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    The 30 BEST Easy Dinner Ideas

    If you want an effortless meal on the table in no time at all, this collection of Easy Dinner Ideas is just what you need!

    All of these recipes taste great, and require minimal work on your part. And the whole family is going to love these flavors.

    Whatever flavors you’re craving, we have something for you, including soups, pastas, stir frys, skillet meals, and so much more.

    Cook your way through all of these great easy dinner ideas, and be sure to let us know your favorites!

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    Easy Dinner Ideas:

    1. Chicken Stir Fry 

    Let’s start this list of easy weeknight dinners with everyone’s favorite stir fry.

    This easy Chicken Stir Fry recipe is a quick weeknight dinner with tons of great flavor and plenty of veggie power. And it takes next to no time to cook!

    Get the Recipe


    2. Spicy Sausage Pasta

    Make this spicy sausage pasta when your heart craves for something easy, yet tantalizing. 

    This easy pasta dish is perfect for a quick dinner for busy weeknights, but equally wow worthy if you’re looking for an easy pasta dinner for your company night.

    Get the Recipe


    3. Mediterranean Flatbread

    This Mediterranean Flatbread is loaded with all the Mediterranean staples, full of delicious flavors in every single bite. 

    Whip up this 20 minute flatbread pizza in your kitchen on busy nights, when those pizza cravings hit hard. You won’t find an easier and quicker dinner than this.

    Get the Recipe


    4. Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

    If you’ve never tried Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe, you need to add this easy pasta recipe to your collection.

    Combining a variety of distinctive flavors, this dish comes together beautifully. No wonder this super regional dish from the southeast corner of Italy has spread so far!

    Get the Recipe


    5. Red Beans and Rice

    Do you love New Orleans style cooking? Then this Red Beans and Rice is an absolute MUST in your repertoire!

    One of the most iconic NOLA dishes, it’s an easy and budget friendly meal that is super tasty and super satisfying.

    Get the Recipe


    6. Easy Pesto Pasta

    Pesto Pasta is a light and fresh Italian dish with a beautiful sauce. It’s great with other add ins like veggies and proteins.

    This easy dinner idea only takes 20 minutes to get on the table, and tastes great. Win, win!

    Get the Recipe


    7. Wonton Soup

    This Wonton Soup is easy. Why? Because you use store bought frozen wontons instead of wrapping the wontons from scratch, making it perfect for an easy weeknight meal.

    A 15 minute soup with classic Chinese flavors, Wonton Soup is meant to be simmered quick and easy on some chilly winter night, or whenever those Chinese cravings hit hard.

    Get the Recipe


    8. Southwest Chicken

    Here’s an easy chicken breast recipe that has a little Tex-Mex theme going on. Southwest Chicken is your quick chicken recipe for busy weeknights. 

    Chicken breast is baked with delicious Mexican staples like taco seasoning, corn, black beans and salsa or Pico de Gallo. So easy and so good!

    Get the Recipe


    9. Ground Turkey Tacos

    Our Ground Turkey Tacos are absolutely delicious, loaded with flavors. It’s all in the seasonings and plenty of toppings!!

    Try this luscious, juicy ground turkey meat in between your favorite tortilla, and make a very healthy, light and delicious meal. All this under in 20 minutes. 

    A great easy dinner idea when tacos are on your mind.

    Get the Recipe


    10. Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

    This Pasta Primavera recipe is packed full of fresh veggies, and has a light creamy sauce.

    Your favorite pasta is tossed in a delicate cream sauce with plenty of fresh veggies. Add in some shrimp to take it over the top. It’s one of our favorite easy weeknight dinner ideas!

    Get the Recipe


    11. Skillet Pork Chops

    These easy Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops are marinated in a beautiful herb marinade, then seared to juicy and tender perfection. 

    They’re an easy weeknight dinner that can also impress guests, plus they go with a huge variety of different sides.

    Get the Recipe


    12. Chicken Shawarma

    Chicken Shawarma brings the flavors, big time! Marinated with vibrant and aromatic spices, it can be your easy weeknight dinner, or a big crowd pleaser.

    You can grill it, cook it in a skillet, or bake it. Whichever way you choose, you’re in for one delicious dinner.

    Get the Recipe


    13. Shrimp Foil Packets with Summer Veggies

    Shrimp Foil Packets are a delicious healthy meal with all your favorite summer veggies.

    Ready in just 12 minutes on your grill, campfire or even in the oven, this is great meal prep for all your future camp outs, Sunday cookouts, or simply great weeknight dinners.

    Get the Recipe


    14. Thai Cashew Chicken

    Give your stir fry night a new twist with this Thai Cashew Chicken. It’s a quick meal that’s bursting with layers of flavor and texture.

    Just a little chopping, mix up a sauce, and a quick stir fry is all the effort needed to put this tasty and nutritious dinner on the table.

    Get the Recipe


    15. Creamy Sausage Pasta

    This Creamy Sausage Pasta is a perfect example of creating an absolutely delicious dish out of simple, ordinary ingredients. 

    Try your favorite Italian sausage drenched in a garlic parmesan cream sauce with the pasta shape of your choice. 

    Nothing fancy… nothing complicated… This easy dinner is ready in 20 minutes.

    Get the Recipe


    16. Firecracker Salmon

    Firecracker Salmon is a super easy and super delish meal that must become part of your rotation. It has an amazing Asian sauce and whips up in about 20 minutes.

    If you’re looking for a new recipe to really jazz up your salmon, this is it! It’s salty, it’s sweet, and it’s a little bit spicy!

    Get the Recipe


    17. Gigi Hadid Pasta (Spicy Pasta Alla Vodka)

    What is Gigi Hadid Pasta? Simple… Pasta made by Gigi Hadid, which broke the internet when it went viral on instagram and tiktok. 

    If you look closely, it’s the same delicious creamy and cheesy pasta alla vodka, with a slight makeover – it gets pleasantly spiked with heat from red chili flakes.

    Get the Recipe


    18. Shrimp Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta)

    Shrimp Saganaki – This classic Greek dish has some incredible flavors with plump shrimp in a garlicky, savory tomato sauce and finished off with salty feta cheese!

    Easy dinner idea that’s bursting with flavor in about 30 minutes.

    Get the Recipe


    19. The BEST Cannellini Beans Recipe

    This Cannellini Beans recipe is the best, hands down! Creamy, buttery beans are enhanced with plenty of fresh herbs, garlic, parmesan, cherry tomatoes, and a good dousing of good ol’ EVOO.

    It can be your favorite new meatless main dish, or you can serve it as a side.

    Get the Recipe


    20. Moo Shu Chicken

    Moo Shu Chicken… All ready to get wrapped up or served on a bed of rice. This is one colorful Chinese stir fry loaded with bold sweet, savory and umami flavors.

    Make this Asian restaurant classic right in your kitchen in about 20 minutes.

    Get the Recipe


    21. Easy Mediterranean Pasta

    This Mediterranean Pasta is your new weeknight best friend. It’s super quick, like 20 minutes quick, and has great flavors the whole family will love. 

    With just a few simple ingredients, this easy dinner will be on the table in no time. And it’s also versatile. Missing an ingredient? No problem! 

    Get the Recipe


    22. Orange Chicken

    How about juicy and tender chicken bites, cooked in a delicious sticky orange garlic teriyaki sauce? From this simple meal prep chicken, you can have your lunches so many ways. 

    Pair this orange chicken with rice or noodles, along with different veggies, and you are set for a whole week.

    Get the Recipe


    23. Ground Turkey Pasta Bake

    We are giving you an amazing stove to oven to table pasta bake recipe today.

    When ground turkey is cooked in a deliciously seasoned tomato sauce with lots of veggies and becomes gooey, cheesy and meaty, all enveloped in your favorite pasta… This Ground Turkey Pasta Bake happens!!

    Get the Recipe


    24. Easy Creamy Chicken Skillet

    This creamy chicken skillet is your weekday best friend. It’s super easy , it’s super tasty and it’s a low carb bomb.

    Start to finish in 30 minutes, this easy dinner just may become a new staple in your rotation.

    Get the Recipe


    25. Flank Steak Fajitas

    These flank steak fajitas are the perfect easy option when that Mexican food craving hits.

    Perfectly marinated, melt in your mouth tender beef strips with colorful peppers. You’re in for a fun easy dinner idea with this one!

    Get the Recipe


    26. Japanese Teriyaki Chicken 

    This Teriyaki Chicken Bowl is absolutely Irresist-A-Bowl! Tender juicy chicken, glistening in tasty sauce, alongside Asian coleslaw and creamy avocado.

    All atop a bed of hot rice. Yum!

    Get the Recipe


    27. Mongolian Beef

    Mongolian Beef – Melt in your mouth tender strips of beef stir fried in a silky velvety sauce. You can stir fry this in less time than a trip to the takeout place.

    It’s one of our go-to easy dinner ideas!

    Get the Recipe


    28. Easy Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

    Sweet, Savory, Sticky, Saucy… Meet your new favorite meal prep option. This baked honey mustard chicken only takes 10 minutes of your time, the oven does the rest.

    Your dinners have never been so easy!

    Get the Recipe


    29. Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

    Inspired by P.F. Chang, this quick and tasty dish is a sure crowd pleaser! Super quick stir fry with ground chicken and load it in lettuce wraps and you are all set.

    Super easy Asian inspired dinner idea.

    Get the Recipe


    30. Ground Turkey Stir Fry

    This is one of the healthiest and tastiest ground turkey recipes!!

    Throw in whatever veggies you have on hand, make a quick homemade sauce out of your pantry, and sizzle your wok in minutes to make this healthy stir fry recipe for your family.

    All this in under 25 minutes!!

    Get the Recipe


    So there you go, thirty great easy dinner ideas for you to cook. Don’t they all look delicious? Which ones will make their way into your regular rotation?

    Save or pin this collection of amazing dishes so you always know where to find it. And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up new easy recipes for you!

    Check out these other great recipe collections!
    Chicken Breast Recipes
    Ground Beef Recipes
    Ground Turkey Recipes
    Pork Chop Recipes
    Healthy Dinner Ideas
    Stir Fry Recipes
    Soup Recipes
    Pasta Recipes
    Crockpot Recipes

    featured image for easy dinner ideas post

    30 BEST Easy Dinner Ideas

    This collection of Easy Dinner Ideas will help you get your weeknight meals on the table in no time at all. We love this 15 minute flatbread:

    Ingredients

    • 1 store bought flatbread or Pizza shell
    • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 Tbsp parsley, finely chopped
    • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
    • 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
    • 1/4 cup kalamata olives, sliced
    • 4-5 marinated artichoke hearts, quartered
    • 2 Tbsp feta, crumbled
    • 1 Tbsp pine nuts

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
    2. In a small bowl, combine extra virgin olive oil, parsley, garlic and red chili flakes. Brush a little of this olive oil mixture all over the flatbread.
    3. Combine chopped cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts and kalamata olives with the remaining olive oil mixture and mix well till the toppings are coated well with olive oil.
    4. Spread this prepared topping all over the flatbread. Top it with crumbled feta and pine nuts.
    5. Bake the flatbread for 8-10 minutes, or until it is golden brown and the toppings are cooked. Serve immediately.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

    Picture of Alpana, blogger and recipe developer at GypsyPlate

    Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.

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