5 Weeknight Dinners Your Family Is Going to Love

Mine sure does!

By
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva is a trained chef, registered dietitian, recipe writer, and food photographer, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. She runs Nosh with Micah, her personal blog.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published August 18, 2025
Micah Siva
Stuffed bell peppers filled with a mixture of cooked ingredients topped with melted cheese in a baking dish labeled Simply Recipes

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

It’s my husband’s birthday week, so we’ve got a jam-packed schedule between celebrating, baseball games, and prepping for our next round of visitors. It’s a mix of crowd pleasers, portable dinners, and home-run recipes that my toddler and husband will eat (and I crave too).

I’m leaving my menu flexible so that, in case we decide on an impromptu date night, I can always move a recipe or two to the weekend. With pantry meals like tuna patties, I have the wiggle room I need. 

  • Cold Rice Noodle Salad

    Overhead view of an easy rice noodle salad in a serving bowl along with wooden claws.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    We’re going to a baseball game tonight, and did you know that you can often bring your own food in? It’s a genius way to avoid spending $20 on a mediocre hot dog. I’m packing this salad to enjoy between innings. I love the variety of crunchy vegetables in this rice noodle salad, along with the fragrant but simple dressing. Black vinegar is the secret ingredient, a dark-hued vinegar with a rich flavor. I’m adding shelled edamame beans and sesame roasted tofu. If I’m up for it, I’m going to toss it with some zucchini noodles for added vegetables!

  • Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

    A plate of grilled chicken breast with slices of avocado lime wedges and cilantro garnish

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Founder Elise Bauer says, "Pounding the boneless, skinless breasts to an even thickness will help the meat cook more evenly, so you don't have the extremes of raw and dry." The marinade keeps the chicken juicy and super flavorful. I'll serve it with rice and beans and some grilled veggies.

  • 4-Ingredient Corn Salad

    Corn Salad on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    We went fruit picking this weekend, and the market had the most irresistible fresh corn. While I’ve been gnawing on corn on the cob all summer long, I wanted to switch it up with this super simple salad. I'm adding a sprinkle of cotija cheese and cilantro, then serving it with grilled fish and bell peppers. My son loves this salad, as does my husband. Tip: Don’t toss those empty cobs, they make the best vegetable stock!

  • Tuna Patties

    Tuna cakes on a white plate along with a lemon wedge and fork.

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    If I had a dollar for every time we had tuna patties for dinner growing up, I’d be rich and eating tuna patties well into my adulthood. While my little one is picky when it comes to fish, he will always eat it in patty form. I add dill along with the parsley and chives, and serve with a simple salad and roasted potatoes. It’s a no-stress way to get dinner on the table, and a great pantry meal to have in your back pocket.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below

  • Pizza Stuffed Peppers

    pizza stuffed peppers in a casserole dish

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    I’ve never met a pizza I didn’t like, whether on sourdough crust, cauliflower crust, or stuffed into a pepper. The combination of rice, beef (or plant-based beef), pizza sauce, and too much cheese is a real winner. To save time, I use microwavable pre-cooked rice because I don’t have the time to make a fresh pot with a screaming toddler.

Explore More: