Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Quick & Easy Meals 35 Quick and Easy Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 1, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: GREG DUPREE Are you sitting at work in a daze because you don't know what to eat for dinner tonight? Do you have less than an hour to spend standing over the stove while your meal cooks? These quick dinner ideas and simple recipes are wholesome, almost entirely homemade, and affordable, too—no chicken nuggets, fish sticks, or prohibitively expensive meals here. The best part? These fast dinner recipes require 35 minutes or less of hands-on work, which is perfect if you tend to wait until the last minute to prepare your final meal of the day. These easy dinners run the gamut from totally kid-friendly fare to more sophisticated dinner party dishes—think cheesy chicken nachos and glazed salmon with broccoli rice. Use one of these recipes to prepare a delicious dinner for tonight, and no one will be able to tell you scrambled after work to get it done! 01 of 35 Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes Greg DuPree One-pan dinners are a dream come true for busy cooks. You can cook everything you need for your meal—in this case, chicken leg quarters and sweet potato wedges—at the same time, and on the same dish. This saves you time and a whole lot of effort, not to mention there isn't much to clean up once dinner is over. This meal is quite simple, which is why it's so great for weeknights. Feel free to change up the herbs (the recipe calls for sage, but rosemary would be good, too) and switch the greens from watercress to butter lettuce, or anything you have on hand. get the recipe 02 of 35 Grilled Pork Chops with Peach-Parsley Salad Greg DuPree A grill is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to easy summer dinners, as is the case with this simple pork chop recipe. The pork chops get a perfect sear since you pat them dry before you add them to the hot, oiled grill, and—bonus!—there's no smoky kitchen to worry about after. You'll serve the chops with a peppery arugula and stone-fruit salad; a perfect savory-sweet dinner pairing. Peaches and apricots are called for here, but any in-season stone fruit, like plums or nectarines, will taste great too. get the recipe 03 of 35 Cheesy Chicken Nachos Greg DuPree Making nachos at home allows you to pile on the goodies evenly once you arrange the chips in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. For this recipe, this means every chip is gloriously topped with chicken, cheese, salsa, avocado and, well, more cheese. Make this an even heartier meal by adding black beans, or swap the avocado for homemade guacamole. The best part? This dish takes 20 minutes to prepare. get the recipe 04 of 35 Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs With Salsa Verde Jen Causey Dust off your sheet pan, because this 30-minute meal is destined to become a new favorite! The recipe pairs seasoned chicken thighs with fresh vegetables, cotija cheese, and savory salsa verde, which you can then nestle inside a warm corn tortilla for a complete meal. get the recipe 05 of 35 Egg Salad Toast with Fresh Herbs and Capers Greg DuPree These open-faced egg toast beauties are much more than your average egg salad sandwich—the flavors, textures, and even the look are elegant and original. Folded into the egg salad mixture is a mustardy vinaigrette, briny capers, fresh parsley, and just-bitter-enough radicchio leaves. Heaped on top of toasted sourdough, the result is both fresh and hearty, a win-win! This mixture would also be delicious piled on a whole grain, like brown rice or quinoa, or even served as a salad for a lighter meal. get the recipe 06 of 35 Grandma Pie With Pepperoni and Pink Sauce Greg DuPree Grandma pies, said to have originated in New York, have one attribute that is highly likable (beyond all the ingredients): You can make the whole thing on a standard baking sheet. The toppings here are mostly classic—melted mozzarella and crispy pepperoni coins—but the red sauce gets a twist courtesy of a few tablespoons of heavy cream, which makes this pizza even richer than normal. Top this pie off with rounds of red onion and a dash of crushed red pepper, and it becomes an unforgettable meal. get the recipe 07 of 35 Grilled Halloumi Salad Greg DuPree There are a few reasons why this delicious grilled halloumi salad is going to become your summer dinner fave. First, it's easy to throw together after work, and it still manages to be super filling. Second, it hits all the right flavor notes—from briny olives to spicy garlic, and cool, crunchy cucumbers. But, the most important reason to make this salad is so you can eat grilled halloumi. The firm cheese can stand the heat of a grill or grill pan, and tastes salty, like feta. Go ahead and cut into the planks of crispy, melty cheese with a knife and fork, just like you would tofu or a portobello mushroom. get the recipe 08 of 35 Shrimp Lo Mein Greg DuPree Lo mein—a Chinese dish that means stirred noodles—is a standard takeout order for many Americans. However, making it at home is an opportunity to expand your culinary repertoire and cut down on delivery expenses. Lo mein noodles are stirred into a sauce—in this case, a mixture of soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, Sriracha, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil. What's not to like? You'll also fold in shrimp and sautéed vegetables, like bell peppers, scallions, and mushrooms, plus fresh baby bok choy. get the recipe 09 of 35 Lemony Lentil Soup Greg DuPree In this simple soup recipe, you'll simmer everyday ingredients like carrots, onion, garlic, and spices with red lentils, which are the perfect soup legume since they break down when heated. Instead of puréeing the entire soup into oblivion, you'll only blend half the batch to retain some texture. Then, you'll top the whole thing with crispy, roasted kale leaves for a modern garnish. For a classic soup-and-sandwich combo, serve a bowl of this with a whole-grain grilled cheese. get the recipe 10 of 35 Eggplant-and-Tomato Masala With Chickpeas Antonis Achilleos This Indian-inspired vegetarian meal comes together in 25 minutes but still manages to be incredibly bold and delicious. That's because the recipe calls for two layers of seasonings, including cumin, mustard seeds, and coriander. The spices then stew with onions and eggplant, and then garam masala and cilantro stems, which simmer up with canned chickpeas and fire-roasted tomatoes. Trust us, you're going to love this flavorful feast. get the recipe 11 of 35 Crispy Chicken Cutlets With Artichoke Dressing Greg DuPree You can't go wrong with crispy chicken cutlets. Seriously. Here, breadcrumb-coated chicken is baked and paired with roasted asparagus, and the whole thing is topped with a lemony dressing made from briny artichoke hearts, fresh parsley, and salty Parmesan. This dish is so tasty that it's hard to believe you can whip it up in just 25 minutes. get the recipe 12 of 35 Chicken Curry in a Hurry John Kernick How does curry make a list of quick dinner ideas, you ask? Our hurried-up version uses rotisserie chicken to save time, and the meal is ready in just over half and hour. Pin this one for later for those nights when you're craving Indian food but don't care to order take-out. A simple sauce made with plain yogurt, heavy cream, and a few teaspoons of curry powder evenly coats the shredded chicken. Add a can of diced tomatoes, too, if you'd like, and serve the dish over rice. get the recipe 13 of 35 Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli Raymond Hom This dish might taste like those slow-cooked Italian pastas with vegetables and sausage–but our version is ready in 20 minutes and uses ground turkey, a leaner, healthier alternative to sausage that cooks up quickly. You'll brown the meat in one pan, but boil the pasta and the broccoli together. Chopped garlic and crushed red pepper gives the pasta a bit of a zip. get the recipe 14 of 35 Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur Marcus Nilsson Believe it or not, nothing on this plate requires much in the way of preparation—or cooking. The bulgur simply steams in boiling water, so after making a quick vinaigrette and chopping your zucchini, shallot, and dill, you're ready to toss this tasty salad together and serve. Salted, roasted almonds lend some crunch, while creamy, crumbled goat cheese ties it all together. You'll be sitting down within 20 minutes and enjoying a satisfying but unexpected dinner that's as healthy as it is convenient. get the recipe 15 of 35 Whole-Grain Spaghetti With Garlicky Kale and Tomatoes Hans Gissinger Craving pasta but not in the mood to load up on carbs? We devised this super easy dinner idea: a pasta dish with garlic, onion, kale, grape tomatoes, and almonds to go with whole-grain noodles. As you boil the spaghetti, you'll cook the kale on the stovetop with garlic and onion, which only takes a few minutes. Top the pasta with kale, chopped roasted almonds, and pecorino cheese. We're willing to bet the whole family will love this 30-minute dinner idea. Especially you. get the recipe 16 of 35 Southwestern Beef Chili With Corn Hector M. Sanchez Plenty of choice chili recipes require you to simmer everything for an hour or two. And it's not that this all-American classic isn't worth investing some time, but when your family wants chili fast, this poblano chile-spiked version, which is packed with ground beef, black beans, corn kernels, and carrots, comes together on the stove in just 30 minutes. Pro-tip: Double the recipe and take care of dinner for one night down the road, or make the chili last a bit longer by serving it over brown rice. get the recipe 17 of 35 Spanish Omelet With Potatoes and Chorizo Ngoc Minh Ngo The idea of breakfast for dinner is nothing new, and some nights there's nothing wrong with scrambling up a few eggs (or even preparing oatmeal or pancakes) for an evening meal. But with just slightly more planning, you can cook up this tasty Spanish omelet, packed with yellow onion, red potatoes, chorizo, and Manchego or cheddar cheese. The best part? It's ready in half an hour and can be cooked a single skillet. Expect this filling omelet to become a comfort-food fixture in your kitchen. (And just so you know, leftover slices are fantastic for lunch.) get the recipe 18 of 35 Smoky-Sweet Steak Supper Caitlin Bensel While a steak dinner might sound intimidating, this hearty meal is ready in just 25 minutes and certainly doesn't lack flavor. The meat is slathered in a sugar and paprika rub, which delivers an irresistible sweet and 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! get the recipe 19 of 35 Steak-and-Potato Skewers With Orange Salsa Victor Protasio There's nothing better than a meal on a stick, especially if it sounds fancy but only takes 30 minutes to make. With this recipe, you'll build the steak and spiced potato skewers and then grill bell peppers and onions separately. The whole spread is tied together with a spicy orange salsa, which you'll want to make over and over again. get the recipe 20 of 35 Fishermen's Soup Marcus Nilsson Halibut and quick-cooking mussels are the stars of this rich, fragrant meal-in-a-bowl. And while this seafood soup might look fancy, and even a bit time-consuming, it's actually quite an easy dinner to prepare. After sautéing leeks, garlic, and fennel in a saucepan, you'll add sherry and canned diced tomatoes before bringing the mixture to a simmer. Add the fish and mussels, and simmer for another five minutes, tops. Garnish the bowls with freshly chopped parsley, put a bowl of mixed olives on the table, and you're ready to eat. Crusty bread makes a great addition, too. get the recipe 21 of 35 Sheet Pan Cod and Potatoes Caitlin Bensel Remember that sheet pan you used for those easy chicken dinners? It works for fish too. This simple dinner has everything you need—creamy Yukon gold potatoes, a cod fillet, and crispy chard leaves. The balanced meal gets dressed up with a quick olive salsa that adds richness, acidity, and a little spice to the whole dish. get the recipe 22 of 35 Saucy Shrimp and Noodle Stir-Fry Antonis Achilleos If you're eager to cook with shrimp, but don't know where to start, give this easy stir-fry recipe a try. The shrimp are stir-fry-proof (trust us) and they're slathered in a sweet and spicy sauce you'll want to put on everything. Tender rice noodles, shiitake mushrooms, and bok choy round out this 20-minute meal. Feel free to add (or swap in) bell peppers, broccoli, and whatever veggies you have in the fridge. get the recipe 23 of 35 Green Curry With Halibut and Corn Johnny Miller Sure, you can order in curry for dinner, but if you want to try making the popular dish yourself, start with this easy recipe. You'll begin by cooking the shallots in green curry paste and adding coconut milk and chicken broth before stirring in the corn and halibut. Once the fish is cooked, which takes about eight minutes, spoon the curry over cooked rice. To add flavor to the meal, opt for a squeeze of lime and toss in basil leaves and sliced jalapeño. get the recipe 24 of 35 Oven-Fried Pork Cutlets With Fennel-Chickpea Slaw Christopher Baker Thin, crispy slices of pork and a crunchy, zesty salad (made with chickpeas, sliced fennel, celery, red onion, and a quick lemon dressing) provide a great point and counterpoint in this easy supper idea. And that breaded crust? It's homemade—no stale, store-bought breadcrumbs here. After quickly whipping up your own bread crumbs with whole-wheat sandwich bread, you'll coat the thin pork cutlets before tossing them in the oven to bake. That leaves plenty of time to mix up the slaw before the timer dings, and dinner's on the table. get the recipe 25 of 35 Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin Greg DuPree Thanks to a tasty brown sugar and soy-spiked beef stock, this easy-to-make pork tenderloin is anything but dry. While you do need a slow cooker for this recipe, it only takes 20 minutes to make and the result is tender meat that can be pulled apart with a fork. Serve the sweet and savory pork with fresh cucumber and carrots over hot rice for a balanced meal. get the recipe 26 of 35 Glazed Salmon With Broccoli Rice Kan Kanbayashi Salmon is a fishy fish, which is a real turn off for many picky eaters of all ages. However, this dish features broiled salmon that's buttery, flaky, and won't stink up your kitchen. Once the fish is nearly done broiling, brush it with a glaze made from brown sugar and low-sodium soy sauce or tamari. This will allow the sauce to caramelize and give each fillet a slightly crispy top. And be sure to save some of the glaze so you can drizzle it over the broccoli rice! get the recipe 27 of 35 Quick Spring Lamb and Vegetable Stew Quentin Bacon Carrots, onion, diced canned tomatoes, green beans, chicken broth, and fresh parsley combine to flavor this easy-to-make lamb stew, which feels so right in spring. Feeling a tad ambitious? Make an extra batch of this freezer-friendly dinner and save it for a night when you're even more pressed for time. (We've even got detailed instructions on how to best freeze and reheat the stew so the vegetables and meat remain perfectly tender.) get the recipe 28 of 35 Shrimp, Leek, and Spinach Pasta Christopher Baker Feel like a meal that's both light and hearty? One that's got vegetables and protein? Our fast recipe for shrimp, leek, and spinach pasta is the answer. While the pasta cooks, sauté the leaks and shrimp in butter. The spinach will wilt naturally when combined with the warm pasta, and a bit of lemon zest adds fresh flavor to the light cream sauce. The kids get a "macaroni and cheese"-like supper, which has not one, but two vegetables stirred in. And the adults get a tasty and easy dinner that's ready in just 20 minutes. get the recipe 29 of 35 Salmon With Creamy Cucumber-Fennel Salad José Picayo You've probably got a go-to chicken dinner and maybe a fast shrimp recipe at the ready, but shake up the routine with this simple approach to salmon. To speed up pre-dinner prep time, you can make the side salad, which gets its crunch from cucumbers and fennel, up to 12 hours in advance. Just make sure you reserve a few fennel fronds to garnish the plate. Store the salad in the fridge in a sealed container; serve cool or at room temperature alongside freshly roasted salmon. get the recipe 30 of 35 Linguine With Shrimp, Artichokes, and Crispy Bread Crumbs David Prince The crisp, golden brown topping—sautéed panko crumbs mixed with chopped parsley—on the pasta elevates this dinner dish, making it look far more elegant and time-consuming than it actually is. Believe it or not, this protein-rich pasta requires just 25 minutes of hands-on time in the kitchen. get the recipe 31 of 35 Spicy Grilled Chicken With Shaved Zucchini Salad Jen Causey Forget all about your standard grilled chicken recipe and use this one instead. The chicken, which is anything but dry, is rubbed in Aleppo pepper for a little kick, and then paired with lemony-marinated zucchini salad. The whole dish is then drizzled with a garlic and herb dressing. get the recipe 32 of 35 Slow-Cooker Chipotle Short Ribs Raymond Hom Short ribs become fall-apart delicious when simmered with onion, garlic, tomato paste, chipotle peppers, and cumin–and this quick dinner idea only requires 20 minutes of hands-on time. Cook the rice 20 minutes before you plan to serve dinner, add some cabbage slaw when it's all good to go, and you're done! get the recipe 33 of 35 Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers Caitlin Bensel Let's be honest, turkey burgers can be a tad dry, but these are anything but. The secret here is zucchini, which makes these patties extra juicy and delicious. Eggs help bind the patties together, while garlic powder and cumin bring extra flavor. Top the burgers with a combo of honey mustard and mayo (not to mention sliced tomato and crispy lettuce) and you won't be disappointed. get the recipe 34 of 35 Hummus, Tomato, and Feta Pita Pizzas With Arugula Salad Johnny Miller Layers of hummus and feta stand in for tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese in this non-traditional personal pie. The best part about this fun and creative dinner is that it only consists of four steps—including plating the meal. get the recipe 35 of 35 White Pizza With Artichokes, Rosemary, and Olives Raymond Hom It's hard to find someone who doesn't love pizza, and this white pie is bound to please just about anyone. Instead of tomato sauce it's topped with a combination of ricotta, marinated artichoke hearts, and olives. While the dough is baking, go ahead and whip up an easy side salad for a complete meal. get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit