September has arrived, and with it comes that familiar shift in the air. The lazy, hazy days of summer, where schedules dissolved into the chlorine of the pool and routines were a distant memory, are officially over. Now, the first bell is ringing, and the calendar is suddenly crammed with school runs, after-school activities, and work commitments. It’s a transition that can feel jarring, but it’s also a moment of renewal and optimism. For those of us who thrive on the energy of a fresh start, September is a time to reset, to block out new schedules, and to lay in new habits. It’s about buying new clothes, swearing we’ll finally get to the gym, and promising ourselves a full night of precious sleep. And for the home cook, it’s the perfect time to map out a week’s worth of dinners and actually stick to them.
I can’t help you with the gym, but I can absolutely help you with dinner. That’s why we’re so excited to bring back the Weeknight 100, New York Times Cooking’s annual list of the recipes you should be making in the year ahead. This isn’t just a random collection of dishes; it’s a carefully curated selection of 100 dinner recipes with a specific focus on efficient yet excellent cooking. Every single recipe on this list can be made in under an hour, and a vast majority are much faster than that. The emphasis is on truly delicious meals that don’t demand too much of your precious time. We’ve kept everyone in mind, from picky, petulant, wonderful kids to adults who crave more sophisticated flavors. Whether you need something the whole family will eat, with simple modifications or exactly as written, or a dish that’s more likely to please the grown-ups, there’s something here for you.
We start with chicken, a weeknight workhorse. There are clever sheet-pan meals like the Sheet-Pan Chicken With Black Beans and Squash, which proves that not all sheet-pan recipes are created equal, and the Miso-Maple Sheet-Pan Chicken With Brussels Sprouts, a sensationally easy dish that home cooks rave about. For a quick and flavorful curry, try the Keema Palak, where a full pound of baby spinach is wilted into a fast, very green version of a classic, or the One-Pan Kuku Paka, a creamy, richly spiced coconut curry with skin-on chicken thighs. There’s also the Honey Ginger Chicken and Carrots, a simple stir-fry where the marinade is the undisputed star, and the Creamy Tuscan Chicken, where a slab of cream cheese melts into an extra-bodacious sauce. For something a little different, try the Quick Harissa Apricot Chicken, which pairs intense, beguiling harissa paste with the sweetness of apricot jam to offset any heat. And for a game-day favorite, the Crispy Cheddar Chicken Tacos are more fun than any quick dinner has a right to be.
Next up, we have a world of pasta, noodles, and grains. There are luxurious slurps like the Coconut Curry Noodles With Shrimp and the nine-minute Cream Cheese Ramen, which its writer calls a “break glass in case of noodle emergency” dinner. For something a little more complex, the Smoky Chicken and Peppers Penne is essentially fajitas in pasta form, sweet, smoky, and fun to spear with a fork. The Salsa Macha Pasta With Shrimp brings the unique and delicious elements of salsa macha—nuts, seeds, garlic, and chiles—into a skillet for a toss with shrimp and spaghetti. There are also clever one-pot wonders like the Creamy Lemon Asparagus Gnocchi and the One-Pot Orzo and Meatballs, which has a surprising Spanish streak with pimentón and fresh chorizo. To satisfy a craving for something fresh, try the Cold Noodles With Steak and Tomatoes, a brawny and bright dish with fish sauce, lime, and juicy tomatoes, or the Chilled Sesame Soba and Tofu, a light dinner that’s ready in minutes. And for a rich and comforting meal, the Cheesy Baked Pasta With Sausage and Ricotta is what love would taste like if it were a baked pasta dinner.
For those craving beef and pork, there are plenty of hearty and satisfying options. The Smashed Beef Kebab With Cucumber Yogurt was our most popular recipe of 2025, and it’s easy to see why. There are also clever stir-fries like the Beef, Asparagus and Tofu Stir-Fry, which uses less beef than a typical stir-fry without skimping on protein, making it better for the planet and more cost-effective. For a comforting and kid-friendly meal, the Cheeseburger Soup is a winner that kids love. There are also great ideas for sausages, like the Roasted Sausages With Chickpeas and Spinach and the Kielbasa Coins and Cabbage, which is elevated by a touch of apple cider vinegar and Dijon mustard stirred in before serving. If you’re in the mood for pork chops, try the Shake and Bake Pork Chops, perfect with applesauce on the side, or the Skillet Pork Chops With Buttered Corn, at its best with peak-season sweet corn. And for a truly satisfying meal, the Sheet-Pan Steak and Pepper Tacos are great with steak, but you could use any protein you want, including tofu or tempeh.
For nights when you want to go meatless, there’s a fantastic array of vegetarian recipes. Try the Halloumi and Sweet Potato Tacos, an unexpected combination that works shockingly well, or the Skillet Chickpea Parmesan, which brings all the saucy, bubbling, dig-in joy of a baked Parmesan dish with the convenience of a few cans of chickpeas. The Buttery Gochujang Tofu and Broccoli requires only a few ingredients to make an incredible glaze, and the Crispy Tofu and Cheesy Bean Burritos feature spiced-and-seared tofu crumbles that make a killer addition. For something hearty and comforting, the White Bean Shakshuka is heartier than the traditional version but no more taxing to make, and the Chickpea Tomato-Rice Soup gets creamier than you might imagine from the starch of the rice. The Ras el Hanout Chickpea and Spinach Stew is a pretty fabulous way to have chickpeas for dinner, and the Green Curry Beans and Greens get a bright, hot boost. For a fun and gleeful dinner, the Old Bay Tofu Nuggets are perfect served with a dipping sauce. And for a creamy, sweet-and-salty dish, the Tofu and Sweet Potato Peanut Butter Curry is a must-try.
Finally, we have a collection of fantastic seafood recipes. The Ginger Salmon Lettuce Wraps are a great get-your-hands-messy dinner, brought to life by the punchy Vietnamese sauce, nước chấm. The Harissa Shrimp With Greens and Feta is a genius sheet-pan dinner where shrimp and greens cook together quickly before being topped with feta, avocado, and red onion. If you’re a fan of sushi, the Spicy Tuna Salad With Crispy Rice cleverly remakes a restaurant staple for home cooks. For a rich and comforting meal, the Salmon and Cherry Tomato Curry is a never-fail coconut-milk curry flavored with ginger and garlic. The One-Pot Salmon and Dill Rice With Peas is a convenient dinner where everything cooks together, lightened with a yogurt sauce and dill. Also try the Crispy Coconut Salmon, which brings the tropical, shredded-sweet crunch of fried coconut shrimp to baked salmon fillets. The Puttanesca Poached Fish uses a bold sauce as a delicious medium for gently poaching fish, and the Corn and Cod Green Curry is a heavenly trio of fish, corn, and coconut milk. For a quick and fancy meal, the Sautéed Shrimp With Lemon-Caper Dressing is so easy and elegant, and the Greek Salad With Sardines and Beans is a main-course salad that could be made with any tinned fish. Remember, these are just a few highlights from the 100 recipes we’ve selected; I hope you find plenty of new favorites to add to your weeknight rotation.
