Here Are Dozens of Easy Dinner Ideas You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less (2024)

This hearty soup is simple and easy. If you want to make it a little faster, you can skip browning the (cooked) sausage. It won't taste quite as amazing, but it'll shave a good ten minutes off the recipe time.

Get the recipe for Sausage, Potato, and Cabbage Soup.

Scallops aren't the very cheapest—but they may be more affordable than you think. And they certainly cook fast! You can sear the scallops while the pasta is cooking and have the whole meal on the table in 15 minutes!

Get the recipe for White Wine-Garlic Pasta with Scallops.

This has long been one of my personal favorite fast meals. Boil pasta, cook bacon, and then toss both with cheese and eggs. You've just made dinner.

Get the recipe for Pasta Carbonara.

This easy, 25-minute recipe gives you all the flavor of the world's favorite casserole in the world's favorite comfort-food form!

Get the recipe for Lasagna Soup.

Get the recipe for Gnocchi with Creamed Spinach.

If you're looking for ways to make chicken a little less boring, put this recipe in your pocket. The classic creamy, savory sauce is easy to make and so good you'll want to drizzle it over everything.

Get the recipe for Chicken Marsala.

There's nothing for a fast dinner like making breakfast for dinner! This recipe goes all out—scrambled eggs with corn tortillas, spicy chorizo, and plenty of toppings—and still takes just 15 minutes to make.

Get the recipe for Migas with Chorizo.

This may be one of our favorites. If you're craving a tasty pasta dish that's a little more grown-up than jarred red sauce, give this dish a whirl. We're pretty sure it'll become a regular part of your dinner plans.

Get the recipe for Salmon and Creamed Spinach Fettuccini.

The underrated tuna melt, that staple of diners and lunch plates everywhere, deserves to be making a big time comeback. First, it's as tasty as can be. Second, it's easy to make, and third, you probably have most of the ingredients in your fridge right now. What are you waiting for?

Get the recipe for Tuna Melt.

This well-loved dish has been popular for decades—and for good reason: Few simple meals are more satisfying. (And check out more ground beef dinner ideas here!)

Get the recipe for Salisbury Steak.

If you're hungry for takeout, skip the wait (and the delivery fee) and just whip this up. It's got an easy sauce made mostly out of pantry ingredients, is packed with fresh veggies, and the whole thing comes together faster than take-out.

Get the recipe for Chicken and Veggies Stir Fry.

These still-sizzling fajitas will be a hit with the whole family. Cooking them in an air fryer makes the whole thing quicker, and cleanup's a breeze: No oil splatters on the stovetop!

Get the recipe for Air Fryer Fajitas.

Keep this four-ingredient dish in your back pocket for whenever you want a simple, filling meal in a flash.

Get the recipe for Crispy Gnocchi with Sausage.

Whether you're feeding kids, or just feeling young at heart, there's no denying that these fast, filling little pizzas are about as satisfying as they get. Plus, we've got a little trick to keep the sauce from spilling everywhere.

Get the recipe for Bagel Pizzas.

Want a fast dinner that's still a little elegant? Consider a breakfast-for-dinner option! This delicious egg dish pairs well with quick-cooked bacon and a slice of toast. Serve it with a glass of wine!

Get the recipe for Asparagus Frittata.

An air fryer cuts the bake time for our traditional salsa verde enchiladas down from 20 to just 6 minutes. Store-bought shortcuts like rotisserie chicken make assembling these individual dishes even faster.

Get the recipe for Air Fryer Salsa Verde Enchilada Pie.

These quick-marinated shrimp cook in just 10 minutes. Serve them on a salad, over pasta, or with some steamed veggies for a light, fast, tasty dinner!

Get the recipe for Vermouth Air Fried Shrimp.

Your whole family will fall in love with these crispy chicken thighs (emphasis on "crispy"). Garlic and rosemary make them as aromatic as they are delicious. Serve with a fresh salad for an extra touch of green.

Get the recipe for Crispy Chicken Thighs.

You don't need to break out the grill to eat a good burger. And these cook very quickly! There's a reason they're a fast-food staple.

Get the recipe for Stovetop Cheeseburger.

A can of evaporated milk and fresh shredded cheese makes this no-drain pasta recipe (you read that right) even easier than the boxed stuff! It's tastier, too.

Get the recipe for Easy-Peasy Stovetop Mac 'n Cheesy.