10 Easy Dinner Ideas That Will Fit Any Diet

It can be difficult to know what to eat on a given night. Do you have time to cook? Do you have ingredients on hand? Do you have friends or family to help? Do you have the energy to cook? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you probably answered “yes” to the question “What to eat on a given night?”

We all know that a healthy diet is essential to good health, but it can be difficult to figure out what to eat when you’re short on time, rushed to do several things at once, or just don’t have the time to plan a meal. Enter the dinner dinner: a flexible meal that can fit any schedule, any diet, and any palette.

Here are some simple, easy dinner ideas that will take your weeknight meal planning from “What to eat on a given night” to “OMG, I’m so excited to eat this because it’s dinner!” With a few simple changes, you can have a healthy dinner that your family and friends will talk about for days. (Psst: If you’re looking for some dinner inspiration, check out these 15 dinner recipes every creative home chef should try.)

COLD Tofu and Veggies Soup

This cold wintery soup is the perfect dinner idea. It’s skinnier than a typical soup and packed with veggies — carrots, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. You can add in whatever else you like — zucchini, corn, peas, you name it. If you don’t like vegetables, try subbing in some beans or legumes of your choosing.

Chicken and Dumplings

It’s no secret that chicken is one of our favorite meals, and this easy dinner idea is exactly what it sounds like — chicken and dumplings. You can substitute whatever meat you like in this recipe, but we recommend chicken because it’s easy, cheap, and delicious.

This is one of those “you never know what you’ll find in the refrigerator” meals. It’s hearty and filling, with rich, savory chicken and a thick, creamy dumpling batter. This is one of those dinners that you’ll want to make multiple batches so everyone can have their own.

Cream of Mushroom Soup

This Cream of Mushroom Soup is a crowd-pleaser and a meal you can put any table with success. It gets its bright color and flavor from leeks, its rich texture from mushrooms, and its sweet and savory taste from cream. It’s one of those soups where every person in the family will love it, no matter what their age or weight.

Creamy Tomato Soup with White Sauce

This is a classic Italian meal that you’ll find all over the country. It’s incredibly easy to make, nutritious, and has a rich, satisfying taste. The downside is that it takes a while to make — at least two hours on low heat. But when you make it, it’ll seem like no time at all. You can add in whatever vegetables you like in this recipe, but we recommend tomatoes because they’re pretty much the stars of the show.

Grain and Bean Soup

This is one of those “I” meals, meaning you can make it for your friends and family and not feel like you have to prepare a separate meal for them. It’s hearty and filling, with a rich, savory flavor from beans and grains, and a thick, creamy potato and bean batter. This is one of those dinners that you’ll want to make multiple batches so everyone can have their own.

Tex-Mex Chili

This chili is just like the one you had in college — only better, thanks to the fact that you didn’t drink any shots or take any drugs. It’s chunky, with a rich, hearty flavor, and made with beans, corn, tomatoes, and a few other hearty items. This is one of those dinners that you’ll want to make multiple batches so everyone can have their own.

Greek divido with Spinach and Feta

This dairy-free Greek dinner is filling, nutritious, and full of fresh, summery flavors. It’s made with chickpea flour, lemon, and some spices, which gives it a distinct flavor that simply cannot be duplicated. This is one of those dinners that you’ll want to make multiple batches so everyone can have their own.

Slow-Cooked BBQ Beef Bowl

This slow-cooked bowl of goodness is everything you love about barbecue — only better. It’s aromatic, filled with meat, vegetables, and beans, and is served with a tangy, refreshing salsa. It’s a meal that will make you thankful for cold, winter nights.

Asian stir-fry with Rice Noodles

This is a perfect dish for when you want to make a full meal out of a few simple items. It’s packed with vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. The combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice, and broccoli is mouth-watering. This is one of those dinners that you’ll want to make multiple batches so everyone can have their own.

Baked Meatball Recipe

This is one of those dinners that you make once and then freeze the meatballs for future uses. It’s a quick, easy, and healthy dinner idea. Baked meatballs are filled with savory beef, vegetables, and just the right amount of spices. You can add in whatever vegetables you like in this recipe, but we recommend tomatoes because they’re the stars of the show.

Recipe Tips – Always drain and rinse your lentils before using.

• Always rinse and drain your beans thoroughly before using.
• If you are making this for a crowd, consider using a Mandoline or Silpat mat to make the cooking easier.
• You can also buy ready-made meatball mixes and make this recipe at home for cheaper.
• You can add other seasonings like cayenne, paprika, and chili powder to make these meatball recipes more authentic.
• You can also add cheese to make these meatball recipes more filling.
• You can add seasoned potatoes to make these potato recipes more filling.
• You can add grated carrots, sweet potatoes, or even rutabagas to make these potato recipes more filling.

Conclusion

The dinner dinner is a flexible meal that can fit any schedule, any diet, and any palette. It’s versatile, easy to make, and can be accompanied by any side dish you like. This article has provided 15 easy dinner ideas that will fit any diet. Try out one or two of these easy dinner ideas this week and see how it goes.