Dinner

81 Dinner Ideas That Aren’t All Pasta

How can it be almost dinner time again? We don't know, either. But we have recipes that can help.
Shawarma spiced tofu sandwiches .
Photo by Ted + Chelsea Cavanaugh, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege

Don't get us wrong, we love a simple pasta—but sometimes, you want some variety, and you want it now. So we've gathered our 81 best quick and easy dinner ideas to make sure your weeknight lineup doesn't get stale. Keep scrolling to find recipes for shawarma-spiced tofu, soy-glazed chicken, crispy-skinned salmon—and yes, a few really good pastas, too.

  • four crisp tortillas topped with yogurt sauce and a chorizo saut on a plate with lime wedges
    Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
    1/80

    Chickpea and Chorizo Tostadas

    Mashed chickpeas add heartiness to the sizzling chorizo so this quick, pasta-free dinner isn't too heavy on the meat. Top your tostadas off with any herb you like—just don't toss out the stems! Dice and add them to the delicious yogurt sauce.

    Get This Recipe
  • Two pork chops on a plate scattered with garlic chips capers and rosemary all bathed in a translucent brown sauce.
    Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
    2/80

    Sweet-and-Saucy Pork Chops

    Sugar is the secret ingredient in this speedy weeknight dinner, helping the chops caramelize and develop a nice golden-brown crust.

    Get This Recipe
  • photo of Italian Green Bean and Tuna Salad
    Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    5/80

    Green Bean and Tuna Salad With Basil Dressing

    Here's the perfect easy dinner for when the weather gets warmer and you'd like to do minimal cooking. This salad combines crisp greens, creamy white beans, and oil-packed tuna served in a punchy basil dressing.

    Get This Recipe
  • Crispy chicken thigh topped with pesto sauce on a plate
    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    6/80

    Chicken Under a Brick in a Hurry

    Using a heavy skillet to weighing down the chicken does double duty by elevating the skin's contact with the pan for maximum crispiness and locking in moisture to keep the meat extra-juicy.

    Get This Recipe
  • Add this to your goto healthy chicken recipes. Who can resist seasoned ground chicken with herbs and lettuce wraps
    Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    7/80

    Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    It's always fun to stuff a lettuce wrap with a flavorful filling. Let this not-so-traditional spin on larb become your new late-night go-to meal.

    Get This Recipe
  • Dinner plate with grilled bread grilled Halloumi cheese burst cherry tomatoes and grilled greens.
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
    8/80

    Grilled Greens and Cheese on Toast

    Pile charred Halloumi cheese, kale, and cherry tomatoes onto grilled bread rubbed with garlic for an almost-instant warm weather dinner idea.

    Get This Recipe
  • Olive oil slowroasted salmon with harissa sauce topped with fresh green herbs on a plate.
    Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    9/80

    Slow-Roasted Salmon With Harissa

    Slow-roasting salmon is a sure-fire, never-fail technique for tender, flaky fish. Coating it with harissa paste ensures it’s flavorful too.

    Get This Recipe
  • squares of glazed tofu on a plate with rice and sliced radishes scattered with scallions and sesame seeds
    Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
    10/80

    Crispy Tofu With Maple-Soy Glaze

    Our simple technique of draining before frying makes the tofu extra-crispy, and perfect for absorbing the salty-sweet flavors of maple syrup, soy sauce, and fresh ginger.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo of a wide ceramic bowl with grans sliced avocado cucumbercitrus salad and charred glazed shrimp.
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    11/80

    Citrus Shrimp Rice Bowls

    A bright and spicy sauce works as both marinade for the shrimp and dressing for the citrus salad in these quick and colorful rice bowls.

    Get This Recipe
  • Roasted sausages and fresh orange supremes scattered on a platted over shaved red onion and fennel topped with fennel...
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    12/80

    Roast Sausage and Fennel with Orange

    Roasting Italian sausages on a bed of sliced fennel and red onion is two kinds of genius: sausage drippings flavor the vegetables and you only have one pan to clean when dinner is done.

    Get This Recipe
  • Photo of braised celery lentil stew with an over easy egg and celery leaves.
    Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
    13/80

    Braised Celery With Lentils and Garlic

    If you have celery lingering in the back of your fridge, it's time to treat it as a star. Here, it's braised until golden brown, and paired with earthy marinated lentils.

    Get This Recipe
  • tube pasta in a brown butter sauce with slices of caramelized lemon and black pepper
    Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    14/80

    Pasta With Brown Butter, Whole Lemon, and Parmesan

    Making pasta doesn't have to mean making the same old pasta. A thinly sliced whole lemon adds a fresh aroma, tartness, and complexity of flavor to this simple recipe.

    Get This Recipe
The Epicurious editorial team develops original recipes, and publishes stories about cooking better, faster, and more creatively, sustainably, and affordably. See our full masthead, here. ... Read More
Read More
Nuoc Cham Chicken Salad
Nuoc Cham Chicken Salad
A spicy-funky upgrade for lettuce cups, sandwiches, and more.
Cold Silken Tofu With Chili Crisp Dressing
Cold Silken Tofu With Chili Crisp Dressing
A cool, custardy treat for the hottest days and beyond.
Crunchy Veg Salad With Dates and Fried Shallots
Crunchy Veg Salad With Dates and Fried Shallots
Elegant enough for a dinner party centerpiece, sturdy enough to take the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Korean Street Toast Breakfast Sandwich
Korean Street Toast Breakfast Sandwich
Veggie-packed eggs, gooey cheese, and don't skip the sprinkle of sugar.
Glazed Apple Pie Fritters
Glazed Apple Pie Fritters
Apple pie in doughnut hole form? We’re in love.
The Most-Saved Recipes on Bon Appétit This Week
The Most-Saved Recipes on Bon Appétit This Week
Like crispy gnocchi caprese and raspberry—brown butter skillet cake.
No-Mayo Tuna Salad
No-Mayo Tuna Salad
Riff on the lunchbox staple. Mayo-haters deserve tuna, too.
Buckwheat Crepes With Banana-Sesame Jam
Buckwheat Crepes With Banana-Sesame Jam
Practical to make and feels like a total flex.
Green Goddess Harvest Salad
Green Goddess Harvest Salad
So much more affordable than ordering from those fast casual salad chains.
A Really Big Chicken Parm
A Really Big Chicken Parm
Ground chicken, Parmesan, marinara, and plenty of mozz in a supersize sheet-pan dinner worth sharing.
Salt and Smoke Margarita
Salt and Smoke Margarita
With black pepper, toasted sesame oil, and Castelvetrano olives, this margarita is for the savory drink lovers.
Spicy Celery Margarita
Spicy Celery Margarita
Fresh celery juice gives this margarita a savory, vegetal edge and makes it exceptionally refreshing.