11 Weeknight Dinners for Whatever Mood You’re In

Weeknight cooking can be thought of as akin to jury duty—some view it as an obligation required of all taxpaying adults, while others dread it more than a routine dental cleaning.

We (and our team of chef partners) are here to change the narrative. With the proper plan, recipes, and tools, weeknight cooking can be transformed into a meditative activity perfect for winding down from the day. All of these dishes are perfect for adding to a routine weekday schedule, and come together in less than 90 minutes—the majority taking under an hour from start to finish.

One-Pot Chicken and Rice

One-pot meals are the unequivocal hero of the weekday crowd, and this dish is no different. Flavorful and crowd-pleasing, it can be customized to your heart’s content by adding or subtracting any amount of vegetables. The only thing better than a recipe that uses only one pan? When that pan is an easy-to-clean Non Stick Saute Pan.

Cacio e Pepe

Weeknight pasta is often the default, and for good reason: It’s often easy, filling, and leftovers the next day are all but guaranteed. Chef Joe Bonavita provided his take on a Roman classic that uses just five ingredients (butter and two types each of cheese and pepper) for the ultimate quick dinner. Pair with your favorite protein or enjoy as-is straight from your Saucier—you can't go wrong either way.

Sesame Chickpeas with Broccoli

Speaking from experience, a post-work trip to the grocery store for dinner ingredients is sometimes truly the last thing you have energy for. If you can relate, try out this pantry-clearing recipe that comes together in just 30 minutes in two pots. Serves two, but easily doubled for four (or two dinners and two lunches).

Quesataco

If the drive-thru is calling your name on the way home, resist the temptation and serve up this decadent combination of a quesadilla and a taco. Cheese is crisped directly on the Griddle, with toppings rolled into the melted cheese and transferred to a tortilla.

Our version uses crispy bacon and Anaheim chiles as a filling, but use whatever fillings and toppings are speaking to you (or need to be used)—bet you can’t get that at your local drive-thru.

One-Pot Chicken Pasta with Tomatoes and Spinach

Another one-pot creation from our Culinary Creative Director Rhoda Boone, this endlessly riffable recipe is yours to experiment with. Swap the spinach for another quick-cooking green like kale or collards, or add olives, peas, or whatever else has been lurking in your pantry. The one non-negotiable is browning the chicken or protein of choice beforehand—the fond it leaves behind is an essential flavor boost to the rest of the dish.

Thai Green Curry with Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

A simple curry like this one from Chef Jam Sanitchat of Thai Fresh in Austin is one that won’t ever disappoint, whether you’ve made it once or one hundred times. A Saucepan and an array of pantry staples is all you need to craft this flavor-packed classic dish that Chef Sanitchat calls her favorite Thai curry. Feel free to swap the chicken for beef, tofu, or whatever protein is lurking around your fridge or freezer.

Chilled Cucumber and Tofu Salad

Some days call for meals that don’t require turning on the stove at all—and this tasty, refreshing salad is up for the task. From Los Angeles-based Chef Keegan Fong of Woon, all this salad needs from you is some knife skills, namely a roll cut for the Persian cucumbers. Enjoy right away, then let the leftovers marinate for up to three days—it only gets better with time.

Shrimp Pad Thai

For those who find weeknight cooking a therapeutic outlet after a long day, this classic recipe from Chef Jam Sanitchat of Austin's Thai Fresh is for you—endlessly flavorful, better than take-out, and still comes together in less than a hour. Ingredients like tamarind pulp, bean sprouts, and preserved salted radish can be sourced online or in well-stocked Asian grocers like 99 Ranch or H Mart.

Tomato-Braised Salmon

When you think of braising, you likely think of a day-long affair that makes use of pork shoulder or a similarly thick cut of meat. Chef Peter Nguyen asks you to put your preconceptions on hold for this warming, spicy, umami-laden tomato-braised salmon that’s ready in just 30 minutes. Our Dutch Oven perfectly mimics a Vietnamese clay pot, with the tight-fitting Cloud Cover Lid expertly redistributing moisture. This braise is on the saucy side, perfect for serving over rice.

Easy Frittata with Asparagus, Tomatoes, and Goat Cheese

The Platonic ideal of weeknight meals is one that's easy, delicious, utilizes ingredients already on hand (or ones that are easily acquired in a quick grocery run), and results in leftovers for at least lunch the next day.

Enter: the frittata, a beloved staple in my childhood dinner routines that I firmly believe is the unsung hero of the weeknight dinner and meal prep set. This iteration from Culinary Creative Director Rhoda Boone is another one that's customizable depending on your tastes and what ingredients you have on hand, and comes together quickly once you get everything into your oven-safe Non Stick Frying Pan.

Spaghetti Bolognese

This warming, comforting pasta recipe is a perfect dish for cooler weather and results in having leftovers that actually sound appetizing the next day. From Chef Tracey Malechek-Ezekiel of Birdie’s in Austin, the whole dish comes together in less than an hour in our Dutch Oven, but tastes like it’s been slowly bubbling away on the stovetop all day. Serve with your favorite high-quality dry pasta and a healthy topping of Parmesan.

Ready to Cook?

Weeknight meals often get a bad rap, and are thought to substitute flavor for convenience. Hopefully, these 11 dishes have proved weeknight-ready meals can be both delicious and easy—not to mention fast—to put together, without ever sacrificing favor for convenience. With the right cookware, you’re set up for success no matter the weeknight or what's on the menu.