37 easy dinner recipe ideas for beginner cooks

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These 37 easy dinner recipe ideas for beginner cooks are perfect for those who are interested in making meals more often for their families. Each recipe is straightforward and hassle-free so that you can get dinner on the table quickly with minimal stress.

Creamy spinach chicken bake in a glass baking dish.
Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

A fork with cheesy broccoli on it being pulled up from a loaded broccoli cauliflower casserole.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This easy Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole features steamed frozen broccoli and cauliflower combined with a creamy cheese sauce and crispy bacon. It’s a quick and delicious option for weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Cheesy beef casserole with cauliflower rice and spinach being spooned out of a baking dish.
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Try this Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach for a filling and flavorful meal. Ground beef, cauliflower rice, spinach, and cheddar cheese come together to create a deliciously easy dish that can be prepared in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Creamy spinach chicken bake in a glass baking dish.
Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake is a simple and protein-packed recipe. Marinated chicken thighs are baked to perfection with a creamy blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, and spinach. It’s a 30-minute dinner the whole family will love!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

Sausage and veggies sheet pan dinner with a spoon.
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Simplify your mealtime with this Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Roast flavorful sausage and a variety of vegetables on a single sheet pan for an easy and delicious dinner. It’s a time-saving dish with minimal cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

Bacon Cheeseburger Salad

Enjoy the flavors of a classic bacon cheeseburger with this Bacon Cheeseburger Salad recipe. It’s an easy and hassle-free dish, perfect for meal prepping or as a quick and satisfying family dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Salad

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Creamy Italian sausage soup in a pot with a spoon and garnishes on the side.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is a 30-minute recipe that combines Italian sausage, cream cheese, canned tomatoes, and heavy cream for a flavorful and creamy soup that will keep you coming back for more.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad

Bowl of creamy dill cucumber onion salad in a bowl with spoons.
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Ready in just 30 minutes, this Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is the perfect dish for any family dinner. Made with sour cream and mayo, it’s crisp, light, and packed with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Creamy sun-dried tomato chicken in a cast iron skillet.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Create a delicious one-pan dinner with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Boneless chicken thighs are cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce made with heavy cream, chicken broth, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. It’s a quick and flavorful meal option.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Fried cabbage with bacon garnished with parsley in a pot.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Try this flavorful Fried Cabbage with Bacon recipe. With just cabbage, bacon, and onion, you can create a delicious dish in just 25 minutes. It’s a simple and satisfying option for any meal.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Creamy ground beef and cauliflower rice skillet garnished with fresh herbs with a fork.
Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Make dinner easy with Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. This dish combines ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms for a flavorful and satisfying meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup

Easy keto cauliflower cheddar cheese bacon soup in a pot with a spoon.
Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Cozy up with a bowl of Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup. This 30-minute recipe features steamed cauliflower, chicken broth, butter, heavy cream, and cheese, topped with crispy bacon for a delicious combination of flavors.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Cheddar Cheese Bacon Soup

Creamy Garlic Chicken

Garnished creamy garlic chicken over cauliflower rice in a bowl.
Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Make this Creamy Garlic Chicken, a one-pan dinner served over cauliflower rice. Juicy chicken breasts are cooked to perfection, then combined with a creamy white sauce for a delicious and easy meal option.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Chicken with creamy mushroom sauce in a pan.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Enjoy a flavorful and easy dinner with Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Juicy chicken cooked in a creamy mushroom sauce creates a delicious one-pan meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken

Cheesy chicken fajita bake in a baking pan.
Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Try this Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken for a flavorful twist on classic fajitas. Oven-baked chicken breasts seasoned with spices are topped with cream cheese, mini sweet peppers, and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken

Cabbage and Sausage

A pan of cabbage and sausage garnished with fresh herbs.
Cabbage and Sausage. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Prepare a quick and satisfying dinner with Cabbage and Sausage. In less than 30 minutes, you can enjoy this one-pan dish that combines cabbage and sausage for a delicious meal.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad

A glass bowl of jalapeño popper chicken salad ingredients.
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Savor the flavors of a Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad, an easy-to-make dish. It’s a perfect addition to your weekly meal menu and offers a fun twist on traditional jalapeño poppers.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad

Chicken Piccata

A skillet with chicken piccata in it on a wooden board on a white back ground.
Chicken Piccata. Photo Credit: Little House Big Alaska.

This Chicken Piccata recipe features crispy fried thinly sliced chicken breast served with luxurious lemon caper sauce! It looks fancy, tastes fancy, and yet it’s so simple!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Piccata

Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

Sliced flank steak with chili butter.
Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Flank steak is quick and easy to grill. This 5-ingredient Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter recipe tops it with a sweet spicy chili butter that is full of flavor. Make it and have it on the table in just 20 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Flank Steak with Chile Butter

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

a basket of glazed chicken wings with a glass bowl of ranch sauce.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Feast + West.

Chicken wings make for a great quick and easy dinner. No need to grill — cook them from frozen right in your air fryer. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces, veggies, and sides for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

A cheeseburger on a bun with lettuce, tomato, onion on a wood board.
Cast Iron Skillet Burgers. Photo Credit: One Hot Oven.

This Cast Iron Skillet Burgers recipe is a savory patty perfectly cooked in a cast-iron skillet nestled between two soft buns with a slice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye Steaks

Ribeye in cast iron pan.
Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye Steaks. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

Cast iron is the best way to cook ribeye steak for a perfect pan-seared crust and medium-rare juicy slices. If you’re a new cook, you’ll be surprised to learn how quickly and easily you can make a delicious steak!
Get the Recipe: Perfect Pan Seared Ribeye Steaks

Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies

Salmon, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and roasted fingerling potatoes on a blue sheet tray.
Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies is an easy and delicious dinner recipe pairing dijon mustard, brown sugar, and chipotle-rubbed baked salmon with roasted fingerling potatoes, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, and thyme. It’s a perfect easy sheet pan recipe for a weeknight!
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies

Smothered Pork Chops

Pork chop topped with onion gravy on a white plate.
Smothered Pork Chops. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

This straightforward Smothered Pork Chops recipe is a classic slow cooker recipe that yields tender in a rich creamy mushroom and onion gravy.
Get the Recipe: Smothered Pork Chops

Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs brushed with bbq sauce.
Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Girl Carnivore.

These tender, juicy, smoked chicken thighs are perfect! These Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs are cooked in the pellet smoker flavor, basted with BBQ sauce, and seared for perfectly crispy skin.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Smoked Chicken Thighs

Alice Springs Chicken

Alice Springs chicken on white plate
Alice Springs Chicken. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health.

Beginner cooks will love this recipe for Alice Springs Chicken for its simplicity and incredible flavor. The recipe showcases juicy chicken breasts that are topped with cheese, bacon, and mustard sauce.
Get the Recipe: Alice Springs Chicken

Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken

Copycat Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken Recipe. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.
Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Perfect for beginner cooks, this Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken recipe takes the classic chicken breast to the next level by stuffing it with a flavorful blend of cheese and herbs.
Get the Recipe: Ruth Chris Stuffed Chicken

Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

Shrimp and broccoli stir-fry in a bowl.
Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Make an easy and protein-packed recipe with this easy Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry recipe. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry

Grilled Lemon Chicken Wrapped in Pancetta

Skewers of chicken wrapped with pancetta.
Grilled Lemon Chicken Wrapped in Pancetta. Photo credit: Girls Can Grill.

This Grilled Lemon Chicken Wrapped in Pancetta is bursting with fresh citrus flavor and is super juicy. Ready in 30 minutes and a perfect choice for those who are newer to cooking.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Lemon Chicken Wrapped in Pancetta

Pork Fried Rice

Pork fried rice in a blue and white striped bowl.
Pork Fried Rice. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

This recipe for Pork Fried Rice is inspired by Chinese restaurant takeout and offers a quick, easy, and delicious one-pot meal. It’s the perfect solution for using up leftover cooked rice.
Get the Recipe: Pork Fried Rice

Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Slow cooker Italian beef on a crusty roll with provolone cheese and peppers.
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are so easy to make. You’ll just toss everything into your crock pot and let it do its magic. You’ll end up with tender, flavorful beef that’s perfect when piled on crusty rolls and topped with cheese.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Ground Beef and Broccoli

Ground Beef and Broccoli stir-fry over rice.
Ground Beef and Broccoli. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

The bold flavors of a sweet and spicy sauce complement tender ground and veggies in this Asian-inspired Ground Beef and Broccoli dish. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal!
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Broccoli

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Air fryer pork tenderloin on a plate with potatoes on a cutting board.
Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin is like a magic trick for beginner cooks. With just a few ingredients and an air fryer, you’ll whip up perfectly cooked, juicy pork in minimal time.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Chops

oven baked pork chop with pineapple and green beans, white plate wooden background
Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Chops. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

This recipe for Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Chops is a great choice for novice cooks looking for a burst of sweet and savory flavors. With just a few ingredients, you can make this delicious dish.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Teriyaki Pork Chops

Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup

Spaghetti and meatballs soup in a cup.
Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup. Photo credit: Feast + West.

For a quick and easy dinner, pull together a big pot of hearty Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup. It’s made with pasta sauce and you can use frozen meatballs to pull it together quickly.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatballs Soup

Zucchini Boat with Bacon

Stuffed zucchinis on a baking paper.
Zucchini Boat with Bacon. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Those quick, super easy, and delicious Zucchini boats with Bacon can be made in minutes. Made with few ingredients, these stuffed zucchini boats are perfect for a family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Boat with Bacon

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken

cheesy chicken with bacon and dried parsley
Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken. Photo credit: Primal Edge Health

This Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken recipe is a game-changer for beginner cooks who want a hassle-free dinner. The recipe features chicken breasts smothered in a creamy ranch sauce and topped with cheese.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken

Tuna and Tomato Pasta

Image shows a closeup of tuna and tomato pasta in a shallow bowl.
Tuna and Tomato Pasta. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

This Tuna and Tomato Pasta is so simple to make, can be prepared in about 25 minutes, and is perfect for a weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta

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