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30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make

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Sometimes you just need a go-to easy dinner recipe — one that's perfect for busy nights where you don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, but still want something more substantial than, say, a PB&J.

So we rounded up some of our favorite easy dinner ideas, from customizable personal pizzas to a no-fuss stir-fry. Dinner will be ready in no time!

1. Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken

tasty.co

Wrap up a chicken breast and your favorite fajita veggies and seasonings in a parchment packet for fool-proof cooking and easy clean-up. This recipe serves one, but can easily be scaled up to feed a crowd or meal prep for the week.

Recipe: Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken

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2. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast

tasty.co

Let the slow cooker do the work of making dinner while you go about your day. This pot roast is super flavorful, thanks to the addition of a packet of dried onion soup mix. Serve the meat and veggies over egg noodles or rice.

Recipe: The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast

3. Veggie Garlic Noodles

tasty.co

Get your veggies in with this delicious and quick noodle stir-fry. Green onions and garlic pack a flavor punch, while the brown sugar and soy tie everything together in a sweet and savory sauce.

Recipe: Veggie Garlic Noodles

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4. Chicken & Biscuit Bake

tasty.co

It doesn't get easier than this: store-bought biscuits, frozen mixed veggies, and rotisserie chicken come together in a warming, hearty dish everyone will love.

Recipe: Chicken & Biscuit Bake 

5. Taco Soup

tasty.co

Just dump and go with this easy taco soup recipe. Don't forget to dress it up with your favorite toppings!

Recipe: Taco Soup

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6. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

tasty.co

This easy 30-minute pasta recipe transforms ingredients that you already have in your kitchen into a posh seafood dish you’ll want to serve at your next dinner party. And since the whole dish is made in a single pot, clean-up is easy.

Recipe: One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta

7. Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry

tasty.co

Feel free to change up the protein or vegetables depending on what you have in your fridge. The simple sauce packs a flavor punch that will bring the dish together, no matter what. 

Recipe: Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry

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8. Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas

tasty.co

Pizza night is the best night — especially when everyone gets to build their dream slice. (Or three!) 

Recipe: Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas

9. Easy Butter Chicken

tasty.co

This simplified version of the Indian classic combines chicken, tomato sauce, and a slew of aromatic spices and herbs — all in one pot, for the simplest cleanup. 

Recipe: Easy Butter Chicken

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10. Upgraded Ramen

tasty.co

It takes all of five minutes to fry some bacon + an egg. (Plus some green onions if you're feelin' fancy.) 

Recipe: Bacon and Egg Ramen

11. Easy Chicken Alfredo Penne

tasty.co

When you combine butter, garlic, flour, milk, and Parmesan in just the right way, you get a sauce that you'll want to put on everything. 

Recipe: Easy Chicken Alfredo Penne

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12. Meal Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies

tasty.co

The only thing better than one super easy dinner is being able to make *four* of them at once. This handy meal prep version means you can stash a few away for future Hungry You. 

Recipe: Meal Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies

13. Black Bean–Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

It's packed with protein and fiber, and you can add toppings — like avocado or sour cream — depending on what's in your fridge.

Recipe: Black Bean-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

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14. Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli

damndelicious.net

Chopping the beef into small pieces first means everything cooks through in about five minutes. 

Recipe: Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli 

15. Instant Pot Veggie-Packed Mac 'n' Cheese

thekitchn.com

The Instant Pot does all the hard work here — and you'll also get a healthy dose of fresh greens! 

Recipe: Instant Pot Veggie-Packed Mac 'n' Cheese

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16. Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies

chelseasmessyapron.com

Line the sheet pan with parchment or foil for the quickest cleanup — then serve over rice, stuffed into a pita, or on its own. 

Recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies

17. Vegan Chickpea Shakshuka

This vegan-friendly version swaps eggs for protein-packed chickpeas, and makes enough for four.

Recipe: Vegan Chickpea Shakshuka

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18. Pesto Chicken Bake

simplysissom.com

Doesn't get much easier than this, TBH. 

Recipe: Pesto Chicken Bake

19. Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

These are super customizable — depending on your time or budget. Either stick to the inexpensive base: tortilla chips, black beans, canned tomatoes, and cheese, or upgrade with the works: jalapeños, pickled onions, sour cream, and anything else you might want.

Recipe: Loaded Sheet Pan Nachos

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20. 10-Minute Lemon Garlic Salmon & Asparagus

gimmedelicious.com

Not an asparagus fan? The simple lemon and garlic sauce would work with whatever greens are in your fridge — like spinach, broccoli florets, or zucchini. 

Recipe: One-Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon and Asparagus

21. Protein-Packed Veggie Bowl

This may look involved, but after a bit of prep — crisping chickpeas, roasting sweet potatoes — it's mostly just assembly.

Recipe: Protein-Packed Veggie Bowl

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22. Tuna & Avocado Wrap

eatyourselfskinny.com

Canned tuna gets a quick upgrade with hot sauce, Dijon, and green onions — piled into whole wheat tortillas. (You could also swap in bread, pita pockets, or just eat them as lettuce wraps.) 

Recipe: Tuna & Avocado Wrap

23. BBQ Meatloaf & Veggie Dinner

Perfect for meal preppers.

Recipe: BBQ Meatloaf & Veggie Dinner

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24. Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Foil Packs

thekitchn.com

You can make these in the oven or on the grill in just about 20 minutes — and thanks to the foil, cleanup is a total breeze.

Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Foil Packets

25. Bowties & Broccoli

The trinity of weeknight dinners: fast, cheap, and easy.

Recipe: Bowties & Broccoli

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26. Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats

skinnyms.com

These go from prep to plate in about 20 minutes. Keep the peppers whole, or slice them into bites (or "boats") to turn them into kid-friendly finger food. 

Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats

27. Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Tacos

cookingclassy.com

This budget-friendly version takes pantry staples — like black beans and canned corn — and roasts everything on a sheet pan. 

Recipe: Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Tacos

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28. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Heads up that this one does have to cook for a few hours, so you'll need to plan accordingly. But it's a true drop-and-go dinner — and basically makes itself.

Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

29. 15-Minute Lo Mein

Better than takeout — and better for you, too. For extra protein and fiber, swap in soba noodles.

Recipe: 15-Minute Lo Mein

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30. Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

fitfoodiefinds.com

The easy sauce — which includes soy sauce, garlic, and ginger — comes together quickly and packs a ton of flavor.

Recipe: Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

What's your go-to easy dinner? Tell us in the comments below!

For even more delicious recipes and meal ideas, download the award-winning Tasty app for iOS and Android! 🍳

Need easy dinner ideas?

These meals will make your weeknights way simpler. (And tastier!)

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Need easy dinner ideas?

These meals will make your weeknights way simpler. (And tastier!)

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