My favorite easy weeknight dinners compilation require a little prep but are for the most part hands off and require few pots or pans. Help make back to school meal planning easier with this list.
My kids are now in the second full week of school.
This upcoming week after Labor Day means all the kids are back in school.
Before you start pulling your hair out about what to make for dinner, take a deep breath.
Start by planning out themes for each day.
My go-to dinner themes:
- Italian/Pasta or Noodle Night
- Taco or Mexican Night
- Stir Fry Night
- Sandwich Night
- Breakfast for Dinner
- Soup and Sandwich Night
- Seafood Night
Picking a theme will help you narrow down your options and still be able to switch it up week to week.
This is just what works for me and my family.
Naturally, there are nights where we sub in leftovers or a big sheet pan full of frozen chicken tenders and tater tots.
There is no shame in that!
I retroactively add frozen food night to the above dinner theme list.
We now have our themes laid out.
Next, we need to head to the list of favorite easy weeknight dinners.
Find a dish that meets your time constraints and ingredients your family likes to eat.
There are Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, and one pot or one pan meals as well.
I have meatless meals and low and slow baked meals.
A majority of the favorite easy weeknight dinners are meals I seriously make all the time.
There are a few grilling recipes as well.
I do have a longer list of grill centered meals to choose from if you live in a place that won’t freeze you to death in the winter when you go to grill.
The list also includes some kid, even my kids included, favorites like stovetop mac and cheese or cheese burger dogs.
This is just a list of main dishes really.
I either make a little green beans or grilled mushroom on the side if it calls for a little more.
This list will hopefully spark some dinner inspiration and keep ya calm in the face of the after school craziness.
Favorite Easy Weeknight Dinners
This list of weeknight meals are all things I have actually made at least twice for my family during the weekday, school year craziness.
Rustic caramelized mushrooms, browned Italian sausage, garlic, and tomatoes come together to make an easy, thick tomato sauce for pasta.
Slow cooker and Instant Pot versions of the classic Olive Garden soup made from spicy Italian sausage, potatoes, kale, onions, and garlic in a creamy broth.
Cilantro lime quinoa made almost hands off in the Instant Pot in well under 20 minutes.
Instant Pot or the one pot pasta method, cooks spaghetti, tomatoes, two types of olives, capers, and fresh herbs together from start to finish in under 15 minutes!
Traditional flavored Mexican rice made easier and quicker in the Instant Pot.
Sweet and smoky BBQ chicken jalapeño sliders cooked with lime juice, garlic, red onion, cumin, honey and lots of pickled jalapeño peppers in the Instant Pot. Top slider buns with the finished chicken and gouda. Bake until melty and delicious.
Instant Pot pineapple chicken curry with brown rice cooks all in one pot at one cook time. Tender chicken breast pieces with pineapple, onion, and bell pepper in a red Thai curry sauce served over steamed brown rice.
Creamy and thick chicken soup with the butteriest dumplins.
Slightly sweet and spicy thai basil chicken cooked in the pressure cooker served over rice.
Gnocchi, rotisserie chicken, kale, onions, and garlic cooked together in one pot in a creamy alfredo-like sauce.
Crispy salami tossed together with spaghetti, burst tomatoes, shallot, garlic, basil, and crushed red pepper flakes. The prefect salty and spicy meal.
Shrimp, broccolini, and pasta coated in a spicy, red pepper flake, garlic, lemon, and olive oil sauce.
Chicken breasts and potatoes marinated and cooked in a mixture of lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, and olive oil all on one sheet pan.
Black bean, cilantro lime quinoa, corn, and cheese stuffed bell peppers.
Spaghetti noodles tossed in fresh tomato and lemon pasta sauce.
One pot mac and cheese comes together in 20 minutes with a mix of grated cheddar and monterey jack.
Dairy-free, easy celery and potato slow cooker soup requires few ingredients and minimal work with a big bang of flavorful payoff.
Slow Cooker vegetarian tortilla soup is made with onion, bell peppers, green chilies, hominy, black beans, garlic, gluten-free red enchilada sauce, and a plethora of spices.
Hearty veggie loaded soup in a light tomato and vegetable stock based broth.
An easy take on chicken tortilla soup that uses red enchilada sauce and Mexican beer as the base for the soup.
Cream-based soup filled with mushrooms, celery, carrots, spinach, fresh herbs, and gnocchi.
Creamy soup loaded with lots of mushrooms and potato, a hint of garlic and herbs, and cooked in 35 minutes.
Light and creamy turkey burger version of the classic Hamburger Helper with peas mixed in for a pop of color and flavor!
Two packets of cooked ramen noodles sautéed in a sauce of brown butter, soy sauce, and chopped kimchi.
Salmon coated in chili onion garlic crisp and grilled on a bed of lemons.
Baked salmon with a blood orange and honey glaze, topped with citrus and jalapeño slices.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts braised slowly with carrots, mushrooms, and onions in a red wine sauce.
Super easy, veggie packed enchilada skillet filled with beef, potatoes, bell pepper, onion, & beans coated in enchilada sauce/spices and cheese.
Slow cooked balsamic pomegranate pot roast in a red wine sauce with carrots, celery, onion, and garlic.
The best Italian subs with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, honey ham, salami, pepperoni, mortadella, and vinaigrette.
Easy, creamy Parmesan polenta made in 9 minutes in the Instant Pot.
Hot Giardiniera Grilled Cheese sandwich with gooey cheddar, mozzarella, and bits of giardiniera with a giardiniera aioli spread on the crust.
Baked ham and Swiss cheese sliders with spinach, spicy mustard, and everything bagel seasoning.
Ooey, gooey baked ham and green chili pimento cheese sliders are the perfect combo of sweet and spicy!
Make ahead burritos stuffed with hash browns, peppers and onions, soft scrambled eggs, and cheese. Freeze, then reheat, and eat on the go. Or serve them coated in red enchilada sauce and cheese, suizo style.
Homemade Mexican Pizzas just like Taco Bell. Lean ground beef, onions, and spices smashed between two tostadas with beans and cheese and covered in enchilada sauce and more cheese.
