What's for Dinner? Here Are 88 Easy Dinner Ideas to Answer That Query (2024)

Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Sheet-pan dinners are a dream come true for busy cooks. You can cook a whole meal—in this case, chicken leg quarters and sweet potato wedges—in the same pan. This cooking method saves time and effort during meal prep and speeds cleanup, too.

Slow-Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast Rice Bowls

This slow cooker pork roast recipe is full of flavors, thanks to the packet of ranch seasoning, pepperoncini peppers, and shallots that get tossed in the mix. After eight hours in the slow cooker, the pork becomes fall-apart tender. You'll then serve it on a bed of white rice with cilantro, lettuce, sour cream, and more peppers.

Shawarma-Seasoned Cauliflower and Chickpea Pitas

Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish that consists of marinated meat that is thinly sliced and slow-roasted on a spit. This vegetarian twist uses a shawarma spice blend to add shawarma's bold flavor to the cauliflower and chickpeas mix before placing it onto a pita round with smooth yogurt. Sliced red onions give the pita a kick while crunchy cucumbers mellow it out.

Skillet Chicken With Grapes and Shallots

This easy weeknight dinner is made to impress everyone at the table. Seasoned juicy chicken thighs, caramelized shallots, and sweet browned grapes lie on a bed of creamy polenta for a unique dish full of flavor. Thyme leaves top it off, giving the plate an earthy taste.

Crispy Chicken Cutlets With Artichoke Dressing

You can't go wrong with crispy chicken cutlets for a quick dinner. Breadcrumb-coated chicken bakes with roasted asparagus and is topped with a lemony dressing made from briny artichoke hearts, fresh parsley, and salty Parmesan cheese. It is so tasty that it's hard to believe you can whip it up in just 25 minutes.

Linguine With Cherry Tomato Sauce

With only eight ingredients and 30 minutes, this simple dinner recipe is a guaranteed weeknight winner. It tops linguine noodles with a tasty cherry tomato sauce infused with pancetta. Finish with Parmesan and basil for a truly delicious dinner.

Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Arugula Salad

A grill is perfect for easy dinner ideas, as proven by this simple pork chop recipe. Give the pork chops a perfect sear by patting them dry before setting them on a hot, oiled grill. And—bonus!—there's no smoky kitchen to worry about afterward.

Cheesy Chicken Nachos With Avocado and Radish

For this recipe, every chip is gloriously topped with chicken, cheese, salsa, avocado, and, well, more cheese. Make this meal heartier by adding black beans, or swap the avocado slices for homemade guacamole.

Salmon With Creamy Cucumber-Fennel Salad

Shake up your dinner routine with this simple approach to salmon. To speed up dinner prep, make the side salad up to 12 hours in advance, refrigerate, and serve cool or at room temperature alongside freshly roasted salmon. Reserve a few fennel fronds for a garnish.

Egg Salad Toast with Fresh Herbs and Capers

These open-faced egg toast beauties are fancier than your average egg salad sandwich, with flavors, textures, and looks that are elegant and original. The recipe features boiled egg slices gently mixed with a mustardy vinaigrette, briny capers, fresh parsley, and just-bitter-enough radicchio leaves. All are served on toasted, crusty bread slices.

Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs With Salsa Verde

Dust off your sheet pan because this 30-minute dinner is destined to become a new favorite! The recipe pairs seasoned chicken thighs with fresh vegetables, cotija cheese, and savory salsa verde, all nestled in a warm corn tortilla for a complete meal.

Grilled Halloumi Salad

Let's count why this grilled salad will likely become a new dinner fave:

1. It's easy to throw together after work, yet it manages to be super filling.
2. It hits all the right flavor notes—from briny olives to spicy garlic and cool, crunchy cucumbers.
3. Best of all, it's grilled halloumi: a firm cheese that can stand the heat of a grill or grill pan and tastes salty, like feta.

Grandma Pie With Pepperoni and Pink Sauce

Grandma pies—said to have originated in New York—are baked and served on a standard baking sheet. No fancy pizza equipment is required. Its toppings are classic—melted mozzarella and crispy pepperoni coins. But the red pizza sauce gets a twist courtesy of a few tablespoons of heavy cream, which makes this pizza richer than usual.

Shrimp Lo Mein

Lo mein is a standard Chinese takeout order for many of us, but making it at home can expand your culinary repertoire and save you money. This version stirs noodles and veggies in a saucy mixture of soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, Sriracha, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil.

Lemony Lentil Soup

This simple soup recipe simmers everyday ingredients—carrots, onion, garlic, and spices—with red lentils. Lentils are the perfect soup legume that breaks down easily when heated. Instead of puréeing the entire soup, blend just half the batch to retain some texture and then top with crispy, roasted kale for a modern garnish.

Eggplant and Tomato Masala With Chickpeas

This Indian-inspired vegetarian meal comes together in 25 minutes. The recipe calls for bold seasonings—cumin, mustard seeds, coriander, cilantro, and garam masala—stewed with onions, eggplant, canned chickpeas, and fire-roasted tomatoes. Trust us; you'll love this flavorful feast.

Chicken Curry in a Hurry

How does curry make a list of quick dinner recipes? This fast version uses rotisserie chicken to save time, so the meal is ready in just over 30 minutes. Pin this one for nights when you're craving Indian food but don't want takeout.

Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur

Believe it or not, nothing on this plate requires much preparation or cooking. The bulgur simply steams in boiling water, so—after making a quick vinaigrette and chopping your zucchini, shallot, and dill—just toss and serve. Salted, roasted almonds lend crunch and crumbled goat cheese adds a creamy tang.

Whole Grain Spaghetti With Kale and Tomatoes

Craving pasta but not in the mood to load up on carbs? This easy dinner idea pairs whole-grain pasta with garlic, onion, kale, grape tomatoes, and almonds. We bet the whole family will love this 30-minute dinner idea.

Southwestern Beef Chili With Corn

Most chili recipes require you to simmer everything for an hour or two, but when your family wants chili fast, this poblano chile-spiked version is the one to pull out. It's packed with ground beef, black beans, corn, and carrots and comes together in one pot in just 30 minutes. Double the recipe and take care of dinner for a night down the road, or stretch the chili by serving it over brown rice.

Spanish Omelet With Potatoes and Chorizo

The idea of breakfast for dinner is nothing new, but this recipe is novel. Packed with yellow onion, red potatoes, chorizo, and Manchego or cheddar cheese, this single-skillet dish is ready in 30 minutes. Expect this filling omelet to become a comfort-food fixture in your kitchen.

Smoky-Sweet Steak Supper

This hearty meal is ready in just 25 minutes and packs tons of flavor. The recipe slathers grilled strip steak in a sugar and paprika rub, which delivers an irresistible sweet, smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with blanched green beans and fresh cherry tomatoes. Break out a bottle of pinot noir, and you're good to go!

Fishermen's Soup

Halibut and quick-cooking mussels are the stars of this rich, fragrant meal in a bowl. Yes, it looks fancy and time-consuming, but it's easier than you think. After sautéing leeks, garlic, and fennel in a saucepan, add sherry and canned diced tomatoes, simmer, and then add fish and mussels. Simmer for another 5 minutes, then garnish and serve with crusty bread.

Sheet Pan Cod and Potatoes

That sheet pan used for easy chicken dinners works for fish, too. This recipe roasts everything—creamy Yukon gold potatoes, cod fillets, and crispy chard leaves—on a single pan. Dress it up with a quick olive salsa that adds richness, acidity, and a little spice to the whole dish.

Steak and Potato Skewers With Orange Salsa

There's nothing better than a meal on a stick, especially if it only takes 30 minutes to cook. With this dinner recipe, you grill spiced steak and cooked potato skewers alongside bell peppers and onions. The whole spread is tied together via a spicy orange salsa that you'll want to make over and over.

Seared Tilapia With Watercress-Mango Salad

This light and refreshing seafood dinner is perfect for busy evenings. It serves perfectly seared tilapia fillets atop a watercress-mango salad with a peppery ginger-lime dressing. It comes together in just 20 minutes, allowing you to relax for the rest of the evening.

Saucy Shrimp and Noodle Stir-Fry

If you're eager to cook with shrimp but don't know where to start, try this easy, versatile stir-fry recipe. Tender rice noodles, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, and a sweet and spicy sauce round out this 20-minute meal. Feel free to add (or swap in) bell peppers, broccoli, or whatever veggies you have in the fridge.

Crispy Pork Cutlets With Fennel-Chickpea Slaw

Thin, crispy slices of pork and a crunchy, zesty salad—chickpeas, sliced fennel, celery, red onion, and a quick lemon dressing—provide a great point-counterpoint in this easy dinner idea. While the thin pork cutlets bake in the oven, there's plenty of time to mix the slaw before the timer dings. And that breaded crust is homemade from whole-wheat sandwich bread: no stale, store-bought breadcrumbs here.

Green Curry With Halibut and Corn

Sure, you can order takeout, but if you want to make this popular Asian dish yourself, try this easy curry recipe. It starts by cooking shallots in green curry paste, adding coconut milk and chicken broth, and then stirring in corn and halibut. For extra flavor, squeeze some lime on top and toss in basil leaves and sliced jalapeño.

Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin

A tasty brown sugar and soy-spiked beef stock makes this easy-to-make pork tenderloin dish something special. Using a slow cooker, it only takes 20 minutes to assemble and results in tender meat that pulls apart with a fork. Serve this sweet and savory pork with fresh cucumber and carrots over hot rice for a balanced meal.

Broiled Salmon on Rice With Broccoli

This dish features broiled salmon that's buttery, flaky, and won't stink up your kitchen. When nearly done, it's brushed with a glaze of brown sugar and low-sodium soy sauce or tamari that caramelizes, giving each fillet a slightly crispy top. Save some sauce for drizzling over the broccoli rice, too.

Shrimp and Spinach Pasta with Leeks

For a meal that's light and hearty with vegetables and protein, this easy, fast recipe for shrimp, leek, and spinach pasta is the answer. Kids and kids-at-heart will enjoy this mac and cheese-like supper that has not one but two vegetables stirred in. Grownups get a dinner that's ready in just 20 minutes.

Quick Lamb and Vegetable Stew

Carrots, onion, diced canned tomatoes, green beans, chicken broth, and fresh parsley combine to flavor this easy-to-make lamb stew. It's a hearty, warm meal you can make any night, but is especially comforting on cool fall or spring days. If you're feeling ambitious, the recipe provides instructions for you to make an extra batch to freeze for later.

Linguine With Shrimp and Artichokes

A crisp, golden-brown topping—sautéed panko and chopped parsley, to be exact—elevates this pasta dish, making it look far more elegant and time-consuming than it truly is. Even more impressive, this protein-rich pasta requires just 25 minutes hands-on.

Spicy Grilled Chicken With Shaved Zucchini Salad

Forget your standard grilled chicken recipe and make way for this new one that turns out grilled boneless, skinless breasts that are juicy and tender. They're rubbed in Aleppo pepper for a kick and paired with a lemony-marinated zucchini salad. The whole dish finishes with a drizzle of garlic and herb dressing.

Slow-Cooker Chipotle Short Ribs With Tangy Cabbage Slaw

Short ribs become fall-apart delicious when simmered with onion, garlic, tomato paste, chipotle peppers, and cumin—and this quick dinner idea only takes 20 minutes of hands-on time. Cook the rice 20 minutes before you plan to serve dinner, toss the cabbage slaw, sit down, and enjoy!

Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers

Turkey burgers can be a tad dry, but these are anything but. Key ingredients—shredded zucchini, eggs to bind, garlic powder, and cumin—combine to make these patties extra juicy and flavorful. Top burgers with the obligatory sliced tomato, crispy lettuce, and your other favorites, and you won't be disappointed.

Hummus, Tomato, and Feta Pita Pizzas With Arugula Salad

Pizza meets the Greek isles for this easy, no-cook mashup. Layers of hummus and feta atop pita rounds replace classic tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pizza crust for a non-traditional personal pie. The best part about this fun, creative dinner is there are only four steps—including plating.

Coconut Chicken Cutlets With Mango Chutney Slaw

Ready in 30 minutes, these delicious chicken cutlets adopt flavor and crunch from their shredded coconut breading. Serve alongside a tasty mango chutney coleslaw—which pairs perfectly with the coconut flavor—and you have a new winning dish for your weeknight dinner rotation.

Summer Nachos

Full of flavor and nutritious summer vegetables, these vegetarian nachos are perfect for a quick dinner for yourself or the family. Featuring corn, zucchini, and avocado in every cheesy bite, they're ready in 30 minutes, start to finish. (Despite "summer" in the title, you're allowed to follow this recipe any time of year!)

Smoky Sheet Pan Salmon and Potatoes

Sheet pan dinners are a favorite for a quick and easy dinner. This one features roasted salmon and potatoes flavored with smoked paprika and orange zest dressing. Topped with avocado and orange salsa, you can enjoy this easy meal with just 15 minutes of hands-on prep.

Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas

This twist on a traditional chicken pot pie only requires 25 minutes hands-on and is ready in under an hour. With recipe shortcuts of pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and store-bought pie crust, this comforting pastry comes together more easily than it looks. Serve with salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.

Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps

Fun to eat and easy to make, these chicken lettuce wraps feature a delicious coconut-peanut sauce and rice vermicelli noodles. Top with your favorite vegetables, and let everyone assemble their own. Ready in only 25 minutes, this meal is sure to become a family favorite.

Meatless Meatball Subs

Filling, savory, and vegetarian, these eggplant mushroom meatball subs are perfect for an easy dinner. They take only 30 minutes—start to finish—so consider doubling the meatball recipe to freeze some for later. Serve sandwiches with a side salad for a complete meal the whole family will enjoy.

Chicken Paprikash Soup

Inspired by the traditional Hungarian dish of the same name, this recipe turns those same robust flavors into a comforting soup that's ready in just 30 minutes. Using store-bought rotisserie chicken makes this a perfect dish for any weeknight dinner or when you're in a rush.

Sunny-Side-Up Sheet Pan Breakfast

A delicious combination of breakfast favorites—roasted potatoes, crispy prosciutto, and sunny-side-up eggs—makes this wholesome dish perfect any time of day. Easy and convenient, everything cooks on a single baking sheet with only 20 minutes of hands-on prep. Let the oven do the rest, and enjoy your meal!

Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas

Quick and simple to make, these quesadillas are also filling and nutritious. Using pre-cooked chicken speeds up prep to put this dish on the table in just 20 minutes. Serve with salsa, sour cream, avocado, and whatever other toppings you enjoy.

Turkey Sloppy Joes With Coleslaw

In just 15 minutes, you can brown some ground turkey and season it to create a juicy mixture for this dinner-worthy sandwich. Round out the meal with a fresh homemade coleslaw that pairs perfectly. Try adding it on top of the turkey mixture for added crunch.

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

Take advantage of pre-cooked chicken to make this creamy pasta dinner. You'll love how the wider noodles and nutritious mushrooms combine with the sauce. It's simple to make and quick to cook, so enjoy!

Turkey Barley Vegetable Soup

Comforting and hearty, this recipe combines ground turkey and barley with nutrient-filled vegetables for a delicious one-pot dish. After just 15 minutes hands-on, sit back and let the soup simmer while you relax. Serve a warm bowl with crispy bread to help sop up all the broth.

Potato, Egg, and Avocado Hash

This quick 25-minute hash is perfect for busy nights when you want a nutritious meal but are low on time or energy. While it's a vegetarian recipe, feel free to add pre-cooked chicken or ham for extra protein. Serve with a nice chunk of crispy baguette, or eat as-is: You'll be full either way.

Lasagna-Style Baked Ziti

This recipe turns classic lasagna into a cheesy, delicious, baked-ziti dish with just 20 minutes of prep. Make this comforting meal in one big baking dish or use large ramekins for individual servings. Either way, expect your family to devour it.

Crispy Bacon and Egg Tacos

Tacos are a family-favorite weeknight dinner, and this version incorporates breakfast staples to create a delicious dish that works for dinner. Top with avocado, slaw, or your favorite veggies for a well-rounded meal.

Beef and Cabbage Skillet Supper

In just 25 minutes, you can make this unique ground beef recipe that mimics beef cabbage rolls, but there's no rolling here. Green cabbage adds a dose of nutrition, while raisins bring a touch of sweetness to the dish. Serve with rice for a complete and hearty meal.

Eggplant and Chicken Caponata Pizza

Transform store-bought pizza dough and rotisserie chicken into a delicious family-friendly dinner. It's perfect for pizza night and takes only 30 minutes. Eggplant relish adds a unique flavor that pairs wonderfully with chicken and roasted bell peppers.

Spicy Summer Squash Stir-Fry

We're fans of a quick, easy, yet filling stir-fry dinner, and this 20-minute vegetarian version is one reason why. It features summer squash and eggplant, as well as red jalapeño and crushed red pepper that bring a bit of heat to the dish. Serve with white rice for a perfect pairing.

Greek Lamb Burgers With Baked Eggplant Fries

If you feel like switching up your burger night, give these Greek-style lamb and feta burgers a spin. Served with cucumber yogurt sauce and a side of eggplant fries, you get an out-of-the-box, nutritious burger and fries meal in 30 minutes.

Ratatouille

Our quick take on traditionally slow-cooking ratatouille combines eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and red bell pepper for a hearty, comforting meal. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's nutritious, filling, and easy to make. Serve on its own, with bread, or toss with pasta.

Curried Eggplant With Tomatoes and Basil

Full of protein and fiber from canned chickpeas, this vegetarian curry dish comes together in only 25 minutes. Eggplant, tomatoes, and basil boost the nutritional value and flavors while (optional) Greek yogurt tops the dish for a refreshing contrast. Serve with rice for a filling and complete meal.

Spiced Cod With Broccoli-Quinoa Pilaf

Pairing cod and quinoa with vegetables and almonds makes for an easy and healthy dinner option. Ready in 30 minutes, you'll enjoy the contrast of paprika-flavored fish with broccoli-quinoa pilaf that gets a hint of sweetness from raisins.

Sausage With Smashed Potatoes and Cornichons

This take on British bangers and mash comes together in just 25 minutes. It mixes smashed potatoes with onions and chopped cornichons (tiny pickles) and is served with Italian sausage. It's a fast dinner idea that's easy, flavorful, and filling.

Orange Chicken With Bulgur Pilaf

This quick dinner recipe pairs orange-flavored chicken with bulgur (a nutty grain). Cook the bulgur per package directions, and then mix with tomatoes and kalamata olives for a pilaf-like side. Serve with sautéed chicken breasts—doused with orange juice at the last minute—for this nutritious, filling meal.

Skillet Gnocchi With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Full of healthy vegetables like fennel and broccoli rabe, this easy dinner idea cooks in just 30 minutes. It delivers a hearty combination of sausage, gnocchi, veggies, and creamy ricotta cheese in every bite. Aside from the broccoli rabe, everything else cooks in a single skillet to make cleanup a breeze.

Shrimp and Chorizo Stew

Smoky chorizo, shrimp, and chickpeas combine for a delicious stew that's perfect for cool nights. What's best is it cooks in 30 minutes from start to finish. Eat as-is or serve over rice or pasta for a more filling meal.

Rigatoni With Roasted Sausage and Broccoli

This quick pasta dish is ready to eat in only 25 minutes. Roasted broccoli and Italian sausage combine with tender pasta noodles for a filling and hearty dinner. It's simple, delicious, and perfect for any night of the week.

Smoky Fish Chowder

Hearty, warm, and comforting, this fish chowder is full of flavor and nutrients. Combine white fish, like cod or halibut, with chorizo, potatoes, and leeks, and—in only 30 minutes—it's soup! Serve with crusty bread to help soak up the delicious broth.

Pasta With Chicken Sausage, Corn, Leeks, and Mushrooms

We're betting this easy pasta recipe becomes a new favorite at your house. Full of tasty vegetables—mushrooms, corn, and leeks—it needs just 20 minutes to complete. Its not-so-secret shortcut is pre-cooked chicken sausage, which helps speed dinner prep along.

Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli

This dinner recipe might taste like a traditional slow-cooked Italian pasta dish with vegetables and sausage, but it's ready in 20 minutes and uses ground turkey, a leaner, healthier alternative to sausage that cooks up quickly. Chopped garlic and crushed red pepper give the pasta a bit of a zip.

Spicy Chorizo-and-Pinto Bean Chili

Spicy chorizo and poblano chiles mingle with pinto beans in a tomato broth for this hearty 30-minute chili. Top with diced avocado, thinly sliced cabbage, cilantro, or any other toppings you enjoy. It's a perfect weeknight solution that's filling and delicious.

Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

A sheet pan comes to the rescue again in this quick 30-minute recipe. Out of the oven, serve right from the pan with warm tortillas and toppings like avocado, sour cream, pico de gallo, or your faves. The best part is the easy cleanup!

Saucy Shrimp and Noodle Stir-Fry

This easy stir-fry is packed with protein, nutritious veggies, and umami flavor from shiitake mushrooms and soy sauce. Chile-garlic sauce and honey mix for a tasty sweet and spicy coating for the shrimp and rice noodles. Since it's ready in just 20 minutes, you have time to make an easy dessert!

Speedy Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches

Our take on the classic Vietnamese sandwich comes together in just 30 minutes. It glazes tender roast pork with honey, lime, and sesame flavors, while carrots and cucumber are quick-pickled in lime juice. You'll enjoy the fresh flavors in this simple to make sandwich topped with a spicy Sriracha mayo.

No-Bake Summer Veggie Lasagna

It's hard to imagine cooking lasagna in only 25 minutes, but this no-bake vegetarian recipe accommodates a busy night's time constraint. Full of summer vegetables like cherry tomatoes and zucchini, this recipe delivers a nutritious and comforting meal, and the oven stays off!

Gnocchi With Corn & Miso

It only takes 20 minutes to prepare, and this corn and miso gnocchi feels sophisticated despite its ease. It tops tender gnocchi with salty pecorino cheese and a sprinkling of pepper. Think of it as a summery take on cacio e pepe.

Lemony Linguine With Olives and Feta

This 30-minute dinner recipe packs a flavor punch. It partners jarred Castelvetrano olives with golden pine nuts, which add a bit of crunch. Fresh garlic and lemon keep the dish light and bright while red pepper flakes amp up the heat.

Curry Powder Shrimp and Rice

This curry-laced one-pot meal featuring shrimp, carrots, onions, and rice is a quick, flavorful option that's naturally gluten-free. It takes less than an hour, making it an easy weeknight dinner. A simple green salad goes perfectly alongside.

Pasta with Bacon and Cauliflower

Bacon brings a welcome smoky flavor to this pasta dish, without making it feel heavy. Loads of cauliflower give this meal a veggie boost, and fresh sage leaves and ground black pepper round out its flavor profile.

Rosemary Chicken with Zucchini

If you're looking for a recipe that won't create a lot of dirty dishes, a sheet pan meal is the way to go. This one roasts potatoes, zucchini, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts—all on the same pan—for a well-rounded meal that's a breeze to clean up.

Tortellini With Sausage and Greens

Cheesy and creamy, this comforting dinner is on the table in just 25 minutes. The shortcut lies in the store-bought tortellini, which perfectly complements the meaty hot Italian sausage. Top with a quick sprinkle of Parmesan and dig in.

Sun-Dried Tomato Butter Salmon and Broccolini

For a busy weeknight, look no further than this 25-minute recipe. No ordinary cooked salmon, it's flavored with a buttery, garlicky, sun-dried tomato treatment. Paired with cheesy, charred broccolini, this easy meal does not disappoint.

Soba Noodle Salad with Chili-Glazed Shrimp

Shrimp is a shoo-in for a quick and easy recipe, and this one pairs them with soba, which are soft, Japanese, buckwheat noodles. It surrounds the shrimp, noodles, and veggies (your favorite coleslaw mix) with a rich, sweet-and-savory peanut sauce, all tossed just before serving. The result is an innovative, Asian-inspired salad full of protein and flavor.

Creamy Enchilada Soup

Weekends are for spending half the afternoon cooking a big batch of enchiladas, but weeknights call for this 30-minute recipe that borrows those same Tex-Mex flavors. Yes, there are shortcuts—bottled salsa verde, taco seasoning mix, and canned green chilies—but you end up with a meat-free meal that really wows.

Rosemary Lamb Chops

When you think of a quick and easy dinner, lamb chops probably isn't top of mind, but this recipe should be. In just 15 minutes, you can do it all—boil bulgur, broil lamb chops bathed in a rosemary-olive-mayo mixture, smash cucumbers to mix in with the cooked bulgur, and plate—for a cohesive Mediterranean-inspired dish.

Instant Pot Risotto With Peas & Crispy Salami

In the culinary world, risotto has a reputation as a high-maintenance dish that requires toasting, adding, stirring, watching, more adding, and more stirring. For this recipe, your Instant Pot does most of the work for you in less than half the time. The result is a creamy, Spanish-inspired, rice-and-veggie dish to serve with a main or on its own.

Thai Peanut Butter Ramen

Almost nothing is quicker and easier than preparing a package of instant ramen, but this dish comes close and is so much tastier. Instead of adding the little seasoning packet that comes with it, this recipe flavors those same quick-cooking noodles with a mixture of peanut butter, chile sauce (gochujang or Sriracha), and sesame oil. Add a protein if you want, or keep this dish in mind for Meatless Monday.

Shrimp and Chorizo Skillet Supper

If you're wondering, "Is it a salad, a stew, or a gumbo?" the answer is, "Yes!" It's also a one-pot 30-minute recipe with "busy weeknight" written all over it. Besides the titular ingredients, it features chickpeas and cherry tomatoes in a white wine sauce, all served on a bed of arugula.

White Pizza With Artichokes, Rosemary, and Olives

It's hard to find someone who doesn't love pizza, and this white pie is bound to please. Instead of tomato sauce and pepperoni, it's innovatively topped with ricotta cheese, marinated artichoke hearts, and olives. While the dough is baking, whip up an easy side salad for a complete meal.

Fast Italian Fish Stew

With fast in its title, this dinner recipe was made for a busy weeknight. It calls for searing halibut filets and then setting them aside. The stew—cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, and capers in seasoned chicken stock—cooks in that same skillet, and then the filets return for the final few minutes on the stove. With just one skillet to clean, what'll you do with all that extra time?