Super-Easy Meals Your Dinner Guests Will Rave About

Deceptively easy, these company-worthy dinner ideas come to the table in 45 minutes or less

Elaine Johnson

Annabelle Breakey

1 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Thai Chicken Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

Fresh herbs and a handful of seasonings are all you need to create the memorable, spicy-tart flavors in this creamy Southeast Asian dish.

Recipe: Thai Chicken Coconut Soup (Tom Kha Gai)

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Iain Bagwell

2 of 17 Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken Pita Salad

Give chicken breasts a little char, then slice and toss with salty feta and kalamata olives, fresh tomatoes and asparagus, crunchy pita chips, and a tangy lemon-fresh oregano vinaigrette.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Pita Salad

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Annabelle Breakey

3 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Almond-Crusted Chicken

A Sunset reader gave good-old chicken fingers the deluxe treatment by coating them in a little soy sauce and cornstarch and plenty of almonds, then shallow-frying them until crunchy.

Recipe: Almond-Crusted Chicken

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Annabelle Breakey

4 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Korean Kimchi Burgers

We loaded these burgers with exciting flavors, from the garlic, ginger, and sesame oil in the patties to the chili mayo and fresh napa cabbage “kimchi” relish that goes on top. If you’re in a hurry, feel free to sub in a jar of store-bought kimchi for the relish.

Recipe: Korean Kimchi Burgers

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Erin Kunkel

5 of 17 Erin Kunkel

Rib-Eye Steaks with Pistachio Butter and Asparagus

If you want to eat well, and simply, start with great ingredients. Few recipes make the point better than fat, juicy asparagus and beautifully marbled steak turned on the grill for a little smoky flavor, then dolloped generously with a roasted nut butter.

Recipe: Rib-Eye Steaks with Pistachio Butter and Asparagus

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Annabelle Breakey

6 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Chorizo-Beef Nachos

For a meal-worthy (and splurge-worthy) version of the Mexican appetizer, top chips with a meaty salsa sauce, seasoned black beans, and plenty of cheese. Bake until the cheese is nice and melty; then add shredded lettuce and a flavorful homemade guac.

Recipe: Chorizo-Beef Nachos

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Annabelle Breakey

7 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

California-Style Bibimbap

This healthy vegetarian rice-bowl meal features wilted kale, fried eggs, and avocado, jazzed up with a generous drizzle of soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce.

Recipe: California-Style Bibimbap

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Iain Bagwell

8 of 17 Iain Bagwell

Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach

Here’s a recipe for the short list. With ingredients that come mostly from the pantry, it’s healthy, inexpensive, and vegetarian, and the exciting mix of spices never fails to please.

Recipe: Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach

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Annabelle Breakey

9 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Speedy Huevos Rancheros

Talk about a comfort-food supper: Fried eggs and tortillas meet creamy refried beans with a shower of salty cheese, zesty green onions, and Mexican oregano.

Recipe: Speedy Huevos Rancheros

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Annabelle Breakey

10 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Spinach Mushroom Pasta

A generous hand with mushrooms makes this vegetarian dish both filling and “meaty.” Cream cheese and a little milk cooked with the mushrooms help create a clingy, velvety sauce without the need for a separate pan.

Recipe: Spinach Mushroom Pasta

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Erin Kunkel

11 of 17 Erin Kunkel

Kasha with Kale and Pancetta

With the rise in gluten-free diets, earthy, nutty-tasting kasha—a.k.a. hulled and roasted buckwheat groats—is available in lots of mainstream grocery stores. We like the whole grain tossed with browned pancetta, kale, and lemon zest, and then topped with a fried egg.

Recipe: Kasha with Kale and Pancetta

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Iain Bagwell

12 of 17 Iain Bagwell

Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears

Split pork chops make meaty pockets for blue cheese rolled in hazelnuts. Give them a quick sear; then bake them with pears and fresh thyme.

Recipe: Gorgonzola-Stuffed Pork Chops with Pears

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James Baigrie

13 of 17 James Baigrie

Pork Chops with Mustard, Rosemary, and Capers

Cookbook author Joanne Weir creates a quick and satisfying sauce for browned pork chops by reducing chicken broth with briny capers and mustard.

Recipe: Pork Chops with Mustard, Rosemary, and Capers

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Annabelle Breakey

14 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Indian-Spiced Lamb Kebabs

Two seasoning blends—curry powder and garam masala—add plenty of complexity to the meat and vegetables without the need to measure out a dozen spices.

Recipe: Indian-Spiced Lamb Kebabs

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Annabelle Breakey

15 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Shrimp, Ancho Chile, and Pasta Soup (Sopa Seca de Camarones y Fideos)

This Mexican noodle soup starts with vermicelli that’s browned in oil, then simmered with chiles and broth until tender. We added shrimp and avocado to make it filling as well as delicious.

Recipe: Shrimp, Ancho Chile, and Pasta Soup (Sopa Seca de Camarones y Fideos)

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Annabelle Breakey

16 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Broiled Salmon and Asparagus with Crème Fra?che

Sheet-pan suppers like this one have been all the rage for good reason: Because everything cooks together, the juices mingle, making the ingredients more flavorful--and clean-up is minimal.

Recipe: Broiled Salmon and Asparagus with Crème Fra?che

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Annabelle Breakey

17 of 17 Annabelle Breakey

Shrimp and Spicy Mango Sauté

If you keep a jar of mango relish in your pantry or fridge and a bag of shrimp in the freezer, a special last-minute dinner can come together in a hurry.

Recipe: Shrimp and Spicy Mango Sauté

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