When you feel like you’re lacking the right skills in the kitchen, it can feel a bit overwhelming to find recipes that don’t feel like rocket science.
But the truth is, you don’t need to be a trained chef to whip up something delicious for your family on any given day.
There are easy dinner recipes for beginners that can get the job done without any fancy know-how or techniques!
With just a few basic ingredients and simple recipes, even the most beginner cook can create tasty, home-cooked dinners.
Some of these quick meals have even gone viral on TikTok for being easy for hundreds of people, so you know they’re gonna slap!
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20 Easy Dinner Recipes For Beginners That Require Zero Cooking Skills
1. Marry Me Chicken
This viral TikTok takes 0 skill in the kitchen to come together. Chicken breasts are cooked and then smothered in a creamy sauce made with sun-dried tomatoes, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. It’s so good, they say you’ll get a marriage proposal after serving it!
2. Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
My slow cooker recipe is a dump-and-go dinner that only requires beef, some sauces, sugar, and seasonings. That means any beginner can throw stuff in and have it come out just right! Toss everything in, and let the crock pot do the work.
3. One-Pan Baked Feta Pasta
Another TikTok favorite, this dish is incredibly easy- the oven does all the work! Just add a block of feta cheese to a baking dish with cherry tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil and throw it into the oven. Once it’s golden, stir in cooked pasta, and you’ve got a restaurant-worthy meal with no effort!
4. Taco Skillet
I love one-pan dinners for our busy nights, and I know you can nail these as a beginner! Cook up ground beef with taco seasoning, then add in rice, black beans, and cheese to get dinner ready to scoop and serve.
You can broil the cheese to get it a little toasted, but half the time, I skip it since it all gets mixed in anyway.
5. Garlic Butter Shrimp
Shrimp cooks quickly, making this dish perfect for busy weeknights. Simply sauté shrimp in garlic and butter, and serve over rice or pasta for a meal that feels fancy but takes less than 20 minutes.
6. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Slice up chicken, peppers, and onions, toss them with fajita seasoning, and bake everything on one sheet pan. You’ll have a healthy, flavorful meal with minimal cleanup.
7. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Don’t let the name scare you; aglio e oilo is easy as pie. It’s made up of just pasta, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Less ingredients, less fuss- and you’ll have a tasty dinner without any cooking skills needed.
8. Baked Ziti
A beginner-friendly pasta dish, baked ziti only requires you to cook pasta, mix it with marinara sauce and cheese, and bake until bubbly. It’s comfort food at its finest.
9. Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
You can’t go wrong with creamy chicken Alfredo. All you need is some pasta, a jar of Alfredo sauce, and chicken. Toss it all together, and dinner is done in a few hours, thanks to slow cooking.
10. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Let your slow cooker handle dinner with this easy beef stew. Just throw in chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots, and broth, and let it cook all day. You’ll come home to a hearty, comforting meal.
11. TikTok Ramen
A fun twist on instant ramen! Cook your ramen noodles, then toss them in a sauce made from soy sauce, garlic, butter, and scrambled eggs. It’s a quick and flavorful meal with minimal ingredients.
12. Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla
All you need is a tortilla and some shredded cheese to make a quesadilla, but some other good ingredients in your kitchen can get slapped on top for an even better quesadilla.
I like making these easy CBR quesadillas in just one skillet for a fast weeknight dinner after a long day at work.
13. Sloppy Joes
A classic, easy-to-make dinner that kids love. Ground beef is cooked and smothered in a tangy sauce and served on buns for a messy, delicious meal.
14. Chicken Stir-Fry
Stir-fries are a great way to use up whatever veggies you have on hand. Cook chicken with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger, then toss in your veggies for a quick, healthy meal.
15. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Another set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker recipe. Add a pork shoulder and BBQ sauce to the slow cooker, and let it cook all day. Serve on buns with coleslaw for an easy, flavorful dinner.
16. Chicken Parmesan
Who can resist chicken parm? But trust me, it isn’t too hard to make at all! Bread and fry thin chicken breasts, add on some sauce and cheese before you bake it, and serve it over pasta. It seems intimidating, but it’s just a few basic tricks you can learn!
If you want an even easier option, I made a chicken parm casserole that’s super easy for beginners, too.
17. Beef Tacos
Tacos are always a hit, and they’re super simple to make. Cook up about 2 pounds of ground beef with taco seasoning, and serve it up with tortillas and your favorite toppings like lettuce, sour cream, jalapenos, cheese, and salsa.
18. Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
This one-pan meal is incredibly easy. Just toss sliced sausage and peppers ( and add your favorite veggies if you want!) with olive oil and seasonings, and bake until everything is golden and cooked through.
19. Healthy Stuffed Peppers
Hollow out sweet bell peppers and stuff them with regular or cauliflower rice, ground turkey, and tomato sauce. Then you’ll bake them, and have a simple but tasty meal ready in just 30 minutes.
20. BBQ Meatballs
Mix ground beef with breadcrumbs, egg, and BBQ sauce to form meatballs. Bake them in the oven, and serve with mashed potatoes or rice. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing dinner that’s perfect for beginners.
FAQs
What is the easiest meal to cook for beginners?
I think most dump-and-go slow cooker recipes are the easiest to start. You mostly just cut up or measure ingredients that all get dumped into the pot.
It’s low effort, which is a godsend for a busy and working mom!
What should I make for dinner if I’m a beginner?
Slow cooker meals like BBQ chicken or beef stew are great options because the slow cooker does most of the work. You just need to prep a few ingredients and let it cook.
What are some easy meals with few ingredients?
Meals like Marry Me Chicken, baked ziti, and cheesy quesadillas require only a handful of ingredients and are very easy to make.
What’s a good viral TikTok recipe for beginners?
The baked feta pasta from TikTok is a great recipe for beginners. It’s simple to make and has a rich, delicious flavor that feels gourmet with minimal effort.
Can I make these meals with basic kitchen tools?
Yes! These recipes are perfect for beginner cooks because they don’t require any fancy equipment. Most can be made with just a skillet, a baking sheet, or a slow cooker.
Final Thoughts
Learning to cook doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With these 20 easy dinner recipes, you can create delicious, satisfying meals for your family with minimal effort.
Whether you’re trying out viral TikTok recipes or sticking with classics like spaghetti or tacos, these meals are simple, budget-friendly, and beginner-approved.
It’s never too late to start cooking, and these recipes can help build your confidence and skills in the kitchen.
So grab your apron, and let’s get started on making dinner easier than ever!
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