Welcome to this collection of 35 delicious and easy dinners, all of which are simple to prepare and excellent for busy weeknights.
These dishes combine wholesome ingredients with quick cooking methods so you can enjoy a balanced meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
From satiating salads and hearty soups to protein–packed mains and vegetarian options, this collection offers a variety to suit different tastes and dietary needs.
Each recipe is designed to nourish your body while offering delicious flavor, proving that healthy eating can be convenient and satisfying.
Easy pasta recipes
1. Spaghetti aglio e olio
First on our list is a classic Italian pasta that is satisfying and takes just 15 minutes to prepare.
Pasta aglio e olio is an easy pasta recipe with spaghetti tossed in garlic-infused olive oil, red pepper flakes and parsley.
2. Mushroom fettuccine pasta
A colorful plate of mushroom pasta that is wholesome and indulgent at the same time.
Sautèed mushrooms, garlic, and cherry tomatoes add extra zest to this weekday–friendly dinner.
3. Easy hummus pasta
This delicious, easy meal is ready in less than 30 minutes, and you can make it with homemade hummus or your favorite store-bought brand.
It’s a wonderful vegetarian dinner idea where you can add your favorite protein to make it a meal.
4. Pasta Pomodoro
Packed with tomato flavor and Italian herbs, this pasta Pomodoro is a quick but creamy and indulgent Italian recipe.
Add vegetarian protein, such as mozzarella balls, and leafy greens, such as spinach or arugula.
5. Penne Arrabbiata
Try this rich and slightly spicy penne Arrabbiata (angry pasta), which is seasoned with garlic, tomato sauce, and dried chili.
It’s simple to make and, with just a few ingredients, a traditional and authentic pasta dish.
6. Mushroom Bolognese
Here is an easy, meatless meal with simple and affordable ingredients.
Mushroom bolognese is a quick pasta sauce that works with any type of pasta, lasagna, and meal-prep recipe.
7. Lentil pasta
Lentil pasta is a nutritious Italian recipe called pasta e lenticchie (pasta with lentils).
The recipe is healthy and easy to make, with simple pantry staples in one pot.
8. Chickpea pasta salad
Ready in 20 minutes, with fresh and colorful vegetables, chickpeas, and a delicious mustard dressing.
Mediterranean-inspired, fresh, and zesty, and thanks to the honey-mustard dressing, this summer salad is a stunning recipe combining flavors and outstanding nutrition.
9. Creamy pasta salad
You’ll love this creamy pasta salad recipe, which combines creamy mayonnaise yogurt dressing with crisp textures from fresh veggies.
For added plant-based protein, we add cannellini beans and yogurt to the dressing.
10. Pasta Puttanesca
A rich tomato sauce with capers and olives makes the base of this pasta Puttanesca.
Invented in Naples, Italy, this spaghetti dish is a creamy, elegant, and quick plant-based meal idea.
11. Ricotta pasta
Velvety creamy and quick to make, this ricotta pasta with lemon is ready in 20 minutes.
Silky ricotta coats tender pasta, punctuated by wilted spinach for a comforting Italian–inspired dish.
12. Broccoli pasta
This broccoli pasta is easy, delicious, and a vibrantly green pasta recipe.
Inspired by the Italian way of cooking broccoli, you cook and mash broccoli and mix it with your favorite pasta, such as orecchiette or gnocchi.
13. Pasta e fagioli
Pasta and beans provide plenty of wholesome plant protein and other nutrients to help you stay satiated and fulfilled for several hours.
You can serve pasta e fagioli as a soup, with enough liquid to grant the use of a spoon, or thicker, more like a pasta dish.
Salad for dinner
14. Chickpea salad
This quick, tangy, and creamy chickpea salad is a no–cook dinner that you can mix together in 15 minutes.
Serve with toasted bread or a side of couscous or pasta for a satiating and wholesome dinner.
15. Black bean salad
Black bean salad is an easy recipe that combines simple vegetables with a refreshing and zesty cilantro lime dressing to bring out the flavors.
Expect an irresistible combination of textures. Crispy bell pepper, creamy sweet potatoes, velvety avocado, tender black beans, corn, and a juicy dressing.
16. Vegan pasta salad
This easy vegan pasta salad is a Mediterranean-inspired recipe without meat, eggs, or cheese.
The flavors are inspired by our Mediterranean salad, couscous salad, and orzo salad, which are made with similar ingredients.
17. Chickpea quinoa salad
This quinoa chickpea salad contains protein-rich chickpeas and quinoa, crunchy and colorful veggies, and a heavenly honey-mustard dressing.
Enjoy it as a quick lunch or a healthy dinner, for a lunchbox meal, potlucks, or picnics.
18. Lentil quinoa salad
Our readers loved lentil salad and our refreshing lentil tabbouleh and have asked us for more easy recipes with lentils.
So here is an easy, flavor-packed, nourishing lentil recipe with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
Family-friendly easy dinners
19. Italian bean stew
This hearty, thick, and tomato-rich bean stew is a great pairing with couscous, polenta, and quinoa.
Perfect as a quick and light dinner as it’s low in calories and ready in about 30 minutes.
20. Chickpea stew
This chickpea stew recipe, in particular, is easy to put together casually for a quick and tasty weeknight dinner.
Serve the stew with a thick slice of toasted artisanal bread. For a lighter dinner, you can even put it on cauliflower rice.
21. Tomato risotto
This risotto recipe is adapted from my Nonna’s recipe. I’ve only changed the topping of charred cherry tomatoes and burrata, but that’s optional.
Risotto leftovers are excellent for making rice balls, risotto cakes, and supplì, which are worth the small effort of making risotto.
22. Lentil curry
Our lentil curry is an Indian–inspired dahl. Split red lentils are cooked in a rich, savory sauce with fragrant spices, coconut milk, and canned tomatoes.
You can serve it on basmati rice or cauliflower rice, but it’s also great with naan, roti, or any other type of flatbread.
23. Stuffed eggplant boats
If you love eggplant, you need to try these stuffed eggplant boats with lentils and tomato sauce.
Serve them with toasted bread as a starter or as a Mediterranean–inspired dinner with tzatziki on the side.
24. Pasta e Ceci
This rustic and wholesome pasta e Ceci is a mix of soup and stew, a real Grandma recipe.
It’s a comforting and steamy bowl of soffrito, Italian tomato sauce, and legumes that pleases the entire family.
25. Easy chickpea curry
This chickpea curry is a flavorful Indian-inspired dish that combines the wholesome nuttiness of chickpeas with the creaminess of coconut milk.
We developed this coconut chickpea curry so that you can make it with easy-to-find ingredients in less than 30 minutes without compromising flavor.
Healthy soup recipes
26. Zucchini soup
Vibrantly green, light, and easy to make, this zucchini soup is great for the spring and summer when zucchini is plentiful and seasonal.
Serve with toppings such as croutons, roasted chickpeas, or grated parmesan for a complete and colorful meal.
27. Tofu soup
This tofu soup is quick, tasty, and easy. With simple ingredients and seasonal veggies, it can be made in 20 minutes at any time of the year.
Drizzle with sesame seeds and chili oil for an Asian–inspired dinner.
28. Roasted butternut squash soup
Next on our list is a simple and easy butternut squash soup that requires one-trey preparation and just a quick blend.
Pair with slices of toasted bread and roasted Brussels sprouts for a colorful appetizer idea.
29. Chickpea soup
Chickpeas, tomato sauce, and potatoes make a wholesome and rich soup combination in this Italian chickpea soup.
Add leafy greens for extra veggies and serve with slices of homemade focaccia.
30. Lentil vegetable soup
Inspired by Mediterranean and Italian flavors, this lentil soup recipe will feel comforting and familiar while excitingly new and original.
The flavor base of onion, garlic, carrot, and celery combined with oregano and canned tomatoes makes this lentil soup so flavorful that you won’t believe there’s no meat in it.
31. Red lentil soup
Rich, thick, and tomato-packed, this red lentil soup cooks in about 30 minutes and provides healthy plant–based protein.
Add spinach for extra greens and serve with sourdough bread for a rustic and wholesome dinner.
32. Broccoli soup
Broccoli soup is light and vibrant, and it’s perfectly paired with burrata cheese, crostini, and croutons.
It’s easy to make in about 30 minutes and is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
33. Tuscan bean soup
Next on our easy dinners list is a one–pot Tuscan bean soup with leafy greens.
You can expect a wholesome, earthy, and satisfying meal packed with the flavors and aromas of the Italian countryside.
34. Black bean soup
The black beans shine in this dish as they add a bold, earthy, and almost meaty flavor.
The beans pack the recipe with protein, fiber, and antioxidants that will make you feel nourished and healthy.
35. Moroccan lentil soup
You’ll love this recipe because it’s easy to make, in one pot, and with pantry staples.
Its comforting texture and heartwarming flavors will fill you with the wanderlust to try more Moroccan dishes.
What to serve with easy dinners
These easy dinners generally go well with grains, bread, and vegetable side dishes. Take your pick here for some additional inspiration:
For more quick dinner ideas make sure to check out our 30-minute Meal Page!
35 Easy Dinners: ricotta pasta
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rigatoni or other pasta
- 10 ounces spinach
- 1½ cups ricotta or dairy-free ricotta
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup parmesan cheese grated, or dairy-free cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest or more to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
COOK PASTA AND SPINACH
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the salt. Wait for the water to boil again, and add the pasta.Stir, then halfway through, add the fresh spinach.Cook the pasta al dente, as per package instructions. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce.
MAKE THE LEMON RICOTTA SAUCE
- To a large mixing bowl, add ricotta, grated parmesan, olive oil, grated lemon zest, grated nutmeg, salt, and black pepper.Tip: Only zest the yellow peel of the lemon, the white pith can be bitter.
- Whisk well until the sauce is smooth and the ingredients well combined.
TOSS THE PASTA
- Once the pasta is al dente, reserve one cup of the starchy pasta water, drain the pasta, and add it to the bowl with the creamy ricotta mixture.Toss well until the pasta is thoroughly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add some pasta water to make it creamier.Serve immediately with a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and some more grated lemon zest.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you liked these 35 easy dinners, you might also enjoy:
Collections
40 Easy Meatless Meals
Collections
45 Easy Pasta Recipes
Collections
35 Easy Desserts
Collections
45 Best Salad Recipes
Hi! We are Nico & Louise
Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with vegetarian and vegan recipes.
This recipe is quick and easy. My family absolutely loved it. Some of the comments was that it tasted like takeout Chinese food.
That’s wonderful, Judy!
I’m delighted that your family complimented your cooking 🎉
Thanks for coming back to leave a comment here! Kindest,
Louise
Love it is very beautiful ❤️ recipes I like it please you can share your recipes more actually sir I am from India I love continental dish pleasure share more than more recipes