No matter what I do or where I am in my life, it’s absolutely inevitable that a couple of times a week, I just do not feel like cooking. But a girl’s gotta eat (and doesn’t always want to order takeout), so an arsenal of easy dinner recipes has a permanent spot in my brain for when I just can’t muster up the will to really cook.
It’s easy to turn to scrambled eggs or PB&J for those dreaded nights, but I’m here to inform you that there are better options out there. You can easily throw together simple meals that require little to no effort but will give you a bit more oomph (and ideally, more nutritional value). Hitting that sweet spot between minimal effort and filling you up is key, and the balance is one that can be mastered with a bit of trial and error (and for me, the help of my air fryer).
Looking for some go-to, simple recipes to add to your weekly rotation? We’ve got you covered with 20 easy dinner recipes you can turn to any night of the week.
1. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Source: Chungah Rhee | Damn Delicious
2. BBQ Chicken Flatbread

Source: Midwest Foodie
3. 15-Minute Lo Mein

Source: Pinch of Yum
4. Easy Veggie Quesadillas

Source: Gimme Some Oven
5. Easy Curried Shakshuka

Source: Eating Bird Food
6. Chicken Ranch Wraps

Source: Gimme Delicious
7. Orange Tofu and Edamame Stir-Fry

Source: Recipe Runner
8. Skillet Chicken Penne Pasta

Source: Cookin Canuck
9. Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Source: The Modern Proper
10. Avocado Shrimp Salad

Source: Pinch of Yum
11. Trader Joe’s Cauliflower Gnocchi

Source: My Everyday Table
12. Huevos Rancheros

Source: The Modern Proper
13. Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Source: Tastes Better From Scratch
14. Bacon And Egg Ramen

Source: Tasty
15. Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli

Source: Peas and Crayons
16. Caprese Panini

Source: Live Eat Learn
17. Spicy Black Bean Burger Bowl

Source: Morning Star Farms
18. Pesto Quinoa Salad

Source: Taste of Home
19. Chicken Cucumber Pitas

Source: Taste of Home
20. Burrito Bowls
