Easy meals collage.

11 Easy Meals That’ll Banish Weeknight Stress Instantly

These easy meals will banish weeknight stress for good. Whether you’re coming home from work or wrapping up a long day, dishes like sausage tortellini soup, salmon stir-fry, and salsa verde chicken make dinner a breeze.

Best of all, many of these recipes are ready in just 30 minutes or cook in one pan, which will cut down on cleanup. Let us know in the comments which one you’re trying this week!

1. Salmon Stir Fry

Salmon stir fry on a plate.
Photo Credit: Coconuts and Kettlebells

This quick salmon stir fry has a soy-based sauce that comes together in minutes. It’s made in one pan and is ready to serve in about 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Salmon Stir Fry

2. One-Pot Salsa Verde Chicken

Salsa verde chicken in a bowl.
Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud

Chicken thighs simmer with salsa verde and spices for a one-pot meal with major flavor and minimal cleanup. It’s done in half an hour and can be served over rice or in burritos.

Get the Recipe: One-Pot Salsa Verde Chicken

3. Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

A spoonful of sun-dried tomato pasta.
Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon

This pasta dish gets bold flavor from sun-dried tomatoes and garlic, and takes about 10 minutes to prep. You can use any type of pasta, and the homemade cream-based sauce is so easy to make.

Get the Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta

4. Sausage Tortellini Soup

A bowl of sausage tortellini soup.
Photo Credit: Love from the Oven

Hearty and comforting, this soup blends sausage, tortellini, and a creamy tomato broth for a cozy dinner in just 30 minutes. It’s made in one pot and doesn’t need any sides.

Get the Recipe: Sausage Tortellini Soup

5. Sausage Potato Tacos

Sausage potato tacos on a plate.
Photo Credit: Confessions of a Grocery Addict

These tacos are filled with a skillet-cooked mix of potatoes, chorizo, and onions, for a budget-friendly dinner the entire family will love. Finish them off with your favorite toppings.

Get the Recipe: Sausage Potato Tacos

6. Chicken Alfredo Baked Ravioli

Chicken alfredo baked ravioli in a white dish.
Photo Credit: Pumpkin ‘N Spice

Using store-bought ravioli and jarred Alfredo sauce, this baked dish takes almost no prep but still feels indulgent. You can use any shredded chicken, but rotisserie chicken is a great option to save time on busy nights.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Alfredo Baked Ravioli

7. Shrimp Boil

Boiled shrimp with corn.
Photo Credit: Cooking in the Keys

This 30-minute dinner cooks in one pot, so you’ll have fewer messy dishes to clean. Included are plenty of side options that pair perfectly with this easy shrimp boil.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Boil

8. Meatball Parmigiana

Meatball parmigiana in a pan.
Photo Credit: My Rad Kitchen

If you’ve got 30 minutes, you can whip up this easy dish featuring homemade meatballs baked in marinara and topped with melty mozzarella. Serve it alongside bread, your favorite pasta, or Caesar salad, for a complete meal.

Get the Recipe: Meatball Parmigiana

9. Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

A bowl of pepper skillet.
Photo Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

This skillet meal has all the flavors of stuffed peppers, with ground beef, rice, bell peppers, and tomatoes, but without the extra steps. It’s cooked entirely in one pan for easy cleanup.

Get the Recipe: Unstuffed Pepper Skillet

10. Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

A spoonful of chicken and veggies stir fry.
Photo Credit: Mae’s Menu

With a soy-ginger sauce and tons of colorful veggies, this chicken stir-fry is a healthy weeknight option that doesn’t sacrifice taste. It’s fast enough for busy nights and easy to customize.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

11. Cheeseburger Pasta

A spoonful of cheeseburger pasta.
Photo Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

This one-pot meal blends ground beef, cheddar, and pasta in a creamy tomato sauce that tastes like a burger in pasta form. It’s kid-friendly, quick, and made with pantry staples.

Get the Recipe: Cheeseburger Pasta

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