Indian dinner recipes or Indian food recipes for Bachelors, novice cooks & beginners. I have compiled 30 simple & top easy Indian food recipes that you can make for dinner. This collection includes restaurant and home style recipes which you can plan for your weekend and weeknight dinners.
Here are the different sections of this collection. Restaurant style side dishes, Rice dishes, Indian soups, home style veggie sides, popular fusion dishes & Instant recipes.
I have included 8 rice dishes in this post. For more varieties you can check this link on rice recipes. You can also check dal recipes here.
Indians typically eat rice, veggies (curries), roti (chapati), dal or soups for dinner. Many people even love to eat only breakfast for their dinner as it is easier to prepare. I have included only some Instant recipes here. For more you can check this link on breakfast recipes.
You can also check these links for more choice
Sandwich Recipes
Pasta Recipes
Recipes using bread
Oats recipes
Ragi Recipes
30 Indian dinner recipes
Restaurant style side dishes
Restaurant style dishes that can be served with paratha, roti, naan, jeera rice or ghee rice. These are great to make for special dinners like on the weekends, parties, celebrations etc. These dishes will need about an hour to prepare the curry and the rice.
1. Paneer butter masala is a delicious & creamy Indian dish made with Indian cheese aka paneer, butter, spices & herbs. This recipe will help you to make the best butter paneer at home with minimal effort. This butter masala or makhani sauce can also be made ahead and refrigerated. For more similar recipes check this collection of paneer recipes.
2. Chana masala is a popular dish made by simmering chickpeas in a onion tomato gravy. Chana masala is made almost in every region of India with so many variations. This recipe will give an unique, flavorful and one of the most delicious curries.You can also check this Punjabi chole for variation. Both these dishes can be eaten with bhatura, paratha or poori.
3. Kadai paneer is yet another amazingly flavorful dish made with fresh ground spice powder known as kadai masala. This post shares 2 recipes. First one to make a gravy version and the second to make a semi dry kadai paneer. Similar recipe made with kadai masala is this kadai mushroom.
4. Palak paneer needs no introduction as it is hugely popular among the Indians. This dish is prepared by adding Indian cheese or paneer to palak or spinach gravy. This recipe will give you one of the best delicious and creamy palak paneer you can make at home.
5. Rajma masala is a North Indian curry made by simmering red kidney beans in a spicy onion tomato gravy. Jeera rice goes very well with this.
Indian dinner recipes
Rice dishes
Rice dishes that are great to prepare for the weeknight dinners. Most of these are quick and can be made under 30 mins except for the bisi bele bath.
6. Veg biryani is a one pot simple, flavorful & delicious dish that can be made in just 30 mins. This is not a dum style biryani so it saves a lot of time and effort without having to spend much time in the kitchen. This goes well with a raita or plain curd. You can make this in a regular pot, pressure cooker or Instant pot.
If you are keen to make a dum biryani, then you can check this veg dum biriyani.
7. Khichdi is similar to the south Indian ven Pongal. It is a one pot healthy, wholesome & quick dish made with rice, dal, veggies, ginger and minimal spices. This 30 mins khichdi is only not nourishing but also comforts the tummy.
You can also make this with any whole grains like millets, quinoa, steel cut oats etc. Please use the search box to find – dalia khichdi, oats khichdi and steel cut oats. Serve khichdi alone or with some pickle or chutney and papads.
8. Bisi bele bath is hugely popular in Karnataka. It is made with rice, lentils, bisi bele bath powder and veggies. It is a spicy version of the khichdi. It takes about 50 to 60 mins including the preparation. You can just serve it with some papads.
Recipes that are popular on the same lines are these sambar rice, vangi bath & rava bath.
9. Fried rice is a classic dish made in Indo Chinese restaurant style. This post will teach you how to make the best veg fried rice using simple ingredients like rice, veggies and garlic. This can be made just under 15 mins if you have the precooked rice and some frozen or chopped veggies.
If you eat eggs then you can also check this – egg fried rice.
10. Veg pulao is another one pot rice pilaf which is super quick to make either in a pot or cooker. It can be made under 30 mins. The recipe can be made with mixed veggies or even with a single veggie like potato, mushroom or even with only peas.
11. Curd rice is great to enjoy during summers or when you wish to have a comforting meal with less effort. I usually make lemon rice and curd rice both for the same meal. I cook the rice together and then make the seasoning different for both.
12. Lemon rice is a refreshing dish made by tempering rice with spices, curry leaves lentils and peanuts. A generous amount of lemon juice and turmeric is used for a nice color and flavor. Serve it plain or with curd. Coconut rice is another similar recipe you can check.
13. Tomato rice is quite popular in Tamilnadu and great to have when you do not have much time. All you need to prepare is an onion, few tomatoes and herbs. The recipe can be done under 30 mins. You can also check this thakkali sadam which is made with precooked rice.
Indian dinner recipes
Indian soups
Sambar & rasam are an everyday comfort foods made in south Indian homes.
14. Sambar is a popular south Indian lentil soup made with mixed veggies, spices and herbs. This is eaten with rice, idli, dosa, ven pongal or even with vada. Each state has their own way of making sambar. I have shared my mom’s own best sambar recipe which is a rough adaptation from Karnataka and Andhra cuisines.
15. Rasam is another comforting soup made with spices and herbs. We usually eat rasam along with rice and veggie stir fry on the side. Rasam is very light on the tummy & makes you feel hungry very quickly. So fill up your meal with lots of veggies.
This post shares instant rasam recipe which tastes very close to the one served in south Indian restaurant meals /thali. You can also check this Andhra style Tomato rasam.
Indian dinner recipes
Veggie sides
Homestyle veggie dishes that are healthy and delicious. Serve these with plain rice, chapati or roti.
16. Bhindi masala is a dish made with okra or ladies finger.
17. Mixed veg kurma is a south Indian dish made by simmering mixed veggies in a kurma gravy. To cut down the preparation time, you can us frozen chopped veggies like carrot, beans and peas.
18. Aloo gobi is another simple dish made by stir frying potato and cauliflower. This post shares 2 recipes. First one is a semi dry dish or sabzi and the second one is a gravy dish.
19. Mushroom masala curry is a simple dish made by simmering mushrooms in a onion tomato gravy. I have also shared another recipe made with peanut gravy.
20. Potato curry is one of the most basic curry recipes. You can also add some different veggies and make variations.
Aloo matar & Potato drumstick curry are some similar dishes.
Indian dinner dishes
Popular fusion dishes
Here are some fusion dishes which are not authentic Indian but loved by most Indians. So I have included them here.
21. Masala pasta is a super simple pasta dish made in Indian style with Indian spices. This is a kids’ friendly dish and will be loved by everyone.
22. Gobi Manchurian is another popular Indo-Chinese starter or appetizer made with gobi aka cauliflower. It can be served as a starter or as a side with noodles & fried rice. You are short of time you can also serve this with plain basmati rice. Make sure you make the manchurian a bit more saucy.
23. Hakka noodles is an Indo-chinese dish that you can make under 30 mins. This post shares the veggie version. You can also add in some eggs or even shredded chicken.
24. Chilli paneer is another popular Indo-chinese appetizer made by tossing fried paneer in chilli sauce. This can be eaten with hakka noodles or fried rice or even with plain basmati rice.
25. Garlic mushrooms is a unique and hot dish made by tossing mushrooms in a fresh made spicy chilli garlic sauce.
Indian dinner recipes
Instant recipes
These Instant recipes are of great help when you need to cook something immediately and do not have much time. All these dishes can eaten with a chutney.
26. Wheat dosa are instant dosas made with whole wheat flour and water.
27. Oats dosa are another healthy instant crepes made with oatmeal, spices and herbs.
28. Chilla are gram flour pancakes made without fermentation.
29. Rava idli are instant steamed cakes made without fermentation.
30. Akki rotti is are karnataka style flatbreads made with rice flour, curry leaves and spices.
For latest updates on this blog you can check this link on Latest Indian Recipes.
KISHOR says
NICE RECIPES FOR BEGINNERS , IT INCREASES CONFIDENCE TO DO INDEPENDENTLY,
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT NOW I CAN LIVE ALONE WITHOUT LIFE PARTNER WITH THE
POWER OF YOUR RECIPES. THANKS! GREAT GIFT BY YOU
swasthi says
Hi Kishor
You are welcome. Glad to know the recipes are useful. Thanks a lot for the comment, made me happy.
KARTHIK says
hi swasthi,
i am a engeneering student , i am staying in hostle , i am fed up because i am fat , can u please suggest me what break fast and lunch to have to maintain my diet
thank you.
hari says
hi,
i am not able to find the list of bachelor recipes here. pls highlight me the list of recipes.
i can find only the external links for other recipes.
swasthi says
Hi Hari
Iam sorry there are no external links, all of them are internal links to my own recipes on this blog. Intially this post had a quick list of bachelor recipes which has been updated with all the links suggested by our readers. Most of them are collections that help for quick search. Please do explore you will find very simple recipes.
Sunil Methuku says
this is what im looking from ages.. thanks a lot chef…
swasthi says
Welcome Sunil Methuku
Smita Mehta says
Very simple and easy breakfast recipes shared. Thank you for listing it all together. Its really helpful for the bachelors to who usually have shortage of time.
swasthi says
Welcome Smita
Glad to know the recipes are useful
Jeena says
Excellent collection of dishes and recipes… Appreciate the effort u put to compile this collection..
swasthi says
Thanks Jeena
Amit says
NYC … Compliment… I love cooked
swasthi says
Thanks
yum says
swasthi: please also share weekly (7 day) menu. i love your receipes and i m praying to ALLAH that some magic happens and i learn to ccok all ur recepies… (i cant cook bcoz i dont have time 🙁 )
please share multiple 07 days menu
swasthi says
Hi Yum
Thanks for trying.I will try to make the menu
Karthi says
Hi swasthi
Nice and useful recipes you post. It easy to made i will going to try your breakfast recipes. Thanks for posting.
swasthi says
Hi Karthi,
You are welcome. Yes do try the recipes. Thanks
neha kumar says
Hi Swathi,
I have a 14 month old. He is a very active baby, however he has always been very thin (birth wt : 2.8 Kg, Now about 8Kg). He is a very frugal eater and is not interested in food atall, as per doctor’s suggestion we are trying to keep a 4hr difference b/w his meals and concentrating on solids. thus his milk intake takes a beating. Also now he is at dayschool so i have to prepare meals in the morning and pack along,
His food chart is as under:
6:45 : Gets up
7:30 : Milk Shake(banana/chikoo and formula)/Kheer(suji/oats) (we keep it milk based)
10:00 : Porridge (oats/suji./rice + Carrot + one more Vegetable + almond and cashew nut powder + formula)
01: 30 : khichri (moong/green moong/arahar + oats/suji+ 3 vegetables grated)
5:00 : Milk (50-60Ml)/Kheer/aata Halwas
7:30 : Milk (if he asks for it as at that time we are travelling)
8:30-9:00 : gravy and rice (if he is still active) else milk (100 ml)
9:30 Bedtime
we used to give him milk at 6:30 AM, but then he did not eat his breakfast so we had to stop.
can you please suggest some improvement in the diet chart.
Also can you suggest how can i add milk and fruit to his diet (i see that you don’t recommend mixing fruit and milk, but as the baby is not with me most of the day, I don’t have a very wide window to give him fresh fruits.. fresh food for that matter..
swasthi says
Hi Neha
I would suggest 6.45 am and 7.30 pm for fresh fruits. This should increase his appetite and he may consume more food.
It is true that mixing fruits and milk or milk with any other foods is not good for the body. The entire system turns sluggish especially in kids. Try not to give him milk with fruits and dal at least. For more intake of dairy, you can try giving him paneer every night. This should work. Hope this helps. For further queries pls leave ur comment on any baby food post.
nani says
Thank you for all your hard work in creating this website! Love all your recipes<3
swasthi says
Welcome Nani
Glad to know you liked it. Thanks you
murli says
New to cooking…followd ur site..felt very easy to cook following your recipes…thnx..
swasthi says
Hi Murli
You are welcome
Thanks for following
Tanmayini says
Hi Swasthi,
I thought of writing you many a times.. I can’t thank you enough as your website has been rly a saviour to me.. M recently married & my hubby is a complete foodie. Being a working lady, no prize guessing I did not do much cooking earlier. I have almost tried all your recipes starting from lemon chicken, prawn fry, various sandwiches, rava upma…what not!
I continue to use your site..It’s a regular practice now..Heart felt thanks for all your yummy n easy recipes. Keep posting as you do have keen followers like me..
Thanks again.
swasthi says
Welcome Tanmayini
So happy to know the blog is useful. Thanks for trying so many recipes. Really appreciate your comment. Yes will surely keep posting.
🙂
Have a lovely day
Tanmayini says
Hi Swathi,
I thought of writing you many a times.. I can’t thank you enough as your website has been rly a saviour to me.. M recently married & my hubby is a complete foodie. Being a working lady, no prize guessing I did not do much cooking earlier. I have almost tried all your recipes starting from lemon chicken, prawn fry, various sandwiches, rava upma…what not!
I continue to use your site..It’s a regular practice now..Heart felt thanks for all your yummy n easy recipes. Keep posting as you do have keen followers like me..
Thanks again.
Neha Shaik says
Hi Swasthi, your website is helpful especially the variaties and pictures in handy. Being a student in different country and missing home food while mom’s away,your website teaches cooking to perfection. Thanks a lot for such great effort and work. Would love to see your App,YouTube channel,Snapchat some day. Once again loads of thanks.
swasthi says
Hi Neha
You are welcome.
Glad to know you. So glad to know the recipes are useful. Hopefully we will launch the app soon.Thanks a lot.
Vini says
Really helpful website. 🙂 Going to try few of the recipes soon. Please keep up the good work and keep the recipes coming.
Thanks.
swasthi says
Welcome Vini
Very happy to know the recipes are helpful. Thanks and will surely keep posting
Aleena says
Loved all your recipes.Thank u for helping me.
swasthi says
welcome Aleena
Aravind Gosh says
Very good to see delicious foods in the cover…. even those who are not interested to cook can have interest in cooking….. A great thank to you all guys……
swasthi says
Welcome Aravind Gosh
Glad to know you liked them. Thank you
Richa says
This is going to be soo useful for me.
Thank you!
swasthi says
welcome Richa
pavan says
Please introduce a mobile application of your site so that it is easy to use your information
swasthi says
Thanks for the suggestion. Will try
Truptesh says
Hi
Thank you so much for sharing recipe with photos. It is easy to understand. I cook occasionally.
I made kheema & It was good.
Keep on sharing recipes.
Once again Thanks.
swasthi says
Hi and welcome,
Glad to know the recipes are helpful.
Thanks for trying and the feedback as well.
asher says
Thanks
swasthi says
welcome