Dinner Ideas for Tonight – looking for something you can make tonight? Don’t have a plan, don’t have a lot of time or stuff prepped? Here are a bunch of great dinner ideas you can make with no planning ahead!
All too often I will be busy working, I will look up and it is 3pm and I am caught asking myself what should I make for dinner tonight? You would think that wouldn’t be a problem for someone who cooks for a living, but it is. I love Simple Dinner Ideas for nights like those, when I just need to get something on the table.
What sounds good for dinner is such a tough question to answer, especially when you have to come up with it every night of the week.
Today I answering the question what are some good dinner ideas that you can make tonight. Recipes that you can make with almost no planning or prep work. Shrimp thaws super quickly, especially if you run under cold water, so it works great for busy nights.
You can pick up a rotisserie chicken for a handful of these recipes as well. Just stop on the way home, and you can have dinner on the table minutes after you get home. Scroll through these dinner ideas, and let me know what you want to make first!
I always have a pantry that contain rice, pasta, and potatoes; which means you can throw dinner together even when you have nothing planned!
Dinner Ideas for Tonight
Dinner Ideas for Tonight - looking for something you can make tonight? Don't have a plan, don't have a lot of time or stuff prepped? Here are 25 great dinner ideas you can make with no planning ahead!
Creamy Salsa Chicken - Taco spiced chicken cooked with corn and salsa, and sour cream mixed in to make it creamy and delicious! One pan and 20 minutes!
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta - Get dinner on the table fast with this creamy pasta full of spicy creole seasoning, tomatoes, and chicken!
One Pan Spicy Garlic Shrimp - dinner is ready in 15 minutes, with this super flavorful, a little spicy, garlic shrimp recipe.
Cheesy Skillet Chili Mac - Two comfort foods come together in a one skillet dinner the whole family will love. Plus it is ready in only 20 minutes!
Cheesy Gnocchi Skillet is a one pan, quick and easy dinner. A healthified version of pure comfort food.
Taco Pasta Skillet - All the flavors of taco night in a one pan meal, ready in 20 minutes! Homemade version of taco Hamburger Helper, with just a few staple ingredients.
Sausage Pasta Skillet is a quick and easy one pot meal the whole family will love. Creamy, cheesy, sausage pasta dinner.
Quick and Easy Skillet Lasagna - Make lasagna perfect for a weeknight meal. Ravioli makes this ready in less than 30 minutes, and pure comfort food everyone will love.
Enchilada Pasta Skillet is a homemade version of Hamburger Helper with a Mexican twist!
Spicy Sausage Spanish Rice Skillet - turn box rice mix into a full meal! Just one pan, and a couple ingredients and you have a whole meal the family will love!
Italian Chicken Bake - just 5 simple ingredients for a delicious, cheesy, and perfect dinner dinner for any night of the week.
Pesto Cavatappi - Copycat Noodles & Company pesto cavatappi that is ready in just minutes and great for a quick dinner or easy lunch!
Egg Drop Soup Recipe - a classic Chinese take out dish you can make at home in just 15 minutes. Seriously comforting, better than the restaurant version and so easy to make.
Easy Taco Soup - a hearty and comforting taco flavored soup that is ready in minutes. Top with your favorite toppings to make it even better!
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wrap - crispy chicken strips tossed with buffalo sauce and wrapped up with a creamy ranch coleslaw and blue cheese crumbles. A great lunch or easy dinner for the whole family!
Old Fashioned Goulash - The same American goulash recipe that you grew up with. A hearty recipe that the entire family can enjoy any night of the week.
Cauliflower Gnocchi Carbonara - rich and creamy carbonara with cauliflower gnocchi, for a quick, easy, healthy, and delicious dinner!
Classic Egg Salad Recipe - The perfect egg salad that you remember as a kid. Simple ingredients come together to make a creamy and delicious egg salad sandwich.
Stovetop Creamy Chicken and Rice - Tender chicken and mushroom with creamy rice in an easy one pan dinner. So easy and great for busy nights.
Make chicken in just minutes using the instant pot. Super tender, juicy, and tons of flavor.
Thick pieces of turkey seared and topped with pesto, tomatoes, and melty cheese. Ready in 15 minutes, and great any night of the week!
Get all the crispiness of fried shrimp in a quick and easy healthy way. Super crunchy, ready in minutes, and delicious!
A hearty thick cut pasta in a classic mushroom sauce. Inspired by Italy, made at home in under 30 minutes!
Creamy carbonara pasta with bacon, fresh corn, and jalapenos. A little spicy, smokey, and oh so delicious!
Chicken Tostadas – A quick and easy Mexican dinner! A crispy corn tortilla piled high with guacamole, chicken and salsa. Take a shortcut from the store and this can be ready in no time!
A creamy pasta salad with all your favorite taco toppings! Great to make ahead and have in the fridge for dinner or to take to any get together.
Pierogies Sausage Skillet - take a little shortcut from the store and turn pierogies into a quick and easy hearty meal with your favorite smoked sausage.
A healthier fried rice recipe with cashews, broccoli, mushrooms and a creamy peanut butter dressing. So good, you won’t even know you are eating something good for you!
A traditional croque monsieur sandwich, with sliced ham, Gruyere cheese, mustard and a creamy sauce served open face on soft and tender old fashioned butter bread
Comfort food that is on the table in 15 minutes. Soft gnocchi tossed with melted butter, sage, and Parmesan cheese!
Mexican Skillet Potatoes - a quick and easy one pan Mexican recipe. Crispy potatoes, taco meat, salsa, cheese and more! So much better than just regular tacos.
Broccoli slaw coated in a creamy honey sesame dressing. Wrapped with crispy chicken for a quick and easy meal.
One Pan Cheesy Sausage Pasta - get dinner on the table with these easy pasta recipe. Just one pan, 20 minutes, and you are done!
Pasta with sauteed veggies and chicken sausage tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette. Quick and easy weeknight meal, that is also good for you.
Combine two favorites for one perfect summer side dish. Caesar salad and pasta salad come together in an easy dish everyone will love!
A rich and creamy pasta dinner the whole family will love. Ravoili or Tortellini tossed in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and plenty of fresh basil!
Homemade macaroni and cheese that tastes just like what you can buy at Panera. Made on the stove top in just minutes!
All the flavor of classic beef stroganoff in an super fast and easy ravioli skillet dinner!
Just 5 ingredients until you have all the flavors of chicken Parmesan, but in a hand held calzone on a weeknight!
Philly Cheesesteaks as a Sloppy Joe!
Easy lunch ideas are hard to come by. These chicken wraps come together in minutes, you can make them ahead, and the creamy spicy sauce makes them extra tasty!
Asian Chicken Wraps - an easy chicken wrap with a Thai peanut sauce. A great lunch idea or a quick and easy dinner!
Barbecue Chicken Stuffed French Bread - French bread stuffed with chicken, barbecue sauce and plenty of cheese!! Crispy and delicious chicken dinner!
Pepperoni Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Take your favorite grilled cheese sandwich up a notch and make it taste like pepperoni pizza!
Thai Peanut Noodles - Super easy Asian noodles mixed with a creamy peanut butter sauce with bell peppers and carrots.
Shrimp & Avocado Tostadas - a fun and easy way to get Mexican food on weeknights, in minutes! Crispy tostadas topped with guacamole, spiced shrimp, and your favorite salsa.
Loaded Baked Potato Recipes - perfect baked potatoes that are topped with cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives! A great side dish or even dinner idea!
Pin up the image below to have all these Dinner Ideas for Tonight all in one place!
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Chrissie Baker
Friday 7th of February 2020
This list is making me hungry! As we get into those busy springtime months I can never have enough easy dinner ideas! I think I’ll try the chicken parmesan thighs first
Katerina @ diethood .com
Friday 7th of February 2020
Such a great round up!! I WANT all of these! They are all amazing!
Lora
Friday 7th of February 2020
I'm inspired and created a list for next week! Great recipes, Erin!!
Jacque Hastert
Thursday 6th of February 2020
Thanks for providing these delicious dinner recipes. I can't wait to figure out which one I am going to make first, but most of these will be added to my menu this month.
Amanda
Thursday 6th of February 2020
Oh these are all so amazing especially through the week!