22 Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal Ideas

Table of Contents

1. Easy Skillet Lasagna
2. BLT Pasta Salad
3. Grilled Southwest Kebabs
4. Chicken Caruso
5. Kale Pesto
6. Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
7. Chicken Penne Alfredo
8. Pizza Spaghetti Bake
9. PizzaDillas
10. Spicy Shrimp Tacos
11. Beer Battered Shrimp Po-Boy
12. Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
13. Perfect Spicy Steak
14. Monterrey Chicken Bake
15. One Pot Summer Pasta
16. Peanut Butter Lo Mein
17. Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tacos
18. Weeknight Pasta Salad
19. Crockpot Chicken Chili
20. Broccoli Cobbler
21. Baked Chicken Thighs
22. Crispy Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll Ups
Get set for dinner time with these great products:
Check out these great ideas for more dinner meal ideas:
Plus, don't miss out on 29 Easy Family Meal Ideas...

Meal planning can be tricky, especially when your schedule gets busy.

Between school, homework, after-school activities, school events–and everything else going on–it gets hard to put a healthy meal on the table the boys actually want to eat.

I’ve found 22 delicious, quick and easy meals that help make meal planning a breeze.

There are meals with beef (skillet lasagna, spicy steak, southwest kebabs, kale pesto), pork (BLT pasta salad), seafood (shrimp tacos), chicken (cordon bleu roll-ups, caruso, enchiladas), and pasta (pizza spaghetti bake, one pot pasta, peanut butter lo mein)…and that’s only a portion of the delicious ideas you’ll find here to satisfy the whole family!

1. Easy Skillet Lasagna

From Simply Scratch

Who says easy weeknight meals have to be a bore? This version of lasagna is definitely a good choice of comfort food for anytime.

The fact that it’s all made right in a skillet and there’s not dealing with all of the layering and time that goes into traditional lasagna is a plus too!

2. BLT Pasta Salad

From Hi! It’s Jilly

Adding bacon to anything has the power to make it ten times more delicious. While pasta salad is great on it’s own, the bacon just takes it to another level.

Your family is sure to love this twist. This would also be a great side to bring to any party as well.

3. Grilled Southwest Kebabs

From Hi! It’s Jilly

These kebabs are a breeze to throw together!

Simply pick your favorite vegetables to go along with the sausage, slide them on a stick, and grill.

Super simple and on your dinner table in no time.

4. Chicken Caruso

From One Creative Mommy

This dish includes a lot of great things your family is sure to enjoy. A mix of macaroni and cheese with veggies, chicken, and bacon, this dish has it all. I

t can also be made gluten free if needed, just switch out the pasta with your favorite gluten-free brand.

Easy and flexible!

5. Kale Pesto

From Eclectic Momsense

Don’t let the bad reputation of kale turn you away from this dish.

This version of pesto that includes the green superfood would be great over pasta or spread onto a sandwich.

Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s good for you too.

6. Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas

From Eclectic Momsense

This meal is so easy to make, and it’s delicious too.

With just a few ingredients cooking in the crockpot all day, this meal will make for a wonderful dinner after a long day of work or school.

Once the chicken is cooked, create your enchiladas however you’d like and it’s ready to eat.

7. Chicken Penne Alfredo

From The Kitchen is my Playground

With all of the extras included in this classic pasta dish, it’s so flavorful and definitely worth a try this week.

Though this dish might sound like a lot to make on a weeknight, it can be ready in no time at all with precut vegetables and chicken that’s ready to go.

8. Pizza Spaghetti Bake

From The Kitchen is my Playground

By adding a little twist to an otherwise already good dish makes all the difference.

Two family favorites are combined into one with this dinner.

Mix it up and add whatever pizza toppings your family enjoys to make sure everyone at your table will love this dish. This is sure to be a hit in your family this week!

9. PizzaDillas

From Baking Beauty

This recipe is for those times when you don’t want to order a pizza, but it sounds amazing.

These PizzaDillas do the trick when you want your pizza fix.

Faster than delivery, these versions of pizzas can be on your family’s plates in 15 minutes. Talk about a fast and easy weeknight meal.

10. Spicy Shrimp Tacos

From Just 2 Sisters

This dinner is perfect for when you get home right at dinner time and want something to eat ASAP.

These spicy shrimp tacos will be in your table in just 15 minutes, making sure you don’t go hungry for long.

Try these this week and they’re sure to become a dinnertime staple.

11. Beer Battered Shrimp Po-Boy

From Whit Bit’s Kitchen

Busy weeknights call for a simple dinner idea. But simple doesn’t have to mean boring.

This beer battered shrimp po-boy is full of crisp flavors and even includes a sriracha sauce perfect for added a bit of spice to dinner time.

12. Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

From Jade Louise Designs

While the name may be daunting for a busy week, this homemade spaghetti sauce shouldn’t scare you away from trying it out.

Made with ingredients you may already have right inside your pantry, it can be thrown together in a few minutes.

Put it on your favorite pasta for a fast and homemade weeknight meal.

13. Perfect Spicy Steak

From Jade Louise Designs

Just because it’s a weeknight doesn’t mean you should sacrifice flavor for ease.

These steaks are quick, easy, and they taste fantastic!

Simply marinated with some spices that you might already have and grilled, these steaks can be a weeknight luxury for your family.

14. Monterrey Chicken Bake

From PinkWhen via The Pinning Mama

This is a perfect meal you can put in the oven and forget about it for a bit before dinner.

With a small amount of prep, this dish can be in the oven quickly, which is perfect after a long day at work.

Try out this deliciously easy and healthy dinner this week.

15. One Pot Summer Pasta

From The Pinning Mama

This dish makes for great leftovers to be included in lunches for you and your kids. Anything that can be used for multiple meals is a win.

Full of flavor and an assortment of ingredients, this pasta salad should definitely be on the menu for the week.

16. Peanut Butter Lo Mein

From Mom Foodie at Blommi

If your family loves peanut butter and Asian food, this dish should definitely be on your list of things to try.

With simple ingredients and a short cook time, this meal is fast and easy.

It may sound different, but don’t count it out until you try it.

17. Creamy Crockpot Chicken Tacos

From The Pinning Mama

This meal is made with just three ingredients! It’s also made in a slow cooker, which makes this recipe even easier to include in you busy week.

Use the chicken for tacos, nachos, enchiladas, or whatever you think sounds good.

18. Weeknight Pasta Salad

From Spend With Pennies

For a delicious weeknight meal in no time, try out this pasta salad. This meal also makes great leftovers for school or work lunches.

Include your favorite pasta salad ingredients and enjoy cold or hot!

19. Crockpot Chicken Chili

From The Pinning Mama

This recipe is perfect for a winter weeknight.

This meal is easy enough to let sit all day so you’ll come home to a wonderful smelling and delicious comfort meal.

If you have any leftovers, simply freeze and heat up for another time.

20. Broccoli Cobbler

From A Virtuous Woman via Half-Baked Harvest

Broccoli is always made better with cheese, and this recipe does not lack it.

This cobbler is perfect for dinner with it’s cheesy broccoli mixture and cheesy biscuit crust on the top.

Your family will definitely enjoy this on a chilly fall day.

21. Baked Chicken Thighs

From Lori’s Culinary Creations

This recipe is full of flavor and the perfect addition to a weeknight.

Preparation and cooking in this recipe are simple, but what you get is a wonderful meal. Treat yourself by making this for you and your family this week.

22. Crispy Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll Ups

From Mom Foodie at Blommi

With little preparation and cook time, these delicious roll ups are an easy meal to pull together in no time at all.

Your family is sure to enjoy this wonderfully easy meal, with it’s melty cheese and crispy tortillas.

They could also be a fun after-school snack for the kids!

Get set for dinner time with these great products:

(Amazon Affiliate Links)

Cook and Carry Oval Slow Cooker
Stay Or Go Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Slow Cooker

Check out these great ideas for more dinner meal ideas:

Plus, don’t miss out on 29 Easy Family Meal Ideas…

Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!