Ordering dinner can feel easy, but the wait, the cost, and the soggy takeout bag often leave you wanting more. These 23 quick and easy weeknight meals are made with simple ingredients and come together in less time than delivery. They bring big flavor to the table without the high price tag, making dinner at home the better choice night after night.
Italian Meatball Soup. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Caprese Panini
A golden, pressed sandwich with mozzarella, tomato, and basil makes dinner feel fresh while taking only minutes to prepare. The cheese melts into the bread, and the flavors blend together for a meal that feels complete without extra work. This is a delicious and quick weeknight meal that proves simple ingredients can create something filling and worth repeating.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spicy chicken tossed with crisp greens and tangy dressing makes a meal that is bold without taking long to prepare. The flavors balance heat and crunch, giving a fresh dinner that feels exciting with minimal effort. This easy-to-make weeknight meal is quick, filling, and a smarter choice than delivery on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Chicken Tortellini Soup
Tender tortellini and chicken in a flavorful broth give you a warm, comforting dinner that comes together in no time. The pasta and soup base make it hearty enough to stand on its own without hours of cooking. This is a quick weeknight dinner that is satisfying, simple, and always a reliable choice when time is short.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup
Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Beef, rice, and melted cheese bake into a warm dish that feels rich and filling while only needing simple steps. The ingredients are budget-friendly and easy to keep on hand, which makes it perfect for last-minute dinners. This is an easy weeknight meal that is hearty, satisfying, and better than waiting for takeout.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Mexican Skillet Quinoa
A single skillet filled with quinoa, beans, and vegetables makes a flavorful and meat-free dinner in less than 30 minutes. The spices add richness while the dish stays light and filling enough for the whole table. This is a quick weeknight meal that is wholesome, fast, and makes dinner less stressful without losing flavor.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Italian Meatball Soup
Juicy meatballs simmer with pasta and broth for a soup that feels homemade in a fraction of the time. The flavors come together quickly, creating a warm meal that is both filling and satisfying. This easy weeknight dinner is rich, hearty, and proves that you do not need hours to make something that feels complete.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Soup
Cashew Chicken
Tender chicken and crunchy cashews cook in a sweet and savory sauce that coats everything in one pan. The flavor is bold and balanced while the cleanup stays easy, making it a fast choice after a long day. This is a quick weeknight meal that tastes better than delivery and is simple enough to make again and again.
Get the Recipe: Cashew Chicken
Cacio e Pepe
Pasta, cheese, and cracked pepper come together in a skillet for a meal that is simple yet packed with flavor. It takes just minutes to prepare, but it feels like something special at the table. This is a quick weeknight dinner that shows how basic pantry ingredients can still deliver big flavor fast.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Tortillas filled with chicken, sauce, and cheese bake into a dish that is rich and comforting with very little prep. Using rotisserie chicken makes it even faster while still keeping the meal full of flavor. This is an easy weeknight dinner that is hearty, satisfying, and feels homemade without the long steps.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Lentils, vegetables, and spices cook together in the Instant Pot for a soup that is thick, rich, and filling. It tastes like it has simmered all day, but is ready in a short amount of time. This quick weeknight meal is wholesome, hearty, and a great choice for nights when you need flavor without the wait.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
A skillet filled with chicken, cabbage, and sauce creates a meal that tastes like takeout but comes together in minutes. Everything cooks in one pan, which keeps cleanup fast and makes dinner less stressful. This is a quick weeknight meal that is bold, flavorful, and simple enough to put on repeat.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Poached Orange Salmon
Salmon simmered in orange broth stays tender and juicy while bringing a bright flavor to the plate. The dish feels light but pairs easily with simple sides for a complete dinner in little time. This is an easy weeknight meal that is fresh, quick, and proves seafood can be simple and flavorful without the delivery price tag.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Pesto Salmon
A fillet coated in pesto cooks fast in the oven or on the stove, giving salmon a rich, herby taste. The flavors are vibrant, and the fish stays tender, which makes it feel like a special dinner with little effort. This is a quick weeknight meal that is flavorful, simple, and worth making again whenever you want an easy seafood option.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Cheesy Stuffed Shells
Jumbo pasta shells filled with creamy cheese and baked in sauce create a rich and hearty dinner. The oven does most of the work, leaving you with a meal that feels comforting without the long prep. This is an easy weeknight meal that is filling, simple, and perfect when you want a pasta dish that always satisfies.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Stuffed Shells
Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups
Rolled pasta sheets layered with cheese and sauce bake into a dish that feels like lasagna but takes far less time. The flavor is rich and cheesy, while the process is simple enough for a busy night. This is a quick weeknight meal that is hearty, comforting, and a smart way to enjoy lasagna without the extra work.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups
Honey Glazed Chicken
Chicken coated in a sticky honey glaze cooks in one pan and delivers sweet and savory flavor in every bite. The glaze caramelizes into something rich while still being simple to prepare. This is an easy weeknight dinner that is quick, comforting, and a reliable option when you want big flavor with little effort.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Crescent Roll Bagel Dogs
Buttery crescent rolls wrap around juicy hot dogs for a dinner that bakes golden and flaky in minutes. The crust is crisp, the inside is tender, and the recipe takes little more than rolling and baking. This is a quick weeknight meal that is fun, easy, and always a favorite when you need something fast.
Get the Recipe: Crescent Roll Bagel Dogs
Kefta Kebabs
Ground meat mixed with spices cooks up juicy and flavorful in just minutes, whether grilled or pan-fried. The recipe is quick to prepare but still delivers bold, satisfying flavor at the table. These easy weeknight meals are fast, tasty, and perfect for nights when you want something exciting without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Creamy Pea Pasta
A sauce made from peas turns creamy and coats every noodle for a pasta dish that feels rich without being heavy. It comes together in one pan with just a few steps, making it a smart choice for busy nights. This is a quick weeknight meal that is simple, filling, and proof that pasta can be fast and comforting at the same time.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
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. This is an easy weeknight meal that is fast, versatile, and makes busy nights feel more manageable.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Chicken and Waffle Casserole
Turn a breakfast favorite into dinner with this chicken and waffle casserole that bakes up crisp on top and soft in the middle for the best mix of textures. The recipe is easy to put together in one pan, which means less time spent cleaning up and more time to enjoy. It makes a fun and filling weeknight meal that delivers both sweet and savory flavors in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Waffle Casserole
Alfredo Steak Pasta
Make your weeknight special with this Alfredo steak pasta that brings tender steak and creamy sauce together for a rich and satisfying plate. The dish comes together quickly with simple steps, giving you a hearty dinner that tastes like something from a restaurant. It’s a flavorful and filling recipe that makes comfort food possible even on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Alfredo Steak Pasta
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Get the crunch of fried chicken without the heavy oil by letting the air fryer do the work for you in less time. The chicken stays juicy inside while the outside gets golden and crisp, and cleanup is much easier than with traditional frying. This quick recipe is perfect when you want the comfort of fried chicken but need it to be simple and fast.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fried Chicken