36 easy dinner recipes when you’re stuck for ideas

This recipe makes the most pre-prepared ingredients, so all you have to do is put it together.

Discover a delightful honey soy beef recipe that’s both budget-friendly and diabetic-friendly. With a quick 10-minute preparation and 10-minute cooking time, this dish serves two people and boasts Asian flavours that will please even the pickiest eaters. Make it a staple in your collection of go-to easy dinner recipes for a delicious and accessible meal option.

This cheesy delight will satisfy even the fussiest of eaters, and you can count on having leftovers for later.

This comforting and substantial Vietnamese chicken noodle soup is ideal for lunch or dinner. With a generous 25g of protein, 5g of fibre and approximately 1000kJ per serving, it’s a dish worth incorporating into your meals more frequently.

This dish featuring white fish is rich in green elements, including chilli, zucchini, pak choy, and lemongrass. It serves as an excellent choice when you’re looking for a light, refreshing, easy meal option.

Whether you follow a vegetarian diet or not, you’ll enjoy this lively noodle dish featuring wholesome tofu and nuts, complemented by the freshness of aromatic herbs. Have this easy dinner ready in less than 30 minutes, too. 

Fry up these fritters for a light and zesty mid-week dinner with minty, garden-fresh flavour.

This easy dinner combines the natural, earthy taste of mushrooms with a velvety sauce to elevate your pasta dish to a royal and creamy delight!

Feeling drained in the middle of the week? Rather than resorting to your usual Thai takeout, consider this quick and straightforward Asian-inspired dish that promises both health and freshness! The best part is it only takes 30 minutes to make. 

The combination of a generous bowl of this hearty soup and a goat’s cheese toastie on top can warm even the coldest of nights.

Not sure whether you feel like pasta or Mexican? Here’s a way to combine both in a speedy, simple, and incredibly tasty recipe. The shell-shaped pasta serves as the ideal carrier for soaking up the rich cheesy sauce, but feel free to opt for your preferred fresh or dried pasta.

It’s budget-friendly and simple – in this bolognese recipe, you just toss everything, including the pasta, into a large saucepan!

Creating a stunning seafood pasta dish is remarkably easy. This light and creamy meal can be served in just 20 minutes, making it an ideal choice for entertaining guests!

This tuna, vegetable, and pasta mornay creates an ideal weeknight dinner that’s sure to please the whole family. You can even use leftover cooked pasta from other recipes, if you’ve got some in the fridge.

This quick stir-fry includes chicken, assorted vegetables, an authentic homemade sauce and delicious noodles. Enjoy every bite!

Reduce the need for additional dishes by cooking the dry spaghetti directly in the sauce for a delicious dinner winner.

Bolognese stands out as one of the most globally recognised and cherished dishes, yet the quality of the sauces varies. Karen Martini shares her deluxe recipe, elevating the classic dish to a higher standard. 

A quick and easy weekday meal, this chicken macaroni bake is a delightful recipe that also saves on dishes.

A dish featuring bacon and eggs is sure to be a hit, and when you incorporate cheese and pasta, it becomes a guaranteed success. While the ingredient list may be modest, Karen will share a few tricks to ensure this dish tastes extraordinary. 

Running low on time? This beef meatball dish bursts with flavour and goes directly into the oven. While substantial enough to serve as a main course, you also have the option to present it as a side dish or pair it with pasta. 

This delectably simple curry is perfect and can be on the table in around 40 minutes.

Have this creamy, vibrant Indian-inspired chicken curry on the table in next to no time (well, 20 minutes to be precise).

If you’re searching for fast dinner recipes, this time-efficient pasta is worth a shot. The cheesy garlic and chilli sauce is packed with flavour, while the crispy breadcrumbs also contribute a delightful texture to this satisfying dish.

With a flawless balance of luscious hot-smoked salmon, seasonal vegetables, and zesty lemon, this pasta dish is both gratifying and pleasantly tangy, coming together within just 20 minutes.

This cheesy taco pasta can be ready in 35 minutes and serves 6. Serve with salsa for a complete Mexi feast.

This fragrant dish utilises yellow split peas and is so satisfying that additional protein is unnecessary.

Have this creamy, vibrant Indian-inspired chicken curry on the table in next to no time (well, 20 minutes to be precise).

This flavourful chicken and rice recipe is a satisfying midweek dinner winner.

Fried rice is easy to whip up for a quick dinner, and this recipe from Fast Ed shows you how to do it while also achieving the authentic flavour and texture of your favourite local Chinese takeaway spot.

Curried sausages are an old-school favourite that’s perfect for a mid-week dinner. And this recipe means you can have it on the table in 30 minutes. 

These delectable mini tacos featuring chipotle chicken offer an explosion of flavours and are the perfect easy dinner recipe.

Introduce the delectable flavours of Tex-Mex cuisine to your dining table with this air-fried recipe that’s ready in around 40 minutes.

The meatball and risoni bake is a one-pan marvel, sure to please any crowd and as simple as dinner recipes can get.

This slow-cooked sausage casserole is tasty and loaded with nutrient-packed zucchini and kale. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity – spend just 10 minutes assembling the ingredients in the tray, then let the oven take care of the rest.

There’s no need to ring your local Thai takeaway. Here’s how to make your own pad thai in around 35 minutes.