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You are here: Home / Dinner / 23 Last Minute Dinner Ideas

23 Last Minute Dinner Ideas

February 27, 2022 By Lilly

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The laziest meals you’ll ever make!

It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s just that I get tired of cooking dinner EVERY night. If you have a family with kids to feed, then you know the struggle is real. Even dinner recipes that claim to be quick and easy can be a real hassle, which is why I’ve created this list of easy meals you can simply pick up at the grocery store on your way home from work on busy weeknights.

There are so many fun combinations of frozen and packaged foods to make dinner exciting for your picky eaters. Even if it’s something as simple as a rotisserie chicken tossed with a packaged salad, it’s nice to have a few ideas for dinner on hand when you want something fast and effortless to slap together. This way you’re not eating the same thing week after week. That’s boring!

No recipes here, silly. That would be too hard. Just a few tasty combinations for when you’re hungry and rushed.

Fast, easy and cheap dinner ideas! If you have a family with kids to feed, then you know the struggle dinner time can bring. Even meals that claim to be quick and easy can be a real hassle, which is why I’ve created this list of effortless dinner ideas you can simply pick up at the grocery store on your way home from work on busy school nights. There are so many fun combinations of frozen and packaged foods to make dinner exciting for your picky eaters. Perfect for busy moms and dads on a budget!

1. Crispy Chicken Ranch Wraps

You’ve got to love frozen chicken strips! They are the easiest protein to combine with just about any meal. Try baking them and stuffing them into tortillas with ranch dressing, crispy lettuce and cheddar cheese. You can also toss anything else in there you have on hand like tomatoes, black beans, jalapeños or bbq sauce.

Crispy Chicken Ranch Wraps | Quick and easy dinner ideas on a budget! Last minute dinners you can simply pick up at the grocery store on your way home from work. Lots of time saving hacks.

2. Caesar Salad with Rotisserie Chicken

This is one of my go-to dinners on busy weeknight when I don’t feel like cooking. Just pick up a rotisserie chicken and caesar salad kit for the easiest meal you’ll ever make. I also like to toss in some extra parmesan cheese and serve it with frozen garlic bread. Finish it off with some fresh black pepper if you’re feeling fancy!

Chicken Salad with frozen garlic bread! The easiest weeknight meal that's already prepared for you. If you're looking for simple dinner ideas you can throw together last minute, check out this list of store-bought dinner ideas for your family.

3. Lazy Lasagana

If you’re a busy mom on a budget, you can’t go wrong with baked ravioli. You seriously just layer frozen ravioli, pasta sauce, and shredded cheese in a baking dish and cook until it’s nice and bubbly. You can find the full instructions here.

Cheesy Marinara Baked Ravioli | Looking for easy dinner ideas for a family with kids? Check out this list of simple store-bought dinner ideas! Last minute meals that are fast and cheap to make.
Baked Ravioli Instructions

4. Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Veggies

Did you know you can buy fully cooked and diced chicken in the freezer aisle of most grocery stores? This makes dinner a breeze! Just heat it up according the package instructions and then toss it with pasta and veggies. It’s great for mixing in casseroles, too.

Chicken Alfredo Broccoli Pasta | A list of kid-friendly last minute dinner ideas! If you have picky eaters at home, you've got to check out these easy meals. Lots ideas to just pick up at the grocery store on your way home from work.

5. Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

My local grocery store has a refrigerated meat section that includes pre-cooked bbq chicken and pork that is absolutely delicious served with coleslaw on buttered and toasted buns. My favorite comfort food on nights when cooking dinner is out of the question! It doesn’t hurt to serve these warm sandwiches with potato chips, either.

Easy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches | Running out of dinner ideas for your family? Your picky kids will love all of these simple store-bought meals! A list of ideas to throw together last minute for busy weeknights when you're too tired to cook. Great for moms and dads on a budget!

6. Rotisserie Chicken with Mashed Potatoes & Veggies

Seems obvious, but if you’re looking for something quick to throw together, just pick up a rotisserie chicken, refrigerated mashed potatoes, some frozen veggies, and either prepared gravy or a packet of gravy mix. Easy! It’s like Thanksgiving dinner without any effort.

Chicken & Veggie Mashed Potato Dinner | Rotisserie chicken to the rescue! If you're on the hunt for quick and easy dinner ideas, here is a big list of simple meals you can throw together last minute on busy weeknights. Perfect for busy moms on a budget!

7. Orange Chicken with Stir-Fry Veggies & Rice

Who doesn’t love orange chicken? It seriously tastes like candy. It’s my daughters favorite last minute dinner, and if it were up to her that’s all she’d eat. You can also buy frozen fried rice to go with it at some grocery stores for the ultimate lazy meal. Or, simply microwave a packet or two of ready rice, and then mix it with frozen stir-fry veggies and soy sauce.

Orange Chicken Stir-Fry Veggies & Rice | The best last minute dinner for your family! If you're trying to find easy meals that are effortless to make, check out this list of 23 store-bought dinner ideas!

8. Cheesy Ranch Cobb Salad

Salads are a great choice for dinner because how hard is it to toss a bunch of ingredients together with a packaged salad? A few simple things you can throw into a ranch salad include boiled eggs, diced ham, crispy bacon, avocado, shredded cheese, blue cheese, tomatoes, croutons, leftover chicken, etc. There’s a lot of flavor going on in there!

Cheesy Ranch Cobb Salad | A great last minute dinner idea for two! Just pick up a packaged salad and mix it with boiled eggs, avocado, diced ham, tomatoes, and cheese! Super filling and easy. No cooking required.

9. Crispy Chicken Sandwiches

If your kids like Chick-fil-A, then you’ve got to try making your own chicken sandwiches using frozen chicken patties or fillets. Once cooked, serve them on buns with plenty of mayonnaise and pickles. You can also buy the Chick-fil-A sauce now! Try that in your sandwich instead.

Easy Crispy Chicken Sandwiches | A fun and easy weeknight meal for kids! If you're having a hard time finding quick meals to make your family, check out this list of simple things you can put together to make dinner fun and easy! Lots of store-bought food ideas for dinner.

10. Sausage Jambalaya with Cornbread

Tony Chachere’s makes a boxed rice dinner mix that is actually pretty good mixed with cajun sausage! Simply cut the sausage into discs and chop the bell pepper; they can both be sautéed in the same pan for 5-10 minutes or until browned, and then mixed with the prepared rice. Deli-made cornbread goes well with this!

Sausage Jambalaya with Cornbread | Looking for easy dinner ideas? Simply pick up a jambalaya rice mix, sausage, a bell pepper, and deli cornbread for the best easy weeknight meal! Super quick and cheap to make.

11. Frozen Garlic Toast Pizzas

Kids love these! You simply bake the garlic toast according the package directions, and then top them with a little bit of pizza sauce, cheese, and any toppings you’d like. Place them back in the oven for a few minutes to allow the cheese to melt, and BAM! A quick and easy dinner your picky eaters will love. You can find the full instructions for these mini pizzas here.

Garlic Toast Mini Pizzas | Kids love these little pizzas! They are perfect for last minute dinners when you don't have anything planned. If you're looking for quick and easy meals to make your picky eaters, this list of store-bought ideas is a life saver!
Full Instructions & Tips for the Garlic Toast Pizzas

12. Chicken & Stuffing with Cheesy Green Beans

There’s just something about the StoveTop stuffing brand that makes me drool. It’s packed full of flavor and always reminds me of Thanksgiving, plus it only takes 5 minutes to make with water and butter. Serve it with chicken and a side of cheesy green beans for the ultimate family meal.

Chicken & Stuffing with Cheesy Green Beans | A list of simple dinner combinations and easy meals to make last minute using store-bought prepared items like rotisserie chicken, frozen veggies, boxed meals, etc. Great for your picky eaters!

13. Grilled Cheese with Tomato Bisque

This classic dinner never goes out of style! And, the deli department in most grocery stores make delicious soup recipes that are much better than anything in a can. Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich, salad, crackers, croutons, parmesan cheese, etc. There are so many ways to jazz up a bowl of soup.

Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup | A classic dinner idea that everyone loves! If you have picky eaters at home and need some last minute meal ideas, you've got to check out this list of quick and easy dinners!

14. Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Salad

This is one of my favorite quick meals because the family can enjoy the ground beef however they’d like– over a bed of salad or in warm tortillas. My husband and I love the Taylor Farms Southwest Chopped Salad Kit paired with taco seasoned ground beef. You can additionally add avocado, tomato, jalapeños, etc.

Cheesy Ground Beef Southwest Salad | Looking for fun and easy dinner ideas you can slap together with no effort at all? This list of simple meals is for you! Great for families with picky eaters. My kids love all of these yummy ideas, and they are all really versatile.

15. Ham & Cheese Sliders

Not in the mood for cooking? Just grab a pack of Hawaiian rolls, some deli meat and cheese. Kids go crazy for anything in miniature size! Serve cold or cover and bake them for about 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven, and then brush on some melted garlic butter. These are fun to make for sleepovers or anytime your kids have friends over.

Ham & Cheese Mini Sliders | A fun and easy no bake dinner idea! If you need some last minute meal ideas to make your picky eaters, you've got to try some of these store-bought dinners. Lots of combinations to try when dinner starts to get boring.

16. Cheesy BBQ Chicken Avocado Salad

Pair a salad with any frozen fried chicken and you’ve got a hearty meal! Salads are so versatile in that you can toss anything in there that you have on hand. I like to bake frozen bbq chicken bites, cut them up into smaller pieces, and then simply toss with ranch salad, cheddar cheese, and avocado.

Cheesy BBQ Chicken Avocado Salad | A fun and easy last minute dinner idea! If you're tired of cooking, you've got to try some of these last minute dinner ideas! No recipes here, just store-bought items you can throw together for quick and simple weeknight meals. This bbq salad is great for serving two!

17. Cheesy Meatball Subs

Frozen meatballs are wonderful for last minute dinners! Instead of tossing with spaghetti, load them onto hoagie rolls with marinara and shredded cheese. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 2-4 minutes or until the cheese melts and the bread is toasty. Serve with a salad if you’d like something green to eat.

Easy Cheesy Meatball Subs | Quick and easy dinner ideas your family will love! These are all so simple to slap together on busy weeknights when you're too tired to cook. Lots of budget meals here, too! My picky eaters gobble these sandwiches up.

18.Beef Tri-Tip with Feta Salad & Rice

If you shop at Safeway or Tom Thumb, then you are in luck! They have a Southwest Hatch Chile Tri-Tip that is absolutely amazing, plus it’s vacuum sealed so it lasts for a few weeks or longer in your fridge. Simply sear it in a cast iron skillet over high heat for about 2 minutes on each side, and then place it in a 400 degree oven for about 30-50 minutes (depending on the size). We use a meat thermometer to ensure the perfect doneness.

Chile Roast with Feta Salad & Rice | A delicious and easy last minute dinner idea you can pick up on your way home from work!

19. Lazy Chicken Fajitas

If you browse the freezer department at most grocery stores, you will be surprised by the options of pre-cooked frozen meat to choose from. These chicken breast strips are actually pretty good! Just heat them up on your stovetop and serve in warm flour tortillas with your favorite fajita ingredients. You can buy pre-made pico de gallo and guacamole to make them completely effortless.

Lazy Chicken Fajitas | Quick and easy dinner ideas to feed a family with kids! Lots of cheap and simple last minute meals you can pick up at the grocery store.

20. Pizzadillas

Quesadillas are a breeze to make with just a few ingredients, but to make them fun and exciting for the kids, stuff them with pepperoni and serve with pizza sauce! I prefer to pan fry the pepperoni first and then blot them with paper towels to remove the grease. You can get the full instructions here.

Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas | A fun and easy dinner recipe for picky kids! Here is a list of meals you can literally slap together in a few minutes. Fast and simple to make for busy school nights!
Pizzadillas Instructions

21. Asian Chopped Chicken Salad with Potstickers & Edamame

Simply mix the Taylor Farms Asian Chopped Salad Kit with pulled rotisserie chicken, and you’ve got a yummy quick meal! You can also pick up a few other Asian inspired frozen foods like potstickers, edamame, fried rice or egg rolls to feed the entire family.

Asian Inspired Family Dinner | A fun and easy meal for family dinner night!

22. Sausage & Broccoli Macaroni & Cheese

Anything you mix with andouille sausage is bursting with flavor! Try pan frying the sausage, removing the excess grease, and then mixing it with a store-bought baked macaroni and cheese. I also like to toss in some healthy veggies to make up for all of that cheesy goodness.

Sausage & Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese | Looking for easy dinner ideas that are fast to make on busy school nights? Here is a list of my favorite last minute store-bought meals. Quick, easy, and budget friendly food!

23. Chili Cheese Dogs

I know you’re judging me on this one, but when you haven’t had a hot dog in forever, don’t tell me it doesn’t taste amazing!? Want to make it a little more exciting? Load on some hot chili and shredded cheddar cheese! This is some serious comfort food.

Chili Cheese Hot Dogs | A quick and easy comfort food! If you're looking for quick meals to make, it doesn't get any easier than this. My picky eaters love all of these fun dinner ideas.

Quick & Easy Dinner Ideas | Things you can pick up at the grocery store for last minute meals! Lots of ideas for busy moms and dads on a budget, especially if you have picky kids to feed.

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Filed Under: 3 Ingredient, 5 Ingredients or Less, Dinner, Kids, Lazy Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: dinner, easy meals, family meals, quick, simple

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