Easy dinner recipes that require little effort and a big reward! Just a few ingredients and a few easy steps to get them on the table!
Some nights you want a home-cooked dinner that feels special, but you also have approximately zero energy, just a handful of ingredients, and no time for anything complicated. That’s exactly where this list comes in! These are my family’s go-to weeknight recipes and they have earned a permanent spot in the rotation because they are simply that reliable.
The recipes on this list don’t require anything complicated, nothing you have to find at a specialty store or prepare three days in advance. We’re talking short lists of ingredients, easy steps, and flavors that will make you feel like you’ve already gotten your act together. (Even if you don’t do it at all.)
Whether you’re feeding a family, cooking for two, or just trying to get a decent meal on the table after a long day, there’s something here for you!
Easy dinner recipes
Hamburger bowls with house sauce and ranch fries
A burger in a bowl! Ranch seasoned fries topped with a burger and all the fixings, with a drizzle of house sauce on the side!
Buffalo Chicken Burgers with Whipped Feta Cheese
Easy and Amazing Buffalo Chicken Burgers! Full of crisp lettuce and whipped feta cheese spread, on top of a toasted brioche bun.
Brandon’s Egg Roll Tacos
Egg rolls meet tacos! I love this! Easy to make and ridiculously good with a classic egg roll filling, crunchy vegetables, pillowy tortillas, and a spicy gochujang sauce.
Zuppa Toscana
Easy Zuppa Toscana made in 30 minutes with chunks of golden sausage, tender potatoes, and wilted kale, all wrapped in a creamy, rich, sipable broth!
Instant pot spaghetti
My whole family loves this Instant Pot Spaghetti! Silky, tasty and deliciously sticky. It’s easy enough for my kids to do too!
Ridiculously Good Air Fryer Chicken Breast
My everyday air fryer chicken! Thinly sliced pieces of chicken breast, coated to the max with spices, plus a little brown sugar and cornstarch, and air fried to juicy, golden perfection.
Apricot Chicken with Roasted Scallions
This one-skillet apricot chicken is so easy and SO GOOD! Just a few simple ingredients, minimal cleanup, and a big flavor boost from the charred, roasted scallions on top.
Thai Peanut Chicken Bowls
I love a shortcut dinner hack! These bowls feature caramelized peanut chicken, a tangle of noodles, cucumber salad and fresh herbs, and peanut sauce on top.
Bang Bang Salmon with Avocado-Cucumber Sauce
Bang Bang Salmon! Creamy, sweet, salty and punchy. Served with some steaming rice and avocado and cucumber salsa. Midweek perfection!
Ridiculously Good Chicken Tacos with Salsa Verde
Only 20 minutes to have these chicken tacos on the table! Juicy, tasty and absolutely meaningless at best.
Chicken with Coconut Kale
Golden, juicy, thinly sliced fried chicken swims in a creamy coconut-kale sauce-like situation with chunks of shallot and a bit of spiciness. Super easy and with minimal ingredients!
Shortcut Noodles with Sesame Butter
One of my favorite pocket recipes! Packaged noodles for ease, butter for creaminess, honey for sweetness, and sesame oil for depth. Just slips of joy!
5 ingredient tomato soup
A simple 5-ingredient tomato soup made with butter, onion, and canned San Marzano tomatoes. Based on the Marcella Hazan tomato sauce recipe. This achieves the cozy vibes perfectly.
Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice
Incredibly creamy and spicy chickpea curry served over rice with a dollop of crunchy chilli and a side of cucumber salad. Ready in 20 minutes!
Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta Cheese
These Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta are perfect for an easy SOS dinner! Store-bought whipped meatballs, bell peppers, zucchini, harissa, and feta cheese all in one bowl. DELICIOUS!
Lettuce Wraps with Tofu and Brown Rice with Peanut Sauce
These lettuce wraps are ridiculously good! Crispy, fresh and packed with tofu, brown rice, crispy onions, plus a drizzle of peanut sauce and spicy mayonnaise. Delicious!
Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
These vegetarian tacos feature a deliciously satisfying black bean filling with fresh salsa and seasonings, all tucked into a crispy, golden tortilla and served alongside a fresh, creamy cilantro-lime salsa. Hmm!
Pork with pineapple and coconut rice
Sticky sweet pork, juicy pineapple, fresh herbs, jalapeño and crispy onions, all served on a bed of fluffy coconut rice. VERY GOOD!
The Best Baked Chicken Meatballs Anytime
These Baked Chicken Meatballs are the BEST! The perfect complement to any meal or to eat alone. Bonus: They’re suitable for meal prepping and stocking up all week long!
The Best Chicken Tinga Tacos
These Chicken Tinga Tacos are THE BEST! Real food perfection, hot and spicy.
Cauliflower and black bean toast with cheese and pickled onion
Spicy, creamy, crunchy, smoky, seasoned vegetarian deliciousness in a small, perfectly crispy corn tortilla disc. Cauliflower and Black Bean Toast to the rescue!
Spicy Gochujang Noodles with Chicken
A super easy, spicy, noodle and peanut slice of comfort food! These gochujang noodles require just a handful of ingredients, like ramen noodles, peanut butter, sesame oil, and soy sauce, and come together in just 20 minutes.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Winner, winner, chicken tortilla soup dinner! Tender chicken thighs, creamy pinto beans, garlic and onion, crushed tomatoes, jalapeno pepper, crushed tomatoes and ALL the dressings.
Baked Gnocchi with Three Cheeses and Spinach
You’re in for a treat with these delicious Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi! Tender gnocchi topped with a creamy tomato sauce, sprinkled with fresh spinach and chunks of melted cheese. Gorgeous!
Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini
This Crispy Zucchini Spaghetti is the perfect song for the end of summer! There’s nothing better than fresh summer zucchini covered in a crunchy, cheesy breading and on top of spaghetti with fresh herbs. Hmm!
Hot Salmon with Honey
This Hot Honey Salmon gives off vibes that are very elegant to eat, but not elegant to prepare. Sweet and spicy salmon topped with fresh garlic, ground mustard, sweet honey and red pepper flakes. It’s a magic little number!
Smoked Bean and Vegetable Tacos with Green Chili
Three cheers for summer food! Smokey black beans sautéed with kale, garlic and spices, tucked into charred corn tortillas and topped with the best, spicy green sauce: Ají Verde!
Spicy Salmon Burgers
These spicy salmon burgers are little packets of flavor! Canned salmon, panko, refreshing lemongrass, and a sweet and spicy combination of red curry paste and brown sugar. How good and so simple!
Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup is cream-free, comforting, and made with lots of vegetables. Perfect with crusty bread and green salad. ♡
Creamy Florentine Tomato Lasagna
This Creamy Tomato Florentine Lasagna is deliciously comforting and simple. Noodles, tomato sauce, and a creamy spinach layer!
Jambalaya Bread Sheet
Sheet Pan Jambalaya: maximum flavor, minimum dishes. Sausage, peppers, onions, shrimp, and cauliflower rice, all pan roasted. Great flavor, easy dinner!
Sesame Beef and Broccoli
Beef with sesame and broccoli! Packed with protein, green broccoli, and sticky-sweet garlic-ginger flavor. Perfect to take home!
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry – Packed with Nutrients! Our favorite easy, healthy winter comfort food recipe.
Instant Red Curry Lentils
Guess what’s for dinner? Creamy, spicy and delicious red curry lentils, made in the Instant Pot.
5-Ingredient Spicy Pork
5 Ingredient Spicy Pork! An elegant dinner recipe that really comes together in a snap. Serve it in bowls, stir-fry it with some veggies, or add it to burritos!
Instant Pot Coconut Tandoori Inspired Chicken
Coconut Tandoori Chicken made with rich spices and creamy coconut milk. Ridiculously easy (like 5 minutes of practice) and very, very delicious! My new favorite make-ahead frozen meal.
Skillet Farro with Tomatoes and Kale
This One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale is a DREAM! Rustic farro accompanied by cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic and kale. How good and healthy!
The easiest spinach and artichoke pizza
This really is the easiest spinach and artichoke pizza! Garlic cheese spread, canned artichokes, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella, all on a pre-made pizza dough. Ugh, it’s good!
