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These 50 easy and delicious dinner ideas are the perfect dinner recipes to make any time you ask yourself, “What should I make for dinner tonight?”
“What Should I Eat Tonight?” Answered!
Why is it figuring out tonight’s dinner can be one of the biggest challenges of the day? No more! The next time you find yourself limited on time and asking yourself, “What should we eat for dinner tonight?,” just look to this list of quick and simple dinner ideas.
These all-in-one dinner ideas are ready to swoop in and save the day. Some are cooked on a sheet pan, made in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, or made in just one pot or skillet.
And best of all, these dinner ideas require minimal prep and are ready in 40(ish) minutes or less!
Enjoy!
Quick Pasta Dinners
1
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
The simplicity in this creamy sauced spaghetti pasta is thanks to just 4 ingredients and a hearty dose of black pepper.
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2
Chicken Piccata Pasta
The lemony white wine butter and caper sauce makes a light and snappy coating for linguine, tomatoes and mushrooms for a flavor burst in every bite.
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3
Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Peas
Use lean ground turkey for the sausage in this healthy pasta dinner. Extra lean ground turkey is too lean and loses any flavor.
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4
Lemon Fettuccine Alfredo
Classic fettuccine alfredo gets a bright and herbaceous makeover, thanks to Meyer lemons and rosemary, in this super simple, wonderfully creamy pasta dish.
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5
Gnocchi With Pomodoro Sauce
This simple tomato sauce gets tons of flavor from herbs steeped in olive oil that lusciously coats potato pillows of gnocchi, topped with fresh balls of mozzarella.
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6
Pasta Pomodoro
Light and easy to make with fresh tomatoes, this simple Southern Italian tomato sauce takes just 20 minutes to make and is a terrific base for many Italian dishes.
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7
Simple Pesto Pasta
Homemade basil pesto is incredibly easy to make and top nearly any type of pasta noodle for a super easy lunch or dinner.
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8
Creamy Cacio e Pepe
With only 5 ingredients, this cacio e pepe recipe is the Italian version of macaroni and cheese, and the ultimate pantry staple answer to, "What do we have to eat?"
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Quick Soup Recipes
9
Taco Soup
With most of the ingredients already in your pantry, this easy ground beef taco soup recipe takes just 30 minutes to make on the stove top, or prep and cook in the slow cooker for later.
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10
Creamy Bean and Sausage Soup Recipe
This hearty bean soup with sausage skips the cream and is thickened with flour and milk instead.
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11
Sausage and Gnocchi Soup
This easy gnocchi soup calls for canned tomatoes, packaged gnocchi and sausage with Italian flavors for a favorite soup you'll be making for years to come.
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12
Broccoli Cheddar Potato Soup Recipe
This creamy, cheesy, easy broccoli cheddar soup comes together quickly on the stovetop for a crowd-pleasing weeknight meal that everyone will love.
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13
Udon Noodles Soup
This udon soup recipe comes together easily and fast, in just 15 minutes, and is easily adaptable to whatever veggies and protein you like.
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14
Blender Gazpacho
This traditional no-cook gazpacho is a mix of fresh vegetables and store-bought tomato based vegetable juice for a perfect blend of smooth and chunky vegetable textures.
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15
Gnocchi Soup with Chicken
This gnocchi soup with chicken and spinach is creamy, savory, hearty, comforting, and fast to make on the stove in under 30 minutes.
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Quick Chicken Dinners
16
Crispy Chicken Caesar Wraps
Make each element of these chicken Caesar wraps from scratch, or use a few store-bought shortcuts to save time. Either way, you're in a for a delicious lunch or dinner!
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17
Kung Pao Chicken
A delectably spicy, sweet, and savory Asian-inspired sauce clings to every piece of juicy chicken in this easy dish. Kung pao chicken is quicker to make at home than ordering takeout, and it tastes so much better too.
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18
Marry Me Chicken
This easy Marry Me Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts nestled in a lush and creamy sun-dried tomato sauce ready in under 30 minutes.
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19
Dijon Chicken
This simple Dijon chicken recipe is made with juicy chicken breasts and the most delicious white wine and Dijon mustard cream sauce for a quick and easy, yet sophisticated dinner you can even throw together on a weeknight.
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20
Quick and Easy Pesto Chicken
This quick and easy pesto chicken with melty mozzarella, zucchini, and bursting tomatoes is cooked in one pan on the stovetop and takes just 30 minutes from start to finish.
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21
Chicken Nachos
These loaded chicken nachos with two types of cheese, beans, avocado, and all the toppings are the perfect pick-and-eat nachos for a crowd and are always a hit at parties.
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22
Caprese Chicken
This quick and easy caprese chicken recipe comes together in just 30 minutes with the help of store-bought pesto and balsamic glaze.
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Quick Beef Dinners
23
Daddy’s Baked Hamburgers
Yep, you read that right! These baked hamburgers are a breeze to make and come together in about 30 minutes. You'll definitely want seconds!
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24
Thai Beef Curry
One pan, 30 minutes, and a handful of ingredients are all you need to make restaurant-quality Thai red beef curry at home!
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25
Beef and Broccoli
This easy beef and broccoli recipe is a popular Chinese dish for a good reason. It's so delicious and can easily be made gluten-free or in traditional style.
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26
One-Pot Homemade Sloppy Joes
This family favorite homemade sloppy joe recipe is easy for weeknight dinners. If you have extra meat left over, serve over pasta noodles, in taco shells, or as a meaty salad over hearty romaine lettuce for yet another quick dinner option.
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27
BBQ Meatballs
This BBQ meatballs recipe is made with ground beef and a tangy, homemade BBQ sauce for a favorite party appetizer or easy dinner idea.
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28
The Best Steak Fajitas
A homemade spice blend and killer marinade infuses flavor into thin cut steak for these fast and easy homemade steak fajitas made in the skillet.
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29
Hamburger Stroganoff
This hamburger stroganoff has all of the savory flavors you love from beef stroganoff but is a lot faster and easier to make since it features ground beef.
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Quick Pork Dinners
30
BLT Salad with Peaches
This BLT salad with peaches, heirloom tomatoes, bacon, homemade croutons, and creamy lemon herb mayo dressing tastes just like summer.
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31
Pork Chops with Apples and Red Onion
This pork chops recipe with apples and red onion is made in one pan, takes only 30 minutes, and is full of sweet and savory flavors.
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32
Sweet and Sour Pork
This version of the classic Chinese takeout dish is made healthier thanks to sautéed lean pork tenderloin instead of deep-fried, and a master stir fry sauce sweetened with balsamic vinegar and honey.
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33
Sausage and Peppers
This Italian sausage and peppers with onions dish comes together easily on the stove and makes for a super flavorful dinner your whole family will love.
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34
Instant Pot Pork Ribs
Instant Pot pork ribs are fall-off-the-bone good and ready in under 30 minutes when cooked in the pressure cooker then finished off quickly in the oven.
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35
Best Ever BLTs
This 5-ingredient BLT recipe is everything a BLT should be — with smoky bacon, perfectly toasted white bread, crisp iceberg lettuce, and juicy ripe tomatoes.
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36
Italian Sub with Sausage and Peppers
This Italian subs with sausage and peppers comes together easily and makes for a super flavorful dinner your whole family will love.
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Quick Fish & Seafood Dinners
37
Chipotle Lime Shrimp Bowls
Quick, easy, and totally flavorful, these chipotle lime shrimp bowls with brown rice, black beans, tomatoes and avocado have just the right level of adobo spice with a touch of honey to sweeten up meal prep for any lunch or dinner.
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38
Garlic White Wine Steamed Mussels
Sweet, juicy mussels are bathed in a white wine sauce and served with a crusty hunk of bread for mopping everything up. Steamed mussels are so simple to make, yet make for an impressive appetizer or dinner.
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39
Creamy Salmon Piccata
Seared salmon is topped with a lemon caper piccata sauce in this twist on the classic Italian dish. Salmon piccata looks fancy, but is so easy to make!
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40
How to Make THE BEST Tuna Melt
This easy-to-make tuna melt features my favorite classic tuna salad recipe, plus plenty of melty cheese, sandwiched between buttery, toasty white bread.
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41
Shoyu Ahi Poke Bowl
Layered with rice, cucumbers, avocado, seaweed salad, the chunks of cubed ahi tuna in a simple shoyu poke sauce of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds is the star of this shoyu ahi poke bowl.
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42
Mediterranean Salmon Bowls
These Mediterranean salmon bowls with couscous and veggies are easy, healthy, and customizable based on your taste and what you have on hand.
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43
Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados
Lightened-up crab salad stuffed avocados topped with mint and chopped pistachios are an easy and healthy brunch, lunch, or light dinner idea.
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Quick Vegetarian Dinners
44
Teriyaki Tofu and Broccoli Stir Fry
A quality bottle of store-bought teriyaki sauce makes this dish come together even faster on busy nights.
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45
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Crunchy fresh vegetables and leafy spinach pair with orzo pasta and briny olives and feta cheese for an easy pasta salad perfect for meal prep or parties.
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46
Caprese Sandwich
Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese make this sandwich recipe a summer time favorite.
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47
French Bread Pizza
There's no need to wait for pizza dough to rise when you make this homemade French Bread Pizza with your favorite toppings in less than 30 minutes.
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48
Roasted Vegetable Quesadilla
Fajita seasoning flavors make this cheesy roasted vegetable quesadilla an easy way to get more healthy nutrients into your day.
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49
Hummus Veggie Wrap
These simple veggie wraps are fast, fresh, and easy to assemble. Use any flavor of hummus you like, and mix and match the vegetables to use up whatever's in your produce drawer.
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50
Fried Avocado Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Pepper Sauce
These fried avocado tacos are easy to make and full of flavor from crispy fried avocados in panko, corn tortillas, and a creamy cilantro pepper sauce.
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If you make any of these recipes, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
More Dinner Ideas
- 20 One-Pot Wonder Meals—They’re What’s for Dinner
- 25 Great Ground Beef Recipes
- 30 Easy Comfort Food Casseroles
- 31 Quick Dinner Ideas for Easy Summer Nights
- 50 Favorite Mediterranean Diet Recipes
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Maureen Farrell Kolbe
Such great recipes! The Chicken Masala was fabulous!
So glad you enjoyed it Maureen.
Sarah Smith
I just made this tonight. Amazing!!!! Thank you
Sabrina
thank you again for another great resource to bookmark, love those foilpacks!
Laura | Tutti Dolci
No time to cook is exactly how much time I have right now ;) – this round-up is just what I need!
Gnom-Gnom
Hi Heidi!!
Thanks for adding us in the roundup :)!
XO! Paola
Of course! Your recipes are great!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
I am loving your 30 days series! This list is full of winner-dinners for sure. Thank you for including my one pot penne!
Thanks Anna, and so glad you’re liking them, it helps to have ideas through the week for sure. And thanks for creating your penne recipe, It looks DELISH!