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We’ve got 22 healthy, fast and easy dinner ideas for you. Make your own delicious dinner in minutes and skip the drive thru!
Do you need some fast and easy ideas for dinner? Yeah, me too. It doesn’t seem to matter what time of year it is, life is just busy! Although I love cooking, there isn’t always much time for it. Because of this, I decided to compile a list of 22 quick and easy dinner ideas. Please let us know in the comments if you have some great ideas for fast meals too!
I wanted to come up with some dinner ideas that were:
- Fast – faster than running around for takeout
- Simple – no real recipe required
- Made using common pantry staples
- Don’t require much thought or planning
- Crowd pleasers for all the picky eaters
So here we go with some sanity-saving dinner ideas! Because we could all use a little dinner-time help sometimes.
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1. Whole Wheat Wraps
Grill some meat or grab leftovers from your fridge. Layer the meat on a whole wheat wrap with veggies, cheese and dressing of your choice. Simple and delicious!
2. Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables
Place chicken breasts and your favorite vegetables on a baking sheet. Drizzle with oil. Sprinkle with your favorite spices and roast in the oven until chicken is done.
3. German Pancakes
German pancakes are so good! You can whip these up in no time. Eggs, flour and milk combine with just a few ingredients to make a protein-packed meal. Serve with fruit or veggies for a healthy combination.
4. Baked Potatoes
Bake up some potatoes and top with sour cream or butter, cheese and all your favorite toppings. Try a sweet potato with beans and salsa for a new flavor twist! Want dinner even faster? Try cooking your potatoes in the Instant Pot (this is my favorite model). You’ll never want to go back to baking potatoes in the oven!
5. Stir Fry
Stir fries are a great fast and easy dinner ideas! Fry up some chicken tenders, steak, shrimp or your favorite protein and veggies to serve over rice. Add some yummy sauce to top it off. Checkout my Healthy Stir Fry with Orange Ginger Sauce if you need a good stir fry recipe.
6. Taco Salad
No shells, no problem! Ground turkey or ground beef, cooked and crumbled, is delicious served over lettuce with all your favorite veggies. Top with tortilla chips and your favorite taco toppings. Enjoy!
7. Smoothies
Smoothies are so refreshing during the warmer months. Bonus – they’re a great way to sneak vegetables into your diet. Start with a fruit and milk base, then blend in some spinach, carrots or other healthy additions. Checkout my Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie Bowl, Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie Bowl, or Kefir Elderberry Blueberry Smoothie for some fantastic smoothie ideas!
8. Waffles
You gotta love breakfast for dinner! Waffles, sweet or savory, are quick, inexpensive crowd pleasers. There are endless possibilities for making quick breakfast-for-dinner ideas.
9. Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Dice up some rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken. Toss in a salad with lettuce, tomatoes, assorted veggies and your favorite dressing. Try some slivered almonds or cashews for a nice crunch. Almost no prep needed!
10. Oatmeal
Don’t overlook good ol’ oatmeal. You don’t need to reserve this dish for just mornings. Oatmeal is super quick to prepare. It’s hearty and filling even for even the hungriest crew. We love to add honey, fruit and fresh cream to our oatmeal.
11. Vegetable Omelet
Try a vegetable omelet for a quick dinner idea. Eggs, spinach, broccoli, onions, cheddar cheese, herbs – anything goes! Toss your veggies of choice in a skillet with some eggs and cook up a family-pleasing dish for dinner.
12. Fancy Toast
Fancy Toast makes a great weeknight dinner! Top some bread with avocado, vegetables and oil. Toast to perfection. Serve this along with some fresh fruit or soup for a fantastic meal. If the kiddos don’t like “green things” on their toast, have them spread on peanut butter and layer with fruit and. honey. Way healthier than fast food!
13. Slow Cooker Pork Chops
Throw some pork chops in the slow cooker on busy weeknights. Serve with gravy, barbeque sauce or your other favorite topping. Pork chops pair well with peas, green beans, salad or your other favorite vegetable.
14. Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps
Need low carb dinner ideas? Try a ground turkey lettuce wrap. Cooked and crumbled turkey with sauteed vegetables are divine in a lettuce leaf wrap. Top it with your favorite dressing for a yummy dinner!
15. Muffins
Muffins are fast! They’re even faster if you’ve got some stashed in your freezer. Muffins make for a tasty treat that you can customize with whatever healthy add-ins you like. I have a Healthy Pumpkin Muffin Recipe that is perfect for busy days – breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!
When you make a batch of muffins, go ahead and double it! The rest can be snacked on throughout the day or even frozen for faster meals when you have to go!
16. Sourdough Pizza
Make yourself a classic sour dough pizza topped with Italian sausage, bell peppers, pepperoni or whatever toppings you love. Don’t despair if you’re out of pizza sauce! Add some garlic and a few herbs to some tomato sauce and you’re on your way!
17. Grilled Chicken and Steamed Vegetables
Only a few ingredients needed for this one! Season some chicken as desired and grill. While that’s going, steam some of your favorite vegetables. Serve together for a fast and easy dinner.
18. Grilled Cheese
Grilled Cheese isn’t just for kids. Adding meat, tomatoes and avocado to your sandwich can really jazz up a grilled cheese. Try a sandwich filled with pepperoni and mozzarella cheese dipped in pizza sauce. Yum!
Other noteworthy sandwich ideas are BLT’s (bacon, lettuce, tomato), club, or a good ol’ peanut butter and jelly. Add a watermelon wedge and carrot sticks to the side to complete your meal. If you have homemade bread on hand or in the freezer – major health bonus and yum factor!
19. Whole Wheat Pasta and Sauce
Boil up some whole wheat pasta noodles. Top with your favorite spaghetti sauce and some parmesan cheese. Serve with a tossed salad for a quick and easy dinner idea.
20. Tacos
Everyone loves a taco! Tacos and nachos make quick and easy dinner ideas. Season and cook ground beef or ground turkey. Top with cheese, lettuce and all your favorite taco fixings. Your kids will love taco night!
21. Greek Pitas
If you have some leftover chicken, a pita is a great way to use it up. Mix your chicken with some tzatziki sauce or Greek yogurt. Add some diced onion, cucumber, tomatoes and seasonings. Top with some feta cheese and enjoy!
22. Baked Salmon and Asparagus
Bake salmon along with some asparagus for a healthy and tasty dinner. Drizzle the salmon and asparagus with lemon juice and sprinkle with herbs. Roast until the salmon is flaky and cooked through.
Sometimes, an easy dinner idea can save a busy day. Next time I have a hectic evening, I plan to reach for one of these quick dinner ideas instead of fast food. Tell me, what are your easy dinner recipes? What are you making for dinner tonight? I’d love to hear your favorite ideas!
Easy Recipes You May Enjoy
If you’re looking for more healthy, quick and easy recipes, take a look at these delicious ideas:
- Mason Jar Steel Cut Oats
- Grilled Fruit Skewers on Top of Ice Cream
- Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe with Yogurt Dressing
- The Top 3 Roasted Asparagus Recipes
- Use What You Got Granola Recipe
- Pressure Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
And of course, you can also browse the entire TIDBITS recipe collection for even more great recipes!
I love waffles with chicken tenders crispy from the air fryer… drizzled with melted butter and maple syrup
That sounds like a delish idea and so quick and easy! Thanks for sharing!