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Weeknight Recipes

Weeknight cooking should be easy and exciting—and that’s exactly what we’re all about here at PWWB. These are our tried-and-true weeknight recipes: quick, practical, and packed with bold, satisfying flavor.

Most come together in 45 minutes or less, thanks to pantry staples, fresh seasonal produce, and smart shortcuts. You’ll find everything from sheet pan dinners to one-skillet meals—all designed to help you get a delicious dinner on the table without the stress.

15 Minutes or less

An overhead shot of cooked dumplings and bok choy drizzled with sauce on a white plate on a beige surface. A pair of chopsticks sits alongside the plate, along with dishes of sesame seeds and dumpling sauce.

15-Minute Pan-Fried Dumplings with Bok Choy
An overhead shot of five assembled chicken tacos and bowls of taco meat and salsa on a white scalloped oval platter atop a white marbled surface.

Once-A-Week Ground Chicken Tacos (15 Minutes)
A blue speckled plate with creamy chicken salad mixed with herbs and chopped celery, served with lettuce, crackers, and a yellow pepper. A fork is on the side of the plate.

Zingy Herbed Chicken Salad (The Best Chicken Salad You’ll Ever Eat)
More 15 Minute Dinners

30 Minutes or less

Grilled chicken thighs covered in a glossy honey mustard sauce on a white plate with a wooden-handled knife beside them.

Sheet Pan Honey Dijon Mustard Chicken Thighs (30 Minutes)
A bowl of tortellini Caesar salad with cheese tortellini, romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan, red onion, croutons, and Caesar dressing, garnished with cracked black pepper.

Weeknight MVP Tortellini Caesar Salad (25 Minutes)
An overhead shot of teriyaki chicken garnished with sesame seeds and green onions on a white plate atop a white marbled surface. The plate is surrounded by dishes of rice, green onions, and teriyaki sauce.

Mom’s Sticky-Sweet Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs (30 Minutes)
An overhead shot of ground chicken taco salad on a blue and white patterned plate atop a white marbled surface. The plate is surrounded by a yellow cloth napkin and dishes of chipotle ranch dressing and lime wedges.

Go-To Weeknight Ground Chicken Taco Salad (30 Minutes)
An overhead shot of sliced chicken katsu on a light teal plate alongside a small dish of katsu sauce, mac salad and white rice. The plate sits on a light grey textured surface alongside a bowl of furikake.

Mom’s 25-Minute Crispy Chicken Katsu (Japanese Fried Chicken Cutlets)
More 30 Minute Dinners
A bowl filled with spiced chicken fajitas, sliced red onions, bell peppers, black beans, corn, cilantro, rice, and creamy green sauce, with lime wedges and fresh herbs on the side.

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Seasonal staples

An overhead shot of kale apple salad in a large stoneware bowl atop a beige textured surface. The bowl is surrounded by a mustard-colored napkin, serving spoons, and dishes of dressing, cheddar cheese, walnuts, and apple slices.

Autumn Lover’s Kale Apple Salad with Cinnamon Cider Vinaigrette (20 Minutes)
An overhead shot of an off-white stoneware bowl of pumpkin pasta alla vodka topped with sage leaves and parmesan atop a woven cream placemat. A gold fork and a second bowl of pasta sit beside it.

Pumpkin Pasta alla Vodka
A bowl of hearty soup with ground sausage, white beans, kale, carrots, and broth, topped with grated cheese. Slices of bread and a drink are nearby on a marble surface. A spoon rests in the bowl.

Cozy Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup with White Beans
An overhead shot of a serving of butternut squash mac and cheese in a white shallow bowl atop a striped cloth on an off-white surface. A small dish of grated parmesan sits alongside it.

Lazy Girl Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

fuss-free Tacos

A silver fork scoops up shredded chipotle honey chicken on a small silver baking sheet a top a light blue textured surface. The shredded chicken is garnished with fresh chopped cilantro. A halved lime slice rests on the chicken and a few springs of fresh cilantro rest on the surface in the foreground.

Easy Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Three crispy black bean tacos rest atop a white ceramic plate. One of the tacos is torn in half. Taco toppings surround the tacos including lime wedges, guacamole, and pickled red onions. Loose cilantro leaves, and a blue and white striped linen napkin surround the plate while the plate sits atop a creamy white textured surface.

Crispy Black Bean Tacos
A chicken al pastor taco on a speckled ceramic plate, topped with thinly sliced jalapeno & cotija cheese. The taco is surrounded by 3 other al pastor tacos, a small bowl of mashed avocado, fresh cilantro leaves & lime wedges.

Easy Sheet Pan Chicken al Pastor
Chicken carnitas rice bowl, with rice, beans, guacamole, shredded radishes, winter citrus pico de gallo. The bowl sits atop a white surface, next to a pink linen napkin, small bowls of winter citrus pico de gallo & shredded radish, & a glass of sparkling water with lemon & grapefruit wedges in it.

Sheet Pan Crispy Chicken Carnitas with Winter Citrus Pico de Gallo
An overhead shot of three assembled black bean tostadas on a parchment-lined white sheet pan on a light grey surface. The tray is surrounded by dishes of avocado crema, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges.

Black Bean Tostadas with Charred Corn & Avocado Crema
A blue plate filled with baked crispy chicken tacos topped with pickled onions, jalapeños, and cilantro, garnished with lime wedges. Surrounding the plate are bowls of lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.

Baked Crispy Chicken Tacos

Seasonal staples

An overhead shot of kale apple salad in a large stoneware bowl atop a beige textured surface. The bowl is surrounded by a mustard-colored napkin, serving spoons, and dishes of dressing, cheddar cheese, walnuts, and apple slices.

Autumn Lover’s Kale Apple Salad with Cinnamon Cider Vinaigrette (20 Minutes)
An overhead shot of an off-white stoneware bowl of pumpkin pasta alla vodka topped with sage leaves and parmesan atop a woven cream placemat. A gold fork and a second bowl of pasta sit beside it.

Pumpkin Pasta alla Vodka
A bowl of hearty soup with ground sausage, white beans, kale, carrots, and broth, topped with grated cheese. Slices of bread and a drink are nearby on a marble surface. A spoon rests in the bowl.

Cozy Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup with White Beans
An overhead shot of a serving of butternut squash mac and cheese in a white shallow bowl atop a striped cloth on an off-white surface. A small dish of grated parmesan sits alongside it.

Lazy Girl Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

restaurant-worthy weeknight pasta

Two servings of sausage and peppers pasta served in white bowls are garnished with grated parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, and fresh chopped herbs. The bowls sit atop a white and gray marble surface with a blue and white striped linen napkin tucked underneath. Two metal forks and a small wooden pinch bowl filled with crushed red pepper flakes rest alongside the bowl at center.

Spicy Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta
An overhead shot of pesto pasta topped with whipped ricotta and pine nuts in a large white bowl atop a white surface. A striped cloth and dishes of ricotta and fresh basil sit alongside the bowl.

Restaurant-Worthy Pesto Pasta with Whipped Ricotta
An overhead shot of a serving of spicy vodka pasta in a shallow white bowl on a white tablecloth. A second bowl of pasta, a side salad and a plate of garlic bread sit alongside the pasta.

25-Minute Spicy Pasta alla Vodka (From-Scratch & Fuss-Free!)
A dark blue ceramic plate topped with bucatini carbonara garnished with ground black pepper, fresh lemon zest, arugula, and freshly grated parmesan cheese sits atop a gray and white marble surface. The plate rests atop a blue and white striped linen napkin with a gold spoon and fork resting on the plate and tucked into the pasta. Loose grated parmesan, fresh lemon wedges, and a small speckled ceramic bowl filled with fresh grated parmesan rest on the surface near the plate.

Pasta Carbonara
An overhead shot of a serving of bucatini all'amatriciana in a stoneware bowl on a white marbled surface. The bowl is surrounded by a second bowl of pasta, a beige cloth, a glass of white wine and dishes of parmesan and parsley.

Bucatini all’Amatriciana (25 Minutes)
An overhead shot of a large pot filled with weeknight bolognese topped with fresh basil & grated parmesan cheese. A wooden serving spoon is tucked inside of the pasta. While two small pinch bowls filled with parmesan cheese & red pepper flakes, a bunch of fresh herbs, & a blue & white striped linen napkin rest alongside the pot on a creamy white surface.

Weeknight Bolognese

takeout-inspired classics

Sweet & sour pork plated with white rice. The plate sits atop a light blue surface, next to a striped black linen, a small dish of thinly sliced green onion, & a second plate of sweet & sour pork.

Mom’s Sweet and Sour Pork Stir-Fry
Finished beef vegetable stir fry fills a black Zwilling Madura Nonstick Skillet. The beef and vegetables are glossy with a coating of homemade stir fry sauce. The skillet sits atop a creamy white textured surface with a light gray linen napkin tucked underneath. A white Chinese soup spoon rests inside of the skillet for serving, while a small white plate filled with sliced green onion and small gray speckled ceramic bowl filled with rice rest alongside. The stir fry is garnished with toasted sesame seeds.

Heavy-on-the-Veggies Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry
Beef and broccoli stir fry served over white rice fills a ceramic bowl. A fork with a wooden handle rests inside of the bowl and the bowl sits atop a creamy white textured surface. The bowl is surrounded by a small plateful of toasted sesame seeds, another bowl of beef broccoli stir fry served over rice, and a blue and white striped linen napkin.

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
An overhead shot of stir fried vegetable noodles on a white stoneware plate on a white marbled surface. The plate is surrounded by a wok of noodles and a small blue dish of sliced green onions.

Mom’s Takeout-Worthy Vegetable Stir Fried Noodles (20 Minutes)
Top down photo of Hawaiian-style pork chow fun in a grenadine colored Staub cast iron wok. The wok sits on a light blue surface with a light blue linen napkin tucked underneath. The chow fun is garnished with sesame seeds and there is a Chinese spoon resting in the dish.

Mom’s Chow Fun (Hawaiian-Style Pork Chow Fun)
An overhead shot of orange chicken stir fry in a stainless steel skillet atop a pink textured surface. The skillet is surrounded by dishes of orange juice, sesame seeds, cooked white rice, and pepper flakes on a pink textured surface.

Sticky-Sweet Orange Chicken Stir Fry (30 Minutes)

craveable dinner bowls

A bowl filled with spiced chicken fajitas, sliced red onions, bell peppers, black beans, corn, cilantro, rice, and creamy green sauce, with lime wedges and fresh herbs on the side.

30-Minute Chicken Fajita Bowls with Avocado Crema
An overhead shot of sliced bulgogi steak in a bowl with cabbage, cucumber kimchi, and white rice. A bowl of sesame seeds and a jars of kimchi, sliced green onions and cucumber kimchi sit alongside it.

Beef Bulgogi Bowl with Tender Steak and Rice
An assembled greek chicken bowl sits on a small plate atop a white surface with a white cloth. A pita and gold fork rest alongside the bowl, and a bowl of avocado tzatziki is on the counter beside it. A bowl of feta, jar of pickled onions, fresh dill, & lemon can be seen in the background.

Greek-Inspired Chicken Bowls with Avocado Tzatziki
Chicken Shawarma Hummus Bowl with quinoa, cucumbers, pickled red onion, shredded cabbage, & naan bread shown in a speckled gray ceramic bowl. The bowl sits atop a creamy cement surface, surrounded by lemon wedges, fresh basil leaves & a small bowl of pickled red onions.

Easy Hummus Bowls with Chicken Shawarma (or Veggie Shawarma!)
An overhead shot of a fish taco bowl with seasoned cod, rice, cabbage, red onion, guacamole, pico de gallo, and poblano ranch in a shallow stoneware bowl atop an orange tiled surface. Bowls of taco toppings sit alongside the bowl.

30-Minute Fish Taco Bowls with All the Fixings
An overhead shot of a chicken shawarma bowl on an off-white surface alongside a patterned blue cloth, lemon wedges, shawarma sauce, and fresh herbs.

Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma Bowl with Turmeric Rice

make it a meatball

An overhead shot of falafel meatballs in a pink bowl with arugula, rice, halved tomatoes, tahini sauce, feta, cucumbers, pickled red onions, and a piece of pita bread. Bowls of pickled onions, tahini sauce, feta, salt and pita sit alongside it on a white textured surface. A pink cloth and a fork and knife sit next to the bowl.

Juicy and Tender Turkey Falafel Meatballs
An overhead shot of turkey meatballs on a bed of pasta with pesto sauce on a white scalloped plate, garnished with basil leaves and shaved parmesan. The plate sits on a grey textured surface alongside a second dish of pasta, dishes of parmesan, pine nuts, basil leaves and tomatoes.

Juicy Baked Pesto Meatballs (Turkey or Chicken)
Red curry meatballs fill a large gray Staub cast iron skillet that sits atop a creamy white textured surface. The meatballs have been garnished with fresh basil and cilantro. A wooden serving spoon rests inside of the skillet and the skillet is surrounded by fresh basil leaves, a small wooden pinch bowl filled with chopped cilantro, and a small white plate topped with sliced lime. A light off white linen napkin is tucked underneath the skillet at center.

Thai-Inspired Red Curry Meatballs
Soy-glazed ginger meatballs plated in large ceramic bowl over rice with roasted broccoli. The meatballs are garnished with sesame seeds & sliced green onions, & a fork is nestled into the rice. The bowl sits atop a creamy cement surface, surrounded by a striped linen napkin & a small wooden bowl of sesame seeds.

Soy-Glazed Ginger Turkey Meatballs
An overhead shot of a serving of chicken piccata meatballs on a bed of spaghetti noodles on a white stoneware plate atop a striped cloth on an off-white surface.

Juicy and Tender Lemon Chicken Piccata Meatballs
Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Parmesan Meatballs simmer in a red tomato sauce in a large white double-handled skillet. The meatballs have been garnished with chopped basil and grated parmesan and the skillet sits atop a creamy white textured surface with a light blue linen napkin tucked underneath the skillet. A small wooden pinch bowl filled with grated parmesan and a few loose fresh basil leaves surround the skillet. Inside of the skillet one meatballs has been cut in half and folded open to reveal the mozzarella stuffed interior.

Mozzarella-Stuffed Chicken Meatballs (Juicy and Tender!)

simple sides

An overhead shot of a mixed green side salad on a white scalloped plate atop a white surface.

Fresh Mixed Greens Side Salad (for Steak, Pasta, & More!)
An overhead shot of Caesar salad on a white scalloped plate atop a white marbled surface.

Perfect Classic Caesar Salad (15-Minute Side for Pasta, Pizza, and More!)
An overhead shot of steamed baby bok choy on a white oval platter atop a white surface. Dishes of sesame seeds and sliced green onions sit alongside the platter.

Everyday Sautéed Baby Bok Choy (10 Minutes)
A fresh arugula salad with shaved Parmesan, pine nuts, and a light green dressing is served on a white plate with a fork. The salad is garnished with cracked black pepper.

Everyday Arugula Side Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette (15 Minutes)
Four slices of golden-brown garlic bread topped with chopped parsley are arranged on a light blue oval plate, set on a table with garlic cloves, parsley, salt, a pepper grinder, and utensils nearby.

Last-Minute Garlic Bread with Sliced Bread (10 Minutes)

AllWeeknight Recipes

Everyday Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette (3 Minutes)

Sheet Pan Honey Dijon Mustard Chicken Thighs (30 Minutes)

Last-Minute Garlic Bread with Sliced Bread (10 Minutes)

French-Style Potato and Green Bean Salad with Capers and Dijon Vinaigrette

Caprese Pasta Salad with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella (25 Minutes)

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Fresh Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette (10 Minutes)

Fresh Strawberry Vinaigrette with White Balsamic (5 Minutes)

How to Cook Calrose Rice Perfectly (Rice Cooker, Stovetop)

Go-To Weeknight Ground Chicken Taco Salad (30 Minutes)

Roasted Leek and Fennel Salad with Arugula and Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette

Hands-Free Poached Red Curry Chicken Thighs

Everyday Sautéed Baby Bok Choy (10 Minutes)

Mom’s Crazy-Good Garlic Noodles (25 Minutes)

Creamy Poblano Corn Chowder with Chorizo

Next-Level Creamy Potato Soup with Bacon and Cheddar

Mom’s 25-Minute Sweet & Sour Chicken Stir Fry (No Deep Frying!)

Dangerously Good Spicy Rigatoni with Sausage and Calabrian Chilis (35 Minutes)

Nancy Meyers’ Christmas Fettuccine (Just Like ‘The Holiday’!)

Hands-Free Baked Butternut Squash Risotto (No Stirring!)

What to Eat in November: 10 Easy Dinners with Peak-Season Produce

Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Pasta with Pappardelle 

Thick & Creamy Buffalo Chicken Chili with Beans & Beer

Cozy Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup with White Beans

What to Eat in October: 10 Best Fall Recipes for Cozy Nights

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