43 Friday Night Dinner Ideas to Kick Off the Weekend
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On the one hand, the best Friday night dinner ideas aren’t usually intricate projects—it’s a full weekday, after all, with its own schedule constraints. Depending on the week you had, you might find yourself short on energy. But Friday does feel like the right time for a special meal—something more fun than your standard weeknight dinner, something you can cook with a glass of wine in hand or some friends by your side. Scroll down for a few of our favorite easy Friday night dinners, including cozy comfort food, quick fish recipes, and the crispiest, meltiest sandwich around.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich1/43Double-Stack Mushroom and Chicken Cheeseburgers
Everyone likes when your Friday night dinner ideas involve juicy double-stacked burger patties that are layered with Muenster and shredded lettuce. They’re ready in just 30 minutes, which is likely faster than you can make takeout appear.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell2/43Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Baked Halibut
We officially give you permission to break that old rule about seafood and cheese—this recipe gives you tender, flaky fish with a golden brown, cheesy crust.
Photo by Suech and Beck4/43Scallops With Remoulade
Dress up seared scallops with a quick creamy sauce made with mayonnaise, extra-virgin olive oil, grainy mustard, capers, Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, and lemon.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Mira Evnine6/43Easy Fish Tacos
Grab some corn tortillas, let some cod, halibut, or haddock marinate for 20 minutes, and you’re on your way to a taco dinner that the whole family will love.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne9/43Paneer-Stuffed Peppers
Fill bell peppers with spiced tomato sauce and creamy paneer for a vegetarian dinner you’ll want to make over and over.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert10/43Chicken Fajitas
This family favorite can be made with chicken breasts or thighs, which get a quick marinade with onion, garlic, fresh lime, cumin, ancho chile, and smoked paprika. Just make sure you have lots of avocado for serving.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell11/43Classic Sole Meunière
Planning a romantic date night to wrap up your week? This 15-minute dish is one of our easiest, most impressive dinner recipes. And it leaves you time to prep the perfect Parisian dessert.
Photo by Andrew Bui15/43Baked Pasta Primavera
Take a casserole dish and put a block of cream cheese in the center. Surround with vegetables and add some wine and vegetable broth, then cover and cook until the veggies are tender and the cream cheese is meltingly soft. You’ll stir it all up with pasta to make a lovely, creamy sauce.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks.16/43French Bread Pizzas With Ricotta, Roasted Tomatoes, and Pesto
Start a Friday night pizza tradition without messing with dough. Switch it up with a classic pepperoni version or a fun BBQ chicken pizza.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne17/43Sour Cream and Onion Fish
This crispy fish dinner is inspired by your favorite potato chip flavor.
Photo by Aubrie Pick19/43Hanoi Grilled Chicken Banh Mi
Make a batch of the pickled daikon and carrot up to a month ahead and stash it in your fridge for quick banh mi whenever the craving hits.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht20/43Lemony Salmon With Potatoes
The secret to the tangy mustard glaze on this salmon? Store-bought lemon curd. But you can make your own if you’re planning an ambitious weekend.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell21/43Spring Pea Fish Chowder
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson22/43Simple One-Skillet Chicken Alfredo Pasta
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova23/43Buttermilk French Toast
Breakfast for dinner lifts your spirits—and this French toast will also help you use of the rest of that carton of buttermilk that’s been sitting in your fridge.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich24/43Swordfish Steaks With Peppercorn Butter
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne25/43Baked Rigatoni With Red Peppers and Green Olives
We never get tired of our favorite lasagna recipe, but if you want to switch up your baked pasta routine, consider this rigatoni (or penne or ziti) with olives, jarred roasted red peppers, and lots of fresh mozzarella.
Photo by Aubrie Pick26/43Chermoula Pork Chops With Labneh and Charred Shallots
Juicy pork chops are a wonderful canvas for herby chermoula, flavored with preserved lemon and lots of spices.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad27/43Lemony Risotto With Asparagus and Shrimp
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell28/43Grilled Shrimp, Zucchini, and Tomatoes With Feta
Once you have a grill basket, you'll definitely keep this 15-minute Greek-inspired dinner in your rotation.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Lillian Chou29/43Mapo Tofu
Serve this Sichuan specialty over rice, along with some dry-fried green beans.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich30/43Pulled Mushroom Tacos With Salsa Guille
Crisp and meaty oyster mushrooms make a fabulous taco filling. Pile with avocado and radishes, and serve some black beans on the side.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich32/43Paella With Seafood
Start your weekend strong by gathering everyone in the kitchen—or at the grill. They all want to watch this celebratory dish come together.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton33/43Tuna Melt
For the world’s best tuna melt, you’ll spread mayo on the bread before toasting, and fill with lots of quick-pickled onion. You might want to drink an old-school chocolate malt with it.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne36/43Kung Pao Chicken
This stir-fry pairs spicy red chiles with tangy black vinegar and tingly Sichuan pepper, plus ginger, peanuts, and juicy cubes of chicken.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton38/43Black Pepper Roasted Chicken
This classic peppery Thai chicken dish is one of our favorites from Leela Punyaratabandhu’s cookbook, Bangkok. Serve it with sweet chile sauce and lots of rice.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Mira Evnine39/43Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
A cozy family dinner that comes together all in one pot in under an hour. The key to the silky sauce? A can of evaporated milk.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Dana Bonagura41/43Oven Risotto With Crispy Roasted Mushrooms
Cap off your week with this hands-off version of the classic dish. You can use any type of mushrooms here, or a mix of oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and criminis.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne42/43Crispy Curried Chicken Cutlets With a Lot of Cabbage
A touch of curry powder and a bit of mustard gives this chicken recipe a pop of flavor.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege43/43Instant Pot Braised Lamb With White Beans and Spinach
The Instant Pot dish is great for a Friday night dinner idea that tastes like it cooked all day (but really didn’t take that long). Serve this tender stewy lamb with bread for mopping up all the sauce.
