Long days make dinner feel like a chore, but it doesn’t have to be that way. These 19 recipes are quick to make, easy to follow, and full of flavor. You won’t need fancy steps or hard-to-find ingredients to get something good on the table. When dinner comes together this fast, it’s hard to find a reason not to cook at home.
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Asian-Inspired Turkey Burgers
These juicy turkey burgers come packed with flavor and cook up fast in a pan or on the grill. You don’t need fancy toppings or sauces, because the seasoning does all the work. It’s a weeknight dinner recipe that makes you look like a pro without taking up your whole night.
Get the Recipe: Asian-Inspired Turkey Burgers
Chicken Tenders
These crispy chicken tenders are golden, juicy, and way better than any frozen ones from a box. They’re easy to make with just a few ingredients and taste great with any dipping sauce. It’s a fast and foolproof dinner that always hits the spot for kids and grown-ups alike.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tenders
Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza
This pizza starts with flatbread, which means no need to mess with dough or wait around for it to rise. The tangy goat cheese melts perfectly and goes great with the fresh, crisp asparagus. It’s a speedy dinner that feels a little fancy but still keeps things simple and doable.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza
Asian Glazed Salmon
This salmon is coated in a sweet and salty glaze that makes each bite full of bold flavor. It cooks in just a few minutes and always comes out tender and moist. It’s a fast weeknight dinner that feels like something from a nice restaurant but takes barely any effort.
Get the Recipe: Asian Glazed Salmon
Honey Habanero Tacos
These tacos mix sweet honey and fiery habanero for a fun combo that wakes up your dinner routine. They cook quickly and use simple ingredients, but they don’t hold back on flavor. It’s a fast and tasty dinner that adds something different without being too hard to make.
Get the Recipe: Honey Habanero Tacos
Canned Chicken Salad
This chicken salad comes together with pantry staples and tastes fresh and filling without any cooking. It works well on bread, lettuce, crackers, or just on its own for a light and easy meal. It’s a foolproof option for weeknights when you want something quick that still feels like real food.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Salad
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
This recipe takes all the good parts of an egg roll and turns them into a fast stir-fry you can make in one pan. It’s loaded with veggies, ground meat, and sauce, and it’s ready in under 20 minutes. This is a weeknight dinner that keeps things easy but still feels like a real meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Creamy Pea Pasta
A smooth, cheesy sauce wraps around every bite of pasta and sweet green peas for something comforting and fast. It’s rich but not too heavy and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand. It’s a tasty and reliable recipe for nights when you need dinner on the table fast.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
This one-pan dish is full of warm quinoa, wilted spinach, and melted parmesan cheese that makes it creamy and satisfying. It’s fast to make and doesn’t need meat to feel like a full meal. It’s a smart and simple dinner when you want something filling but still easy to throw together.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
These enchiladas use rotisserie chicken and store-bought sauce to keep things quick without skipping on flavor. They bake up cheesy and warm and make enough to feed everyone without extra stress. It’s one of those weeknight dinners that saves the day when you’re out of time.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Kefta Kebabs
These kebabs mix ground meat with warm spices for a fast and flavorful dish that’s ready in minutes. They cook quickly on the grill or stovetop and taste great with rice, flatbread, or salad. It’s a dinner recipe that feels bold and different but takes less work than you’d think.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Cashew Chicken
Chicken and roasted cashews get tossed in a quick sauce for a sweet, savory, and crunchy meal. You can make it in one skillet, and it’s faster than ordering takeout from your usual spot. This dinner is full of flavor and ready to go before anyone starts asking what’s for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cashew Chicken
Poached Orange Salmon
Fresh orange juice gives this salmon a bright flavor that keeps it light, tender, and not too rich. It poaches quickly on the stove and doesn’t require much prep or cleanup. This is a fast and easy dinner that looks impressive but comes together without stress.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Caprese Panini
Warm bread, melty mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and fresh basil come together in this sandwich that feels more like a full meal. It’s quick to make on a skillet or press and tastes fresh even on a busy night. This is a fast and simple dinner that doesn’t feel like a shortcut.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini
Lemon Butter Pasta
This pasta is light, buttery, and full of lemon flavor that makes it feel refreshing but still comforting. It only takes a few ingredients and cooks in the time it takes to boil noodles. This recipe proves you can have a great dinner without spending a lot of time or money.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Butter Pasta
Honey Glazed Chicken
The glaze on this chicken is sticky, sweet, and packed with flavor from just a handful of pantry ingredients. It cooks fast in a skillet and goes great with rice, veggies, or anything else you have on hand. It’s the kind of weeknight dinner that feels like a treat but doesn’t slow you down.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Ripe tomatoes and creamy ricotta come together with hot pasta to make a meal that’s fresh, rich, and comforting. It doesn’t take much time or effort, and the flavors speak for themselves. This is a fast dinner that feels homey and satisfying without being too heavy.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
This pasta recipe uses canned tuna, jarred sauce, and dried noodles to make a hot and hearty meal in very little time. It tastes way better than it sounds and is perfect for when your fridge is almost empty. It’s a weeknight recipe that saves the day when you don’t feel like cooking but need to eat.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Spicy Tuna Rolls
These sushi-style rolls are filled with spicy tuna and come together fast with store-bought rice and wrappers. They’re fun to make at home and skip the cost and wait of takeout. This is a quick dinner recipe that’s a little different but still easy enough for any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Tuna Rolls