41 Weeknight Dinner Ideas to Keep in Your Back Pocket

1/71
Double-the-Mustard Chicken With Potatoes and Greens
There’s no rule that chicken dinner recipes need to be boring. Meet your new favorite: whole chicken legs marinated with zippy Dijon mustard and honey and paired with roasted potatoes and crisp greens. It’s one of those weeknight dinner ideas that you'll find yourself coming back to every time you’re trying to plan ahead. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
2/71
Simple Turkey Chili With All the Toppings
This easy chili skips the ground beef and uses ground turkey instead, which helps the flavors of cumin, coriander, jalapeño, and smoked paprika come through clearly. Top with creamy avocado, sour cream, and cilantro, or just crumbled tortilla chips and lime wedges. See recipe.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
3/71
Chicken Fajitas
The quick citrusy marinade here doesn't require much time. Just be sure to pat your meat dry before you cook it. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert
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4/71
Sheet-Pan Chicken With Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Anyone who loves pizza will adore this recipe, which is designed for busy weeknights. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
5/71
Pasta With 15-Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Sauce
This pasta dish is a perpetual favorite of Epicurious readers—in fact, it's one of our most popular pasta recipes of all time. All you need is a pound of pasta, some olive oil, garlic, cherry tomatoes, ground bllack pepper, Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and a pinch of sugar to balance the sauce. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
6/71
Pulled Mushroom Tacos With Salsa Guille
Taco night just got better. These vegetarian tacos feature crispy pulled mushrooms, creamy, savory peanut butter and serrano salsa. Active prep time is just 30 minutes. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
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7/71
Sheet-Pan Pasta Bake With Chicken and Kale
Try this recipe once, and you just might find you switch to sheet pans for pasta bakes from here on out. So much more crispy topping per bite! See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
8/71
Easy Fried Rice
Where would we be without fried rice? This takeout staple is a great way to use up any little bits of vegetables or meat that you have in your fridge. It's a 30-minute meal that always tastes great. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
9/71
Three-Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji)
This beloved Taiwanese classic gets its name from generous amounts of soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice wine. You'll want to cook some rice to eat with the chicken. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
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10/71
Double-Stack Mushroom and Chicken Cheeseburgers
For juicy, flavorful chicken burgers, mix the ground chicken with mushrooms for added earthy flavor and moisture. Grill and finish them off with gooey Muenster, shredded lettuce, sweet pickles, and curry mustard. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
11/71
Sheet-Pan Old Bay Trout and Succotash
Change up your sheet-pan dinner game with this easy one-pan supper. Just steam a mixture of corn, green beans, and tomatoes in a foil pouch alongside butterflied trout that's been seasoned with Old Bay. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
12/71
Pork Meatballs and Cucumber Salad
Juicy, oven-baked pork meatballs turn your summer cucumber haul into a satisfying meal. Swoosh the plate with yogurt before piling your cukes on top. See recipe.
Photo & Food Styling by Kendra Vaculin
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13/71
Bombay Masala Chile Cheese Toasties
It's melty. It's cheesy. It's crunchy. It's spicy. And it's simply the best thing you could have for dinner tonight. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
14/71
Vegetarian Black Bean Chili
Bell peppers and onions add sweetness and complexity to this vegetarian chile, and sautéing the chili powder, oregano, cumin, and cayenne in the Dutch oven allows the flavors to build. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
15/71
Oven Risotto With Crispy Roasted Mushrooms
Yes, risotto can absolutely be a weeknight meal. Just use this oven method, which is much less labor-intensive than standing over the stove. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura
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16/71
Yum Khai Dao
This Thai salad highlights bold, bright flavors, pairing fresh veggies with lacy fried eggs and a punchy dressing that's flavored with lime juice, cilantro, garlic, Thai chile, fish sauce, and a touch of sugar. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
17/71
Instant Pot Brothy Farro With Sausage and Leeks
Want to put your Instant Pot to work? Use it to brown some slices of spicy Italian sausage, then add leeks and scallion, farro, salt, pepper, thyme, and water and let it cook for just 3 minutes under pressure. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
18/71
Chickpea-Potato Chaat
Transform a can of chickpeas into this creamy, crunchy, spicy, fresh meal in just half an hour. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
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19/71
Warm Chicken Salad With Asparagus and Creamy Dill Dressing
To quickly revive dry, cold rotisserie chicken, place slices of it in a steamer basket along with spring vegetables for a satisfying warm salad. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
20/71
Roasted Niçoise Salad With Halibut
Did you know you should be roasting jarred marinated artichokes? They get super-crispy and delicious in the oven's heat. If you can keep yourself from devouring the whole pan, use them in this easy fish dinner. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
21/71
Chili Crisp Bucatini
Heighten your carbonara experience by adding in some of your favorite chile crisp. The extra yolk on top is extra fun. See recipe.
Photo by Heami Lee
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22/71
Paneer Butter Masala
In this cozy recipe from cookbook author Meera Sodha, creamy paneer nestles into a luscious tomato sauce spiced with ginger, garlic, fenugreek leaves, cinnamon, cloves, and ground red chile. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
23/71
Lemony Salmon and Spiced Chickpeas
Get your fish, chickpeas, and greens all in one bowl with this easy recipe. The salmon's cook time is around 15 minutes, so you can get dinner on the table quickly even if you got home from work late. See recipe.
Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime, Food Styling by Sue Li
24/71
Freeform Chicken Meatballs With Carrots and Yogurt Sauce
What's quicker than meatballs? These dollops of spiced ground chicken, roasted on a sheet pan with carrots until everything's golden brown. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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25/71
Smoky Spanish Potatoes and Eggs
This skillet dinner brings together two tapas favorites: patatas bravas and huevos rotos. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
26/71
Winter Salad Hummus Bowls
If you want your weeknight cooking to be much, much easier, whip up a batch of this savory, crunchy topper on the weekend, then sprinkle it over a hearty plate of hummus, salad, and jammy eggs. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
27/71
Instant Pot Japchae
We always crave this Korean classic of bouncy noodles, julienned vegetables, and a sweet-and-salty sauce—and this version only takes about 20 minutes to make. See recipe.
Photo by Selina Lee
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28/71
Fish Cakes With Caper-Parsley Sauce
Readers have been raving about this recipe since it first came out in the February 2002 issue of Gourmet. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food styling by Mira Evnine
29/71
Tacos de Gobernador
Taco night is on, and it's going to be the best ever. There are many variations of Gobernadores, but they typically include shrimp, mild chiles, and cheese. Here, chef David Castro Hussong adds bacon, which gives the dish a surf-and-turf feeling. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
30/71
Braised Butternut Squash in Spiced Coconut Gravy
Looking for weeknight-friendly vegan dinners? Here, large pieces of butternut squash get braised in a coconut sauce spiked with chile, cayenne, and turmeric for a low-effort dish that’s full of flavor. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou
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31/71
Honey-Mustard Pork Tenderloin
Pair this juicy pork tenderloin with lemony roasted potatoes or asparagus. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
32/71
Rice Cake With Mixed Vegetables
Use this recipe as a starting point—it will work well with any combination of vegetables that you have on hand. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou
33/71
Crispy Chicken Thighs With Kale, Apricots, and Olives
Nestle golden-brown chicken thighs into curly kale that's sweetened with dried apricots and brightened with white wine vinegar. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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34/71
Spinach and Feta Cooked Like Saag Paneer
If you haven't tried this popular dish from Priya Krishna's Indian-ish, don't delay. The feta is tangy and rich and pairs wonderfully with the spiced greens. See recipe.
Photo by Mackenzie Kelley
35/71
Pasta With No-Cook Zucchini Sauce
Marinated zucchini meets tangy cream cheese in this easy, luxurious pasta dish. See recipe.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley
36/71
Crispy Scallop Salad
This main course salad is date-night special, but weeknight simple. Shallow-fried scallops get extra crispy on the outside and tender inside when double-dredged in an Old Bay–seasoned cornmeal mixture. They're perfect paired with tangy citrus and a ripe avocado. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege
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37/71
Quick Fried Cabbage With Noodles and Bacon
It's rare that weeknight dinner recipes only take 12 minutes to make. Meet your new speedy favorite, which leans on short-cut angel hair pasta, tossed with cooked cabbage, crispy bacon, garlic, and Parm. See recipe.
38/71
Vegetarian Skillet Stuffed Shells
You might think of stuffed shells as a festive weekend project, but this version is stovetop-only and ready in under an hour. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
39/71
Tuna Melt
The ultimate tuna melt is supremely crispy, gooey and oozy with cheese, and packed with tang pickles. It's comfort food at its finest. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
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40/71
Cheesy Loaded Sweet Potatoes
For an easy 15-minute dinner, steam a batch of sweet potatoes in advance. Then, top them with sour cream, creamy avocado, crunchy radishes, and tangy pickled onions. Looking for more sweet potato topping ideas? We have a whole list. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens
41/71
Kung Pao Chicken
It's hard to pass up this classic salty, sweet, sour, and spicy chicken dish, flavored with black vinegar, soy sauce, tingly Sichuan peppercorns, and chiles. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
42/71
Creamy Vegan Red Pepper Pasta With Garlic Bread Breadcrumbs
The secret to creamy pasta without any cream? Canned white beans, which soften into this easy sauce. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
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43/71
Spring Pea Fish Chowder
This creamy chowder is deeply comforting but still bright from the fresh pea shoots and lemon zest. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
44/71
Flowering Chives and Pork Slivers
This quick stir-fry from Betty Liu's My Shanghai is the ideal spring dinner. It calls for just a little bit of pork—loin, belly, or shoulder—because the dish is mostly about the crisp, sweet, garlicky flowering chives. See recipe.
Photo by Betty Liu
45/71
Lentil and Chicken Soup With Sweet Potatoes and Escarole
Some soups are long-simmering weekend projects, but this quickie is perfect for a Tuesday night—and it's a great way to use up leftover roast chicken or a rotisserie bird from the store. (We've got more leftover rotisserie chicken recipes, too, in case you aren't craving soup tonight.) See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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46/71
Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta
The chicken, sauce, and pasta for this dish all cook in the same pan, so you won't be stuck doing dishes late at night. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
47/71
Dooboo Jorim
This velvety braised tofu dish gets a garnish of sesame seeds and chopped scallions. See recipe.
Photo by Joanne Lee Molinaro
48/71
Roasted Salmon With Green Herbs
When you're looking for the best weeknight dinners that are fuss-free but still feel special, turn to this Ina Garten classic. A mix of dill, parsley, and scallions flavors the fish, which cooks quickly in the oven with a little white wine. Add a loaf of bread and a simple salad to round out the meal. See recipe.
Photo by Quentin Bacon
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49/71
Flammkuchen
Since it starts with an unleavened dough, this German pub classic is a cinch to make—and the whole family will love it. See recipe.
Photo by Maja Smend
50/71
Tomatoes and Feta With Chickpeas
Warm, melty feta adds richness and tangy flavor to jammy roasted tomatoes in this sheet-pan supper. See recipe.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman
51/71
Sicilian-Style Pasta With Sardines
When you don't have time to hit the store, this pantry-sourced meal is a great one to have in your arsenal. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food styling by Mira Evnine
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52/71
Sesame Broccoli With Crumbled Tofu
Salted boiling water seasons the tofu for this vegetarian dinner. Leftovers from this dish make terrific fried rice. See recipe.
Photo by Hetty McKinnon
53/71
Baked Salmon With Lemon and Thyme
Everyone needs a go-to way to cook salmon. This low-oven recipe is guaranteed to work every time. See recipe.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova
54/71
Gorgeous Green Shrimp
You'll pour this quick blender sauce—made with cilantro, scallions, jalapeño, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, and lemon—over the shrimp after you've pulled them off the heat. See recipe.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Thu Buser
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55/71
Lemongrass Chicken Noodle Salad of Dreams
Store-bought lemongrass paste is packed with flavor and saves tons of effort in this zingy main-course salad recipe. See recipe.
Photo by Louise Hagger
56/71
Spicy Tomato–Tuna Noodle Skillet Casserole With Aioli
This revamped tuna noodle casserole is homey, bright, and mostly sourced from your pantry. You’ll toast dry pasta in oil until golden brown before cooking it in the tomato sauce—this gives the pasta an excellent nutty flavor. See recipe.
Photo and Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
57/71
Sheet-Pan Salmon With Roasted Artichoke Hearts and Leeks
Roasting a halved lemon on the sheet pan along with artichoke hearts and leeks for this quick salmon dinner softens the pucker of the juice, which is mixed with Greek yogurt to make a simple sauce. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart
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58/71
Halal Cart Chicken Salad
This main course salad, inspired by the street food favorite, has become one of the quick dinners that Epicurious and Bon Appétit users cooked most this summer. See recipe.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Gerri Williams
59/71
Lemongrass Tempeh Crumbles
Pile these crispy, citrusy crumbles on top of rice with a side of radish and carrot pickle for a flavorful, easy weeknight dinner. See recipe.
Photo by Aubrie Pick
60/71
Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Asparagus With Mustard-Herb Sauce
Rub your pork tenderloin with ground fennel seeds, smoked paprika, and salt, then grill alongside some asparagus for a simple weeknight meal. See recipe.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
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61/71
Sopa de Fideo
With just eight ingredients (plus salt and pepper), this cozy bowl of soup will make everyone happy. To deepen the flavor, roast the tomatoes first if you have time. See recipe.
Photo by Mely Martinez
62/71
Tofu and Tomatoes With Spinach and Basil
Spinach and tomatoes are transformed into a hearty meal when cooked with tofu and dressed with a sweet-savory sauce of apple cider vinegar, vegetarian oyster sauce, maple syrup, and soy sauce. See recipe.
Photo by Uyen Luu
63/71
Sausage and Greens Sheet-Pan Dinner
The sweet-tart mustard dressing makes this sausage-and-potatoes supper something special. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura
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64/71
Herby Sheet-Pan Meatballs With Green Beans
Grated zucchini guarantees that these sheet-pan turkey meatballs aren't at all dry. See recipe.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca
65/71
Gochujang-Sesame Noodles
Once you try this quick gochujang and creamy tahini combo, you'll want to put it on everything. See recipe.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Dayna Seman.
66/71
Sheet-Pan Gnocchi
Shelf-stable gnocchi has become a weeknight fixture. Try this one-pan wonder and you'll see why. See recipe.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime
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67/71
Citrus Shrimp Rice Bowls
One sauce serves two purposes here—split it in half so it can act as both marinade and dressing. See recipe.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
68/71
Crispy Chicken Thighs With Spring Vegetables
This all-in-one dinner highlights spring veggies accompanied with extra-savory, crispy-skinned chicken thighs. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
69/71
Hot Honey Pork Chops With Escarole and White Beans
Readers can't stop talking about the hot honey sauce that dresses this one-pan pork chop dinner. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
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70/71
Fish Packets With Snap Peas, Tomatoes, and Herb Butter
Each eater in your family can choose their own vegetables to include in these parchment packets. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kate Schmidt
71/71
Sheet-Pan Grilled Cheese
Sometimes the simplest weeknight dinner ideas are the ones you need. And maybe this week, that means tomato soup and grilled cheese for everyone. See recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton