Consider your first couple of weeks of back-to-school dinners covered with these weeknight-friendly Mediterranean recipes!
The countdown is on, at least in my house, for the return to the school calendar. It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to the summer schedule and welcome the business of backpacks, homework, and after-school activities.
To make the transition easier, I asked members of our community page about their go-to dinners for school nights, then I added a few of my own personal favorites to bring you this list.
Even if you don’t have kids on a school schedule, these easy weeknight dinner ideas are for you! All of these recipes make streamlined meals with limited (think 20 to 30 minutes) of hands-on time, and many are one-pan dishes to minimize clean-up.
As we count down to Labor Day, I hope this collection of easy weeknight dinners helps take some work off your plate!
Easy Chicken and Turkey Weeknight Dinners
Greek Sheet Pan Chicken
A make-ahead friendly Greek lemon and herb dressing, ladolemono, adds so much flavor to a tray of bone-in chicken thighs, a load of colorful veggies, and melty hunks of feta. It takes about 45 minutes in the oven, but that hands-off time is useful for unpacking lunch boxes, starting homework, and getting a jump on the other tasks of the evening. I like to serve this one with a fresh green salad, like maroulosalata.
Chicken Shawarma
When I have a few moments in the evening, I throw together a quick spiced yogurt marinade so I can cook up chicken shawarma in a snap the next day. This one is a favorite for nights when we’re juggling sports or other evening activities when our family might be eating at different times. The chicken bakes up in just about 30 minutes, and then we can easily use it to fill pitas with tzatziki and this cucumber tomato salad, or as a topping for chicken shawarma bowls.
Baked Chicken Meatballs
You know that I love a sheet pan dinner, but they’re also one of my favorite ways to make meatballs. The heat of the oven surrounds the meatballs so they cook evenly, without needing to hover over a stove. To make these, I season ground chicken with Greek oregano and sweet Spanish paprika and cook them with red onion and tomato wedges. They’re a perfect topping for Greek Spinach rice.
Ground Turkey Skillet Dinner
This catch-all meal has become a school night favorite! This skillet meal is a combination of ground turkey with a can of cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, onion, roasted bell peppers, and spinach. Homemade olive oil croutons are the finishing touch. They soak up the juices from the veggies and tie it all together. Want something sweet to finish it off? Berry-yogurt popsicles are a great make-ahead (and kid-friendly) option.
Ground Beef Dinners for Weeknights
Beef and Cabbage Skillet
Cumin, coriander, paprika, and sunny baharat transform basic ground beef and cabbage into a tasty one-pan meal that’s easy to assemble on a school night. Finely shredded, the cabbage has the texture of noodles. It’s naturally low carb, gluten-free, and high in protein. The leftovers make a great packed lunch tucked into a pita with some hummus!
Mediterranean Beef Bowls
My daughter Hannah’s favorite! Baharat-spiced ground beef atop warm bulgur, with crunchy vegetables and a drizzle of spicy harissa oil makes for a customizable dinner that’s ready in about 20 minutes. Since everyone can build their own bowl with the toppings they like best, this is a great one both for picky eaters or mixed schedules where family members are eating at different times. Add a drizzle of Tahini Sauce or Creamy Feta Dressing to tie it all together.
Weeknight Dinner Ideas with Seafood
Mediterranean Baked Salmon with Veggies and Feta
Baking salmon is a shortcut to super tender fish in surprisingly little time; only about 20 minutes in the oven! To make it a meal, I add equally quick-cooking mushrooms and vegetables and season everything with oregano and cumin, plus lemony sumac which complements the flavor of the fish. Hunks of feta don’t melt, but they soften and add creamy richness. All you need is some crusty olive bread or lemony couscous as a base.
Shrimp and Broccoli Skillet
Shrimp and broccoli, glossed up with bright, garlicky Greek ladolemono sauce is an appealing dinner that’s on the table in under 30 minutes. Because shrimp cooks so fast, this is one of my favorite options for those nights when practice runs late and everyone needs to eat, ASAP. A slice of crusty bread or Mediterranean Diet-friendly brown rice is perfect for soaking up extra sauce. Not a seafood person? Try this chicken and broccoli skillet instead!
Mediterranean Tuna Salad Sandwiches
This no-mayo tuna salad is a lifesaver on those nights when there’s simply no time to cook, or as a make-ahead lunch the kids can pack themselves before school. It’s loaded with crunchy veg and has a tangy flavor thanks to a bold Dijon vinaigrette. For a snacky dinner, serve it alongside homemade pita chips and crudités.
Weeknight Pasta Recipes
Pasta e Ceci
Pasta and chickpeas together is old-school Italian family comfort food! The mains simmer with lots of vegetables and rosemary into an inexpensive and kid-approved dish that’s somewhere between a soup and a stew. It’s a hearty meal on its own, but it’s also wonderful paired with an Italian Salad.
Shrimp Linguine
I’ve never met a kid not delighted by pasta for dinner, and this one, in its silky (but dairy-free) lemon-garlic sauce will please parents, too. It feels like something you’d order at a restaurant, but it’s simple enough for a weeknight. Pair it with garlicky Roasted Broccoli for a complete meal. If your kids are put off by shrimp, try them on this lemon chicken pasta instead!
More Easy Family Dinner Ideas
Recipe Roundups
9 Sheet Pan Dinners for Busy Weeknights
Fish and Seafood
10 Grilled Seafood Recipes to Make Before Summer Is Over
Get The Mediterranean Dish Cookbook
More than 120 recipes for bright and flavorful Mediterranean diet-inspired meals.
