25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (2024)

Keeping weeknight dinners enticing can be a challenge, but not with these fast, flavorful recipes: Filling and nourishing, they all hit the table in 45 minutes or less. Try a tossed pasta such as gnocchi with chicken and kale or orecchiette with veal and rosemary; a big bowl of grains and vegetables or clams in a soppable broth; or creamy broccoli-potato soup or shrimp curry with rice. Whatever you're working with in the fridge this week, bookmark this collection of fast easy meals for when time is of the essence.

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Spicy Tofu and Zucchini Stew

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (1)

Sommelier Annie Shi, co-owner of King in New York City, grew up going to Korean restaurants with her family. Memories of dishes like soondubu jjigae, a spicy Korean tofu stew, became inspiration for a quick and easy stew of tofu and vegetables that she makes for cozy weeknight dinners.

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02of 25

Bacon Fat Fried Rice

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (2)

Rocco DiSpirito's Bacon Fat Fried Rice is finished in 40 minutes with jammy pineapple preserves and crisp fresh pineapple, which impart the savory bacon-flavored rice with a smoky sweetness and balanced acidity.

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03of 25

Steamed Clams with Tomatoes and Basil

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (3)

Clams, white wine, jammy tomatoes, garlic, and herbs make an aromatic meal in a bowl with flavorful broth to sop up.

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04of 25

Chicken Breasts with White Wine Pan Sauce with Crème Fraîche and Spring Herbs

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (4)

Andrea Slonecker's simple white wine pan sauce enriched with créme fraîche and a generous handful of tender fresh herbs turns pan-roasted chicken breasts into a special meal in 45 minutes.

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05of 25

Spicy Eggplant and Zucchini Stir-Fry with Plant-Based Meat

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (5)

Similar in texture to ground beef with a rich, meaty flavor, plant-based crumbles are a perfect addition to quick-cooking stir-fries. Serve over brown or white rice for a fast and filling weeknight meal.

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06of 25

Creamy Shrimp Curry with Coconut Milk

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (6)

This shrimp curry recipe from Anna Theoktisto combines fresh curry leaves, warm spices, creamy coconut milk, and sweet shrimp for a weeknight one-pan meal.

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07of 25

Miso Air Fryer Salmon With Baby Bok Choy

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (7)


Cooking salmon in the air fryer allows the miso marinade to form a salty-sweet crust on the surface of each fillet. While the salmon rests, you can quickly cook the bok choy in the air fryer; the edges of the leaves will char a bit, creating a savory contrast to the ginger, soy, and sesame oil sauce that goes on top.

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08of 25

Lamb Loin Chops Sizzled with Garlic

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (8)

If you've never cooked lamb chops, this recipe is a great place to start. It comes together in just 20 minutes, and delivers big, rich flavors from the lamb chop, the sizzled garlic, and the lemon, parsley, and crushed red pepper flakes in the pan sauce.

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09of 25

Ginataang Gulay (Filipino Vegetable Stew)

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (9)

Gently stew seasonal vegetables in creamy coconut milk until just tender for an easy and delicious weeknight dinner.

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10of 25

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (10)

Using an air fryer instead of frying in oil on the stovetop means crispy shrimp without any splatters to clean up afterwards. Serve the shrimp with rice for dinner with a side like baby bok choy sautéed in toasted sesame oil and fresh ginger.

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11of 25

San Bei Ji (Three-Cup Chicken)

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (11)

Ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and rock sugar make the chicken in this classic Taiwanese dish tender and incredibly flavorful.

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12of 25

Steak Diane

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (12)

Emeril Lagasse's retro recipe for Steak Diane features pounded filet mignon served with sautéed mushrooms in a buttery flambéed Cognac sauce — all in 22 minutes.

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Roasted Vegetable Grain Bowl with Chickpeas and Tahini-Ginger Dressing

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (13)

Sub in any grain, protein, or leafy green you have on hand for this satisfying bowl with a deliciously easy sesame-based dressing.

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14of 25

Creamy Tomato Rigatoni

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (14)

A judicious amount of heavy cream enriches this simple tomato sauce, producing a lush texture that clings to the pasta without blanketing richness for a special but not extravagant, 45-minute meal.

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15of 25

Gnocchi with Roast Chicken, Bacon, and Kale

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (15)

Roast chicken, crispy bacon, tender kale, and sweet red onion are tossed with gnocchi and topped with lemon zest and Parmesan for this hearty meal.

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16of 25

Broccoli and Potato Soup

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (16)

The bright green broccoli florets floating on top of this hearty soup make it especially eye-catching, but it's the broccoli stems that do the real work. They're cooked with the potatoes and then pureed to form a creamy base. A final sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese gives the soup an extra savory touch.

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17of 25

Chicken Katsu

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (17)

Roy Choi's perfectly golden, crisp breaded and fried chicken cutlets make for an incredibly comforting dish with tonkatsu sauce, Dijon mustard, and steamed sushi rice.

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18of 25

Maltagliati with Mushrooms and Pea Tendrils

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (18)

Nutty porcini mushrooms absorb the slightly sweet sherry vinegar and pair perfectly with fresh and frilly pea tendrils in this pasta traditionally made from dough scraps.

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Longevity Noodles with Oyster, Shiitake, and Enoki Mushrooms

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (19)

The longer the noodles the better to symbolize longevity in this spicy, savory dish, a must at Lucky Chow producer Danielle Chang's Lunar New Year feast. A mix of torn and sliced mushrooms (also a symbol of health and longevity) adds a variety of textures and a bite of umami to this quick-cooking dish.

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Tofu Pad Thai

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (20)

Earthy oyster and shiitake mushrooms combine beautifully with chewy noodles, golden-fried tofu, crisp bean sprouts, lightly spicy long red chiles, and crunchy peanuts in this 40-minute meal.

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Creamy Polenta with Burst Cherry Tomato–and–Red Wine Ragout

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (21)

An easy addition to your weeknight rotation, creamy polenta is topped with savory garden tomato ragout that's laced with ribbons of hearty greens. Cooked with milk, it's a comforting vegetarian main.

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22of 25

Seared Tuna with Soy and Red Chiles

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (22)

Soy sauce, sesame oil, scallion, garlic, and dried chiles are combined with chicken stock to make an intense and delicious sauce for 25-minute pan-seared tuna steak.

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23of 25

Shrimp with Roasted Corn, Leeks, Tomatoes, and Basil

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (23)

Showcasing late-summer produce, this simple sauté is a perfect shoulder-season weeknight dinner. Marinating sweet cherry tomatoes in vinegar and salt tenderizes them and draws out their juices, creating a light sauce.

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24of 25

King Trumpet Schnitzel with Mixed Herb Pesto

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (24)

Here, king trumpet mushrooms get the schnitzel treatment. Double-breading them creates a crispy crust that stays crunchy even as they cook and release moisture. Black pepper and turmeric add a savory, bitter flavor to complement the mushrooms' earthiness, while fragrant Meyer lemon juice and nutty pecorino cheese amp up the herb-packed pesto.

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Orecchiette with Veal, Capers, and White Wine

25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (25)

Tender veal ragù is flavored with white wine, capers, thyme, and rosemary, then tossed with little ear-shaped orecchiette.

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25 Fast, Satisfying Weekday Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the easiest thing to cook for dinner? ›

Best, Easy Dinner Recipes For A Family
  • Sheet Pan Olive Bar Chicken. ...
  • Five Spice Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner. ...
  • Sheet Pan Quesadilla with Jalapeño Ranch. ...
  • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. ...
  • Crock-Pot Chicken Taco Meat. ...
  • Mango Chutney Chicken Sheet Pan. ...
  • Old Bay Shrimp and Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner. ...
  • Za'atar Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner.
Jun 10, 2024

What to eat on a weekday? ›

30 Weeknight Dinner Ideas For People With Literally No Time
  • Cauliflower Alfredo. ...
  • Sesame Peanut Noodles. ...
  • Thai Basil Chicken. ...
  • Garlic Butter Chicken With Parmesan Cauliflower Rice. ...
  • Gnocchi Skillet With Chicken Sausage and Tomatoes. ...
  • Ham and Bean Soup. ...
  • Sautéed Honey Mustard Pork Chops. ...
  • Mediterranean Chickpea Salad.
Jun 5, 2024

What should I cook for dinner when lazy? ›

30 lazy dinners to make on weeknights
  • Ramen carbonara. 4.75. 4.8. 30 Minute Cheesy Chicken Risoni. 4.3617. 4.4. ...
  • Thai Green Curry Chicken Noodle Soup. 4.857145. 4.9. Family Friendly Fried Rice. 4.285715. 4.3. ...
  • Sri Lankan Coconut & Cashew Chicken with Saffron Rice. 4.184615. 4.2. Potato Gems Shepherd's Pie. 4.2. 4.2.

What is the cheapest thing to make for dinner? ›

68 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  • Black Bean Burgers. ...
  • Creamy Tomato Shells. ...
  • Zucchini Corn Quesadillas. ...
  • Super-Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad. ...
  • Chicken and Mandarin Salad With Simple Sesame Dressing. ...
  • Garlic Butter Capellini Pomodoro With Shrimp. ...
  • Orzo With Spinach and Roasted Red Peppers.
May 3, 2024

What does the average American family eat for dinner? ›

The contents of dinner aren't uniform across the country, and again vary from family to family as well. But they typically include meat, veggies, and a side of potatoes or rice. Both at-home and dine-out dinners are quite often accompanied by a dessert to end the day on a sweet note.

What's a good dinner idea for tonight? ›

40 Easy Dinner Ideas to Make Tonight
  • 30 Minute General Tso's Chicken. This Easy General Tso's recipe is even better than the restaurant version. ...
  • Instant Pot Spaghetti. ...
  • Honey Sesame Chicken. ...
  • Chicken Chow Mein. ...
  • Chicken Katsu. ...
  • Instant Pot Barbecue Chicken. ...
  • Easy Chicken Marsala. ...
  • Easy Beef Fried Rice.
Sep 19, 2022

What is the best meal of the day? ›

Breakfast is often called 'the most important meal of the day', and for good reason. As the name suggests, breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period. It replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health.

What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What is the quickest healthiest meal? ›

25 healthy recipes you can cook in 5 minutes or less
  • Pea and broad bean couscous.
  • Fast home-made baked beans.
  • Porridge.
  • Pasta with cherry tomatoes and rocket.
  • Home-made hummus.
  • Smashed avocado and wilted spinach.
  • Cucumber (or potato) raitha.
  • Quick pitta pizzas.

What's best to eat before bed? ›

Melatonin (found in dairy and cherries) makes you sleepy, potassium (found in bananas) and magnesium (also found in bananas and almonds) help promote muscle relaxation. Furthermore, many herbs, often found in teas like chamomile and mint are considered sleep inducing, while the dairy in warm milk is effective as well.

What to do when you don't know what to eat? ›

For example, if you are craving something sweet, a bowl of fruit with yogurt or a smoothie might hit the spot. A bag of chips or a bowl of popcorn might do the trick if you are craving something salty. And if you are craving something savory, a bowl of pasta or a grilled cheese sandwich might be just what you need.

How many meals should you eat a day? ›

The Theory: Nutrition experts tend to recommend eating 3 balanced meals (350 to 600 calories each) and 1 to 3 snacks per day (between 150 and 200 calories each). The calories for each meal and snack depend on a variety of factors including, height, weight, age, gender and activity level.

How to make a menu for the week? ›

Plan Your Weekly Meals
  1. See what you already have. Look in your freezer, cabinets, and refrigerator. ...
  2. Write down your meals. ...
  3. Write down recipes to try. ...
  4. Think about your time. ...
  5. Plan to use leftovers. ...
  6. Make a grocery list. ...
  7. Build your shopping list as you go. ...
  8. Buy a mix of fresh, frozen, and self-stable items.

What is the most easiest to cook? ›

17 Of The Easiest Recipes Of All Time (Seriously)
  • Smoked Gouda and Mushroom Quesadillas. ...
  • Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage. ...
  • Scrambled Egg Tacos. ...
  • 15-Minute Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. ...
  • One-Pot Chicken and Rice with Artichokes. ...
  • Wild Rice and Leftover Turkey Soup. ...
  • Sticky Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp.
Jan 2, 2019

What is the most basic meal to cook? ›

Here's what they had to say about practicing essential techniques and base recipes.
  • 01 of 10. Cream-Based Soup. Victor Protasio. ...
  • 02 of 10. Roast Chicken. Julia Hartbeck. ...
  • 03 of 10. Pizza. ...
  • 04 of 10. Pasta Carbonara. ...
  • 05 of 10. Whole Roasted Fish. ...
  • 06 of 10. Risotto. ...
  • 07 of 10. Garden Salad. ...
  • 08 of 10. BLT Fried Egg-and-Cheese Sandwich.
Feb 1, 2024

How to make food in 5 minutes? ›

5-minute meals recipes
  1. Storecupboard pasta salad. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  2. Pan-fried camembert sandwich. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  3. Prawn & coconut soup. ...
  4. Classic French omelette. ...
  5. Chicken wrap with sticky sweet potato, salad leaves & tomatoes. ...
  6. Creamy tomato courgetti. ...
  7. Speedy tuna pasta salad. ...
  8. Easy pea & mint soup.

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