What should I make for dinner tonight that's EASY? What are some good, healthy dinners? Could I just pay someone to come up with an easy dinner idea for me? We’re food bloggers—we literally cook dinner for a living—and these questions still haunt us sometimes. Standing there, staring into the fridge, wondering what you can whip up tonight that everyone will gladly eat and that won’t take a zillion hours—yeah, we’ve been there! For you (and for ourselves!) we’ve put together this list of the 60 BEST, easy dinner recipes we’ve got. They’re all over the map—some are healthy recipes, some are a little more indulgent, some are vegetarian recipes, some are all about a big slab of protein—but they’re unified by their simplicity. So here you have it! Our absolute best, easy dinners—all in one place
Our Best Easy Healthy Dinner Recipes
- Instant Pot Chicken Marinara With Polenta. Our simple equation for this easy, satisfying dinner goes something like this: chicken thighs + a jar of marinara sauce = dinner’s done. (COVER PHOTO) Serve with a Simple Italian Salad and Garlic Bread.
- Broccoli Pesto Pasta. To make broccoli pesto, broccoli florets are whizzed right into the pesto sauce itself, adding an even more vibrant punch of emerald green to the sauce as well as a seriously healthy boost. This pasta is perfect alongside Lemon Chicken or with Shredded Chicken tossed in.
- Lemon Chicken. This easy recipe shines with a sunny, lemony zing. Garlic and herbs—plus a glug of white wine—mean that juicy, tender chicken breasts are as delicious as they are healthy. Serve with Roasted Broccoli and a Kale Caesar Salad for a perfectly complete meal.
Best, Easy Dinner Recipes For A Family
- Sheet Pan Olive Bar Chicken. Full of rich flavors, almost NO prep, and using only one pan, this dish is destined to become a new favorite. Serve with Lemon Rice and Steamed Broccoli.
- Five Spice Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner. Chicken thighs and cabbage get a little dose of flavor from Chinese five spice, and a little oven time on a sheet pan and boom! Dinner’s done. You can serve this on it's own, but potatoes or rice make great accompaniments.
- Sheet Pan Quesadilla with Jalapeño Ranch. Stuffed with cheese and avocado, this giant, melty, upgraded cheese sheet pan quesadilla is good on its own, but we take it over the top with a side of homemade jalapeño ranch for dipping. Guacamole and Pico De Gallo with Cabbage are great sides for dipping as well. You can never have to many dips, in our opinion.
- Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. What’s easier—and way better—than instant mac and cheese? Rich, creamy, homemade Instant Pot mac and cheese! Why? Because it takes about 5 minutes start-to-finish. We can easily eat this on it's own or love it with Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs or Steak Bites.
Pork & Sausage Make Everything Taste AMAZING.
- Sausage, Kale and Potato Skillet Dinner. An easy one-pan sausage, kale and potato skillet that pleases everyone, from cook to clean-up crew. Serve with Sourdough Bread and Roasted Zucchini with Parmesan.
- Hoisin Glazed Pork Chops. Having a few punchy ingredients on-hand is a great way to make a simple dinner out of just a few ingredients. Hoisin sauce is one of our go-to super-ingredients for easy dinners—just slather it on some pork chops, and you’re well on your way to dinnertime bliss. Our Asian Slaw with Sriracha Dressing or Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Fish Sauce Dressing are a match made in heaven for these chops.
- Pork Chops with Mushroom Cream Sauce. Speaking of pork chops, this version—with a super creamy mushroom sauce—is ready in just 30 minutes. Crispy Shallot Mashed Potatoes or Crispy Smashed Potatoes are perfect sidekicks.
The Best Dinner Recipes of All Time Involve Steak—We Can All Agree on That, Right?
- Grilled Rib Eye Steak with Italian Salsa Verde. Easy? Check. Fast? Yup. Almost-no clean up? Uh, yeah, this recipe is perfect. Served with Baked Sweet Potatoes and Classic Wedge Salad.
- Carne Asada. This easy carne asada recipe is as simple as can be—fire up the grill and you’ll be feasting on juicy carne asada tacos in no time. Serve with Refried Beans and keep the Margaritas flowing!
- Chimichurri Steak. For some reason, a perfectly grilled steak never fails to impress people. And it's really easy to do. Grab yourself about ten minutes, fire up the grill, and let’s make a great steak! Serve with Roasted Cauliflower with Toasted Panko and Golden Raisins and The Kale Salad, you'll feel like you had a fine dining experience.
- Grilled Five Spice Flank Steak. A Chinese five spice-hoisin marinade sinks into scored flank steak like nobody's business, and turns a simply grilled flank steak into a total flavor bomb. Serve with Asian Chopped Salad or Coconut Fried Rice.
Our Go-To Easy Dinner Idea? Soup!
- 5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup. As simple and easy as it sounds. No, actually, it’s even easier than that. An Agua Fresca and a side of Chips and Salsa? Yes, please!
- Taco Soup. Like tacos, but soup! Seriously! Serve with Elote (Mexican Street Corn) and a refreshing Paloma.
- Tikka Masala Soup. Your favorite Indian chicken recipe, soup-ified. Serve with naan and Easy Raita for dipping. If you're wanting some more green, we love Roasted Broccoli on the side.
- Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale. Can we just call this “The Soup”? A creamy tomato base is loaded with cheese tortellini and hearty sausage and basically this soup is just the greatest dinner ever. Serve with Simple Italian Salad or Roasted Asparagus and don't forget some crusty bread!
See Also
Family Dinner Survival GuideOodles of Easy Noodle Recipes
- Three-Ingredient Tomato Sauce. Olive oil, salt, fresh tomatoes, and a little time are all it takes to create the most vibrant, fresh pasta sauce ever. Basic, easy, dinner perfection. Serve with your favorite pasta shape, broccolini and sip on an Aperol Spritz.
- Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta. dinner doesn’t get easier or more delicious than this creamy roasted red pepper rigatoni pasta. If you’ve got ten minutes and can open a jar, you can make this tonight. Serve with Pesto Chicken Bruschetta or a Caprese Salad.
- 4-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese. Easy homemade mac and cheese is just ten minutes (and four ingredients!) away. So what are you waiting for? Serve with Oven Baked Pork Ribs or Oven Baked Chicken Thighs.
- Baked Gnocchi. A skillet full of melty, bubbly, carb-y comfort is just what the dreary, drizzly weeknights ahead need to perk them up. You can't go wrong with the Best Tomato Salad or a Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad on the side.
Chicken Dinner Ideas? Ooooohhhh Have We Ever Got Chicken Dinner Ideas!
- Easy Harissa Chicken. Easy, quick harissa chicken—made with a jar of roasted red peppers, plenty of garlic, and smoked paprika—is a lot more exciting than any chicken recipe has any right to be. Serve with Za'atar Roasted Cauliflower with Herb Whipped Feta or Mediterranean Style Zucchini Fritters with Tzatziki Dipping Sauce.
- Cilantro-Lime Chicken Thighs. A quick marinade of lime, garlic, bright cilantro, and a touch of honey transforms boneless, skinless chicken thighs into just the juicy, tender surge of sunshine that you crave. Serve with White Rice or Tex-Mex Salad with Creamy Oregano Dressing.
- Skillet Roasted Chicken with Cabbage. Easy delicious dinners win every time in our book. This one-pan whole roasted chicken falls into that easy category. Serve with Instant Pot Beans and Homemade Corn Tortillas.
- Green Chicken Enchiladas. Our easy green chicken enchilada recipe is weeknight ready and all but guaranteed to please everyone from starving spouses to picky toddlers. Serve with Instant Pot Black Beans and Restaurant Style Mexican Rice.
Stir-Fries: The OG Quick, Easy Dinner
- Easy Orange Chicken. Our easy orange chicken recipe puts a healthy spin on the sweet-savory favorite. Delicious with Fried Rice and Hot and Sour Cabbage.
- Kung Pao Chicken. Step away from the takeout menu. Step towards the stove and make this easy chicken instead! Or Try Kung Pao Tofu, both are great with White or Fried Rice.
- Thai Basil Beef. A speedy, savory Thai beef basil stir fry that’s just a bit spicy and really hits the spot. Delicious on rice or on top of a baked sweet potato.
- Crispy Chicken Stir Fry. Cornstarch and high heat mean super-crispy chicken every time. Toss in some green beans, and you’ve got an easy, healthy dinner in about 10 minutes. Serve with Chinese Dry-Fried Green Beans or Hot and Sour Cabbage.
- Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Donburi). Five ingredients, a few minutes and a hot skillet, and you’ll be digging into a delicious soboro donburi. Serve over rice and match up with Tofu Lettuce Wraps or Sticky Shrimp Lettuce Wraps for extra dinner deliciousness!
Easy, Fast Vegetarian Dinner Ideas
- Salsa Verde Baked Eggs. A jar of salsa verde makes this elegant egg dish incredibly speedy. Yeah, it sounds brunchy, but trust us—try it for dinner!
- Braised Chickpeas with Chard. Rich, filling and healthy, this dinner is as fast and delicious as any we could imagine. Easy on the budget, too!
- Portobello Mushroom Fajitas. Just as good as their chicken or steak-filled counterparts, and just as fast, too.
- Huevos Rancheros. Runny, fried eggs over a bed of seasoned beans, atop a layer of warm corn tortillas, add a few condiments and voila—breakfast for dinner takes on a whole new meaning.
- Soft-Scrambled Eggs. Don’t knock it—scrambled eggs make a perfect dinner in our book. Add a little Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad or Avocado and Melon Salad if you want to round it out, and dinner will still be ready in about 15 minutes.
If you make ANY of these 60 BEST Easy Dinners, we want to hear about it! Be sure to tag us on instagram using @themodernproper or #themodernproper if you do!
