Top 20 Quickest and Easiest Suppers

January 20, 2009
We scoured our recipe archive for the best of our Quick & Easy dinner ideas. These menus ensure you’ll never get take-out again.
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Calzones

Recipe: Muffuletta Calzones (pictured)

Recipe: Sausage-and-Cheese Calzones

Recipe: Cheesy Mexican Calzones

These mouthwatering, easy meals are so simple to make and perfect for satisfying weeknight dinners.

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Weeknight Roast

Recipe: Ginger-Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Recipe: Sweet Carrots and Rice

Green onions garnish Ginger-Glazed Pork Tenderloin over Sweet Carrots and Rice. Try the pork chop variation too.

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Pizza

Recipe: Antipasto Pizza

Recipe: Chicken Fajita Pizza

Recipe: Seafood Alfredo Pizza

Recipe:

Peppers-and-Cheese Pizza

One taste of these fresh pies will have you saying "That's Amore."

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Italian

Recipe: One-Pot Pasta (pictured)

Recipe: Italian Tossed Salad

Recipe: Basil-Garlic Bread

One-Pot Pasta uses the convenience of your favorite prepared spaghetti sauce and refrigerated cheese-stuffed ravioli.

5 of 20

Grill It

Recipe: Raspberry-Barbecue Chicken

Recipe: Sautéed Squash and Zucchini

Recipe: Quick Parmesan Couscous

Seedless preserves, Dijon mustard, and a touch of vinegar is stirred into bottled barbecue sauce to make a tangy glaze for Raspberry-Barbecue Chicken. Serve with Quick Parmesan Couscous and Sautéed Squash and Zucchini.

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Southwest Supper

Recipe: Tex-Mex Salisbury Steak

Recipe: Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Recipe: Zesty Green Beans

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes and Zesty Green Beans accompany Tex-Mex Salisbury Steak, which is covered in a quick, delicious sauce that uses gravy mix.

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Grilled Cheese

Recipe:

Pesto-Crusted Grilled Cheese

(pictured) Recipe: Hot Buttery Brie MeltsRecipe: Grilled Pimiento CheeseRecipe: Cuban Grills

A deliciously gooey grilled cheese sandwich is quite possibly the quickest comfort food.

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Soup and Sandwiches

Recipe: Toasted Club Sandwiches (pictured)

Recipe: Chunky Vegetable Soup

A terrific relaxed meal that's just right for tonight, a shopping day lunch, or a weekend supper.

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Easy Enchiladas

Recipe: Chicken-and-Spinach Enchiladas (pictured)

Recipe: Dressed-Up Refried Beans (pictured)

When you're in the mood for Tex-Mex, this is the dinner to make. From kitchen to table, it takes about an hour, and half of that is hands-off baking or cooking time. I like to make a few pans of enchiladas and keep them in the freezer for this busy month. They will bake from the totally frozen state to piping hot in just one hour.

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Porcini Mushroom Tortelloni With Wilted Greens

Recipe: Porcini Mushroom Tortelloni With Wilted Greens

Hearty Porcini Mushroom Tortelloni With Wilted Greens is a satisfying meal. You may substitute a four-serving size of a preferred flavor of dried or refrigerated tortelloni.

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Black Bean Chili

Recipe: Black Bean Chili (pictured)

Recipe: Meaty Black Bean Chili

These hearty warm recipes are ready in under 30 minutes! We bet you'll make them as often as we do.

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Snappy Smothered Chicken

Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: Snappy Smothered Chicken

A speedy dinner is as close as your grocery store's deli. Take advantage of this delectable dish to feed your hungry brood.

Cooking Video: Rotisserie Chicken Tips

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Speedy Pasta Bowls

Recipe: Tuscan Pasta With Tomato-Basil Cream

Recipe: Summer Tortellini Salad (pictured)

Recipe: Tuna Tortellini Salad

Boil water, open a jar, stir, then cook. It's really that easy.

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Skillet Pork Chops

Recipe: Tuscan Pork Chops (pictured)

Recipe: Spicy Brown Mustard Pork Chops

Recipe: Lemony Pan-Fried Pork Chops

These recipes prove you don't need lots of ingredients or time to create superb flavor.

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Chalupa Dinner Bowl

Recipe: Chalupa Dinner Bowl

One-dish meals don't have to be blah. The flavor has been upped on this recipes, and each one keeps you well within your prep-time comfort zone and uses basic kitchen equipment.

Slow-cooker-prepared shredded pork and pinto beans top a simple taco salad in our Chalupa Dinner Bowl.

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Burgers and Fries

Recipe: Stuffed Border Burgers

Recipe: Seasoned Steak Fries

When it's burger and fries night at your house, steer away from the drive-through and head home. In five minutes the fries can be ready for the oven, where they'll crisp without any complicated frying. While they bake, make the burgers. If you prefer them cheese-topped rather than stuffed, shape the ground beef mixture into six (6-inch) patties. Grill according to directions, and top with the cheese slices during the last minute of grilling.

17 of 20

Cajun Shrimp Casserole

Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Casserole

We offer make-ahead and freezing instructions on this luscious Cajun Shrimp Casserole. Serve with spring mix lettuce drizzled with red wine vinaigrette.

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Sausage-and-Chicken Cassoulet

Southern Living

Recipe: Sausage-and-Chicken Cassoulet

Spoon into the cornbread crust to find white beans, chicken, and sausage simmering in a mildly spicy sauce in our Sausage-and-Chicken Cassoulet. Add a side salad of romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, and French dressing.

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Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak

Recipe: Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak (pictured)

Recipe: Creamed Turnip Greens (pictured)

Recipe: Lightened Creamed Turnip Greens

Pan-Seared Flat Iron Steak and Creamed Turnip Greens are just right for entertaining friends or for a weeknight celebration.

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Ham Steak With Orange Glaze

Recipe: Ham Steak With Orange Glaze (pictured)

Recipe: Roasted Vegetables

Ham steak has been around for ages, but you might have never thought to put it on your grocery list. Well, add it to your cart, because it's quick to prepare and makes a great meal. Ham steak is traditionally 1/4 to 1-inch thick, fairly lean, and cooks in about 15 minutes for a speedy supper in the middle of the week. Make a fruit sauce, such as Orange Glaze, for a jazzy topping.

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