56 Dinner Ideas That You Can Make In A Half Hour Or Less

    Dinner in 30? You've got this.

    Hannah Loewentheil
    by Hannah Loewentheil

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Cooking a delicious meal at home doesn't need to be a huge to-do. So next time you're looking to get dinner on the table quickly, try one of these super satisfying recipes that come together in about 30 minutes flat.

    1. Creamy Tuscan Shrimp

    A skillet of creamy shrimp with spinach and sun dried tomatoes.
    Salt and Lavender / Via saltandlavender.com

    Fancy shrimp dinner in 30 minutes? No problem. This shrimp is simmered in cream sauce with spinach and sun dried tomatoes. Garnish with some fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a bit of Parmesan.

    Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Shrimp

    2. Instant Pot Wild Mushroom Risotto

    The View From Great Island / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com

    On the stovetop or in the oven risotto can take close to an hour, but thanks to your handy Instant Pot, this version is ready in a fraction of the time.

    Recipe: Instant Pot Wild Mushroom Risotto

    3. 15-Minute BLT Pasta Salad

    Busy Budgeter / Via busybudgeter.com

    Pick your favorite pasta shape, add cherry tomatoes, diced bacon, romaine lettuce, and plenty of shredded cheese. Mix it all up with ranch dressing and dig in.

    Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad

    4. Chicken and Ramen Skillet

    Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    Turn instant ramen noodles into a stir fry that rivals that of your favorite take-out spot.

    Recipe: Chicken and Ramen Skillet

    5. 15-Minute Easy Wonton Soup

    Two bowls of wonton soup with green vegetables.
    Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

    Always keep a package of your favorite frozen gyoza or wontons around for this easy, comforting, and no-fuss soup.

    Recipe: Easy Wonton Soup

    6. Herb Crusted Baked Salmon

    Spend With Pennies / Via spendwithpennies.com

    Tired of the same old baked salmon recipe? Give this one a try. Salmon is topped with a mixture of panko bread crumbs, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and plenty of fresh herbs. Then it's baked until crispy on the outside but moist and flaky on the inside.

    Recipe: Herb Crusted Baked Salmon

    7. Chicken Fried Rice

    A big skillet of chicken and vegetable fried rice.
    Natasha's Kitchen / Via natashaskitchen.com

    You can swap the chicken for just about whatever protein is in your fridge from bacon or shrimp to tofu.

    Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice

    Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com

    Tender chicken breasts smothered in a creamy mushroom gravy with plenty of sweet leeks. Serve this dish with egg noodles or rice to sop up all the delicious sauce.

    Recipe: Creamy Mushroom and Leek Chicken Breasts

    9. Chicken Hummus Naan Wraps

    The Rising Spoon / Via therisingspoon.com

    Whip up this lunch or dinner with naan, hummus, whatever veggies are in your fridge, and chicken breasts. If you want to make things even easier, use a store bought rotisserie chicken.

    Recipe: Chicken Hummus Naan Wraps

    10. Honey Soy Salmon

    The Almond Eater / Via thealmondeater.com

    This sweet and sticky glaze tastes amazing on just about any protein, but you'll love it on salmon with a side of your favorite veggie.

    Recipe: Honey Soy Salmon

    11. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Garlic Cilantro Lime Slaw

    Shrimp tacos with slaw.
    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    Every element of these tacos tastes like perfection from the crispy, spiced shrimp to the tangy, zesty slaw.

    Recipe: Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Garlic Cilantro Lime Slaw

    Savory Nothings / Via savorynothings.com

    Never underestimate the combination of chickpeas and pasta. You can keep both ingredients right in your pantry for lazy nights when you're low on groceries and whip them up into a cozy meal. Add your favorite greens, garlic, lemon, and Parmesan and call it dinner.

    Recipe: Broccoli Rabe Pasta With Smoky Chickpeas

    13. Teriyaki Shrimp With Broccoli

    My Food Story / Via myfoodstory.com

    If store-bought teriyaki sauce is all you've got, by all means go for it. But you'll never regret whipping up this sweet and spicy homemade version from scratch with soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and chili flakes.

    Recipe: Teriyaki Shrimp With Broccoli

    14. One-Pot Parmesan Chicken Pasta

    Parmesan chicken pasta topped with lots of cheese.
    The Chunky Chef / Via thechunkychef.com

    This dish is everything you love about chicken parmesan but it comes together in half the time in just one pot. In other words, it's a total game-changer.

    Recipe: One-Pot Parmesan Chicken Pasta

    Recipe Runner / Via reciperunner.com

    If you have ground beef in your fridge or freezer, turn it into an easy skillet dinner Sauté it with your favorite veggies and a bunch of spices. For something more filling, serve over rice or your favorite grain.

    Recipe: Southwest Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

    16. Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    Life Made Simple Bakes / Via lifemadesimplebakes.com

    Diced chicken, celery, chestnuts, mushrooms and garlic are tossed in ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce and chili paste. Serve the chicken in butter lettuce cups sprinkled with cashews, carrots, and scallions.

    Recipe: Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

    17. Pork Tenderloin With Peanut Cilantro Sauce

    Sliced pork tenderloin with cilantro and peanut sauce.
    Seasons and Suppers / Via seasonsandsuppers.ca

    Pork tenderloin is so affordable, and with the help of this sweet and savory Indonesian-inspired peanut sauce, you can easily turn it into a weeknight dinner that feels totally fancy.

    Recipe: Pork Tenderloin With Peanut Cilantro Sauce

    18. Skillet Shrimp Fajitas

    Skillet shrimp fajitas with tortillas on the side.
    Taste and Tell Blog / Via tasteandtellblog.com

    Serve these sautéed shrimp, onions, and peppers in tortillas or over a bed of rice like a burrito bowl.

    Recipe: Skillet Shrimp Fajitas

    19. Shrimp Scampi

    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    Take the frozen shrimp that's hiding in your freezer and toss it with spaghetti in a simple white wine, lemon, and garlic sauce for a dinner that tastes restaurant quality.

    Recipe: Shrimp Scampi

    20. Gingery Kale Salad with Cashew Dressing

    Minimalist Baker / Via minimalistbaker.com

    Make a big batch of this salad dressing because you're going to want to use it all the time. It's made with nut butter, soy sauce, ginger, lime juice, maple syrup, sesame oil, and chili garlic sauce.

    Recipe: Gingery Kale Salad with Cashew Dressing

    21. Garlic Steak and Potato Foil Packs

    Steak and potatoes in foil.
    Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

    Cooking your meat and potatoes in foil packets not only eliminates any mess, but it keeps moisture in so that your food is perfectly tender.

    Recipe: Garlic Steak and Potato Foil Packs

    22. Sweet and Spicy Baked Honey Sriracha Chicken

    Pieces of crispy honey sriracha chicken in a skillet.
    Chef Savvy / Via chefsavvy.com

    If you don't love chicken, you can use this sweet and spicy honey Sriracha sauce to make anything from salmon to tofu.

    Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Baked Honey Sriracha Chicken

    23. White Chicken Chili

    Averie Cooks / Via averiecooks.com

    Cool nights call for big bowls of chili. This recipe, made with white beans and shredded chicken, will warm you right up and keep you feeling full.

    Recipe: White Chicken Chili

    24. Parmesan Crusted Cod

    Parmesan crusted cod and broccolini on a sheet pan.
    Kim's Cravings / Via kimscravings.com

    Start with any flaky white fish (or even salmon will do) and dredge the fillets in a mixture of parmesan cheese, paprika, and parsley. Bake in the oven until golden brown.

    Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Cod

    25. Sweet Thai Chili Salmon Skewers

    How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

    These salmon skewers call for simple ingredients, but the Thai flavors are incredible. Drizzle the cooked skewers with sesame oil, cilantro, sesame seeds, and Thai chili if you like a little kick.

    Recipe: Sweet Thai Chili Salmon Skewers

    26. Garlic Shrimp Ramen

    Diethood / Via diethood.com

    Those $2 instant ramen packages can actually go a long way towards a gourmet meal. Stir fry the boiled noodles with some juicy garlic shrimp and voilà.

    Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Ramen

    27. Beef Bibimbap

    Korean beef and vegetable rice bowls.
    The Girl on Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

    You can make these Korean-inspired rice bowls with pretty much whatever protein or veggies you have in your fridge. Or keep it totally vegetarian and top your bowl with a runny fried egg.

    Recipe: Beef Bibimbap

    28. 30-Minute Beef Stroganoff

    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    There's nothing like this creamy, umami-packed stroganoff sauce, which is made with butter, onion, garlic, white wine, beef stock, Worcestershire sauce, flour and either sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

    Recipe: 30-Minute Beef Stroganoff

    The Food Charlatan / Via thefoodcharlatan.com

    Pro tip: stop boiling your gnocchi. Instead, take your fresh or frozen gnocchi and spread it on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil. Roast until the gnocchi is just golden brown with a deliciously crispy exterior.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Tomatoes and Mozzarella

    30. Baked Chicken Caprese

    Modern Honey / Via modernhoney.com

    What could be more satisfying than tender chicken breast nestled in juicy tomato sauce beneath a layer of bubbly, melty cheese?

    Recipe: Baked Chicken Caprese

    31. Tuna Niçoise

    Chef de Home / Via chefdehome.com

    If you can get your hands on tuna steaks, this medium-rare seared tuna tastes incredible. But you can always opt for something more accessible and affordable like canned tuna fish or salmon.

    Recipe: Tuna Niçoise

    32. Thai Green Curry Tofu

    Two bowls of Thai green curry over rice.
    Choosing Chia / Via choosingchia.com

    This recipe calls for tofu, but you can use anything from shrimp to chicken in this creamy green curry and coconut milk based dish.

    Recipe: Thai Green Curry Tofu

    33. Sheet Pan Chinese Tofu

    Darn Good Veggies / Via darngoodveggies.com

    There's no marinating required in this super simple sheet pan supper. Just toss cubes of tofu, diced veggies, and cashews in the coconut and soy sauce, then let it bake for 20-25 minutes.

    Recipe: Sheet Pan Chinese Tofu

    34. Chicken Ratatouille

    Diethood / Via diethood.com

    Classic ratatouille is delicious, but every now and then you might crave something a bit more filling. Enter: this riff on the French classic, which is made with lots of fresh veggies and chicken breasts in a single skillet.

    Recipe: Chicken Ratatouille

    35. Easy Taco Mac

    Skillet taco mac 'n' cheese.
    Mae Bells / Via maebells.com

    What happens when you combine cheesy mac 'n' cheese with meaty chili? Well, it's one of the best comfort food mash-ups of all time.

    Recipe: Easy Taco Mac

    36. Vegetarian Meatballs

    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    No meat, no problem. These vegetarian balls are made with cauliflower, quinoa or brown rice, flour, eggs, and spices. You can pan-fry them or bake them in the oven until golden, then serve with veggies, pasta, or your favorite grain.

    Recipe: Vegetarian Meatballs

    37. Pesto Minestrone Soup

    Well Fed Soul / Via well-fedsoul.com

    If you're not already adding a heaping spoonful of pesto to your soup, you're doing it wrong.

    Recipe: Pesto Minestrone Soup

    My Food Story / Via myfoodstory.com

    You can start with any pasta at the base of this antipasto salad, but cheese-filled tortellini is absolutely next-level delicious.

    Recipe: Italian Antipasto Tortellini Pasta Salad

    39. Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini Skillet

    A cheesy chicken and zucchini skillet meal.
    iFood Real / Via ifoodreal.com

    If you don't have chicken, go ahead and improvise. You can use any ground meat for this skillet meal or just load it with lots of vegetables. Together with black beans and melted cheese, whatever ingredients you use will taste so satisfying.

    Recipe: Tex Mex Chicken and Zucchini Skillet

    40. 20-Minute Tomato Soup

    Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

    This homemade creamy tomato and basil blend is so incredibly easy. Top your bowl with anything from fresh herbs and grated Parmesan to pine nuts and croutons.

    Recipe: 20-Minute Tomato Soup

    41. Chinese Chicken Salad

    Chinese chicken salad with lots of vegetables and creamy dressing.
    Tastes Lovely / Via tasteslovely.com

    Tired of the same boring old salads? Shake things up with this crunchy, creamy chicken and cabbage medley, which gets a flavor boost from canned mandarin orange, almonds, cilantro, and scallion.

    Recipe: Chinese Chicken Salad

    42. Easy Thai Shrimp Soup

    A bowl of creamy Thai shrimp curry soup.
    Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

    Coconut milk and red curry paste make this Thai-inspired soup so decadent, you won't believe there's no cream involved. Go ahead and add any of your favorite vegetables like mushrooms, sweet potato, or bamboo shoots.

    Recipe: Easy Thai Shrimp Soup

    43. Pork Piccata

    A plate of pork picatta in lemon butter sauce with capers.
    Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com

    Most picatta recipes call for chicken, but this one uses pork chops, which are pounded thinly, dredged in flour, then pan-fried and served in a delightfully zesty garlic, wine, lemon, and caper sauce.

    Recipe: Pork Piccata

    Laughing Spatula / Via laughingspatula.com

    This entire recipe cooks in a single pan, which means you don't even have to boil water separately to cook the orzo. It doesn't get much easier than that.

    Recipe: 30 Minute Shrimp and Orzo with Sun Dried Tomatoes

    45. One-Pot Lasagna Soup

    The Girl on Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

    How can you make lasagna even cozier? Turn it into soup, of course, and top it with a big dollop of ricotta cheese and some fresh torn basil.

    Recipe: One-Pot Lasagna Soup

    Diethood / Via diethood.com

    You can substitute the asparagus and Brussels sprouts for just about any vegetable like sweet potato, cauliflower, or broccolini.

    Recipe: Ginger Glazed Salmon with Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts

    Chelsea's Messy Apron / Via chelseasmessyapron.com

    Garlic, onion, sausage, white beans, gnocchi, tomatoes, and spinach walk into a skillet. The result is hearty, savory, cheesy, and oh-so tasty.

    Recipe: One-Skillet Sausage and White Bean Gnocchi

    48. Garlic Butter Scallops

    Scallops with herbs and feta.
    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    Scallops seem totally fancy, but in reality they are one of the easiest and quickest ingredients to prepare. Sear them for about two minutes per side and they'll be perfectly cooked.

    Recipe: Garlic Butter Scallops

    49. Caprese Stuffed Garlic Butter Portobello Mushrooms

    Cheesy stuffed Caprese portobello mushroom cap.
    Cafe Delites / Via cafedelites.com

    With just a handful of ingredients, these cheesy stuffed portobello mushrooms are going to be a new favorite for meatless Monday.

    Recipe: Caprese Stuffed Garlic Butter Portobello Mushrooms

    50. Coconut Chickpea Curry

    Real and Vibrant / Via realandvibrant.com

    This vegetarian friendly recipe comes together with mostly pantry staples, so it's a great one to bookmark for nights when your fridge is feeling bare.

    Recipe: Coconut Chickpea Curry

    51. Butternut Squash Fettuccini Alfredo

    A bowl of butternut squash alfredo.
    Bowl of Delicious / Via bowlofdelicious.com

    This lightened up alfredo sauce starts with butternut squash. The squash is boiled in chicken broth with browned butter, rosemary, and onions, then combined with milk and pulsed in a blender until rich and creamy.

    Recipe: Butternut Squash Fettuccini Alfredo

    52. One-Pot Mexican Shakshuka

    Shakshuka with avocado and herbs.
    Joyful Healthy Eats / Via joyfulhealthyeats.com

    Middle Eastern and Mexican flavors collide in this one-pot baked eggs in tomato sauce. Top it with anything from sliced avocado to diced jalapeño.

    Recipe: One-Pot Mexican Shakshuka

    53. Thai Red Chicken Curry With Vegetables

    Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com

    The best thing about curry is that you can swap in pretty much whatever ingredients are in your fridge. Simmered in a blend of coconut milk, lime juice, ginger, fish sauce, Thai chili sauce, and sugar, you can't go wrong.

    Recipe: Thai Red Chicken Curry With Vegetables

    54. Mediterranean Cod Skillet

    Mediterranean cod in tomato sauce with olives.
    My Life Cookbook / Via mylifecookbook.com

    Transport yourself to a sleepy seaside Italian village with this baked cod, which is full of fresh Mediterranean flavors.

    Recipe: Mediterranean Cod Skillet

    Aberdeen's Kitchen / Via aberdeenskitchen.com

    Make a bunch of this herbaceous chimichurri sauce loaded with parsley, oregano, and garlic because you can drizzle it on anything from salmon to shrimp.

    Recipe: Skillet Flank Steak With Veggies and Chimichurri

    56. Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet

    Skillet spinach artichoke chicken breast.
    The Healthy Consultant / Via thehealthyconsultant.com

    Do you feel like you're in a chicken rut? Mix things up with this supremely creamy and indulgent recipe that turns everyones favorite spinach artichoke dip into an irresistible sauce.

    Recipe: Spinach Artichoke Chicken Skillet