• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Delightful Plate
  • Vietnamese Recipes
  • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbook
  • Pantry
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Vietnamese Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbook
  • Pantry
  • About
  • Contact
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • RSS
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Filter
    • Cookbook
    • Pantry
    • About
    • Contact
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • RSS
  • ×

    Home » Cuisine » Vietnamese Recipes » 14 Easy Vietnamese Dinner Recipes

    14 Easy Vietnamese Dinner Recipes

    Published: Oct 28, 2020 Updated: Jul 11, 2021 by Sophie Leave a Comment

    4.2K shares
    • 1

    Easy Vietnamese dinner recipes for a quick and filling meal you can make for your family after a busy day.

    a collage of Vietnamese dishes for easy weeknight dinner

    These recipes are perfect for weeknight meals as they can be either cooked in an hour or prepared ahead. The list has a mix of main and side dishes you can choose and combine to create a tasty and nourishing meal.

    Traditional Vietnamese Meals

    Typical Vietnamese meals for weeknights are usually quick and easy to prepare since it is common for both parents to work. When planning a meal, Viet people try to include a variety of tastes, textures, and colors while taking time limit into consideration.

    Traditional family dinner usually has rice and several accompanying dishes. For a meal for 2-3 people, you should aim to have two dishes (though three dishes will be more ideal). Then add one extra dish per extra person.

    The main dish usually has a deep savory flavor to eat together with rice. Other dishes are lighter or more delicate to keep the overall flavors of the meal in balance. Also keep in mind that Vietnamese meals often have a soup dish to help send the rice down.

    Easy Vietnamese Dinner Recipes

    1. Caramelized Pork Belly (Thit Kho)

    Thit kho is a great example of classic Vietnamese family food. It may take up to 2 hours to cook, but you can make it ahead the day before, or make a big batch during the weekend and freeze.

    a plate of Vietnamese caramelized pork belly and eggs
    Vietnamese Caramelized Pork Belly (Thit kho tau) is a classic comfort food of Viet families. Pork belly is slowly braised until it has a beautiful caramel color and becomes so flavorful and tender.
    Get this recipe

    2. Steamed Fish with Ginger, Scallion and Soy Sauce (Ca Hap)

    By using fish fillets instead of a whole fish, the prepping and cooking process will become effortless. You can use grouper, red snapper, halibut, cod or even salmon for this recipe.

    a steamed fish fillet with soy sauce, ginger, scallion, onion and carrot
    Steamed Fish with Ginger, Scallion and Soy Sauce is a restaurant-quality dish you can easily cook at home in just 30 minutes. Serve this light yet flavorful dish with rice for a healthy and delicious meal.
    Get this recipe

    3. Beef & Potato Stir-fry (Bo Xao Khoai Tay)

    This dish is my childhood favorite. It has a savory taste with flavorful beef and tender potato slices. We usually cook it as a main dish served with rice.

    a plate of stir-fried beef and potato
    Vietnamese Beef Potato Stir-fry (Thit bo xao khoai tay) is delicious, flavorful and filling. Add this quick and easy stir-fry to your family dinner rotation.
    Get this recipe

    4. Grilled Pork Chops (Suon Nuong)

    Another restaurant-style dish you can make at home. Marinate the pork chops in the morning and then all you need to do is to grill it in the evening for dinner. You can serve it with rice, a fried egg and perhaps a wedge of Vietnamese egg meatloaf.

    Vietnamese grilled lemongrass pork chops served with a fried egg and rice.
    These grilled pork chops are full of sweet and savory flavors and infused with lemongrass fragrance. This is one of the easiest Vietnamese restaurant dishes to make at home.
    Get this recipe

    5. Fried Tofu with Scallion and Fish Sauce (Dau Ran Tam Hanh)

    A rustic side dish ready in 15-20 minutes. Crispy and piping hot fried tofu is dipped in scallion fish sauce mixture to soak up delicious flavors. You may also want to try this Vietnamese lemongrass tofu version.

    A crispy slice of tofu that has been dipped in scallion fish sauce, served with rice
    Vietnamese Fried Tofu with Scallions (Dau ran tam hanh) is a rustic Northern Vietnamese dish, featuring crispy fried tofu dipped in scallion fish sauce mixture. It is a tasty side dish or even main dish you can make in just 20 minutes.
    Get this recipe

    6. Steamed Clams with Thai Basil and Lemongrass (Ngheu Hap Sa)

    Many Vietnamese people love to start their dinner with a lightly cooked seafood dish that highlights the natural sweetness of the seafood.

    a skillet of steamed clams with Thai Basil and lemongrass
    This Steamed clams with Thai basil and lemongrass is super quick and easy to make with minimal prepping. It is packed with delicious flavors and irresistible aromas.
    Get this recipe

    7. Steamed Squid with Ginger and Scallion (Muc Hap)

    Squid is another seafood that can benefit from steaming. Just make sure you don’t overcook the squid or it will become rubbery.

    a bowl of freshly steamed squid
    This Vietnamese-style Steamed Squid highlights the natural flavors of squid. Quick and easy to prepare for weeknight dinner.
    Get this recipe

    8. Rotisserie Chicken (Ga Roti)

    Ga Roti features juicy chicken in a savory and lightly sweet sauce. You can use chicken drumsticks, thighs or whole chicken legs and marinate them in the morning. Then in the evening, you can put the dish together within an hour for dinner.

    Vietnamese Rotisserie Chicken (Ga Ro ti)
    Vietnamese Rotisserie Chicken (Ga Roti) features juicy chicken in a savory sauce with a hint of sweetness. Serve it with rice for a filling dinner.
    Get this recipe

    9. Fried Eggs and Tomatoes (Trung Chien Ca Chua)

    This fried eggs and tomatoes is a light dish with lovely flavors to accompany any strongly-flavored main dish. Everything is cooked in one pan, and it takes just 10-15 minutes from start to finish.

    a serving plate with omelet fried with tomatoes and onions
    This Pan-fried Eggs and Tomatoes is made with simple ingredients, but you will be surprised at how good it tastes. Eggs are fried into an omelet with brown spots to enhance the flavors. Then come the juicy tomatoes and sweet onions to make the whole dish tasty.
    Get this recipe

    10. Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac)

    An easy and delicious one-pan meal that doesn’t require a lot of effort. You can eat it with rice, or serve it with simple salad and fries on the side.

    Vietnamese Shaking Beef (Bo Luc Lac) is an easy and delicious one-pan meal that is excellent for everyday meals as well as special occasions. This dish features tender and flavorful beef plated on a bed of green cress and fresh tomatoes.
    Get this recipe

    11. Tomato Egg Drop Soup (Canh Trung Ca Chua)

    This simple egg drop soup is in the daily meal rotation of many busy families and college students or young adults who just move out in Vietnam. You can use silken tofu instead of eggs for a different variation.

    A pot of Vietnamese tomato egg drop soup.
    This Tomato Egg Drop Soup uses just a handful of affordable ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. Ready in 15 minutes, this light and tasty soup is a great addition to a hassle-free meal.
    Get this recipe

    12. Crab Fried Rice (Com Chien Cua)

    Fried rice is always a crowd-pleaser. Crab fried rice may sound fancy but it is so quick and simple to make. If you need something even easier, try this garlic fried rice instead.

    a plate of crab fried rice
    This Crab Fried Rice is so simple but surprisingly tasty with natural sweetness from crab meat and richness from eggs. It is great for daily meals as well as special occasions.
    Get this recipe

    13. Bitter Melon and Egg Stir-fry (Kho Qua Xao Trung)

    I will be honest here and say that this isn’t the crowd-pleaser type of dish. Bitter melon is an acquired taste because of its bitterness. Good news is the richness of eggs will help tone down its bitterness significantly in this recipe.

    Vietnamese Bitter Melon Egg Stir-Fry is a quick and easy dish with health benefits. It requires very few ingredients and you need only one pan to cook it. Gluten-free and/or vegetarian options are available.
    Get this recipe

    14. Beef Pasta Stir-fry (Nui Xao Bo)

    Noodle stir-fry is always good for a quick and easy weeknight meal, especially when you are bored with eating rice. Nui Xao Bo consists of pasta, beef and any kinds of vegetables you like. Everything comes together in half an hour.

    a pan with freshly-cooked Vietnamese style pasta with beef (Nui xao bo)
    Vietnamese Beef Pasta Stir-Fry (Nui Xao Bo) is composed of pasta, beef and your choice of vegetables, all coated with a tasty savory sauce. This quick and easy stir-fried pasta is great for any meals of the day.
    Get this recipe

    More Recipe Collections

    • 12 Noodle Bowl Recipes to Make All Year Round
    • 16 Must-Try Vietnamese New Year Recipes

    I’d love to hear what you think about the recipes, so please feel free to leave a comment. New recipes are added every week so let’s connect on Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates. You can find my collection of Vietnamese recipes here.

    Disclosure: Delightful Plate is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we use and trust.
    Copyright: All content and photos on Delightful Plate are copyright protected. Please do not use them without our written permission. Thank you.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Hi, I'm Sophie! Delightful Plate is where I share authentic Vietnamese recipes that have been cooked in my family for years, as well as other Asian recipes and recipes inspired by ingredients and flavors from other cuisines. Read More…

    Never Miss A Recipe!

    Sign up and receive emails with free recipes once a month.

    BUY OUR EBOOK!

    real vietnamese homecooking cookbook
    Buy Now!

    Popular Recipes

    a plate of Vietnamese summer rolls (goi cuon)

    Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon)

    This Asian Steak Bites and Potatoes recipe features seared beef cubes and potatoes in a garlicky butter and soy-based sauce. It comes together in under 30 minutes and everything is cooked in just one pan. Easy weeknight dinner!

    Asian Steak Bites and Potatoes

    This scallop shrimp pasta with burst cherry tomatoes is perfect for not only quick and simple weeknight meals but also fancy date night dinners. It is so flavorful with sweetness from fresh seafood and umami from burst tomatoes.

    Scallop Shrimp Pasta with Burst Cherry Tomatoes

    This Vietnamese Pulled Pork Banh Mi features crispy bread, tender and flavorful pork, crunchy pickled vegetables and yummy sriracha mayo sauce. With the help of a slow cooker, this banh mi sandwich recipe is super easy to make.

    Slow Cooker Vietnamese Pulled Pork Banh Mi

    This baked shrimp toast features flavorful shrimp mixture on top of crispy bread. It is a quick and easy appetizer for parties, holidays or any occasions.

    Easy Baked Shrimp Toast

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Stay Connected

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Contact Form

    Other Contents

    • Google Web Stories