73 Easy Dinner Ideas for Simple, Satisfying Evenings
Life often feels like a juggling act: You leave work thinking about tomorrow’s project, and you can’t forget about that event on Thursday, and…oh, yeah, you need some easy dinner ideas for tonight. You also envision the sofa. (It’s so plush, so comfy.)
So what will it be? Crank up the stove when you walk through the door, or let someone else take care of the cooking?
Either is fine—no judgment here—but would your decision change if we told you that we’ve already done the work of finding 73 easy meals for you to make? Below, find our favorite quick dinners ranging from stir-fries to one-pot pastas, sheet-pan meals to Instant Pot soups. These are the best recipes when you can only put in so much effort (you might even think twice before reaching for the take-out menu).
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Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht1/73Crispy Tofu With Peanut Sauce
For this easy dinner idea, you’ll coat crispy tofu cubes in a velvety peanut butter, ginger, and coconut cream sauce. It’s got all the flavor of satay, minus the skewers.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams2/73
The Ultimate Tuna Melt
Canned tuna is an easy-dinner workhorse: Mix it with mayonnaise, red onion, and capers, then griddle between two slices of bread to make dreamy tuna melts. Not all canned tuna is created equal, though—read about our favorite brands here.
- Photograph by Peden + Munk, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic3/73
Easy Chicken Al Pastor
For the best chicken al pastor, you’ll need to hit the road in search of slowly spinning barrels of chile-rubbed, pineapple-juice-marinated meat. But on a Thursday night, this streamlined version—with fast-cooking chicken thighs and convenient canned chipotles—more than satisfyingly approximates the street food classic.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht4/73
Spicy Salmon Roll Bowl
Instead of ordering sushi for delivery, whip up this quick spicy salmon bowl with crispy broiled salmon cubes, lightly pickled cucumbers, sliced avocado, and chili crisp mayo.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Judy Kim.5/73
Grilled Pork Chops With Plum Mostarda
“When I’m grilling, I’m chilling,” says the recipe’s author, chef Tiana Gee. “Any recipe that prohibits me from carrying on a conversation while cooking is out.” Amen to that.
- Photography by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen6/73
Golden Chicken With Mustard and Shallots
Skinless, boneless chicken breasts bathe in a luxe, mustardy cream sauce in this approachable yet impressive-looking meal; sop up the sauce with rice or toasted bread.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Christina Allen7/73
Quick Pita Lahmacun
Spread a mixture of ground lamb, spices, and aromatics onto store-bought pitas, then bake until the meat is cooked and the pita is golden around the edges. Top with sliced onion, cabbage, and spiced Greek yogurt, and dinner is served.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Sean Dooley, prop styling by Gerri Williams8/73
Spinach-Artichoke-Dip Pasta
Turn everyone’s favorite party appetizer—spinach-artichoke dip, obviously—into a family-friendly baked pasta dish.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Sean Dooley, prop styling by Gerri Williams9/73
Gnocchi-Leek Soup With Greens
Shelf-stable gnocchi take the place of potatoes in this fun, brothy play on potato-leek soup. Store-bought vegetable broth (livened up with Parmesan rind and caramelized lemon) makes it super speedy.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni10/73
Warm Chicken Piccata Salad
Winner winner chicken dinner—salad. We’ve transformed the classic lemon and caper piccata sauce into a warm vinaigrette that the whole family will love. And if they don’t: leave ’em, sis. (Kidding, kidding.)
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua11/73
Cozy and Quick White Chicken Chili
This quick, cozy white chicken chili was one of our favorite recipes of 2023. We highly recommend loading up on the toppings: crushed tortilla chips, sliced scallions, and hunks of avocado.
- Photography by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen12/73
Beefy Cheesy Sweet Potatoes With Kimchi
If loaded nachos are your idea of a good time, these loaded sweet potato wedges will be your new favorite dinner.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi13/73
Crispy Baked Tofu Nuggets
If your therapist keeps telling you to “unleash your inner child,” you can start by making these tofu nuggets for dinner. Maybe unwind with a coloring book while they bake.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Christina Allen14/73
Herby Salmon and Potato Salad
This sheet-pan salmon and potatoes recipe is well-suited for weeknight cooking (because it’s fast) or a dinner party (it’s easy and elegant). Since it all cooks in one pan, the prep time is minimal, and the cleanup is too.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht15/73
Sour-Cream-and-Onion Tortilla Española
Swap the carefully sliced spuds for a bag of potato chips to turn classic Spanish tortilla Española into a low-maintenance weeknight meal.
- 16/73
One-Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Speaking of comfort food: chicken pot pie. The ingredients that make this one fall under “easy recipes for dinner,” as well? Store-bought rotisserie chicken and boxed puff pastry.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman17/73
Big Italian Sub Salad
One of our favorite salads is basically a deconstructed Italian sub, complete with salami, mozzarella, and a red wine vinegar dressing.
- Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott18/73
BA’s Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Here’s a quick and easy dinner idea: Two slices of bread, some mayonnaise, butter, and cheese. If you’ve got some extra time, a bowl of tomato soup or roasted carrot soup with a dollop of sour cream is a great accompaniment.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson19/73
Easy Fish Tacos With Spicy Sauce
Keep this 20-minute recipe in your back pocket for busy weeknights. Forgot the tortillas? Serve the spiced fish fillets over rice for an easy Mexican-inspired non-taco supper.
- Photograph by Victoria Jane, Prop Styling by Alexandra Massillon, Food Styling by Mallory Lance20/73
Halftime Chili
Spicy, filling ground beef chili is one of the ultimate American comfort foods, and while it takes some time to simmer on the stove, this Super Bowl–ready recipe only asks for 15 minutes of active cooking. Set it, forget it, and then eat it an hour later.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness21/73
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
Got a can of pumpkin purée hiding in your pantry? The aspirational baker in you might have once envisioned homemade pumpkin bread or muffins—but if current you doesn’t have the time or energy for a baking project, this creamy pumpkin pasta is a dinnertime winner.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Paola Andrea22/73
Pasta al Preserved Limone
What pasta recipe is even easier than Alfredo? Keep some preserved lemons in your refrigerator and you’ll have a near-instant way to turn simple buttered pasta into a bright, complex dish on even the laziest of weeknights.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson23/73
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
A slow cooker, a can of cola, a boneless pork shoulder, and store-bought BBQ sauce come together to make beautiful, meaty, salty, tangy music while you enjoy a glass of your favorite drink.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown24/73
Stovetop Mushroom Lasagna
Instead of boiling the noodles in one pot and making the sauce in another, cook lasagna noodles directly in a mixture of milk, crème fraîche, water, and a little lemon zest. You don’t even need to turn on the oven.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell25/73
Simple Spinach Khichdi
It’s always a good idea to keep your fridge stocked with frozen veggies; they really come in handy for quick and easy dinners. In this case, frozen spinach is the star, and lentils are the supporting cast.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni26/73
Potato and Pea Chowder
This soup recipe is a great excuse to break out the potato masher. You use it only to mash some potatoes into smaller pieces, i.e., just enough to work out some aggression without exhausting your forearms.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker27/73
Sheet-Pan Orange Tofu and Broccoli
One of our all-time take-out favorites meets the sheet-pan dinner. In this vegetarian take on an orange chicken recipe, a zingy, sriracha-infused sauce takes extra-firm tofu to the next level.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro28/73
Tuesday Night Meatballs
If you’re craving a big pasta dinner on a leisurely Sunday, make these 35-minute meatballs and serve them with spaghetti or penne and a crunchy iceberg salad.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Beth Pakradooni29/73
Pork and Asparagus Soba
If this ingredient list looks unusual to you—chili crisp and soy sauce with tahini?—just trust us. The Middle Eastern sesame paste lends a nuttiness and creaminess to the sauce for this easy dinner recipe.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Jesse Szewczyk, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman31/73
Bangladeshi Spiced Shrimp and Green Bean Stir-Fry
This staple of Bangladeshi home cooking is packed with flavor and comes together quickly on a busy night. Cook the shrimp toward the latter half of the process, and they’ll stay tender and ever-so-lightly spiced.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman. Food Styling by Pearl Jones.32/73
Pan-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Tempeh
If you’ve never tasted the consummate combination of roasted sweet potatoes, nutty seared tempeh, smoky chiles in adobo, fresh cilantro, and crisp Pink Lady apples, please make this easy recipe for dinner.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks33/73
Adobo Mushroom Tacos
The ingredient list may look long for what we’re dubbing an “easy dinner,” but that’s only because you want all of those spices to deepen the flavor of the mushrooms. The cooking method is simple as can be. Use any leftovers for vegetarian enchiladas.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio34/73
Cheesy Tomato Beans With Broccoli Rabe
We love pizza beans—a combination of gigantes plaki, beans in tomato sauce baked under a blanket of cheese, and classic baked ziti—and this skillet dinner can be considered pizza beans with a dose of greens.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Frances Boswell35/73
Soy-Ginger Dinner Scramble
Don’t let the idea of scrambled eggs for dinner—which is all you can muster tonight—make you feel basic. In this recipe, ginger and soy sauce take them somewhere exciting.
- Photograph by Paola + Murray, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophia Pappas36/73
Roast Salmon With Citrus and Coconut-Chile Crunch
It’s hard to resist this bright, beautiful dish with its shades of pink and orange—and why would you? Made of citrus fruits, roasted salmon, coconut flakes, and peanuts, it’s flavorful and healthy.
- Photo by Heidi's Bridge, styling by Molly Baz37/73
Baked Pasta With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Baked pasta recipes needn’t use every tool in your kitchen. This one calls for just a skillet and a pot, plus plenty of Italian sausage, creamy cheese, and bitter greens.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton38/73
Sheet-Pan Chicken and Squash Salad
When it comes to easy chicken recipes, this is one to turn to again and again. You’ll need just one sheet pan to roast the meat, squash, shallot, and Halloumi cheese.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones39/73
Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
It takes almost zero prep and just 35 minutes of cooking time to turn a big boneless pork shoulder into a tender, easy-to-shred version of itself.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio40/73
Sticky and Spicy Baked Cauliflower
If you oven-bake large, battered cauliflower florets, you’ll get them a crispy exterior that mimics frying. If you then coat them in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze, you’ll be extremely happy.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Sophie Strangio41/73
Salmon Tacos With Pineapple-Chile Salsa
Marinate cubes of salmon in ginger, garlic, and spices while you whip together a quick salsa to top these easy tacos. Get those tortillas warm too—the fish cooks in a flash.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones42/73
One-Pan Chicken Thighs With Burst Tomatoes, Harissa, and Feta
This recipe requires you to chop a grand total of zero vegetables. What’s the shortcut? Harissa, a North African pepper sauce that brings the flavor (so you don’t have to).
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton43/73
Creamy Spinach and Chickpeas
The pantry MVPs canned chickpeas, giardiniera, and pickled cherry peppers mix and mingle with the freezer VIP, frozen spinach, for a satisfying—and satisfyingly spicy—weeknight dish.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton44/73
Turmeric Caramel Cod
If you’ve ever found whitefish too plain or bland, this sticky savory-sweet caramel sauce is your new best friend. It’s got loads of turmeric in it, so spring for a good one. We like Diaspora Co.’s.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by D’mytrek Brown45/73
All A’s Spring Salad With Mahi-Mahi
We hear a lot about the “30-minute meal” as a selling point, but this recipe takes even less time: The Dijon-rubbed fish cooks in 10 minutes, the asparagus in four. It’s the very definition of an easy dinner idea.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li46/73
Roast Sausage and Fennel With Orange
If you have a pack of sausages and a vegetable in the house, then dinner is a no-brainer. This sheet-pan meal is proof positive—and if you can’t bother with segmenting the orange, just peel and chop it.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Cyd McDowell. Prop Styling by Paige Hicks47/73
Spaghetti Squash That Fancies Itself Baked Ziti
Smother spaghetti squash in tomato sauce and a blanket of melty cheese (a combo of mozzarella and Parmesan) in this gluten-free dinner gem modeled on baked ziti.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime48/73
Seared Squash and Halloumi Burgers
Slice two summer squashes, such as zucchini, and a hunk of Halloumi cheese and you’re halfway to dinner. Once you’ve eaten it, you may make this your go-to veggie burger.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime49/73
Chicken and Corn Stir-Fry
Weeknight dinners don’t get easier than this riffable stir-fry. If corn is out of season, substitute bell peppers, peas, mushrooms, or summer squash. Or opt for frozen corn—it’s good all year long.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Sue Li, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime50/73
Tomato-Braised Rotisserie Chicken
We already showed you the chicken pot pie, so here’s our second favorite way to give a store-bought bird a new identity: Warm it up in a quick sauce flavored with bacon and tomatoes.
- Photo by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Haubert, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky51/73
Soto Ayam Betawi
Full of coconutty goodness and zingy lime, this version of the traditional Indonesian dish uses bone-in chicken thighs to cut the cooking time to just under an hour.
- Photograph by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio52/73
Black Pepper Beef and Celery Stir-Fry
The secret to stir-fry success? Have all your ingredients prepped and ready; this dish takes just minutes to come together in the pan.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime53/73
Coconut Tofu Stir-Fry
Speaking of stir-fries, in this easy dinner recipe, crispy, bite-size green beans and tofu coated in toasty shredded coconut are a match made in heaven.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones54/73
Air Fryer Sesame-Coconut Chicken Tenders
All the giddy deliciousness of crispy chicken tenders, all the convenience of air-frying in one easy, crowd-pleasing recipe. Plus, spicy peanut sauce on the side. (Score.)
- Photograph by Emma Fishman. Food Styling by Pearl Jones.55/73
Shrimp and Crispy Rice With Citrus
Here’s a way to stretch those Chinese take-out leftovers: Skip step one of this recipe and use a few cups of white rice straight from the fridge.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser56/73
No-Fail Roast Chicken With Lemon and Garlic
Making life easier for future you is definitely part of the easy dinner ethos. Roast a chicken tonight, then turn it into (1) fajitas tomorrow, (2) fried rice the next night, and (3) a pesto-coated pasta dish the next.
- Alex Lau57/73
BA’s Best Beef-and-Bacon Meatloaf
Is meatloaf already a family favorite dinner idea in your household? Great. Ready to swoon? For this one, you’ll drape bacon strips in a crisscross pattern over the loaf just before baking.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Mariana Velasquez58/73
White Beans With Broccoli Rabe and Lemon
If you like bold, assertive flavors such as broccoli rabe and lemon, this rustic white bean side dish is the recipe for you. Try it with roast chicken or pork tenderloin. Or serve it over toast as dinner on its own.
- Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott59/73
Broiled Salmon With Scallions and Sesame
Don’t look past the broiler; it can be your best friend when whipping up a quick and easy salmon dinner—this one, for example, cooks in just six minutes.
- Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich60/73
Pork and Asparagus Stir-Fry
No pork? Substitute ground dark meat turkey or chicken. No asparagus? Any quick-cooking vegetable, such as green beans or sliced bell peppers, will work in this easy dinner recipe.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou61/73
Soy and Ginger Steamed Fish
You can use this foolproof steaming method to cook any sturdy fish—black bass, salmon, snapper, black cod, or arctic char would all be great.
- Ted Cavanaugh62/73
15-Minute Chicken Paillards With Red Cabbage and Onion Slaw
Two steps are particularly important to getting this dish right: Pound the chicken breast thin and sear it hard so the meat browns but remains wonderfully moist.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Styling by Molly Baz63/73
Simple Pasta Carbonara
Turn a box of pasta and a couple of breakfast staples (bacon and eggs) into this easy riff on the classic Italian pasta dish. Parmesan is not optional.
- Alex Lau64/73
Gochujang-Marinated Skirt Steak
Stuff slices of this saucy, quick-cooking steak into buns or tortillas with a swipe of mayo and plenty of cilantro, or pile it over mashed potatoes or stewy black beans.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kat Boystova, prop styling by Allie Wist65/73
Thai Basil Sauce Noodles With Jammy Eggs
This easy dinner recipe hits every note we look for in a satisfying noodle dish: an herby sauce (with just three ingredients), flavor-packed toppings for crunch, and a jammy egg on top.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, styling by Molly Baz66/73
Use-It-Up Frittata
Leftover gnocchi? Frittata it. Slow-cooker pork? Frittata it. Whatever grains, proteins, cooked or frozen vegetables you have, frittata them, and dinner will be ready in minutes.
- Alex Lau67/73
One-Skillet Chicken With Buttery Orzo
When you place this finished dish on the dinner table, no one will believe it was all cooked in one skillet. And, TBH, there’s no need to tell them.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Anyka Brown68/73
Lemony Tortellini Soup With Spinach and Dill
We find ourselves putting this soup recipe on so many of our “best” lists because while it’s wispy and light, it’s also comforting and richly flavored.
- Photo by Linda Xiao69/73
Basic Bulgogi
This sweet-salty marinade works well with beef, pork, or chicken—and delivers dinner in under an hour. This recipe is one to keep in your back pocket.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props by Meilen Ceramics70/73
Corn & Chickpea Bowl With Miso-Jalapeño Tahini
You can make your own za’atar or buy our favorite online for this hearty salad bowl—either way, the tangy, herbal sesame spice blend brings big flavor to whatever it touches.
- Photo by Heidi's Bridge, styling by Molly Baz71/73
Vegan Coconut Lentil Soup
Never has such a flavorful, hearty, warming meal (made almost entirely of pantry staples) come together so quickly. We love it with a dollop of yogurt.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones72/73
Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts With Crunchy Radish Salad
This fast technique brings out the best (a.k.a. the juiciness) in skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Top with a crunchy radish and scallion salad.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones73/73
Bean Confit With Lemon, Saffron, and All the Alliums
Canned beans are the pantry all-star in so many easy dinner ideas. Here, they’re cooked with spring alliums in plenty of oil, which makes them taste richly satisfying.
