10 Best Cookbooks for Weeknight Meals

Sometimes turmoil and trouble of a busy week can truly undermine any attempts I have at cooking or assembling a great dinner at home. Now that my daughter is school aged, between late days at work, her after school activities, or just being plain exhausted, my pre-kids routine of coming up with a few nights’ worth of creative meals has completely gone out the window. I need help (and more time!). Searching for weeknight recipes on Pinterest can be fun (when I have the time) but honestly sometimes I just want to crack open a trustworthy cookbook that features tested recipes that I know are going to be good (and fast).

If you’re like me, you want to add some creativity to your meal routine every now and then, but not at the expense of time during those precious few weeknight hours. So here are some of the best cookbooks for weeknight meals for even the craziest days in your jam-packed life.

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10 Best Cookbooks for Weeknight Meals

Real Simple Dinner Tonight: Done!

Real Simple Dinner Tonight: Done! by Everyday Food Magazine

The amazing magazine Everyday Food, published by Martha Stewart Living, was a staple in my house throughout its publication. The recipes found in this book all have minimal ingredients and require very little prep or artful skill to execute, but are amazing in flavor and variety.
Pure Simple Cooking: Effortless Meals Every Day

Pure Simple Cooking: Effortless Meals Every Day by Diana Henry

This cookbook will make the laziest cook in the house look like an absolute genius. All of the recipes depend on minimal preparation in exchange for a bit more cooking time. But that's fine, because while it's cooking you can tend to everything else that you need to get done!
The Meatball Shop Cookbook

The Meatball Shop Cookbook by Daniel Holzman, Michael Chernow, Lauren Deen & John Kernick

Until I read this cookbook, I had no idea that meatballs could be the center of so many different meals. From traditional Italian style to "gobble gobble balls" that recreate Thanksgiving dinner any night of the week, each recipe is a true marvel of fun and simplicity. Prepare them ahead of time for freezing and you'll have great meals ready to go at a moment's notice.
Mexican Everyday

Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless

I trust everything that Rick Bayless has to say about Mexican food, and this cookbook lays out simple recipes that don't shortcut any of the amazing flavors and ingredients you crave without any difficult or time-consuming tasks. He truly wants to help you get fresh and healthy Mexican food on the table quickly for your family, and you'll never think of Mexican food the same way again.
The Weeknight Cook

The Weeknight Cook by Williams-Sonoma

If you love sourcing your ingredients at your weekly farmer's market, then this book will fit in nicely with your repertoire. Organized by seasons for your shopping ease, this cookbook provides great ideas for utilizing fresh foods in a quick dinner preparation.
Weeknights with Giada: Quick and Simple Recipes to Revamp Dinner

Weeknights with Giada: Quick and Simple Recipes to Revamp Dinner by Giada De Laurentiis

Giada is a busy cook but also a busy mom at home, and this cookbook allows her to share some of her secrets to easy prepared dinners in her home. All of the recipes are family friendly and oriented to meet the needs of a bustling household. Oh, and it's not just Italian recipes either.
Michael Symon's 5 in 5

Michael Symon's 5 in 5: 5 Fresh Ingredients + 5 Minutes = 120 Fantastic Dinners by Michael Symon

Add five fresh ingredients to some staples from your pantry, use five minutes of preparation, and Michael Symon will reward you with an amazing dinner in your kitchen. This is the perfect cookbook for anyone who loathes long grocery store expeditions and loves expanding on standard dishes with creative twists.
Nigella Express

Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson

If you want to learn how to cook with ease and speed, Nigella will get you there with this book. Instead of preparing for a large party or relaxing in the kitchen with long prep, she's really sharing her techniques and recipes for quality food that's accessible to anyone with her tips. So pay attention and then enjoy.
No Time to Cook

No Time to Cook by Donna Hay

The categories of recipes in this book are pure genius: Fast Flavors, One Pan, One Pot, One Dish, Some Now and Later, and Instant Desserts. Those speedy titles are enough to intrigue any lazy cook into wonder and delight as they flip through these recipes, as even the smallest kitchen has one pot and one pan.
The Chew: What's for Dinner?

The Chew: What's for Dinner? by Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly, Daphne Oz & Gordon Elliott

If you enjoy watching The Chew, then you'll love having these recipes close at hand. While some are a little heavy handed when it comes to ingredients, they're all still very accessible for a weeknight whim.