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A convenient collection of easy 30 minute dinner ideas! From one-skillet pasta recipes to oven-fried chicken, flavorful seafood, and juicy pork tenderloin, there’s a new, simple meal to add to your regular rotation. Whether you’re busy with work, caring for others, or just tired of spending too much time in the kitchen, these quick wins make dinnertime stress-free and delicious!
30-Minute Dinner Ideas for Family
We’ve rounded up about 50 of our favorite, family-friendly, quick and easy 30 minute dinner ideas! Bookmark this convenient collection for your next busy week. Quick-prep ingredients like shrimp, salmon, pork tenderloin, ground beef, sausage, and rotisserie chicken make mealtime easy for the lazy, busy, or stressed-out home cook!
The recipes are separated by ingredients so that it’s easier for you to find exactly what you’re looking for. In this roundup you’ll enjoy 30 minute dinner ideas in the following categories:
- Chicken
- Beef
- Pork
- Sausage
- Seafood
- Vegetarian
30-Minute Chicken Recipes
Shortcut Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
You only need 10 minutes to prepare a shortcut chicken pot pie with biscuits! This hearty casserole features chicken and vegetables in a creamy sauce, topped with golden brown buttermilk biscuits. Serve the simple comfort food classic with a side salad, a loaf of crusty bread, or a pan of cornbread for an easy weeknight dinner.
Oven Fried Chicken Breast
Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this oven fried chicken breast tastes like a decadent restaurant meal! Best of all, the easy dinner recipe is ready for the table in just 30 minutes. Serve the flavorful baked chicken cutlets with buttermilk biscuits, mashed potatoes, Southern-style green beans, or a crisp wedge salad.
Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole
A creamy Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole is the perfect 30-minute weeknight dinner! There’s no rolling or stuffing necessary — just layer corn tortillas with a green chile chicken and cheese filling, finish with a sour cream sauce, and pop it in the oven. The quick and easy make-ahead casserole is delicious when served with corn salad, rice, ranch-style beans, or tortilla chips and guacamole.
Goldfish Baked Chicken Nuggets
Crispy and flavorful, these Goldfish baked chicken nuggets are an easy dinner that your whole family will love. That’s right — your kids’ favorite snack cracker is the secret ingredient in the breading! Skip the drive-thru and serve the homemade chicken nuggets with honey mustard and ketchup for dipping, plus salad, coleslaw, corn muffins, or potato wedges on the side.
Chicken Lo Mein Recipe (“Chinese Noodles”)
With a simple, flavorful 3-ingredient sauce, tender stir-fried chicken, and plenty of colorful vegetables, this easy Chicken Lo Mein recipe is a perfect 30-minute meal! Kids love the homemade Chinese noodles served alongside egg rolls, dumplings, or extra steamed broccoli. Best of all, you don’t need any fancy, hard-to-find ingredients to pull together this quick weeknight dinner that’s better than takeout!
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
There’s nothing more cozy than a warm bowl of this creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup on a chilly day. Made with love and a few simple shortcuts (like rotisserie chicken), a pot of homemade chicken soup is ready for the table in about 30 minutes. Serve the comfort food classic with a side of buttermilk biscuits, 3-ingredient sour cream muffins, or a loaf of crusty bread!
Shortcut Sesame Chicken
This homemade sesame chicken recipe takes advantage of store-bought shortcuts for an easy dinner that’s better than Chinese takeout! Toss the crispy sesame chicken in a thick, sweet, and savory sauce, serve it over rice, and pair it with a side of steamed broccoli, ramen noodle salad, or baked egg rolls. It’s a fun, flavorful, family-friendly meal that’s ready in less than 30 minutes!
Chicken Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Brown Butter
This quick and easy Chicken Gnocchi with mushrooms, garlic, sage and thyme is tossed in a rich brown butter sauce. Ready from start to finish in less than 30 minutes, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner. Serve the tender potato gnocchi with a side of crusty bread and a crisp green salad.
Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
Crispy and flavorful, these baked chicken tenders are an easy, family-friendly dinner! Just coat the strips in a combination of bread crumbs and Corn Flakes, and then pop them in the oven for about 15 minutes. Served with waffle fries, pickles, and your kids’ favorite dipping sauces, the baked breaded chicken tenders make a quick and delicious weeknight meal!
Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
This Chinese Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry is a classic dish of sautéed juicy chicken tossed with tender broccoli florets in a sweet and savory sauce. The quick, family-friendly dinner only requires a handful of basic ingredients and comes together in less than 30 minutes! Serve the easy chicken and broccoli stir fry recipe over rice, alongside noodles, or paired with egg rolls.
30-Minute Beef Recipes
One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
With just 5 minutes of prep and a few pantry staples, my grandmother’s one pan homemade Hamburger Helper is a quick and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love! Top it with cheddar cheese, and serve it alongside a salad, cornbread, or biscuits. The made from scratch pasta and ground beef skillet is always a weeknight winner!
Homemade Nachos with Ground Beef
A tray of these easy homemade nachos with ground beef makes a fun weeknight dinner or a festive party appetizer. Learn how to make nachos by just layering the chips, cheese, meat and jalapeños on a pan, and then popping them in the oven for about 10 minutes. Pile on your favorite toppings — such as tomatoes, sour cream, avocados, olives and cilantro — or let your guests customize their plates. A simple loaded nachos recipe is always welcome at the table!
Homemade Sloppy Joes
Homemade Sloppy Joes come together in less than 30 minutes for a quick and easy dinner — even on your busiest nights. A handful of simple pantry staples like ketchup, mustard, and cider vinegar create a made-from-scratch sweet and tangy Sloppy Joe sauce that’s so much better than the canned stuff! Serve the sandwiches with potato chips and Caesar salad for a quick meal that the whole family will love.
Dorito Taco Salad
This retro favorite is a blast from the past! If you’re a child of the 80’s, then you’ve definitely enjoyed this Dorito taco salad on a number of different occasions. It’s an easy dinner recipe and a crowd-pleasing party food that always wins rave reviews!
Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta
A childhood comfort food favorite called “Chuckwagon Mac!” This Cheesy Ground Beef Pasta is a hearty, satisfying, and easy dinner recipe that the entire family will love!
Crescent Roll Taco Bake
This cozy crescent roll taco bake is an easy dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes! The zesty beef and corn filling is topped with a cheesy cheddar crescent roll crust for a comfort food casserole that the whole family will love. Pair it with tortilla chips and salsa, guacamole, or a simple green salad.
30-Minute Pork Recipes
Oven Fried Breaded Pork Chops
Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, these Oven Fried Breaded Pork Chops taste like a decadent restaurant meal! Best of all, the easy dinner recipe is ready for the table in just 30 minutes. Serve the flavorful baked pork chops with buttermilk biscuits, mashed potatoes, Southern-style green beans, or a crisp wedge salad.
Ham and Cheese Sliders
These easy Ham and Cheese Sliders are a quick, freezer-friendly, make ahead meal that’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners, tailgates, get-togethers with friends, or church potlucks. Best of all, you can assemble the entire recipe in advance and just bake the party sandwiches whenever you need to serve them. Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders with a buttery brown sugar spread are sweet, savory, and the perfect solution to casual entertaining!
Pork Schnitzel & Mushroom Gravy (Jägerschnitzel)
Mom’s Pork Schnitzel is crisp and golden brown on the outside, and tender on the inside. Serve the pan-fried pork chops with a quick mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, rice or noodles, and a simple green vegetable. Jägerschnitzel is an easy 30-minute weeknight dinner that makes everyone at the table happy!
Pan Fried Pork Chops
Simple is best! These 5-ingredient pan fried pork chops come together with about 5 minutes of prep for an easy weeknight dinner that your family will love. Tender and juicy, the crisp, golden brown chops are delicious alongside buttermilk biscuits, grits, rice, Southern-style green beans, or a skillet of cornbread.
Ham Steak with Brown Sugar Glaze
Transform a simple and affordable ham steak into a delicious and easy dinner with this sweet and savory maple and brown sugar glaze! The quick weeknight meal or hearty breakfast or brunch entrée is ready for the table in just 15 minutes. Don’t forget the eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy, cornbread, green beans, salad, or fresh fruit, too!
Moo Shu Pork
Whip up your favorite Chinese take-out dish at home with this quick and easy moo shu pork recipe! Thin strips of stir-fried pork tenderloin, shredded cabbage, mushrooms, and eggs come together in a sweet-and-savory sauce for a simple weeknight dinner that appeals to even the pickiest little eaters. Wrap the moo shu pork with pancakes (or flour tortillas), serve it over a bowl of rice, or enjoy the meat and veggies on their own. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes!
Pulled Pork Nachos
Whether you use leftover pulled pork from a previous meal, smoked pork from the local bbq restaurant, or a pack of store-bought pulled pork, these loaded Pulled Pork Nachos are a flavorful, easy dinner with just 5 ingredients and about 15 minutes of prep! Serve them with a side of coleslaw for a quick weeknight dinner, or set them out with a toppings bar for a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next Game Day gathering!
Baked BBQ Pork Chops
These easy oven baked BBQ pork chops are seasoned with a dry rub, pan seared, basted with barbecue sauce, and then finished in the oven. Best of all, the tender and juicy pork chops are ready from start to finish in about 30 minutes! Serve them with sweet potato biscuits, mac and cheese, grits, rice, Southern-style green beans, or a skillet of cornbread.
Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin with Brussels Sprouts
A simple BBQ rub seasons tender, juicy and flavorful Oven Baked Pork Tenderloin that cooks in the same cast iron skillet as the crispy, seasoned Brussels sprouts. It’s a quick and easy one pan dinner that’s ready from start to finish in less than 30 minutes!
Stovetop Pork Chops with Apple Cider Gravy
You only need one pan, 5 ingredients and about 30 minutes for these Stovetop Pork Chops with Apple Cider Gravy! The family-friendly, easy dinner recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
Pasta with Corn, Bacon, Tomatoes and Zucchini
This fresh summer meal is loaded with the season’s best produce! A simple combination of pasta with corn, bacon, tomatoes and zucchini in a creamy Parmesan herb sauce makes a delicious 30-minute meal. Serve it alongside a loaf of crusty bread or a light green salad for a satisfying, easy dinner!
30-Minute Dinner Ideas with Sausage
Sausage Pasta {a 30 Minute Meal!}
Italian sausage pasta is coated in a creamy tomato sauce, seasoned with fresh herbs, and finished with Parmesan cheese. Pair the hearty dish with a simple green salad and a basket of garlic bread for an easy dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes!
Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
Pasta with Sausage and Spinach is a quick and simple 30-minute recipe for a delicious homemade dinner — even on your busiest weeknights! With zesty Italian sausage, tender pasta, fresh greens and plenty of garlic, wine and Parmesan cheese, this is an easy meal that the whole family will love. Serve it with a side of crusty bread for the ultimate comfort food supper!
Cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta with Broccoli
You can’t beat the ease of this creamy and cheesy Smoked Sausage Pasta for a 30-minute dinner that the whole family will love. Made-from-scratch skillet mac and cheese is tossed with kielbasa and tender broccoli florets so that you get an entire meal in one pan. This kid-friendly dish is perfect for busy weeknights!
One Skillet Cheese Tortellini with Chicken Sausage
One skillet meals like this Cheese Tortellini with Italian Chicken Sausage make easy dinners a breeze — with very little clean up at the end! The pasta, sausage, and vegetables all cook together in less than 30 minutes. Finish the cheese tortellini recipe with mozzarella and Parmesan, then pair it with garlic bread and a crisp green salad!
Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage and Apples
Total cold-weather comfort food! This Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash with apples, spinach and cranberries is an entire meal in one dish. While it looks impressive enough for entertaining, the easy dinner is ready in just 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights!
30-Minute Seafood Recipes
Southern Shrimp and Grits Recipe
This quick Southern shrimp and grits recipe is an easy dinner for busy weeknights or a special brunch for a slow Sunday morning! Best of all, the flavorful down-home comfort food is ready in about 30 minutes. Serve the Cajun shrimp and cheese grits with a simple salad, collard greens, cornbread, or biscuits for a delicious meal.
Orange Salmon {in Less than 20 Minutes!}
With just 5 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, you can prepare a healthy baked orange salmon for the perfect easy dinner! This entire meal is ready from start to finish in less than 20 minutes, making it an ideal family-friendly seafood supper for busy weeknights. Serve the orange glazed salmon with a side of rice pilaf, a loaf of crusty bread, a simple House salad, or tender green beans.
Easy Shrimp Po’ Boy {Baked Not Fried!}
This roasted shrimp po’ boy recipe is a quicker, easier version of the classic New Orleans sandwich! There’s no need for messy deep-frying, and instead the shrimp cooks in the oven in about 5 minutes. Add zesty, creamy remoulade sauce, along with pickles, lettuce, and tomato on crusty French bread, and you’ve got a delicious Cajun-inspired lunch or dinner with very little effort!
Teriyaki Salmon {30-Minute Dinner!}
An easy, baked Teriyaki Salmon recipe will soon become one of your go-to weeknight dinners! The thick, sweet marinade and glaze yields a flavorful piece of fish that’s delicious with rice, noodles or vegetables. Best of all, the entire meal is ready from start to finish in about 20 minutes!
Easy Fish Tacos with Slaw
These easy fish tacos with a creamy cilantro lime slaw take advantage of frozen fish sticks for a shortcut dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes! Serve the crispy fried fish tacos with tortillas and all of your favorite toppings — like sour cream, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese, and avocado. They’re delicious alongside tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole, or grilled fresh corn!
Easy Shrimp Scampi
This easy shrimp scampi recipe is bursting with the rich flavors of garlic, butter, lemon, and herbs! Toss the shrimp and sauce with plenty of pasta for a meal that looks elegant enough for entertaining, but is ready for the table in less than 20 minutes. Don’t forget a salad and a side of crusty bread!
Oven Fried Fish
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this Oven Fried Fish tastes like a decadent deep-fried meal. Flaky white haddock or cod is coated with a mayonnaise mixture and dredged in breadcrumbs and Corn Flakes for a super-crunchy coating. Serve the fish with baked potato wedges for healthy Oven Fried Fish and Chips. Best of all, the easy dinner recipe is ready for the table in less than 30 minutes!
Garlic Butter Shrimp with Old Bay
Serve these flavorful lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp for an easy dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes! Season the shrimp with Old Bay, sauté them in a skillet with garlic, butter and shallots, and pair them with a simple green salad and a loaf of crusty bread, rice, or pasta to soak up the delicious sauce.
30 Minute Dinner Ideas Vegetarian
30-Minute Tomato Basil Soup
This easy Tomato Basil Soup recipe is a light, healthy, and delicious vegetarian dinner or weekend lunch that’s ready for the table in about 30 minutes. Sweet and creamy, it’s the perfect companion for a toasty grilled cheese sandwich or a loaf of crusty bread. Best of all, the flavorful tomato soup starts with canned tomatoes, so you can enjoy it year-round!
Penne alla Vodka
The best Penne alla Vodka recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes! This simple combination of pasta and a made-from-scratch creamy tomato vodka sauce appeals to both kids and adults, making it perfect for weeknight family dinners. Serve it with garlic bread and Caesar salad for a quick and delicious restaurant-quality meal.
Homemade Spaghetti O’s
Serve these homemade Spaghetti O’s for a quick and easy vegetarian family dinner! The one-pot pasta recipe only requires a handful of pantry staples, and it’s ready for the table in about 30 minutes. Plus, even the kids will agree — it’s so much better than the canned stuff! Garnish each bowl of noodles and tomato sauce with Parmesan cheese or fresh herbs, and offer garlic bread and a simple green salad on the side.
Flatbread Pizza
Prepare a restaurant-quality flatbread pizza at home in about 15 minutes! The easy dinner includes store-bought crust, marinara or pizza sauce, a blend of Italian cheeses, and all of your favorite toppings. Serve each pizza with a crisp Caesar salad, tomato salad, or marinated cucumbers for a quick weeknight meal.
Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes {5 Ingredients!}
Pasta with cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and fresh basil is an easy 5-ingredient vegetarian dinner that’s ready from start to finish in about 20 minutes! It’s the perfect summer meal when you don’t feel like cooking, as the simple recipe let’s summer’s produce shine. Garnish the pasta and burst cherry tomato sauce with Parmesan cheese, and serve each bowl with a crisp green salad and a loaf of crusty bread.
Crescent Roll Pizza Pockets
Easy and fast, these crescent roll pizza pockets make a delicious dinner that’s ready in less than 30 minutes! A kid favorite, the shortcut homemade calzones can be customized for each individual diner — keep them vegetarian, load them up with pepperoni, or make them simple and cheesy with just 3 basic ingredients! Served with a side salad and some extra marinara sauce for dipping, this is one meal that the whole family can agree on.
Shells and Cheese
The easiest, creamiest homemade shells and cheese are ready for the table in just 30 minutes! Whip up this stovetop pasta for a decadent side dish at your next family dinner, or serve it as an entrée with a side salad and bread. You can even add diced ham, peas, chicken or broccoli for a heartier meal. With cheddar, Parmesan and Velveeta in the sauce and buttery toasted breadcrumbs on top, this ooey, gooey shell mac and cheese recipe is decadent, flavorful, and totally delicious!
Looking for even more 30-minute meals?
You can find all of my quick dinner recipes HERE.
