Weeknight cooking is a struggle, even for food editors. Like everyone else, we come home and the last thing we want to do is stand over a stove, but we also have to eat. The ideal weeknight recipe doesn’t have too many ingredients, won’t require a lot of pans or bowls, and maybe most importantly, comes together in about 30 minutes. These recipes do just that, from quick-fix pastas to hearty soups that can be built in about the same time as an episode of your favorite show. This way you’ll actually get a chance to sit down and unwind in front of the tv before bedtime.
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Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner
A light and refreshing recipe like this is perfect for hot summer days. An easy way to bulk up the recipe is to serve the wraps with a side of rice, but to keep things easy, turn to frozen or microwavable varieties.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Montiel
Most baked pastas take hours to finish, from the layering to the actual cooking in the oven, but not this skillet recipe. Thanks to fresh, store-bought tortellini, you’ll have dinner on the table in just 30 minutes.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
We mean it when we say this chili is quick, in fact, it only takes 20 minutes to pull off. The hardest part might just be opening up the cans of beans and tomatoes.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
“The honey mustard sauce really elevates ordinary chicken cutlets! Next time I might try with my favorite cut of chicken thighs,” writes a five-star reviewer of this speedy chicken recipe.
Canned beans and quick-cooking shrimp make dinner prep fast and easy in this recipe. Pro tip: Trader Joe’s sells frozen, charred corn kernels so you can skip that step in this recipe and have an even faster dinner.
Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Marianne Williams; Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines
If you’ve ever tried the viral baked feta pasta recipe, consider this our fun twist on the format using Boursin. Infused with garlic and herbs, the cheese has even more flavor than feta.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
We probably don’t have to tell you how much of a weeknight lifesaver rotisserie chicken is, but in this recipe we dress it up into an ultra-flavorful bowl in an effort to keep dinner interesting.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cold cuts don’t exactly sound like an inspired choice for dinner, but with the right homemade horseradish sauce, melty Havarti, and your favorite prepared onion jam, you’ll have a killer sandwich everyone in your family will love.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Think of this bowl as a deconstructed burrito, and like many recipes in this collection, it relies on canned beans for an easy dose of protein. Topped with fresh tomatoes, chopped lettuce, and avocado, you’ll have something much tastier than any of those chains touting similar bowls can offer.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Pasta salads aren’t only for picnics. This loaded salad featuring mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, and salumi, is hearty and flavorful enough to make a quick but satisfying dinner.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Honey, bourbon, and soy sauce form the sweet and salty base to the beautiful glaze on this speedy salmon. Served with white rice and a side salad, and you have a weeknight dinner worthy of company but just perfect for you and the kiddos too.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This was one of those recipes that made our Test Kitchen go, “How haven’t we thought of this sooner?” Not only is it easy, but the flavor of the melted pimiento cheese beats a plain-old grilled cheese any day.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Montiel
We’ve all been known to crack open a jar of marinara, pour it over pasta, and call it a day. But just a handful of ingredients, like hot pork sausage and frozen peas, transform a plain box of pasta into a comforting dinner that packs so much more flavor with very little extra effort.
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Pricilla Montiel; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Store-bought pesto and rotisserie chicken ensure these melty, hot sandwiches are extra easy to make. Feel free to bulk up the sandwich with your favorite fillings, such baby spinach, pickled peppers, or sliced prosciutto in addition to chicken. The customization options are practically endless.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Montiel
We love a hands-off weeknight dinner, which is why this recipe, where most of the work is done by your oven, is on repeat in our kitchens. You might not keep them on hand, but toasted pine nuts are worth buying as they make the perfect garnish and add a nice bit of crunch.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Montiel
Soups are not typically something you think of as a quick-fix dinner, but this is the exception. Thanks to canned beans, store-bought broth, and rotisserie chicken, this soup is ready in just 30 minutes.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
These quick-grilling shrimp skewers make for an easy supper, especially when you thread on a few veggies too.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Montiel
Transport the family to Italy with this easy, cheesy pasta. The bacon is optional, but adds a smoky flavor.
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel
You could almost drink the poblano dressing on this pasta salad, and we won’t tell if you do. Paired with shredded chicken, fresh tomatoes, and blue corn tortilla chips, you have a super flavorful dinner ready in 25 minutes.
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Costen King; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
As you can probably tell from the name, this chili was made for nights when you are pressed on time and dinner needed to be ready yesterday. It’s our favorite type of recipe because all you really have to do is open a bunch of things, combine, and heat.
