These are the super quick dinner ideas I always turn to when I don’t want to cook!
You can barely even call them cooking! These super simple dinner ideas are perfect for when you don’t want to order out or spend any more time in the kitchen than you have to.
I stick to quick dinner recipes as much as possible and these are perfect for nights when you are super busy. Or just feeling super lazy. Lazy is ok too.
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Super Quick Dinner Ideas
These super easy dinner ideas are just the thing to keep you from being stuck in the kitchen all afternoon. While I love cooking, I hate to do it every day.
Busy weeknights need quick and easy meals and super simple dinner ideas that come together fast and don’t need any fancy preparation.
When school starts, I feel like I’m supposed to start cooking family meals again. But with school comes activities and classes. Which means less time to cook. And then there are some nights when you logistically have just minutes to get dinner on the table.
These easy dinner ideas for family meals are really going to help you out.
I’m all about simple meals as we head into fall. This list of “don’t want to cook” dinner ideas will help you to get a home-cooked (or semi-homemade) meal on the table in just minutes.
Why These Recipes
I included some of my own favorite recipes and found other ones that I know I won’t mind making and that my kids will love too.
It can be easy to get stuck in a rut and make the same things over and over. But having a list of easy dinner ideas to pull from can make deciding what to make for dinner feel less overwhelming.
By switching up what you are making, you can ensure that kids are getting a variety of nutrients.
And while I like to think of these recipes as more of a last-minute dinner idea, you can also include them in your meal plan (get a printable meal plan sheet in this post) ahead of time.
30 Very Easy Dinner Ideas
This list of easy ideas are perfect for those nights where you don’t really want to cook, but you don’t want to buy take out either. You can barely consider making these recipes cooking...
This delicious stir fry utilizes ground turkey and precut veggies to get a healthy, kid-approved meal on the table quickly. They'll love the teriyaki flavor!
This Farro dish is great for summer (cool over arugula) or warm (with a little parmesan cheese). The farro cooks in about 13 minutes. And roasting veggies is very hands-off. Keep prep simple by buying everything pre-cut!)
This is a kid-friendly twist on fish tacos. They'll love them and moms will love how easy it is to make.
This super-simple pasta dish makes a great lunch for the kids or a fast weeknight dinner idea! The ingredients are easy to keep in the pantry so you’re never without a quick meal. (Must be served with corn chips!) YUM!
This is a go-to recipe for our family when the weather cools down. Just pour and stir! Serve with a selection of your favorite toppings so everyone can personalize their bowl.
Pick up a rotisserie chicken, along with your favorite frozen sides (we love these ones from Alexia!) so you can put a healthy, filling meal on the table quickly.
I like to keep a few frozen meals on hand so I can get something on the table even if I haven't had time to go to the store. Schwans has so many quick meals choices that are made with fresh ingredients. Serve one along with a quick appetizer, like these super easy bacon-wrapped dates!
If you’ve never had a Bird Dog Sandwich, you don’t know what you’re missing! This Southern specialty is guaranteed to be a family favorite. Eat them the traditional way with honey mustard or branch and try new toppings!
This is the easiest meal you'll find and it's on the table in minutes! Plus it's flexible - use french fries instead of tots, broccoli instead of mushrooms, whatever sausage/hot dogs you have in the fridge!
These salad wraps are so versatile, the whole family is sure to find their favorite combination.
Naan makes the perfect base for this super easy margherita pizza. Pizza is always a hit with even the pickiest eaters and the margherita variety tickles the taste buds of more mature palettes.
Ribs are comfort food at it’s best. Throw these in the crockpot and dinner will be a cinch. The gravy is perfect for dipping crusty bread or spooning over mashed potatoes. This recipe is for 2 people, just double as needed based on family size.
Where I live, plenty of Fall nights are still too hot for meals like soup or chili. These 10-minute pinwheels are the perfect light, cool dinner for a Fall night that still feels like summer. Plus, they are perfect to make ahead for even the busiest evenings.
The perfect creamy soup for a rainy day and it’s even gluten and dairy free for those of us who need to avoid those ingredients. Pair it with a toasty sandwich or some crackers for a quick and filling dinner.
Mix together the ingredients, pour it over some chicken (or beef or veggies), marinate, and pop it in the oven when ready. Make it a day or two ahead to let those smokey flavors really seep in. YUM!
Who doesn’t love tacos and spaghetti. Combine both in this one pot meal that is sure to put smiles on everyone’s face.
Made in a casserole dish with chicken nuggets, these Chicken Parm Sliders are perfect when you need an easy weeknight dinner.
Grilled cheese doesn’t have to be just for kids. The whole family will love this quick Fall favorite. Serve it along with some tomato soup!
Turn pizza night into pizza quesadilla night. These quesadillas are oozing with pizza goodness and crispness that is reminiscent of a thin crust pizza.
No precooking, barely any pot washing and almost zero chopping to do - this crazy easy slow cooker chicken curry is a recipe a recipe you need in life!
This healthier, homemade take on a takeout classic takes less time to get on the table than driving to your favorite ramen house. Use premade chicken tenders to make it even faster.
Soup is the perfect comfort food for a cool, Fall night. This Wonton Egg Drop Soup will be warming your family up in 10 minutes.
Did you know you could cook pizza in a crockpot?? Serve it along side a salad for a yummy meal with almost no prep.
Your family will feel like they’ve stepped into an Italian restaurant with this traditional pasta dish. You don’t need to tell them how simple and quick it was to throw together.
This meal requires ZERO cooking and results in a delicious, fresh meal in minutes. Even better, you can throw together a few extra wraps so you’ll be able to enjoy your kitchen wizardry for lunch the next day.
You can feel good about serving this fresh, filling salad on a busy evening. It comes together in 15 minutes and is sure to be a favorite.
Throw a few ingredients into your slow cooker and come back to moist, tender pulled pork. Grab some sandwich rolls and a bag of coleslaw and you’ll have dinner on the table in no time.
My family gets tired of spaghetti so we change things up with ravioli. Adding a little crispy prosciutto and toasted almonds make this feel extra special even though it's so easy!
Frozen lasagna is one of my go-to meal ideas for a fast fall dinner. I pair it with this easy, cheesy Polenta and Mushrooms side dish recipe. This is great for when you need to serve a lot of people!
This recipe just sounds so comforting to me! This one would be perfect on a busy weeknight when all you want to do is snuggle up on the couch with a blanket.
You won’t believe how easy these recipes come together. They’re perfect for nights when you just don’t feel like cooking! What is your go-to barely cooking meal?
Tips
One of my biggest pain points as a mom is making sure that the kids are eating enough vegetables but also getting to indulge in their favorite dishes too. Remember that if they miss their full serving of veggies for one night, all hope is not lost.
I save more elaborate meals for Sundays, when I feel more like cooking and usually have a little bit more time.
Check out my dinner short-cuts for getting meals on the table faster! And pick up a few of these time-saving gadgets below.
- This Microwavable Pasta Cooker speeds up cooking spaghetti and even the kids can use it.
- My kids use this Microwavable Ramen Cooker to make their “second dinner”.
- This Vegetable Dicer makes putting together a large dinner salad super quick and easy.
- I love using the Air Fryer for quick proteins and this Breville Air Fryer is supposed to work well and be a healthier option to the teflon-coated versions.
More Very Easy Dinner Ideas
- Last-Minute Dinner Ideas
- Large Family Dinner Ideas for a Weeknight Birthday
- Simple Healthy Family Dinner Ideas
- Easy Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes
- Spice and Easy Mixes For Quick Dinners
- 12 Easy Crockpot Dinners by Crystal and Comp.
- I love the idea of this One Pot Pasta with Tomato and Basil from The Little Kitchen
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