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Dinner Recipes

Food ideas for the Entire Family

At The Cookie Rookie, we are known for our easy dinner recipes. Since 2012, I have been developing meal ideas for dinner that are easy to make and sure to please the entire family.

overhead sliced crockpot chicken breasts with spice rub on white plate
Popular

Crockpot Chicken Breast

This slow cooker chicken breast recipe is easy and perfect as a base for a dinner recipe or for meal prepping! It’s my go-to for quick and easy cooking for the week.

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Baked Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders are a fun and easy lunch of dinner perfect for those busy school nights or fun game days! There's nothing better than this EASY Pull Apart Cheeseburger Slider Recipe for feeding a hungry crowd. So much cheese, so little time!
Favorite

Cheeseburger Sliders
SUPER EASY Oven Baked Spicy Chicken Tacos make a weekly appearance on our table. All the flavor and none of the stress. ALL THAT MELTED CHEESE! Perfect Chicken Tacos recipe for a crowd on Family Mexican Night!
Favorite

Baked Chicken Tacos
a hand dipping a birria taco into a bowl of dipping sauce.
Favorite

Birria Tacos

Most Popular Dinner Ideas

Here are my most popular Dinner Recipes to make for your family tonight. The question “What’s for dinner?” just got very simple.

up close image of tuscan chicken in parmesan cream sauce
1

Tuscan Chicken
featured stovetop burgers
2

Stovetop Burgers (How to Cook Burgers on the Stove)
featured creamy chicken soup
3

Creamy Chicken Soup Recipe
crock pot ribs
4

Crockpot Ribs
featured crockpot taco soup.
5

Crockpot Taco Soup
overhead view of fettuccini alfredo in a white dutch oven with tongs.
6

Homemade Alfredo Sauce
A bowl of pasta with meatballs and parsley.
7

Swedish Meatballs Recipe
Two bowls of chili with tortilla chips and jalapenos.
8

Creamy White Chicken Chili
overhead view of a piece of kentucky fried chicken on a white plate with corn and mashed potatoes.
9

Kentucky Fried Chicken (Copycat Recipe)
crockpot chicken and dumplings garnished with parsley
10

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

Quick and Easy Dinner Options

I’ve always found that easy recipes make for the best dinners! Here are some of my favorite ideas for getting a delicious and simple meal on the table each night.

garlic butter steak bites with potatoes in skillet
Dinner Recipes

Steak and Potatoes
side view of several ham and cheese roll ups
Appetizers

Tortilla Roll Ups (Ham and Cheese Pinwheels) Recipe
chicken salad on a croissant on a white plate
Dinner Recipes

Chicken Salad Sandwich Recipe
a dish of spaghetti and meatballs on a wooden table.
Dinner Recipes

Baked Spaghetti

Healthy Main Courses

Cooking a meal that is delicious and also healthy is easier to make than you might think! These healthier meal options are big crowd pleasers, and simple as always.

overhead view of 6 stuffed peppers in a white rectangular baking pan.
Beef

Stuffed Peppers Recipe
close up of pf changs lettuce wraps.
Dinner Recipes

PF Chang’s Lettuce Wraps
3 air fryer chicken thighs on a white plate.
Dinner Recipes

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe
four pieces of oven fried chicken on a tray
Dinner Recipes

Oven Fried Chicken Breast Recipe
Healthy Dinners

Super Quick Dinner Recipes

I’ve found these are a great way to get dinner ready and on my table! These dinner recipes are some of our favorite 30 minute meals.

beef lo mein in white bowl
30 Minute Meals

Beef Lo Mein Recipe
bacon wrapped shrimp dipped in ranch
Appetizers

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
chicken bacon ranch in a pan
Dinner Recipes

Baked Ranch Chicken with Bacon (Chicken Bacon Ranch)
A sandwich sitting on top of a wooden table
Dinner Recipes

Baked Hamburgers Recipe (How to Cook Burgers in the Oven)

Kid Friendly Meal Options

With two littles of my own, finding recipes to please the kids is important to me. These kid-friendly dinner recipes are simple to throw together and loved by the entire family.

This homemade FISH STICKS recipe is baked instead of fried, making them crispy, tender, & flaky. These baked fish sticks aren't complete without homemade tartar sauce!
1

Fish Sticks (Baked)
Baked Chicken Nuggets are a must make for any busy family. These BAKED EXTRA CRISPY PARMESAN CHICKEN NUGGETS will blow your mind and become an instant family favorite. Made healthier by baking instead of frying, you'll never miss the grease. Kids and adults will be requesting these flavorful Homemade Chicken Nuggets again and again!
2

Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets Recipe
one pot chili mac and cheese
3

Chili Mac (One Pot Recipe)
Ham and cheese sliders on a baking sheet.
4

Ham and Cheese Sliders
pin for later: 37 easy dinner ideas for kids
5

37 Easy Dinner Ideas for Kids
Kid Friendly Recipes

Sunday Dinner Ideas

I love a hearty meal for Sunday Supper. These recipes are great for the entire family to enjoy.

This Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham is the perfect Easter Ham recipe! We made a delicious cola and brown sugar glaze for ham, and combined it with crushed pineapples. This spiral ham is easy to make, and filled with SO much flavor!
Pork Recipes

Pineapple Ham (Spiral Ham Recipe)
overhead shot of sliced. beef tenderloin
Dinner Recipes

Beef Tenderloin
meatballs over pasta in pan
Dinner Recipes

Homemade Meatballs
a slice of beef wellington on a white plate with carrots and mashed potatoes.
Dinner Recipes

Beef Wellington

Ground Beef Recipes for Dinner

My kids love beef recipes of every kind, so I’m always developing new meals for dinner. These ground beef recipes are simple and great for the entire family.

Wondering how to cook ground beef? Frying is a popular option, but boiling ground beef is easy, quick, and it creates leaner meat! Cooking ground beef with this method creates the perfect crumbled ground beef for tacos, chili, spaghetti sauce, and more.
Beef

How to Cook Ground Beef (Boiling Ground Beef for Tacos, Spaghetti, etc.)
italian stuffed shells in a dish with spoon
Dinner Recipes

Italian Stuffed Shells
This Dutch Oven Lasagna recipe, or Stove Top Lasagna, will blow your mind! You'll never make a fully traditional lasagna recipe again after making this easy stove-top version.
Dinner Recipes

Dutch Oven Lasagna Recipe (Stove Top Lasagna)
cheesy goulash in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Dinner Recipes

Goulash (American Style) Recipe
More Ground Beef Recipes

Favorite Pasta Dinners

Pull up a seat at my table. I’m serving comforting pasta dishes for dinner. Here are some favorites.

mac and cheese in a slow cooker
Side Dishes

Crockpot Mac and Cheese
a skillet full of pasta with chicken and basil.
Dinner Recipes

Chicken Parmesan Pasta
overhead view of fettuccini alfredo in a white dutch oven with tongs.
Dressings + Sauces

Homemade Alfredo Sauce
baked mostaccioli
Dinner Recipes

Baked Mostaccioli
More Pasta Recipes

Grilled Mains made Easy

Are you grilling this weekend? Here are some favorite meals we love to make.

platter of grilled salmon with avocado salsa
Most Popular Recipes

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Salsa (Healthy Salmon Recipe!)
overhead view of grilled chicken thighs on a white oval serving platter with lime slices.
Dinner Recipes

Grilled Chicken Thighs (Chicken Thigh Seasoning)
juicy smoked sliced turkey breast on a cutting board
Dinner Recipes

Smoked Turkey Breast
a plate of garlic herb grilled chicken breast
Dinner Recipes

Grilled Chicken Breast
More Recipes for the Grill

Burgers for Dinner

Burgers of all kinds are always one of my go-to family dinners. We make them year round!

a white bowl filled with spices and seasonings.
1

Burger Seasoning
air fryer hamburger
2

Air Fryer Hamburgers
cheese stuffed burger cut in half showing the melted cheese filling
3

Juicy Lucy Burger
a burger on a plate with tomatoes, lettuce, and other toppings.
4

Pizza Burgers
burger recipes
5

30 Burger Recipes

Casseroles as a Main Course

Casseroles make a delicious (and easy) dinner from time to time. Here are ones I make time and time again.

wood spoon scooping a serving of ham and potato casserole
Dinner Recipes

Ham and Potato Casserole
a dish of spaghetti and meatballs in a baking dish.
Dinner Recipes

Chicken Spaghetti
overhead view of hamburger casserole in a white oval casserole dish with a wooden spoon.
Dinner Recipes

Hamburger Casserole Recipe
overhead picture of chicken pot pie casserole in light green baking dish
Dinner Recipes

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
More Casseroles we Love

Vegetarian Dinner Ideas

Eating your greens for dinner can be totally delicious! Here are some simple and fresh recipes as a main course.

white bean parmesan soup with kale in a bowl
1

Parmesan and White Bean Soup Recipe
creamy baked pasta primavera with cream cheese alfredo
2

Pasta Primavera with Cream Cheese Alfredo
overhead view of a serving of cabbage soup in a white bowl with a spoon.
3

Cabbage Soup
a casserole dish with a slice taken out of it.
4

Stuffed Pepper Casserole Recipe
Explore a collection of top 30 meatless dinner ideas perfect for Meatless Monday and beyond.
5

30+ Meatless Dinner Ideas for Meatless Mondays
More Vegetarian Recipes we Love

Date Night Dinner Recipes

Romantic meals made easy! These delicious recipes are perfect for spoiling your loved one any night of the year.

lobster tail and filet mignon with green beans on a plate
1

Surf and Turf (Steak and Lobster)
overhead view of a sliced pan seared ribeye on a white plate topped with butter and a side of baked potato and broccoli rabe.
2

How to Cook Ribeye Steak (Pan-Seared Ribeye)
overhead view of a serving of chicken alfredo on a white plate.
3

Alfredo Sauce without Heavy Cream
garlic butter steak bites with potatoes in skillet
4

Steak and Potatoes
A plate of steak and broccoli with the title cooking guide 30 date night recipes.
5

40 Romantic Date Night Dinner Ideas
A steak on a plate with broccoli and potatoes.

Romantic Dinner Ideas

48 Date Night Recipes

Make these simple and romantic dinner recipes for your loved one on a date night!

Date Night Ideas

More Dinner Recipe Categories

pot roast featured image Slow Cooker Breaded Pork Chops make an easy dinner for any night of the week. These breaded baked pork chops are crispy, flavorful, and beyond simple. Make your breadcrumbs, throw the pork chops in the oven, add some roasted veggies, and you've got one easy pork chop recipe made on a single sheet pan! Sheet Pan side shot of tuscan chicken in cream sauce with wooden spoon One Pot/Pan mexican tater tot casserole in a baking dish Casseroles Macaroni Soup is about to be your new favorite comfort food! I've combined delicious, creamy soup with cheeeesy macaroni and cheese to create the perfect dish: Chicken Mac and Cheese Soup. You're going to want to eat a bowl of this every day! Soups easy beef lo mein recipe in skillet Healthy side shot of pimento cheeseburgers on blue platter 5 Ingredients or Less crispy baked chicken fingers on a dish Kid Friendly chicken enchiladas topped with avocado Mexican cheesy lasagna coming out of baking dish Italian

Becky's Pick

step into our kitchen to make enchilada stuffed peppers

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Help with Dinner - Cooking Guides

These guides and free printables help with putting dinner together to put on the table.

how to cut recipes in half
Baking

How to Cut Recipes in Half
meal prep for beginners
Guides

How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
meat temperature chart
Guides

Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
basic cooking measurements and conversions
Guides

Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
See all our Kitchen Guides

All Dinner Recipes

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