Having easy weeknight dinners is just what we need after a busy day. This is why having meals that are quick to make and have common ingredients is important. Having some great, simple go-to meals is a staple for any household.
Grilled Beef Fajitas with Onion, Bell Peppers, and Jalapeno
You also want to be sure that your dinner menu rotation is exciting. No one wants to eat the same foods day after day! Having variety in your weekly dinner lineup is necessary.
We have searched the internet to find 25 easy weeknight dinner recipes that you are going to love. Each one is different and simple to make. There is a meal on here for everyone!
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25 Quick Weeknight Dinner Recipes
With these recipes on hand, you can plan your dinners for the next month. Try them all and see which you and your family enjoy the most. Time to start cooking!
1. Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Casseroles are always great easy weeknight meals. They are quick to put together and typically only require one pan. Our chicken enchilada casserole is really delicious. It is a very simple way to make juicy, filling enchiladas. Slice and serve the casserole like a lasagna. Enjoy this tasty dish while it is warm, and be sure to save some for lunch the next day. Enchilada casserole makes great leftovers!
2. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Honey garlic chicken thighs are packed with a sweet flavor. We adore this recipe from Diethood that makes juicy chicken thighs using the slow cooker. Add the chicken thighs, honey, fresh chopped garlic, ketchup, soy sauce, and spices to the crockpot bowl. Set the timer to cook on low heat for 6-8 hours and come back to a fully cooked meal. Serve the chicken thighs over a bed of white rice. Pour the extra sauce over the chicken for even more flavor.
Image Source: Diethood
3. One-Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Any meal that can be cooked in one pot is a weeknight winner. This chicken parmesan pasta from The Chunky Chef can be made in one big pot. That means little clean-up! The pasta is also very delicious and full of salty cheese. This chicken pasta will please even the pickiest eaters in your family!
Image Source: The Chunky Chef
4. Easy Chicken Fajitas
Serving Mexican food is always a good way to switch up your weeknight dinners and make them more exciting. These fast chicken fajitas from Downshiftology will be delicious on Mexican Monday. Chicken strips are seasoned and sauteed until golden brown. Then veggies are added to the dish. Multicolored bell peppers make the fajita mix especially pretty. Wrap the sauteed veggies and chicken in soft flour tortillas and enjoy while hot. You can also enjoy the fajita mix on top of rice or even spaghetti.
Image Source: Downshiftology
5. Garlic and Herb Pork Tenderloin
This delicious pork tenderloin recipe from Foodie Crush only takes 30 minutes to cook. The meal is simple yet looks decadent. Lots of garlic and spices are rubbed over the pork before it is roasted in the oven. A few lemon slices go into the pan to add a nice, acidic flavor. Serve the pork with a side of spinach or quick couscous to complete the meal.
Image Source: Foodie Crush
6. Creamy Tomato and Shrimp Pasta
This recipe from Cafe Delites only takes 15 minutes to make. Creamy garlic butter tomato sauce is made in a skillet. The shrimp cooks quickly in the hot sauce. The mix is then tossed with your favorite pasta and served warm. Be sure to get pre-cleaned shrimp to save you even more time. Remove the tails before cooking to make it easier to eat. Leave the tails on if you want a restaurant-worthy presentation.
Image Source: Cafe Delites
7. 15 Minute Lo Mein
You can make this incredible 15-minute Lo Mein from Pinch of Yum faster than you could order take-out! The recipe starts with a homemade sauce made with two kinds of soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Sliced bell pepper, mushrooms, and green onions are quickly sauteed and then tossed with the lo mein noodles.
Image Source: Pinch of Yum
Add some shredded cabbage or thinly sliced carrots for a new twist on the meal. Make the entree using a wok for the most even cooking. A big wok is a kitchen tool that you will use again and again. A large saute pan will work well too.
8. Easy White Chicken Chili
Using this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod, you can make a delicious, satisfying chili in just a few minutes. The secret to the chili is using pre-cooked shredded rotisserie chicken. The rotisserie chicken adds flavor and saves time since it is already cooked to perfection. A big bowl of this easy-to-make chili will make you full the rest of the night.
Image Source: Two Peas and Their Pod
9. Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchilada
You can make incredible black bean and sweet potato enchiladas using just one skillet. Iowa Girl Eats will show you how to layer sweet potatoes, black beans, chicken, and tomatoes into the dish. The mix is tossed with taco seasoning and other spices to make it very flavorful.
Image Source: Iowa Girl Eats
A delicious red enchilada sauce brings the whole dish together. This meal is healthy and also hearty, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.
10. Sheet Pan Thai Glazed Salmon
Salmon bakes quickly in the oven, which means it is a good choice of protein for an easy, quick weeknight meal. This recipe from Recipe Critic smothers the salmon in a sweet chili sauce, making a beautiful and tasty glaze. Bell peppers, onions, and snow peas are also roasted on the tray with the salmon.
Image Source: Recipe Critic
This quick and easy dinner is healthy and simple. Serve the salmon and veggies over a bed of white rice for a picture-perfect entree. You can also choose to skip the carbs of rice and enjoy the salmon and veggies on their own.
11. Easy Pasta and Broccoli
This very simple pasta recipe from Skinny Taste is quick and easy. Fresh broccoli, garlic, and parmesan cheese are the main ingredients in the dish. Use gluten-free pasta as directed to make this meal perfect for those with gluten intolerance. Regular pasta will work as well. This meal comes together in under 15 minutes and is a healthy, easy weeknight dinner for sure.
Image Source: Skinny Taste
12. Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Everyone in the family will adore this easy, homemade mac and cheese from Gimme Some Oven. Sharp cheddar cheese and freshly grated parmesan cheese make the pasta extremely cheesy. The sauce and noodles both cook on the stovetop, so there is no need to turn on your oven.
Image Source: Gimme Some Oven
This is an easy weeknight entree your kids will ask for again and again. It is definitely way better than any store-bought mac and cheese. You can feel good about serving this homemade comfort food recipe.
13. Greek Avocado and Chicken Salad
A hearty salad makes a great weeknight dinner. This Greek avocado salad from Gimme Delicious is full of tasty veggies and perfectly grilled chicken. The homemade Greek dressing is tangy and also sweet. We love the creamy feta cheese that goes so well with the crisp lettuce. Black olives add a briny flavor that is incomparable and totally authentic Greek. Serve with a warm roll or breadstick, and you will have a filling, satisfying entree.
Image Source: Gimme Delicious
14. 30 Minute Chicken Soup
Averie Cooks will show you how to make a delicious, healthy chicken noodle soup in less than 30 minutes. This perfect comfort food soup is great for everyone in the family. Chopped veggies, tender noodles, and juicy chicken makes this soup truly irresistible. It is surprisingly easy to make homemade soup from scratch!
Image Source: Averie Cooks
Use any kind of noodles you’d like in the soup. Short kinds of pasta tend to work best, but you can always break up some spaghetti and mix it in too! Use leftover sliced turkey in place of chicken to make soup after thanksgiving. Soup is a wonderful way to use leftovers and create a whole new entree.
15. Chicken Taco Pie
Taco pie from Tastes Better From Scratch is an impressive weeknight dinner. Shredded rotisserie chicken is mixed with fresh tomatoes, cheese, and beans. Soft tortillas cover the dish and act as the pie crust. The whole dish is made in one skillet and takes less than 30 minutes to cook from start to finish. This is a great quick dinner for kids and adults. Just scoop the taco pie onto a plate and enjoy while it’s hot! This recipe could be your family’s new favorite weeknight recipe.
Image Source: Tastes Better From Scratch
16. Ground Beef and Potatoes
This recipe from Well Plated By Erin features fried potatoes and juicy ground beef. The whole dinner is made in one dish, which means less cleanup later on. While this recipe is hearty enough as it is, you can serve the beef and potatoes with a side of white rice or a simple salad.
Image Source: Well Plated By Erin
Use red potatoes and keep the skins to make the recipe even faster to prepare. Easy recipes like this are perfect for weeknight dinners.
17. Best Burger Recipe
Fire up the grill or take out a big skillet to cook these juicy burgers. We love this simple burger recipe from A Spicy Perspective. Worcestershire sauce, milk, and eggs make the ground beef extra juicy. A spice blend of garlic powder, onion powder, and salt adds lots of flavors. The ground beef patties only take a few minutes to create and cook.
Image Source: A Spicy Perspective
Burgers are great as weeknight dinners and sure to make your family happy. Top the burger with any of your favorite classic toppings. We love using fresh sliced tomatoes, crispy lettuce, juicy pickles, or even just some plain ketchup. You really can’t go wrong!
18. Mushroom Asparagus One Pot Pasta
Not only is this mushroom asparagus pasta from Pioneer Woman great, but it also tastes amazing as leftovers. Make this creamy, vegetable-filled pasta for dinner and then serve it again the next day as lunch!
Image Source: Pioneer Woman
The dish only takes about 30 minutes to cook and is a food that both kids and adults can enjoy. We especially love this dinner in the spring when asparagus is in season. The crunchy bacon pieces add a nice salty touch to the pasta.
19. Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork
We love easy crockpot recipes. You can make an entire dinner by just throwing everything in a bowl, turning your slow cooker on, and coming back hours later to a perfectly cooked dinner. Our tasty apple bourbon pulled pork recipe makes an incredible, irresistible pork entree. You can serve the sweet pork on top of rice, on a bun as a sandwich, or even with noodles.
Easy weeknight dinners like this save so much time and energy in the kitchen. Replace the apple bourbon dressing with some of your favorite barbecue sauce. This will give the recipe a whole new twist but still just as incredible.
20. Club Sandwich
A quick, hearty sandwich can be a perfect weeknight dinner. We love this classic club sandwich from Spend with Pennies. Sliced ham, bacon, and turkey are piled on top of your favorite bread. Add some fresh tomato slices, crisp lettuce, and a little cheddar cheese to complete the sandwich. You can make these sandwiches ahead of time and take them to go. Assemble the sandwiches and then wrap them tightly in foil. Keep them on ice, or just eat them within an hour or two. Dinner on the run has never been easier!
Image Source: Spend with Pennies
21. Easy Chicken Alfredo
Creamy garlic and cheese sauce is hard to resist. Luckily, it’s simple to make chicken alfredo when you follow this recipe from The Kitchn. This recipe shows you how to make a rich homemade alfredo sauce that is out of this world. However, you can choose to use store-bought sauce to save time. Classic fettuccini noodles and grilled chicken breast makes this Italian alfredo dinner you will want to eat all the time. Use shrimp in place of chicken to switch up the alfredo dinner.
Image Source: The Kitchn
22. Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil
You can prepare this entree from A Couple Cooks in about 10 minutes. Add corn, potatoes, shrimp, and lemon wedges to a sheet tray. Toss everything in olive oil and a blend of spices, and then bake in the oven. Cooking full weeknight entrees has never been easier! The baked shrimp and veggies make for a quick, easy, and healthy dinner. Don’t skimp on the Old Bay seasoning, as it really brings all the ingredients together in a classic way!
Image Source: A Couple Cooks
23. Parmesan Baked Chicken Breast
We love this simple parmesan baked chicken breast recipe from Rasa Malaysia. Thin chicken pieces are dipped in parmesan cheese breadcrumbs and then baked in the oven to golden perfection. The whole entree comes together in 30 minutes. Pair the baked chicken with some pasta and tomato sauce for a true Italian night.
Image Source: Rasa Malaysia
24. Ground Beef Casserole
This cheesy ground beef casserole from Amanda’s Cookin is simple to prepare but so rich and creamy. The ground beef, pasta, and corn are cooked together in one dish. Feel free to add some chopped pepper or green peas to make the dish a little different. Try using rice in place of noodles for a whole new twist on this recipe. The casserole ingredients are simply mixed together and popped into the oven. This satisfying ground beef casserole is comfort food at its finest.
Image Source: Amanda’s Cookin
25. Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Rich, homemade bolognese sauce is the hallmark of this delicious Italian dish. Making a classic spaghetti bolognese only takes about 30 minutes when you use this recipe from Erren’s Kitchen. Try using turkey in place of beef for a healthier sauce.
Add chopped bell pepper to the sauce for a more flavorful dish. This spaghetti recipe is perfect for busy weeknights and is a kid-friendly dish for sure!
Image Source: Erren’s Kitchen
Incredible Weeknight Dinner Ideas
Easy weeknight dinners are something that everyone should know how to make. Having a lot of recipe options will ensure you never grow tired of cooking. Lots of different style cuisines will keep your family happy too. Eating interesting food makes us interesting people!
Most of the recipes on our list take less than 30 minutes to prepare. Even on busy days, you can have an entree on the table in a matter of minutes. That sounds pretty amazing to us!
Give some of these awesome recipes a try, and let us know what you think. We always want to hear about which recipes you liked best!
Easy Dinner Recipes
If you have your own favorite simple and easy weeknight dinners, tell us about the recipe in the comments below. We always need more easy weeknight dinners!
From salad to soup, rice bowls to lemon chicken, this list has something for everyone. Making dinners has never been so easy! Head to the kitchen and start cooking any recipe that catches your eye now. Your homemade entree will be ready and on the table so soon! Enjoy.
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