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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
![30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (2) 30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (2)](https://i0.wp.com/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-04/19/15/asset/82c19baee9c9/sub-buzz-1261-1681919507-9.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
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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
2. The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast
![30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (3) 30 Easy Dinner Ideas For When You're Not Sure What To Make (3)](https://i0.wp.com/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-04/19/15/asset/7deeb3e4c431/sub-buzz-2309-1681919530-8.jpg?downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
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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
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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
4.
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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:
5. Taco Soup
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Just dump and go with this easy taco soup recipe. Don't forget to dress it up with your favorite toppings!
Recipe: Taco Soup
6. One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
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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.
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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:
8. Oven-Baked French Bread Pizzas
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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
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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
10. Upgraded Ramen
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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
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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
12.
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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:
It's packed with protein and fiber, and you can add toppings — like avocado or sour cream — depending on what's in your fridge.
14. Easiest One-Pot Beef with Broccoli
Chopping the beef into small pieces first means everything cooks through in about five minutes.
15. Instant Pot Veggie-Packed Mac 'n' Cheese
The Instant Pot does all the hard work here — and you'll also get a healthy dose of fresh greens!
16. Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies
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
This vegan-friendly version swaps eggs for protein-packed chickpeas, and makes enough for four.
Recipe: Vegan Chickpea Shakshuka
18. Pesto Chicken Bake
Doesn't get much easier than this, TBH.
Recipe: Pesto Chicken Bake
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
20. 10-Minute Lemon Garlic Salmon & Asparagus
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.
21. Protein-Packed Veggie Bowl
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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
22. Tuna & Avocado Wrap
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
Perfect for meal preppers.
Recipe: BBQ Meatloaf & Veggie Dinner
24. Teriyaki Chicken & Veggie Foil Packs
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.
The trinity of weeknight dinners: fast, cheap, and easy.
Recipe: Bowties & Broccoli
26. Stuffed Bell Pepper Boats
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
This budget-friendly version takes pantry staples — like black beans and canned corn — and roasts everything on a sheet pan.
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
Better than takeout — and better for you, too. For extra protein and fiber, swap in soba noodles.
Recipe: 15-Minute Lo Mein
30. Instant Pot Cashew Chicken
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!
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Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article:
Easy Dinner Recipes:
This article features a collection of easy dinner recipes. These recipes are designed to be quick and convenient, perfect for busy nights when you don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Here are some of the recipes mentioned:
- Fajita Parchment-Baked Chicken: This recipe involves wrapping a chicken breast, fajita veggies, and seasonings in a parchment packet for fool-proof cooking and easy clean-up [[1]].
- The Best Ever Slow Cooker Pot Roast: This recipe utilizes a slow cooker to make a flavorful pot roast. It includes a packet of dried onion soup mix and suggests serving the meat and veggies over egg noodles or rice [[2]].
- Veggie Garlic Noodles: This recipe is a quick noodle stir-fry that incorporates green onions, garlic, brown sugar, and soy sauce for a sweet and savory sauce [[3]].
- Rotisserie Chicken Casserole: This recipe is a simple and hearty dish that combines store-bought biscuits, frozen mixed veggies, and rotisserie chicken [[4]].
- Taco Soup: This recipe is an easy dump-and-go taco soup that can be customized with your favorite toppings [[5]].
- One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta: This recipe is a 30-minute pasta dish made in a single pot, featuring shrimp, lemon, garlic, and other common kitchen ingredients [[6]].
- Protein-Packed Veggie Bowl: This recipe involves assembling a bowl with crispy chickpeas, roasted sweet potatoes, and other ingredients for a nutritious meal [[21]].
These are just a few examples of the easy dinner recipes mentioned in the article. Each recipe offers a different flavor profile and cooking method, providing options for various preferences and dietary needs.
Please note that this article includes recipe links for each dish, which can provide more detailed instructions and ingredient lists if you're interested in trying any of them.