WTF Is a Weeknight Recipe?

"Weeknight recipes reliably outperform other categories, like projects, baking, and drinks. But the question of what exactly constitutes a weeknight recipe has always been up for review. It's a highly subjective designation, and the qualifications have shifted during my time here."

"Internally, we rely on a set of 'rules' for weeknight recipes. The ingredients list shouldn't be a mile long, ideally a dozen or under. You shouldn't have to go to multiple grocery stores. Active time should be well under an hour."

"I have a firm boundary which is no sub-recipes allowed. I am really happy to spend more than 20, or 30 or 45 minutes on dinner but I will not be making three separate components that then need to be assembled and cooked again."

Weeknight recipes have become a dominant category in online food content, addressing the practical constraints of busy weekday cooking: limited time, ingredients, knowledge, and motivation. At Bon Appétit, weeknight recipes consistently outperform other content categories. The publication maintains internal guidelines defining weeknight recipes: ingredient lists under a dozen items, single-store shopping, and active cooking time under an hour. However, these standards remain subjective and evolving. Food editors at Bon Appétit collaborated to refine the definition, establishing clearer boundaries. A key criterion emerged: weeknight recipes should avoid sub-recipes—separate components requiring individual preparation and assembly. Simple components like uncooked sauces, dressings, and side salads are acceptable, but complex multi-step preparations are excluded.

Read at Bon Appetit