Easy Weeknight Meal Round Up [70 quick and easy meals for busy times!]

If you’re anything like me, the holidays kinda snuck up on you this year (and usually do!). And while I ADORE this time of year, I often struggle to get dinner on the table during busy times like the holiday season (take out from the local pizza joint doesn’t count…even when it happens a couple times a week. *hangs head in shame*). So, to help myself keep it together, and hopefully to help you out, I’ve put together a list of meals that come together quickly and without too much effort. That way, we can all spend time enjoying this special time of year, rather than stressing over what’s for dinner.

Enjoy!

Soups and Stews

It should be no surprise that this is the first category I am sharing. Soup is one of my go-to quick and easy meals because (1) it’s delicious, (2) it’s a hot meal, and (3) it makes a lot! Bonus: most of these can be made in bulk and frozen. There is never enough soup in my world. #soupqueen

1. Beef & Bean Chili
2. Kale Minestrone
3. Butternut Squash & Chicken Chili
4. Chicken Enchilada Soup
5. Healthy Mexican Soup
6. Spicy Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup
7. Corn & Crab Chowder
8. Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
9. Yellow Thai Curry with Chicken & Veggies
10. Bacon-Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk & Crispy Shallots
11. Broccoli-Cheddar Soup
12. Coconut Ginger Lentil Soup with Butternut Squash
13. Turkey Pot Pie Soup
14. Corn Chowder with Chipotle Cream
15. Spicy Pumpkin Soup
16. Kale, Corn, Potato, & Chorizo Soup
17. Lager Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese
18. Buffalo Chicken Soup
19. Kale & Roasted Squash Soup
20. Roasted Garlic & White Bean Soup
21. Sherried Tomato Bisque
22. Silky Potato-Leek Soup
23. Spicy Black Bean Soup
24. Fresh Corn & Buffalo Chicken Chowder

 

 

Vegetarian

While I don’t have a ton of vegetarian/vegan dinner recipes on this site, we actually eat several meals a week sans meat. I’m going to take a moment right now to vow that I’ll share more of our vegetarian meals soon! Promise! A lot of those soups above, though, are already vegetarian or can easily be made vegetarian. Here are a few of our favorite quick and easy veggie-centric meals.

1. Taco-Spiced Bean Burgers
2. Baked Sweet Potatoes with Warm Cannellini Bean Salad
3. Grilled Veggie & Whipped Ricotta Naan Pizza
4. Refried Beans with Avocado & Fried Eggs
5. Roasted Cheese-Stuffed Pears with Arugula, Cranberries, & Walnuts
6. Roasted Red Peppers Stuffed with Swiss Chard & Brown Rice
7. Roasted Vegetable & Goat Cheese Crostada
8. Risotto with Leeks, Snap Peas, & Asparagus

 

 

Meat

OK, so this category is quite large. What can I say? We’re carnivores! A hearty and satisfying meal doesn’t have to take forever to prepare.

 

1. Buffalo Chicken Burgers
2. Homemade Ramen with Bacon & Soft-Boiled Eggs
3. Chicken Caesar Burgers
4. Chicken Caprese Burgers
5. Fig-Glazed Cheeseburgers
6. Mexican Turkey Burgers
7. Smoky Beer Burgers
8. Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
9. Caprese Skillet Chicken
10. Jalapeño Popper Chicken
11. Lightened-Up Chicken Pot Pie
12. Pineapple Skillet Chicken
13. Grilled Cheese with Manchego, Bacon, Apples, & Red Onion Mayo
14. Halibut with Lemon Aioli
15. Homemade Beef Pho
16. Pear Risotto with Crispy Prosciutto
17. Grilled Crostini with Burrata, Figs, & Prosciutto
18. Open-Face Egg Sandwiches with Bacon, Avocado, & Sriracha Aioli

 

Salads

Salads don’t have to be boring! In fact, I flat out refuse to eat a boring salad. These are some of my favs, and they come together in no time!

 

1. Tropical Shrimp Salad with Avocado & Mango
2. Spinach Salad with Sesame-Crusted Goat Cheese
3. Southwestern Power Salad
4. Salad with Spicy Pecans, Berries, & Goat Cheese-Scallion Dressing
5. Raw Brussels Sprout & Kale Salad
6. Cherry Caprese Salad
7. BLT Salad with Fried Egg
8. Apple Chicken Salad
9. Asian Orange Chicken Salad
10. Peach-Glazed Grilled Chicken Salad

 

Pastas

We could all use some carb comfort during this busy time. All of these dishes can definitely be categorized as comfort food, but that doesn’t mean that they are high maintenance. Cozy up with one of these babies after trimming the tree or navigating the holiday shopping crowds. You can thank me later.

1. Skinny Pasta Alfredo with Chicken & Broccoli
2. Balsamic Caprese Pasta Salad
3. Warm Wasabi Noodles with Asian-Marinated Pork Loin
4. Pear Risotto with Crispy Prosciutto & Fried Sage
5. Lightened-Up Pasta Carbonara with Asparagus
6. Mom’s Mac & Cheddar
7. Linguine Aglio Olio
8. Lightened-Up Turkey Chili Pasta Skillet
9. Jalapeño-Bacon Mac & Cheddar
10. Herby Cheez-It Crusted Mac & Cheese

 

Happy Holidays, friends! XOXO