What’s for Dinner Tonight? Quick, Easy, Healthy Mealtime Ideas

9 days since by Kenmore

what's for dinner
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You know what would be 100% awesome? Someone coming over to your home tonight and whipping up a restaurant-quality, three-course gourmet meal for you and your family to enjoy. But since that’s probably not going to happen anytime soon, you’re left to answer that age-old question of the day… What’s for dinner tonight?

Being a full-fledged grown-up comes with many challenges. But perhaps the most daunting task is deciding what to cook for tonight’s supper… again and again, every day of your life! And for most of us, there aren’t enough hours in the day to stay on top of all our other responsibilities. So lavishing time, effort, attention and money on creative mealtime preparation seems like a non-starter from the get-go!

But don’t let it get you down. We’re here to help with some tasty, heart-healthy dinnertime ideas that are fairly quick and easy to fix… and more budget-friendly than ordering a limo ride for your burrito six-pack.

Save Time and Reduce Mess with Air Frying

By now, you’ve probably already heard the news. Air-frying cooks your family’s favorite foods in record time with less fat, fewer calories, and super-easy cleanup. And the results are incredible… fries that are crunchy-crisp outside and moist fluffy inside, wings cooked to juicy perfection, and so much more!

(Also by now, you may be well aware that Kenmore has a terrific countertop air-fryer that we’re really proud of. Take a moment to check it out when you have a chance!)

Juicy Air-Fry Chicken Breast

© ЮРИЙ ПОЗДНИКОВ / Adobe Stock, generated by AI

Here’s an air-fryer recipe so simple and satisfying, you’ll want to make it again and again…

Ingredients

  • 1 to 1-1/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Juice of one large lemon
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon each: salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, thyme
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Mix all other ingredients together and brush on the chicken, making both sides are completely covered.

Place chicken in air fryer basket and cook at 375ºF for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Serve hot.

Go Fish!

If your local grocery store offers fresh fish fillets, you’re in luck! Fish dishes cook quickly, are heart-healthy, and offer a delicious change of pace from the usual meat-and-potatoes or casserole dinner. Fish is loaded with nutritious protein, but not with calories!

Easy Teriyaki Salmon

what's for dinner
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If you want easy, look no further. It’s only four ingredients, and takes less than 30 minutes from pre-prep to cleanup. Perfect for weeknights, or anytime, really.

Ingredients

  • 2 oz. fresh pineapple juice
  • 2-1/2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • ¼-cup brown sugar
  • 4 salmon fillets

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF and line a baking pan with nonstick foil. Combine the first 3 ingredients in a small bowl and stir until sugar is mostly dissolved. Place salmon, skin-side down, on the foil and spoon mixture over each piece.

Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, basting with sauce every few minutes. Serve hot.

Make Peanut Butter Magic

what's for dinner tonight
© Africa Studio / Adobe Stock

That big ol’ jar of peanut butter sitting there on your pantry shelf? It’s not just for spreading on toast anymore! Rich peanut flavor adds a depth of flavor and smooth texture to many dishes, including West African stews, Asian curries and more.

Quick Thai Peanut Chicken

© fahrwasser / Adobe Stock

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend all day shopping, prepping and cooking to achieve robust, authentic flavors. This recipe comes together easily with fresh chicken and a bunch of ingredients you already have in the pantry. Check it out!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled & minced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, peeled & minced
  • 1 lb. chicken thigh meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoons chili powder
  • ¼-cup peanut butter
  • 1 can unsweetened coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • Chopped fresh cilantro and peanuts for garnish

Instructions

Heat the oil in skillet over medium-high heat and cook the onions until soft and translucent, 5 minutes. Mix in the garlic and ginger and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add the tomato paste, sugar, chili powder, and peanut butter, stir to combine, then add the coconut milk and soy sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over steamed rice and garnish with cilantro and chopped roasted peanuts.

One-Pot Simplicity

Hungry for easy dinners with an absolute minimum of cleanup time? It just so happens that some of the tastiest and easiest dinner ideas come together in just one pot.

Some of the best-loved mealtime favorites spend hours cooking low-and-slow in a countertop slow-cooker. And while they may take a long while to cook, they can actually save you a ton of time. All you have to do is load in the ingredients earlier in the day, hit the switch, and presto! Hours later you have a finished dinner for the whole fam, loaded with rich flavors, and just one pot to rinse out. What could be simpler?

And in case you could use a new cooker, the Kenmore 7-quart slow cooker comes with easy-touch electronic controls plus a bonus dip warmer!

Easy Slow Cooker Veggie Soup

What's for dinner tonight
© emmaz / Adobe Stock, generated by AI

Here’s a vegetarian recipe that’s so mouthwatering and so easy, you won’t miss the meat! Bonus: it makes your whole kitchen smell rich and savory while it cooks all day!

Ingredients

  • 48 oz. of quality vegetable broth or stock
  • 2 cups chopped red or gold potatoes
  • 1 large can chopped tomatoes
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 bag (12 oz.) of mixed frozen vegetables
  • 1 teaspoon each: salt, pepper, garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

Directions

Place all ingredients inside the slow cooker and stir. Cook 6-7 hours on Low, or 4 hours on High. Serve hot.

Simple Sausage, Spinach and Orzo Pot

Here’s a delicious single-pot meal that comes together super-quick with just a few ingredients and requires no baking… it’s all done on the stovetop!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb. of chicken, turkey, or other low-fat sausage
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 cup of fresh corn
  • 24 oz. of chicken broth
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 1 small (5 oz.) bag of baby spinach leaves
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1/3-cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Remove sausage from casings and add to pot, breaking it into small chunks, and sauté for 4-5 minutes.

Add the chopped onion and continue to coom for 8-9 minutes. Mix in the corn kernels and sauté for another 3 minutes. Add the broth and orzo, stir well, then turn heat to high and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and stir in the spinach. Season with freshly cracked pepper, and add salt if needed. Top with grated cheese and serve while hot.

What’s for dinner tonight: A Nice, Easy Wok

A stupid-easy and super-quick way to whip up a healthy, flavor-forward dinner – and to use up some of the “stray” veggies lurking in your produce drawers – is a fast and simple stir-fry in a nonstick wok.

This “recipe” doesn’t even have steps, really. Just take a small sampling of, let’s say, five tasty vegetables you have on-hand (onion, mushroom, bell pepper, broccoli, carrot, whatever) and chop them into bite-size chunks. Heat just a little oil in a wok, stir in the veggies and cook on high heat for about 5 minutes until softened. Then add some pre-cooked chicken, sliced steak, tofu chunks, or shrimp… plus a little garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. Cook for a couple more minutes, and you’re done!

ProTip: A quality nonstick wok, like Kenmore’s Hammond 14-in. carbon steel model, is a kitchen essential. Its heavy-gauge carbon-steel surface distributes heat evenly and wipes clean when you’re finished.

Conquering the daily challenge of deciding on dinner isn’t an overwhelming dilemma when you have some good ideas to get you started, and the right tools to help make it fast, easy, wholesome… and delicious.

So, what’s for dinner tonight? Whatever sounds good!

Kenmore

The Kenmore brand represents 100 years of trusted performance, backed by exclusive features and innovations that no other brand can bring to the table. We’re always evolving to ensure day-to-day tasks are taken care of with faster cooking, better cleaning and more living throughout the home.