Looking for some quick dinner ideas for busy weeknights? These 27 great recipes are all ready in an hour or less. They’re easy to prepare, require little prep, and fit perfectly into a tight schedule.
Cabbage and Sausage
This easy skillet meal takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and combines the natural sweetness of cabbage with sausage. Quick to make, it’s a perfect pick for weeknight dinners. And, since it only requires a single skillet, you’ll spend less time cleaning everything up after you’re done eating.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
This Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice is a simple and quick meal that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Ground beef is cooked with spices and mixed with a creamy sauce, then served over cauliflower rice. It’s a filling and straightforward dish that’s great for busy weeknights. Plus, using cauliflower rice makes it a lighter option.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice
Spinach Chicken Bake
Marinated chicken thighs are complemented by a mixture of cream cheese, mozzarella, and spinach, and it’s ready in just 30 minutes. This dish is a time-efficient way to serve a protein-rich meal with vegetables. The easy prep and short cooking time make it an excellent choice for evenings when time is tight.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Chicken Bake
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
This soup brings together sweet potatoes and red bell peppers with spices like cumin and paprika. You can adjust its texture by adding heavy cream and top it with garnishes such as parsley. The meal is straightforward to prepare and can be made and served in one hour. It offers a warm, filling dinner option on tight schedules.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Combines steamed broccoli and cauliflower with cheese and bacon, ready to serve in just 30 minutes. The quick cooking time and minimal prep make this dish an ideal solution for busy weeknight dinners. The casserole format also offers the benefit of being easily reheatable, giving you more flexibility with your time.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
Chicken Corn Soup
A go-to option for a quick and flavorful meal prepared in one pot, ready in less than an hour. Combining tender chicken and hearty vegetables in a flavorful broth, this soup is perfect when time is of the essence. It’s also an efficient way to use up leftover chicken or vegetables, maximizing convenience for your busy schedule.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Corn Soup
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
This Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner is delicious and convenient. The combination of roasted sausage and a medley of colorful vegetables offers a burst of flavor. Ready in just 30 minutes, this meal is perfect for those busy weeknights when you’re short on time. Plus, the sheet pan format makes cleanup a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner
Hungarian Mushroom Soup
A one-pot, 45-minute meal that’s ideal for both weeknight dinners and leisurely weekends. Easy to follow and quick to cook, it suits cooks of all skill levels who are pressed for time. Its robust flavors come together quickly, offering a fulfilling meal without the wait.
Get the Recipe: Hungarian Mushroom Soup
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Shrimp cooked to perfection is paired with grape tomatoes and spinach, then enveloped in a rich garlic sauce. This dish can be prepared and served in 30 minutes, making it well-suited for date nights or special occasions. Rice or pasta can complete the meal.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Philly Cheese Steak Casserole
This casserole captures the essence of a classic Philly Cheese Steak. It combines tender steak cooked in butter and garlic with sautéed peppers, onions, and mushrooms. The dish is finalized with melted provolone cheese. Quick to make, it can be on the table in less than an hour.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheese Steak Casserole
Sausage Curry
This one-pan meal is a quick 45-minute dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights. It showcases sausages and vegetables, all cooked together in a homemade creamy curry sauce. Serve it over rice or just eat it by itself — it’s a flexible and easy option when you’re short on time.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry
Fajita Baked Chicken
This 30-minute chicken dinner is a quick and easy take on fajitas, perfect for a busy weeknight. Seasoned chicken breasts are baked with cream cheese, sweet peppers, and mozzarella. It’s a hit with both kids and adults, making mealtime stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Baked Chicken
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
This Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach is a straightforward dinner option that you can make in just 30 minutes. Ground beef, cauliflower rice, and spinach are combined and baked with a topping of melted cheddar cheese. It’s a quick and simple meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights, and the added spinach gives you an easy way to include veggies in your meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Cook small pieces of chicken and then coat in a flavorful garlic butter sauce. The dish comes together in just 20 minutes and is a quick and simple choice for dinner during a busy workweek.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Creamy Dijon Chicken
The chicken in this dish is seasoned and cooked with a dijon mustard sauce that also includes spinach and bacon. This dish can be made and served in 30 minutes. Cauliflower rice or steamed vegetables make good accompaniments.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
These Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs are a fast and flavorful 30-minute dinner option. Ground turkey mixes with coconut milk, curry powder, and red curry paste for a spin on the traditional meatball. It’s an easy way to switch up your weeknight meal routine.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
This Chicken Pot Pie Soup is a one-pot recipe that’s hearty, creamy, and cozy. It’s easy to make with straightforward ingredients and is a comforting meal perfect for family dinner — all ready in 1 hour.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Fried Cabbage with Bacon
This 25-minute dish blends tender cabbage with the smokiness of bacon and the natural sweetness of onions. It offers a balanced mix of flavors and textures that make for a straightforward yet fulfilling dinner.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
This 30-minute dish involves seasoned chicken complemented by a rich mushroom sauce. It’s a one-pan dish, which makes for an efficient cooking process. Serve it with steamed vegetables for a balanced, quick meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Keto Zuppa Toscana
Make a hearty, comforting soup that tastes like the famous Olive Garden version. It’s ready in under an hour and uses radishes instead of potatoes to keep it low-carb. This soup is a quick option for any weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
This is a 30-minute, one-pan dish featuring boneless, skinless chicken thighs cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce. It pairs perfectly with a simple side salad or some steamed veggies for a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Chicken thighs with crisp skin are paired with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in this dish. It all comes together with a creamy sauce in 40 minutes, making it a viable option for a quick yet flavorful dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon
Turn asparagus into noodles and top them with homemade Alfredo sauce and bacon bits. This dish is fun, quick to make, and full of flavor. It’s ready in just 30 minutes, making it a great option for a busy weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Cook chicken breasts and cover them with a rich garlic cream sauce. You can make the whole meal in one pan in 30 minutes. It’s fast and easy, perfect for a weeknight when you’re short on time.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken
Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Cook up some chicken thighs and pair them with a creamy sauce that has artichokes and a touch of lemon. This dish is easy to make and can be on the table in less than an hour. It’s a solid weeknight meal when you’re in a hurry.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts
Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Make a creamy risotto using cauliflower instead of rice. This one-pot dish can be ready in 30 minutes. A quick option, it fits nicely into a hectic weeknight schedule.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Risotto with Mushrooms
Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin
Create a warm and comforting pumpkin soup that’s ideal for the fall season. Follow simple steps to simmer, blend, and serve this dish in just 40 minutes. It’s an easy way to have dinner ready fast on a busy weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Soup with Canned Pumpkin