23 Easy Recipe Ideas for Dinners at the End of the Week

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23 Easy Recipe Ideas for Dinners at the End of the Week

Easy recipe ideas for dinners at the end of the week help you relax and enjoy your weekend. These 23 recipes are simple to make and taste great to make sure you spend less time cooking and more time enjoying your evenings. They’re perfect for winding down your week with great food with minimal effort.

A casserole dish filled with broccoli and cheese.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Cheesy spinach and chicken casserole.
Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake is an ideal choice for a busy weeknight, combining chicken thighs with cream cheese, mozzarella, and spinach. This dish takes just 30 minutes to prepare, making it particularly suitable for an end-of-week dinner. It’s a comforting, easy, and enjoyable meal that you can make without spending hours in the kitchen!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

Two bowls of sweet potato and red pepper soup with sour cream and parsley.
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Transition into a relaxing weekend with this warming bowl of Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup. This soup blends the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes with the subtle heat of red peppers, and the best part is you can make this in just an hour. It’s a practical dinner option to wrap up your week since you only need one pot to simmer everything and clean up afterward.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

Creamy Dijon Chicken

A pan with chicken, spinach and bacon in it.
Creamy Dijon Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Creamy Dijon Chicken is a dish that brings a rich flavor to your dinner table with minimal effort. In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy juicy chicken in a creamy Dijon mustard sauce, combined with fresh spinach and crispy bacon. When you’re craving for a filling, comfort food, this chicken dinner is definitely a winner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken

Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

A casserole dish with broccoli and cheese.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Think steamed broccoli and cauliflower with a rich cheese sauce and crispy bacon baked to perfection, topped with more cheese, and broiled until it’s bubbly and golden. A great dinner to end a hectic week, Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole is a dish that will turn everyday ingredients into a comforting meal, in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Chicken with spinach and cream sauce in a skillet.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

When it comes to chicken dinner recipes, you can’t go wrong on this one. The Creamy Tuscan Chicken features chicken thighs with crisped skin, simmered with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in a creamy sauce for that true Tuscan-inspired experience. Ready in just 40 minutes, this dish is a wonderful choice to round off your week, whether you need something on your table fast or need something comforting for date night.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

A fork is being used to take a piece of Philly cheese steak casserole out of a dish.
Philly Cheese Steak Casserole. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

This Philly Cheese Steak Casserole is a creative take on a beloved classic. It combines garlic-seasoned steak with peppers, onions, mushrooms, and a generous layer of melted provolone cheese. Ready in under an hour, this casserole is a comforting and hearty choice to finish off your week, bringing all those familiar flavors to your meal in a unique but convenient way.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

A pot of soup with creamy parmesan cheese and parsley.
Creamy Italian Sausage Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Staying in for dinner has never been easier. This Creamy Italian Sausage Soup is a quick, comforting option to wrap up your week. This soup packs all the flavors of Italian sausage, cream cheese, canned tomatoes, and more for a rich and flavorful dinner experience. Each spoonful is a comforting reminder of home, making this soup an ideal but easy-to-prepare meal for a relaxing end to a busy week in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Italian Sausage Soup

Hungarian Mushroom Soup

A bowl of Hungarian mushroom soup with a spoon.
Hungarian Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Another one-pot recipe, perfect for those chilly evenings when you’re craving something warm and comforting. This Hungarian Mushroom soup features onions and mushrooms sauteed together and simmered in a rich and creamy broth — and that’s it. Easily prepared in one pot within 45 minutes, it suits cooks of any level and is a great end-of-week meal. Bonus: it stores well in the refrigerator.
Get the Recipe: Hungarian Mushroom Soup

Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

A person is holding a wooden spoon full of chicken bites in a garlic butter sauce.
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This recipe combines all the things you love: garlic, butter, and chicken! Tender chicken pieces are coated in a rich garlic butter sauce and sauteed to perfection. Ready in a speedy 20 minutes, these Garlic Butter Chicken Bites are not only delicious but also super easy to make.  And since this recipe needs only one skillet, it means less cleaning up after so you can wrap up a busy week with a hassle-free meal.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites

Creamy Garlic Chicken

A white dish with chicken breasts in a creamy garlic sauce.
Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Another quick and easy one-pan dish when you’re craving something cozy and flavorful but just don’t have hours to spend cooking. This one-skillet Creamy Garlic Chicken combines tender chicken breasts cooked until golden and then simmered in a creamy garlic sauce. Pair it with your favorite side, and the result is a simple yet filling dinner ready in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Sausage Curry

A skillet filled with carrots and sausages.
Sausage Curry. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Sausage Curry is all about bold and rich flavors. Seasoned sausages and fresh vegetables are mixed in a creamy curry sauce for a full-flavored dining experience. This one-pan meal, ready in 45 minutes, provides a comforting and vibrant end to your week, making each dinner feel like extra special.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

A skillet with chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Another warm and comforting recipe, that requires only 30 minutes of your time. This Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce combines well-cooked chicken with a smooth and creamy mushroom sauce, creating that much-needed hearty and homey meal to end a busy week.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Cheesy spinach and sausage casserole with a wooden spoon.
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Enjoy the richness of the Cheesy Beef Casserole, where ground beef, cauliflower rice, and spinach are baked to perfection under a layer of melted cheddar. You only need 30 minutes to make this hearty casserole, so it’s a great way to end the week — less time cooking, more time relaxing.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Cabbage and Sausage

A plate of cabbage and sausages with a fork.
Cabbage and Sausage. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This is an easy dish that takes very little effort to make but still turns out absolutely delicious. Simple and made up of things you might already have in your pantry, you only need to sauté everything together — it’s that easy! Pair this Cabbage and Sausage meal with your favorite protein or side, and you’ll have a delicious dinner on the table in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Chicken thighs with sun dried tomatoes in a white bowl.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

You’re going to make these over and over again! This Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken is another quick and easy dinner that’s made in one pan and can served in just half an hour. Boneless chicken thighs are simmered and smothered in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, bringing all the delicious flavors together. This dish is best served over white rice or your favorite veggies to soak up every last bit of that creamy sauce.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

A pan with shrimp, tomatoes and spinach in it.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Fancy enough for special occasions but still very easy to pull off on busy weeknights, this Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach is guaranteed to become a new dinner favorite. Perfectly cooked shrimp are simmered in a fragrant garlic sauce and complemented with fresh grape tomatoes and spinach, for a filling and comforting meal. It also comes together in one pot and just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon

A white bowl of asparagus noodles with bacon and sauce.
Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

You can literally put alfredo sauce on everything and it will taste great! Enter: Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon. Asparagus is peeled into noodle-like strands topped with a classic creamy Alfredo and finished with crunchy bacon crumbles. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a unique and appetizing way to end the week.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon

Lemon Garlic Scallops

Scallops with parsley and garlic in a skillet.
Lemon Garlic Scallops. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

If you need something flavorful and refreshing but only have 30 minutes to spare, these Lemon Garlic Scallops will steer your weekend in the right direction. Scallops might seem intimidating at first, but they’re extremely easy to cook at home. In this recipe, scallops are seared until golden and then bathed in a vibrant lemon garlic sauce, so you can let all the flavors ooze on their own accord. Make it a full meal and serve with white rice and your favorite veggie side.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops

Keto Zuppa Toscana

Two bowls of soup with bacon and kale.
Keto Zuppa Toscana. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

Recreate Olive Garden’s most popular dish with this Keto Zuppa Toscana. Instead of potatoes, this recipe uses radishes, which blend really well into the soup’s creamy and rich texture. Featuring kale, bacon, Italian sausage, Parmesan cheese, and more, it’s a comforting soup that will have you coming back for seconds (or thirds!) Ready in about an hour, this soup is a perfect way to enjoy a hearty meal before the weekend festivities begin.
Get the Recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana

Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

A pan filled with chicken in a creamy sauce with artichoke hearts.
Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

If there’s one rule you should follow in life, it’s that the simpler something is, the better. Cooked in just one pan (meaning less clean-up after), this Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts recipe features chicken thighs seared until golden brown and then simmered alongside artichoke hearts in a creamy sauce. This meal is perfect for weeknight family dinners or a date night meal since this can be served in just 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Fajita Baked Chicken

Fajita baked chicken in a baking dish with salsa and sour cream.
Fajita Baked Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Chicken and cheese are a match made in heaven, especially in this Fajita Baked Chicken dinner. Oven recipes are really dinner goals, and this recipe is especially easy since you just need to use one baking dish to make everything together, all in just 30 minutes. Chicken breasts are seasoned with a blend of spices and topped with cream cheese, mini sweet peppers, and shredded mozzarella cheese, which are then baked to perfection. Serve it with a simple side salad or some steamed broccoli for a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Baked Chicken

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Thai meatballs in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Believe it or not, you only need 30 minutes to make this Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs dinner. Ground turkey are formed into flavorful meatballs, baked until juicy, and then simmered in a homemade and creamy coconut curry sauce. The flavors are incredible, giving you a hearty, delicious meal to cap off the week.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Sausage And Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

A baking sheet filled with vegetables and sausages.
Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Another sheet pan dinner to the rescue! This dish works with whatever veggies you already have on hand and requires minimal effort. After cutting everything together, you just need to line all the ingredients evenly on the pan, pop it in the oven, and wait until it’s ready. And, since you only need one sheet pan to do it all, meaning less clean-up afterward, it’s the perfect dish to ease into the weekend.
Get the Recipe: Sausage And Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

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