45+ Delicious 30-Minute Dinner Ideas Perfect for Busy Nights
Meal kits, schmeal kits. You can get dinner on the table just as quickly with these fast dinner ideas.
Fred Hardy
Most nights, spending an hour making dinner isn't in the cards. Don't worry: These 30-minute dinner ideas make meal planning simple—and many of them require less than 15 minutes prepping!
The best part: Many of these dishes are fancy enough for entertaining—so having a dinner party or other get-together is even easier than ever.
Salt and Pepper Chicken
Jen Causey
Make your favorite Chinese takeout at home with this fast-and-easy recipe. Chinese five-spice powder is the secret ingredient to give your chicken extra flavor.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad With Crispy Pancetta and Fried Eggs
Fred Hardy
This comforting 30-minute salad uses only one pan to cook the ingredients. This recipe utilizes a package of pre-shredded Brussels sprouts to cut down on prep time. Replace the mayonnaise in the Caesar-like dressing with Greek yogurt for a protein boost.
Shrimp Tacos with Caramelized Pineapple
Jennifer Causey
Shrimp cooks up in just minutes, so it's a great protein to include when you need to get dinner done fast. Here, it's paired with caramelized pineapple for a sweet and tasty meal.
Green Olive and Rosemary Lamb Chops
Greg DuPree
This super-tasty dish takes only 15 minutes to come together—including flavorful . rosemary-olive bulgur wheat and a smashed cucumber salad. The chops cook in the broiler in just eight minutes.
Shrimp and Artichoke Scampi
Fred Hardy
Pasta is one of the most popular picks for fast weeknight meals. Artichokes are added to turn shrimp scampi into a complete one-dish dinner.
Sheet Pan Sausages and Veggies
CAITLIN BENSEL
This 30-minute dinner couldn't be easier. Just pop sausage and some roughly chopped veggies onto the pan, and cook until sizzling.
Antipasto Salad
No cooking required for this hearty and delicious salad. Just chop and mix all your favorite antipasto fixings for a dinner that's ready in 15 minutes.
Easy Green Shakshuka
Greg DuPree
Shakshuka is generally eggs cooked in a spicy red sauce—but why not go green with artichokes, spinach, salsa verde, and avocado? (You can swap in other veggies, like kale, zucchini, or broccoli if you're not into what's in the recipe.)
Pasta With Zucchini and Goat Cheese
If you're someone who gets way too many zucchini in the summer, this 30-minute dinner idea will use up plenty of your bounty. Lemon zest adds a little brightness, and a creamy goat cheese.
Carbonara Pizza
Jen Causey
Anything that's a delicious pasta dish can also be a decadent pizza. Pair pre-made pizza dough with traditional carbonara fixings for a delicious alternative to a standard margarita pie.
Tofu Fried Rice
Fred Hardy
Fried rice is a fast and easy weeknight meal—and a perfect way to toss in any leftover veggies you have in your fridge. This fresh take on fried rice includes Indian flavors like ginger, turmeric, and yogurt.
Fast Italian Fish Stew
Top a tomato-bean stew with a fish filet and plenty of fresh herbs for a cozy and quick weeknight dinner.
Spicy Dumpling Soup
Jen Causey
Soup is a smart and speedy meal. This soup uses frozen dumplings and a generous helping of chili crisp for a flavorful and fast dinner idea.
Sheet Pan Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Sheet pan dinners make dinner prep simple and post-dinner cleanup even easier. This one takes 10 minutes to prep and 30 minutes to get on your table.
Linguine With Cherry Tomato Sauce
Skip the jarred pasta sauce and make your own with flavorful cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.
Miso Noodle Soup
Greg DuPree
Ramen noodles and wilted spinach bulk up a traditional miso soup. You can add extra flavor by crisping up the tofu before you add it to the soup.
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs With Salsa Verde
This Mexican-style sheet pan dinner is packed with flavor, thanks to salsa verde, cotija cheese, and plenty of cilantro.
Related: 20+ Quick and Easy One-Pan Recipes For Nights When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking
Fancy Tomato Sandwiches
For the very busiest nights, a tasty (and totally satisfying) sandwich that comes together in 15 minutes flat is the perfect fast and easy meal.
Eggplant and Tomato Masala With Chickpeas
Vegetarian dinners don't have to skimp on flavor—as this spicy Indian-style dish shows.
Grilled Halloumi Salad
Firm, grilled halloumi is the centerpiece of this Mediterranean-style salad that's gets onto the table fast.
16 Grill Recipes That Take 40 Minutes or Less
Southwestern Beef Chili With Corn
Chili in under 30 minutes? This tasty beef chili recipe makes it happen. And if you like make-ahead meals, double up the recipe and stash a batch in the freezer.
Grilled Turkey Zucchini Burgers
Turkey has a bad reputation for drying out when cooked, but we have the solution. Mixing in shredded zucchini packs in vitamins and moisture for a perfect burger every time.
Speedy Pork Banh Mi
A sweet-tart marinaded and quick roast make for pork perfection for this variation on the Vietnamese classic sandwich. (You can skip the cilantro for anyone who hates the flavor.)
Udon With Seared Beef and Zucchini
Greg DuPree
Mushrooms, zucchini, and seared beef add plenty of flavor to this classic Japanese noodle dish.
Pasta With Shrimp and Spicy Butter
Greg DuPree
Add a little extra flair to pasta night with curly mafalde noodles and shrimp. Korean condiment gochujang spices up the butter for a perfect sauce.
No-Bake Summer Lasagna
Lasagna tends to be a cold-weather meal staple, but try this variation in the summer, when you can use up tomatoes and zucchini from your garden or farmer's market, and enjoy lasagna without having to turn on the oven.
Crispy Peanut Tofu With Sugar Snap Peas And Peppers
Greg DuPree
For a fast and easy dinner, you can't beat stir fry. Tofu and veggies get a generous helping of peanut sauce for added flavor (and protein).
Black Bean and Eggs-Over-Easy Tostadas
Fred Hardy
Eggs aren't just for breakfast. Pair them with black beans, crispy tortillas and an array of veggies for an easy 30-minute dinner.
Real Simple Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad
Not only does this Mediterranean style pasta salad come together quickly—it also tastes better if you make it ahead and let the flavors meld together.
Italian Sausage Burgers
Greg DuPree
Trade in basic ground beef for ground Italian sausage for a more flavorful (but just as fast) burger.
Thai Peanut Butter Ramen
This may sound like a college kid's concoction, but don't knock it until you try it. Gochujang, soy sauce, and sesame oil combine with peanut butter for a sauce with plenty of kick.
Sun-Dried Tomato Butter Salmon and Broccolini
Fred Hardy
Compound butters are a great way to add plenty of flavor to a meal, fast. Sundried tomatoes, Italian seasonings, and garlic are mixed with butter, then slathered on salmon for an easy weeknight dinner recipe.
Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese
You can make homemade (and healthier!) mac and cheese in the about the same time it takes for the boxed style. This version calls for parmesan and mozzarella cheeses in lieu of cheddar.
Mango Chicken Curry
Mango adds a little extra sweetness to this quick-to-make curry recipe. It's pureed into a coconut milk curry sauce for a sweet-and-savory base to cook chicken thighs in.
Five-Spice Steak With Couscous
Chinese five-spice powder—a potent mix of cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, star anise, and Szechuan peppercorns—gives steak a perfect crisp crust and plenty of flavor.
Soppressata Pizza With Arugula and Honey
This pizza still has the classic tomato sauce and mozzarella, but finishing it with soppressata, arugula, and a drizzle of honey will elevate your pizza night.
Speedy Linguine and Clam Sauce
You don't have to worry about cleaning clams (or dealing with any that fail to open when cooked) to get that white clam sauce flavor. Just sub in canned clams and clam juice for a 30-minute pasta dinner.
Crispy Chicken-And-Cheddar Sandwich With Pickle Dijon
No need for the drive-through when you can make an even better crispy chicken sandwich at home in just 15 minutes. Bake up some crispy homemade chips on the side, and kiss fast food goodbye.
Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps
This fresh and easy weeknight meal is perfect picky eaters. You prep all the ingredients, and everyone can stuff their lettuce leaves (or make a little platter) of their favorites.
Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas
We love a good sheet pan recipe, and this veggie-packed fajita recipe will definitely end up in regular rotation.
Clam Pizza
Fred Hardy
Think pasta with clam sauce, but on a pizza. Store-bought pizza dough and canned clams help this meal come together in 25 minutes.
Related: These 18 Pizza Recipes Are So Good, You'll Never Order In Again
Buttery Shrimp With Marinated White Beans
If you need a fast (but sophisticated) dinner fast, bookmark this favorite. You'll likely have most of the ingredients in your pantry or fridge on any given day—and you can sub in chickpeas or cranberry beans if you've run out of cannellini.
Almond-Crusted Chicken With Arugula Salad
For a more keto-friendly crust, this 30-minute dinner recipe calls for almond flour in lieu of panko crumbs.
Spring Minestrone
When you're feeling under the weather, opt for this veggie-filled minestrone to soothe your symptoms and help you pack in a healthy dose of nutrients.
Orange Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles
Shhh...the secret for this Chinese takeout favorite is orange marmalade. If you don't have rice noodles, plain rice is an alternative accompaniment.
Cheesy Chicken Nachos With Avocado and Radish
Nachos for dinner will likely be a popular addition to your menu rotation. Plenty of veggies and shredded rotisserie chicken make this a healthier alternative to the traditional nachos.
Spanish Omelet With Potatoes and Chorizo
If you like breakfast for dinner, try this quick and easy meal. Spanish omelets are like a crustless quiche—and this one is packed with spicy chorizo and lots of potatoes.
Chili-Lime Salmon Cakes With Arugula Salad
Jennifer Causey
For nights that you need dinner to come together quickly, look no further than these crunchy, crowd-pleasing salmon cakes. Made from canned salmon, mayo, eggs, and breadcrumbs, these pull together in less than 30 minutes and serve four. The arugula salad is punched up with tangy lime juice, rounding out this recipe that will be sure to become a family fave.
Gnocchi With Spring Vegetables
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
Move over, pasta, gnocchi is coming for your spot! These little potato pillows surrounded by sweet snap peas and fresh asparagus and topped with a tangy lemony garlic sauce are sure to become a regular in your weekly rotation.
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