We get it—you’re busy. Us, too. And while we’d love to whip up an elaborate feast for dinner every night, that’s just not going to happen. The solution? These 55 easy dinner recipes that require minimal effort (or fancy chef skills) and taste delicious. From 15-minute pasta recipes to one-pan chicken wonders, we’ve got you covered.
RELATED: 60 Easy Dinner Recipes for Two
Requires as much work and know-how as dumping out a jar of marinara—but is way more impressive.
Just place all the ingredients on a sheet pan and pop the whole thing in the oven—what’s easier than that? (Oh, and there are barely any dishes to do.)
While the original dish can be a little tricky (all that layering, not to mention making a béchamel sauce from scratch), this version is significantly easier to master.
Let your Crock-Pot do the work. Dump in the ingredients, set the timer, make a pot of white rice and you’re good to go.
A sophisticated dish that tastes like you spent all day making it, but it’s actually ready and on the table in under an hour.
How impressive does this guy look? (Just don’t tell anyone that all you had to do was throw everything in the pan and wait 30 minutes.)
We know—cooking fish seems scary. But as long as you use a nonstick pan, this dish is even easier to cook than chicken. Promise.
Rich, creamy and oh so easy. Once you’ve mastered this decadent cheese-and-pepper pasta dish, it’ll be your weeknight go-to.
Fact: Everything tastes better in miniature…including these two-bite pockets made with chicken tenders, soft pita breads and a creamy herb sauce.
Allow us to introduce you to the cooking technique that gets dinner on the table quickly with zero dirty dishes to wash.
The easiest dinners to make are those that require no cooking at all.
Easy enough for a weeknight but fancy enough for a dinner party. Just don’t skimp on the Parm.
Our favorite veggie makes cutting back on carbs easy. Oh, and did we mention that it'll be ready to devour in 30 minutes?
Who needs wrappers? Everyone knows that the filling is the best part.
All you need to whip up this easy yet satisfying meal is five ingredients, a few pantry staples and 20 minutes. Simple.
Even easier (and so much more elegant) than grabbing a jar of tomato sauce from the cupboard.
Thanks to store-bought dough, this beautiful ’za is as easy to toss together as your go-to bowl of kale.
This healthy dish is more about assembling than actual cooking. And remember: When in doubt, watermelon radishes make everything look fancy.
Sure, you could order takeout. Or you could save yourself time (and money) by whipping up this guy.
Cooking healthy food doesn’t have to be difficult. Case in point: This quick and nutritious soup that comes together in practically no time.
Always reaching for chicken breast at the grocery store? Here’s a little secret: Thighs are not only more flavorful, but they're basically impossible to dry out.
Whip up a quick and easy Thai-inspired dish in 30 minutes flat. Serve it with rice on the side and a sprinkle of scallions on top, if you’re feeling fancy.
Psst: Don’t tell your dinner guests that these started with a rotisserie bird. (Or that the whole meal only took you 30 minutes.)
So much better than the stuff from a box. (But just as easy to make.)
Three cheers for a quick dinner that you can create from what’s lying around in your pantry.
Just ten minutes of prep work is all you need for this crowd-pleaser. Serve it on brioche buns with shredded lettuce and sliced tomato.
Low-maintenance cooking is our favorite. This mouthwatering meal is hands-off and leaves you with practically zero dishes. Win-win.
Dream scenario: We’re jetting over to Italy in a few days to enjoy the real deal. Next best thing? This pasta dish made with eggplant, basil and pecorino cheese. Buon appetito.
Having friends over to watch the game? These mini bites are guaranteed to impress.
Juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon and crunchy lettuce mixed in with diced avocado and creamy pasta. Who knew you could improve the classic sandwich?
So fresh, so clean. Feel free to mix and match with whatever fruit and veggies you have lying around.
Remember the cheap microwave stuff that kept you going in college? Our take is significantly more grown-up.
RELATED: 21 SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN RECIPES
This dish takes just 30 minutes from start to finish and we give you permission to eat it cold. It tastes just as good—if not better—that way.
You had us at 15-minute dinner, and again at no oven required. Double the recipe to make enough for the entire week.
Rotisserie chicken, we salute you. (How else could we have a mouthwatering meal ready to go in a mere 20 minutes?)
It’s impossible to beat a ten-minute salad. And this one has charred halloumi cheese, so it’s even better.
It sounds time-consuming, but we promise it’s a breeze. (It only takes ten minutes of prep!)
Ready in half an hour is just the beginning. These meatballs are tender, rich and juicy, plus they’re baked instead of fried for minimal mess.
The answer to your dinnertime prayers? Spicy, nourishing burrito bowls portioned out for the entire week.
Bye, dinner rut. We’ll see you never, thanks to these adorable pepper boats filled with healthy chicken salad.
It’s basically a giant bowl of guac masquerading as a salad, and we’re not complaining at all. In fact, that’s the definition of our dream meal.
Low-maintenance is the name of the game. Make this spicy-sweet number the night before (it takes just 35 minutes) and reap the rewards when your stomach growls the next day.
Tip: Don’t skimp on the good stuff. And by good stuff, we mean all that creamy burrata.
One-pan meals are the way to go. This one tastes super decadent, but it’s surprisingly healthy and low-carb.
Dishes? What dishes? We’re only making sheet-pan meals from now on.
These chewy, sticky rice cakes are about to win the dinner game. Grab the flavor-packed XO sauce from your local Asian market.
Who says eating healthy has to be boring? This fresh legume-veggie-yogurt combo will fill you up without weighing you down.
Not only are they portable, but they can be made up to two days in advance.
These beauties only take 20 minutes to make, including the slightly spicy tropical salsa.
Use store-bought everything bagel seasoning or make your own with spice-rack staples like dried onion flakes and minced garlic.
You favorite local takeout spot will miss you.
A million times more refreshing than hot tomato soup. (But we're still having ours with a grilled cheese sandwich.)
This vegetarian take on a Russian classic is just the antidote for a blustery winter night.
Save a few strips of steak whenever you're at the grill to make a next-level salad that's ready in no time.
All the butter, garlic, lemon and white wine of the original, minus the carbs.
RELATED: 54 Fast Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less
