When you have free time on the weekends, it can be fun to try challenging or time-consuming recipes. Weeknights, on the other hand, there is not a moment to spare. Enter Southern Living. With these speedy supper ideas, you can get a wholesome meal on the table without sacrificing a second of spare time. These are the best recipes for an easy dinner, whether you’re in the mood for a simple salad, hearty pasta, or new twist on a burger. With one-dish meals like sheet pan shrimp and vegetables, ham and lima bean fried rice, cast-iron pork cacciatore, and honey-soy glazed salmon and veggies with oranges, even cleanup is a breeze with these fast weeknight dinners. What's really fast? These 25 handpicked weeknight ideas can be on the table between 15 and 45 minutes. Dig in.
Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy
Recipe: Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy
If you want to make extras, these patties can be prepped and frozen for up to three months, so you’ll have a nice dinner for the next busy weeknight.
Total Time: 35 minutes
Baked Shells and Greens
Recipe: Baked Shells and Greens
This meaty pasta bake is easy, fast, and no-fuss.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice
Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice
Sheet pans work weeknight miracles, and this wholesome meal is proof.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches
Recipe: Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches
Turkey meatballs will be your new favorite healthy swap in the kitchen, and the kids won’t protest.
Total Time: 40 minutes
White Bean, Fennel, and Italian Sausage Soup with Parmesan Toasts
Recipe: White Bean, Fennel, and Italian Sausage Soup with Parmesan Toast
Soups don’t have to come from the slow cooker to have tons of flavor, and this one is filling, too.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes
Recipe: Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes
This quick recipe is a less fatty version of the Southern classic, and isn’t it pretty?
Total Time: 30 minutes
Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles
Recipe: Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles
This skillet dinner feels indulgent, but shrimp and fresh avocado lighten it up.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing
Recipe: Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing
You’ve had crab cakes, but have you tried homemade salmon cakes? They’re easy, light, and taste amazing.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Pico de Gallo Pizzas
Recipe: Pico de Gallo Pizzas
These crispy personal pizzas make serving a breeze, and they’re so delicious.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Crab-and-Bacon Linguine
Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine
This pretty pasta is easier than it looks to make, but your secret is safe with us.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice
Recipe: Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice
No takeout this week, kids! You can make flavorful fried rice at home, and chopped ham makes it filling enough to stand as a main dish.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Bacon, Peach, and Basil Burgers
Recipe: Bacon, Peach and Basil Burgers
Amp up burger night with this Southern-style recipe that has sweet peaches, smoky and salty bacon, tangy goat cheese, fresh basil, and pickled jalapenos. We didn’t even have to mention the peach chutney and caramelized onion, but here we are.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing
Recipe: Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing
This gorgeous, colorful salad had us at “bacon dressing.”
Total Time: 25 minutes
Burrito Bowls
Recipe: Burrito Bowls
Let each family member customize individual burrito bowls for the easiest weeknight dinner ever.
Total Time: 10 minutes
Smoked Chicken, Squash, and Rice Soup
Recipe: Smoked Chicken, Squash, and Rice Soup
Use up that fresh farmers’ market zucchini and squash in this light, bright soup.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Grilled Pork Meatball Kebabs
Recipe: Grilled Pork Meatball Kebabs
The Korean chile sauce we paired with these easy grilled kebabs adds a perfect balance of sweet and heat.
Total Time: 35 minutes
Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
Recipe: Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone
This beautiful pasta dish is perfect for spring and summer. Serve as an easy meatless meal, buy ravioli with a meat and cheese filling, or top with grilled shrimp or chicken.
Total Time: 15 minutes
Flank Steak Tostadas
Recipe: Flank Steak Tostadas
Transform taco night with this colorful tostada recipe. You might never go back to plain ole soft and hard shells!
Total Time: 25 minutes
Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges
Recipe: Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges
You’re less than a sitcom away from this light, flavorful dinner that you’ll make over and over again.
Total Time: 25 minutes
Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken
Recipe: Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken
This healthy salad has everything you need for a wholesome, filling meal.
Total Time: 20 minutes
Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore
Recipe: Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore
This meal looks company worthy, but since it’s on the table so fast, you can feel luxurious any night of the week.
Total Time: 30 minutes
Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce
Recipe: Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce
This easy pan-fried fish pairs well with a fresh slaw, and our new tartar sauce recipe is amazing.
Total Time: 40 minutes
Turkey Quesadillas
Recipe: Turkey Quesadillas
These lightened up quesadillas wouldn’t be complete without our Easy Guacamole.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Quick Chicken Noodle Bowls
Recipe: Quick Chicken Noodle Bowls
These light, bright chicken bowls are topped off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Total Time: 45 minutes
Cheesy BBQ Sloppy Joes
Recipe: Cheesy BBQ Sloppy Joes
This easy, cheesy dinner will be a favorite among the kids.
Total Time: 28 minutes
