When time is tight, finding a good dinner can feel impossible. But with these 21 fast and tasty weeknight dinners, you won’t have to spend hours in the kitchen. These meals are perfect for busy nights, offering great flavor without the hassle. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or feeding the whole family, these recipes will make dinner a breeze.
Canned Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
This one-bowl dinner brings together tender chicken, crunchy vegetables, and savory seasonings for a meal that’s both quick and satisfying. It’s the perfect go-to for a fast weeknight dinner when there’s little time to cook. The flavor-packed ingredients come together in no time, making it ideal for busy evenings.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e pepe is a simple, flavorful pasta dish that combines a creamy cheese sauce with a touch of pepper. It’s ready in just 15 minutes, making it a great option for a quick weeknight meal. This dish is comforting, satisfying, and easy to prepare when time is short.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Pesto Salmon
Pesto salmon is a healthy, flavorful dish that combines fresh pesto with tender salmon. This meal cooks quickly, making it perfect for when a satisfying, nutritious dinner is needed fast. It’s a great choice for weeknights when there’s no time to spend on complex prep.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Honey Habanero Tacos
Honey habanero tacos offer a bold mix of sweet and spicy flavors that come together in minutes. This quick meal is the perfect solution when craving something flavorful but doesn’t have a lot of time. They’re easy to prepare, making them great for busy nights when dinner needs to be fast.
Get the Recipe: Honey Habanero Tacos
Canned Chicken Salad
Canned chicken salad is a no-cook, versatile meal that’s ready in minutes and full of flavor. It’s an ideal option when a light, satisfying dinner is needed quickly without any cooking. This quick meal is perfect for when there’s little time to spend in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Salad
Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Spinach and Parmesan quinoa is a nutritious, filling meal that combines creamy Parmesan with fresh spinach and protein-packed quinoa. It’s ready quickly, making it a great option for busy weeknights when a healthy dinner is needed fast. This dish is satisfying without taking much time to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Poached Orange Salmon
Poached orange salmon is a light, flavorful dish with a bright citrus sauce that enhances the tender fish. It cooks quickly, making it a great option for when a quick, healthy dinner is needed. This simple, nutritious meal is perfect for busy nights when time is tight.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Kefta Kebabs
Kefta kebabs are a Mediterranean-inspired dish that cooks quickly with minimal prep. These savory, flavorful kebabs are the perfect meal for a fast, satisfying dinner. They’re ready in no time, making them ideal for busy nights when you want something flavorful without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Lemon Butter Pasta
Lemon butter pasta combines a creamy buttery sauce with a zesty lemon flavor that’s easy to prepare. This comforting pasta dish comes together quickly, making it a great choice when time is short but a satisfying meal is needed. It’s the perfect option for a quick weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Butter Pasta
Asian Glazed Salmon
Asian glazed salmon is a sweet and savory dish that cooks quickly and delivers bold flavor. The glaze adds a burst of flavor to the tender salmon, making it a great meal for busy weeknights. This easy recipe is ready in no time, ideal for when you need a flavorful dinner without a lot of prep.
Get the Recipe: Asian Glazed Salmon
Honey Glazed Chicken
Honey-glazed chicken is coated in a sweet, sticky glaze that adds rich flavor to tender chicken. It’s quick to prepare, making it an ideal choice when you want something flavorful without spending much time cooking. This dish is perfect for a fast, satisfying dinner.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Mexican skillet quinoa is a one-pan meal that combines bold flavors in a simple, quick recipe. It’s easy to prepare and clean up, making it ideal for busy nights when you need a fast and satisfying dinner. This dish is full of flavor, making it perfect when you don’t want to spend too much time cooking.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Tuna and tomato pasta is a comforting dish that combines hearty tuna with rich tomato sauce and tender pasta. It’s quick to prepare, making it the perfect meal for a busy night when time is short. This easy-to-make recipe is satisfying and filling, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Mediterranean chicken with orzo is a light yet filling meal that’s quick to prepare. The fresh ingredients create a flavorful dish that’s perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. This healthy, satisfying recipe comes together fast, making it a great choice when time is limited.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Asian-Inspired Turkey Burgers
Asian-inspired turkey burgers combine bold flavors in a simple patty that’s ready in no time. These quick, flavorful burgers are perfect when a satisfying meal is needed fast. They’re an easy, go-to option for busy weeknights when you don’t want to spend a lot of time cooking.
Get the Recipe: Asian-Inspired Turkey Burgers
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Semi-homemade chicken enchiladas are made with rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time, delivering a cheesy, comforting flavor. They’re ready in a short amount of time, making them a great choice for busy nights when you need a filling, flavorful meal. This simple recipe is ideal for when dinner needs to come together fast.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Ground Turkey Pancakes
Ground turkey pancakes are a fun twist on dinner, packed with protein and flavor. They cook quickly, making them the perfect choice when a hearty meal is needed. This satisfying dish comes together in no time, perfect for busy evenings when you need something filling without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Pancakes
Creamy Pea Pasta
Creamy pea pasta is a comforting dish that combines a creamy sauce with fresh peas for a satisfying meal. It’s ready quickly, making it a great option when you need a fast, flavorful dinner. This simple recipe is perfect when time is tight but a comforting meal is desired.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Chicken Tenders
Homemade chicken tenders are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, ready in just 30 minutes. They’re the perfect choice when you want a comforting meal that doesn’t take much time to make. These crispy tenders are satisfying and easy to prepare, making them a great option for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tenders
Cashew Chicken
Cashew chicken is a flavorful dish that combines tender chicken with crunchy cashews in a savory sauce. It cooks quickly, making it a great option for a fast, satisfying dinner. This easy-to-make dish is perfect when you need something delicious without spending much time in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Cashew Chicken
Caprese Panini
A caprese panini brings together fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil in a crispy, melty sandwich. This satisfying panini is ready in minutes, making it perfect for busy nights when a quick, tasty meal is needed. It’s a simple, no-fuss dinner that’s full of flavor and fast to prepare.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini