The Pioneer Woman Cooks—Dinner's Ready!: 112 Fast and Fabulous Recipes for Slightly Impatient Home Cooks

by Ree Drummond

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The #1 New York Times bestselling author and Food Network favorite The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond returns with an exciting new cookbook filled with no-fuss family recipes for dinners, desserts, and more.

Cook smarter, not harder!

After seventeen years of sharing recipes in my cookbooks, on my website, and on my cooking show, I still absolutely love cooking! That said, while I enjoy making a slow-cooked meat sauce or long-braised pork roast, life is just too busy these days to devote that much time to getting dinner on the table day after day. Heck, even if I have the time to whip up a complicated recipe, for some reason I just don’t seem to have the patience. If you find yourself in the same dinner boat, here’s a collection of flavorful and fast recipes to breathe speedy new scrumptiousness into your cooking.

In The Pioneer Woman Cooks—Dinner’s Ready! you’ll find lots of new dishes to fit your schedule, whether you’re in a hurry to get supper made or simply want to get out of the kitchen quicker to spend time doing other things you enjoy (even if that’s curling up in front of the TV for the night)! Every occasion is covered, from hosting company, with my mom’s Seafood Casserole from the ’70s and Pork Marsala with Mushrooms, to pizza night, with my classic Cast-Iron Hamburger Pizza and gorgeous Rainbow Pizza, to teenager-friendly fun food like Pretzel Dogs and Pickle Chicken Bites. You’ll also enjoy tasty new pasta dishes, chicken dinners, and fuss-free sides like Crispy Parmesan Potatoes and Pimento Cheese Grits, as well as delicious desserts like Blackberry Lime Whip and Chuckwagon Brownies. As a delicious bonus, there’s a whole chapter of easy-to-make Fridge Grabs—from Refrigerator Pickles to Garlic Confit—that are great to have on hand for adding even more flavor and zip to the recipes!

These low-stress, fuss-free, big-on-flavor recipes are sure to be new family faves. You’ll be able to holler “Dinner’s ready!” faster than ever.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Adult, Foodie

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2023

About the author

Ree Drummond began blogging in 2006 and has built an award-winning website, where she shares recipes, showcases her photography, and documents her hilarious transition from city life to ranch wife. She is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling cookbook The Pioneer Woman Cooks . Ree lives on a working cattle ranch near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, with her husband, Ladd; their four kids; their beloved basset hound; and lots of other animals.

Reviews

[Miss✧Pickypants ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been watching Ree on Foodtv for ages, did you know she has been doing her show since 2011?! Her voice carries through in this newest cookbook offering (she has many at this point) and I could hear her voice in my head as I read along.

What's different about this book is recipes are presented pictorially, for each step there is a small photo. There are also a bunch of pics of Ree's family, so if you're a fan of the show you'll appreciate seeing all the familiar faces, who at this point are part of her brand (during the covid years her kids were the film crew and were on screen constantly).

Recipes live up to title, being quick and easy they are perfect for impatient cooks. Some dishes will also be familiar to fans of the show, as I read along I remembered seeing her prepare some of them (like the meatball quesadill ). The book is great for new cooks and fans, experienced cooks who aren't fans are less likely to enjoy or glean much from it. I enjoyed reading this one but didn't learn anything new technique or recipe-wise. I rate this 3.5 stars but rounded down because GRs doesn't offer a half star option.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been a fan of Ree Drummond and her cooking/show/recipes. I didn't like her last cookbook, Super Easy! 120 short-cut recipes for dinner, because so many of the recipes used pre-made or convenience products. This one is again all about dinner, but without quite as much convenience/ready made products. It wasn't anything amazing and was very typical of the Pioneer Woman cookbooks - LOTS of pictures (both of the food and her ranch, family, pets, etc.). I have always liked that she includes a lot of pictures of the steps of her recipes - it can definitely be helpful to see what something is supposed to look like along the way. I did find a couple recipes I'd like to try. Overall, it was good but not great.

[John’aLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by The Pioneer Woman. Lots of recipes to inspire one in the kitchen.

[Nicki Permanently exhausted pigeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this cookbook so down to earth and very well done, beautiful picture an a cute peak into her life

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Your usual PDub fare. Nothing earth shattering here. Might purchas for the pasta chapter alone.

[Lynn Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her recipes. This may be my favorite book yet for the beautiful photography but the approachable meals. We shall see - I’ve marked it up plenty and will be diving in to try them this year!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her cookbooks. This one is now on my Christmas list. 😁 The mushroom and black pepper pasta was amazing!! Highly recommend.

[Denise McQuillen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy cooking the recipes from her cookbooks, as they include easy to find ingredients, are simple to make, and taste great! This book's first chapter has some simple pickling and salad dressing recipes that I am looking forward to trying this winter.

I start by checking them out from the library (among other cookbooks), and if I make enough from them, I buy them. This is the second one I've purchased.

I have made several recipes from her Super Easy book again and again; adjusting them to my style. For instance, I love her "Hawaiian Bowl" recipe where she grills the marinated shrimp, red peppers and pineapple chunks separately. I put them all on skewers, which makes them easy to flip on the grill. :)

[Fran Piraino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as some of her previous cookbooks.

[Cherry Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the delightful twists in this cookbook is its visual approach to recipes. Each cooking step is paired with a small, clear photo, making it exceptionally user-friendly, especially for visual learners or beginners in the kitchen. This feature stands out as particularly helpful for those quick and easy recipes that the book promises, catering to the impatient cook.

The recipes themselves are straightforward and practical, with several dishes recognizable from the show, like the meatball quesadilla, which might stir a sense of nostalgia for her long-time viewers. While the book excels in simplicity and speed, perfect for newcomers or those seeking no-fuss meals, seasoned cooks might find the recipes a bit familiar, lacking in new techniques or innovative flavors.

Overall, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy! offers a comforting, visually engaging culinary journey, best suited for fans of Ree or those new to cooking. Though it may not bring new insights to experienced cooks, it holds its charm for those who appreciate Ree's style and familial anecdotes. I give this cookbook 5 out of 5 stars.

[Donna Siebold · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried the chuckwagon brownies and they were good. They were good if you like chocolate A LOT, because those babies have chocolate coming out their ears. They are exceedingly thin brownies but they are so decadent that one can't complain about that. She calls for a large amount of coarsely chopped chocolate on top. In her photo, all of which are exquisite, the shards are a much different color than the brownie itself. I guess my cocoa and chocolate were of different hues because the only way you could see mine were to notice the glistening of the chocolate atop the brownie. I also used, I think, half the topping chocolate she suggested, and I applaud my own decision!

I haven't tried anything else yet, I marked a few recipes to try. I am a total spice wimp so some of the items don't appeal to me simply because of the use of hot spices. I also don't eat very many legumes so anything containing those are generally a pass for me.

However, these are fairly simple recipes and as usual the photographs in the book are done beautifully.

[Giuseppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Pioneer Woman,
I'd probably sell my car, rob a bank, or give you the rights to my life story (for whatever that's worth) just to spend three days at your home and eating whatever you cook.

I loved the chic-fil-a dupe nuggets, Italian chicken lettuce wraps, and am going to try the Steak Diane recipe. Those are just some stand outs. I am going to try more of her recipes from this book in the future. And I loved the flavorful fridge grab chapter, which has recipes for dressings, pickles, relishes, and salsas; all made with attainable and affordable ingredients.

What I love most about her recipes is their practicality. Most ingredients listed I have used or have seen in my store. And the step by step instructions are easy to follow even for those with novice cooking skills. You can easily and affordably try these recipes in your own home. I will for sure. And I'll probably keep a jar of pickled peppers in my fridge at all times.

Thanks Pioneer Woman. I STAN you now.

[Nelda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a luxuriously produced 371-page cookbook, with heavy paper and full color cover and photographs throughout. Not only is each step of a recipe in full color but there are full page color photographs of the finished recipes. There are twelve chapters with 6 to 13 recipes each, covering dishes any family would enjoy, like pizzas, steak suppers, burgers, sides, desserts, etc. A homey feel completes the cookbook by introducing each easy-to-follow recipe with a breezy, witty writing style and full-color family photos (including the dogs, of course). Sometimes, the author could be a bit "cheesy" as she gushes about her husband or the empty nest. Still, just because I don't gush like that doesn't mean she can't! I did find a few keeper recipes, and it's a book I will likely refer to again. It's perfect for your kitchen though I simply borrowed this one from the library.

[Alex (Alex's Version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The food appears incredibly appetizing. However, this article focuses on incorporating hazardous and unhealthy ultra-processed food into your diet.
I am the owner of all of her cookbooks, and while her earlier ones required some time and effort, they did not include ultra-processed ingredients. Ree successfully achieved weight loss a few years ago and looks absolutely stunning. However, I can assure you that it was not due to the recipes featured in this latest cookbook. Although Ree is undeniably wonderful, this particular cookbook falls short. I decided to give the Mango Salsa Chicken recipe a try, but unfortunately, it turned out to be so disgusting that I had no choice but to throw it away.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite of her cookbooks, but it varies widely by chapter. I thought the snacks and 'fun bites' section was the strongest, along with some of the pasta and chicken recipes. This book mirrors the way I cook - wanting quicker recipes. These definitely could be healthier, and you could make some swaps on your own (whole wheat pasta, for example), and you could also use fewer processed foods here. But overall, I found this book to be useful. As always, her step-by-step instructions are easy to follow.

A good edition to a group cooking/weeknight dinner collection. I would love it if she did a healthier recipe book, or included some nutritional information in her recipes.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peppery ranch dressing
Five-minute salsa
Big Al's pico tomorrow
Potato nachos
Pretzel dogs
Pull-apart cheeseburger sliders
Cheesy calzones
Puff pastry quiche
Broiled tomato soup
One-pot homemade O's
Cheesy O's
One-pan gnocchi with sausage and cauliflower
Baked goat cheese pasta
One-pan sloppy joe mac
Easy Tex-Mex chicken and rice
Speedy chili verde
Breakfast tortilla bake
Ready-to-go pizza dough
Cast-iron hamburger pizza
Meaty pita pizza
Freddie's burger
Cheeseburger bowls
Crab cakes with remoulade
Italian oven meatballs
Meatloaf patties
Crispy parmesan potatoes
Rosemary-garlic butter bath biscuits
Apple fritters
Salted white chocolate saucepan cookies
Peanut butter cup cookies
Chuckwagon brownies
Cherry pie cookie bars
Chocolate peanut butter pie

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I love all of Ree Drummond's cookbooks! So many of her recipes have become staples in my home and I'm very excited to add these new ones to the rotation! The foods in her cookbooks are all things that people WANT to eat and, with her step-by-step instructions, they look manageable for any home cook. The Flavorful Fridge Grabs section is excellent! I can't wait to try all of the recipes in the entire book, but especially: Big Al's Pico, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Pickle Chicken Bites, Baked Goat Cheese Pasta, Rosemary Garlic Butter Bath Biscuits, Chuckwagon Brownies, Cherry Pie Cookie Bars AND Maple Pancake Cake!

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. I still love so many of her recipes for me personally, but a lot of them in this book not sure my family would take on :) I have tried a couple and they were divine for me, but just ok for most of my family. There are a lot of "fancier" and veggie type ingredients which is a hard sell for some in our home ha ha.
But I love the idea that these are more simple, empty nester type recipes now that she has no kids at home anymore. Most are simple ingredients and I love that she shows pictures with every step by step instruction with the recipe. Will record on her recipes we really or I really loved.

[Leanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Ree is awesome at photography. She has some great pictures in this book of her family and preparing dishes. I will periodically check out a cookbook to see if there is one I want to add to my shelf. I don't think most of the dishes in this book are ones that I would want to make repeatedly, so I will pass at adding it to my collection. However, it was difficult to pass on the collecting because she has a chapter in the book that I absolutely loved - Flavorful Fridge Grabs. She prepares a lot of jars of toppings/sauces/pickles ahead of time that can zhoozh up a dish and most of the recipes in that chapter really appealed to me.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

176: 2025
I was at the bookstore and saw that Ree has a new cookbook out. While not an empty nester quite yet, we're on that path, so the premise behind the book was definitely appealing, and for those of you still with a full house, fear not, because simplicity was definitely a feature needed when the crew was smaller.
At first I was like .I have three of her books, do I really need another?
That shifted as I continued was ... the pictures are always so good. Maybe I will get a copy for BigKid to set up the apartment. By the end, I am fairly certain I need to get another Ree Drummond cookbook. I'm also still fairly certain that I have a cookbook problem.

[Kellylynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to read her blog and then loved chatting about it and her show with my mother in law. The pictures are fun and amazing but that is about all I can say for this one.

I feel like there are too many step by step pictures, I don't like how the recipes jump and you have to flip the pages back and forth to check ingredients lists with dirty/sticky hands. Also the recipes were too bland for our taste. In the end I only saved 3 recipes and that is mostly for the idea of them, I will not be making them to the exact recipe again.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Ree cookbook. There are so many fast, fun meals, and I have loved everything so far. I can't wait to share this one with my friends for Christmas this is the perfect Christmas gift. I love the step-by-step pictures showing you everything along the way.
5 stars and I will be recommending this one.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

[Michele A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cookbook with a really broad range of recipes to choose from. I liked that all of them were given in step-by-step directions with pictures. I also liked that there was a lot of different recipes to choose from. I will definitely be trying quite a few of these. I also liked how she gave variations to her recipes at the end of the recipe. None of the recipes seem complicated or overly time consuming. Decided to read it to try and find some new recipes to start out 2024.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as a gift and my friend even had it inscribed for me. (Thank you, Mary!) I think this is my favorite cookbook of hers so far. The photos are beautiful. The captions are clever. The family photos are sprinkled throughout and they’re sweet. I love how Ree’s personality comes through in her recipes and in her descriptions. I especially like the step by step photos included with the instructions. These are not complicated recipes and they all look delicious and achievable.

[Briel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Packed with easy yet delicious looking recipes that appeal to all sorts of palettes. I often struggle with Ree’s cookbooks as they can sometimes come off as one note in terms of flavor profiles but I really think she hit the nail on the head for this one and delivered as promised. I’m going to buy this one and add it to my collection because there were a ton of recipes that look perfect for my family’s lifestyle.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It took me two hours to read it from cover to cover. Dinner’s Ready is very engaging. Like all of her recipe books, Ree Drummond incorporates humor, life updates, gorgeous photographs, beautiful colors & contemporary design to really appealing comfort food dishes.

I was a bit skeptical of 112 recipes that are fast & easy, but I found so many I want to try. If you want to be both entertained & fed well, get this book!

[Courtney (kukucoconails) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how colorful this recipe book is. All of the family photos make for a very wholesome cookbook. I also really appreciate that there are pictures for every recipe and even goes as far as having a picture for every single step! The Maple Pancake Cake was my favorite recipe! My only complaint is that I naturally want to read left to right then go down but the steps go down then right. Luckily they are numbered, so it wasn’t as confusing as it could have been!

[Do Cung Nhan Phuc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of fast, fuss-free, and flavorful recipes! Ree Drummond proves once again that you don’t need hours in the kitchen to create satisfying, delicious meals. Perfect for busy days, yet still packed with that comforting, home-cooked goodness. Every recipe feels approachable, practical, and downright fun. Definitely a go-to for anyone who wants dinner on the table without the stress.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like many of her recipes. This collection by in large didn't excite me. Lots of processed food included. I know it's picky but her photography is usually quite good, but the pictures in this book are not color corrected and by in large are very orangey and give the book a kind of dated 70's look. Maybe that was intentional?