Weeknights are rarely the time to bust out a complicated, time-consuming recipe, but that doesn't mean you need to skimp on flavor or rely on takeout either. Instead, choose from this extensive collection of dinner ideas — 107 recipes, to be precise — that can be ready in about an hour. (Many take even less time than that.)
— Additional reporting by Aemilia Madden and Hilary White
Vegetarian Carbonara 
Like a cross between pasta carbonara and mac and cheese, this creamy option is ultracomforting.
Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas 
You only need 20 minutes to make these sheet-pan chicken fajitas.
Instant Pot Chicken Curry 
If you have an Instant Pot, you're familiar with how quickly it cooks everything. Try this Instant Pot chicken curry for a speedy dinner packed with flavor. Our favorite shortcut is using Trader Joe's Thai yellow curry sauce.
Chicken With Mustard Cream Sauce 
Boneless skinless chicken breasts are far from bland and boring when napped in a mustard cream sauce.
Chickpea Soup With Garlic Tortilla Triangles 
With its broth-y base, abundance of carrots and celery, and noodles, this cold-busting soup shares much in common with chicken noodle. Where it diverges is by swapping a handful of chickpeas for the poultry, making it vegan-friendly (provided you use vegetable broth).
Ginger Fried Rice With Poached Egg 
Made with staple ingredients like eggs, garlic, soy sauce, and rice, this gingery fried rice might not even require a trip to the grocery store.
Chrissy Teigen's Lemony Arugula Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe 
Everything in Chrissy Teigen's Cravings cookbook is delicious, especially this lemony arugula spaghetti cacio e pepe.
Seared Scallops 
Scallops sound fancy, but follow this step-by-step seared scallops recipe, and you'll realize it's a totally doable (and quick) dish. Serve the scallops with your favorite roasted vegetable.
Spicy Soba Noodles With Watercress 
Wilted watercress adds bite to this simple soba supper.
Black-Bean Butternut-Squash Quesadilla 
When stuffed with black beans and butternut squash, a quesadilla becomes meal-worthy.
Lemon-Garlic Chicken Drumsticks 
Cooking an entire chicken takes a while. If you're in a rush, these lemon-garlic drumsticks are a delicious alternative that will cut down the work for you.
Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry 
You can't go wrong with beef and broccoli.
Linguine With Kale and Chickpeas 
Greens and chickpeas bulk up an otherwise basic plate of linguine.
One-Pot Chicken Miso Ramen 
Perfect for a chilly night, this one-pot chicken miso ramen takes just 30 minutes to make.
Salmon With Crispy Cabbage and Kale 
Roasted on one sheet pan, this fast and fresh fish option cleans up with a minimal amount of effort.
Honey Sesame Chicken 
Homemade honey sesame chicken is better than takeout.
New York Strip Steak With Miso Mustard Sauce 
You won't believe how flavorful this steak's miso mustard sauce is.
Kale, White Bean, and Meatball Soup 
This hearty option packs three of our favorite things — kale, meatballs, and white beans — into one broth-y, piping-hot bowl.
Chicken Parmesan 
A quick and easy chicken parmesan recipe doesn't require much more than panko breadcrumbs, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. The key is pounding the chicken thin enough so that it gets crispy all over.
Homemade Hamburger Helper 
For a nostalgic option, you can do no better than this homemade take on Hamburger Helper.
One-Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo 
With a few key ingredients like soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and black peppercorns, this traditional Filipino chicken adobo is ridiculously tasty.
Grilled Cheese Dippers 
Kids and adults alike will love devouring grilled cheese dippers with tomato soup.
Sun-Dried-Tomato Pasta Salad 
A duet of fresh cherry tomatoes and their sweeter sun-dried sisters add bold flavor to this summery pasta salad.
Vegetarian Burrito 
Give leftovers an exciting new life in burrito form.
Spaghetti With Garlic White Wine Sauce 
Once you master a basic recipe for spaghetti with garlic white wine sauce, you'll add it to your weekly rotation.
Spicy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons 
If you're particularly short on time, float a handful of Goldfish or Cheez-Its atop this spicy tomato soup instead of the gooey grilled cheese croutons.
Greek Pasta With Tomatoes, Wine, and Feta 
Inspired by the island of Santorini, Greece, this Greek pasta dish is made primarily from pantry staples, making for a short grocery list.
Cod With Asparagus En Papillote 
The fancy French name of this baked cod dish might make you assume that it's tricky to make, but that couldn't be further from the case.
Lyonnaise Salad 
This bistro classic makes weeknight dinners feel instantly fancier.
Larb Gai (Thai Chicken Salad) 
Pretend you're on a vacation throughout Southeast Asia while nibbling on this classic Thai chicken salad.
Butternut Squash Carbonara 
Pureed butternut squash gives pasta carbonara an extracozy spin.
Postgrill Marinated Skirt Steak 
An unconventional cooking method — you marinate the steak after it's grilled, as it rests — makes for a ridiculously juicy platter of meat.
Pesto Pasta 
A batch of homemade pesto is so much better than the jarred stuff. Toss it with cooked pasta and the protein of your choice for a quick dinner.
Chicken Picatta 
Boneless skinless chicken breasts can be bland and boring, but not when napped in a lemon-bright white wine butter sauce.
Green Garlic Soup 
Four types of alliums — green garlic, scallions, leeks, and chives — combine forces for a recipe that's ultrasimple to prepare but never short on flavor.
Kimchi Fried Rice 
Highlight bold kimchi in this ready-in-minutes rice dish.
Cheddar, Bacon, and Leek Frittata 
A cheddar, bacon, and leek frittata is a great breakfast-for-dinner option.
Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Pasta 
You can add your own touch to this pasta dish by tweaking the recipe to fit your personal preferences. Translation: for best results, add as much garlic and cheese as your heart desires.
Spicy Garlic Kale With Poached Eggs 
Pantry (and fridge) staples like garlic, olive oil, and eggs dress up a bundle of kale.
Vegetable Medley Pasta 
Don't feel limited by the assortment of vegetables used in this colorful pasta dish; use pretty much whatever veggies that look good at the market or that you have on hand.
Spicy Pumpkin and Butternut Squash Ramen 
Give ramen a Fall-ready spin by adding a dollop of pumpkin puree and chunks of butternut squash.
Gwyneth Paltrow's Carbonara 
Gwyneth Paltrow's carbonara recipe is classic and trustworthy. Crispy bacon and silky sauce coat the spaghetti noodles perfectly.
Creamy Butternut Squash Soup 
Creamy but not heavy, this pureed butternut squash soup is even tastier the second day, making it a great candidate for leftovers.
Caprese Macaroni and Cheese 
Macaroni and cheese might not seem like a speedy, weeknight-friendly affair, but when simmered on the stovetop (rather than baked) like this caprese-salad-inspired stunner, it's totally doable.
Rotini With Butternut-Sage Sauce 
The pairing of butternut squash and sage is a classically delicious one, and this easy pasta recipe utilizes the flavor combination in a magically flavorful way.
Lime-Leaf-Steamed Mussels 
When served with a loaf of baguette and a simple green salad (if you're feeling fancy), steamed mussels are the perfect weeknight meal.
Tex-Mex Tacos 
Ground beef Tex-Mex tacos make for a fun and affordable family meal.
Pasta Carbonara With Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Leeks 
We'd be remiss to leave off this lighter, brighter veggie-packed take on pasta carbonara.
Garlicky Arugula Pasta 
>The secret ingredient to this 10-minute pasta's success — fish sauce — might sound odd, but know that it adds a salty-savory punch, rather than an overwhelmingly fishy flavor.
Kale Salad With Pecorino and Pine Nuts 
Kale salad is dinner-party-worthy when pine nuts and shavings of pecorino romano are added to the mix.
Chicken Chow Mein 
Chicken chow mein is picky-eater approved.
Lemon Parmesan Zoodles 
Low in carbs and high in flavor: lemon parmesan zucchini "noodles" with artichokes.
Tuna Poke Bowl With Avocado 
When you don't really feel like cooking, grab the ingredients for a light and refreshing tuna poke bowl with avocado.
Fast Beef Pho 
Unlike traditional pho recipes, which can take hours to make, this speedy version is weeknight appropriate.
Crispy Chicken Thighs 
Follow the easy method for these perfectly crisp chicken thighs, and you'll never want to make chicken another way again.
Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad 
For the best results, allow this Mediterranean-influenced orzo pasta salad (and virtually all pasta salads) a few hours in the fridge to chill to let the flavors mingle and make friends. That said, it's still very tasty when eaten just after assembling, the prep time is minimal, and leftovers only improve overnight.
Brie-Stuffed Burger 
Stuffing a burger patty with brie is far easier than it looks and even tastier than you'd expect.
Shells With Red-Pepper Tomato Sauce 
Basil, bell peppers, and tomatoes combine in this simple recipe to create a sweet, summery sauce that's perfect on pasta shells and in other dishes.
Shredded Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad With Kumquats 
A mustardy dressing, kumquat coins, and dried cranberries add interest to shredded kale and brussels sprouts.
Chicken Spaghetti 
Put a Tex-Mex spin on pasta with this bold chicken spaghetti casserole.
Miso-Glazed Kale and Shiitakes With a Poached Egg 
Miso, shiitake mushrooms, and soy sauce combine for an umami-rich way to get your greens.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup 
If you make the buttery pie crust "crackers" ahead of time, you'll have Chrissy Teigen's chicken pot pie soup on the table pretty quickly thanks to the shortcut of rotisserie chicken.
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs 
Chicken parmesan meatballs combine two of the best comfort foods.
Penne With Spicy Tomato Sauce and Pancetta 
If you like tomato sauce with a bit of a kick, try this spicy tomato sauce with pancetta.
Grain Bowl With Teriyaki Sauce, Greens, and Soft-Boiled Egg 
Transform leftover grains like quinoa, brown rice, or farro with inspired toppings like tangy teriyaki sauce, eggs, and quick pickled carrots.
Grilled Steak Tacos 
For a speedier take on steak tacos, employ a spice rub instead of marinating the meat.
Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino 
It doesn't get much simpler or more speedy than this Italian classic, spaghetti aglio, olio, e peperoncino. Even if your pantry is almost empty, you likely have all of its ingredients — spaghetti, garlic, chili flakes, and olive oil — on hand.
Olive Garden's Chicken Alfredo 
When you don't want to bother going out on a weeknight, make Olive Garden's chicken alfredo at home instead.
Asparagus Ribbon Pizza 
For a taste of Spring, top pizza with asparagus ribbons, ricotta, pea shoots, and runny-yolked eggs.
Slow-Cooker Chili-Orange Beef 
Come home to dinner that's already done with this slow-cooker chili-orange beef recipe.
Spaghetti With Tomato-Butter Sauce 
There's a reason that Marcella Hazan's tomato-butter sauce is a classic.
Sautéed Mushrooms With Poached Egg 
Highlight meaty mushrooms with a quick trip to the skillet and a runny-yolked egg.
Bacon and Tomato Pasta 
Essentially a spin on pasta amatriciana, this hearty pasta dish packs in the bold flavors of bacon, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.
Lemon-Pepper Chicken Breast 
It doesn't get much simpler: these lemon-pepper chicken breasts are made with a mere five ingredients, including salt and pepper.
Chipotle Lime Grilled Shrimp Tacos 
Fire up the grill: these spicy shrimp tacos topped with corn and black bean salsa are a must make.
One-Pan Roasted Sausages, Peppers, Potatoes, and Onions 
Keep both dinner prep and clean-up simple with this one-pan wonder.
Eggy Pasta With Spinach and Bacon 
Like a greener take on pasta carbonara, this scaled-for-one dinner satisfies.
Broccoli-Cheddar Soup 
Broccoli-cheddar soup can edge into heavy territory but not this lighter, brighter take that gets its creaminess from Greek yogurt.
Pasta With Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes 
Even out-of-season cherry tomatoes will shine in this pesto-slicked option, as a brief trip to the oven concentrates their flavor. For a final flourish, toss the linguine with garlicky toasted breadcrumbs for crunch.
Lemon and Lavender Chicken 
A dish as elegant as lemon and lavender chicken can be yours on a weeknight, provided you plan ahead and get it marinating before you head to work.
Quinoa Tabbouleh 
Unlike traditional tabbouleh, which has much more parsley than grains, this bulked-up quinoa-based recipe can serve as a stand-alone meal.
Tex-Mex Spaghetti Squash 
Cheesy spaghetti squash with black beans and tomatoes is perfect for dinner and leftovers the next day.
Chicken Parmesan Sub 
A sandwich may sound more like an option for lunch, but this chicken parmesan sub is robust, meaty, and worthy of your evening meal.
Pesto Pasta Salad 
Bring this bold, colorful pasta salad to a potluck dinner and prepare to get inquiries for the recipe.
Cider-Spiked Butternut Squash Soup 
Thanks to a few ingenious shortcuts, cider-spiked butternut squash soup can be ready in under 30 minutes.
Sesame-Ginger Soba Noodle Salad 
Served at room temperature, this soba noodle salad is nearly as tasty the following day as leftovers.
Skillet Lasagna 
Traditional lasagna baked in the oven takes a lot of preparation and time, but this easy skillet lasagna is just as satisfying.
Chopped Brussels Sprouts, Kale, and Chard Salad With Candied Pancetta, Pears, and Blue Cheese 
This chopped green salad is far from wimpy.
Chicken and Veggie Stir-Fry 
Broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, snap peas, and mushrooms add plenty of fresh flavor to this chicken stir-fry.
Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese 
No, this isn't a cousin to cauliflower rice; there's plenty of pasta at its base. This recipe from Michelle Obama employs pureed cauliflower to cleverly add body to the cheese sauce for a lighter version of the classic.
Spicy Sloppy Joes 
Relive your childhood by digging into a spicy, smoky sloppy joe.
Bibimbap 
For an easy introduction to Korean cooking, try this vegetarian bibimbap recipe.
Kraft-Style Stove-Top Mac and Cheese 
These creamy noodles taste like Kraft mac and cheese, except creamier, cheesier, and just plain better.
Rotisserie Chicken Tacos 
Bulk up leftover chicken by stuffing it in homemade tacos. Corn tortillas with guacamole, pico de gallo, hot sauce, and cotija cheese are all you need to make that chicken shine.
Spaghetti and Clams With Brown Butter and Garlic Breadcrumbs 
You'll love this comforting combination of clams, garlic, and brown butter for any occasion.
Orange Chicken 
Love P.F. Chang's? Make our take on the restaurant's orange chicken.
Chicken Noodle Soup 
On a night when you're craving something cozy, there's nothing like a rich bowl of chicken noodle soup to warm you up.
Korean Tofu With Spicy Garlic Sauce 
Tofu is an ideal foil for this Korean dish's spicy garlic sauce. Serve it with charred bok choy for an inspired meal that's ready in minutes.
Orecchiette With Brown Butter, Brussels Sprouts, and Walnuts 
Nutty brown butter, walnuts, and brussels sprouts make for an irresistible bowl of orecchiette.
Healthy Shrimp and Grits 
Give traditional shrimp and grits a lighter spin by using cauliflower rice and lemony sauteed shrimp in this healthy shrimp and grits recipe.
Banh Mi Lettuce Wraps 
If you're craving a banh mi sandwich but don't want something quite so heavy, make flavorful lettuce wraps.
Slow-Cooker Cheeseburger Soup 
Cheeseburger soup is an ingenious take on a classic.
Lemon Butter Shrimp 
Easy to make and decadent, lemon butter shrimp pairs perfectly with a glass of crisp white wine and a hunk of baguette to mop up the sauce.
Chili Con Queso Nachos 
Some nights, junk food like nachos is all you crave. This cheesy recipe with chicken sausage fits the bill.
Sesame Chicken 
This homemade sesame chicken is perfect for dinner with friends.
Slow-Cooker Vegan Chickpea Curry 
Come home to a delicious-smelling, healthy dinner packed with protein. This slow-cooker vegan chickpea curry is made with budget-friendly staples like canned chickpeas, canned coconut milk, and vegetable broth.
Pasta With Nettles, Almonds, and Feta 
For something a little unexpected, try this pasta with nettles, almonds, feta, and sesame seeds. Nettles not in season? Substitute spinach.
