End your dinner rut tonight with these 20 recipes that are easy to make and perfect for changing up your usual meals. These ideas are great for anyone looking for something new without needing fancy ingredients or complicated steps. They’re simple, direct, and just what you need to make dinner exciting again.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Break free from your usual dinner routine with this hearty chicken dish. Cooked in one pan and ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a filling dish that pairs perfectly with your favorite grain or a side salad. You’ll enjoy the rich flavors of simmered chicken thighs in a creamy mushroom sauce, making your weeknight dinners both easy and filling in no time at all.
Get the recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
This sheet pan dish features a combination of butternut squash, cauliflower, spinach, red onions, and bacon. It’s hearty, easy to make, and customizable — you can mix or swap the veggies with whatever you have on hand. Top it with homemade dressing and sour cream for a meal that will get you out of your dinner rut.
Get the recipe: Roasted Cubed Butternut Squash with Cauliflower and Bacon
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
This Creamy Sausage Soup takes just 30 minutes to prepare, making it a fantastic choice when you’re stuck in a dinner rut. Featuring smoky sausages, cream, and tomatoes simmered together to create a delicious combination of flavors, it’s the perfect one-pot meal for those nights when you want a hearty dinner without the hassle.
Get the recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish brings a burst of Tuscan flavors to your table. Perfectly cooked shrimp paired with fresh spinach and tomatoes are simmered in a savory garlic sauce, making it an easy yet impressive meal to refresh your dinner routine.
Get the recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Take a trip to Italy’s Tuscany region right from your kitchen. Featuring tender chicken thighs, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach in a rich, creamy sauce, this meal will introduce new, exquisite flavors into your dinners without spending too much time and effort in the kitchen.
Get the recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
This Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole is a delicious one-pot weeknight dinner idea that is easy enough for beginner cooks to make — no stuffing vegetables required. It comes together in just 45 minutes and yields a filling, flavorful family meal.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole
Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake
In 30 minutes, you can serve a warm and hearty combination of chicken thighs, spinach, and cheeses, baked to perfection. It’s a great way to try out something new, especially on those nights when you want some variety to your meal routine.
Get the recipe: Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake
Sausage Curry
Bring some Indian-inspired flavors into your dinner lineup tonight. Ready in just 45 minutes, this recipe combines sausages and a medley of vegetables in a creamy curry sauce. This meal is perfect for those evenings when you’re looking for something a bit different but still want the simplicity of a home-cooked meal.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
In just an hour, you can enjoy a comforting bowl of soup that takes the classic chicken pot pie flavors and turns them into a cozy, creamy soup. This one-pot recipe is super easy to make and uses simple ingredients you may already have on hand. It’s perfect for busy weeknights and a great way to enjoy a wholesome meal without all the hassle.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Philly Cheese Steak Casserole
In under an hour, this Philly Cheese Steak Casserole brings a classic American sandwich to your dinner table in a new form. Combining sirloin steak, bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms, all topped with melted provolone cheese, this casserole is a simple yet hearty way to add variety to your evening meals.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheese Steak Casserole
Creamy Garlic Chicken
In just 30 minutes, you can quickly get out of your dinner rut with this Creamy Garlic Chicken. This one-pan dish combines tender chicken breasts with a smooth, garlic-parmesan sauce. It’s a simple yet impressive dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you want something special without all the hassle.
Get the recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Ready in just 30 minutes, this hearty and flavorful one-skillet dinner will pull you out of your dinner dilemma. Combining ground beef, cauliflower rice, cheddar, and mushrooms, it’s a perfect choice for a night when you’re in the mood for something different but still want the comfort of a familiar and easy-to-prepare dish.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Break free from routine dinners with this Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. This one-skillet dinner can be served in just 30 minutes, and features boneless chicken thighs simmered in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. It’s easy to make and uses ingredients you might already have in your pantry, making it a great recipe to have on hand, especially on busy weeknights.
Get the recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Creamy Bacon Asparagus Pasta
Boring dinners are a thing of the past, especially when making this asparagus pasta. Here, asparagus is peeled into thin strips to yield pasta-like noodles, mixed with a rich Alfredo sauce and topped with crispy bacon. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights and a great way to add more veggies to your meals.
Get the recipe: Creamy Bacon Asparagus Pasta
Keto Zuppa Toscana
This one-hour recipe reinvents Olive Garden’s classic Zuppa Toscana into a low-carb version. It uses radishes as a smart alternative to potatoes and combines garlic, sausage, and kale in a creamy broth. It’s a hearty and delicious soup that will break the monotony of your usual dinner meals.
Get the recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
In just 30 minutes, you can bring savory Thai flavors to your dinner table. Featuring turkey meatballs simmered in a homemade coconut curry sauce, this is a simple yet impressive dinner that everyone will love. It’s the perfect dish for busy weeknights, especially when you’re running out of ideas for dinner.
Get the recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
Lemon Garlic Scallops
Don’t be intimidated by preparing seafood at home. This impressive dinner is made in just one pan and can be table-ready in just 30 minutes. You’ll pan-sear the scallops until golden and sauté them in a garlicky lemon sauce — it’s that easy.
Get the recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops
Pollo Asado
Ready in just 40 minutes, this dish brings the vibrant flavors of Mexico and the Caribbean to your home. Marinated in a mix of cilantro, onion, orange juice, and lime juice, these chicken thighs are baked until tender and flaky. Enjoy the chicken on its own or in tacos, burritos, bowls, or quesadillas.
Get the Recipe: Pollo Asado
Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Here’s something to shake up your usual dinner menu. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish features tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich, flavorful artichoke cream sauce. It’s an easy and impressive recipe that’s perfect for busy evenings or a cozy date night at home.
Get the recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Crock Pot Taco Soup
With just 20 minutes of prep, this taco soup is a hassle-free and flavorful change from the usual. Brown some ground beef, add the ingredients to your slow cooker and let your Crock Pot do the magic. Make this when you need a warm, hearty meal but don’t want to spend endless time in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Taco Soup