19 Dinner Recipes So Quick, You'll Feel Like You're Cheating

Here are 19 incredibly quick and easy dinner recipes with no complicated techniques or hard to find ingredients. And they are so fast you’ll feel like you are away with something delicious.

https://tastesdelicious.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/mongolian-beef.jpg — Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Blackened Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp tacos with cabbage and lettuce on a white plate. — Blackened Shrimp Tacos. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Conquer weeknights with these Blackened Shrimp Tacos! Tender, juicy shrimp seasoned to perfection with a creamy garlic aioli make this a flavor explosion in under 15 minutes. Quick and bursting with taste, they are perfect for busy evenings.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Shrimp Tacos

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Air fryer pork tenderloin is a great weeknight dinner. The air fryer makes the outside crisp and brown while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

Tortellini Pasta Salad

This Tortellini Pasta Salad with Mozzarella, Cherry Tomatoes, and Pesto is a hearty dish perfect for picnics or cookouts. Easy to make ahead and great as a main course, it’s a summer salad that fits into any busy schedule.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad

Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

Hot dogs wrapped in bacon are a simple yet flavorful dinner option. They are perfect for a quick meal that doesn’t sacrifice taste and sure to be a hit with kids.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs

Chicken Fajitas

These chicken fajitas combine tender chicken with veggies for a simple 15-minute meal. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners without sacrificing flavor.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajitas

Thai Red Curry Chicken

A plate of Thai chicken curry with rice and vegetables. — Thai Red Curry Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Thai Red Chicken Curry is a quick one-pot meal with tender chicken and orange peppers simmered in red curry paste and coconut milk. Ready in no time, it’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Thai Red Curry Chicken

Sausage & Red Pepper Pasta

This one-pot sausage and red pepper pasta is ready in under 30 minutes. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need a creamy, flavorful pasta dish that isn’t marinara.
Get the Recipe: Sausage & Red Pepper Pasta

Fajita Burgers

A burger topped with peppers and onions with guacamole. — Fajita Burgers. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Get all the flavor of fajitas in a burger! Fajita seasoning is mixed into ground beef and cooked with veggies for an easy-to-make meal that’s ready fast and way more exciting than a basic burger.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Burgers

Mongolian Beef

Closeup of crispy beef in a bowl with green onions and sesame seeds. — Mongolian Beef. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Make Mongolian beef with crispy beef coated in a sweet and salty sauce, just like P.F. Chang’s. This kid-friendly meal is ready in 20 minutes, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Beef

Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Chicken salad sandwich on a white plate. — Rotisserie Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Rotisserie Chicken Salad is packed with crisp vegetables, tangy dressing, and tender chicken. It’s a healthy and delicious choice for a fast weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Kung Pao Shrimp

A plate of stir-fried shrimp and vegetables with cashew nuts served over rice. — Kung Pao Shrimp. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This Kung Pao Shrimp recipe is ready in under 20 minutes and packed with sweet, savory, and spicy flavor. A quick and healthy weeknight meal your family will love.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Shrimp

Air Fryer Cod

This flaky and tender cod recipe is perfect for a quick dinner. Ready to eat in 15 minutes, it’s a healthy and delicious option for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cod

Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

This Instant Pot Minestrone soup is a nutritious one-pot meal. Full of flavor and packed with veggies, it’s a healthy 30-minute meal perfect for weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Minestrone Soup

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Fried chicken with lemon wedges on a plate. — Air Fryer Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These chicken thighs are seasoned with simple spices and quickly cooked. They are both crispy and juicy, ready in 30 minutes for an easy weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Taco Rice Skillet

Closeup of a skillet with ground beef, cheese and tomatoes. — Taco Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This easy one-dish taco rice skillet dinner will be on the table in about 20 minutes. With only 8 simple ingredients, it’s a quick and tasty family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Taco Rice Skillet

Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks

Chicken legs in the air fryer. — Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Enjoy the crispy, golden perfection of Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks. They are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and sure to be a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks

Air Fryer Steak Bites

Air fried steak bites on a white plate. — Air Fryer Steak Bites. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These steak bites make a simple and delicious weeknight meal. The bite-sized pieces of meat have charred edges and a tender interior, ready in 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Steak Bites

Naan Pizza

Make personal pizzas from naan bread! These naan pizzas are simple and delicious, ready in about 10 minutes for a super quick meal.
Get the Recipe: Naan Pizza

Air Fryer Brats

Two brats on a plate in buns topped with sauerkraut. — Air Fryer Brats. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These brats are deliciously crispy sausages with amazing flavor. Get a grilled taste in 15 minutes, whether using uncooked, pre-cooked, or frozen brats.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Brats

MSN Slideshows

19 Dinner Recipes So Quick, You’ll Feel Like You’re Cheating