Quick & Easy Meals: 7 Recipes to Simplify Your Weeknights
After a hectic day, spending hours in the kitchen is often the last thing you want to do. Fortunately, you can create tasty meals in a flash with just a few ingredients and simple methods. Here are seven quick and easy recipes that will help you enjoy stress-free weeknight dinners while impressing your family and friends.
1. Lemon Garlic Chicken in One Pan
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a mixing bowl, combine garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and pour the garlic mixture over them.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature.
2. Simple Vegetable Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
- 2 cups assorted vegetables (like bell peppers, broccoli, and carrots)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- Cooked rice or noodles, for serving
Instructions:
- Warm sesame oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Add the mixed vegetables and ginger, stir-frying for about 5-7 minutes.
- Drizzle in the soy sauce and continue cooking for another 2 minutes.
- Serve the stir-fry over rice or noodles.
3. Quick Beef Tacos in 30 Minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- Taco shells
- Toppings: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and salsa
Instructions:
- In a skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until it’s nicely browned and fully cooked through.
- Drain any excess fat and add the taco seasoning along with the water as instructed on the packet.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve the beef mixture in taco shells, topped with your favorite toppings.
4. Caprese Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces pasta (like fusilli or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup mozzarella balls
- Fresh basil leaves
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions; drain and let cool.
- In a large bowl, mix together the pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and toss everything together to combine.
5. Egg Fried Rice
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked rice (preferably refrigerated overnight)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon chopped green onions
Instructions:
- In a pan, scramble the eggs until they’re fully cooked, then set aside.
- In the same pan, add the rice and frozen vegetables, cooking for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the soy sauce and the scrambled eggs, mixing until heated through. Top with green onions before serving.
6. Shrimp Scampi with Linguine
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces linguine
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
- Lemon juice, parsley, and red pepper flakes, for garnish
Instructions:
- Prepare the linguine as directed on the package and then drain the excess water.
- In a skillet, melt the butter and saute the minced garlic for about a minute.
- Add the shrimp to the skillet and saute until they are opaque and pink in color. Next, pour in the white wine or chicken broth.
- Toss in the cooked linguine, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top, and garnish with parsley and red pepper flakes.
7. Refreshing Chickpea Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the chickpeas, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Toss everything together and serve chilled.
Written by: Mubbara Ashfaq