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These quick and easy dinner recipes are perfect for busy weeknights when you need something fast, filling, and full of flavor. I’ve rounded up my favorite quick dinner recipes that come together in less than 30 minutes! There is nothing better than easy 30 minute meals!
Every one of these crave-worthy dinner ideas is simple to follow, family-friendly, and made with ingredients you can easily find in your pantry. If you have been looking for reliable, fast family dinners that get you in and out of the kitchen without sacrificing taste, these quick and easy dinner recipes have you covered.
You may also want to check out my best breakfast meal prep recipes and my easy air fryer recipes for more quick meal ideas.
Why you’ll love my quick and easy dinner recipes!
On busy weeknights with kids, I know how hard it can be to get a homemade dinner on the table without feeling completely overwhelmed. I still want meals that taste great and feel like real food, even when time is tight, and everyone is hungry.
That’s why I rely on quick, simple dinners that come together quickly and always taste delicious. These easy 30-minute recipes will help you get dinner done without sacrificing flavor, and I promise that they will make weeknights so much more manageable.
Why you should try my 30-minute dinner recipes:
- Perfect for busy weeknights with kids
- Made with simple, everyday ingredients
- Homemade and delicious without extra effort
- Fast enough for real life, not just meal plans
Table of Contents
- Why you’ll love my quick and easy dinner recipes!
- Fast Family Dinners Ready in Under 30 Minutes
- 1. Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken
- 2. Air Fryer Tilapia
- 3. Grilled Salmon
- 4. Cowboy Casserole
- 5. Marry Me Chicken
- 6. Ramen Noodle Salad
- 7. Buffalo Chicken Pizza
- 8. Swedish Meatballs
- 9. Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
- 10. Chicken Piccata
- 11. Air Fryer Crab Cakes
- 12. Crusted Chicken Cobb Salad With Honey Mustard Dressing
- 13. Salmon Patties
- 14. Beef Enchiladas
- 15. Broiled Chicken Recipe
- Weeknight 30-Minute Dinners To Make
- 16. Turkey Casserole
- 17. Creamy Tomato Pasta
- 18. Pesto Salmon
- 19. Homemade Chicken Alfredo
- 20. Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
- 21. Air Fryer Meatballs
- 22. Sheet Pan Quesadillas
- 23. Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops
- 24. Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
- 25. Air Fryer Chicken-Fried Steak
- 26. Chicken Enchilada Bowls
- 27. Taco Casserole
- 28. School Pizza
- 29. Taco Spaghetti
- FAQs
- More Easy Recipes
Fast Family Dinners Ready in Under 30 Minutes
From fast and easy chicken dinners to creamy pasta recipes that come together in just minutes, I know you will find a new favorite dinner recipe here!
1. Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken
If you are looking for a comforting dish that will be ready in 30 minutes, this creamy lemon pasta with chicken is just for you. The parmesan-crusted chicken sits on top of a bright lemon garlic fettuccini to create a bright and flavorful meal.
2. Air Fryer Tilapia
The air fryer is a lifesaver when it comes to making meals in under 30 minutes. I love using it to make this air fryer tilapia. The nifty kitchen device keeps the fish tender and flakey on the inside and creates a crisp crust on the outside for a tasty meal.
3. Grilled Salmon
Take your skills to the grill and learn how to make a quick and easy meal with this grilled salmon. The grill is one of the best cooking tools for cooking up a meal fast and loaded with flavor. Try it for yourself with this grilled salmon recipe.
4. Cowboy Casserole
Bookmark this cowboy casserole for a weeknight when you need to get dinner on the table fast. The casserole combines ground beef, corn, cheese, and tater tots to make a meal the whole family will love.
5. Marry Me Chicken
The only thing better than sitting down to a dinner of marry me chicken is knowing it only takes 30 minutes to make from scratch. It’s a crave-worthy dinner that makes the weeknight dinner rotation over and over again.
6. Ramen Noodle Salad
Turn this side dish of ramen noodle salad into the main dish for dinner in just 30 minutes. The salad is full of tangy, bright flavors that make it super refreshing. To make the dish more filling, add your favorite protein to the mix.
7. Buffalo Chicken Pizza
When you are craving buffalo wings but don’t have the time to make a whole batch, turn to this buffalo chicken pizza instead. The recipe uses a premade pizza dough and a rotisserie chicken for quick preparation. This quick meal is one your kids will ask for over and over again.
8. Swedish Meatballs
Sitting down to a bowl of warm Swedish meatballs is an excellent way to end the day. The meatball recipe combines ground beef and pork to make the protein extra flavorful. If you have any extras, save them for the next day and put them on a sub for a great meatball sandwich. This really is one of my favorite easy 30-minute meals.
9. Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
If you have one kid asking for Philly cheesesteaks and another requesting sloppy Joes, make them both happy with these Philly cheesesteak sloppy Joes. The mashup combines the sloppy Joe filling with peppers, cheese, and a sweet and savory sauce. It’s a mashup dish that will make everyone happy.
10. Chicken Piccata
Going out to eat is never a quick process. Ditch the long wait and make this restaurant-quality chicken piccata that will be ready in under 30 minutes instead. The quick recipe doesn’t lack flavor and tastes better than anything you’d get from takeout.
11. Air Fryer Crab Cakes
These air fryer crab cakes will turn your whole house into seafood lovers. The recipe combines limp crab meat, mayo, seasonings, and panko breadcrumbs to make a version of crab cakes that is a lighter fare.
12. Crusted Chicken Cobb Salad With Honey Mustard Dressing
After one bite of this crusted chicken cobb salad with honey mustard dressing, you’ll be craving hearty salads for your meals left and right. This salad is filling without being overly heavy. The crusted chicken pairs perfectly with the veggies, hardboiled egg, and avocado to make a crave-worthy meal ready in under 30 minutes.
13. Salmon Patties
You’ll forget all about hamburgers when these salmon patties are on your plate. The salmon patties load in that seafood flavor to make for a speedy and healthy dinner. Everyone will ask for another patty, even the pickiest eater in your house!
14. Beef Enchiladas
Gathering all the enchilada fixings in itself can take more than 30 minutes. Skip that process altogether and make these beef enchiladas instead. The dish packs everything into a 13×9 baking dish for easy and quick prep and clean-up.
15. Broiled Chicken Recipe
Having a simple recipe like this broiled chicken in your back pocket is always a good idea. Not only is the dish simple and quick to make, it is versatile and tasty on its own. You can add the chicken to salads or bowls or eat it on its own for a simple and crave worthy quick meal. It is a perfect fast family dinner idea!
Weeknight 30-Minute Dinners To Make
I have so many easy family dinner recipes that I love sharing with you. I make all of these easy dinner ideas on repeat, so you can rest assured that they will turn out perfectly!
16. Turkey Casserole
The next time you have leftover turkey in your house, turn it into a new meal with this turkey casserole. The turkey casserole combines juicy turkey with cheese and noodles to make a brand-new meal out of leftovers.
17. Creamy Tomato Pasta
Nothing beats a bowl of creamy tomato pasta. The simple dish tastes even better since it comes together in under 30 minutes. Don’t worry about the time crunch making the flavors of this dish bland. The quick cook time packs in loads and loads of flavor.
18. Pesto Salmon
Impress your family for dinner with this quick and easy pesto salmon. It’s a quick dish to put together that almost looks too pretty to eat. Even if you have a seafood hater in your family, they will come around with this salmon recipe — it’s that tasty.
19. Homemade Chicken Alfredo
Indulge in a restaurant-style dinner in the comfort of your own home with this chicken alfredo recipe. The classic dish comes together in 30 minutes and makes sure not to leave out any flavor. Savor each bite because there are sure to be no leftovers.
20. Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
The next time you plan to make chicken thighs, use this recipe to cook them in the air fryer. Not only does the air fryer speed up the process, but it also creates a tender piece of chicken that is perfectly crisp on the outside.
21. Air Fryer Meatballs
These air fryer meatballs always come in handy when you don’t know what to make for dinner. They are delicious, quick, and an easy protein to add to a bowl of spaghetti.
22. Sheet Pan Quesadillas
Making individual quesadillas for dinner will have you standing by your stove for hours on end. Make the process quick and easy by making them on a sheet pan with this sheet pan quesadilla recipe. The sheet pan cuts the time in half and still creates a meal that is cheesy and super crisp.
23. Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops
When I crave hearty protein for dinner, this air fryer bone-in pork chop is always my go-to. The air fryer cooks up the hunk of meat in no time flat and cooks it perfectly through. It’s a hearty meal I can easily have on the table in under 30 minutes.
24. Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
These air fryer popcorn chicken bites are super addicting. The popcorn chicken bites are a great alternative to chicken nuggets and excellent to add to salads and rice bowls. I love to keep extra in my freezer so I can have a quick and easy dinner whenever I want.
25. Air Fryer Chicken-Fried Steak
This air fryer chicken-friend steak recipe takes everything you know about classic chicken fried steak and throws it out the window. The air fryer removes the unnecessary oil and bakes the steak so it is perfectly crisp. Don’t forget to serve the protein with the homemade gravy!
26. Chicken Enchilada Bowls
These chicken enchilada bowls are one of my favorite meals to make when I want a quick meal that is super filling. I love that I can customize it to what I am in the mood for and keep the base fillings the same. The flavors are so bold and fresh for a dish that is ready in no time.
27. Taco Casserole
I love taco night and this recipe makes it even easier! Tacos don’t take long to make and are a huge hit in my house every time I serve them.
28. School Pizza
Looking for a nostalgic dinner? A great crave-worthy dinner idea? This is the recipe you need. I love this classic pizza recipe and it is really easy to make. Your kids will love it too!
29. Taco Spaghetti
This dinner mash up is one of the best! If you are a pasta lover and also a taco lover, you need to try this taco spaghetti. You may love the combination more than the two foods on their own!
FAQs
Good make-ahead dinners are meals that taste just as good—or better—after sitting for a day. Casseroles, baked pasta dishes, slow cooker meals, soups, stews, and marinated proteins are all great options because they reheat well and make busy nights much easier.
The best cooking shortcuts save time without sacrificing flavor. Using rotisserie chicken, frozen vegetables, pre-chopped produce, jarred sauces, and one-pan or slow cooker recipes can cut prep time in half while still giving you a homemade meal.
Yes, you can absolutely use frozen vegetables instead of fresh. They’re already washed and chopped, cook quickly, and work especially well in soups, casseroles, stir-fries, and sauces. Just don’t thaw them first unless the recipe says to.
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I made this today on a cool day, my goodness it is fantastic, I thought here’s another recipe that won’t turn out right, wow it is great. 5 stars for this. Love it.one thing a had to add just a little more sugar.