Top 6 Easy Dinner Recipes to Cook at Home

The key to easy cooking, these days, is to take advantage of convenience items when you can and to have a few go-to recipes for which you always have ingredients on hand. Here are some favorite easy dinner recipes, gentle on the budget, quick to make, and delicious.

asparagus and salmon dish

The Best Easy Dinner Recipes to Consider

#1. Easy Pasta Recipe

spaghetti with meatballs

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. dry spaghetti or other pasta.
  • 1 or 2 cans or jars spaghetti or marinara sauce.
  • 1-2 pounds cooked frozen meatballs, cooked crumbled ground beef, or coarsely chopped cooked chicken, optional.

How to Prepare It

This is one of those easy dinner recipes that everyone loves. Boil a large pot of water. Add the pasta and cook for about eight minutes. While pasta is cooking, heat the sauce in a saucepan on the stove or large glass bowl in the microwave, stirring occasionally.

Stir in meat and heat through. Drain the pasta. Serve sauce over pasta or stir together before serving. These ingredients will be enough for 6 servings.

Variations

  • Add minced garlic, fresh herbs, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Sauté a chopped onion with the meat before combining with sauce.
  • Add a can of petite diced tomatoes.
  • Top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.
  • Serve with buttery garlic toast and a tossed green salad.
  • Try alfredo sauce or pesto instead of marinara.
  • Use a pound of processed cheese instead of sauce, and thin with a little milk.

#2. Frittata & Scramble Recipe

egg frittata on a rectangular plate

Ingredients (for 3-4 Servings)

  • 6 eggs.
  • 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach.
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
  • ½ chopped onion.

How to Prepare It

Crack the eggs into a bowl and scramble with a fork. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the onion and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add spinach, cover, and let cook for about 3 minutes. Stir and break up spinach, cooking until heated through. Stir in eggs.

Lift the edges and bottom gently to move the cooked egg and allow liquid to flow underneath. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the eggs are completely set (about 3 minutes).

Variations

  • Cook half a pound of ground beef with the onions.
  • Sauté 2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms first, then add the onions and continue as directed.
  • Cook a diced potato with the onions.
  • Instead of allowing to firm up in one piece, scrabble mixture as it cooks, and serve over buttered toast wedges.
  • Scramble the mixture. Just before serving, top with a diced tomato and a cup of grated mild cheese.

#3. Sandwich Recipe

turkey ham and cheese sandwich

Ingredients (for 4 Servings)

  • 8 slices firm bread.
  • Butter.
  • 1 pound sliced turkey or other deli meat.
  • 2 cups gravy, either homemade or from a jar.

How to Prepare It

Among the easy dinner recipes available out there, this is probably a great one for when you want to eat on the go. Toast the bread and keep warm in the oven. Place the meat and gravy in a large skillet over medium heat. Butter the toast, cut in half diagonally, and arrange 4 triangles on each plate, slightly overlapping. Spoon the meat and gravy over the toast.

Variations

  • Sauté mushrooms in the skillet first, then add the meat and the gravy.
  • Stir in a couple of ounces of wine.
  • Serve over mashed potatoes or cooked rice instead of toast.
  • Stir in a package of frozen mixed vegetables.
  • Try using shrimp or tuna and alfredo sauce instead of meat and gravy.

#4. Burrito Recipe

burrito wrap on a wooden surface

Ingredients (for 6 Servings)

  • 3 cups cooked ground beef, coarsely chopped chicken, or shredded roast beef.
  • 1 packet taco seasoning mix.
  • 6 large flour tortillas.
  • 3 cups grated mild cheese (Jack or cheddar).
  • 1 can refried beans if desired.
  • 1 ½ cups cooked rice if desired.

How to Prepare It

Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the meat in a large skillet and heat through. Add the taco seasoning and water as directed. Allow to simmer about 5 minutes. Place the tortillas on sheet pans, top with cheese, and place in the oven. As soon as the cheese is melted, remove it from the oven and spoon the meat on top. If desired, add warmed beans and/or rice. Fold the burritos.

Variations

  • Offer bowls of garnishes, like salsa, sour cream, guacamole, chopped green onions, and diced chilies.
  • Sauté multi-colored bell pepper and onion strips and add them with the meat.
  • Place the finished burritos in a casserole dish and drizzle a can of enchilada sauce over the top, then sprinkle some extra cheese on top and bake about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

#5. Stir Fry Recipe

a stir fry Asian dish

Ingredients (for 4 Servings)

  • 1 large yellow onion.
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken.
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
  • 1 bag Asian-style frozen vegetables.
  • 1 jar stir-fry sauce.

How to Prepare It

Heat a wok or large skillet over high heat. Slice the chicken into thin strips. Quarter and slice the onion, creating thin strips. Place the oil in a hot pan and allow it to heat for about a minute. Quickly stir in the chicken with the onion. Stir and cook very fast until chicken is opaque. Stir in the frozen vegetables and sauce, cover, and heat for about three minutes. Serve with steamed rice.

Variations

  • Use fresh bell peppers and a can of sliced water chestnuts instead of frozen veggies.
  • Use fresh broccoli and mushrooms instead of frozen veggies.
  • Use shrimp instead of chicken, and fresh snow peas instead of frozen veggies.
  • Try different Asian sauces, some hot chili oil, or some sesame oil.

#6. Stew & Dumpling Recipe

a stew dish with vegetables and meat

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
  • 1 cup each chopped onion and celery.
  • 2 cups cooked chicken, cut into large dice.
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup.
  • 1 cup frozen green peas.
  • 1 package refrigerated biscuits.

How to Prepare It

Sauté the onions and celery in a large skillet until soft and translucent. Stir in the chicken and soup. Add a cup of water, chicken broth, or milk to adjust consistency, if desired. Stir in the frozen vegetables. Arrange the biscuits on top, pressing gently into the mixture but not covering. Cover the pan on the stovetop, reduce heat, and simmer until biscuits are steamed through about 10 minutes.

Variations

  • Season with herbs, garlic, and fresh ground pepper.
  • Instead of steaming the dumplings, place the (oven-proof) pot in preheated 350 oven and bake about 10 minutes or until biscuits are done.
  • Try using cooked cubed beef (canned or cooked at home) and brown gravy instead of chicken and soup.

Putting It All Together

All the above meals are easy dinner recipes that anyone can try and prepare. It will not take you long to cook them. Follow our steps and recommendations if you want to eat something different and tasty every night. Feel free to share with us your insights as well as your favorites recipes.

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Curry Chick Peas lettuce wraps

lemon juice from half a lemon2 cans of chick peas drain wash and add to the panchop up 1/2 of an onion 1 cup chop up cherry tomatoes1/2 teaspoon curry1/2 teaspoon onion powder1/2 teaspoon of cooking oil sea salt and black pepper1 tablespoon pure tomato pasteAdd all ingredients to a pan greased with cooking oil

cook quinoaslice a half of iceberg lettuceplace iceberg lettuce shells on a plateadd cooked quinoa to lettuce shells put cooked curry chickpeas ingredients on quinoa and lettuce shellssqueeze fresh lemon juice lettuce wrap

Cauliflower tacos

Start by steaming 2 cups of cauliflower1 cup green chopped slaw 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise squeeze lime juice on the slaw and mix upIn a large non-stick skillet add 1 tablespoon of olive oil put on high heatadd in steamed cauliflower 1/4 cup of watersprinkle in chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, paprika, black pepper, and sea saltmix until all the seasonings are well combined with the cauliflower.cover and let it steam and cookwarm-up soft tortillas in a hot frying pan with olive oilplace tortillas on a plate put slaw mix on tortillas add cauliflower ingredientsput some fresh cut avocado and squeeze lime on top

Roasted Shrimp Veggie Salad

1 cup each of fresh tomato, carrots, yellow pepper, onions, and asparagus place on a cooking tray add olive oilpinch of salt, pepper, chili powder, and oreganoBake in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutesseparate veggies in the middle of the cooking sheet add raw deveined no shell or tail shrimpseasonbake 400 degrees for 10 minuteslet chill and add to lettuce

The Best Vegan Restaurants in America

In the United States, veganism has been steadily gaining traction over the last couple of decades. In fact, it has been calculated that there are around eight million adults in the country that identify as either vegan or vegetarian.

Through that growth, there has also been a process of vegan culinary development and refinement that has manifested itself as a surge in the number of best vegan restaurants. 

a delicious raw vegan sandwich

The times when being vegan meant eating flavorless raw foods from a Tupperware bowl are now long gone. This guide will go over some of the most interesting, exciting and appetizing vegan restaurants in the country.

The Best Vegan Restaurants in America

1. Candle Cafe (New York, NY)

a cup of coffee and a small sandwich

Over the past nine years, the Candle Cafe has transformed from a health food store and juice bar to a full-blown vegan restaurant and cafe. Apart from being completely vegan, all the products that this cafe uses to prepare their dishes are sustainable and healthy.

It’s worth noting that the Candle Cafe is well-known for using Cajun seitan as a meat replacement for many of their signature dishes. However, they have a huge variety of ingredients that include raw vegetables and fruits. As if that wasn’t enough, Candle Cafe’s vegan desserts are famous city-wide.

2. The Chicago Diner (Chicago, IL)

a raw vegan burger on a table

One of the most popular vegan restaurants in the United States, the Chicago Diner prides itself in being meat-free since 1983. Despite not serving meat, it has become a true staple of the Windy City. Due to its versatile and delicious menu, it attracts both locals and tourists. Decorated in a traditional Americana style, the restaurant has an ambient that’s cozy and authentic enough to rival the comfort provided by the food itself. Additionally, their vegan shakes are legendary.

3. Vedge (Philadelphia, PA)

a healthy salad with nuts

Verge offers a gourmet dining experience that focuses on fresh produce, quality food processing, and eclectic recipes. The vegan restaurant’s commitment to being free of animal products is total. Despite that fact, its dishes are so flavorful and satisfying that carnivores will not feel like they are missing out on absolutely anything.

Apart from having great food, Vedge is a wonderful place for social interaction. Its dishes are relatively small because they are meant to be shared. Additionally, the ambient is playfully intimate.

4. Plant (Asheville, NC)

a vegan pizza with vegetables

Warm, casual and community-oriented, Asheville’s Plant is a vegan restaurant that is meant to make you feel right at home. Focusing on fresh, locally-sourced food that is prepared simply but beautifully. The restaurant’s minimalistic style of cooking allows the quality of the ingredients to really shine through, releasing all their natural flavor.

Apart from providing great food for locals and visitors alike, Verge is very active in the local community, often participating in cultural events. Of course, a big part of their interaction has to do with environmental causes that benefit the community and the planet.

5. Candle 79 (New York, NY)

baked sweet potatoes

Located on New York’s Upper East Side, Candle 79 has quickly become a staple of the city’s fine dining scene. Apart from using no animal food products, the restaurant is committed to veganism to the point of using sustainable building materials, decor, cleaning products, and cooking equipment.

Their philosophy regarding food is all about plant-based and organic dishes, often raw. Their dishes are seasonal and elegant, brought directly from the farm to the client’s table. Despite those self-imposed limitations, Candle 79’s chefs are experts at combining flavors in surprising, delicious ways. Additionally, it features an eco-bar that offers organic wine, spirits, and beers.

6. Elizabeth’s Gone Raw (Washington DC)

a raw pasta dish

Opened by Elizabeth Petty, this elegant and upscale vegan restaurant only opens on Friday nights. More than any other pick on this list, Elizabeth’s Gone Raw puts an emphasis on healthy food. Unlike most vegan restaurants, it does not offer customers a menu with varied choices.

Instead, it gives them a fixed six-course tasting menu that is renewed weekly. As its name says, the restaurant only uses the freshest raw foods available. However, its dishes are far from simple. Instead, they are true culinary masterpieces that often go the experimental way.

7. Greens Restaurant (San Franciso, CA)

a fancy zucchini dish

The oldest vegan restaurant on this list is also one of the most popular among culinary critics and enthusiasts. It has been serving healthy, environmentally-friendly food without animal products since 1979. It’s considered one of the best vegan restaurants among renowned foodies and food bloggers.

Located in a precious little part of Fort Mason, Greens offers vegan food in a style that’s very much in the vein of a classic upscale restaurant. It uses a fixed price system that allows patrons to get anything on the varied and amazing menu.

8. Plum Bistro (Seattle, WA)

a fancy salad with vegetables and fruits

Plum Bistro has made a name for itself by combining the most beloved American classics with gourmet vegan styles of cooking. Even though the idea may seem strange at first, the result has been nothing short of amazing. Without animal products of any kind, the chefs at Plum Bistro manage to cook traditional American dishes that prove you don’t need meat to get flavor and substance.

Perhaps that’s how it managed to grow from a small vegan bistro to three full-blown restaurants within a few years. Additionally, it has a food truck that serves gourmet vegan fast food.

9. Shaya Restaurant (New Orleans, LA)

Shaya is the only vegan restaurant in the area and it draws influences from all around the world. However, their ingredients and locally and ethically sourced. Whether you’re visiting for a special occasion or just to taste a delightful vegan dish, Shaya features a wood-fire oven where many of the small plates are prepared in front of you.

Some of their popular dishes include a cauliflower hummus and lightly-salted pitta bread. Their plant-based plates come in small portions, making the restaurant an ideal choice for people looking to adapt to veganism. Plus, Shaya serves meat dishes to accommodate for meat-eaters too: a great must-visit if there’s a large party of people with different dietary restrictions. 

10. Red White Japanese Vegan (Boston, MA)

Red White works hard to create delectable dishes you wouldn’t easily find anywhere else in America. Their collection of Japanese cuisine dates back to the 13th century and it was developed by Japanese Buddhist monks. The restaurant’s mantra is to defeat your food cravings while eating highly-nutritious food.

Their dishes are topped with curry, ginger, yuzu citrus, and many other healthy flavors, though Red White like to regularly mix up their spices. Red White also has a small category of nutritious smoothies that taste delightful while offering many nutritional benefits. For example, Moringa Mint is packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids designed to act like medicine for your body and help your skin to glow.

11. The Southern V (Nashville, TN)

Love southern-fried food but don’t want the guilt? The Southern is one of the best vegan restaurants in Nashville as many of their dishes taste like you’re eating meat. As such, this is a popular spot for residents and they also create comfort foods for those times when you’re craving something a little hearty. 

This family-owned restaurant also prides themselves on using eco-friendly utensils and serve ware to have a positive impact on the environment. Some of their dishes include: BBQ jackfruit nachos, chick’n salad, panini patty and more.

Putting It All Together

After reading this article, you probably realized that vegan cuisine is a growing force in America’s culinary culture. There are vegan restaurants out there that are pushing the envelope, exploring new culinary styles while reaching new publics and changing lives.

With more people becoming vegan every day, it’s safe to speculate that this phenomenon will only continue to gain traction over the coming years. Fortunately, the world of veganism is vast enough to allow new and exciting possibilities to continue emerging. What are some of your favorite vegan restaurants? Let us know in the comments below!

Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12


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