Wondering what to make for dinner tonight? Tired and Uninspired in the kitchen? Just ready to get food on the table? Let me help with 20 Ridiculously Simple Dinner Ideas to make Meal Time Super Easy! Here you’ll find the “Semi Homemade Ideas” and “homemade recipes for when you feel like cooking”.
RECIPE IDEAS BELOW WITH “HOW TO MAKE IT”, TIPS, INFORMATION AND LINKS TO HOMEMADE VERSIONS
We’re all about Semi Homemade Meals here on SemiHomemadeRecipes.com. It’s not that we don’t love to cook, because we do. However, we also love easy, “throw together meals” that can be put together in a flash.
Sometimes we might be sick, or overworked. Weeknights can be super busy and maybe we’re just tired and suffering from seasonal depression. Whatever the case may be, sometimes we all just need a super easy meal ideas (without using DoorDash or takeout) and that is where we come in!
Quick Dinner Ideas
Below, you’ll find 20 easy and tasty meal ideas that come together with a few simple store bought ingredients. Not only that, but I’ll be linking up some homemade and “from scratch” versions with them so you can make the super easy versions or the homemade versions!
Brunswick Stew and Rice
Stew and Rice! This has been a go-to meal since I was little. My mom use to make this for us with regular white rice but we tend to make it with Jasmine rice these days. Thomas actually really loves it with Jasmine Coconut Rice.
To make this easy Stew and Rice, you’ll just need a yellow can Brunswick stew and a bag of Ready Rice or Minute Rice. Heat according to package directions and then serve the stew over the rice.
Want a homemade version? Find a recipe for homemade Brunswick stew aka fire department strew here.
Roasted Chicken at Home KFC
Homemade KFC! Ok, well it’s not 100% KFC because we’re using roasted chicken here but you can obviously grab a bucket of fried chicken from the grocery store or grab some fried chicken tenders from the frozen food section.
Heat up the chicken, make the instant mashed potatoes according to the package, heat up the green beans and serve with slaw. You could even toss in a few biscuits too.
If you have leftover chicken you could use it for topping a salad the next day
Want a homemade version?
- Homemade Fried Chicken Recipe Here
- Homemade Mashed Potatoes Recipe Here
- Southern Green Beans Recipe Here
- Copycat KFC Coleslaw Recipe
Garlic Shrimp and Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
It’s like going to the seafood restaurant but at home! Whip up the Garlic Shrimp according to the package direction and then serve with the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits.
This meal could also be served with rice or pasta with a side salad to make it an even bigger meal.
I don’t make a ton of these Bird’s Eye Voila meals anymore because we don’t have the freezer space for the big bags but we use to make the Birds Eye Voila! Garlic Chicken and Birds Eye Voila! Three Cheese Chicken a lot! I actually have a homemade version of the cheesy chicken pasta here.
Want a homemade version?
- Grab a recipe for Homemade Cheddar Bay Biscuits here.
- Semi Homemade Cajun Shrimp Alfredo (the one above isn’t alfredo but this is a good recipe)
Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
This dinner idea is super easy to make. These Pulled Pork packets are easy to heat and serve.
Prick the outsides of the sweet potatoes with a fork. Wrap the sweet potatoes in foil, add a teaspoon or tablespoon of butter to the inside of each packet. Pre-heat oven to 500°F. Bake the sweet potatoes for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once they are done (test them with a fork to see if they are tender)
Split the sweet potatoes open, heat the pulled pork and add it to the potatoes.
Want a homemade version?
DIY At home Chick-fil-A and Fries – Chick-fil-A Nuggets and Chick-fil-A Sandwiches
These Chicken Bites and Chicken Sandwiches from Member’s Mark are amazing and taste so much like Chick-fil-A! We find them at Sam’s Club in the freezer section!
They’re perfect for a DIY Stay at home version of Chick-fil-A and even better when you buy a bottle of the sauce! You can find Chick-Fil-A Sauce and their Polynesian Chick-Fil-A Sauce at Food Lion and Target (maybe even Walmart but I’m not sure)
Want a homemade version?
Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Grilled Cheese
I love soup and I could eat soup all year long. There is just something very comforting and easy about having a cup of soup and 1/2 sandwich for a meal.
The “heat at home” Panera Broccoli and Cheddar soup from the grocery store is great with a grilled cheese but you could change it up for any kind of soup and sandwich.
Want a homemade version?
Homemade and Broccoli and Cheese Soup recipe here
Ps. did you know that there is an ENTIRE website dedicated to grilled cheese sandwiches? You can find that grilled cheese website here!
Cheeseburgers with Pasta Salad and Baked Beans
Cheeseburgers and sides! A classic summertime dinner that can really be enjoyed any time of year! Grilled burgers, oven baked burgers, skillet burgers and air fryer burgers are all perfect for this meal.
A lot of times you can find pre-pattied burgers near the ground beef at the grocery store so you don’t even need to get your hands dirty.
Just top your burger or cheese burger with you favorite toppings like:
- cheese
- lettuce
- mayo
- ketchup
- onions
- lettuce
- mustard
- pickles
Then serve them up with super easy sides like Suddenly Salad Pasta Salad and Canned Baked beans.
My friend, Tara, introduced me to suddenly salad probably 15 years ago when we lived on the military base and I’ve loved it every since. I don’t make it very much because Thomas isn’t crazy about pasta salad but it is good!
Also, when it comes to baked beans from a can, Bush’s Vegetarian beans are amazing. You would think the brown sugar or classic would be the best but the vegetarian baked beans are fantastic. However, of course you pick the beans you like the best.
Want a homemade version?
- Check out Girl Carnivora for some amazing burgers here
- Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad (No Mayo) Recipe here
- Slow Cooker Baked Beans Recipe here
Beef and Broccoli with Jasmine Rice
Beef and Broccoli with Jasmine Rice is one of Thomas’ favorite things to make when it is his turn to cook dinner. It’s easy and pretty much just a pour in a pan and heat type of meal.
Just heat the Beef and Broccoli according to the package direction and then serve with the heated jasmine rice for a super simple meal.
Want a homemade version?
Semi Homemade Penne Alla Vodka and Salad
Pasta and Salad but make it “fancy” with vodka sauce.
A jar of heated vodka sauce, cooked penne pasta and a side salad is a great meal for weekdays and you could even add some grilled chicken to it.
Want a homemade version?
Steaks with Baked Potatoes and Cheesy Broccoli
A classic favorite! Steaks and sides. Cook your favorite steak on the grill, in the oven or in a skillet and then serve it with a baked potato and cheesy broccoli!
My sister in law, Meghan, serves steaks with baked potatoes, Lima or green beans and salad!
Need some help in the kitchen with these?
- Steak with Mushroom Cream Sauce – Low Carb Dinner
- Pan Seared Ribeye with Homemade Compound Butter
- How to Cook Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- How to Cook a Potato in the Microwave
Roasted Chicken with Mac & Cheese, and Honey Glazed Carrots
Chicken and sides! A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and a few simple sides like Mac and cheese with some honey glazed carrots gets dinner on the table in a snap! We had a lot of meals like this growing up with a meat and vegetables on the side.
You could also serve things like canned peas (which we got a lot of as kids haha), corn on the cob, creamed spinach or cauliflower rice.
Want a homemade version?
Here are some of our favorite recipes from my other blog, BigBearsWife.com
- Air Fryer Roast Chicken
- Oven Roasted Beer Can Chicken
- My Favorite Way to Roast a Whole Chicken
- One Dish Easy Cheesy Mac and Cheese
- Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese
- Oven Roasted Carrots
Ps. if you want to make boxed mac and cheese but want to jazz it up a bit, check out “10 Ways to Change Up Boxed Mac and Cheese“
Super Easy Spaghetti
This was my dad’s go to meal when he cooked dinner for us growing up. I’m sure his spaghetti sauce was a little bit fancier but let me tell you, this Hunt’s sauce is so good! Just ground the beef, add it to the hot sauce and add that to cooked spaghetti! You could even serve some garlic bread or garlic knots on the side.
My dad prefers Jarred Rao’s Homemade sauce now when making a quick spaghetti!
Want a homemade version?
- Easy Italian Meatballs in Sauce Recipe (perfect for serving over pasta)
- Meghan’s Million Dollar Spaghetti
Easy Chili and Cornbread
Great for cool evenings but to be honest, I’d eat it anytime. The Bush’s Chili Magic helps you make a quick chili with a pound of ground beef and diced tomatoes. Great served with a quick cornbread
Want a homemade version?
Hamburger Helper and Garlic BreadSticks
A classic “go-to” dinner when you don’t have the energy to really cook but want to get something good on the table. Hamburger helper is great on its own or served with breadsticks!
Want a homemade version?
Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet – Homemade Hamburger Helper
Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Mac & Cheese
Now this is a southern staple meal! But make it semi homemade by grabbing a premade meatloaf in the chilled section of the grocery store and whip up some instant mashed potatoes and boxed mac and cheese!
Want a homemade version?
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
- Muffin Tin Mushroom Meatloaf
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole
- Bacon Ranch Macaroni and Cheese
- Easy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
Semi Homemade Meatball Subs and Chips
When I was younger, I remember going to SUBWAY a lot after church on Sundays for lunch. Back then SUBWAY was super popular and my all time favorite sub was their meatball sub.
They’re super easy to make at home. Just heat the meatballs, add to hot pasta sauce, scoop into rolls and top with cheese! Serve with bagged chips and you’re ready to go!
Want a homemade version?
Semihomemade Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
Two Bags into one meal! Teriyaki Chicken Stir-Fry in a flash! Just cook the stir fry according to the package directions (normally it’s just heating the sauce and veggies in a skillet on the stove) and then toss in some hot grilled chicken strips! Serve it as is or serve over rice for a quick weeknight dinner!
Want a homemade version?
Fish and Chips
Fish and Chips always reminds me of Disney World! I know, it’s odd but the England pavilion in Epcot in has a shop called “Yorkshire County Fish Shop” and it serves some of the best fish and chips. Oh and yes, chips are fries in this case!
I’m not normally a fan of fish from the freezer department (like the premade and bagged kind) but the Gorton’s beer battered fish fillet are delicious! Heat them up in the oven and serve them with thick cut fries and a side of ketchup or hot sauce for dipping!
Want a homemade version?
Tacos and Mexican Rice
Taco Tuesday Anyone??? Ok, we don’t have to only have tacos on Tuesday! We can have them any time of the week and they’re great for a quick meal. You can find taco kits in the grocery store of you can just grab a box of hard taco shells or a bag of soft taco shells and fill them with your favorite taco stuffings!
Tacos are so easy to make and everyone can top them with their favorite toppings. A true people pleaser meal! We actually did a Taco Bar for my son’s 1st first birthday party and it was fantastic.
What to stuff a taco with:
- Ground Beef seasoned with taco seasoning
- Shredded chicken with taco seasoning
- shredded cheese
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomatoes
- sour cream
- hot sauce
Serve tacos with a side of Mexican rice and dinner is done.
Want a homemade version of Mexican rice? I have a recipe for that!
Looking for even more easy dinner recipes? Give these a try
- Easy Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Broccoli Chicken Mac and Cheese
- Sloppy Joe Hot Dogs
- Skillet Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
- Oven Baked Salmon and Roasted Carrot Sheet Pan Meal
20 Ridiculously Simple Dinner Ideas That Make Cooking Time Take No Time
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