35+ Easy Dinner Ideas (2024)

Choosing a dinner recipe can be one of the most difficult parts of your day. With hundreds of options to choose from on our dinner category page, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by options, especially when they all sound delicious!

We’ve done the heavy lifting for you. We’ve curated some of the most popular and easy family dinner recipes from our site and put them in one place so that you can easily find what works best for your taste buds.

When you’re feeling frazzled, hungry, and completely overwhelmed, the last thing you want to do is think about cooking dinner. But we’re here for you. We’ve got simple recipes that are so quick and easy, they can be made in under 30 minutes. This list of best easy dinner ideas consists of simple-to-follow recipes with easy-to-find ingredients and pantry staples. You’ll have time to get back to your favorite TV show or spend some quality time with your family!

In addition, they are all quick to prepare whether you are making it for the crock pot earlier in the day, or just before dinnertime on busy weeknights.

Quick Dinner Ideas (under 30 minutes)

And we mean quick! All of these recipes can be prepared in 30 minutes or under. Keep ingredients for these meals on hand for nights when you don’t want to be in the kitchen all night. Another tip, save some of these recipes on your phone for those times when you are pondering hitting a drive-thru…again. Run to the grocery store instead, grab a few ingredients, and prepare a healthy, home-cooked meal that everyone will love.

• Sheet Pan Fajitas (recipe below)- You’ll never make fajitas the same way again. This oven method makes cooking and clean up so much easier! Sheet Pan Dinners are just the best.
• French Bread Pizza – Dinner can be done in a snap! Buy a loaf of French bread and top it with all of your favorite pizza herbs and toppings, like garlic, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms and fresh basil.
• French Dip Sandwiches – This meal comes together so fast. The broiled sandwich with deli roast beef and melted cheese is dipped in a hot au jus. Serve with fresh veggies on the side.
• Lemon Spaghetti – Kids love this flavorful dish, and pasta recipes are super easy to put together. Add a garden salad for a delicious vegetarian meal. One of my favorite easy dinner recipes.
• Walking Tacos – It doesn’t get any easier than walking tacos. Seriously! Add ground beef, cheese, and taco toppings to an individual size bag of crushed up Doritos. You can walk and eat at the same time!
• Hawaiian Haystacks – This was a family favorite when we were kids. A creamy chicken sauce is served over rice, and then topped with colorful fruits, veggies, and coconut flakes. A great option for dinner tonight.
• 15 Minute Beef and Noodles Skillet – This 15 minute, one skillet dinner is hearty, cheesy, and delicious. And yes, it really is ready to serve in 15 minutes!
• Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta – If you love the combination of shrimp and pasta, this dish is for you. The Cajun sauce is creamy with just a little kick.
• More Quick Dinner Ideas

Easy Crock Pot Dinner Ideas (fast prep, slow cook)

Thank the heavens for whoever invented the slow cooker! It is a lifesaver for busy parents that want to put a hot meal on the table at the end of the day. If you have kids, your after school until dinner is the craziest time of day! That’s when homework, errands, lessons, and practices all seem to happen. Don’t you feel so empowered when you have dinner already cooking? Prepare these meals in the morning or at lunchtime, and then relax knowing dinner is done.

• Crock Pot Lasagna – The best part about this lasagna is you don’t have to cook the noodles! They cook right along with everything else.
• Crock Pot Cashew Chicken – In addition to being delicious, this Crock Pot Cashew Chicken cooks up in a snap! You can have in the crock pot faster than you can drive to the nearest Chinese restaurant.
• Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup – All of the raw ingredients go in the slow cooker, and a delicious soup awaits for dinner.
• Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs – With homemade meatballs, pineapple chunks, and a tangy sweet sauce, you are gonna love it!
• Crock Pot Steak and Gravy – This tender steak and flavorful gravy recipe only has 3 ingredients! Serve it over rice or mashed potatoes.
• More Crock Pot Recipes

Instant Pot Dinner Ideas (30 minutes and under)

The Instant Pot is another life-saving kitchen appliance for those of us who love good food, but don’t have a lot of time. Pressure cooking usually takes about half the time as baking time in the oven or simmering time on the stove. Most recipes can be adapted to work in the Instant Pot, but figuring it out can be a little tricky, and not all ingredients cook the same. These meals are family-tested and approved for the Instant Pot, guaranteeing a dinnertime win.

• Chicken Alfredo – This Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo is a low-maintenance, weeknight dinner that tastes incredible! You just throw everything in the pot and then walk away.
• Beef Stroganoff – Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff is a comfort food staple that your whole family will love. Using your Instant Pot makes it easy to get fork-tender beef and a rich savory sauce in a fraction of the time. Way better than store-bought from a box!
• Easy Apricot Chicken – This no-fuss recipe only has 5 ingredients, so it comes together pretty fast. The chicken is moist and full of flavor.
• Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Cook up this delicious pork in a snap, and after that, add it to a bun for sandwiches or serve over rice.
• Instant Pot Meatballs – These Instant Pot Meatballs are the easiest way to make meatballs EVER. No browning or sautéing. Just throw them in the sauce uncooked and let the Instant Pot do the rest!
• Instant Pot Gumbo – Loaded with sausage, chicken and shrimp, this gumbo is bursting with Creole flavors!
• More Instant Pot Recipes

Air Fryer Dinner Ideas (half the time as baking)

Our fast and easy air fryer recipes make using an air fryer super easy. Air frying is healthier than deep-frying since it uses less oil, yet the food still comes out crispy and delicious.

• Air Fryer Salmon – Get a delicious, simple, salmon dinner on the table in no time with our Air Fryer Salmon recipe.
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Bowls – Air Fryer Chicken Teriyaki Bowls are the perfect quick, easy dinner for any busy night. Get a healthy and filling dinner on the table in no time.
• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders – These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are so crispy and crunchy, you won’t believe they aren’t fried! Made with a special batter and Panko bread crumbs, they come together in about 20 minutes. A great one for picky eaters.
• Air Fryer Hamburgers – Making hamburger patties in the air fryer is quick and easy. You can enjoy a delicious juicy burger any day of the week!
• Air Fryer Steak Bites – These air fryer steak bites are ready in 5 minutes and packed with flavor! It is the perfect way to spruce up your Sirloin.
• Air Fryer Pork Chops – It only takes 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to make these juicy air fryer boneless pork chops!It is a simple recipe and clean-up is a breeze!
• More Air Fryer Recipes

Dinner Casserole Ideas (prep then bake)

What do you think of when you hear the word casserole? If you think of throwing all the leftovers in a 9×13 pan and baking it in the oven, think again. These casseroles are baked with textures and flavors that delight even the pickiest of eaters. There is a reason casseroles are a popular staple for dinner, and have been for decades. Similar to the Crock Pot, casseroles can be prepared before hand and usually bake for 30-45 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare a salad, set the table, help the kids with homework – or better yet, take a hot bath or watch your favorite show on Netflix.

• Homemade Enchiladas – Enchiladas with Homemade Enchilada Sauce is a saucy, cheesy, spicy dish that takes center stage at any Mexican feast. Especially good with our black beans and Mexican rice!
• Easy Chicken Casserole – Easy Chicken Casserole lives up to its name because it is easy to make, easy to eat, and easy to clean up!
• Breakfast Casserole – Breakfast for dinner is the best! You’ll love this dish full of eggs, hash browns, sausage, and cheese.
• Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole – Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole combines all the flavors of the big meal (turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy) in a simple, easy to make, never dried out dish.
• The BEST Tater Tot Casserole – The Best Baked Tater Tot Casserole is comfort food reminiscent of your childhood. Creamy beef topped with crisp tater tots and lots of cheese. It’s a family dinner hit!
• Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole – This casserole is made with rice, chicken breasts, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, water, and seasonings.It’s easy and comforting!
• Baked Mac and Cheese with Broiled Tomatoes – Three cheeses, broiled tomatoes, and a crunchy Panko topping take this childhood favorite up a notch.
• Frito Chili Casserole – Frito Chili Casserole is the perfect comfort dinner. Delicious layers of crunchy Fritos, Southwestern chili, and lots of gooey cheese make for a winning kid-friendly weeknight meal!
• Spaghetti Casserole – This Spaghetti Casserole, also known as Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole, is truly the ultimate comfort food. With tender pasta, savory meat sauce, creamy cheese, and melted bubbly cheese on top, it embodies warmth, comfort, and satisfaction.

Dinner Ideas for Special Occasions

Having the in-laws over for dinner? Inviting friends over for the holidays? We have more ideas for those times you want to prepare something extra special. The majority of these recipes are still easy to prepare, but it will take a little more time and planning to add some fancy sides and even desserts.

• Sunday Dinner Ideas – There is nothing better than gathering the family around the table for a delicious, traditional Sunday dinner, and these dinner ideas are perfect for warming hearts and filling hungry tummies.
• Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas – A classic Thanksgiving meal is at your fingertips with these mouthwatering Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas. Choose from any of these simple recipes below for your complete holiday feast.
• Christmas Dinner Ideas – Ah Christmas, the season of family, tradition, gifts and good food. Create a beautiful and memorable Christmas dinner for your loved ones with these delicious recipes.
• Easter Dinner Ideas – These traditional Easter dinner ideas are sure to make your family Easter dinner a big success. You can’t go wrong with any of these tried-and-true recipes.
• Halloween Dinner Ideas – Make your Halloween night extra spooky this year by trying out one of our fun Halloween Dinner Ideas.

To sum up, we hope you enjoy these dinner ideas that taste great AND save you time. For more meal planning fun, don’t miss our 33+ Easy Breakfast Ideas and 33+ Easy Lunch Ideas!

How to Make Sheet Pan Fajitas