Looking for tasty and easy weeknight dinners? We got you covered! Below we share all of our favorite low effort and delicious dinners, including flavored-packed pastas, hearty soups and chilis, succulent chicken, buttery fish, and more.
With our busy schedules, we are always making simple easy weeknight dinners with a short cook time and easy cleanup.
Below we rounded up 26 of our favorite hassle-free weeknight dinner ideas so you know exactly what to make next time you are looking for an easy weeknight meal.
Looking for easy sides to go with your weeknight dinner? Try our some of our favorites like our Healthy Corn Fritters, Maple Bacon Brussel Sprouts, Pan Fried Potatoes with Herbs, or Sautéed Broccolini (Broccoletti). Check out our sides page for more inspiration.
1. BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs
BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs
BBQ Baked Chicken Thighs is an easy chicken recipe that makes the juiciest, tastiest oven-baked barbecue chicken. It only calls for 2 main ingredients and a few minutes of prep. Then just wait for the chicken to bake and enjoy!
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2. Bavette Steak (Broiled Garlic Flank Steak)
Broiled Garlic Flank Steak
Bavette Steak is a juicy beef cut that broils perfectly medium rare in just a few minutes. All you need to do is stuff the steak with garlic cloves, season, broil, and slice!
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3. Baked Furikake Salmon
Baked Furikake Salmon with Kewpie Mayo
Baked Furikake Salmon is a flavorful, tender salmon dish made with Kewpie mayo, soy sauce, garlic powder, and furikake. This umami-packed recipe is surprisingly easy and requires minimal cleanup.
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4. Prosciutto Ricotta Pizza
Prosciutto Ricotta Pizza
Prosciutto Ricotta Pizza is a sweet and salty homemade white pizza packed with flavor! It takes 25 minutes to make and features a golden crust topped with mozzarella, ricotta, prosciutto, arugula, and a drizzle of hot honey.
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5. Cast Iron Chicken Breast With Garlic Butter
Cast Iron Chicken Breast
Cast Iron Chicken Breast with Garlic Butter is an easy, fool-proof way to prepare tender, mouthwatering chicken. It features succulent seasoned chicken breast with an herbed crust, topped with a decadent roasted garlic butter. Once you make chicken using our method, you'll never want to make it any other way!
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6. Traditional Bolognese Sauce (Ragù alla Bolognese)
Traditional Bolognese
Bolognese Sauce is made with simple authentic ingredients, including Italian tomatoes, ground beef, and wine. The sauce cooks low and slow to create a rich and flavorful sauce. It pairs well with broad pasta noodles and makes for a hearty and satisfying weeknight or holiday dinner.
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7. Truffle Mushroom and Leek Risotto
Truffle Risotto
Truffle Mushroom and Leek Risotto is a decadent restaurant-worthy Italian dish. It features creamy al dente risotto with sautéed leeks, truffle purée, and a mushroom medley, topped with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
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8. Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers
Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers
Turkey and Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers feature a medley of seasoned ground turkey, quinoa, feta cheese, and veggies stuffed in a bell pepper boat. It's a nutritious weeknight recipe and a fantastic way to get protein and vegetables without sacrificing flavor. Just cook the turkey mixture then relax while the bell peppers bake.
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9. Veggie Pesto Pasta With Zucchini and Asparagus
Veggie Pesto Pasta With Zucchini and Asparagus
Veggie Pesto Pasta is a flavor packed, nutritious weeknight dinner that comes together in just 25 minutes. This bright and zesty vegetarian dish features al dente pasta, zucchini, and asparagus tossed in herby pesto, lemon juice, and zest.
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10. Italian Beef Soup (Brodo di Carne)
Italian Beef Soup (Brodo di Carne)
Italian Beef Soup is filled with tender, slow-cooked chuck roast, vegetables, and herbs simmered in a rich, flavorful broth. Cook this soup low and slow for hours, for a mouthwatering broth with fall-apart beef. Make it even heartier by adding orzo or pastina and topping with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
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11. Cast Iron Skillet Burger
Cast Iron Skillet Burger
Cast Iron Skillet Burger is a quick and easy recipe for tender beef patties on the stovetop. It takes just a few minutes to cook these juicy burgers then customize them with your preferred toppings. Trust us, this will be your favorite way to prepare burgers from now on!
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12. Creamy Parmesan Polenta with Cheese Crisps
Creamy Parmesan Polenta With Cheese Crisps
Creamy Parmesan Polenta with Cheese Crisps is a classic Italian recipe featuring velvety polenta topped with herbed frico. This authentic, restaurant-quality dish is surprisingly easy and makes the perfect meal to share with family or friends.
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13. Chicken Katsu (Japanese Chicken Cutlet)
Chicken Katsu (Japanese Chicken Cutlet)
Chicken Katsu is a crispy golden chicken cutlet that makes a great lunch or dinner. This Japanese staple is commonly served with rice, vegetables, and tonkatsu sauce for extra flavor.
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14. Buttery Fish with Crispy Skin
Buttery Fish with Crispy Skin
Buttery Fish with Crispy Skin takes just 15 minutes to make. Our recipe utilizes a quick pan-searing method that results in restaurant-quality succulent fish with perfectly crisp golden skin in no time!
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15. Red Pepper Pesto Pasta
Red Pepper Pesto Pasta
Red Pepper Pesto Pasta is a vibrant dish featuring al dente pasta tossed in homemade red pepper pesto. This restaurant-quality recipe comes together in only 20 minutes and is the perfect meal for a weeknight dinner or entertaining!
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16. Hawaiian Roll Turkey Pesto Sliders
Hawaiian Roll Turkey Pesto Sliders
Hawaiian Roll Turkey Pesto Sliders is a shareable one-pan recipe filled with fresh turkey, pesto, swiss, and honey on sweet Hawaiian rolls. All you need is a cast iron skillet or baking sheet and a few ingredients to make these simple sliders.
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17. Teriyaki Salmon
Teriyaki Salmon
Teriyaki Salmon is a tender dish dressed in a homemade teriyaki sauce. It is a perfect low-effort meal that only requires a handful of ingredients! Make it with a tasty Japanese side for a complete and nutritious dinner.
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18. Cacio e Pepe with Burrata
Cacio e Pepe with Burrata
Cacio e Pepe with Burrata is a creamy, cheesy indulgent pasta dish. It takes less than 20 minutes to make and is made with just freshly cracked pepper, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino, and pasta. It's a delicious last-minute pasta dish for a weeknight dinner or date night at home!
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19. Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad
Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad
Pear and Prosciutto Rocket Salad is a delightfully sweet and savory dish full of flavor and texture. Crispy prosciutto, sliced pears, walnuts, shallots, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and peppery arugula tossed in a maple balsamic vinaigrette.
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20. Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken
Teriyaki Chicken features tender chicken thighs cooked in richly flavored teriyaki sauce. This restaurant quality chicken takes just 20 minutes to make and is the perfect lunch or light dinner.
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21. BBQ Pulled Chicken Burgers
BBQ Pulled Chicken Burgers
BBQ Pulled Chicken Burgers feature tender, slow cooked pulled chicken dressed in tangy BBQ sauce with crunchy coleslaw on buttery brioche buns.
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22. Calamarata Pasta (Calamari and Tomato Sauce)
Calamarata Pasta
Calamarata is a classic Neapolitan pasta featuring succulent calamari bathed in a light and brothy tomato sauce. Each bite is filled with tender squid, al dente pasta tubes, and fresh juicy tomatoes. Make this authentic Italian dish with just a few ingredients in 20 minutes!
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23. Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Pomodoro
Chicken Pomodoro
Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Pomodoro is a mouthwatering meal for the whole family! It features juicy Italian-seasoned chicken stuffed with mozzarella cooked in tomato sauce. Make this flavor-packed dish with minimal effort.
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24. Flank Steak Salad With Balsamic Dressing
Flank Steak Salad With Balsamic Dressing
Flank Steak Salad With Balsamic Dressing is a refreshing and hearty salad featuring tender flavorful flank steak, crisp lettuce, and a vegetable medley tossed in a tangy lemon-balsamic vinaigrette. Make in just 20 minutes, including prep!
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25. Thick & Healthy Turkey Chili
Thick & Healthy Turkey Chili (With Kidney Beans)
Thick & Healthy Turkey Chili is a healthy, hearty chili made with lean turkey, red kidney beans, corn, and bell pepper. It's loaded with protein and fiber without sacrificing any flavor. This heart-healthy dinner can be made in under 1 hour and yields plenty of leftovers.
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26. Eggplant Pasta (Pasta alla Norma)
Eggplant Pasta (Pasta alla Norma)
Eggplant Pasta is a mouthwatering vegetarian pasta rich in quintessential Italian flavors. It features al dente pasta dressed in a hearty tomato sauce with pan-fried eggplant and fresh herbs. Make this filling pasta in under a half hour for weeknights and entertaining!
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📖 Recipe
26 Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes
Looking for easy and tasty weeknight dinners? We got you covered! Below we share all of our favorite low effort and delicious dinners, including flavored-packed pastas, hearty soups and chilis, succulent chicken, buttery fish, and more.
Servings: 2
Calories: 651kcal
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts even sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon pesto divided
- 2 oz mozzarella about 4 slices of fresh mozzarella; about a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella
- 3 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- black cracked pepper
- 2 cloves garlic pressed
- 1 shallot chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- ⅓ cup white wine
- ⅓ cup chicken broth
- fresh basil torn
Instructions
- Cut chicken - Place the chicken breasts flat on a cutting board. Tenderize the breasts to make them the same thickness. Use a knife to cut about ¾ of the way through the chicken without cutting all the way through. Make the incision parallel to the cutting board. This creates a pocket that will hold the cheese.2 chicken breasts even sized pieces
- Stuff and season chicken - Spread about a ½ tablespoon of pesto inside of the chicken breast pockets. Place a slice of mozzarella or about a tablespoon of shredded mozzarella inside of the pockets on top of the pesto and push the cheese toward the back of the pocket. Use toothpicks to close the pockets. Rub the breasts with about a tablespoon of olive oil and season the outside of the chicken with the garlic powder, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper on both sides, or season to taste. You can also use premixed Italian seasoning.1 tablespoon pesto, 2 oz mozzarella, 3 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon sea salt, black cracked pepper
- Sear chicken - Heat about a tablespoon of olive oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken until each piece is golden, about 4 minutes each side. Place the lid on once you flip the chicken over. Remove the chicken from the pan.3 tablespoon olive oil
- Make tomato sauce - In the same skillet, heat about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots to the oil and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and allow them to cook untouched for 2-3 minutes until they begin to char and blister. Stir the tomatoes and add white wine to deglaze the pan. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bits of chicken and tomatoes from the pan.3 tablespoon olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 shallot, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, ⅓ cup white wine
- Cook chicken in sauce - Once most of the wine burns off, turn down the heat, stir in chicken broth, and let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes. Add torn basil leaves, pepper, and salt, and give the sauce a stir to incorporate all of the ingredients. Add chicken back into the pan and nestle each breast in the sauce. Spoon some of the sauce onto each piece and simmer for an additional 3-5 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees. Remove the pan from heat and serve immediately.⅓ cup chicken broth,fresh basil⅓ cup chicken broth, fresh basil
Nutrition
Calories: 651kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 58g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 1895mg | Potassium: 1472mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1392IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 3mg
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