We’ve all been there. You’ve had an insanely busy day and you’re fixing to have an equally crazy evening. You have a very small window of time to feed the kids before you need to be somewhere and you didn’t plan ANYTHING for dinner. Today, I have a bunch of no prep dinner ideas for those busy evenings when you need to have dinner on the table RIGHT now. Instant dinner, if you will.
25+ No Prep Dinner Ideas
To make it easier to browse these dinner ideas, I’ve grouped them into categories. These ideas are great to keep as a list in your favorite recipe storage spot so you can quickly browse them when time is short! I don’t know about you, but it’s hard for my brain to come up with ideas when I’m feeling rushed. Even the most simple ideas!
Sandwiches
Never underestimate the power of two pieces of bread! Here are some of our family’s favorite sandwiches for easy weeknight dinners:
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Deli meat sandwiches (Use sub sandwich bread and your kids will think it’s better than Subway!)
- Chicken Salad
- Tuna (have it cold or turn it into a tuna melt)
- BLT
- Grilled cheese (put some lunch meat on there for some extra protein)
- Meatball subs (reheating frozen meatballs in your favorite sauce doesn’t take that long, especially if you give them a quick defrost in the microwave first)
Wraps
I’m not kidding, my kids will grumble about having cold sandwiches for dinner but I can put those same ingredients on a tortilla and they’ll be thrilled. Pretty much any sandwich I’ve listed above will taste great as a wrap!
- Lunch Meat Pinwheels – I love to spread cream cheese onto an entire tortilla, then cover 2/3 of it with my sandwich fillings (lunch meat, lettuce, tomato, etc.). Then I roll it up tight and, if I’m feeling super ambitious, I’ll slice it into “sandwich sushi” for the kids. They love these little pinwheels!
- Turkey Basil Wraps – The wrap is basically the same as the pinwheel, but instead of spreading cream cheese on the tortilla, use a half-and-half blend of pesto and mayonnaise. Delicious!!
Finger Foods
Finger foods can be a great option for a no-prep dinner. You can graze at the counter as you get ready to go or pack up a “snackle box” full of finger food dinner options.
- Homemade “Lunchables” – Charcuterie for the win! Slice up whatever deli meat you have on hand, along with some cheese and Ritz crackers, and you’re golden! Cherry tomatoes, mini sweet peppers, and grapes are easy to add to the mix to help with fruit and vegetable intake on a busy day.
- Air Fryer Quick Eats – The air fryer is a game changer for no-prep dinner! Either cook and prep your own convenience foods to keep in the freezer or buy your family’s favorite air fryer finger foods. Chicken nuggets are always a win at our house! By the time I’ve cut up a few veggies, we have a batch of nuggets ready to go.
Breakfast
Breakfast is always a great option for quick weeknight dinners. I’m sure your family has their go-to meals, but here are some other ideas if you’re looking for some inspiration:
- French Toast
- Pancakes – I keep Krusteaz on hand for nights when I don’t have time to make pancakes from scratch
- Waffles – If you’re cooking for a crowd, then this is not the quickest option. Definitely opt for pancakes if you’re cooking for several people.)
- Breakfast Burritos – Use whatever fillings you have time for. Eggs, air-fried sausage, pre-cooked bacon are all quick options
- Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits – These are an easy to-go option on a busy night!
- Breakfast sandwiches – Put frozen sausage patties in the air fryer and, while those cook, toast English muffins and scramble or fry some eggs. Everything will be ready within ten minutes!
- Oatmeal – Load it up with whatever fresh fruit you have on hand (we prefer baked oatmeal if we have 30 minutes)
Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie chicken is the hero of no-prep dinners! Just grab one on your way home from work or school pick-up and you’ll have the foundation for a variety of instant dinners.
- Quesadillas – Our family loves quesadillas with cheese, refried beans, salsa verde and shredded rotisserie chicken. We love to use our panini press or waffle maker to melt the cheese even faster!
- Salad – Add shredded rotisserie chicken to your family’s favorite bagged salad kit and you’ll have dinner on the table in no time!
- Chicken Roll-Ups – While your oven preheats to bake crescent rolls, mix the shredded rotisserie chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce or savory-flavored cream cheese (we like garden vegetable). Add a spoonful of the chicken to each of the crescent rolls before rolling and baking.
Sheet Pan Dinner Ideas
Depending on how much time you have, there are many ways that you can use a sheet pan to get dinner on the table in a hurry.
- Sheet Pan Nachos – Cover a rimmed baking sheet with tortilla chips, cover with cheese and whatever goodies you can find in your pantry or freezer (black beans, diced chiles, leftover taco meat, etc.). If you’re in a huge rush you can melt the cheese under the broiler, but it tastes better if you can bake it a little longer at a slightly lower temperature (around 400 degrees). Don’t forget the sour cream, salsa, and guacamole!
- Chicken Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner – Add your family’s favorite fresh vegetables (thinly sliced so they cook quickly) to a large baking sheet. Coat with oil and seasonings, then add sliced, fully-cooked chicken sausage to the top. Bake at 425 degrees until the vegetables are cooked to your desired tenderness.
- English Muffin Pizzas – Add English muffins to a sheet pan and top with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings. All it takes is a few minutes under the broiler and your pizzas will be ready to go!
- Bean and Cheese Tostadas – Add tostada shells to a baking sheet and spread refried beans over the top of each one. Add cheese and green salsa before placing under the broiler. Once the beans are warm and the cheese is melted, remove from oven and top with lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.
Quick-Boil Foods
Just like the sheet pan dinner, you might find yourself with enough time to do a little actual cooking…like boiling water! We like to use the electric kettle to speed up the boiling process and get some food on the table quickly.
- Ramen – Once the ramen is cooked, we like to add frozen peas or edamame to each bowl. This cools down the ramen so we can eat it more quickly and adds plant-based protein.
- Pasta – Refrigerated tortellini cooks SUPER quickly and is perfect for a no-prep dinner. Just add your favorite sauce and even some shredded rotisserie chicken.
More Meal Planning Tips and Ideas
I hope these ideas have given you some inspiration to create a list of your own dinner-in-a-pinch ideas. Be sure to check out my meal planning guide with even more tips and meal planning inspiration. Creating a meal plan for a family, even on the busiest of weeknights, doesn’t have to be a hassle!
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