15 Quick Dinner Ideas That Will Save Your Weeknights

A lot of time and energy goes into making dinner, especially on weeknights when you’re counting the minutes until bedtime. It doesn’t help that you’re probably exhausted too. So having some quick dinner recipes up your sleeve is a real lifesaver for those rushed weeknights. Here are fifteen healthy meals that you can pull together in a flash and your family will also love.

1. Chili Mac

An overhead view of a white plate holding a serving of Chili Mac.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Made from ground turkey instead of beef, this healthy Chili Mac will be your go-to dinner during the cooler months. It’s quick, comforting, and family-friendly, so prepare to make it often.

2. Lemon Caper Chicken

The finished lemon caper chicken, ready to serve over pasta, rice, or just by itself!
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

A healthier version of chicken piccata, this 30-minute Lemon Caper Chicken tastes divine even without butter. Serve with pasta, rice, or veggies for a quick and hearty meal.

3. Pizzadillas

A cut pizzadilla laying on a cutting board, garnished with fresh parsley.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Pizzadillas are a cross between a pizza and a quesadilla. In other words, something the whole family will definitely enjoy.

4. Cavatappi Pasta

An overhead view of a white mixing bowl filled with cavatappi pasta salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This easy Cavatappi Pasta salad comes together quickly if you have some pre-cooked sausage on hand. Just toss in a few veggies and dressing, and dinner will be on the table in no time. (Hint: Buy a pre-cooked sausage)

5. Sheet Pan Nachos

Sheet pan nachos on a sheet pan with melted cheese over the top, and garnished with olives, avocado pieces and chopped tomatoes.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

These Sheet Pan Nachos are the perfect “make-everybody-happy-for-dinner” meal! These meals are quick and easy to put together if you have all the ingredients in the fridge or cupboard or can make a quick run to the store.

6. BBQ Chicken Pizza

Parsley sprinkled over the top of the BBQ Chicken Pizza for garnish.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Personal-sized pizzas are one of the best, easy dinners you can make as a busy parent. If you use healthy ingredients, you can feel good about what you are feeding everyone while still giving both kids and adults the foods and flavors they love. This BBQ Chicken Pizza is definitely one to try.

7. Real Food Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Pasta

A white bowl filled with Real Food Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Pasta
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Everyone loves this Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Pasta, made with real food ingredients! If you love traditional cheeseburger pasta, you’ll flip for this healthier pasta recipe.

8. Bow Tie Pasta Salad

The finished Bow Tie Pasta Salad served in a white bowl and topped with fresh parsley.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This summer-inspired Bow Tie Pasta Salad is the perfect pasta dish to share with friends and family this summer! Serve with a side of grilled chicken and a green salad for a complete meal.

9. Pesto Pita Pizza

A pita sits on a small round cutting board covered in pesto sauce, fresh tomato slices and melted cheese.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This Pesto Pita Pizza recipe is super fast, easy, and delicious with pesto and tomatoes. Pick up some ready-made pita bread and your favorite pizza toppings to get dinner on the table quickly tonight.

10. Easy Goulash

Clean Eating Goulash Recipe
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Easy Goulash is one of those feel-good comfort foods you always like coming home to at the end of a long day. It’s got great flavor, it’s satisfying, and it’s not hard to make. It has that perfect trifecta happening, and we all love those!

11. Air Fryer Fish N’ Chips

Clean Eating Air Fryer Fish N' Chips Recipe
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Fish and Chips that aren’t deep fried and bad for you? Yep! This Air Fryer Fish N’ Chips recipe proves it. Delicious and nutritious, and even the kids will love it.

12. BLT Pasta Salad

Closeup of a BLT pasta salad in a white bowl.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This BLT Pasta Salad features freshly grilled bacon and an extremely simple mayo-based dressing. It’s a great dish to serve at a potluck, cookouts, barbecues, block parties, and any other social gathering.

13. Hawaiian Pita Pizza

Clean Eating Onion Pepper And Pineapple Pizza Recipe
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This delicious Hawaiian Pita Pizza is vegetarian but can easily be made with your favorite ham to make it more authentically “Hawaiian.”

14. Bombay Potatoes

An overhead view of a bowl of Bombay potatoes in a bowl on a striped tablecloth.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This wonderful Bombay Potatoes recipe came about after I tried a packaged version from the health food store. The stuff from the store definitely fell short, but I recognized just how good it could be if it was homemade.

15. Baked Turkey Burgers

A baked turkey burger with the top bun half way off and to the right side.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Baked Turkey Burgers are such an American classic. They are quick, tasty, and made with simple ingredients. They are also very easy to enjoy on a healthy meal plan. This recipe is one I’ve used for years. It’s about as easy as they come and positively delicious.

Sick Of The Same Ol’ Chicken For Dinner? Here Are 101 New Ways To Make It!

A dutch oven with a cooked whole chicken topped with rosemary twigs.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Having chicken for dinner… again? Here are 101 new ways to level up your dinner game tonight.

Healthy Ground Turkey Dinner Ideas That Actually Taste Good

A skillet filled with ground turkey, chopped tomatoes, chopped avocado and garnished with fresh parsley.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Lean ground turkey is a great replacement for ground beef if you are working on your health. Here, we give you 17 Meals with ground turkey that are surprisingly good for you.

While You’re Cooking, Prep Breakfast For Tomorrow Too. It Only Takes 5 Minutes!

An overhead view of a small canning jar filled with overnight oats with raisins.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Prepping overnight oats the night before is a fantastic way to ensure that your morning runs smoothly. These delicious oatmeal recipes are prepped in just 5 minutes. In fact, you can even make homemade oatmeal packets with these recipes, so all you have to do is grab a packet and get it in the fridge.

This originally appeared on The Gracious Pantry.

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