15 Simple Weeknight Recipes for Stress-Free Cooking

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Weeknights are tough, but dinner doesn’t have to be! You can whip up crowd-pleasers like Pesto Chicken Tortellini, or even serve a crispy delight like Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Breast with minimal effort. For something hearty, the Beer Braised Beef Brisket will have everyone coming back for seconds. If you’re in a hurry, don’t sweat it—Honey Mustard Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Potatoes can be done in no time! And of course, you can never go wrong with Marry Me Chicken Orzo to make the evening extra special. Whether you want a one-pan wonder like One-Pan Caprese Pasta or a classic Cilantro Lime Shrimp, this list is your secret weapon to a weeknight dinner win.

Honey Mustard Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Potatoes

A cooked salmon fillet topped with creamy herb sauce and chopped parsley, with pieces of potato in the background.
Image Credit: We Eat Last

Honey Mustard Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Potatoes delivers juicy, tangy goodness in record time—thanks to your pressure cooker doing all the heavy lifting. It’s a weeknight dinner win that tastes like you tried way harder.

To learn more: Honey Mustard Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Potatoes

Pesto Chicken Tortellini

Creamy chicken pasta in a cast iron skillet, garnished with fresh herbs, served with a cloth napkin and plates in the background.
Image Credit: The Peasant’s Daughter

Pesto Chicken Tortellini is a creamy, herby pasta dish that pulls dinner together faster than you can say “what’s for dinner?” Plus, it tastes like something you’d get at a cozy Italian café—without the reservation.

To learn more: Pesto Chicken Tortellini

Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Slices of grilled chicken breast garnished with fresh parsley on a plate.
Image Credit: We Eat At Last

Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Breast comes out juicy on the inside and crisped to perfection on the outside, all without the grease or the guesswork. It’s your go-to shortcut for making chicken feel fancy with zero effort.

To learn more: Ninja Air Fryer Chicken Breast

The Best Baked Pork Chops

A grilled pork chop garnished with herbs next to mashed potatoes on a white plate, with a fork and knife beside the plate.
Image Credit: The Forked Spoon

The Best Baked Pork Chops are juicy, flavorful, and proof that simple really can mean spectacular. With just the right seasoning and oven magic, they steal the dinner show every time.

To learn more: The Best Baked Pork Chops

One-Pan Caprese Pasta

A skillet filled with spaghetti, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, fresh basil, and a light sauce.
Image Credit: Craving Something Healthy

One-Pan Caprese Pasta by Craving Something Healthy brings all the fresh, melty, tomato-basil goodness you crave—without dirtying every pot in your kitchen. It’s basically summer in a skillet, and we’re here for it.

To learn more: One-Pan Caprese Pasta

Crockpot Chicken Marsala

A plate of tender beef smothered in gravy, served with creamy mashed potatoes, garnished with fresh parsley.
Image Credit: Three Kids, Three Cats, and a Husband

Crockpot Chicken Marsala lets you enjoy rich, restaurant-worthy flavor with zero stovetop stress. The slow cooker does all the work while you soak up the compliments.

To learn more: Crockpot Chicken Marsala

Arroz con Pollo (Latin One Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice) 

A pan filled with rice, seasoned chicken pieces, green peas, olives, and red peppers, topped with lemon slices and parsley. A spoon and a striped cloth are placed next to the pan.
Image Credit: A Latin Flair

Arroz con Pollo (Latin One Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice) is a vibrant, flavor-packed classic where tender chicken meets golden, seasoned rice in one happy pot. It’s comfort food with a Latin flair—and absolutely no fuss.

To learn more: Arroz con Pollo (Latin One Pot Chicken and Yellow Rice) 

Beer Braised Beef Brisket

Sliced beef brisket topped with raw onion rings, served with pickles and white bread on parchment paper.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Beer Braised Beef Brisket is slow-cooked, fall-apart magic where rich beer meets melt-in-your-mouth beef. It’s the kind of meal that makes you feel like a kitchen legend—without breaking a sweat.

To learn more: Beer Braised Beef Brisket

30 Minute Pistachio Crusted Salmon

Two salmon fillets topped with a pistachio crust, sautéed spinach, and a halved lemon on a beige plate.
Image Credit: Craving Something Healthy

30 Minute Pistachio Crusted Salmon delivers gourmet vibes in half an hour, thanks to its crunchy, nutty topping and buttery fish. It’s fast, fancy, and fabulously easy.

To learn more: 30 Minute Pistachio Crusted Salmon

Garlic Butter Chicken and Potato Skillet

A black skillet containing diced chicken, small roasted potatoes, and chopped parsley.
Image Credit: Well Fed Baker

Garlic Butter Chicken and Potato Skillet is a one-pan wonder where golden potatoes and juicy chicken soak up all that garlicky, buttery goodness. It’s comfort food that comes sizzling to the table.

To learn more: Garlic Butter Chicken and Potato Skillet

Marry Me Chicken Orzo

Cooked orzo pasta, pieces of chicken, spinach leaves, and sun-dried tomatoes in a skillet.
Image Credit: The Peasant’s Daughter

Marry Me Chicken Orzo is a creamy, dreamy dish so delicious, you’ll be asking for seconds (and maybe even a ring). Tender chicken, savory sauce, and orzo—what’s not to love?

To learn more: Marry Me Chicken Orzo

Pesto Ravioli

A white plate filled with ravioli pasta, topped with green pesto sauce, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and a sprinkling of grated cheese.
Image Credit: Spice Up The Curry

Pesto Ravioli is a simple yet irresistible dish, where pillowy ravioli meets vibrant, herby pesto for a flavor explosion. It’s an easy meal that feels like a fancy treat.

To learn more: Pesto Ravioli

Cilantro Lime Shrimp

Cooked shrimp topped with chopped herbs and garlic, accompanied by lime slices.
Image Credit: Well Fed Baker

Cilantro Lime Shrimp is a zesty, fresh seafood dish that packs a punch with every bite. The tangy lime and aromatic cilantro make this shrimp sing—perfect for a light, flavorful meal.

To learn more: Cilantro Lime Shrimp

How to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Fried chicken drumsticks topped with white sauce and herbs, served with French fries on printed parchment paper.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

How to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken is your step-by-step guide to crispy, golden perfection. Soak your chicken in tangy buttermilk, coat it, and fry until it’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside—deliciously simple.

To learn more: How to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Meatball Casserole

A spoonful of cheesy meatballs in rich marinara sauce, with melted cheese stretching from the dish, garnished with fresh herbs.
Image Credit: Cheerful Cook

Meatball Casserole is a cheesy, saucy dream that turns hearty meatballs into the star of the show. With layers of flavor and gooey cheese, it’s comfort food at its finest, baked to bubbly perfection.

To learn more: Meatball Casserole

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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