18 Foolproof Dinner Recipes for When You’re Out of Ideas
Running out of dinner ideas? These 18 foolproof recipes are here to save the day! From quick one-pan meals to comforting classics, each dish is easy to make and guaranteed to please—even on your busiest nights.
Shrimp Scampi in the Instant Pot

The ever elegant restaurant entree that you love to order just became so much easier to make at home! This recipe for Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi cooks in– get this– 3 minutes! This is a one pot meal that you’ll love to serve up, either for a quick meal for yourself or to impress at a dinner party!
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers

These Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers are an incredibly flavorful dish to serve as an appetizer, snack or main course. Bursting with flavor and easy to prepare, these delicious skewers cannot be missed!
Homemade Margherita Pizza Recipe
This homemade Margherita Pizza Recipe is a fantastic dish to make at home, and especially fun to make with kids! You only need a few ingredients to make this Italian speciality. Keep reading for tips and tricks of how to make homemade pizza sauce and also how to level up your crust!
Cacio e Pepe
A classic Roman dish, Bucatani Cacio e Pepe is a cheesy pasta covered in creamy sauce that you’ll want to make again and again!
Creamy Beef and Shells in the Instant Pot
This Creamy Beef and Shells in the Instant Pot is a perfect 20 minute dinner. The pasta is cooked in a tomato and cream sauce that mixes deliciously with the beef in the recipe! It is thickened up with parmesan cheese and ready to serve so quickly. You’re going to love it!
Instant Pot Goulash
This Instant Pot Goulash is a delightful blend of meat, pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese. It has a cook time of 6 minutes in the Instant Pot, and will satisfy your family’s cravings without needing to slave away over the stove!
Marry Me Chicken Pasta
Pasta is so flavorful it’s sure to elicit a marriage proposal! This creamy, delicious pasta is easy to make and gets rave reviews every time. Whip it up for a quick weeknight meal or a fancy date night!
Crispy Chicken Fritta (Olive Garden Copycat)
Crispy Chicken Fritta is breaded and fried chicken served over dreamy, creamy fettuccine noodles made with an Asiago cream sauce. It’s a restaurant-quality meal that even the pickiest eaters will love!
The Best Vodka Sauce Recipe in the Instant Pot
This recipe is the Best Vodka Sauce out there! This recipe is made in the Instant Pot, so it takes only a few minutes and zero effort to throw together. And it is 100% delicious. You can make this recipe with Pappardelle Noodles or penne!
Instant pot spicy rigatoni
This Spicy Rigatoni is ready in under 25 minutes. Cooked in the Instant Pot with spicy sausage, a tomato cream sauce, and red chili flakes, this flavorful pasta will leave you wanting more!
Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken
This Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken is easy to make and great for a quick and affordable weeknight meal. These chicken drumsticks are the perfect mix of sticky, juicy, and crispy all at the same time!
Instant Pot Pizza Pasta Bake
Pizza + Pasta = The Ultimate Dinner Heaven! This Pizza Pasta Bake can be made in your Instant Pot and will be ready to enjoy in under 15 minutes!
Easy Chicken and Dumplings with Canned Biscuits
Easy Chicken and Dumplings can be thrown together in minutes and can cook in either the Instant Pot or Crockpot. Using Cream of Chicken soups and biscuit dough, this meal is no-prep! Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
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20 Minute Baked Tortellini
This Cheesy Vegetarian Tortellini Bake comes together in about 20 minutes, with less than 10 ingredients, and all in one pan! It’s ideal for a busy weeknight when you’re short on time but still want to get a hot meal on the table!
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
Looking for a new easy dinner recipe? Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are tender beef with hot pepperoncini chiles, smothered with cheese and loaded onto a hearty roll!
Bang Bang Shrimp (Bonefish Grill Copycat)
Coated in a crunchy panko breading and smothered with a classic sweet & spicy sauce, this Copycat Bonefish Grill Bang Bang Shrimp is an easy main dish or appetizer that can be pan-fried, air-fried, or baked! Serve it over rice or as bang bang shrimp tacos with crunchy cabbage for a tasty meal that everyone will rave about!
The BEST Orange Chicken
This sweet & savory Orange Chicken recipe is quick, easy and on the table in less than 30 minutes! Perfect for a weeknight fakeaway (sorry, Panda Express), this version is better for you than the fast food version and uses real ingredients. The whole family will enjoy this copycat Chinese Orange Chicken recipe that is packed full of flavor!
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Smothered Chicken
Pan-fried seasoned crispy tender chicken breasts smothered in an onion gravy are downright delicious. Smothered chicken is easy to make and satisfies all those comfort food cravings.