27+ Best 30-Minute Meals to Make on Busy Weeknights



Ree Drummond has been whipping up 30-minute meals for her family for years. It's all part of her "never-ending goal to make the most delicious food in the least amount of time," she says. So it's no wonder her arsenal of easy dinner recipes includes fast, doable, and delicious dishes, like her sheet pan suppers that require minimal cleanup or her air fryer recipes that make it easy to get a healthy dinner on the table in a half hour or less. Of course, all of the dishes on the list ahead are 30-minute meals so you can be prepared for the inevitable question, "what's for dinner?"

Naturally, there are many chicken recipes and pasta recipes to enjoy (you should definitely check out the cajun chicken pasta for a little bit of both), but you can also find a wide array of other options. For instance, try your hand at the beef-vegetable kebabs, the shrimp and grits, or the air fryer pork tenderloin. One of Ree's favorite quick comfort food recipes to make is a toasty, cheesy quesadilla—and there are a few variations here to choose from! As you can imagine, there are tons of one-pot meals and slow cooker recipes, too. Because these quick 30-minute dinners are so simple to put together, you'll have all the joys of a stress-free meal even if your day is anything but stress-free. Consider dinner to be one less thing you have to think about.

shrimp and grits
WILL DICKEY
1

Shrimp and Grits

Ree calls this recipe "the quickest shrimp and grits known to mankind" and that's exactly the way we like 'em! You'll have a comforting bowl of cheesy grits, spicy shrimp, and bits of bacon ready to eat in no time.

Get Ree's Shrimp and Grits recipe.

SHOP DINNERWARE

chicken teriyaki with broccoli
CAITLIN BENSEL
2

Chicken Teriyaki

Make your own teriyaki marinade for this restaurant-worthy dish right at home. We promise it'll still get to the table in 30 minutes or less!

Get the Chicken Teriyaki recipe.

cajun chicken pasta
WILL DICKEY
3

Cajun Chicken Pasta

You can't go wrong with chicken, vegetables, and carbs! It has all the major food groups, plus the addition of a flavorful cajun sauce.

Get Ree's Cajun Chicken Pasta recipe.

air fryer pork tenderloin
WILL DICKEY
4

Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin

This juicy pork dish is seasoned with brown sugar, pepper, thyme, paprika, and garlic powder so it gets that nice crust when made in the air fryer. Serve it up with mashed potatoes or any vegetable side dish.

Get the Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin recipe.

pasta puttanesca
WILL DICKEY
5

Pasta Puttanesca

This classic Italian dish is loaded with olives, anchovies, tomatoes, and caramelized onions. Of course, parmesan cheese is highly recommended, too.

Get Ree's Pasta Puttanesca recipe.

SHOP COOKWARE

coconut shrimp
CAITLIN BENSEL
6

Coconut Shrimp

Shredded unsweetened coconut gives this shrimp dish a tropical flavor and much-needed crunch. You can serve them up as an appetizer with the Thai chili dipping sauce or place them over a bed of rice.

Get the Coconut Shrimp recipe.

chicken tortellini soup
HECTOR M. SANCHEZ
7

Chicken Tortellini Soup

This soup recipe is both comforting and filling thanks to the cheese-filled tortellini. The trick to getting it on the table quickly is using store-bought rotisserie chicken!

Get the Chicken Tortellini Soup recipe.

lemon pasta
CAITLIN BENSEL
8

Lemon Pasta

It's hard not to smile when you're eating this bright, lemony pasta! It has an instant burst of freshness just like a sunny day.

Get the Lemon Pasta recipe.

chicken nachos
HECTOR M SANCHEZ
9

Chicken Nachos

It doesn't need to be football season to make a big pile of nachos for dinner. We'll take any excuse to eat chips, cheese, and spiced chicken.

Get Ree's Chicken Nachos recipe.

air fryer salmon
CAITLIN BENSEL
10

Air Fryer Salmon

Forget 30 minutes! This flaky salmon dinner is a 10-minute meal that you absolutely must try. Just leave it to your air fryer to do all the work.

Get the Air Fryer Salmon recipe.

SHOP AIR FRYERS

bison burger
WILL DICKEY
11

Perfect Bison Burgers

This lean alternative to regular beef burgers is a fun alternative on busy weeknights. It'll keep things interesting especially when topped with BBQ sauce, grilled onions, pickles, and cheese.

Get the Perfect Bison Burgers recipe.

sausage gravy
WILL DICKEY
12

Sausage Gravy

This thick, creamy gravy loaded with breakfast sausage is delicious over eggs and biscuits for a 30-minute morning meal. But you can also serve it for dinner over fried chicken, if you prefer.

Get the Sausage Gravy recipe.

asparagus pasta
CAITLIN BENSEL
13

Asparagus Pasta

This weeknight dinner consists of creamy fettuccine with bright veggies and crispy bacon—what could be better? Feel free to swap out the asparagus for broccoli or kale depending on the season.

Get the Asparagus Pasta recipe.

dumpling soup
CAITLIN BENSEL
14

Dumpling Soup

Frozen store-bought dumplings make this soup a quick and easy way to warm your family right up. If you like things extra spicy, add hot sauce or chili oil drizzled on top.

Get the Dumpling Soup recipe.

bbq salad
CAITLIN BENSEL
15

BBQ Salad

Everything you love about down-home barbecue but quick and healthier—this salad still has plenty of pulled pork, bbq dressing, and cornbread croutons!

Get the BBQ Salad recipe.

SHOP SERVING BOWLS

peanut noodles
CAITLIN BENSEL
16

Peanut Noodles

This recipe is incredibly simple and flavorful, but if you want to make it heartier, just add shredded rotisserie chicken or serve with sliced steak.

Get the Peanut Noodles recipe.

air fryer fish
CAITLIN BENSEL
17

Air Fryer Fish

This crispy, golden fish is dusted with a spicy breadcrumb and cornmeal coating. But since it cooks up in the air fryer, you don't have to worry about messy oil splatter.

Get the Air Fryer Fish recipe.

reuben sandwich
RALPH SMITH
18

Reuben Sandwich

This classic diner dish is perfect for when you're craving a hearty sandwich. After all, it's piled high with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing.

Get Ree's Reuben Sandwich recipe.

cauliflower fried rice
DAVID MALOSH
19

Cauliflower Fried Rice

This lightened-up dinner is just like your favorite fried rice, but instead of the carbs it uses riced cauliflower instead! Top it off with a runny fried egg and an extra drizzle of sriracha for a kick.

Get Ree's Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe.

pan fried ribeye
DANIELLE DALY
20

Pan-Fried Ribeye

Ree's method for cooking ribeye steak will impress everyone at the table and that's not just because it's ready in 15 minutes or less! It comes out perfectly juicy and flavorful every time!

Get Ree's Pan-Fried Ribeye recipe.

SHOP SKILLETS

30 minute meals air fryer chicken parmesan
WILL DICKEY
21

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

Just like at your favorite Italian restaurant, this chicken parmesan is crispy and cheesy all at the same time. Best of all, you don't have to leave your home to get a bite! It's so easy to make thanks to the air fryer.

Get the Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan recipe.

30 minute meals hamburger soup
HECTOR SANCHEZ
22

Hamburger Soup

Okay, so this soup technically counts as a 15-minute meal, but there's nothing wrong with that! The faster it gets to the table, the better.

Get Ree's Hamburger Soup recipe.

30 minute meals chicken primavera in orange pot
WILL DICKEY
23

Chicken Primavera

You'll get a little bit of everything in this one pot dinner: chicken, pasta, and veggies. Serve it up with garlic bread for the perfect family meal.

Get the Chicken Primavera recipe.

30 minute meals italian sandwich
CAITLIN BENSEL
24

Italian Sandwich

These sandwiches are big...and we do mean BIG! They're perfect for a hungry crowd or just a few regular teenagers.

Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.

30 minute meals shrimp pesto pasta
RALPH SMITH
25

Shrimp Pesto Pasta

Pesto lovers, this one's for you! The quick-cooking shrimp and spaghetti are tossed with the herby goodness of homemade basil pesto. Of course, you can always use store-bought pesto for an even quicker dinner.

Get Ree's Shrimp Pesto Pasta recipe.

SHOP COOKWARE

30 minute meals beef vegetable kebabs with orzo
CON POULOS
26

Beef-Vegetable Kebabs with Orzo

These seasoned steak and veggie kebabs are easy to prep ahead. Come dinnertime, all you need to do it toss them on the grill.

Get Ree's Beef-Vegetable Kebabs with Orzo recipe.

30 minute meals goulash
WILL DICKEY
27

Goulash

Goulash (sometimes referred to as Beefaroni) is basically just a mash-up of chili and mac and cheese. It's comfort food at its best.

Get the Goulash recipe.

30 minute meals pepper steak over rice
WILL DICKEY
28

Pepper Steak

This homemade pepper steak is ready in less time than it would take to order from your favorite takeout restaurant. You don't even need a wok to make it—any skillet will do!

Get the Pepper Steak recipe.

30 minute meals 7 can soup
RALPH SMITH
29

7-Can Soup

This dump-and-stir soup recipe might just be the easiest one yet! It's so simple thanks to the handful of pantry ingredients.

Get Ree's 7-Can Soup recipe.

30 minute meals instant pot mac and cheese
RALPH SMITH
30

Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

Even picky eaters can get behind this cheesy classic. You don't even need to boil a separate pot for the macaroni!

Get the Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe.

SHOP INSTANT POTS

30 minute meals bourbon chicken
CAITLIN BENSEL
31

Bourbon Chicken

There's a sticky-sweet sauce on this chicken dinner that's incredibly delicious. You'll want to serve it over rice to soak up all that bourbon, soy, and brown sugar flavor.

Get the Bourbon Chicken recipe.

30 minute meals black bean burger
DANIELLE DALY
32

Black Bean Burger

You don't have to be a vegetarian to love this hearty meatless burger. It's one of Ree's favorite quick dinners.

Get Ree's Black Bean Burger recipe.

30 minute meals oven baked salmon
WILL DICKEY
33

Oven Baked Salmon

The greatest salmon dinner is just 20 minutes away with this recipe. You can cook the entire thing in one sheet tray.

Get the Oven Baked Salmon recipe.

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