Are you tired of spending hours in the kitchen after a long day? You can make yummy meals in just 30 minutes, and they’re super easy to make. Try simple stir-fries or one pot pasta recipes for a quick dinner solution.
What’s your favorite weeknight dinner? You can find many ideas online, like recipes that use only a few ingredients or don’t need a lot of cooking time. Let’s get started and find some yummy and easy dinner ideas together!
Quick Chicken Fajitas
Quick Chicken Fajitas are a flavorful and spicy Mexican dish.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup sliced bell peppers
- 1/2 cup sliced onions
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 small flour tortillas
- Optional toppings: avocado, sour cream, salsa, shredded cheese, cilantro
Instructions
- Slice the chicken into thin strips and season with cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until browned, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add the sliced bell peppers and onions to the skillet and cook until they start to soften.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute.
- Continue cooking the chicken and vegetables for an additional 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Warm the flour tortillas by wrapping them in a damp paper towel and microwaving for 20-30 seconds.
- Assemble the fajitas by slicing the cooked chicken and vegetables and serving them in the warmed tortillas with desired toppings.
One Pot Pasta Recipes
Quick and easy one pot pasta with flavorful sauce and tender noodles.
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Add the cherry tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the vegetable broth, pasta, and dried basil to the pot.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Fast and Delicious Tacos
Fast and delicious tacos filled with seasoned ground beef and toppings.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 packet of taco seasoning
- 8-10 taco shells
- Shredded cheese
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Salsa
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Add the taco seasoning to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer the beef mixture for 5 minutes.
- Prepare the taco shells according to the package instructions.
- Assemble the tacos by spooning the beef mixture into the shells and topping with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and sour cream.
- Serve the tacos immediately and enjoy.
Simple Stir Fry Ideas
Quick and easy stir fry with vegetables and your choice of protein.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, broccoli)
- 1 cup of cooked chicken, beef or tofu
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the vegetables and cooked protein, stir fry for 3-4 minutes.
- Season with soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Serve hot over rice or noodles.
Easy Baked Salmon
Delicious and healthy salmon fillets baked to perfection.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets
- 2 lemons
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Place salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle olive oil over the salmon fillets.
- Dot the top of each fillet with butter.
- Sprinkle garlic and thyme over the salmon.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cooked through.
- Serve with lemon wedges on the side.
Rapid Roasted Vegetables
Rapid roasted vegetables are a quick and easy side dish perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
- 1 large broccoli crown, chopped
- 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- In a large bowl, toss the chopped carrot, broccoli, and bell pepper to combine.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Toss the vegetables to coat evenly with the oil and seasonings.
- Spread the vegetables in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
- Roast the vegetables in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until tender and lightly browned.
- Remove the vegetables from the oven and serve hot.
Speedy Shrimp Scampi
Quick and flavorful shrimp dish with garlic butter sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup cooked linguine
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook linguine according to package instructions.
- In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through.
- Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and add the white wine to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter, parsley, salt, pepper, basil, and red pepper flakes to the skillet.
- Stir until the butter is melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Return the shrimp to the skillet and toss to coat with the garlic butter sauce.
- Serve the shrimp over cooked linguine and top with Parmesan cheese.
30 Minute Beef Stroganoff
Quick and savory Minute Beef Stroganoff for a delicious weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef strips
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup mushrooms
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 1 cup cooked noodles
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to package directions.
- Slice the beef into thin strips and season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the beef until browned.
- Add the onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Add the mushrooms to the skillet and cook until they release their moisture and start to brown.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, tomato paste, and Dijon mustard.
- Pour the broth mixture over the beef and mushrooms, and stir to combine.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the sour cream and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Serve the beef mixture over the cooked noodles and garnish with chopped parsley.
Fast Fried Rice
Fast and flavorful Chinese-inspired dish made with rice and vegetables.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup mixed vegetables
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, until fragrant.
- Add the mixed vegetables and cook until they are tender-crisp, about 2-3 minutes.
- Push the vegetables to one side of the pan, then add a little more oil if necessary.
- Pour the beaten eggs into the other side of the pan and scramble them until cooked through.
- Mix the eggs with the vegetables, then add the cooked rice to the pan.
- Stir-fry the rice with the vegetables and eggs, breaking up any clumps with a spatula.
- Add the soy sauce and stir-fry for another minute, until the rice is well coated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, then serve hot.
Quick Quesadillas
Quick and easy quesadillas perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 large tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 1 can of diced chicken
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat.
- In a bowl, mix together the diced chicken, chopped onion, and chopped bell pepper.
- Place a tortilla in the skillet and sprinkle shredded cheese on half of the tortilla.
- Spoon the chicken mixture on top of the cheese.
- Fold the tortilla in half to enclose the filling.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is melted.
- Flip the quesadilla and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until the other side is also crispy.
- Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Cut the quesadillas into wedges and serve hot.
Easy Skillet Meals
Quick and flavorful chicken and vegetable skillet meal.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless chicken breast
- 1 large onion
- 2 large bell peppers
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup mixed vegetables
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken to the skillet and cook until browned, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add onion and bell peppers to the skillet and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and mixed vegetables to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Season with thyme, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Rapid Ravioli Recipes
Quick and easy ravioli dish for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 package of fresh ravioli
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup of marinara sauce
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ravioli according to package instructions.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion until translucent.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional minute.
- Add the marinara sauce to the skillet and stir to combine with the onion and garlic.
- Once the ravioli is cooked, drain and add to the skillet with the marinara sauce.
- Toss the ravioli in the sauce to coat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the ravioli to a serving dish and top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Simple Soup Ideas
Creamy tomato soup for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of chicken broth
- 1 can of diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
- 1 tsp of dried basil
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- 1/4 tsp of black pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine chicken broth and diced tomatoes.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
- Reduce heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the soup until smooth.
- Stir in heavy cream, dried basil, salt, and black pepper.
- Continue to simmer for another 5 minutes or until the soup is heated through.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
20 Minute Chicken Breasts
Quick and easy minute chicken breasts recipe for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Add the olive oil to the preheated skillet.
- Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes per side.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Let the chicken rest for 2-3 minutes before slicing and serving.
Fast and Easy Meatballs
Quick and savory meatballs perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground meat
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, milk, Parmesan cheese, and garlic.
- Mix the ingredients with your hands or a wooden spoon until just combined.
- Use your hands to shape the mixture into meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter.
- Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each meatball.
- Drizzle the meatballs with olive oil and gently roll them to coat evenly.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Speedy Sausage Skillet
Quick and flavorful sausage skillet dish ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound sausage
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 bell pepper
- 2 potatoes
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the sausage until browned.
- Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper to the skillet and cook until the vegetables are tender.
- Add the potatoes to the skillet and cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
One Dish Casseroles
Hearty one dish casseroles simplify weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 1 cup macaroni
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup crushed crackers
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook the macaroni according to package directions.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion is translucent.
- Stir in the frozen peas and carrots, condensed cream of mushroom soup, and milk.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked macaroni, ground beef mixture, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Top with crushed crackers and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Quick Vegetable Curry
Quick and flavorful Indian-inspired curry made with mixed vegetables.
Ingredients
- 2 medium onions
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 medium ginger
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 medium potatoes
- 1 large bell pepper
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp turmeric
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add onions, garlic, and ginger, and cook until the onions are translucent.
- Add carrots, potatoes, and bell pepper, and cook for 5 minutes.
- Stir in curry powder and turmeric, and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in coconut milk and vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until the vegetables are tender.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot over rice or with naan bread.
Easy Chicken and Rice
Easy Chicken and Rice is a simple, flavorful dish perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless chicken breast
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup mixed vegetables
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add diced onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
- Add mixed vegetables and cook until tender, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add cooked chicken breast and stir to combine with vegetables.
- Add cooked white rice, soy sauce, salt, and pepper, and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
Fast and Delicious Burger Recipes
Fast and delicious burgers perfect for weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Cheese
- Mayonnaise
Instructions
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Finely chop the onion and mix with ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts and shape into patties.
- Grill the patties for 4-5 minutes per side, or until they are cooked to desired doneness.
- Meanwhile, toast the hamburger buns on the grill.
- Assemble the burgers with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and mayonnaise.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Conclusion
You’re in the driver’s seat with these 20 weeknight dinner recipes, cutting stress and saving time. They’re a breeze to make, and you’ll be cooking on all cylinders in no time, whipping up tasty meals that hit the spot, every time.