30 Fast and Delicious 30-Minute Dinners for Busy Nights
Are you looking for some fast and tasty dinner options that your entire family will love? Look no further! Here are 24 simple dinners that are ready to go within 30 minutes or less, making weeknight dinners easy, enjoyable and fun.
Weekdays tend to get busy at times when there isn’t enough time in the day to cook, eat, and clean up dinner without feeling rushed.
Therefore, it is very relieving to have a large selection of simple, quick–to–prepare (under 30 minutes) dinners available.
These recipes include everything from classic spaghetti and meatballs to quick stir-fried dishes to nutritious protein-filled meals that do not require a lengthy prep and cooking process.
These meals are easy for busy families to create together; most of these meals can be prepared ahead of time (make ahead) and assembled together after the kids have returned from school.
All of these ideas will also help to create a fun and relaxed experience for the entire family at mealtimes.
1. Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
This recipe is great for times when you want to satisfy your craving for something comforting and still be a bit fresh.
The cream–based sauce is rich and delicious but the addition of spinach also helps lighten things up without additional work.
In addition, it will take about 20 minutes to prepare, making it a great quick option for busy nights.
There is no reason to spend hours in the kitchen on a simple pasta dish when you can prepare this delicious meal and still have time for a relaxing night at home.
Get the Recipe via EatingWell
2. Lemon Butter Cod Recipe
The lemon butter cod is not only light and delicious, but it is also surprisingly satisfying.
The lemon butter sauce adds a high–end flavor to the cod with minimal effort on your part. It will take you about 25 minutes from start to finish, so it makes a great option for a polished yet fast meal.
A side of vegetables, or a side of rice, completes this simple balanced meal nicely. Get the recipe at Cooking Classy.
Get the Recipe via Cooking Classy
3. Penne Arrabbiata
Penne arrabbiata is simple and bold in flavor, with rich tomato flavor and a bit of heat. It‘s a great hearty meal without an excessive amount of ingredients.
It will be ready in about 20 minutes, making it a perfect meal for busy weeknights. Pair with a fresh side salad for a total meal in a short amount of time.
Get the Recipe via The Plant Based School
4. Creamy Tuscan Salmon
5. Easy Chickpea Curry
Chickpea curry is the best combination of comforting and delicious. This dish is packed with flavor and will warm you up on a chilly night.
Even if you don’t eat meat, everyone at your table will be satisfied by this hearty dish! With just 30 minutes to prepare, this recipe makes it easy to have a home-cooked meal that tastes great!
You can also serve it with rice or naan if you want to save time on cooking!
Get the Recipe via The Plant Based School
6. Creamy Pesto Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes
Creamy Pesto Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes is an incredible experience combining juicy chicken, creamy pesto sauce and roasted tomatoes.
Perfectly balanced between flavor and creaminess, you might think it was something ordered from a restaurant; however, you can easily make it at home!
With an approximate cook time of only 20 minutes, Creamy Pesto Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes is perfect for quick weeknight meals! Serve with rice, pasta, or vegetables for a complete meal!
Get the Recipe via Eat Well 101
7. Cajun Shrimp and Rice Skillet
The cajun shrimp and rice skillet is an easy to make one-pan meal that is very filling and bursting with flavor due to the cajun spices used.
It is a very easy clean–up due to it‘s ability to be made in one pan and only takes approximately 30 minutes to prepare.
It‘s a great option for any night when you want something filling and don‘t want to prepare multiple pans.
Get the Recipe via Le Creme de la Crumb
8. Marry Me Butter Beans
The marry me butter beans are very filling and can be prepared very quickly (approximately 20 minutes).
They are delicious, creamy in texture, and extremely comforting.
There are many sauces available, and they can be served with crusty bread to scoop up sauce.
Get the Recipe via Le Creme de la Crumb
9. Lentil Curry
Lentil Curry is a hearty and nutritious dish that includes aromatic spices. It has minimal prep time and makes for a great dinner on busy weeknights!
What makes Lentil Curry a practical recipe is that after just 30 minutes of cook time, you will have a hearty meal that can easily be heated up later!
Get the Recipe via The Plant Based School
10. Beef Ramen Noodles (Stir Fry)
Beef Ramen Noodle Stir Fry Beef Ramen Stir-Fry is not only quick to make, it’s also a flavorful, family friendly dish!
The ramen noodles soak up all the delicious sauce while moist, tender strips of beef leave your tummy happy!
It only takes 30 minutes to prepare Beef Ramen Stir Fry, so you can save yourself the hassle of picking up takeout and still enjoy great comfort food!
Get the Recipe via Salt & Lavender
11. Parmesan -CrustedChicken
Parmesan–Crusted Chicken is crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside and is a favorite of many families.
This dish is comforting, satisfying, and doesn‘t weigh you down because it can be prepared in a little over 30 minutes so it is perfect for those busy weeknights when you still want something homemade.
Pair it with a simple salad or roasted vegetables for an easy weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe via Salt & Lavender
12. Chicken Stir Fry Noodles
The Chicken Stir–Fry Noodles are quick, delicious, and perfect for a night when you‘re short on time.
The chicken cooks up quickly and the noodles soak up all the seared savory sauce.
With the ability to prepare the entire meal in approximately 15 minutes, the Chicken Stir–Fry Noodles is one of the quickest meals on the list as well as one of the easiest options for customizing with additional vegetables.
Get the Recipe via Eat Well 101
13. Garlic Butter Chicken
Garlic Butter Chicken is simple to prepare and has a rich and satisfying flavor.
The sauce for Garlic Butter Chicken is prepared quickly and coats the chicken perfectly.
You can prepare it in about 15 minutes and it is also great for those last-minute dinner plans. Serve Garlic Butter Chicken with rice or bread to soak up all of the delicious buttery sauce.
Get the Recipe via Averie Cooks
14. Easy Vegetable Stir Fry
Easy Vegetable Stir–Fry is colorful and fresh and also great for cleaning out the refrigerator.
Even though the it is somewhat on the light side, it has a full–bodied flavor due to its sauce.
This recipe requires minimal effort and is perfect for when you have no time. You can serve it with either rice, noodles, or on its own.
Get the Recipe via The Modern Proper
15. Easy Fried Rice
You can cook fried rice quickly and easily with this simple recipe. It‘s tasty and easy to prepare using leftover rice and vegetables from your previous meal.
In around 20 minutes you can have a quick, hassle–free dinner. You can add chicken, shrimp, or eggs to make it more hearty.
Get the Recipe via Salt & Lavender
16. Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Enjoy a comforting meal that‘s sure to impress! This dish is super tender and full of flavour, plus the creaminess of the sauce gives it that special something!
This meal is great to prepare on busy evenings and is ready in around 20 minutes! Try serving with pasta, rice, or roasted veggies to complete your meal!
Get the Recipe via EatingWell
17. Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin
Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin: Pork tenderloin is juicy and full of flavour with a sweet and tangy honey mustard sauce coating it.
It’s perfect for a family dinner when you‘re short on time but still want to feel like you’re making something really special.
Takes approximately 30 minutes to prepare and you can always make sandwiches or salads with leftovers the next day.
Get the Recipe via Salt & Lavender
18. Tomato Spinach White Wine Chicken
What‘s better than a light, fresh meal that doesn’t take forever to prepare? Tomato and spinach in a white wine sauce are a perfect match!
This is a fabulous weeknight dish to serve with a nice glass of wine or pasta.
Get the Recipe via Salt & Lavender
19. Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta
Taco pasta is a great way to incorporate taco flavours into your weeknight meals. This pasta dish will please everyone, young and old!
It is simple to make and comes together quickly in about 30 minutes. It is also super easy to save leftovers for lunch the next day!
Get the Recipe via Salt & Lavender
20. Garlic Butter Oven Baked Tilapia
Light flakings full of flavour yet still very light, Garlic Butter Tilapia is a fast, delicious seafood dinner! Tilapia is baked for a no hassle, easy clean up dinner!
It‘s also easy to make and is a great way to eat healthy and maintain a balanced diet.
Get the Recipe via Delish
21. Boursin Chicken
This Boursin Chicken is creamy, comforting, and flavorful due to the herbed cheese sauce.
It’s fancy enough for a special occasion but easy enough to prepare for a weeknight dinner.
And it comes together quickly; it’s the perfect choice when you want something comfy without having to put in a lot of effort. Serve with rice, pasta, or roasted veggies for an easy meal.
Get the Recipe via Salt & Lavender
22. Marry Me Chicken Pasta
This pasta is rich and creamy and has plenty of flavor, making it an instant hit with those who love good food!
Tender chicken, pasta, and a savory sauce combine for a satisfying dish, and it cooks up quickly for those busy nights when you still want something comforting.
Marry Me Chicken Pasta is sure to impress everyone and works great as leftovers, too!
Get the Recipe via The Recipe Critic
23. Easy Pesto Chicken Pasta
Easy Pesto Chicken with pasta is fresh and excellent and so easy to make.
If you are busy at night, but want to have a home–cooked meal, then you will it. The pesto gives it a very fresh and bright flavor, while the chicken provides a filling and hearty meal.
You can prepare this meal in 30 minutes or less. It is ideal with a simple garden salad and garlic bread.
Get the Recipe via Eat Well 101
24. Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo is a yummy and creamy dish you can make at home.
Enjoy delicious restaurant quality dining right in your kitchen! Shrimp cook up quickly and serve as a welcome compliment to sauce‘s rich flavor.
They come together quickly making this dish ideal for busy weeknights when you want an indulgent meal but do not have much time to prepare
Get the Recipe via Delish
25. Pan-Seared Chicken Breasts in Pepper Parmesan Sauce
This bold, savory chicken dish is full of flavor and features a rich pepper parmesan sauce that adds just the right amount to make the chicken creamy and rich, but not overly rich or heavy.
The entire dish can be made in approximately 25 minutes, making it perfect for a quick dinner. For a complete meal, serve with rice or pasta and salad.
Get the Recipe via Eat Well 101
26. Garlic Butter Chicken with Cauliflower Rice
Garlic butter chicken for dinner! This chicken dish is easy to prepare, flavorful, and is a great choice for a lighter meal.
The cauliflower rice absorbs all the garlic butter flavor as it cooks quickly.
It can be prepared in about 20 minutes and is great for busy evenings or low-carb dinners. It will fill you up without weighing you down!
Get the Recipe via Eat Well 101
27. Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
This quick stir fry is a no-fuss way to eat a hearty meal in less than 30 minutes. The ground beef cooks fast and pairs amazingly with tender broccoli and stir fry sauce.
This is a simple, filling, and exciting meal option on a busy night. Serve over rice or alone for easy preparation.
Get the Recipe via Better Home Base
28. Marry Me Chicken
This classic marry me chicken is creamy, comforting, and made with bold flavors. The sauce is rich, but not too rich, and it pairs wonderfully with the tender, juicy chicken.
Marry me chicken can be prepared in around 30 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight option for casual entertaining. Serve with pasta, bread, or rice to soak up the sauce.
Get the Recipe via Cooking Classy
29. Creamy Bacon Chicken Pasta
Crispy bacon, tender chicken and a rich creamy sauce make this pasta dish a crowd favorite.
This comforting and filling dinner is always a hit with families.
Making this dish in approximately 20 minutes will save you time on busy weeknights and you will have delicious leftovers to enjoy the next day.
Get the Recipe via Eat Well 101
30. Cherry Tomato Pasta
Cherry tomato pasta is fresh, simple, and bursting with flavor. Cherry tomatoes are quick to cook and create a light, fast sauce.
This meal is great for busy weeknights or for a meatless meal. Just sprinkle with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Get the Recipe via Cooking Classy
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