Easy.
Quick.
Healthy.
Delicious.
These are the four pillars of the perfect weeknight meal after a long day. But what recipes tick most, if not all of these aspects?
Primo Oils and Vinegars has you covered. We’ve pulled together 10 of our favorite weeknight dinner ideas, looking specifically for ones that tick all of the boxes.
The majority of the meals that we’ve included tick all four, but we’ve also added a few that may not be as quick but are definitely easy, delicious, and healthy! These are great for weeknights when you have more time on your hands or are hosting friends and family. Most of these recipes take 45 minutes or less.
Check them out:
Simple Dinner Ideas for 2
1. Pork Chops in Balsamic Cherry Sauce
Cook Time: 10 minutes
These pork chops are one of the best weeknight dinner ideas if you really want to feed the family. Sweet, savory, and satiating.
This balsamic cherry sauce on top of a well-cooked juicy pork shop is to die for and will definitely become a staple meal once you give it a try. It takes hardly any time at all to put together but is still a showstopper.
The Black Cherry Balsamic adds oomph to delightfully tart and sweet cherries that pair perfectly with tender pork chops.
2. Italian Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes (not including marination time)
Cook Time: 35 minutes
If you have any fussy eaters in the house, we bet they will love this Italian chicken recipe. That’s not to say it is bland and basic – it’s far from it! The chicken breasts are seasoned generously with: lemon juice, oregano, pepper, garlic, and Tuscan Herb Olive Oil.
Need some ideas for side dishes? Try roasted asparagus and tomatoes, parmesan potato wedges, and a green Italian salad. You can check out our library of recipes for more inspiration.
3. Cranberry and Honey Glazed Spiral Ham With Sage and Mushroom Potatoes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Here’s a holiday-worthy meal that doesn’t require much time in the kitchen. The pièce-de-résistance of this dinner is our Cranberry Pear White Balsamic and its clean, crisp, and tart flavor.
It boasts a gorgeous ruby color with a fruity, complex bouquet that shines in a multitude of culinary applications – including, in this case, a ham marinade!
Simple Dinner Ideas for 4
4. Air-Fryer Gingered Honey Salmon with Blood Orange Olive Oil
Prep Time: 10 minutes (not including marination time)
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Break out the air fryer for a recipe that follows all four weeknight dinner ideals to a T. It’s so easy to throw together, packed with good-for-you nutrients, and it’s oh-so-tasty. Our Blood Orange Olive Oil packs this dish with delicious flavor and all the health benefits of olive oil.
To complete the meal, grill some veggies or put together a simple salad. You could also serve the salmon over couscous!
5. Farmers Market Tomato Gazpacho
Cook Time: Chill for at least 2 hours
Gazpacho is a no-cooking-required chilled soup of the summer, but it’s great any time you need an easy meal.
The recipe originally comes from Southern Spain. The soup is typically made from a mixture of pureed tomatoes and vegetables, and of course, a dash of olive oil! You can get experimental with a melon or cucumber base for a brand new taste. We are partial to the sweet tomato base ourselves, but experimenting can be fun!
6. Fig Goat Cheese Flatbread
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
This weeknight dinner idea is one that takes the shortest time to make. Funny enough, it feels like it should take hours because of its decadence. This recipe is packed full of flavors and features our delicious Fig Balsamic Vinegar, a local favorite!
Both sweet and savory, this flatbread is a light meal option that is especially perfect for transitioning from summer to fall.
7. Grilled Pizza
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Don’t have a wood fire oven? No problem. You can still put together a delish gourmet pizza – all you need is a grill. If you opt for store-bought pizza dough (and we certainly wouldn’t blame you) this can be a 15-minute meal.
Grilled pizzas are great to make at the end of the week because you can throw any leftover greens and veggies on top so that they don’t go to waste. We like to top ours with Portobello mushrooms, baby arugula, and red onions, but you can add whatever toppings you have around.
What really brings this pizza to the next level is a drizzle of our White Truffle Olive Oil on the dough.
8. Cilantro Lime Roasted Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes (not including marination time)
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Here is another easy and mouth-watering way to prepare your chicken this week. There’s no need to pick up takeout when you have this Mexican-inspired chicken recipe that everyone will love. It uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
The chicken pairs well with basic black beans and rice for a well-rounded meal.
9. Serrano Chicken Stir Fry
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Chicken again? This isn’t your ordinary chicken dish! The addition of our Serrano Honey Vinegar will make this a recipe you reach for again and again.
The vinegar – sweet, tart, spicy, and made from 100% honey – brings all the flavor. If you like a little heat, add a dash of our Harissa Olive Oil. It’s our hottest infused olive oil that will bring all the spice you crave.
10. Poulet Grand-Mère
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
One of our tasty, simple dinner ideas that makes for a great weeknight dinner while being easy on the pocketbook. Win-win! The olive oil mingles with white wine to make a divine pan juice perfectly suited for dipping some crusty French bread in.
The Poulet Grand-Mere is lovely served over pasta, rice, or quinoa.
Let us know your favorite Primo recipes and weeknight meals and we’ll be sure to include them next time!
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Weeknight Dinner Ideas
What is a good weeknight dinner?
A good weeknight dinner should be easy to prepare, quick to make, healthy, and delicious. One recipe that checks all those boxes is our pork chops finished with a balsamic cherry sauce. Try it today!
What is a good lazy dinner?
A great lazy dinner is simple, comforting, and doesn’t require much effort. Our Fig Goat Cheese Flatbread fits the bill perfectly. The quick serving time means you can munch on something filling in less than 30 minutes. Perfect for a long day after work.
What are some quick and simple dinner ideas for 1 person?
Sally’s Turkey Sandwich will surely hit the spot! It’s a simple, hearty, and satisfying option that takes only five minutes to put together. Every ingredient in this recipe is also easy to find and store well, making it perfect for low-effort meals or future meal prep.
If you’re feeling hungrier than usual, our Primo Tacos recipe will do the trick. This recipe makes about four tacos, but you can easily cut the ingredients in half and enjoy the rest as leftovers for later!
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