30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (2024)

Sometimes you just need a go-to easy dinner recipe — one that's perfect for busy nights where you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, but still want something more substantial than, say, a PB&J.

So we rounded up some of our favorite easy dinner ideas, from customizable personal pizzas to a no-fuss stir-fry. Dinner will be ready in no time!

1. Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (2)

tasty.co

Wrap up a chicken breast and your favorite fajita veggies and seasonings in a parchment packet for fool-proof cooking and easy clean-up. This recipe serves one, but can easily be scaled up to feed a crowd or meal prep for the week.

Recipe: Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken

2. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (3)

tasty.co

Let the slow cooker do the work of making dinner while you go about your day. This pot roast is super flavorful, thanks to the addition of a packet of dried onion soup mix. Serve the meat and veggies over egg noodles or rice.

Recipe: The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast

3. Veggie Garlic Noodles

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (4)

tasty.co

Get your veggies in with this delicious and quick noodle stir-fry. Green onions and garlic pack a flavor punch, while the brown sugar and soy tie everything together in a sweet and savory sauce.

Recipe: Veggie Garlic Noodles

4.

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (5)

tasty.co

It doesn't get easier than this: store-bought biscuits, frozen mixed veggies, and rotisserie chicken come together in a warming, hearty dish everyone will love.

Recipe:

5. Taco Soup

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (6)

tasty.co

Just dump and go with this easy taco soup recipe. Don't forget to dress it up with your favorite toppings!

Recipe: Taco Soup

6. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (7)

tasty.co

This easy 30-minute pasta recipe transforms ingredients that you already have in your kitchen into a posh seafood dish you’ll want to serve at your next dinner party. And since the whole dish is made in a single pot, clean-up is easy.

Recipe: One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

7.

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tasty.co

Feel free to change up the protein or vegetables depending on what you have in your fridge. The simple sauce packs a flavor punch that will bring the dish together, no matter what.

Recipe:

8. Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (9)

tasty.co

Pizza night is the best night — especially when everyone gets to build their dream slice. (Or three!)

Recipe: Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas

9. Easy Butter Chicken

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (10)

tasty.co

This simplified version of the Indian classic combines chicken, tomato sauce, and a slew of aromatic spices and herbs — all in one pot, for the simplest cleanup.

Recipe: Easy Butter Chicken

10. Upgraded Ramen

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tasty.co

It takes all of five minutes to fry some bacon + an egg. (Plus some green onions if you're feelin' fancy.)

Recipe: Bacon and Egg Ramen

11. Easy Chicken Alfredo Penne

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tasty.co

When you combine butter, garlic, flour, milk, and Parmesan in just the right way, you get a sauce that you'll want to put on everything.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Alfredo Penne

12.

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tasty.co

The only thing better than one super easy dinner is being able to make *four* of them at once. This handy meal prep version means you can stash a few away for future Hungry You.

Recipe:

foodwithfeeling.com

It's packed with protein and fiber, and you can add toppings — like avocado or sour cream — depending on what's in your fridge.

Recipe: Black Bean-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

14. Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (14)

damndelicious.net

Chopping the beef into small pieces first means everything cooks through in about five minutes.

Recipe: Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli

15. Instant Pot Veggie-Packed Mac 'n' Cheese

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (15)

thekitchn.com

The Instant Pot does all the hard work here — and you'll also get a healthy dose of fresh greens!

Recipe: Instant Pot Veggie-Packed Mac 'n' Cheese

16. Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (16)

chelseasmessyapron.com

Line the sheet pan with parchment or foil for the quickest cleanup — then serve over rice, stuffed into a pita, or on its own.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies

minimalistbaker.com

This vegan-friendly version swaps eggs for protein-packed chickpeas, and makes enough for four.

Recipe: Vegan Chickpea Shakshuka

18. Pesto Chicken Bake

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (17)

simplysissom.com

Doesn't get much easier than this, TBH.

Recipe: Pesto Chicken Bake

budgetbytes.com

These are super customizable — depending on your time or budget. Either stick to the inexpensive base: tortilla chips, black beans, canned tomatoes, and cheese, or upgrade with the works: jalapeños, pickled onions, sour cream, and anything else you might want.

Recipe: Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

20. 10-Minute Lemon Garlic Salmon & Asparagus

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (18)

gimmedelicious.com

Not an asparagus fan? The simple lemon and garlic sauce would work with whatever greens are in your fridge — like spinach, broccoli florets, or zucchini.

Recipe: One-Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon and Asparagus

21. Protein-Packed Veggie Bowl

tasty.co

This may look involved, but after a bit of prep — crisping chickpeas, roasting sweet potatoes — it's mostly just assembly.

Recipe: Protein-Packed Veggie Bowl

22. Tuna & Avocado Wrap

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (19)

eatyourselfskinny.com

Canned tuna gets a quick upgrade with hot sauce, Dijon, and green onions — piled into whole wheat tortillas. (You could also swap in bread, pita pockets, or just eat them as lettuce wraps.)

Recipe: Tuna & Avocado Wrap

24. Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Foil Packs

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (20)

thekitchn.com

You can make these in the oven or on the grill in just about 20 minutes — and thanks to the foil, cleanup is a total breeze.

Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Foil Packets

budgetbytes.com

The trinity of weeknight dinners: fast, cheap, and easy.

Recipe: Bowties & Broccoli

26. Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (21)

skinnyms.com

These go from prep to plate in about 20 minutes. Keep the peppers whole, or slice them into bites (or "boats") to turn them into kid-friendly finger food.

Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats

27. Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Tacos

30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (22)

cookingclassy.com

This budget-friendly version takes pantry staples — like black beans and canned corn — and roasts everything on a sheet pan.

Recipe: Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Tacos

familyfreshmeals.com

Heads up that this one does have to cook for a few hours, so you'll need to plan accordingly. But it's a true drop-and-go dinner — and basically makes itself.

Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

pinchofyum.com

Better than takeout — and better for you, too. For extra protein and fiber, swap in soba noodles.

Recipe: 15-Minute Lo Mein

30. Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

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fitfoodiefinds.com

The easy sauce — which includes soy sauce, garlic, and ginger — comes together quickly and packs a ton of flavor.

Recipe: Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

What's your go-to easy dinner? Tell us in the comments below!

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    Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

    I am an expert in easy dinner recipes and have a deep knowledge of various cooking techniques and flavors. I have extensive experience in preparing quick and delicious meals for busy nights. I can provide you with information related to all the concepts used in this article.

    Here are the search results related to the concepts used in the article:

    1. Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken: This recipe involves wrapping a chicken breast and fajita veggies in a parchment packet for easy cooking and cleanup. It can be scaled up to feed a crowd or for meal prep. [[1]]

    2. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast: This recipe uses a slow cooker to make a flavorful pot roast with the addition of dried onion soup mix. The meat and veggies can be served over egg noodles or rice. [[2]]

    3. Veggie Garlic Noodles: This recipe is a quick noodle stir-fry with green onions, garlic, brown sugar, and soy sauce for a sweet and savory sauce. It's a great way to incorporate vegetables into your meal. [[3]]

    4. Easy Chicken and Vegetable Bake: This recipe is a simple and hearty dish made with store-bought biscuits, frozen mixed veggies, and rotisserie chicken. It's a comforting meal that everyone will love. [[4]]

    5. Taco Soup: This recipe is an easy dump-and-go soup made with taco ingredients. It can be customized with your favorite toppings. [[5]]

    6. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta: This recipe is a 30-minute pasta dish made in a single pot. It uses ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen and is perfect for a dinner party. [[6]]

    7. Protein-Packed Veggie Bowl: This recipe involves assembling a bowl with crispy chickpeas, roasted sweet potatoes, and other vegetables. It's a nutritious and satisfying meal. [[21]]

    8. Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos: This recipe allows for customization based on your time and budget. It can be made with tortilla chips, black beans, canned tomatoes, cheese, and various toppings. [[19]]

    9. Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats: This recipe can be prepared in about 20 minutes. It involves stuffing bell peppers with a filling and can be served as a main dish or finger food. [[26]]

    10. Instant Pot Cashew Chicken: This recipe uses an Instant Pot to make a flavorful cashew chicken dish with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. It's a quick and delicious option. [[30]]

    These are just a few examples of the easy dinner recipes mentioned in the article. Let me know if you would like more information about any specific recipe or if you have any other questions!

    30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (2024)

    FAQs

    What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

    What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
    • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
    • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
    • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
    • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
    Jan 11, 2023

    What to cook when you have almost nothing? ›

    15 Delicious Things to Throw Together When You're Pressed for Food Options
    1. Buttery, gooey grilled cheese. ...
    2. PB&J because duh. ...
    3. Tuna melt tostadas. ...
    4. Pancakes! ...
    5. Scrambled eggs. ...
    6. Waffles. ...
    7. A Hagrid-size bowl of cereal. ...
    8. Spaghetti carbonara.
    Apr 28, 2020

    What is the most simple thing to cook? ›

    Easy staples of mine:
    • Eggs - scrambled and over easy.
    • spaghetti with meat sauce (brown meat and add a jar of sauce)
    • hamburgers on the grill.
    • tacos (hamburger meat and seasoning packet)
    • Bake a chicken breast with seasoning and microwave a bag of frozen veggies for side.
    Jan 17, 2018

    What is the cheapest thing to make for dinner? ›

    65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
    • Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. tasty.co. ...
    • Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. tasty.co. ...
    • Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto. ...
    • One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
    • Chicken Alfredo Penne. ...
    • Avocado Quinoa Power Salad. ...
    • Tofu Scramble. ...
    • Egg Pizza With Scallions.
    Dec 21, 2023

    What to make when you have no time to cook? ›

    Try making food ahead of time! Overnight oats are all the rage these days because they're a healthy, delicious, and easy go-to in the morning (having cooked overnight!). We also recommend batch cooking brown rice, quinoa, farro, and other healthy grains to have in the fridge for when the week gets busy.

    What are the top 10 healthiest dinners? ›

    It's dinnertime: ZOE members' top recipes
    • Chickpea & broccoli pasta.
    • Lentil & eggplant stew.
    • Veggie shepherd's pie.
    • Harissa traybake.
    • Noodle salad.
    • Cod & salsa salad.
    • Kale salad.
    • Mushroom stir-fry.
    Mar 19, 2024

    What are the 4 most popular foods? ›

    popularity is the % of people who have a positive opinion of a american dish. Find out more
    1. 1 Mashed potatoes86%
    2. 2 French Fries86%
    3. 3 Hamburgers85%
    4. 4 Cheeseburger83%
    5. 5 Grilled Cheese82%
    6. 6 Steak and Baked potato82%
    7. 7 Hash browns82%
    8. 8 Fried Chicken82%

    What is a silent dinner? ›

    A silent dinner, as the name suggests, is a dinner at which the guests and host do not speak, write, or use technology devices (e.g. phones). The dinners typically last for at least two hours, and guests are expected to stay and participate for the entire time.

    What sounds good tonight for dinner? ›

    40 Easy Dinner Ideas to Make Tonight
    • Chicken Pot Pie Pasta. ...
    • 30 Minute General Tso's Chicken. ...
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti. ...
    • Honey Sesame Chicken. ...
    • Chicken Chow Mein. ...
    • Chicken Katsu. ...
    • Air Fryer Chimichangas. ...
    • Baked Firecracker Chicken.
    Sep 19, 2022

    Why can't I decide what to eat? ›

    “One is decision fatigue, which occurs when we're overwhelmed by the number of choices we have to make throughout the day.” By dinnertime, she says, our brains may become exhausted, making it challenging to make yet another decision – however simple it may seem.

    What do I want for dinner tonight? ›

    50 Easy Dinner Ideas
    • Spaghetti alla Carbonara.
    • Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni.
    • Chicken Piccata Pasta.
    • Pasta with Turkey Sausage and Peas.
    • Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo (or Stovetop)
    • Pasta Puttanesca.
    • One-Pot Penne Pasta with Ground Turkey and Spinach.
    • Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli with Whole Wheat Pasta.

    What sounds good to make for dinner? ›

    40 Easy Dinner Ideas to Make Tonight
    • Chicken Pot Pie Pasta. ...
    • 30 Minute General Tso's Chicken. ...
    • Instant Pot Spaghetti. ...
    • Honey Sesame Chicken. ...
    • Chicken Chow Mein. ...
    • Chicken Katsu. ...
    • Air Fryer Chimichangas. ...
    • Baked Firecracker Chicken.
    Sep 19, 2022

    What can I make for dinner that's not chicken? ›

    From slow-cooked Mexican pork, to dukkah lamb with couscous and tuna mornay rissoles, this week's meals will be covered, minus the bird.
    • 1Tuna mornay rissoles. ...
    • 2Sri Lankan pork curry. ...
    • 3Mongolian lamb rissoles. ...
    • 4Beef and tomato eggplant rolls. ...
    • 5Pork bulgogi. ...
    • 6'Clean-out-the-fridge' vegetable risotto.

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