Getting through the middle of the workweek can feel like a total drag, but a spectacular dinner is my favorite way to boost my spirits. I put together this list of 16 midweek recipes that range from quick one pot wonders to deeply comforting meals. Let me show you how easy it is to make delicious food when you need it most!
1. 5-Ingredient Skillet Gnocchi
Make sure you keep a crusty loaf of bread nearby to soak up every last drop of this incredible sauce. The savory base is actually delicious enough to serve completely on its own as an appetizer dip.
Adding the tender gnocchi transforms it into a highly satisfying and comforting dinner. Tearing your mozzarella into small pieces instead of slicing it thick ensures every single bite gets plenty of cheesy goodness.
2. Fettuccine Alfredo
Nothing beats a massive bowl of pasta when you need a little extra comfort on a cold evening. Fettuccine alfredo easily ranks as one of my absolute favorite ways to satisfy that craving.
The rich sauce comes together like magic using nothing but butter, cream, and plenty of parmesan cheese. Your weeknight dinner routine is about to get a major upgrade.
3. Homemade Mac and Cheese
Boxed macaroni and cheese is incredibly convenient, but making it completely from scratch brings an entirely new level of comfort to your kitchen. Making your own sauce barely takes any extra time at all.
You just whip up a fast roux, pour in plenty of whole milk, and load it up with a ton of cheese. You will absolutely fall in love with how much better this homemade version tastes.
4. Easy Meatball Recipe
Meatballs are incredibly versatile and work beautifully across a huge variety of different meals. I absolutely love making a massive batch of these and freezing them for future busy weeknights.
Having them ready to go makes throwing together a fast dinner completely stress free. These highly flavorful bites taste phenomenal smothered in gravy, bathed in tomato sauce, or tucked inside a cheesy sub sandwich.
5. Vegetable Stir Fry
This stunning vegetable stir fry brings a massive pop of beautiful color right to your dinner table. The visual appeal alone makes you want to dive in immediately.
Using a bag of frozen vegetables works perfectly when you are incredibly short on time. Just remember to thaw them completely and drain all the excess moisture before tossing them in your pan.
6. Italian Tortellini Skillet Dinner
Sometimes you just need a dinner that skips the heavy sauces and lets the fresh ingredients stand out. This skillet meal completely relies on the natural brightness of sweet cherry tomatoes.
You cook them down until their vibrant juices burst and mingle with the spices and melted cheese. That creates the absolute perfect amount of light moisture to flawlessly coat every single tortellini.
7. Easy Homemade Calzone Recipe
Making your own pizza at home is an absolute blast, and these cute little calzones bring that exact same joy. Cooking your own pizza pockets means you get to control the exact ratio of melted cheese to toppings.
Grab some store bought pizza dough to make the whole process completely effortless. Just be careful not to stuff them too full so your ingredients stay safely tucked inside.
8. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
A big bowl of fried rice is my absolute favorite late night snack and ultimate comfort food. It hits the spot every single time while being incredibly easy to throw together.
The sweet chunks of pineapple add an irresistible tropical flavor to the savory base. Make sure you use precooked and cooled rice so the grains stay perfectly separate instead of turning into mush.
9. Tostadas
Building a huge platter of tostadas is incredibly fun because the combination possibilities are basically endless. I always start with a beautifully toasted tortilla and a thick layer of refried beans.
After that, I love to switch up the main toppings depending on my mood. Ground beef, shredded chicken, or even spicy sweet potatoes all make absolutely perfect additions to this meal.
10. Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
A rich white sauce has an absolutely irresistible quality that makes my mouth water every single time. The glorious combination of garlic and melted cheese makes it an instant classic.
Pouring that silky goodness over a giant bowl of penne pasta creates a truly spectacular meal. You can even swap in some roasted garlic to give the whole dish a deeper flavor profile.
11. The Best Homemade Tacos
A giant spread of homemade tacos is exactly what you need to instantly turn a rough day around. They are guaranteed to please a crowd since everyone can customize their own plates.
You can switch up the main fillings however you like to keep things interesting. Just make sure you bring out plenty of sour cream and a massive bowl of guacamole.
12. Chicken Chimichangas
These glorious chicken chimichangas remind me of wonderfully crispy Mexican egg rolls. You fill them with incredible ingredients and fry them until they achieve a gorgeous golden crunch.
They basically taste like a tightly rolled and deep fried quesadilla. Grabbing a cooked rotisserie chicken from the store makes this recipe come together lightning fast.
13. Chicken Ranch Wraps
I freely admit that I love dipping basically everything from pizza to fries in a giant side of ranch dressing. That obsession makes these quick chicken wraps one of my ultimate favorite weeknight dinners.
They take a mere 10 minutes to finish if you use a food grill or a panini press. Load them up with a generous handful of cheese, and feel free to toss in some onion and bacon for extra flavor.
14. Shrimp Garlic Noodles
Plump shrimp take the spotlight here without getting lost inside a thick or heavy sauce. The incredibly fragrant garlic noodles perfectly complement the delicate seafood.
All those savory flavors combine into an absolutely stunning meal. A final squeeze of fresh lemon juice is all you need to brighten up the entire plate.
15. Hawaiian Chicken
This gorgeous chicken dish perfectly balances sweet fruitiness with just the right amount of spicy kick. Tangy BBQ sauce pairs wonderfully with the juicy pineapple chunks.
I occasionally swap out the pineapple for mango to give it a totally different but equally amazing tropical twist. Once you try this incredible sweet and sour meal, ordering takeout will become a thing of the past.
16. PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These incredibly delicious chicken lettuce wraps manage to feel wonderfully light and healthy at the same time. You mix soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, sriracha, and rice wine vinegar together for a truly magical savory sauce.
That vibrant flavor coats the ground chicken perfectly. Butter lettuce cups work flawlessly for wrapping, or you can even use this tasty mixture to fill homemade dumplings.