55 Easy Dinner Recipes for Beginners (That Even the Most Culinarily Challenged Can Manage)
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
1. 15-Minute Lemony Broccolini Pasta
Requires as much work and know-how as dumping out a jar of marinara—but is way more impressive.
2. One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Carrots
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.)
3. Ravioli Lasagna
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.
4. Slow-Cooker Chicken Teriyaki
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.
5. Cheater’s Skillet Paella
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.
6. Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
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.)
7. Pan-Fried Cod with Orange and Swiss Chard
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.
8. Cacio e Pepe
Rich, creamy and oh so easy. Once you’ve mastered this decadent cheese-and-pepper pasta dish, it’ll be your weeknight go-to.
9. Mini Chicken Shawarma
Fact: Everything tastes better in miniature…including these two-bite pockets made with chicken tenders, soft pita breads and a creamy herb sauce.
10. Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies in Foil
Allow us to introduce you to the cooking technique that gets dinner on the table quickly with zero dirty dishes to wash.
11. 15-Minute Mezze Plate with Toasted Za’atar Pita Bread
The easiest dinners to make are those that require no cooking at all.
12. One-Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone
Easy enough for a weeknight but fancy enough for a dinner party. Just don’t skimp on the Parm.
13. Shrimp with Cauliflower 'Grits' and Arugula
Our favorite veggie makes cutting back on carbs easy. Oh, and did we mention that it'll be ready to devour in 30 minutes?
14. 20-Minute Paleo Egg Roll Bowls
Who needs wrappers? Everyone knows that the filling is the best part.
15. Chicken and Snap Pea Stir-Fry
All you need to whip up this easy yet satisfying meal is five ingredients, a few pantry staples and 20 minutes. Simple.
16. One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
Even easier (and so much more elegant) than grabbing a jar of tomato sauce from the cupboard.
17. Chopped Italian Pizza Salad
Thanks to store-bought dough, this beautiful ’za is as easy to toss together as your go-to bowl of kale.
18. The Ultimate Quinoa-Avocado Bowl
This healthy dish is more about assembling than actual cooking. And remember: When in doubt, watermelon radishes make everything look fancy.
19. 15-Minute Cheater’s Pad Thai
Sure, you could order takeout. Or you could save yourself time (and money) by whipping up this guy.
20. 15-Minute Cucumber-Avocado Blender Soup
Cooking healthy food doesn’t have to be difficult. Case in point: This quick and nutritious soup that comes together in practically no time.
21. Lime Chicken with Corn and Poblano Salad
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.
22. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry
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.
23. Chicken Tinga Tacos
Psst: Don’t tell your dinner guests that these started with a rotisserie bird. (Or that the whole meal only took you 30 minutes.)
24. One-Pot Mac and Cheese
So much better than the stuff from a box. (But just as easy to make.)
25. 15-Minute Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna and Pepperoncini
Three cheers for a quick dinner that you can create from what’s lying around in your pantry.
26. Slow-Cooker Pulled Chicken
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.
27. Sheet-Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage
Low-maintenance cooking is our favorite. This mouthwatering meal is hands-off and leaves you with practically zero dishes. Win-win.
28. Pasta Alla Norma with Eggplant
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.
29. 15-Minute Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Having friends over to watch the game? These mini bites are guaranteed to impress.
30. BLT Pasta Salad
Juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon and crunchy lettuce mixed in with diced avocado and creamy pasta. Who knew you could improve the classic sandwich?
31. Buddha Bowl with Kale, Avocado, Orange and Wild Rice
So fresh, so clean. Feel free to mix and match with whatever fruit and veggies you have lying around.
32. Rotisserie Chicken Ramen
Remember the cheap microwave stuff that kept you going in college? Our take is significantly more grown-up.
RELATED: 21 SLOW-COOKER CHICKEN RECIPES
33. Linguine with Bacon, Peaches and Gorgonzola
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.
34. Zoodles with Avocado and Mango Sauce
You had us at 15-minute dinner, and again at no oven required. Double the recipe to make enough for the entire week.
35. Buffalo Chicken Wraps with Blue Cheese and Celery
Rotisserie chicken, we salute you. (How else could we have a mouthwatering meal ready to go in a mere 20 minutes?)
36. Tomato Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Herbs
It’s impossible to beat a ten-minute salad. And this one has charred halloumi cheese, so it’s even better.
37. Sheet Pan Indian-Spiced Chicken
It sounds time-consuming, but we promise it’s a breeze. (It only takes ten minutes of prep!)
38. Meal-Prep Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
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.
39. Slow-Cooker Meal-Prep Burrito Bowls
The answer to your dinnertime prayers? Spicy, nourishing burrito bowls portioned out for the entire week.
40. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers
Bye, dinner rut. We’ll see you never, thanks to these adorable pepper boats filled with healthy chicken salad.
41. Quick Guacamole Quinoa 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.
42. Firecracker Chicken with Rice
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.
43. 20-Minute Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus
Tip: Don’t skimp on the good stuff. And by good stuff, we mean all that creamy burrata.
44. Bruschetta Chicken
One-pan meals are the way to go. This one tastes super decadent, but it’s surprisingly healthy and low-carb.
45. Keto Sheet-Pan Chicken and Rainbow Veggies
Dishes? What dishes? We’re only making sheet-pan meals from now on.
46. Easy Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with XO Sauce
These chewy, sticky rice cakes are about to win the dinner game. Grab the flavor-packed XO sauce from your local Asian market.
47. Cauliflower Rice Bowl with Curried Lentils, Carrots and Yogurt
Who says eating healthy has to be boring? This fresh legume-veggie-yogurt combo will fill you up without weighing you down.
48. Rainbow Collard Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce
Not only are they portable, but they can be made up to two days in advance.
49. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
These beauties only take 20 minutes to make, including the slightly spicy tropical salsa.
50. Everything Chicken Wings
Use store-bought everything bagel seasoning or make your own with spice-rack staples like dried onion flakes and minced garlic.
51. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak
You favorite local takeout spot will miss you.
52. 15-Minute Gazpacho with Cucumber, Red Pepper and Basil
A million times more refreshing than hot tomato soup. (But we're still having ours with a grilled cheese sandwich.)
53. 20-Minute Mushroom Stroganoff
This vegetarian take on a Russian classic is just the antidote for a blustery winter night.
54. Keto Steak and Blue Cheese Salad for One
Save a few strips of steak whenever you're at the grill to make a next-level salad that's ready in no time.
55. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles
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
