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60 Best Easy Dinners

Updated July 2, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

We’ve rounded up our 60 best, easy dinner recipes! From grilled steak to braised chickpeas to allll the sheet pan dinners—we’ve got you covered.

Shredded chicken thighs covered with marinara over polenta in a bowl with fresh basil

What should I make for dinner tonight that's EASY? 

What are some good, healthy dinners? Could I just pay someone to come up with an easy dinner idea for me? We’re food bloggers—we literally cook dinner for a living—and these questions still haunt us sometimes. Standing there, staring into the fridge, wondering what you can whip up tonight that everyone will gladly eat and that won’t take a zillion hours—yeah, we’ve been there!

For you (and for ourselves!) we’ve put together this list of the 60 BEST, easy dinner recipes we’ve got. They’re all over the map—some are healthy recipes, some are a little more indulgent, some are vegetarian recipes, some are all about a big slab of protein—but they’re unified by their simplicity. 

So here you have it! Our absolute best, easy dinners—all in one place.

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Instant Pot Chicken Marinara With Polenta

Shredded chicken thighs covered with marinara over polenta in a bowl with fresh basil

Our Instant Pot chicken marinara recipe is a simple equation for an easy, satisfying dinner that goes something like this: chicken thighs + a jar of marinara sauce = dinner’s done.

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Broccoli Pesto Pasta

Rigatoni pasta with broccoli pesto in a bowl with a spoon

Today, a verdant, bright broccoli pesto pasta that’s as healthy as it is delicious.

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Lemon Chicken

4 lemon chicken breasts baked in a baking dish with olive oil, white wine, lemon juice, garlic and spices

Our easy lemon chicken recipe shines with a sunny, lemony zing. Garlic and herbs—plus a glug of white wine—mean that these juicy, tender chicken breasts are as delicious as they are healthy.

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Ratatouille Sheet Pan Dinner With Sausage

ratatouille baked on a sheet pan with 5 sausage links with a white serving spoon.

This sheet pan ratatouille recipe celebrates all of the olive-oil soaked flavors of the French country classic, but is bulked up into a one-pan meal thanks to the addition of hearty Italian sausages.

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30-Minute Garlic-Ginger Salmon Dinner

garlic ginger salmon on a plate with zucchini noodles, bok choy and shitake mushrooms

It’s a fast and fresh meal that cooks itself in a little parchment packet! Our salmon en papillote has a delicious garlic ginger sauce and tons of veggies.

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Baked Salmon with Grapefruit Salad

Salmon Salad with grapefruit and avocado

Moist, flaky, melt-in-your-mouth salmon perfection. This is the baked salmon recipe you’ve been waiting for. Oh, and did we mention it cooks in just 15 minutes?!

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Sheet Pan Olive Bar Chicken

sheet pan chicken dinner made with ingredients found at the olive bar with potatoes.

Tender fingerling potatoes nestle between slices of lemon and red onion, chicken thighs and all of your favorite salty, spicy, garlicky favorites in this insanely easy sheet pan chicken recipe.

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Five Spice Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Five Spice Sheet Pan Dinner With Cabbage And Carrots on a baking sheet with a serving spoon

Need more weeknight-friendly dinner options? This five spice chicken sheet pan dinner is so delicious and easy, we guarantee it’ll become the new standard for weeknight dinners.

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Sheet Pan Quesadilla with Jalapeño Ranch

cheese and avocado sheet pan quesadilla with jalapeño ranch

Stuffed with cheese and avocado, this giant, melty, upgraded cheese sheet pan quesadilla is good on its own, but we take it over the top with a side of homemade jalapeño ranch for dipping.

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Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Instant pot mac and cheese in a bowl sprinkled with pepper with a spoon and linen.

It’s easier—and way better—than box mac and cheese. It’s our rich, creamy, homemade Instant Pot mac and cheese!

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Crock Pot Chicken Taco Meat

crock pot chicken tacos in a silver pan topped with salsa and limes

Wait wait wait—taco night can be even easier? Yep! Meet our 3-ingredient Crock-Pot chicken taco meat recipe!

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Mango Chutney Chicken Sheet Pan

Mango Chutney Sheet Pan Chicken With Cauliflower  with red onions

Quick and crazy-delicious, a jar of mango chutney is the secret to the delicious, slightly sweet flavor of this chicken-and-cauliflower sheet pan dinner.

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Old Bay Shrimp and Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner

Shrimp And Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner with asparagus and lemon

Seasoned with Old Bay, this asparagus, shrimp and sausage sheet pan dinner couldn’t be easier. Served with a lemon aioli, it’s the kind of meal that just might find its way into your weekly rotation!

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Za'atar Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

Chicken leggs with za'atar and cauliflower roasted on a sheet pan with fresh parsley

We’re back at it with the easy sheet pan dinners, and tonight we’re dressing up basic cauliflower and chicken with our latest favorite secret ingredient in this za’atar chicken sheet pan dinner.

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Sausage, Kale and Potato Skillet Dinner

Sausage, Kale and Potato Skillet Dinner with onion

This recipe ticks all the boxes—a little meaty, some dark leafy greens, and some starchy goodness. An easy one-pan sausage, kale and potato skillet that pleases everyone, from cook to clean-up crew.

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Hoisin Glazed Pork Chops

Hoisin Glazed Pork Chops on a plate with a spoon

These addictingly sweet and umami-laden Hoisin glazed pork chops come together in just a few simple steps and are the perfect way to get out of that weeknight dinner rut.

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Pork Chops with Mushroom Cream Sauce

pork chops with mushroom cream sauce in a skillet

If you’re craving a delicious, one-pan dinner that can be made in less than 30 minutes, then these skillet-seared pork chops covered in mushroom cream sauce will be your new best friend.

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Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri

Grilled Pork Tenderloin sliced on a cutting board With Chimichurri

A smoky-sweet dry rub ensures that this grilled pork tenderloin comes off the coals with a gorgeous crust. Sliced up and served with a bowl of chimichurri—you’ll be hearing raves for days.

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Cauliflower Gnocchi with Bruschetta Sauce and Sausage

cauliflower gnocchi with bruschetta sauce and sausage

Cauliflower gnocchi with bruschetta sauce and sausage is a low-carb supper that bursts with bright, bold flavors and comes together in under ten minutes.

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Sheet Pan Italian Sausage Heros with Honey Mustard

Sheet pan Italian sausage héros with honey mustard

Juicy Italian sausages and peppers are roasted together on a sheet pan—yay for easy clean up—and stuffed into classic hoagie rolls for an Italian sausage sandwich that’s delicious anytime of day.

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Grilled Rib Eye Steak with Italian Salsa Verde

Grilled ribeye steak sliced on a cutting board with salsa verde

It doesn’t get much more decadent than this juicy, rich and buttery grilled rib eye steak with Italian salsa verde.

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Carne Asada

A plate of grilled carne asada with tortillas, limes, avocado and radishes

Fresh orange and lime juice, plus plenty of garlic and spices tenderize juicy flank steak in our simple, delicious carne asada recipe.

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Chimichurri Steak

Flank steak sliced on a plate drizzled with chimichurri sauce

Herbaceous homemade chimichurri sauce meets a classic grilled flank steak recipe for a match made in summer dinner heaven.

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Grilled Five Spice Flank Steak

thin slices of grilled flank steak marinated in hoisin and five spice next to an asian salad on a plate

A Chinese five spice-hoisin marinade sinks into scored flank steak like nobody's business, and turns a simply grilled flank steak into a total flavor bomb.

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5-Ingredient Chicken Tortilla Soup

5 ingredient chicken tortilla soup in a bowl with cilantro and sour cream

This streamlined, five-ingredient tortilla soup is built mostly from pantry ingredients and quick, easy and satisfying.

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Taco Soup

a bowl of homemade taco soup made with ground beef and black beans topped with cheddar cheese, sour cream and fresh cilantro

Taco night, but make it soup! Our taco soup recipe features all of the standard taco fixings, including ground beef flavored with our homemade taco seasoning. Don’t forget the toppings!

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Tikka Masala Soup

speckled ceramic bowl of homemade tikka masala soup topped topped with fresh cilantro

We took classic Indian chicken tikka masala and turned it into a soup that is the definition of cozy. Slurping encouraged.

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Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Kale

Tortellini soup with sausage and kale topped with fresh parmesan in a bowl

This ultra creamy Tortellini Soup is an absolute crowd pleaser. It's the perfect cozy meal for fall and only takes 30 minutes to make.

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Chicken Noodle Soup

a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup topped with parsley and pepper served with crusty bread

Once you make this quick and easy classic chicken noodle soup recipe for yourself, you’ll be saying goodbye to the canned stuff for good.

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Coconut Curry Ramen

Bowl of vegetarian coconut curry ramen with mushrooms, bok choy, edamame and soft boiled egg with chopsticks

Using just one pot and (instant!) ramen noodles—just the noodles, toss that sodium-bomb flavor packet—makes this vegetarian coconut curry ramen a quick and easy dinner.

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White Bean Soup with Bacon

white bean and bacon soup in a bowl with a spoon

Creamy and deeply savory, it’s hard to believe that this rich and hearty white bean soup with bacon is made from just five simple ingredients.

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Hungarian Mushroom Soup

large pot of Hungarian mushroom soup with a ladle

Earthy mushrooms are the savory stars of this creamy, pungent, satisfying Hungarian mushroom soup.

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Three Ingredient Tomato Sauce

Three Ingredient Tomato Sauce pomodoro sauce with noodles in a bowl with fresh basil and parmesan cheese

Olive oil, salt, fresh tomatoes, and a little time are all it takes to create the most vibrant fresh tomato sauce recipe that’s ever emerged from the TMP test kitchen.

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Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

bowl of creamy roasted red pepper rigatoni pasta topped with fresh parmesan cheese and basil

With just five ingredients, dinner doesn’t get easier or more delicious than this creamy roasted red pepper rigatoni pasta. If you’ve got ten minutes and can open a jar, you can make this tonight.

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4-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

Four ingredient stovetop mac and cheese topped with black pepper in a bowl

Can creamy, cheesy stovetop mac and cheese perfection be achieved with just four ingredients? You bet your buttons—and this easy macaroni and cheese recipe proves it.

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Brown Butter Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi

brown butter sage cauliflower gnocchi with butternut squash

The heavenly combination of nutty brown butter and sage is a classic gnocchi sauce that tastes absolutely divine on Trader Joe’s frozen cauliflower gnocchi.

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Baked Gnocchi

baked gnocchi with tomato sauce and sausage in a black skillet topped with melted mozzarella cheese

A big pan of pillowy gnocchi surrounded by bubbling pools of mozzarella melting into creamy ricotta and tomato sauce—one whiff of this heavenly baked gnocchi is enough to silence the ravenous masses.

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Sesame Garlic Ramen Noodles

a plate of sesame garlic ramen noodles topped with green onions and sesame seeds with chopsticks

Take a pack of instant ramen noodles, ditch the seasoning packet, and use the noodles to whip up sesame garlic ramen noodles that taste restaurant-worthy but come together in about ten minutes.

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Easy Bolognese

large bowl of homemade bolognese with pasta and fresh parmesan

Hearty and comforting, this meaty, easy bolognese sauce recipe takes less time to make than it does to disappear into hungry tummies.

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Shrimp Scampi

shrimp scampi on a plate made with butter, olive oil, wine, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, parsley & lemon juice

Buttery, garlicky, shrimp-y, shrimp scampi recipe is easily the best meal you can cook in 15 minutes or less. Yum! Toss that garlic-butter shrimp with pasta, or grab a fork and dig straight in.

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Easy Harissa Chicken

Grilled harissa chicken on a plate with arugula

Chicken thighs marinate in a homemade harissa sauce, then hit the grill for a super quick, easy chicken dinner that packs a major, major smoky, spicy burst of flavor.

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Cilantro Lime Chicken

cilantro lime chicken thighs on a serving platter garnished with cilantro and lime wedges

Our reader-favorite cilantro lime chicken recipe gets its juicy, bright burst of flavor from a quick, and zesty marinade of lime, garlic, cilantro, and honey. Chicken thighs have never tasted better!

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Skillet Roasted Chicken with Cabbage

a platter of roasted chicken cut in quarters served on top of cabbage with lime wedges

Yet another super smart recipe that combines two of our favorite things—a spatchcocked chicken and homemade taco seasoning—to make a 3-ingredient dinner everyone will adore.

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Green Chicken Enchiladas

homemade green chicken enchiladas in a casserole dish made with chicken, cheese, sour cream and taco seasoning

Creamy, cheesy, and so easy, our comforting green chicken enchilada recipe features a tangy green enchilada sauce plus lots of short cuts to make dinner a breeze.

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Perfect Roast Chicken with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce

cast iron skillet with whole roasted chicken topped with butter and lemon pan sauce

This perfect roast chicken will soon become your family’s favorite weeknight dinner. It’s juicy and flavorful, with a bright and buttery lemon-and-herb pan sauce.

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Whole Roast Chicken with Carrots

whole roasted chicken over a bed of carrots shown in a large white braiser

This whole roast chicken recipe boasts crisp skin, juicy meat and just five ingredients. It’s an everyday feast that everyone will love.

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Greek Chicken Freezer Meal

4 Greek flavored Chicken breast with potatoes, olive oil, lemon oregano, garlic, dill on a sheet pan.

A super lemony, herbal marinade is the key to making this simple chicken-and-potatoes freezer meal radiate bright, summery, sun-soaked flavors—even after months in the freezer.

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Freezer Chicken Fajitas

freezer chicken fajita meal on a sheet pan for dinner with tortillas and avocado and bell peppers

Freezer meals are a total life saver, and freezer chicken fajitas just might be our favorite of all. With just a few ingredients, and minimal prep, they’re one of our best back-pocket dinners.

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Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata with lemon and capers in a cast iron skillet

Lemony, caper-topped, and just buttery enough, chicken piccata is an easy weeknight supper that’s easy to love, and so very fast—just ten minutes from sauté pan to table.

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Chicken Adobo

homemade chicken adobo on a serving platter topped with chopped green onions

Filipino chicken adobo is a flavor bomb in the best way! Chicken thighs are marinated in adobo sauce, which is tangy, sweet, fragrant and EASY, then simmered to tender, juicy perfection.

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Easy Orange Chicken

a bowl of orange chicken served on top of white rice and topped with sesame seeds and green onions

Our easy orange chicken recipe puts a healthier spin on the sweet-savory Chinese takeout favorite.

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Kung Pao Chicken

kung pao chicken in a cast iron skillet made with bell peppers, green onions, cashews, ginger, garlic and dried chili peppers

Our takeout-style Kung Pao chicken recipe swaps gets extra balance from some added veggies. All the spicy Kung Pao chicken goodness that you crave, no day-after regrets.

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Thai Basil Beef

thai basil beef over white rice in a large white bowl

A speedy, savory Thai beef basil stir fry that’s just a bit spicy and really hits the spot.

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Crispy Chicken Stir Fry

Crispy Chicken Stir Fry With Blistered Green Beans in a skillet with a serving spoon

Quick, easy and delicious, this crispy chicken stir-fry with blistered green beans and a garlicky sauce is perfect for a better-than-takeout weeknight dinner!

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Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Donburi)

Gingery Ground Beef (Soboro Danbury) with peas on a plate

Five ingredients, a few minutes and a hot skillet, and you’ll be digging into a delicious soboro donburi, a gingery ground beef that reminds us that the best Japanese recipes are often the simplest.

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Salsa Verde Baked Eggs

salsa verde baked eggs in a skillet sprinkled with cotija, cilantro and radishes being served with corn tortillas and limes

Baked eggs in salsa verde are our low stress/no mess way to prepare eggs for one or for many. Sprinkled with cotija and cilantro, and served with warm tortillas these are a fabulously easy meal.

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Braised Chickpeas with Chard

braised chickpeas in a tomato sauce with chard shown in a ceramic bowl with crusty bread

Another few-ingredient, scour-the-pantry recipe, coming in hot! Smoked paprika and jarred marinara sauce punch up a simple vegetarian dinner of tomato-y braised chickpeas with chard.

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Portobello Mushroom Fajitas

vegan Portobello Mushroom Fajitas on a sheet pan with tortillas

A healthy, fast, vegetarian dinner is as easy and delicious as can be—meet our veggie-loaded portobello mushroom fajitas!

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Huevos Rancheros

homemade huevos rancheros. fried eggs over seasoned beans and corn tortillas topped with cilantro, avocado and cotija

Runny, fried eggs over a bed of seasoned beans, atop a layer of warm corn tortillas, add a few condiments and voilà! Homemade huevos rancheros!

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Soft-Scrambled Eggs

Soft Scrambled Eggs on a plate with chives and toasted bread

As far as we’re concerned, if you know how to make perfectly creamy, fluffy soft-scrambled eggs, you’ve got the skills you need to succeed—in the kitchen, in love, in life. We’ll show you the way.

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60 Best Easy Dinners

Questions & Reviews

Rated 4.9 stars by 27 readers

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  • Brenda

    Hello, my mother is 90 years old. I am her caregiver and I am grateful to be able to do this. The biggest problem I have is figuring out what to make her for dinners. She is beyond fussy and I am running out of ideas. I have searched and searched on the web and all that I see is meals that I know she would not like. Any idea’s? She does not like fussy meals, she is a simple lady with simple tastes when it comes to her suppers. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

    Check out our Lemon Chicken and our Creamy Chicken Orzo. Both are pretty basic and mild in flavor. Hope this helps!

  • Morgan

    All looks really good, and I am excited to make all of this stuff


    Thanks Morgan, you'll have to let us know how you like them as you make them!

  • Ash

    Omggg All of this stuff looks super good and delicious! I need to get some more recipes!

    -Ash

    Thanks Ash!

  • Jayla

    How do I make an amazing lasagna? Your food looks incredible I really like them,

    Thank you! You can check out our Classic Lasagna Recipe. Hope you enjoy!

  • skehen

    delicious dinners for my husband

    Glad we could help!

  • Charity

    Are there more macaroni and cheese ideas??

    Hi Charity, if you search macaroni and cheese on our blog, we have 4 recipes. Classic Baked Macaroni and cheese, 4 ingredient stove top macaroni and cheese, Jalapeño popper Mac and cheese and instant pot Mac and cheese. Hope you like them!

  • Erica

    What is the recipe pictured on the top? Looks like eggs? Help! Lol

    It's our Instant Pot Marinara with Polenta!

    https://themodernproper.com/instant-pot-chicken-marinara-with-polenta

  • Aiyanna

    we NEED FOODDDDDDD!!!!!! all of this looks so delicious.

    Thank you! Hope you make some of these delicious recipes!

  • Terri

    These recipes look amazing! I'm saving the page so I can try lots of them later. But, I looked up "easy dinner recipes " and I wouldn't describe most of these as fast and easy.

    They are definitely more challenging than a "5 ingredient" throw it all in one pot style dinner, but I can assure you that they are all beginner level recipes. Hope you try and love some of them!

  • Martha

    can't find the recipe for the dish right next to "SIXTY BEST EASY DINNERS"
    LOOKS LIKE COOKED CHICKEN, SAUCE, BASIL ?

    It's our Instant Pot Chicken Marinara With Polenta! Enjoy! One of my faves!

  • Gemma

    I love the way that yall make healthy
    Recipe and love to make them because they turn out so good and so easy to make

    Thank you Gemma, we are so happy you love our recipes!!

  • Jaclyn

    A family of 5 and I would like to thank you because I have been trying to come up with some meal ideas and came across your page and everyone is happy. I have added two new recipes for two weeks and gotten great feedback. Thank you

    Awww this is so wonderful to hear. We are so happy to hear your family is loving our recipes!

  • Ciella

    IT TASTE SO GOOOD I LOVED IT

    Thanks!

  • Keira

    good i like it

    Thanks Keira!

  • Jessica

    This was so good! I love every meal on here!!

    Thanks Jessica!

  • Ed

    Great list! Very helpful for someone in college like me who has gotten tired of chicken and rice.

    Thanks Ed, so happy we could help!

  • Carol

    I love these recipes they are truly perfect for a quick and easy dinner.

    Thanks Carol!

  • Carmen

    This dish is one of my faves from your site. So quick and easy. It's comfort in a bowl! I added some parmesan to my polenta (personal preference). Absolutely divine!
    Thank You for sharing!

    Thanks Carmen! So glad you love it!

  • Brandee

    Thank you! I have felt burnt out on the meal planning. I am used to making everything from scratch, and it's just so time consuming. I can't wait to try several of these!!
    We can't have egg or dairy (other than butter and cheddar cheese) so I look forward to trying some of my normal modifications to these. I think they will swap well.
    FYI for any other lactose intolerant people out there, Follow Your Heart makes a great vegan parmesan . Kite Hill makes the best vegan sour cream (I've even been able to think it a bit with almond or oat milk and it is still great) and Follow Your Heart makes a wonderful Mayonnaise. It's in the refrigerated section. I limit gluten as well, and in my opinion Jovial Organic Brown Rice Pasta is the best. They are bronze pressed in Italy.
    Anyway, Thank you again for the many recipes!

    Thanks Brandee, we are so glad we could help! We hope you enjoy a lot of these ideas!

  • Anna

    It was great!! Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta best food I've ever tasted.

    Thank you Anna, so happy you loved it so much!