From Pot Roast to Pasta, 16 Easy Weeknight Dinners

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Some nights, dinner needs to be fast, easy, and—most importantly—something everyone actually wants to eat. That’s where One Pan Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage swoops in, bringing all the comfort with none of the extra dishes. Maybe you’re in the mood for something zesty like Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers or a little slow-cooked magic with Crockpot Salsa Chicken (because the slow cooker is basically free help). Need something lighter but still packed with flavor? Lemony Chickpea Soup and Broccoli Quinoa Cakes have you covered. And if pasta is calling your name, Caesar Chicken Tortellini (Lightened Up) and Chicken Penne Pasta are proof that weeknight carbs are a necessity, not a luxury. Click ahead for easy meals that won’t leave you questioning your life choices!

One Pan Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage

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one pan tomato gnocchi with chicken sausage in a skillet
Photo credit: Ambitious Kitchen

Creamy One-Pan Tomato Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage & Fresh Spinach is the weeknight dinner you didn’t know you needed. Pillowy gnocchi, savory sausage, and a rich tomato sauce come together in just 30 minutes—because delicious shouldn’t take all night!
Get the Recipe: One Pan Creamy Tomato Gnocchi with Chicken Sausage

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

A bowl of rice with chicken and jalapenos.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Crock Pot Salsa Chicken is the kind of no-fuss, flavor-packed dinner that makes busy nights a little easier. Just toss it in the slow cooker, let those bold Mexican-inspired flavors do their thing, and enjoy a meal that practically cooks itself!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Salsa Chicken

Easy Chicken Meatballs

A plate of chicken meatballs
Photo credit: Downshiftology

Baked Chicken Meatballs are juicy, packed with flavor, and ready to steal the spotlight at dinner. Whether you smother them in sauce or eat them straight off the pan, they’re bound to be a new favorite!
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Meatballs

Lemon Asparagus Pasta

overhead view of a bowl of lemon asparagus pasta with forks and lemon slices scattered around
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta is a weeknight hero—bright, velvety, and on the table in under 30 minutes. It’s the perfect balance of fresh asparagus, zesty lemon, and a luscious sauce that’ll have everyone going back for seconds!
Get the Recipe: Lemon Asparagus Pasta

Broccoli Quinoa Cakes

broccoli quinoa cakes with vegan cilantro crema drizzled over top, served in bowl with green salad and red cabbage.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Vegetarian Broccoli Cakes are crispy, golden bites packed with quinoa, scallions, and plenty of flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes, they make a ridiculously tasty and wholesome meal—no boring veggie dishes here!
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Quinoa Cakes

Lemony Chickpea Soup

soup bowl with lemony chickpea soup garnished with fresh parsley and dill.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Lemony Chickpea Soup is the cozy, citrusy hug your bowl has been waiting for. With fennel bulb and sumac adding depth to the bright, nourishing broth, this vegan, gluten-free soup is as refreshing as it is comforting!
Get the Recipe: Lemony Chickpea Soup

Orecchiette with Broccoli

Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Sauce in a bowl.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Pasta Con Broccoli is a Tuscan classic that keeps things simple but full of flavor. This easy vegetarian dish proves that a handful of fresh ingredients can turn into something downright irresistible!
Get the Recipe: Orecchiette with Broccoli

Oven Roasted Chicken Tacos

Oven Roasted Chicken Tacos
Photo credit: Cooking Classy

Oven Roasted Chicken Tacos prove you don’t need a grill for top-tier taco night. A bold marinade, high heat, and a trusty dark pan bring serious flavor—weeknight dinners just got a whole lot better!
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Chicken Tacos

Mongolian Chicken

Mongolian chicken.
Photo credit: The Big Man’s World

Homemade Mongolian Chicken is a lightning-fast 10-minute dinner that brings bold, savory-sweet flavor to your plate. Skip the takeout—this one’s fresher, faster, and way too good to share!
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Chicken

Chicken Penne Pasta

A close-up view of pasta with a creamy sauce, chunks of chicken, herbs, and small pieces of tomato in a white bowl.
Photo credit: Salt and Lavender

30-Minute Chicken Penne Pasta by Salt and Lavender brings restaurant-quality flavor straight to your kitchen—without the wait. Made with simple ingredients but fancy enough to serve guests, this easy dish proves that a weeknight meal can still feel a little special.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Penne Pasta

Chicken Enchiladas

chicken enchiladas in a rectangular baking pan topped with lettuce, radish, onion, and avocado.
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas loaded with tender chicken and drenched in a homemade chili enchilada sauce? Yes, please! This easy, flavor-packed dish is the kind of comfort food that makes weeknight dinners something to look forward to.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas

Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick and easy Weeknight Spaghetti Bolognese bursting with flavor on your table in under 30 minutes but tastes like its been simmering all day! We make this recipe more than ANY OTHER RECIPE!
Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

Spaghetti Bolognese that tastes like an all-day simmer but hits the table in under 30 minutes? Believe it. This rich, hearty, and flavor-packed classic brings big, bold depth without the wait—guaranteed to earn a permanent spot in your dinner rotation!
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Bolognese

Creamy Apricot Pork Chops

an aerial view of a cast iron skillet full of creamy apricot porkchops
Photo credit: House of Nash Eats

Creamy Apricot Pork Chops bring the perfect balance of sweet and savory to your dinner table. Juicy, pan-seared pork chops get smothered in a luscious apricot sauce and served over a bed of egg noodles for a meal that feels fancy but is weeknight-friendly.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Apricot Pork Chops

Chia Crusted Salmon with Fennel Slaw

pan-seared salmon with chia crust served on fennel slaw, garnished with pickled onions and fresh dill.
Photo credit: Feasting at Home

Pan-Seared Salmon with Chia Seed Crust is the perfect mix of crispy, crunchy, and fresh. A golden-crusted salmon fillet rests on a bed of crisp fennel slaw, with quick-pickled onions and fresh dill bringing the flavor full circle. Light, bright, and impossible to resist!
Get the Recipe: Chia Crusted Salmon with Fennel Slaw

Caesar Chicken Tortellini (Lightened Up)

Caesar Chicken Tortellini
Photo credit: Carlsbad Cravings

Lightened Up Caesar Chicken Tortellini takes everything you love about Caesar dressing and turns it into a creamy, garlicky, cheesy pasta dream. Juicy chicken and pillowy tortellini get drenched in a rich Parmesan sauce with just the right hit of lemon. Lighter? Sure. Less addictive? Not a chance.
Get the Recipe: Caesar Chicken Tortellini (Lightened Up)

Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers

Chicken Stuffed Peppers in white baking dish
Photo credit: Cooking Classy

Give Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers a try for a meal that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Packed with sizzling fajita flavors and nestled inside sweet bell peppers, this dish is a hands-down dinner winner. Bonus: no tortillas required!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers

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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