30+ Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals

By Beth Ricci, Contributing Writer

I was going to start out by seeing if anyone could relate to that weeknight rush where you neglected to plan dinner properly and have to scramble at the last minute, but seriously – do I even need to ask? I know I’m not the only one.

It happens far more frequently than I care to admit (though not quite as frequently now that I figured out how to make menu planning work with my type-B personality! Yeah!)

I have slowly built up my roster of easy, last-minute meals over the years because let’s face it: as naturally-minded real-food moms, we don’t want to resort to take-out more than once in a blue moon if we can help it.

I mean, most of us probably cannot afford it, and even if we could – we don’t want those nasty ingredients in the regular rotation of our family’s diet anyway.

So, easy homemade (from scratch, not from a box) meal ideas are a must. We often do things like brinner (breakfast for dinner), grilled cheese, or a basic meat + starch + veggie meal of some kind. Maybe a hearty salad. But you can easily branch out further and get creative with a few of the ideas below.

Most of the meals below can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less. Most require little prep time. And all of these quick and easy weeknight meals are going to nourish your family a bajillion times more than the drive-through, and be cheaper, too.

Bon appetit!

30+ Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals

Simple Spaghetti | Intentional by Grace

Herb Chicken Skillet | The Humbled Homemaker

Herbed Baked Eggs | The Nourishing Gourmet

The Perfect Omelette (with 10 Filling Ideas) | Keeper of the Home

Ultimate Nachos (30 Minute Dinner) | Keeper of the Home

Cheeseburger Tortilla Skillet | The Humbled Homemaker (photo credit above)

Black Beans & Rice | Simply Rebekah

Honey-Mustard Baked Chicken | Simply Rebekah

Cheeseburger Soup | The Greenbacks Gal

One-Skillet Taco Chili Mac | Live Renewed

Aunt Beulah’s Saucy Chicken | Red & Honey (can be made quickly on the stovetop instead of the Crock-Pot.)

Creamy Green Chili Beef on Noodles | Red & Honey

Dont’ Like Fish? I Bet You’ll Like These Salmon Patties | Keeper of the Home

Waldorf Tuna Salad | Red & Honey

Hearty Breakfast Soup | Red & Honey

How to Make Soup from Scratch in 15 Minutes Without a Recipe | Red & Honey (photo credit above)

Cheesy Lentil Mexi-Macaroni | Don’t Waste the Crumbs

California Chicken Wraps | Kitchen Stewardship

Root Veggie Tartiflette | Traditional Cooking School by GNOWFGLINS

Buffalo Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad | Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Beef & Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups | Live Simply (photo credit above)

Southwestern Salad | Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Gluten-Free Sausage Mac & Cheese | Traditional Cooking School by GNOWFGLINS

Cabbage Peanut Stir-Fry | My Whole Food Life

Faux Risotto with Summer Vegetables | Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Hamburger Tartaflette |Traditional Cooking School by GNOWFGLINS (photo credit above)

Vegetable Fried Rice | Don’t Waste the Crumbs

15 Real-Food Weeknight Meals | Red & Honey

One-Pot Wonders: 23 Quick Dinners with Fewer Dishes | Keeper of the Home

10 Easy Meals for When you Forget to Plan | Keeper of the Home

What’s your quick & easy weeknight go-to meal?

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