65 Easy Dinner Ideas To Cook Tonight

When it comes to busy days, the kind filled with work and school and soccer games and ballet lessons and homework and ... well, the list can go on and on. By the time you even start thinking about dinner, you're so frazzled that you definitely need something easy to whip up. That's where our list of 65 easy dinner ideas you can cook tonight comes in, offering a plethora of ideas on how to feed your family a complete, delicious meal, even when your day has been hectic.

You'll find yourself singing the praises of your Instant Pot, slow cooker, and air fryer for some of these recipes, but if you don't have one of these appliances, worry not, because we have plenty of other options you can use your stovetop, oven, or grill to prepare. There are numerous 20-minute recipes on this list, as well as dishes that require only three to five ingredients. No matter which way you turn, you're sure to find something perfect for your family dinner table.

Mashed points out that this classically Southern dish can take all day to make, but not when you have an Instant Pot and recipe developer Angela Latimer, together making this recipe's five minute prep and 18 minute cook times super easy. Latimer walks you through how to make the dumplings – including the secret ingredient — how to brown the chicken and add in the seasonings. You'll be serving up this fantastic dish on your dinner table to your family in no time.

Recipe: Quick Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Our 5-ingredient chili recipe was inspired by our Wendy's chili copycat recipe, but we've cut the number of ingredients and made the recipe a bit simpler so it can be ready to serve in just half an hour. You'll combine browned ground beef — although ground turkey or chicken would also work — with some onions, then add in some chili powder, beans, and diced tomatoes. Check out our recommendations for the ideal toppings to perfect your chili.

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Chili

It may seem like there's a lot of cooking involved in this recipe given all the ingredients, but, as always, things are much simpler when your Instant Pot is involved. There are a few steps including cooking the rice, cooking the sausage, cooking the veggies, and then combining the sausage and veggies with beans, broth, and spices before setting your Instant Pot to cook. Recipe developer Kristen Carli estimates just five minutes of prep time.

Recipe: Simple Red Beans and Rice

Turkey burgers are a great, healthier alternative to the classic hamburger that the whole family is sure to enjoy. Plus, you don't even have to turn on the grill; these babies can be cooked in a frying pan. Assembly is easy and recipe developer Maren Epstein has come up with the perfect combination of spices to make these turkey burgers extra flavorful. With just ten minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time, you're about half an hour away from a great dinner for you and your family.

Recipe: Quick Turkey Burger

You'll trade in your grill for your oven to cook these easy chicken kabobs from recipe developer Susan Olayinka, who thought up the clever mixture of spices you'll sprinkle on top of your cubed chicken before skewering them with some bright bell pepper and onion slices. After cooking for just 25 minutes, Olayinka recommends serving the kabobs over white rice — try our Instant Pot recipe for white rice – to complete the meal and offers a suggestion for how to please your vegetarian diners.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Kabob

We all love a good corned beef and cabbage on Saint Patrick's Day, but with this easy recipe from recipe developer Hayley MacLean, you can have corned beef and cabbage any day of the year without slaving away over the stove, thanks to a little help from your Instant Pot. MacLean says that pressure cooking the brisket in the Instant Pot gives it its extra tender and flavorful profile, which complements the veggies and potatoes perfectly. MacLean also gives a suggestion for a saucy side to spice things up.

Recipe: Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

There's a heck of a lot going on as far as quantity of ingredients and flavors in this one-pan honey mustard chicken and veggie bake, so much so in fact, you'll be pleasantly surprised when you're finished cooking and remember that the only clean-up required is to crumple and throw away the aluminum foil covering the pan. Roasting the sweet potatoes and vegetables is easy, and you'll cover the chicken with a delicious homemade honey mustard glaze sure to please the whole family.

Recipe: One-Pan Honey Mustard Chicken and Veggie Bake

We adore one-pot recipes around here at Mashed, both for the ease of preparation and the ease of clean-up, and this delectable one-pot mac and cheese recipe is no different. Sometimes homemade mac and cheese can get complicated and difficult, especially when you have to make a roux, so recipe developer Lindsay Mattison decided to skip that part and go right to the fun stuff: the cheese! Mattison offers specific instructions on what kinds of cheese to add to your mac and cheese as well as which pasta shapes to use to maximize the amount of cheese that will stick to the pasta.

Recipe: One-Pot Mac and Cheese

We're all about easy recipes with just a few ingredients to help you prepare a delicious dinner even on busy weeknights. This 3-ingredient crockpot pork chop recipe falls nicely into that category, requiring only a packet of ranch seasoning, a can of gravy, and, of course, a couple of pork chops to make a dinner filled with flavor and fall-off-the-bone meat. This dish will take just two minutes to prep; you'll simply sprinkle the seasoning on each side of the pork chop, place them in the crockpot, and pour the gravy over the top before cooking.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Crock Pot Pork Chops

Lasagna made in just 20 minutes? It may surprise you, but we're here to show you even the seemingly impossible is possible with the help of recipe developer Molly Allen. The secret ingredient in this recipe is oven-ready lasagna noodles, which don't have to be pre-cooked in boiling water, saving you valuable time and energy. Allen offers plenty of suggestions when it comes to switching up ingredients based on your preferences, including what kinds of veggies, meats, and cheeses are ideal for this 20-minute lasagna.

Recipe: 20-Minute Lasagna

Whether it's a cold or warm day or whether you want something to help when you're sick or you're feeling healthy, chicken noodle soup is always a good idea, especially when you can make it quickly and all in one pot. Recipe developer Maren Epstein walks you through how to sauté the veggies, tells you how long to cook the chicken, and reveals secret ingredients you may not have thought of adding. You can even double the recipe to be sure to have leftovers.

Recipe: One-Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Sloppy Joes are an American favorite, and with Mashed's recipe you can whip up this classic dinner sure to please the whole family in under a half an hour. Recipe developer Erin Johnson even makes suggestions for how to sneak in some veggies to make sure the kids are eating their greens. The recipe calls for browning the beef — or ground chicken, turkey, or plant-based meat alternative – making the sauce, and letting it all simmer together before being scooped out onto buns and enjoyed. Be sure to have plenty of napkins on hand!

Recipe: 30-Minute Sloppy Joes

This 3-bean vegetarian chili recipe is easy, quick, and downright delicious. What more could you ask for? Recipe developer Kate Shungu points out that cooking the onion is the most time-consuming part of the preparation, as the other ingredients — including salsa, tomato sauce, and kidney, black, and pinto beans – are already cooked and simply need to be warmed together. Shungu recommends pairing the chili with some sour cream, cheddar cheese, and cilantro — if you're not a cilantro hater.

Recipe: 3-Bean Vegetarian Chili

These stuffed peppers are as yummy as they are pretty, and we certainly can't hate on any fantastic dinner that can be cooked up in a single pot. Recipe developer Molly Allen walks you through how to properly hollow out the peppers for best stuffing. The rest is as simple as making the ground beef, bean, and veggie mixture to put inside the peppers, topping with some cheese, and baking. You'll have a dinner you can feel good about in just one hour.

Recipe: One-Pot Stuffed Peppers

You'll need quite a few ingredients for this chicken stir fry, but don't let that deter you from trying this recipe as most of them will simply be combined and shaken together to form the sauce. Recipe developer Melissa Oliveri has recommendations for just how long to cook your veggies to make sure they come out al dente and how to perfectly season the chicken. With just 30 minutes of cook time, you'll have a meal full of protein and greens for your family in no time.

Recipe: Chicken Stir Fry

What's the next best thing to getting an egg roll from your favorite Chinese restaurant chain? Being able to make an egg roll bowl with many of the same ingredients in the comfort of your own home, that's what. Concerned you won't be able to find all the right ingredients at your local grocery store? No worries, because recipe developer Lindsay Mattison offers suggestions for alternative ingredients to those tough-to-find items, as well as ways to switch up the protein in the bowls. Enjoy the bowls on their own or over rice, quinoa, or pasta.

Recipe: 20-Minute Egg Roll In A Bowl

Making a homemade chicken pot pie can easily turn into an all day affair, but not when you have Mashed's easy chicken pot pie recipe from recipe developer Laura Sampson who provides time-saving shortcuts that don't skimp on taste. You can either use a rotisserie chicken or cook one yourself. After cutting up the chicken, you'll cook the veggies, make the sauce, and then cover the "insides" of your chicken pot pie with puff pastry to create a crust.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Pot Pie

Have a hankering for barbecue baby back ribs but don't have a pit or smoker in your backyard? Not to worry! Recipe developer Erin Johnson is the brainchild behind this baby back ribs recipe you can cook up right in your Instant Pot in 27 minutes, then finish under your oven's broiler. The secret to the recipe is all about knowing what spices to use for the dry rub and, most importantly, when to add the barbecue sauce.

Recipe: Instant Pot Ribs

Making homemade versions of the dishes you might traditionally reserve for takeout might seem daunting, but this 20-minute beef and broccoli lo mein recipe from recipe developer Lindsay Mattison will have you throwing your takeout menu stash in the trash in no time. Mattison instructs you on how to appropriately slice the beef, how long to cook the broccoli, and how to assemble the sauce. You may even be surprised at what kind of noodles she chose for this beef and broccoli lo mein dish.

Recipe: 20-Minute Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein

Zuppa Tuscana is an Olive Garden staple from the ever-popular unlimited soup, salad, and breadsticks menu, and recipe developer Ksenia Prints has made a similar recipe that can be prepared with the convenience of your Instant Pot. The soup, hailing from the Tuscany region of Italy, contains bacon, kale, sausage, potatoes, cream, and, to top it all over with a little cheesiness, some Parmesan. You and your family will feel transported to Italy — or at least to Olive Garden — in no time when enjoying this fantastic and easy-to-make soup.

Recipe: Instant Pot Zuppa Tuscana

This tuna casserole recipe is so easy peasy — literally, there are peas in it! — that recipe developer Kristen Carli says it's perfect for a busy weeknight when you're trying to throw something together quickly that the whole family will love. The recipe has already garnered five stars from 73 home chefs on the Mashed website, so you know as a fan favorite, it has to be good! Ingredients are simple, including a can of cream of mushroom soup, egg noodles, mozzarella cheese, and, of course, tuna!

Recipe: Tuna Casserole

Nervous about messing up a turkey chili recipe? Don't be, as Mashed notes, "chili is forgiving." What's even better, recipe developer Kristen Carli says you can easily sub out ingredients, such as types of beans, based on whatever you happened to have in your pantry, and she also offers a suggestion on how to kick up the heat in this turkey chili. Preparation is as simple as cooking the turkey, onion, and garlic, then adding in the rest of the ingredients and allowing the chili to simmer.

Recipe: Quick Turkey Chili

Chicken vindaloo may be one of your favorite Indian dishes, and with the help of recipe developer Ting Dalton, we've put together an easy recipe so you don't have to call in for takeout and can make it at home. Dalton notes that vindaloos tend to be on the spicy side, but you can control the amount of spice based on how much cayenne pepper and chiles you include. The preparation and cooking will all be done in a crockpot, and Dalton recommends serving the finished product with naan bread and basmati rice.

Recipe: Easy Chicken Vindaloo

Making this cabbage and noodles recipe is not only quick, it's also fairly easy, thanks to specific instructions from recipe developer Alexandra Shytsman, who walks you through how to caramelize the onions and cabbage to perfection. Shytsman recommends a particular kind of black pepper, noting it's a very important ingredient. Once the onions and cabbage are caramelized, you simply mix them with cooked egg noodles and voila! Just like that, you have a delicious dinner.

Recipe: Quick Cabbage and Noodles

Coconut shrimp marries coconut's distinctive Caribbean flavor with one of the most popular seafood items among American diners, making it the perfect star of your next dinner. Recipe developer Ksenia Prints walks you through how to prep and devein the shrimp before coating them in the coconut batter and frying them. Prints recommends serving the finished product with a dipping sauce such as a sweet chili sauce or sweet and sour sauce to make the flavor really pop.

Recipe: Easy Coconut Shrimp

There's not much easier than this one-pot pasta with spinach and tomatoes, considering the pasta cooks right in the same pot as the sauce. To make the dish, you'll simply cook the onions in a Dutch oven, add the tomatoes, spinach, and pasta to the pot, cook until complete, then stir in some Parmesan cheese at the end. Recipe developer Lindsay Mattison offers suggestions on how to add some protein to your pasta with spinach and tomatoes if desired.

Recipe: Easy One-Pot Pasta With Spinach and Tomatoes

Mashed's zucchini casserole is a great way to get all your veggies in a flavorful way and with the always-enjoyed crunch of breadcrumbs and gooeyness of cheese. This Italian-inspired recipe will take you a little under an hour from start to finish, including just ten minutes of prep time. Recipe developer Ksenia Prints recommends topping the finished product with some basil or oregano and serving with a marinara sauce on the side for dipping.

Recipe: Zucchini Casserole

Recipe developer Jake Vigliotti went to great lengths to accurately replicate the iconic Five Guys burger, and the results are pretty impressive. You'll mix a blend of chuck and sirloin meat, make and fry up the burgers, and meticulously dress the buns. The application of cheese — it must be deli-style Kraft American cheese – is a near science. These burgers are a great dinner option if you're craving some fast food but don't want to go out.

Recipe: Five Guys Burger

We already know you love any kind of food cooked on a stick, and this Greek chicken souvlaki will be no different. The recipe is super easy thanks to some store-bought tzatziki, which you use to marinate the chicken cubes before threading them onto a skewer and cooking them over the stove or on the grill. Assemble a simple cucumber and tomato salad to serve on the side with some more tzatziki and pita bread.

Recipe: Greek Chicken Souvlaki

Don't worry, the delicious rice you prepare with this recipe won't actually be dirty, but rather, as recipe developer Keith Kamikawa explains, the dish gets its name because it's so chock full of goodies like green veggies and hearty meats that the rice ends up appearing "dirty." Making this Instant Pot dirty rice is so easy; you'll saute the chopped vegetables and meats — Kamikawa suggests kielbasa and chicken livers, but offers an alternative if you just can't stomach the livers — add spices and sauce, and put on the lid and cook. Fast forward ten minutes and you've got yourself a great meal.

Recipe: Instant Pot Dirty Rice

Looking for a chicken dish the whole family — namely the kids — will love and most certainly eat to the last crumb? Look no further than our crispy air fryer pretzel chicken fries, which are essentially chicken tenders covered in honey and Dijon mustard before being coated in crushed pretzels. Once assembled, you'll cook these babies in the air fryer for three minutes on each side. Recipe developer Stephanie Rapone recommends either serving with a dipping sauce on the side or even using the chicken fries as a protein atop a salad.

Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Pretzel Chicken Fries

A creative twist on a classic hamburger, this hamburger casserole is bound to have your family begging for more with an interior including hamburger seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and cheddar cheese soup, the latter of which acts as a binder. Mix in some chopped dill pickles and cover the top with crescent roll strips before baking. After cooking for just 25 minutes, recipe developer Erin Johnson recommends serving this hamburger casserole with a side salad.

Recipe: Hamburger Casserole