Mondays are rough enough without stressing over dinner. Whether you’re tired, over it, or just can’t be bothered, these one-pan wonders and quick meals are here to save the day. They practically cook themselves, leaving you with less mess and more time to crash on the couch. From sheet pan chicken to lazy pastas, these recipes keep things simple without sacrificing flavor.
Kale and Feta Egg Bake
This egg bake with kale and feta is super easy to throw together. It’s a great option for Monday when you’re running low on time but still want something that feels a bit more thought out than scrambled eggs.
Get the Recipe: Kale and Feta Egg Bake
Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp
Garlic shrimp and bucatini pasta tossed together with cherry tomatoes in under 30 minutes. It’s a great way to feel like you’ve cooked something fancy on a Monday, without actually doing much work.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini with Garlic Shrimp
Soba Noodle Pasta
Simple and budget-friendly, this soba noodle pasta comes together fast with just onions and a soft-boiled egg. It’s perfect for those Monday nights when you want something filling without spending much time in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Soba Noodle Pasta
Sheet Pan Pork Chop Dinner
Pork chops, red cabbage, potatoes, and apples all roast together on one sheet pan. It’s a no-fuss dinner with all the flavors you want in one go, perfect for a Monday when you want a complete meal but zero effort. Throw it in the oven and let it handle the rest.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Pork Chop Dinner
Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
No defrosting required here. Take frozen salmon, pop it into the air fryer, and coat it with a maple mustard sauce. In under 20 minutes, you’ve got a great dinner with no extra planning required—a lifesaver for those Mondays when you forgot to meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas
Surf and turf fajitas made simple. Steak and shrimp seasoned and cooked on a single sheet pan in under 20 minutes. This one’s perfect when you want something that feels a little extra but is still super easy to pull off on a Monday.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas
Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta
Light, fresh, and done in no time. Lemon, spinach, and feta make this a great pasta dish when you want something quick that still feels like a real dinner. Plus, it’s perfect for meatless Mondays or when you just need a break from heavy meals.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta
Chinese Chicken Zoodles
Chicken zoodles that give you all the flavors of your favorite takeout but come together in just 15 minutes. Perfect for a Monday night when you need dinner on the table fast without reaching for the phone.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Zoodles
Sweet Potato Hash
This Mexican-inspired sweet potato hash brings a little heat with a harissa kick. Great for when you want breakfast for dinner, or you just need something quick and flavorful to get through Monday night without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Hash
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Crispy skin and juicy meat in under 25 minutes—air fryer chicken leg quarters make dinner effortless. Perfect for a Monday night when the last thing you want is to fuss over a stove. Season, air fry, and let dinner handle itself.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters
Burger Bowls
All the best parts of a burger without dealing with the bun. Throw your toppings into a bowl with a homemade sauce, and you’ve got a healthier take on your favorite fast food. Great for when you’re too tired for takeout but want those flavors.
Get the Recipe: Burger Bowls
Simple Skillet Pork Chops
Just butter, garlic, and a skillet turn regular pork chops into something much better. This is a quick and easy dinner for Monday when you don’t want to deal with complicated cooking but still want something tasty.
Get the Recipe: Simple Skillet Pork Chops
Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Creamy ricotta, lemon, and fresh basil make this pasta light and refreshing, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Great for a Monday when you need something simple but don’t want to sacrifice flavor.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Blackened Cod
Season your cod with some basic pantry spices, sear it quickly in a pan, and you’re done. It’s perfect for Monday nights when you need something fast that still feels like an actual meal, not just something thrown together in desperation.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts
Forgot to defrost your chicken? No problem. Throw frozen chicken breasts in the air fryer, and in less than 30 minutes, you’ve got tender, juicy chicken ready to go. A lifesaver for those Mondays when everything feels too hard.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Breasts
Sheet Pan Sausage & Vegetables
Sausage and veggies roasted on one sheet pan for a simple but solid meal. It’s great for Mondays when you don’t want to think about dinner but still need something that’ll fill you up. Toss everything together, bake, and you’re done.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage & Vegetables
Healthier Sloppy Joes
A leaner version of the classic sloppy joes, using ground beef, low-sugar ketchup, and BBQ sauce. Great for when you want comfort food on a Monday, but without feeling like you’ve gone completely off the rails.
Get the Recipe: Healthier Sloppy Joes
Salsa Chicken
Chicken breasts baked with salsa, corn, and cheddar cheese in under 30 minutes. It’s a no-brainer Monday night dinner that’s easy to prep and guaranteed to be a hit with the family.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken
Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry
Ground pork, cabbage, and mushrooms stir-fried together in one pan. Quick, simple, and packed with flavor, making it a great option for when you want something hearty but don’t have the energy to cook anything complicated on a Monday.
Get the Recipe: Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
This five-ingredient classic pasta dish is creamy, cheesy, and dead simple to make. Perfect for a lazy Monday night when you want something comforting but don’t have the energy for an elaborate meal.
Get the Recipe: Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
Blackened Mahi Mahi
This blackened mahi mahi recipe needs just a simple seasoning blend and a few minutes under the broiler. It’s great for Mondays because it’s quick and tastes like you actually tried—without the hassle of cooking something elaborate.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Mahi Mahi
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
