5 Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes: Quick and Delicious Meals
Satisfying Weeknight Dinners Without the Fuss
After a long day, the last thing anyone wants to do is labor over a complicated dinner recipe. When hunger hits but energy is low, easy recipes that come together quickly are a lifesaver. These 5 easy weeknight dinner recipes provide simple, delicious meals using minimal ingredients that can be prepped and on the table in under an hour. No fancy techniques or hard-to-find components required!
Baked Salmon with Herb Mayo
Salmon fillets dressed up with a quick homemade herb mayo make for a fast and flavorful weeknight dinner. Combining canned salmon, fresh herbs, lemon, and mayo or Greek yogurt allows this protein-packed meal to come together in minutes. Serve the baked salmon alongside microwavable roasted potatoes or a fresh green salad for easy sides.
Ingredients:
- 4 4-oz salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and place salmon fillets on it. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise or yogurt, chopped fresh herbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt/pepper. Mix well.
3. Spread herb mayo mixture evenly over the tops of the salmon fillets.
4. Bake for 10-12 minutes until fish flakes easily with a fork.5. Serve salmon topped with any extra herb mayo mixture. Enjoy with roasted potatoes or a green salad.
With simple prep and a short bake time, this protein-packed salmon dinner can be ready in under 30 minutes. The fresh herb mayo adds big flavor without much work, making this a go-to for busy weeknights.
Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies
For easy one-pan cooking, sheet pan sausage and veggies is a winner. Just toss cubed sausage with your favorite vegetables, herbs, and seasonings and bake until perfectly browned.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1-inch chunks
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 yellow onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. In a large bowl, combine sausage, broccoli, bell pepper, onion, garlic, olive oil, and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper and toss until evenly coated.
3. Spread mixture out on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway, until vegetables are tender and sausage is browned.
4. Serve sausage and veggies immediately. Pairs well with rice, couscous, or crusty bread.
With just 20 minutes of active cooking time, this flavorful one-pan meal makes it easy to get dinner on the table fast. Swap in your favorite vegetables like zucchini, Brussels sprouts, or cauliflower for an easy way to use up produce.
Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry
For a quicker and healthier take on takeout, whip up this easy beef and vegetable stir fry. Lean beef, broccoli, carrots, and peppers cook up quickly in the skillet before getting tossed with a simple Asian-inspired sauce. Serve over rice for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb flank steak, sliced thinly against the grain
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1-inch fresh ginger, minced
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 4 scallions, sliced on the diagonal
- Cooked rice for serving
Instructions:
1. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until smooth. Set aside.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add beef in a single layer. Cook 1-2 minutes per side until no longer pink. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add broccoli and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook 3-4 minutes until starting to soften.
4. Give sauce a stir and add to the skillet along with cooked beef. Toss everything until well coated and beef is warmed through, about 1-2 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and stir in scallions. Serve immediately over cooked rice.
With quick-cooking lean beef and vegetables, this healthy stir fry comes together in a flash. The simple Asian-style sauce adds big flavor without fuss. Customize with your favorite veggies for an easy weekday meal.
Sloppy Joes
For a fun, family-friendly meal, whip up Reuben-inspired sloppy joes. Lean ground beef cooks up fast and gets tossed with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and easy homemade thousand island dressing for a flavorful sandwich filling. Serve on toasted buns with potato wedges or chips on the side.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 3/4 cup sauerkraut, drained
- 3 oz Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp ranch dressing
- 2 tbsp relish
- 6 buns, toasted
Instructions:
1. In a skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil and ground beef/turkey. Cook until no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat as you go. Drain excess grease.
2. Reduce heat to low and stir in sauerkraut, shredded Swiss cheese, ketchup, ranch dressing, and relish until combined.
3. Spoon sloppy joe mixture onto the bottom half of each toasted bun. Add bun tops and serve warm with potato wedges or chips.
With just 10 active minutes of cooking, these fun sloppy joes are family-friendly weeknight eating at its finest. Kids and adults alike will love the Reuben-style flavor combination. To make it even easier, use already cooked ground beef.
One Pot Pasta Primavera
For a simple vegetarian dinner, pasta primavera makes an easy weeknight meal with minimal effort. Onion, zucchini, and peas cook right in the pasta pot before getting tossed with basil pesto and Parmesan for a fresh and delicious veggie main.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz pasta (penne, rotini, etc)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup prepared pesto
- 1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes until soft.
3. Add zucchini and peas and cook another 3-4 minutes until tender.
4. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water then drain pasta. Return pasta to pot and stir in veggie mixture, prepared pesto, Parmesan, and a splash of cooking water.
5. Season with salt and pepper and mix well. Enjoy!
With simple veggie add-ins and ready-made pesto, this pasta primavera makes it easy to get a healthy plant-based meal on the table in under 30 minutes. Customize with your favorite vegetables, protein add-ins like chickpeas, or swap the pesto for a creamy Alfredo sauce.
Tips for Effortless Weeknight Dinners
After a long day, getting food on the table can feel like a chore without easy dinner recipes to turn to. Here are some helpful tips for effortless weeknight dinners:
- Utilize quick-cooking proteins like eggs, shrimp, thin fish fillets, ground meats, sausage, and rotisserie chicken. Beans, lentils, and tofu also cook up fast for vegetarian meals.
- Keep your vegetable prep easy by using frozen veggies or pre-cut fresh vegetables whenever possible. Cherry tomatoes, pre-cut broccoli florets, baby carrots, and frozen peas/beans are great shortcuts.
- Make a batch of rice, quinoa, or other grains at the start of the week to have ready to simply reheat as a quick side throughout the week.
- Have a few backup sauces and condiments on hand like jarred pesto, salsa, barbecue sauce, teriyaki, and light ranch or Caesar dressings to instantly add flavor.
- Let appliances like Instant Pots and air fryers do the work for low-effort meals. Even your slow cooker can have dinner ready by the time you arrive home.
- Create mini meal preps by cooking a double batch of proteins or grains to use in multiple dinners throughout the week.
- Keep your recipe arsenal full of go-to 20-30 minute meals for busy nights. Rotate through tried-and-true favorites.
With a well-stocked pantry, some easy recipes, and a few time-saving tips, you’ll have simple, satisfying weeknight dinners ready in no time at all.
