21 Short Recipes For Tired And Hungry Weeknight People (2024)

Put on your comfy house clothes and whip up one of these recipes.

When you're finally home from a long day of studying or work, the last thing you want to do is spend another hour cooking a dish you know you'll inhale in five minutes flat.

But you also don't want to open a bag of Cheetos and call it a night, or worse — waste money on delivery. That's why we put together a list of tasty recipes you can make in about 30 minutes that will save you money and satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. From spicy lemon pasta and broccoli mac 'n' cheese, to butternut squash chili and delicious salads, here are 21 recipes you'll want to try this month.

1. Simple Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

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kyleecooks.com

It's as simple as cooking your choice of protein, making a creamy sauce, and rolling some enchiladas up. Of course, you can always replace the chicken with some canned beans if you want to cut time or have a meat-free meal. Get the recipe.

2. Chicken, Broccoli Shells, and Cheese

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lovegrowswild.com

A dish both parents and kids can enjoy! Feel free to leave out the chicken if you want something slightly lighter. Get the recipe.

healthiersteps.com

All you need to make Venezuelan arepas is cornmeal, warm water, salt, and some oil for fying. Once your pockets are ready, just fill 'em up with whatever protein or delicious fillings you'd like, like guacamole, plantain, and canned beans for example. Get the recipe.

whatsinthepan.com

The secret ingredient to this creamy mushroom sauce is a hearty serving of flour and half and half. Slather the whole batch over a savory pairing of chicken thighs and mushrooms, and you've got yourself a hearty winter meal. Get the recipe.

tastesbetterfromscratch.com

Serve these with a dollop of storebought salsa or guacamole and sour cream for a feast that'll come together faster than that pepperoni pizza you were thinking of ordering. Get the recipe.

6. Chicken Avocado Caprese Salad

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cafedelites.com

Sometimes, all a salad needs to take it from bland to tasty is a delicious dressing, like this balsamic dressing made with balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, and olive oil. Get the recipe.

7. Creamy Pasta With Bell Pepper and Sausage

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landeeseelandeedo.com

And for those late nights when you're short on time, you can skip the chicken and stick to just the sausage and bacon. Get the recipe.

8. Sheet Pan Jambalaya

tasty.co

Chicken, shrimp, some sliced veggies, and 14 minutes in the oven come together for a delicious, leftovers lunch-worthy dinner. Get the recipe.

9. Chicken Sisig With Egg

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panlasangpinoy.com

While traditional Filipino sisig is made with pig snouts, ears, and jowls, this quick weeknight version uses chicken and mayonnaise to get you close to the original taste with less prep work. Serve on a hot cast iron plate for maximum sizzle. Get the recipe.

10. One-Pan Mexican Rice Skillet

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lifemadesweeter.com

To make this rice dish last you and your family more than one meal, serve it in soft tortillas or hard taco shells. Get the recipe.

11. Sheet Pan Greek Chicken

laughingspatula.com

If you're doing Whole30, simply prepare this dish without feta cheese. Get the recipe.

12. Lemon Garlic Salmon

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40aprons.com

Avocado oil isn't just a tasty cooking oil; it also has a high smoking point and can withstand high heat without breaking down or filling your kitchen with toxic fumes. Get the recipe.

nutritioninthekitch.com

Have you heard the good news about grocery store rotisserie chicken? It's juicy and affordable, and will let you make recipes like this chicken and potato stew in a jiff. Get the recipe.

14. Chicken Chopped Salad With Spicy Peanut Dressing

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healthyaperture.com

I can definitely get on board with a salad that lists peanut butter as an ingredient. Get the recipe.

savorytooth.com

Sweet butternut squash and savory beans combine in this slightly piquant chili you'll want to make again and again. And if you want to vary things up from meal to meal, try serving it with a crusty bread, a handful of tortilla chips, or some avocado. Get the recipe.

halfbakedharvest.com

If you're okay eschewing aesthetics for practicality (and also because heirloom tomatoes are not in season at the moment), feel free to purchase whatever tomatoes you can find at the market to make this savory tart. Get the recipe.

17. Vegan Sweet Potato Lentil Soup With Rice

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halfbakedharvest.com

Red lentils pack this bowl of healthy vegetable soup with protein and texture. Get the recipe.

18. Wild Rice Burrito Bowl With Cilantro-Lime Avocado Dressing

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exsloth.com

You can make a macro bowl with any combination of protein, carbs, and fat, or try out this perfect marriage of crowd-favorite chickpeas, rice, and avocado. Get the recipe.

damndelicious.net

Your local grocery store should carry lo mein egg noodles, but if not, grab a pack from Amazon for $5.45. Get the recipe.

therealfoodrds.com

And if you, like me, find the prospect of cutting squash (and, as your mind would have you believe, your fingers off) terrifying, then you can use the method of roasting the squash to softness first, and THEN cutting into it. Get the recipe.

21. Spicy Lemon Pasta With Shrimp

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funwithoutfodmaps.com

Listen, Olive Garden isn't the only place where you can enjoy the winning combination of lemon, shrimp, and pasta. This is one of the easiest recipes on this list and fortunately for you, also one of the tastiest. Try it out tonight! Get the recipe.

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    21 Short Recipes For Tired And Hungry Weeknight People (2024)

    FAQs

    How a therapist handles weeknight dinners? ›

    Communicate and Delegate. Your family doesn't have to have a rigid schedule and set weekly menu, but it can be helpful to talk about the week ahead and delegate cooking days, even loosely.

    What foods stop tiredness? ›

    A diet with lots of leafy green vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats such as fish, nuts, and seeds may help lessen the effects of feeling tired! This booklet and the study dietitian will help you learn how to make room in your diet for foods that can help fight fatigue.

    What foods will keep me full for 5 hours? ›

    Whole, unprocessed foods that are high in protein and fiber will generally leave you more sated, which means you feel full for a longer period of time. Some of the most filling foods include boiled potatoes, oatmeal, eggs, fish, Greek yogurt, and popcorn.

    How to eat calm with family? ›

    Mindful eating in a family means making a good mixture of these basic ingredients: eating as a family, pausing, slowing down, having fun, experimenting, being curious, exploring new tastes, and bringing the flavors of kindness and love to your meals.

    How should I schedule my meals? ›

    Once you have your first meal, depending on its content and balance, it's recommended to have each subsequent meal every three to four hours to prevent dips in blood sugar levels (which can lead to feeling hangry). Meals should include a protein-rich food, high-fiber starches, vegetables, fruits, and fat.

    When you're too tired to cook? ›

    If there is a day where even turning on a burner to boil pasta feels like too much, there's nothing wrong with heating up a frozen meal or having something quick that you can eat that you like. You can some herbs to a frozen meal or if you heat up a can of soup, you can serve it alongside a piece of toast.

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