81 Dinner Ideas That Aren’t All Pasta
Don't get us wrong, we love a simple pasta—but sometimes, you want some variety, and you want it now. So we've gathered our 81 best quick and easy dinner ideas to make sure your weeknight lineup doesn't get stale. Keep scrolling to find recipes for shawarma-spiced tofu, soy-glazed chicken, crispy-skinned salmon—and yes, a few really good pastas, too.
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova1/80Chickpea and Chorizo Tostadas
Mashed chickpeas add heartiness to the sizzling chorizo so this quick, pasta-free dinner isn't too heavy on the meat. Top your tostadas off with any herb you like—just don't toss out the stems! Dice and add them to the delicious yogurt sauce.
- Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell2/80
Sweet-and-Saucy Pork Chops
Sugar is the secret ingredient in this speedy weeknight dinner, helping the chops caramelize and develop a nice golden-brown crust.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews3/80
Spicy Salmon Teriyaki with Steamed Bok Choy
Toss large pieces of salmon in cornstarch before cooking and they'll develop a delicate crust that really grabs onto the spicy-sweet teriyaki glaze.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell4/80
Green Rice with Tomatoes, Eggs, and Almonds
Many of our favorite quick and easy dinner ideas start with a batch of grains. But these might be the best tasting grains we've got: Herby rice is delicious with whatever seasonal produce you have on hand.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell5/80
Green Bean and Tuna Salad With Basil Dressing
Here's the perfect easy dinner for when the weather gets warmer and you'd like to do minimal cooking. This salad combines crisp greens, creamy white beans, and oil-packed tuna served in a punchy basil dressing.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich6/80
Chicken Under a Brick in a Hurry
Using a heavy skillet to weighing down the chicken does double duty by elevating the skin's contact with the pan for maximum crispiness and locking in moisture to keep the meat extra-juicy.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/80
Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps
It's always fun to stuff a lettuce wrap with a flavorful filling. Let this not-so-traditional spin on larb become your new late-night go-to meal.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens8/80
Grilled Greens and Cheese on Toast
Pile charred Halloumi cheese, kale, and cherry tomatoes onto grilled bread rubbed with garlic for an almost-instant warm weather dinner idea.
- Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich9/80
Slow-Roasted Salmon With Harissa
Slow-roasting salmon is a sure-fire, never-fail technique for tender, flaky fish. Coating it with harissa paste ensures it’s flavorful too.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova10/80
Crispy Tofu With Maple-Soy Glaze
Our simple technique of draining before frying makes the tofu extra-crispy, and perfect for absorbing the salty-sweet flavors of maple syrup, soy sauce, and fresh ginger.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell11/80
Citrus Shrimp Rice Bowls
A bright and spicy sauce works as both marinade for the shrimp and dressing for the citrus salad in these quick and colorful rice bowls.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li12/80
Roast Sausage and Fennel with Orange
Roasting Italian sausages on a bed of sliced fennel and red onion is two kinds of genius: sausage drippings flavor the vegetables and you only have one pan to clean when dinner is done.
- Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell13/80
Braised Celery With Lentils and Garlic
If you have celery lingering in the back of your fridge, it's time to treat it as a star. Here, it's braised until golden brown, and paired with earthy marinated lentils.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich14/80
Pasta With Brown Butter, Whole Lemon, and Parmesan
Making pasta doesn't have to mean making the same old pasta. A thinly sliced whole lemon adds a fresh aroma, tartness, and complexity of flavor to this simple recipe.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell15/80
Chicken Salad With Apricots, Celery, and Blue Cheese
This bright chicken salad is the perfect combination of creamy, sweet, and acidic. The tender apricots paired with the crunchy celery keeps things interesting.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich16/80
Perfect Pesto Pasta
Toasting the pine nuts before making the pesto sauce brings a deep, roasty element. But the key is to add the basil at the very end, instead of blending everything all at once, so it keeps its vibrant color and flavor.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova17/80
One-Pan Chicken Drumsticks with Rice and Beans
Clean out your pantry with this customizable one-pan dinner, seasoned with whatever spices you happen to have on hand.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell18/80
One-Pot Spring Pasta With Smoked Salmon
Sour cream and lemon zest combine for a sprightly sauce that complements smoked salmon in this 30-minute one-pot meal.
- Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich19/80
Kimchi-Fried Grains
Making a batch of grains over the weekend means your dinners for the week are already halfway done. This easy stir-fry can go in a variety of directions, but we like adding spicy kimchi and topping it with a fried egg.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Chris Morocco20/80
Baked Feta and Greens With Lemony Yogurt
Crispy curry-spice chickpeas and wilted hearty greens are served under warm feta for an easy 30-minute meal. We like to eat it with a thick slice of country-style toast.
- Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich21/80
Pantry Pasta with Garlic, Anchovies, and Parmesan
This is the epitome of simple (but luxurious) restaurant-level pasta. All you have to do is season the boiling water with salt, cook the pasta al dente, and make a silky sauce using the pasta water, Parmesan, olive oil, and butter.
- Photo by Alex Lau22/80
Rotisserie Chicken Salad with Charred Scallion Dressing
There's no shame in starting with rotisserie chicken. This salad gets jazzed up with smoky charred scallions and a creamy lemon dressing. Top it all off with sliced avocados and radishes.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova23/80
Chicken Paillards With Schmaltz Bread Salad
Pounding a skinless, boneless chicken breast to even thickness helps it cook it quickly and evenly. For extra flavor, cook it in rendered chicken fat, then use that same fat to toast croutons for a crispy, delicious topping.
- Photo by Alex Lau24/80
Salmon with Hot Sauce Vinaigrette and Pickled Veg
Take your weeknight salmon up a notch with this bright and spicy chile-lime dressing.
- Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege25/80
Shawarma-Spiced Tofu Pita Wraps
Tearing tofu into craggy pieces and then roasting with a heap of spices until the edges turn crisp is the key to these intensely flavorful sandwiches.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton26/80
Big Green Lentil Salad
Cool yogurt, crunchy seeds, and herbs turn lentils into a lunch salad you’ll actually be excited to eat. Serve it with warm pita for swiping up the garlicky yogurt.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell27/80
Massaged Kale With Tomatoes, Creamed Mozzarella, and Wild Rice
Yes, we have no burrata. But it doesn't matter, because we have creamed mozzarella. Tossing torn pieces of mozzarella in a bowl with sour cream, lemon juice, and salt makes an extra-rich, luscious topper for this easy dinner salad.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li28/80
Weeknight Beans on Toast
This recipe makes more saucy, sausage-laced beans than you need, but the leftovers can be repurposed as a quick topper for pasta on another night. If you don’t have spinach, any greens from your fridge will work.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food Styling by Simon Andrews29/80
Baked Tomatoes, Peppers, and Goat Cheese with Crisped Toasts
This savory-sweet dish is decorated with soft cheese and a hint of garlic. Served over a crispy baguette, it’s the perfect light lunch, midday snack, or warm evening appetizer.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura30/80
Sausage and Greens Sheet-Pan Dinner
With crispy mini potatoes and hearty greens that are roasted in a sweet-tart mustard dressing, this 25-minute dinner is an easy crowd-pleaser.
- Photo by Dylan James Ho and Jeni Afuso31/80
Speedy Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
Starting with frozen ravioli means you can have lasagna in a half hour. Everything cooks in one skillet as the ravioli soaks up the tomatoey flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege32/80
Soy-Glazed Chicken With Broccoli
A sweet and gingery soy sauce mixture is used to both braise and glaze skinless, boneless chicken thighs in this quick, kid-friendly dinner.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton33/80
Sheet-Pan Grilled Cheese
Two rimmed baking sheets and a hot oven mimic a giant panini press, making grilled cheese for a crowd a super quick and easy prospect.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell34/80
Pasta With Sausage and Arugula
Arugula adds a fresh, peppery bite to this simple sausage and roasted vegetable pasta.
- Photo by Alex Lau35/80
Spiced Snapper with Cucumber Salad
Fish fillets get rubbed in a garlic-spice oil before roasting in the oven. It's a foolproof technique with big flavor payoff. Serve your fish with this lemony cucumber salad to complete the quick and easy meal.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Joanna Keohane36/80
Beer-Steamed Mussels With Chorizo
You can use any pilsner in this recipe; you may want to buy a sixpack so that you can sip along with the meal.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson37/80
Lemony Pasta With Cauliflower, Chickpeas, and Arugula
The best easy dinners don't require a side dish. This pasta has so much fresh arugula that it's basically a built-in salad.
- Photo by Alex Lau38/80
Curried Lentil, Tomato, and Coconut Soup
Packed with flavor from curry powder and fresh ginger, this fragrant soup is wonderfully filling, but won’t weigh you down.
- 39/80
12-Minute Saucy Chicken Breasts With Limes
Three tricks for flawless weeknight chicken: remove the bones from a skin-on breast, weight it down for faster cooking and crisper skin, and toss some lime halves into the hot pan for an instant smoky, tangy sauce.
- Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich40/80
Crispy-Skinned Fish With Herb Sauce
Starting the fish skin side down in a nonstick skillet and slowly raising the heat lends extra-crispy skin. The skin will gradually render fat, while the flesh gently cooks through. This technique works with any kind skin-on fish.
- Photo by Alex Lau41/80
Seared Scallops With Brown Butter and Lemon Pan Sauce
These saucy golden-brown scallops may look fancy, but this recipe is as simple as juicing lemons, spooning out capers, and heating a pan.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson42/80
Vegetarian Three-Bean Chili
With the help of a few pantry staples, you can get all the flavors of slow-simmered chili in just 30 minutes.
- Photo by Alex Lau43/80
Fried Egg Tacos with Chile Jam
This quick taco is simple, but full of flavor and texture. Chile paste brings a hint of spice, creamy yogurt brings a little tang, and charred tortillas bring a subtle crunch.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson44/80
Pasta Carbonara With Cabbage and Mushrooms
In this dish, you’ll sauté mushrooms and bacon until they become crispy. You’ll use bacon fat to sear the cabbage before tossing in an egg, Parmesan, and pasta.
- Photo by Alex Lau45/80
Jammy Eggs and Feta Flatbreads with Herbs
Here's the easiest way to turn flatbreads (or toast) into a satisfying, easy dinner. You can use any herbs you have on hand for the herby feta topping.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson46/80
"Antipasto" Pasta with Sausage, Artichoke Hearts, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
This is the ultimate pantry pasta for whenever you're in need of carbs. The pasta is tossed with dry-cured sausage, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes along with a simple tomato paste and olive oil sauce, and topped with toasted pine nuts and crisp peperoncini.
- Photo by Alex Lau47/80
Fried Brown Rice with Kale and Turmeric
In need of more greens in your life? Start with a simple fried rice tossed with kale and made extra zesty with turmeric, garlic, and lime juice.
- Photo by Alex Lau48/80
Baked Eggs with Coconut Milk and Cilantro
The coconut milk brings a nice tropical element to these easy baked eggs, but heavy cream works in this recipe just as well.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini49/80
10-Minute Sausage Skillet with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccolini
Packed with cherry tomatoes and tender broccolini, this one-pan dinner has a nice buttery sauce. Serve it with some crusty bread for mopping if you happen to have any sourdough on hand.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini50/80
10-Minute Chicken Flatbreads With Hummus and Yogurt
Here's a quick and easy recipe that'll please everyone in the family. Set out all the toppings in separate bowls, so everyone can build their dinner plate just how they like it.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson51/80
Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta
The chicken, sauce, and pasta for this dish all cook in the same pan. You can add broccoli, mushrooms, herbs, or a little chipotle at the same time that you stir in the Parmesan.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson52/80
Sesame Chicken Drumettes
This one-pan chicken dish is almost completely hands off. The best part? The glaze essentially cooks itself.
- Photo by Alex Lau53/80
Spicy Creamy Chickpeas With Runny Eggs and Prosciutto
Eggs can make for the easiest dinners, but you don't have to stick to a scramble. A fragrant and spicy tomato-cream bath makes chickpeas and eggs into something luxurious.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson54/80
3-Ingredient Charred Green Beans With Ricotta and Lemon
If you've never put green beans on the grill, it's time to start. Crisp-tender grilled green beans on a bed of creamy whipped ricotta is the ultimate side dish. Or main dish, if you've got some bread on hand.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone55/80
Quick Chicken Tikka Masala
Your chicken routine could use some variation. But if you've got ginger, garam masala, crushed tomatoes, and yogurt on hand, you could be eating this now.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson56/80
One-Pot Pasta Primavera With Shrimp
This lightning-fast version of the classic spring pasta calls for just the right amount of water that magically cooks down to create a silky sauce, no draining necessary.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell57/80
Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Skillet
This Mexican-inspired meal uses cooked chicken, canned black beans, and jarred red salsa to create the cheesy goodness of enchiladas in half the time.
- Photo by Alex Lau58/80
Kimchi Udon with Scallions
The power trio of butter, kimchi, and gochujang produces an umami ballad so beautiful in this udon recipe, you’ll want to play it over and over again.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell59/80
Sheet-Pan Pasta Bake With Chicken and Kale
Quicker, easier, and with more crispy topping per bite than your standard pasta casserole.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell60/80
Monte Cristo Sandwiches
A delightfully mustardy version of the battered and fried turkey, ham, and cheese sandwiches.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone61/80
Homemade Instant Mac and Cheese
This make-it-yourself version of boxed mac and cheese is extra cheesy, but just as easy. The best part? Any kind of short pasta will work.
- Photo by Gentl & Hyers62/80
Chorizo, Tomato, and Chickpeas With Yogurt
This chorizo and chickpeas recipe is hearty and substantial on its own, but if you want to put an egg on it, go right ahead.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone63/80
22-Minute Coconut Chicken Curry
Fresh ginger and garlic brighten up store-bought curry powder for the quickest chicken dinner. The mustard-flecked cashew topping adds even more flavor and the perfect amount of crunch.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton64/80
Shrimp with Herby White Beans and Tomatoes
This one-pot meal is herby, sweet, and garlicky all at once. To add more green, throw in a handful of arugula or spinach at the end; for more garlic, pair it with garlic toast.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton65/80
Cumin-Scented Potatoes With Tomatoes
Cumin and turmeric give this 30-minute vegetarian stew, called Ghurma Aloo, smoky, warming flavor and vibrant, soul-satisfying color. It's a quick and easy dinner idea that's super flavorful.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews66/80
Pineapple Shrimp Noodle Bowls
Caramelized pineapple and sautéed shrimp are a perfect pair for the sweet and sour basil sauce. Spoon it over rice noodles for a quick, bright dinner.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone67/80
Quick Baked Chicken Parmesan
This faster, healthier version of standard chicken Parmesan is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner. Serve with garlic bread and a side salad to round out the meal.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini68/80
10-Minute Shrimp With Green Beans and Creamy Lemon-Dill Dip
What's better than a dinner that uses minimal dishes? This picnic-style meal can be eaten with your hands. The shrimp and green beans get a quick steam before being served with a lemony yogurt sauce.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell69/80
Steamed Winter Veggie Bowls
Everything in this dinner (including the eggs!) cooks together in one steamer insert.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone70/80
Easy Fried Rice With Chicken and Broccolini
Fried rice is easy, fast, and a great way to use up leftovers. This citrusy-sweet version uses fresh broccolini, snow peas, edamame, and chicken, but any leftover vegetables or protein you have in your kitchen.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell71/80
Spring Pea Fish Chowder
Sweet peas, pea shoots, and lemon zest give this bright, lightly creamy chowder a dose of freshness.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson72/80
Sheet-Pan Chicken With Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Call it "Pizza Chicken" and the whole family will love this fresh take on those classic Italian-American flavors in one-pan chicken dinner form.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich73/80
Lentil-Smothered Greens on Fried Bread
Red split lentils cook even more quickly than other types, making them ideal for weeknight dinners. Turn them into a meal by pairing with savory spiced greens.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell74/80
Salmon Rice Bowls With Coconut-Ginger Broth
Spreading mayonnaise on top of the salmon fillets helps the spiced panko stay put and keeps the fish moist while it roasts. It's one of our favorite tricks for cooking salmon.
- Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell75/80
Creamy Pasta With Crispy Mushrooms
Mushrooms just need a quick sear in a hot pan before being tossed with pasta and cream in this easy weeknight dinner.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens76/80
Cheesy Loaded Sweet Potatoes
For an easy 15-minute dinner, steam a batch of potatoes in advance. Then, top them with sour cream, avocado, radishes, pickled onions, and other fixings for a quick variation of the taco bar concept.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell77/80
Salad Pasta
No, this isn't pasta salad. Here, we take loads of greens and fold them into pasta with a garlicky anchovy sauce for a quick, one-bowl dinner.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton78/80
Soba Noodles With Crispy Kale
Nutritional yeast adds a hit of umami that plays well with earthy kale and buckwheat noodles. We suggest using curly kale, which roasts into light, crispy chips.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell79/80
Warm Chicken Salad With Asparagus and Creamy Dill Dressing
To quickly revive dry, cold rotisserie chicken (or other chicken leftovers), place slices of the meat in a steamer basket along with spring vegetables for an easy warm salad.
- Photo by Aubrie Pick80/80
Super-Simple Overnight Porridge
This is pure comfort food: easy rice porridge that starts with leftover rice. But this no-pasta dinner is really fun to eat, because you can just keep adding toppings to your bowl as the meal goes on.
