Cooking dinner should (hopefully) never feel like a chore. But after a long day, standing at the stove for an hour can feel like a tall order. So, this week's roundup stars quick, easy recipes that are just right for busy weeknights. These seven dinners take 45 minutes or less to prepare, so you'll get to bypass takeout without spending *too* much time making your meal.
food
Here’s What to Cook Every Night This Week (September 27 - October 3)
Shopping List
Produce
2 limes
2 lemons
Two 1-inch pieces ginger
10 garlic cloves
6 ounces trimmed snap peas
1 pound mixed cherry tomatoes
1 pint yellow cherry tomatoes
2 pints red cherry tomatoes
1 medium onion
2 pounds medium carrots
3 ounces baby arugula
2 to 3 poblano peppers
2 red onions
1 ear corn
1 avocado
2 red bell peppers
1 small eggplant
2 small zucchini
1 large head cauliflower
1 bunch scallions
3 bunches cilantro
1 bunch radishes
1 bunch asparagus
1 bunch parsley
1 bunch mint
1 bunch scallions
Meat
One 1- to 1½-pound center-cut salmon fillet (or four 3- to 4-ounce small fillets)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
8 large eggs
1½ pounds chicken sausage
Dairy
Coconut yogurt, for serving (optional)
4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for serving
1 stick butter
Crumbled queso fresco cheese, for serving
Grains
2 bundles soba noodles
4 small tortillas
Steamed white or wild rice, for serving
Canned and Packaged Goods
White and black sesame seeds
Basil pesto
One 32-ounce carton vegetable or chicken stock
One 13-ounce can coconut milk
Pantry Ingredients: creamy peanut butter, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, agave, sriracha, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, cayenne pepper, all-purpose flour, plain dried breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, canola or vegetable oil, balsamic vinegar, crushed red pepper flakes, hot sauce, smoked paprika
Monday: Soba Noodles With Peanut Sauce
Tuesday: Salmon With Pesto And Blistered Tomatoes
After rotisserie chicken, jarred pesto is our favorite shortcut in the book, since just a dollop can instantly turn the flavor of a dish up 100 notches. Case in point: this decidedly unfussy-yet-fancy salmon.
Wednesday: Instant Pot Carrot Ginger Soup
Homemade soup in just 30 minutes? That's the beauty of the Instant Pot. If you don't have an immersion blender, whirl the soup in batches in your blender instead until it's smooth and creamy.
Thursday: Chrissy Teigen’s Cheesy Chicken Milanese
Any salad served atop a shatteringly crisp, cheese-stuffed chicken cutlet is our kind of salad. Even your picky kids will have no complaints about the veggies amidst all that mozzarella.
Friday: Egg Tacos With Roasted Poblano, Onion And Corn Salsa
When our laziness puts dinner in jeopardy, it's protein-rich eggs to the rescue. The salsa is a great way to use up the last of summer's corn (though canned kernels are fine in a pinch).
Saturday: Sheet-pan Lemon Butter Veggies And Sausage
The ultimate way to clear your fridge of produce that's seen better days. Even better, it all comes together on a baking sheet, so you'll have minimal dirty dishes to wash after you eat.
Sunday: Cauliflower Steaks With Lemon-herb Sauce
Bust out your trusty cast iron skillet or grill pan for this one, so the cauliflower steaks can get as much smoky char as possible.
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.