31 Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Nights

Busy nights – we all have them. And those are the nights we are tired but still crave something yummy for dinner. So, let these easy dinner recipes come to the rescue! You don’t have to spend hours (or even one hour!) in the kitchen stirring pots and pans of food, and making dishes when all you want to do is curl up with a blanket, a quick and easy meal and perhaps a movie! Read on to see some brand new quick and easy dinner ideas you can throw together fast and easy. They’re all different but they’re all simple and delicious!

Meatball Marinara Subs

Savor the juicy homemade meatballs, tangy marinara sauce, and fluffy brioche buns in Italian meatball marinara subs – a satisfying comfort food that’s perfect for lunch or busy weeknights. These sandwiches are far tastier than the fast-food version and are sure to please anyone, regardless of their Italian heritage.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Marinara Subs

Unsloppy Joes Biscuit Pockets

Unsloppy joes biscuit pockets are a delicious take on classic sloppy joes. Basically, these are not so sloppy sloppy joes for when you want all the flavour without the mess! These manwich sandwiches are easy to make with Pillsbury biscuit dough and ground beef in the air fryer.
Get the Recipe: Unsloppy Joes Biscuit Pockets

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

Instant Pot BBQ chicken French bread pizza is a super-easy 20 minute meal which I just know you’re going to love. Barbeque French bread pizza offers a change of pace from traditional pizza recipes and combines the deliciousness of baguette bread with some wonderful toppings.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizza

Swedish Meatballs

Try making these delicious copycat Ikea Swedish meatballs at home and enjoy the same great taste as the ones you find in the store.
Get the Recipe: Swedish Meatballs

Black Pepper Chicken

Make restaurant-style black pepper chicken at home in just 30 minutes with this delicious copycat Panda Express recipe. Satisfy your Asian food cravings with this easy and flavorful stir-fry.
Get the Recipe: Black Pepper Chicken

Butter Herb Shrimp Pan Seared Pork Chops

Pan seared pork chops make a wonderful dinner. But if you want a ‘surf and turf’ twist on easy pork chops, considering adding shrimp! There are many meat dishes which also include seafood.
Get the Recipe: Butter Herb Shrimp Pan Seared Pork Chops

Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin

I also love this Hawaiian pork tenderloin recipe. This Instant Pot pork tenderloin is quick, easy, meaty, sweet – just amazing! This tenderloin and pineapple recipe makes a great dinner. It’s a really easy Instant Pot dinner recipe.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin

One Pot Taco Macaroni and Cheese

Try this taco macaroni and cheese, which combines the best of both worlds with Mexican and Italian flavors in every bite. With a cooking time of just 30 minutes in a single Dutch oven, this dish is perfect for those cooler months when you’re in the mood for something hearty and warming.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Taco Macaroni and Cheese

Caprese Chicken

This Easy 5-ingredient Caprese Chicken is everything you want in a one-pan meal. It’s wholesome, healthy, delicious, hearty, total comfort food, and a family favorite. The best part is this easy dinner recipe has only 5 ingredients and is made in one pan.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Chicken

Spicy Tomato Soup

This simple and flavorful Spicy Tomato Soup is perfect for a cold winter day. A little smokey spice makes a big difference in this bowl of goodness. But it’s surprisingly simple to make. All you need are a few ingredients and about 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Spicy Tomato Soup

Fail Proof Tender London Broil

Want to learn how to cook tender London broil? Have trouble cooking your London Broil? Is it always tough and tasteless? If so, you will love this Tender London Broil. Giving the meat a little bit of love beforehand goes a long way and guarantees a tender, flavorful steak every time.
Get the Recipe: Fail Proof Tender London Broil

Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps are packed with flavor. It’s an easy meal made in under 30 minutes with mostly pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients like ground chicken and fresh basil.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ground Pork Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce

Easy ground pork stir fry recipe is a weeknight dinner staple topped with an addicting peanut sauce! This delicious pork stir fry takes less than 20 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Ground Pork Stir Fry with Peanut Sauce

Shrimp Linguine

This shrimp linguine recipe tastes like a restaurant meal, but is easy to make at home. Tender shrimp pasta and a crunchy breadcrumb topping.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Linguine

15-Minute Beef Noodle Stir Fry

This quick 15-minute beef noodle stir fry recipe is easy to make, super flavorful and made with stir-fried beef, onions, spaghettini, and soy sauce.
Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Beef Noodle Stir Fry

Italian Potato Pasta

This warm and hearty Italian potato pasta is the perfect answer to those cold fall and winter evenings at home. Its creamy sauce is packed with flavorful herbs and veggies, creating a filling one-pot comfort food that the whole family will love!
Get the Recipe: Italian Potato Pasta

Beef Ho Fun

Satisfy your craving with this restaurant-worthy version of Chinese beef ho fun. It’s an easy and quick recipe choice for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Beef Ho Fun

Air fryer Salmon Bites With Teriyaki Sauce

This air fryer salmon bites recipe uses teriyaki sauce for marinade leaving the fish juicy and delicious with delicate umami flavor. You only need 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
Get the Recipe: Air fryer Salmon Bites With Teriyaki Sauce

Thai Salmon Curry

Enjoy authentic Thai flavors in a super creamy sauce with this Thai Salmon Curry. Pan-seared salmon is served in a creamy coconut milk curry sauce, all done in just 30 minutes. This quick and flavorful Thai Salmon Curry makes the perfect weeknight dinner!
Get the Recipe: Thai Salmon Curry

Veggie Shawarma

This flavor-packed veggie shawarma puts a twist on the traditional Middle Eastern dish by replacing the meat with colorful vegetables. Seasoned cauliflower, green beans, and chickpeas are the heart of this dish, with a delicious homemade garlic aioli sauce to top it off.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Shawarma

One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

Nothing says simple like a one pot dinner recipe and this creamy cajun sausage pasta recipe is exactly that! Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner and can be easily customized for those who prefer a little less heat (or more!) or would like it even creamier (or less creamy too!).
Get the Recipe: One Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

This melt-in-your mouth tender air fryer chicken breast, this recipe will become your go to for a quick chicken dinner. The chicken breast that is seasoned to perfection outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Chicken Ragu Pasta

This savory, and quick to make Chicken Ragu Pasta is bound to become a favorite family meal. Enjoy this homemade pasta with ground chicken in just half an hour.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Ragu Pasta

Classic Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff

This creamy Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff is an easy yet luxurious dinner recipe and it’s ready to eat in just half an hour! Your family will be asking for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Classic Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff

Honey Mustard Chicken

This Honey Mustard Chicken is exactly what you need if you’re looking for a flavor-packed, one-pan dinner meal that can be made in just 30 minutes! And the creamy honey mustard cream sauce is amazing on rice, potatoes, and roasted veggies, too!
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Chicken

One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This classic, easy, one pot lemon ricotta pasta is ready in 15 minutes and is perfect for any occasion – whether a quick weeknight dinner or a dinner party!
Get the Recipe: One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta

Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

This classic, three ingredient bucatini cacio e pepe recipe is as authentic and foolproof as it gets (adapted from my neighborhood restaurant and Anthony Bourdain’s favorite in Rome)
Get the Recipe: Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe

Instant Pot Tri Tip

This Instant Pot Tri Tip recipe is made with vegetables and seasonings that will make this dish melt in your mouth. It’s a hearty and filling dinner that’s made quick and easy in the pressure cooker.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Tri Tip

Instant Pot Turkey Chili

Instant Pot Turkey Chili made in the pressure cooker is one of my favorite ways to make this hearty turkey chili recipe. You won’t believe how quick and easy this meal is!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Turkey Chili

Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Shells

Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Shells are the perfect addition to your Taco Tuesday rotation. Made with jumbo shells, taco meat, and a stick of cheese! It’s a quick and easy recipe that is perfect for a party, or just because. They are crispy on the outside with cheesy goodness on the inside.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Taco Stuffed Shells

Easy Homemade Vegetable Soup

This easy homemade vegetable soup is healthy, quick to make, and absolutely delicious! It’s also vegan, and easily customizable with spices from your spice rack.
Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Vegetable Soup