38 Easy Dinner Recipes for Real Life

Easy dinner recipes that require little effort, big reward! Just a handful of ingredients and a few easy steps to get them on the table!

Some nights you crave a homemade dinner that feels special, but you also have virtually no energy, only a handful of ingredients, and no time for anything complicated. That’s exactly where this list comes in! These are the recipes my family turns to on weeknights and have earned a permanent place in the rotation because they’re simply that reliable.

The recipes on this list don’t require anything complicated – nothing you need to look for in a specialty store or prepare three days in advance. We’re talking short ingredient lists, simple steps, and flavors that make it feel like you’ve totally done your part. (Even if you absolutely don’t.)

Whether you want to feed a family, cook for two, or just try to get a nice meal on the table after a long day, there’s something here for you!

Easy Dinner Recipes

Burger Bowls with Homemade Sauce and Ranch Fries

A burger in a bowl! Ranch seasoned fries topped with a burger patty and all the fixings, with a drizzle of homemade sauce to top it all off!

Buffalo Chicken Burgers with Whipped Feta Spread

Easy and Amazing Buffalo Chicken Burgers! Filled with crisp lettuce, a whipped feta spread, placed on a toasted brioche bun.

Brandon’s Egg Roll Tacos

Egg rolls meet tacos! I like this! Easy to make and ridiculously good with a classic spring roll filling, crunchy vegetables, soft tortillas and spicy gochujang sauce.

Zuppa Tuscany

Easy Zuppa Toscana made in 30 minutes with golden chunks of sausage, tender potatoes and kale, all wrapped in a creamy, rich, sipable broth!

Instant Pot Spaghetti

My whole family loves this Instant Pot Spaghetti! Silky, flavorful and deliciously sticky. Easy enough that my kids can do it too!

Ridiculously Good Air Fryer Chicken Breast

My everyday favorite air fryer chicken! Thinly sliced ​​pieces of chicken breast, coated in maximum spices, with a little brown sugar and cornstarch, and air fried to juicy, golden perfection.

Chicken with Apricots and Grilled Scallions

This apricot chicken, made on a baking sheet, is so easy and SO GOOD! Just a few simple ingredients, minimal cleanup, and major flavor thanks to the roasted and charred green onions on top.

Thai Peanut Chicken Bowls

I love dinner shortcuts! These bowls feature caramelized peanut chicken, a tangle of vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs and cucumber salad, and peanut sauce on top.

Bang Bang Salmon with Avocado and Cucumber Salsa

Bang Bang Salmon! Creamy, sweet, salty and punchy. Served with steamed rice and avocado and cucumber salsa. Weekday perfection!

Ridiculously Good Chicken Tacos with Green Sauce

Just 20 minutes to get these chicken tacos on the table! Juicy, flavorful and absolutely insane in the best way.

Coconut Kale Chicken

Golden, juicy, thinly sliced ​​pan-fried chicken swims in a creamy coconut-kale sauce with shallot slices and a little heat. Super easy, with minimal ingredients!

Shortcut Noodles with Sesame Butter

One of my favorite pocket recipes! Packed noodles for ease, butter for creaminess, honey for sweetness and sesame oil for depth. Just tangled bursts of joy!

5 Ingredient Tomato Soup

A simple 5-ingredient tomato soup made with butter, onion and canned San Marzano tomatoes. Based on Marcella Hazan’s tomato sauce recipe. It fits perfectly with the warm atmosphere.

Steph’s Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Rice

Incredibly creamy saucy chickpea curry served over rice with a dollop of crispy chili and a side of cucumber salad. Ready in 20 minutes!

Harissa Meatballs with Whipped Feta

These Harissa and Whipped Feta Meatballs are perfect for an easy SOS dinner! Store-bought meatballs, peppers, zucchini, harissa and whipped feta all in one bowl. DELICIOUS!

Tofu and Brown Rice Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

These lettuce wraps are ridiculously good! Crunchy, fresh and loaded with tofu, brown rice, crispy onions, and a drizzle of peanut sauce and spicy mayonnaise. Delicious!

Crispy Black Bean Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Sauce

These vegetarian tacos are deliciously topped with black beans, fresh salsa and seasonings, all nestled in a crispy golden tortilla and served with a fresh, creamy cilantro-lime sauce. YUM!

Pineapple Pork and Coconut Rice

Sticky pork, juicy pineapple, fresh herbs, jalapeño and crispy onions, all served on a bed of fluffy coconut rice. SO GOOD!

Best Cooked Chicken Meatballs Anytime

These baked chicken meatballs are the best! The perfect addition to any meal or to eat alone. Bonus: they are suitable for meal prep to stock up throughout the week!

The Best Tinga Chicken Tacos

These Chicken Tinga Tacos are THE BEST! Tasty, spicy sauce, true culinary perfection.

Black Bean Cauliflower Tostadas with Queso and Pickled Onions

A spicy, creamy, crunchy, smoky and seasoned vegetarian delight on a perfectly crisp little disc of corn tortilla. Cauliflower and Black Bean Tostadas to the rescue!

Gochujang noodles in chicken sauce

A super easy piece of spicy, peanut and noodle comfort food! These gochujang noodles require just a handful of ingredients — like ramen noodles, peanut butter, sesame oil, and soy sauce — and come together in just 20 minutes.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Winner, winner, chicken tortilla soup dinner! Tender chicken thighs, creamy pinto beans, garlic and onions, crushed tomatoes, jalapeño, crushed tomatoes and ALL the toppings.

Three Cheese and Spinach Gnocchi

You will enjoy these delicious three-cheese gnocchi! Tender gnocchi coated in a creamy tomato sauce, sprinkled with fresh spinach and bites of melty cheese. Gorgeous!

Crispy Zucchini Spaghetti

This crispy zucchini spaghetti is the perfect end of summer song! There’s nothing better than fresh summer zucchini coated in a crispy, cheesy breading and piled on top of fresh herb spaghetti. YUM!

Hot salmon with honey

This hot honey salmon gives off a vibe of fancy eating but not fancy making. Spicy-mild salmon coated with fresh garlic, stone-ground mustard, sweet honey and red pepper flakes. It’s a magical little number!

Smoked Bean and Greens Tacos with Aji Verde

Cheers for summer meals! Smoky black beans sautéed with kale, garlic and spices, tucked into charred corn tortillas and topped with the best fiery, punchy green sauce – Aji Verde!

Spicy salmon burgers

These spicy salmon burgers are little packets of flavor! Canned salmon, panko, refreshing lemongrass and a sweet-spicy blend of red curry paste and brown sugar. So good and so simple!

Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup

This Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup is deliciously cream-free, comforting, and packed with lots of veggies. Perfect with crusty bread and a green salad. ♡

Creamy Florentine Tomato Lasagna

This Creamy Tomato Florentine Lasagna is so deliciously comforting and simple. Noodles, tomato sauce and a creamy layer of spinach!

Skillet Jambalaya

Sheet Pan Jambalaya: maximum flavor, minimum dishes. Sausage, peppers, onions, shrimp and cauliflower rice, all roasted on a baking sheet. Great flavor, easy dinner!

Beef with Sesame and Broccoli

Sesame beef and broccoli! Full of protein, goodness from green broccoli, and a sweet, sticky flavor from garlic and ginger. A perfect dish to take home!

Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry

Creamy Thai Sweet Potato Curry – full of nutrients! Our favorite recipe for comforting, easy and healthy winter dishes.

Instant lentils with red curry

Guess what’s for dinner? Creamy, spicy and delicious red curry lentils made in the Instant Pot.

5 Ingredient Spicy Pork

5 Ingredient Spicy Pork! A sophisticated dinner recipe that comes together in a snap. Serve it in bowls, stir-fry it with veggies, or add it to burritos!

Instant Pot Coconut Tandoori-Inspired Chicken

Coconut Tandoori Chicken made with rich spices and creamy coconut milk. Ridiculously easy (like 5 minutes to learn) and so delicious! My new favorite make-ahead frozen meal.

One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes and Kale

This Farro One-Pan with Tomatoes and Kale is an pure and simple DREAM! Rustic farro with cherry tomatoes, onions, garlic and kale. So good and so healthy!

The Easiest Spinach and Artichoke Pizza

This truly is the simplest spinach and artichoke pizza! Garlic spreadable cheese, canned artichokes, fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella, all on a pre-made pizza crust. Phew, it’s good!