Six No-Oven Family Dinners for Busy Nights (Week #99)
Sometimes you want the ease of crockpot meals without everything feeling super heavy and wintery, and that is exactly what this week’s menu is all about. We leaned into easy slow cooker meals that still feel light enough for late spring, plus a few simple stovetop dinners for those extra busy nights when you need dinner on the table fast. Honestly, most of these meals are dang near dump-and-go, which makes this the kind of week I know many of us need right now.
We stretched a pork loin and a large pack of chicken breasts into six different family dinners that still feel different from one another, so you are not eating the same flavors all week long. This menu uses just 27 ingredients and came to a total of $58.93 at the Walmart in Victorville, California.
Quick Family Meals without the Oven
Grocery List
If you want to see the full shopping list on Walmart in your area, all you have to do is click my Walmart Grocery list and change the zip code to your area. *This is an affiliate link, and I do make a small commission on any purchases, but at no additional cost to you!*
**** Please note, that every once in a while, an item that I pick turns out to be regional. This means that it may be a much higher price in some areas. Always double check the list and if you see an item that is much higher than normal, just adjust as needed.
Summer Meals for Families
Crockpot Italian Pork Sandwiches with Home Fries
This is one of those super low-effort crockpot meals that still feels hearty and filling without turning on the oven. If your family likes a little extra flavor, you could easily add banana peppers or provolone cheese to the sandwiches. The air fryer home fries also work great with ranch, ketchup, or even dipped into the juices from the pork.
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
This pasta dinner feels fresh and light compared to heavier creamy pasta dishes, which makes it perfect for late spring and summer. If Roma tomatoes are expensive in your area, you could swap in garden tomatoes or even cherry tomatoes. The balsamic glaze is optional, but it adds a lot of flavor and makes the dish taste a little fancier with very little effort.
Crockpot Salsa Verde Pork Burrito Bowls
These burrito bowls are super customizable depending on what your family likes or what you already have at home. You could top them with shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado, tortilla strips, or fresh cilantro. This is also a great meal prep option because the leftovers reheat really well for lunches.
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Skillet with Broccoli
This is the kind of one-pan meal that works really well for busy weeknights because everything cooks together in the same skillet. You can swap the broccoli for peas, mixed vegetables, or even spinach, depending on what is on sale. If your skillet starts looking dry while the rice cooks, just splash in a little extra broth.
Crockpot Lemon Garlic Chicken
The lemon and garlic help keep this crockpot dinner from feeling too heavy, even though it is still very filling. Red potatoes hold up really well in the slow cooker, but Yukon gold potatoes would also work nicely here. This meal pairs great with a little parmesan or feta cheese sprinkled over the top before serving.
Pork Lo Mein with Stir Fry Veggies
This quick stovetop dinner is a great way to get takeout-style flavors at home for a fraction of the cost. Frozen stir fry vegetables help keep prep super easy, but you could also use fresh broccoli, carrots, snap peas, or cabbage if you need to clean out the fridge. If your family likes saucier noodles, simply add an extra splash of soy sauce or a little extra water at the end.
Free Printable PDF Version
This prints on standard paper sized 8.5 x 11 inches.
What about next week?
We put out a new meal plan every week! We have 3 ways to be notified of new menus:
*Join our Low Dough Facebook Page where we post new menus every Saturday and new meal ideas every Wednesday!
*Sign up for the weekly email newsletter. We send it out on Fridays, so you actually get early menu access!
Join our Facebook Group- Meal Planning for All (you can ask questions and get help planning your own menus)
Until next week, I hope you have a fabulous week!
