Need quick and easy weeknight dinners that won’t blow your budget? These 27 fast, flavorful meals are packed with pantry staples like pasta, rice, chicken, chickpeas, and veggies—all done in 30 minutes or less. From one-pot wonders to kid-friendly vegetarian favorites, every recipe is a healthy, tasty option your whole family will love. Whether you're craving comfort food or something light, this list has your dinner dilemma solved. Get ready to save time, money, and your sanity!
Instant Pot Pink Pasta
Easy Pink Sauce Pasta without the guilt! I swap heavy cream for coconut milk to create a rich, luxurious pink sauce that’s totally indulgent—but secretly lighter. It’s so delicious, you’d never guess it’s a healthier twist!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Pink Pasta
Chickpeas Burrito Bowl
Skip the takeout and make this vibrant, vegetarian burrito bowl that’s bursting with color, nutrients, and serious flavor. A fraction of the price!
Get the Recipe: Chickpeas Burrito Bowl
Spicy Thai Noodles
Irresistible Thai Spicy Noodles are fiery, flavorful, and made with simple supermarket ingredients. This quick and easy 30 minute weeknight dinner is loaded with fresh veggies, eggs, and you can adjust the heat—So Good!
Get the Recipe: Spicy Thai Noodles
Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta Bake
Creamy Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta Bake is the ultimate comfort food – rich, cozy, and absolutely delicious. It's guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, whether for dinner or entertaining, as it easily feeds a crowd.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta Bake
5-Ingredient BBQ Ramen Noodles
5-Ingredient BBQ Ramen Noodles is a quick and easy meal ready in under 10 minutes. This simple dish is versatile—add your favorite protein and veggies to make it a complete, satisfying meal!
Get the Recipe: 5-Ingredient BBQ Ramen Noodles
Easy BBQ Pulled Chicken
Easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken is juicy, tender, and so tasty! Perfect for sandwiches, nachos, quesadillas, bowls or meal prep for the week. Use your favorite BBQ sauce!
Get the Recipe: Easy BBQ Pulled Chicken
Garlic butter Ramen Noodles
This Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles is so simple and easy, yet crazy good and ready in under 10 minutes. It's the perfect dish that both kids and adults will devour!
Get the Recipe: Garlic butter Ramen Noodles
Instant Pot Alfredo Pasta
Instant Pot Alfredo Pasta comes together with just 5 ingredients! Creamy, rich, and indulgent, this easy recipe is ready in just 30 minutes. You’ll have a restaurant-quality, luscious pasta dinner with minimal effort!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Alfredo Pasta
Cheesy Baked Meatballs
Tender, juicy meatballs cook to perfection as they gently poach in the tomato sauce, then are topped with melty mozzarella. No need to roll the meatballs—just simple, effortless, and irresistibly delicious!
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Baked Meatballs
Ground Chicken Pasta
This Ground Chicken Pasta is a simple, 30-minute dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights. Penne pasta and ground chicken are cooked together using jarred sauce, for an effortless meal. No stock!
Get the Recipe: Ground Chicken Pasta
Spicy Potato Tacos
Spicy Potato Tacos are a quick, mega flavorful, and satisfying 30-minute vegetarian dinner. It is perfect for busy weeknights, it’s sure to become a staple in your dinner rotation.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Potato Tacos
Baked Meatballs with Vegetables
Baked Meatballs are made using carrot and cauliflower and then oven-baked to perfection. They’re a fantastic way to sneak in vegetables for picky eaters! Enjoy them served alongside spaghetti, in sandwiches, or on their own with marinara.
Get the Recipe: Baked Meatballs with Vegetables
Creamy One Pot Alfredo
Creamy One Pot Alfredo Pasta is made using only 5 ingredients! In just 20 minutes, you can whip up a creamy, indulgent pasta dinner that’s lighter than traditional Alfredo—No cream!
Get the Recipe: Creamy One Pot Alfredo
Easy 5-Ingredient Pasta Casserole
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Easiest pasta casserole for busy weeknights yet impressive enough to serve guests. With no cooking or boiling required, just layer the ingredients and bake it in the oven. Plus, there are only 5 ingredients!
Get the Recipe: Easy 5-Ingredient Pasta Casserole
Easy Teriyaki Tofu
This Easy Teriyaki Tofu has a crispy exterior with a creamy, tender interior. It is outrageously delicious and is ready in about 30 minutes. Plus, the homemade teriyaki sauce is better than takeout! No need to press the tofu!
Get the Recipe: Easy Teriyaki Tofu
Instant Pot Pesto Pasta
This Instant Pot Pesto Pasta is made using only 5 ingredients but is shockingly flavorful and satisfying. Simply combine everything in the instant pot and cook, for a quick 20-minute dinner.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Pesto Pasta
Beet and Chickpea Curry
This Beet Curry with chickpeas tastes so good that it will leave you amazed and craving more. It is pretty in pink, healthy and made in the instant pot in about 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Beet and Chickpea Curry
Mexican Chicken and Rice
One pot Mexican Chicken and Rice is the perfect weeknight meal that’s bursting with flavor and ready in under 30 minutes. The rice soaks up all the chicken juices as it cooks, making every bite tasty!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Chicken and Rice
Pizza Pancakes
Fluffy buttermilk pancakes with all the flavors of a classic pizza! Ideal for dinner, these savory pancakes are served with marinara sauce instead of traditional maple syrup! Mix in your favorite pizza toppings to make it your own!
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pancakes
Chicken and Green Beans Stir Fry
Chicken and Green Beans Stir Fry is made with an irresistible stir fry sauce. It features blistered green beans that even picky eaters won't be able to resist! Pair with rice for an easy 30 minute meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Green Beans Stir Fry
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Spaghetti Aglio E Olio is one of the simplest pasta recipes you'll make but its shockingly flavorful and satisfying! With just 7 basic ingredients, this instant pot pasta is ready in just 20 minutes. There's no stock or broth!
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Easy Baked Ziti
This Baked Ziti is packed with flavor and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for weeknight dinner or entertaining guests. Made with ground chicken and creamy ricotta, it is an easy chicken pasta recipe.
Get the Recipe: Easy Baked Ziti
Chicken Burger
This Air Fryer Chicken Burger is irresistibly moist and juicy, perfectly seasoned, and cooks in under 10 minutes. It's a fast way to serve chicken burgers with minimal effort. And don't miss out on our pro tip for toasting burger buns in the air fryer!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Burger
Mexican Chickpeas
This Mexican Chickpeas is an all-purpose recipe for filling tacos, topping salads, wrapping in lettuce, layering over nachos or making a vegetarian burrito bowl. Reader-beloved recipe - ready in under 15 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Mexican Chickpeas
Instant Pot Chicken Pasta
This Instant Pot Chicken Pasta is a reader favorite! All the flavors of chicken parmesan are combined with pasta, to make the easiest instant pot meal, that is ready in under 30 minutes. So so good!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken Pasta
One Pot Mac and Cheese
This One Pot Mac and Cheese is outrageously creamy, smooth and cheesy! Made in the stovetop using 5 main ingredients, it is the easiest and comforting weeknight dinner that is ready in under 20 minutes.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Mac and Cheese
Chickpea and Spinach Curry
Indian Chickpea and Spinach Curry is healthy, flavorful, tastes authentic but made with shortcuts for a quick weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea and Spinach Curry
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