I’ll level with you. As much as I like to spend hours tinkering with a complicated recipe every now and then (I once lost an entire weekend to these Parisian macarons), the majority of the time I crave fast and easy dishes that still deliver tons of flavor.
That’s where the reliable 30-minute meal comes in. The 30-minute meal embodies everything I believe in: quick, simple, and inherently smart. Endlessly useful.
Because dinner’s the name of the game, I’ve combed through our top-secret records to find out which time-saving, always-delicious recipes you all turn to over and over and over again. From the creamiest Instant Pot butter chicken to an umami-rich miso-mushroom pasta you’ll want to keep in your weekly rotation from now until forever, here are 10 of our most popular 30-minute dinner all-stars. The best of the very best.
1. Martha Stewart’s One-Pan Pasta
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Ah Martha, you never cease to impress us, and this one-pan pasta is no exception. Toss the linguine, tomatoes, onion, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and basil all together and boil away for a simple, satisfying dinner.
2. Gong Bao Ji Ding
If you haven’t met gong bao ji ding yet, let me introduce you: It’s an addictively good stir-fried chicken dinner with a spicy-savory sauce that’s on the table in just 25 minutes. I’ll let you two take it from here.
3. Buffalo-Glazed Salmon With Blue Cheese Kale Salad
If you’re a fan of Buffalo-style anything, you’re guaranteed to love Eric Kim’s Buffalo-glazed salmon paired with a blue cheese–dressed kale salad. The best part: It’s ready in 20 minutes tops.
4. Instant Pot Butter Chicken
This Instant Pot butter chicken from Urvashi Pitre packs in so much creamy flavor—garlic, ginger, garam masala, and more—and clocks in right at 30 minutes.
5. Sautéed Shrimp with Lemon, Garlic, and Parsley
Pile this über-simple sautéed garlic shrimp atop crusty French bread and pair with a glass of crisp white wine or rosé for an impressive-looking meal that’s actually very easy.
6. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio e Salsiccia
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This absurdly easy sausage spaghetti from pasta-ficionado Ella Quittner gets its silky, cheesy sauce by cooking the dried noodles in a skillet or sauté pan.
7. Lemon Chicken
Longtime Food52 community mrslarkin writes of her lemon chicken recipe: “Had some chicken breast in the fridge. Didn’t feel like breading them, so I made this.” Enough said.
8. Miso-Mushroom Pasta
You won’t thick twice about adding miso to your pasta after trying this spaghetti with red miso, mushrooms, lots of butter, sherry vinegar to balance the creaminess, and scallions for a bright touch.
9. Yotam Ottolenghi’s Shakshuka
Shakshuka for dinner? Oh yes. Ottolenghi’s take on this breakfast and brunch classic makes the coziest-ever dinner when topped with thick labneh and herbs, and served alongside warm pita bread.
10. Skillet-Grilled Fish Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Crema
I saved these skillet-grilled fish tacos for last because good things come to those who wait—and these spicy tacos topped with a tangy crema and cabbage slaw are oh-so-good and oh-so-speedy.
What’s your favorite 30-minute meal? Tell us in the comments below!
