When dinner time rolls around, the easiest option can feel like ordering takeout, but that adds up fast and takes longer than you think. These 19 simple dinner recipes come together quickly and give you a filling, flavorful meal without leaving the house. They make weeknight cooking stress-free and show that a home-cooked dinner can be faster and more satisfying than delivery.
Pesto Salmon. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
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 is a smart choice for a weeknight meal because it’s fast, filling, and proves pasta can be both easy and comforting.
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Italian Meatball Soup
Juicy meatballs simmer in broth with pasta, creating a dinner that feels homemade even though it cooks in far less time. The flavors come together quickly and give you a hearty soup that tastes like it took hours to prepare. This is an easy weeknight dinner that’s satisfying, rich, and perfect for nights when you want a full meal without the wait.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Soup
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. This is a fresh and flavorful meal that proves seafood can be easy, fast, and better than ordering takeout.
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Caprese Panini
Melted mozzarella, juicy tomato, and fresh basil pressed between bread create a sandwich that tastes fresh while still feeling filling. The cheese softens into the bread and ties the flavors together for a simple but complete dinner. This is a quick weeknight meal that’s easy to repeat and proves that fresh ingredients can make dinner feel special without extra work.
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Crescent Roll Bagel Dogs
Flaky crescent rolls wrapped around hot dogs bake up golden and crisp while staying tender inside. The recipe takes only minutes to prepare and needs little more than rolling and baking before it is ready. This is a fun and easy weeknight meal that bakes fast, cleans up quickly, and always feels like a treat when time is short.
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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. This is a quick weeknight dinner that’s flavorful, reliable, and a smart way to enjoy seafood at home.
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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. This is a quick weeknight meal that tastes better than delivery and is simple enough to keep making again.
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Cheesy Stuffed Shells
Jumbo pasta shells filled with creamy cheese and baked in sauce come out rich, hearty, and warm from the oven. The prep is short and the oven does most of the work, giving you comfort food with little effort. This is an easy weeknight dinner that’s filling, reliable, and always satisfies when you want pasta.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Stuffed Shells
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. This is a quick weeknight dinner that’s easy to repeat and proves that you do not need much to make something delicious.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Quinoa, beans, and vegetables cook together in one skillet to create a dinner that is hearty, meat-free, and full of flavor. The spices make the dish rich while it still feels light and filling enough for a full meal. This is a fast weeknight recipe that’s wholesome, quick, and keeps dinner simple without losing flavor.
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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. This is a quick weeknight meal that’s hearty, comforting, and a smart way to enjoy lasagna faster.
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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. This is a simple and bold weeknight meal that’s 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. These are easy weeknight meals that are quick, tasty, and perfect for nights when you want something different without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Instant Pot Lentil Soup
Lentils, vegetables, and spices cook together in the Instant Pot until the soup is thick, rich, and filling. It tastes like it simmered for hours but is ready in far less time, which makes it perfect for weeknight dinners. This is a wholesome and hearty meal that’s simple, reliable, and worth repeating on busy nights.
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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. This is a quick weeknight dinner that’s filling, comforting, and faster than waiting for delivery.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef and Rice Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spicy chicken tossed with crisp greens and a 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. This is a quick weeknight meal that’s easy, exciting, and a smarter choice than ordering delivery.
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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. This is a weeknight dinner that’s simple, warm, and always reliable when you want comfort fast.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup
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. This is an easy weeknight dinner that’s satisfying, hearty, and feels homemade without the long steps.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
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 and tasty while still being simple to prepare. This is a quick weeknight dinner that’s comforting, flavorful, and always a good choice when you need something fast.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken