Hello and Happy New Year! Here are a collection of my favorite dinner ideas to inspire your weekly meal planning.
This roundup is one of my favorite posts to update each year. While the overall format stays consistent, I usually add 40–50 new healthier meals that stood out over the past year and remove a few that didn’t get made as often. I use this list constantly when I’m stumped for dinner — it’s a go-to for quick inspiration.
For a balanced, sustainable approach to weekly cooking we often plan and shop for three full dinners. That usually keeps things varied without creating too many leftovers, allows for a night or two of eating out, and often gives us one breakfast-for-dinner night, which we love. Some weeks we do four meals, other weeks two — find what fits your life.
I aim to make meals balanced and vegetable-forward, and planning ahead is the key. When dinners are planned, we tend to eat better and with less stress.
I’d love to hear your favorite meals and meal-planning tips in the comments — xo
175 of My Best Dinner Ideas
1. guacamole turkey burgers
2. sheet pan gnocchi and vegetables
3. chicken noodle egg drop soup
4. cashew shrimp and mango stir fry
5. Korean chicken with coconut rice
6. Brussels and kale spaghetti
7. halloumi hummus bowls
1. homemade cauliflower gnocchi
2. chickpea bacon ranch salad
3. sticky sheet pan chicken with pineapple salsa
4. shrimp salad rolls
5. baked black bean taquitos
6. grilled Thai pork tenderloin
7. cheesy chicken baked avocados
1. the best lemon roasted chicken
2. fish taco bowls
3. sheet pan sausage and peppers
4. bruschetta chicken skillet
5. honey garlic sheet pan salmon and Brussels
6. chicken tortellini soup
7. cheeseburger chopped salad
1. buffalo cauliflower lettuce wraps
2. minestrone soup with kale pesto
3. Tuscan tuna melts
4. Mediterranean quinoa kale salad with chicken
5. spaghetti squash parmesan
6. hot honey salmon
7. our favorite ground beef tacos
1. baked parmesan chicken with lemon arugula
2. slow roasted tomato farro salad
3. maple BBQ salmon with brown butter couscous
4. buffalo cauliflower soup
5. flank steak with chimichurri quinoa
6. black bean tostadas
7. baked chicken parmesan meatballs
1. honey mustard chicken chopped salad
2. BBQ salmon with crispy chickpea salad
3. easy double bean burgers
4. pizza supreme on cauliflower crust
5. white bean and chicken enchilada stuffed peppers
6. balsamic Brussels sprouts grilled cheese
7. crockpot smoky brisket tacos
1. Brussels sprouts breakfast hash
2. green goddess salmon sliders
3. Thai chicken quinoa bowls
4. roasted corn Caesar salads with yogurt dressing
5. Mediterranean turkey burgers
6. simple summer chickpea salad
7. mini chicken meatball soup
1. summer squash pasta with goat cheese
2. southwest salmon salad
3. filet and potato skewers with rosemary chimichurri
4. chicken taco soup
5. spring niçoise salad
6. roasted broccoli toast
7. sheet pan nacho chicken
1. butternut squash chili
2. creamy cauliflower soup
3. roasted chipotle chicken taco stacks
4. crab cake sliders with pineapple kiwi salsa
5. lemon chicken risotto
6. pulled pork stuffed peppers
7. Thai curry pomegranate chicken
1. 20 minute Cajun salmon with salted lime butter
2. springtime Cobb salad
3. spicy lime chicken enchiladas
4. butternut squash lettuce wraps
5. white chicken quinoa chili
6. jerk shrimp tacos
7. black bean stuffed sweet potatoes with arugula and poached eggs
1. smoky sweet potato burgers
2. cauliflower crust pizza
3. sesame crusted shrimp with mango quinoa
4. baked falafel with spicy feta dip
5. lightened-up beef enchiladas
6. zoodles with cherry tomato garlic cream sauce
7. slow roasted sweet potatoes with spicy garlic chickpeas
1. garlic brown sugar flank steak with chimichurri
2. 30 minute Thai chili salmon skewers
3. goat cheese whole roasted chicken
4. bang bang shrimp with napa cabbage slaw
5. 30 minute buffalo chicken soup
6. sheet pan sweet potato breakfast hash
7. baked hot honey pretzel chicken fingers
1. roasted jalapeño cheddar turkey burgers
2. sweet potato quinoa cakes
3. tequila shrimp taco salad
4. one pan sesame chicken
5. Thai butternut squash soup
6. skillet chicken with peppers and peanuts
7. chickpea wedge salads with avocado ranch
1. slow cooker barbacoa tacos
2. chicken avocado salad with peanut dressing
3. harvest butternut squash pasta sauce
4. grain bowls with maple chipotle sweet potatoes
5. Brussels sprouts tacos with caramelized shallot salsa
6. chipotle lime chicken skewers with avocado ranch
7. butternut squash skillet lasagna
1. salmon rice bowls
2. sausage and kale skillet lasagna
3. chipotle chicken Cobb salad
4. buffalo cauliflower flatbread
5. chicken salad stuffed avocados
6. cilantro lime flank steak
7. bacon broccoli pasta
1. mushroom melts with mustard aioli
2. winter citrus butter salmon
3. slow cooker buffalo chicken chili
4. beer glazed citrus chicken
5. spinach and artichoke linguine
6. warm Brussels Caesar salad
7. pulled pork tacos with chili slaw
1. smoky white bean chicken chili
2. chili garlic beef stir fry with coconut jasmine rice
3. crunchy chicken spring rolls with blood orange sauce
4. cashew chicken chopped salad
5. shrimp zoodle bowls
6. shrimp burgers with chipotle cream
7. stuffed peppers with tomato basil cream sauce
1. grilled avocado kale salad
2. spinach red pepper bacon-wrapped eggs
3. crockpot mini turkey meatballs
4. asiago portobello burgers
5. adobo shrimp fajitas
6. 20 minute turkey taco nachos
7. Thai chicken enchiladas
1. BBQ salmon burgers
2. chili cheese polenta bowls
3. oven-crisped cheddar chicken fingers
4. lemon chicken soup
5. 30 minute Greek chicken lettuce wraps
6. broiled fontina toasts with poached eggs
7. Thai crunch chicken salad
1. crunchy taco kale salad
2. smoky gruyere butternut squash soup with chickpeas
3. 30 minute portobello fried brown rice
4. chipotle lime shrimp tacos
5. honey chipotle chicken bowls
6. 30 minute shallot, spinach, and goat cheese pasta
7. Thai beef bowls
1. salmon with Thai curry peanut sauce
2. rosemary chicken, bacon, and avocado salad
3. quinoa burrito bowls
4. BBQ shrimp and lime avocado toast
5. late summer corn tortilla soup
6. burrata pesto whole wheat pasta
7. September kale salad
1. open-face steak sandwich with avocado horseradish
2. 30 minute Asian chicken soup
3. butternut squash galette
4. chipotle lime whole roast chicken
5. pan-crisped salmon with light Dijon cream
6. homemade Spaghettios
7. BBQ quinoa salad
1. marinated chickpea panzanella
2. Thai coconut curry shrimp noodle bowls
3. grilled chicken artichoke skewers
4. farfalle with marinated feta and arugula
5. chipotle kale and mushroom tacos
6. pulled chicken guacamole sliders
7. zoodles with chicken feta meatballs
1. toasted sesame quinoa with chicken
2. spicy parmesan shrimp skillet
3. chicken pot pie soup
4. crispy kale grilled cheese
5. marinated flank steak with caprese salsa
6. pineapple cashew fried rice
7. Asian turkey burgers with spicy lime mayo
1. banh mi tacos
2. roasted chicken or turkey ramen
3. toasted sesame ginger salmon
4. sweet potato cream pasta with crispy kale
5. salmon citrus avocado salad
6. braised short rib beef stew
7. BBQ chicken chopped salad
Enjoy — and happy cooking!