I love to work on the fly in the kitchen. Putting something together from a few ingredients is a life skill I value, but I’ve found it also helps to do a little planning, especially when feeding kids is involved.

Today I’m sharing a couple of my go-to weeknight recipes. Some are lighter dishes and others are more filling, but all are supremely delicious and relatively simple to make.

If you are feeling in a rut, here are some great weeknight recipe ideas I love!

01

Potato Salad With Grilled Steak

This meal was initially made as a part of our cookbook club. I make a version of it with my healthy potato salad recipe and a very lightly grilled flank steak.

The key to making the grilled steak extra special is to season the steak as soon as you bring it home. Before you grill it, bring the steak to room temperature. Then sear it on a very hot grill and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

02

Caramelized Shallot Pasta by Alison Roman

There are a lot of good pantry pastas out there but this one takes the cake. I crave it often! Something amazing happens when you cook down the shallots into a soft, jammy texture. It’s a special dish!

03

Pork Tacos

I love how hands-off this meal is, and using an Instant Pot really helps put it together in a pinch. I use whatever spice rub I have on hand and then make sure I sear the pork roast until the sides are brown before pressure cooking. Then I pressure cook on high for 30 mins, then shred the pork and let it sit in the juices for an additional 4-5 mins.

I like to keep pickled onions, cheese, sour cream, and corn tortillas in the fridge, so the meal comes together quickly!

04

Bitter Greens With Crispy Shallots and Parmesan by Travis Lett of Gjelina

At first glance, this is a really simple radicchio and greens salad. However, the flavors are deliciously complex. In particular, there’s something about the smokiness of the oil (which is what the shallots are cooked in) that makes all of the flavors pop. It’s easy enough to serve as a side on a weeknight and special enough to make as a dish for a dinner party.

05

Baked Potato Bar

This is always a favorite! It’s so easy to put together and everyone loves it. I like to serve the potatoes with toppings like sour cream, bacon, and cheese. I’ll also sometimes put out pre-made dips like pickle dip or Top the Tator. You could even put caviar on top if you wanted to give a simple baked potato a little something extra.

I use russet potatoes and cook them in my Instant Pot! The cooking time depends on the size, but for a medium potato, I cook for 14 minutes on high and then allow a natural release of pressure.

06

Sheet Pan Chicken by Alison Roman

There is something magical about chicken thighs because no matter how long you may have overcooked them, they stay tender. This recipe is high in flavor, low in effort, and a total crowd-pleaser.

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.