21 Easy Weekday Recipes Everyone Should Know How to Make

Hectic weekdays don’t leave much time for complicated cooking, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for boring dishes. These easy recipes are simple, and packed with flavor, perfect for those nights when you need something fast but still want it to taste amazing. With minimal effort, these are the tried-and-true favorites everyone should know how to make.

Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

If you’re looking for an easy weekday recipe that feels fancy but requires almost no effort, this slow cooker honey mustard chicken is a must. Juicy chicken simmers in a sweet and tangy glaze made with honey, mustard, garlic, and lemon, giving you big flavor with minimal work. It’s perfect for those hectic nights when you want a home-cooked meal without the hassle.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is a simple and easy side dish that deserves a spot in your weekday lineup. It’s light, fluffy, and packed with brigh flavor that pairs perfectly with tacos, grilled chicken, or even a simple salad. When you need a foolproof recipe that tastes fresh and flavorful, this one’s a winner.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Rice

Overnight Breakfast Casserole

This overnight breakfast casserole is an easy weekday recipe that makes mornings a breeze. Loaded with fluffy eggs, savory sausage, and melty cheese, it’s a hearty meal that you can prep the night before and bake fresh in the morning. When you’re racing out the door but still want a warm, delicious breakfast, this casserole has you covered.
Get the Recipe: Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Honey Glazed Pork Chops

For a weeknight dinner that’s hassle-free yet feels like you put in extra effort, these honey-glazed pork chops are a go-to. Seared to golden perfection and coated in a sticky honey glaze, they’re packed with flavor and take minimal time to make. It’s an easy solution when you need dinner fast but don’t want to sacrifice taste.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Pork Chops

Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is one of those easy weekday recipes that feels like a game-changer. With crispy edges, a buttery center, and rich garlic flavor, it’s the perfect side dish to upgrade any meal. Whether you’re pairing it with pasta or dunking it into soup, this simple and tasty bread always delivers.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Bread

Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

For hectic nights when you need a meal that practically cooks itself, slow-cooker apricot chicken is a lifesaver. Toss chicken thighs in a sweet and savory apricot sauce, let the slow cooker work its trick, and dinner is done. It’s an easy weekday recipe that feels special but couldn’t be simpler.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

3-Ingredient Fudge

When you’re short on time but craving something sweet, this 3-ingredient fudge is the answer. Just melt chocolate with condensed milk and butter, and you’ll have a rich, creamy treat that feels indulgent but couldn’t be easier to make. It’s the perfect simple dessert to whip up during a hectic week.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Fudge

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

This parmesan-crusted chicken is the ultimate go-to when you need an easy weekday dinner that still feels special. Tender chicken coated in a crispy parmesan crust delivers big flavor with minimal effort. It’s fast, simple, and guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Broccoli Casserole

For a side dish that’s simple yet delicious, broccoli casserole is a must-try. Soft, tender broccoli is mixed with a rich, cheesy sauce and topped with buttery crackers for the ultimate comfort food. It’s an easy weekday recipe that’ everyone should know how to make.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Casserole

Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken quesadillas are one of those easy weekday recipes you can reach for when you need dinner on the table fast. Filled with salsa chicken and gooey melted cheese inside crispy tortillas, they’re simple yet so good. Add some sour cream or guacamole, and you’ve got a meal that feels special without the extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Quesadillas

Herb Crusted Chicken

Herb-crusted chicken is one of those easy weekday recipes that looks fancy but couldn’t be simpler. Juicy chicken coated in herbs and crispy breadcrumbs bakes to golden perfection in no time. It’s a low-stress dinner option that everyone should know how to make at home.
Get the Recipe: Herb Crusted Chicken

Spicy Mayonnaise

Spicy mayonnaise is your new favorite shortcut to upgrade simple weekday meals. With just mayo, vinegar, and a few spices, it’s perfect for burgers, fries, or dipping roasted veggies. It’s so easy to make but adds a punch of flavor that makes every bite better.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Mayonnaise

Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls

For a sweet treat that feels special without the fuss, these puff pastry cinnamon rolls are a must. Flaky layers swirled with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with vanilla glaze make them perfect for weekday mornings or an easy dessert. They’re so simple yet taste like you spent way more time on them.
Get the Recipe: Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls

Sheet Pan Eggs

Sheet pan eggs are my weekday breakfast hack when time is tight. With just one pan, you get thick, fluffy egg slices packed with flavor — perfect for feeding the whole family or meal prepping for the week. It’s fast, easy, and exactly what you need for stress-free mornings.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Eggs

2-Ingredient Pancakes

These 2-ingredient pancakes are the ultimate weekday breakfast hack. Made with just cream cheese and eggs, they’re soft, delicate, and come together in minutes, exactly what you need when mornings feel rushed. Whether you top them with syrup, fruit, or a sprinkle of cinnamon, this simple recipe is a must-have for hectic weekdays.
Get the Recipe: 2-Ingredient Pancakes

Carrot Raisin Salad

Carrot raisin salad is one of those easy weekday recipes that’s light, fresh, and impossible to mess up. With crisp carrots, juicy raisins, and a creamy dressing, it’s ready in minutes and perfect when you need a no-fuss side dish. Whether you’re serving it with dinner or packing it for lunch, this simple recipe is one you’ll turn to again and again.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Raisin Salad

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

When you need a comforting side dish without spending all evening in the kitchen, these garlic mashed potatoes are the answer. Creamy, buttery, and packed with rich garlic flavor, they pair perfectly with everything from grilled meats to roasted veggies. It’s one of those easy weekday recipes that feels special but couldn’t be simpler.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker

Salsa chicken is the kind of easy weekday recipe that saves you every time you don’t know what to make. Toss chicken breasts in your favorite salsa, let the slow cooker do its thing, and dinner practically makes itself. Whether you’re turning it into tacos, burrito bowls, or salads, this foolproof recipe is always a win.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker

Potato Fritters

Potato fritters are your new go-to for a simple and filling meal on hectic weekdays. Shredded potatoes mixed with eggs, onion, and garlic fry up crispy and golden in no time. Top them with yogurt, sour cream, or your favorite sauce, and you’ve got an easy recipe that’s big on flavor but simple to make.
Get the Recipe: Potato Fritters

Peanut Butter Brownies

For a dessert that’s rich, fudgy, and ridiculously easy to make, these peanut butter brownies are perfect. With just five ingredients, they come together fast and always deliver big flavor. It’s the kind of easy weekday recipe that feels like a treat but takes almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Brownies

Maple Bacon

Maple bacon is one of those simple weekday recipes that makes breakfast feel extra special without the extra work. Crispy bacon coated in a sticky maple glaze turns out sweet, smoky, and completely irresistible. Whether you’re serving it with eggs or adding it to sandwiches, this recipe proves that simple really can be amazing.
Get the Recipe: Maple Bacon