As a parent, we all need a list of really easy and quick dinner ideas to turn to when times are busy. In this post, I’m giving you 9 really (really, really!) simple dinner ideas that you can use if you just have time to run to the store for a few ingredients. We use these no-recipe dinner ideas all the time in our house. All of these dinners are made with mostly whole food ingredients and are a healthy option for you and your family.
Rotisserie Chicken + Asparagus + Fresh Bread + Lemon
Grab a rotisserie chicken from the prepared food section of your grocery store, and dinner is almost done. Roast some asparagus in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes and squeeze with lemon after. Slice up some fresh bread, and dinner is ready.
Chicken Sausage + Sweet Potatoes + Brussels Sprouts
Chop up some sweet potatoes, halve some brussels sprouts, and slice up some chicken sausage (we like the mild Italian or the chicken and apple varieties). Add to a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven at 400 degrees till golden brown (usually about 30 minutes).
Pasta + Ground Turkey + Marinara + Spinach
Pasta night! You know this one, but it is honestly our go-to. Here is one tip: use a good quality pasta sauce. It makes all the difference. We love Rao’s brand. It has a rich tomato flavor, and a great ingredient list. Boil your pasta, brown some turkey, add your Rao’s and simmer till the pasta is done. I like to add spinach underneath my pasta for extra veggies, but you could make a salad alongside if you’d like. I’m lazy sometimes!
Chicken + Salsa + Cauliflower Rice + Avocado + Lime
Add about 1 to 2 cups of your favorite salsa and some chicken breasts to your slow cooker in the morning, and cook on low all day. You could make this in the Instant Pot, too. I’d go for about 20 minutes. Heat up some cauliflower rice in the microwave (or use regular already cooked brown or white rice). To a bowl, add the rice and top with the salsa chicken, sliced avocado and a squeeze of lime. Add in any other toppings you find in your fridge! Bonus – make extra chicken for lunches during the week!
Chicken + Teriyaki Sauce + Broccoli + Rice
A quick and easy stir fry! Chop chicken, add to a heated pan with some oil, and brown on all sides. Add the broccoli and cook until tender. Pour in your teriyaki sauce (we like the Primal Kitchen brand). Cook your rice (or cauliflower rice) in the microwave. Serve the stir fry over the rice (obviously).
Salmon + Spices + Potatoes + Green Beans
Start with the potatoes. Cut in to bite size pieces, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Start in the oven baking at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Sprinkle salmon with your favorite spices (I like chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper). Spray with olive oil and add to the pan of potatoes. Cook the salmon for about 12 minutes. Meanwhile, cook green beans in a hot pan with some olive oil for 3-4 minutes, add 2 tbsp water, cover and steam until cooked through, but still crisp. Serve salmon with potatoes and green beans.
Chicken + Buffalo Sauce + Sweet Potatoes + Ranch
Buffalo chicken stuffed sweet potatoes! Add chicken breasts and about 1-2 cups of buffalo sauce to your slow cooker in the morning. Cook all day on low. Use these directions to cook your sweet potatoes in the microwave. Split the sweet potatoes open, stuff with the buffalo chicken and drizzle with ranch. We like either Primal Kitchen or Bolthouse Farms for our ranch dressing.
Frozen Breaded Fish + Tortillas + Coleslaw Mix + Avocado
Fish tacos are an easy dinner that requires almost no work. Cook your fish in the oven. Warm your tortillas and fill with fish, coleslaw mix and some sliced avocados. Extra points for a squeeze of lime to finish it off.
Chicken + Curry Sauce + Rice + Broccoli
I love a chicken curry for dinner. For this recipe, start by chopping the chicken and sautéing in a hot pan with some oil (we like coconut oil here) until golden. Steam your broccoli in the microwave, and heat up your rice, too. Once the chicken is cooked, add the curry sauce and broccoli and stir everything together. Serve over rice. Sprinkle with some fresh cilantro if you have it!
I hope this post gives you some ideas for nights when you don’t even want to think about what to cook for dinner (I’ve been there!). Here is a list of our favorite healthy dinner recipes if you’re looking for more ideas.
