Top 5 Easy Weeknight Dinners for Busy Families in the US

Looking for hassle-free meal ideas to alleviate the chaos of busy weeknights? Dive into the world of easy weeknight dinners, where convenience meets culinary delight. 

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, finding time to prepare wholesome meals can be a daunting task for many families across the US. 

However, with the right recipes and strategies, enjoying delicious and nourishing easy weeknight dinners together can become a stress-free reality. 

Here is a collection of mouthwatering dishes designed to simplify your evenings and tantalize your taste buds

1. Easy Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas

Photo: The Busy Baker

Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas are a quick and flavorful easy weeknight dinner meal that brings the sizzle of a Mexican restaurant right to your kitchen. Tender steak, colourful bell peppers, and onions are seasoned with zesty spices and roasted to perfection on a single sheet pan. To enjoy it as one of the best easy weeknight dinners, serve them with warm tortillas and your favourite toppings for a satisfying easy weeknight dinner.

Recipe for Easy Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas easy weeknight dinners :

• Preheat your oven to 400°F.
• Drizzle olive oil on a large sheet pan.
• Add sliced onions, bell peppers, and thinly sliced steak to the sheet pan.
• Season with taco seasoning, paprika, chilli powder, and lime juice.
• Roast in the oven for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Serve with warm tortillas, shredded cheese, sour cream, and salsa.

2. Sheet Pan Parmesan Crusted Chicken and Broccoli

Photo: Recipe Runner

Sheet Pan Parmesan Crusted Chicken and Broccoli is a family-friendly, easy-to-make dinner and one of the best Easy Weeknight Dinners for busy families. 

The crispy Parmesan-coated chicken and tender broccoli are baked together on a single sheet pan, resulting in flavorful and satisfying easy weeknight dinners.

Recipe:

• Preheat your oven to 425°F.
• Drizzle olive oil on a rimmed sheet pan and add broccoli florets.
• Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
• Coat chicken in a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, shredded Parmesan, dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, granulated garlic, and granulated onion.
• Arrange chicken on the sheet pan with broccoli.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and golden brown.

3. One Pot Mushroom, Spinach, Artichoke Pasta

Photo: Damn Delicious

Third on our list of easy weeknight dinners for busy families is the One Pot Mushroom, Spinach, Artichoke Pasta which is a simple, flavorful, and hearty dish that comes together in just 25 minutes. 

It involves tender fettuccine noodles cooked with mushrooms, spinach, and artichoke hearts in a sweet and savoury sauce. This meal is undoubtedly one of the best easy weeknight dinners perfect for busy families!

Recipe:

• In a large pot, combine fettuccine, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, onion, garlic, dried basil, dried thyme, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and water.
• Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered until pasta is cooked through.
• Stir in baby spinach, freshly grated Parmesan, and butter until wilted.
• Serve immediately.

4. 20-Minute Chicken Ramen Stir-Fry

Photo: Inquiring Chef

Chicken Ramen Stir Fry is not just one of the easy weeknight dinners seamless to make, but it’s also bursting with flavor, making it a sure winner for any night of the week. 

Imagine tender ramen noodles perfectly complemented by juicy chicken, crisp broccoli, and a delightful sweet and savory sauce. It’s a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that will have your taste buds singing with joy.

What’s more, this dish comes together in a mere 20 minutes, making it a lifesaver on those particularly hectic evenings. 

But the best part? Chicken Ramen Stir Fry isn’t just delicious—it’s also incredibly versatile. Don’t have broccoli on hand? No problem! You can easily swap it out for your favorite veggies, whether it’s colourful bell peppers, crunchy snap peas, or tender mushrooms. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to customize this dish to suit your family’s preferences.

Recipe:

• Cook ramen noodles according to package instructions.
• Stir-fry chicken, broccoli, and garlic until cooked.
• Add a homemade sauce made from soy sauce, chicken stock, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, and cornstarch.
• Toss everything together and serve.

5. Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice

Photo: Food Network

Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice is one of the best on the list of easy weeknight dinners because its recipe not only sneaks in extra veggies into your diet but also elevates the classic fried rice to a whole new level of deliciousness.

It’s a timeless favorite that never fails to satisfy. By substituting traditional rice with cauliflower rice, you not only slash the carb count but also boost the veggie content of your meal. It’s a win-win situation that your taste buds and your waistline will thank you for.

You might be wondering, how does cauliflower magically transform into rice? This is because the process is surprisingly simple and requires just two easy steps. First, you’ll break raw cauliflower into tiny, rice-sized pieces. Then, you’ll cook them until tender, resulting in a rice-like texture that perfectly mimics the real deal.

Recipe

• Prepare the cauliflower rice by breaking the cauliflower into small florets and pulsing them in a food processor until they resemble rice grains.
• In a large skillet or wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, and sauté until fragrant and translucent.
• If using chicken, add the diced chicken to the skillet and cook until fully cooked through.
• Push the chicken and vegetables to one side of the skillet and pour the beaten eggs into the other side. Scramble the eggs until cooked, then mix them together with the chicken and vegetables.
• Add the cauliflower rice and mixed vegetables to the skillet, stirring to combine with the chicken and egg mixture.
• Pour the soy sauce (or coconut aminos) over the cauliflower rice and stir well to coat all the ingredients. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, or until the cauliflower rice is tender and heated through.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Garnish with thinly sliced green onions, if desired.
• Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice!