21 Easy Weeknight Dinners (2024)

First up in our easy weeknight dinners: chickpea curry! This one is literally designed for weeknights and comes together in just 20 minutes. It's seriously flavorful, filled with ginger, garlic, cumin and curry powder, with a little coconut milk swirled in to make it creamy. Serve withbasmati rice(orInstant Pot rice).

Some weeknight dinners stand a head above the rest, and this is one of them. Try thischeese tortellini in creamy marinara sauce! In just 15 minutes, you’ve got a pasta skillet that’s a literalsymphonyflavor. The fresh basil-infused marinara sauce is perfectly complimented with pillows of tangy goat cheese.(In fact, it’s like thisbaked goat cheese dipmade into a main dish.)

Here’s a genius trick that makes an easy weeknight dinnerwithno cooking required. That’s right, no need to grab your pan and spatula. Try thisSmoked Salmon Salad! It’s healthy, fresh, and 100% cook free. Imagine: savory smoked salmon, fresh greens, fluffy goat cheese dollops and a tangyshallot vinaigrette. It comes together in 15 minutes flat.

Here’s aquick weeknight dinner ideathat’salwayssatisfying and works for nearly every diet. That’s right, the good oldBurrito Bowl! Throw rice, veggies, and burrito fillings in a bowl and call it meal! Here’s the thing: a good burrito bowl can actually take a while to make at home with all the components.Use packaged pre-cooked rice: there are a few brands on the market (like Seeds of Change).

There aresalmon recipesand then there’sthiscreamy Tuscan salmon. It might result in a few marriage proposals, which is why we also like to call it “Marry Me Salmon!” The tender fish is bathed in a luscious cream sauce with garlic, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, and capers, making each bite bright, salty, and luxurious. It tastes restaurant-style, but it’s easy to whip up at home in just 30 minutes.

If there’s one recipe that’s a sure hit in our house, it’s creamy chicken skillets. And this one is an absolute family favorite: try thiscreamy lemon garlic chicken! The chicken is coated in spices and pan fried until tender and juicy, then topped with a quick pan sauce made with lemon, garlic and a little cream.

In need of a quick and easy dinner? Here’s an idea that’s so quick, simple and bursting with flavor, it will become a family favorite in no time: thisGarlic Shrimp recipe! It’s amazing what a little garlic, butter, and lemon juice can do for a pile of shrimp. Throw them in the pan and it makes absolute magic in under 15 minutes of prep time!

This recipe makes the humble solo meal into a delicious weeknight dinner, resulting in a big batch all at once on a sheet pan! All the quesadillas are done at the same time, and they come out with a beautifully crispy exterior. In fact, it feels like a whole new version of this classic: like Quesadillas 2.0. Here's how to whip up a pan of baked sheet pan quesadillas that are so good, everyone will be begging for more.

The our ultimate fast and easy dinner recipe:Naan Pizza! Get this: it’s faster than delivery pizza, healthier,andit tastes better. So why order out when you can make tasty pizza in? Packaged naan bread is easy to find these days, making it easy to run to the store on a naan pizza run. You’ll never need delivery or frozen pizza again!

Is there anything better than shrimp tacos? Combine shrimp tacos withchips andsalsa, and maybe some refried beans on the side, we can’t think of much better. What we love about this shrimp tacos recipe is that it’s both an easy weeknight dinnerandperfect for entertaining, making it a double whammy.

Salmon is so quick to prepare and full of nutrients that it often features in our top picks for easy weeknight meals. This 10-minute baked salmon recipe makes for an ultra quick dinner. You can eat it on its own, or pair it with our bright greenchimichurri sauce. For a seriously quick dinner, serve withquinoa,couscous, orroasted brocolli.

Instead of simmering for hours, you can get big flavor in this tortilla soup in just over 30 minutes. The secret here is adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chilis: it brings in a smoky flavor without adding too much heat! It’s not too spicy, so it pleases eaters of all kind and qualifies as one of our easy weeknight dinner recipes. Serve with our Easy Vegan Cornbread for a simple side.

And last up in our easy weeknight dinners: who doesn’t love a good grilled cheese sandwich? Here’s one with a glamorous twist: theavocado grilled cheese.Simply adding an avocado and tomato to a standard grilled cheese makes it fit for serving to company!Although it’s a simple dish, grilled cheese can be gussied up as much or as little as you like.

Can you have too many chili recipes? We think not. Introducing our new favorite easy spin…thisBlack Bean Chili! It’s beyond simple to make, and the flavor isoutstanding. (We hope you’ll agree.) It’s got a hint of smokiness to highlight the tangy tomatoes and savory black beans. Top it with your favorite toppings, and it’s so hearty and savory, you’ll forget it’s healthy, too.

Here's an easy weeknight dinner that pleases everyone: Greek chicken! We’re suckers for impressive-looking one pan meals, and thisMediterranean-style mealhas charisma in spades. Bake the chicken with tomatoes, olives, garlic, lemon, and feta cheese, and it comes out with beautiful bold flavors.

Forfast and easy meals, it’s smoked salmon to the rescue! This flavor-packed protein requires no cooking at all, which makes it ideal for quick lunches and dinners. When you just don’t have time to think, try thisSmoked Salmon Sandwich! The bold flavors don’t give away it’s secrets: it takes less than 10 minutes to whip up.

You know those recipes where people rave and only you know the secret that it’s actually easy to make? That’s the case with thisCreamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta! There’s major wow-factor to this pasta, which comes together in just 30 minutes. Earthy, fruity sundried tomatoes lend a meaty quality to thiseasy vegetarian dish, which is bathed in a Parmesancream sauce.

Here’s a fun way to infuse loads of veggies into your life: this tastyVegan Stir Fry! This mess of vibrant vegetables is just as tasty as it looks. It’s all smothered in a tangy, zingy vegan stir fry sauce that you’ll want to drizzle on just about everything. We love serving with soba noodles, but it’s just as tasty with rice.

Here’s an easy dinner that’s basic but satisfies every time:Salmon Caesar Salad! Imagine: tender, perfectly seasoned chunks of salmon nestled with bursts of crunchy romaine, juicy cherry tomatoes and crunchy croutons. It’s all covered in a creamy homemadeCaesar dressingthat makes each bite absolutelysublime.