Cooking once and eating all week is a smart approach to meal planning that simplifies your life. These 15 dinner recipes are perfect for creating leftovers that taste just as good on day three as they do on day one.
You’ll save time in the kitchen and cut down on food waste. The flavors in each dish are developed to last, ensuring a delicious meal every time you reheat.
Mealtime becomes stress-free with recipes designed for the long haul. Enjoy your evenings with the peace of mind that dinner is ready and waiting.
Moroccan Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
The Moroccan Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner infuses the rich flavors of cumin and coriander into succulent salmon fillets. This meal, which takes about 30 minutes to make, is a time-saver and a palate pleaser with its blend of vegetables and herbs. The main ingredients include salmon, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes, resulting in a dish that’s both savory and slightly sweet. It’s a convenient option for a nutritious midweek dinner that can easily be repurposed into lunches.
Get the Recipe: Moroccan Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
Greek gluten-free vegetarian moussaka
Greek gluten-free vegetarian moussaka is a hearty dish that caters to dietary restrictions without compromising on taste. Taking about an hour to prepare, this moussaka is packed with layers of eggplant, potatoes, and a rich lentil sauce. The flavors are reminiscent of traditional Greek cuisine, with a comforting, creamy texture. It’s an ideal meal to cook once and enjoy over several days, as the flavors deepen with time.
Get the Recipe: Greek gluten-free vegetarian moussaka
Baked Creamy salmon with potatoes
Baked Creamy Salmon with Potatoes is a comforting dish that combines flaky salmon with velvety potatoes in a creamy sauce. With a bake time of around an hour, this dish is simple to prepare and is filled with nutrients from main ingredients like salmon, potatoes, and spinach. The taste is rich and satisfying, making it a perfect dinner that can be enjoyed throughout the week. It’s a straightforward recipe for a fulfilling and versatile meal.
Get the Recipe: Baked Creamy salmon with potatoes
Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf is a wholesome dish that brings together the nuttiness of wild rice with the sweetness of butternut squash. It takes about an hour to cook and features main ingredients like wild rice, butternut squash, and cranberries. The dish offers a delightful blend of savory and sweet flavors, with a hint of earthiness from the herbs. It’s an excellent choice for a dinner that can be enjoyed for days, either as a main or a side.
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Wild Rice Pilaf
Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet
Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet is a quick-to-prepare meal, ready in about 25 minutes, that doesn’t skimp on flavor. The dish centers around tender chicken breasts and mushrooms, all enveloped in a tangy balsamic cream sauce. The main ingredients are chicken, mushrooms, and spinach, yielding a taste that’s both rich and tangy. It’s a versatile recipe that can be served over pasta or rice and reheated for convenience.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Chicken Skillet
Indian-style okra curry
Indian-style okra curry is a vibrant dish that showcases the unique texture and flavor of okra in a spicy tomato-based sauce. It takes roughly 35 minutes to prepare, with main ingredients including okra, tomatoes, and a mix of traditional Indian spices. The curry has a bold, aromatic taste with a comforting, slightly thick consistency. It’s a great option for a dinner that can be stretched into multiple meals, pairing well with rice or bread.
Get the Recipe: Indian-style okra curry
Chicken kofta kebabs
Chicken kofta kebabs are a flavorful twist on traditional kebabs, mixing ground chicken with spices and herbs. They require about 40 minutes to make, including prep and cooking time. The main ingredients are ground chicken, onions, and a blend of Middle Eastern spices, resulting in a taste that’s both savory and slightly smoky. These kebabs are perfect for a dinner that can be easily repurposed into wraps or salads for the week.
Get the Recipe: Chicken kofta kebabs
Chicken Dorito Casserole
Chicken Dorito Casserole combines the crunch of Doritos with the creaminess of a chicken and cheese mixture. The casserole takes about 40 minutes to bake and is filled with ingredients like chicken, cheese, and salsa, offering a cheesy, slightly spicy flavor profile. It’s a crowd-pleaser that can be served for dinner and then as a satisfying lunch the following days. This dish is a creative way to enjoy a familiar snack in a hearty meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Dorito Casserole
Paprika chicken
Paprika chicken is a simple yet flavorful dish that boasts the warm, sweet, and smoky notes of paprika. In just about 50 minutes, this dish brings together chicken, bell peppers, and a rich sauce for a taste that’s robust and comforting. The main ingredients are chicken thighs, paprika, and tomatoes, creating a dish that’s hearty with a touch of sweetness. It’s an ideal recipe for a dinner that can be served throughout the week, either alone or with a side.
Get the Recipe: Paprika chicken
Colombian chicken drumsticks
Colombian chicken drumsticks offer a taste of South America with a simple preparation time of about an hour. The main ingredients include chicken drumsticks, potatoes, and a tomato-based sauce, resulting in a dish that’s savory with a hint of spice. The flavors are hearty and comforting, perfect for a dinner that can be enjoyed across several days. It’s a versatile meal that can be paired with rice or vegetables for a complete dinner experience.
Get the Recipe: Colombian chicken drumsticks
Chicken Marbella
Chicken Marbella is a classic dish that combines sweet, savory, and tangy flavors in a single bite. With a preparation time of around an hour, it features chicken, prunes, and olives as the main ingredients. The taste is a complex balance of sweetness from the prunes, saltiness from the olives, and a zesty kick from the vinegar. It’s a sophisticated yet easy-to-make dinner that’s perfect for repurposing into various meals.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Marbella
Festive walnut and pomegranate chicken
Festive walnut and pomegranate chicken is a visually appealing dish that’s as tasty as it is colorful. It takes about an hour to make and includes chicken, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds as the main ingredients. The flavor is a delightful mix of nutty and tangy, with a subtle sweetness that makes the dish stand out. It’s an excellent choice for a dinner that’s both unique and can be enjoyed over multiple days.
Get the Recipe: Festive walnut and pomegranate chicken
Whole fish with pomegranate molasses
Whole fish with pomegranate molasses is a dish that brings a touch of elegance to the dinner table. This recipe requires about 50 minutes to prepare and features a whole fish, pomegranate molasses, and garlic as the main ingredients. The taste is a harmonious blend of sweet and tangy with a garlicky undertone. It’s a great meal to cook once and savor throughout the week, especially when served with simple sides.
Get the Recipe: Whole fish with pomegranate molasses
Sauteed Cabbage with Peppers
Sauteed Cabbage with Peppers is a quick and easy side dish that’s ready in just 20 minutes. The main ingredients are cabbage, bell peppers, and onions, which come together to create a dish that’s both sweet and savory. Its taste is fresh and slightly crisp, making it a perfect accompaniment to a variety of proteins. This versatile recipe is excellent for batch cooking and pairing with different mains throughout the week.
Get the Recipe: Sauteed Cabbage with Peppers
Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole
Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole is a comforting and indulgent dish that’s ready in about 45 minutes. With chicken, bacon, and cheese as the main ingredients, it delivers a taste that’s creamy and savory with a satisfying richness. It’s an ideal recipe for those busy weeknights when you need a dinner that can last for days. The casserole’s flavors meld beautifully when reheated, making it a practical and delicious choice.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole