Whether you’ve had a really hectic day or just don’t feel like cooking, quick meal ideas are great to have in your back pocket for busy weeknights or relaxing weekends. There’s a time and a place for elaborate meals, of course, and if you love to cook you probably don’t mind spending hours in the kitchen, but if you’re in the market for some simple and tasty meals, we’ve got you covered. These dishes will work for lunch or dinner, and include favorites such as Rotisserie Chicken and Avocado Tostadas and Red Pesto Fettuccine. Each one of our suggestions is ready in 30 minutes (or less!) and is bound to be tasty and satisfying. Keep reading for a roundup of quick meal ideas that work for any occasion!
Grilled Romaine Salad With Avocado Dressing
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
For this 25-minute dish, you’ll grill romaine hearts until they’re subtly charred, and then grill some focaccia and tear it into bite-sized pieces that’ll serve as crunchy croutons. You’ll also find briny capers, a dressing made from creamy avocado, and a dusting of savory Parmesan cheese. To bulk this dish up, add rotisserie chicken or grilled shrimp.
Peanutty Soba Noodle Salad
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart
In addition to coming together in 25 minutes, this peanutty noodle dish is packed with flavor. In addition to peanut butter, the creamy sauce that coats the noodles is also made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, and just the right amount of sugar. If you like spice, don’t skip the dash of sriracha, as well as a finely chopped Fresno chile. No matter what, don’t forget the salted peanuts, sliced scallions, and fresh cilantro, which will add plenty of welcome flavor and texture.
Orzo Pasta Salad With Shrimp
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Carla Gonzalez Hart
While this creamy and bright pasta salad can easily be whipped up as a barbecue side, it also works as a 30-minute meal. Here, you’ll find orzo, shrimp, peas, celery, chopped dill pickles, and fresh dill. All of the ingredients are bathed in a mayonnaise-based dressing that’s perked up with umami-rich Worcestershire sauce, zingy Dijon mustard, and bright lemon zest and juice. If you don’t mind firing up the grill, this dish goes great with grilled vegetables, but it also pairs well with a simple salad for something a bit more low-key.
Marinated Shrimp and Succotash Toasts
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
If you’re a fan of savory toast, we implore you to try this version that’s topped with a mixture of vegetables, already-cooked shrimp, and jarred pesto. While this fresh and vibrant dish comes together in 25 minutes, rest assured that you won’t need to turn on the stove or the oven. Hooray!
Tomato and Peach Salad With Serrano Ham
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Sweet and savory, this summer salad is worthy of a spot in your weekly lunch or dinner rotation. This dish has a little something for everyone, including in-season tomatoes and peaches, peppery arugula, smoked almonds, salty Manchego cheese, and rich serrano ham. The finishing touch is a simple sherry vinegar vinaigrette that adds vibrancy and brightness to this 15-minute meal.
Rotisserie Chicken and Avocado Tostadas
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Rotisserie chicken comes in clutch in this 20-minute meal. The already-cooked chicken is paired with a creamy salsa verde mixture made with salsa verde, mayonnaise, cilantro, and lime. You’ll also find mashed avocado, fresh and crisp radishes, lettuce, and a sprinkling of cilantro. Everything rests on a crisp-fried tortilla that brings some much-needed crunch.
Skillet Steak and Radishes With Anchovy-Tarragon Butter
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This dish may sound fancy and complicated, but rest assured it’s made in one pot and comes together in just 30 minutes. This simple dinner includes tender radishes, perfectly seared steak, and a tarragon-laced butter you’ll want to slather on everything. Opt for hanger steak for this recipe, because it’s well-marbled and cooks quickly.
Red Pesto Fettuccine
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Typical pesto is made with basil, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and other ingredients, but this recipe calls for red pesto, which is prepared with sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, walnuts, olive oil, and garlic. It works wonderfully on this pasta, which you’ll top with chopped walnuts and more cheese, but it also shines in soups or on sandwiches and pizza.
Ground Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Like many stir-fries, this one is a cinch to make. You’ll find rice and ground chicken, which is flavored with a tasty combo of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and mirin, in addition to crunchy vegetables like green beans and bell peppers. For the best results, let the veggies get a subtle char while cooking, and allow the chicken to be fully coated in the sauce for caramelization. You won’t regret it!
Sicilian-Inspired Pasta With Sardines
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Sardines aren’t for everyone, but if you like ‘em you’ll want to give this flavorful pasta a try. Ready in 30 minutes, this easy weeknight meal also features anchovies, golden raisins, crisp fennel, buttery pine nuts, and kale leaves, among other ingredients. What we love about this dish is that you can serve it warm, at room temperature, or even cold. The choice is yours!
Gnocchi With Spring Vegetables
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayliss
Stock up on some fresh produce for this 25-minute gnocchi recipe. Here, asparagus, snap peas, and peas mingle with pan-seared gnocchi in a quick lemony garlic sauce made with vegetable stock, lemon zest, and butter, among other ingredients. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and dig into your new favorite vegetarian recipe that’s a breeze to prepare.
Honey-Chipotle Shrimp Tostadas
GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING BY EMILY NABORS HALL, PROP STYLING BY CLAIRE SPOLLEN
Tostadas are crisp-fried tortillas garnished with an array of satisfying toppings. In the case of this 30-minute meal, we’ve got store-bought refried beans, sweet-and-spicy shrimp, cabbage, and a dusting of crumbled cotija cheese. The undisputed star, though, is the shrimp, which are marinated in a smoky chipotle and sweet honey mixture. Garnish each tostada with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime and you’re all set.
Chile-Lime Salmon Cakes With Arugula Salad
Jennifer Causey
Believe it or not, this impressive dinner is ready in 30 minutes. The time-saving trick here is canned salmon, which forms the base of these zesty fishcakes along with lime juice, fresh cilantro, and chile-garlic sauce. The patties stay together thanks to egg, mayonnaise, and breadcrumbs, and are served alongside lime juice-dressed arugula as well a garlic-spiked mayonnaise sauce.
Sesame-Scallion Steak Lettuce Wraps
Jennifer Causey
Inspired by Korean ssäm, the healthy hack of this dish is that it uses lettuce as a wrap for meat and rice. More specifically, hearty Bibb lettuce encases thinly sliced rib eye that’s flavored with sherry vinegar, light brown sugar, and punchy fish sauce, as well as fluffy white rice. You’d never guess this steak recipe is ready in just 30 minutes!
Za’atar Tofu Skewers With Tomato Salad and Hummus
Jennifer Causey
Easy and filling, you can get this vegetarian recipe on the table in just 30 minutes. You’ll start by making the zesty tomato-cucumber-olive salad to go alongside, and will then switch gears and season and cook the tofu with za’atar—a Middle Eastern spice blend made with thyme, marjoram, sumac, and sesame seeds. Once the tofu is done cooking, all that’s left to do is grab your favorite store-bought hummus and plate this feast. Easy enough, right?
Soba Noodle Salad With Chili-Glazed Shrimp
Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Resist the urge to order takeout and whip up this flavorful noodle salad instead. This 30-minute meal features a peanut sauce spiked with hoisin, sesame oil, lime juice, and a chili garlic sauce to dress the noodles, as well as store-bought vegetable salad mix to add nutritional value and some crunch. The shrimp, which are glazed in a sweet and savory marinade made with zesty lime and chili garlic sauce, add a hefty dose of lean and satiating protein.
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