Some weeks, I make it to Wednesday and feel excited for the weekend. Other weeks, I can’t help but slump at the thought of two more days before Saturday. One thing that always raises my spirits, though, is dinner. It can be a quick 10-minute, one-pot wonder or something that helps to take my mind off the workweek. Either way, food is my therapy. From fried chicken to chimichangas, mid-week meals can be both easy to make and delicious with these dinner recipes! Let’s dig in!
1. Homemade Mac and Cheese
If you’re a lover of boxed mac and cheese, I can only assume it’s because you like the convenience. Sure, making the sauce from scratch might take longer, but I can assure you, it will taste so much better! And truthfully, you can have the sauce ready in a matter of minutes! All you’ll need is a quick roux, some whole milk, and lots of cheese!
2. Tostadas
I love making tostadas because you can make any number of fun combinations and serve up an entire platter of yummy food. I usually stick with the toasted tortilla and refried beans. Then I change up the toppings. Sometimes I use ground beef or I’ll also try shredded chicken or spicy sweet potatoes.
3. Fettuccine Alfredo
When you’re just looking for a comforting bowl of warmth, what’s better than pasta? And fettuccine alfredo is one of the best out there! Did you know you can make the sauce with just cream, butter, and parmesan cheese? You’re welcome!
4. The Best Homemade Tacos
What better way to pick up your spirits than a table full of tacos? Again, you can so easily change up the fillings here, and they’re always a crowd-pleaser. Just be sure to offer up some sour cream and plenty of guac!
5. Trisha Yearwood Sloppy Joes
Homemade sloppy joes are such a nostalgic throwback. And if you make them yourself, they’ll be so much better than those messy camp-day sandwiches! This recipe needs just one pan and 15 minutes to have them ready. I like the addition of bell peppers for crunch. But you can leave them out if you want.
6. Hawaiian Chicken
This dish is a little bit fruity, a little bit spicy, and a whole lot yummy. I love the fruity infusion of the pineapple with the tangy BBQ. But I’ve also been known to sub in some mango. One bite of this sweet and sour chicken dish, and you’ll never reach for the takeout menu again.
7. Vegetable Stir Fry
Much like the recipe above, this dish is gorgeous and colorful. We eat with our eyes, right? In a pinch, I’ll use a bag of frozen vegetables. Just let them thaw out first and drain off any excess moisture.
8. Chicken Ranch Wraps
Confession: I’m one of those people who puts ranch on everything. I’m taking fries, sandwiches, pizza… you name it! So these chicken wraps are one of my favorite fast mid-week meals. If you have a panini press or food grill, these can be ready in just 10 minutes. Don’t be shy with the cheese! I also like to add onion and bacon to mine.
9. Ritz Cracker Chicken
Whoever thought of using Ritz crackers instead of breadcrumbs deserves a medal. Seriously! They add such a lovely flavor to the chicken and crisp up just right. When making this kind of chicken, it’s best to start with a chicken breast, cut it in half, and then tenderize it, so it’s all one thickness. This way, you don’t have any dry spots.
10. Pigs in a Blanket (with Cheese!)
Maybe it’s not technically a meal, but it should be! If we can eat burgers encased in bread for dinner, why not sausages wrapped in crescent rolls? Besides, these are so easy, you can even have the kids make them!
11. Easy Homemade Calzone Recipe
There’s nothing like the fun of pizza making, and these little calzones are no exception. We all love pizza pockets, right? And when you make your own, you’ll have control over just how much cheese goes in! Start with store-bought pizza dough and get creative with those fillings. Just don’t overfill them, or everything will ooze out.
12. No-Peek Chicken (Just 5 Ingredients)
As far as no-fuss mid-week meals go, this is a no-brainer. Just add everything into your baking dish, cover, and let the oven do its thing. I love the earthy flavor you get from the mushroom soup, but you can change it to chicken or even broccoli cheddar.
13. PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Not only are these crazy delicious, but they’re also super light and pretty darn healthy. The sauce is an easy mix of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger, and sriracha, and the ground chicken is the perfect pairing. I highly recommend using butter lettuce for these. If you want something heartier, this will make an excellent dumpling filling.
14. Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
I don’t know what it is about a creamy white sauce that’s so irresistible. Maybe it’s the cheese. Maybe it’s the garlic. Whatever you like best, it’s best served over a big bowl of penne. For another level of flavor, try using roasted garlic!
15. Beef and Broccoli
Let’s be honest; the temptation to order takeout is high on hump day. But if you’re looking to save some pennies and maybe trying to be a little healthier, then you have to try this. Beef and broccoli are a match made in heaven, especially with the super flavorful dark sauce. Use fresh broccoli if you can, and don’t forget to marinate the beef.
16. Easy Meatball Recipe
The great thing about meatballs is that you can use them in a variety of dishes. I like to make a big batch and freeze them down, just pulling what I need for a quick dinner. And with them being as flavorful as these, they will pair just right with tomato sauce, gravy, or covered in cheese in a sub!
17. Chicken Chimichangas
These chimichangas are like Mexican egg rolls. They’re full of great flavors and fried until the outside is crunchy and golden. Think of them as a rolled and fried quesadilla, and you’re on the right track. These are extra snappy if you use rotisserie chicken.
18. Cracker Barrel Chicken Tenders
I was actually surprised when I ordered chicken tenders at Cracker Barrel and they didn’t come with a crunchy coating. But they really don’t need it! The chicken is sweet, tangy, tender, and juicy, and the fact that you only need four ingredients – including the chicken – makes them that much sweeter.
19. Italian Tortellini Skillet Dinner
What I love about this recipe is that it doesn’t have a heavy sauce. As much as I like that in some dishes, sometimes it’s nice to just let fresh ingredients shine. With this dish, you’ll have lots of sweet cherry tomatoes, cooked down until they release their juices and blend with the spices and cheese. It’s light and just the right amount of moisture for the tortellini.
20. Shrimp Garlic Noodles
Speaking of letting fresh ingredients shine, there’s no denying that shrimp is the star of this show. And I love that it’s not getting drowned out by a heavy sauce. The garlic noodles are all you need to enhance the wonderful shrimp flavor – and maybe a squeeze of lemon.
21. Wingstop Garlic Parmesan Wings
Sometimes all you want is a big bowl of messy wings. But I don’t always want to reach for the buffalo sauce. These wings make such a nice change to the sticky, spicy, normal wings we usually order. The key to getting that amazing crispy skin is to fry those babies in oil before baking to cook them through.
22. 5-Ingredient Skillet Gnocchi
A word of warning: you’ll need some crunchy bread to mop up the sauce here! In fact, if you left out the gnocchi altogether, it would make the perfect dip for a sharable app. But with the gnocchi, this is one satisfying dinner. Rather than cutting your mozzarella super thick, I like to tear it over and scatter it around for more coverage.
23. Quick and Easy Nachos
If you’re making nachos, why not make a meal out of it?! They are so much more than just chips and cheese, you know?! Add in some seasoned ground beef, salsa, sour cream, and refried beans, and you’ll have one spicy, hearty mid-week meal.
24. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
I have to admit that fried rice has been my midnight snack for a while (and my hangover cure). It’s just so easy and hits all the right spots. And adding in pineapple just makes it all the more irresistible. The key to fried rice is to cook and cool the rice beforehand. That way, it doesn’t mush down when you combine the rest of the ingredients.
25. Cracker Barrel Fried Chicken Recipe
I’m sure you’ve read it a million times: buttermilk is the key ingredient to getting the most tender and flavorful fried chicken. You don’t need a batter or breadcrumbs, just buttermilk, and seasoned flour. The chicken will crisp up perfectly in the hot oil and give you that incredible crunch we all know and love. Click on a star to rate it!
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