Making dinner during the week can be a challenge. You want something healthy and easy to make, but you also don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. Never fear; there are plenty of recipes for you that fit that description! This blog post will share five recipes for easy and healthy weeknight dinners. These recipes are all simple to make and won’t leave you feeling guilty after eating them.
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Lemon Pepper Chicken
Lemon pepper chicken is a quick and healthy option for a weeknight dinner. The lemon juice will help keep the chicken moist during cooking and add a lovely fresh flavor. This dish is perfect served with a simple green salad and steamed rice or quinoa. Plus, it’s so easy to make that even beginner cooks can feel confident about whipping it up. So if you’re looking for a healthy and delicious meal that’s easy to prepare, lemon pepper chicken is the way to go.
Ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about four)
- Lemon juice (from one lemon)
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Olive oil
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Season chicken breasts with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for about three minutes per side, or until golden brown. Remove chicken from the skillet and place in a baking dish. Pour lemon juice over chicken and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Roasted Salmon With Asparagus
Another excellent option for a healthy and easy weeknight dinner is roasted salmon with asparagus. This meal is packed with protein and healthy fats, and the asparagus provides a nice boost of vitamins and minerals. Plus, it’s all cooked in one pan, so you won’t have a ton of dishes to wash afterward.
This recipe is also perfect for those nights when you’re short on time, as it only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. So if you’re looking for a nutritious and delicious meal that’s quick and easy to make, look no further than roasted salmon with asparagus!
Ingredients:
- Salmon filets (about four)
- Asparagus (one bunch)
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice (from one lemon)
- Garlic cloves (three, minced)
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place salmon filets and asparagus on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Squeeze lemon juice over the top and sprinkle with minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Roast for 20-25 minutes, or until salmon is cooked through and asparagus is tender. Enjoy!
Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp scampi is another delicious meal for an easy and healthy weeknight dinner. This dish is light and flavorful, and the shrimp cook up quickly, so you won’t be spending hours in the kitchen. Plus, it’s a great way to get your seafood fix without breaking the bank. Shrimp scampi is typically served over pasta, but you could also do it with a side of rice or quinoa. However you choose to eat it, shrimp scampi is sure to be a hit!
Ingredients:
- Shrimp (one pound, peeled and deveined)
- Butter (four tablespoons)
- Garlic (four cloves, minced)
- White wine (one cup)
- Lemon juice (from one lemon)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Parsley (for garnish)
Instructions:
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook for about one minute or until fragrant. Add shrimp to the skillet and cook for two minutes per side, or until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set it aside. Add white wine, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to the same skillet. Cook for about three minutes, or until the sauce has reduced slightly. Return shrimp to the skillet and cook for an additional minute. Enjoy! Garnish with parsley and serve over pasta, rice, or quinoa.
Two-Meat Spaghetti Bolognese
If you’re in the mood for something a little heartier, try this two-meat spaghetti Bolognese. This dish is packed with protein and flavor, and it’s sure to fill you up. The best part is that it’s easy to make, so you won’t have to spend hours in the kitchen. Just cook the meat and sauce together in one pot and then toss it with some cooked spaghetti.
Ingredients:
- Ground beef (one pound)
- Ground pork (one pound)
- Onion (one, diced)
- Garlic (four cloves, minced)
- Tomato sauce (two cans)
- Tomato paste (one can)
- Water (one cup)
- Wine (one cup)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Basil leaves (two tablespoons, chopped)
- Oregano leaves (two tablespoons, chopped)
Instructions:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, brown ground beef and pork over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for about five minutes, or until softened. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, wine, salt, pepper, basil leaves, and oregano leaves. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about two hours. Serve over cooked spaghetti.
Pad Thai
If you’re in the mood for something slightly different, try making pad Thai. This dish is traditionally made with rice noodles, but you could also use regular spaghetti noodles if you have them on hand. The key to a good pad Thai is to get the sauce just right, so be sure to taste it and adjust the seasonings accordingly. Once you’ve perfected the sauce, add your protein of choice and some veggies, and dinner is made!
Ingredients:
- Spaghetti noodles or rice noodles (one pound)
- Chicken (one pound, cubed)
- Shrimp (one pound, peeled and deveined)
- Tofu (one block, cubed)
- Eggs (two)
- Bean sprouts (one cup)
- Green onions (six, thinly sliced)
- Cilantro leaves (one cup, chopped)
- Roasted peanuts (one cup, chopped)
- Lime wedges (for garnish)
For the sauce:
- Fish sauce (two tablespoons)
- Soy sauce (two tablespoons)
- Brown sugar (two tablespoons)
- Vinegar (one tablespoon)
- Garlic (four cloves, minced)
- Chili pepper flakes (one teaspoon)
Instructions:
Cook noodles according to package instructions. In a large skillet or wok, cook chicken, shrimp, and tofu over high heat until cooked through. Add cooked noodles and eggs and toss to combine. To make the sauce, whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl. Pour over noodles and toss to coat. Add bean sprouts, green onions, cilantro, and peanuts and toss again. Serve immediately. Garnish with lime wedges if desired.
Try Something New This Week!
These are just a few easy and healthy weeknight dinner ideas to get you started. With a bit of planning and effort, you can whip up a delicious and nutritious meal. And, who knows, maybe you’ll even enjoy it so much that you’ll want to make it again! If you have any allergen concerns, check the ingredients list before you get started. You can easily make these recipes work for you with a bit of creativity. So what are you waiting for? Get cooking!
