5 Creative Dinner Ideas That Will Surprise You

Try these creative dinner ideas when you want something more exciting than the usual weeknight meals. From a giant spaghetti-stuffed meatball to crispy spring roll bowls, each recipe adds a fun twist to familiar favourites.

Find these and hundreds more free recipes inDinner123.

Giant Spaghetti- Stuffed Meatball

Just as it sounds, with spaghetti and melted cheese inside.

1 hrServes 8

Cheesy Beef Taquitos

Crunchy on the outside with a cheesy beef filling.

30 minServes 4

General Tso's Chicken

Crispy chicken in a sweet, tangy sauce is a takeout favorite.

45 minServes 4

Loaded Potato Nacho Plates

Nachos without the chips — crispy potatoes, melty cheese, and seasoned beef.

40 minServes 4

Crispy Pork Spring Roll Bowls

Flavorful crunchy rice bowl inspired by spring rolls.

40 minServes 4

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Overview

Giant Spaghetti- Stuffed Meatball

1 hr · Serves 8
Created and tested by real human beings.

These and hundreds more free recipes onDinner123.

Coming soon for Android and iPhone.

Giant Spaghetti- Stuffed Meatball

Ingredients
**Meatball**
450 g (1 lb ) hot Italian sausage meat
450 g (1 lb) ground beef
1 cup (80 g / 3 oz ) breadcrumbs
⅓ cup (30 g / 1 oz) parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
⅓ cup (40 g / 1.5 oz) grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs
½ cup (120 ml / 4 oz) milk
**Filling**
150 g (5.5 oz) uncooked spaghetti
½ cup (60 g / 2 oz) grated mozzarella cheese
**Serving**
1 cup (250 g / 9 oz) tomato pasta sauce, heated
Parmesan cheese, grated, to sprinkle
Basil leaves, to garnish
Method
•Preheat the oven to 190°C (374°F). Line a baking pan with foil.
•Boil the spaghetti in water until al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
•Combine the meatball ingredients in a bowl until combined.
•Line the sides and bottom of a large bowl with cling film.
•Put the sausage mixture into the large bowl and press to cover the sides and bottom of the bowl.
•Sprinkle the meatball with cheese and add the spaghetti.
•Seal the meatball and roll into a proper ball shape.
•Put the meatball on the prepared baking pan. Bake for 40 min until well browned.
•Pour half of the sauce on a plate.
•Take the meatball out of the oven and put it on the plate.
•Pour the remaining sauce over the meatball and sprinkle with cheese and garnish with basil leaves.
Adapted from the Wikibooks Cookbook, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Overview

Cheesy Beef Taquitos

30 min · Serves 4
Created and tested by real human beings.

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Cheesy Beef Taquitos

Baked taquitos are filled with seasoned beef and Monterey Jack, then served with tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream.

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
12 flour tortillas
2 tbsp enchilada seasoning
¾ cup guacamole
2 limes
4 tomatoes
4 tbsp tomato paste
⅓ cup sour cream
2 shallots
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Method
•Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large frying pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add beef, shallots, enchilada seasoning, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes, breaking up beef, until browned.
•Place tortillas on a clean cutting board. Add beef and Monterey Jack to each tortilla. Roll tightly.
•Place taquitos seam-side down on a baking sheet. Brush or spray with oil. Bake about 10 minutes, until crisp.
•In a medium bowl, mix tomatoes and lime juice. Serve taquitos with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and lime.
A Dinner123 kitchen recipe, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Overview

General Tso's Chicken

45 min · Serves 4
Created and tested by real human beings.

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General Tso's Chicken

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb (680 g) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 large egg, beaten
Oil for frying
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tbsp rice vinegar
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch (for sauce)
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp grated ginger
6 dried red chilies
2 green onions, sliced
Sesame seeds for garnish
Method
•Toss chicken with beaten egg, then dredge in cornstarch until coated.
•Heat 1 inch of oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches 4–5 min until golden and crispy. Drain.
•Whisk soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, hoisin, 1 tbsp cornstarch, and broth in a bowl.
•In a clean wok, heat 1 tbsp oil. Add dried chilies, garlic, and ginger; stir 30sec until fragrant.
•Pour in sauce and simmer 1–2 min until thickened.
•Add fried chicken; toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.
A Dinner123 kitchen recipe, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Overview

Loaded Potato Nacho Plates

40 min · Serves 4
Created and tested by real human beings.

These and hundreds more free recipes onDinner123.

Coming soon for Android and iPhone.

Loaded Potato Nacho Plates

Roasted potato rounds stand in for chips in this nacho-style plate with beef, cheese, guacamole, and salsa.

Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
6 russet potatoes
4 tomatoes
1 lime
4 green onions
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 tbsp guacamole
½ cup sour cream
4 tbsp Mexican seasoning
4 cups baby spinach
Method
•Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice potatoes into thin rounds. On a large baking sheet, toss with oil, Mexican seasoning, salt, and pepper. Roast about 25 minutes, flipping once.
•Heat oil in a large frying pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add beef, Mexican seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes, breaking up beef, until browned.
•In a medium bowl, mix tomatoes, green onions, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
•Top roasted potatoes with beef and Monterey Jack. Return baking sheet to oven or broiler for about 3 minutes, until cheese melts.
•Serve with spinach, sour cream, guacamole, and tomato salsa.
A Dinner123 kitchen recipe, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Overview

Crispy Pork Spring Roll Bowls

40 min · Serves 4
Created and tested by real human beings.

These and hundreds more free recipes onDinner123.

Coming soon for Android and iPhone.

Crispy Pork Spring Roll Bowls

These rice bowls are inspired by spring roll flavours, with saucy pork, cabbage, carrots, sesame, and crispy shallots.

Ingredients
1 lb ground pork
1 cup crispy shallots
2 tbsp sesame seeds
4 cups shredded green cabbage
2 tbsp sesame oil
1½ cups jasmine rice
½ cup plum sauce
½ cup hoisin sauce
4 green onions
2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
2 carrots
Method
•In a medium pot, combine jasmine rice, 3 cups water, sesame oil and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil on the stovetop, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook about 15 minutes. Turn off heat and let stand about 5 minutes.
•In a large bowl, toss cabbage, carrot, green onions, vinegar, oil, a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper.
•Heat oil in a large frying pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add pork. Cook about 5 minutes, breaking it up, until browned.
•Stir hoisin, plum sauce, and into the pork. Serve over rice with slaw, crispy shallots, and sesame seeds.
A Dinner123 kitchen recipe, licensed under CC BY 4.0.