39 Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Nights
We all enjoy tasty, homemade meals, but let’s face it, not everyone has the time to whip up gourmet dishes every night. Luckily, these easy dinner recipes are both fuss-free and packed with flavor. Feeling exhausted after a long day at work? Why not make a double batch so you can savor leftovers the next day? With plenty of simple recipes to choose from in this collection, dinner just got a whole lot easier!
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
American Chop Suey (American Goulash)
American chop suey is a delicious dish that’s popular in the New England region. Also known as American goulash, this dish is meaty and tasty.
Get the Recipe: American Chop Suey (American Goulash)
Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Sheet pan honey garlic pork chops with roasted vegetables make a delicious dinner. This homestyle dinner couldn’t be simpler!
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Ricotta Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells
Baked ricotta beef stuffed pasta shells are full of ground beef and four different types of cheese. It is a meal the whole family will love!
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells
The Ultimate Chili Bar (Or Charcuterie Board)
A chili charcuterie board transforms a hearty bowl of chili into a fun, personalized meal. Try a chili board at your next chili party!
Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Chili Bar (Or Charcuterie Board)
Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
Sausage Tortellini Soup is a delicious option for lunch or dinner. It can be made with spicy or sweet Italian sausage!
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is a simple dish that’s packed with flavor and requires very little effort made with flank steak and veggies in a savory sauce.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Baked lemon pepper chicken thighs are simply marinated with seasonings, lemon and olive oil. They are quickly pan seared and roasted in the oven.
Get the Recipe: Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole
Cheesy Tuna Casserole using flaky canned tuna makes a one pot meal that’s full of veggies, tuna, noodles in a from scratch creamy sauce and a crumb topping.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Tuna Casserole
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
Marry Me Chicken
Marry Me Chicken is creamy, juicy, and full of flavor! It’s said that this chicken dinner is so good that if you cook it for your partner, he will propose to you!
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chicken