Dinner Ideas for Tonight

Need to know what to cook tonight? If you need something quick and easy to make with basic ingredients, then check out some of these quick and easy dinner ideas.

I will be sharing quick and easy recipes. Perfect for pantry staples, busy nights when you don’t have much time, meals you can make with a rotisserie chicken, healthy options, and kid friendly options. Check out some of my favorite dinner recipes if you are needing some dinner ideas for tonight!

What makes the best weeknight dinner?

1. Easy: When you don’t have anything planned you want a dinner that is going to be simple with just a few ingredients.
2. Quick: These recipes are quick. These are going to be fast for busy days and a last-minute dinner idea. So, all these recipes can be prepped and made in an hour or less.
3. Family Friendly: Of course, they are all family friendly so everyone can enjoy them.

Pantry Staple Dinners

When you need a last-minute dinner, you want something that is made with basic ingredients.

These recipes are made with ingredients you can pick up quickly or have in your pantry already.

Here are some of my all-time favorite dinners made with pantry staples.

Cincinatti Chili: My all-time favorite chili with you, Cincinnati Chili. I grew up on this chili and this recipe for me was pretty darn close to the real stuff. Serve it with oyster crackers or put it on top of spaghetti for the true Cincinnati experience.

Cincinatti Chili is made with spaghetti, ground beef, seasoning, cheddar cheese and onions.

Tuna Casserole: A classic dinner recipe that the entire family will love. Even my kids asked for seconds of this Easy Tuna Casserole. It’s made with egg noodles and then topped with cheese before baking. Usually, I have most of these ingredients in my pantry, so if I need a quick meal, it’s this!

Tuna Casserole is made with egg noodles, canned tuna, cheddar cheese, mayo and seasoning.

Chicken Spaghetti: I love a good casserole. This Chicken Spaghetti Casserole is a classic and a family favorite.

Chicken Spaghetti is made with spaghetti, cream cheese, Rotel, and shredded chicken.

7 Can Taco Soup: This 7 Can Taco Soup is super easy to make. Made with 7 cans of hearty ingredients with some good taco seasoning this will be a soup everyone loves! Super easy to make for lunch or dinner!

7 Can Taco Soup is easily made with 7 different cans of ingredients all cooked together over the stove.

Cheesy Taco Pasta: This Cheesy Taco Pasta is SO simple to make and SO delicious! With just 5 ingredients this recipe is made in less than 30 minutes and one that your entire family will love. 

Cheesy Taco Pasta is made with Rotini pasta, ground beef, taco seasoning, salsa and cheese.

Busy Night Dinner Recipes:

When your days are filled with work, sports practice, and helping with homework you need a really quick dinner recipe. Here are some recipes for you to make that take 30 minutes or less to prep and cook.

Taco Spaghetti:  My new favorite way to make spaghetti, Taco Spaghetti! A Spaghetti casserole filled with those flavors you love from tacos. Taco seasoning, tomatoes, onions, all mixed in with noodles and Mexican Cheese this easy dinner recipe is going to be something you want on your menu plan soon!

Cook your spaghetti noodles and then cook the beef with the seasoning. Add all ingredients to the spaghetti and mix together well. Put in your baking dish and top with cheese and bake.

Tuna Salad: I love this classic Tuna Salad recipe. It’s the best lunch recipe and easy to make and done in 15 minutes or less. Make a sandwich or add it on top of a salad.

This classic Tuna Salad sandwich recipe is super easy to make, and you should have all the ingredients in your pantry.

Black Bean and Corn Quesadilla: Simple and easy, the perfect lunch or party appetizer! These Black Bean and Cheese Quesadillas are so simple and full of flavor. I seasoned my beans and corn then added them to the tortilla with cheese. 

Quesadillas are super easy to make for a quick lunch or dinner!

Ground Beef Tacos: These classic Ground Beef Tacos can be made in about 15 minutes and are perfect for any taco night of the week! This Tex-Mex favorite has perfectly seasoned ground beef, in a warm crunchy taco shell, topped with everything you expect on a taco.

Taco Tuesday can be every night with this easy to make recipe! Just cook your ground beef and serve with your favorite taco toppings.

Chicken Fajita Pasta: Creamy and cheesy Chicken Fajita Pasta. My two favorites coming together, Mexican and pasta combined in a flavorful cream sauce.

Super easy dinner to make, that is full of flavor. A Tex-Mex specialty that everyone will love.

Rotisserie Chicken Dinners:

Picking up a rotisserie chicken on busy nights is the best life hack. Here are some quick and easy recipes you can make with a rotisserie chicken. Already cooked chicken that you just need to cut, cube or shred.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole: This Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole is loaded with creamy Alfredo sauce, ranch seasoning, chicken, bacon, and baked with cheese. The perfect comfort food and a dinner that won over my entire family! The flavors will be a family favorite for years to come!

Rotisserie Chicken Salad: This is a classic chicken salad recipe made with store bought rotisserie chicken. This Rotisserie Chicken Salad is full of flavor, creamy and absolutely delicious. My favorite way to serve it is on a croissant. 

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole: This Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole recipe is the perfect dinner to make for the family. Creamy chicken, flavored with poppyseeds, and topped in a Ritz cracker buttery topping is amazing!

Dorito Chicken Casserole: This Dorito Chicken Casserole was a huge hit with my family. A creamy chicken base topped with Dorito chips then baked. I knew my kids would love this since they love my recipe for Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole so much and this is pretty simple. 

Baked Chicken Tacos: These Baked Chicken Tacos are the perfect dinner recipe. Stuffed with beans, chicken, and cheese then baked until crunchy. When you are ready to serve let everyone top them with their favorite taco style toppings. 

Easy Healthy Dinners:

Being busy and have nothing planned for dinner can be frustrating when you want something healthy. Here are some easy, yet healthy dinner options.

Egg Roll in a Bowl: This Egg Roll in a Bowl is so simple to make and tastes amazing. With just 6 simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes, dinner is ready. 

This dinner is so good! Our kids love it!

Vegetable Soup: This hearty Vegetable Soup is full of flavor and really healthy for you. It makes a great dinner, and there will be a lot of leftovers for lunch! Loaded with hearty vegetables this soup is a great dinner choice.

This soup is really easy to make after a busy day, and it tastes amazing!

Air Fryer Chicken: This Air Fryer Chicken is flavorful and juicy. A great way to make chicken breasts and a simple dinner recipe. It is a quicker way to cook chicken than just in the oven! The air fryer will keep the chicken juicy and full of flavor!

The Air Fryer is a really great way to speed up making dinner. These chicken breasts in the air fryer are great!

Mexican Stuffed Peppers: These Mexican Stuffed Peppers make the perfect dinner for any night of the week. Loaded with flavor and made with ground beef, beans, and cheese this dish is full of color and flavor. 

These Mexican Stuffed Peppers are a great healthier option for Taco Tuesday.

Family Friendly Dinner:

It doesn’t matter how fast dinner is made if no one is going to eat it. These recipes are perfect, and some my kids love. What is there not to love about Easy Dinner Recipes that your kids will love!

Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes: A classic and a family favorite. These Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes are sure to win over even the pickiest eaters, my kids even asked for seconds! Easy to make and really tasty, just cook your ground turkey and add the sauce and seasoning to make this dinner.

My kids LOVE Sloppy Joes and ask for them all the time!

Sheet Pan Pancakes: These Sheet Pan Pancakes are a quick and easy way to make a large batch of pancakes in the oven, instead of cooking a couple at a time on the stovetop. The recipe is very simple, and the pancakes come out great!

Breakfast for Dinner or Brinner is another one of my kids favorite. These Sheet Pan Pancakes are a great Brinner option.

Pepperoni Pizza Casserole: 5 Ingredients and less then 30 minutes to make this Pepperoni Pizza Casserole this is a recipe that you will love just as much as the kids do. It’s simple and easy and a real crowd pleaser. 

Pasta and Pizza, this is a winner for our kids!

Salisbury Steak: This classic recipe is so simple to make and my family loved it! Ground beef patties in gravy, these Easy Salisbury Steak will need to be added to your menu this week. 

Yes, Salisbury Steak may not be all kids favorite, but mine love it!

Ham and Cheese Crescents: These Ham and Cheese Crescents are the perfect quick lunch or easy appetizer recipe. My kids love them and request them often. 

Nothing beats a crescent roll sandwich. Easy to make and quick to bake, my kids love these Ham and Cheese Crescents.

If you tried this recipe or any of my recipes, I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below. You can also connect with me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST, and YOUTUBE.

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Bonus Recipe!

I wanted to share with you one of my all time favorite recipes for when I don’t know what to cook. this recipe is on my menu almost weekly! It’s so simple and quick and easy to make.