26 Quick And Delicious Dinners That Will Save Your Monday Night
Let these 45-minute or less Monday night dinners make your start of the week a little less stressful.
Monday has a bad reputation–and for good reason. You're tired after the weekend, moody from sitting at a desk all day, and busy getting set up for the rest of the week. It's understandable that the last thing you want to do is whip up a 5-star feast that takes hours to prepare. But there's a way to get a healthy dinner on the table , and fast. Let these 45-minute (and under) Monday night dinners make your day a little less manic. Whether you want to eat light after a weekend of cheat meals or eat comfort food after a long day, these Monday night dinner ideas can satisfy both needs.
These Monday night dinners won't just be a treat for you, because with wholesome recipes like quesadillas, easy homemade Bolognese, and stir-fry, the kids will be happy, too. Don't let Monday bully you. Take control of the week with these quick and easy Monday night meals.
01 of 26
Shrimp And Herb Rice Bowls
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
If you're craving a Lowcountry boil without the time it takes to make, these shrimp and herb rice bowls are inspired by that delicious Cajun flavor.
02 of 26
Baked BBQ Chicken
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Get all the delicious flavor of barbecue chicken without having to light a grill . With just 25 minutes of active time, this recipe will fill you up for dinner and taste like you've been cooking for hours.
Quick Tip
To save time on busy weeknights, you can marinate the chicken in the morning and just pop it in the oven when you get home in the evening.
03 of 26
Cuban Black Bean And Yellow Rice Bowls
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
This beautiful, colorful bowl is almost completely no-cook and packed with essential nutrients and vitamins. People of all ages will enjoy this delicious dinner.
04 of 26
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
Credit: Stacy K. Allen; Props: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
A classic Southern comfort food turned into a warm and delicious soup, this recipe can be altered to make your Mondays easy by using store-bought rotisserie chicken and biscuits.
Tip
To save even more time, feel free to skip the biscuits; serve with store-bought crusty bread or dinner rolls.
05 of 26
BBQ Chicken Pizza
Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Though you may be tempted to get pizza delivered to your doorstep, this easy homemade pizza will taste better and be a healthier choice for the whole family to enjoy.
06 of 26
Marry Me Chicken
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This recipe gets its name for a reason—it's delicious enough for an instant proposal! Tasty as it is easy, this crowd pleaser is the perfect meal to fill you up and satisfy your need for something rich and creamy.
07 of 26
Easy Grilled Shrimp
Credit: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
If you have a grill pan, this shrimp recipe will take you just 15 minutes to finish four servings. Eat them on their own, wrap them in tortillas, or top rice with them to enjoy this quick and bright meal.
08 of 26
One-Pot Cajun Chicken Alfredo
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
If you're not up for doing too many dishes tonight, look no further than this delicious and filling chicken Alfredo recipe. A classic recipe with the Southern twist of Cajun seasoning, this is a craveable meal that will please a crowd.
09 of 26
Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Whip out your pressure cooker and let it do the work in this delicious and hearty dinner recipe. Perfect when you're looking for a cozy night in, this chili is a crowd pleaser and reheats well for the next few days.
10 of 26
BLT Pasta Salad
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
All the flavors of your favorite sandwich are featured in this simple and delicious pasta that feeds a crowd. The BLT flavors mix perfectly with the ranch-flavored dressing for you to enjoy that night and the next few days as leftovers.
11 of 26
Easy Chicken Parmesan
Credit: Stacy Allen; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood
This classic Italian meal is truly a comfort food loved by all. Using your favorite pasta sauce from a jar to speed up the cooking time, these delicious chicken cutlets over spaghetti come out in 35 minutes and are the perfect dinner to fill you up on Monday nights.
12 of 26
Molasses-Soy Glazed Salmon And Vegetables
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin
This healthful meal should become part of your weekly rotation, if not for the heart-healthy salmon then for the savory, tangy glaze on top. In just 35 minutes, you'll have four servings of a delicious and healthy dinner.
13 of 26
Quesadillas Al Pastor
Credit: Skyler Burt
Stuffed with good-for-you ingredients and so easy to make, these quesadillas would make a great tote-able lunch the next day, too.
14 of 26
Chicken Bog
Credit: Greg DuPree
A Lowcountry favorite, Chicken Bog is a one-dish meal that your kids will love. This filling meal will come out in just 30 minutes and save you from a huge clean-up.
15 of 26
Vidalia Onion Soup
Cozy up with this easy soup that's topped with Gruyère cheese and broiled at the last second for the best cheese pull. Perfect for a relaxing night in after a hectic Monday.
16 of 26
Creamy Rice With Scallops
Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox
This soft rice will remind you of risotto, and the flavors of scallops, corn, and bacon were meant to be. This recipe is impressive enough for guests but simple enough to make when you're a little drained.
17 of 26
Quick And Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Credit: Greg DuPree
With just 25 minutes, you can have this kid-friendly dish on the table, and no one will realize that you doctored up a quality jarred pasta sauce and didn't make it from scratch.
18 of 26
Fig Flatbread
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele
This sweet and savory flatbread recipe is the ideal dinner after a weekend trip to the farmers' market. In 30 minutes, you'll have the perfect meal to feed four (or just one!).
19 of 26
Sheet Pan Nachos
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Make tonight's dinner a fast and fun meal that anyone will enjoy. This recipe is completely customizable and can be made mostly with ingredients you already have on hand.
20 of 26
Fettuccine Alfredo
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
We make the Alfredo sauce from scratch in this recipe and it tastes much better than store-bought. You can swap the fettuccine noodles for any type of pasta.
21 of 26
Honey-Garlic Chicken
Credit: Victor Protashio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Christine Keely
We pair this chicken alongside sweet and tangy Brussels sprouts, bringing out the flavor of the sauce on the chicken.
22 of 26
Pan-Seared Salmon
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This salmon recipe is too easy to be this good. With just a few ingredients and a couple of pieces of equipment, you can make a restaurant-style pan-seared salmon at home.
23 of 26
Lemon Chicken Pasta
Credit: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Crispy, panko-crusted chicken sits on top of tender linguine that's tossed with a luscious lemon-cream sauce and mixed with zucchini rounds.
24 of 26
BBQ Chicken Salad
Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins
The best part of this salad is the homemade dressing. The white BBQ ranch dressing is savory, tangy, and herby, and can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks.
25 of 26
Easy Taco Casserole
Credit: Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
You don't have to wait for Tuesday: This taco casserole combines delicious layers of ground beef and tortillas with all your favorite taco ingredients. Best of all, your family can eat in under 30 minutes.
26 of 26
Mini Meatloaves
Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Serve these mini meatloaves with our sweet mashed potatoes and buttered peas for the perfect dinner plate.
Read the original article on Southern Living
