Top 12 Weeknight Dinners

“I’m in a dinner rut”.

That’s as common a complaint among parents as the all-too familiar, “I feel like a taxi driver.”

It happens to me too. The supper slump. Meals need to be made, but inspiration is lacking. Sometimes getting my groove back is as easy as asking the rest of my crew one simple question, ” what do you want for dinner?”

With that in mind, I recently polled my people, sending out a group email to the family asking for their three favorite weeknight suppers. I figured it’s something I can turn to next time I hit a slump. Maybe it will come in handy for you too, so this week I’m sharing our top 12 weeknight favorites.

I’d love to know what some of yours are too, so feel free to share in the comment section below. 

Creamy Carrot Mac -n- Cheese

This showed up as a favorite for a few of folks in my house. The carrots add flavor and nutrition, and go completely under the radar as a vegetable, since they’re exactly the same color as Cheddar cheese.

Paprika-Spiced Shrimp and Corn

Corn and tomatoes will be here before you know it and this is a good way to enjoy them in a very simple supper.

Roasted Vegetables with Lemon Tahini Dressing

This may look more like a side, but I regularly make it a main by serving it alongside warm pita bread and a generous dish of Greek yogurt with a splash of olive oil and pinch of salt stirred in. 

Prosciutto Arugula Lavash Pizza

This is one of the very first recipes I ever posted on Mom’s Kitchen Handbook that remains a family favorite for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

(photo credit Jennifer Martine)

Miso Ginger Salmon

The Asian flavors make a fine match for the richness of salmon. Make it with fresh wild salmon when it’s available, but feel free to use the often more affordable frozen salmon as well. 

Spaghetti with Butter, Egg, and Cheese

Everyone in the house not only loves this recipe, but also knows how to make it. It’s a good one when fridge and pantry are nearly bare, since it only calls for a handful of staple ingredients. 

Farro Risotto With Asparagus and Peas

This is an oven risotto, which means it’s less fussy to fix than the typical stove-top style. Now that asparagus and peas are in season, it’s a good one to test out.

Vietnamese-Style Pork and Lettuce Wraps

A super flavorful dish whereby the pork marinade does double-duty as a dressing for the finished wraps. It’s a good one if you are watching your calories, since it’s on the lighter side.

Umami Chicken

What’s not to love about a recipe that calls for five ingredients and earns raves from everyone at the table?

Crispy Avocado Tacos

This also happens to be one of my personal “best hits”. The key is to get the tortilla really crispy and to cram it with crunchy lettuce.

Spinach Pie

Another one that’s been on the blog since the early days, it’s a great make-ahead meal that I have brought to more than a few school potlucks.

Steak on Arugula with Lemon and Parmesan

This one is easy enough for a weeknight supper, but also qualifies for a special occasion (we had it this year for Mr. Mom’s Kitchen birthday dinner).