Whether you have busy weeknights, a tough working schedule or just the lack of energy to spend hours in the kitchen, here we are with simple, easy and quick dinner ideas to save your evenings.
These recipes are not only timesaving but also delicious and satiating. You’ll spend less than 30 minutes on each of them and your whole family will thank you for tasty dinners. Let’s take your cooking skills to the next level with simple hacks and tips.
1. Meatballs with Mashed Potato
Looking for a healthy dinner idea? Here is a quick meatball and mashed potato combination that will satisfy your whole family this evening. This recipe requires slow-cooked and mashed sweet potatoes and meatloaf muffin cups. Use some onion, celery and your favorite meat seasonings to flavor the ground meat. Then add breadcrumbs and eggs. Mix them all and place meatballs in muffin forms. Bake and enjoy!
Meatballs and mashed potatoes are a dream combination in this recipe. This is a sumptuous dinner idea with a healthy serving of some comfort food. Exactly the way we want things to be.
2. Easy Tacos for Busy Days
We know how time-consuming it is to make dinner. But we have good news for you. Instead of ordering fast food from the corner restaurant you can prepare quick and easy tacos this evening with this fantastic recipe. It will take you 15-25 mins and tastes so delicious. All you need is air fried paprika sweet potato and black bean tacos which you’ll serve with peach salsa, air fried tofu with sautéed veggies and quinoa, Greek salad, lentil and roasted veggie pasta.
That’s a wonderful and healthy combination of ingredients, leading to a remarkable and enjoyable meal.
3. Salsa Verde Chicken Soup
A warm and hearty bowl of soup is all we often need after a tough day. If you are tired of the same chicken soup, here is an updated recipe for you. To make it, you need pre cooked shredded chicken and white beans flavored with salsa verde, fresh avocado, hot green chilies, garlic, bay leaves, cilantro, dried oregano and lots of extra lime juice.⠀
Slow cooking is a part of the recipe and works remarkably well in getting the beans to the right texture. That does mean that it will take some time to prepare, but that’s your slow cooker’s job, so you’ll have plenty of time for yourself.
4. Buffalo Grilled Chicken Salad
Who said a salad can’t be a dinner? If it’s made of the following ingredients, then it’ll surely satisfy your hunger. This buffalo grilled chicken salad is all about a blend of grilled chicken, crunchy veggies such as broccoli, lettuce, cucumber, celery, green onion, and a freshly made buffalo sauce. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl, top with the buffalo sauce and enjoy.
It’s simple, it’s easy, and it’s a wholesome and healthy meal for your dinner. The chicken and veggie combo works wonderfully, making this meal full of nourishment.
5. Meatballs in a Creamy Mustard Dill Sauce
Whether you make meatballs yourself or buy them from a store, you can always rely on this easy and delicious dinner idea. It’s a quick way to prepare meatballs in a pan. The good news is that you can use any type of meatballs you like. The secret ingredient is the mustard dill sauce. It requires mildly mixed mayonnaise, sour cream, freshly chopped dill, dijon mustard, lemon juice, chopped capers, a pinch of granulated sugar and fresh turmeric.
6. Gnocchi with Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce
Italian cuisine always comes with comforting dinner ideas such as a gnocchi with a creamy basil pesto sauce. It’s a tender dish with the most delicate combo of flavors. It consists of simple ingredients and will take you 30 mins of prep time. You need potato gnocchi, half and half, chicken broth, pesto sauce, onion, garlic, basil leaves, salt and pepper, and parmesan cheese.
There’s a touch of decadence in this recipe, thanks partially to its use of half and half and cheese. It’s a delight to eat and enjoy, but do keep your calorie intake in mind!
7. Meatball Pasta Bake
You’ll appreciate this dinner idea if you like pasta bake recipes. This meal can feed a crowd. It consists of your favorite pasta, meatballs, veggies such as spinach, and melting cheese. You can top it with fresh greens, herbs and some hot seasonings according to your choice. Bake this dish in the oven and enjoy an amazing cheesy, saucy weeknight dinner with your family.
It’s a hearty and wholesome combination of meatballs, pasta, and cheese. There’s a lot to love about this recipe. Also, while it works as a quick weeknight dinner, it’s also an excellent make-ahead meal and can last a long time when stored properly.
8. Beef and Noodles
It goes without saying that beef perfectly pairs with noodles. This two-ingredient recipe takes 20 minutes and saves a dinner night. It’s a beef and noodles meal flavored with onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper, Worcestershire. You can use other herbs to enhance its taste. You need to cook it in beef stock. Try it this evening and share the recipe with your friends.
I like that this is a one pot recipe. That goes remarkably well with the spirit of an easy and quick dinner idea. The one pot styling makes it easier to prepare and also the cleanup after is more convenient and quicker.
9. Air Fryer Cod
No time for cooking? This air fryer cod recipe will take you 10 min preparation time. It is simple and tasty at the same time. To make it, you need cod fish filets, olive oil, lemon juice and seasonings. Air fry it for 8-10 minutes and serve with tortillas. Use crunchy air-fryer asparagus, green beans or sweet potato fries as sides. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges. This dish is gluten-free, low-carb, keto and contains high protein.
10. Miso Salmon Recipe
Many quick and healthy dishes come with fish recipes. We offer another good one as a dinner idea for you. It’s a miso salmon recipe packed with protein and flavor. You can either slightly cook it under the broiler or grill it and top with miso seasoning. The Japanese miso seasoning made of fermented soybeans will provide an umami taste and strong flavor. This food is good for your gut and overall health.
While miso paste is fairly popular in Japanese cooking, it’s very underrated in western cuisine. The umami touch and deep flavors of this paste can help elevate the taste and experience of several recipes.
11. Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp scampi or shrimp with spaghetti is a popular dish to serve as a dinner. 15 min prep time and this dish is ready. Shrimp cooked with flavorful lemon zest and garlic pairs well with spaghetti and fresh herbs. It’s very easy to make this dinner even if you don’t have special cooking skills. So, give it a try and surprise your family.
A good shrimp scampi is always welcome on the dinner table. It helps that this is quick to prepare and tastes delicious, making it a lovely choice for a quick homemade meal, or even for a weeknight meal prepared when you’re short on time.