Some nights, cooking feels like a lot. You’re tired, you’re hungry, and the last thing you want is a complicated recipe with steps that are hard to follow. These are the low-stress weeknight dinners we make when we want something easy and still really good.
We’re big fans of meals that meet you where you’re at. Some nights that means cooking something from scratch, and other nights, it means using simple steps and even some pre-made ingredients. To us, low stress weeknight dinner recipes should be simple with easy swaps, smart shortcuts, and without requiring a ton of planning or prepping.
Whether you’ve got 30 minutes for dinner or just zero motivation, this list of recipes will help you get dinner on the table without overthinking it.
Not Sure Where to Start?
To help reduce overwhelm, we like to focus on weeknight dinner recipes that we know we can tackle without much effort. Here are some suggested criteria for identifying these kinds of dishes for yourself:
Go for a recipe with either fewer ingredients or ingredients you already have (like pantry staples)
Look for something that says “one pan” or has minimal prep
Start with something familiar, like a dish you’ve eaten or even made before
Pick the easiest option for where you’re at, skill-wise. You can always build up from there.
When All You’ve Got is About 30 Minutes
We know you’re busy, but you still gotta eat! These weeknight recipes take around 30 minutes to prep and cook so dinner will be on the table before you have a chance to get too tired.
1
Easy Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos in 30 Minutes
These easy sheet pan shrimp tacos are ready in 30 minutes! Full of California flavor, this healthy one-pan shrimp taco recipe is super easy and has minimal cleanup. These tacos are made with perfectly juicy shrimp, peppers, onions, and your favorite toppings, like fresh pico de gallo and guacamole. These are definitely a weeknight favorite!
This cumin seasoned cod with lentils and avocado is a dinner that feels special without being complicated. The fish is flaky and flavorful, the cumin-spiced lentils and veggies are hearty and healthy, and the avocado and lime keep everything fresh. It’s the kind of meal you make on a random weeknight that you can’t wait to make again.
Ground pork coated in a tangy and sweet tamarind sauce, then piled onto white rice and finished with fresh herbs, peanuts, and quick-pickled cucumber, carrot, and shallot.
Easy Mediterranean Farro Salad with Mint Vinaigrette
This beautiful, healthy, and hearty Mediterranean farro salad is packed full of nutritious ingredients and bright flavors. Using quick-cook farro really helps this come together fast, making this a great weeknight dinner option.
Low Stress Weeknight Recipes With 10 Ingredients or Less
These recipes have 10 ingredients or less, making your grocery shopping trip a little easier. Some of these ingredients are pantry staples too, so you may already have them at home and don’t need to buy them. We’re always happy about that!
5
Simple Green Salad with Apples and Bacon
This simple green salad with apples and bacon is inspired by classic autumn flavors and textures, but in a lighter form. It’s made with crisp apples, crunchy bacon, sweet and earthy pecans, soft leafy lettuce, and a tangy apple cider vinaigrette.
Sweet and Smoky Salmon with Shallots and Lemon Recipe
This baked sweet and smoky salmon is an easy, flavorful dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes! The salmon is coated in a dry rub made with smoked paprika, brown sugar, and thyme, topped with sliced shallots and lemon, and baked until buttery and flaky.
These juicy turkey burgers are incredibly flavorful and anything but dry. With only 5 ingredients that are all pantry or fridge staples, these burgers are also cheap and super easy to make.
These are the kind of dishes that you can put together without much of a plan. We provide the recipe as guidance, but feel free to change things up and play a little!
9
Easy Cold Lentil Salad with Cilantro Curry Vinaigrette
This is our favorite cold lentil salad recipe because it’s easy to make, full of nutrients, and bursting with bold, bright flavors! It's packed with fiber, protein, and tossed with our favorite cilantro curry vinaigrette.
This roasted vegetable couscous recipe has been our weeknight favorite for nearly 10 years! It's easy, comforting, and full of flavor with roasted veggies, a bright lemon vinaigrette, and creamy goat cheese.
This Southwest BBQ Ranch Salad with Chicken is a bold, flavor-packed salad that’s perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. Made with juicy chicken cooked in barbecue sauce, crisp lettuce, fresh vegetables, and crispy shallots, then tossed in a creamy buttermilk ranch dressing, it’s a satisfying, restaurant-style salad you can make at home.
This creamy chicken noodle soup with lemon and herbs is cozy, comforting, and made in one pot. Brightened with fresh herbs and lemon and finished with a splash of cream, it’s the perfect weeknight soup you’ll want on repeat.
Some nights, you need food that feels comforting but still doesn’t require you to cook for hours and hours to get there. Here are some recipes that will boost your mood without requiring too much of your energy to make.
13
Thai Red Curry Recipe with Pumpkin
This Thai red curry is rich, creamy, savory, and slightly sweet from the pumpkin puree and fresh butternut squash. It's finished with fresh lime juice and a handful of Thai basil.
This coconut curried red lentil soup is easy, plant-based, and packed with bold flavor. Onion, carrot, ginger, garlic, warm spices, and red lentils simmer in broth, tomatoes, and coconut milk for a hearty, brothy bowl. Finished with avocado, cilantro, and a drizzle of coconut cream, it’s warm, satisfying, and just right for chilly nights.
Creamy, cozy, and super simple, this zucchini soup is made with zucchini, shallots, broth, sour cream, thyme, a parmesan rind, and topped with sourdough croutons.
This sheet pan gnocchi with chicken, corn, and tomatoes is the ultimate weeknight dinner. Pillowy gnocchi, juicy chicken, and sweet roasted veggies all cooked together on one sheet pan. Minimal prep, bold flavor, and dinner’s ready in just 40 minutes.
These dishes are easy to make and super shareable. They come together in about an hour or less and are guaranteed to make your guests ask for the recipe.
17
Crunchy Cabbage Salad with Crispy Ramen Topping
This Crunchy Cabbage Salad with Crispy Ramen Topping was inspired by the retro salad we grew up with, but we’ve made some upgrades. It’s full of with fresh vegetables, edamame, a fast dressing that you can shake up in a jar, and the greatest dry ramen noodle crunchy topping you’ll ever have.
These Turkey Taco Zucchini Boats are an excellent low-carb dinner option! They’re stuffed with seasoned ground turkey, black beans, onions, and corn, and topped with a layer of cheese, tomatoes, and cilantro.
These ultimate chili cheese dogs are made with brioche buns that are filled with hot dogs and smothered in a generous amount of homemade beef chili, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onions, and optional jalapeños.
We love this Easy Miso Soup with Veggies & Tofu. It’s cozy, savory, and tastes like something you’d get at a restaurant with all the comforts of eating it in your own home.
Sometimes, you might not feel like following a recipe, and that’s okay! We have those nights too. If that’s the case, here’s an easy formula you can use to make yourself a balanced, satisfying, and low stress weeknight meal:
Pick a protein (chicken, fish, pork, beans, tofu, etc.)
Bring it all together with a seasoning blend or a bold sauce or dressing
Final Thoughts
If you try one of these low stress recipes for busy weeknights, let us know which one you picked! We’re always curious what people make on busy weeknights. And give us a shout if you’d like to see more of these kinds of recipes, or if you have a particular type of weeknight dinners you prefer (30-minute meals, comforting, shareable, etc.)!
