Dinner

81 Dinner Ideas That Aren’t All Pasta

How can it be almost dinner time again? We don't know, either. But we have recipes that can help.
Shawarma spiced tofu sandwiches .
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege

Don't get us wrong, we love a simple pasta—but sometimes, you want some variety, and you want it now. So we've gathered our 81 best quick and easy dinner ideas to make sure your weeknight lineup doesn't get stale. Keep scrolling to find recipes for shawarma-spiced tofu, soy-glazed chicken, crispy-skinned salmon—and yes, a few really good pastas, too.

  • four crisp tortillas topped with yogurt sauce and a chorizo saut on a plate with lime wedges
    Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
    1/80

    Chickpea and Chorizo Tostadas

    Mashed chickpeas add heartiness to the sizzling chorizo so this quick, pasta-free dinner isn't too heavy on the meat. Top your tostadas off with any herb you like—just don't toss out the stems! Dice and add them to the delicious yogurt sauce.

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  • Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
    2/80

    Sweet-and-Saucy Pork Chops

    Sugar is the secret ingredient in this speedy weeknight dinner, helping the chops caramelize and develop a nice golden-brown crust.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    5/80

    Green Bean and Tuna Salad With Basil Dressing

    Here's the perfect easy dinner for when the weather gets warmer and you'd like to do minimal cooking. This salad combines crisp greens, creamy white beans, and oil-packed tuna served in a punchy basil dressing.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    6/80

    Chicken Under a Brick in a Hurry

    Using a heavy skillet to weighing down the chicken does double duty by elevating the skin's contact with the pan for maximum crispiness and locking in moisture to keep the meat extra-juicy.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    7/80

    Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    It's always fun to stuff a lettuce wrap with a flavorful filling. Let this not-so-traditional spin on larb become your new late-night go-to meal.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
    8/80

    Grilled Greens and Cheese on Toast

    Pile charred Halloumi cheese, kale, and cherry tomatoes onto grilled bread rubbed with garlic for an almost-instant warm weather dinner idea.

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  • Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    9/80

    Slow-Roasted Salmon With Harissa

    Slow-roasting salmon is a sure-fire, never-fail technique for tender, flaky fish. Coating it with harissa paste ensures it’s flavorful too.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
    10/80

    Crispy Tofu With Maple-Soy Glaze

    Our simple technique of draining before frying makes the tofu extra-crispy, and perfect for absorbing the salty-sweet flavors of maple syrup, soy sauce, and fresh ginger.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    11/80

    Citrus Shrimp Rice Bowls

    A bright and spicy sauce works as both marinade for the shrimp and dressing for the citrus salad in these quick and colorful rice bowls.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    12/80

    Roast Sausage and Fennel with Orange

    Roasting Italian sausages on a bed of sliced fennel and red onion is two kinds of genius: sausage drippings flavor the vegetables and you only have one pan to clean when dinner is done.

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  • Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    13/80

    Braised Celery With Lentils and Garlic

    If you have celery lingering in the back of your fridge, it's time to treat it as a star. Here, it's braised until golden brown, and paired with earthy marinated lentils.

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  • Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    14/80

    Pasta With Brown Butter, Whole Lemon, and Parmesan

    Making pasta doesn't have to mean making the same old pasta. A thinly sliced whole lemon adds a fresh aroma, tartness, and complexity of flavor to this simple recipe.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    15/80

    Chicken Salad With Apricots, Celery, and Blue Cheese

    This bright chicken salad is the perfect combination of creamy, sweet, and acidic.  The tender apricots paired with the crunchy celery keeps things interesting.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    16/80

    Perfect Pesto Pasta

    Toasting the pine nuts before making the pesto sauce brings a deep, roasty element. But the key is to add the basil at the very end, instead of blending everything all at once, so it keeps its vibrant color and flavor.

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  • Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    19/80

    Kimchi-Fried Grains

    Making a batch of grains over the weekend means your dinners for the week are already halfway done. This easy stir-fry can go in a variety of directions, but we like adding spicy kimchi and topping it with a fried egg.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Chris Morocco
    20/80

    Baked Feta and Greens With Lemony Yogurt

    Crispy curry-spice chickpeas and wilted hearty greens are served under warm feta for an easy 30-minute meal. We like to eat it with a thick slice of country-style toast.

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  • Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    21/80

    Pantry Pasta with Garlic, Anchovies, and Parmesan

    This is the epitome of simple (but luxurious) restaurant-level pasta. All you have to do is season the boiling water with salt, cook the pasta al dente, and make a silky sauce using the pasta water, Parmesan, olive oil, and butter.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    22/80

    Rotisserie Chicken Salad with Charred Scallion Dressing

    There's no shame in starting with rotisserie chicken. This salad gets jazzed up with smoky charred scallions and a creamy lemon dressing. Top it all off with sliced avocados and radishes.

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  • Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege
    25/80

    Shawarma-Spiced Tofu Pita Wraps

    Tearing tofu into craggy pieces and then roasting with a heap of spices until the edges turn crisp is the key to these intensely flavorful sandwiches.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    26/80

    Big Green Lentil Salad

    Cool yogurt, crunchy seeds, and herbs turn lentils into a lunch salad you’ll actually be excited to eat. Serve it with warm pita for swiping up the garlicky yogurt.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    27/80

    Massaged Kale With Tomatoes, Creamed Mozzarella, and Wild Rice

    Yes, we have no burrata. But it doesn't matter, because we have creamed mozzarella. Tossing torn pieces of mozzarella in a bowl with sour cream, lemon juice, and salt makes an extra-rich, luscious topper for this easy dinner salad.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li
    28/80

    Weeknight Beans on Toast

    This recipe makes more saucy, sausage-laced beans than you need, but the leftovers can be repurposed as a quick topper for pasta on another night. If you don’t have spinach, any greens from your fridge will work.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Food styling by Simon Andrews
    29/80

    Baked Tomatoes, Peppers, and Goat Cheese with Crisped Toasts

    This savory-sweet dish is decorated with soft cheese and a hint of garlic. Served over a crispy baguette, it’s the perfect light lunch, midday snack, or warm evening appetizer.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura
    30/80

    Sausage and Greens Sheet-Pan Dinner

    With crispy mini potatoes and hearty greens that are roasted in a sweet-tart mustard dressing, this 25-minute dinner is an easy crowd-pleaser.

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  • Photo by Dylan James Ho and Jeni Afuso
    31/80

    Speedy Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

    Starting with frozen ravioli means you can have lasagna in a half hour. Everything cooks in one skillet as the ravioli soaks up the tomatoey flavor and helps thicken the sauce.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege
    32/80

    Soy-Glazed Chicken With Broccoli

    A sweet and gingery soy sauce mixture is used to both braise and glaze skinless, boneless chicken thighs in this quick, kid-friendly dinner.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    33/80

    Sheet-Pan Grilled Cheese

    Two rimmed baking sheets and a hot oven mimic a giant panini press, making grilled cheese for a crowd a super quick and easy prospect.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    34/80

    Pasta With Sausage and Arugula

    Arugula adds a fresh, peppery bite to this simple sausage and roasted vegetable pasta.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    35/80

    Spiced Snapper with Cucumber Salad

    Fish fillets get rubbed in a garlic-spice oil before roasting in the oven. It's a foolproof technique with big flavor payoff. Serve your fish with this lemony cucumber salad to complete the quick and easy meal.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Joanna Keohane
    36/80

    Beer-Steamed Mussels With Chorizo

    You can use any pilsner in this recipe; you may want to buy a sixpack so that you can sip along with the meal. 

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  • 39/80

    12-Minute Saucy Chicken Breasts With Limes

    Three tricks for flawless weeknight chicken: remove the bones from a skin-on breast, weight it down for faster cooking and crisper skin, and toss some lime halves into the hot pan for an instant smoky, tangy sauce.

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  • Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    40/80

    Crispy-Skinned Fish With Herb Sauce

    Starting the fish skin side down in a nonstick skillet and slowly raising the heat lends extra-crispy skin. The skin will gradually render fat, while the flesh gently cooks through. This technique works with any kind skin-on fish.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    43/80

    Fried Egg Tacos with Chile Jam

    This quick taco is simple, but full of flavor and texture. Chile paste brings a hint of spice, creamy yogurt brings a little tang, and charred tortillas bring a subtle crunch.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    44/80

    Pasta Carbonara With Cabbage and Mushrooms

    In this dish, you’ll sauté mushrooms and bacon until they become crispy. You’ll use bacon fat to sear the cabbage before tossing in an egg, Parmesan, and pasta.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    45/80

    Jammy Eggs and Feta Flatbreads with Herbs

    Here's the easiest way to turn flatbreads (or toast) into a satisfying, easy dinner. You can use any herbs you have on hand for the herby feta topping.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    46/80

    "Antipasto" Pasta with Sausage, Artichoke Hearts, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

    This is the ultimate pantry pasta for whenever you're in need of carbs. The pasta is tossed with dry-cured sausage, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes along with a simple tomato paste and olive oil sauce, and topped with toasted pine nuts and crisp peperoncini.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    51/80

    Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta

    The chicken, sauce, and pasta for this dish all cook in the same pan. You can add broccoli, mushrooms, herbs, or a little chipotle at the same time that you stir in the Parmesan.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    52/80

    Sesame Chicken Drumettes

    This one-pan chicken dish is almost completely hands off. The best part? The glaze essentially cooks itself.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    55/80

    Quick Chicken Tikka Masala

    Your chicken routine could use some variation. But if you've got ginger, garam masala, crushed tomatoes, and yogurt on hand, you could be eating this now.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    56/80

    One-Pot Pasta Primavera With Shrimp

    This lightning-fast version of the classic spring pasta calls for just the right amount of water that magically cooks down to create a silky sauce, no draining necessary.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    57/80

    Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Skillet

    This Mexican-inspired meal uses cooked chicken, canned black beans, and jarred red salsa to create the cheesy goodness of enchiladas in half the time.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    58/80

    Kimchi Udon with Scallions

    The power trio of butter, kimchi, and gochujang produces an umami ballad so beautiful in this udon recipe, you’ll want to play it over and over again.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    63/80

    22-Minute Coconut Chicken Curry

    Fresh ginger and garlic brighten up store-bought curry powder for the quickest chicken dinner. The mustard-flecked cashew topping adds even more flavor and the perfect amount of crunch.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
    64/80

    Shrimp with Herby White Beans and Tomatoes

    This one-pot meal is herby, sweet, and garlicky all at once. To add more green, throw in a handful of arugula or spinach at the end; for more garlic, pair it with garlic toast.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Hampton
    65/80

    Cumin-Scented Potatoes With Tomatoes

    Cumin and turmeric give this 30-minute vegetarian stew, called Ghurma Aloo, smoky, warming flavor and vibrant, soul-satisfying color. It's a quick and easy dinner idea that's super flavorful.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
    66/80

    Pineapple Shrimp Noodle Bowls

    Caramelized pineapple and sautéed shrimp are a perfect pair for the sweet and sour basil sauce. Spoon it over rice noodles for a quick, bright dinner.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    67/80

    Quick Baked Chicken Parmesan

    This faster, healthier version of standard chicken Parmesan is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner. Serve with garlic bread and a side salad to round out the meal.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Monica Pierini
    68/80

    10-Minute Shrimp With Green Beans and Creamy Lemon-Dill Dip

    What's better than a dinner that uses minimal dishes? This picnic-style meal can be eaten with your hands. The shrimp and green beans get a quick steam before being served with a lemony yogurt sauce.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    69/80

    Steamed Winter Veggie Bowls

    Everything in this dinner (including the eggs!) cooks together in one steamer insert.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone
    70/80

    Easy Fried Rice With Chicken and Broccolini

    Fried rice is easy, fast, and a great way to use up leftovers. This citrusy-sweet version uses fresh broccolini, snow peas, edamame, and chicken, but any leftover vegetables or protein you have in your kitchen. 

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    71/80

    Spring Pea Fish Chowder

    Sweet peas, pea shoots, and lemon zest give this bright, lightly creamy chowder a dose of freshness.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    72/80

    Sheet-Pan Chicken With Tomatoes and Mozzarella

    Call it "Pizza Chicken" and the whole family will love this fresh take on those classic Italian-American flavors in one-pan chicken dinner form.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    77/80

    Salad Pasta

    No, this isn't pasta salad. Here, we take loads of greens and fold them into pasta with a garlicky anchovy sauce for a quick, one-bowl dinner.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    78/80

    Soba Noodles With Crispy Kale

    Nutritional yeast adds a hit of umami that plays well with earthy kale and buckwheat noodles. We suggest using curly kale, which roasts into light, crispy chips.

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