Hungry, but short on time? Choose from 25+ weeknight dinners that will feed your family FAST! Many are ready in 30 minutes or less!
Fast & Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes
Some nights, layering a lasagna or tucking a pot roast into the oven and letting it cook for hours is totally doable. Most often though, I save longer recipes like those for the weekends or special occasions, and we rely on quick and easy weeknight dinners to get us through busy work/school weeks.
This post compiles all of my weeknight dinner recipes into one easy list! You’ll notice I’ve sorted them based on time, with some finishing in 30 minutes or less and the rest wrapping up in 45 minutes or less. Save this one for when the kids go back to school in the fall or when your schedule just feels too jam-packed to spend hours in the kitchen!
One of our favorite weeknight dinners from this list (we eat it almost every week) is my #1 pick below: BBQ chicken meatballs. I love this recipe because it’s fast, kid-friendly, and bakes in the oven (as opposed to standing over the stove flipping meatballs). You can use your favorite BBQ sauce (or my homemade BBQ sauce!) and the side options are endless (crescent rolls, creamed corn, broccoli salad). I can’t wait for you to try it!
Weeknight Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less
1. BBQ Chicken Meatballs
Great with a side of mashed potatoes and a green veggie! Just 25 minutes to prep.
Oven-baked BBQ chicken meatballs make the perfect weeknight dinner recipe! My version stays tender and juicy without any flipping or frying.
BBQ CHICKEN MEATBALLS RECIPE
2. Maple Glazed Salmon
Another favorite in our house! We love serving this with some white rice and steamed or roasted broccoli.
One pan meal! This recipe makes a super flavorful dinner for two–it easily doubles or triples for more servings though!
MAPLE GLAZED SALMON RECIPE
3. Tuscan Chicken
Packed full of veggies and FLAVOR! This one goes well with some crusty artisan bread for sopping up the sauce. Garlic mashed potatoes would be so good here too!
Peppers, tomatoes, and spinach come together with chicken and a creamy sauce in this restaurant-quality meal. One pan dish!
TUSCAN CHICKEN RECIPE
4. Garlic Butter Shrimp
Restaurant-quality flavor in just 25 minutes! This dish is so simple, yet so impressive. We love serving it with a salad (use my Italian dressing!) and some bread or risotto.
Bright lemon, fresh parsley, and white wine flavor this incredible one-pot dish. It comes together so fast in just 25 minutes!
GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP RECIPE
5. Cajun Chicken Pasta
A complete meal with plenty of protein from the chicken and fiber from the veggies! Also try my cajun shrimp pasta; it takes a bit longer to make, so I didn’t include it in this list of weeknight dinners.
Popular weeknight dinner recipe! Filling, fast, and customizable with your favorite protein and veggies.
CAJUN CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE
6. Sloppy Joes
A classic weeknight dinner recipe! My version is completely from-scratch and ready in a breeze. Pair with potato wedges, roasted sweet potatoes, or mac and cheese and some cucumber salad!
No ketchup! My recipe is completely from scratch and still so fast and simple. One of our favorite weeknight dinner recipes!
SLOPPY JOE RECIPE
7. Creamy Chicken Pasta
Ready in just 25 minutes! Serve with homemade breadsticks for that Italian restaurant experience.
Rich, creamy, and perfectly garlicky sauce with your favorite noodles and seared chicken…what’s not to like here?! This is a family favorite!
CREAMY CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE
8. Taco Salad
For nights when you need something a bit fresher and lighter, but still satisfying. Add a side of black beans or refried beans for even more fiber and protein!
Use your favorite taco ingredients and my easy 3-ingredient dressing to make the BEST taco salad you’ve ever tried!
TACO SALAD RECIPE
9. Chicken Salad
One of my favorites! It has plenty of crunchy add-ins and tastes great on toasted bread (I like sourdough bread!), with crackers, or on a bed of lettuce.
Just 7 ingredients! So simple, yet so tasty, this chicken salad recipe makes a fantastic picnic lunch or fast weeknight dinner recipe.
CHICKEN SALAD RECIPE
10. Smash Burgers
One of the fastest weeknight dinners in this list, these smash burgers come together in a flash! They taste even better on homemade burger buns or potato buns.
Learn how to make restaurant-quality smash burgers in just 10 minutes! They have that perfectly caramelized crust that we all crave.
SMASH BURGER RECIPE
11. Pretzel Crusted Chicken
This dinner is unique enough for adults but still familiar for kids. We love serving it with roasted potatoes and a green veggie like roasted brussels sprouts!
Kid-friendly and adult-pleasing! Prep it your favorite way–baked in the oven or fried in a pan. And don’t forget the honey mustard sauce!
PRETZEL CRUSTED CHICKEN RECIPE
12. Lemon Pasta
Lemon pasta is similar to alfredo, but lightened up and fresher with lemon juice and zest. It pairs well with sautéed asparagus!
Creamy and fresh, this lemon pasta can be topped with chicken or shrimp and a green veggie on the side for a complete meal.
LEMON PASTA RECIPE
Weeknight Dinners in 45 Minutes or Less
13. White Chicken Chili
So comforting and filling! Don’t forget the toppings for this one–we like tortilla chips, cheese, and some fresh cilantro. A side of buttermilk cornbread or cornbread biscuits won’t hurt either 😉
This recipe uses pre-cooked chicken, white beans, and plenty of flavorful add-ins for a super satisfying and filling (but not too rich!) chicken chili.
WHITE CHICKEN CHILI RECIPE
14. Greek Chicken Orzo
This is one of my favorite weeknight dinners because it is just so flavorful. Serve with some baklava for dessert for the full Greek experience!
Salty olives, bright lemons, punchy onions, savory tomatoes, and buttery artichokes come together in this Mediterranean-inspired one pot meal!
GREEK CHICKEN ORZO RECIPE
15. Maryland Crab Cakes
An authentic Maryland recipe with lots of crab meat and very little filler. These crab cakes pair well with coleslaw, Mexican street corn salad, or a caesar salad. And don’t forget the tartar sauce for dipping!
Baked crab cakes are a weeknight treat! My recipe includes instructions for prepping in advance if you want to make them one day and bake the next.
MARYLAND CRAB CAKES RECIPE
16. Chicken Alfredo
This recipe pairs my homemade alfredo sauce with your favorite noodles and seared chicken. It’s a crowd-pleaser!
Skip the jarred sauce and make your own with my chicken alfredo recipe! It’s creamy and oh so satisfying. Works well with shrimp too!
CHICKEN ALFREDO RECIPE
17. Rigatoni
One of my most popular weeknight dinner recipes! Sausage adds such a good flavor here. Serve with your favorite bread on the side!
Hearty and so simple! This popular weeknight dinner recipe tastes amazing and comes together fast in just over 30 minutes.
RIGATONI RECIPE
18. Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Like Panera, but homemade! I even have a recipe for homemade bread bowls, if you want the full cafe experience 😉
Just 15 minutes of prep! This recipe has the perfect creamy texture and a balanced flavor so both the broccoli and cheese shine.
BROCCOLI CHEDDAR SOUP RECIPE
19. Salisbury Steak
Another classic! My version is 100% from-scratch and oh so good. Pairs well with peas, buttered egg noodles, or dinner rolls!
No pre-made gravies or ketchup! This recipe is fast (ready in 35 minutes) and feeds the whole family. It makes a great freezer meal too!
SALISBURY STEAK RECIPE
20. Tuscan Chicken Pasta
All the flavor of my tuscan chicken (found higher up in this list!), but in a filling pasta dish! We love serving this one with garlic knots.
This recipe has it all! Veggies, protein, a creamy sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta. Just 35 minutes from start to finish!
TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA RECIPE
21. Tomato Soup
My recipe uses canned tomatoes to keep this recipe weeknight friendly. If you’re looking for a tomato soup recipe with fresh tomatoes, check out my roasted tomato basil soup (takes longer, but is SO worth it!).
My sneaky secret ingredient keeps this tomato soup recipe perfectly balanced. It simmers for 30 minutes on the stove and has an incredible flavor!
TOMATO SOUP RECIPE
22. Meat Sauce
This one freezes well, which makes it one of my favorite weeknight dinners. I like to make a double batch and freeze half for nights when we need dinner FAST!
Freezer-friendly! This meat sauce is so simple, yet it has a restaurant-quality flavor. Tastes great with spaghetti, rigatoni, or in lasagna!
MEAT SAUCE RECIPE
23. Cream of Crab Soup
Another Maryland staple! This is one of my favorite soup recipes. Serve with garlic cheese drop biscuits on the side!
Simple and satisfying, this recipe uses just 10 ingredients but has BIG flavor! This is my authentic recipe–straight from a Maryland-native!
CREAM OF CRAB SOUP RECIPE
24. Summer Pasta
When summer veggies take over, make this easy summer pasta (and a loaf of zucchini bread or two)! This is a vegetarian weeknight dinner, but it also pairs well with grilled chicken or sausage if needed.
Perfect for using up an abundance of garden veggies! This dish is light and satisfying and can be enhanced with grilled chicken, shrimp, or sausage if desired.
SUMMER PASTA RECIPE
25. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Like the restaurant version, only better! This soup tastes great with a side of jalapeno cornbread or corn muffins.
Ready in 35 minutes! This soup tastes just like the kind you could get a restaurant. Use a picked rotisserie chicken to keep things SUPER easy!
CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP RECIPE
26. Stuffed Shells
This is one of our go-to weeknight dinners because it’s so quick and easy to prep. A satisfying vegetarian dinner option!
Cozy comfort food! These stuffed shells are cheesy and rich with a secret ingredient in the filling for the BEST flavor. A fantastic meal prep recipe!
STUFFED SHELLS RECIPE
27. Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup
A one-pot meal! This one is filling and hearty–it’s so good during cooler weather.
SO flavorful with just a tiny bit of prep work! This soup keeps things super easy but tastes like it’s been cooking for hours.
CREAMY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SOUP RECIPE
Have More Time? Make These!
I hope you found a new favorite here to add to your dinner rotation. If there are any specific weeknight dinner recipes that you’d like to see from me, please leave me a comment below!
Also, while I included a few of them here, you should check out my full collection of soup recipes as many work for weeknight dinners!
Enjoy!
If you try any of these recipes, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
