Now that I’m a parent to an elementary schooler (how?!), I know that back to school time and early fall is always a tough time of year.
It’s that transition from the easy-going summer days with late bedtimes to a semi-structured schedule of bus drop-off, homework, afternoon and/or evening activities, and the often-dreaded bedtime routine.
Meal planning for busy weeknights is the key to my parenting success, because even with just a single kiddo, 3 to 4 of our afternoons and evenings each week have activities going on. Things are busy around here!
And over the past couple of months, I’ve had multiple friends reach out to me to ask for help with ideas for easy weeknight dinners.
We discussed some parameters about what kinds of meals they were looking for and since I decided to make this list available to anyone who needs it, I wanted to share the four primary meal requirements too.
In short, all of the 10 meals listed here will fit into the following categories:
- Kid-friendly, but not on the level of chicken nuggets and mac and cheese
- Wholesome meals that are well-balanced with protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates
- Easy to prepare and make in under 30 minutes
- A mix of crock pot recipes, one pot recipes, and large batch recipes that could be made on a Sunday and that make great leftovers for fast weeknight meals.
And here we go!
10 Easy Meals for Busy Weeknights
Ten easy and under 30 minute meals for busy weeknights. Included below are one pan dinners, crock pot recipes, store-bought swaps, and large batch meals that make lots of leftovers. These are the wholesome weeknight meals you're going to turn to when you're running your kiddos to sports, clubs, Scouts, dance, etc. instead of hitting the drive-thru.
No pre-cooking is required for this Crock Pot Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe! Simply toss everything into the crock pot, set it for 3 hours, and come home to a creamy chicken dinner. Serve over rice, quinoa, or pasta with a tossed salad on the side.
If you have taco lovers in your house, they're going to absolutely love this Taco Mac! It's a one pan dinner with a creamy taco-flavored sauce, ground beef (chicken or turkey work too!), and black beans. Boost the nutrition by adding some frozen corn to the meal or top with avocado and sour cream.
My Chicken Tikka Masala Meatballs are one of my absolute best go-to easy meals for busy weeknights. In fact, I make things even easier by prepping a large batch of these meatballs and the tikka masala sauce on the weekend so all that needs to be made fresh during the week is the rice. Add some steamed broccoli or string beans on the side and you've got a fantastic dinner!
As one of my most versatile recipes in my meal rotation, this Salsa Verde Chicken is made in the crock pot and the shredded chicken can be used for all kinds of meals throughout the week: tacos, quesadilla, burrito bowls, tostada, enchiladas, or even as pulled Mexican chicken sandwiches.
Loaded with garlic, sundried tomatoes, broccoli, and Parmesan cheese, this chicken pasta meal will have everyone wanting seconds.
As one of the 5 most popular recipes on the site, I can honestly say that this Sundried Tomato Boursin Baked Orzo is exactly as delicious as it looks and sounds. Even as a fully baked pasta dish, you're left with a creamy cheese sauce, big Italian flavors, and loads of veggies. Pair this baked orzo with chicken, pork, shrimp, or steak and watch it simply disappear.
Filled to the brim with bacon, cheese, and potatoes, this Loaded Baked Potato Soup is a cozy crock pot soup that will simmer away on a chilly afternoon while you're out running errands and taxiing kids around to activities. Come home to a hot bowl of soup loaded with your favorite loaded potato toppings.
With over 310 4.5+ star reviews, my One Pot Creamy Sausage Pasta remains one of the most popular recipes - and by far the most popular dinner recipe - on the site. All made in one pot in under 30 minutes, this meal has received thousands of raves and shares from families since I first posted it in 2015.
Who doesn't love a great taco?! This one is filled with roast chicken (or a store-bought rotisserie chicken), a crunchy cabbage mix, and a cilantro, lime, and sour cream sauce that you're going to flip for. This is a super easy dinner made in under 20 minutes!
As an heirloom recipe, my mom's Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi has been a huge family favorite for decades. She makes it only for Christmas Eve dinner; I make it year-round because it's so incredibly easy and delicious.
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