Takeout is easy, but cooking at home can be just as fast and way more satisfying. These recipes don’t ask for much and still deliver big on flavor. You won’t need fancy ingredients or long steps to make something that tastes good and fills you up. If your usual order is starting to feel a little plain, these 27 simple dinners might just take its place.
Chicken Tortilla Soup. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Poached Orange Salmon
A few simple ingredients are all it takes to make this salmon tender, juicy, and full of fresh citrus flavor. Poaching keeps the fish from drying out and gives it a soft, flaky texture that feels restaurant-worthy. This is one of those simple dinners that comes together fast but still feels like a nice break from takeout.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Honey Habanero Tacos
A sweet and spicy glaze gives these tacos a bold kick that makes dinner feel fun and different. The flavors come through fast, and the steps are simple enough to pull off without much planning. This is a smart meal choice when you want something exciting without ordering in.
Get the Recipe: Honey Habanero Tacos
Pesto Salmon
Coating salmon in pesto adds a rich, herby flavor that tastes fresh without needing a lot of effort. It bakes quickly and comes out tender, making it perfect for a relaxed dinner at home. This is one of those simple dinners that proves you don’t need takeout to feel satisfied.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken
Let the slow cooker do the work while chicken simmers in tomato and lime until it’s full of bright flavor and completely tender. There’s almost nothing to prep, and it cooks low and slow while you handle the rest of your day. This dinner makes it easy to skip takeout without feeling like you gave anything up.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A warm bowl of this soup brings together shredded chicken, crispy tortilla strips, and a seasoned broth that tastes deep and rich. It’s easy to throw together and still manages to feel like real comfort food. If takeout soup feels like a go-to, this version just might replace it.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
With the push of a button, this soup turns lentils and broth into something thick, warm, and satisfying in less time than you’d think. It feels hearty and filling, but skips the need for babysitting the stove. This is a simple dinner that handles itself and tastes better than anything you’d order out.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Italian Meatball Soup
This soup brings tender meatballs, pasta, and flavorful broth together in one pot for a meal that tastes slow-cooked. It’s full of comforting flavor but comes together fast, even on a busy night. For a filling meal that keeps things easy, this one is worth repeating.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Soup
Spicy Tuna Rolls
These rolls are packed with flavor and come together with no special tools or fancy steps. The spice gives them a punch, and they still feel light enough to enjoy any day of the week. If you’re craving sushi night at home, this recipe makes it doable without the price tag.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Tuna Rolls
Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Everything cooks in one skillet, and the flavors build fast with warm spices, hearty quinoa, and protein-packed beans. The result is a meal that fills you up and still feels light, with hardly any cleanup. It’s an easy win when you want something good without turning to takeout.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Caprese Panini
Crisp bread, melty cheese, and fresh tomatoes make this panini feel like more than a basic sandwich. It cooks in minutes and still feels like something you’d sit down and enjoy. If you’re craving something fast but fresh, this simple dinner gets it done.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini
Semi-Homemade Chicken Empanadas
Start with store-bought dough, stuff it with flavorful chicken, and you’ve got golden, crispy pockets that bake up in no time. Each bite is packed with just enough seasoning to make it taste like more work than it is. It’s a simple dinner that feels like something you’d order out, but without the wait.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Empanadas
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spicy chicken gets tossed with fresh greens and creamy dressing for a salad that’s bold, cool, and filling all at once. It’s quick to make but still feels like a full meal, not just a side. This one is perfect for nights when you need something fast but want it to feel like more than just thrown-together food.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Weeknight Lasagna Roll-Ups
Take everything you love about lasagna and roll it up into tidy portions that bake quickly and hold together with no mess. The sauce bubbles, the cheese melts, and you end up with comfort food that’s surprisingly easy. These simple roll-ups bring the same satisfaction as takeout pasta without all the layers or time.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Lasagna Roll-Ups
Crockpot Carnitas
Let the slow cooker take over and turn pork into something juicy and flavorful while you do literally anything else. Once it’s done, just shred and serve it however you want—tacos, bowls, or even sandwiches. This one’s an easy win for when you want a good meal that doesn’t feel like work.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Carnitas
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Toss everything from a classic egg roll into one pan and skip the frying altogether. Seasoned chicken and crisp veggies get coated in sauce that pulls it all together without slowing you down. This is a fast and flavorful fix that can take the place of takeout without much effort at all.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza
Lay out store-bought dough and top it with creamy goat cheese and just-cooked asparagus for a pizza that feels new but easy. It bakes up quickly and tastes like something from a small café. For a night when you want something light but still filling, this pizza delivers with no stress.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza
Kefta Kebabs
Mix up ground meat with warm spices and shape it into kebabs that cook quickly in a skillet or on the grill. The result is juicy, flavorful bites that go well with anything from salad to flatbread. These are a simple dinner solution when you want something quick that still feels like a full meal.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Stir together beef, rice, and cheese, then bake until it bubbles and browns in the oven. The dish is hearty and filling, and you can serve it straight from the pan with almost no cleanup. This casserole is a go-to for nights when you need dinner that feeds everyone and feels like comfort.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Honey Glazed Chicken
Coat chicken in a sticky, sweet glaze that bakes in the oven while you do other things around the house. The outside turns golden while the inside stays juicy, and the flavors come together without much work. It’s a dinner that tastes special but keeps things easy from start to finish.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Use a can of tuna and some tomato sauce to whip up a pasta dish that feels way more complete than it sounds. The noodles soak up the rich sauce, and the whole meal cooks in just one pan. This dinner makes the most of pantry staples and tastes better than expected every time.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Shortcut Chicken Salad
Mix up some shredded chicken with just a few fridge staples, and you’ve got a creamy and filling salad that works anywhere. Eat it in a sandwich, a wrap, or straight from the bowl when you’re too tired to think. It’s one of those simple dinners that keeps you full and moving without slowing things down.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Tomato Basil Bisque
Blend together a smooth tomato with a little basil for a warm, creamy soup that feels like something you’d find at a nice lunch spot. It takes just a few steps, but it still tastes like you did more. For nights when soup feels right but you don’t want to babysit a pot, this one works well.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Bisque
Asian-Inspired Turkey Burgers
These turkey burgers bring just the right amount of heat and sweetness to help break your routine in the best way. They’re juicy and flavorful, and they come together fast without needing a bunch of extra toppings. If you’re stuck in a dinner rut, this is one recipe that’s easy to enjoy over and over.
Get the Recipe: Asian-Inspired Turkey Burgers
Creamy Pea Pasta
Boil your pasta, stir in a simple cream sauce and peas, and dinner’s basically done. Every bite feels smooth and rich, even though it takes almost no time to make. It’s one of those easy meals that surprises you with how good it is, especially when you’re low on energy.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Chicken Taco Wraps
Warm tortillas get filled with seasoned chicken, gooey cheese, and anything else you’ve got on hand. These wraps come together quickly and are easy to eat without much cleanup. This is a dinner idea you’ll want to keep around because it works any day of the week.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Taco Wraps
Shredded BBQ Chicken
Use the Instant Pot to cook up juicy chicken soaked in smoky barbecue sauce without needing a grill or oven. It’s perfect for piling into buns or wrapping in tortillas, depending on what you’ve got at home. This one checks every box for fast, flavorful, and no-fuss.
Get the Recipe: Shredded BBQ Chicken
Pulled Pork
Let the Instant Pot turn a tough cut of meat into tender, juicy pork that works in tacos, sandwiches, or rice bowls. The smoky flavor comes through strong, but the hands-on time stays low. It’s a smart dinner idea that tastes like you spent all day cooking when you didn’t.
Get the Recipe: Pulled Pork