Sometimes I plan these fast dinners from the beginning and different instances life occurs, plans change and I’m left scrambling and in want of a simple final minute dinner concept. So if you end up in an identical state of affairs someday, listed below are a few of my favourite final minute weeknight meals and ideas that will help you out once you want one thing to make, quick.
Last-Minute Dinner Ideas
Rotisserie Chicken + Salad + Rolls
This is such a fantastic mixture to make a staple weeknight dinner. Roast your individual hen or choose one up from the shop. Pull it and put it over salad (which may be as intricate or easy as you want) or for toddlers and younger youngsters, serve all of it individually with dipping sauces. Everyone can customise it with their dressing of selection, although even only a squeeze of lemon juice a drizzle of olive oil tastes nice, too. Get actual wild a make it a kale salad with craisins and goat cheese- something goas! Serve with heat rolls and butter for a simple final minute dinner that may please everybody.
Crispy Chicken + Tortillas + Iceberg + Buffalo Sauce + Ranch
Crispy hen is a hero for a simple final minute dinner concept. I purchase in bulk from Butcher Box, who provides crispy nuggets and crispy strips which might be scrumptious with a clear ingredient record. These bake up crispy and switch shortly right into a flavorful dinner with the addition or tortillas, crunchy iceberg lettuce, spicy (or gentle!) buffalo sauce, and ranch for both drizzling or dipping. You can fancy this up in fact with blue cheese crumbles, tomatoes, and onions, however even made merely, it’s scrumptious.
BBQ Chicken + Buns + Slaw
Like many of those meals, you can also make the elements or seize the quick lower choices out there at most grocery shops relying in your wants. Slow cook dinner hen breast or thighs in BBQ sauce all day or seize a warmth and eat possibility from the shop. Load it onto a bun with a hearty serving of slaw and a crisp pickle and also you’ll have

Sausage + Jambalaya Rice Mix + Green Bell Pepper
Looking to spice issues up? You can’t go unsuitable with jambalaya! Grab a jambalaya rice and seasonings field from the grain aisle of the grocery retailer. Add some sauteed inexperienced pepper and andouille sausage so a nicely, rounded and thrilling meal in simply 20 minutes.
Ravioli + Marinara
This one doesn’t want a lot clarification, as it really works for any pasta dishes. However, ravioli provides so many enjoyable fillings from cheese to lobster, so having it in your freezer or fridge as a fast seize and go possibility means it’s a step up from plain spaghetti. Boil, prime with some parmesan cheese, and revel in in lower than half-hour!
Naan + Pizza Sauce + Mozzarella Cheese
Looking for a child pleaser? You should attempt naan pizzas! They are simple to throw collectively and everybody could make their very own simply how they like. The base is simple- naan bread, pizza sauce, and shredded mozzarella, then pop them within the oven on a baking sheet at 425 levels for 8-10 minutes. These are simple to jazz up by including pepperoni and mushrooms or different favourite pizza toppings, or easy add a sprinkle of pink pepper flakes, parmesan cheese, or scorching honey to raise it for adults.


Tomato Soup + Grilled Cheese
A basic for a cause, nothing says consolation fairly like this mixture. Make your grilled cheeses range prime or use a sandwich press to go panini fashion (which is so useful for me, as my youngsters undergo a number of grilled cheese sandwiches every). Cut into halves, triangles, or strips for youthful youngsters, dunk, and savor!
Salad Kit + Ground Beef + Salsa
Taco salads made simple! Use a head of iceberg lettuce for a satisfying crunch, or choose up a salad equipment with extra bells and whistles. Even simply sticking to the fundamentals or lettuce, cooked and crumbled floor beef, and salsa will make a satisfying meal, however it’s also possible to simply physician it up by including in your favorites- guacamole, bitter cream, chopped black olives, pickled jalapenos, tortilla chips for scooping… the sky is the restrict!
Chicken + Tortillas + Guacamole + Pico
Grab one other rotisserie hen, or cook dinner your individual within the gradual cooker, then pull it and throw it on a tortilla with some retailer purchased guacamole and pico. You can use salsa, in fact, however the pico will really feel like a fantastic swap up and add numerous taste.
Oven Baked Bean Burritos
A recipe made with refried beans, rice, salsa, shredded cheese, and a few seasoning, these roll up shortly and bake in 10 minutes for a crispy, coronary heart, budget-friendly consequence. Great to dip in guacamole or bitter cream and to eat on the go, if wanted. Looking for different budget-friendly choices? Beans are nice for that! More recipes with pinto beans.


Lemon Dill Salmon over Rice + Green Beans
An elevated and gluten free possibility, this nonetheless counts as a final minute dinner, particularly you probably have salmon in your freezer (it defrosts shortly in a bowl of water within the sink) or can seize some in your approach residence. The seasoning is straightforward with lemon juice, dill, and salt. It cooks up in 10 minutes, and you’ll shortly roast or boil inexperienced beans for a easy aspect in the identical period of time. Lemon dill salmon and straightforward inexperienced beans.
“Buffet” Night
In my ongoing quest to have as little meals waste as attainable, might I current you with buffet evening! Not a novel idea, however buffet sounds higher than leftovers, proper? Simple pull any meals from the fridge, pantry, or freezer that must be eaten and line it up alongside the counter. This is enjoyable as a result of everybody could make their very own decisions and the favorites will go quick, encouraging everybody to indicate up for dinner on time, proper once you name. You’ll have a cleaned out fridge and could have saved a couple of bucks (no take out).
Rice + Soy Sauce + Frozen Peas and Carrots + Egg
If you’ve gotten leftover rice, then that is the dinner for you- prepared in quarter-hour! It’s forgiving so you can also make it nevertheless you want; you possibly can even add in an enormous bag of frozen veggies and make it extra a a veggie-forward stir fry than rice targeted. However, if you’d like a straight ahead recipe with out all of the frills however with a scrumptious consequence, then take a look at this simple fried rice recipe from the recipe critic.
Sheet Pan Sausage + Veggies
There are countless mixtures to this simple final minute dinner concept, however one in every of my favourite mixtures and strategies may be discovered right here. By combining a flavorful, lean sausage and veggies with the identical cook dinner time, the meal comes out balanced and contemporary. Serve over rice or simply as is for a wholesome dinner possibility.


Tofu + Peanut Sauce + Ramen
Delicious whether or not you’re vegetarian or not, this mixture is so good. You can bake your tofu or attempt it within the air fryer, then make this 5 minute peanut sauce whereas your ramen cooks up. If you’re feeling adventurous, add in some sauteed broccoli or pink bell peppers, however for those who simply want some easy sustenance, this tofu and noodle bowl with peanut sauce will hit the spot.
Bread + Burrata + Tomatoes + Prosciutto
Pick up a loaf bread (I really like a crusty sourdough) and pair it with some creamy burrata cheese, a slice of tomato, salt and pepper. Drizzle with slightly balsamic for those who’re feeling fancy or seize some prosciutto to jazz it up slightly extra, however the authentic combo is filling, scrumptious, and makes for a fast and straightforward dinner.
Frozen Cheese Pizza + Fresh Veggies + Sausage
For busy weeknights on packed full weeks, hold your freezer stocked together with your favourite easy frozen pizza, whether or not basic or cauliflower crust. Then elevate it by including contemporary veggies like broccoli, inexperienced pepper, child spinach, or garlic earlier than baking it. Cook up some Italian sausage to go on prime and there you’ve gotten it, one in every of your new favourite simple dinners.
Chicken Salad + Greens + Naan Dippers or Pita
Pick up some hen salad out of your favourite spot or make this smoky deli fashion hen salad, which comes collectively shortly utilizing canned or rotisserie hen. Pair it with salad greens with a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar and use pita or naan dippers to scoop it up for a yummy, protein-filled final minute dinner.


If your plans cancelled within the morning leaving you with the necessity for a final minute dinner concept, however you’ve gotten all day to make it? Pull out that lovely gradual cooker and reference this record of scrumptious and straightforward crockpot dinners for household.