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21 recipes that will get you out of your dinner rut for good

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By Leah Ingram

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This is a collection of some of my favorite dinner ideas. These are my go to menu ideas when I feel like there’s nothing new to make for supper yet I don’t want to spend money on takeout. Read on for these 21 recipes that I’m confident will get you out of your dinner rut for good.

Two Maine lobster rolls in paper trays placed on a weathered red picnic table with a blurred outdoor background.
Lobster Rolls. Photo credit: Leah Ingram.

Honey Chipotle Steak and Potatoes

A fork piercing a piece of a seasoned roasted potato.
Honey Chipotle Steak and Potatoes . Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

We’ve taken what would have been a basic steak and potatoes dish and given it a modern and spicy twist. You’ll cook the potatoes and steak bits in a sweet and spicy smoky sauce made with honey, chipotle and garlic.
Get the Recipe: Honey Chipotle Steak and Potatoes

Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot

A close-up of creamy macaroni and cheese garnished with parsley.
Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This sausage and pepper pasta dish is a hearty, one-dish dinner that allows you to get supper on the table in under 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot

30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta

Creamy Chicken And Corn Pasta closeup partial of finished dish cropped horizontal.
30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta recipe is so easy to make and so delicious to eat. Bowtie pasta complements the seasoned chicken chunks. Also, it’s topped with bacon. Bacon makes everything better.
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta

Pork Loin in the Crock Pot

A person eating shredded chicken with a fork, served on a white plate with roasted sweet potatoes in the background.
Pork Loin in the Crock Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

It’s always the perfect time of year to pull out our slow cooker and make a meal. With this Pork Loin in the Crock Pot recipe, once the pork is done, we can shred it like pulled pork and serve with potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Pork Loin in the Crock Pot

Salmon in the Air Fryer

A fork holding a piece of cooked salmon, with more salmon filets, lemon slices, and seasoning shakers in the background.
Salmon in the Air Fryer. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

One of the beauties of cooking salmon or any seafood in the air fryer is that it is pretty difficult to do it wrong. Many air fryers have a seafood setting that you can select.
Get the Recipe: Salmon in the Air Fryer

Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie

Close-up of a roasted chicken with crispy, golden-brown skin seasoned with herbs and coarse salt, on a wooden cutting board.
Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This recipe for how to cook a whole chicken in an air fryer will change your mind about supermarket rotisserie chicken forever. It is far cheaper and far more delicious.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Supermarket Chicken Rotisserie

Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls

A person pulling apart a gooey, cheese-filled arancini with more of the fried rice balls and sauce in the background.
Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Arancini are cheese-filled fried risotto balls. They make great appetizers or as a hearty side for a meat or poultry dish. Or serve them with marinara sauce for a meal all their own.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls

Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks

Close-up of a stack of medium-rare, seasoned steak slices, showcasing a pink and juicy interior with a seared crust.
Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

One of the reasons we love the idea of cooking ribeye steak in the air fryer is how fast you can get it done. Prep time is about 10 minutes, primarily because, except for the steak, you’re working with four ingredients only.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Ribeye Steaks

Lobster Rolls

A Maine lobster roll in a red and white striped container sits on a weathered red picnic table with a coastal scene visible in the background.
Lobster Rolls. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Lobster rolls are a classic summer treat along the eastern seaboard, especially in New England. Here’s how to make them at home. It’s easier and cheaper than you think.
Get the Recipe: Lobster Rolls

Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole

A plate of chicken with rice garnished with parsley on a white surface with an orange napkin, wooden utensils, and ingredients nearby.
Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole is such an easy weeknight dinner with cheesy, yummy broccoli and seasoned chicken. Serve it on a bed of a rice and pasta blend. It is the tastiest casserole ever!
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Chicken Cheese Casserole

Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

A bowl of rice with corn and herbs on a striped cloth with garnishes on the side.
Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole Recipe has just five ingredients. And you can make it with rice, chicken and cheese you have leftover from other dishes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Enchilada Rice Casserole

Steak in the Air Fryer

Close-up of a fork holding a piece of medium-rare cooked beef steak, with visible seasonings and a slice of lemon in the background.
Steak in the Air Fryer. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Using your air fryer to cook steak is a great option when you want a grilled flavor without having to fire up the grill or step outside to make dinner. You’ll want to give your air fryer a hug after making this meal.
Get the Recipe: Steak in the Air Fryer

Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer

A close-up of chopsticks holding a piece of glazed, grilled chicken. The chicken appears juicy and well-cooked.
Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

There are a couple of reasons we think you’re going to love learning about how to make BBQ drumsticks in the air fryer. One is that it is much neater than cooking them on the grill.
Get the Recipe: Barbecue Sauce Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer

Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine

Close-up of linguine pasta with shrimp and parsley.
Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This classic Italian dish is quick and impressive. It works as an easy meal at home or an impressive dish to serve to guests.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Close-up of a stack of seasoned, grilled chicken drumsticks, with one drumstick partially eaten, revealing moist, cooked meat inside. A lemon wedge and herbs are visible in the background.
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

You can get the taste of fried chicken without oil or the mess when you make these chicken drumsticks in the air fryer. Prep and cooking time is 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Easy Shrimp Scampi

A blue bowl filled with shrimp and rice, topped with green herbs, with a metal spoon in the bowl.
Easy Shrimp Scampi. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Shrimp scampi is a quick and easy meal that will certainly impress your guests. With minimal prep time, it lets you serve up a meal that many will think came from a restaurant.
Get the Recipe: Easy Shrimp Scampi

Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers

A plate of white rice topped with chunks of chicken and sliced green bell peppers, all cooked in a creamy yellow sauce.
Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

With prep and cooking time, we were able to make this Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers in about 20 minutes. That’s not an exaggeration.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Chicken with Pepperoncini Peppers

Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken

A cast iron skillet filled with cooked chicken pieces and topped with sliced peaches.
Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

I love finding ways to work peaches into a dinner when they’re in season during the summer. That’s why this peach whiskey barbecue chicken recipe works so well. It’s sweet and savory in all the right places.
Get the Recipe: Peach Whiskey Barbecue Chicken

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

A wooden board with seasoned chicken wings, a bowl of white dipping sauce with lemon slices, and celery and carrot sticks.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

The process for making these Air Fryer Chicken Wings is so simple. It has very few ingredients, takes very little time to cook and you end up with delicious, crispy chicken wings.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

A white bowl filled with tri-color rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber chunks, and feta cheese on a red-and-white checkered tablecloth.
Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This easy cold pasta salad recipe with Italian dressing is perfect when you want a hearty, satisfying meal when it is hot out. It is the simplest way to satisfy that pasta craving without overheating.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

One Pot Steak and Black Beans Chili

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and avocado slices, accompanied by pieces of cornbread.
One Pot Steak and Black Beans Chili. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

One of the reasons I love this one pot steak and black beans chili recipe is because of its versatility. Follow the recipe exactly as written or leave out the meat, and you’ve got a delicious vegetarian chili.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Steak and Black Beans Chili

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