The 15 Easiest Weeknight Dinners Ever

Get dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes with these easy recipes.

By
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published January 12, 2025
Robin Shreeves
Ground beef and broccoli stir fry over rice in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, a bowl of sliced scallions, and a bowl of sesame seeds

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

It's the new year, and if one of your intentions is to cook more and order takeout less, I'm here to help. If time is a barrier to putting a home-cooked dinner on the table, you're in the right place.

I've scoured our site for these 15 dinners that don't involve too much prep or too many ingredients yet are still satisfying, delicious, and fun. There's even a Jennifer Garner-inspired recipe that you'll turn to time and time again. You'll have these meals on the dinner table quickly so you can enjoy wholesome food with peace of mind.

  • Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

    Plate of Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze and a Side of Green Beans

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    This salmon bakes in about 12 minutes and ends up with a crispy caramelized top thanks to the brown sugar glaze spiked with Dijon and honey. Steam broccoli in the microwave while the salmon bakes and you'll have dinner on the table in 25 minutes or less.

  • Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

    Ground beef and broccoli stir fry over rice in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, a bowl of sliced scallions, and a bowl of sesame seeds

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    Contributor Jasmine Smith says, "If you love the flavors of beef and broccoli, whip up this quick, easy, and affordable version. Ready in only 30 minutes—just enough time to cook up some rice at the same time—it’s an ideal family meal."

  • Chicken Fried Rice

    Chicken fried rice in a bowl with chopsticks
    Lisa Lin

    This is a delicious dinner to make in a flash if you have leftover rice. Chicken and veggies fry quickly in a wok. An optional sprinkling of Chinese five spice powder kicks up the flavor. This dish rivals takeout in all ways except one: it'll be fresh and hot, whereas takeout will be lukewarm by the time you get it home.

  • Salisbury Ground Beef

    salisbury ground beef with a side of green beans on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    Senior Editor Laurel Randolph says, "Instead of making individual patties and searing each one, simply cook ground beef in a skillet and combine it with sautéed mushrooms and a savory gravy for a 30-minute meal. It has all of the flavors of the original without the hassle."

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Crispy Ground Beef Tacos

    Baked tacos on a platte surrounded by bowls of toppings (bowl of shredded iceberg lettuce, bowl of diced onions, bowl of tomatoes, bowl of salsa, and a bowl of sour cream)

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RD

    This is the way to make a bunch of perfectly hot and crispy tacos all at once. Cook a ground beef filling and put the filled tacos on a sheet pan, then and bake for four to five minutes a side. The result? Everyone, including you, can start eating at the same time.

  • Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Feed (and please) a crowd in 30 minutes with gnocchi roasted with bell pepper, squash, garlic, and tomatoes topped with shredded Parm. You'll need two rimmed baking sheets to hold all the goodness, but they both go in the oven at the same time.

  • Brown Butter and Sage Linguine

    5-ingredient pasta

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    Dinner inspiration can come from anywhere, including a crime thriller mini-series. Jennifer Garner's character in The Last Thing He Told Me makes this linguine, and on her very real Pretend Cooking Show on YouTube, she recreates it for her fans. Linguine, butter, Parmesan, fresh sage, lemon plus a little salt and pepper are all you need.

  • Italian Beans and Greens

    Bowl of Italian beans and greens next to a pot with more, a wooden board with lemon wedges, and a block of parmesan

    Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

    This dish tastes like it's been stewing for hours, but in reality, it's ready in a fraction of that. Beans and greens, or scarola e fagioli, is simple stew of escarole and canned cannellini beans. The greens stew in chili flakes, garlic, and broth before you add beans and finish it off with Parmesan. Crusty bread for soaking up the stew juices is a must.

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  • Hamburger and Macaroni

    Hamburger and Macaroni

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    So many quick dinners start with a pound of ground beef. For this one, brown the meat and make a sauce with canned diced tomatoes, Worcestershire, and seasonings while you boil the water and cook the pasta. You can customize with ground chicken or turkey, extra veggies, or topping with the cheese of your choice.

  • Chicken & Gnocchi Soup

    Bowl of copycat Olive Garden chicken and gnocchi soup on a beige table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

    A copycat of an Olive Garden favorite, this creamy soup takes a few shortcuts that the restaurant doesn't take, yet it's still as delicious. By using store-bought rotisserie chicken and refrigerated gnocchi, you can get this soup on the table in less than half an hour.

  • Pizza Beans

    pizza beans in a green casserole

    Simply Recipes / Robby Lozano

    With just three ingredients, these pizza beans are both fast and kid-friendly. Mix two cans of drained cannellini or butter beans with jarred marinara sauce and a cup of cheese. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until browned and bubbly.

  • Paccheri With Sausage Ragu

    Pot of Paccheri With Quick Sausage Ragu With a Spoon, and in the Surroundings, a Glass, a Block of Parmesan, a Stack of Plates, and Basil Leaves

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Contributor Devan Grimsrud says, "Any given weeknight, there’s a 75% chance that I’m making pasta for dinner. There are many reasons for this—it’s quick, easy, and helps me use up leftovers in the pantry and fridge—but the #1 reason is simple. I just love a good plate of pasta!"

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  • Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts

    Lemon Pepper Chicken in a Pan Garnished with Shredded Parsley and Lemon Slices

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz

    Pan-fry thin chicken breasts sprinkled with lemon pepper in a lemony broth made with chicken stock. The thin breasts fry up quickly and the pan sauce, thickened with flour and butter, is scrumptious. Serve the chicken with sauce, but save a little of it to drizzle on a side of rice.

  • Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

    Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Italian deli meat
    Nick Evans

    This gooey sandwich is a mashup of a sub (or hoagie, depending on what you call it) and a grilled cheese sandwich. Add three kinds of Italian deli meat—pepperoni, salami, and prosciutto—and provolone cheese, then grill on the stovetop.

  • Pizza Salad

    Bowl of Pizza Salad Surrounded by a Bowl of Grated Cheese With Blocks of Parmesan, a Cup With More Dressing, Breadsticks on the Counter, and a Pink Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    No cooking here, and there's not even much chopping to do. A quick homemade vinaigrette with oregano and garlic powder meets all of your favorite pizza toppings over crisp lettuce. Bake up frozen breadsticks and you're all set.

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