Welcome — this roundup of Easy Weeknight Dinners brings together 25 fast, no-fuss recipes so you can get dinner on the table without the stress. If you need Quick Weeknight Dinners, you’ll find one-pan pastas, sheet-pan mains, skillet meals and ladleable soups that finish in about 30 minutes or less.
These are Simple Weeknight Dinners built from pantry staples and minimal prep, with plenty of swap options. Many entries are designed as Easy Weeknight Dinners for Family—kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and easy to scale. You’ll also find a good mix of Healthy Weeknight Dinners and Easy Weeknight Dinners Healthy choices for lighter evenings that don’t skimp on flavor.
Table of Contents
1. Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken – Simple Easy Weeknight Dinners
Simple, one-pan dinner: tender chicken, colorful peppers and onions, a sticky-sweet soy glaze, and crunchy cashews roasted right on the baking sheet. Ready in about an hour total with only ~15 minutes active work.
2. Hawaiian Chicken And Veggies
Looking for a dinner that’s fast, colorful, and full of flavor? This Hawaiian-inspired sheet pan meal is your answer. Juicy chicken, sweet pineapple, and crisp veggies roast together in a tangy teriyaki glaze — all on one pan. Minimal prep, minimal dishes, maximum flavor.
3. Creamy Pepperoncini Chicken Skillet
Bright, tangy, and ready in about 30 minutes, this skillet dinner pairs tender chicken with briny pepperoncinis and a silky parmesan-cream sauce. Serve it over rice, pasta, or vegetables for a fast, satisfying meal.
4. One-Pan Mushroom Asiago Chicken
This Mushroom Asiago Chicken took top honors in a national food-blogger contest — a real crowd-pleaser that’s elegant enough for guests but simple enough for a weekday. Below is the same recipe rewritten with new phrasing and step order for clarity.
5. Caprese Chicken
When it comes to adding fresh flavors to our favorite recipes, one classic ingredient always shines: caprese! Whether we’re crowning asparagus, layering it in lasagna, or tossing it into a crisp salad, caprese brings a burst of freshness we love. But when we crave a classic summer dish, nothing beats this caprese chicken. It’s a one-pan wonder that reinvents the salad with cheesy chicken, balsamic tomatoes, and fragrant basil. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a summertime essential.
6. Creamy Tuscan-Style Chicken
Juicy pan-seared chicken cutlets swimming in a silky cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and spinach — this Creamy Tuscan Chicken is what weeknight dinner dreams are made of. It’s rich, comforting, and fancy-looking, but you can pull it off in just half an hour.
7. Hot Honey Feta Chicken
Crunchy pan-fried chicken finished with a sticky, spicy-sweet honey drizzle and a salty crumble of feta. Quick to make, easy to love.
8. Garlic-Herb Chicken with Mashed Potatoes
9. Ghost Purse Ravioli
The days leading up to Halloween should include ghosts and ravioli—nothing less! I wanted these ravioli to be easy and delicious, so I kept things simple. The filling is made of ricotta, Parmesan, and finely chopped pear. And guess what? We’re using wonton wrappers, which make the whole process much easier than making dough from scratch. Typically, there are about 51 wrappers in a standard 12-ounce package of wontons. I know, it’s a strange number, but adjust the filling if you find different brands.
10. Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi With Italian Sausage
For this gnocchi dish, we create a sauce with pumpkin puree, tomato, and herbs, similar to a marinara. Pumpkin pairs beautifully with sage and sausage, making them perfect additions to the gnocchi and sauce. Our go-to pumpkin puree brand is Libby’s—it’s just unbeatable! Wondering what to do with the extra pumpkin puree? Try out some pumpkin recipes to use it all up.
11. Tuscan Butter Gnocchi
This creamy tomato-and-basil sauce is a star in many of our recipes, adding loads of flavor to dishes like salmon, shrimp, and creamy Tuscan chicken. But this time, we’re giving the protein a break and turning this delicious sauce into a comforting pasta dinner by mixing it with one of our favorites: gnocchi.
12. Butternut Squash Mac ‘N Cheese
Butternut squash takes center stage in this creamy, cheesy sauce. Its soft, sweet, and bright orange goodness adds depth and richness to a dish we already adore: mac & cheese. With a touch of thyme, this classic comfort food gets a fancy upgrade, bringing autumn flavors to your table that are perfect any time of year.
13. Creamy Cajun Shrimp And Crab Pasta
A spicy, creamy pasta tossed with juicy shrimp and sweet lump crab meat. Fast to make, bold on flavor, and perfect for a weeknight treat or easy dinner party.
14. Lasagna Soup
Imagine a soup that laughs in the face of basic noodle soups—it’s Lasagna Soup! With its wavy pasta sheets, creamy Parmesan-enriched ricotta, and chunks of golden Italian sausage, it’s like classic baked lasagna in a bowl. Serve it up with some red wine, garlic bread, and a peppery arugula salad for the perfect meal.
15. Pumpkin Tomato Soup With Grilled Swiss Cheese Sticks
If you haven’t tried it yet, this cozy soup will win you over—pumpkin adds the perfect touch of sweetness to traditional tomato soup. The best part? You can whip up both the soup and cheesy sticks in under 30 minutes, making it the easiest fall dinner that everyone in the family will love. And let’s not forget, it’s super kid-friendly—the grilled cheese sticks are sure to be a hit!
16. Easy Potsticker Soup
Cozy, simple, and ready in under 30 minutes — this potsticker soup brings hot dumplings and bright greens together in a clear, savory broth. It’s a low-effort dinner that tastes like you spent way more time on it than you did. Want something comforting tonight? This is your answer.
17. Easy Egg Roll Soup with Green Onions and Ginger
A simple, one-pot twist on egg roll flavors: savory ground pork, crisp cabbage, fragrant ginger, and bright scallions all simmered in a comforting broth. Fast, forgiving, and perfect for weeknights.
18. Ground Beef & Chopped Cabbage Skillet
If you’re craving a cozy, no-fuss dinner, this skillet is about to become your new best friend. Juicy ground beef mingles with tender cabbage and a warm blend of spices for a meal that feels hearty but comes together in just one pan. Simple, flavorful, and totally weeknight-approved.
19. Chicken Scampi with Creamy Garlic Parmesan Rice
A saucy, skillet-ready supper that pairs seared chicken with a velvety garlic-Parmesan rice. This easy weeknight meal brings bright garlic, buttery sauce, a touch of heat, and rich cheesy rice together in one satisfying plate.
20. One-Skillet Cajun Honey Garlic Sausage & Rice
This Cajun Sausage Recipe turns a handful of pantry staples into a bold, comforting one-skillet supper — smoky sausage, crisp peppers, and fluffy rice glazed in a sticky Honey Garlic finish. Fast, flavorful, and practically no-fuss.
21. Marry Me White Bean & Spinach Skillet
Creamy, bright, and ridiculously simple — this skillet combines tender white beans, sun-dried tomatoes, and a pile of wilted spinach in a silky sauce. Below is the same recipe reworded and restructured for clarity and easy following.
22. Egg Roll Bowls
When you’re craving the crunch of egg rolls but want a heartier meal, these egg roll bowls hit the spot. They’re like the unwrapped version of your favorite take-out snack, perfect for keeping you satisfied for hours. Whether you’re cutting carbs, need a tasty lunch, or just want a simple, wallet-friendly dinner, these bowls are the answer.
23. Fast Mediterranean Steak Bowl Recipe
This vibrant Mediterranean Steak Bowl is a perfect weeknight dinner or meal prep solution. Juicy grilled sirloin, crisp vegetables, and a dollop of creamy tzatziki come together over your choice of grains, creating a satisfying and balanced bowl that’s full of classic Greek-inspired flavors. It’s easy to customize for different dietary needs and ready in under 30 minutes.
24. Irresistible Bang Bang Salmon
In the world of Salmon Recipes Baked Healthy, Bang Bang Salmon is the spicy-creamy answer to “what’s for dinner?” This dish takes flaky, nutrient-rich salmon and crowns it with a tangy, slightly sweet, slightly spicy Bang Bang sauce — think creamy meets kicky — and it’s done in under 30 minutes. Ready to get dinner on the table fast, feel like a chef, and still eat something that’s actually good for you? Let’s go.
25. Easy Chinese Coconut Shrimp
Lightly sweet, super crunchy shrimp coated with coconut and panko — ready in about 30 minutes. Perfect as an appetizer or a main with rice and a dipping sauce.
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