23 Weeknight Dinners Trending on Pinterest
These are the dinners everyone’s making right now because they’re quick, tasty, and don’t require a million ingredients. Most of these can be on your table in 30 minutes or less, which is perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t want to order takeout again.
They’re also the kind of meals that look good in photos, which is probably why they’re all over social media.
One-Pan Marry Me Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
This got its name because it’s supposedly so good it’ll make someone propose to you. The chicken cooks in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and herbs. Everything goes in one pan which means less dishes to wash later. The sauce is rich enough to feel fancy but it’s actually pretty simple. Takes about 25 minutes start to finish.
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Tuscan Salmon Skillet
The salmon stays super moist cooked this way and the creamy sauce with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes makes it feel like restaurant food. You can use frozen salmon if fresh is too expensive. The whole thing comes together in one skillet which is great for cleanup. Serve over rice or pasta to soak up all that good sauce.
Get the recipe here.
Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Vegetables
Everything roasts together on one pan which makes this basically foolproof. The honey garlic glaze caramelizes in the oven and makes the chicken skin crispy. You can use whatever vegetables you have – potatoes, carrots, broccoli all work good. The cleanup is just one pan and a cutting board.
Get the recipe here.
Crockpot Crack Chicken
This stuff is addictive, that’s why they call it crack chicken. It’s just chicken, cream cheese, ranch packet, and bacon cooked in the slow cooker until it shreds. You can eat it over rice, in tacos, or on sandwiches. Throw it in the crockpot before work and dinner’s ready when you get home. Kids go crazy for this.
Get the recipe here.
Baked Feta Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This went viral a couple years ago and people are still making it cause it actually works. You bake feta and cherry tomatoes until the tomatoes burst and the feta gets creamy, then mix with pasta. The feta creates its own sauce which is genius. Takes like 15 minutes of actual work and tastes way more complicated than it is.
Get the recipe here.
Korean Ground Beef Bowls
These taste like Korean takeout but cost way less and are healthier. The ground beef gets cooked with soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic until it’s all caramelized. Serve over rice with some vegetables and you’re done. The flavors are sweet and savory and totally different from regular ground beef dinners.
Get the recipe here.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
This is comfort food at its finest – everything bakes together in one dish. The rice cooks in chicken broth which gives it amazing flavor. You can add whatever vegetables your family will actually eat. It’s the kind of dinner that makes everyone happy and there’s usually leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
Get the recipe here.
Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
These are like taco night but healthier since you’re using sweet potatoes instead of shells. The sweet potato gets fluffy inside and the slight sweetness goes surprisingly well with taco seasoning. Top with all your favorite taco stuff – cheese, salsa, sour cream. My kids actually prefer these to regular tacos now.
Get the recipe here.
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
The chicken stays super juicy cooked this way and the sauce is restaurant-quality good. You can make it in one skillet which keeps the cleanup simple. The garlic gets all roasted and mellow, not harsh like raw garlic. Serve with pasta or rice to soak up every drop of that sauce.
Get the recipe here.
One-Pot Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Making alfredo from scratch isn’t as hard as people think and it tastes way better than jarred sauce. Everything cooks in one pot including the pasta which saves time and dishes. The starch from the pasta helps thicken the sauce naturally. This is rich enough to feel special but quick enough for a Tuesday night.
Get the recipe here.
Asian Lettuce Wraps
These are lighter than most weeknight dinners but still really satisfying. The ground meat gets cooked with Asian flavors like soy sauce and ginger. Everyone makes their own wraps which is fun and interactive. Kids like being able to control what goes in theirs. Good for when you want something fresh but still warm and filling.
Get the recipe here.
Stuffed Bell Pepper Skillet
All the flavors of stuffed peppers but way less work since you don’t have to hollow out the peppers. Everything gets chopped up and cooked together in one pan. The peppers get soft and sweet and mix with the rice and ground beef. It’s comfort food that actually includes vegetables your family will eat.
Get the recipe here.
Honey Bourbon Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs stay way more moist than breasts and they’re cheaper too. The honey bourbon glaze gets sticky and caramelized in the oven. Don’t worry about the alcohol – it cooks off but leaves great flavor behind. These look fancy enough for company but are easy enough for a regular Tuesday.
Get the recipe here.
Mediterranean Chicken Bowls
These bowls have all those fresh Mediterranean flavors – olives, feta, cucumber, tomatoes. The chicken gets seasoned with herbs and lemon. You can prep all the components ahead and just assemble when you’re ready to eat. They’re healthy but actually taste good, not like diet food.
Get the recipe here.
Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
This is like getting a hug in food form. The chicken gets super tender in the slow cooker and the dumplings are fluffy and comforting. You can use refrigerated biscuits for the dumplings which makes it even easier. Perfect for cold nights when you want something that feels like home.
Get the recipe here.
Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
This tastes just like takeout but you know exactly what’s in it. The key is getting your pan really hot and not overcrowding it. The beef stays tender and the broccoli gets crisp-tender. Serve over rice and you’ve got a complete meal that’s ready in 15 minutes.
Get the recipe here.
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
This is basically loaded baked potato flavors but with cauliflower instead. It’s got cheese, bacon, and sour cream so it doesn’t taste healthy even though it kind of is. Great for people trying to eat less carbs but still want comfort food. The cauliflower gets creamy and rich from all the good stuff mixed in.
Get the recipe here.
Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats
These are like enchiladas but the zucchini replaces the tortillas. The zucchini gets tender and slightly sweet which goes good with the spicy chicken filling. Top with cheese and bake until bubbly. It’s a sneaky way to get more vegetables in dinner without anyone complaining.
Get the recipe here.
One-Pan Sausage and Peppers Pasta
Italian sausage has enough flavor to carry the whole dish. The peppers get sweet and soft and the pasta cooks right in the same pan. Everything gets coated in a light sauce that forms naturally from the sausage drippings and pasta water. Quick, easy, and tastes like something from a Italian restaurant.
Get the recipe here.
Thai Basil Ground Turkey
This is way more flavorful than regular ground turkey dinners. The Thai basil has a different taste than regular basil – more peppery and intense. Serve over rice with some lime and you’ve got something that tastes exotic but uses ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Good for when you’re bored of the same old dinners.
Get the recipe here.
Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole
This is comfort food that happens to have vegetables in it. The broccoli cooks down and gets mild so even picky eaters will eat it. The cheese sauce makes everything creamy and delicious. You can make this ahead and just bake when you’re ready. Perfect for busy nights when you need something reliable.
Get the recipe here.
Lemon Herb Baked Cod with Potatoes
Fish dinners often seem intimidating but cod is really mild and hard to mess up. The lemon keeps it from tasting fishy and the herbs make it smell amazing while it bakes. The potatoes cook alongside and get crispy on the edges. Everything’s done in 30 minutes and it’s actually pretty healthy.
Get the recipe here.
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells
These taste like buffalo wings but in pasta form. The shells get stuffed with a mixture of shredded chicken and buffalo sauce, then baked with cheese on top. It’s comfort food with a kick. You can control the spice level by using mild or hot buffalo sauce. Great for when you want something different but still familiar.
Get the recipe here.
