Best Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes
While having a meal plan is great, sometimes even the best laid plans can change and we are faced with the age old question of “what’s for dinner?”. These easy dinner recipes and ideas are here to help!
Whether it’s a comforting pasta recipe, a healthy sheet pan meal or a vegetarian main there is an easy dinner recipe to curb any craving or mood. You might even find a few new meals to add to your regular menu rotation!
Keep this list of easy dinner ideas handy whenever you are not sure what to make. It has came to my rescue time and time again and I hope it does the same for your family. Easy dinners for the win!
Dinner Ideas To Plan and Prep Ahead
While the easy dinner ideas below are perfect when you need a meal that is quick and easy, sometimes you just need a simple sauce or protein that can be prepped ahead of time.
I use these ideas to make a simple DIY nacho bar or potato bar on busy nights or just to pair with cooked pasta, salad or rice for a 30-minute meal.
Best Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas
I come back to this list time and time again when it’s dinner time and I don’t know what to make! Here are some criteria for easy weeknight dinners:
- Start with store bought items dinners like French bread pizza or meatball subs so that dinner can be on the table faster.
- Affordable yet dinner time favorites can be as simple grilled cheese with a bowl of tomato soup.
- When I am too tired to cook, avocado toast with egg is simple and nutritious. Another favorite easy dinner is picking up a rotisserie chicken and pairing it with sheet pan veggies or a chopped salad.
- On busy nights when dinner needs to be ready quickly, a spinach pesto pizza or tostada only need about 10 minutes prep.
- Leftovers night, in order to skip takeout, it’s fun to pull everything out of the fridge at the end of the week and have a buffet night! Everyone will be sure to find something they love!
30 Minute Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas
These easy dinner ideas are perfect for busy nights and can be on the table in 30 minutes or less!
Crispy parmesan crusted chicken is made with chicken cutlets dredged in a freshly grated Parmesan coating then pan fried until chicken breasts are tender, juicy and golden brown.
Total Time: 18 minutes
Read moreParmesan Crusted Chicken. Made on the stovetop and ready in less than 20 minutes, all you need is a pack of chicken and pantry staples to pull off this family favorite!
This 3-ingredient easy chili recipe is loaded with ground beef and beans ready in 30 minutes or less! A thick, hearty, and flavorful soup recipe that’s perfect for fall.
Total Time: 35 minutes
Read moreEasy 3-Ingredient Chili. This is an easy meal that the whole family loves! All you need is ground beef, chili beans and chili ready tomatoes and it’s ready in 30 minutes.
These bean and cheese burritos are a classic filled with flavorful, seasoned refried beans and melty cheese.
Total Time: 15 minutes
Read moreBean and Cheese Burritos. Ready in only 15 minutes, no one ever turns down one of these burritos. It’s an easy dinner win!
This sheet pan gnocchi is perfect for a last-minute vegetarian dinner or side dish. The pillowy gnocchi becomes crispy and the colorful vegetables are roasted to perfection.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreSheet Pan Gnocchi. One of our favorite vegetarian easy dinner recipes! Crispy gnocchi and roasted vegetables all come together on one pan in only 30 minutes.
This easy baked pork tenderloin is tender and juicy with a flavorful sear on the outside. It’s the best with simple ingredients and ready in 30 minutes!
Total Time: 27 minutes
Read moreRoasted Pork Tenderloin. A simple stove-to-oven method means this is ready in less than 30 minutes with a beautiful sear outside and tender juicy meat inside.
This ranch chicken is coated in a Parmesan cheese, dry ranch dressing breadcrumb mixture then baked in the oven until tender. It’s an easy weeknight dinner!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Read moreParmesan Ranch Chicken. With only 5 ingredients, this crispy Parmesan breadcrumb coated chicken is a quick meal that I always keep the ingredients on hand for as it’s fast and easy!
This baked tilapia recipe is an easy 30 minute dinner that delivers big flavor without much effort. Seasoned fillets are drizzled with butter, baked until flaky then finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreBaked Tilapia Recipe. Oven baked with crispy, flaky results make this tender white fish a favorite.
This sheet pan salmon and asparagus with potatoes is a complete meal ready in an hour! Simple seasonings, butter and lemon add so much flavor.
Total Time: 40 minutes
Read moreSheet Pan Salmon. An all in one easy meal with salmon, potatoes and asparagus and a baking time of only 30 minutes!
The BEST healthy pizza topped with fresh veggies, mozzarella, chicken, arugula and a balsamic glaze. Ready in just 20 minutes and perfectly crispy and delicious!
Total Time: 20 minutes
Read moreHealthy Pizza. Loaded with veggies, lean chicken and cheese on a whole wheat crust, this meal is ready in only 20 minutes.
Tender spaghetti noodles coated in a flavorful basil pesto sauce and topped with a rich lemon ricotta cream. This spaghetti pesto is the perfect way to enjoy a quick and easy dinner with fresh bold flavors!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreSpaghetti Pesto. Fresh bold flavors, familiar spaghetti noodles and a vegan pesto will make this a new favorite. It’s easy to make at home but feels elegant like a fancy restaurant.
This baked lemon chicken is easy to make with chicken breasts coated in a flavorful lemon butter sauce and baked to tender perfection in 30 minutes.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreLemon chicken. Only 7 ingredients are needed for this delicious one pan lemon butter chicken that’s ready in 30 minutes.
Easy and delicious Mexican burrito bowls made in just one pot in 30 minutes…making clean up a breeze. Perfect for busy week nights!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Read moreOne Pot Burrito Bowl Recipe. Everything you love about a burrito but without the work of piling it into a tortilla. Instead, serve with some tortilla chips and call it a day!
This homemade macaroni is creamy, rich and the ultimate comfort food! It’s made with simple ingredients in just 25 minutes from start to finish.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Read moreHomemade Mac and Cheese. There is no better comfort meal than homemade mac! It’s perfect for busy families.
Need an easy, healthy, and scrumptious dinner idea in a hurry? Sheet pan chicken thighs are exactly what you’re looking for. A complete meal that is done on one sheet is ready in 30 minutes!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreSheet Pan Chicken Thighs. Tender and juicy chicken thighs with a colorful medley of vegetables will be a new favorite and filling dinner idea ready in only 30 minutes.
Quick and easy this sheet pan sausage and veggies is loaded with flavor from vegetables, sausage and simple seasonings. It’s healthy, nutritious and made on one pan for easy cleanup!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreSheet Pan Sausage and Veggies. Colorful, flavorful and delicious smoked sausage with broccoli, potatoes and peppers is a quick and simple dinner idea for busy families.
This French bread pizza is simple, delicious and easy to customize with sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings. A tasty recipe that both kids and adults love.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Read moreFrench Bread Pizza. With a loaf of French bread, your favorite toppings and cheese, this easy dinner is ready in 20 minutes!
Ready in 20 minutes and made with just a handful of convenient ingredients, pigs in a blanket with cheese are a favorite on any party table! They are the perfect appetizer for an easy get-together.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Read morePigs in a Blanket with Cheese. A kid-friendly staple with an added twist of garlic butter and cheese that makes them irresistible to the kid in all of us!
This is the best beef stroganoff recipe with tender strips of beef and mushrooms in a rich sour cream sauce. This classic recipe is easy to make and ready in 30 minutes!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreBeef Stroganoff. A comforting weeknight dinner that everyone loves with beef served with a creamy sauce over noodles.
This garlic butter steak and potatoes skillet is a simple and flavorful 30 minute weeknight dinner made in one pan with juicy pan-seared steak and roasted potatoes!
Total Time: 25 minutes
Read moreSteak and Potatoes. Hearty, comforting and sure to satisfy, crispy potatoes with tender bites of steak will be a hit.
Make the perfect steak in the oven that’s caramelized, juicy and tender. It’s quick and easy to prepare by first pan-searing the steak and then finishing it in the oven.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Read moreHow to Cook Steak in the Oven. No matter the weather outside, this steak turns out perfectly cooked inside! It’s an easy meal that everyone loves!
Tender fettuccine noodles covered in a creamy homemade alfredo sauce and then topped with seasoned chicken. This chicken fettuccine alfredo is easily made in under 30 minutes and is loaded with Italian flavor!
Total Time: 25 minutes
Read moreChicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Easy and comforting this is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe after a long day!
Warm corn tortillas loaded with tangy BBQ chicken, black beans salsa, fresh cilantro and a drizzle of cilantro lime dressing. These easy BBQ chicken tacos are made in just 15 minutes and are the perfect dinner to serve your family on Taco Tuesday!
Total Time: 15 minutes
Read moreBBQ Chicken Tacos. Ready in 15 minutes, everyone will love this spin on tacos with sweet BBQ sauce.
This chicken tortellini Alfredo is easy to make with rotisserie chicken, cheese tortellini and a homemade Alfredo sauce. It’s a simple weeknight dinner for busy nights!
Total Time: 20 minutes
Read moreChicken Tortellini Alfredo. 20 minutes is all you need for this family-friendly dinner with cheese filled tortellini and creamy Alfredo sauce!
This Korean ground beef bowl is a simple ground beef recipe with a flavorful sauce served over rice. It’s ready in 15 minutes for a quick and easy weeknight meal!
Total Time: 15 minutes
Read moreKorean Ground Beef Bowl. This dinner idea is budget friendly and ready in 15 minutes!
Seasoned chicken and fajita veggies smothered in cheese make this chicken fajita casserole an easy, low-carb, way to enjoy flavorful fajita chicken!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreChicken Fajita Casserole. This quick and easy dinner is ready in 30 minutes! It’s flavorful and can be served as is are with tortillas and salad.
This copycat recipe for P.F. Chang’s Mongolian beef rivals anything ordered at the restaurant! Tender beef is easily made at home and coated in a sweet and savory sauce.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read morePF Changs Mongolian Beef. Skip the high dining out prices and make this copycat recipe at home. It’s flavor, tender and so good.
This chicken tortilla soup recipe is made in ONE pot in 30 minutes. Always a crowd pleaser and tastes great loaded with cheese, avocado and tortilla chips.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreChicken Tortilla Soup. A loaded soup that is a crowd pleaser! Serve with all your favorite toppings and let everyone customize their bowl to taste.
This egg roll in a bowl recipe is a healthy, low carb alternative to egg rolls! Ready in 20 minutes, it’s a flavorful weeknight dinner with ground turkey and veggies tossed in sauce.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Read moreEgg Roll in a Bowl. No time to roll? Just put it in a bowl! That’s the method behind this egg roll and everyone will rave about it.
This easy taco soup recipe is full of hearty Mexican flavor! It’s a one-pot meal made on the stovetop, crockpot or Instant Pot with ground beef, corn, beans and seasonings.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreTaco Soup. A family favorite and for good reason! This super easy and filling meal is full of meat, beans and colorful veggies it tastes like a taco but is a comforting soup.
This sausage tortellini soup is easy to make with Italian sausage, vegetables, tortellini and a savory tomato-based broth. It’s the perfect comfort soup for cold days
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreSausage Tortellini Soup. Full of Italian flavor, this soup is husband approved!
This easy broccoli cheese soup is so comforting and ready in 30 minutes with tender broccoli, cheddar cheese and a creamy broth. I love serving it in a homemade bread bowl!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreBroccoli and Cheese Soup. Better than any takeout from your favorite cafe, this soup is creamy, cheesy and the perfect easy dinner idea.
This chicken stir fry is loaded with fresh veggies and coated in a flavorful stir-fry sauce. It’s an easy 30-minute meal better than takeout and perfect for weeknights!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreChicken Stir Fry. A simple stir fry always hits the spot and this one will be a new favorite!
With only a few minutes prep, these pizza bagels are easy to make at home for a quick lunch, dinner or snack. Add your favorite pizza toppings to customize it how you like!
Total Time: 15 minutes
Read morePizza Bagels. These never fail for an easy dinner recipe for the family! All you need are bagels, pizza sauce and toppings!
These homemade baked chicken taquitos are easy to make with a creamy, cheesy chicken filling, rolled up in flour tortillas then baked until crispy. They are a family favorite!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreCreamy Baked Chicken Taquitos. Easy, creamy and hands off, these taquitos bake in the oven for crispy results.
Easy Dinner Ideas For When You’re Not Sure What to Make
These easy meals take longer than 30 minutes but are popular dinner recipes that are flavorful and mostly hands off!
This healthy turkey chili recipe is easy, hearty and flavorful made with lean ground turkey, veggies and beans. A cozy meal made on the stovetop or slow cooker.
Total Time: 1 hour
Read moreHealthy Turkey Chili. This chili is a little lighter and a longer simmering time ensures it is thick and flavorful. Ready in under an hour!
This easy tater tot casserole is layered with a creamy ground beef sauce, melted cheese and crispy tater tots. This simple comfort food dinner is a family favorite!
Total Time: 45 minutes
Read moreTater Tot Casserole. A classic family favorite with minimal ingredients, this hot dish has been a favorite for generations!
Total Time: 40 minutes
Read moreEasy Sheet Pan Quesadillas. A giant quesadilla guarantees smiles all around at the dinner table when this is on the menu.
This tuna casserole with egg noodles is easy to make comfort food. It’s a classic go-to recipe when I need something quick and tasty for dinner!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Read moreEasy Tuna Casserole with Egg Noodles. Call it classic or old-fashioned but there is a reason moms have been making this for generations!
This three cheese manicotti is made with tender tubes of manicotti stuffed with mozzarella cheese, ricotta and Parmesan, covered with marinara, baked then topped with fresh basil!
Total Time: 45 minutes
Read moreThree Cheese Manicotti. Impressive yet simple, everyone loves this baked pasta dish that can be on the table in an hour!
Chicken noodle soup is the perfect comfort soup on a chilly day. Simple to make and full of delicious flavor. It will become an instant favorite!
Total Time: 45 minutes
Read moreChicken Noodle Soup. A classic for a reason! Serve this bowl of delicious soup on any day that you need a little boost of comfort.
This easy lasagna soup recipe simmers in one pot with tender noodles, sausage, garlic, onion, an Italian seasoned marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan and creamy ricotta.
Total Time: 40 minutes
Read moreEasy Lasagna Soup. All the taste, no layering required. Top with ricotta to seal the deal and enjoy this easy soup for dinner!
Taco night just got better with steak tacos! Easy to make with a flavorful marinade then pan seared or grilled to perfection and layered on tortillas with all your favorite toppings.
Total Time: 52 minutes
Read moreSteak Tacos. After a short marinade time, these tacos come together in 12 minutes! My entire family loves this easy dinner idea!
Baked to golden perfection and packed with flavor these Greek chicken meatballs are amazing alongside a zesty Greek salad and a dollop of tzatziki sauce. Using fresh ingredients like lean ground chicken, dill, lemon zest, cumin, and oregano, makes it impossible to stop eating them!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Read moreGreek Chicken Meatballs. Serve in pita or on a salad for a simple easy dinner with fresh Mediterranean flavors.
Kung Pao Chicken is a one-skillet dish made of stir fry chicken, veggies, peanuts, and a flavorful heat. It’s coated in a delicious sweet and spicy sauce that gives us every reason to skip the line at Panda Express. Make an even better, quick, and budget-friendly version at home!
Total Time: 35 minutes
Read morePanda Express Kung Pao Chicken. Quicker and better for you than takeout, this stir fry can be spicy or mild, your choice.
This PF Chang’s orange chicken recipe is made with crispy bites of chicken coated in a sweet and tangy orange sauce with the perfect amount of spice!
Total Time: 1 hour
Read moreOrange Chicken. This homemade version tastes like the real thing but better! You can make this easy dinner idea at home in less than an hour.
Combine all your favorite cheeseburger flavors into a one-pot cheeseburger casserole made with pasta noodles. It’s an easy cheesy twist on hamburger helper.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Read moreCheeseburger Casserole. A cheesy version of hamburger helper that comes together effortlessly in one pot! An easy meal the whole family loves.
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Easy Dinner Recipe Idea + French Bread Pizza
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This easy French bread pizza is so simple and delicious! Easy to customize with all your favorite toppings. The perfect easy dinner recipe and idea!
Optional toppings: Pepperoni, Sliced veggies, Tomatoes, Basil, etc.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Spread 3-4 Tablespoons butter over each French bread half and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Bake for 4 minutes, or until lightly toasted.
Spread 1/2 cup pizza sauce evenly over the top of each slice. Top with cheese and any desired toppings.
Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let cool for a few minutes and then slice when ready to serve.
- Caprese: Pizza sauce, cheese, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze
- Alfredo: Alfredo sauce, cheese, and chicken
- Pesto: Pesto sauce, cheese, and other toppings like chicken, tomatoes, or spinach
- BBQ chicken: BBQ sauce, cheese, chicken, and sliced red onions.
- Ham & pineapple: Pizza sauce, cheese, ham, and pineapple
- Veggie: Pizza sauce, cheese, and any of your favorite veggies
Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 676mg | Potassium: 158mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 451IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
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