These dinner ideas for tonight are my all-time favorite, go-to recipes that are easy to make and always a family favorite! These recipes are convenient and delicious dinners that anyone can make! Whether you want to prepare dinner in advance before heading to work, or need something that can be made in a last-minute pinch, these are dinner ideas for tonight that everyone will love!
The Best Dinner Ideas For Tonight
Not everyone has their entire menu for the week already planned out in advance (I know I don’t). Sometimes, you have to come up with what to make for dinner at the last minute with no time to make a grocery store run.
My dinner ideas for tonight consist of items that are easy to make, can be made quickly or made in advance, and use mostly common ingredients that you already have! So pick one out and enjoy!
Jump to:
- The Best Dinner Ideas For Tonight
- 1. Carne Asada
- 2. Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
- 3. Texas Chili
- 4. London Broil
- 5. Shepherd’s Pie
- 6. Doritos Chicken Casserole
- 7. Ground Beef Stew
- 8. Pan Seared Mahi Mahi
- 9. Chicken Marsala
- 10. Pork Belly Ramen
- 11. Tortilla Pizzas
- 12. Lo Mein
- 13. Marry Me Chicken
- 14. Baked Pork Tenderloin
- 15. Spanish Seafood Paella
- 16. Shredded Chicken Tacos
- 17. Spaghetti Bolognese
- 18. BBQ Baked Pork Spareribs
- 19. Baked Cheeseburgers
- 20. Pan Seared T-Bone Steak
- 21. Fried Chicken
- 22. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- 23. Baked Flounder
- 24. Meatloaf (With Oatmeal)
- 25. Nachos Supreme
- 26. Baked Rigatoni
- 27. Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
- 28. Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie
- 29. Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
- 30. Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese
- 31. Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
- 32. Shrimp Scampi
- 33. Salmon with Dill Sauce
- 34. Air Fryer Brats
- 35. Ground Beef Stroganoff
- 36. Tater Tot Hamburger Casserole
- 37. Margherita Sheet Pan Pizza
- 😋 More Great Dinner Ideas For Tonight!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- Dinner Ideas For Tonight: Doritos Chicken Casserole (+More Great Ideas!)
- 💬 Reviews
1. Carne Asada
This tender and flavorful carne asada can be used for tacos, burritos, fajitas, or just enjoyed by itself!
2. Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
In 45 minutes, you’ll be ready to enjoy these cheesy, creamy enchiladas that are loaded with tender and juicy shredded chicken!
3. Texas Chili
This extra meaty chili uses canned chipotle peppers to add some heat! Customize this chili to your liking with all of your favorite toppings!
4. London Broil
This easy dish can be put in the marinade ahead of time, so when it comes time to cook this tender, mouthwatering steak, it’ll only take 15 minutes!
5. Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is a classic, family-favorite dinner that is layered with flavorful meat, onion, carrots, creamy potatoes, and melty cheese!
6. Doritos Chicken Casserole
My kid-loved Doritos chicken casserole is creamy, cheesy, crunchy, and extremely satisfying! Not to mention, it’s ready in 40 minutes!
7. Ground Beef Stew
Tender vegetables, savory ground beef, and soft potatoes all come together to make this warm and comforting stew!
8. Pan Seared Mahi Mahi
Ready in just 15 minutes, this flaky and juicy fish meal is perfect for any last-minute dinner!
9. Chicken Marsala
Creamy, saucy, and loaded with mushrooms, this chicken marsala is a comforting, delicious classic!
10. Pork Belly Ramen
This dish is full of crispy, flavor-packed pork belly, tender noodles, and a rich, savory broth! Not to mention, it is super customizable!
11. Tortilla Pizzas
Tortilla pizzas are super quick to make and everyone can choose their own favorite toppings! This is one of the best dinner ideas for tonight if you are short on time!
12. Lo Mein
Add your favorite protein to this lo mein for an extra flavorful, saucy meal that is better than Chinese takeout!
13. Marry Me Chicken
This one-pan dinner features a cheesy, creamy sauce and tender chicken that goes perfectly over a soft bed of pasta!
14. Baked Pork Tenderloin
My baked pork tenderloins will be on the table in under 45 minutes while still being golden-brown and perfectly seasoned!
15. Spanish Seafood Paella
If you love seafood, then this meal is what you need in your life! It features a big bowl of rice, chorizo, and a large number of your favorite seafood proteins!
16. Shredded Chicken Tacos
It doesn’t have to be Tuesday to enjoy these savory, tender shredded chicken tacos loaded up with all of your favorite toppings!
17. Spaghetti Bolognese
A kid-favorite meal, this spaghetti Bolognese is a classic dish that is covered in a meaty and savory tomato sauce!
18. BBQ Baked Pork Spareribs
These juicy, tender, fall-off-the-bone pork spareribs use a pork dry rub and BBQ sauce to make the best ribs you’ve ever tasted!
19. Baked Cheeseburgers
No need to make a mess with a pan or a grill when you can bake these flavorful burgers right in the oven!
20. Pan Seared T-Bone Steak
The key to this rich and flavorful steak is basting it with a delicious garlic herb butter!
21. Fried Chicken
My classic fried chicken recipe uses the whole chicken! Whether your preference is dark meat or white meat, you can still have it crispy and golden-fried!
22. Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
This all-in-one meal is cheesy, delicious, and can be prepared ahead of time! It's one of the best dinner ideas for tonight if you need to sneak in some veggies for picky eaters.
23. Baked Flounder
My baked flounder recipe makes a tender flounder with a crispy breadcrumb coating, all within 20 minutes!
24. Meatloaf (With Oatmeal)
Meatloaf is a staple dinner at my house because it’s easy to make and the whole family loves it!
25. Nachos Supreme
Perfect for game day or entertaining friends, these nachos are loaded sky high with whatever toppings you like! They are also a great dinner idea for tonight!
26. Baked Rigatoni
This cheesy and saucy pasta bake is a yummy family favorite that can even be made in advance to save yourself some time on those extra busy days!
27. Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
My teriyaki chicken stir fry is a healthy, flavorful bowl full of fresh veggies and perfectly cooked chicken!
28. Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie
This casserole is an easier version of the classic chicken pot pie without losing any of the comforting, delicious flavors!
29. Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
If you have some leftover spaghetti, use it to make this comforting casserole! It’s hearty, satisfying, and crazy delicious! It's a great dinner idea for tonight!
30. Air Fryer Grilled Ham and Cheese
This delicious ham and cheese sandwich is baked to crispy perfection using your air fryer in only 10 minutes! This is another one of my favorite dinner ideas for tonight that kiddos will love!
31. Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
Grab some tortillas and your favorite toppings because these tender and juicy shrimp fajitas are ready in less than 20 minutes!
32. Shrimp Scampi
A buttery lemon sauce and tender shrimp are the stars of this super easy and yummy dinner!
33. Salmon with Dill Sauce
Healthy, satisfying, and light- you can’t go wrong with this perfectly seared salmon and made-from-scratch dill sauce!
34. Air Fryer Brats
These brats have crispy skin with a deliciously juicy inside! Of course, they only 20 using the air fryer!
35. Ground Beef Stroganoff
This classic dinner features savory ground beef smothered in a flavorful gravy that tops a tender bed of egg noodles!
36. Tater Tot Hamburger Casserole
This kid-loved meal brings all of your favorite fast food flavors together in this warm and comforting casserole! This is one of the best dinner ideas for tonight if you have picky kiddos in the house!
37. Margherita Sheet Pan Pizza
Recruit your kids and have fun making this delicious and crispy Margherita sheet pan pizza!
😋 More Great Dinner Ideas For Tonight!
- Grilled Pork Steaks
- Bison Burgers
- Ground Beef Casserole
- Air Fryer Stuffed Porkchops
- Oven Fried Catfish
- Red Beans and Rice
I hope this list of dinner ideas for tonight helped you choose a delicious meal to make! Leave a comment down below and let me know your go-to dinner ideas!
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📖 Recipe Card
Dinner Ideas For Tonight: Doritos Chicken Casserole (+More Great Ideas!)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- ¼ cup yellow onion (diced - or white onion)
- 21.5 oz cream of chicken condensed soup (2 10.75-ounce cans)
- 10 oz RoTel diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 ½ tablespoon taco seasoning (see recipe or use your favorite brand)
- 4 oz cream cheese (cubed or cut into chunks, softened at room temperature)
- 15.25 oz black beans (1 15.25-ounce can, drained and rinsed)
- 4 cups cooked chicken (shredded, or leftover rotisserie chicken)
- 9 oz Nacho Cheese Doritos (one regular size bag, crushed - divided into 2 portions)
- 2 cups Mexican cheese blend (shredded - divided, two 1 cup portions)
- ¼ cup cilantro (optional, fresh, chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) while you heat a large skillet with the olive oil to medium heat. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.1 tablespoon olive oil
- Once the oil is beginning to shimmer, add the diced onion and saute until opaque, fragrant, and tender or about 4-5 minutes. Pour in the cream of chicken soup, RoTel diced tomatoes with green onions, and taco seasoning. Stir to combined.¼ cup yellow onion, 21.5 oz cream of chicken condensed soup, 10 oz RoTel diced tomatoes with green chilies, 1 ½ tablespoon taco seasoning
- After stirring the sauce, add the softened cream cheese and stir until it's melted then add the drained black beans and shredded, cooked chicken meat. Stir to combine and evenly coat the chicken with sauce. *If you'd like some of the optional cilantro in your chicken casserole, stir it in with the chicken and beans.4 oz cream cheese, 15.25 oz black beans, 4 cups cooked chicken, ¼ cup cilantro
- Layer half of the crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos into your prepared baking dish then add half of the chicken sauce mixture. Top with half of the shredded Mexican cheese blend. Add the last half of the chicken mixture, top with the remaining Doritos, and then the remaining shredded cheese.9 oz Nacho Cheese Doritos, 2 cups Mexican cheese blend
- Bake uncovered at 350°F (175°C) in the middle of your oven's center rack for 30 minutes. If the cheese topping starts to brown too much, cover loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil. Your casserole is ready when the cheese is fully melted and golden.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- Setting your cream cheese out about 30 minutes before you'll need it is (typically) sufficient time for the cream cheese to warm at room temperature.
- Plain or fire roasted diced tomatoes are also great in this casserole.
- Regular size bags (keep getting smaller) but typically range between 9 to 10-ounces. The family size bags are around 15-ounces and will work wonderfully as well.
- The optional cilantro is great as garnish when serving, but is also a fantastic stir-in for the casserole.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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