Our Foolproof Guide to Making Weeknights Feel Fancy

Weekdays get a bad rap. For good reason—it’s hard to compete with the weekend, with its carefree days and long, lingering nights. Plus, if you’re lucky, the whole family is together on Saturday and Sunday.

Gathering the family during the week often feels impossible. With everyone running in and out of the house for work, school, errands, meetings, and more, sometimes it feels like your loved ones are a blur Monday through Friday. That’s why, when you can get the crew together around a table during the week, it feels like a special occasion. So why not treat it like one?

Here at Simply Recipes, we believe whole-heartedly in the 5-ingredient dinner and 15-minute meal. Everyone’s gotta eat, and sometimes you have minimal time and energy to do it. But that doesn’t mean your Tuesday nights have to be paint-by-numbers, wham-bam-get-it-done every time. There’s real value in making a weeknight feel nice, like something a little special. It brings the family together and keeps them powering through the rest of the week with gusto.

The good news is you don’t need do tireless work in the kitchen to make a weeknight dinner fancy. You just need some clever tips and fun recipes to pull it off. Whether you’re celebrating this year’s mid-week New Year’s Eve or just want to add a little sparkle to a random Wednesday night, let us be your guide.

—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

Let’s Party on a Weeknight

Dan Pelosi is the master at making any night feel like a party, thanks to his top-notch hosting tips and occasion-worthy (but easy) recipes. He shared his go-to hosting tips with us along with a very special recipe: lasagnetta. This twisty take on lasagna looks oh-so-fancy, but is incredibly easy to make. Easy enough, in fact, for a weeknight.

Read the Interview: How to Make Weeknights Feel Fancy with Dan Pelosi

Apps for Dinner

Nothing makes a gathering feel special like a pretty charcuterie board. It’s a good thing they’re so easy to put together, especially when you have pro tips like this. Whether you’re setting out a full spread with dip, bite-sized delights, and a fun mix of meat and cheese, or you’re just making a little cheese board for two, contributor Anne Wolf is here to guide you.

Read the Guide: Hosting a Party? Skip the Dinner and Do This Instead

Has this ever happened to you? You attend a party or event where there are passed or buffet-style appetizers. By the time the main attraction is served, you’re full-up on finger foods. Having a bite of this and that, and revisiting your favorites, is the best part of a party. So why not just make the appetizers the star of the show? Here are some of our favorite apps that look and feel very special but are quick and easy enough for any old night.

Low-Lift Special Dinners

The easiest way to make a weeknight feel extraordinary is to whip up something special for dinner. Even if you don’t have much bandwidth to spare, you can squeeze in these fancy main dishes. They’re quick and easy while being worthy of a special event, even if that’s as simple as getting an A in Spanish class. Take any excuse to celebrate—life is so much more fun that way!

Low and No-Alcohol Sips

Every special occasion needs a special sip. But since its a school night, a low or no-alcohol option is the way to go. These three bevvys are complex and sparkly enough to feel fancy without any fuss. Hot tip: serve in your funnest glasses with pretty garnishes. The star treatment makes any drink impressive.

Secretly Easy Desserts

Guarantee your weeknight is fancy with a fancy (but simple!) dessert. Typical weeknights don’t get a full-on dessert course, but it’s easy to pull off with these surprisingly easy recipes. They can all either be made ahead or whipped up in about 10 minutes. So what are you waiting for?