6 Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinners To Try This Month

On a weeknight, cooking dinner can feel like a chore. You may have had a long day of work, and your kids have after-school activities to attend. Asking yourself to assemble a three-course meal would be difficult, even for Gordon Ramsay. This month, try one of these six quick and easy weeknight dinners that taste great and satisfy your family’s appetites.

1. Baked Feta Pasta

If this dish looks familiar, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Baked feta pasta went viral on social media because it’s an easy recipe requiring little effort. It only takes about 45 minutes, and it’s friendly to vegetarian diets.

To make the baked feta pasta, start by assembling grape tomatoes, a quartered shallot, smashed garlic and olive oil in a baking dish. Season everything with salt and red pepper flakes. Now, place your 8-ounce block of feta cheese in the middle. Feta is already salty, so it goes in after the seasoning. Spread out sprigs of fresh thyme over the tomatoes and bake for about 40 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. Sheet-pan Fish Tikka With Spinach

Sheet-pan meals have become trendy lately because they’re low-effort meals you can prepare any night of the week. All you need to do is lay out the ingredients on a sheet pan and let it bake. These recipes are ideal for nights when you want a tasty meal but don’t have the time or energy to cook.

To make this sheet-pan fish tikka, start by patting dry your fish, preferably a white fish like cod. Make your marinade with a neutral oil, garam masala, Greek yogurt, ginger, garlic, chili powder, coriander, salt and turmeric. Mix and cover the fish well with the sauce.  

Marinate the fish for 20 to 30 minutes. Take a large sheet pan and create an even layer of spinach. Place your fish pieces on top and bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes. Set your broiler to high and brown the fish, which should take about three minutes. Serve the fish and spinach with rice or roti. 

3. Buffalo Chicken Flatbread Pizza

Pizza on a weeknight? Who can say no to that? This Buffalo-style chicken pizza will taste like the wings at your favorite sports bar and the pizza at your local pizzeria. However, you don’t have to leave your house or order takeout.

To make this Buffalo chicken flatbread pizza, start with four pieces of naan, the flatbread typically found in southeast Asian cuisine. Layer each flatbread with Buffalo sauce, cheese and Buffalo chicken tenders. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes, and then top the pizzas with ranch dressing, green onion and red onion. Serve celery sticks, blue cheese and ranch dressing on the side to get the feel of a plate of Buffalo wings.

4. Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers

If you’re looking for a high-protein meal, these turkey-stuffed bell peppers have your back. These stuffed peppers are easy to prepare and come out of the oven hot with melted cheese and seasoned ground turkey.

To make these turkey-stuffed bell peppers, start by cutting five bell peppers in half vertically and removing their seeds. Cook your ground turkey with the chopped onion, minced garlic and seasonings over medium-high heat. 

Once the meat finishes cooking, add chopped tomatoes, cheddar cheese and bread crumbs. Combine all the ingredients well and scoop them into your bell pepper halves. Top the peppers with paprika and bake the peppers uncovered for about 20-25 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. 

5. Quick Beef Stir Fry

If you want a quick and easy dinner, it’s hard to beat a good stir fry. These recipes are freestyle and don’t require many ingredients. You only need protein, rice or noodles, vegetables and soy sauce. Then, you’ll have a dish comparable to your favorite takeout.

For this quick beef stir fry, start by heating your wok or large skillet and adding neutral oil. Cook your beef sirloin strips until browned. Next, add your carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, garlic and green onions and cook them for a couple of minutes. Mix the beef and vegetables and add soy sauce and sesame seeds. Cook until the vegetables become tender, and then serve over rice. 

6. Easy Singapore Noodles

As mentioned above, you can eat the quick beef stir fry over rice or noodles. If you want noodles, these easy Singapore noodles are an excellent accompaniment. Or, you can eat them by themselves for a tasty vegan option. 

To make these easy Singapore noodles, start by boiling water in a kettle and placing the noodles in a bowl. When the water is boiling, pour it over the noodles to cook them. Meanwhile, you can make your sauce with curry powder, sugar, sesame oil, turmeric, soy sauce and water. 

Now, heat your wok and add a tablespoon of sunflower oil. Cook your onions and peppers until they’re soft, then add your cooked noodles. Stir in the sauce you prepared and add beansprouts, cooking for about three more minutes. Ensure you spread the sauce evenly throughout. Add red chilis or flakes if you want a higher degree of spice.  

Easy Dinners That Taste Delicious

Do you have busy evenings during the week? You may work late or have after-work plans revolving around your kids’ extracurricular activities. When you get home, you want something good to eat without spending money on takeout. Try these six tasty weeknight dinners that won’t take long to prepare.