19 Weeknight Dinner Lifelines For When You’re This Close to Ordering Pizza

When the day gets away and pizza delivery is calling your name, these weeknight dinners step up and save the night. They’re easy, comforting, and hearty enough to feed everyone without the stress of complicated cooking. With simple steps and flavors everyone loves, they make getting dinner on the table feel like no stress again.

Honey Glazed Pork Chops

Honey-glazed pork chops are a dinner that makes skipping takeout easy, with bold flavors that feel like a treat but take only minutes to make. The chops sear up golden and juicy, then get finished with a sticky honey glaze that clings to every bite. It’s a one-pan lifesaver that works just as well for a quick family meal as it does for a dinner that feels a little more special.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

Slow cooker honey mustard chicken delivers a sweet-and-savory payoff without the stress of weeknight cooking. The chicken cooks tender and juicy in a creamy sauce made with honey, mustard, garlic, and lemon, filling the kitchen with cozy aromas while dinner takes care of itself. By the time it’s ready to serve, there’s a comforting dish on the table that feels effortless but tastes like it took all day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

Air Fryer Pork Chops

Air fryer pork chops are the ultimate weeknight fallback when dinner needs to be fast, flavorful, and family-approved. In just 9 minutes, they cook up with a perfectly golden crust on the outside and juicy tenderness on the inside. No complicated steps, no mess, just a quick meal that makes ordering pizza unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Pork Chops

Sheet Pan Chicken

Sheet pan chicken is a colorful, no-fuss way to get dinner on the table when time is tight and appetites are big. Tender, roasted chicken pairs with a mix of veggies, all seasoned and baked together in a single pan. Cleanup is a breeze, flavor is guaranteed, and it’s ready in about 30 minutes, exactly what weeknights call for.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken

Baked Shrimp

Baked shrimp saves the night when cooking feels like too much effort, but a homemade meal still sounds better than delivery. Butter, garlic, and lemon do all the heavy lifting while the oven bakes the shrimp into tender, flavorful perfection. No standing over the stove, just a fast and simple recipe that feels light, fresh, and filling at the end of a long day.
Get the Recipe: Baked Shrimp

Marry Me Chicken Skillet

Marry Me Chicken skillet delivers a rich, creamy dish that feels special yet still comes together quickly on a weeknight. The chicken sears up golden before simmering in a garlic and sun-dried tomato sauce that tastes restaurant-level. Made in one pan, it offers bold flavor and easy cleanup, making it a true dinner lifesaver.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Skillet

Honey Mustard Salmon

Honey mustard salmon is the perfect answer when time is short but a delicious dinner is still non-negotiable. The glaze bakes into the salmon, turning it flaky and tender with just the right balance of tangy sweetness. A quick mix, brush, and bake is all it takes to bring a dish to the table that tastes restaurant-worthy without the extra work.
Get the Recipe: Honey Mustard Salmon

Herb Crusted Chicken

Herb-crusted chicken makes weeknights feel a little more exciting with crispy, golden flavor that comes together in minutes. The herbs and seasonings create a crunchy coating that locks in juicy tenderness, making each bite feel indulgent but still simple enough for hectic schedules. It’s a recipe that makes a regular dinner taste like something you’d order out, only faster and fresher.
Get the Recipe: Herb Crusted Chicken

Instant Pot Taco Meat

Instant Pot taco meat keeps dinner stress-free with a big batch of flavorful, juicy filling ready in less than an hour. The recipe stretches ground beef by mixing in mushrooms, which blend right in for more volume without losing flavor. With tortillas, bowls, or salads, it’s an adaptable base that makes dinnertime feel flexible and fun.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Taco Meat

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Parmesan-crusted chicken transforms basic chicken breasts into a crispy, cheesy dinner that feels delicious without piling on extra work. The breading bakes into a golden coating that locks in juicy flavor and pairs with almost any side you’ve got. Simple ingredients and minimal prep make it a reliable meal that can turn even the busiest night into a dinner win.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Italian Beef Sandwich

Italian beef sandwiches bring cozy comfort food straight to the dinner table without the stress of complicated cooking. Slow-simmered beef and peppers are piled onto soft hoagie rolls, topped with stretchy melted cheese, and finished with tangy giardiniera. The end result is hearty, melt-in-your-mouth flavor that turns into a weeknight staple fast.
Get the Recipe: Italian Beef Sandwich

Chicken Quesadillas

Chicken quesadillas make weeknights easier with golden, crispy tortillas packed full of salsa chicken and gooey melted cheese. Every bite is comforting, delicious, and quick to put together without much effort. Add a dollop of sour cream or salsa on the side and you’ve got a simple dinner that’s better than takeout.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Quesadillas

Instant Pot Barbacoa

Instant Pot barbacoa makes it possible to enjoy slow-cooked flavor in a fraction of the time. Tender, spice-filled beef cooks up juicy and flavorful in under an hour, finished with fresh cilantro and lime for brightness. Whether tucked into tacos, layered in burrito bowls, or folded into quesadillas, it’s a versatile option that keeps weeknights stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Barbacoa

Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

Slow cooker apricot chicken is a hands-off dinner that balances sweet and savory in every bite. Juicy chicken thighs cook slowly in a sauce made from apricot preserves, broth, and spices until they’re tender and flavorful. With the slow cooker doing the heavy lifting, it’s a recipe that feels like a win for both flavor and convenience.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

Baby Back Ribs

Baby back ribs made in the slow cooker turn weeknights into a meal worth looking forward to with barely any effort. The ribs cook until fall-off-the-bone tender, then get brushed with a sticky glaze for that perfect finger-licking finish. Just five minutes of prep is all it takes before the oven and slow cooker do the rest of the work.
Get the Recipe: Baby Back Ribs

Baked Chicken Wings

Baked chicken wings deliver savory, golden-crisp flavor without the fuss of deep frying. Tossed in parmesan, butter, and parsley, they come out with a crave-worthy taste perfect for game night, casual gatherings, or family dinners. Simple to bake and easy to share, they’re a reliable go-to that everyone reaches for.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken Wings

Pork Chops and Applesauce

Pork chops and applesauce offer the perfect sweet-and-savory balance in a fast, no-fuss dinner. The chops sear up juicy and tender before being topped with homemade applesauce that adds comfort to every bite. Simple enough for busy weeknights but special enough for gatherings, it’s a classic that always satisfies.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops and Applesauce

One Pan Chicken Thighs

One pan chicken thighs are the weeknight dinner solution that makes cleanup as easy as the cooking. Juicy chicken roasts with onions and broccoli, developing crispy edges and deep flavor all in one dish. Healthy, affordable, and delicious, it’s the meal that rescues hectic nights from last-minute takeout.
Get the Recipe: One Pan Chicken Thighs

Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker

Slow cooker salsa chicken simplifies dinner by delivering bold flavor with almost no effort. Just chicken and salsa combine into tender, tangy meat that’s ready to serve in tacos, burrito bowls, salads, or on its own. It’s the kind of versatile recipe that makes meal planning easier and keeps everyone happy at the table.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken in Slow Cooker