Delivery, Who? These 40 Friday Night Dinners Are How We Like To Kick Off The Weekend
If we had a crystal ball, we'd love to know how we’ll feel by the time Friday dinner rolls around. Was it a good week that just flew by? Maybe you’ll have the energy to pull out all the stops to herald in the weekend with your Friday night meal. Was it a loooong week you swore should’ve been over by Wednesday? That sounds more like you’ll be picking up the phone and calling for Chinese food or heading out the door to your favorite Mexican spot. While we’re in full support of a delivery habit (particularly on Fridays), we hope to inspire you to get into your kitchen this weekend. Check out our list of 40 Friday night dinners for ideas.
Just because you’re cooking at home doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy all your favorite delivery dishes! You could go Asian with our easy pad thai or orange chicken, Indian with our butter chicken or lamb curry, or Italian with our miso bolognese (we love a twist ingredient) or homemade pizza. These dishes are so easy, you might find yourself reaching for those takeout menus less and less for weeknight dinners.
On the other hand, if the work week being over means you’ve now got more attention to pay to your dinner, try one of our slightly more involved recipes. We’ve employed a few hacks to make things even easier on you (it’s the weekend after all). Try our baked risotto, oven-baked BBQ ribs, or pulled pork to check out our shortcuts to great meals.
For more weekend inspiration, check out our list of Sunday dinners and Sunday brunch/breakfast ideas too.
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Sloppy Joe casseroles are where. It’s. AT. Cozy? Check! Meaty? Check! Buttery carbs and cheese? Check and check! This hearty casserole has plenty of peppers and onions, lots of sauce, and so much flavor too. Being on Team Casserole doesn’t stop us from appreciating the iconic sloppy Joe sandwich as a pasta sauce or a cheesy meatball bake, it just gives us more ways to celebrate the combination of ground beef and tangy sauce.
Get the Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe.
Grilled Portobello Tacos
Mushroom lovers alert: Summer taco nights just got upgraded. Featuring portobello mushrooms marinated in taco spices and grilled to perfection, these vegetarian tacos will delight meat-lovers and vegans (skip the cheese!) alike.
Get the Grilled Portobello Tacos recipe.
Cracker Barrel Meatloaf
Meatloaf is cozy, homey, and just plain delicious. While you might prefer your uncle’s recipe or your grandmother’s, lots of Americans really love the version sold at Cracker Barrel restaurants. Made with ground beef, crushed Ritz crackers, a sweet–tangy ketchup glaze, and more, this Cracker Barrel copycat version is well worth making.
Get the Cracker Barrel Meatloaf recipe.
Homemade Pizza
Nothing beats a fresh-out-of-the-oven pizza, and once you see how easy it is to make for yourself, you'll never order delivery again. Switch up the toppings and add your favorites to make it your own. Pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, pineapple? You can have it all!
Get the Homemade Pizza recipe.
Arroz Con Pollo
Arroz con pollo (chicken with rice in Spanish) is the perfect weeknight dinner savior. It’s an easy one-pot meal that doesn’t taste like one (seriously, you just might be eating the rice straight out of the pan). The best part? It makes for incredible leftovers, so you can enjoy it all week long.
Get the Arroz Con Pollo recipe.
Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil
The end of summer usually calls for a shrimp boil, but it’s almost always too hot to turn the stove on. The solution is simple: Throw those same ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do the work while you lounge in the sun. Baby potatoes, sweet corn, spicy sausage, and lemons swimming in a flavorful broth play a supporting cast to the star of the show—juicy shrimp tossed in plenty of Old Bay seasoning. This is the kind of hands-off meal that makes summer entertaining a breeze. Just dump, cook, and roll out the newspaper.
Get the Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil recipe.
Smash Burger Tacos
You’ll never have to choose between burger night or taco night with these fully loaded smash burger tacos. It’s the ultimate comfort food hybrid with a crispy, juicy, thin beef patty, melty American cheese, and all the classic burger fixings loaded onto a toasted flour tortilla. And of course, we had to include a classic burger sauce and sesame seeds to top it all off.
Get the Smash Burger Tacos recipe.
Vegetable Curry
When you want something comforting, savory, and just a little spicy, you can’t go wrong with some form of curry. In this recipe, a variety of vegetables takes center stage alongside a creamy Thai-style curry. We promise you won’t even miss the meat.
Get the Vegetable Curry recipe.
Marry Me Meatballs
Just like all of our Marry Me dishes that came before, the sauce is something to obsess over. It’s perfect for sopping up with crusty bread or tossing with your favorite al dente pasta. Serve it up with a simple salad or your favorite roasted veggie to make this a well-rounded, satisfying meal for a Friday night.
Get the Marry Me Meatballs recipe.
Pulled Pork
Extremely tender with a sweet yet tangy homemade BBQ sauce, this oven-baked pulled pork is endlessly versatile: Whether you sandwich it between a soft potato bun, pile it on top of a baked potato, or even eat it on its own, pulled pork works for practically any meal, any time of year.
Get the Pulled Pork recipe.
Orange Chicken
If you just can't get enough of the classic Panda Express dish, this copycat recipe will be a game-changer. Ready in under an hour with all of the same sweet and savory flavors you love, staying in for weeknight dinner has never been easier.
Get the Orange Chicken recipe.
Ramen Carbonara
Craving carbonara, but also in need of a cheap and easy dinner (that the whole family can get behind)? Instant ramen is here to save the day. We add the classic creamy sauce with crispy bacon to our noodles for a weeknight dinner in just around 30 minutes that tastes like you spent the whole day in the kitchen.
Get the Ramen Carbonara recipe.
Sesame Tofu & Broccoli
In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. Mmm.
Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.
BBQ Oven-Baked Ribs
When the craving for ribs strikes, nothing else will suffice but that sweet, salty, savory, and tender meat. But sometimes, making ribs on the grill just isn’t an option. No matter the weather or living situation, you can make amazingly tender, delicious ribs with this foolproof recipe.
Get the BBQ Oven-Baked Ribs recipe.
One-Pan Eggplant Parm Orzo
Eggplant Parm is very high on our comfort food dinners list, but we don’t always feel like breaking out the oil for frying. To get all of the textures and flavors of the OG without the cleanup job, we transformed classic eggplant Parmesan into a one-pan dinner that’s as delicious as it is filling.
Get the One-Pan Eggplant Parm Orzo recipe.
Tater Tot Casserole
This casserole is a total guilty pleasure. If you're trying to lighten it up, ground turkey or chicken would be a delicious swap out for the beef. If you're really being good (we're impressed!) top the casserole with zucchini tater tots in place of the potato variety.
Get the Tater Tot Casserole recipe.
Carne Asada Tacos
This flavorful handheld food has it all—tender marinated skirt steak, an aromatic corn tortilla, and all of the classic street taco toppings. Served for lunch or dinner, these are delicious with a hearty side of refried beans and rice, or you can keep it light with corn salad.
Get the Carne Asada Tacos recipe.
Carnitas Tamale Pie
Just like our OG tamale pie and our chicken tamale pie, this recipe puts the cornbread underneath the topping (rather than on top). This method provides a sturdy bottom that helps the tamale pie cut and lift like a slice of loaded pizza, leaving the shredded pork surface open for extra toppings like fresh tomatoes and scallions.
Get the Carnitas Tamale Pie recipe.
Easy Pad Thai
We skipped some traditional Thai ingredients (such as dried shrimp, tamarind, pressed tofu, and bean sprouts) to make this dish easier, and instead opted for ingredients that you can pick up at your local grocery store. Absolutely necessary, though? Fish sauce. It adds an unbeatable punch of umami goodness.
Get the Easy Pad Thai recipe.
Baked Risotto with Lemon, Peas & Parmesan
If you’ve never made risotto rice because you didn’t want to stand there stirring forever, then this recipe is for you. It packs all the satisfying flavor of a slow-stirred version into a fraction of the hands-on time!
Get the Baked Risotto with Lemon, Peas & Parmesan recipe.
Burger Bowls
Craving a juicy cheeseburger but not the mandatory nap that comes with it? This cheesy, saucy, veggie-packed burger bowl is your solution. These bowls are just as versatile as an actual burger, so have fun with your preferred toppings too.
Get the Burger Bowls recipe.
Sloppy Joes
If you're craving a reliable, nostalgic, easy (and cheap) weeknight dinner, then there’s no debate: A sloppy Joes’ night is in order. The perfect answer to, “How far can I stretch this package of ground beef?”, you only need only require a handful of simple ingredients to create this classic family dinner.
Get the Sloppy Joes recipe.
Queso Mac & Cheese
This one-pot recipe starts by cooking macaroni, then uses the same pot and pasta water to create a creamy queso sauce that coats every curly noodle. For an extra kick, finish it off with a crunchy salsa crumble. Serve this side dish alongside hot dog tacos for a twist that'll have everyone asking for seconds.
Get the Queso Mac & Cheese recipe.
Beef & Broccoli
The sauce in this version uses ingredients we always have on hand in our kitchen—garlic, broth, soy sauce, lime juice, and Sriracha. While not traditional, this recipe hits the spot. For a more traditional version (with the addition of hoisin sauce), try our beef & broccoli stir-fry.
Get the Beef & Broccoli recipe.
Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein
The key to any stir fry is having all the prep done beforehand—because when you’re working with a hot wok, you gotta move quickly. In this copycat recipe, cabbage and celery are cooked just slightly so the dish retains some crunchiness, but feel free to add any additional veggies you like!
Get the Copycat Panda Express Chow Mein recipe.
Chicken Quesadilla
For our chicken quesadillas, we use a combination of Monterey jack and cheddar, but you can substitute any melty cheese you prefer. Our biggest piece of advice: Don't worry about cheese spilling onto the pan. Those crispy, verging on burnt bits (aka frico) add an unparalleled salty, fatty crunch.
Get the Chicken Quesadilla recipe.
Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs
To make this a true weeknight winner, spoon the meatballs, vegetables, and sauce over steamed jasmine rice or rice noodles for a filling dinner. The super-flavorful curry sauce will soak into your base, giving sweet and savory heat in every bite.
Get the Thai-Style Red Curry Meatballs recipe.
Dirty Martini Steak Frites
Don’t let the frozen fries fool you—this is a meal for grown-ups. In it, steak frites get fused with a dirty gin martini to create a combo that will leave you feeling like your most sophisticated self. Whip this 45-minute marvel up for date night or your next dinner party, and watch the compliments roll in.
Get the Dirty Martini Steak Frites recipe.
Chicken Enchiladas
When the craving for satisfying comfort food meets the need for a straightforward weeknight dinner, chicken enchiladas are a guaranteed winner. They’re easy, filling, and take less than an hour to prepare from start to finish.
Get the Chicken Enchiladas recipe.
Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel Sandwiches
Although these shortcut falafel aren’t as crispy as the classic fried variety, they develop a nice golden crust and contain all the key spices (with a LOT less mess). A zippy roasted pepper salad is the perfect foil, and creamy tahini sauce (aka tarator sauce) ties it all together.
Get the Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel Sandwiches recipe.
Taco Spaghetti
One-pot taco spaghetti is a fast-as-can-be weeknight dinner that pairs all your favorite taco fixin’s with spaghetti rather than taco shells. It's especially perfect for those nights when you just cannot stand the thought of a sink full of dirty dishes.
Get the Taco Spaghetti recipe.
Indian Butter Chicken
Delicious butter chicken in well under an hour? Almost feels too good to be true, but we promise, it's easy! Naan or pita bread is non-negotiable. Bonus: this dish freezes so well, so do your future self a favor and make extra to save.
Get the Indian Butter Chicken recipe.
Miso Bolognese
We’re no strangers to the simple magic of a well-done bolognese sauce; it’s a staple in our weeknight dinner rotation. To avoid falling into a dreaded rut, we turned to one of our favorite super-power ingredients to jazz it up. Enter: miso!
Get the Miso Bolognese recipe.
Penne Alla Vodka
Ready in around 30 minutes, this penne alla vodka is one of our go-to pasta dinners when we're looking for an easy-to-make recipe that delivers. Making homemade pasta sauce does require a bit more effort than picking up that trusty jar, but trust us—with this vodka sauce, it makes all the difference.
Get the Penne Alla Vodka recipe.
Beer-Battered Fish
There's nothing super crazy about this recipe, but when you do it right, it's absolutely perfect. Not sure how to make french fries? We've got you. Pair this crunchy fish with our double-fried french fries or oven-baked fries for the perfect Friday night dinner.
Get the Beer-Battered Fish recipe.
Sheet-Pan Green Chile Chicken Nachos
Get the Sheet-Pan Green Chile Chicken Nachos recipe.
Cast-Iron Skillet Steak
Think you have to go to a fancy restaurant to eat a really great steak? Nah. You can cook a restaurant-quality steak in 15 minutes (sometimes even less) at home. The key: making sure your skillet is super hot, and your steak super dry and well-seasoned before the searing starts.
Get the Cast-Iron Skillet Steak recipe.
Chicken Biryani
For this recipe, we were inspired by the Hyderabadi style of biryani, where rice and a curry filled with veggies and/or a protein are cooked separately, then layered and baked into an aromatic, harmonious and hearty dish. Serve along side a fresh cucumber raita and a healthy dinner salad for a perfectly balanced meal.
Get the Chicken Biryani recipe.
Lamb Curry
This takeout favorite is usually delivered alongside hot buttered naan bread and white basmati rice, but at home you can serve it how you like! Not sure how to cook great rice? We got you. Prefer pita bread? We've got that too.
Get the Lamb Curry recipe.
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes
We love a good twice-baked potato when we're craving something creamy, carb-y, and comforting. These twice-baked sweet potatoes exhibit all the same qualities, making them the perfect vegetarian dinner!
Get the Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.
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