52 Simple Dinners for When You’re Feeling Stressed

Read Time: 23 mins

52 Simple Dinners for When You’re Feeling Stressed2/52 Skillet Chicken with Barbecue Onion 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Barbecue chicken is a sure bet with guests, but it’s also messy at times. My stovetop BBQ chicken recipe lets you savor that flavor without a pile of napkins. —Evelyn Cleare, Miami, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half with 1/4 cup sauce: 250 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 657mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. 3/52 One-Pan Tuscan Ravioli 3 Reviews

Very flexible!

Test Kitchen Approved One-Pan Tuscan Ravioli Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sometimes I use chickpeas instead of cannellini beans, grated Asiago or Provolone instead of Parmesan, and all zucchini if I don’t have eggplant. Very flexible! —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 376 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 36mg cholesterol, 1096mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 8g fiber), 16g protein. 4/52 Orange Spiced Ham Steak 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go

And that makes it perfect for when I’m entertaining brunch guests!

to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I turn orange marmalade, mustard and just a hint of ginger into a glaze for ham that comes together super quick but feels exceptional. And that makes it perfect for when I’m entertaining brunch guests! —Connie Moore, Medway, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 2 ounces cooked ham: 188 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 51mg cholesterol, 885mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 0 fiber), 14g protein. 5/52 Weeknight Pasta Squiggles Test Kitchen Approved Weeknight Pasta Squiggles Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

This zesty pasta dish is ideal for busy weeknights

This zesty pasta dish is ideal for busy weeknights. It contains just a few ingredients, is easy to prep, and tastes so comforting when the weather turns cool. A salad on the side makes this healthy pasta recipe a meal. —Stacey Brown, Spring, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 278 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 622mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 16g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 2 medium-fat meat. 6/52 Pistachio Salmon 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pistachio Salmon Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 fat, 1/2 starch

From the Recipe Creator: This simple salmon gets its crunch from a coating of crushed pistachios, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Add steamed veggies and rice and it’s dinnertime! —Anthony Oraczewski, Port St. Lucie, FL Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked fish: 269 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 61mg cholesterol, 497mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 fat, 1/2 starch. 7/52 Sweet Orange Chicken 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Sweet Orange Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 15 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe

From the Recipe Creator: This orange chicken recipe with orange marmalade is a family favorite. It’s sure to be a hit at your next get together!—Louise Gilbert, Quesnel, British Columbia Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (calculated without rice or noodles): 379 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 962mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (25g sugars, 1g fiber), 30g protein. 8/52 Peas & Pasta Carbonara 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Peas & Pasta Carbonara Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Using cream cheese to fortify the sauce speeds

Serving them over rice

up cooking time and will have you eating my take on this old-time classic carbonara recipe in about 30 minutes. —Celeste Brantolino, Lenoir, North Carolina Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 553 calories, 24g fat (13g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 680mg sodium, 64g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 5g fiber), 25g protein. 9/52 Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs 41 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Tangy Sweet-and-Sour Meatballs Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A fabulous sauce, green pepper and pineapple chunks transform premade meatballs into something special. Serving them over rice

makes for a satisfying main dish

makes for a satisfying main dish. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington Nutrition Facts: 5 meatballs: 389 calories, 19g fat (8g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 682mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein. 10/52 Creamy Chicken Thighs & Noodles 20 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Creamy Chicken Thighs & Noodles Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 7 hours 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love recipes that you can just throw into the slow cooker and let it do all the work. This easy chicken dinner is one of my favorites. —Christina

It’s sure to become a new family favorite

Petri, Alexandria, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken thigh with 1/2 cup sauce: 331 calories, 21g fat (7g saturated fat), 89mg cholesterol, 977mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein. 11/52 Ham & Broccoli Frittata 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ham & Broccoli Frittata Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With just five ingredients, this cheesy frittata is a breeze to make. It’s sure to become a new family favorite. —Annie Rundle, Muskego, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 wedge: 321 calories, 23g fat (11g saturated fat),

I’d forgot how good it was!

374mg cholesterol, 665mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein. 12/52 Italian-Style Chicken & Peppers 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Italian-Style Chicken & Peppers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I found my mom’s well-stained recipe card for chicken and green peppers and was flooded with memories. I’d forgot how good it was! Hope you enjoy. —Donna Miller, Grosse Pointe, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half with 1/4 cup sauce: 394 calories, 22g fat (10g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 1030mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate

(9g sugars, 3g fiber), 34g protein

(9g sugars, 3g fiber), 34g protein. 13/52 Stir-Fried Scallops 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 15 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Scallops meet mild tomato in this sublime stovetop supper. Try serving the saucy mixture over rice or angel hair pasta, and garnish with cilantro if you like. —Stephany Gocobacki, San Rafael, California Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 213 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 41mg cholesterol, 672mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1-1/2 fat. 14/52 Beef Teriyaki Noodles 12 Reviews Test Kitchen

Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: At our house, we love to combine fresh ingredients with a pantry product. This version starts with beef, onions, peppers and mushrooms, since we always have them on hand, but make the dish your own—bring out your inner chef! —Richard Robinson, Park Forest, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 403 calories, 20g fat (5g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 541mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein. 15/52 Cheesy Chile Casserole 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cheesy Chile Casserole Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Serve it as the star of your next meal

Total Time 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A short list of ingredients packs full flavor in this easy-to-assemble casserole. Serve it as the star of your next meal. —Phyllis Bidwell, Las Vegas, Nevada Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 304 calories, 21g fat (14g saturated fat), 125mg cholesterol, 538mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 18g protein. 16/52 Sloppy Joe Pizza 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved TASTE OF HOME Total Time 22 min Servings 2 pizzas (8 pieces each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If your kids like sloppy joes, they’ll love

this pizza

this pizza. I came up with the six-ingredient recipe that’s easy to assemble. —Brenda Rohlman, Kingman, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 218 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 482mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 14g protein. 17/52 Caesar Chicken 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Caesar Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half: 531 calories, 39g fat (11g saturated fat), 142mg cholesterol, 741mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 38g protein. 18/52 Bratwurst Hash 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total

This satisfying, delicious recipe is for you

Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Looking for something homey that’s stick-to-your-ribs good? This satisfying, delicious recipe is for you. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 506 calories, 31g fat (13g saturated fat), 82mg cholesterol, 1458mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 19g protein. 19/52 Southwest Smothered Chicken 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: There’s a party in every bite of this fiesta chicken dish. Let it spice up dinner tonight! If you’re

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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