29 Weeknight Dinner Ideas to Beat the Dinner Rut

Renee Schwartz October 30, 2024

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We’ve all been there: the weeknight dinner rut. When everything a family member suggests is somehow something you’ve already made in the last couple of weeks. How is it possible that you make dinner every night, but you can only think of 4 or 5 things in your repertoire? We feel your pain. Try one of these delectable recipes and have enough options for the rest of the month and beyond!

1. Garlic-Mayo Skirt Steak Dinner by Rivky Kleiman

Garlic and mayo on steak and potato: Not only do they rhyme, but they also taste positively divine!

2. Sheet Pan Salmon Dinner by Faigy Murray

This delicious all-in-one meal is extremely versatile. Feel free to swap the green beans for snap peas or asparagus or use regular diced potatoes in place of baby potatoes. You can also easily double or halve the recipe.

3. Quick Dough Dinner by Rena Tuchinsky

Here is your new favorite recipe to impress your family and feel like a total rockstar in the kitchen all while spending hardly any time preparing it! One quick and easy-to-prepare dough – used three delicious ways. Bonus dessert included!!

4. Crispy Salmon with Broccoli and One-Pot Creamy Pasta by Rena Tuchinsky

This pasta and salmon are delicious on their own, but together on a plate for supper they are even better! It’s a must-try meal you’ll be coming back to often.

5. “Dinner In 10” Tacos by Gitty Friedman

Growing up, this was part of our weekly dinner rotation. It’s quick to make, fun to assemble, and easy to personalize to your children’s individual tastes.

6. Crustless Broccoli-Sweet Potato Feta Quiche by Sina Mizrahi

This Crustless Broccoli Quiche is so easy to make that it warrants repeats. The Beleaves chopped broccoli adds a good amount of bulk and texture here. Serve a handsome wedge on a plate with a fresh salad, perhaps a glass of something sparkly and enjoy a good summer meal.

7. Easy Fettuccine Alfredo by Sara and Yossi Goldstein

This alfredo sauce is a family favorite! Serve it with a side of salad and you’ve got a fantastic meal.

8. Cornbread-Topped Chili by Rena Tuchinsky

A filling all-in-one-pan meal for days when you don’t want meat but also don’t want to stand in the kitchen slaving away. Tofu replaces meat in this chili, and you can’t even tell it’s in there!

9. Sheet Pan Sticky Sesame Tofu by Ally Mawhirter

There’s something about Chinese takeout that always hits the spot, and if you can make it just as good at home that’s even better!

Tofu is one of those ingredients that’s perfect for a quick healthy meal. People tend to shy away from it, but if you know how to prepare and season it well it can be a great addition to your weeknight routine. Roasting it on a sheet pan makes crispy, flavorful tofu that soaks up the yummy sauce.

10. Delectable Pepper Steak Medley from the Dining In Cookbook

Pepper steak is a sure-fire hit. A family favorite!

11. Batter-Dipped Chicken Nuggets by Rivky Kleiman

These batter-dipped chicken nuggets are part of my fondest childhood memories. Each time my mother made “Chicken McNuggets” was cause for celebration. How we loved dipping them into duck sauce as quickly as my mother turned them out of her frying pan.

12. Chicken Lollipops by Faigy Grossman

The kids will adore these cute “lollies,” and supper will get eaten in a flash! A favorite!

13. 7-Ingredient One-Pot Chicken Dinner by Esther Deutsch

Need more easy supper ideas? In this recipe, chicken, potatoes, and broccoli are cooked together with herbs, steak seasoning and plenty of whole garlic. One, two, and done.

14. Easy Israeli Chicken by Family Table Staff

See how its done here.

15. Pita Chicken Sandwiches from the Nitra Cookbook

Sandwiches are a classic for a good reason. They’re quick and easy to prepare, leave behind very little clean-up, and if filled with light chicken and veggies it can be just as healthy as your standard chicken-and-rice supper.

16. Oven-Fried Chicken by Esty Wolbe

Try this crispy fried chicken- without the deep frying but with the same crispy, crunchy taste! Watch Esty make it on Easy Does It With Esty.   This is one of our most popular chicken recipes of all time! Try it and see for yourself.

17. Sheet-Pan Stir Fry by Miriam Pascal

Who doesn’t love a good stir-fry? Except for the part where you have to stir… and fry. It’s time-consuming and leaves you with too many dishes. I stumbled on this idea by mistake, and instantly knew I had a winner. All the benefits of a stir-fry… without having to stir or fry!

18. Maple-BBQ Franks ‘n Beans by Miriam Pascal

The alternative (much longer) title for this recipe is “I-need-to-get-supper-on-the-table-in-10-minutes-and-I-need-to-know-that-my-kids-will-eat-it franks ’n beans.” But seriously, this super kid–friendly dish is packed with flavor in just minutes of cooking!

19. Chicken Paprikash by Yussi Weisz

Ever wonder what your favorite Kosher.com hosts are actually cooking for their own dinner? Watch Yussi cook up a family favorite — his twist on the classic Hungarian dish, Chicken Paprikash. Some seasoned roasted potatoes and toasted farfel are the perfect sides to complete this delicious meal. 

20. Asian Poppers by Mindee Skurowitz

Who doesn’t like fried up, deliciously flavored chicken bites?? It’s that perfect crispy sweet and spicy chicken that you’ve been looking for.

21. Chinese Style Chicken with Broccoli from the Nitra Cookbook

22. Chicken Vegetable Medley by Brynie Greisman

Sometimes I’m at a loss for words to adequately describe the taste and makeup of a dish. The word that comes to mind here is “wow”! It’s literally bursting with color and flavor in each bite. The chicken and veggies come out tender, yet crunchy. It’s easy to put together as well, and uses just one pan.

23. One-Pot Teriyaki Chicken and Rice by Brynie Greisman

My kids are always requesting different variations of Chinese chicken, yet somehow many of them seem to fall short of tasting authentic. When I tested this recipe, I was told that this was a keeper by my pickiest eater (although of course she didn’t touch her veggies!). Check out the video here.

24. Cajun Asian Chicken by Brynie Greisman

Cajun cooking is flavorful and spicy, but not always hot. This chicken combines a great blend of readily available herbs and spices in addition to an awesome sauce. The result is a gloriously delicious chicken that is moist, crispy, and bursting with flavor. Pairs best with rice or sweet potato sides but can really go with almost anything.

25. Breaded Chili Chicken by Brynie Greisman

You know how you’re left with a little chili sauce, some ketchup, a few drops of hot sauce, and so on, and you don’t want to throw them out? This chicken utilizes all of the above plus bread crumbs. I’ve made it many times, and my family and guests never tire of it. Thanks, Simi H.

26. Baked Bolognese by Avigail Maizlik

On the days when you don’t feel like fussing over supper, this baked bolognese is a perfect and delicious combo. And it’s much easier than meatballs – take that!

27. Unstuffed Peppers by Brynie Greisman

I really like stuffed peppers, but I wanted a somewhat updated version of them that would appeal to all ages. Hence this recipe was born. I like making it with chopped turkey so it’s somewhat leaner and healthier. It smells really, really good and homey as it’s cooking. Tastes so, too!

28. Honey-Hot Drumettes by Michal Frischman

The biggest problem with wings is how difficult they are to eat (not to mention clean!), and the biggest problem with drumsticks is that they’re too big to be a good party finger food, right? The answer: drumettes. Not only are they adorable, but the perfect size for a party plate. I highly recommend making more than you think you’ll need. They go fast and they’re super easy to make!

29. Forkless Shawarma Lettuce Wraps by Rorie Weisberg

Looking for a delicious, light picnic lunch or dinner that you don’t have to wash on or eat with a fork yet is still super filling because it’s a macro meal?   Look no farther! Forkless Shawarma Lettuce Wraps are a great easy grab-‘n-go macro meal for busy days when I’m carpooling everywhere and want to have a salad but don’t have time to sit with a bowl and a fork.   This has all the macros: protein from chicken, healthy fats from tahini, fiber from veggies, and fiber, starch, and a little extra protein from the chickpeas.   I love throwing chickpeas in as my starch component as much as I can. Aside from being a healthy carb, they have extra fiber and protein, making them a carb that is very good for blood sugar. Watch me make these delicious, nutritious lunch wraps here!

Originally published January 2018. Updated and improved October 2024.