25 Fun and Frugal New Meals To Try For Dinner Tonight (yes, something DIFFERENT!)
Ready for some NEW meals to try? Dinners can get boring, so how about trying something DIFFERENT for dinner?
Below are ideas for unique casseroles, skillet meals, crockpot dump recipes, soups, and SO much more to help you figure out what to make for supper tonight!
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Feeling Stuck in a Dinner Rut? That “What’s for supper?” question followed by the eye-roll when you say you’re making the same ol’ boring meal for the third time this month.
I get it! I’m right there with you. If you’re ready for something DIFFERENT, that’s still easy to make, check out these 29 unique dinner ideas below.
Below are MY favorite unique dinner ideas I make to shake things up and make mealtime fun again (with no more eye-rolls yay!)
Whether you’re cooking for a crowd, whipping up cheap dinners for a family, searching for dinner ideas for two or it’s comfort foods you’re craving, there’s something creative and unique down below for everyone.
I don’t know about you, but to ME, trying new meals and dinner recipes is a little like taking a mini adventure without ever leaving your kitchen.
New flavors, simple recipes, and fun twists on old classics can make dinnertime something to look forward to.
Plus, these recipes are easy to follow, use basic ingredients, and won’t break the bank.
If you’ve been searching for easy unique dinner recipes that your family will actually eat, you’re in the right place.
Especially if you’re all about comfort food!
Who says comfort food has to be boring? I’m talking about hearty casseroles, cozy soups, and one-pan meals that taste as good as they look. And if you’re looking for something different for dinner ideas, you’ll love the spins on classics like lasagna, pot pie, and burgers.
From creamy pasta bakes to savory skillet dinners, you’ll find plenty of easy dinner ideas that feel indulgent without all the fuss.
If your evenings are busy (lie, c’mon – who’s aren’t?), these recipes are here to save the day. Think crockpot dump recipes that practically cook themselves, cheap dinners for a family that don’t skimp on flavor, and skillet meals that are ready in no time.
The goal? To help YOU figure out what to make for dinner tonight – or for the WEEK – without resorting to takeout or those same tired dinners you’ve been making for years.
So, if you’re tired of the same old dinners and wondering what to make for supper tonight, check out the list below.
I’ve handpicked these recipes to make dinner exciting, easy, and most importantly—delicious!
Unique Dinner Ideas
Ready to try something new for dinner?
Keep scrolling and dive into these 29 easy unique dinner recipes.
Your taste buds will thank you!
Whip up a delicious wrap with chicken, avocado, salsa, and mozzarella for an easy lunch or dinner.
This quick and easy air fryer chicken sausage and veggies recipe is the perfect lazy day meal you can have on the table in minutes. It is loaded with protein and colorful vegetables and you can make it in 10 minutes!
Want something easy AND different for dinner tonight? Try my lazy easy Cowgirl Crockpot Soup!
It’s “dump and go” simple and the PERFECT low mess comfort food for cold weather days this winter!
Creamy Kielbasa Skillet is a blend of hearty kielbasa, velvety cheddar cheese sauce, penne pasta, and fresh broccoli florets.
It's an indulgent and comforting meal perfect for any night of the week when you want something different!
This simple pasta with spinach sauce is fast, easy and delicious. It’s ready in less than 15 minutes and makes a weeknight meal the whole family will love.
This healthier Broccoli Chicken Casserole recipe is made with your choice of pasta, tender chicken and broccoli, and the most delicious creamy cheddar mushroom sauce.
Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Alfredo – this cajun alfredo is absolutely loaded with flavor! Seasoned chicken and smoked sausage in a homemade cajun alfredo sauce.
Made this pork chop sheet pan dinner for my picky husband and 5 year old daughter – they loved it!
Very easy to prepare and clean up was EASY.
Hearty, creamy and flavorful these Cheesy Potatoes are filled with bits of ham, crumbled bacon, loads of cheese and is bursting with flavor in each and every bite.
Every busy mom needs easy dinner ideas that she can whip up in a flash. This easy 4-ingredient chicken and rice casserole dinner gives you and your family exactly what you need for those busy weeknights when you want something FAST and a little different for dinner tonight.
This One Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta Recipe is easy to make in a skillet with a delicious cream sauce and your choice of pasta. Use fresh, rotisserie, or leftover chicken!
Big Mac Sloppy Joes are delicious ground beef sandwiches loaded with onions, pickles, cheddar cheese and shredded lettuce.
This easy Mexican pizza is loaded with so much flavor and tons of delicious toppings.
Plus - it's FUN and the whole family will LOVE it!
Bacon, lettuce and tomato are piled high in this BLT Pasta Salad! It’s like the classic sandwich but with a few special changes. Everything is coated in a creamy ranch dressing that makes it all taste fresh and delicious!
I have LOTS of big salads for dinner here (all SO good and filling!)
This easy chicken Alfredo casserole will be your new weeknight hero! It’s my go-to for something simple and cozy.
Tender chicken, penne pasta, and velvety Alfredo bake together under a layer of gooey cheese.
Bonus Points: the leftovers (if there are any!) reheat REALLY well!!
Roasted Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese is a cream cheese mixture topped with crisp bacon and cheddar cheese in between two slices of Texas Toast.
These grilled cheese sandwiches go PERFECTLY with ANY of my crockpot soup recipes!
This Taco Pasta Casserole is a CHEAP easy dinner with only 5 ingredients (ground beef hamburger meat, pasta, cheese etc) – it’s a simple 10 dollar meal to make ahead and freeze or throw together for a quick frugal meal for the family.
Or – make a double batch… one for dinner tonight and one to freeze for later!
Smash Chicken Burger - two juicy patties made from seasoned ground chicken topped with melted cheese, crispy bacon, red onions, and spicy mayo then sandwiched between two buttery crispy buns are the stuff burger dreams are made of!
If one of your favorite sushi rolls is a Crunch Roll, then you will LOVE this Crunch Roll Sushi Bowl recipe. It starts with a bowl of fluffy rice topped with imitation crab, crisp cucumber, avocado, fresh cilantro, crunchy, toasted panko crumbs, complete with a drizzle of eel sauce and spicy mayo. It tastes just like a delicious Crunch Roll, but is much easier to eat.
Rich sausage, hearty potatoes, and tender, earthy green beans come together in this incredibly flavorful one-pot meal.
It turns out that cooking sausage and potatoes in the crockpot is one heck of an awesome dinner plan!
Homemade Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta is such a simple and quick recipe, perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken breast tossed in tender pasta in a creamy cajun garlic sauce.
Chicken Salmoriglio is breaded and pan-fried chicken cutlets topped with a simple salmoriglio sauce made with lemon, garlic, and herbs. This simple meal is fantastic!
A quick and easy dinner recipe with a fun twist! Combining taco ingredients with jumbo pasta shells and lots of gooey cheese might just be the ultimate comfort food.
These Mushroom and Swiss Sliders are a unique spin on a traditional Mushroom and Swiss Burger, made with a sweet buttered dinner roll, perfectly seasoned ground beef and a savory Swiss cheese sauce that will leave you wanting more!
This Slow Cooker Spicy Chicken & Rice is simple, packed with flavor, has just a bit of a kick and perfect for any weeknight meal. Loaded with chicken, black beans, rice and cheese, it’s amazing!
Yummy and unique recipe idea for skirt steak!
This one pan Beef Tips and Gravy recipe combines tender beef chunks, mushrooms, onions, and garlic in a rich and smooth brown gravy that is lightly seasoned.
It is quick to prepare, mouthwateringly delicious, and made with no canned soup.
This Easy Healthy One Pot Skillet Lasagna is made with lean ground beef, tomato sauce, seasonings, fat free cottage cheese, and part-skim mozzarella cheese. You get all the flavors of a classic lasagna without the mess and time involved.
French Onion Ground Beef and Rice Casserole – Three comfort foods all stirred into one delicious casserole dish.
The Best Pasta Fagioli Soup recipe – WAY better than Olive Garden! Easy to make on the stove, crockpot or instant pot. Secretly healthy too!
This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breast is SO easy and flavorful, you wouldn’t believe it only has just a few ingredients! The perfect easy crockpot chicken recipe for busy weeknights!
This Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole is so simple to make and is an easy recipe. It’s one of those comforting and easy weeknight meals that you can whip up and have hot and ready on the table in no time at all!
Ranch Pork Chops and Potatoes Sheet Pan Dinner, an easy dinner that is a little different than the same 'ol same 'ol thing.
All you need is one sheet pan to get tender tasty ranch pork chops and perfectly roasted potatoes!
