Some nights, the hardest part of dinner is just deciding what to make. You stare at the fridge, scroll through your phone, and still feel stuck. That’s where these easy ideas come in. These 29 dinner recipes are simple, quick, and don’t need much planning or effort. If choosing what to eat wears you out, this list keeps things easy so you can get food on the table without the stress.
Honey Glazed Chicken. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Kung Pao Chicken Salad
When you don’t feel like cooking, this crunchy chicken salad is a smart way to get dinner on the table fast. It uses rotisserie chicken and bottled sauce, so you only need to toss a few things together. This is a great dinner recipe because it’s bold, fresh, and takes way less effort than it looks.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chicken Salad
Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
This quinoa dish feels like a full dinner but only needs a few easy steps to pull off. The spinach cooks quickly, and the parmesan adds flavor without needing a fancy sauce. It’s a great dinner recipe for nights when you’re tired and just want something warm, cheesy, and done.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
You don’t even have to cook to make this tuna salad feel like a real meal. Canned tuna, pesto, and sundried tomatoes come together fast and still taste like something you planned. It’s a great dinner recipe for when you want to keep things simple but still feel like you’ve tried.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Risotto with Peas and Lemon
This creamy risotto doesn’t take much more than a little stirring and time. The lemon and peas add just enough freshness to make it feel bright and homemade. It’s a great dinner recipe for anyone who wants something warm and comforting without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Honey Glazed Chicken
This chicken cooks in one pan and only takes a few ingredients to get that sticky-sweet glaze just right. It looks like something you’d order at a restaurant, but it’s simple enough for any weeknight. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want to make something tasty without doing much.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Semi-homemade Chicken Enchiladas
These enchiladas come together fast thanks to store-bought shortcuts and cooked chicken. They still taste cheesy and filling, like something you made from scratch. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something warm and hearty but easy to put together.
Get the Recipe: Semi-homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Kefta Kebabs
These kebabs are packed with flavor but don’t take much more than mixing, shaping, and cooking. You get something different and delicious without needing any hard steps or fancy tools. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want to switch things up but keep it simple.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Cacio e Pepe
This pasta uses just butter, pepper, and cheese, but it turns into something creamy and rich without any fuss. You don’t need to chop, measure much, or even think too hard to make it right. It’s a great dinner recipe for nights when you want something cozy and fast.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Buffalo Chicken Salad
This salad is fast, spicy, and doesn’t ask you to cook anything at all. You just mix up the chicken, toss it with greens, and drizzle on the dressing for a dinner that feels like more than a salad. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want big flavor with barely any work.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Tomato Basil Bisque
This soup feels rich and comforting, but it only takes a little time and a few pantry items. You let it simmer while you do something else, and it still turns out creamy and full of flavor. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something warm without making a big mess.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Basil Bisque
Poached Orange Salmon
This salmon feels fancy on the plate, but it only takes a few steps to make. The orange adds a fresh, light flavor without asking for any tricky prep or sauces. It’s a great dinner recipe for when you want something special that’s still fast and easy.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Honey Habanero Tacos
These tacos have the perfect mix of sweet and spicy, and they come together in almost no time. You just cook the filling, warm your tortillas, and dinner is ready without a lot of fuss. It’s a great dinner recipe for nights when you want bold flavor without doing too much.
Get the Recipe: Honey Habanero Tacos
Crockpot Chili
This chili recipe asks almost nothing from you except dumping in ingredients and letting the slow cooker do the rest. It still turns out thick, rich, and full of flavor by the time you’re ready to eat. It’s a great dinner recipe for days when you want a hot meal with zero effort.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chili
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
This pasta is fast, filling, and uses pantry staples like canned tuna and tomato sauce. Everything comes together in one pot, so cleanup is just as easy as cooking. It’s a great dinner recipe for when you don’t want to think about dinner at all.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Crockpot Carnitas
You toss a few things in the slow cooker and let it go until the meat is tender and ready to shred. It’s juicy, flavorful, and great for tacos, bowls, or sandwiches without much cleanup. It’s a great dinner recipe that makes you feel like you cooked more than you actually did.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Carnitas
French Onion Soup
This soup smells amazing while it simmers and turns into something rich and full of flavor with just a few ingredients. The onions soften slowly, and the cheese on top makes it feel extra cozy. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something simple that still feels homemade.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup
Chicken and Pea Risotto
This risotto skips the hard steps and still comes out creamy and full of flavor. Rotisserie chicken helps make it fast, and the peas give it a fresh touch without needing anything extra. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something warm and easy in one pot.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Pea Risotto
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
This pasta is soft, rich, and simple, with juicy tomatoes and creamy ricotta in every bite. It cooks fast and doesn’t need much more than boiling noodles and stirring them all together. It’s a great dinner recipe when you’re short on time but still want something that tastes good.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Chipotle Burger with Jalapeno Mayo
This burger has a smoky flavor and a spicy mayo that gives it a nice kick without being too much. You can make the patties quickly, and they still come out juicy and packed with taste. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something bold that doesn’t take long.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Burger with Jalapeno Mayo
Shortcut Chicken Salad
This chicken salad uses canned chicken, fresh add-ins, and zero cooking to make something that feels like dinner. You can eat it in a sandwich, on greens, or straight from the bowl, and it always works. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something cold, fast, and filling.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Tomato Soup
This tomato soup is rich, smooth, and comes together fast with just a few basic ingredients. You don’t need any special tools or skills, just simmer everything in one pot and serve. It’s a great dinner recipe for nights when you want something warm and easy without any stress.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Soup
Chicken Tenders
These oven-baked chicken tenders turn out golden and crispy without deep frying or special gear. The cornflake crust gives them great crunch, and they cook fast on a sheet pan. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something fun and simple that still feels homemade.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tenders
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
This casserole is hearty, cheesy, and made in one dish, so there’s not much to clean afterward. It only takes a few steps to throw everything together and get it baking. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something filling that doesn’t take much time or effort.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Bacon Cheddar Stuffed Burger
These burgers are stuffed with cheese and bacon, but they’re still easy to shape and cook without any trouble. You can use a grill or a pan, and they still turn out juicy with lots of flavor. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something that feels like a treat but is simple to make.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheddar Stuffed Burger
Slow Cooker Thai Pork
This Thai pork cooks low and slow while you go about your day, and it ends up tender and full of flavor. The sauce builds on its own with barely any prep, so there’s nothing tricky about it. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something bold and easy at the same time.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Thai Pork
Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Just season the pork, drop it in the slow cooker, and let it cook until it’s tender and packed with flavor. There’s no need to babysit or do anything complicated while it simmers. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something homemade that takes almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Crock Pot Italian Pot Roast
This pot roast cooks all day without needing you to stir or check anything. It comes out juicy, flavorful, and full of that slow-cooked comfort with no work at dinnertime. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something that tastes like it took hours but didn’t take your time.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Italian Pot Roast
Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken
This chicken cooks with tomato and lime until it’s tender and juicy with bright, simple flavor. It only takes a few ingredients and doesn’t need any hard steps or long prep. It’s a great dinner recipe when you want something easy to throw together and still feel proud of.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tomato Lime Chicken
Caprese Panini
This warm sandwich needs only bread, tomato, and cheese, but still feels like a full dinner. You can cook it in a pan or press, and the melty cheese with toasted bread makes it feel special. It’s a great dinner recipe for when you want something quick, easy, and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini