43 Dinner Ideas

18 January 2011

43 dinner ideas

Coming up with last minute dinner ideas is the bane of my existence.  As much as I try to make a menu plan and stick to it, we’re just not that type of family, we usually sit around and talk about what we are going to make or what sounds good and then eat way later than we should.  One thing I have found that works for us is to keep a list of our favorites.  On any given night when “nothing sounds good!” I can take a peek at the list and come up with something quickly and easily.   Some of these are simple like hamburgers on the grill and some like dough for homemade pizzas, take a bit more planning, but all are ideas that my family loves.   For favorites that I’ve featured here at So Wonderful, So Marvelous or specific recipes I’ve found on the web I’ve included a link, but most are self explanatory and EASY to throw together without a recipe. 

I’d LOVE to add some more ideas to our list.  What are some of your family’s favorites?

  1. spaghetti, salad, & garlic bread
  2. homemade pizzas or calzones {great if everyone wants their own toppings}
  3. hamburgers on the grill with thai pasta salad & sweet corn
  4. smoked sausage, pierogies, sauteed red cabbage, & mashed potatoes
  5. beef stew
  6. grilled cheese & tomato soup
  7. spinach salad with warm bacon dressing
  8. chili
  9. crockpot potato soup
  10. swedish meatballs with fries & lingonberry {pick up all the supplies to make this quickie at Ikea}
  11. quiche & green salad
  12. tacos & guacamole
  13. turkey breast & “fakesgiving” {aka a mini Thanksgiving dinner}
  14. enchilada casserole
  15. roast made in the crockpot, corn, & mashed potatoes
  16. barbequed grilled chicken, sweet corn, & green salad
  17. breakfast for dinner {eggs, sausage, hashbrowns, & orange juice}
  18. cobb salads
  19. chicken in white wine sauce & roasted carrots {this can also be made into bite size pieces, add sauteed mushrooms & served over noodles}
  20. BLT sandwiches
  21. braised short ribs & horseradish mashed potatoes
  22. veggie stir fry, rice, & takeout egg rolls {you could also use frozen}
  23. caribbean black beans & rice
  24. chicken pot pie
  25. pork tenderloin with apricot mustard with baby red potatoes & asparagus
  26. cheese tortellini with red grapes & walnut pesto cream sauce
  27. meatloaf {or better yet meatloaf cupcakes}
  28. chicken gyros, orzo salad, & tzatziki
  29. french dip sandwiches {there are TONS of recipes to be had} with oven fries
  30. coq au vin blanc {we make ours loosely based on this minus the bacon & fennel}
  31. pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, & potato chips
  32. buffalo chicken pizza
  33. croque-monsieur {ham & cheese on bread dunked in egg & grilled like french toast}… add a fried egg to the top & it’s a croque-madame
  34. shish kabob & couscous
  35. grilled teriyaki chicken with rice, steamed broccoli & carrots
  36. sloppy joes
  37. grilled bratwurst {microwave in a beer bath for about 5 minutes before} with chips & spicy mustard
  38. grilled pork chops & apple sauce
  39. loaded baked potatoes, steamed veggies and green salad
  40. asian chicken salads
  41. grilled veggie pasta
  42. rice noodles with thai peanut sauce, zucchini, & sauteed onions {we use Jade peanut sauce}
  43. grilled turkey sliders with cheddar, avacado, & bacon, serve with picnic sides

22 comments:

@JessEsco said...

Damn you making a pregnant woman hungry.

Michelle said...

I wholeheartedly agree. I've been working on doing all the links for this list for the last week and everytime I came up with another one I had forgotten I'd tell Dave I wanted that for dinner. It's bad!

britt said...

I see chili, what about a white bean chicken chili with baked tortilla strips as topper... Plus lasagna with bolognese sauce ...

MommyLisa said...

Cajun Mahi with dill sauce & Salad http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/hudsons-baked-tilapia-with-dill-sauce/Detail.aspx


Apple Pork Chops -- serve with green beans and red potatoes

SERVES: 4
PREP TIME: 5 Minutes
COOK TIME: 15 Minutes


Ingredients

1 tablespoon flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 pork loin chops
2 teaspoons butter
1/2 cup onion, sliced
1 cup apple juice

Directions

Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Dip pork chops in flour mixture; coat lightly.

Melt butter in skillet pan over medium heat. Add pork chops; cook for 3-4 minutes or until brown on one side.

Turn over pork chops and stir in onion and apple juice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 7-8 minutes.

And this I do a LOT because it uses those pre-roasted chickens -
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ravioli-plus-recipe/index.html

Home Sweet Sarah said...

This is making me HUNGRY! It all looks deadly!

Alexis said...

Easiest and best dinner ever:

1 28oz can of Las Palmas Green Chile Enchilada Sauce (it has a bright yellow label
1 package of 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

put them in the slow cooker for 6 hours on Low. The meat becomes so tender you just shred it with 2 forks.

serve with tortillas, shredded cheese, onion, etc.

best Make your Own Tacos/Burritos, we have it about once a week. My kids LOVE it.
xo,
Alexis

Alexis said...

Oops I meant 6 hours on HIGH :)

Stacy Kaye said...

Um wow! These all look amazing! You could just make your menu each month from these things alone! SO good! I can't wait to try some of them.

Just A Normal Mom said...

That reminds me - we haven't had asian chicken salad for a long time! Good ideas there - we do a few of those, too.

A favorite, and easy, around here is "Grandma's Burritos" (you can guess where those came from!)

Boil & shred chicken breast. Pour a little enchilada sauce in a baking dish - dip flour tortillas, roll with chicken, grated cheese, onions, olives, black beans or whatever your desires inside. (kids tend to like them simple) Line them up, pour the rest of the enchilada sauce over the top, sprinkle on some cheese and bake!

-Ally

Jessica @ Wanting Adventure said...

Those are some awesomely good recipes to go to. I'm going to bookmark this and see if I can add a few of these to my rotation!

But my go-to meal if nothing sounds good is kielbasa sausage simmered in Lipton's Dirty Rice package. So simply and cheap and tastes so yummy! You just make the dirty rice according to the package and then slice up the sausage and add it towards the end of the simmering. Yum!

Anonymous said...

We love doing breakfast for dinner! In fact I made pancakes tonight.

Amber said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amber said...

This is such a great post! I can't wait to try some of these. My bf is going to LOVE buffalo chicken pizza and the sloppy joes!! Can't wait!!

Meghan said...

This list is AMAZING! One of my favorite dishes is the following:

jasmine rice, BBQ pork or chicken, pineapple, onion, and green beans

My husband makes it all of the time and I love it!

Anonymous said...

I think you're missing one of my favorites........
Grilled Chicken Salad

You will need:
Chicken (obviously) (breast work best)
Lettuce (packaged or fresh)
French Fries (optional)
Tomatoes
Shredded cheese
Croutons
Ranch or some type of dressing
Any other toppings u like on salad


Directions:
1. Grill the chicken how you normally do(everybody does it different) and cut it into small chunks
2. Cook/ bake/ fry the fries
3. Throw everything in a bowl and serve for ur family to enjoy !!!!

Anonymous said...

How long do you bake these for?

Unknown said...

Supreme Nachos, Enchaladas, Hobo Dinners, Taco Salad, Pork Tenderloin, Ribs

Unknown said...

Enchaladas, Taco Salad, Chicken & Rice Casserole, Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, Lemon Basil Pasta, Pork Tenderloin Tin Foil Dinners

Unknown said...

Pizza burgers. Use hamburger buns, pizza sauce and whatever toppings you want. Quick, cheap and easy. It's perfect for the kids!

Unknown said...

Mmmhhhh BLT thanks

Anonymous said...

Chicken fried pork loin steaks with mashed taters gravy and corn.serve with a sweet tea and good night

Unknown said...

Chicken Fajitas
Philly Cheesesteak
Homemade Chicken Mac&Cheese
American Steak Cop Suey

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