Dinner can feel like a scramble when time is short and everyone is hungry, but it does not have to be complicated. These 13 easy and delicious weeknight meals come together quickly and are ready before you finish setting the table. They make cooking simple, satisfying, and stress-free, giving you a full meal without extra work.
Creamy Pea Pasta. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spicy chicken tossed with crisp greens and tangy dressing makes a fresh and bold meal in minutes. The mix of heat and crunch gives dinner flavor and balance without taking much time. Make this quick weeknight meal that’s easy, exciting, and better than ordering delivery.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Poached Orange Salmon
Salmon cooked in a light orange broth stays tender and juicy while adding a bright flavor that feels fresh and simple. It pairs well with quick sides and does not take much time, which makes it great for a weeknight dinner. Serve up a fresh and flavorful meal that proves seafood can be easy, fast, and better than takeout.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Shortcut Chicken Salad
Cooked chicken mixed with creamy dressing makes a salad that works in sandwiches, wraps, or on greens. The recipe is ready in minutes and offers a fresh way to keep dinner easy but never boring. Dig into an easy weeknight meal that’s fast, versatile, and makes busy nights more manageable.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Shredded cabbage and chicken cook together in one skillet with sauce for a meal that brings all the flavor of takeout without the extra work. It comes together in minutes, and cleanup is fast, making it ideal for weeknight cooking. Whip up a simple and bold weeknight meal that is quick, filling, and perfect for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Kefta Kebabs
Ground meat mixed with spices cooks up juicy and flavorful in just minutes on the grill or in a pan. The recipe is fast but still delivers big flavor that feels satisfying and fun to eat. Settle in for easy weeknight meals that are quick, tasty, and perfect for nights when you want something different.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Creamy Pea Pasta
A sauce made from peas blends smoothly and coats the pasta for a dish that feels rich without being heavy or complicated. Everything cooks in one pan with just a few steps, which makes it simple to prepare and quick to clean up. This smart weeknight meal is fast, filling, and proves pasta can be both easy and comforting.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Cashew Chicken
Pieces of tender chicken cook with crunchy cashews in a sweet and savory sauce that coats everything evenly. The dish comes together in one pan with bold flavor, and cleanup is easy, which makes it perfect for busy nights. Savor a quick weeknight meal that tastes better than delivery and is simple enough to keep making again.
Get the Recipe: Cashew Chicken
Chicken Tortellini Soup
Chicken and tortellini simmer in broth for a soup that is hearty, filling, and ready in little time. The pasta makes it satisfying enough to stand on its own while still being quick to prepare. Try this weeknight dinner that’s simple, warm, and always reliable when you want comfort fast.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup
Cacio e Pepe
Pasta tossed with cheese and cracked pepper cooks in minutes yet delivers a meal full of sharp, simple flavor. It feels special at the table, even though it comes together with only a few pantry ingredients. Dig into a quick weeknight dinner that’s easy to repeat and proves you do not need much to make something delicious.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Ground beef, rice, and melted cheese bake into a dish that is rich, hearty, and easy to prepare with just a few steps. The ingredients are simple and budget-friendly, which makes it an easy choice for last-minute meals. Whip up a quick weeknight dinner that is filling, comforting, and faster than waiting on delivery.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Tortillas filled with chicken, sauce, and cheese bake into a dish that tastes rich and comforting without much effort. Using rotisserie chicken cuts the prep time while still keeping the flavors bold and filling. Settle in for an easy weeknight dinner that’s satisfying, hearty, and feels homemade without the long steps.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Pesto Salmon
A salmon fillet coated in pesto cooks quickly in the oven or on the stove, leaving the fish tender with herby flavor in every bite. The simple steps make it easy to prepare, but the taste feels rich and full without much effort. Grab a quick weeknight dinner that is flavorful, reliable, and a smart way to enjoy seafood at home.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups
Pasta sheets rolled with cheese and sauce bake into a dish that has the taste of lasagna without the long process. The flavor is rich, the texture is cheesy, and the steps are simple enough for a busy night. Savor a quick weeknight meal that’s hearty, comforting, and a smart way to enjoy lasagna faster.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups