Straightforward Weeknight Dinners, 25+ Style

Looking for Straightforward Weeknight Dinners? In this post I’ve gathered over 25 simple, well-seasoned and deliciously satisfying dinner recipes you can make any night of the week!

Let’s Talk Dinner!

Every Sunday I make a meal plan and I do my go-to to stick to it. It’s hard sometimes because I cook all day and once I’m done cleaning up after shooting a blog post, doing those dishes and editing allthephotos, it’s usually time to start dinner. To avoid burnout, I try to plan easier dinners on the days I have a more involved recipe to shoot – this got me thinking.

Here I’ve compiled a list of my go-to, go-to, straightforward week night dinner recipes because we all need to eat, but we don’t always have the time.

Meatless:

Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Summer Vegetables – Simple and light and is made all on one sheet pan!

Spicy Garlic Pasta alla Vodka – This pasta dish is so elegant and satisfying and you won’t believe how straightforward it is!

Baked Feta Pasta with Burst Tomatoes – This is a pasta dish anyone can make as it’s pretty much effortless and foolproof.

Mushroom Stroganoff – A hearty and fireside vegetarian dinner of tender mushrooms and noodles.

Portobello Fajitas – So satisfyingly filling, you won’t even miss the meat!

Portobello Caprese – A flavor-packed meatless option! I like to serve with a giant leafy salad.

Vegan Chorizo and Crispy Potato Tacos – I keep from-scratch vegan chorizo in the freezer, so I can defrost and whip these up in no time!

Seafood:

Garlicky Fajita Shrimp Pasta – It doesn’t get more well-seasoned than this!

Lemon Garlic Tilapia – Tilapia is brushed with a fresh lemon, garlic a herb butter and then quickly broiled. Reliable for any night of the week!

Sheet Pan Hawaiian Shrimp and Rice – An straightforward and saucy one pan meal bursting with Hawaiian flavors!

Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Shrimp – Serve with your regular type of rice for a light and healthy meal!

Thai Coconut Barramundi – Simple, elegant and unfussy!

Tilapia Parmesan – The dependable part is it’s all done under the broiler!

Chicken:

Air Fryer Salsa Chicken Taquitos – dinner in under 30 minutes!

BBQ Chicken Naan Pizza – Naan (kitchen-made or store-bought) is a great shortcut for pizza crust!

Chicken Poblano Stew – Healthy, hearty and dependable any night of the week.

Chicken Sausage and White Bean Stew – A one-pot stew that’s short, unfussy and savory!

Chicken Tortilla Soup – Anything served with crushed chips as a topping is going to be a winner!

Enchilada Chicken and Rice Skillet – Everything you love about enchiladas in one unfussy skillet recipe.

Firecracker Chicken – Sweet, sour and fiery!

Grilled Chicken Caesar Pizza – Caesar salad in pizza form.

One Pan Chicken Parmesan Casserole – This casserole takes little effort to prepare but tastes as if it took you all day!

One Pan Lemony Orecchiette – A simple, healthy and short pasta dish that also happens to be certainly satisfying.

Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken – This one pan dinner is way better than take out!

Sheet Pan Honey Barbecue Turkey Sausage and Vegetables – Smoky, sticky and sweet and ready in 35 minutes!

Sheet Pan Honey Dijon Chicken – Everything you want and love, baked on one pan and in your oven.

Weeknight Turkey Burgers – Dinner on the table in under 30 minutes with quite little clean up.

Short Thai Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Bowls – Put dinner on the table in under an hour!

Beef:

Unfussy Loaded Beef Chili – Our go-to UNFUSSY chili recipe!

Cheesy Beef Pasta Skillet – Don’t have a ton of time? This method feeds 4 to 6 and is ready in about 30 minutes!

Cheesy Mexican Beef and Rice Skillet – A glorious one-pan casserole of onions, seasoned ground beef, rice, corn and fire-roasted tomatoes

Double Decker Tacos – My take on a Taco Bell familiar.

Straightforward Beef Street Tacos – simple and SO well-seasoned!

French Dip Sandwiches – Especially simple and satisfying! Ready in under 30!

One Pot Spaghetti – A one-pot masterpiece!

Spicy Jalapeño Sloppy Joes – Spicy and especially messy (and cheesy!).

Pork:

Andouille Cajun Rice Skillet – A speedy and unfussy one skillet dinner, reliable for any night of the week

Chorizo Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos – From-scratch, vegan chorizo crumbles and crispy Yukon gold potatoes are tucked into corn tortillas and topped with minced white onion and fresh cilantro.

Italian Sausage Brussels Sprout Ravioli – The reliable meal on a chilly evening.

Orecchiette Pasta with Pancetta, Butternut Squash and Broccoli – An straightforward, light and healthy pasta dish!

Saucy Pork Lettuce Wraps – Speedy and healthy, what more could you ask for?

Spicy Ginger Cashew Pork – Simple, spicy and ready in 30!