Our 34 Best Dinner Recipes of All Time

These recipes are some of our most beloved answers to the question, "What's for dinner?"

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published May 23, 2024
Devan Grimsrud
Baked Ziti Casserole

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Bakes

If you're looking for tried and true, beloved dinner recipes, you've come to the right place. Pulled from Simply Recipes' list of the most popular recipes of all time, these are dinners our readers have come back to again and again. Once you try them, I'm sure you will, too.

  • Easy Shepherd's Pie

    A casserole dish with a piece of shepherd's pie removed.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    Simply Recipes gave this classic casserole of Britain and Ireland an American-style remake by swapping the traditional mutton or lamb with beef.

  • The Best Homemade Lasagna

    Side view of a piece of lasagna on a plate.
    Cambrea Bakes

    Everyone should have a great lasagna recipe in their back pocket. This is ours.

  • French Onion Soup

    Photo of Simply Recipe's most requested soup: a French onion soup (in a white handled ramekin), and on the edges of photo, yellow and light brown lined illustrations

    Simply Recipes / Photo Illustrations by Wanda Abraham / Elise Bauer

    Our French onion soup doesn't cut corners. You need time, but the result is more than worth it.

  • Homemade Pizza

    Side view of a cheesy homemade pizza recipe on a wooden cutting board.

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    Step up pizza night with a homemade take, including the dough. It's easier than you might think!

    Continue to 5 of 34 below

  • Classic Roast Beef

    A sliced roast beef cooked to medium rare beef temperature.
    Ciara Kehoe

    Roast beef can take center stage at just about any family gathering or special occasion. Our recipe gives you all the tips and tricks you need to pull it off.

  • Baked Ziti

    Casserole dish of cheesy baked ziti

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Bakes

    If you love lasagna, but don't like all the fuss, a classic baked ziti is the recipe you need.

  • Classic Baked Chicken

    Best Baked Chicken Recipe chicken on white plate with carrots and herbs
    Sally Vargas

    This recipe has a five-star rating for a reason.

  • Grilled Marinated Flank Steak

    Grilled Marinated Flank Steak sliced thinly on cutting board
    Elise Bauer

    Flank steak is a lean, flavorful cut of beef that can be tricky to work with. Our recipe gives you the best tips from a quick marinade to how to slice it.

    Continue to 9 of 34 below

  • Pasta Carbonara

    A plate of pasta carbonara
    Elise Bauer

    This silky and indulgent Italian classic is made the right way—with no cream!

  • The Ultimate Quesadilla

    A cheese quesadilla on a plate with toppings.
    Sally Vargas

    If you are looking for the one-sheet for making the best quesadillas, this is it.

  • Tuna Patties

    Tuna patties topped with sauce and stacked on a plate with a forkful of patties removed and set next to it.
    Ciara Kehoe

    Author Elise loves this recipe because "I almost always have the necessary ingredients in the pantry and fridge, they're incredibly easy and quick to make, and they're budget friendly too."

  • Eggplant Parmesan

    Baked eggplant parmesan in a casserole dish.
    Ciara Kehoe

    A labor of love, our take on eggplant parmesan opts to bake the eggplant, not fry it, giving the eggplant that twice-cooked texture without all the oil splatters.

    Continue to 13 of 34 below

  • The Best Chicken Fajitas

    Chicken Fajitas Recipe
    Elise Bauer

    Making restaurant-style fajitas at home is both fun and very possible on a weeknight.

  • Beef Stroganoff

    Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
    Marta Rivera

    This comfort food classic can be served over noodles, rice, or even fries.

  • Pozole Rojo (Mexican Pork and Hominy Stew)

    Pozole Rojo (Pork and Hominy Stew)
    Elise Bauer

    If you've never had pozole, there's no better time (or recipe) to change that.

  • Classic Meatloaf

    Classic Meatloaf
    Elizabeth Stark, Elise Bauer, and Sheryl Julian

    This classic meatloaf has a sausage-y secret, and our readers love it.

    Continue to 17 of 34 below

  • Chicken Piccata

    A helping of chicken piccata on a plate topped with sauce

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Made in 30 minutes but still impressive and sophisticated enough for a dinner party, chicken piccata is an all around winner.

  • Shrimp Scampi

    Shrimp Scampi
    Elise Bauer

    Shrimp scampi is one of those things you should make more of than you think. It goes quickly and people just love it!

  • The Best Homemade Swedish Meatballs

    Swedish Meatballs Sauce Recipe
    Elise Bauer

    Tender Swedish meatballs with plenty creamy gravy, these ones are a million times better than at IKEA.

  • Easy Chicken Parmesan

    Baked Chicken Parmesan bake the chicken in the oven in a casserole dish
    Sally Vargas

    Serve with spaghetti or on a toasted roll for a taste of classic Italian American comfort.

    Continue to 21 of 34 below

  • Albondigas Soup (Mexican Meatball Soup)

    Albondigas Soup
    Elise Bauer

    This Mexican meatball soup recipe has been in author Elise's family for over 50 years.

  • Steak Fajitas

    steak fajitas
    Elise Bauer

    When it comes to Tex-Mex, it doesn't get better than steak fajitas.

  • Easy Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

    Overhead view of a dutch oven with polish sausage recipes with peppers and onions inside.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    Simple, classic, and versatile this easy sausage, pepper and onion dish can be served a hoagie roll, over pasta, or on polenta.

  • Dad's Stuffed Bell Peppers

    Stuffed bell pepper sliced half on a plate to show the filling.

    Made with a mix of ground beef, rice, onions, tomatoes, and spices, with this recipe there's there's no need to pre-cook the filling—just stuff, bake, and serve!

    Continue to 25 of 34 below

  • Carne Asada

    Carne Asada
    Elise Bauer

    Our special marinade sets this carne asada recipe apart.

  • Chile Verde

    Chile Verde
    Elise Bauer

    This five-star Mexican pork chile verde slow-cooks chunks of pork shoulder in a roasted tomatillo and jalapeño chile verde sauce.

  • Lemon Chicken

    Lemon Chicken
    Elise Bauer

    Lemon and chicken are a match made in heaven, and this easy recipe is just one great example.

  • Tandoori Chicken

    Tandoori Chicken

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Making tandoori chicken at home is not only possible, but so worth it!

    Continue to 29 of 34 below

  • Shrimp Fried Rice

    Shrimp Fried Rice
    Elise Bauer

    If you have leftover rice, you need to make this shrimp fried rice.

  • Salmon Patties

    Salmon patties set on a plate with a dip and lemon.
    Ciara Kehoe

    With the help of canned salmon, these easy salmon patties make a perfect midweek meal or lunch meal prep.

  • Sweet and Sour Chicken

    Sweet Sour Chicken
    Jaden Hair

    Our take on sweet and sour chicken skips the deep frying but none of the flavor.

  • Easy Enchiladas

    Cheese Enchiladas
    Elise Bauer

    This crowd-pleasing Tex-Mex classic was taught to author Elise's mother by her grandmother. It's a favorite in their family and is sure to be in yours, too.

    Continue to 33 of 34 below

  • Best Ever Sloppy Joes

    Sloppy Joe Sandwich on a Plate With the Filling Cascading From the Bun

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Cooked in one pot, the filling for these sloppy joe's is completely homemade, extra delicious, and extra messy.

  • Honey Mustard Chicken

    Overhead view of Honey Mustard Chicken baked in a casserole dish.
    Michelle Becker

    For a one-pan, winner winner of a chicken dinner, turn to this saucy, tangy, honey mustard chicken.

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