5 Quick Dinners for Busy Weeknights

I'm a woman with a plan.

By
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva is a trained chef, registered dietitian, recipe writer, and food photographer, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. She runs Nosh with Micah, her personal blog.
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Published May 12, 2025
Micah Siva
Wedges of quesadilla on a grey plate with cilantro, salsa, and avocado on the side

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

This week, I find myself out of town, which means my husband is left to fend for himself. My husband is one of the most talented, competent humans I’ve ever met, but when faced with the task of dinner, he often needs a little nudge in the right direction. Whenever I leave him to his own devices, I always stock the fridge with foods I know he’ll like, and fill the freezer (labelled!!) with easy meals I know he’ll like. 

Whenever I’m preparing meals for my family, I like to freeze them in individual containers. While I am the queen of leftovers, they often go to waste if I’m not there to coax my family into eating them. I use silicone dishes called “Souper Cubes” to freeze smaller portions of dishes that my family can pop out and defrost, one at a time. 

Here are some easy-to-make fresh dinners I know he can handle, along with some dishes I'll prep ahead of time.

  • Sheet Pan Salmon with Feta Sauce

    Closeup view of a gray plate of salmon, broccolini cherry tomatoes, onions and feta sauce with a fork on a marble countertop

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    I love a sheet pan meal, and I love that this recipe can be on the table in under 30 minutes. I use Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise in the sauce because… I’ve never liked mayonnaise (sorry!). The quality of your feta matters, so buy one that you’d enjoy snacking on!

  • Eggplant Green Curry

    Green Curry Eggplant

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    The first time my now-husband cooked me dinner, he tried to make a green curry. But he substituted the spices that the recipe called for with (wait for it) cinnamon and oregano. Needless to say, we ended up ordering pizza that night. This eggplant curry recipe freezes well, so I can make this ahead and let him defrost it! I like to add cubed extra firm tofu for added protein.

  • Easy Chicken and Dumplings

    Easy Chicken and Dumplings in a pot, bowls, spoons, and napkins on the side

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "Classic chicken and dumplings usually starts with stewing a whole chicken, which makes for really tender chicken and a thick broth, but takes a long time. You can take a shortcut to the tender chicken by grabbing a rotisserie chicken at the supermarket. If you opt to use leftover chicken instead, note that you’ll need about 4 cups of shredded chicken for this recipe," says recipe developer Meghan Splawn.

  • Ultimate Quesadillas

    A plate of quesedillas and toppings.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    If there’s one thing anyone can make, it’s a quesadilla. We almost always have quesadilla ingredients on hand, from tortillas to a variety of cheeses and fillings. I’ll often opt for flour tortillas, but sometimes I’ll use an almond flour tortilla for a tiny bit more protein and healthy fats. I’m serving these with roasted bell peppers.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below

  • Ravioli Lasagna

    4-ingredient ravioli lasagna lifted from a casserole dish using a spatula

    Simply Recipes / Meghan Splawn

    Lasagna can feel intimidating, but using store-bought ravioli makes it so simple to prepare. I love to use different ravioli every time for new twists on the lasagna. These days, I’m loving TJ's Vegan Spinach & Cashew Ravioli, and using a vegan or lactose-free cheese (if you know… you know). This recipe is endlessly customizable—use a pumpkin alfredo sauce in lieu of tomato sauce, or an alfredo sauce with a four-cheese ravioli (with extra lactose pills, please!).

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