Pasta is delicious, but it can get old after a while. If you’re looking for some new dinner ideas that don’t involve pasta, you’ve come to the right place!
Here are 35 easy dinner recipes that’ll give you a break from the land of spaghetti and penne.
These recipes offer a diverse range of flavors and ingredients, ensuring a delightful dining experience for everyone.
From succulent grilled chicken with roasted vegetables to flavorful stir-fried shrimp with rice, these dishes cater to various dietary preferences and are perfect for those seeking a break from traditional pasta-based meals.
35 Easy Dinners Without Pasta
1. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Slice up some chicken, onions, and bell peppers. Add your favorite fajita seasoning, and bake in the oven for a simple, delicious meal.
2. Broiled Salmon
Place salmon fillets on a sheet pan and season to your liking. Broil in the oven until perfectly cooked.
3. Grilled Chicken Kabobs
Cut chicken breasts into cubes and thread onto skewers with your favorite vegetables. Brush with a marinade and grill for a tasty, healthy dinner.
4. Beef Stir-Fry
Mix up some vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and bell peppers, and cook them with sliced beef in a wok. Top with a soy sauce-based sauce.
5. BBQ Pulled Pork
Throw a pork shoulder in the slow cooker with some BBQ sauce. After cooking for a few hours, you’ll have pulled pork that’s falling off the bone.
6. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Swap out white rice for cauliflower rice and make your favorite fried rice recipe or add your favorite protein for a low-carb, healthier option.
7. Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken
Make a pocket in chicken breasts and stuff with a mix of spinach and feta cheese. Bake in the oven for a delicious and healthy meal.
8. Tacos
Use soft or hard tortillas and fill with your favorite taco ingredients like seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, and lettuce.
9. Quiche
Make a savory quiche with a crust made of potatoes or a gluten-free alternative and fill with your favorite vegetables, cheese, and protein.
10. Turkey Meatballs
Mix ground turkey with breadcrumbs, egg, and spices to make meatballs. Bake in the oven and serve with a simple marinara sauce.
11. Ground Beef Chili
Cook up some ground beef, onions, and chili seasoning. Add black beans, diced tomatoes, and corn for a filling and delicious dinner.
12. Roasted Chicken
Rub a whole chicken with seasoning and roast in the oven for a hearty and flavorful meal.
13. Herb-Crusted Pork Chops
Coat pork chops in a mix of herbs, breadcrumbs, and dijon mustard. Bake in the oven until perfectly cooked.
14. Shrimp and Grits
Cook up some Southern-style grits and top with sautéed shrimp in a garlic and butter sauce.
15. Stuffed Peppers
Fill bell peppers with ground beef or turkey, rice, and your favorite veggies. Bake until tender and delicious.
16. Shepherd’s Pie
Make a delicious filling with ground beef, vegetables and gravy, and top with mashed potatoes.
17. Chicken Tacos
Use rotisserie chicken and add your favorite taco toppings for a quick and easy dinner.
18. Sweet and Sour Pork
Mix up a sauce with pineapple juice, soy sauce, ketchup, and brown sugar, and cook sliced pork, peppers, and onions in the sauce.
19. Steak and Potato Salad
Grill a steak and pair it with a mixture of roasted potatoes and vegetables served in a salad.
20. Vegetable Curry
Make a flavorful and healthy curry with vegetables like carrots, zucchini, and eggplant in a coconut milk-based sauce.
21. Honey Mustard Salmon
Mix up a honey-mustard sauce and coat salmon fillets in it before baking to give your dinner a touch of sweetness.
22. Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Shrimp
A simple and quick dinner option featuring shrimp, lemon, garlic, and your choice of vegetables, all baked on a single sheet pan.
23. Grilled Portobello Mushrooms
Grill up large portobello mushroom caps and top them with a flavorful mixture of herbs, garlic, and balsamic vinegar.
24. Baked Stuffed Acorn Squash
Hollow out acorn squash and fill it with a savory stuffing made of quinoa, vegetables, and your favorite protein.
25. Butternut Squash Soup
Create a creamy and comforting butternut squash soup with dairy-free alternatives, like coconut milk, to make it silky and delicious.
26. Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
Swap pasta for zucchini noodles and toss them with a dairy-free pesto sauce and roasted cherry tomatoes.
27. Chicken and Rice Casserole
Bake a comforting casserole with chicken, rice, and a dairy-free sauce, such as a cashew cream-based mixture.
28. Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken
Make a sweet and tangy teriyaki sauce for chicken and serve it with rice or cauliflower rice.
29. Coconut Lime Shrimp
Cook shrimp in a luscious coconut and lime sauce for a tropical-inspired dinner.
30. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Fill portobello mushrooms with a mixture of vegetables, grains, and herbs, then bake for a satisfying and hearty meal.
31. Ratatouille
Create a traditional French dish with a mix of roasted or stewed vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers, seasoned with herbs.
32. Black Bean and Vegetable Burritos
Stuff tortillas with black beans, sautéed vegetables, guacamole, and salsa for a vegan and dairy-free Mexican dinner.
33. Peking Duck-Style Lettuce Wraps
Make lettuce wraps filled with crispy duck, hoisin sauce, and fresh vegetables for a unique and delicious meal.
34. Grilled Lemon Dill Chicken
Grill chicken breasts seasoned with fresh lemon juice and dill for a light and flavorful dinner.
35. Roasted Vegetable Medley
Roast a variety of vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers with olive oil and your favorite herbs and spices for a colorful and nutritious dinner.
Final Thoughts,
There are plenty of dinner recipes that don’t involve pasta.
From sheet pan meals and stir-fries to stuffed peppers and curries, there’s no shortage of delicious and easy meals to make. So next time you’re bored of pasta, try out one of these 35 recipes and mix things up in the kitchen!
