40 Favorite Weeknight Dinners Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

These recipes are ideal for hectic weeknights. With a little planning and some clever shortcuts, you can whip up delicious, home-cooked meals that are ready in just 30 minutes or less.

Whether you prefer pasta dishes, casseroles, or stir-fries, these flavorful and easy-to-prepare meals can be on the table in half an hour or less.

Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a hungry family, these 30-minute meals are a solution for busy days. These are our 40 favorite weeknight dinner recipes.

Sesame Noodles

this Recipe

Quick and Easy Sesame Noodles! Can be served hot or cold. Enjoy as a side dish, or add in additional veggies or cooked protein for a simple dinner.

Get the Recipe: Sesame Noodles

Pasta Checca with Burrata

Pasta Checca with Burrata! This recipe is ready in less than 20 minutes. Quick, no-cook sauce tossed with hot angel hair pasta and topped with creamy burrata. 

Get the Recipe: Pasta Checca with Burrata

Easy Drunken Noodles

Inspired by the Thai favorite, Pad Kee Mao, this easy drunken noodle recipe is made with rice noodles, veggies, tofu and a spicy sauce. Ready in 30 minutes!

Make it: Easy Drunken Noodles

Mediterranean Pasta

Mediterranean Pasta with Artichokes, Capers, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes! Ready in less than 30 minutes, this vegan pasta recipe is a must-save for date nights and busy weeknights.

It’s light, incredibly flavorful, and satisfying.

Grab the recipe: Mediterranean Pasta

Chicken Curry

Coconut Curry Chicken with green beans and peppers. Covered in a delicious curry coconut sauce and made in under 30 minutes. 

Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Chicken

Potato, Spinach and Sausage Soup

If you love Olive Garden’s Zuppa Tuscana soup, then you’ll love this version. A simple recipe ready in 30 minutes made with spinach, sausage and potatoes in a light cream broth.

Get the Recipe: Potato, Spinach and Sausage Soup

20 Minute Red Pepper Pasta

This hearty dish with roasted red pepper pasta sauce is the perfect vegan comfort food! Not only do you get to enjoy a big bowl of pasta, but it is covered in an amazing, flavorful sauce. Dinner in 20 minutes? YES, please! 

Make it: Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Simple Weeknight Zucchini Pasta

Looking for a fast-cooking meal? Try this summer zucchini pasta sauce. Rigatoni with garden-fresh tomatoes, zucchini and basil.

Get the recipe: Simple Weeknight Zucchini Pasta

Oven Roasted Fajitas

Oven Roasted Fajitas! These fajitas are such a simple meal. Throw everything in the oven and dinner is ready in just 30 minutes. Customize them however you like ’em. 

Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Fajitas

Sesame Garlic Stir Fry Noodles

Grab the chopsticks! Thick and chewy udon noodles in a garlic ginger sauce with spinach. Ready in less than 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Stir Fry Noodles

Quick and Easy Quinoa Sweet Potato Chili

If you want to enjoy a hearty, meatless chili that is ready in under 30 minutes, try this flavorful, filling, and delicious quinoa sweet potato chili. This is a quick and easy combination that you can make for lunch or dinner even on busy weekdays. Recipe here.

10-Minute Black Bean Tacos

If you are looking to serve healthy tacos for dinner, take a look at this recipe for black bean tacos! In just 10 minutes, you can have a healthy, yet satisfying meal ready to serve with a punch of flavor and protein. This black bean taco recipe will knock your socks off!

Make it: 10 Minute Black Bean Tacos

Vegetable Korma (in 30 minutes)

This 30-minute vegetable korma recipe is the perfect way to have a delicious dinner, without breaking the bank or spending hours in the kitchen. So put on your apron and get ready to whip up this easy korma sauce and load it with chickpeas, carrots, green peas, potatoes, green beans, and mushrooms. Everyone will be asking for seconds! Get the recipe here.

Linguine alle Vongole

This recipe for Linguine alle Vongole, aka pasta with clam sauce, is an easy and delicious classic Italian seafood dinner that uses mostly pantry ingredients and only takes 30 minutes to make.

Get the Recipe: Linguine alle Vongole

Scrambled Egg Tacos with Salsa Verde

Breakfast for dinner! Ready in just 10 minutes, this simple scrambled egg tacos are great for busy weeknights. Scramble the eggs with cojito cheese, then top on a crispy tortilla with salsa verde and avocado.

Get the Recipe: Scrambled Egg Tacos

7 Ingredient Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta! This 7 ingredient dinner is ready in just 20 minutes, perfect for busy nights! 

Get the Recipe: Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta

Air Fryer Black Bean Taquitos

4-ingredient black bean taquitos made in the air fryer. Crispy low-fat taquitos made with just a handful of ingredients. 

Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Black Bean Taquitos

Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff

This Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff is a creamy, savory, luxurious dinner inspired by delicious Eastern European cuisine and it’s ready to eat in just half an hour! You simply can’t beat this easy stroganoff recipe for a one-skillet, thirty-minute dinner when you’re ready for a satisfying, comforting meal that doesn’t involve slaving in the kitchen all afternoon.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Mushroom Stroganoff

Pesto Orzo with White Beans

A one-pot dinner! Creamy pesto orzo with white beans, spinach, and parmesan cheese. A simple kid-friendly dinner ready in just 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Pesto Orzo

15 Minute Pad Thai

Did someone call for pad thai noodles? It’s ready in less time than it takes to call up take-out or rummage around in the pantry trying to decide what to make!

Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Vegan Pad Thai

Chickpea Pasta with Sausage

This easy recipe for Chick Pea Pasta with Sausage + Broccoli Rabe is a healthy and satisfying dinner that can be on the table in 20 minutes! 

Get the Recipe: Sausage + Broccoli Rabe

Easy, 20 Minute Pasta

Easy, 20-Minute Pasta! You are going to love this healthy, easy spinach pasta! With a trick to creating glossy, restaurant-style pasta, this is a must-have for quick dinners. 

Make it: Easy Pasta Recipe

One Skillet Dinner with Potatoes and Sausage

Crispy seasoned purple potatoes, sausage and peppers. A family-friendly dinner that doesn’t require much effort or clean-up. 

Get the recipe: One Pot Skillet Dinner with Sausage

Buffalo Chickpea Lettuce Wraps

If you love buffalo-flavor recipes, then you’re going to want to try this high-protein and high-fiber recipe. Ready in less than 20 minutes, a must if you are looking to eat healthy while still enjoying buffalo-flavored food!

Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chickpea Lettuce Wraps

Instant Pot Burrito Bowls

Use your Instant Pot to make this healthy burrito bowl recipe! These bowls are perfect for busy weeknights. Super flavorful Mexican rice with avocados, lettuce, tomatoes and more!

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Burrito Bowls

Sheet Pan Stir Fry

For this quick and easy dinner, dump everything onto a sheet pan, toss with homemade stir-fry sauce and bake. That’s it! Add in cooked grains as desired and eat.

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Stir Fry with Vegetables

Stir Fry Noodles

These Stir Fry Noodles are incredibly easy to make, packed with flavor, and the perfect recipe for busy weeknights! It features perfectly stir-fried veggies, tasty tofu, and delicious noodles coated in a simple, flavorful homemade stir-fry sauce! Recipe here.

Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl

A quick egg roll recipe is great for making a side dish but pork egg roll in a bowl is a complete meal by itself. You won’t believe how quick and easy this is.

Get the Recipe: pork egg roll in a bowl

Miso Mushroom Ramen Soup

If you’re looking for cozy, healthy dinner ideas, look no further than this simple gluten free vegan ramen soup. Garlic, ginger, miso, soy sauce, and chillies are just some of the tasty ingredients in this miso ramen recipe. Recipe here.

Air Fryer Bruschetta Stuffed Chicken

This air fryer bruschetta stuffed chicken breasts recipe infuses chicken with the best Italian flavours. Chicken, tomatoes and provolone cheese pair up beautifully in this easy chicken recipe. Whip up this easy bruschetta chicken bake for dinner and you won’t be disappointed.

White Bean Mushroom Soup

This White Bean Mushroom Soup is super easy to make, comforting, and satisfying. Made with fresh vegetables and pantry staples, this is an easy soup packed with plant-based protein and lots of flavors.

Get the Recipe: White Bean Mushroom Soup

Thai Glass Noodles

A delicious, quick, and easy-to-make Thai glass noodle stir fry (Pad Woon Sen) recipe that can be made in 30 minutes or less.

Get the Recipe: Thai glass noodle stir fry

Creamy Tomato Orzo

This Tomato Risotto is an incredibly simple recipe but is still packed with flavor in each bite to give you a dinner meal that’s sure to become a family favorite! It features perfectly cooked risotto with a beautiful, creamy texture and the fresh summer flavors of cherry tomatoes. What’s best is that it can be made in just 30 minutes from scratch! 

Get the Recipe: Tomato Risotto

Cedar Planked Wild Salmon

This gorgeous late-summer recipe for Cedar Planked Wild Salmon with Tomato Peach Salsa makes for a simple and flavorful grilled dinner.

Get the Recipe: Wild Salmon with Tomato Peach Salsa

Pasta in Creamy Green Sauce

This green pasta is great for kids or anyone looking to add more greens to their diet! Ready in just 25 minutes and packed with a serving of leafy green vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Pasta in Green Sauce

Easy Udon Noodle Soup with Miso

A quick and easy udon noodle soup recipe made with bok choy and a simple miso broth. Ready from start to finish in 15 minutes!

Get the Recipe: Udon noodle soup

Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry

Weeknight shortcuts are the best! Try this Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry using frozen vegetables for a quick one-pot wonder dinner the whole family will love. 

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Stir Fry

30 Minute Pesto, Kale and Bean Soup

This 30 Minute Pesto Chicken, Kale + White Bean Soup is the perfect cozy recipe to whip up on a weeknight when you want something healthy and easy. Get the recipe here.

Sheet Pan Chicken Stir Fry

This Sheet Pan Chicken Stir Fry is a quick, easy weeknight dinner your family will love.  Making it in a sheet pan makes it a hands-off, no stir, stir fry!

Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Stir Fry

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Made with a secret ingredient, this creamy mushroom pasta is packed with savory umami flavor and ready in just 20 minutes! Save this for weeknight dinners. 

Get the Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Pasta