These easy dinner recipes call for minimal fuss but with maximum reward. We all know how difficult it can be to throw together a flavourful and well-balanced meal after a long day, especially on a busy weeknight. But when you can’t be bothered to cook but want to dish up something delicious, these recipes answer the call. Simple and fast is the name of the game here – with many of these dinner ideas able to be banged out in 30 minutes or less, without skimping on flavour.
In this collection, we have one-pot and one-tray chicken bake recipes; simple pastas with flavourful, fast and creamy sauces; delicious stir-fries ready in a matter of minutes; and even a cheat’s recipe for spinach and ricotta ravioli that’s ready in a flash.
Whether you like your easy dinner recipes fresh and fast, prefer dinners that take more time but require less effort, or are a fan of budget-friendly cooking, we have you covered. Set the timer – dinner is on its way. Here are our top easy dinner recipes.
Our best easy dinner recipes for fuss-free cooking in 2025

Inspired by Australiana, green and gold combine in this fresh and easy midweek fish dish.

“A hearty soup, Kawlata is popular in Malta,” says cookbook author Julia Busuttil Nishimura.

A staple tomato sauce pasta dish in Mediterranean households — and soon yours, too.

This is the ideal Boxing Day salad when you need to use up any leftover ham.

Succulent lamb with a swipe of this herbaceous rosemary pesto is a flavourful take on the classic Sunday roast.

This hot-smoked ocean trout recipe makes for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner.

Steamed eggplant makes the perfect umami addition to this zesty chickpea dish.

Sweet and savoury with a splash of spice, this Korean cauliflower curry makes for an easy addition to the weeknight meal rotation.

Gnocchi paired with cavolo nero and pine nuts makes for a fresh and breezy weeknight recipe.

Lemon rice is decidedly Greek. Here it is served with vongole to celebrate Mediterranean flavours.

A twist on Hainanese chicken and rice, this version is quick and easy to prepare.

This perfectly balanced linguine is enhanced by zesty lemon and a kick of spice.

This cider-braised chicken recipe is a simple but delicious take on the classic Sunday roast.

This warm and comforting Chinese-style egg drop soup is the definition of a winter warmer.

We all know someone who thinks salads are boring. Consider them converted with this flavour-packed number.

Also known as Psari Plaki, the classic summer dish is well-loved around Greece.

Our Greek-style lamb cutlets, finished with traditional feta skordalia and crushed olives, is primed for weeknight cooking. Opa!

A comforting eggplant recipe that epitomises the big-flavoured goodness of Greek home cooking.

A comforting pan-fried barramundi recipe with Grenobloise sauce and colcannon makes for one quick and easy dinner.

This dinner-ready recipe for green peppercorn chicken proves that a roast can be perfect for midweek meals.

Photo: James Moffat
(Credits: James Moffat)Fresh, fast and flavourful: this is the easy way to make prawns a midweek meal.

Our spin on the traditional Italian dish that’s vibrant, hearty and primed for midweek dinners.

Lamb, zucchini and haloumi flatbreads with chilli honey
(Credits: Jeremy Simons)This fast lamb and flatbread recipe is a great one to enjoy when it’s warm outside and you need something simple, quick and delicious.

Ajvar orecchiette with ricotta and dill
(Credits: Jeremy Simons)An impressive pasta dish that’s perfect for any day of the week.

Salt and pepper prawn and pork noodles
(Credits: Jeremy Simons)A flavour-packed noodle dish that requires very little time and effort.

Seared beef with palm sugar and coconut slaw
(Credits: Jeremy Simons)A fast, everyday salad recipe that doesn’t skimp on flavour.

Warm mixed bean, chickpea and mozzarella salad
(Credits: Jeremy Simons)This quick and easy dinner-worthy salad comes together in minutes, making it perfect for warmer weather.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)Lamb doesn’t have to be a long drawn out cook. These roasted lamb racks are ready for the plate within 30 minutes, salad and all.

Image: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)Marinate your steaks in a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce for a delicate flavour and a tender flank.

Quick grilled lamb chops with a side of vibrant zucchini is just the way to welcome in the warmer months.

Crisp, panko-crumbed eggplants are perfectly paired with a Japanese yasai itame.

Mushroom miso soup
(Credits: James Moffatt)A light and flavourful Japanese-inspired soup, featuring miso and four types of mushrooms.
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Soba noodles with nori sesame butter and sake grilled prawns
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)An easy, everyday Japanese-inspired soba noodle recipe that requires little time and effort.

Stir-fried udon, mustard greens, tofu and peanut sauce
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)A fast vegetarian udon noodle recipe that takes little time to make but is big on flavour.
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Lemon chicken with bean and radish salad
(Credits: James Moffatt)Quick, easy and healthy. This is a chicken dish you’ll want to commit to memory.
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Steak with caramelised onion and ginger ponzu
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)A quick and easy steak recipe that goes beyond a charred barbecued rump.
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Spiced tahini baked fish
(Credits: James Moffatt)This spiced fish recipe makes for a simple yet flavoursome dinner idea.

Photo: James Moffatt
(Credits: James Moffatt)Pre-made puff pastry makes this tasty tart a weeknight winner.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)A speedy steak snack that’ll transport you to a Spanish wine bar at first bite.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)A quick and easy chicken dinner recipe that goes beyond a simple roast chook.

Made with a flavoursome vegetable stock and adorned with crunchy croutons and shreds of fennel, this torn pasta soup recipe makes for a quick and easy dinner.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)A quick, easy and aromatic chickpea dish to have on rotation.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)A Mediterranean meal that’s big on flavour and a cinch to make.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)These zingy fritters make for a quick and vegetable-packed midweek meal.

Add some cooked crab or lobster meat to this weeknight favourite and transform it into a luxe dinner party entertainer.

Photo: Chris Court
(Credits: Chris Court)This fragrant salad works beautifully with lamb but the fresh mint, basil and coriander will go just as well with beef, chicken or duck.

Photo: Chris Court
(Credits: Chris Court)This twist on the Hawaiian bowl combines cured kingfish with the crunch of fresh salad and pickled veg, plus rice for sustenance.

Photo: James Moffatt
(Credits: James Moffatt)Make it a meal: for a more substantial dish, stir-fry prawns in sesame oil and garlic and toss through the noodles.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)A summery prawn pasta that’s a no-fuss midweek meal? Yes please.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)A simple, summery seafood recipe for midweek meals.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)A quick and easy dinner idea for when you can’t be bothered to cook.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)Easy, quick, and vegetarian — this is the ultimate weeknight meal.

Seared tuna with baby spring greens
(Credits: James Moffat)Poke bowls have had their moment. Here’s a vibrant seasonal salad that transcends trends.
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Photo: James Moffat
(Credits: James Moffat)This spanakopita is made in one pan, making it a perfect weeknight meal.

Photo: Chris Court
(Credits: Chris Court)Whether you’re looking for a breakfast-for-dinner option, or you’re planning to host an ambitious champagne breakfast, these crêpes are a showstopper.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)Quick, easy, and chef approved, this pan-roasted snapper with tarragon gribiche is sure to become a new weeknight favourite.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)The beauty of the frittata is in its versatility. In this version we’ve used feta for tang and polenta for substance.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)The trick with this simple dish is to sauté the broccoli rabe enough so that it’s wilted and tender, without becoming soft.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)With short, flaky pastry and a soft, savoury filling, you shouldn’t forget the versatile quiche for your next lazy weeknight meal.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)There’s something so satisfying about cooking with clams.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)Fragrant and filling, this low fuss meal is perfect for a midweek dinner.

Photo: Alicia Taylor
(Credits: Alicia Taylor)Quick, easy, warming, and hearty, this recipe for grilled rump steak with Massaman curry is the perfect way to add intrigue to your regular Wednesday steak and chips.

Photo: John Paul Urizar
(Credits: John Paul Urizar)Perfect for any weather, this eggplant and pineapple curry is warming for the winter months but won’t make you sweat during summer.

Some of the most memorable dishes are whipped up out of nothing, using whatever’s in the cupboard and a bit of invention. The idea of a sausage curry was surely born in such circumstances. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be spruced up into something special.

Beef taco rice
(Credits: William Meppem)Beef taco rice is an Okinawan specialty that is an example of how fusion is by no means a dirty word.

Swordfish is one of the meatiest fish, and these steaks with a light honey dressing will show you why.

Indonesian fried rice with snake bean relish
(Credits: Chris Chen)Need Indonesian-style fried rice in a flash? You need this super-fast recipe for nasi goreng.

Broccoli soup
(Credits: William Meppem)The creamy soup uses broccoli stalks for the soup base and sauteed florets as a garnish. Add Gorgonzola toasts for dipping and you’ve got a satisfying meal.

This wonton soup is an express version of the recipe that cuts time, not flavour.

The lemon and asparagus prevent this dish from feeling too rich and heavy, and if you don’t have veal, chicken breast will work just as well.
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How to improve on fresh prawns with avocado? Adding a smoky, spicy tomato dressing to the mix.

Harissa chicken with carrot, rice and quinoa pilaf recipe
(Credits: William Meppem)Chicken, boring? Things look up with the addition of harissa, the North African spice paste.

Lamb with fennel, salsa verde and preserved lemon
(Credits: Ben Dearnley)A spring-ready midweek dinner, spiked with bright and spicy salsa verde.
What’s the easiest thing to cook for dinner?
Finding the easiest thing to cook for dinner is not a one-pot-fits-all scenario. However, there are some dishes commonly cited as very easy dinners — many of which you’ll find in our recipe collection above. Quick pasta recipes ready in 20 minutes or less are a fan favourite, while simple stir-fries can pack in a lot of vegetables to use up what you have in the fridge. If you’d rather set and forget, then one-pot wonders and sheet-pan dinners are your best friend on weeknights, especially our chipotle-roasted chicken with salsa verde that only uses a single pan (so you can forget about the clean up).