The people have spoken! Last week, I posted a poll asking Loveleaf Co. readers to tell me their favorite EASY weeknight meals. Like… the recipes that they’d recommend to a friend who rarely cooks (or hates cooking) but is finding themselves having to cook more these days.
I also reached out to some of my favorite bloggers, family, and friends to get their take. The result is this list of 20 easy (and healthy), tried-and-true, weeknight meals to inspire those of us who are in the kitchen more than usual, willingly or not. Enjoy!
Tacos
Easily the most popular response to the “easy dinner ideas” poll was tacos… or some sort of taco/burrito bowl situation. These spicy shrimp tacos with garlic cilantro lime slaw are a (20-minute!) fan favorite. For an easy burrito bowl, try these.
Spicy Pork and Mustard Green Soup
Flavorful, inexpensive, quick, and comforting, this spicy pork and mustard green soup has it all. It’s flexible too; add in any vegetables you like and cook in the broth until tender.
Pancakes for Dinner!
One of the most popular responses to the poll (a close second to tacos) was “pancakes for dinner!” I’m into it. My favorite healthy pancakes are these (blender!) banana oatmeal pancakes.
Poblano Chicken Chili with Quinoa
Sarah from Simply Real Health is the queen of simple weeknight recipes, so I had to ask her which of her recipes she would recommend for this blog post. Without question, she suggested this easy poblano chicken chili with quinoa that’s fit for a crowd (… or lots of really good leftovers).
Veggie Tofu Stir-Fry
My friend, Emily (of Sculpt by Emily – check out her streamable classes for great at-home workouts!), recommended this veggie tofu stir fry to me and I can affirm that it’s good. You can swap out the tofu for another protein of choice and use whatever vegetables you have on hand.
Peanut Slaw with Soba Noodles
My sister recommended this recipe and some version of this is on heavy rotation at my house too. It’s a crunchy peanut salad situation that actually gets better in the fridge. If you can’t find soba noodles, any gluten-free noodles will work.
Everyday Lentil Soup
I reached out to my food blog idol, Sara from Sprouted Kitchen, herself to find out which of her recipes she would personally recommend. Her answer was this crowd-pleasing everyday lentil soup that I can’t wait to try.
Crispy Baked Garlic Matchsticks Fries
My friend Shannon of Mama Eco sent me this recipe and I mean… how could they not be good? To turn these fries into a full meal, pair with veggie or grass-fed beef burgers and a simple salad. Or add some Mediterranean spices to the fries and then serve with these easy baked falafel and green tahini sauce.
Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Sweet Potatoes
If there’s one recipe I make most often on this list, it’s this one, which uses my weeknight secret weapon: harissa paste. To make it vegan, simply omit the chicken but don’t forget the tahini sauce.
Masoor Dal (Spiced Red Lentils)
My mom introduced me to this lentil dal recipe and it quickly became a favorite in my house too. Serve with some grass-fed sour cream or cashew cream and lots of cilantro.
15-Minute Egg Roll In a Bowl
I mean… how could these not be good? These egg roll bowls will hit the spot for anyone with take-out cravings…in just 15-minutes.
Get the recipe.
Chickpea and Kale Shakshuka
When in doubt for an easy weeknight meal I have one word for you: eggs. This chickpea and kale shakshuka elevates the humble egg and makes it dinner-worthy. You can make the stew portion of the recipe ahead of time and then quickly cook the eggs when you’re ready to eat it.
Sausage, Potato, and Broccoli Sheet Pan Dinner
I asked my Instagram friend Mary, a gluten-free blogger and busy mom of three, which of her recipes she would recommend for this list. She suggested this sausage, potato, and broccoli sheet pan dinner, which can be made on one sheet pan (easy clean-up!) with just 10 minutes of prep time.
Chana Masala
I’ve been a fan of 101 Cookbooks since it launched wayyyy back in 2003. Heidi’s recipes always become healthy go-tos and this chana masala recipe is no exception. If you can’t find chana masala spice, you can try this recipe instead.
Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo
It’s soup… with pasta! The best of both worlds. Recommended by my friend, this recipe is lemony and creamy without any cream. Gluten-free? Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta or rice in place of the orzo.
Chicken Curry
This comforting curry is one of my sister’s favorite recipes. Serve with brown rice to make it a complete meal. So good.
Tuscan Beans with Spicy Sausage and Kale
One of my biggest pet peeves with online recipes is that the “prep time” actually takes me much longer than written (or maybe I’m just slow…). Either way, this recipe actually takes only 20 minutes to make and is a family favorite.
Spicy Cavatelli with Zucchini and Leeks
Shira Gill is one of my favorite sources of inspiration for all things home organization and simplicity. So I had to ask her for an easy, family-friendly recipe recommendation. She suggested this (six-ingredient!) spicy cavatelli with zucchini and leeks which could not be easier for busy weeknights.
5-Ingredient Green Curry Recipe
You can’t go wrong with an easy weeknight curry recipe and especially one that’s only 5 ingredients. Curry paste is my second favorite weeknight secret weapon (after harissa paste). If you can’t find green curry paste, red curry paste will work just fine.
Roast Salmon and Broccoli with Chile-Caper Vinaigrette
I came across this recipe a few years ago and it’s pretty much the only way I cook salmon now! So so easy and so so good. I usually serve it alongside some short-grain brown rice or quinoa.
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