73 Easy Dinner Ideas for Simple, Satisfying Evenings

Life often feels like a juggling act: You leave work thinking about tomorrow’s project, and you can’t forget about that event on Thursday, and…oh, yeah, you need some easy dinner ideas for tonight. You also envision the sofa. (It’s so plush, so comfy.)

So what will it be? Crank up the stove when you walk through the door, or let someone else take care of the cooking?

Either is fine—no judgment here—but would your decision change if we told you that we’ve already done the work of finding 71 easy meals for you to make? Below, find our favorite quick dinners ranging from stir-fries to one-pot pastas, sheet-pan meals to Instant Pot soups. These are the best recipes when you can only put in so much effort (you might even think twice before reaching for the take-out menu).