14 Meals Ready in Under 30 Minutes

Crazy week? We hear you. Bookmark this round-up of easy 30-minute meals and you'll be set for those nights when dinner seems impossible.

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia is the Community Manager for Simply Recipes and has contributed numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
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Published November 07, 2019
Claudia Cash
14 30-minute meals

I’ve been trying to convince my family that we should have smoothies every night for dinner. They’re quick, healthy, and easy to clean up. Genius, right? I thought so!

While this might seem like a good idea for the first few days, I’m 99% sure that they’d get tired of smoothies and want something that’ll really fill them up for good.

I’m still on board for having dinner meet all the requirements I mentioned above, but there are times when smoothies just won’t cut it. For those times, these easy recipes are what you need.

Each of these recipes:

  • Comes together in under 30 minutes
  • Has simple and every day ingredients
  • Has minimal clean-up

Sound good to you? Me too!

  • Skillet Shrimp Fajitas

    Shrimp Fajitas Recipe
    Nick Evans

    To shave even more time off this dish, buy shrimp that has already been peeled and deveined. You can also prep the veggies in advance, which means this dish could be on the table in as little as 15 minutes! Serve it with some chips and guac or rice and beans. Your choice.

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  • Easy Avocado and Black Bean Quesadillas

    Alison Conklin

    As Napoleon would say in the Napoleon Dynamite movie “Go make yourself a dang quesadilla.” There’s so much wisdom in that little phrase, though, because quesadillas are life. They’re incredibly easy to assemble, come together in a jiffy, and everyone is bound to love them!

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  • Pasta with Tuna and Capers in White Wine Sauce

    Elise Bauer

    This dish sounds super fancy and technical to make, but it’s actually a low-key dish with simple ingredients. If you’re feeling extra bold and zesty, throw in a clove of garlic or some tomato!

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  • Easy Summer Vegetable Pizzas

    How to Make Vegetable Pizza - flatbread pizza piled high with vegetables. Cut into slices on a parchment paper with a wooden handled knife nearby
    Sally Vargas

    Don’t be fooled by the name—you can enjoy these pizzas all year round! The trick to making these so quickly is using store-bought naan bread. If you’re feeling adventurous though, go ahead and make your own!

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    Continue to 5 of 14 below.

  • Italian Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

    Grilled Cheese Sandwich
    Nick Evans

    You just can’t go wrong with bread and cheese! While you can add in any cured meats you like, we suggest sticking with provolone cheese. It melts really well and compliments the meat. Serve these sandwiches alongside a simple salad or steamed veggies!

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  • Hamburger and Macaroni

    Hamburger Macaroni
    Elise Bauer

    You may be tempted to buy the boxed stuff to save a little time in getting dinner on the table, but don’t do it! This dish can be on the table just as fast. Promise! I love sprinkling on some cheese at the end to give it a little gooeyness.

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  • Easy Fish Tacos

    A table is set with a plate with fish tacos. Corn tortillas layered with fish, avocado, cabbage, cilantro, cheese and lime.
    Sally Vargas

    Everyone loves fish tacos! Simply cook up the fish (it takes under 20 minutes!) and gather all the ingredients together. Instead of assembling the tacos for everyone, place the plate of cooked fish, the salsa, cabbage, and other toppings on the table and let them do it!

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  • Tuna Pasta with Tomato and Olives

    Tuna Pasta with Tomatoes and Olives
    Elise Bauer

    Sounds like an unlikely combination, but it is exceptionally tasty! If you can boil water, then you’re already halfway done with bringing this recipe together. While the water is heating up and while the noodles are cooking, prep the rest of your ingredients, and then stir together. Simple and satisfying!

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    Continue to 9 of 14 below.

  • Chicken Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta

    Chicken Scampi with Angel Hair Pasta
    Aaron Hutcherson

    We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves for making the sauce really stand out in this pasta dish. You’ll get a rich taste from the butter and oil which is well-balanced out from the acidity of the lemon juice and white wine. A few other key flavors come into play to bring everything together in sweet scampi harmony.

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  • Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry

    Beef and Broccoli with Ramen Noodles
    Nick Evans

    A takeout classic can be made right in your home in about this same time it takes for you to actually order takeout. We use dry ramen noodles, but the homemade sauce is the star of the show! If you are feeling a little adventurous, use fresh ramen noodles, udon noodles, or even soba noodles!

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  • French Toast

    Easy French Toast on plate with butter and syrup
    Elise Bauer

    When in doubt, make breakfast for dinner. AKA: BRINNER! Add some scrambled eggs and fresh fruit as sides, and you’ve got a wonderful meal ready to be devoured by all. Just don’t forget to dust your French toast with a little powdered sugar!

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  • Easy Vegetable Fried Rice

    How to Make Vegetable Fried Rice
    Cheyenne Cohen

    Fried rice is the best for crazy weeknights because you can throw in whatever you have on hand! Just make sure to chop all your veggies beforehand because once you get things on the stove, it’ll cook quickly.

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    Continue to 13 of 14 below.

  • Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets

    Cheesy Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets in a stainless steel skillet
    Coco Morante

    Wait, chicken ready in 15 minutes? It can be done thanks to chicken cutlets! Serve on top of some fettuccine noodles, zucchini noodles, or they’re perfectly capable of standing on their own and being accompanied by rice and steamed veggies.

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  • Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

    Easy Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
    Nick Evans

    Rotisserie chicken for a major win! It adds incredible flavor to this soup and makes this soup ridiculously easy to make. While the kids may like this soup as-is, you may want to jazz it up a little with a soft-boiled egg! Sounds a little crazy, but give it a whirl. You’ll love it!

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