13 Weeknight Dinners That Aren’t Takeout (But Taste Like It)

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13 Weeknight Dinners That Aren’t Takeout (But Taste Like It)

Who needs takeout when you can whip up something just as tasty at home? That’s right, no more waiting for the delivery guy or wrestling with those flimsy plastic containers. With these weeknight dinners up your sleeve that are a snap to make and pack a punch of flavor, you’ll be the hero of your kitchen. These aren’t just any meals; they’re 13 weeknight dinners that aren’t takeout but sure taste like it!

A plate of Thai pork & Green beans with rice, topped with a fried egg, served with chopsticks on the side.
Sizzling Thai Pork & Green Beans. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

A white rectangular plate with several meatballs covered in tomato sauce, garnished with chopped basil.
Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Meet the quirky cousin of the meatball family—the Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs, prickly in name but definitely not in taste. This is where convenience meets curiosity, proving that yes, dinner can cook itself while you binge-watch your favorite series. As they bask in their slow-cookin’ glory, anticipate a flavor so robust, it’ll make your evening routine feel like a mini celebration.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs

Copycat Jason’s Deli Irish Potato Soup

A closeup of Jason's Deli Irish Potato Soup.`
Copycat Jason’s Deli Irish Potato Soup. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Sometimes all you need is a pot, some spuds, and a dream to cook up an Irish Potato Soup that’d make Jason’s Deli green with envy. It’s smooth, it’s creamy, and it’s the belly hug you’ve been scrolling through recipes to find. Whether it’s sweater weather or you’re just in need of a ‘soup and chill’ night, here’s a bowlful of ‘yes please’ that will have everyone spooning for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Jason’s Deli Irish Potato Soup

Chinese Chicken Salad

A bowl of Chinese chicken salad with shredded chicken, snap peas, carrots, and peppers, accompanied by a bottle of dressing on the side.
Chinese Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

We’re tossing things up tonight with a Chinese Chicken Salad that’s fresher than your pillow after laundry day. Say “see ya” to the sad desk lunch and hello to a dinner that’s dressed to impress without needing a two-hour prep time. This oh-so-crunchy solution to your mealtime monotony is the kind of plate that has your back on hectic days. Get ready to turn your kitchen into the best local Chinese spot – napkins optional, but highly recommended.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Salad

Wild Rice Salad

Wild rice salad served on a white rectangular plate.
Wild Rice Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Shake the salad scene with a Wild Rice Salad that’s marching to the beat of its own delicious drum. Knives and forks, get ready to forage through a wilderness of flavor where every bite is an exploration. Keep your cool on those ‘can’t even’ evenings with this throw-together triumph of wholesomeness. And best of all? You’ll still have the energy to tell the tale of conquering your wild kitchen adventures.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Salad

Copycat Alice Spring’s Chicken

Close-up of a hand holding a fork with a bite of copycat Alice spring chicken.
Copycat Alice Spring’s Chicken. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Fancy those juicy bites of Alice Spring’s Chicken from that one restaurant you love? Well, now it’s strutting straight into your kitchen with a wink and a nudge. This dish is like your favorite TV rerun; no matter how many times you have it, it’s always a comforting, smack-your-lips kind of delight. Rally the troops at the table, because dinner is about to serve up some serious ‘remember when’ vibes alongside those grilled goodies.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Alice Spring’s Chicken

Diner-Style Salisbury Steak

A plate of Salisbury steak with gravy on mashed potatoes, and a side of peas on a white square dish. The meal is set on a white wooden table beside silver cutlery and a floral napkin.
Diner-Style Salisbury Steak. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Step into the retro time machine—we’re going diner-style with a Salisbury Steak that would make the ’50s jealous. It’s hearty, it’s peppered with nostalgia, and it’s got more comfort packed into it than a quilt on a rainy day. Trust me, your kitchen is about to serve up some serious smiles with this one. So, slide into your imaginary booth and dig into a meal that’s sure to score you five-stars from your in-house critics.
Get the Recipe: Diner-Style Salisbury Steak

Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots

A tray of cheddar bacon loaded tater tots, drizzled with Alfredo sauce, with a hand-picking one up.
Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Who needs delivery when you can pioneer your own crispy frontier with these Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots? Couch-side delivery service courtesy of your own two hands, coming right up! This little number packs a punch of “Whoa, did I just make these?!” and yes, you totally did. Great for munching, crunching, and generally impressing the socks off anyone who thought tots were just for toddlers.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Domino’s Cheddar Bacon Loaded Tots

Salmon Pasta Salad

A bowl of salmon pasta salad with a creamy dressing, garnished with a sprig of dill.
Salmon Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Just when you thought pasta couldn’t level up, along comes Salmon Pasta Salad to flex its fins on your dinner routine. This dish is all about mixing it up: a little twirl of pasta here, a generous flake of omega-3 goodness there – now that’s a dance party on a plate. On those nights when “effort” is a four-letter word, this no-frills masterpiece is here to save the day. Who knew eating like a health guru could be this lip-smackingly delicious?
Get the Recipe: Salmon Pasta Salad

Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Four bacon-wrapped chicken breasts on a white rectangular plate garnished with sprigs of parsley.
Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Who’s ready for a backyard BBQ without the actual BBQ? These Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts are turning your oven mitts into grill master gloves. Wrapped up neater than a present on Christmas morning, this bacon-meets-chicken love story is the dream duo you’ve been waiting for all week. It’s time to kick back, relax, and let your dinner do the heavy lifting (and we’re not just talking about that irresistible bacon aroma).
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Grill Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Baked Feta Pasta

Baked Feta Pasta on a platter.
Baked Feta Pasta. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Got a block of feta and a dream? Meet the Baked Feta Pasta that’s been breaking the internet and hearts (in a good way, we promise). Throw it in the oven and wait for the magic to happen – it’s like a dinner spell that even your picky aunt couldn’t resist. Pull up a chair and raise a fork to an evening of cheesy, ooey-gooey goodness that’s got more fans than a summer blockbuster.
Get the Recipe: Baked Feta Pasta

Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers

Close-up shot of Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers on a Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill topped with cheesy onion on a plate.
Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Rule the kitchen stadium with Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers that are all about that gourmet life, minus the chef’s hat. We’re taking humble onions and pork on a flavor journey they’ve been dreaming of since… well, since onions and pork were a thing. It’s time to give those same-old patties the night off and introduce your grill to something with a little more je ne sais quoi. Bun or no bun, this is where the burger meets brilliance.
Get the Recipe: Grilled French Onion Pork Burgers

Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup

Two bowls of Copycat Carrabba's Mama Mandola's Sicilian Chicken Soup, accompanied by two spoons, a black pepper grinder, and a napkin.
Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Wave a hearty “ciao” to bland meals with a bowlful of Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup. This concoction doesn’t just warm your soul; it gives it a bear hug and asks about its day. When soup spoons become your utensil MVPs, you’ll know that tonight’s dinner is less about the slurp and more about the heart. Gather ‘round, folks—the ‘family secret’ to genuine Italian coziness is now in your playbook.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup

Sizzling Thai Pork & Green Beans

A plate of Thai pork & Green beans with rice, topped with a fried egg, served with chopsticks on the side.
Sizzling Thai Pork & Green Beans. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Let’s spice up this evening, shall we? Just envision kicking back after a day’s work and wok-ing up some delectable Sizzling Thai Pork & Green Beans; it’s the culinary high-five your kitchen deserves. You don’t need a fancy degree to whip this up; in fact, it’s so simple, even your pet goldfish could almost make it (if it had thumbs and a penchant for Thai cuisine, of course). Seriously, who needs takeout menus when you’ve got this ace up your sleeve?
Get the Recipe: Sizzling Thai Pork & Green Beans

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