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These healthy dinner Ideas will help feed your family FAST on busy weeknights! You'll love these quick and easy recipes.
What's in this Post
- Why You'll Love These Recipes
- How to Choose Quick Dinner Ideas
- Recipes with 10 Ingredients or Less
- Sheet Pan Dinner Ideas
- One Pot Pasta Recipes
- Easy Stir Fries and Skillet Dinners
- Mix and Match Dinner Ideas
- Freezer Meals
- Crockpot Recipes
- Instant Pot Recipes
- FAQs
- How to Make a Weekly Meal Plan
Why You'll Love These Weeknight Dinner Recipes
Here are just a few reasons why you'll love these recipes:
- They're healthy and delicious.
- They're made from simple ingredients you can easily find in the grocery store.
- Most come together in 30 minutes or less (or can cook in the slow cooker all day while you're at work).
- A lot of them can be made in one pan so you won't have a sink full of dishes at the end of the night.
- You can make and freeze some of them ahead of busy days or seasons.
How to choose quick dinner ideas
Knowing what to make for dinner is probably the toughest part of dinner itself. Either you don't know what you're craving or you're worried it's going to take too long. Well, never fret with these strategies!
- Pick recipes that have ingredients you already have on hand at home – this way you reduce food waste. Have a ton of carrots? Look up carrot recipes! Want to do something with that chicken laying on the counter? Maybe look up some chicken pasta or casserole recipes.
- Use Pinterest to discover last-minute recipes and hone in on your cravings, whether you're in the mood for a bit of sweetness or a bit of saltiness. You can use it as both a visual search engine or just browse your home feed for inspiration!
- Keep a list of all your usual go-to dinner recipes for easy access when you're running out of inspiration. This way you know you'll get to eat something you like, but don't have to think too much about what that is.
- Use Instagram and search specific hashtags like #lowcarb #broccoli or #groundbeef or even just #recipes to find new Instagram accounts and browse their recipes for ideas.
- Choose recipes with ingredients that you can prep ahead of time! With my meal planning app Dinner Prep Pro, I provide prep ahead instructions to do on the weekend so that your healthy meals can be made in a flash during the week!
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Recipes with 10 ingredients or less
One of the best ways to cut back on the time you spend on making dinner is to limit the number of ingredients needed to make the meal. Below are some delicious dinner recipes that are made with 10-ingredients or less, all without sacrificing on any of the flavors. Most of the dishes below are low carb options too since grains take the longest to prepare and cook besides proteins – trust me, they're perfection!
Stuffed Poblano Peppers {Low-Carb}
40 minutes minutes
These Stuffed Poblano Peppers are a healthy low-carb dinner idea made with ground beef, red peppers, cheese and plenty of flavour!
Make this recipe
Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 608mg | Potassium: 565mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1900IU | Vitamin C: 131.2mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 3.4mg
Creamy Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese {Low Carb}
35 minutes minutes
This Low Carb Cauliflower Mac and Cheese offers a lighter spin on classic mac and cheese– it’s low on calories and keto-friendly!
Make this recipe
Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 348mg | Potassium: 792mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2400IU | Vitamin C: 168.3mg | Calcium: 350mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Easy Sausage, Peppers and Onions {Skillet Meal}
30 minutes minutes
This Sausage, Peppers and Onions Skillet is an easy one-pan weeknight dinner made with turkey sausage, bell peppers, onions and pasta sauce.
Make this recipe
Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 709mg | Potassium: 537mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3950IU | Vitamin C: 328.4mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3.6mg
French Onion Chicken Skillet
40 minutes minutes
ThisFrench Onion Chicken Skillet is a delicious weeknight dinner that is a play on French onion soup. It's packed with protein for a filling meal!
Make this recipe
Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 500IU | Vitamin C: 28.9mg | Calcium: 260mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Hasselback Baked Caprese Chicken
30 minutes minutes
ThisHasselback Baked Caprese Chicken is like summer on a plate, made with mozzarella cheese, sliced plum tomatoes and fresh basil.
Make this recipe
Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 345mg | Potassium: 293mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 7.4mg | Calcium: 230mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Jalapeno Popper Hasselback Chicken
40 minutes minutes
ThisJalapeno Popper Hasselback Chicken is so good. All you need is light cream cheese, cheddar and jalapeno peppers!
Make this recipe
Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 577mg | Potassium: 279mg | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 550IU | Calcium: 230mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Sheet pan dinner ideas
Here are some of my fave sheet pan recipes below to get you started – they make such great dinner ideas! The recipe for sheet pan dinners is simple – throw on some veg like bell peppers or sweet potatoes, a protein like chicken, some sauce for flavour and stick it all in the oven! I've also got a super handy round up of more sheet pan dinners right here on the blog if you'd like to check out more of them.
Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
40 minutes minutes
These Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken Meal Prep Bowls are a delicious low carb lunch idea that comes together in 30 minutes!
Make this recipe
Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 624mg | Potassium: 1169mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2324IU | Vitamin C: 184mg | Calcium: 113mg | Iron: 2mg
Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables
40 minutes minutes
ThisSheet Pan Sausage & Root Vegetable Scramble is a delicious quick and easy dinner cooked all on one pan in the oven with a hint of rosemary and garlic.
Make this recipe
Serving: 1g | Calories: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 947mg | Potassium: 492mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 8650IU | Vitamin C: 117.2mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2.3mg
Sheet Pan Chicken and Asparagus
40 minutes minutes
This Sheet Pan Chicken and Asparagus recipe is great for meal prep. It’s Whole30 approved and is ready in less than 30 minutes!
Make this recipe
Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 213mg | Potassium: 152mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 550IU | Vitamin C: 7.4mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 2.9mg
Sheet Pan Bruschetta Chicken {Low Carb}
40 minutes minutes
This Sheet Pan Bruschetta Chicken is a healthy low-carb dinner idea made with fresh veggies – plus, the entire recipe only uses one pan!
Make this recipe
Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 425mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 900IU | Vitamin C: 35.5mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken
30 minutes minutes
This Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken is a healthy, low carb dinner idea – it comes together on one pan in 30 minutes and is great for meal prep!
Make this recipe
Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 467mg | Potassium: 552mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 6700IU | Vitamin C: 103.1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.6mg
30-Minute Sheet Pan Rosemary Chicken
35 minutes minutes
This Sheet Pan Rosemary Chicken is a healthy low-carb meal that's ready in just 30 minutes – plus, it's great for meal prep!
Make this recipe
Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 385mg | Potassium: 735mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1350IU | Vitamin C: 173.3mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1.8mg
One pot pasta recipes
Making dinner in one pot is a great way to minimize your cooking time, and most of the pasta recipes below do just that! Pasta is just an overall great dinner idea because you get in your protein, carbs and veggies all in one meal simmered in a delicious tomato or cream sauce, as opposed to having to make separate side dishes. Plus, who doesn't love a big bowl of delicious noodles? If you want to add in even more protein, throw in some shrimp, chicken, ground turkey, ground beef or basically any protein option of your choice.
Lighter Shrimp Pasta Primavera {30-Minute Meal}
30 minutes minutes
This Lighter Shrimp Pasta Primavera recipe is ready in just 30 minutes, made with fresh veggies, yummy shrimp and the creamiest sauce!
Make this recipe
Calories: 528kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 212mg | Sodium: 1253mg | Potassium: 956mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1088IU | Vitamin C: 104mg | Calcium: 339mg | Iron: 5mg
One Pot Spicy Penne Arrabiata
30 minutes minutes
This Spicy Penne Arrabiata is filled with sausage, peppers and the yummiest sauce – it takes less than 30 minutes and only uses one pot!
Make this recipe
Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 763mg | Potassium: 353mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1050IU | Vitamin C: 61.1mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 3.4mg
Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese
40 minutes minutes
This Instant Pot Chili Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food! It’s a cheesy one-pot pasta recipe that’s filled with hearty flavours.
Make this recipe
Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 1052mg | Potassium: 740mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 24.8mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 4.5mg
Instant Pot Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
30 minutes minutes
ThisInstant Pot Bruschetta Chicken Pasta is a delicious one pot pasta recipe that's perfect for summer and it’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Make this recipe
Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 913mg | Potassium: 205mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 10.7mg | Calcium: 520mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Whole Wheat Summer Pesto Pasta {One-Pot Meal}
45 minutes minutes
This Whole Wheat Summer Pesto Pasta is the perfect one-pot meal that’s great for meal prep and batch cooking during a busy workweek!
Make this recipe
Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 800mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1852IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 2mg
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
35 minutes minutes
This is the Creamiest Cajun Chicken Pasta, made in one pot with bell peppers, chicken and Cajun seasoning – it’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Make this recipe
Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 525mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 655IU | Vitamin C: 10.7mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1.8mg
Easy stir fries and skillet dinners
Stir fries and skillet meals are some of my favourite healthy dinner recipes – they're so easy to make and are super customizable. I've listed some low carb dishes below where you have the option to cook the rice separately, and I've also got some chicken teriyaki bowls where the rice cooks alongside the chicken and veggies. These easy dinners come together in a flash! And if you're looking for more skillet meals be sure to check out this other skillet recipes post with more ideas!
Kung Pao Shrimp {30-Minute Meal}
30 minutes minutes
Kung Pao Shrimp is a quick and easy stir fry with a slightly spicy sauce, crisp veggies and peanuts served overtop of jasmine rice.
Make this recipe
Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 288mg | Sodium: 1798mg | Potassium: 532mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1180IU | Vitamin C: 57.5mg | Calcium: 213mg | Iron: 4.1mg
30-Minute Sesame Chicken Rice Bowls
30 minutes minutes
These 30-Minute Sesame Chicken Rice Bowls are a healthy substitute for takeout – they're perfect for meal prep or a quick and easy dinner!
Make this recipe
Calories: 553kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1130mg | Potassium: 670mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 1322IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg
One Pot Chicken Teriyaki Bowls
30 minutes minutes
These One Pot Chicken Teriyaki Bowls with veggies and rice are the perfect weeknight dinner – they're made in one pan for minimal clean up!
Make this recipe
Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 1616mg | Potassium: 685mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1953IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 4mg
Skinny Easy Chicken Marsala Skillet
40 minutes minutes
ThisSkinny, Easy Chicken Marsala Skillet is a delicious, creamy mushroom chicken recipe and it's made healthier with less cream and marsala wine!
Make this recipe
Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 499mg | Potassium: 532mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1650IU | Vitamin C: 122.1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.8mg
30-Minute Italian Chicken Skillet {One Pan}
30 minutes minutes
This 30-Minute Italian Chicken Skillet is a delicious and low-calorie meal that’s great for meal prep – all you need is one pan!
Make this recipe
Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 681mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Calcium: 380mg | Iron: 4.3mg
Easy Cashew Chicken {30-Minute Meal}
30 minutes minutes
This Easy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry is better than takeout and great for meal prep. Plus, the sauce is made using mostly pantry staples!
Make this recipe
Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 549mg | Potassium: 828mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 3623IU | Vitamin C: 67mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg
Mix and match dinner ideas
Mix and match dinner recipes are an easy dinner idea where you basically throw together whatever you have lying around in the fridge by mixing and matching different ingredients. It's a great way to reduce food waste while still eating a low calorie meal! Things like buddha bowls, burritos, tacos in corn tortillas, salads, lettuce wraps, burgers, loaded fries, healthy nachos, etc. are great starting points for last-minute dinner ideas.
Tequila Lime Chicken {Applebee's Copycat}
40 minutes minutes
This Tequila Lime Chicken is inspired by Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken. It's a tasty Tex Mex dinner idea that’s great for meal prep!
Make this recipe
Calories: 477kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 1305mg | Potassium: 684mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 1485IU | Vitamin C: 11.8mg | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 2.5mg
PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps {Copycat Recipe}
30 minutes minutes
These copycat PF Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps are made with ground chicken, mushrooms and water chestnuts – they're healthy and low carb!
Make this recipe
Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 673mg | Potassium: 1200mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 5466IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg
Easy Thai Basil Chicken Recipe
40 minutes minutes
ThisMeal Prep Thai Basil Chicken is a healthy stir fry idea that doubles as an easy 30-minute dinner or make-ahead lunch!
Make this recipe
Calories: 386kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 1534mg | Potassium: 354mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1050IU | Vitamin C: 51.2mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Meal Prep Individual Taco Pizza
40 minutes minutes
This Meal Prep Individual Taco Pizza is a great way to save time and money by doing some weekly batch cooking. And it's a healthy, fun twist on pizza that you're going to love – you can freeze these mini pizzas for work too!
Make this recipe
Calories: 541kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 819mg | Potassium: 340mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 750IU | Vitamin C: 10.7mg | Calcium: 440mg | Iron: 5.6mg
The Best Carne Asada Fries {Loaded Fries}
45 minutes minutes
The Best Carne Asada Fries are toppedwith cheddar cheese, Mexican-spiced steak, pico de gallo, homemade guacamole, jalapenos and sour cream – they are the ultimate weekend food and are relatively healthy to boot!
Make this recipe
Calories: 461kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 267mg | Potassium: 871mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 550IU | Vitamin C: 21.5mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Greek Hasselback Chicken {Low-Carb}
45 minutes minutes
This Hasselback Greek Chicken is a low-carb recipe marinated in lemon and oregano, stuffed with colourful veggies then topped with feta cheese.
Make this recipe
Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 811mg | Potassium: 562mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1072IU | Vitamin C: 47mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1mg
Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos
30 minutes minutes
These Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos are made with fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotle – they're gluten-free and ready in 30 minutes!
Make this recipe
Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 742mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4600IU | Vitamin C: 15.7mg | Calcium: 200mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Cheesy Grilled Foil Potatoes {Potato Nachos}
40 minutes minutes
These Cheesy Grilled Foil Potatoes are potato nachos made easy on the BBQ. Just slice the potatoes, add on your toppings and grill!
Make this recipe
Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 823mg | Potassium: 1403mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1250IU | Vitamin C: 114.7mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 3.8mg
Freezer meals
Another great dinner idea is to rely on freezer meals. Whether it's a dinner recipe you've made already and frozen, or just some large Ziploc bags full of frozen ingredients and sauces, freezer-friendly recipes can take a lot of stress off of dinnertime! I usually make something like pasta, a protein-rich soup with black beans, or a savory stew ahead of time and freeze in small glass containers. From there you can reheat in the microwave for 7-8 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Homemade Hamburger Helper {One Pot}
35 minutes minutes
ThisHealthier Homemade Hamburger Helper is a delicious one-pot spin off on your favourite childhood meal – it's got extra veggies, too!
Make this recipe
Calories: 589kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 1491mg | Potassium: 961mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1117IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 248mg | Iron: 5mg
Slow Cooker Peanut Stew {Gluten-Free + Vegan}
4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
This Slow Cooker Peanut Stew is a hearty dish made with chickpeas, sweet potatoes and peanut butter. It's also gluten-free and vegan!
Make this recipe
Calories: 432kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 747mg | Potassium: 561mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2750IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 4.7mg
Super Easy Mini Vegetable Lasagna Cups
35 minutes minutes
These Super Easy Mini Vegetable Lasagna Cups are such a cute individual serving-sized version of everyone’s favourite comfort food.
Make this recipe
Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 201mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 2.5mg
Easy Baked Turkey Meatballs
35 minutes minutes
These Easy Baked Turkey Meatballs are freezer-friendly and perfect for meal prep! Serve them with zucchini noodles for a low carb meal.
Make this recipe
Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 1043mg | Potassium: 1279mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1021IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 166mg | Iron: 4mg
Super Easy Mini Chicken Pot Pies
55 minutes minutes
These Super Easy Mini Chicken Pot Pies are a lighter version of your favourite comfort food in the cutest individual serving sizes!
Make this recipe
Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 882mg | Potassium: 537mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 7800IU | Vitamin C: 34.7mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 3.1mg
Easy Chicken Pasta Bake {Freezer Meal}
50 minutes minutes
This Easy Chicken Pasta Bake is a freezer meal made with lots of veggies and a creamy rose sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese!
Make this recipe
Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 757mg | Potassium: 405mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5300IU | Vitamin C: 41.3mg | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 3.6mg
Crockpot recipes
Have dinner cooking in your crockpot all day for the EASIEST dinner ever! You can usually prep this the night before and have it cook overnight or while you're at work. The flavors will simmer together all day so you'll have a yummy dish to enjoy later. From delicious meatballs to chili stuffed with beans, there are plenty of crockpot options to choose from!
Lighter Crockpot Swedish Meatballs
6 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
TheseCrockpot Swedish Meatballs are made lighter using half the heavy cream and extra-lean ground beef meatballs made from scratch.
Make this recipe
Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 130mg | Sodium: 676mg | Potassium: 407mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 35.5mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 3.8mg
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
6 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
This Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala is super flavourful! It’s a great hands-off dinner idea that cooks all day in the crockpot on low.
Make this recipe
Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 105mg | Sodium: 478mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 2.5mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1.8mg
Creamy Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
8 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
This Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff is the ultimate comfort food made lighter thanks to sour cream – and it's freezer-friendly!
Make this recipe
Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 268mg | Potassium: 740mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 344IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 3mg
Slow Cooker Lentil Curry
4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
This Slow Cooker Lentil Curry with butternut squash, spinach and coconut milk is a delicious vegan recipe – serve with rice for a full meal!
Make this recipe
Calories: 383kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 428mg | Potassium: 1074mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 14372IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 6mg
Slow Cooker Tuscan Sausage and Kale Soup
6 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
This Slow Cooker Tuscan Sausage & Kale Soup is a hearty veggie-filled dish for cold days. Dump it in the crockpot then set it and forget it!
Make this recipe
Calories: 312kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 1126mg | Potassium: 720mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 7750IU | Vitamin C: 66.8mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 4.7mg
6 hours hours 15 minutes minutes
This Healthy Slow Cooker Turkey Chili is the most flavourful chili that’s filled with beans, veggies and turkey, then loaded with toppings.
Make this recipe
Calories: 568kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1548mg | Potassium: 1776mg | Fiber: 24g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 344IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 188mg | Iron: 11mg
Instant Pot recipes
Whip up dinner using your pressure cooker – like the slow cooker, it's mostly a hands-off cooking process. Dump everything in and cook on high pressure. The main difference? The Instant Pot cooks everything FAST! You're looking at a 20-30 minute cook time from preheating to releasing the pressure, and everything comes together in one pot to minimize clean up. =
20-Minute Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
25 minutes minutes
These 20-Minute Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls are a delicious, healthy quick dinner or meal prep idea using mostly pantry staples – read on for a slow cooker option!
Make this recipe
Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 708mg | Potassium: 1036mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 558IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3mg
Instant Pot Cream of Mushroom Chicken
45 minutes minutes
Instant Pot Cream of Mushroom Chicken is made healthier than the classic version of this dish – say hello to your childhood fave re-envisioned!
Make this recipe
Calories: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 798mg | Potassium: 552mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1000IU | Vitamin C: 6.6mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 3.1mg
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Rice
30 minutes minutes
These Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken Bowls with rice and broccoli are a great meal prep idea with the easiest five-ingredient stir fry sauce.
Make this recipe
Calories: 434kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 629mg | Potassium: 1199mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 7128IU | Vitamin C: 180mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 3mg
Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowls
35 minutes minutes
These Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken Noodle Bowls are ready in 20 minutes and will satisfy your takeout cravings with way less calories.
Make this recipe
Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 874mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1350IU | Vitamin C: 88.3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 3.4mg
Instant Pot Barbacoa Beef {Chipotle Copycat}
6 minutes minutes
These Instant Pot Barbacoa Bowls are a perfect Chipotle copycat! The beef stays tender and flavourful with a natural pressure release.
Make this recipe
Calories: 514kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 900mg | Potassium: 494mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 6.6mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 3.6mg
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Pineapple Chicken
30 minutes minutes
ThisInstant Pot Sweet and Sour Pineapple Chicken is a one-pot rice dish with an easy five-ingredient sauce made using pantry staples.
Make this recipe
Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 867mg | Potassium: 497mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1950IU | Vitamin C: 157.6mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.8mg
Instant Pot Chicken Pad Thai
30 minutes minutes
ThisInstant Pot Chicken Pad Thai is a quick and easy one-pot dinner – the noodles cook alongside the other ingredients for minimal clean-up!
Make this recipe
Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 1174mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 34.7mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1.1mg
Easy Instant Pot Pepper Steak
30 minutes minutes
ThisEasy Instant Pot Pepper Steak is a delicious 30-minute dinner idea packed with bell peppers, sirloin steak and a tasty soy-pepper sauce!
Make this recipe
Calories: 466kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 620mg | Potassium: 530mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1350IU | Vitamin C: 90.8mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2.3mg
Meal Prep Tools
- Grab someglass meal prep bowlsto pack up your meals.
- Butcher Box, conveniently delivers a variety of meats to your door frozen.
- Arice cookeris invaluable for saving time, and it cooks other grains, too!
- If you don't have a slow cooker, thiscrock pot is super helpful for cooking hands-off!
- Here’s theInstant PotI use.
- Usethese Ziploc bag holdersif you're preparing freezer meals.
- Freeze and refrigerate leftovers in round glass microwave-safe bowlswith lids.
- **Get my full list of tools here**
More FAQs
How can I make fast dinners on weeknights?
The best thing you can do to ensure you can put dinner on the table fast each night is to prep ingredients beforehand. It's what I have you do with my meal planning app, Dinner Prep Pro! Learn how to food prep in one hour on the weekends – it's a great shortcut that'll help you save time and motivate you to stick to your meal plan, even if you're feeling lazy. Chop up your veggies and proteins, make any sauces and cook any grains ahead of time (like quinoa, rice or riced cauliflower).
What are some cheap dinner ideas?
Cooking on a budget doesn't mean sacrificing on flavors. These cheap dinner ideas are all around $10 for four servings and make the most out of pantry goods and cheaper cuts of meat, in addition to plant-based protein options like black or white beans, chickpeas and more.
What are some good weeknight dinners for picky eaters?
The last thing you need at the end of a busy day is a fight at the dinner table. If you've got some picky eaters in the your household, try these kid-friendly dinners. They're real crowd-pleasers!
What time should I eat dinner?
It's recommended that you should eat dinner four to five hours after lunch. So, if you eat lunch at noon, you should eat dinner around 5:00 P.M. This might not always feasible depending on your schedule, though, but you should make sure to eat your dinner at least 2-3 hours before you go to sleep so you can digest your meal properly.
Is it a good idea to skip dinner?
Skipping any meal, including dinner, can be bad for your health. It can lead to nutrient deficiencies or cause your metabolism to slow down. If you're concerned about weight loss, it's much better to eat a lighter dinner than none at all. Go for protein-packed breakfasts like an egg white frittata and dinners like salmon or chicken breast.
Make a meal plan for weekly dinner ideas
I think meal planning is really the only way to go when you're trying to keep on track with dinner ideas. I will usually fill in 5-6 days' worth of meals in a meal planner and account for my schedule that week when planning everything out. You can use some of the dinner prep strategies above when making out your meal plan for the week ahead. Having everything on paper helps you stay on track!
And if you need some help coming up with ideas in general, be sure to check out my Start Here page to learn how to best use my blog to help with meal prep! Or check out my easiest ever 30 minute dinner ideas to get started.
Free Dinner Prep Challenge
Escape a cycle of burnout and decision fatigue with my fool-proof ingredient prep system. I'll send you a free meal plan and grocery list too!
More resources for easy weeknight dinners
How to Ingredient Prep in Just 1 Hour! {Tutorial + Meal Plan}
10 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget + Cheap Dinner Ideas
24 Healthy Family Dinner Ideas {Kid-Friendly}
See more related posts
52 Easy & Healthy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights
These healthy dinner Ideas will help feed your family FAST on busy weeknights! You'll love these quick and easy recipes.
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Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 589kcal
Author: Taylor Stinson
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb extra-lean ground beef or ground chicken
- 2 small yellow onions, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 6 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 786 mL can finely diced tomatoes (if you can't find finely diced, use an immersion blender to roughly blend them for a second or twice – you still want some chunks but you want it to be in between a dice and puree)
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 lb dry rotini pasta (4 cups of dry pasta)
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped optional
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil over med-high heat. Add onions and garlic, sauteeing for 2 minutes until fragrant. Add ground beef and cook until browned, another 2 min. Add celery and red pepper, sauteeing for another 2-3 min.
Add dried basil, oregano, salt and pepper, sauteeing another 30 seconds before adding broth and diced tomatoes. Stir to combine, then add dry pasta and bring to a boil, cooking on medium heat and stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes until pasta is completely cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Stir in sour cream and cheese, then remove from heat. Top with parsley (optional), then serve and enjoy!
Instant Pot instructions
Add olive oil to Instant Pot and turn to saute mode. When oil is hot, add onions, garlic and ground beef, breaking up with a spoon and sauteeing for 4-5 minutes until browned.
Add in remaining ingredients in order that they are listed except for sour cream, cheese and parsley, adding in pasta last.
Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes (Instant Pot will take about 15 minutes to preheat then cook the 3 minutes). Do a quick release of the pressure, then stir in sour cream and cheese, garnishing with parsley. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or in a pan on the stovetop.
Freeze this recipe for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat as normal, or reheat from frozen for 6-8 minutes.
This is a basic template of an easy dinner and is based on this Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.
Check out the links in this blog post for more individual weeknight dinner recipes.
Nutrition
Calories: 589kcal (29%)Carbohydrates: 67g (22%)Protein: 34g (68%)Fat: 20g (31%)Saturated Fat: 9g (56%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 74mg (25%)Sodium: 1491mg (65%)Potassium: 961mg (27%)Fiber: 5g (21%)Sugar: 8g (9%)Vitamin A: 1117IU (22%)Vitamin C: 40mg (48%)Calcium: 248mg (25%)Iron: 5mg (28%)
Free Dinner Prep Challenge!Learn my simple 5-step process to meal plan healthy food all week
