A light salad, a filling pasta, and a tasty baked chicken.
Emily ShwakePublished on August 04, 2018
Cooking an actual meal during the week can feel like a pretty daunting task, especially after a particularly long day. As tempting as it is to pop a frozen meal in the microwave or order takeout, it's just not always going to be as nutritious or satisfying as you'd like it to be. What you actually need is a recipe that's not only filling and tasty, but is also relatively simple. So, we asked food bloggers for their go-to weeknight recipes. Here's what they shared:
themostlyvegan.com
"As a new mom, my days of spending hours in the kitchen prepping complicated meals have become a distant memory. Now, dinners are always a simple affair, but I still love to eat, and eat well! My grilled caesar salad with garlic tahini dressing comes together super quick but feels kinda fancy.
I grill the bread and greens in a stovetop pan until they're charred and smokey. Then, I layer the lettuce over the bread and drizzle on a simple tahini and garlic dressing. A sprinkle of cashew parmesan (or real parmesan if you’re not vegan!) adds an extra hit of salty goodness. I’ll even throw some drained chickpeas or cannellini beans on there if I’m feeling extra hungry after running around after the babe all day. This is a hearty and healthy meal that makes me feel like my pre-baby, cooking-obsessed self, even when I’ve only got 30 minutes to spare."
Get the full recipe here.
blissfulbasil.com
"This vegan Mediterranean un-tuna salad comes together with little more than a pulse in the food processor, a few chops, and a toss...and it's unbelievably reminiscent of the real thing. Plus, it's versatile. Sometimes I eat it tucked into warm pita bread for a nutritious, protein-packed, on-the-go meal, but it's so good sometimes I can eat it right out of the bowl!"
Get the recipe here.
lazycatkitchen.com
"We've been blessed with some truly summery weather this year in the UK so we are keen on spending most of our free time outside instead of slaving over the stove. This simple roasted tomato pasta is our go-to meal of late. It's super quick and easy to make, delicious, and filling without being heavy. I like to top it all off with toasted pine nuts for some added crunch and heaps of fresh basil leaves."
Get the recipe here.
4. Deconstructed Sushi Temaki Cone — Lyndsay Sung from Coco Cake Land cococakeland.com
"Lately, our go-to family recipe is a deconstructed sushi temaki cone — brown rice, sliced avocado, and sheets of nori (shredded or served whole to be used as mini wraps), and cubed medium-firm tofu. Sometimes we stir fry the tofu with some garlic and tamari or teriyaki but for a supremely lazy meal, I just eat it straight out of the fridge.
To prepare, I put brown sushi rice in the rice cooker, slice up ripe avocado and tofu, and arrange it on top of the rice! I drizzle soy sauce, teriyaki or ponzu sauce over the bowl and douse it in sriracha or gochujang. If I make enough for leftovers, I'll add a soft-boiled egg to the mix. My five-year-old loves avocado rolls and has been eating plain tofu since he was a baby so he happily chows down on this meal."
Get a similar recipe here.
5. Tomato Toast — Jesse Szewczyk from BuzzFeed instagram.com
"I cook (or write about cooking) all day so the last thing I want to do when I get home is cook even more. On weeknights, I typically turn to pasta, salad, or a fancy toast.
I usually just toast some bread and spread on some cream cheese, goat cheese, hummus, or even labneh (basically whatever I have in the fridge at the time). Then, I top it with thick slices of tomato and season with a generous showering of flaky salt and pepper, a bunch of herbs, and olive oil. This one had some thin slices of shallot, but that's only because I had some that was about to go bad. Anything leftover makes for a great breakfast in the morning."
alexandracooks.com
"When I can't find the energy to dedicate to making dinner, I reach for the shallot vinaigrette, a dressing I now make in large batches to ensure I have it on hand at all times. I used to reserve this shallot vinaigrette for dressing delicate greens, but now I use it for everything. Whether it's a simple kale and chard salad, or a large chopped salad made of all the vegetables in my weekly farm share (radishes, turnips, snap peas, cucumbers, bell peppers, summer squash, etc.), the dressing is perfect.
With the shallot vinaigrette on hand, the only thing I actually have to do is chop up the vegetables, which takes all of about 10 minutes. I like using tuna, but if you're not a fan, you can switch it out for a hard- or soft-boiled egg, chickpeas, cubes of cheese, or leftover chicken from last night's dinner. An avocado adds a nice creaminess and richness while still keeping this meal tasting fresh and light."
Get the recipe here.
foodieinnewyork.com
"I love making this healthy and delicious salad when I've got leftover corn from a barbecue. I toss cooked quinoa, baby spinach, tomato, and feta in a bowl with the corn. Then, I season shrimp with paprika and sauté it for a minute or two. The paprika pairs perfectly with the smokiness of the grilled corn. Lastly, I whisk up a homemade vinaigrette for a tasty, satisfying meal that I can quickly toss together."
Get the recipe here.
littlespicejar.com
"On days when I don't feel like cooking, I love making my tomato baked chicken. It's as simple as chopping up tomatoes and basil, tossing it into a dish with the other ingredients, and popping it into the oven. All you need to make this a full meal is a prepared salad kit and a loaf of crusty bread. Plus, one-dish dinners make cleanup a breeze!"
Get the recipe here.
9. Quick Turkey Ragu — Lisa Goldfinger from Panning the Globe panningtheglobe.com
"This quick, healthy ground turkey pasta sauce tastes like a rich, meaty bolognese. It's my favorite recipe for those long, stressful days when cooking dinner is a challenge and when I want, more than ever, to sit down to a comforting evening meal.
I love this recipe so much because it only takes a handful of ingredients, and I can pull the whole thing off in a half hour. I'll eat this turkey ragu over pasta or a veggie substitute, and sprinkle extra parmesan on top. It's a staple recipe that I like to make again and again."
Get the recipe here.
grandbaby-cakes.com
"This recipe couldn't be easier or faster. I can prep and cook this meal in less than 30 minutes, and the flavors are simply sensational. Shrimp cooked with lemon, garlic, and a bit of spice served over a creamy bed of grits...what could be better?"
Get the recipe here.
cloudykitchen.com
"After a long day of recipe testing or cooking, I often don't feel like putting a huge amount of effort into my own dinner. Having a quick, versatile, and easy pasta recipe up my sleeve has saved me more times than I can count. This one comes together in about 20 minutes, and it's totally customizable depending on what's in my fridge or what vegetables are in season.
The 'sauce' is one of my favorite things: mixing in parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water at the very end perfectly ties the dish together. I love to add broccoli or cauliflower, or stir through a big bag of baby spinach into the pot just before serving. This pasta hits the spot every time, and also scales easily if you need to serve a bunch of friends in a pinch. Sometimes, I add a little side salad if I have time, but it is just as amazing without."
Get the recipe here.
grandbaby-cakes.com
"My southern roots dictate that fried catfish is a must. When I don't feel like dealing with heating oil and babysitting a skillet to ensure perfect frying, this is my go-to recipe. Not only is it a healthier, stress-free alternative, but it also tastes insanely delicious because of the cornmeal and a myriad of spices. Prep is only 15 minutes, and the fish goes right in the oven. It absolutely tastes fried!"
Get the recipe here.
Do you have a go-to recipe you make when you're having a rough day? Share it in the comments! More Tasty Guides More Tasty Guides See all
FAQs
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Taco Bar. Meatballs. Butter Chicken. Lasagna. Chili. Homemade Pizza. Baked Pasta. Skewers.
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1 – Gordon Ramsay @gordongram – 17 million followers. ... 2 – Jamie Oliver @jamieoliver – 10.1 million followers. ... 3 – Rosanna Pansino @rosannapansino – 4.4 million followers. ... 4 – Ree Drummond @thepioneerwoman – 3.4 million followers. ... 5 – Rena @healthyfitnessmeals – 3.4 million followers.
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Our 20 most popular dinners of 2024
Air-fryer salmon. Sweet potato & peanut curry. Beef stroganoff. Easy sausage casserole. Chicken & chorizo jambalaya. Lasagne. Easy chicken curry. No-fuss shepherd's pie.
How to feed 100 people for cheap? ›
Serving budget-friendly cuisines like salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes can be a very cost-effective choice. Or, if you're looking for a more casual option, how about a barbeque? Burgers, hot dogs and other grill-oriented foods are sure to be crowd favorites, and they won't rack up a big bill.
What is the cheapest food to feed a crowd? ›
Pasta is one of the cheapest and most filling pantry staples you can buy, and that's exactly why it's the perfect food to feed to a crowd! Plus, everyone loves a good pasta dish. Grab yourself a buffet server warming tray so you can pop your cooked pasta inside and keep it warm all evening long!
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Cereal grains and tubers are the most common food staples. There are more than 50,000 edible plants in the world, but just 15 of them provide 90 percent of the world's food energy intake. Rice, corn (maize), and wheat make up two-thirds of this.
What is the healthiest food in the world to eat? ›
Here are the top 15 foods you should be eating according to our experts:
Fish. ... Broccoli or any of the cruciferous vegetables. ... Beets. ... Spinach and other leafy green vegetables. ... Kale. ... Peanut butter. ... Almonds. ... Mangos.
What is the least liked food in the world? ›
The Verdict is in These are the Top 15 Most Hated Foods in the...
Beets. Olives. Cilantro. Mushrooms. Tomatoes. Durian. Bitter Gourd. Eggplant.
What can I eat to relax me? ›
Research has linked foods like avocado, oranges, or oysters to reduced feelings of anxiety. Drinks like water and 100% fruit juice can also be beneficial if you have a lot of anxiety and stress.
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Welcome to “girl dinner.” According to TikTok, where the trend has more than 30 million views, girl dinner is akin to an aesthetically pleasing Lunchable: an artfully arranged pile of snacks that, when consumed in high enough volume, constitutes a meal . Or so the thinking goes.
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BigScoots. BigScoots is a showstopper when it comes to web hosting. ... Hostinger. Hostinger is a dream come true for new food bloggers who want a wallet-friendly way to start. ... Kinsta. Kinsta is where food bloggers go when they need their website to be fast and dependable. ... SiteGround. ... Bluehost. ... WP Engine. ... Nexcess. ... HostGator.
Do people still read food blogs? ›
77% of internet users report regularly reading blog posts. 80% of bloggers say that blogging drives results. 44% of buyers report consuming 3 to 5 pieces of content before engaging with the seller. Food, lifestyle, and travel niches have the highest percentage of blogs and more than 50,000 blog visits per month.
Is there money in food blogging? ›
If you're considering to become a food blogger and get paid and are looking into positions instead of starting your own blog, it's important to have a realistic expectation of potential earnings. According to ZipRecruiter, the average food blogger's salary in the US is $62,275 a year as of Jan 31, 2024 .
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