25 Top-Rated Dinner Ideas Guaranteed to Save Your Weeknights

Find an easy answer to "What's for dinner?"

By

Diana Moutsopoulos

Published on November 15, 2023

slightly less than overhead view of rotisserie chicken stuffing casserole served in a casserole dish with a serving taking out — Photo:
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

We've all had those evenings: It's 5pm and someone asks, "What's for dinner?" — it could even be you asking yourself in your head! It shouldn't be such a hard question to answer, but we all know that there are those times where your mind draws a complete blank. That's why we've rounded up 25 no-fuss, crowd-pleasing dinner ideas to save yourself that mental labor any night of the week! These top-rated recipes are all guaranteed delicious and have the reviews to prove it.

01 of 25

Quick and Easy Chicken Spaghetti

Quick and Easy Chicken Spaghetti — Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

"Delicious!! A nice twist to chicken spaghetti! I added mushrooms, onions, garlic and cilantro as my veggies, used skinless, boneless chicken thighs instead chicken breast and Mexican blend Monterrey shredded cheese instead of the process cheese. It turned really creamy and delicious." —Evelyn Cordero

02 of 25

Stuffed Pepper Soup

looking down at a large pot full of stuffed pepper soup with rice, next to kitchen towels and a wooden spoon — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"Great recipe without all the work. And flavors you can add or subtract. I added kale, garlic and carrots... And tonight I’m serving rice on the side... This is my go to recipe year round. Delish!" —Livin the dream

03 of 25

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs — naples34102

"Simple and super savory! I've never made ribs before, so I love it when my first try is a success. Thanks for sharing this recipe, Norah!" —Candaceabc

04 of 25

Simple Beef Stroganoff

close up view of beef stroganoff in a pan, next to a kitchen towel — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"I've cooked this recipe twice now. The first time, it needed more seasoning. This time, I added a packet of onion soup mix. My whole family is in love! I have three meat eaters and one pescatarian. I made his exactly same way (with exception of the ground beef). Instead I used a 1 lb block of [plant based] beef. He especially went crazy over it. I've never seen a plate stacked so high with food. HE ATE EVERY BITE!" —Heather J Tedrick

05 of 25

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

high angle, close up on a plate of three fiesta slow cooker shredded chicken tacos — Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

"This is the easiest way imaginable to make moist, flavorful shredded chicken. I forgot to thaw the meat, so I tossed in frozen chicken instead, and it still turned out perfectly. This is my new go-to for taco night!" —Lori Bennett

06 of 25

Italian Wedding Soup

Overhead view of Italian Wedding Soup with carrots, greens, orzo pasta and meatballs in a white bowl — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"Made this tonight and it was WONDERFUL! The broth had a great flavor and the soup itself was nice and light." —Pat-Perry

07 of 25

Homemade Beef Stew

a top down view on a bowl of classic beef stew. — humblepieliving

"Excellent recipe that you can easily tweak based on your tastes. The second time I made it I added some chopped peppers that went together well with all the other ingredients. Thanks for the recipe." —Loren

08 of 25

Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto

high angle looking into a bowl of mushroom risotto — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"Simple, easy recipe that delivers a delicious result. I followed everything except I used sprigs of thyme instead of rosemary because that's what I had. This is definitely a keeper, thank you for this great labor saving and delicious recipe." —codemasterg

09 of 25

Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks

Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks — patrick

"Restaurant quality!! Everyone was blown away by how delicious this was. The only thing I did differently was add a little cornstarch slurry to the pot at the end to help thicken the sauce." —Patty Preston Anderson

10 of 25

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Million-Dollar Spaghetti in a casserole dish — Baking Nana

"I love making baked spaghetti and am always looking for different recipes to enhance the flavors. This is spot on! The cream cheese brings out a rich and creamy flavor while the pasta sauce gives it a real zing! One thing I did differently is that I mixed my pasta noodles in with the cream cheese, cottage cheese & sour cream. This is a delightful dish that can feed a small family or a large gathering!" —Lucky

11 of 25

Oven Fried Chicken

overhead angle looking down at a plate of golden brown oven fried chicken — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"This has been in the regular winter dinner rotation at my house for a few years now. I use a combo of drumsticks and thighs and sometimes add a little more spice, but the chicken always comes out juicy and delicious!" —JamieCooks

12 of 25

Air Fryer Meatloaf

Air Fryer Meatloaf

"It was quick and easy to make. I had all the requested ingredients for it and it came out great. Meatloaf is one of my husband’s favorite things to eat and I love anything that I can do in our air fryer." —Iamj0eysgurl

13 of 25

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

slightly less than overhead view of rotisserie chicken stuffing casserole served in a casserole dish with a serving taking out — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"I’ve made this a couple of times following the recipe exactly. This is a well written recipe and the measurements are perfect for my taste. This is pure comfort food - nothing fancy, and it tastes great. Pretty easy to throw this baby together too, rotisserie chicken, canned soup and boxed stuffing." —ibscarry

14 of 25

Cheeseburger Soup

Close up view of cheeseburger soup with cheese and green onions in a bowl with a spoonful of soup — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"I've been making this recipe for years and it's one of my family's favorites. I make it as written with the exception of beef broth instead of chicken broth. Love it!" —teacher2

15 of 25

Chicken Milanese

close up view of Chicken Milanese with lemon wedges and herbs — naples34102

"Super simple recipe! I used panko instead of regular bread crumbs and served it [with] arugula on top with balsamic vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan! Delicious." —drbrn

16 of 25

Juicy Roasted Chicken

an overhead view of a beautifully roast chicken in a roasting pan. — Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

"Made this recipe as written and the chicken was moist and delicious. This recipe was a keeper. I made mashed potatoes to go with and I used the juices from the chicken to make the mashed potatoes! Delicious!" —L Jackson

17 of 25

Perfect Flat Iron Steak

close. up view of sliced flat iron steak on top of salad — mommyluvs2cook

"I'm a Texas boy and I've eaten nothing but grilled steaks my whole life. I was really unsure about the marinade and pan frying a steak but decided to take a gamble. Boy, was I surprised, the steaks turned out tender and juicy with the perfect flavor to accent the great taste of the meat... If you are looking for a restaurant quality steak without having to own a grill, this is it. 5 stars all the way." —Robb M.

18 of 25

White Bean Chicken Chili

high angle looking at a bowl of white bean chicken chili garnished with fresh herbs — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"Hubs and I loved this for an easy dinner. I used canned chicken breast. Don't skip the tomatillios. They make the dish. I also topped with fresh avocado. Delish!" —Young45

19 of 25

Grandma's Hamburger Casserole

cheesy beef and pasta casserole in a white casserole dish with a portion taken out on a separate plate. — Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

"Just like my grandmother use to make. I changed nothing in the recipe and the family loved it. Thank you for sharing this recipe and bringing back so many memories of my grandparents. Was a go to when we stayed overnight with them." —KonaDog

20 of 25

Perfect Ten Baked Cod

Buttery, crumb-coated pieces of baked cod on a white platter with lemon slices and green onions — DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

"My husband and I both give this one a thumbs up! I made it exactly as per the recipe and cooked it as instructed. It is delicious and easy to prepare. I served it with risotto and a Caesar salad and it was a really nice dinner." —Mary

21 of 25

Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup I — westsidesaint

"Followed the recipe to a tee, only addition was 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Absolutely the best!" —tedd5474

22 of 25

Homemade Smash Burgers

a homemade smash burger in an orange basket served with french fries. — Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

"Excellent! From now on, this will be the only way I'll make burgers! Smashing is definitely the best way to do burgers!" —BILL

23 of 25

Chicken Marbella

Chicken Marbella on an oval platter garnished with olives, plums, and fresh oregano — Allrecipes Magazine

"This dish is delicious and will definitely be on heavy rotation! It looks and smells amazing, and will impress your guests. The best part is that it looks like you spent all day cooking, but is really easy to make (don't even have to chop anything)." —Moraa Andima

24 of 25

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

"My family loved it! I'll be making this again. Followed advice and just stirred pasta and ingredients together and threw into baking dish." —Debbie

25 of 25

Classic Minestrone Soup

Classic Minestrone Soup

"I was in the U.S. Navy and lived in Italy for a total of 5 years. Minestrone is a staple and I learned that you can put just about anything in it. I omitted the beans and pasta but added sliced Italian sweet sausage (cooked and sliced, of course) and baby spinach. Fresh sliced mushrooms, too. Served with hunks of sourdough bread. Mmmm. Just like being in Italy." —johnbentz

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