60 Easy Dinner Ideas

Wondering what to make for dinner? You're in the right place! Below, you'll find easy dinner ideas to satisfy any craving. Think tacos, pasta, and more!

easy dinner ideas

Do you ever have nights when you just don’t know what to make for dinner? When you run through a mental list of easy dinner ideas, but nothing sounds good? If you do, you’re in the right place. Below, you’ll find 60 healthy dinner recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights. Each one is quick and easy to make, but it still packs a punch of flavor.

Think roasted veggie tacos with a creamy, zesty sauce. Imagine luxurious baked feta and a comforting pasta ready in under 30 minutes. You’ll find all that and more among the easy dinner ideas below. I hope you enjoy looking through them! And the next time you’re craving something healthy, delicious, and quick, and I hope you try one. Fingers crossed it makes it into your regular rotation. 🙂

Popular Dinner Recipes

Minestrone soup

Minestrone Soup

This classic soup is one of the most popular recipes on Love & Lemons, and for good reason! Filled with pasta, beans, and flavorful veggies, it’s a meal in a bowl.

Sesame soba noodles - healthy dinner recipes

Sesame Soba Noodles

In this simple recipe, a bright, nutty dressing coats gooey soba noodles and crisp veggies. It’s healthy, delicious, and ready in 20 minutes!

Broccoli cheddar soup

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

This creamy, cheesy soup might be Jack’s favorite food. It’s one of our go-to easy dinner recipes throughout the fall and winter!

Easy black bean burger recipe

Easy Black Bean Burger

These smoky, spicy patties are ready in 30 minutes! Serve them with a slather of chipotle sauce and your favorite burger fixings.

Best Shakshuka recipe

Shakshuka

Shakshuka is a traditional breakfast throughout North Africa and the Middle East, but it’s just as good for dinner. Serve it with pita or crusty bread for scooping up the flavorful tomato and red pepper sauce.

Lentil soup

Best Lentil Soup

French green lentils fill this nourishing soup with fiber and plant-based protein.

Healthy Vegetable Frittata Recipe

Veggie Frittata

Of all the easy dinner ideas out there, a frittata might be the one I rely on most. It’s simple, fast, and amazingly flexible. Try one of the 5 variations in my recipe, or toss in whatever veggies you have on hand.

Loaded Baked Potatoes - Easy dinner recipes

Perfect Baked Potato

Load up a baked potato with your favorite fixings for an easy, healthy meal! I like mine with cashew sour cream, plant-based bacon, and fresh chives.

Vegetarian lasagna

Vegetarian Lasagna

With layers of tender noodles, tangy marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, and roasted veggies, this lasagna is the ultimate comfort food. Assemble it ahead of time for an easy weeknight dinner!

Tortellini soup recipe - easy dinner ideas

Tortellini Soup

Chewy, cheesy tortellini and aromatic vegetables make this soup a satisfying dinner. Attention parents: kids love it!

Healthy One-Pan Meals

Sheet pan gnocchi

Sheet Pan Gnocchi

This sheet pan dinner is the best recipe for busy weeknights. The gnocchi roasts alongside fresh veggies and tangy feta cheese. No boiling required! It’s ready in 30 minutes, and cleanup is a breeze.

Chana masala

Chana Masala

This fragrant chickpea curry is simple to make with pantry ingredients. Serve it over rice with cilantro and yogurt on top.

Easy Coconut Curry Recipe

Easy Coconut Curry

This easy veggie curry is one of my favorite healthy dinner ideas! It tastes even better on the second day than it does on the first, so it’s a great recipe to prep ahead for quick meals throughout the week.

Cauliflower fried rice

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Blitz together your own cauliflower rice if you have the time, but if not, the store-bought kind will work here too.

Baked Feta Skillet recipe

Baked Feta

Don’t expect to have leftovers of this hearty one-pot meal. The combination of melty feta, saucy chickpeas, and tender kale is SO delicious. In our house, it disappears in minutes!

Mexican-Inspired Dinner Ideas

Cheese enchiladas in a baking dish

Easy Enchiladas

These spinach, black bean, and cheese enchiladas are a HUGE family favorite! We love them with fresh garnishes like avocado and jalapeños.

Mushroom tacos - healthy dinner recipes

Mushroom Tacos

These tacos are a delicious, simple meal! Warm corn tortillas surround meaty, juicy mushrooms, pickled onions, and a zesty avocado salsa.

Quesadillas

Quesadilla Recipe

Dinner ideas don’t get quicker than this! You can make these satisfying veggie, black bean, and cheese quesadillas in under 15 minutes.

Vegan Tacos - easy dinner ideas

Vegan Tacos

Love all things sweet and spicy? These tacos are the easy dinner for you! A refreshing mango salsa accents the meaty jackfruit filling.

Avocado sweet potato tacos - easy dinner ideas

Avocado Sweet Potato Tacos

Roasted sweet potatoes, black beans, and a zesty yogurt sauce fill these weeknight-friendly tacos. Add a flourish of pickled onions to take them over the top!

Vegan burrito

Vegan Burrito

Stuffed with Spanish rice, black beans, peppers, and guacamole, these vegan burritos are just as tasty as any filled with meat or cheese.

Simple, Dinner-Worthy Soups

Dumpling soup

Dumpling Soup

Keep a bag of frozen potstickers on hand so that you can make this quick and easy soup on weeknights. It’s super flavorful, fresh, and fun—the best homemade solution for a takeout craving.

Black bean soup with avocado and pickled onions - easy dinner ideas

Black Bean Soup

This spicy soup is great on its own, but a few toppings—think Greek yogurt, avocado, and pickled onions—will take it to a whole new level.

Instant Pot lentil soup recipe - healthy dinner ideas

Instant Pot Lentil Soup

Once you add the ingredients to the Instant Pot, this healthy veggie soup practically cooks itself.

Quick and Easy Chili Recipes

Easy vegetarian chili recipe

Easy Vegetarian Chili

Chipotles in adobo sauce add tangy, smoky flavor to this hearty weeknight chili.

White bean soup - easy dinner ideas

White Bean Soup

My plant-based spin on white chicken chili! Blended white beans give it a wonderful creamy texture, and fresh lime juice and diced green chiles add zingy, zesty flavor.

Instant Pot chili

Instant Pot Chili

This set-it-and-forget-it recipe is a lifesaver on a busy weeknight. You just have to sauté the onions and bell pepper—the Instant Pot takes care of the rest!

Healthy Grain Bowl Dinner Ideas

Buddha bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, kale, and brown rice

Best Buddha Bowl

This healthy grain bowl is flexible—feel free to swap in whatever veggies you have on hand!

Burrito bowl recipe

Burrito Bowl

Guaranteed to give Chipotle a run for its money.

Mango Black Bean Ginger Rice Bowl - Quick dinner ideas

Mango Ginger Rice Bowl

This simple bowl is so light and refreshing! I love how the sweet mango and pickled ginger play off the earthy vegetables and savory tamari dressing.

Healthy Power Bowl with a Soft-Boiled Egg

Veggie Power Bowl

I like to make this bowl with a base of forbidden rice. It has a lovely nutty flavor that tastes delicious with the sesame ginger dressing here.

Mediterranean quinoa bowl

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

This no-fuss dinner is light and refreshing. Tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted chickpeas, and avocado top a bed of hearty quinoa. A tangy yogurt sauce ties it all together!

Easy Pasta Dinner Ideas

Stuffed shells - healthy dinner ideas

Stuffed Shells

Filled with a bright, creamy mixture of ricotta, lemon zest, and fresh spinach, these stuffed shells are pure comfort.

Zucchini pasta

Zucchini Pasta

2 pounds of grated zucchini cook down into a light, silky sauce for this zesty weeknight pasta.

Pasta primavera

Pasta Primavera

This colorful veggie pasta is a cinch to make on the stovetop. Ready in just 30 minutes!

Fettuccine alfredo - easy dinner ideas

Fettuccine Alfredo

This pasta tastes rich and decadent, but it’s actually lighter than you might guess. I blend cooked cauliflower into the sauce to create a creamy, velvety texture without any cream.

Easy Baked Ziti Recipe

Easy Baked Ziti

If you want to sneak some extra veggies onto your family’s plates, this recipe is a great way to do it. There’s an entire pound of spinach hiding among the pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese!

Spaghetti aglio e olio - healthy dinner ideas

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

My fresh take on the Italian classic. I add a big bunch of kale and—of course—lots of lemon.

Mushroom pasta

Mushroom Pasta

If you ask Jack for his favorite dinner ideas, this mushroom pasta will be near the top of the list. It’s PACKED with meaty mushrooms. White wine, garlic, and Parmesan add rich, savory depth of flavor.

easy pesto pasta recipe in a skillet

Easy Pesto Pasta

Whip up this weeknight pasta with store-bought or homemade pesto.

Mac and cheese

Homemade Mac and Cheese

If our kiddo had his way, we’d eat this baked mac and cheese for dinner every night. Serve it with a side of peas or roasted broccoli.

Vegan mac and cheese recipe

Vegan Mac and Cheese

A hit with kids and adults alike, this plant-based riff on mac and cheese is the perfect family meal. It’s creamy, tangy, and unbelievably “cheesy!”

Creamy Vegan Pasta with Broccoli - easy dinner ideas

Creamy Vegan Pasta

Blended white beans add plant-based protein to this pasta’s creamy sauce.

Stuffed Veggies

Vegetarian stuffed peppers on a baking sheet

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

You won’t miss the ground beef in these vegetarian stuffed peppers! Filled with rice, corn, and black beans, they’re hearty and flavorful without any meat.

Stuffed zucchini boats

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Filled with cherry tomatoes, breadcrumbs, and herbs, these zucchini boats are a perfect fresh meal for late summer or early fall.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes - healthy dinner recipes

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

In my opinion, stuffed sweet potatoes are one of the BEST healthy dinner ideas! They’re cozy, customizable, and easy to make. To streamline the process, prep the filling while the sweet potatoes bake.

stuffed acorn squash recipe - healthy dinner ideas

Stuffed Acorn Squash

While the squash is in the oven, cook the filling on the stove. It’s a hearty, flavorful blend of sautéed mushrooms, tempeh, walnuts, and fresh herbs that tastes fantastic with the sweet, creamy squash.

Healthy Sandwich Recipes to Make for Dinner

Grilled cheese sandwich

Grilled Cheese

This toasty sandwich is the perfect partner for a bowl of tomato soup.

Caprese sandwiches - easy dinner ideas

Caprese Sandwich

This recipe is one of our go-to easy dinners in the summertime, when fresh tomatoes are at their peak.

Tofu banh mi sandwiches - healthy dinner ideas

Banh Mi Sandwich

Heads up: you’ll need to make the pickles for this recipe a day or two in advance. Once you make them, though, this delicious tofu sandwich comes together in no time!

Chickpea Salad Sandwiches - healthy dinner recipes

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This recipe is one of my go-to easy dinner ideas in the spring, when I often have crisp veggies like radishes and cucumbers on hand in the fridge. It’s my vegan version of a pan bagnat, made with a briny chickpea salad, fresh basil, olives, and blanched green beans.

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger - healthy dinner recipes

Portobello Mushroom Burger

Tamari and balsamic vinegar add rich, tangy flavor to these meaty grilled mushroom caps.

Healthy Dinner Recipes for Pizza Night

Sliced veggie pizza on marble

Favorite Veggie Pizza

Skip delivery, and make homemade pizza instead! This classic veggie pizza is one of my favorites. I top it with tomato sauce, mozzarella, peppers, onions, and artichokes.

Best Vegan Pizza Recipe

Best Vegan Pizza

Who says you need cheese to make a delicious pizza? I top this one with a luscious cashew cream sauce and flavorful veggies like tomatoes, jalapeños, broccoli, and corn.

Margherita pizza - easy dinner ideas

Margherita Pizza

This classic pizza is an easy, kid-friendly dinner! Round out the meal by serving a Caesar salad or simple green salad on the side.

More Easy Dinner Ideas

Bok Choy Stir Fry

Bok Choy Stir Fry

It’s impossible to talk about easy dinner ideas without mentioning stir fry! This one is heavy on the veggies, made with a colorful medley of broccoli, bok choy, carrots, and shiitake mushrooms.

Sweet potato hash - healthy dinner ideas

Sweet Potato Hash

This satisfying, healthy meal cooks up in a single skillet in under 30 minutes. Spice it up with dashes of your favorite hot sauce!

Okonomiyaki recipe - easy dinner recipes

Okonomiyaki

These savory Japanese pancakes come together with a few basic ingredients: eggs, cabbage, panko, and scallions. Devour them with toppings like mayo, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, and sliced nori!

Crispy Sesame Tofu with rice - easy dinner ideas

Crispy Sesame Tofu

These savory, sesame-crusted tofu steaks crisp up beautifully in the air fryer or oven. Serve them with steamed veggies and cilantro lime rice for a healthy meal that’s better than takeout!

Peanut noodles

Peanut Noodles

These quick peanut noodles have been one of my go-to easy dinner ideas since college. They’re budget-friendly and fast, but still fresh and flavorful.

dinner ideas

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60 Easy Dinner Ideas

rate this recipe:
5 from 145 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves 6 to 8
This baked ziti is one of our favorite easy dinner ideas!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups (32 ounces) marinara sauce
  • 2 cups (16 ounces) ricotta cheese
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ¾ teaspoon sea salt, more for the pasta water
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound ziti pasta
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • 1 pound fresh spinach
  • cups smoked mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spread ½ cup marinara in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper.
  • In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain.
  • Return the pot back to the stove. Over low heat, drizzle the bottom of the pot with a little olive oil and add the spinach. Toss and sauté 1 to 2 minutes until just wilted, working in batches if necessary. Turn off the heat, remove the spinach from the pot, and gently squeeze out some of the excess water. Coarsely chop it and set aside.
  • Add the pasta back to the pot along with the remaining marinara, most of the chopped spinach, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, and more fresh pepper and toss until combined.
  • Add half the pasta to the baking dish, top with dollops of the ricotta, the remaining spinach, and scoop the remaining pasta on top. Top with the mozzarella and pecorino cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until the cheese is browned, 16 to 22 minutes.
  • Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and serve hot.

 

37 comments

5 from 145 votes (125 ratings without comment)

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  1. custom cookbook
    09.25.2024

    Wow, Love these recipes! Thank you so much for this!

  2. Jessica
    07.18.2024

    5 stars
    What a wonderful list of veggie and vegan dinner ideas! I will visit this list often.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      07.19.2024

      Hi Jessica, so glad you found some good inspo here! I hope you enjoy the recipes.

  3. Bryan
    05.13.2024

    Our family is always looking for new and different recipes to cook or grill. There’s so many delicious recipes to choose from here, where to start. Thanks for sharing!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      05.16.2024

      I hope you enjoy the recipes!

  4. Shalini
    03.28.2024

    5 stars
    After reading this, now I can challenge everyone for making them varieties of dinner everyday.

  5. Michelle
    06.26.2023

    5 stars
    Wow, just made the baked ziti. I had no idea how easy it is to make the best food ever. Im so enjoying the flavors in these meals. I will never buy Marinara sauce again. The sauce is excellent.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.29.2023

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  6. Mari
    04.16.2023

    5 stars
    Made this spaghetti squash recipe today and loved it! It was easy and so tasty. Thank you for sharing this.

    • Phoebe Moore (L&L Recipe Developer)
      04.20.2023

      I’m so glad you loved it!

  7. meharsingh
    01.30.2023

    Love these recipes! Thank you so much for this!

  8. Thakur Recipe Hub
    01.08.2023

    5 stars
    I really loved your recipes that you have shared.

  9. kati Roll
    08.04.2022

    Kati Roll Company offers different varieties of tasty rolls, yummy Frankies, Bowls and drinks. Visit our gallery and have a look at some of our Indian Delicacies.

  10. Joan Perlis
    05.09.2022

    All of these recipes look terrific. Usually there would be a few that I would not like but I like all of them!!!

  11. Jeff
    03.03.2022

    My wife always makes great food. These recipes make it even better!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.