11 Quick and Easy Weeknight Recipes for Family Dinners 2025

Weeknights are busy. Families need quick meals. This post shares 11 recipes. They are fast to make. They please kids and adults. Each recipe uses simple ingredients.

You can cook them in 30 minutes or less. These meals bring families together without stress.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

About:
Spaghetti with meat sauce is a classic family meal. It cooks fast and pleases everyone. The rich sauce and tender pasta make it perfect for busy nights.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 pound spaghetti
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions:

1. Fill a large pot with water. Add salt. Bring it to a boil.
2. Add spaghetti. Cook it until firm. Drain the pasta. Set it aside.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef. Cook it until brown. Break it up with a spoon.
4. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook them until soft, about 5 minutes.
5. Pour in crushed tomatoes. Add oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir everything.
6. Simmer the sauce for 15 minutes.
7. Put spaghetti on plates. Spoon sauce over it. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top.

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Chicken Stir-Fry

About:
Chicken stir-fry is a quick, healthy dinner. It uses fresh vegetables and tender chicken. Families love its bright flavors and easy prep.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water
• Cooked rice for serving

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add chicken pieces. Cook them until brown. Remove them from the skillet.
3. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet.
4. Add bell pepper, broccoli, carrot, and onion. Cook them until crisp, about 5 minutes.
5. Add garlic. Cook it for 1 minute.
6. Put chicken back in the skillet. Pour in soy sauce and oyster sauce. Stir everything.
7. Mix cornstarch with water. Add it to the skillet. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes.
8. Serve the stir-fry over rice.

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Tacos

About:
Tacos bring fun to family dinners. Everyone can pick their toppings. This quick meal uses simple ingredients and tastes great.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1/2 cup water
• 12 taco shells
• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded cheese
• Salsa

Instructions:

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add ground beef. Cook it until brown. Drain the fat.
3. Add taco seasoning and water. Stir it.
4. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes.
5. Heat taco shells in the oven for 2 minutes.
6. Spoon beef into shells.
7. Add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and salsa on top.

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Baked Salmon with Vegetables

About:
Baked salmon with vegetables is a healthy, fast meal. The fish stays juicy, and the veggies roast perfectly. It’s a simple way to feed a family.

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets (6 ounces each)
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 lemon, sliced

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Place salmon fillets on a baking sheet.
3. Put broccoli and carrots around the salmon.
4. Drizzle olive oil over everything. Sprinkle salt and pepper.
5. Place lemon slices on the salmon.
6. Bake it for 15 minutes. Check that the salmon flakes with a fork.
7. Serve it hot.

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Vegetable Fried Rice

About:
Vegetable fried rice turns leftovers into a tasty dinner. It cooks fast and fills everyone up. Kids enjoy the colorful veggies mixed in.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 eggs, beaten

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic. Cook them until soft, about 3 minutes.
3. Add mixed vegetables. Cook them for 5 minutes.
4. Push vegetables to one side. Pour eggs into the other side. Scramble them until cooked.
5. Add rice. Pour soy sauce over it. Stir everything together.
6. Cook it for 3 minutes. Serve it warm.

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Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Tomato Soup

About:
Grilled cheese with tomato soup is a cozy, quick meal. The crispy sandwiches pair well with warm soup. It’s a family favorite for busy nights.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices bread
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 8 slices cheddar cheese
• 1 can (15 ounces) tomato soup
• 1 cup water

Instructions:

1. Spread butter on one side of each bread slice.
2. Place a slice of cheese between two bread slices, butter side out.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
4. Cook sandwiches for 3 minutes on each side. Press them until golden.
5. Heat tomato soup and water in a pot over medium heat. Stir it.
6. Simmer the soup for 5 minutes.
7. Serve sandwiches with hot soup.

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Chicken Quesadillas

About:
Chicken quesadillas are crispy and cheesy. They cook fast and satisfy hungry families. Add salsa or sour cream for extra flavor.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 4 flour tortillas
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Salsa for serving

Instructions:

1. Place chicken and cheese on half of each tortilla.
2. Fold tortillas in half.
3. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
4. Cook quesadillas for 3 minutes on each side. Wait until cheese melts.
5. Cut them into wedges.
6. Serve them with salsa.

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Pasta Primavera

About:
Pasta primavera is a light, fresh dinner. It mixes pasta with bright vegetables. This quick dish brings color to family meals.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 zucchini, sliced
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions:

1. Boil water in a pot. Add salt.
2. Cook penne pasta until firm. Drain it.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
4. Add zucchini, bell pepper, and tomatoes. Cook them for 5 minutes.
5. Add garlic. Cook it for 1 minute.
6. Mix in pasta. Add salt and pepper. Stir everything.
7. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Serve it warm.

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Beef and Broccoli

About:
Beef and broccoli is a fast stir-fry dish. The tender beef and crisp broccoli taste great together. It’s an easy weeknight win for families.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef strips
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add beef strips. Cook them until brown. Remove them from the skillet.
3. Add 1 tablespoon oil.
4. Add broccoli and onion. Cook them for 5 minutes.
5. Add garlic. Cook it for 1 minute.
6. Put beef back in. Pour in soy sauce. Stir it.
7. Mix cornstarch with water. Add it to the skillet. Cook until thick, about 2 minutes.
8. Serve it hot.

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Shrimp Scampi

About:
Shrimp scampi is a quick, tasty meal. The garlic and lemon flavors shine with tender shrimp. It’s a simple dinner families enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound shrimp, peeled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 lemon, juiced
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 pound linguine

Instructions:

1. Boil water in a pot. Add salt.
2. Cook linguine until firm. Drain it.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
4. Add garlic. Cook it for 1 minute.
5. Add shrimp. Cook them until pink, about 3 minutes.
6. Pour in white wine and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper. Stir it.
7. Mix in linguine. Toss everything together.
8. Serve it warm.

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One-Pan Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

About:
One-pan roasted chicken and vegetables is an easy dinner. It uses one dish for less cleanup. The juicy chicken and roasted veggies please everyone.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 2 cups baby potatoes, halved
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. Place chicken thighs on a baking sheet.
3. Add potatoes and carrots around the chicken.
4. Drizzle olive oil over everything. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and thyme.
5. Bake it for 35 minutes. Check that the chicken reaches 165°F inside.
6. Serve it hot.

Conclusion

These recipes save time. They use simple ingredients. Families can enjoy dinner together. Try these recipes this week. Make dinner easy.