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Home » Blog » Recipes » Dinner

20 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes

Sometimes we need dinner to be quick, easy and stress free. When life is its busiest, it is important to have a collection of recipes that you can rely on. Whether you are looking for light and healthy or rich and hearty, this post is chocked full of favorites that are perfect for the busiest nights. With this collection of 20 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes, you are sure to find a dish that fits into your busy schedule.

We've all been there, dinnertime is creeping up, and you just don't see how you will have enough time, or energy to get it prepared. If you are anything like me, even on the busiest days, when I have little energy, I still want to make my family a nutritious homemade meal. Having recipes like the ones in this collection on hand are a life saver.

Table of contents

  • My Latest Videos
  • 20 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes
  • Smothered Chicken
  • Easy Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
  • Air Fryer Salmon
  • Quick Beef and Broccoli
  • Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger
  • Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
  • Chicken Stir Fried Udon Noodles
  • Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet
  • Busy Day Soup
  • Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
  • Easy Marry Me Chicken (30-Minute Recipe)
  • Sirloin Tip Roast in the Instant Pot
  • Pancetta Pasta
  • Quick Tacos Al Pastor
  • Easy 30-Minute Chicken Noodle Casserole
  • Kielbasa and Potatoes
  • Ground Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry
  • Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
  • Honey Chicken
  • Oven Baked Pork Chops
  • More Recipe Roundups

My Latest Videos

With help from several of my fellow bloggers I have compiled a list of everything from instant pot recipes to simple one-pot meals, and everything in between, to get you, and me, through the busiest days.

While some of these recipes take little effort, being just 30-minute meals, I still try to make my life easier by meal planning and trying to take in account what each day is going to look like. Doing this is extremely helpful and really makes a difference in how I am able to cook for my family on a daily basis.

20 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes

I often try to help my future self by prepping in advance if I know that I will have a busy day. This can be something as simple as cutting the veggies in advance for a dish and popping them in the fridge until dinnertime. Trust me, little things like that can really make a difference when it is time to prepare a meal.

Smothered Chicken

Smothered Chicken
Photo Credit SimplyScratchMade.com

This Smothered Chicken is about to become your new favorite chicken recipe; it is that good! Flavorful, juicy chicken, pan seared and smothered in a delicious homemade pan sauce. You'll never want to serve chicken without a sauce ever again. Grab the recipe here!

Easy Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

Photo Credit GreedyGirlGourmet.com

These baked teriyaki chicken thighs are a terrific quick and easy weekday dinner. It only needs simple ingredients (readily available) but is delicious! Tender chicken thighs are coated in a sweet and salty sauce that is so good with just a simple bowl of plain white rice! (Works with bone in AND boneless meat.) Grab the recipe here!

Air Fryer Salmon

Photo Credit GrandBaby-Cakes.com

Looking for the best air fryer recipe in the game? Stop right here! In under 20 minutes, you can get your hands on this tender, flaky, and flavorful Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon! Made in the air fryer, this simple weeknight salmon is deliciously healthy and super easy to throw together! Grab the recipe here!

Quick Beef and Broccoli

Quick Beef and Broccoli
Photo Credit: SimplyScratchMade.com

Quick, easy and full of flavor from savory beef, tender broccoli and a delicious sauce. This Quick Beef and Broccoli takes your favorite take-out and turns it into an easy weeknight meal. Grab the recipe here!

Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger

Photo Credit TheYummyBowl.com

This skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole is one of the most requested meals in our family and the reasons are obvious. It's hearty, cheesy, and savory and has all flavors of a cheeseburger. Once you try this cheeseburger casserole, you'll be hooked! This easy casserole takes less than 30 minutes to make and is the same delicious as my similar family favorite Old Fashioned Hamburger Casserole baked in the oven. Grab the recipe here!

Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

Photo Credit TheGraciousPantry.com

A pressure cooker makes it super easy to make one of your favorite sandwiches in no time. The same flavors just a whole lot easier. Note: Cook time does not include the time required for the IP to come to pressure. Grab the recipe here!

Make sure to save room for dessert! Check out some of my family's favorite desserts. This Chocolate Crinkle Cookie recipe has been one of my go-to recipes for years now. Or give this delicious Apple Fritter Bread a try, you will not be disappointed.

Chicken Stir Fried Udon Noodles

Photo Credit OhMyFoodRecipes.com

Chicken stir fried udon noodles is not only tasty, but also the color combination of vegetables, meat and noodles make this dish very attractive. Grab the recipe here!

Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet

Photo Credit FreshSimpleHome.com

Welcome to Easy Street my friends! This Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet is a perfect combination of taco seasoning, ground beef, corn, tomatoes and black beans. Add in the cheddar cheese for an incredible cheesy dinner that makes life easier and flavorful! Grab the recipe here!

Busy Day Soup

Photo Credit SugarandSnapPeas.com

Busy Day Soup is fuss-free comfort food, easily made on hectic weeknights. Made entirely in one pot, this flavorful soup doesn't require any chopping, sautéing, or browning - and it's ready to serve in about 30 minutes! Grab the recipe here!

Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
Photo Credit SimplyScratchMade.com

Quick, easy and perfect for busy weeknights. This Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta dish uses just a handful of kitchen staples and is ready in just 45 minutes! Grab the recipe here!

Easy Marry Me Chicken (30-Minute Recipe)

Photo Credit RichandDelish.com

This marry me chicken is the perfect chicken dinner that is herby, creamy, tender, juicy, and goes perfectly with pasta or rice! This chicken dish is so delish that if you make it for your partner, you may get a marriage proposal! Grab the recipe here!

Sirloin Tip Roast in the Instant Pot

Photo Credit EverydayFamilyCooking.com

A complete dinner sirloin tip roast with carrots and potatoes topped with a gravy all made right in the Instant Pot! Grab the recipe here!

Pancetta Pasta

Photo Credit TheShortOrderCook.com

This easy pancetta pasta recipe is an Italian classic. The quick-cooking 20-minute recipe is salty, rich, & comforting. Angel hair pasta with crispy pancetta, garlic, & a simple olive oil sauce is a traditional family-favorite meal with just a few ingredients. Feed a lot of people at a budget-friendly price. Grab the recipe here!

Quick Tacos Al Pastor

Quick Tacos Al Pastor
Photo Credit SimplyScratchMade.com

Sweet and savory Quick Tacos Al Pastor that are made in just 30 minutes.  No marinating or long cook time. Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping. Grab the recipe here!

Easy 30-Minute Chicken Noodle Casserole

Photo Credit anEdibleMosaic.com

Inspired by the classic soup, this Chicken Noodle Casserole recipe is full of chicken, vegetables, and egg noodles with a creamy sauce that ties all the flavors together. This budget-friendly meal uses pantry staples, and you can easily customize it based on what you already have on hand! Grab the recipe here!

Kielbasa and Potatoes

Photo Credit TheForkedSpoon.com

This quick and easy Kielbasa and Potatoes Recipe is the perfect one-dish weeknight dinner. The whole family will love this flavorful combination, made with simple ingredients, including red potatoes, onion, garlic, and flavorful kielbasa sausage. Grab the recipe here!

Ground Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry

Photo Credit SprinkledwithBalance.com

Full of flavor, nutritious and delicious, this ground chicken and vegetable stir fry is quick to make. Tender ground chicken, mixed with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, carrots and edamame, all tossed in a delicious soy-based sauce. Grab the recipe here!

Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole

Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole
Photo Credit SimplyScratchMade.com

I am loving this twist to the traditional tater tot casserole. This Chili Cheese Tater Tot Casserole is like making loaded tater tots into a casserole dish. Chili, shredded cheese and tater tots make up this delicious casserole that is quick and easy to put together. Using leftover Chili makes this dish a quick and easy dinner that is ready in just 1 hour. Grab the recipe here!

Honey Chicken

Photo Credit ModernHoney.com

This Honey Chicken is tender chicken tossed in a skillet with butter, honey, garlic, fresh lemon juice, spices, and soy sauce. This Honey Lemon Chicken is a quick and easy 15-minute chicken dish. Grab the recipe here!

Oven Baked Pork Chops

Oven Baked Pork Chops
Photo Credit: SimplyScratchMade.com

Easy oven baked pork chops with garlic, butter, and spices. A quick, homemade dinner recipe using bone-in pork chops baked to perfection. Grab the recipe here!

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More Recipe Roundups

32 Ground Beef Recipes without Pasta

20 Delicious Soup Recipes

20 Sheet Pan Dinners

30 Ground Beef Recipes

More Dinner

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    Smothered Pork Chops
  • Classic Meatloaf with Brown Gravy Recipe.
    Meatloaf with Brown Gravy

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Welcome!

Welcome! I'm Sky, the creator of Simply Scratch Made. I’m passionate about helping home cooks make simple, delicious meals from scratch. From my kitchen to yours, let’s cook with confidence!



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