3 Simple & Under-30-Minutes Recipes for Dinner

Do you have the same problem as I do about what to make for dinner at night? It is such a dilemma, especially when you’re done with work and want to have a hearty meal. In this article, I share 3 easy recipes to make in under 30 minutes that will become a treat for you. 

These three meals are nutritious, healthy, and not packed with bad calories. So, open this up, copy it to your notes, and get everything you need for a great meal at home. You can scale the recipes up or down depending on servings too by searching for a recipe scaler app or going online and doing so.

For the latter, make sure you have speedy internet because you would not want a lag when you’re all ready to cook the meal. You can check out Cox for their seamless services for home internet, and with Cox internet packages, you’re sure to find the perfect plan for your home. You can even connect to Alexa to get voice assistance while you cook away. And it is for instances like these that a smooth internet becomes necessary. 

Check out these recipes and pick one that you’re craving for: 

1. Sesame Grilled Salmon

This easy-to-make dish will be ready in 25 minutes. Salmon is a very healthy white meat and offers a great variety of minerals and protein. A flavorful dish served with grilled veggies and a small bowl of white or brown rice depending on preference.  

Ingredients List 

• ¼ cup light soy sauce
• 1 ½ tbsp. honey
• 1 large clove garlic
• 1 tbsp. grated ginger
• 1 pound salmon meat cut and cleaned (or fillets)
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 2 tsp. of sesame seeds

Method:

1. You need to make the marinade. For this, whisk the soy sauce, honey, ginger, and garlic together in a bowl until the marinade is mixed evenly. Then, put ¼ of it aside for later.
2. Now place the salmon fillets in a shallow pan and add the larger part of the marinade over them. Cover the dish with a wrap and refrigerate it so it soaks in. The longer you marinate, the more flavorsome it is. 

I usually take an hour to prepare this dish and do some chores in between. If you don’t want to wait that long, move on to the next step in 5 or 10 minutes.

3. Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Remove the salmon from the marinade, shake off the extra, and place in oil with skin side up. Cook the salmon for 4 minutes. Then, discard the unused marinade in the shallow dish. 
5. Flip the salmon, add the reserved marinade over the fillet, and sprinkle the sesame seeds.
6. Cook the fish until it flakes. 
7. Check with a fork; if it’s not very soft, let it sear for 5 to 7 minutes. Flip the salmon, remove the skin, and then cook for 1 minute.
8. Grill yellow bell peppers, green beans, and some white or brown rice with herbs. Add some lemon on top of the fish and enjoy.

2. Chicken Parm Pasta (One Pot)

This one is a delish recipe for a hearty dinner at night. It will take your stress down a significant percentage, and you will be able to enjoy the taste. All the ingredients can be ordered, and you can make this recipe with ease.

Ingredients List 

• Kosher salt to taste
• 1 lb. cavatappi or any other short pasta
• 12 oz. store-bought breaded chicken
• 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion chopped finely
• 2 garlic cloves chopped finely
• 4 cups store-bought marinara
• 2 oz. Parmesan finely grated (1 cup) & some extra for topping
• ¾ cup shredded mozzarella
• Fresh ground black pepper 
• Fresh basil to top it off

Method:

1. Cook the chicken as per package instructions. Cool and cut into strips.
2. Arrange a pot of boiling water to 400 degrees, add some salt, and cook pasta. Don’t forget to stir and cook until al dente, just like the package instructions.
3. In a large oven-proof skillet on medium heat, heat the oil and cook the onion. Stir this until fragrant for 7 minutes.
4. Add the garlic, cook, and stir until it gives off a good scent for a minute more, and then add the marinara sauce with tsp. Salt and simmer.
5. Then add the pasta to the skillet and coat it with sauce. 
6. Add ½-cup parmesan and toss till melted; top with ½ cup parmesan and mozzarella.
7. Lastly, add the chicken on top of the cheese and add cheese on top again
8. Bake the parm dish until cheese melts and browns on top
9. Season with herbs, basic, and more parmesan if need be

3. Beef Stir Fry

Ahh, anything with beef makes one hell of a delicious meal. This one is a great pick if you have a man at home and he needs something fulfilling. It is also great for students and for those who want a high-protein meal. You can switch it up to add rice, white or brown, and add veggies to go, too. This meal is very hard to mess up and easy to put together. 

Bonus: It is best to cut the beef into thin strips with a steak knife for an even smooth cut.

More on: How to find the perfect best steak knives for your kitchen needs?

Ingredients List 

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 pound of beef sirloin, cut into 2-inch strips with steak knife
• 1 ½ cups fresh broccoli
• 1 red bell pepper cut into thin slices
• 2 carrots thinly sliced
• 1 green onion chopped
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 tbsp. Sesame seeds toasted

Well, I personally also like to add a little bit about 1 tsp of barbeque sauce to the mix for a bit of smoky flavor. 

Method:

1. Gather all the ingredients so everything is handy.
2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large Chinese wok over medium-high heat and add beef to stir fry until it is browned ( 3 to 4 minutes).
3. Put the beef to the side of the wok, and add all the veggies and garlic to the center of it.
4. Stir fry the veggies for 2 minutes so they cook through.
5. Then stir fry the beef with veggies; add soy sauce, barbecue sauce, and sesame seeds.
6. Continue to cook until veggies are soft (2 minutes).
7. Serve hot over white or brown rice, pan-fried in some butter (another plus I like to add).

With this, we end with some of the most simple but fulfilling meals for a quick dinner packed with energy. And for more like these, a trustable and great platform like Tasty makes for a great plus to have, with more than just simple recipes –if you dare to check those out.