Here are 10 homemade dinners that actually take 30 minutes to make, so you can spend less time stressing about getting dinner on the table and more time doing the things you love, like reading to your kids, catching up on the day's news or simply watching your favorite show. And when we say these actually take 30 minutes, we mean it.
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Whip Up Heavenly Fettuccine Alfredo
Pasta dishes are a staple for many families' weeknight meals. Introduce this fettuccine alfredo into the rotation, and you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. If you're only cooking for one or two, it makes for a great lunch the next day alongside a golden roll and flavored sparkling water.
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Make Tasty Chicken Zucchini Noodle Bowls
When you make these noodle bowls, complete with aromatic basil and curry, you'll be the MVP of weeknight meals. The dish sounds complicated, but all you need is half an hour and primed tastebuds.
Grill Incredible Portobello Steaks
It's more simple than you think to make vegetarian-friendly meals without spending the whole day prepping. Try marinated portobello mushroom steaks if you're looking for a plant-based dinner that requires minimal effort while delivering maximum comfort. Don't skimp on the avocado chimichurri sauce, either!
Try This Mexican Tortilla Casserole
If you have a well-loved casserole in your recipe box but it takes a million years to make, consider a Mexican tortilla casserole. Garnish with a big dollop of sour cream or chopped fresh cilantro. While it's baking in the oven, you can watch a sitcom, leisurely flip through a magazine with a glass of wine and or take some well-deserved time to scroll through your favorite blog.
Stay in for Yummy Meatball Pizzas
What's better than pizza from the local takeout chain? Pizza you make yourself, of course — and these personal meatball pizzas fit the bill. It's cheaper than buying a processed pie, and the extra minutes you spend layering the toppings make up for themselves in taste. Plus, no tip is necessary.
Bake a Deliciously Kid-Friendly Tater Tot Casserole
After a long day of work, school and extracurriculars, it's hard for anyone to muster up the energy to cook a feast. But with a tater tot casserole in your menu arsenal, you can have a hearty and delicious dinner in the amount of time it takes to get started on homework or clean out your work email inbox. Now that's making the most of your time.
Cook Mouthwatering Chicken in Bacon Beer Sauce
You don't have to throw together the same old chicken dish tonight. Instead, go for chicken thighs drenched in a creamy parmesan, bacon and beer sauce. Save the extra pale ale to go alongside your dinner, and settle in for an evening of watching your favorite reality television or flipping through a magazine.
Skip Takeout for Ambrosial Vegetarian Curry
Your local to-go joint is great and all, but you need to shake it up and get excited about dinner again. Check out this vegetarian curry recipe, which only needs six ingredients. (You read that right.) Be sure to make enough for a next-day lunch, because you're going to want to taste these flavors again.
Go for Flavorful Asian Salmon
Trying to incorporate more healthy options into your meal plan? Plan for baked Asian salmon one night. This version has sesame seeds, ginger and green onions, and the foil makes it super easy to keep everything tidy. You can prep, cook, eat and clean in a flash.
Transform Leftovers Into Five-Star Beef Fried Rice
Get ready for the best beef fried rice ever. If you have leftover rice from dinner the night before, you can keep it out of an extended stay in the refrigerator and put it right back on the table. Once you get in the groove of cooking at home, you'll realize it's actually pretty easy to make a good meal in only 30 minutes — and you'll never want to order in again.
