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    30 30-Minute Dinners That'll Help Make Cooking At Home Easier

    Got half an hour? Make something delicious.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Maybe you're running out of dinner ideas, or perhaps you're tired of spending so much time in the kitchen. Don't fret. Here are 30 recipes that come together in just 30 minutes. So you can whip up dinner while you watch a single episode of The Office or Schitt's Creek, then prepare to chow down.

    1. Creamy Tuscan Shrimp

    Salt and Lavender / Via saltandlavender.com

    Made with butter, cream, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach, this decadent shrimp dish tastes even better with a side of orzo or egg noodles. Get the recipe for creamy Tuscan shrimp here.

    2. Chicken Pad Thai

    Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com

    Skip the takeout tonight and make this sweet-meets-savory pad Thai from scratch. The homemade sauce it absolutely delicious, and if you don't have all the ingredients you can work with what's in your pantry, even if it's just peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and lime. Get the recipe for chicken pad Thai here.

    3. Easy Sausage Carbonara

    The View From Great Island / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com

    Pasta and sausage meatballs get tossed in a rich sauce made of egg yolk, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. You could swap the sausage for pretty much whatever meat is in your fridge. Get the recipe for easy sausage carbonara here.

    4. Instant Pot Wild Mushroom Risotto

    The View From Great Island / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com, Moran / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com

    Fancy enough for date night yet easy enough for a weeknight dinner, this luxurious mushroom risotto will soon earn a spot among your favorite go-to recipes. Get the recipe for wild mushroom risotto here.

    5. Pesto Tortellini Salad

    Dishing Out Health / Via dishingouthealth.com

    Pro tip: Always keep store-bought tortellini on hand for recipes like this one. As a bonus, this veggie-packed pasta salad makes for A+ leftovers. Get the recipe for pesto tortellini salad here.

    6. Salmon Noodle Bowls

    Omnivore's Cookbook / Via omnivorescookbook.com

    This easy yet sophisticated recipe calls for salmon fillets, coleslaw, and soba noodles in a sauce made with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ginger. Get the recipe for salmon noodle bowls here.

    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    Don't skimp out on the homemade slaw. It's so simple, but it gives these tacos a much-needed crunch and delicious creaminess. Get the recipe for spicy shrimp tacos here.

    8. Skillet Lasagna

    Five Heart Home / Via fivehearthome.com

    This is a true one-pan meal (seriously, you don't even have to pre-cook the meat or cook the lasagna noodles). Everything gets tossed into the skillet, simmered in tomato sauce, and topped with dollops of creamy ricotta. Get the recipe for skillet lasagna here.

    9. Mushroom and Leek Chicken

    Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com

    This comforting chicken recipe comes together with just a few ingredients like boneless skinless chicken breasts, brown mushrooms, leeks, white wine, and cream. Get the recipe for mushroom and leek chicken breasts here.

    10. Coconut Chicken Curry

    Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    This flavorful curry — made with coconut milk, red curry paste, fish sauce, and ginger — can be made in a single pot. If you're not a huge fan of chicken, try making it with shrimp, tofu, or just a bunch of veggies! Get the recipe for coconut chicken curry here.

    11. One-Pot Orzo With Shrimp and Peas

    Cookin Canuck / Via cookincanuck.com

    Lemon-y garlicky orzo cooked in vegetable broth and white wine is loaded with tender shrimp and peas. You can easily jazz up this recipe with grilled chicken and/or sliced sausage (think: jambalaya) or additional seafood (a quasi-paella). Get the recipe for one-pot orzo with shrimp and peas here.

    12. Chili Mac 'n' Cheese

    The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

    Look, it's an indisputable fact that when you combine two classic comfort foods, the result can't possibly be bad. This cheesy, chili mac is, of course, no exception to the rule. Get the recipe for chili mac 'n' cheese here.

    13. Chicken and Ramen Skillet

    Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    This cozy dinner is like chicken lo mein, except it calls for packaged ramen noodles. It's tossed in a tangy and spicy sauce made with soy sauce, ketchup, and Sriracha, and it tastes just as good as leftovers the next day. Get the recipe for chicken ramen skillet here.

    14. Korean Beef Bibimbap

    The Girl On Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

    Shave lots of time off cooking by using microwaveable rice and sautéing all the veggies — carrots, mushrooms, bean sprouts, spinach, and zucchini — at the same time. Then, use thinly sliced sirloin or ground beef so your meat cooks quickly. Get the recipe for Korean bibimbap here.

    15. Chimichurri Shrimp

    The View From Great Island / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com

    It may seem simple, but this shrimp tossed in herb-y, tangy chimichurri sauce is bursting with flavor. Serve it with your favorite grains for a hearty meal. Get the recipe for chimichurri shrimp here.

    16. Chicken and Sausage Pasta

    La Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

    This dinner couldn't be much easier. Boil your favorite kind of pasta while you sauté chicken, sausage, garlic, and spinach in a skillet. Add the cooked pasta and garnish with salt, pepper, olive oil, and a sprinkle of parmesan. Get the recipe for chicken and sausage pasta here.

    17. Baked Caprese Chicken

    Modern Honey / Via modernhoney.com

    Think: Quick chicken parm, but without the breading and with lots and lots of bubbly, gooey, melty cheese. Get the recipe for baked chicken caprese here.

    18. French Onion Chicken

    Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

    Boring chicken breast gets a flavor boost from caramelized onions, gravy, and melty cheese in this French onion soup-inspired dinner. Get the recipe for French onion chicken here.

    19. Easy Pork Piccata

    Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com

    This dish is traditionally prepared with chicken, but this version, which calls for pork tenderloin is just as delicious. The pork gets dredged in flour, pan-fried until perfectly crispy, and served in a sauce of garlic, butter, lemon and cappers. Get the recipe for easy pork piccata here.

    20. Pepper Steak Stir Fry

    All The Healthy Things / Via allthehealthythings.com

    Pepper steak is a thin cut of meat so it cooks in no time and it's perfect for beef stir fry. If you're planning in advance, marinate the steak overnight for even more flavor. Get the recipe for pepper steak stir fry here.

    Never underestimate the power of a good homemade salsa. This one is made with peach, avocado, red onion, and jalapeño tossed with cilantro and lime. The zesty combination is the perfect complement to the spiced salmon. Get the recipe for blackened salmon with peach and avocado salsa here.

    22. Skillet Vegetarian Enchiladas

    Two Peas and Their Pod / Via twopeasandtheirpod.com

    Loaded with black beans, zucchini, corn and bell pepper, this vegetarian medley is topped with enchilada sauce, lots of spices, avocado, and plenty of cheese. Get the recipe for skillet vegetarian enchiladas here.

    23. Tuna Niçoise

    Chef de Home / Via chefdehome.com

    This recipe takes under 30 minutes to whip up from scratch, but since everything is served chilled, you can prepare the black pepper seared tuna, hard boiled eggs, haricots verts, and potatoes ahead of time. Get the recipe for tuna Niçoise here.

    24. Black Bean and Quinoa Tacos

    Plays Well With Butter / Via playswellwithbutter.com

    These plant-based tacos are so easy to dress up with your favorite toppings like avocado, corn, jalapeño, salsa, and more. Get the recipe for quinoa and black bean tacos here.

    25. 10-Minute Spicy Peanut Udon Noodles

    Seasons and Suppers / Via seasonsandsuppers.ca

    When you combine creamy peanut butter, thick udon noodles, spicy chili oil, and salty soy sauce, you get a flavor combination that is straight up drool-worthy. Get the recipe for 10-minute spicy peanut udon noodles here.

    26. Ziti with Chicken and Broccoli

    Well Plated / Via wellplated.com

    One of our all-time favorite pasta trios, ziti, broccoli, and chicken make for a seriously cozy dish, especially when cooked in butter and milk and topped with a hearty shake of Parmesan. Get the recipe for ziti with chicken and broccoli here.

    27. One-Pan Mediterranean Cod

    Abra's Kitchen / Via abraskitchen.com

    Even if you're intimidated by the idea of cooking seafood at home, this one-pan cod is difficult to mess up. Just add veggies like onion, canned tomato, kale, and olives to a skillet and sauté for about 12 minutes. Then add the fish and simmer for 10 more minutes. It's that easy. Get the recipe for one-pan Mediterranean cod here.

    28. Thai Green Curry Tofu

    Choosing Chia / Via choosingchia.com

    This Thai-inspired curry recipe happens to be vegan, but if you prefer meat or seafood to tofu, go ahead and swap it in. Get the recipe for green curry tofu here.

    The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

    It may not be summertime, but this bright and refreshing sheet pan gnocchi recipe will instantly transport you to warmer weather. Get the recipe for sheet pan gnocchi with tomatoes and mozzarella here.

    30. Chinese Chicken Salad

    Tastes Lovely / Via tasteslovely.com

    There's something so satisfying about this crunchy and creamy salad made with cabbage, mandarin oranges, shredded chicken, bell pepper, and sliced almonds. If you don't have the ingredients to make the dressing from scratch, opt for store-bought one. Get the recipe for Chinese chicken salad here.