Meet your new mid week bestie: A stupidly easy list of dinner recipes for everything from fried chicken to chimichangas.
If you want to know what I’ve eaten for 4 of my last 5 Wednesdays, it’s ONE OF THESE MEALS.
In my mind, a perfect Wednesday dinner serves one of two scenarios: making something quick and easy after a long day of work, or making a meal that I pretty much want to eat 24/7. This delicious little list will do both for ya.
1. Easy Homemade Calzone Recipe
What’s better than the fun of making pizza? Getting your own personal pizza pocket, that’s what. We all adored those pizza pockets growing up, right?
And when you make them yourself, you get complete control over the cheese situation! Just grab some store-bought pizza dough and let your creativity run wild with the fillings.
Just a little tip: don’t stuff them too much, or all that goodness will spill out.
2. Chicken Chimichangas
These chimichangas are basically Mexican egg rolls. They are packed with amazing flavors and fried up until the outside is golden and has that perfect crunch.
Think of it as a quesadilla that’s been rolled up and fried, and you’re on the right track. These are extra speedy if you use a rotisserie chicken.
3. PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Not only are these unbelievably good, but they are also super light and feel pretty wholesome. The sauce is just a simple mix of hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger, and sriracha.
The ground chicken is the perfect partner for it all. I really recommend using butter lettuce for these. And if you’re craving something a bit more substantial, this filling would be an amazing choice for dumplings.
4. Thai Pineapple Fried Rice
I have to say, fried rice has become my go-to late-night snack for a while now. It’s just so simple and always hits the spot. And throwing in some pineapple makes it completely irresistible.
The real secret to amazing fried rice is cooking and cooling your rice ahead of time. That’s how it avoids getting mushy when you add in all the other ingredients.
5. Fettuccine Alfredo
When you just need a comforting bowl of warmth, is there anything better than pasta? Fettuccine alfredo is one of the absolute bests!
Did you have any idea you could make the sauce with just cream, butter, and parmesan cheese? You are so welcome!
6. The Best Homemade Tacos
Is there a better way to boost your mood than a table loaded with tacos? I think not. Again, it’s so easy to switch up the fillings here, and they are always a hit with everyone.
Just make sure you have some sour cream and lots of guac ready to go!
7. Shrimp Garlic Noodles
Speaking of letting fresh ingredients have their moment, there’s no question that the shrimp is the star of this dish. I absolutely love that it isn’t covered up by a heavy sauce.
The garlic noodles are all you need to bring out that wonderful shrimp flavor. And maybe a little squeeze of lemon. Perfection.
8. Chicken Ranch Wraps
Full confession: I’m one of those people that puts ranch on literally everything. I’m talking fries, sandwiches, pizza… you get the picture! So these chicken wraps are one of my all-time favorite fast mid-week meals.
If you happen to have a panini press or a food grill, these can be on the table in just 10 minutes. Go big with the cheese! I also love to add some onion and bacon to mine.
9. Italian Tortellini Skillet Dinner
What I adore about this recipe is that it isn’t swimming in a heavy sauce. As much as I enjoy that in certain dishes, sometimes it’s really nice to just let the fresh ingredients be the main event.
With this dish, you get lots of sweet cherry tomatoes, which cook down until their juices come out and mix with the spices and cheese. It’s light and gives just the right amount of moisture to the tortellini.
10. Hawaiian Chicken
This dish is a little bit fruity, a little bit spicy, and a whole lot of delicious. I love the fruitiness of the pineapple mixed with the tangy BBQ.
But I’ve also been known to swap in some mango. One taste of this sweet and sour chicken dish, and you’ll forget all about that takeout menu.
11. Homemade Mac and Cheese
If you love boxed mac and cheese, I’m guessing it’s because you appreciate the convenience. For sure, making a sauce from scratch might take a few more minutes, but I can promise you, it will taste a million times better!
And honestly, you can have the sauce ready in no time at all! All you need is a quick roux, some whole milk, and plenty of cheese!
12. Easy Meatball Recipe
The best thing about meatballs is how you can use them in so many different dishes. I like to make a huge batch and put them in the freezer, taking out just what I need for a fast dinner.
And since they are so flavorful, they are perfect with tomato sauce, gravy, or smothered in cheese on a sub!
13. 5-Ingredient Skillet Gnocchi
A little heads up: you are going to need some crusty bread to get every last bit of the sauce here! In fact, if you just left the gnocchi out, this would make an incredible dip to share.
But with the gnocchi, this is one seriously satisfying meal. Instead of cutting your mozzarella into thick slices, I like to tear it over the top so it scatters around for better coverage.
14. Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
I’m not sure what it is about a creamy white sauce that’s so completely irresistible. Maybe it’s all the cheese. Maybe it’s the garlic.
Whatever you love about it, it’s best when served over a huge bowl of penne. For a whole other level of flavor, give roasted garlic a try!
15. Tostadas
I adore making tostadas because you can come up with all sorts of fun combinations and put out a whole platter of delicious food. I usually go with the toasted tortilla and refried beans.
Then I just mix up the toppings. Sometimes I’ll use ground beef, or I might even try some shredded chicken or spicy sweet potatoes.
16. Vegetable Stir Fry
Just like the dish before, this one is stunning and so colorful. We eat with our eyes first, right? If I’m in a hurry, I will use a bag of frozen vegetables.
Just make sure to let them thaw completely and drain away any extra water.
