15 quick and easy weeknight dinners (30 minutes or less)

In the pan (15-20 min)

• Chicken and vegetable stir-fry, maple-soy sauce
• Garlic shrimp and linguine
• Loaded scrambled eggs (quick frittata)
• Crispy tofu and broccoli

Meal bowls (20 min)

• Ground beef and black bean burrito bowl
• Salmon, rice and edamame bowl
• Mediterranean chickpea and feta bowl

Pasta (20-25 min)

• Rosé sauce pasta with chicken
• Spaghetti aglio e olio
• Baked mac and cheese

Everything on one sheet pan (25-30 min in the oven)

• Sausages, potatoes and peppers
• Fish filets, lemon and asparagus
• Chicken thighs and root vegetables

No cooking, or nearly

• Tuna lettuce tacos
• Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Easy weeknight dinners the whole family will eat

The best easy weeknight dinners are the ones nobody argues about. These four crowd-pleasers reheat well, double easily for leftovers, and let picky eaters customize their plate:

• Build-your-own tacos: the toppings sit on the table, everyone assembles
• One-pot chicken and rice with frozen peas
• Baked pasta with hidden grated vegetables in the sauce
• Breakfast-for-dinner: scrambled eggs, toast and fruit

Quick recipe: chicken stir-fry in maple-soy sauce (20 min)

The quick dinner par excellence, for 4 people. Ingredients: 500 g chicken strips, 4 cups chopped vegetables (broccoli, bell pepper, carrot), 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 clove garlic, 1 tbsp oil, and rice or noodles to serve.

Preparation: sear the chicken for 5 minutes in the oil over high heat, add the vegetables and cook for 4 minutes, then pour in the soy sauce, maple syrup and garlic. Let it glaze for 2 minutes and serve over rice. Tip: start the rice before you begin, so everything is ready at the same time.

Quick recipe: ground beef burrito bowl (20 min)

A complete, customizable meal bowl. Brown 450 g of ground beef with a taco seasoning blend, warm a can of rinsed black beans, then assemble over rice with corn, salsa, cheese and a dollop of Greek yogurt. Everyone tops their own bowl their own way: ideal when tastes differ at home.

How to improvise a quick dinner with what is left

No idea and no urge to go out? Three formats soak up almost any fridge leftover:

• The stir-fry: a protein + vegetables + a sauce (soy, rosé, curry) over rice or noodles.
• The bowl: a grain base + vegetables + a protein + a topping (cheese, nuts, dressing).
• The frittata: 6 beaten eggs + leftover vegetables and cheese, baked for 15 minutes.

Want these ideas to turn into a real menu, with the matching grocery list? Draw from our recipes or let Olive build your week in a few moments.