If you have ever found yourself standing in the kitchen at 5 pm with absolutely no plan, these 10 easy dinner ideas when you don’t know what to cook are about to save your night. From fast weeknight fixes to hearty crowd-pleasers, every single one is simple, delicious, and guaranteed to get dinner on the table without the stress.

Fast and Flavorful

When the clock is ticking, these recipes have your back. All big on flavor and short on time. These easy dinner ideas are perfect for families or simple get-togethers.

If you have been looking for the perfect hearty, but fresh, summer dish, this green goddess pasta salad is it. Vibrant and loaded with crisp vegetables and a creamy blended herb dressing, it is everything you love about the viral green goddess trend made to be the star of the table.

This recipe started as a simple question: if the green goddess chopped salad was that good, could we make it even more filling? The answer is a very enthusiastic yes. The dressing is blended from scratch with fresh basil, spinach, lemon, and cashews, and it is SO good you will want to put it on everything. Paired with tender pasta and bright steamed veggies, this is the kind of salad that actually satisfies.

Green Goddess Salad Ingredients

Three components make up this salad recipe: the pasta, veggies and the homemade green goddess dressing made from fresh herbs. Here is what you need:

The Base

• Pasta Shells: Small or medium shells are perfect here because they catch and hold onto the dressing in every bite.
• Frozen Peas: Quick to cook and naturally sweet, they add a pop of color and freshness throughout the salad.
• Asparagus: Chopped into small pieces and lightly steamed, asparagus adds a tender crunch and earthy flavor.
• Green Onions: Mild and bright, they add a subtle savory note without overpowering the other flavors. Also called scallions. 
• Avocado: Chopped small and folded in, avocado adds a creamy richness that complements the dressing beautifully.
• Baby Spinach: Used in both the salad and the dressing, spinach is the backbone of that gorgeous green color and mild, earthy flavor.

The Green Goddess Salad Dressing

• Fresh Basil: The hero of the dressing, basil brings that signature green goddess flavor that is fresh, fragrant, and absolutely irresistible.
• Garlic: Adds depth and a little punch to the dressing.
• Shallot: Milder than a regular onion, shallot gives the dressing a subtle savory sweetness.
• Lemon: Both the lemon juice and zest go into the dressing for bright, fresh acidity that ties everything together.
• Olive Oil: Gives the dressing its silky, smooth texture.
• Cashews: Roasted and salted cashews blend into the dressing to give it a creamy, nutty body without any dairy.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds a salty, savory depth to the dressing that takes it completely over the top.
• Rice Vinegar: A splash of gentle acidity that balances and brightens the entire dressing.

Simple, fresh ingredients! Find measurements and detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

How to Make Green Goddess Pasta Salad

This comes together in just a few easy steps, and m

These BBQ chicken kabobs with creamy, herby ranch salad is the meal that tastes like summer to me. Sweet smoky chicken fresh off the grill, charred corn, cold crunchy lettuce, creamy avocado, and enough ranch to make everyone at the table happy.

When you grow up a picky eater, you learn pretty quickly how to survive dinner. And for me? The answer was barbecue sauce. If I could dip something in BBQ sauce, there was a very good chance I could choke it down with minimal drama.

These BBQ chicken skewers remind me of those easy days of summer growing up when the sound of the sprinklers were, the lawnmower was my alarm clock, and that hot trampoline with sprinklers set underneath of it was our favorite past time.

I hope you all take things a little slower this week. Do a little outdoor grilling and don’t rush to clean up, just sit and enjoy the sunshine as it lazily slips beneath the trees and night settles in like an old friend wrapping you up in comfort.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This BBQ chicken kabobs recipe comes together in a few simple steps and is perfect for easy summer dinners after a long day outside.

Kabobs

• Chicken Breasts: Tender, lean chicken that grills beautifully and soaks up all the smoky BBQ flavor.
• Avocado or Olive Oil: Helps the chicken stay juicy while adding richness and helping the sauce cling to every bite.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavor of the chicken and balances the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
• BBQ Sauce: Adds smoky, sweet, tangy flavor and caramelizes perfectly on the grill.
• Wooden Skewers: Make the kabobs easy to grill and serve. Soaking them helps prevent burning.

Homemade Ranch

• Mayonnaise: Creates a rich, creamy base for the homemade ranch dressing.
• Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and thins the dressing to the perfect consistency.
• Onion Powder: Gives the ranch that classic savory flavor.
• Garlic: Adds bold fresh flavor that makes homemade ranch irresistible.
• Fresh Dill: Brings bright, fresh ranch flavor.
• Fresh Parsley or Basil: Adds freshness and a summery herb

This Swedish Meatballs Recipe is packed with tender homemade meatballs simmered in a rich, creamy gravy that’s perfect served over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or rice. Warm spices like allspice and nutmeg give them their classic flavor, while a silky cream-based sauce makes them the ultimate comfort food dinner.

Years ago, a friend of a family member made tiny Swedish meatballs with gravy for a party. I remember thinking they were one of the most delicious things I’d ever eaten, and I’ve been making some version of them ever since.

Over the years I’ve tweaked and tested this recipe more times than I can count, but the biggest change came when I swapped the traditional sour cream for heavy cream in the gravy. Both versions are delicious, but the cream creates an incredibly silky, rich sauce that takes these Swedish meatballs to a whole new level.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The secret to the best Swedish meatballs is a combination of tender meatballs, warm spices, and a rich homemade gravy. Every ingredient works together to create the classic flavor everyone loves.

For the Meatballs

• Olive Oil: Used to sauté the onions and brown the meatballs.
• Yellow Onion: Adds sweetness and flavor to the meat mixture.
• Garlic: Brings savory depth to every bite.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: Keeps the meatballs tender and light.
• Parmesan Cheese: Adds richness and savory flavor.
• Eggs: Help bind the meatballs together.
• Milk: Adds moisture and tenderness.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances all the flavors.
• Oregano: Adds subtle herb flavor.
• Ground Allspice: A classic Swedish meatball ingredient.
• Ground Nutmeg: Adds warmth and depth.
• Black Pepper: Provides gentle heat.
• Ground Beef: Creates a hearty, flavorful meatball.
• Ground Pork: Adds richness and tenderness.

For the Sauce

• Beef Stock: Forms the base of the Swedish meatball sauce.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Enhances the beef f