If you’re anything like us, you never skip a meal. If we could cook ourselves five-star meals every night, we would! But in all honesty, we rarely have time to dedicate to such extravagance.
When your life is full of more important things to worry about, dinner can often take a place on the backburner. That’s why it’s important to have some simple yet delicious recipes up your sleeve for days when you just don’t have the time.
Below, we’ll share with you 10 of our favorite quick and easy recipes for busy weekdays so you don’t have to sacrifice a good meal for a full schedule.
1. Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta – 15 Min
With a light and bright flavor that still leaves you feeling full and satisfied, this lemon butter garlic pasta recipe is always a hit.
Ingredients
- 8 oz spaghetti or angel hair pasta
- 1/2 cup parmesan
- 1 lemon
- 5 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Parsley (to taste)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Prep:
- Dice the garlic.
- Zest and juice the lemon.
- Chop the parsley.
Instructions:
- Once all your ingredients are prepared, cook your pasta al dente and save a ½ cup pasta water for the sauce.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil.
- Add in the chopped garlic and stir until browned.
- Add the pasta to the pan with the reserved pasta water and mix.
- Add lemon zest, lemon juice, and parmesan. Mix well.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with parsley and extra parmesan to taste.
2. Garlic Sesame Noodles – 15 Min
If you’re sick of making instant ramen the same way every time simply because it’s convenient, this recipe will help you spice up your noodles for a refreshing burst of new flavors.
Ingredients:
- 6 oz rice noodles (or 2 packages instant ramen without seasoning)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1 tbsp broth (your choice what kind)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 green onions
- 5 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Prep:
- Toast the sesame seeds.
- Mince the garlic cloves.
- Chop the green onions, keeping green and white apart.
Instructions:
- Cook your rice noodles or ramen according to package instructions.
- To make the sauce, mix together soy sauce, tahini, broth, cornstarch, and water until smooth.
- Heat the sesame oil over medium heat and add the garlic and white parts of your onions.
- Sauté mixture until lightly brown and add the chili flakes.
- Add your sauce and stir until thickened.
- Add your noodles and mix until combined.
- Serve hot with toasted sesame seeds and the green parts of your onions on top.
3. Classic Chili Mac – 25 Min
Many of us grew up on this hearty Midwest American staple, but did you know how simple it is to make? Give it a try and see for yourself!
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs lean ground beef
- 1 small white onion
- 1 packet chili seasoning mix
- 29 oz canned tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 lb macaroni
- ½ cup canned chili sauce
- Any toppings you like (bread crumbs, shredded cheese, sour cream, etc.)
Prep:
- Dice the white onion.
Instructions:
- Brown the ground beef in a large saucepan. Drain the fat.
- In another pan, sauté chopped onions over medium heat until softened and brown. Transfer to the sauce pot with beef.
- Add tomato sauce, chili seasoning, and brown sugar. Simmer over low heat (15 minutes).
- While the sauce is simmering, boil and drain your macaroni noodles.
- Add noodles to sauce.
- Serve garnished with your favorite toppings.
4. Super Simple Enchiladas – 45 Min (30 oven time)
Great recipes don’t always require a lot of prep and pomp. This recipe only includes 5-6 ingredients and no ingredient prep at all beyond browning your beef. It tends to be a family favorite quick recipe by a landslide, perfect for picky eaters.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 8 small flour tortillas
- 1 cup salsa (chunky)
- 10 oz can red enchilada sauce
- 8 oz shredded Mexican cheese
- Canned green chilis (optional, to taste)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Spray a baking dish (9” x 13”) with nonstick cooking spray.
- Brown the ground beef in a pan over medium heat. Drain the fat.
- Stir in the salsa with the beef. If you want green chilies in yours, add them now.
- Lay out your tortillas flat and fill each one with the beef and salsa mixture, along with a spoon or two of cheese.
- Pour ½ of the enchilada sauce into the baking dish.
- Roll the tortillas up and place them in the baking dish so that the opening is against the bottom.
- Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce over the enchiladas.
- Top with the rest of the cheese.
- Wrap the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
5. Chicken Tostadas – 20 Min
Nothing beats the satisfying crunch of a good tostada! This chicken tostadas recipe only takes 20 minutes to make, and we’re willing to bet your family will down all of them in half that time.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups shredded cooked chicken (we prefer rotisserie)
- 8 corn tortillas
- 8 oz canned corn
- 15 oz canned black beans
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 8 oz preferred salsa
- 1 packet taco seasoning (2 tbsp)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
- Cilantro (optional)
- Avocado (optional)
- Lime juice or wedges (optional)
Prep:
- Drain the canned corn and beans.
- Slice the avocado (optional).
- Chop the cilantro (optional).
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450°F.
- Lightly brush each tortilla with avocado oil on both sides and bake for 5 minutes. Flip and bake for another 5 minutes.
- In a saucepan, mix cooked chicken, corn, black beans, taco seasoning, and salsa. Cook over medium heat for around 5 minutes.
- Spoon the mixture over the tortillas and top with shredded cheese.
- Bake for another 5 minutes.
- Serve with chopped cilantro and/or your toppings of choice.
6. Broccoli Cheddar Soup – 30 Min
We can’t make a quick and easy recipe list without adding some kind of soup to the mix. There are so many easy soup recipes out there, but nothing quite stands out like a good broccoli cheddar soup. It’s one of our favorite comfort foods!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 small yellow onion (1/2 cup)
- 3 cups broccoli
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable broth
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup low-fat milk
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
Prep:
- Chop the broccoli into manageable pieces.
- Chop the yellow onion.
Instructions:
- Melt butter in soup pot over medium heat.
- Add diced onions, carrots, and broccoli and cook until soft (5 minutes).
- Add flour and stir (3 minutes).
- Add the broth, milk, and cream and stir.
- Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Stir occasionally until thickened.
- Add cheese and stir until smooth.
- Serve hot with bread (bread is optional, but we just love the combo of sourdough and broccoli cheddar).
We hope a few of these recipes make it into your weekday rotation as your new quick favorites! Which one do you want to try first?
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