Don’t know what to cook for dinner tonight? Here are 36 easy meals you can make in 30 min. or less. Healthy recipes for feeding family, kids, or company, like pasta primavera or weeknight stir-fry.
Have you ever meal planned while hungry? I have! My imagination runs wild and huge exquisitely prepared meals fill the menu. Lots of freshly baked goods and desserts become essential for every meal.
When I meal plan while hungry, I always think to myself: Am I crazy? I don’t have time for all of that!
I don’t want to spend every day, all day cooking. My family doesn’t need gourmet. With the unpredictable appetites of a commuter bicyclist and two young children, leftovers nights are a must!
We’re all in the same boat. We need easy and healthy meals, and to work when it’s worth it and welcome reprieve when it matters.
Enter the list of “easy meals.” These are the meals that I can make in 30 minutes or less for busy nights or even a night when I need a break in the kitchen. Lucky for me, these are also some of my family’s favorites.
Quick and Easy Meal ideas
Idea 1: Healthy DIY Salad
There’s almost always a container of washed and chopped lettuce in our fridge. Pull this out with any other fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts that we have and dinner is done. Some of my favorite salads:
- Buffalo Chicken and Bacon Ranch Salad
- Southwestern Salad
- Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
- Sweet Kale Salad
- Asian Mason Jar Salad
- Honey Roasted Almonds (for topping!)
Idea 2: Easy Pasta
Like the lettuce, we almost always have a jar of homemade tomato sauce in the freezer. If not, there’s homemade pesto in the fridge. Here are some of my favorite quick pasts meals:
- Savory Pasta with Onions
- Homemade Pasta Primavera
- Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Easy Italian Pasta Salad
- Cobb Pasta Salad
- Weeknight Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Idea 3: Quick Gourmet Grilled Cheese
While my family doesn’t need gourmet, it’s kinda fun to spruce up “boring” meals. Slicing fruit takes less than a minute and mixing up the cheeses offers plenty of sandwich options. Here are some yummy grilled cheese ideas:
- Mediterranean Grilled Cheese
- Turkey and Cranberry Panini
Serve with soup for a complete meal:
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Tomato Basil Soup
- Tortilla Soup
- Minestrone Soup
- Instant Pot White Bean Soup
Idea 4: Fast Weeknight Stir-Fry
The perfect way to use up random pieces of leftover meat and veggies. Toss in some soy sauce and ginger and serve! Here’s my favorite weeknight stir-fry.
Here are a few more of my favorite easy stir-fry inspired dishes:
30 Minute Dinners Sample Meal Plan
Sign up to get instant access to my 30 Minute Dinners Sample Meal Plan, complete with recipes and step-by-step instructions!Idea 5: Easy Pulled BBQ Pork/Chicken
Making pulled pork or whole chicken in the slow cooker or Instant Pot is an easy way to have dinner ready! Simply shred the meat with a fork before serving. You can even make homemade rolls ahead of time in batches and frozen until the day of.
Here are my go-to pulled pork and chicken recipes:
Idea 6: Simple Quesadillas
It’s like taco night, but on a griddle with extra cheese. Keep it simple (meat and cheese) or add in leftover vegetables. I like to serve quesadillas with:
More Quick Meal Ideas
Looking for more inspiration? Here are a few more 30-minute dinner meal ideas:
Amy
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Amy
I would have to go with Mr. Crumbs and get the Mozzarella sticks. Yummy!
Amy
Our favorite quick meal is Tacos. I brown hamburger when I buy it and freeze multiple bags of taco meat. Thaw meat and chop up the lettuce and tomato and dinner is served.
Mare
Pasta with pesto….yum!
Heather
Meatloaf. I can make it ahead and then just pop into the oven. Just roasted brocolli for a side. My picky eaters favorite meal.
Laura Lane
Mozarella sticks would be fun to buy. It’s something I really like but never buy because it’s an extra.
Laura Lane
Spicy Can Opener Soup is a favorite:
http://harvestlanecottage.blogspot.com/2010/03/spicy-can-opener-soup.html
Jeannette
Mozzarella Sticks
Jeannette
I am a subscriber.
Jeannette
Eggs…scramble them, add meat and/or veggies, or put on bread for a sandwhich.
Cathie
Yes, I am a subscriber. (And enjoy it greatly!)
Cathie
Once again, my list is eerily similar to yours. We had a DIY salad just last night.
Jennifer B
My favorite easy meal is pasta. With cream cheese sauce, tomato sauce or just butter and parsley.
Martha
My favorite easy meal is Talapia with a raw tomato sauce. Sounds complicated but it is not. I can have this on the table within 30 minutes. It is a Racheal Ray recipe. : )
Crystal Byrd
We love to do sub sandwiches at home on a busy night, or our own version of gourmet grilled cheese (avocado and pepperoni, anyone?). And a dinner of fried mozzarella, marinara, and a side salad never gets complaints, either! 🙂
Amy Vance
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese!!! Yum
Sheila Smith
We make up our own Pasties and freeze them. Pull out of freezer and microwave (8minutes) or if you thought to pull out early and they are thawed reheat in the oven. Top with ketchup ~not gravy – that’s an unknowing tourist thing~ and eat.
Kelly
Our favorite easy meal… beans and rice!!
barbara n
I am an email subscriber
barbara n
My favorite easy meal is spaghetti and jarred sauce