We love to cook, but we don't always have time to whip up a gourmet dinner—especially on weeknights. Our editors have mastered quick (and delicious!) weeknight dinners, and now we're sharing our favorite gadgets, recipes, and ingredients to help you find your next weeknight dinner win.
Grab a tasty sauce that'll quickly elevate simple roasted veggies, or save time (and energy) at the end of a long day with our favorite cooking appliances. We also have hundreds of easy dinner recipes to share, so you can get your next meal on the table in no time. These are our editors' favorite easy dinner ideas.
COURTESY OF YONDU / AMAZON
Umami Sauce
"Whenever I need to jazz up the flavor of grains or vegetables, this sauce is my new go-to in place of salt. It's similar in consistency to soy sauce but its flavor is more nuanced. Even one of my picky kids who is a huge soy sauce fan says he likes Yondu better, and given how set in his ways he is about everything, this says a lot!"
— Viveka Neveln, Senior Garden Editor
Buy It: Yondu Vegetable Umami Seasoning ($7, Amazon)
COURTESY OF WALMART
Colorful Air Fryer
"This air fryer has been a game-changer for quick weeknight dinners. Whether I’m roasting veggies or cooking a quick chicken breast for a salad, it’s so nice not needing to turn the oven on—especially in the summer! I love that this one comes in fun colors, and the price point is super affordable for how big it is."
— Emily VanSchmus, Home Editor
Buy It: 6-Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer ($79, Walmart)
One-Pan Meals
"Cooking helps me wind down after a day at work, but I don't always want to break out a lot of dishes to get the job done. Enter one-pan dinners. I love throwing together whatever veggies and protein are in my fridge with a delicious sauce (this DIY curry is a go-to). Serve over steamed rice or quinoa and it's a super satisfying comfort meal. If you're looking for inspiration, we have 30+ easy one-pan dinner recipes to choose from."
— Katlyn Moncada, Food Editor
COURTESY OF AMAZON
Handheld Garlic Press
"Is there such a thing as too much garlic? Probably, but don't tell me that. I use a lot of garlic in my cooking, but I hate the messy, sticky work (and cleanup) of pressing garlic. Luckily, I found this garlic press a few years ago and haven't looked back. It has a neat little bar that helps push out every last piece from the press, making cleanup fairly easy as well. I usually hand-wash near after use with no trouble, but it's also dishwasher safe. And, who doesn't love a fun, colorful kitchen tool to add to your cooking arsenal?"
— Emily Manchester, VP and General Manager, BHG
Buy It: Joseph Joseph CleanForce Garlic Press ($15, Amazon)
COURTESY OF SOLO STOVE
Solo Stove Pizza Oven
"We've been having pizza nights every Friday and this outdoor pizza oven has totally changed the game. It cooks the pizza to charred, chewy perfection in just a couple minutes. So much better than delivery!"
— Sarah Martens, Senior Food Editor
Buy It: Pi Pizza Oven ($399, Solo Stove)
COURTESY OF GEORGE FOREMAN
George Foreman Indoor Grill
"As someone who is cooking for just myself and lives in an apartment with no balcony or outdoor area for grilling, this indoor grill has been a game-changer when it comes to making meals. It is smokeless, easy to use, and small enough to store in a cabinet or drawer."
— Emerson Latham, Editorial Apprentice
Buy It: Electric Indoor Grill ($28, George Foreman)
Dressed Up BLT
"I've always loved BLTs—they just taste like summer, and they're easy to make. My favorite food TikTok account, Wishbone Kitchen, shared her version of an elevated BLT and I'm in love. Toast the bread with mayo, use basil for extra flavor paired with a juicy, garden tomato, and "dress" the lettuce ever so slightly. The ideal, easy summer dinner—just dressed up a bit."
— Halee Miller, Editorial Assistant
COURTESY OF TRADER JOE'S
Trader Joes Greek Chickpeas
"On a busy weeknight I usually opt for an easy salad, pantry pasta, or something I can pair with two fried eggs. A can of pre-seasoned chickpeas in oil amps up the flavor and protein content of almost any meal. Toss with orecchiette pasta and cooked asparagus or make a zesty Mediterranean wrap."
— Erin Hooker, Assistant Food Editor
Buy It: Greek Chickpeas with Cumin and Parsley ($3, Trader Joe's)
COURTESY OF AMAZON
Garlic Chopper
"This little gadget has become a kitchen must-have for me. It perfectly minces my garlic every time, with minimal handling on my part, so my fingers don't smell so badly of garlic after every meal. It's so easy to use, and it saves me a lot of chopping every time!"
— Lauren Phillips, Associate Director, Special Projects
Buy It: Chef'n Garlic Zoom Garlic Chopper ($12, Amazon)