33 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. Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Breast

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

tasty.co

This asparagus-stuffed chicken breast is an elegant-looking dish that's surprisingly easy to make. Stuffed with fresh asparagus and creamy Provolone cheese, it's perfect for busy nights but tastes like a labor of love!

Recipe:Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Breast

2. One-Pot Creamy Tuscan Pasta

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

tasty.co

There's no need to stress about weeknight dinner when you've got this One-Pot Creamy Tuscan Pasta recipe is your back pocket. Tender penne pasta is simmered in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce with spinach and Parmesan for a dish that begs for seconds. Plus, leftovers (if there are any!) make a great lunch the next day.

Recipe:One-Pot Creamy Tuscan Pasta

3. Honey Soy-Glazed Salmon

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

tasty.co

Pan-seared salmon gets a flavor-boost from a tasty marinade of honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. For even more flavor, the marinade is reduced to a sauce for drizzling over the cooked fish. Pair with steamed broccoli and white rice for a balanced meal.

Recipe:Honey Soy-Glazed Salmon

4. Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken

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

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

5. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast

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

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

6. Veggie Garlic Noodles

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

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

7.

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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:

8. Taco Soup

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

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

9. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

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

10.

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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:

11. Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas

33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (12)

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

12. Easy Butter Chicken

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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

13. 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

14. 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

15.

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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

17. Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli

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

damndelicious.net

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

Recipe: Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli

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

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

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

19. Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies

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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

21. Pesto Chicken Bake

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

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

23. 10-Minute Lemon Garlic Salmon & Asparagus

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

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

24. 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

25. Tuna & Avocado Wrap

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

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

27. Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Foil Packs

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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

29. Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats

33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (24)

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

30. Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Tacos

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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

33. 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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    33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (2024)

    FAQs

    33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make? ›

    You will want to purchase cheap foods that are filling! Oatmeal, rice, beans, bread, and other starches are filling and will keep you full until your next meal. Beans and rice are also super versatile foods, and you can take them and transform them into easy meals you will actually enjoy!

    What to make for dinner with barely any food? ›

    11 dinner recipes for when your fridge is empty
    • Spaghetti in cherry tomato sauce. ...
    • Harissa chickpeas with silverbeet. ...
    • Bacon, mozzarella and baked bean jaffles. ...
    • Pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines) ...
    • Peas and broad beans with prosciutto. ...
    • Orecchiette with hot-smoked salmon, peas and beurre blanc sauce.

    What are 10 good dinner foods? ›

    Our 20 most popular dinners of 2024
    • Air-fryer salmon.
    • Sweet potato & peanut curry.
    • Beef stroganoff.
    • Easy sausage casserole.
    • Chicken & chorizo jambalaya.
    • Lasagne.
    • Easy chicken curry.
    • No-fuss shepherd's pie.
    Mar 14, 2024

    What to make for dinner when you have no food or money? ›

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

    What to make when you have no idea what to cook? ›

    33 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make
    1. Asparagus-Stuffed Chicken Breast. tasty.co. ...
    2. Honey Soy-Glazed Salmon. tasty.co. ...
    3. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast. tasty.co. ...
    4. Chicken & Biscuit Bake. ...
    5. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
    6. Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas. ...
    7. Upgraded Ramen. ...
    8. Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli.
    6 days ago

    What to make for dinner with bare minimum? ›

    • 27 / 44. Parmesan Fish Sticks. I wanted a healthier approach to fish sticks and developed a baked tilapia with a slightly peppery bite. ...
    • 28 / 44. Ham & Swiss Stromboli. This is an excellent dish to take to someone for dinner. ...
    • 29 / 44. Shakshuka. Shakshuka is a dish of poached eggs with tomatoes, onion and cumin.
    May 5, 2024

    What is a good dinner that everyone would like? ›

    30 Quick And Easy Dinners Your Whole Family Will Love
    • Slow-Cooker Chicken Tacos. tasty.co. ...
    • Easy Sheet Pan Southwestern Dinner. tasty.co. ...
    • Garlic Broccoli Shrimp Stir-Fry. ...
    • Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa. ...
    • One-Pot Chicken and Mushroom Pasta. ...
    • 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry. ...
    • Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry. ...
    • Baked Spaghetti.
    May 6, 2024

    What are the top 10 healthiest dinners? ›

    10 Simple Dinner Ideas for Healthy Eating in Real Life
    1. Stuffed sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are loaded with beneficial nutrients like beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber ( 1 ). ...
    2. Grain bowls. ...
    3. Veggie loaded frittatas. ...
    4. Dinner salad. ...
    5. Loaded brown rice pasta. ...
    6. One-pot soups. ...
    7. Curry. ...
    8. Burgers.
    Jun 30, 2021

    What to cook when you're broke? ›

    • Creamy pasta carbonara. A lovely, creamy version of a well-known favourite.
    • Best Spaghetti and Meatballs. ...
    • Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry. ...
    • Devilled sausages. ...
    • Potato and leek soup. ...
    • Lemon chicken. ...
    • Salt and pepper chicken. ...
    • Chicken and bacon carbonara.

    How to eat when you're broke? ›

    You will want to purchase cheap foods that are filling! Oatmeal, rice, beans, bread, and other starches are filling and will keep you full until your next meal. Beans and rice are also super versatile foods, and you can take them and transform them into easy meals you will actually enjoy!

    How to make food in 5 minutes? ›

    5-minute meals recipes
    1. Storecupboard pasta salad. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
    2. Pan-fried camembert sandwich. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
    3. Prawn & coconut soup. ...
    4. Classic French omelette. ...
    5. Chicken wrap with sticky sweet potato, salad leaves & tomatoes. ...
    6. Creamy tomato courgetti. ...
    7. Speedy tuna pasta salad. ...
    8. Easy pea & mint soup.

    What to eat when you are tired of food? ›

    Make meals that involve minimal cooking.

    Shelf-stable items like canned tuna and beans are incredibly helpful for adding a boost of protein to meals. One of my favorite throw-together meals is mixed greens with chickpeas, boiled eggs, avocado and dressing.

    What to eat when you don't know? ›

    Meal Ideas
    • Breakfast for dinner.
    • Bean and cheese burrito.
    • Baked potato.
    • Egg salad sandwich.
    • Spaghetti with meat sauce.
    • Avocado toast with a fried egg.
    • Chicken caesar salad.
    • Slow cooker chili.
    Feb 5, 2023

    What to do if you're hungry but have no food? ›

    Get out of the house and engage in some physical activity such as a brisk walk or sports. Exercise is a great way to reduce your hunger. Call a friend you haven't spoken to in a long time, or spend time doing a fun activity with your family. Read a book or a magazine, or try to focus on catching up on some work.

    What to eat when you have no food and can't cook? ›

    Ways to Eat Healthy Without Having to Cook
    • Precooked Whole Grains. 1/13. ...
    • Frozen Veggies. 2/13. ...
    • Precooked Chicken Strips. 3/13. ...
    • That's a Wrap. 4/13. ...
    • Deli Chicken. 5/13. ...
    • Lower-Sodium Soups. 6/13. ...
    • Canned Salmon. 7/13. ...
    • Ready-to-Eat Boiled Eggs. 8/13.
    Aug 28, 2023

    What to eat when your appetite is low? ›

    Include a variety of fruit and vegetables in your diet. You can add extra calories and protein by adding butter, cheese or sauces to vegetables, or custard or cream to fruit. Aim to have starchy foods such as cereals, potatoes, bread and rice at every meal.

    What to eat small dinner? ›

    A small dinner meal might include:
    • 3 ounces of beef tenderloin with a plain, small baked potato and 1 cup of steamed broccoli.
    • Shrimp kebabs made with 3 ounces of shrimp and 1 cup of a mix of peppers, onions and mushrooms served with 1/2 cup of brown rice and 1 cup of mixed greens with 1 tablespoon of low-fat dressing.

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