After a long day, the last thing you want is to spend hours in the kitchen. But skipping dinner isn't an option either. The solution? Quick and easy meals that you can get on the table in 30 minutes or less.

In this blog post, we'll share 5 quick and easy dinner ideas for busy weeknights. These recipes require minimal prep and ingredients you likely already have on hand.

We'll give you some delicious and nutritious dinner options for those hectic work nights.

5 Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinners

From one-skillet meals to sheet pan suppers, these weeknight-friendly recipes will be your new go-tos. Here are 5 quick and easy dinner ideas when time is short but hunger is high. 

1.     One-Pan Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Veggies

This impressive one pan dinner makes the most of minimal effort by roasting bright, healthy veggies and plump garlic shrimp all together.

The Intersections flavors as the shrimp juices mingle with the lemon, olive oil and seasonings create incredible depth you'd expect from a dish requiring far more work.

Cleaning up is a breeze with everything cooked on a single sheet pan! The ease of preparation and the nutrition from vegetables and lean protein check off all the boxes for a weekday warrior’s dinner.

How to prepare it?

●      Chop 1 lb new potatoes, a pound of broccoli florets, baby carrots and bell peppers

●      In a large skillet, stir together shrimp, sliced lemons, minced garlic, oil, salt and pepper. Mix well.

●      Add vegetables to the skillet and toss to combine. Roast in a preheated oven at 425°F for 12-15 minutes until shrimp just turns pink.

●      Divide skillet between plates and enjoy!

2.     Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Pasta Bake

This creamy, cheesy pasta bake is ultimate comfort food made easy enough for hectic weeknights. Kids and adults alike will devour the sauce coated penne tossed with chicken, broccoli and ooey-gooey cheese. No need for takeout when you can have this ready faster!

Steps to prepare this pasta;

●      Cook 8 ounces pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

●      In the same pot, cook chopped chicken in garlic oil for 5 minutes until browned.

●      Mix in bite-size broccoli florets and heavy cream. Simmer until broccoli is tender, 5 minutes.

●      Add heaping cups of shredded cheddar and parmesan. Stir until melted and creamy sauce forms.

●      Fold in cooked pasta and transfer to a baking dish. Top with panko breadcrumbs and more cheese.

●      Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes until golden brown.

3.     Speedy Hawaiian Chicken & Pineapple Fried Rice

This fresh, fast stir fry packs island flavor into every quick bite. Sweet pineapple and savory soy glazed chicken tumbled with fluffy rice and veggies makes this clever one-pan wonder seem like a lot more work than it is. But the ease of preparation with standard pantry ingredients makes it an ideal busy weeknight meal.

Instructions on how to prepare this recipe;

●      Dice 1 pound chicken, 1 cup pineapple, onions, garlic. Beat a few eggs

●      Heat a large skillet over medium high. Add oil, chicken. Season and cook. Push to one side and scramble eggs. Stir to combine.

●      Add onions, garlic, and cook for 2 minutes. Toss in rice, pineapple, soy sauce, sriracha if desired. Continue frying 5-8 minutes to heat the rice.

●      Adjust seasoning. Divide into bowls and garnish with sliced scallions if desired before serving.

4.     Southwest Turkey Lettuce Wrap Tacos

These lighter tacos ditch the carbs and let all the bold Tex-Mex flavors shine in crispy lettuce shells. Quick cooking ground turkey keeps things fast, while bright vegetables and creamy guac or salsa make things fresh. When you're craving tacos but short on time, this 30 minute dinner fills the bill!

Cook this recipe with these Instructions;

●      Heat pan to medium high. Cook 1 pound ground turkey, breaking it up as it cooks until browned, 8 minutes.

●      Stir in taco seasoning and spoon mixture into lettuce leaves.

●      Top with desired taco toppings like shredded cheese, salsa, guacamole.

5.     Greek Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner

This Mediterranean-inspired sheet pan dinner lets the oven do most of the work. Cubed salmon filets pair beautifully with potatoes, onions, olives and tomatoes roasted in lemon and olive oil.

A light Greek seasoning pulls it all together for a restaurant-worthy meal with barely any effort on your part.

Here is how you can cook this recipe;

●      Toss cubed salmon filets with sliced potatoes, red onion, cherry tomatoes, capers and olive oil on a sheet pan.

●      Sprinkle with Greek seasoning blend.

●      Roast in a 450°F oven until the fish flakes easily, about 15-18 minutes.

●      Once out of the oven, squeeze lemon over top.

Conclusion

With these 5 quick and easy dinner ideas for busy weeknights, good food doesn't have to be hard or time-consuming.

They require just 30 minutes (or less!) of hands-on cooking and simple ingredients likely in your fridge or pantry already. Give one a try next time you need dinner FAST!

FAQs

Q. What are some quick and healthy weeknight dinner recipes?

Ans. Some great options for healthy weeknight dinners include one-pot or skillet meals like veggie fried rice, sheet pan bakes with protein and vegetables, fast pastas or grain bowls loaded with produce, stir fries, and salads topped with quick-cooking ingredients like shrimp or chicken.

Q. What's an easy 30 minute family dinner idea?

Ans. Some of the easiest 30 minute family dinners are one-pan meals like baked chicken Parmesan, turkey meatloaf, or enchiladas. Stir fries, skillet bakes, and sheet pan meals also come together quickly for simple, crowd-pleasing family dinners.