Need a go-to, easy dinner recipe to avoid the question "what's for dinner tonight"? If you want to skip meal prep and extra time in the kitchen, use these easy, healthy dinner recipes the whole family will love.
Simple to whip up and naturally dairy-free and gluten-free, these dinner recipes will help save your sanity on busy weeknights.
"Okay, these recipes sound amazing! I'm always on the lookout for new meals to try, and it seems as if I've hit the jackpot..." - Larissa
Skip the post-work stress and have a few easy dinner recipes on hand for those ultra-busy nights! Having a stack of go-to recipes in your back pocket is mom-hack you can't do without (here's the best breakfast recipes FYI).
Even a Certified Nutrition Coach like myself fails at meal prepping sometimes (though here are tips to make meal prep easier). This means that having fast, healthy, and delicious recipes on hand is a lifesaver, and the whole point behind the Busy Moms Cookbook which gives you 30 high protein dinners in 30 minutes or less.
Crucial Tips To Making Dinner EASIER
There's no doubt about it, having a few things ready and made will go a long way to making dinner ideas come together quickly.
And though you could easily cut veggies or prep rice, the only thing that I really like to have done is a Dutch Oven Roast Chicken (or two!) in the fridge.
For the vegetarian recipes listed below, if you have some chicken or air fryer steak bites in the fridge, throw it on and it's a full meal. Or, pick up a cooked rotisserie chicken on the way home from work.
What To Expect From The Dinner Recipes
The following dinner recipes are all dairy-free and gluten-free. They're family favorites and delicious recipes that are quick to whip up (kind of like these gluten-free comfort food dinner recipes).
Within these dinner ideas you'll find quick recipes, sheet pan recipes, and throw-together meals that essentially use up random things in the fridge.
So, scroll through the dinner recipes below, gain some sanity, and enjoy what you eat!
Easy 30-Minute Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights
Short on time? These quick dinner ideas come together in 30 minutes or less, perfect for busy weeknights when you're juggling kids, work, and the “what’s for dinner?” question. Fast, simple, and satisfying.
Kid-Approved Sheet Pan Dinner Recipes
One pan, zero stress. These sheet pan dinners are the ultimate time-saver, just toss everything on a tray, roast, and relax. Minimal cleanup, maximum flavor.
Throw Together Dinner Ideas For Tonight
These easy dinner ideas don't have recipes, they're exactly how they sound: Something completely thrown together that somehow works as a satisfying meal.
Though many of them seem low-carb, I do tend to cook rice with soy sauce and quinoa noodles with them for the kids. I drizzle the noodles in olive oil and add some nutritional yeast and salt for flavor.
In a pinch, these are some of my favorite easy dinner ideas (as are these dairy-free slow cooker recipes for busy weeknights)!
- Homemade burgers and grilled asparagus
- Chicken breasts coated in barbeque sauce and roasted root vegetables
- Grilled sausages and candied Brussels sprouts
- Grilled steak and cauliflower rice
- Grilled chicken and grilled veggie and quinoa salad
- Taco night
- Breakfast for dinner featuring our favorite high-protein yogurt pancakes or dairy-free breakfast casserole
- Quesadillas and sliced raw veggies
- Chicken fajitas or chicken fajita bowls
- Easy chicken stir fry with gluten-free teriyaki sauce
Dinner doesn’t have to be chaotic—this eBook gives you 20+ protein-packed meals ready in 30 minutes or less (even when the day’s already gone sideways)
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to fast, easy dinner recipes, having cooked chicken, cooked rice, and chopped veggies in the fridge makes it easy to whip something up!
Having a few staples makes busy nights a little less stressful. Things like soy sauce, hot sauce, homemade alfredo sauce, teriyaki sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and sesame oil make it so you can easily whip something up!
Anne says
Looks delicious! I am going to try the steak bites tonight!
fitasamamabear says
You'll love them!
Kethy says
Hi Dear!
This is an amazing post and I like Chicken Jambalaya and Falafel the most. I enjoyed reading this post and will try some of these recipes soon at my home. Thanks for sharing such nice ideas for dinner.
fitasamamabear says
Thanks so much Kethy! Most people get super stumped for dinner so it's nice to just have IDEAS instead of scrambling!
Sincerely Ophelia says
So many meal ideas to choose from! It's making me hungry! <3 Love. Will be contemplating!
XOXO // Check out my latest post if you like 😉
SINCERELY OPHELIA | TREND ALERT: Off the Shoulder Tops Galore
fitasamamabear says
Haha I know what you mean! When I was retyping the post up all I wanted to do was eat everything again 😛
Bailie says
This is a great idea! It's hard to make big meals when there is only 2 of us. Thanks for sharing this!
fitasamamabear says
No problem! Hopefully it gives you a few more ideas at least!
Priyadarshini Rajendran says
Perfect timing, I am so happy that I found this. Printing it for my week 🙂
Larissa says
Okay, these recipes sound amazing! I'm always on the lookout for new meals to try, and it seems as if I've hit the jackpot. I'm not a big fan of mushrooms or of curry, so I probably won't be making those, but everything else is free game! Thanks for sharing 🙂
fitasamamabear says
Hey Larissa- glad you popped by.. and that you like the post! At the very least it gives you some ideas! I got so sick of thinking up dinners I decided to just write it all down lol No mushrooms?! GASP lol most of the recipes you can omit, I just have kind of an obsession with them 😛 Check out the recipe section if you need more ideas!
Shannon Burlingame says
These all look SOO good!! I have to try peach and ginger chicken. That sounds really interesting. 🙂
fitasamamabear says
Enjoy it! Such a random combination but really tasty!
Modern Home says
look so tasty. I think I will try Chicken curry for tomorrow dinner. I will try your recipes
fitasamamabear says
Mmmm I adore chicken curry.. all curry lol enjoy!