Easy dinner recipes for beginners in the kitchen can lead to improved skills in the kitchen. Don’t know how to saute, julienne, or deglaze? If these words seem alien, you likely don’t do a lot of cooking. However, by learning some yummy and easy dinner recipes for beginners, you’ll start to improve your cooking skills, and you’ll likely lose weight from eating less takeout.
Whether you don’t have a natural inclination for cooking or if you’re just learning your way around the kitchen, any recipe can seem intimidating. But here’s the thing: you can enjoy gustatory delights you’ve created with your own hands even if you’re a total kitchen noob.
Even if you can afford to dine out or eat takeout every day, studies show that this is not the healthiest diet. For example, you don’t know how much sodium goes into the meal, how much butter or fat is used, nor are you aware of the commercial kitchen’s sanitation practices. It’s always better to prepare your meals because you know the exact ingredients of each dish and the hygiene practices in your own kitchen. There are some delicious and easy dinner recipes for beginners out there, that allow you to make a tasty meal without spending a ton of time or effort.
If you’re not a great cook, the key is working with dinner ideas that only contain a handful of ingredients with easy prep work. Even better is if you can cook it in one pot, because that will simplify your clean-up. If you rarely cook or you’ve never cooked, you can learn easy dinner recipes for beginners that taste great. Below are 10 easy dinner recipes that even a beginner cook can master.
Kimchi Rice
Kimchi is a probiotic that’s excellent for gut health. Many people love the taste and flavor of kimchi. If you find the taste of kimchi overpowering, mix it with leftover rice for an easy dinner recipe. Slice ¼ cup of kimchi into small pieces, grate a small bulb of garlic, grab a handful of julienned carrots, and slice one or two chicken sausages into circles. In a pan, saute garlic with avocado oil until aromatic. Then add the kimchi, sausages, and carrots.
If you want it spicier, add gochujang paste or Sriracha to taste. Once blended, mix in one cup of rice. Stir thoroughly until each grain of rice is evenly coated. Add a dollop of sesame oil for extra flavor and garnish with scallions. Best served with a fried or poached egg on top. You can add black sesame seeds, sliced cucumbers, and dried seaweed flakes for extra flavor.
One-Pot Italian Chicken
If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner, our one-pot Italian chicken casserole will be your go-to dish for busy nights. Season 4 small chicken breast filets with salt and pepper, then saute in olive oil. Once cooked through on both sides, transfer to a plate.
In the same pan, place garlic and cook until aromatic. Add half a can of tomatoes and ⅓ cup of wine. Cook for a minute, then add ⅓ cup of cream and ½ cup of chicken stock. Return the chicken to the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Add in a handful of baby spinach and cook until wilted. Once done, serve with crusty bread. Best of all, this dish freezes well so you can plan ahead. Freeze it in tupperware containers and eat it throughout the week.
Sushi Bake
The word sushi may sound domineering because it looks hard to roll this Japanese delicacy. However, our sushi bake doesn’t require any rolling. It’s a deconstructed version that you eat with seaweed sheets in packets. Prep 4 cups of sushi rice in the rice cooker. Once done, mix in 3 tablespoons of sushi vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and sesame seeds. In a clean bowl, empty one can of water-packed tuna, mix this with ¼ cup Japanese mayo (or vegan mayo), 1 tablespoon of Sriracha, 1 medium diced cucumber, and 1 small diced mango.
Combine this mixture with the rice, then spread and pack down on a 6×8-inch pan. Bake at 390 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Garnish with a few swirls of mayo, Sriracha, and sesame seeds. Scoop a portion, wrap it in nori, and enjoy. The best part is you can tweak the fillings, like replacing the tuna with salmon flakes or Kani crab stick slices. It’s a tasty dish that combines go, glow, and grow foods.
Chicken Stir-Fry
You can’t go wrong with stir-fried chicken breast filets because it’s a protein-packed dish that you can mix with whatever veggies you have on hand. For the simplest recipe, marinate your chicken in a tablespoon each of oyster sauce and dark soy sauce. After 15 minutes, heat up cooking oil in a pan. Slowly sweat aromatics like garlic and shallots for added flavor. Then add the chicken and cook through.
You can add whatever veggies you have on hand, such as broccoli, bell peppers and spinach. Even frozen veggies like sugar snap peas or carrots and corn will work. Add freshly milled pepper and slivered green onions. Serve with boiled egg noodles, brown rice, or eat the stir-fry on its own for a low-carb meal.
Pasta Bake
We highly recommend pasta bake if you’re looking for an affordable and simple dinner that’s impossible to mess up. Cut down on carbs by using low-carb pasta like whole wheat or chia pasta. You get the same delicious taste without the unrefined carbs that could mess with your blood sugar. Just follow the cooking instructions on your pasta box.
Next, prepare your sauce using organic marinara in an oven-safe pot. Kick things up a notch by sauteing garlic, olives, and capers with olive oil. Then add the pasta sauce and sprinkle it with Italian seasoning. If you want some protein, you can include drained water-packed tuna or sliced Hungarian sausages. Once done simmering, toss in your pasta. Coat well, and add your choice of cheese on top. Finish cooking in the oven and take out when the cheese is all bubbly and melted.
Mushroom and Spinach Frittata
Frittatas aren’t just for daily breakfasts or weekend brunch, but you can also serve them as a healthy breakfast for dinner on a “meatless Monday.” These fancy omelets are quick and easy to make so there’s no pressure even if it’s a busy weeknight. Best of all, a frittata is low-carb and high in protein, plus all the greens add fiber. Mushroom is also an antioxidant. You can readily adjust the ingredients to feed yourself or a big group. You can also incorporate your favorites like ham, salmon, crumbled feta, or tomatoes. Play around with different combos.
If you’re eating solo, start by sauteing a handful of mushrooms and spinach in an oven-safe pan. Once cooked through, set aside. Then break three large eggs, add a splash of milk, mix in a handful of cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Add this mixture to the pan. Return the mushroom and spinach to the egg mixture and arrange neatly. Add more cheddar cheese, then toss into a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 5 minutes or until cooked through.
Pan-Fried Salmon
Increase your health omega-3 fatty acids to fight heart disease with a serving of salmon. This irresistible dish takes 20 minutes to prepare. Just season the salmon filets with salt and pepper. Add a squeeze of lemon for extra “oomph,” then let it sit for at least 10 minutes.
In a pan, add a tiny drop of oil. Once the pan is hot enough, sear salmon with the skin side up for 4 minutes. Then, flip your salmon and sear for an additional 5 minutes. En voila, you get crispy pan seared and flavorful salmon filets. Serve with a side salad, and you’ve got a perfect dinner.
Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Classic grilled cheese sandwiches hit the spot for the nights you don’t want to turn on the stove. But put a spin on this old-school comfort food by prepping it in a waffle maker. Prepare whole wheat bread and slather sunflower butter on each side. Then put in your favorite cheeses like mozzarella, cheddar, or Emmental.
Fire up your waffle iron and spritz it with a non-stick cooking spray. Put your sandwich inside and press down to cook until the sides are toasted and the cheese is melted. If you want more protein, you can add prosciutto with the cheese or morph it into a tuna melt. Serve it with salad, and you’re good to go.
Chicken Salad
What’s impossible to screw up? If you’ve got leftover rotisserie chicken, shred and morph it into chicken salad. Slice up some celery and shallots into tiny pieces and toss with your shredded chicken. Add low-fat mayo or use greek yogurt. Season with salt and pepper.
The best thing about this is you can sample the salad as you mix and add in ingredients that you love, like diced carrots or avocado. Once done, you can serve this on top of a bed of lettuce, stuff it in a pita pocket, or mix it with whole wheat noodles as a cold pasta salad. It’s a versatile dish that will spice up your dinner menu.
Quesadillas
One of the best easy dinner recipes for beginners is a quesadilla with whatever fillings you like. Quesadillas are cheap, easy, and quick to make. They’re virtually idiot-proof, even kids can make them. All you need is a tortilla of your choice. From there, prepare your fillings. You can use shredded chicken or even just some veggies. And of course, no self-respecting quesadilla will be complete without Tex-Mex blend cheese.
Place your fillings on one side of the tortilla and fold it in half. Then place the tortilla on top of a non-stick pan over medium heat. Keep a watchful eye on the tortilla to ensure it doesn’t burn. Once toasty, flip it over and heat the other side. Serve with guacamole (or sliced avocado) and a side salad for a balanced dinner.
What’s The Best Diet For You, Based on Your DNA?
Taking time to cook meals for yourself and your family feels rewarding. You don’t have to be a trained Master Chef to feed your loved ones healthy meals. Our recommended dishes will help you impress hungry stomachs without any hassle. With one of the above easy dinner recipes for beginners on hand, you can have a healthy dinner served in no time.
Being conscious of your diet with a good mix of healthy meals and less greasy takeout is vital for optimal health. If you want to find out what type of diet suits your body best, consider taking a CircleDNA test. The genetic diet and nutrition reports on which diet suits you best is one of hundreds of health reports the DNA test provides.
