Extra easy dinner recipes are great for beginner cooks who want to learn basic skills in the kitchen. These 21 recipes are simple, using few ingredients and easy steps, so you won’t feel overwhelmed. They’re perfect for making weeknight meals, whether you’re cooking for just yourself or for others.
Cabbage and Sausage
Cabbage and Sausage is a foolproof dish to try. It’s a one-pan dish that combines the simplicity of cabbage with the rich flavor of sausage, all ready in less than 30 minutes. It’s a great recipe for beginners, using ingredients you likely already have at home. Plus, the easy prep means less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meal.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
This Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is a simple, one-pot recipe that quickly brings together sausage, cream, and tomatoes in a flavorful soup. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a great recipe for beginners — easy prep with delicious results.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup
Crock Pot Taco Soup
This Crock Pot Taco Soup is another great recipe to start with if you’re new to cooking. It’s uncomplicated, requiring only basic ingredients and a simple preparation method. After browning ground beef, you add it to the slow cooker with other ingredients, and let it cook. This recipe is great for beginner cooks looking for an easy yet delicious meal, especially when you want something hearty and delicious with minimal kitchen effort.
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Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
For those who are new to cooking or prefer easy-to-make meals, the Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole is a fantastic choice. This dish combines broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, and bacon in a simple but flavorful way. Just prep, pop it in the oven, and dinner is served — all in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
This Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice is perfect for those who are new to the kitchen. Ready in 30 minutes and made in just one pan, it is easy to make and features ingredients like ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, cauliflower rice, and mushrooms. Make this recipe for nights when you need to quickly get dinner on the table. The resulting dish is flavorful, filling, protein-packed, and stores perfectly for leftovers the next day.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach is an excellent recipe for those just starting in the kitchen. Simple and quick, this 30-minute dish combines shrimp with grape tomatoes and spinach in a flavorful garlic sauce. It’s a great recipe for beginners, promising a delicious and impressive meal for family dinners or date nights.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Step into the kitchen with confidence with this Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. This recipe is very easy to make and ready in just 30 minutes. Only one pan is required and everything is cooked at the same time, which means fewer dishes, easy clean-up, and less time spent in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
If you are new to cooking, try this simple Chicken With Creamy Mushroom Sauce recipe. In just 30 minutes, you can cook chicken thighs in a rich and creamy mushroom sauce, all in one pan. It’s an easy dish for beginner cooks, using basic ingredients but still yielding a filling meal. Serve it on its own, over rice, or with a side for a complete dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Canned Chicken Patties
Simple ingredients and easy steps make this recipe great for anyone new to the kitchen. Using canned chicken, these patties come together quickly and are ready in 30 minutes. The chicken patties are crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside and they pair wonderfully with steamed vegetables or can be enjoyed as a sandwich for a quick lunch or a light dinner.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Patties
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Another easy recipe to make, especially when you’re just starting out in the kitchen is the Creamy Garlic Chicken. This 30-minute, one-pan dish features juicy chicken breasts simmered in a creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce. It’s a straightforward recipe with easy-to-find ingredients that come together quickly.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
This Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad is a flavorful meal that puts a fun spin on traditional jalapeño poppers. It’s very easy to make, and you can make it even easier by using store-bought rotisserie chicken, saving you some time. Make it ahead of time and include it in your lunch menu for weekdays when you’re in a hurry.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Spinach Chicken Bake
Perfect for beginners, this recipe requires just 30 minutes and simple ingredients you may already have on hand. This Spinach Chicken Bake is very easy to make and turns out great anytime. Juicy chicken thighs, spinach, cream cheese, and mozzarella cheese, are arranged in a pan and then baked together. It’s a great recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights and an even greater way to learn and enjoy cooking.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
This Fried Cabbage with Bacon is one of those recipes you just can’t go wrong with. After cutting out the ingredients, you just need to saute the ingredients and season to your liking. It’s as easy as that. In just 25 minutes, you can create a flavorful dish while adding more veggies to your diet.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
This Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is another must-try. It’s crisp, light, refreshing, and super easy to make. After slicing the cucumbers and onions and making the dressing, you just need to toss everything together. Ready in 30 minutes with simple ingredients and even simpler steps, this recipe is a great way to impress and practice your cooking skills all at once.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole
Casseroles are always perfect for those just starting out in the kitchen and this Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole is just that. It’s super easy to make — prep the ingredients in just 20 minutes, arrange everything in the dish and then pop it in the oven for a little over an hour. It’s a great way to bring a touch of excitement to your cooking without any complicated steps.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
This Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken is so delicious you won’t even believe it’s beginner-friendly. It’s a simple yet flavorful dish, combining chicken thighs and sun-dried tomato sauce in one skillet, showing that great cooking can be easy and stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
This Big Mac Salad is a practical yet delicious twist on a fast-food favorite. Perfect for those who are new to cooking, this salad brings together familiar flavors in an easy-to-follow recipe. Just prep and toss everything together, and recreate the taste of a classic drive-through burger in a fresh, salad form. It’s a great choice for quick weeknight dinners or weekday lunches, and the leftovers taste just as good the next day.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken
Juicy chicken breasts are seasoned with a blend of spices and then baked together with cream cheese, sweet peppers, and mozzarella in this simple yet delicious recipe. Ready in 30 minutes from start to finish, it’s a great choice for weeknight family dinners. It’s also made in just one baking dish, making it a great option for beginner cooks — and even seasoned cooks alike.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Fajita Baked Chicken
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
If you’re new to cooking, try this Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach. This bakes ground beef, cauliflower rice, spinach, and cheese into a casserole that’s easy to assemble and cooks in just 30 minutes. It’s hearty, cheesy, flavorful, and will have everyone digging back into the dish for another serving.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Shawarma Kebabs
Don’t be intimidated by the recipe name because this dish is actually very beginner-friendly. These chicken kebabs are super easy and quick to make and require minimal hands-on effort. You’ll cut up the chicken, marinate the pieces, skewer, and then bake in the oven. It’s as simple as that. They’re good for meal-prepping so you can prep it the night before.
Get the Recipe: Shawarma Kebabs
Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers
If you are looking for recipes to kick off your cooking journey, try this Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers recipe. The steps are easy to follow, the ingredients are likely already in your pantry, and you can enjoy these juicy and delicious bites in just an hour. Bonus, they’re freezer-friendly too, so you can prep them to enjoy later.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers