42 Fantastic Recipes to Beat Weeknight Dinner Blues

Tired of the same old dinners every week? So are we! Mix things up by adding a few new recipes to the rotation each week and make notes about which ones your family likes. Those are the ones you’ll keep making over and over. These are easy enough to prepare on a weeknight without too much prep time. My family loves chicken fajita bowls and taco salads! We can make our weeknights easier with a little bit of meal planning!

Lemon Roasted Chicken

Lemon roasted chicken is a delicious way to roast a whole chicken. Lemon, butter and fresh herbs add flavor and help keep the chicken juicy.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Roasted Chicken

Chicken Fajita Bowl

Chicken Fajita Bowl. Juicy, flavorful chicken fajitas in a bowl with rice, beans, charred corn, guacamole, salsa, and fresh cilantro. The flavors of chicken fajitas without the tortillas!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajita Bowl

Arugula Prosciutto Pizza

This arugula prosciutto pizza takes less than 30 minutes to make. Made with a few simple ingredients, this pizza is so easy and so tasty!
Get the Recipe: Arugula Prosciutto Pizza

Avocado Plantain Rice Bowl Recipe With Edamame Beans

Edamame plantain bowl with sweet pan-fried plantains, protein-rich edamame beans, brown rice, chimichurri sauce & veggies—so satisfying!
Get the Recipe: Avocado Plantain Rice Bowl Recipe With Edamame Beans

Taco Salad (Healthy & Easy!)

Learn how to make taco salad in just 20 minutes, using common ingredients! The whole family will love this EASY, healthy taco salad recipe.
Get the Recipe: Taco Salad (Healthy & Easy!)

Gluten Free Instant Pot Taco Soup

A bowl of beef chili with avocado and avocado. — Instant Pot Taco Soup. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

This gluten free Instant Pot Taco Soup will warm your bones. It’s full of beans, corn and fire roasted tomatoes. It’s made quickly with pantry staples.
Get the Recipe: Gluten Free Instant Pot Taco Soup

Instant Pot Short Ribs

A bowl of mashed potatoes with beef and gravy. — Instant Pot Short Ribs. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

These Instant Pot Beef Short Ribs are melt in your mouth tender and packed with slow-cooked flavor. Quick and easily made with no wine.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Short Ribs

Baked Hot Honey Chicken Strips

These chicken strips are coated in a crunchy and flavorful cornflake crust before being baked and drizzled in a homemade hot honey sauce!
Get the Recipe: Baked Hot Honey Chicken Strips

20 Minute Savoury Bacon, Onion And Bbq Chicken Flatbread Pizzas

You will love this wonderful BBQ chicken flatbread. This easy BBQ chicken pizza can be made in under 30 minutes, so it’s great for supper. It is so easy to make flatbread pizza at home! You should try this recipe if you want barbecue chicken flatbread like Panera.
Get the Recipe: 20 Minute Savoury Bacon, Onion And Bbq Chicken Flatbread Pizzas

Easy Oven Baked Chicken

I started making this easy oven baked chicken recipe nearly two decades ago and it quickly became a family favorite! With only about 5 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of baking time, you have a quick and easy chicken dish that is perfect to serve any day of the week.
Get the Recipe: Easy Oven Baked Chicken

Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry With Steak

A bowl of noodles with meat and vegetables. — Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry With Steak. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry with Steak is a hearty, flavorful dinner full of vegetables including spiralized sweet potato noodles. {gluten free, low carb}
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Noodle Stir Fry With Steak

Grilled Steak Tacos With Corn Salsa

Three carne asada tacos with lime wedges and cilantro on a white plate. — Grilled Steak Tacos With Corn Salsa. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

Grilled Steak Tacos with Cucumber and Corn Salsa are the perfect summer dinner. Spicy skirt steak topped with the freshest cucumber and grilled corn salsa.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak Tacos With Corn Salsa

Pizza Pasta Bake

A plate of pasta with tomato sauce, topped with melted cheese, basil leaves, and slices of roasted tomatoes. — Pizza Pasta Bake. Photo credit: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen.

When it comes to two favorite meals there is nothing like mashing them together to get this Pizza Pasta Bake! A quick and easy recipe the whole family will enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Bake

Halloumi Stroganoff

This Halloumi stroganoff recipe is a delicious twist on traditional stroganoff uses halloumi cheese for a flavorful and satisfying vegetarian meal.
Get the Recipe: Halloumi Stroganoff

Easy Baked Tortellini Recipe with Meat Sauce

A plate of tortellini pasta coated in tomato sauce and topped with shrimp and basil leaves. — Easy Baked Tortellini Recipe with Meat Sauce. Photo credit: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen.

Using store-bought and homemade ingredients, Baked Tortellini is hearty, comforting, and bursting with flavor. A new family favorite weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked Tortellini Recipe with Meat Sauce

Creamy Mushroom Chicken

This Chicken Mushroom recipe is a quick and easy meal that’s ready in 30 minutes. Creamy Mushroom Chicken is full of great flavor.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

Baked Chicken Leg Quarters are simple yet impressive enough for date night. Chicken leg quarters and potatoes is an easy all-in-one meal.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Leg Quarters

Best-Ever Smoked Meatballs

Put these best-ever smoked meatballs on your next dinner party or game day menu, and watch how happily and quickly everyone gobbles them up! Add them to marinara and serve over pasta if you prefer.
Get the Recipe: Best-Ever Smoked Meatballs

Sheet Pan Brown Sugar Pork Chops

Pork chops and potatoes on a baking sheet. — Sheet Pan Brown Sugar Pork Chops. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

These Sheet Pan Brown Sugar Pork Chops will become a weeknight fall favorite for parents and kids alike. {gluten-free, dairy free}
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Brown Sugar Pork Chops

Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

These Mexican Stuffed Peppers are perfect as a meal prep or a weeknight dinner. Filled with ground beef, beans, and corn, they are healthy and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Taco stuffed zucchini boats offer a little of everything – nutrition, meat, veggies, a pop of Mexican seasoning, and of course a tasty meal!
Get the Recipe: Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Easy Ground Beef Tacos

Easy Ground Beef Tacos ideal for busy weeknights! Add your favorite taco toppings and dinner is served! Foolproof, customizable and yummy.
Get the Recipe: Easy Ground Beef Tacos

Pizza Pasta

A wooden spoon lifting a cheesy slice from a baked pasta dish with peppers and meat in a skillet, showcasing stretchy melted cheese. — Pizza Pasta. Photo credit: I Heart Eating.

Pizza pasta is an easy pasta casserole. Pizza pasta takes pizza flavors and turns them a 30 minute dinner that’s perfect for weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta

Shredded Beef Enchiladas

These shredded beef enchiladas are stuffed full of a tender and flavorful, slow cooked beef, and cheese, all topped with red enchilada sauce. Top them with your favorite garnishes, for a delicious dinner the whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Shredded Beef Enchiladas

Beef Empanadas

This homemade beef empanadas recipe is so easy. Flaky shells stuffed with ground beef bake into the perfect game day food!
Get the Recipe: Beef Empanadas

Taco Soup

This taco soup is a comforting, hearty dish for the fall and winter that’ll leave you satisfied! It can be made on the stove or in a slow cooker.
Get the Recipe: Taco Soup

Easiest Rigatoni Bolognese

Rigatoni pasta with meat and sauce. — Easiest Rigatoni Bolognese. Photo credit: The Almond Eater.

This easy Rigatoni Bolognese is a flavorful one-pot dinner recipe. This Italian meat sauce is a classic meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners and special occasions. It’s extra delicious served over rigatoni pasta. Comfort in a bowl!
Get the Recipe: Easiest Rigatoni Bolognese

Baked Spaghetti

A slice of lasagna on a spatula, featuring layers of pasta, meat, and melted cheese, garnished with fresh basil. — Baked Spaghetti. Photo credit: All Things Mamma.

This easy baked spaghetti combines pasta with a meaty tomato sauce and three types of cheese, then bakes it to cheesy perfection.
Get the Recipe: Baked Spaghetti

Ground Beef Fajitas

Looking for a quick, easy, and satisfying dinner idea? Try these sizzling ground beef fajitas – from stovetop to table in just 30 minutes! This is an absolute favorite with my kids.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Fajitas

The Best One Pot Taco Macaroni And Cheese

A shared pan of comforting pasta and vegetable recipe on a table. — The Best One Pot Taco Macaroni And Cheese. Photo Credit: xoxoBella.

Enjoy the best of both worlds with this taco macaroni and cheese. It’s a one pot, Dutch oven 30 minute meal boasting both Mexican and Italian flavours in every mouthful. It makes really satisfying comfort food and is a perfect meal for the cooler months.
Get the Recipe: The Best One Pot Taco Macaroni And Cheese

Million Dollar Spaghetti

A plate of spaghetti topped with a meaty tomato sauce and melted cheese, garnished with parsley, with a fork on the side. — Million Dollar Spaghetti. Photo credit: All Things Mamma.

This Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe has four kinds of cheese, hearty ground beef, spicy sausage, and pasta. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
Get the Recipe: Million Dollar Spaghetti

Slow Roasted Salmon with Spring Herb Sauce

Even cooking, perfect texture, and superior moisture retention are the incredible features of this Slow Roasted Salmon with Spring Herb Sauce
Get the Recipe: Slow Roasted Salmon with Spring Herb Sauce

Copycat Panera Bread 10 Vegetable Soup

Panera bread in a bowl. — Copycat Panera Bread 10 Vegetable Soup. Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

This Panera Bread 10 Vegetable Soup is comforting, spicy, and loaded with vegetables. It’s easy to make in around thirty minutes, and I’ve made it gluten free! Bring on the comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Panera Bread 10 Vegetable Soup

Ground Pork Sliders With Mustard Cream And Quick Pickled Cucumbers

A recipe for quick and easy mini ground pork burgers topped with creamy mustard, 5 minute pickled cucumbers and pepper jack cheese. Great appetizers. Perfect for game day!
Get the Recipe: Ground Pork Sliders With Mustard Cream And Quick Pickled Cucumbers

Homemade Gnocchi with Pea Pesto

Perfect for springtime dinners outside, this homemade gnocchi with pea pesto has an easy potato dough with lots of bright flavors.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Gnocchi with Pea Pesto

Four Cheese And Vegetable Baked Ziti (No Meat)

Baked ziti in a white ceramic dish garnished with fresh basil leaves, displaying layers of pasta, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. — Four Cheese And Vegetable Baked Ziti (No Meat). Photo credit: Cooking With Wine.

A perfect vegetarian pasta al forno dish that the whole family will love! This meatless baked ziti has a combo of 4 cheeses and veggies!
Get the Recipe: Four Cheese And Vegetable Baked Ziti (No Meat)

Easy Instant Pot Taco Soup

This easy Instant Pot Taco Soup Recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner idea. Packed with flavor, your family is going to love this dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy Instant Pot Taco Soup

Baked Rigatoni With Tomato Herb Meat Sauce

A spoon lifting a serving of baked ziti with melted cheese and basil from a red dish. — Baked Rigatoni With Tomato Herb Meat Sauce. Photo credit: Cooking With Wine.

This Baked Rigatoni with Tomato Herb Meat Sauce will quickly climb your list of favorite pasta al forno dishes!
Get the Recipe: Baked Rigatoni With Tomato Herb Meat Sauce

Lemon Basil Orzo with Chicken

This Lemon Basil Orzo with Chicken is quick, easy, and absolutely scrumptious. It’s the ultimate spring-summer dinner; light yet incredibly tasty.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Basil Orzo with Chicken

One Pot Coconut Lime Curry Chicken And Rice Recipe

If you like Thai coconut curry, you’ll love this one-pan coconut lime chicken with rice recipe with a balanced sweet + savory flavor profile.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Coconut Lime Curry Chicken And Rice Recipe

Easy Greek Lemon Chicken Thighs

This easy recipe for Greek Lemon Chicken is made with juicy chicken thighs marinated in the most flavorful lemon and garlic marinade. Pan-seared and then baked to golden perfection, enjoy this delicious chicken recipe with all of your favorite Greek-inspired side dishes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Greek Lemon Chicken Thighs

Easy Taco Soup with Ground Beef

A bowl of chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, jalapeño slices, and tortilla strips, accompanied by fresh tomatoes. — Easy Taco Soup with Ground Beef. Photo credit: She’s Not Cookin.

This easy Taco Soup Recipe is an easy one-pot no fuss meal that is always a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Easy Taco Soup with Ground Beef