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60+ Easy Dinner Ideas
60+ Easy Dinner Ideas! Now, these are the most amazing, simple and easy dinner ideas that are absolutely delicious! Included (yes, there are 60+ easy and quick dinner ideas!) are great weeknight dinner ideas, but also weekends if you’re cooking. They consist of dinners ranging from chicken, to cheese, to vegetarian, pasta, all types of beef like braised short ribs and ground beef and lamb recipes, healthy dinner ideas, dinner soups, straight to ramen, chicken dinners and all types of ingredients.
All of these dishes and dinner ideas are my absolute favorite! Now, let’s get going with some easy dinner recipes!
Some tips to absolutely conquer easy weeknight dinner:
- See what’s in your fridge and pantry: Before planning for the week ahead of dinners, do a survey and see what’s available in your fridge and pantry. Do you have eggs, rice, herbs, for example? You can use these as indications as you start planning ideas for the week to build on. (This really helps with food waste as well!) You can potentially just need one new ingredient to make a full meal from something you already have!
- Plan ahead: Plan ahead of the week so you know what you’re making, write out the ingredients you need, research the recipes you want to make, do your research Sunday or Monday to gather everything. Go grocery shopping or order your groceries Sunday or Monday (even Saturday) depending on what works best for your schedule.
- Keep a saved board: A fun idea is to keep a Pinterest board, or Instagram saved board of things you’ve maybe seen throughout the week that inspired you, go back on your planning night and you can choose to make some recipes you’ve saved.
- Prep ahead: Sunday night or Monday night, do your main prep! For example, marinating meat, making sauces, pickled onions, cubing squash, soaking beans and whatever you can prep ahead. Also, blend up any sauces and clean up as you go, so when it’s time for dinner in the week, you can just cook and it be more seamless and streamlined!
You can always come back here and search certain ingredients you may have on hand to find the perfect dinner ideas! So now let’s get into 60+ easy dinner ideas!
Let’s begin with my favorite vegetarian mains
Burrito Bowl with Chipotle Lime Dressing: I love this burrito bowl with chipotle lime dressing! It starts off with a black bean and quinoa mixture with spices like chili, garlic and cumin then tossed with romaine, avocado, corn, tomatoes and crunchy tortilla chips.
Black Pepper Tofu and Celery: This black pepper tofu and celery recipe is a super simple and delicious stir fry! The sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar and sugar, and it goes wonderfully with fluffy white rice!
Miso Tahini Whole Roasted Cauliflower: This miso tahini whole roasted cauliflower recipe will be your next favorite main dish to serve with your choice of protein or vegetable forward side dish. Also, it’s impressive and easy, and packed with SO much flavor and umami, it gets super flavorful and braised to perfection.
Sweet Potato and Kale Couscous with Spicy Basil Tahini: Now, this combo is everything! Sweet potato and kale couscous with a spicy basil tahini sauce, is just beautiful! It is nourishing, it is filled with flavor, and it comes together in no time.
I LOVE a good vegetarian main dish for dinner!
Brothy Beans and Greens: Now, these brothy beans and greens are absolutely my everything! I made a big pot of them, and saved for the week and it keeps SO well.
Cauliflower & Mushroom Bolognese: This cauliflower & mushroom bolognese is the vegetarian main you need in your life! Minced cauliflower and mushrooms are cooked till soft in wine, spices & tomatoes.
Mushroom Al Pastor Tacos: Topped with feta, avocado & cilantro and loads of lime juice. Also, the pastor blend is SO good!
Butter Chickpeas (Vegan!): The dreamiest Indian butter chickpeas, it’s a one pot dish that’s full of pantry staples
Korean BBQ Tempeh Burrito: Korean bbq tempeh burritos! grilled with all my favorite seasonings and wrapped tightly inside a flour tortilla with herbs, rice and a spicy aoili sauce. YUM.
Portobello Mushroom “Steaks”: Portobello mushroom “steaks”. An amazing + delish vegetarian main dish alternative, serve with your favorite greens and nom! This can work well as a vegetarian friendly Thanksgiving main or even just as a fun snack for lunch or dinner.
Now, let’s move onto the the most perfect chicken recipes!
Chicken Katsu with Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce: One of my dream meals: this chicken katsu recipe with homemade tonkatsu sauce! Served with thinly sliced cabbage salad and fluffy white rice!
Lemon Chicken with Charred Leek Sauce: This crispy lemon chicken is marinated to perfection (and brined too if you prefer) and served with the most amazing charred leek, lemon, jalapeño and green onion sauce to serve over, under or alongside this dish.
Sticky Coffee Wings with Chive Dip: The most amazing sticky coffee chicken wings with a creamy chive dip!
Lemongrass Chicken Skewers with Nuoc Cham: This dish is perfect for entertaining since it’s simple to prepare.
Chicken Khao Soi: Game. Over. This chicken khao soi (Thai coconut curry noodle soup) recipe is absolutely spectacular!
Roasted Salt and Pepper Bone-In Chicken Breast: I absolutely adore this roasted salt and pepper bone-in chicken breast for a chicken dinner. It’s filled with flavor, it’s juicy and tender from the brine and it is such a simple weeknight dinner.
Harissa & Sumac Roasted Chicken with Tzatziki: This harissa and sumac roasted chicken with tzatziki!
Yes, there’s more:
Chicken Schnitzel: These chicken Schnitzel tenders are absolutely EPIC. A panko blend with fresh parsley & basil with dried herbs like oregano, garlic powder, ginger powder + paprika make this chicken super crispy.
Hainanese Chicken Rice Bowl (Khao Man Gai): Love this Hainanese chicken rice bowl, it’s poached chicken with rice and cucumbers a homemade dipping sauce.
Korean Roasted Chicken with Ginger Scallion Sauce: New favorite weeknight dinner: roasted spatchcocked Korean inspired chicken.
Chicken Bulgogi Bowls with Gochujang Spicy Mayo: Feeling all the feels for these shredded chicken bulgogi bowls. Paired with a super spicy, and super easy Gochujang spicy mayo.
Spicy Chicken Wontons: These spicy chicken wontons are just SO good. I love all these flavors and they come together so beautifully.
Garlic Herb Roasted Chicken: The holiday easy recipes are starting, and I am living for this simple; yet packed with juiciness and flavor, garlic herb roasted chicken.
Sriracha & Brown Sugar Sticky Chicken Thighs: Less than 30 min simple weeknight dinner (that will NOT disappoint)! These sriracha and brown sugar crispy chicken thighs with blanched snow peas and white rice are heavenly! You can totally make these in the air fryer, too!
Pasta
Pasta with Leeks and Green Peas: A creamy luscious sauce made with caramelized leeks and shallots, tossed with blanched green peas and creme fraiche.
Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Pasta: Creamy spinach artichoke pasta, a delicious one-pot meal with a flavorful artichoke, spinach and parmesan sauce. Also, it’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Caramelized Leek and Cabbage Pasta with Lemon: This dreamy, delicious caramelized leek and cabbage pasta is just a real DREAM
Rigatoni Alla Vodka with Whipped Ricotta: This epic and creamy rigatoni alla vodka recipe is beautiful, and topped up a notch with whipped ricotta underneath! Dreamy!
Honeynut Squash Risotto with Fontina and Sage: This honeynut squash risotto with fontina and sage just screams fall! It is so delicious and filled with so much flavor.
Sun-dried Tomato Pasta with Spinach & Mushrooms: This sun-dried tomato pasta with spinach and mushrooms is set to be in your weekly rotation!
Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta: I’m OBSESSED with this burst cherry tomato pasta! Also, it is so summery, easy to come together and just so delicious.
Noodles
Spicy Sichuan Noodles: So, these spicy sichuan inspired noodles are SO so good! I’m obsessed with this easy + quick chili oil made with Sichuan spices, all tossed with your go-to noodles.
Spicy Garlic Noodles: These are my go-to on busy weekdays for lunch, or quick simple dinners.
Mongolian Beef Noodles: These Mongolian beef noodles are absolutely the best dinner meal!
Cold Coconut Spicy Ramen: Mixed with a creamy and spicy base and topped with a soft boiled egg, loads of green onions, cucumbers, seaweed and grilled crimini mushrooms.
Ginger Scallion Chicken Ramen Noodles: Let’s make these ginger scallion chicken ramen noodles! It starts with a base of ginger & scallion with a dash of sugar and soy sauce.
Gochujang Miso Ramen Noodles: I am loving these gochujang miso ramen noodles – SO much flavor.
Beef and Steak
Rosemary Peppercorn Steak with Béarnaise Sauce: This rosemary peppercorn New York strip steak with béarnaise sauce is absolutely epic!
Marinated Thai Steak with Jaew: Marinated thai skirt steak with a cucumber and herb salad with a jaew sauce for dipping (which is an amazing thai dried chili dipping sauce).
Ginger BBQ Beef Stir Fry: I love THIS ginger bbq beef stir fry is the easiest most tastiest thing ever – and all in 1 wok
Grilled Steak with Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette Salad: Let’s welcome this: grilled New York Steak with a sherry shallot vinaigrette salad.
Red Wine Braised Short Ribs: I am in a cozy winter mode with these red wine braised short ribs! Charred to perfection short ribs topped with a lil green onion, parsley and lemon zest.
Lamb
Moroccan Inspired Rack of Lamb with Turmeric Couscous: So this beautiful, and delicious Moroccan inspired rack of lamb is just so perfect, I am obsessed.
Date Night Lamb Ragu Rigatoni: Seriously swooning over this amazing Lamb Ragu Date Night.
Thai Lamb Larb Lettuce Wraps: I’m seriously obsessing over this spicy thai lamb larb (essentially a grilled meat salad with herbs and spices!) Also, it’s served with in crunchy lettuce wraps, SO good!
Fish, Shellfish and Seafood
Spicy Slow-Roasted Salmon with Yogurt Sauce: This spicy slow-roasted salmon recipe with yogurt sauce is absolutely divine! Have dinner on the table in no time, in just about 30 minutes
Seared Albacore Tuna with Lemon Ponzu Sauce: This seared albacore tuna recipe with a lemon ponzu sauce is the ultimate easy dinner!
Halibut en Papillote with Green Olive Salsa Verde: I’m dreaming of this one pan halibut en papillote with a green olive salsa verde! It’s easy (like under 30 minutes), filled with flavor and is definitely going on my weeknight dinner rotation! (Shrimp or salmon would also work here!)
Chili-Rubbed Sheet Pan Steelhead Trout: Say hello to your new weeknight dinner recipe: this chili-rubbed sheet pan steelhead trout.
One Pan Seared Salmon with Burst Cherry Tomatoes: The most amazing and simple 1 pan meal! Add on more vegetables if you prefer like bell pepper and broccoli.
Lemon Garlic Butter Scallops: These delicious, simple & easy scallops will go in your weeknight dinner rotation! Basically, they come together SO quickly,
Tuna & Orzo Stuffed Peppers: These delicious and flavor-filled tuna and orzo stuffed peppers are everything! They are filled with orzo, tuna, acid from lemon juice, red pepper flakes all tossed with wilted spinach and feta.
Miso Salmon: How to: make this EPIC miso salmon! This is one of my go-to recipes that we make almost WEEKLY
Seared Ahi Tuna with Toasted Sesame Dressing: Seared ahi tuna with this toasted sesame dressing is legit EVERYTHING. Have in a rice bowl or make lettuce wraps with butter lettuce.
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60+ Easy Dinner Ideas
Ingredients
- 1 pound salmon or steelhead trout
- 1 shallot thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons crushed Calabrian Chile peppers
- 1/4th cup extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prep your fish. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F. Pat salmon dry. In a baking dish or ovenproof skillet, place salmon down, skin side down, with the flesh being visible.
- Gently toss over and sprinkle your sliced shallots. Season with salt, pepper, crushed Calabrian Chile pepper as well as your extra-virgin olive oil. Mix well with a spoon or your fingers to get everything incorporated. Drizzle chile oil all around to make sure it’s all throughout the salmon and shallots.
- Place in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until fully cooked throughout. Time will depend on the size and thickness of your fish, but internal temperature with a thermometer should reach 130-135 degrees F (and around 120-125 degrees F in the thickest part of the filet) However, if you’re looking for a very firm and cooked fish, it should read around 145 degrees F.
- When your fish and sauce are done, remove from the oven and either flake apart with a fork for serving on a serving platter, or slice into filets with a knife to serve that way.
- Can be served with any grain as well like couscous, rice or even quinoa and farro. Another option is to dip bread in here as well.
