25+ Quick Dinners to Make in 30 Minutes—Or Less!
Pressed for time? These tasty mains can be on your table in a half-hour!
Quick Dinner Ideas You’ll Love
Pear ‘n’ Fennel Pork
Cooking is a breeze with this collection of quick dinner ideas. “Fresh fennel has a large bulbous base and pale green stems with wispy foliage. Often mislabeled as sweet anise, it has a sweeter and more delicate flavour than anise.” —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Get the recipe for Pear ‘n’ Fennel Pork.
California Burger Wraps
“I love the way these fresh flavours blend together. It’s a snap to throw this together using leftover burgers for a quick, healthy lunch. The burgers can also be served on buns.” —Rachelle McCalla, Batesville, Arkansas
Get the recipe for California Burger Wraps.
Chicken Biscuit Skillet
“My mother always made this when we were growing up. Now I make it for my own husband and kids. I use the small biscuits because they brown up so nicely on top. I also add mushrooms to this recipe sometimes because my family loves ’em.” —Keri Boffeli, Monticello, Iowa
Get the recipe for Chicken Biscuit Skillet.
Ground Beef Veggie Stew
“This is a wonderful, hearty stew to help use up all the late-summer veggies in your garden. I like that it’s filling enough to make a meal, and it’s good for you too!” —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Get the recipe for Ground Beef Veggie Stew.
Thai Chicken Pasta
“I try to buy fresh chicken when it’s on sale. I cook a big batch in the slow cooker, then cut it up and package it in small amounts suitable for recipes like this. When I want it, I just need to pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw.” —Jeni Pittard, Canon, Georgia
Get the recipe for Thai Chicken Pasta.
Stovetop Meat Loaves
“Who says meat loaf has to bake in the oven for hours? For this convenient recipe, all you need is your stovetop and 30 minutes. It’s a quick, simple dish to make for one or two people.” —Emily Sund, Geneseo, Illinois.
Get the recipe for Stovetop Meat Loaves.
Hawaiian Pizza
“A prebaked pizza crust and refrigerated barbecued pork make this tasty supper idea super fast and super easy. Cut into bite-sized pieces, and it can double as a great last-minute appetizer, too!” —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
Get the recipe for Hawaiian Pizza.
Pork Grapefruit Stir-Fry
“For a refreshing change of pace, try this easy sweet-and-sour stir-fry.” —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah.
Get the recipe for Pork Grapefruit Stir-Fry.
Salmon with Tomato-Goat Cheese Couscous
“Rich with goat cheese and tomato, this recipe works for a weeknight supper or an elegant company dinner—and is adjustable for number of people.” —Toni Roberts, La Canada, California
Get the recipe for Salmon with Tomato-Goat Cheese Couscous.
Saucy Mediterranean Chicken with Rice
“The hints of Mediterranean flavour in this chicken dish make it a family favourite.” —Tabitha Alloway, Edna, Kansas
Get the recipe for Saucy Mediterranean Chicken with Rice.
Breaded Turkey Breasts
“A tasty crumb coating seasoned with Parmesan cheese and Italian herbs gives the turkey slices a delicious flavour. The thin turkey slices take just a few minutes on the stovetop, so be careful not to overcook them.” —Rhonda Knight, Hecker, Illinois
Get the recipe for Breaded Turkey Breasts.
Tortellini with Tomato Spinach Cream Sauce
“I enjoy all things pasta, and tortellini is my favourite. The flavour of this dish is amazing. Even my husband, who hates pasta of any kind, loves it! It’s a great recipe for non-spinach fans to try, too.” —Jenny Dubinsky, Inwood, West Virginia
Get the recipe for Tortellini with Tomato Spinach Cream Sauce.
Pizza Potato Toppers
“Not only is this recipe quick and easy to make, but it’s an economical treat as well. I don’t know of a more satisfying way to stretch a half pound of meat!” —Sheila Friedrich, Antelope, Montana
Get the recipe for Pizza Potato Toppers.
Chicken Parmesan With Spaghetti Squash
“I grow spaghetti squash and herbs in my garden every year, so this recipe is the perfect way to use them up.” —Kristina Krummel, Elkins, Arkansas
Get the recipe for Chicken Parmesan With Spaghetti Squash.
Pork with Mustard Sauce
“Back when I was a girl, I couldn’t wait until I was grown up and could start cooking for my own family! Now that I am, I really enjoy using pork. The tender meat and the rich mustard sauce in this recipe are delectable together.” —Irma Pomeroy, Enfield, Connecticut
Get the recipe for Pork with Mustard Sauce.
Deviled Chicken Thighs
“When I make this dish, I invite my next-door neighbour over for supper. It’s just enough for the two of us. The chicken stays tender and moist, and the cashews add a perfect bit of crunch.” —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri
Get the recipe for Deviled Chicken Thighs.
Satisfying Tomato Soup
“After craving tomato soup, I decided to make my own. My sister Joan likes it chunky-style, so she doesn’t puree. Serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich.” —Marian Brown, Mississauga, Ontario
Get the recipe for Satisfying Tomato Soup.
Broccoli Beef Braids
“Each slice of this fast-to-fix, golden bread is like a hot sandwich packed with beef, broccoli and mozzarella.” —Penny Lapp, North Royalton, Ohio
Get the recipe for Broccoli Beef Braids.
Penne alla Vodka
“This easy and impressive pasta is always on the menu when my husband and I have new friends over for dinner. Years later, they’ve asked me to make this Penne alla Vodka recipe again.” —Cara Langer, Overland Park, Kansas
Get the recipe for Penne alla Vodka.
Spicy Chicken Enchiladas
“Cooked chicken strips and canned enchilada sauce hurry along this zesty entree. I came up with this spicy chicken enchiladas recipe shortly after I got married. It’s a delicious dinner for two that’s easy to double for company.” —Amy Dando, Apalachin, New York
Get the recipe for Spicy Chicken Enchiladas.
Tangy Beef Turnovers
“My mom’s recipe for these flavourful pockets called for dough made from scratch, but I streamlined it by using crescent rolls. My children love them plain or dipped in ketchup.” —Claudia Bodeker, Ash Flat, Arkansas
Get the recipe for Tangy Beef Turnovers.
Orange Chicken Stir-Fry
“My husband loves this orange chicken stir-fry, so we have it quite often. I’m delighted with the ingredients as we have six orange trees in our backyard.” —Bunny Bronson, Lake Placid, Florida
Get the recipe for Orange Chicken Stir-Fry.
Saucy Mac & Cheese
“I love the curly noodles in this creamy recipe. Cavatappi (aka cellentani pasta) has a corkscrew shape, but any type of spiral noodle will work. This dish is fun to make and looks so pretty topped with extra cheese and crunchy, golden panko. I like to add ground pepper to my serving.” —Sara Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin
Get the recipe for Saucy Mac & Cheese.
Peppered Pork with Mushroom Sauce
“Using preseasoned pork tenderloin gives us flavourful, quick and satisfying meals without a big mess or leftovers. I have used all flavours of pork tenderloin for this recipe. Making the sauce doesn’t take much extra time and results are well worth it.” —Jolene Roszel, Helena, Montana
Get the recipe for Peppered Pork with Mushroom Sauce.
Hearty Pita Tacos
“You don’t need to skimp on flavour when trying to eat healthy. Our 9-year-old daughter enjoys helping us make these tasty tacos, and likes eating them even more.” —Jamie Valocchi, Mesa, Arizona
Get the recipe for Hearty Pita Tacos.
Pasta Fagioli Soup
“My husband enjoys my version of this dish so much that he doesn’t order it at restaurants anymore. With fresh spinach, pasta and seasoned sausage, this fast-to-fix soup is a meal on its own.” —Brenda Thomas, Springfield, Missouri
Get the recipe for Pasta Fagioli Soup.
After you’ve added these quick dinner ideas into heavy rotation, check out our best one-pot recipes.
