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Collective Q+A: What Is Your Go-To Easy Weeknight Dinner?

What's for dinner? Kim cooks in the kitchen with her pup | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home
island | stools (similar) | light

Every season, we hit a point where we’ve reached the dreaded food rut. We’ll ask our friends, What are you making for dinner these days? Bonus points for easy peasy! We’ll trade recipes back and forth, and we hold tight to the ones that we can recreate in 30 minutes or less.

Our go-to treads the line between seasons. It’s bright and fresh for spring and summer (thanks to the lemon and broccoli), and it’s also hearty and filing for fall and into winter (thanks to the pasta and bacon!). We originally found a variation of this recipe here, which uses zucchini noodles. We used zucchini once or twice, but for a more effortless meal, we sub with good ol’ spaghetti!

What's for dinner? pasta with broccoli, bacon and lemon | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

I always make extra for lunches in the following days, and we never, ever grow tired of this meal! Friends have asked for the recipe after first bite. Tip: Rather than wipe the skillet clean after the bacon, I toss the cooked noodles right into the bacon grease and nix the olive oil. And the saltier the cheese you grate on top – like pecorino romano – the better!

This is another round of Collective Q+A, a blog series focused on sharing voices other than our own to promote new ideas and encourage outside-of-the-box thinking. Today we’re asking: What is your go-to easy weeknight dinner?



One of our kids’ most favorite meals to request is “breakfast for dinner,” and the easiest most delicious choice for us is quiche!Jessica Akemon

Jessica Akemon, @mrsjessicadarling | We are a big foodie fam over here, from authentic Thai meals, to stir fry on the blackstone, baked fish, or juicy burgers… anything goes in our home!

What's for dinner? | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

However, one of our kids’ most favorite meals to request is “breakfast for dinner,” and the easiest most delicious choice for us is quiche! Sometimes it’s a hodgepodge of whatever meats, veggies and cheeses we currently have in the fridge, using an organic, gluten free frozen pie crust,  and other times it’s a buttery pie crust made from scratch kind of quiche. The best part is, you really can’t go wrong with quiche, and there are so many ways to make it! 

What's for dinner? quiche for dinner! | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

Follow along with Jessica on Instagram @mrsjessicadarling, and see her quiche Reel here.


This strawberry salad is delicious, but it’s also incredibly fast, super easy to make, and it’s absolutely gorgeous to look at.​​​​​​ — Anthony Rodriguez

Anthony Rodriguez, 136 Home| Cooking is my happy place, aside from creating a beautiful home one detail at a time. For me, it’s both a creative outlet and an opportunity to take care of myself. Living in San Francisco, there’s never a lack of amazing and delicious places to grab a great meal. But there’s  just something special about a home cooked dinner or lunch alfresco that makes my heart sing.

What's for dinner? strawberry salad ingredients | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

This strawberry salad is one of those go-to meals in my home time and time again. Of course it’s delicious, but it’s also incredibly fast, super easy to make, and it’s absolutely gorgeous to look at. What’s not to love? I’m obsessed with the fact that this salad calls for generous amounts of  strawberries, fresh mozzarella, and crisp basil. It’s sweet and bursting with flavor. Just don’t forget some balsamic drizzle at the end and a dash of salt and pepper. That’s the magic!

What's for dinner? strawberry salad that looks as beautiful as it is delicious | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

This salad is substantial enough to be a full meal all on its very own, but it can also serve as an incredible first course to a paced dinner too. The choice is yours!

Follow along with Anthony on his blog, 136 Home, and on Instagram @136home. Find the full recipe on his blog right here.


Meal planning can be a pain, so I love that we have one night already decided every week.​​​​​​​ Blair Staky

Blair Staky, The Fox & She | Taco night! Every Tuesday we make tacos, or sometimes enchiladas or tostadas. Meal planning can be a pain, so I love that we have one night already decided every week.

What's for dinner? Taco fixins! | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

My go-to recipe is crazy simple! Thin chicken breasts seasoned with adobo seasoning and a little smoked paprika. Just bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes and slice thin. We top with red cabbage tossed with lime, cilantro, red onion, guacamole and salsa. Our kids both love this night, which makes me happy! 

What's for dinner? Tacos for the whole family! | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

Follow along with Blair on her blog, The Fox & She, and on Instagram @thefoxandshe.


Chicken smoked in our Traeger! It might sound like a fancy meal, but trust me, it requires very little prep.Fariha Nasir

Fariha Nasir, Pennies for a Fortune | Our go-to easy weeknight dinner is chicken smoked in our Traeger! It might sound like a fancy meal but trust me, it requires very little prep and is a hands-off cooking situation. My husband, Hassaan, is the one who does all the grilling and smoking and the wood pellet grill is his favorite for easy meals. All he does is put some dry rub on skin-on chicken, and we use whatever we have on hand whether it’s cut up or a full bird. 

What's for dinner? Smoked chicken in the Traeger | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

He mixes in a roasted garlic seasoning mix by McCormick with a classic salt and pepper rub and in she goes at 450F for about 30 minutes. Make sure to pat dry the chicken before putting the seasoning on and season right before you’re putting it in the oven or wood pellet grill. If you’re making the chicken in an oven it’ll take longer, closer to 40 minutes. For the Traeger, Hassaan checks the temperature at about 20 minutes in and then goes from there. 

What's for dinner? Smoked chicken in the Traeger | easy weeknight dinner recipes via Yellow Brick Home

For sides I usually do some potatoes and a salad – if it’s a rushed dinner (it pretty much always is haha) I just get a bag of frozen roasted potatoes and a bagged salad for a quick fix!

Follow along with Fariha on her blog, Pennies for a Fortune, and on Instagram @pennies_for_a_fortune. View her smoked chicken recipe right here!


Thank you for supporting the creators that inspire us every day! What are your go-to easy weeknight dinners? Share in the comments so we can all enjoy!

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  • Stacy8.11.21 - 6:52 AM

    The Kitchn taught me about roasting gnocchi…WHO KNEW that you could do this?? So one of my easy go-tos is to throw a pack of gnocchi, a pack of chicken sausage (Trader Joe’s has some great ones, their roasted garlic is a fav) and whatever green vegetable I have – this time of year it’s broccoli or maybe brussels sprouts if I’m really feeling fall – onto a sheet pan to roast for 30 minutes. With salt and pepper and the right olive oil, you don’t even need a sauce to pull it together, but some salty cheese grated on top never hurt anyone.ReplyCancel

    • Kim8.11.21 - 8:57 AM

      STOP. Trying this ASAP!ReplyCancel

      • Lori8.11.21 - 10:05 AM

        I do this too! I use organic kielbasa, hot sausage, whatever. Potatoes, carrots, onions, because I always have those on hand. And without the gnocchi, the leftovers are great chopped up and mixed into a breakfast hash with eggs. Win/win!ReplyCancel

    • Alison8.11.21 - 11:18 AM

      Yes, we’re making something similar this week after seeing the Cup of Jo post about it! https://cupofjo.com/2021/07/gnocchi-tomatoes-squash/ReplyCancel

    • EMILY8.13.21 - 3:36 PM

      Yes!  I think I saw this on Kitchn too, and it’s a go-to.  Gnocchi, chicken sausage, baby tomatoes (some burst for a nice juice), and whatever veg, EVOO, spices.  Then I dollop ricotta cheese on my serving (got that from CoJ).  Love it, so easy.  I actually have gnocchi on my grocery list right now for this very reason. :)ReplyCancel

  • Rachel8.11.21 - 7:13 AM

    My favorite this summer has been Love & Lemon’s Orzo Salad. I’ll make a big batch of it and have it for lunches all week! Sometimes I might not have one of the ingredients and it’s still amazing sans-chickpeas or cucumbers.  https://www.loveandlemons.com/orzo-salad/ReplyCancel

  • Jessica8.11.21 - 9:14 AM

    I’m currently drooling after reading this! Ha! And I learned the hard way about the zoodles, and just quickly throwing them in without oil! But once you get the right texture, it’s such a great alternative — Yum! Thanks for always sharing quality content, and of course, so grateful for the opportunity to share with you! ReplyCancel

    • Kim8.11.21 - 11:22 AM

      Thank you for sharing, Jessica! (Breakfast for dinner is my personal favorite too!)ReplyCancel

  • Melissa8.11.21 - 10:30 AM

    I would probably kill for that strawberry tomato mozzarella salad right now! These are great ideas! ReplyCancel

  • Emily8.11.21 - 11:43 AM

    We roast frozen meatballs, red/green peppers (cut into 1-inch pieces), and onion for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.  Serve with rice and a Greek yogurt-cucumber sauce.  
    Both of my kids like pieces of this meal but not all, and my husband and I love it.  Easy to customize (add more meatballs/peppers, etc) and I’m sure you could roast different veggies with it, too.  
    Originally the recipe called for putting the meatballs and peppers onto skewers.  But one night I forgot to partially thaw the meatballs, so I just threw it all onto a flat sheet and it was great!  And easier (I like easy!)ReplyCancel

  • Betsy8.11.21 - 12:34 PM

    So many good options.  We love Mexican for dinner.  Always an easy option, no matter what you make.  Summer means grilling.  Fire up the grill, then sides are always easy.  Corn on the cob, salad, BBQ corn is a favorite, fresh green beans.  I’m not a tomato fan, but the other half loves his home grown tomatoes with basil, good mozzarella, and drizzled with balsamic.  I make a great lemon chicken that is so easy.  Endless possibilities.  ReplyCancel

  • Cheryl8.11.21 - 2:09 PM

    It’s more slap-dash than authentic but I make quick & easy shrimp scampi when I need a simple dinner.
    Cook shrimp in browned butter & garlic in a skillet, add white wine with some red pepper flakes and then some more butter after the alcohol has cooked off. If hubby is working in the yard I can add the angel hair pasta to the skillet and hold dinner a bit while he gets his shower. Served with broccoli it makes for a colorful, balanced dinner.ReplyCancel

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