21 Lazy Friday Night Meals for When You Just Can’t

Lazy Friday night dinners are a must at our house. But we still want them to be delicious. So when you’re feeling like you just can’t put a ton of energy towards cooking (we get it!), these are the meals you’ll want to make.

Easy Ground Turkey Stir-Fry

This easy recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes and is loaded with protein, veggies, and a flavorful sweet and savory stir-fry sauce that’s made with pantry staples. It’s a perfect weeknight dinner as it’s a great source of protein and cooks up in no time.

Get the Recipe: Easy Ground Turkey Stir Fry.

Copycat Chic-fil-A Chicken Nuggets

Trust me when I say that these Copycat Chick-Fil-A Grilled Nuggets are easy and addictive! This fast-food alternative is easy to make with at-home ingredients – you’ll be making them all the time!

Get the Recipe: Chic-fil-A Chicken Nuggets.

Turkey Tacos

Ground turkey is seasoned with a mix of spices and simmered with salsa to add another layer of flavor for juicy and delicious taco meat every time. Stuff into tortillas and add your favorite fresh toppings. This turkey taco recipe is quick and easy to make, made with simple ingredients, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Tacos.

Chicken Teriyaki

Teriyaki chicken stir fry is a little sweet, a little savory, and totally delicious. You’ll love that it’s made with simple ingredients and takes less than 15 minutes to pull together, perfect for weeknight dinners. Hold onto the recipe for this homemade teriyaki sauce, it’s also delicious on pork, salmon, and shrimp!

Get the Recipe: Chicken Teriyaki.

Turkey Pesto Panini

This recipe is inspired by a Starbucks panini, but we’ve added a lot more fillings for even more flavor. It comes together quickly thanks to deli turkey and has tons of flavor, thanks to the pesto and cheese. Serve with fries, chips or fresh fruit.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Pesto Panini.

King Prawn Chow Mein

King Prawn Chow Mein is an absolutely sensational dish that’s packed full of fabulous flavor. You can cook it all in one pan, and it’s ready to go in just 20 minutes, so it’s perfect for even the busiest weeknight meal! 

Get the Recipe: King Prawn Chow Mein.

Copycat Olive Garden Fettucine Alfredo

This Olive Garden-inspired Fettucine Alfredo is perfect to cure your pasta cravings when you don’t want to make the trip to the restaurant. The creamy and delicious sauce is whipped up in under 30 minutes. Try it out!

Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Fettucine Alfredo.

Copycat P.F. Chang’s Chicken Fried Rice

This at-home P.F. Changs dish is the perfect comfort food for weeknight dinners. It is warm and delicious, and also a great way to get a healthier version of the same delicious flavors. It is definitely a crowd-pleaser!

Get the Recipe: P.F. Chang’s Chicken Fried Rice.

Crispy Baked Quesadillas

These baked quesadillas are easy and cheesy with plenty of tender chicken tucked between crispy baked shells. It’s a great way to make quesadillas for a crowd as you no longer need to babysit the stove! The recipe calls for chicken, but you could swap it for cooked ground beef, black beans, or fajita veggies instead if desired.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Baked Quesadillas.

Crockpot Pesto Chicken

You’ll need just two ingredients for this flavorful and juicy chicken. It uses budget-friendly chicken thighs to stretch your grocery budget and keep your chicken juicy. Pile this saucy chicken on bread for sandwiches and add a bit of fresh mozzarella and fresh tomatoes for a Caprese-inspired meal.

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Pesto Chicken.

Dinner-Worthy Snack Board

Who says you can’t have a mini charcuterie board for dinner? This snack board has such a delicious assortment of deli meats, cheese, fresh fruit, and veggies. It has all of the variety we look for in a meal, with minimal prep.

Get the Recipe: Dinner Worthy Snack Board.

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Andouille Sausage

Looking for tasty dinner ideas? Why not give this sheet pan shrimp and andouille sausage recipe a whirl? It’s fail-proof, easy, and oh-so delicious.

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Andouille Sausage.

Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry

Thinly sliced steak is cooked to perfection and bites of crisp and tender broccoli are coated in a deliciously glossy sauce that is sweet, savory, and balanced that brings everything together. This beef and broccoli is made with simple ingredients and can be prepped in just 15 minutes, which is why we love it on busy weeknights, and given all of the rave reviews on my original steak stir-fry, I know your family will, too!

Get the Recipe: Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry.

Cheesy Boursin Pasta

This is the best cheesy pasta and it’s made with just a few ingredients. Creamy Boursin cheese is the base of this simple sauce and has the smoothest creamy texture. Simply cook the pasta, and whip up the sauce with some sliced garlic, Boursin, and pasta water. Serve with a simple green salad and breadsticks for an utterly delicious meal.

Get the Recipe: Boursin Cheese Pasta.

Naan Pizzas

These easy mini naan pizzas are perfect for nights when you don’t feel like cooking as they take just a few minutes to prep. Put out toppings and let everyone make their own.

Get the Recipe: Naan Pizzas.

Shredded Chicken Nachos

These shredded chicken nachos contain layers of crunchy tortilla chips, shredded salsa chicken, beans, and two layers of cheese. After a quick broil, it’s time to top with the perfect nacho toppings your heart desires. These loaded chicken nachos are the perfect blend of crunch, spice, and savory goodness. 

Get the Recipe: Shredded Chicken Nachos.

Sheet Pan Caprese Pizza

Sink your teeth into a slice of this fantastic Caprese pizza, and you’ll love those fresh flavors. This recipe is so quick and easy to make, too!

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Caprese Pizza.

Dumpling Soup

Save your money and skip the takeout because you can make this delicious and easy dumpling soup at home in just 15 minutes. Frozen dumplings cook in a garlic and ginger broth and spinach wilts in the last few minutes of cooking for a light, but satisfying soup. Top with chili crisp oil and sesame oil for more flavor.

Get the Recipe: Dumpling Soup.

Cheesy Turkey Taco Skillet

Taco night has never been so tasty! This dish is as easy as can be and is loaded with cheesy ground turkey, black beans, corn, and plenty of taco toppings to make a one-dish meal that can fill up a hungry family. You can have this quick meal on the table in just about 15 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Turkey Taco Skillet.

Easy Udon Noodles

Save your time and money on a busy weeknight. These easy udon noodles taste even better than takeout! Made with snow peas, broccoli, and peppers, this pan-fried noodle dish is loaded with veggies and flavor. Naturally vegetarian, you could add some protein like chicken, shrimp, or tofu if desired.

Get the Recipe: Easy Udon Noodles.

Big Mac Salad

Skip the drive-thru and get the flavor you crave, at home. This recipe has Big Mac-inspired flavor in each bite, but with a lighter and fresher flavor. Serve with fries for a delicious and nutritious main course dinner salad.

Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad.