Another day trying to find dinner ideas for tonight. I love food. My whole day revolves around food. Generally speaking, I always thinking about my next meal. I need more supper ideas.
What to Make for Dinner Tonight
But every once and a while I just can’t make up my mind. Or nothing sounds good. Have you been there? The age old question what should I make tonight for dinner?
Here is a group of easy dinner recipes from our own site. Perfect recipes for the home cook and every single one of them is tested and family approved. Some are cooking from scratch and others semi-homemade (like using rotisserie chicken), but one thing is for sure.
Dinner will be ready and on the table in less than an hour from start to finish… some are even 30 minutes!
Beef is one of our favorite quick weeknight meals. Whether it is a juicy steak on the grill or ground beef recipes, it is sure to please. Learn more about beef dinner ideas and how to cook them in each of these recipes. No beef dinner would be complete without a side dish, so make sure to try our steamed green beans, refried black beans, or over 40 sweet potatoes recipes all aimed at busy nights.
Beef Stew is one of the most iconic comfort foods and this version features tender beef, onions, potatoes, fire roasted tomatoes in a rich herb filled stew. This recipe can be made in the slow cooker or Dutch oven.
This Franks and Beans recipe is made with real beef hot dogs and less sugar than the canned version. Perfect as a quick and easy lunch or a classic camping food!
Beef Wellington a classic dish for a special occasion. Tender beef tenderloin is smothered in Dijon mustard, mushroom, shallot and proscuitto before being baked in a delicate puff pastry.
These Instant Pot Short Ribs are fork tender, flavorful and so good you’ll make them again and again. Pressure cooker short ribs take considerably less time to make than typical braised short ribs!
Southwest Meatloaf is a classic meatloaf recipe with a southwestern spin. Crushed tortilla chips and bottled salsa give this easy meatloaf a zesty edge.
This Baked Eye of Round Roast is the easiest way to make delicious roast beef in your oven! Slice your roast beef and serve with a flavorful gravy made from the drippings.
Garlic and Onion Roast Beef Sandwiches is one of our favorite lunch meals. Tender roast beef with caramelized onions, roasted garlic and a whipped horseradish cream sauce on buttery brioche rolls.
If Beef and Broccoli is one of your go-to takeout dishes, you will LOVE this Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli! It’s easy to make and will be ready faster than your takeout could be delivered!
Ready to make the BEST hamburgers at home without a grill? These easy Skillet Hamburgers are simple to put together and ready in less than 30 minutes for the perfect diner-style meal at home.
Forget what you know about salisbury steak, this Homemade Salisbury Steak recipe is out of this world! Topped with a mushroom gravy, it's moist and delicious!
Everything Meatball Stromboli is meatballs, marinara sauce and cheese wrapped in pizza dough topped with everything bagel seasoning. An easy weeknight meal recipe!
A Garlic Truffle Burger is the perfect way to make a gourmet burger at home. Truffle Aioli, sautéed mushrooms, Swiss cheese and a juicy burger patty on a buttery brioche roll.
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole combines layers of crispy tater tots with homemade sloppy Joe mix, cream cheese and cheddar for the ultimate quick meal or party food!
Smothered Beef Burritos are a cheesy and easy weeknight meal perfect for quick assembly, freezing or making ahead. Loaded with ground beef, vegetables, enchilada sauce and cheese!
This EASY Stuffed Cabbage Rolls recipe is a family favorite! Made with ground beef, rice, onion and seasoning, these baked cabbage rolls are delicious!
Chicken recipes range the gamut from easy to hard, simple to complex. The one thing we all know is that chicken can get boring. Here are just a few chicken dinner recipes to brighten up your evening from chicken breast, chicken thighs, drumsticks, chicken wings and of course, crockpot chicken recipes. Make sure to check out our chicken temperature cooking chart for the chicken temps!
I've finally made the best chicken salad recipe! With grapes, celery, onions and walnuts, this Classic Chicken Salad recipe is perfect for a light lunch.
Instant Pot Chicken Paella is based off the traditional Spanish dish. Flavorful & ready in just minutes, this will be your go-to chicken and rice recipe.
Creamy Asiago Chicken is a tasty and easy chicken recipe that is perfect for a weeknight meal. Mushrooms, shallots and thyme flavor this delicious dish.
Get dinner on the table fast without sacrificing any flavour. This quick and easy butter chicken flatbread is ready in just 15 minutes making it a perfect weeknight meal.
This is the best Buttermilk Fried Chicken recipe! Brined chicken with fresh herbs, buttermilk and seasoned flour makes for a crispy and flavorful southern fried chicken.
These Chicken Enchiladas are rolled in flour tortillas, covered in a delicious homemade sauce and smothered in gooey cheese! Using pre-made rotisserie chicken makes them ready in a snap!
This Caprese Chicken is sure to be one of your favorite grilled or baked chicken recipes. Juicy & delicious, it comes together with only 6 ingredients!
This Chicken Marsala recipe is made in 1 pan in less than 30 minutes! Whip up this EASY dish with a rich creamy mushroom sauce on top of juicy chicken.
This King Ranch Chicken Casserole is packed with incredible Tex-Mex flavors and of course loads of cheesy goodness. This simple recipe is perfect for a family dinner and can be made ahead of time.
This simple marinade hands down makes the best chicken I have ever had on the grill. And versatile enough to be used on both vegetables and other meats.
Easy steps on how to roast chicken plus the mostly frequently asked questions about baking a whole chicken answered! Moist and flavorful chicken and vegetables in under 2 hours.
Slow Cooker Cowboy Chicken is an easy chicken recipe your whole family will love packed with corn, potatoes, bean and a zesty taco seasoning! Serve over rice or as tacos.
Easy Chicken Cacciatore uses tender chicken in a tomato sauce with mushrooms, bell peppers, olives and herbs. Only takes 30 minutes from stove to plate!
Crispy Baked Chicken is not your typical modified version of Southern fried chicken. Instead, it uses a vinegar-based marinade for a tongue-tingling flavor to create the best oven fried chicken you’ll ever taste.
Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese is a quick and spicy baked mac and cheese recipe the whole family will love. Perfect as a potluck recipe or for a BBQ side dish!
This EASY Blackened Chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknight dinners, and ready in 30 minutes. It can be paired on its own with your favorite sauce, or added to a variety of dishes ranging from salads to tacos.
Thin chicken breasts stuffed with compound butter and covered in a light Panko breading, this Chicken Kiev is an easy dinner the whole family will enjoy!
Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken is a favorite chicken crock pot recipe using lightly breaded chicken with a flavorful cashew sauce, celery, bean sprouts, onion and bell pepper!
A creamy, sweet & savory sauce coats tender bites of chicken in this Curry Chicken Salad. Chunks of crisp apples and celery, chewy raisins, and crunchy cashews are in every bite!
Sweet and Spicy Chicken is made with a sauce that’s the perfect mix of heat and sweet. Made in just one pan, it’s an easy weeknight dinner that’s better than take out!
Creamy Garlic Chicken is an easy chicken recipe for dinner using a homemade cream sauce, parmesan cheese, bacon, peas and sun dried tomatoes. A chicken dinner idea ready in just 30 minutes.
This step-by-step guide will show you how to brine chicken, tips for a juicy chicken, how to get crispy chicken skin and, of course, the best chicken brine recipe!
Express Cooker Indian Butter Chicken is a delicious and healthy weeknight meal ready in just 30 minutes from prep to plate and this one using a special secret ingredient!
Pork comes in so many forms. The most common is probably bacon and if we were listing bacon recipes, this would be a long list. Has you have it, we really like pork and prepare it often in the form of pork chops, sausages, ribs, tenderloins and loins.
Even pork butt (also known as a pork shoulder which is a whole other story….), slow cooker recipes and those that use pantry staples.
Crown Pork Roast is the perfect special occasion or holiday meal to serve for a crowd. Tasty and impressive presentation make this a winning pork recipe!
Apple Spiced Pork Tenderloin is a pork tenderloin recipe that will blow you away with aromatic spices and an apple jelly glaze, surrounding with fresh apple and ham stuffing, all cooked on the same baking sheet.
These Crock Pot Pork Chops are the perfect family dinner. Super tender, cooked in BBQ sauce and a special spice rub, then smothered with bacon and cheese!
Slow Cooker Ribs, the new normal way you need to cook ribs at home! The best part, this Slow Cooker Rib recipe is fall off the bone perfection in every way.
Butter Sage Pork Chops are pan seared pork chops in a simple butter, garlic and sage sauce. Sear in cast iron and then finish in the oven for the best pork chop recipe ever!
Grilled Stuffed Pork Chops are an easy grilled pork recipe. Herb marinated pork is stuffed with bread crumbs, herbs and Parmesan cheese and grilled to flavorful perfection in just 15 minutes!
Bring the island flavors to the table with this simple, slow cooker Hawaiian Pork loin made with pantry staples and finished with an easy to make sauce.
There is nothing more comforting than a steaming bowl of pasta or a piping pasta bake. Pasta recipes bring a smile to my face. Did you know that every culture has a type of pasta as part of their cuisine?
Simple with flour and water, sometimes egg and then other elements, this is a truly a dish that breaks across cultural barriers. And each type of pasta, of which there are over 500 varieties, is made with a particular purpose in mind depending on size and shapes. Kid-friendly dinner we can all get behind.
Shrimp Pasta Salad is the best dish to bring to any party. This dish is has a zing to it that will help bring those family gatherings and neighborhood potlucks to life.
Authentic Carbonara is an easy Italian pasta recipe using eggs, cheese and bacon. This is an easy carbonara recipe that any home cook can feel confident in making!
Homemade Marinara Sauce is a quick and easy recipe for a tomato based sauce using herbs and spices. Perfect for pizza, dipping sauce or to put over pasta.
Pesto Pasta Bake is the perfect easy pasta dish for busy weeknights. Creamy pesto sauce, pasta, smoked sausage and Italian cheese make this the perfect meal.
Creamy Cajun Pasta is seriously AH-MAZING and only takes 20 minutes! Rotini covered in a cream sauce with Cajun seasoning, smoky andouille sausage, sautéed peppers, red onion and grape tomatoes.
Lemony Artichoke Pesto is a new spin on traditional pesto adding a tangy, hearty flavor. Pair with Pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese and serve over your favorite pasta!
Honeycomb Pasta is a new twist on an old classic. Ziti smothered in marinara and cheese, but in cake form! Serve with a side of Italian sausage or meatballs.
Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup can be made in the slow cooker, instant pot or on the stove top. Cheesy tortellini with zesty sauce in a tomato based soup!
Clam Sauce Recipe- just like at the restaurant, plus see me super easy tips for cleaning clams for any recipe! Buttery broth, chopped and whole clams in an easy shallot, garlic and parsley sauce. Ready in just 40 minutes!
People tend to be intimidated to prepare seafood at home. The general scope ranges from shellfish and crustaceans to gilled fish and beyond like uni or eel. Salmon, crab, shrimp, scallops, lobster they are all good choices.
The truth is that sefood can be a healthy dinner idea and also cut down on cooking time, as they generally take less time to cook than other protiens.
The trick is to be confident on how you cook them and also where you buy them, both for freshness and price. Here are our favorite seafood recipes.
If you're looking for an elegant yet easy dinner, this Whole Stuffed Lobster recipe is for you! Made with simple pantry ingredients, it's sure to impress!
Maryland Crab Cakes are made with jumbo lump crab meat with little filler, Dijon mustard and Old Bay Seasoning plus secrets to making authentic Chesapeake crab cakes!
This Pesto Salmon recipe is the best way to make baked salmon. With only 5 ingredients including Greek yogurt and homemade pesto, it will be your new favorite.
Lobster Salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner! Serve on top of greens or even in a roll, which is known as a Cold Lobster Roll or New England Roll.
Pasta shells stuffed with a mixed seafood filling and topped with a sherry spiked cream sauce. Perfect for a fancy dinner, the holidays or just a random weeknight.
Balsamic Salmon Salad is an easy salad recipe that can be made for dinner, or even an on the go lunch! Serve with chèvre bread for a delicious combination!
Whether you eat vegetarian as a lifestyle or just need a recipe for meatless Monday, here are a few that are sure to please and won’t have you missing meat in any way. Easy recipes for the entire family!
This Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich is stuffed with gooey provolone cheese, crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes and freshly made guacamole, all grilled to perfection on crusty bread.
If you're looking for a vegetarian meal for Meatless Monday, look no further than this Eggplant Rollatini recipe! It's EASY to make and full of flavor!
This Parmesan Cauliflower Pizza Crust is the secret to getting a perfectly crispy no-carb cauliflower crust! A healthy alternative to the usual pizza crust!
Spanakopita Spinach Pie is a Greek speciality made from wilted spinach and cheese wrapped with flaky pastry, phyllo dough. An easy dish that pairs with anything!
Rainbow French Bread Pizza is the perfect easy pizza recipe using pizza sauce and colorful fresh vegetables. Make this into a St. Patrick’s Day pizza or have it any other time of the year!
Lamb often gets overlooked as a dinner option, but the truth is that ground lamb is affordable and easy to cook. Lamb chops or lamb lollipops are one of the quickest cooking proteins out there! Change up your dinner routine by adding a lamb recipe to the rotation.
Warm, comforting undertones of fall flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander create a lamb crust that pairs perfectly with sweet, tart burgundy pomegranate sauce. Aroma alone will get you in the holiday spirit.
Lamb Stew using ground lamb is made in just 30 minutes! Flavorful broth, crispy veggies and lentils make this fall stew recipe an easy weeknight meal.Lamb Stew using ground lamb is made in just 30 minutes! Flavorful broth, crispy veggies and lentils make this fall stew recipe an easy weeknight meal.
Greek Lamb Burgers are blended with lemon zest and spices then topped with a lemony mint yogurt sauce, pickled onions and feta cheese. The perfect juicy burger on the grill.
Soup doesn’t need to be an appetizer, it can be a whole meal! Check out our soups and stews perfect for a chilly night at home or even a warm summer day with chilled soup. Some are Dutch oven favorites, while others are speedy Instant Pot Recipes with amplified flavors in a hurry.
Always remember our tip about brightening soups- one dash of balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice right before serving makes a world of difference!
This Healthy Cabbage Soup is based off from the Weightloss Wonder Soup and is full of nothing but veggies for healthy vegetable soup that may even help you lose a few pounds!
Creamy Leek and Potato Soup is the perfect winter time comfort food. A creamy, silky broth with oodles of flavor, topped with crispy bacon and scallions.
Whether you call it Pasta e Fagioli or Pasta Fagioli, this EASY soup recipe is hearty and delicious. Full of authentic Italian flavors in just 30 minutes!
Thick, rich and delicious Minestrone Soup that uses one secret ingredient that cuts your prep, chop and cook time in HALF! You'll put this on the weekly menu.
This is an easy chicken tortilla soup that can be on your table in less than an hour. A rich tomato broth with a bit of spice and large chunks of chicken make this a hearty and comforting meal!
Looking for a homemade chicken noodle soup recipe that you can enjoy all year round? This Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is flavorful and SO easy to make!
This 20-Minute Wild Rice Chicken Soup is an incredibly easy but flavorful 20 minute meal made with two kitchen hacks that will make your life so much easier! It’ll become a winter soup staple in your home!
Asparagus lovers will love this creamy asparagus soup! Deliciously smooth and flavored to perfection, this cream of asparagus soup makes the perfect appetizer!
Green Gazpacho is a chilled soup made from cucumber, tomatillos and jalapenos with a yogurt base. A perfect make ahead soup to serve on a hot summer day!
Apple French Onion Soup combines a robust French Onion Soup Recipe using sweet apples for flavor and texture. Top with crunchy garlic croutons and gooey cheese.
This Southwest Chicken Salad is a delicious salad made with seasoned chicken breast and bold flavors of the southwest. It's paired with a cilantro lime dressing and tortilla strips for added crunch!
A creamy, sweet & savory sauce coats tender bites of chicken in this Curry Chicken Salad. Chunks of crisp apples and celery, chewy raisins, and crunchy cashews are in every bite!
Lobster Salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner! Serve on top of greens or even in a roll, which is known as a Cold Lobster Roll or New England Roll.
Green Curry Steak Salad uses a seared steak with a sweet and mildly spicy green curry sauce over Romaine lettuce and charred bell pepper and carrots. The perfect summer salad recipe!
Shaved Zucchini Salad is a visually and textually appealing salad using different shapes and flavors to make an easy salad recipe. Lemon Chive Dressing is fresh and zesty, the perfect homemade salad dressing accompaniment.
Peach Salad is a scrumptious summer salad filled with delicious peaches, gorgonzola cheese, shallots, candied walnuts and a tangy peach dressing. The perfect summer salad!
Balsamic Salmon Salad is an easy salad recipe that can be made for dinner, or even an on the go lunch! Serve with chèvre bread for a delicious combination!
Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts is the perfect winter salad for dinner parties and holidays. Honey Balsamic Dressing and tart goat cheese make the best salad recipe!
Pear Salad with Candied Walnuts is the perfect winter salad for dinner parties and holidays. Honey Balsamic Dressing and tart goat cheese make the best salad recipe!
Click on any of these links to find great recipes and even more fabulous lists of ideas for dinner tonight. And if you are still stumped, shoot me an email for some more ideas like how to brine a turkey! Just kidding… that isn’t a quick and easy, LOL.
Dinner Ideas FAQs
How can I make cheap meals?
Look for ingredients on sale and base your recipes around those. Choose ingredients you can use in multiple recipes and for goodness sake, use coupons! Pasta, rice and potatoes are always good, filling bases that cost little.
What is good comfort food.
I think the answer to this question varies from person to person, but I think we can all agree that cheese, starches and carbohydrates all make for good comfort food.
What is the most popular dinner?
1. Salad. No matter what cuisine you are looking at, salad is number one. 2. Chicken. Again, a common thread through many cultures. 3. Pasta. As mentioned before, nearly all cultures have some unique form of pasta.
What’s a good lazy dinner?
If ordering pizza or delivery isn’t an option, one-pot meals, sheet pan meals and dump-and-go slow cooker meals are ideal.
What are common meals for dinner?
Hamburgers, hot dogs, meatloaf, fried chicken, pizza and grilled cheese still rank among the most popular dinners in the US.
What should I make for dinner if I hate cooking?
Our goal is to make cooking somewhat enjoyable, but if you still hate it, then opt for something super easy. Try picking up pre-chopped veggies at the store or making a dish that takes minimal prep or hands-on work. Freezer meals are a great option, as is meal prep so you only have to cook once and reap the benefits for several days.
Dinner Ideas roulette
What do I want for dinner?
What are you going to do with all of those cookbooks?
I call it recipe roulette. If I could have an actual wheel of dinner in my kitchen, I would. Kinda like a food and drink wheel of fortune with recipe suggestions for dinner. My family has found some of our most favorite recipes from this simple little game. Gets us out of our comfort zone and trying new things and puts a quick dinner on the table. From healthy recipes to those cheat days, we have you covered!
And the last option… which is still a really good option.. I consult my list of popular and best dinner ideas.
We hope you enjoyed our collection of easy dinners for busy weeknights and fancy weekends. Quick dinner ideas the whole family will love. We hope you found a new favorite at the dinner table and will come back to find your next delicious meal. Also check out our Meat Temperature Cooking Guide and High Altitude Cooking Guide.
Jessica the mom, wife and food lover behind Savory Experiments. She is obsessed with butter, salt and bacon and spends all her time in the kitchen and behind a camera. Jessica is a contributor to PopKitchen by Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more!
This was so helpful when I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight! I think we’re going to go with one of your delicious salad dinner ideas for something easy & light. I’ll definitely be bookmarking this post and will be referring back to it often!
What a fantastic variety of flavors, textures and dinner ideas. I have bookmarked this page for future reference.
This was so helpful when I was trying to figure out what to make for dinner tonight! I think we’re going to go with one of your delicious salad dinner ideas for something easy & light. I’ll definitely be bookmarking this post and will be referring back to it often!
Such a great list for dinner!!! will save this for future reference. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
WOW! dinner inspiration for a year! there are so many delicious recipes in this list. thanks!!