10 Easy Weeknight Dinners You Can Make in Under 30 Minutes
Weeknights are busy, and finding time to cook a delicious meal can be challenging. But with these 10 easy weeknight dinner ideas, you’ll never have to resort to takeout or overly complicated recipes again. Each of these meals is ready in under 30 minutes and designed to be both simple and satisfying. Whether you’re cooking for one or the whole family, these recipes are sure to become your new go-to dinners.
1. Garlic Butter Shrimp with Pasta
- Ingredients: Shrimp, pasta, garlic, butter, olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Instructions: Cook pasta according to package instructions. In a pan, melt butter with olive oil and sauté minced garlic. Add shrimp and cook until pink. Toss in lemon juice and parsley. Serve over pasta.
2. Chicken Stir-Fry with Vegetables
- Ingredients: Chicken breast, vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, broccoli), soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.
- Instructions: Slice chicken and marinate in soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Heat a wok and stir-fry chicken and vegetables until tender. Finish with sesame oil and serve over rice.
3. Margherita Pizza
- Ingredients: Pre-made pizza dough, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and olive oil.
- Instructions: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Spread tomato sauce on dough. Top with mozzarella and basil. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
4. Tacos with Ground Beef
- Ingredients: Ground beef, taco seasoning, tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and salsa.
- Instructions: Brown ground beef with taco seasoning. Warm tortillas in a dry pan. Assemble tacos with beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and salsa.
5. One-Pot Pasta with Sausage
- Ingredients: Italian sausage, pasta, garlic, olive oil, marinara sauce, cream, and Parmesan.
- Instructions: Cook sausage in olive oil until browned. Add garlic and pasta. Pour in marinara and cream. Simmer until pasta is cooked through. Stir in Parmesan before serving.
6. Veggie-Packed quesadillas
- Ingredients: Tortillas, cheese, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and avocado.
- Instructions: Warm a pan on medium heat. Add tortilla and sprinkle with cheese, beans, corn, tomatoes, and avocado. Cook until melted and flipped to the other side.
7. Salmon and Asparagus
- Ingredients: Salmon fillet, asparagus, olive oil, lemon, garlic, and dill.
- Instructions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Toss asparagus in olive oil and season. Place salmon on a baking sheet with asparagus. Drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with dill. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
8. Lentil Soup
- Ingredients: Lentils, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and thyme.
- Instructions: Sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Add lentils and broth. Simmer until lentils are tender. Stir in diced tomatoes and thyme. Serve hot.
9. Caprese Salad
- Ingredients: Fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, basil leaves, olive oil, and balsamic glaze.
- Instructions: Slice mozzarella and arrange on a plate with cherry tomatoes and basil. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze. Serve immediately.
10. Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
- Ingredients: Ground turkey, spaghetti squash, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Instructions: Cook spaghetti squash by poking with fork and roasting. Form meatballs and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes. Serve meatballs over zucchini noodles with marinara and cheese.
These quick and easy weeknight dinners are perfect for busy schedules. Whether you’re looking to save time or just want delicious meals, these recipes have got your back. Try them out and see how much easier (and tastier) cooking can be!
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