19 Everyday Eats That Are Basically a Weeklong Cheat Code
As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, Quick Prep Recipes may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. This comes at no additional cost to you, and all the prices and availability are accurate at the time of publishing.
If figuring out what to cook every single day feels like a full-time job, this lineup is your shortcut. These everyday eats are the kind of easy, go-to dishes that save time, use what you already have, and still taste great. Think of them as your weeklong cheat code for feeding everyone without the stress.
Pork Chops and Applesauce
Pork chops and applesauce hit that sweet spot between comfort and convenience. Juicy pork chops seared in butter, seasoned just right, then finished with a cozy homemade applesauce, this is the kind of meal that feels fancy without the work. It’s a perfect everyday option when you want something a little special that still comes together fast.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops and Applesauce
Rice Pilaf
Rice pilaf is one of those easy sides that somehow makes every meal feel more put together. With buttery sautéed veggies and fluffy seasoned rice, it’s simple to prep and pretty much takes care of itself once it’s simmering. It’s a solid recipe to have in your back pocket when you need a quick win that goes with everything.
Get the Recipe: Rice Pilaf
Sheet Pan Chicken
Sheet pan chicken keeps things super easy while still giving you a dinner that feels like a real meal. Toss chicken and veggies in a pan, season, roast, and done, no juggling pots and pans. It’s colorful, flavorful, and definitely one of those go-to dinners that keeps the week flowing smoothly.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken
Honey Mustard Salmon
Honey mustard salmon is fast, flavorful, and kind of feels like cheating, but in the best way. The glaze comes together in seconds, and the oven takes care of the rest while you do literally anything else. It’s one of those easy everyday meals that turns out so good, you’ll want to add it to the regular rotation.
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Salmon
Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
Slow cooker apricot chicken is hands-down one of the smartest dinner moves you can make. Just toss the ingredients in and forget about it until mealtime, what you get is fall-apart tender chicken in a sweet and savory sauce that tastes way more complicated than it is. It’s the kind of everyday recipe that works like a cheat code when you’re short on time but still want big flavor.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
Avocado Salad
This avocado salad proves that a few fresh ingredients can pull off big-time flavor with barely any effort. Creamy avocados, juicy tomatoes, and crisp cucumbers tossed in a quick dressing make it one of those no-recipe recipes you’ll turn to often. It works with whatever protein you’ve got on hand and takes minutes to prep, a kind of everyday meal magic that feels like cheating, but it’s not.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Salad
Air Fryer Pork Chops
These air fryer pork chops cook in under 10 minutes and still come out juicy and golden every time. Minimal prep, no babysitting, and big flavor, that’s what makes this recipe feel like a hack for hectic evenings. Plus, cleanup’s a breeze, so you’re not stuck doing dishes after dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pork Chops
Sheet Pan Eggs
Sheet pan eggs are the breakfast meal prep trick you didn’t know you needed. Just whisk, pour, and bake with no flipping, no mess, and enough servings to last all week. They slice up perfectly and can be dressed up or kept simple, this is an everyday win if you’re tired of rushed, messy mornings.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Eggs
Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken
This slow cooker honey mustard chicken is creamy, tangy, and incredibly easy to love. You mix up the sauce, pour it over the chicken, and let the slow cooker do the rest. It’s comforting and flavorful without any stress, and these are the kind of meals that make everyday cooking feel effortless.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken
Honey Glazed Pork Chops
If juicy pork chops in a sticky honey glaze sound like a good idea, that’s because they are. This one-pan meal is packed with flavor, simple to prep, and makes dinner feel way more put-together than it really is. Great for hectic nights, but just as easy to serve up when company’s coming, meals like this make the weekly grind feel less grind-y.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Pork Chops
Sheet Pan Pancakes
Sheet pan pancakes are the ultimate weekday breakfast move. Pour the batter into one pan, bake, and slice, it’s seriously that easy. You skip all the flipping and stovetop cleanup while still getting fluffy pancakes for the whole family, this one’s a breakfast cheat code I wish I knew sooner.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Pancakes
Herb Crusted Chicken
When you need something easy but crave a little flair, this herb-crusted chicken gets it done. It’s ready in 15 minutes, tastes like it came from a restaurant, and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. That’s exactly the kind of everyday meal that makes the week run smoother without getting boring.
Get the Recipe: Herb Crusted Chicken
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
This parmesan-crusted chicken is one of those easy wins you’ll lean on again and again. It looks fancy with its crispy, cheesy coating, but it comes together with minimal effort, so you can serve it on hectic nights or last-minute when guests are over, and no one would guess how quick it was. It’s a prime example of an everyday recipe that works like a cheat code in your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Chicken Quesadillas
Chicken quesadillas are the kind of back-pocket meal that makes hectic evenings way easier. Just fill tortillas with leftover salsa chicken and gooey cheese, toast until golden, and dinner’s done in minutes. This is the kind of everyday shortcut that keeps dinner stress off your plate all week long.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Quesadillas
Ham and Cheese Sliders
Ham and cheese sliders are the easiest way to make mealtime feel totally under control. With soft rolls, savory ham, melty cheese, and a buttery glaze, they come together fast and feed a crowd without much thinking. Whether you’re meal prepping or feeding hungry kids, this is one of those everyday eats that keeps life running smoother.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Cheese Sliders
Baked Chicken Wings
Baked chicken wings are a weeknight staple with weekend vibes. No frying, no mess, just juicy wings coated in parmesan, butter, and herbs that crisp up beautifully in the oven. They’re easy enough to throw together midweek but still feel like something special, perfect when dinner needs to be fast and fun, this recipe is a true cheat code.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Wings
Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker
This slow cooker salsa chicken is a total set-it-and-forget-it dinner that somehow still tastes like you put in real effort. Toss in your chicken and salsa, walk away, and come back to juicy, flavorful meat that works in bowls, tacos, wraps, you name it. It’s the kind of meal that stretches across multiple nights, making your week instantly easier, definitely one of the smartest everyday hacks out there.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker
Avocado Deviled Eggs
Avocado deviled eggs are your snack plate’s secret weapon. They come together fast with buttery avocado, sour cream, and a bright squeeze of lemon, no mayo needed. These little bites are smooth, flavorful, and ready ahead of time, making them perfect for hectic days, and when you’ve got these on hand, it’s like having a cheat code to better snacking.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Deviled Eggs
Smoked Salmon Dip
This smoked salmon dip is effortlessly impressive and ridiculously easy to make. Cream cheese, smoky salmon, and briny capers come together for a flavor-packed dip that feels like it came from a fancy deli. It’s perfect for last-minute hosting or just upgrading your afternoon snack, recipes like this are what make everyday eating feel like you’re winning the week.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon Dip
