16 Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes (30 Minutes or Less)

The kids are back in school, and things have gotten really busy.

By
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht
Rachel Knecht turned her home baking into a career in 2016 when she began working as the head baker at The Greenbean Coffeehouse in Seattle, WA. Afterwards, she started Baking with Rachel (her blog), began teaching kids' cooking classes, and recipe tested for the cookbook "Let's Stay In" by Ashley Rodriguez.
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Updated November 10, 2024
Rachel Knecht
Creamy chicken Florentine in skillet.

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

Back to school brings a plethora of emotions for the kids heading into another year: excitement, nerves, and some sadness that summer has ended. However, I mainly feel pressure to keep it all together. Filling out paperwork, buying school supplies, and preparing for busy evenings filled with homework and extracurriculars. 

One of the most important things I can do for myself and my family is to plan easy, comforting meals. This is not the time to push my family to try wildly different dishes. We are all dealing with enough newness right now. But that doesn’t mean we’ll eat the same old thing every night. I keep it interesting by taking our favorites and making minor changes. I make a slightly different stir fry, buy unique pasta shapes, or add different spices.  

Below are dinners that are all on the table in 30 minutes and will hopefully make everyone’s night a little more enjoyable. Lean into these easy, family favorites to help us as we try to keep it all together.

  • Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts

    Pan of Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts with One Sliced into Pieces and Garnished with Lemon Slices and Parsley. Next to It, a Plate with a Serving of Lemon Pepper Chicken and a Side Salad

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera Diaz

    Coating chicken breasts in flour is a genius move. It helps keep the moisture in and forms a crust for added texture. The dish is finished with a buttery lemon pan sauce that will wow everyone at the table.

  • Burger Salad

    Bowl of Burger Salad at a Table Setting With Another Bowl of Salad in the Background, a Mason Jar of Sauce, and Table Napkins

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    Keep all the parts that make a burger delicious (the patty, toppings, and sauce) and turn it into a dinner salad. Iceberg lettuce adds a nice crunch, but use your favorite lettuce and whatever tomatoes you have on hand. Sit down and enjoy the freshest tasting burger you’ve ever had.

  • Chop Suey

    Chop Suey in a Staub Wok With a Spatula, and Next to It, Two Bowls of Rice on a Grey Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    Grab your wok and make this satisfying Chinese American favorite. Loads of vegetables and chicken thighs are stir fried and coated in a pantry sauce that will have you licking the plate. Serve with rice.

  • Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon

    Bowl of Microwave Red Curry Poached Salmon with Rice and Garnished with Cilantro and Lime Wedge, and in the Surroundings, a Kitchen Towel, a Bowl with More Curry, and a Bowl with a Halved Lime and Cilantro

    Simply Recipes / Tara Omidvar

    Poaching salmon in an aromatic curry sauce sounds like it will require multiple pans and an oven, but the microwave does all the heavy lifting in this family meal. Serve with jasmine rice and chopped herbs.

    Continue to 5 of 16 below

  • Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens

    Skillet Cacio e Pepe Tortellini With Wilted Greens in a Pot With a Serving Spoon, All on a White Kitchen Towel on the Counter, and Next to It, a Bowl of Cracked Pepper, a Glass of Water, and a Block of Pecorino Romani Cheese

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Make an easy dinner even easier by skipping the pot of boiling water. Frozen tortellini is cooked directly in a skillet with olive oil. Stir in your favorite greens, such as baby spinach or chopped kale, and top with cheese before serving.

  • Easy Beef Bulgogi

    Beef Bulgogi

    Ciara Kehoe / Simply Recipes

    Salty sweet beef is always a weeknight winner. "Bulgogi, a marinated and grilled beef popular at Korean restaurants, is easy to make at home," according to recipe developer Cecilia Hae-Jin Lee. Look for marbled beef and let the cast iron skillet get super hot for the best results. Serve with banchan and rice.

  • Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta

    Creamy Miso Mushroom Pasta on a Plate with a Fork

    Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

    Add an flavorful twist to pasta with miso. White miso is made from fermented soybeans and adds a touch of umami without overwhelming the pasta and mushrooms. You’ll find it in the refrigerated section, most likely near the tofu in a grocery store.

  • Creamy Chicken Florentine

    Creamy chicken Florentine in skillet.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Quick, easy, and lusciously creamy, this skillet chicken recipe is a fresh way to serve chicken breasts. As an added bonus, spinach is added to the sauce so you don’t have to make a salad if you don’t want to.

    Continue to 9 of 16 below

  • Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus

    Spooning sauce over shrimp to make sheet pan garlic butter shrimp with asparagus.
    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    Both shrimp and asparagus cook notoriously fast. The garlic butter sauce spooned over top brings it all together into a mouth-watering family meal. Serve it with pasta or rice.

  • BLT Wraps

    BLT Wraps on a Plate with Chips

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    Take advantage of warm weather and ripe tomatoes and make easy back to school meals. Leftovers would make tasty lunches, too. Add sliced turkey for a heartier meal.

  • Creamy Cavatappi

    Bowl of Creamy Cavatappi Topped With Shredded Parmesan Next to a Small Bowl With Blocks of Parmesan and Two Forks, All on an Olive Green Kitchen Linen

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Though it sounds fancy, this is similar to a simple mac and cheese. No roux, just a creamy, cheesy sauce made right on the stovetop. Set a timer once the pasta comes to a boil so that you don’t accidentally overcook it.

  • Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers on a Plate with More on a Sheet Pan

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Not all pasta is the same and gnocchi is like none other. Roasting gnocchi on a sheet pan cooks the pasta without it becoming overladen with moisture. Using quick-cooking vegetables ensures that everything is done at the same time.

    Continue to 13 of 16 below

  • Easy Pork Fried Rice

    A black skillet with prepared pork fried rice recipe inside. Steam is coming up from the dish and a spatula is resting in the rice on the left side.
    Nick Evans | Art Banner Credit: Andy Christensen

    Fried rice is a quick and easy option for weeknights. This recipe uses pork loin and frozen veggies, resulting in barely any chopping. Make the rice on the weekend so that it has a chance to chill and dry out before frying. 

  • Hot Ham and Cheese Sliders

    Plate of Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches with Chips and a Pickle

    Simply Recipes / Ross Yoder

    Slider buns get a buttery upgrade in this easy meal. Compound butter is brushed on top of the buns before getting baked until the ham is warm and cheese is melted. Pair it with crunchy carrot sticks and watch dinner disappear in a minute.

  • Air Fryer Salmon

    Air Fryer Salmon on a Plate with Lemon Wedges Next to an Air Fryer

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    We know that the air fryer can make a mean tater tot but it can also save your weeknight. Buy salmon filets that have the skin on them to help reduce the risk of overcooking. No air fryer? Try this easy brown sugar salmon recipe.

  • Smashburger

    Close up view of a homemade smashburger.
    Nick Evans

    Get out the griddle and serve up smashburgers for dinner. Have the kids stir together the sauce and get out the toppings. These burgers are done quickly and will need your full attention while cooking. 

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