Top 20+ low-stress dinners that are ideal for weeknights

Keep calm and dinner on 😎.

Dinner doesn't have to be complicated, so take it easy on yourself and choose one of these low-stress recipes perfect for a weeknight. With plenty of delicious options to choose from, you can wave goodbye to stress and say hello to a satisfying meal. Whether it's a hearty soup, a cozy pasta dish, or a quick one-pot wonder, each recipe comes together using simple ingredients and makes weeknight cooking a breeze.

01 of 20

Quick Cacio e Pepe Potato Soup

"Inspired by the flexibility and adaptability of the much beloved combination, I've developed an incredibly easy cacio e pepe potato soup recipe that uses frozen hash browns as its base. With just a handful of ingredients and 30 minutes, this soup can be dinner tonight or lunch tomorrow, and is just another delicious way to eat and love cacio e pepe." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

02 of 20

Sheet Pan Pierogi With Sausage

"Customize the sausage: Kielbasa is a convenient weeknight staple because it's already cooked, flavorful, and readily available. But this recipe is incredibly flexible. I've made it with great success with chorizo and turkey sausage, as well." —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer

03 of 20

Broccoli Cheddar Soup Toasts

"This may seem like a LOT of broccoli, but have faith. Much like spinach, when it's cooked, broccoli reduces notably in volume. Also note that this dish uses both the broccoli florets and stems. Don't worry about cutting the stems to a uniform size; if the chunks are between 1/4 and 1/2-inch, they'll work." —Lou Perseghin, Recipe Developer

04 of 20

4-Ingredient Broccoli Gnocchi

"The recipe works with frozen broccoli just as well as with fresh, and means there's zero prep time. Keep a bag of broccoli in the freezer and some gnocchi in the pantry and this is a meal you can whip out on a whim." —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer

05 of 20

Chicken Sausage and Pasta Skillet

"This meal comes together in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights. You can easily swap in store-bought marinara sauce or make it ahead to save more time. You can skip the oven for an even faster finish by simply stirring in the cheese until melted." —Lisa Lin, Recipe Developer

06 of 20

Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl

"I love to make this rice bowl for lunch and top it with whichever crunchy vegetables are in season. Cucumbers and carrots are perfect in the spring, while cabbage and radishes are great for winter. But the veggie toppings are totally optional, and I often make mine with just tuna, Kewpie mayo, Sriracha, and rice. It's quick, super easy, and surprisingly flavor-packed." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

07 of 20

Easy Mushroom Noodle Soup

"Pacific Foods mushroom broth is widely available and what I typically use. Trader Joe's ginger miso broth is also fabulous here. If you can't find either, look for Better Than Bouillon's mushroom base. Alternatively, use vegetable broth or any other broth you like." —Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

08 of 20

Dump-and-Stir White Chicken Chili

"If you'd rather not use canned chicken, you can swap it for two cups of shredded, cooked chicken. A rotisserie chicken is very handy here." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

09 of 20

Mushroom Stroganoff

"It's important to develop color on the mushrooms before deglazing the pan. This is what gives the recipe a deep, savory flavor, so don't skimp on this step." —Stephanie A Ganz

10 of 20

20-Minute Chicken Enchilada Chili

"This recipe lends itself to variations and additions. Sometimes I'll add in leftover taco beef instead of the chicken. I'll also vary the spices I include, sprinkling in some oregano, ground coriander, chili powder, or smoked paprika. And if we've got a zucchini or bell pepper kicking around in the produce drawer, it's going in there, too." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

11 of 20

Caramelized Cabbage Spaghetti

"If I'm feeling fancy, I will crisp up about two ounces of bacon or pancetta in the pan first and use the fat in place of some of the butter to caramelize the cabbage. Then I'll top the pasta with the crisp pork before serving." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

12 of 20

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

"The shrimp can also be switched out for chicken or salmon. Both go well with pesto and bacon. Just make sure to cook them through fully before adding them to the pasta." —Danielle Campbell, Recipe Developer

13 of 20

Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet

"This recipe calls for a whole 8-ounce block or about 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. High-quality preshredded cheeses, like Tillamook and Cabot, work if you don't have the energy to grate the block yourself. You can also swap the cheddar cheese for other melty cheese like Monterey Jack or provolone." —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

14 of 20

Taco Salad

"There are as many variations of this salad as there are families who enjoy them, so feel free to experiment! Add a can of drained black beans, garnish with fresh or pickled jalapeños, or crumble your favorite corn tortilla chips instead of the tostadas. For a fun layer of freshness, divide a peeled and finely diced cucumber atop the tomato layers—the cool crunch will add a fresh counterpoint to the seasoned beef" —Stephanie Burt, Recipe Developer

15 of 20

Easy Beef Krapow (Thai Basil Beef)

"This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty, floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available." —Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer

16 of 20

Sausage White Bean Soup

"Try other sausages and beans: I like this combo, but who says others won't work? I love the idea of using chorizo and pinto beans or mild Italian sausage and lupini beans. There are plenty of pairings that would work well with this soup." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

17 of 20

Lemon Orzotto with Spinach and Peas

"I really enjoyed this simple and delicious recipe! Yum!! It was just creamy enough with the coconut milk. I've been trying to avoid dairy anyway. Thanks for a keeper recipe!" —Gina, Reader

18 of 20

Turkey Taco Bowls

"For our vegetarian friends, we love draining extra-firm tofu, grating it on the large holes of a box grater, and sauteing it in a pan! The resulting texture is very similar to ground turkey." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

19 of 20

Chorizo Sloppy Joes

"Skillet sauces, like Frontera, are a fantastic way to add flavor quickly. Pick your favorite flavor profile, mix it with chorizo, and enjoy the easiest sloppy joe in the world!" —Sara Bir, former Senior Editor

20 of 20

Cheesy Baked Tacos

"These turned out great! Love the simplicity, flavor, and texture combos (the crispy cheese bits, crunchier edges of the tortilla, soft cheesy center.) Great with guacamole!" —Annie H, Reader