Easy dinner recipes that are low effort, high reward! Just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps to get these on the table!
Some nights you want a homemade meal that feels special — but you have almost zero energy, only a handful of ingredients, and no time for anything complicated. That’s where this list comes in! These are the recipes my family turns to on weeknights and they’ve earned a permanent spot in the rotation because they’re reasonable He reliable.
The recipes on this list don’t require anything complicated—you don’t need to shop for three days in advance at a specialty store. We’re talking short ingredient lists, straightforward steps, and flavors that feel like you put the whole thing together. (Even if you don’t at all.)
Whether you’re feeding a family, cooking for two, or just trying to get a good meal on the table after a long day, there’s something here for you!
Easy Dinner Recipes
Burger Bowl with House Sauce and Ranch Fries
Burgers in a bowl! Ranch-seasoned fries topped with a burger patty and all the fixings, topped with a drizzle of house sauce!
Buffalo Chicken Burgers with Whipped Feta Spread
Easy and Amazing Buffalo Chicken Burgers! Piled high with crisp lettuce, a whipped feta spread, sitting atop a toasted brioche bun.
Brandon’s Egg Roll Tacos
Egg rolls meet tacos! I like it! Easy to make and ridiculously good with the classic egg roll filling, crunchy veggies, pilaf tortillas and spicy gochujang sauce.
Zuppa Toscana
Easy Zuppa Toscana made in 30 minutes with browned pieces of sausage, soft potatoes and wilted kale, all wrapped up in a creamy, rich, decadent broth!
Instant Pot Spaghetti
My whole family loves this Instant Pot Spaghetti! Silky, delicious and delightfully sticky. It’s easy enough for my kids to make, too!
Ridiculously Good Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
My everyday favorite is air fryer chicken! Thinly sliced chicken breasts, coated in the maximum amount of spices, plus a little brown sugar and cornstarch, and air-fried to golden, juicy perfection.
Apricot Chicken with Charred Scallions
This Apricot Chicken, made on a sheet pan, is so easy and so good! Just a few simple ingredients, minimal cleanup, and a big boost of flavor from roasted green onions on top.
Thai Peanut Chicken Bowls
I love shortcut dinner hacks! These bowls contain caramelized peanut chicken, a tangle of vermicelli noodles, a salad of fresh herbs and cucumbers, and topped with peanut sauce.
Bang Bang Salmon with Avocado Cucumber Salsa
Bang Bang Salmon! Creamy, sweet, salty and punchy. Served with some steamed rice and an avocado cucumber salsa. Weekend perfection!
Ridiculously Good Chicken Tacos with Green Chutney
Only 20 minutes to get these chicken tacos on the table! Juicy, delicious and downright goofy in the best possible way.
Chicken with Coconut Kale
Golden, juicy, thinly sliced pan-fried chicken swims in a creamy coconut-black gravy-like state with slivers of onion and a little heat. Super easy, minimal ingredients!
Shortcut Sesame Butter Noodles
One of my favorite back-pocket recipes! Packaged noodles for ease, butter for creaminess, honey for sweetness and sesame oil for depth. Just a confused look of happiness!
5 Ingredient Tomato Soup
A simple 5 ingredient tomato soup made with butter, onion and canned San Marzano tomatoes. Based on Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce recipe. It has the perfect effect on the relaxing atmosphere.
Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice
Surprisingly creamy, spicy chickpea curry is served over rice with a slice of crispy chilli and a cucumber salad. Ready in 20 minutes!
Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta
These Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta are perfect for an easy SOS dinner! Store-bought meatballs, bell peppers, zucchini, harissa and whipped feta all in one bowl. Delicious!
Tofu and Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
These lettuce wraps are ridiculously good! Crisp, fresh, and loaded with tofu, brown rice, crispy onions, plus peanut sauce and spicy mayo. Delicious!
Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce
These vegetarian tacos feature deliciously satisfying black bean filling with fresh salsa and seasonings, nestled in a golden crunchy tortilla and served with a cool and creamy cilantro lime sauce. Yum!
Pineapple Pork with Coconut Rice
Sticky-sweet pork, juicy pineapple, fresh herbs, jalapeño, and crispy onions are all served over coconut rice. How nice!
Best Baked Chicken Meatballs Anytime
These Baked Chicken Meatballs are the BEST! The perfect addition to any meal or eaten on its own. Bonus: They’re meal-prep-friendly for the entire week!
Best Chicken Tinga Tacos
These Chicken Tinga Tacos are the BEST! Tangy, spicy, real food perfection.
Cauliflower Black Bean Tostadas with Queso and Pickled Onions
Spicy, creamy, crunchy, smoky, seasoned vegan goodness on perfectly crisp little corn tortilla discs. Cauliflower Black Bean Tostadas to the rescue!
Saucy Gochujang Noodles with Chicken
A spicy, peanuty, noodley super easy comfort food! These gochujang noodles require just a handful of ingredients — like ramen noodles, peanut butter, sesame oil, and soy sauce — and come together in just 20 minutes.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Winner, winner, chicken tortilla soup dinner! Tender chicken thighs, creamy pinto beans, garlic and onion, crushed tomatoes, jalapeño pepper, crushed tomatoes, and all the toppings.
Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi with Spinach
You’re going to enjoy this delicious Three Cheese Baked Gnocchi! Tender gnocchi wrapped in creamy tomato sauce, topped with fresh spinach and chunks of melted cheese. gorgeous!
Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini
This Spaghetti with Crispy Zucchini is the perfect song for the end of summer! It doesn’t get much better than fresh summer zucchini coated in a pile of crispy, cheesy breading on top of spaghetti with fresh herbs. Yum!
Hot Honey Salmon
This Hot Honey Salmon is giving major feelings of fancy to eat but not fancy to make. Spicy-sweet salmon wrapped in fresh garlic, ground mustard, sweet honey and red pepper flakes. It’s a magical little number!
Smoky Beans and Greens Tacos with Aji Verde
Three cheers for summer eating! Smoky black beans roasted with kale, garlic, and spices, stuffed into a charred corn tortilla, and topped with the best spicy, tangy green sauce of all – aji verde!
Spicy Salmon Burgers
These Spicy Salmon Burgers are little bundles of flavor! A sweet-spicy zingy combo of canned salmon, panko, fresh lemongrass, and red curry paste and brown sugar. So good and so simple!
Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup is delicious cream-free, comforting, and made with lots of veggies. Perfect with crusty bread and green salad. ♡
Creamy Tomato Lasagna Florentine
This Creamy Tomato Lasagna Florentine is so delicious, comforting, and simple. Layers of noodles, tomato sauce, and creamy spinach!
Sheet Pan Jambalaya
Sheet Pan Jambalaya: Maximum Flavor, Minimum Recipe. Sausage, peppers, onions, shrimp, and cauliflower rice all roasted on a sheet pan. Great tasting, easy dinner!
Sesame Beef and Broccoli
Sesame Beef and Broccoli! Packed with protein, the goodness of green broccoli, and the flavor of sticky-sweet garlic and ginger. Perfect takeout at home!
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry
Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry – Packed with nutrition! Our favorite easy, healthy, winter comfort food recipes.
Instant Pot Red Curry Dal
Guess what’s for dinner? Creamy, spicy, delicious red curry dal, made in the Instant Pot.
5 Ingredient Spicy Pork
5 Ingredient Spicy Pork! A fancy-feeling dinner recipe that comes together really quickly. Serve it in bowls, stir fry with some veggies, or add to burritos!
Instant Pot Coconut Tandoori-Inspired Chicken
Coconut Tandoori Chicken made with rich spices and creamy coconut milk. Ridiculously easy (like, 5 minutes of hands-on time) and so, so delicious! My new favorite make-ahead freezer meal.
One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale
This One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale is a straight up dream! Rustic farro dressed up with cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic and kale. So good and so nutritious!
Easiest Spinach and Artichoke Pizza
This really is the easiest Spinach and Artichoke Pizza! Garlicky spreadable cheese, canned artichokes, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella – all on pre-made pizza crust. Oops, that’s good!
