Top 10 Easy Dinner Recipes For When You’re Stuck at Home

After more than a year of the pandemic, things can look a bit boring at home with the endless routines and online classes. As boredom and stress seep in, there’s nothing better than having a warm meal on the table. So, grab your spatula and put on your apron because we’re recommending 10 easy and affordable dinner recipes that will warm your stomach and keep you company while you’re stuck at home. There’s nothing better than food to cheer you up from a stressful week at home. Who knows—you might even develop a hobby for cooking.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 dishes for your quarantine dinner.

1. Lemon Chicken

There’s no better way to start your dinner than with a healthy, baked chicken breast cooked to perfection with a combination of lemon zest, fresh-squeezed lemon juice and sliced lemons. This combination of flavors gives the chicken a fresh punch that will leave you wanting more. In addition to that, this lemon chicken’s a healthy, easy dish perfect for weekends where you’re too busy or lazy to cook. You can also store this dish in containers and keep them in the fridge, making this dish a staple for meal-preps too.

Connor Wayne, a third-year economics student at UCLA said one of his go-to dishes to make at home with little ingredients is chicken wings or breast with lemon-pepper seasoning and fresh-squeezed lemon.

“I use an air-fryer for about 15 minutes or you can bake the chicken then pan sear for a nice crisp,” Wayne said. “I’ve also prepared a cream cheese buffalo sauce to accent the sweetness of the lemon by bringing Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Sauce to a light simmer and add about half a stick of cream cheese until it is fully melted.”

The creativity that one can put to create their own version of lemon chicken makes the dish a fun meal to explore for both novice or expert cooks. This recipe in particular only takes 19 minutes to cook.

Cooking Time: 14 minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 lemons (juiced)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp lemon
2 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp salt

2. Beef-Broccoli Stir-Fry

Imagine a bowl of warm rice topped with stir-fried broccoli and beef straight from the skillet or the wok. The aroma of soy sauce and ginger beckoning you to have a plentiful, hearty meal will keep you full and satisfied.

Chinese immigrants brought the dish to the United States where they began using American broccoli as a substitute for Chinese kale to cook the dish, creating a new, authentic American dish that we know today as the beef-broccoli stir-fry. Becoming one of the most notable Chinese-American dishes today, beef-broccoli stir-fry can be found in almost any Chinese-American restaurants in the United States.

This easy beef-broccoli stir-fry only takes 25 minutes to prepare with its easy preparation directions. For all of you cooking amateurs, this recipe might be your first introduction to a newfound hobby of cooking.

Ingredients for the beef:

1/2 lb New York steak, sirloin or chuck
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp shaoxing wine, rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 tsp corn starch
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp black or white pepper

Ingredients for the sauce:

1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 1/2 tsp sugar (add 1/2 tsp more if you like it sweet)
1 tbsp shaoxing wine, rice wine or dry sherry
1 tsp corn starch
1/8 tsp black or white pepper

Ingredients for the stir-fry:

1/2 lb broccolini, broccoli or Chinese broccoli
2 cloves of garlic
Fresh ginger
2 tbsp of peanut, canola, vegetable, sunflower, or avocado oil
1 green onion
1 tsp sesame oil
Toasted sesame seeds

3. Instant Pot Mac & Cheese

Who doesn’t love the versatility of the instant pot? The instant pot’s a culinary staple for many college students to prep for quick meals during late nights or early mornings. The easy-to-use instant pot makes it a vital tool and a must-have kitchen appliance within the college survival handbook. So what happens when you combine the instant pot with a classic dish, the mac & cheese? Well, this recipe will revolutionize the way you eat and see mac & cheese from here on as it turns this basic dish into a worthwhile dinner masterpiece. Who says the basics can’t be awesome?

Cooking time: 4 minutes

Prep time: 10 minutes

Pressurized time in the instant pot: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

16 oz elbow macaroni
4 cups chicken broth
4 tbsp butter
½ tsp salt
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
½ cup parmesan cheese (shredded)
½ tsp garlic salt
½ tsp parsley
½ tsp dry mustard

4. Easy Fried Rice

Can you hear that sound? That’s the sound of your stomach craving a good bowl of fried rice. You only need a small rice cooker and a wok (yes, please use a wok) because you’ll be needing that sizzling sound when you fry your rice. In addition to that, fried rice’s also the perfect dish for active souls who do not have much time to cook.

“Fried rice is a great way to spice up leftover rice, and can be whipped up quickly! It’s the perfect dish for those who are active and do not have a lot of time to prepare intricate dishes,” Jenna Salas, a fourth-year physiological science student and president of Anyone Can Cook at UCLA said.

This particular recipe contains eggs, which creates a buttery taste that makes egg fried rice a filling meal that will spoil your tastebuds. On top of that, this fried rice recipe only takes 5 minutes to cook. A time-saver and a lifesaver, don’t you agree?

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

3 tbsp cooking oil
4 eggs, (beaten with pinch of salt)
4 cups cold jasmine rice
2 tbsp soy sauce
pinch of salt
4 green onions (sliced)

5. Thai Basil Beef

In Thailand, Thai basil beef or pad gra prow can be considered as a “fast food,” similar to a burger in Western countries. It’s a dish that many people have for lunch and can be found sold by street vendors, in food courts, or in restaurants in Thailand.

This Thai basil beef recipe’s a low-carb, gluten-free and dairy free meal which makes it the perfect healthy dinner dish. It’s also a bit on the savory and spicy side, which would leave all of you spice-lovers addicted to the taste. For those of you who don’t like spicy food, don’t worry, you can always adjust the spice level of the dish to your liking.

Ingredients:

5–10 Thai chilies (can be adjusted to taste)
5 cloves of garlic
1 spur chilies or red pepper (chopped)
½ cup long beans (cut into short pieces)
½ small onion (diced)
chicken, coarsely ground (see video for how to grind your own chicken)
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp fish sauce
1½ tsp black soy sauce
2 tbsp water
1 ½ tsp sugar
1 ½ cup holy basil leaves, loosely packed
Vegetable oil (as needed)
2–3 eggs (1 per person)
Jasmine rice (for serving)
Prik Nam Pla (condiment for seasoning the egg, optional): Mix together some fish sauce, a squeeze of lime juice, chopped Thai chilies, and chopped garlic.

6. Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo

Many people would consider chicken fettuccini alfredo as a comfort, feel-good dish that’s always best served warm. Stephanie Su, a third-year physiological science student and affairs director of Spoon UCLA agrees with this notion and said that many would easily consider the chicken fettuccini alfredo as their favorite dish.

“(The chicken fettuccine alfredo’s) the ultimate comfort food that you can’t go wrong with. It’s a classic dish that requires minimal ingredients but is easily everyone’s favorite,” Su said.

Fettuccini refers to a flat and thick kind of pasta made from egg and flour. It’s used in many ways but its often cooked with a thick sauce that sticks to the pasta, such as Alfredo sauce. Perfect for lunch and dinner, the light and creamy texture of the dish makes it a perfect meal that you can share at the dining table. In addition to family dinners, this recipe’s also a great meal to accompany you as you binge-watch that Netflix series you’ve been addicted to for the last week. A fun fact about this dish? This recipe will only cost you approximately $13-15 to make.

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

2 lb. chicken breast
3/4 lbs Fettuccine pasta
1 lb. white mushrooms
1 small onion finely (chopped)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
3 1/2 cups Half and a half
1/4 cup parsley (chopped)
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 tbsp 0live oil
1 tbsp butter

7. Cream of Mushroom Soup

Who doesn’t love a good bowl of cream of mushroom soup? With this recipe at hand, you’ll never think of opening a can of soup again. The earthy flavor of mushrooms and its creamy texture will make the cream of mushroom soup your ultimate go-to comfort food. The dish also goes well with baked vegetables, bread, or chicken tenders. Furthermore, this recipe also also contains less sodium than canned soups, which makes it a much healthier option.

For hundreds of years, the ancient Italians and French have been making cream sauces which became the forefathers of the many kinds of cream soup that we know today. This includes the cream of mushroom soup—a simple kind of soup where a basic roux is thinned with cream or milk before mushroom or mushroom broth is added to the mixture.

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

4 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
2 onions (diced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 1/2 pounds brown mushrooms
4 tbsp thyme (chopped)
1/2 cup Marsala wine (any dry red or white wine)
6 tbsp all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken broth or stock
1-2 tsp salt, adjust to taste
1/2-1 tsp black cracked pepper, adjust to taste
2 beef bouillon cubes (crumbled)
1 cup heavy cream or Half and half
Chopped parsley and thyme

8. Chicken Curry

Curries are known for its long list of ingredients in order to produce its rich, savory and spicy flavor, causing many to consider it as one of the hardest dishes to cook. Curry’s also known to be quite diverse as different regions of the world have their own unique version of the dish. Curry’s commonly known to be a variety of dishes originating from the Indian subcontinent that uses a combination of spices and herbs to cook. Outside of the Indian subcontinent, regions in Southeast Asia and Oceania also have their own curry. They typically use coconut milk though they are distinct by region and country.

Curry’s certainly a well-known dish worldwide—it’s a diverse dish that’s loved and enjoyed by many. But do not worry, your craving for curry will be kept at bay through this quick and easy recipe. Though this recipe doesn’t resemble a traditional curry recipe from India, Thailand or any other regions of the world, it’s fun to make and a delicious idea for a fun dinner meal to try.

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Prep Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken breast (cut into cubes)
2 onions
3 garlic cloves
1 tbsp ginger (grated)
3 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp curry powder
5 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 tomatoes (chopped)
14oz coconut cream/milk
½ tsp garam masala (optional)
Coriander, chopped (for garnish)

9. Mushroom Risotto

Tired of being stuck at home all the time? Are you craving to travel and experience a taste of Northern Italy? We got you. This creamy mushroom risotto will make you feel as if you’re miles away in a restaurant in Northern Italy—the birthplace of Risotto. As you try out this recipe, we can guarantee that you’d be feeling as though you’re walking on the set of Amanda Seyfriend’s cute rom-com Letters to Juliet (2010). Maybe, just maybe, you can start writing your own love letters to the infamous “Secretaries of Juliet.”

“Mushroom risotto is the dish of your dreams, and will make you feel like you’re dining in the streets of Italy,” Salas said. “To make this dish truly spectacular, freshly grate the cheese yourself.”

This easy Risotto recipe exerts a creamy and earthy taste straight from the variety of mushrooms that give the Risotto its flavor, making this a simple recipe to enjoy the classic delicacy.

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

300g (11/2 cups) Arborio rice
200g (7 oz) white button mushrooms/ chestnut mushroom
200g (7 oz) portobello mushrooms
40g (1.4oz) dried porcini mushrooms
3-4 tbsp 0live oil
4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 onion
2 garlic cloves
7-8 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 tsp thyme
1/2 cup parmesan, grated (you can add more to your liking)
1/4 bunch parsley
Salt
Pepper

10. Garlic Shrimp Udon

Can you just smell the aroma of garlic and shrimp fried together as you paired it with the filling and delectable udon noodles? Look no further, this 15-minute recipe will satisfy your craving for noodles and it’s super easy to make. The dish gets its savory taste from the garlic stir-fried in the wok and its extra sweetness from the combination of the shrimp and oyster sauce. Even better, the thick udon noodles will keep you full as you run to do errands after dinner. Overall, the garlic shrimp udon’s a perfect quick dinner recipe to try with your family and friends as you bond over warm and delicious meals.

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients: