7 Easy Dinner Ideas for All Days of the Week

For the longest time I thought everyone happily made dinner. The more I've talked about cooking, the more I realize that there are some people (and I am good friends with some of these people) who simply don't like to cook. I'm a firm believer in eating dinner at home most of the time for a few reasons: it's less expensive; I can also control what's in the meal; I know where I bought the ingredients. My goal is to help even the haters (or dislikers) feel prepared to prepare dinner. You don't have to love it like I do, but maybe I can help you dislike it a little less.

Fish Tacos

I used to do the typical taco Tuesday, but really I dig into tacos any day of the week. When it comes to tacos or wraps, I generally go for seafood, but sometimes I'll branch out into other types to shake it up. The ease of making tacos and wraps cannot be beat, and they're usually quite the crowd pleaser. You can also choose which type of tortilla or wrap you want (corn, white, wheat, whatever), and what goes inside it. I've got a method and I stick to it. Because I cook a lot, tacos and wraps aren't as frequent as they used to be, but they're still common in my house. Below are some good recipes for different types of tacos or wraps to make.

Fish or Shrimp Tacos Recipe - click here

Air Fryer Cauliflower Tacos Recipe - click here

Chicken or Beef Lettuce Wrap Recipe - click here

Veggie Quiche

Eggs are something I grew up eating for dinner, usually sunny side up with a piece of buttered toast on the side. Easy and straightforward. Fast forward to me being in my 40s, and eggs are still part of my dinner rotation. I'm much more likely to add some veggies on the side to get the maximum health benefits. Eggs are full of protein, plus vitamins D and B, as well as choline which helps with brain health and metabolism. I'm a huge fan of eggs in general and mine come from the farmers market so I feel like I get extra goodness. Maybe that's the placebo effect. It works. I'm really healthy, and I highly recommend these egg recipes to keep you healthy too.

Easy Veggie Quiche Recipe - click here

Spinach & Cheese Egg Bake Recipe - click here

Eggs with Toast and Simple Sides

Typically two eggs per person will suffice, any way you want to cook them. Scrambled and over easy/medium are the easiest, and you can also season them however you choose. Add a simple side to the eggs, like a salad or roasted veggies. Healthy and delicious. And also very simple!

Cucumber, Tomato, Avocado, Mozzarella Salad

When I announced to my parents at 12 years old that I was becoming vegetarian, I was served salad for dinner. My mother, not being very health-aware, did not add any protein, and started to lose weight - not healthy for a 12 year old who was very athletic and thin already. So I went back to eating fish and chicken, and have gone back and forth from vegetarian to mostly pescatarian since. Salads are a favorite of mine, and want to share some ideas that will tide you over to the next morning. You'll get your protein. I'll take good care of you to make sure you're healthy.

Easy Lentil Salad Recipe - click here

Chicken or Salmon Dinner Salad Recipe - click here

Cucumber, Tomato, Avocado, Mozzarella Salad Recipe - click here

Classic New Orleans Red Beans & Rice

Beans have been something I've eaten my entire life. Red beans and rice are an integral dish in New Orleans where I hail from. Some people hate beans; I am not one of those people and could eat beans every day of the week. There isn't a bean I haven't met, and while I don't love them all equally, I do love them all. Lentils are likely my most frequent pick because they are easy to make and I also made a recipe that I happen to love. If you know anything about the Mediterranean diet, you know that eating beans each day will do you a lot of good. Here are some good recipes, all of which I'll make vegetarian, knowing you can add sausage to the side, or ham into the dish. I opt for vegetarian, as I think it tastes delicious and I have yet to hear complaints about them.

Vegetarian Lentils & Rice Recipe - click here

New Orleans Red Beans & Rice - click here

Bonus Cornbread Recipe - click here

Simple Cajun White Beans Recipe - click here

Salmon with Vegetable Side

Fish is one of the most delicious, easiest, and healthy proteins you can put into your body. The little swimmers give you all kinds of nutrients your body needs, from omega-3 fatty acids to iodine to vitamin D and B vitamins. I've loved fish my entire life, and that's a good thing since I am from and still live in New Orleans where it's a way of life. I've made so many types of fish, and I am sharing my favorites based on ease and goodness. Each recipe is one that I've made myself and cook regularly. You won't find these dishes difficult or unpleasant to clean up after you cook. I'm so excited to share my most favorite fish recipes with you here.

Bakes Salmon Recipe - click here

Tuna Steak Recipe (Spicy or Non-Spicy) - click here

Air Fryer White Fish Recipe - click here

Delicious and Nutritious Chicken Noodle Soup

Soup is by far my favorite thing to eat and cook. I love being able to have an entire meal in the form of a soup no matter if it's winter, spring, summer, or fall. In addition, I've made countless types of soup, from gumbo to chicken noodle, and I continue to find delicious recipes or come up with my own to try. I've perfected a few, and I'll share with you ones that I know are tried and true. So if you're a soup lover as well, this will be a good section for you. The good news is that you can usually eat on it for days if you make enough, or freeze it for a day when you're too tired or lazy or just want something warm in your stomach. I'm really excited to share these recipes with you.

Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe - click here

Vegetable Soup Recipe - click here

Creamy Mushroom Soup Recipe - click here 

Eggs for Hibachi! 

Past is such a simple but gratifying dish. It took me some time to warm up to pasta dishes because I hated store bought noodles. I like to eat them raw, crunching that angel hair pasta all over the place, but not cooked. Something about it just didn't do it for me. When I found homemade pasta at the farmers market, that's when the real fun began. I started making different pasta dishes and really enjoying them. The simplicity of the dishes makes evening cooking nice and easy. I don't have to put a lot of time and energy into thinking about how to do it or what ingredients to use. I'll share some of my favorite dishes with you. They're always crowd pleasers.

Shrimp or Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe - click here

Mushroom & Parmesan Pasta Recipe - click here

Veggie Pasta Recipe - click here

Soup (Chicken Noodle, Vegetable, or Mushroom)

Soups are one of the easiest meals to prep ahead. Make a large batch on the weekend and reheat throughout the week. Most soups taste even better in the days to come, and you can freeze portions for later. After I make the soup, I immediately put some in a container to eat the next day and a container to freeze so I have some for later.

Beans & Lentils

Lentils, white beans, and red beans (and really any beans) are ideal for meal prep because they hold up well in the fridge. Make a pot at the beginning of the week or on a weekend when you have time and serve them with rice, bread, or vegetables for quick dinners. And you can't beat their health benefits.

Roasted or Baked Protein

Cooking chicken, shrimp, or salmon ahead of time makes dinner assembly much faster. Prep the protein, then pair it with pasta, salad, or vegetables depending on what you’re in the mood for. I'm not into freezing any of these items but they are great for eating on for a few days.

Cooked Pasta

Cooking a box of plain pasta ahead of time and storing it in the fridge makes pasta dinners come together quickly. Add pesto, olive oil and garlic, vegetables, or a light red sauce when ready to eat. For a pro tip, store the pasta in smaller containers so you can have it ready to go when you're ready to eat it.

These are easy dinners that work well for families because they’re flexible, filling, and easy to customize.

Pasta Nights

Pasta is easy to scale up for families. You can prep the pasta and sauce ahead of time, then let everyone add their own protein, vegetables, or cheese at the table. Voila.

Soups with Bread or Crackers

Soups are great family dinners because they’re low-effort and comforting. Serve with bread, crackers, or cornbread and let everyone help themselves. Who doesn't like soup after all?

Taco Night!

I think taco night is a favorite for every person in the house. If not, ban them immediately. Prep proteins and fillings ahead of time and let everyone assemble their own tacos or wraps. This works well with fish, shrimp, chicken, ground beef, beans, or roasted vegetables.

Rice Bowls

Make a pot of rice and pair it with beans, vegetables, or protein throughout the week. This is an easy way to stretch ingredients and keep dinners simple. I often do hibachi style rice and use eggs as a protein mixed into the rice.

Each meal idea and recipe has come from years of me doing trial and error during my cooking escapades. While I love trying new recipes, some weeks simply call for ease and goodness, and let’s not forget health. I’m hoping a few, if not all, of these easy dinner ideas and recipes help you put something new into your rotation for your family dinners. All of these are quicker than going through the fast food line, with a little preparation of things to have on hand. Do your body right and cook yourself and your family a healthy, delicious meal from my list. I can’t wait to hear how you like them. Bon appétit!

If you liked this blog, you might also like the one I wrote about why to shop at the farmers market as well.

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