25 Fast Dinner Ideas and Easy Weeknight Recipes

Greg DuPree

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.

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Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

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

2 of 25

Baked Shells and Greens

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Baked Shells and Greens

This meaty pasta bake is easy, fast, and no-fuss.

Total Time: 30 minutes

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Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice

Sheet pans work weeknight miracles, and this wholesome meal is proof.

Total Time: 25 minutes

4 of 25

Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

Hector Manuel Sanchez

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

5 of 25

White Bean, Fennel, and Italian Sausage Soup with Parmesan Toasts

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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

6 of 25

Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes

Greg DuPree

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

7 of 25

Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles

Stephen DeVries

Recipe: Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles

This skillet dinner feels indulgent, but shrimp and fresh avocado lighten it up.

Total Time: 30 minutes

8 of 25

Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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

9 of 25

Pico de Gallo Pizzas

Stephen DeVries

Recipe: Pico de Gallo Pizzas

These crispy personal pizzas make serving a breeze, and they’re so delicious.

Total Time: 45 minutes

10 of 25

Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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

11 of 25

Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice

Greg DuPree

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

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Bacon, Peach, and Basil Burgers

Photo: Hector Sanchez

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

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Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing

This gorgeous, colorful salad had us at “bacon dressing.”

Total Time: 25 minutes

14 of 25

Burrito Bowls

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Burrito Bowls

Let each family member customize individual burrito bowls for the easiest weeknight dinner ever.

Total Time: 10 minutes

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Smoked Chicken, Squash, and Rice Soup

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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

16 of 25

Grilled Pork Meatball Kebabs

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

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

17 of 25

Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

Photo: Hector Sanchez

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

18 of 25

Flank Steak Tostadas

Southern Living

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

19 of 25

Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges

Photo: Alison Miksch

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

20 of 25

Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken

This healthy salad has everything you need for a wholesome, filling meal.

Total Time: 20 minutes

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Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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

22 of 25

Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

Stephen DeVries

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

23 of 25

Turkey Quesadillas

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Turkey Quesadillas

These lightened up quesadillas wouldn’t be complete without our Easy Guacamole.

Total Time: 45 minutes

24 of 25

Quick Chicken Noodle Bowls

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Quick Chicken Noodle Bowls

These light, bright chicken bowls are topped off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Total Time: 45 minutes

25 of 25

Cheesy BBQ Sloppy Joes

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cheesy BBQ Sloppy Joes

This easy, cheesy dinner will be a favorite among the kids.

Total Time: 28 minutes

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Fast and Fabulous Weeknight Dinner Recipes

1 of 25

Hamburger Steak With Sweet Onion-Mushroom Gravy

1 of 25

2 of 25

Baked Shells and Greens

2 of 25

3 of 25

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice

3 of 25

4 of 25

Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

4 of 25

5 of 25

White Bean, Fennel, and Italian Sausage Soup with Parmesan Toasts

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6 of 25

Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes

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7 of 25

Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles

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Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing

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Pico de Gallo Pizzas

9 of 25

10 of 25

Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

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Ham and Lima Bean Fried Rice

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Bacon, Peach, and Basil Burgers

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Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing

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Burrito Bowls

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15 of 25

Smoked Chicken, Squash, and Rice Soup

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Grilled Pork Meatball Kebabs

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Pasta with Burst Tomatoes and Mascarpone

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Flank Steak Tostadas

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Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges

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Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken

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Cast-Iron Pork Cacciatore

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Tortilla-Crusted Tilapia with Citrus Slaw and Chipotle Tartar Sauce

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Turkey Quesadillas

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Quick Chicken Noodle Bowls

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Cheesy BBQ Sloppy Joes

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