When you know you’ll be spending a day preparing a hearty feast, it’s easy to get ideas and go back to buying takeout for Eve dinner. You want something delicious, but you also have a million other things to do.
Before you pick up the phone, consider one of these Eve dinner ideas, all of which take an hour or less to prepare.
From main dishes, like hearty vegetarian pasta and grilled chicken, to side dishes, like polenta and quinoa cream salad.
Ideas on This List to Suit The Family For Eve Dinner
1. Onion Cake Upside Down (50 minutes)
Commitment time:
50 minutes
Why we love it:
vegetarian, very fun, worthy of a special occasion
Combine this simple yet elegant cake with a large green salad and you’ve got a vegetarian dinner worthy of any celebration.
2. Beef Tenderloin with Harissa and Parsley Salad (20 minutes)
Commitment time:
20 minutes
Why we love it:
30 minutes, suitable for beginners, rich in protein, and worthy of a special occasion
Forget the steakhouse and make it at home, you’ve got it. Parsley from a forgettable garnish becomes the star ingredient in the accompanying salad.
3. Sausage and Dill Pasta (25 minutes)
Commitment time:
25 minutes
Why we love it:
30 minutes, suitable for children, suitable for beginners, 10 ingredients
You can thank the salami for quickly infusing it with all that flavor.
5. Ginger Lemon Grilled Chicken (1 hour)
Commitment time:
1 hour
Why we love it:
casserole, rich in protein
Ooh, this flavor combination is so cozy and the best option for eve dishes to enjoy dinner. Alternatively, you can also make this with chicken wings for a more casual meal.
6. Braised Chicken with Cashew Nuts (35 minutes)
Commitment time:
35 minutes
Why we love it:
High protein, kid-friendly baking sheet recipe
Take this as a how-to lesson:
The vegetables are cooked before adding the chicken, so everything is done at once.
7. Rigatoni with Vodka Sauce (30 minutes)
Commitment time:
30 minutes
Why we love it:
suitable for beginners, 30 minutes, 10 ingredients
Mind you, it’s not difficult to make rich and flavorful vodka sauce at home, as long as you have a tube of double-strength ketchup on hand.
8. Spicy Lamb Meatballs and Escarole Soup (45 minutes)
Commitment time:
45 mins
Why we love it:
crowd-pleasing, protein-rich, suitable for beginners
This soup tastes like a million dollars—it’s inspired by lamb shawarma and Italian wedding soup—but it takes less than an hour to make.
9. Gnocchi Sheet Tomato Basil (35 minutes)
Commitment time:
35 minutes
Why we love it:
baking sheet recipe, vegetarian, low sugar, kid-friendly
When baked on a baking tray, the store-bought gnocchi becomes crispy on the outside but still chewy on the inside (doesn’t boil).
10. Mushroom Pasta
Commitment time:
30 minutes
Why we love it:
Vegetarian, suitable for a special occasion
This dish will convince even the most mushroom haters – it’s all about caramelization.
11. Cacio and Pepe (20 minutes)
Commitment time:
20 minutes
Why we love it:
30 minutes, 10 ingredients, kid-friendly
A classic Italian recipe sounds fancy (especially if you’ve mastered the pronunciation), but actually only requires four ingredients if you don’t count the salt and pepper.
12. Pan-Fried Salmon with Potatoes and Romaine Lettuce (40 minutes)
Commitment time:
40 minutes
Why we love it:
baking sheet recipe, 10 ingredients, dairy-free
The main course and side dish are both served in the same pan, so you can wrap your presents at the last minute instead of having to clean up after dinner.
13. Pasta and Cheese with 3 Slices of Cheese (30 minutes)
Commitment time:
30 minutes
Why we love it:
Suitable for children, vegetarians, suitable for beginners
Our mantra on Eve? You should consume as much cheese as possible.
14. Alison Roman’s Swordfish with Grated Olives and Marjoram (30 minutes)
Commitment time:
30 minutes
Why we love it:
suitable for beginners, 10 ingredients, worthy for a special occasion
Overview of the easiest way to cook fish at home:
This delicious dish requires less than ten ingredients and the hardest part is to make the dipping sauce.
15. Cheese Pasta
Commitment time:
25 minutes
Why we love it:
30 minutes, 500 calories, suitable for beginners
The secret to a greasy pasta dish in 30 minutes? Goat cheese. It melts with pasta water for the simplest sauce.
