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Busy weeknights just got easier with our collection of midweek meals ready in 30 minutes or less! π½οΈβ° From flavorful pastas to quick stir-fries and delicious one-pan wonders, each recipe is a lifesaver for hectic schedules. Letβs make dinner time stress-free and delicious with these quick and easy meals! π₯π
Easy midweek meals are here to save your day!
Busy weeknights can be a whirlwind, but that doesnβt mean you have to sacrifice a delicious family dinner. Forget the takeout menusβIβve got you covered with 30 recipes that are quicker, healthier, and cheaper than delivery.
In this collection, youβll find a variety of meals that can be whipped up in 30 minutes or less, perfect for those nights when time is tight but your family still deserves a tasty, home-cooked meal. From stir-fries to pasta dishes, these recipes are your go-to for stress-free evenings and happy tummies.
Ready to make dinner a breeze? Grab your spatula, put on your favorite apron, and letβs dive into these speedy, family-friendly meals. Youβve got this!
30 Easy Midweek Meal Ideas
1. Butterflied Cranberry Orange Pork Tenderloin
Get ready to wow your taste buds with this Butterflied Cranberry Orange Pork Tenderloin! Perfect for busy weeknights or Holiday dinners, this dish is both easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious. Serve it up for a satisfying family dinner or impress your guests with its gourmet flair! Tasty Gluten Free Recipes
2. One Pot Cheesy Chicken Pasta
βWhy do I love this One Pot Cheesy Chicken Pasta? Letβs see, itβs one pot, itβs cheesy, itβs pasta, itβs ready in 30 minutes and itβs delicious!β β Call Me PmC
3. Herbed Chicken Orzo Pasta and Zucchini
βBoth my husband and I work all day and when I come home I like to make us dinner, but I donβt like to spend all night doing it. That is why this Herbed Chicken Orzo Pasta and Zucchini is a great weeknight dinner.β β Fitness Food Diva
4. 30 Minute Apricot Curry Pork Chops
βDinnerβ¦.the hardest meal to plan. Even though everyone is at work or school all day it seems that dinner time is the busiest time of the day. That is why I created this 30 Minute Apricot Curry Pork Chops dinner. β β Lady Behind the Curtain
5. 30-Minute Bistro Chicken
βWhen it comes to weeknight meals, I can be incredibly lazy.I just donβt have the time or energy to cook anything too involved. Thatβs why recipes like this 30-minute Bistro Chicken are some of my favorites. Itβs so easy to make and β since everything cooks in the same pot β itβs easy to clean up.β β Healthy Delicious
ππ» If you love this post please share it with your friends β€οΈ
6. 30-Minute Jambalaya Recipe
βYou can use just about any ingredients you have on hand to make this dish. In the past, Iβve used ham, bacon, and even pork. This time around Iβm using chicken, shrimp and hot links since this is what was leftover from our family BBQ yesterday.β β The Classy Chapter
7. 30 Minute Meal with Alexia Foods
βGetting dinner on the table during the week can be a challenge. With premium Alexia frozen sides it is easy to get a meal like this Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and onion rings on the table in 30 minutes or less.β β Flour on My Face
30 Minute Chicken and Chorizo Paella
8. 30 Minute Chicken and Chorizo Paella
βSince I love Pamβs version so much, I used the recipe from her book Perfect One Dish Dinners as a starting off point for my own. The result was exactly what I was looking for, and it couldnβt have been easier (or cheaper!) to make. Since this summer, paella has become a weeknight staple in my house β and, for once, weβre both happy with it.β β Healthy Delicious
9. Spaghetti with Tomato Cream Sauce
βJazz up those boring spaghetti nights with this super easy, no-fuss cream sauce made completely from scratch!β β Damn Delicious
10. Shredded Chicken Tacos with Strawberry Salsa
βThese Shredded Chicken Tacos are paired with goat cheese and a balsamic strawberry salsa for a quick and easy meal that is healthy, unique and delicious!β β Food Faith Fitness
11. 30-Minute Sriracha Chicken and Broccoli Lo Mein
βSpicy, saucy, and full of flavor β this Sriracha Chicken and Broccoli Lo Mein is a million times tastier than any take-out youβve ever had! An incredibly easy and satisfying 30-minute meal!β β Baker by Nature
12. Easy Baked Chicken Chimichangas
βDinner can be prepared in a matter of minutes with these incredibly delicious and simple baked chicken chimichangas. Made with just 7 ingredients, theyβre sure to become a family favorite.β β Natural Chow
13. Kielbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash
βKeilbasa, Pepper, Onion and Potato Hash is an easy to make, healthy and delicious meal that comes together in just 15 minutes, featuring tons of fresh veggies and lean turkey kielbasa.β β The Two Bite Club
14. Easy Weeknight Dinners, Pan With a Plan
βIβm sharing an easy weeknight dinner, Latin Veracruz Fish Tacos, that your whole family will love and with just 3 easy steps and 10 minutes youβll be sitting around the table enjoying a delicious meal with your family!β β Giggles Galore
15. Spicy Chicken Pasta
βThis Spicy Chicken Pasta is a simple dinner recipe that the whole family will enjoy!β β Homemade Interest
16. Wingerβs Sticky Fingers
βNow you can make Wingerβs famous sticky fingers right at home anytime you get a craving. 3 easy steps will put these saucy baked chicken strips on the table in just 30 minutes!β β Le Creme de la Crumb
17. 30 Minutes Skillet Lasagna
βSavory, cheesy lasagna cooks up in a skillet in 30 minutes in this easy, delicious, stovetop variation!β β Five Heart Home
18. Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Recipe
βI love how rustic this recipe looks β looks like something that everyone would sit around the kitchen table to eat with breadβ β Budget Savvy Diva
19. Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches
βThis oven-baked meatball sandwich recipe is a perfect easy dinner idea for busy days. Also great for large groups, game day, or as an on-the-go meal.β β Home Cooking Memories
20. Creamy Caprese Quinoa Bake
βSo I am on a bit of a quinoa kick. I think most of the world is. Itβs quick, itβs good, itβs hearty and itβs healthy.β β Half Baked Harvest
21. Cheesy Avocado Quesadillas
βEasy, no-fuss quesadillas that are perfectly crisp and amazingly cheesy. An absolute must for those busy weeknights!β β Damn Delicious
22. Easy Chicken Stir Fry
βEasy 30 Minute Chicken Stir Fry loaded with vegetables and tossed in a spicy Asian sauce.β β Chef Savvy
23. Easy Coconut Curry
βI canβt say Iβve ever been to India (though Wes Anderson has me dying to go). Nor can I even say Iβve eaten at that many authentic Indian restaurants. But I have tried a curry or two in my day and I know what I like in one. This recipe is a mix of everything I love about curry all rolled into one pan.β β Minimalist Baker
24. Simple Tofu Chilaquiles
βThis dish only takes 30 minutes to prepare, and is super satisfying with 16 grams of protein per serving. I love it for breakfast, but it would also make the perfect brunch or even weeknight dinner.β β Minimalist Baker
25. Chipotle Butternut Squash Alfredo
βSweet, spicy, and tangy, this 30 minutes pasta dish is loaded with flavor and a perfect weeknight meal!β β Fabtastic Eats
26. Mozzarella Tomato and Basil Pesto Chicken
βToday I am sharing one of my failsafe mid week dinner recipes; Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil Pesto Chicken. Its super easy to make, taking just 3 minutes of preparation time, followed by 30 minutes in the oven during which you can get on with evening chores or helping the children with their homework.β β My Fussy Eater
27. 30-Minute Vegan Alfredo (Vegan + GF) Recipe
βIβve created an alfredo recipe thatβs completely dairy- and gluten free, thatβs seriously close to the real thing. Bonus? It only requires 30 minutes and 9 ingredients.β β Minimalist Baker
28. Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata
βA quick and easy one pot meal that is on the dinner table in 30 minutes! Tender breaded chicken in a creamy lemon sauce that the entire family will love! β β The Recipe Critic
29. One Pot Burrito Bowls Recipe
βOne pot burrito bowls recipe- we love these easy and delicious burrito bowls. They are made in one pot in 30 minutes β¦making clean up a breeze. Perfect for busy week nights!β β I Heart Naptime
30. Quick and Easy Pizza Dough β Oven-Ready in 20 Minutes!
βThis quick and easy pizza dough is perfect when youβre making pizza with kids! From start to finish, itβs ready for the oven in 20 minutes! And it tastes GREAT too!β β Happy Hooligans
Tips for making dinners in 30 minutes or less
- Cut down on prep β You can cut down on prep time by getting pre-cut meats and veggies from the store. Donβt reach for the pre-packaged stuff though as itβs lower quality. Instead chose whole ingredients and have them cut at the counter.
- Multitask β The key to preparing dinner in as little time as possible is to do multiple things at once. While your meat is in the oven fix a salad or make dessert, that way your whole meal can be ready in under half an hour.
- Get out the gadgets β Slow cookers and Instant Pots really are the best things since sliced bread, because they do 90% of the work for you! Spend 10 minutes in the morning getting things ready, then go out to work, or to run errands (or have a well deserved spa treatment!) then when you come home dinner is all cooked and ready.
- Stick to easy recipes β The most important thing to do if you want to get dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes is to use easy recipes. You donβt want lots of different ingredients or things that need time consuming techniques. Just nice and simple meal ideas that the whole family will enjoy eating.
Thank you so much Clare for featuring my chicken tenders! π Love the roundup. There are some great recipes here! Thanks again!
Those chicken tenders look yummy and I have chicken on my shopping list so I can road test them next week π
There are so many great recipes here! I can’t wait to try them. Thanks for sharing at Food on Friday!
These look wonderful! Thanks for linking up with “Try a New Recipe Tuesday.” I am featuring you this week! π Be sure to stop by and grab an “I’ve been featured” button from my sidebar for your blog. I hope you will be able to join us again this week.
Yay! Thanks Lisa – I’m heading over right now to collect my button π
Fabulous looking dishes. I am planning to try a new recipe a week. I have pinned so that I can choose one of these soon.
Glad you found the list helpful Tamara – be sure to let me know how you get on with the recipe you choose!
What a great round-up, I’ll definitely be trying some of these!
Thank you for linking up at #FunFoodFriday!
Awesome looking dinners! I love that they’re so quick to put together, too!
I am in love with this list!! Thank you so much for putting it together! With a picky 4 year old, there are quite a few recipes I want to check out!! π
Dinner would not make it to the table if not for 30 minute meals!
I know! I admire those people who take the time to spend hours creating a wonderful meal for their family – but I just don’t have enough hours in my day! 30 minute dinners keep us away from convenience foods!
I am so not looking forward to the picky 4 year old stage! I hope you find something in the list that your picky eater will love.
What a great post with so many ideas to choose from.
Thanks for compiling this list. With two toddlers I am always looking for quick dinners (that they will actually eat). I pinned this and look forward to trying.
What a great idea! I love having a list of quick dinners to make and this is a great variety. I admit we have been mostly in a rut because there are things I can whip up quickly without looking at a recipe. But . . . we need some new, fresh ideas. Thanks!
My kids are pretty good eaters, but I get stuck in a rut of buying the same ingredients each week. I need to branch out. π And dinner ready in 30 minutes! Bonus for this busy Momma!
Thanks for including our recipe in your roundup of 30 minute kid friendly dinners!
I’ve found myself over here multiple times from the linky parties I thought I might as well subscribe (under a different email). You have great content. Thanks!
Thanks for the kind words Heaven!