15 Easy Dinners to Keep You Functioning Until Thanksgiving

The countdown to Thanksgiving can feel endless when you still have to cook dinner every night. These 15 easy meals take the pressure off, keeping you fed and sane while you plan for the big feast ahead. Each recipe is quick, satisfying, and designed for nights when energy is running low but dinner still needs to happen. They’ll keep you functioning and full until the turkey finally takes over.

Pork Chops and Applesauce with Blackberries

Pork chops with blackberry applesauce on a gray plate. — Pork Chops and Applesauce with Blackberries. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

This 35-minute meal brings a unique twist to your weeknight rotation. The sweet applesauce and tart blackberries give the pork chops a flavorful kick, making this an easy yet standout dish. When you’re tired of the usual, this recipe brings something fresh to the table. Big flavor with minimal effort—it’s perfect for a busy night.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops and Applesauce with Blackberries

Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

Cilantro lime chicken on a plate next to avocado and cilantro garnish. — Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Ready in 35 minutes, this bright and fresh chicken and rice dish brings zesty flavors to your busy weeknight. Lime and cilantro paired with juicy chicken over rice make for a light, satisfying dinner that’s quick and easy. It’s the kind of meal that helps you unwind after a long day without adding to your stress. This dinner will leave you refreshed and ready for whatever comes next.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Chicken & Rice

One Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner

Cooked seasoned pork surrounded by diced vegetables in a black skillet on a wooden table. — One Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Ready in just 40 minutes with one pan to clean, this pork dinner helps you breeze through hectic weeknights. The garlic and pepper-seasoned pork tenderloin and veggies pack big flavor without the stress. It’s the perfect no-fuss option when you need a simple dinner that doesn’t require much thought. This dish keeps your evening calm and delicious.
Get the Recipe: One Pan Garlic Pepper Pork Dinner

Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Bone in pork chop topped with hollandaise sauce and shrimp, on a white plate next to green beans. — Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Combining juicy pork chops and shrimp, this 30-minute dish is perfect for nights when you want something hearty but fast. It brings a touch of indulgence to your weeknight without requiring hours in the kitchen. This meal makes you feel like you’re dining out without the hassle of leaving home. A satisfying way to elevate a busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Chop Surf and Turf

Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

This quick and easy dinner is ready in 30 minutes, offering a sweet and savory option that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Marinated in a maple-mustard mix, the chicken grills up fast, giving you a flavorful meal with minimal effort. It’s the kind of dinner that keeps you sane when life gets hectic. Simple, satisfying, and stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Maple Mustard Chicken

Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Grilled pork chops on a plate with oranges and limes. — Citrus Glazed Pork Chops. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Ready in 30 minutes, these sweet and tangy pork chops are a lifesaver for chaotic weeknights. The citrus and honey glaze adds big flavor without requiring much effort, making this a fast solution when you need dinner done quickly. This meal proves that you don’t need to sacrifice taste when you’re short on time. Your busy evening just got a lot easier.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Glazed Pork Chops

Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

Garlic herb pork chops and golden roasted potatoes in a cast iron skillet, garnished with fresh herbs. — Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

This hearty, 45-minute dish is your go-to when you need something quick and easy during busy November nights. Garlic and herb-seasoned pork and potatoes roast together, making it a comforting meal with minimal cleanup. It’s a no-hassle, satisfying option that keeps your weeknight routine on track. When dinner is this easy, there’s no need for panic.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Herb Pork and Potatoes

Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet

In just 30 minutes, this balsamic chicken skillet brings together rich flavors and a quick prep, making it the perfect weeknight meal. Tender chicken in a tangy cream sauce gives you the satisfaction of a well-rounded dinner without the headache. It’s a dish that saves your evening and gets you back some precious time. A meal that’s as fast as it is comforting.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet

Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

A one-pan meal that’s ready in 50 minutes, saving you time and effort on busy evenings. With seasoned chicken, carrots, and potatoes roasting together, you get a flavorful meal with minimal cleanup. This dinner fits perfectly into the theme of sanity-saving weeknight meals. It’s the perfect choice when you need dinner done without the usual kitchen chaos.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

In just 20 minutes, this weeknight miracle delivers big flavor with minimal effort. Sautéed in rich garlic butter, the chicken bites make for an easy, satisfying dinner that simplifies your evening. It’s quick, comforting, and incredibly easy to prepare. This dish will make you wonder why you ever bothered with more complicated meals.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Pork Chops with Mustard Shallot Gravy

A plate of sliced pork with mushroom sauce, fork above, and wine bottle behind. — Pork Chops with Mustard Shallot Gravy. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

A 30-minute dinner that turns pork chops into something special, this meal is perfect for those busy nights when you need something quick. The mustard and shallot gravy brings bold flavor without the stress of a complicated recipe. It’s a dinner that feels more involved than it really is. You’ll feel like a kitchen pro, even if you’re in a hurry.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops with Mustard Shallot Gravy

Greek Turkey Meatballs with Feta

Meatballs with creamy white sauce, pita bread, and fresh dill on a gray plate, with a lemon wedge nearby. — Greek Turkey Meatballs with Feta. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Greek Turkey Meatballs with Feta are the kind of easy dinner that keeps you steady when the week starts to blur. They bake quickly, with feta and herbs adding big flavor without the need for long prep or cleanup. In under 30 minutes, you’ve got a hearty meal that pairs with anything from salad to pasta. It’s the type of dinner that keeps you functioning until the Thanksgiving countdown begins.
Get the Recipe: Greek Turkey Meatballs with Feta

Instant Pot Marry Me Chicken Soup

A bowl of creamy pasta with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and shredded cheese on top. — Instant Pot Marry Me Chicken Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Instant Pot Marry Me Chicken Soup is what you turn to when you need something warm, filling, and fast. The Instant Pot takes care of it in under 30 minutes, turning chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and pasta into a rich, cozy soup that feels made for busy weeks. It’s hearty enough for dinner but easy enough for lunch the next day. Meals like this keep you going when you’re too close to Thanksgiving to start something complicated.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Marry Me Chicken Soup

Easy Four Cheese Mac and Cheese

Baked four-cheese macaroni in a rectangular white casserole dish. — Easy Four Cheese Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Four Cheese Mac and Cheese keeps dinner simple with layers of gooey, golden comfort in under half an hour. A mix of four cheeses melts together on the stovetop, making it creamy enough to skip baking altogether. It’s quick, rich, and built for nights when energy runs low but hunger doesn’t. This is the kind of dinner that holds you over while your brain’s already on Thanksgiving leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Easy Four Cheese Mac and Cheese

Cast Iron Chicken with Cherry Sauce

Skillet with roasted chicken breasts, lemon slices, grapes, herbs, and garlic cloves. — Cast Iron Chicken with Cherry Sauce. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Cast Iron Chicken with Cherry Sauce gives you a one-pan dinner that tastes like more effort than it takes. In about 35 minutes, chicken sears to golden perfection while cherries, garlic, and thyme create a tangy-sweet sauce right in the pan. It’s hearty, comforting, and looks impressive without keeping you tied to the stove. Meals like this remind you that “easy” doesn’t have to mean “boring” while you push through to Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Chicken with Cherry Sauce