The question we get asked most often is, “What are your favorite easy dinner ideas?” We get it: there are 101 things to do and adding cooking can be stressful, especially on weeknights. But making healthy recipes doesn’t have to take all day! The best easy dinner ideas balance big flavor and quick cooking methods. As cookbook authors and recipe experts, we’re sharing our top easy dinner ideas you can make in between 5 minutes to 30 minutes, listed in order of speed. In many cases, making one of these simple dinner ideas is even faster than takeout! The recipes below include recipes for a variety of diets, including vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, pescatarian, and chicken recipes. Want recipes by type? Try our top 50 Healthy Dinner Ideas, 30 Minute Meals, 40 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes, 30 Vegan Dinner Recipes, 30 Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes, and more.
And now…our top fast and easy dinner recipes!
What people are saying…
Does this sound too good to be true: recipes that are easy AND taste good? Well let us assure you, it’s absolutely possible! Here are a few recent testimonials from readers who have emailed us about the easy dinner recipes they’ve been trying: Total time: 5 minutes Total time: 5 to 10 minutes Total time: 5 minutes Total time: 7 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Also try: Creamy Gemelli Pasta Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 20 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Also try: Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Total time: 30 minutes
“My husband has a heart condition and I have borderline high cholesterol. My son bought me your cookbook and I am continuing to try new recipes from your book and website. I have managed to lose about twenty pounds and my cholesterol has improved. This week I made your teriyaki stir fry and mushroom and goat cheese pasta. Both were TERRIFIC!” –Debbie “My husband and I decided to take our family down the vegetarian road about 9 months ago. I used to LOVE cooking, but have been in a slump since we went vegetarian. Well, tonight, the tides have turned! I made four of the five sandwich recipes I got from your blog and every single one was a winner! I have not felt this satisfied in the kitchen in such a long time! ” –Terra-Leigh
Top concepts for easy dinners
Turns out, you can find dinner recipes made in less than 30 minutes with big flavor. These are recipes with fresh, high quality flavor that’s achieved without using cheap shortcuts. Outside of the easy dinners above, here are some of our favorite concepts for fast and easy dinner ideas for you to riff on:
Simple pasta is a go to for quick dinner ideas: be it pasta salad or our speed demon 15-minute creamy gnocchi or pesto gnocchi Quesadillas are always quick: like our loaded veggie quesadilla or avocado quesadilla Sandwiches are the ultimate simple dinner ideas, like our 5 minute sandwich (for brinner!) or our vegan bahn mi Tacos are all about speed, like our BBQ bean tacos or quinoa tacos Pita pizzas are perfect for “no think” dinners, like these Easy Pita Pizzas
More easy dinner ideas
Want more? Pick from these easy weeknight dinner recipes:
Go for 20 Easy Dinner Ideas for Two Try these 50 Healthy Dinner Ideas Opt for 30 Dinner Ideas for Tonight Make brinner with 20 Breakfast for Dinner Ideas
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