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Home / Best Recipes

16 Quick and Easy Recipes for Busy Weeknights

Erren Hart

|

last Updated:

08/18/2025

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When time is tight, but a delicious meal is still a must, these 16 quick and easy recipes have you covered! From flavorful options like Spicy Shrimp Tacos and Chicken Lo Mein to comforting classics like Ground Beef Tacos and Easy Baked Chicken Legs, there’s something for every craving. These dishes are perfect for busy nights, offering big flavors with minimal effort. Grab your ingredients and get ready to whip up a fantastic meal in a flash!

Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

A close-up of spaghetti bolognese topped with grated cheese highlights this classic ground beef recipe. The dish features spaghetti noodles mixed with a savory meat and tomato sauce, garnished with shredded cheese, creating a hearty and appetizing appearance.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Whip up this speedy Spaghetti Bolognese recipe and you’ll have a meat sauce so packed with Italian flavor, it might just start singing opera! Ready in just 30 minutes—because who has time to wait for deliciousness?

Get The Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Easy Spicy Shrimp Tacos

A close-up of shrimp tacos filled with grilled shrimp, sliced avocado, shredded purple cabbage, and drizzled white sauce. The tacos are on a tortilla, garnished with cilantro, with a bowl of sauce and lime wedges in the background.
Image Credit: Image credit goes to.

Whip up these spicy shrimp tacos in no time flat. Juicy, marinated shrimp bursting with spice is nestled in warm tortillas, ready for your favorite toppings. Dinner doesn’t get much faster or tastier!

GET THE RECIPE: Shrimp Tacos

Buttery Garlic Salmon

Two pieces of garlic butter salmon with roasted asparagus and rice pilaf.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Buttery Garlic Salmon is a quick and easy delight, ready in under 30 minutes. Ideal for a busy weeknight, it’s simple to prepare yet packed with flavor. Enjoy the satisfying cooking process and the even greater pleasure of eating this dish.

Get The Recipe: Buttery Garlic Salmon

Easy Shrimp Scampi

A plate full of shrimp scampi and spaghetti sprinkled with fresh chopped parsley.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This simple Shrimp Scampi is made with garlic, butter, lemon, and white wine; it’s a timeless Italian favorite made wonderfully simple.

Get The Recipe: Shrimp Scampi

Super Crispy Pan Fried Fish

Golden-brown pan fried fish fillets are neatly arranged on a white plate, showcasing their crispy texture. A wedge of lemon is placed beside them, adding a splash of color to the dish.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Indulge in the ease of whipping up this incredible weeknight dinner featuring incredibly crispy pan-fried fish, all ready in just 20 minutes!

Get The Recipe: Super Crispy Pan Fried Fish

Sausage and Egg Frittata

A golden brown Sausage and Egg Frittata with peppers and feta cheese.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This easy frittata features sausage, peppers, onions, and a creamy cheese blend, all baked to golden perfection in a single pan.

Get The Recipe: Sausage and Egg Frittata

Italian Sausage and Peppers

a close up image of Italian Sausage and Peppers on a sheet pan ready to serve.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This easy Italian sausage and peppers recipe can be made on the grill or in the oven. Serve in a roll, alongside pasta, or as a pizza topping.

Get The Recipe: Italian Sausage and Peppers

Chicken Lo Mein

Chopsticks holding a chicken lo mein with noodles, vegetables, and chicken, set against a white background.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Ditch the takeout menus! This recipe unlocks the secrets of restaurant-worthy chicken lo mein, all from the comfort of your kitchen. It’s surprisingly easy to follow, making it the perfect weeknight dinner that will have everyone at the table raving.

Get The Recipe: Chicken Lo Mein

Chinese Chicken and Broccoli

Chinese Chicken and Broccoli cooked in a pan ready to serve.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Chicken and broccoli get perfectly cooked in a savory sauce, creating a comforting and satisfying meal. The best part? It’s surprisingly easy to whip up!

Get The Recipe: Chinese Chicken and Broccoli

Easy Roasted Vegetable Pasta Recipe

A close-up view of roasted vegetable pasta with zucchini, brown mushrooms, red onions, and parsley on penne, sprinkled with coarse salt and grated cheese.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Skip the stovetop! This recipe features tender veggies caramelized in the oven, then tossed with pasta, a garlicky olive oil sauce, and a sprinkle of Parmesan for a flavor-packed and simple meal.

Get The Recipe: Easy Roasted Vegetable Pasta Recipe

Broiled Scallops

broiled scallops in a garlic butter sauce being served with a spoon.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe offers gourmet flavors without denting your wallet! These broiled scallops with garlic butter are quick to whip up and offer the taste of a restaurant right in your home.

Get The Recipe: Broiled Scallops

Easy Baked Chicken Legs

an overhead image of a platter of baked chicken legs.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe makes succulent chicken legs coated with a zesty garlic mustard marinade and a tantalizing spice blend. This crispy, flavor-packed dinner will delight everyone gathered around the table.

Get The Recipe: Baked Chicken Legs

Ground Beef Tacos

Four beef tacos in yellow corn tortillas topped with lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, and cilantro—served with lime wedges and red salsa—make a perfect choice for Easy Dinner Recipes.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Make the best Ground Beef Tacos ever with bold, smoky homemade taco seasoning! They’re packed with flavor, super easy to make, and ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for a weeknight dinner everyone will rave about!

Get The Recipe: Ground Beef Tacos

Pan Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Sauce

A close-up reveals seared scallops with a rich sauce atop rice, complemented by roasted Brussels sprouts. This delectable dish, from our "20 Easy Recipes" collection, is garnished with a lemon wedge for that perfect zest.
Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

Got a craving you just can’t shake? Indulge in our melt-in-your-mouth pan-seared scallops, golden-crisp on the outside and irresistibly tender inside. They’re bathed in a luxurious brown butter sauce, infused with garlic, fresh parsley, and a bright pop of zesty lemon. Pure perfection on a plate!
Get the Recipe: Pan Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Sauce

Tuscan Salmon in Cream Sauce

Close-up of creamy Tuscan salmon fillets garnished with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. A golden fork slices through the flaky, saucy fish, unveiling its tender texture. The dish graces a white plate and is a standout among salmon recipes sure to impress.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Whip up this impressive Tuscan Salmon in Cream Sauce in just 30 minutes – a perfect weeknight meal!

Get The Recipe: Tuscan Salmon in Cream Sauce

Spinach Mushroom Pasta

A close up image of pasta in a creamy sauce with mushrooms and spinach.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Creamy Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta recipe is delicious and can be ready in less than 30 minutes!

Get The Recipe: Spinach Mushroom Pasta

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