These 12 Easy Recipes Are Perfect for Last Minute Dinners

Easy last-minute dinner recipes – Only have a few minutes to get dinner on the table? These last-minute dinner recipes will help you get a quick, delicious meal ready without prep or planning. From steak and potatoes to salmon in foil, here are our 12 simple dinner ideas that are easy to throw together at the last minute. Enjoy!

by Sidney Yang

Sidney Yang

Sidney is part of the Eatwell101 family since 2014. As an editor, she shares her enthusiasm for food, cooking tips, and entertaining across more than a thousand written articles published on Eatwell101.

View full profile →

Updated Oct 15, 2025

Easy Last-Minute Recipes for Dinners

1. Garlic Butter Steak and Potatoes Skillet

The best steak and potatoes recipe you'll ever have - Easy to prepare, you'll want to make this flavorful dish a regular in your meal rotation.
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

2. Easy Oven Baked Chicken Bites

Try our juicy oven baked chicken recipe! Boneless chicken breasts are cut in small bites and deliciously seasoned before baked in the oven until tender!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

3. Salsa Fresca Chicken Bake

This crazy good chicken breast bake with salsa Fresca is so quick and easy to make - a guaranteed hit for tonight!
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

4. Bell Pepper Chicken Bake

This belle pepper chicken bake is an incredibly easy chicken dinner, packed with super fresh flavors.
Cooking time: 25 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

5. Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta

This spicy garlic butter pasta recipe is another quick pasta dinner with a ton of flavor!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

6. Salmon Foil Packets with Pineapple and Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

This easy juicy Salmon Foil Packets is easy to make, tastes delicious, and is ready in under 20 minutes!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

7. Fried Gnocchi with Garlic & Parmesan

Comfort food at its finest! This easy skillet gnocchi recipe takes only 15 mins to make and is perfect for weeknight dinners.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

8. Garlic Butter Shrimp in 10 Minutes

This easy garlic butter shrimp recipe is an amazing flavor combination of garlicky, buttery goodness.
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

9. Grilled Steak Kabobs

So juicy and delicious grilled steak Kabobs - Your BBQ parties just won’t be the same without them!
Cooking time: 15 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

10. Cajun Shrimp Skillet

This Cajun shrimp recipe is the perfect base for a low carb or paleo meal. Shrimps are ready in less than 15 minutes - The whole family will love it!
Cooking time: 10 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

11. Instant Pot Chicken Recipe

This Instant pot chicken recipe is ready in 30 minutes - Sweet, spicy, and fork-tender!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

12. Honey Garlic Salmon Baked in Foil

Flaky honey garlic baked salmon is dinner perfection in just 20 minutes. This salmon recipe is baked on a sheet pan for an easy dinner everyone will love!
Cooking time: 20 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

13. Instant Pot Green Beans with Lemon Garlic Butter

Instant Pot Green Beans Recipe - These delicious Instant Pot green beans cook in only 5 minutes, yet taste like they have been slow-cooked all day long!
Cooking time: 5 minView recipe >> Save to recipe box

Did you make one of these easy last-minute dinner recipes? Please share on your social media using our hashtag #eatwell101!