It’s Monday. You’re tired, and worn out, and it’s just the start of the week. You know you need to eat something, but you don’t feel like putting in a lot of work. Don’t worry – we’ve got you! These 22 Monday Dinner Ideas will keep your work in the kitchen down to a minimum. Not only that, each recipe is absolutely delicious, which will help you get over the Monday blues, and fuel your body for the week of work that’s left. 

With the range of Monday Dinner Ideas on this list, you’re bound to find something quick, easy, and packed with flavor. You may even find something to add to your weekly rotation so you never have to worry about a Monday night dinner again. From hearty pasta dishes to quick sandwiches, each dinner idea will please the taste buds and tummy! I know you’re tired, but grab your apron, and let’s dig in. 

1. Monday Dinner Ideas: One Pot Chicken Bacon Pasta

Grab a rotisserie chicken on the way home, and use it in this pasta dish. Not having to cook chicken will keep things timely and simple. If you’ve got a pre-cooked chicken, you can use just one pot to whip up this delicious chicken bacon pasta. We love a one-pot clean-up! 

2. Cheesesteak Casserole

Cheesesteak Casserole takes less than 30 minutes to make and has fewer than 10 ingredients. It doesn’t get much more simple than that. Despite how quick and easy it is to make, it’s still homemade and packed with flavor. No processed or packaged meals are needed when it’s this easy to make dinner. 

3. Monday Dinner Ideas: Easy Salisbury Steak

Salisbury steak is basically seasoned hamburger patties formed into the shape of steaks, cooked in a luscious gravy, and served over mashed potatoes. It’s a great way to turn ground beef into a full dinner that doesn’t feel like it’s lacking. Make it super easy on yourself, and whip up some instant mashed potatoes while the ground beef patties are cooking. 

4. White Trash Hash

Despite the name, this dish is amazing. Breakfast for dinner is always a good idea, and white trash hash makes it super easy. Hashbrowns, Italian sausage, eggs, and gravy make breakfast for dinner a dream. You can even throw in some veggies if you need a nutritional boost. You’ll go to bed feeling happy and completely satisfied. 

5. Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta Skillet 

One-pot wonders like this cheesy ground beef pasta skillet are excellent for a busy Monday night. The whole family will enjoy its deep savory taste. One of the best parts of this recipe is the fact that you can easily change the ingredients to what you have on hand, and it’ll still turn out delicious. 

6. Monday Dinner Ideas: Big Mac Salad

Salads are a great option because they’re so quick and versatile. This Big Mac Salad packs a ton of flavor without overloading you with calories (like a Big Mac would). So skip the drive through, and come right home to this easy salad dinner. It makes enough for leftovers too, so you could easily have some for Tuesday’s work lunch. 

7. 15-Minute Cheesy Italian Skillet

A 15-minute meal is just what you need when you’re tired and not in the mood to cook. It’s about as quick as sitting in a drive-through but can be much healthier since it’s made at home. This comfort food meal is the perfect one to cozy up with and watch a movie even though it’s only Monday night. It’ll have you feeling better in no time. 

8. One Pot Taco Spaghetti

There is something amazing about the aroma of taco spaghetti, which is spicy, fragrant, and juicy. The dish contains garlic, onion, ground beef, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, spaghetti, and cheddar cheese. It’s a great change-up if you’re tired of traditional spaghetti and meatballs, but also don’t really want tacos. You get a fabulous mixture of both. 

9. One Pot Mexican Chicken and Rice

One-Pan Mexican chicken and rice with queso is ready in under 30 minutes and is a delicious gluten-free meal. You can have authentic Mexican right in the comfort of your own home. It’s much better than braving the crowd at the local restaurant. Once it’s made, it keeps well, so you’ve got dinner made for the next night too. 

10. Quick and Easy Lo Mein

If you’re more into Chinese than Mexican, this Lo Mein is perfect for a Monday dinner. From start to finish, this is the easiest lo mein you will ever make. Better than take-out, it’s quicker, tastier, and healthier! Add in a bit of rotisserie chicken, and you’ve got a full meal ready in just a few minutes. 

11. Homemade Hamburger Helper

I used to love Hamburger Helper, but those boxes are absolutely filled with preservatives. With this recipe, it’s just as easy to make at home, but it’s much better for you. And on a Monday night, when you’re not feeling your best, is when you should make yourself something healthy! 

12. Impossible Cheeseburger Pie

This Impossible Cheeseburger Pie recipe is delectable and will quickly become a family favorite. It’s so easy to make too. It makes six servings, so you can feed the whole family without having to put in too much effort. And each serving is just 300 calories, so you can feel good about making something healthy. 

13. The Best Smash Tacos

Smash tacos are perfect if you want to liven up your Monday night. Or if you have unexpected guests, these are fantastic to make because they’re fun but so easy to whip up. Smash Tacos are a smashed burger taco in a crispy tortilla shell topped with melted cheddar and a creamy, spicy special sauce.

14. Monday Dinner Ideas: One Pan Beef Burrito Skillet 

This one-pan beef burrito skillet is similar to a hamburger helper due to the cheesy beef. But instead of pasta, you get soft flour tortillas. And because it’s a skillet meal, you don’t have to take time rolling each individual burrito. Just scoop out servings one at a time. It’s delicious. 

15. Chicken Cordon Bleu Crescent Rolls

These delicious Chicken Cordon Bleu Crescent Rolls will make dinner easy and your family happy! With just a few ingredients and about 20 minutes, you can make a fun and satisfying meal. Roll some ham, cheese, and chicken in crescent roll dough, and bake through and you’ve got a delectable handheld dinner. 

16. Pan Fried Gnocchi – Quick and Easy

Gnocchi is decadent and often reserved for weekends or date nights. With this quick and easy pan-fried gnocchi, there’s no reason to not have it on a busy Monday night if it’ll make you feel better! It’s tossed in a simple garlic butter sauce and is delicious as is. 

17. Monday Dinner Ideas: Tuna Melt Quesadilla

Quesadillas are super quick to throw together. This tuna melt quesadilla gives you a fun twist so you don’t have to settle for the typical chicken and cheese quesadilla. It takes 10 minutes to make start to finish and topped with a bit of sriracha, you’ve got your new favorite weeknight dinner. 

18. Tomato Tortellini Soup

Soup is a good option during the cold months when you need to come home to a comforting meal. This soup takes a bit longer to make than other recipes on this list, but the effort is still minimal. It cooks on its own for an hour, which gives you time to wind down with a shower and a glass of wine. 

19. Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Level up your next grilled cheese with this Italian version. Melted cheese and buttery, toasted bread was meant to be paired with spicy, savory Italian meats. The pizza sauce makes this sandwich, so don’t skip it. Turn your bland Monday night into an Italian-themed dinner. Maybe even add a cup of soup if it’s a cold night, and you’ve got a movie night on your hands. 

20. Monday Dinner Ideas: Grilled Salmon Burgers

Grilled salmon burgers with avocado salsa seem like it would take hours to make, but in reality, it takes just 30 minutes. And since you’re using fresh salmon, it’s a very healthy meal to indulge in on a weeknight. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter this meal will please anyone.  

21. Tuna Caesar Salad

Five ingredients and fifteen minutes in, and you’ve whipped up a healthy, flavorful crunchy salad for your Monday night dinner. Tuna switches it up from the classic chicken Caesar salad and gives you a healthy boost of omega 3s. It’s a great salad option if you prefer light fare on weeknights. 

22. Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Fried Rice

Another great use for rotisserie chicken is this fried rice dish. Seriously – keep rotisserie chicken on hand for those Monday nights. It’ll always come in handy! This fried rice is better and much much healthier than its take-out counterpart. You may even make it throughout the week rather than just Monday night! 

You no longer have to dread Mondays with this list of Monday dinner ideas. You’ll be sprinting home to make the next delicious one on the list. These ideas keep dinner light, healthy, quick, and easy!

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22 Marvelous Monday Dinner Ideas

By: Drizzle
Servings: 6
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
8P range, 8SP blue/green, 5SP purple *if using whole wheat pasta/ 7 points plus

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb extra lean ground beef
  • 1.5 tsp dried thyme
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt/pepper
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 Tbsp corn starch
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1.5 cups 2% milk
  • 2 cups pasta, I used small shells *measured uncooked
  • 1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions 

  • Cook the ground beef in a pan or skillet over medium heat, drain fat and return to pan.
  • Add in the tomato paste, all seasonings, garlic and the corn starch, mix well.
  • Stir in the broth and milk and then add the pasta, bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover with lid and let simmer for 9-12 minutes, stirring a couple of times..
  • Remove from heat and mix in the shredded cheese, cover again for a few minutes to let cheese melt and the sauce thicken.
  • Makes 6 heaping 1 cup servings.. *Note- you can swap out the ground beef for turkey/chicken to lower points on blue/purple

Notes

Points- 8
Personal Points- 5-8 depending on your 0PP foods 
Smart points- green & blue- 8 using WW recipe builder
Smart points- purple- 5 using WW recipe builder
Points plus- 7 using PP calculator
Nutritional info per serving..Calories 280…Fat 9.3g..Sat fat 4.7g…Carbs 28.3g…Fiber 1.3g…Sugar 4.9g…Protein 20.5g using My Fitness pal *includes all ingredients
Tried this recipe?Mention @drizzlemeskinny or tag #drizzlemeskinny!

About Meag

Health and Wellness Writer. B.S. Dietetics. Le Cordon Bleu Graduate. 10+ years of experience in the fitness and nutrition industry!

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