11 Easy Peasy Recipes for Busy Weeknights

Busy weeknights demand quick meals. This post shares 11 easy recipes. Each dish saves time and tastes great.

You get clear ingredients and simple steps. Cooking becomes fast and fun. Enjoy dinners without stress. Read on for ideas that fit your schedule.

1. Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas

About:
Cheesy chicken quesadillas bring bold flavors in minutes. This recipe uses tender chicken and melted cheese. Tortillas crisp up perfectly. It suits busy nights and picky eaters. Serve it with salsa or sour cream. Prep takes little effort. Cleanup stays simple. Kids and adults love this one.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 flour tortillas (medium)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salsa (optional, for serving)

Steps:

1. Shred cooked chicken into a bowl.
2. Mix chicken with garlic powder.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
4. Place one tortilla in the skillet.
5. Sprinkle ¼ cup cheese over half the tortilla.
6. Add ½ cup chicken on top of cheese.
7. Fold tortilla in half.
8. Cook for 2 minutes until golden.
9. Flip tortilla and cook for 2 more minutes.
10. Remove from skillet and cut into wedges.
11. Repeat with remaining tortillas, cheese, and chicken.
12. Serve with salsa if desired.

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2. Garlic Butter Pasta

About:
Garlic butter pasta delivers comfort fast. This dish uses pantry staples. It blends rich butter and sharp garlic. Parmesan adds a savory kick. You cook it in one pot. Dinner hits the table in 15 minutes. It pairs well with a side salad. Everyone enjoys this simple classic.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces spaghetti
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)

Steps:

1. Boil water in a pot with 1 teaspoon salt.
2. Add spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until tender.
3. Drain spaghetti and set aside.
4. Melt butter in the same pot over low heat.
5. Add minced garlic and stir for 1 minute.
6. Toss spaghetti back into the pot.
7. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over pasta.
8. Stir until cheese melts.
9. Add chopped parsley and mix well.
10. Serve hot on plates.

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3. Beef Stir-Fry

About:
Beef stir-fry cooks fast and fills you up. Thin beef strips pair with crunchy veggies. Soy sauce brings salty flavor. You use one pan for everything. It’s ready in 20 minutes. This dish works for rushed evenings. Rice or noodles match it well. It’s a crowd-pleaser every time.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef (thinly sliced)
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers)
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
• 1 garlic clove (minced)

Steps:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large pan over high heat.
2. Add sliced beef and cook for 3 minutes until browned.
3. Remove beef from pan and set aside.
4. Add mixed vegetables to the pan.
5. Stir vegetables for 4 minutes until soft.
6. Add garlic and ginger, then stir for 1 minute.
7. Return beef to the pan.
8. Pour soy sauce over beef and vegetables.
9. Stir everything for 2 minutes.
10. Serve hot with rice or noodles.

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4. Veggie Fried Rice

About:
Veggie fried rice turns leftovers into dinner. This recipe uses cold rice and fresh veggies. Soy sauce adds umami taste. You cook it in one skillet. It’s ready in 15 minutes. This dish fits busy schedules. It’s cheap and delicious. Add an egg for extra protein.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked rice (cold)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (peas, carrots)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 egg (optional)
• 1 green onion (chopped)

Steps:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add mixed vegetables and cook for 3 minutes.
3. Push vegetables to one side of the skillet.
4. Crack egg into the empty side and scramble for 1 minute (if using).
5. Add cold rice to the skillet.
6. Pour soy sauce over rice and stir well.
7. Cook for 5 minutes until heated through.
8. Sprinkle green onion on top.
9. Serve hot on plates.

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5. Tomato Soup

About:
Tomato soup warms you up fast. This recipe uses canned tomatoes for ease. Garlic and cream make it rich. You blend it smooth in minutes. It’s perfect for chilly nights. Bread or crackers pair nicely. Cooking takes little time. Everyone loves this cozy bowl.

Ingredients:

• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add minced garlic and stir for 1 minute.
3. Pour crushed tomatoes into the pot.
4. Add salt and pepper, then stir well.
5. Simmer mixture for 10 minutes.
6. Pour in heavy cream and mix.
7. Blend soup with a blender until smooth.
8. Serve hot in bowls.

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6. BBQ Chicken Sliders

About:
BBQ chicken sliders pack big taste in small bites. Shredded chicken mixes with tangy sauce. Buns toast up golden. You make them in 20 minutes. They’re great for busy nights. Kids love the handheld size. Serve with fries or slaw. It’s a fun, fast meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
• ½ cup BBQ sauce
• 6 slider buns
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce in a bowl.
3. Place slider bun bottoms on a baking sheet.
4. Spoon chicken mixture onto each bun.
5. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over chicken.
6. Add bun tops to sliders.
7. Melt butter and brush over bun tops.
8. Bake sliders for 10 minutes until cheese melts.
9. Serve hot on plates.

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7. Tuna Melt

About:
Tuna melt combines creamy tuna and melted cheese. Bread toasts crisp in minutes. This recipe uses simple ingredients. It’s ready fast for hectic evenings. You need one pan. Kids and adults enjoy it. Pair it with chips or soup. It’s a quick win.

Ingredients:

• 1 can (5 ounces) tuna (drained)
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 4 slices bread
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

1. Mix tuna with mayonnaise in a bowl.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
3. Butter one side of each bread slice.
4. Place two slices in the skillet, butter side down.
5. Spread tuna mixture over bread in the skillet.
6. Sprinkle cheese over tuna.
7. Top with remaining bread slices, butter side up.
8. Cook for 3 minutes until golden.
9. Flip sandwiches and cook for 3 more minutes.
10. Cut in half and serve hot.

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8. Egg Salad Wraps

About:
Egg salad wraps offer protein in a flash. Hard-boiled eggs mix with creamy dressing. Lettuce adds crunch. You roll it in tortillas. Prep takes 10 minutes. It’s light yet filling. This dish suits busy nights. Everyone enjoys the fresh taste.

Ingredients:

• 4 hard-boiled eggs (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon mustard
• 4 tortillas
• 1 cup lettuce (shredded)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

1. Chop hard-boiled eggs into small pieces.
2. Mix eggs with mayonnaise, mustard, and salt in a bowl.
3. Lay tortillas flat on a surface.
4. Place shredded lettuce in the center of each tortilla.
5. Spoon egg mixture over lettuce.
6. Roll tortillas tightly around filling.
7. Cut wraps in half.
8. Serve fresh on plates.

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9. Sausage Skillet

About:
Sausage skillet brings hearty flavor fast. Sliced sausage cooks with peppers. Potatoes add bulk. You use one pan. It’s done in 25 minutes. This dish fits tight schedules. It’s warm and satisfying. Everyone digs into this easy meal.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sausage (sliced)
• 2 cups potatoes (diced)
• 1 bell pepper (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add diced potatoes and cook for 10 minutes until soft.
3. Add sliced sausage to the skillet.
4. Stir sausage and potatoes for 5 minutes.
5. Add chopped bell pepper, salt, and pepper.
6. Cook for 5 more minutes until peppers soften.
7. Serve hot on plates.

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10. Pesto Grilled Cheese

About:
Pesto grilled cheese upgrades a classic. Pesto adds fresh taste. Cheese melts gooey inside. Bread crisps up golden. You cook it in 10 minutes. It’s perfect for busy nights. Pair it with soup or fruit. This twist keeps everyone happy.

Ingredients:

• 4 slices bread
• 2 tablespoons pesto
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter

Steps:

1. Spread pesto on one side of each bread slice.
2. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over pesto on two slices.
3. Top with remaining bread slices, pesto side down.
4. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
5. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet.
6. Place sandwiches in the skillet.
7. Cook for 3 minutes until golden.
8. Flip sandwiches and add remaining butter to the skillet.
9. Cook for 3 more minutes.
10. Cut in half and serve hot.

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11. Shrimp Tacos

About:
Shrimp tacos burst with flavor fast. Juicy shrimp cook in minutes. Lime adds zing. Tortillas hold it all. You make them in 15 minutes. They’re great for rushed dinners. Serve with slaw or salsa. Everyone loves this fresh bite.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound shrimp (peeled, deveined)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 lime (juiced)
• 6 tortillas
• 1 cup cabbage (shredded)

Steps:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add shrimp and sprinkle with chili powder.
3. Cook shrimp for 3 minutes until pink.
4. Squeeze lime juice over shrimp and stir.
5. Remove shrimp from skillet.
6. Warm tortillas in the skillet for 1 minute.
7. Place shredded cabbage on each tortilla.
8. Add shrimp on top of cabbage.
9. Fold tortillas into tacos.
10. Serve fresh on plates.