 1 tsp Slap Ya Mamma · add beef or bone broth if it’s too thick

How to make it:

1. Brown the beef with the onion and garlic over medium heat.

2. Stir in everything else and bring to a low simmer.

3. Simmer 10 minutes, until it thickens enough to hold together on a bun.

4. Spoon onto toasted buns. Serve with a salad and you’ve covered your bases.

What to serve with it: Chopped pickles, onions, jalepeno peppers. Chips, veggies, salad or an easy baked potato.

The tool that makes it easier: A vegetable chopper for the onion. It’s the difference between dicing by hand at 5:30 and just pressing a lid down twice.

→ The vegetable chopper · cast iron skillet 

None of these are complicated. That’s the whole idea.

Family dinner doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Sitting down at the table with those you love and connecting after a long day is the goal.

Save this post for your next meal plan — and if getting everyone to actually talk once they’re at the table is the harder problem, our printable dinner conversation cards were made for exactly that.