18 Quick & Delicious Weeknight Dinners That Won't Keep You Waiting

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Busy weeknights can challenge families juggling homework, activities, and dinner. Simplify with quick, delicious recipes for a smoother evening. Explore easy dinner ideas to streamline your routine without compromising taste or quality. Simplify dinner time and keep your family happy and well-fed!

Pasta with Peas and Prosciutto

ie-canva_free__studio_philippines-chapati_flour-2655979 — Image Credit: Culinary Hill

Pasta with Peas and Prosciutto makes for a delightful spring dish. With fresh asparagus, mushrooms, a hint of crisp white wine, salty Parmesan shavings, and some savory prosciutto, you’ve got yourself a tasty 30-minute meal.

Get The Recipe: Pasta with Peas and Prosciutto

Pesto Baked Chicken Thighs

A skillet filled with four pieces of well-cooked, marinated chicken thighs, each garnished with herbs and spices. A small bowl of vibrant green pesto sauce is visible to the side, showcasing one of the best pesto recipes. The dish appears to be freshly made and flavorful. — Image Credit: Minimalist Baker

These super simple pesto baked chicken thighs use only 8 ingredients and are ready in just 20 minutes! They’re perfect for enjoying with salads, pasta, roasted veggies, and more.

Get The Recipe: Pesto Baked Chicken Thighs

Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole Recipe

A plate of creamy garlic chicken is presented, featuring golden-brown chicken breasts topped with a rich, creamy sauce that contains spinach and artichokes. This easy peasy dish is garnished with cracked black pepper and sits on a gray countertop with a green napkin nearby—perfect for back-to-school recipes. — Image Credit: Two Peas And Their Pod

Spinach Artichoke Chicken- juicy chicken breasts with a rich and creamy spinach artichoke sauce. This easy 30 minute chicken dinner is perfect for busy weeknights! Serve with crusty bread, pasta, or a salad.

Get The Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Chicken

Garlic Butter Cod Fillets

A close up image of a seared cod filet in a garlic butter sauce. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Sometimes, simplicity wins. This garlic butter cod fillet recipe is a perfect example. It’s bursting with flavor, quick to make, and sure to delight everyone without any fuss.

Get The Recipe: Garlic Butter Cod Fillets

Hamburger and Rice

This savory hamburger and rice recipe comes together quickly, packing tons of flavor without dirtying many dishes. Tender ground beef, fluffy rice, and a touch of magic (okay, maybe some delicious seasonings) make this a satisfying meal for any busy night.

Get The Recipe: Hamburger and Rice

Coconut Chickpea Curry

Enjoy the creamy goodness of this one-pot coconut chickpea curry! This tasty dish brings together chickpeas, coconut milk, and aromatic spices for a cozy meal. Pair it with naan to make it a full dinner treat.

Get the recipe: Coconut Chickpea Curry

Cilantro Lime Butter Shrimp

These tasty cilantro lime shrimp with garlic butter sauce are ready in under 20 minutes. Serve them as an app, with rice or pasta, or wrap ’em in tortillas. They’ve become a top pick in my family’s shrimp recipes! Here’s a quick peek at the post—don’t forget to drop a link at the end for more traffic.

Get The Recipe: Cilantro Lime Butter Shrimp

Pasta Alla Norma

This isn’t just a recipe – it’s your passport to Italian culinary adventures! Our beginner-friendly guide to Pasta Alla Norma walks you through the process step-by-step, offering valuable pro tips along the way. The result? A delicious and authentic Italian dish that’s easier to make than you think.

Get The Recipe: Pasta Alla Norma

One-Pot Macaroni Bake

A serving of macaroni casserole shows melty cheese on top and fresh, green herbs.

Save time with this one-pot macaroni casserole that requires no pre-boiling of the noodles. Simply mix all the ingredients together and bake for a comforting and cheesy dish with minimal preparation.

Get the recipe: Vegan Cheesy Macaroni Casserole

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Short on time and cooking skills? This recipe is your weeknight savior! With a handful of ingredients and just 20 minutes, you can create a delicious and satisfying stir-fry featuring tender beef and crisp broccoli. It’s so easy, even kitchen novices can master it!

Get The Recipe: Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

One Pot Taco Pasta

A close-up of a hearty pasta dish filled with macaroni noodles, ground meat, corn, and slices of cherry tomatoes. A wooden spoon is seen stirring the mixture, which is covered in a rich, tomato-based sauce. Perfect for back-to-school recipes, this easy dish will delight the whole family. — Image Credit: Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Indulge in a delicious and flavorful dish of Cheesy Taco Pasta, where savory taco-seasoned ground beef is combined with tender pasta, sweet crisp corn, and generously topped with an abundance of melting cheese. Get ready for a mouthwatering experience that will tantalize your taste buds!

Get The Recipe: One Pot Taco Pasta

Shrimp Orzo

A white bowl filled with creamy orzo pasta topped with sautéed shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. The dish is garnished with fresh herbs and served with a gold fork and spoon on a wooden table—perfect for Back-to-School recipes that are easy peasy. — Image Credit: Julia’s Album

One-pot dinners are just awesome – like the quick and tasty chicken orzo or the reader-favorite sausage gnocchi. The one-pan shrimp orzo not only feels cozy but is also loaded with fiber (veggies) and protein (shrimp). Seasoned with smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, the shrimp is then seared with minced garlic.

Get The Recipe: Shrimp Orzo

Panko Breaded Pork Chops

This recipe takes your weeknight dinners to the next level with amazingly crispy panko-breaded pork chops. Packed with flavor and ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect way to satisfy the whole family without the fuss.

Get The Recipe: Panko Breaded Pork Chops

Chicken Lo Mein

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

Mushroom Pasta

A close-up of a bowl of delicious pasta adorned with wild mushrooms; an easy, back-to-school recipe. The wide, flat noodles are mixed with sautéed mushrooms and garnished with fresh parsley and grated cheese. The dish looks fresh and inviting, capturing the textures and colors beautifully. — Image Credit: Love & Lemons

Perfect for weeknights or date nights, this mushroom pasta is simple yet classy. Packed with mixed mushrooms, garlic, and Parmesan for a burst of rich umami flavor.

Get The Recipe: Mushroom Pasta

Crab Pasta

A close up image of a plate of spaghetti with crab, chopped parsley and red peppers. — Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

20 Minutes to Crabby Bliss! This delectable Crab Pasta is your answer to quick and flavorful meals. Succulent crab meat takes center stage in a simple yet satisfying dish ready in no time.

Get The Recipe: Crab Pasta

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken with Sauce

Close-up of succulent beef teriyaki topped with sesame seeds and garnished with chopped green onions, served over a bed of white rice. This easy recipe is perfect for back-to-school lunches; the beef is glazed with a rich, dark sauce, giving it a glossy appearance. The dish looks savory and appetizing. — Image Credit: Chew Out Loud

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken is a breeze to make, super tasty, and full of authentic flavors. The teriyaki sauce works like magic, adding deliciousness to any protein. This make-ahead recipe is great for weeknight dinners or chill hangouts.

Get The Recipe: Grilled Teriyaki Chicken with Sauce

Easy Spicy Shrimp Tacos

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