December 6, 2024

50 Easy Dinner Recipes | Recipes, Dinners and Easy Meal Ideas

50 Easy Dinner Recipes | Recipes, Dinners and Easy Meal Ideas

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Our Simplest Ideas

Who ever said that making dinner had to be stressful? With the help of a few kitchen essentials like your sheet pan or casserole dish, a time-saving gadget or two (we’re looking at you Instant Pot!) and the right recipes, you can whip up a delicious meal in no time. These recipes will help you get started. We’ve got ideas for everyone’s favorites: stuffed peppers, simple pastas, plenty of ideas for chicken breast and even more. One of our speediest recipes? These mini meatballs, which cook up in a matter of minutes thanks to their smaller size. That leaves you plenty of time to make a simple, homemade pasta sauce — and get dinner on the table fast!

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Penne with Vodka Sauce and Mini Meatballs

Shredded, Saucy BBQ Chicken Sammies

Rachael makes quick work of dinner by poaching chicken breast in a flavorful mix of chicken stock and beer then shredding and tossing it with a simple homemade sauce for hearty sandwiches the whole family will enjoy.

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Shredded, Saucy BBQ Chicken Sammies

Barbecue Chicken with Succotash

Tangy chicken with a homemade barbecue sauce and a colorful side of veggie-packed succotash in just 40 minutes? It’s totally doable with this easy recipe.

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Barbecue Chicken with Succotash

Shortcut Chicken Enchiladas

This dish whips store-bought rotisserie chicken, salsa and beans into a quick enchilada bake that is ready in less than an hour. It’s a great use for that leftover half of a chicken, but if you have a whole chicken, you can easily double the recipe to make 8 to 12 servings.

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Shortcut Chicken Enchiladas

Orecchiette with Greens, Garbanzo Beans and Ricotta Salata

Giada’s got your greens covered with this healthy pasta dish. She wilts baby spinach and swiss chard, then tosses the greens with grape tomatoes, chickpeas, pasta and crumbled ricotta salata cheese.

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Orecchiette with Greens, Garbanzo Beans and Ricotta Salata

Instant Pot Salmon with Garlic Potatoes and Greens

You’ll feel like a chef when you serve this salmon dinner, complete with garlicky smashed potatoes and warm greens. A little lemon zest and paprika go a long way in flavoring this quick and easy meal.

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Instant Pot Salmon with Garlic Potatoes and Greens

Cauliflower Stir-Fry with Toasted Peanuts

This vegan dinner comes together super fast but is also very hearty. Toasting the peanuts in oil not only flavors the oil, it makes the nuts extra toasty and crisp. Broiling the cauliflower before adding to the skillet cooks out some of the water in the vegetable so the stir-fry stays nice and crisp-tender.

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Cauliflower Stir-Fry with Toasted Peanuts

Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Supper

Ree makes a quick marinade with balsamic vinegar, garlic and Italian herbs to add deep flavor to the chicken and the veggies before roasting them. The crowning touch is the torn ciabatta she adds during the last ten minutes of baking which turn into crispy croutons.

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Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Supper

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ree’s stuffed peppers are what weeknight dreams are made of. She whips up a hearty filling of rice, beef and veggies, then tops the peppers with plenty of gooey cheese.

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Stuffed Bell Peppers

Lemon Garlic Pork Chops with Parmesan Tater Tots

This easy dinner comes together in less than an hour, thanks to frozen Tater Tots, boiled green beans and a quick pan sauce to serve with the pork chops.

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Lemon Garlic Pork Chops with Parmesan Tater Tots

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Can you believe Rachael’s spaghetti and meatballs are ready in just 35 minutes?

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Spaghetti and Meatballs

Apricot-Glazed Chicken with Spring Vegetables

You might not think to reach for the fruit preserves when you’re making a chicken dinner but, trust us, you should. Sweet apricot is the perfect complement to tangy Dijon mustard — the two work together perfectly, creating an irresistibly delicious sauce for chicken and veggies.

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Apricot-Glazed Chicken with Spring Vegetables

Lemon Parmesan Chicken with Arugula Salad Topping

A little Parmesan goes a long way in Ina’s flavorful dinner. She tops crunchy fried chicken with fresh arugula, an easy lemon dressing and large chunks of cheese.

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Lemon Parmesan Chicken with Arugula Salad Topping

Alfredo Shrimp Scampi Dump Dinner

Just dump a box of pasta, bag of shrimp and a few other pantry staples into a dish and bake. Right before serving, stir in the heavy cream and top with grated cheese and fresh parsley for a rich and creamy weeknight dinner in a flash.

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Alfredo Shrimp Scampi Dump Dinner

Curried Chicken Thighs

A handful of spices and aromatic vegetables give this quick chicken dish plenty of flavor. A little bit of heavy cream at the end rounds the flavors out — and gives the dish a nice, velvety sauce.

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Curried Chicken Thighs

Beef Stroganoff

This family-favorite recipe is a breeze to make — and it comes together in just 40 minutes. Serve a simple green salad on the side and you’ve got a complete meal the whole family will love.

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Beef Stroganoff

Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken and Vegetables

Enjoy a healthy version of Sunday roast chicken dinner in only 40 minutes. And save big by carving up three roasted chicken breasts for four people (it’s plenty). If you buy a four-pack, roast the fourth breast and set aside to add to a green salad or soup later in the week.

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Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken and Vegetables

Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

Save time in the kitchen by taking advantage of store-bought rotisserie chicken to prep Geoffrey’s meal-worthy, yet simply dressed, pasta salad.

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Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

Baked Ziti

For an easy Italian classic, whip up Food Network Kitchen’s baked ziti. With a tasty tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese, this family-friendly dinner couldn’t be easier.

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Baked Ziti

Spicy Pork Noodle Bowl

Not sure what to do with ground pork? Pair it with fresh ginger, soy sauce and chili-garlic sauce for a savory noodle bowl so delicious it will quickly become a part of your regular rotation.

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Spicy Pork Noodle Bowl

Roast Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragout

This showstopper of a roast is actually very easy to make. Look for a center-cut piece of tenderloin with an even thickness so it cooks properly. Simply sear and roast it to medium-rare, then enjoy the compliments that are guaranteed to follow.

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Roast Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragout

Instant Pot Tacos

Everyone’s favorite night of the week just got easier. The Instant Pot® is the perfect tool for when you’ve forgotten to defrost your ground beef ahead of time.

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Instant Pot Tacos

Smoky Pork Posole

This hearty Mexican soup is guaranteed to keep everyone full and satisfied with a combination of smoked pork and hominy (a type of corn). Guajillo chile peppers are less spicy than jalapenos but if you’re worried about the heat, try using just one or two peppers in this soups the first time you make it.

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Smoky Pork Posole

Spicy Veggie Stir-Fry

Ree cuts down on prep time by chopping her veggies in advance, then storing them in the fridge until she’s ready to cook. That way, her vegetarian dinner is on the table in just 30 minutes.

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Spicy Veggie Stir-Fry

Sausage and Broccolini Pizza

Pizza is always a dinnertime win. This meat-and-veggie-loaded version comes together quick, thanks to store-bought pizza dough.

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Sausage and Broccolini Pizza

Easy Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a classic combination that kids love. Ina’s easy soup recipe features a thick, oniony base and perfectly golden grilled cheese croutons for a sophisticated spin that adults will appreciate.

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Easy Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Croutons

Spicy Fish and Olive Spaghetti

This easy weeknight dinner is loaded with fiber and protein and feeds a family of four with just one 8-ounce piece of fish. And thanks to the whole-grain pasta, this 420-calorie-per-person dish is satisfying as well as economical.

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Spicy Fish and Olive Spaghetti

30-Minute Coq au Vin

Classic coq au vin can take up to two days to prepare, including marinating the chicken overnight. We make a red wine sauce with bacon, mushrooms and pearl onions (the frozen variety, so you can skip the tedious peeling), then slip in rotisserie chicken parts to warm through, and voila!

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30-Minute Coq au Vin

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Make Grandma proud by serving Ree’s retro casserole. Each spoonful has chunks of tuna, creamy egg noodles and a crunchy breadcrumb topping.

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Tuna Noodle Casserole

Spicy Red Curry Chicken and Rice

For a chicken curry with less heat, opt for two teaspoons of Thai red curry paste instead of three.

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Spicy Red Curry Chicken and Rice

Kale and Artichoke Chicken Casserole

Everyone will love Valerie’s creamy yet healthy casserole. It tastes just like your favorite restaurant app, but without the heavy cream and extra cheese.

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Kale and Artichoke Chicken Casserole

Teriyaki Salmon Quinoa Bowls

These wholesome dinner bowls are packed with good-for-you ingredients like salmon, mushrooms and quinoa and loaded with flavor thanks to garlic, ginger, honey and soy sauce.

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Teriyaki Salmon Quinoa Bowls

Sausage, Peppers and Onions

Giada says these street-style sandwiches are a staple in Italy. She starts by browning sweet Italian turkey sausage, then simmers the meat and veggies in tomato paste and marsala wine for added depth of flavor.

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Sausage, Peppers and Onions

Salmon Sheet Pan Supper with Horseradish Sauce

Molly loves this sheet pan dinner because it’s “quite delicious and there isn’t a lot of cleanup.” She seasons her salmon with a lemony horseradish sauce, then bakes it on the same sheet as fingerling potatoes and broccolini.

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Salmon Sheet Pan Supper with Horseradish Sauce

Pork with Rosemary Polenta

Skip the mashed potatoes in favor of creamy, quick-cooking polenta. The simple side dish is ready in just five minutes and pairs exceptionally well with mustard-glazed pork and zesty broccoli.

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Pork with Rosemary Polenta

Roasted Vegetable Chili with Cornbread Biscuits

Simple cornbread biscuits bake atop a sheet-pan take on vegetarian chili, meaning that you can multitask while dinner practically makes itself in the oven.

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Roasted Vegetable Chili with Cornbread Biscuits

20-Minute Crispy Pierogies with Broccoli and Sausage

This is a kid-friendly twist on the classic Italian combination of broccoli rabe and sausage combo. We discovered that cooking mini pierogies pot-sticker style in a hot skillet saved time (no waiting for water to boil) and left them both crispy and tender.

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20-Minute Crispy Pierogies with Broccoli and Sausage

Smoked Sausage and Baked Bean Soup

Smoked cocktail sausages give this quick-and-simple soup a simmered-all-day flavor that’s impossible to resist.

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Smoked Sausage and Baked Bean Soup

Cod with Tomato-Basil Salsa Parchment Pack

Steaming the ingredients together in a neat parchment packet creates layers of flavor without adding much fat or salt. And with everything contained, cleanup is a breeze!

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Cod with Tomato-Basil Salsa Parchment Pack

10-Minute Chicken, Corn and Kimchi Ramen

We use a large skillet to cook everything at once for this speedy noodle dish. All but the garnishes go right into the skillet, and in the short time it takes for the broth to come to a boil, it’s done!

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10-Minute Chicken, Corn and Kimchi Ramen

Chickpea Curry with Rice

Ree makes the most of kitchen staples like chickpeas, coconut milk and rice in this easy pantry dinner.

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Chickpea Curry with Rice

Turkey Meatloaf Squares with Sweet Potatoes

Cut down the time it takes to make meatloaf by cooking it flat on a baking sheet. You’ll have dinner on the table in just 35 minutes.

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Turkey Meatloaf Squares with Sweet Potatoes

Pork and Pineapple Grain Bowl

Grilled pork and pineapple add tropical flair to this wholesome grain bowl.

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Pork and Pineapple Grain Bowl

Grilled Steak with Green Beans, Tomatoes and Chimichurri Sauce

Stretch your strip steaks, a juicy and delicious cut of beef, by sharing them and serving them alongside a hearty serving of grilled green beans.

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Grilled Steak with Green Beans, Tomatoes and Chimichurri Sauce

Beef and Bean Taco Casserole

We nicknamed this the “broken enchilada” casserole because the soft layer of cooked tortilla chips on the bottom reminded us of enchiladas. But this dish is much easier to make!

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Beef and Bean Taco Casserole

Shrimp and Grits

This Southern classic combines three of the most-satisfying comfort food ingredients around: bacon, cheddar and grits.

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Shrimp and Grits

Spice Rubbed Lamb Chops with Green Beans

This company-worthy dinner-for-four comes together in just 25 minutes (and with only a handful of ingredients) making it simple enough to serve up for weeknight family meals, too.

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Spice Rubbed Lamb Chops with Green Beans

Breaded Pork Chops with Warm Apple-Cabbage Slaw

Think of this as a new, healthier (and less messy!) take on pan-fried pork chops and applesauce. We bread these low-calorie, low-fat chops in whole-wheat panko and spray them with cooking spray to get them crispy in the oven. We prefer to use McIntosh or Red Delicious apples, because they soften quicker

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Breaded Pork Chops with Warm Apple-Cabbage Slaw

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Made from a quick stir-fry of chicken and Thai Style Sweet & Spicy Chili Cooking Sauce, these lettuce cups are easy to personalize. Put out peanuts, onions, peppers, plus herbs like basil or cilantro if you have them, and let everyone at the table build their own meal.

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Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Beef with Broccoli Teriyaki and Ramen Noodles

Using convenient ramen noodles and slicing the steak very thinly make this a fast recipe for busy families. To keep the steak juicy, be careful not to overcook it.

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Beef with Broccoli Teriyaki and Ramen Noodles