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Don’t have hours to spend preparing a meal or snack? These 30-minute recipes cater to every need and diet!
When you have a busy night, or a lazy night, or you’re simply-on-the-go like a travelling foodie, you normally don’t have hours to make lunch or dinner, but that doesn’t mean you can’t cook a nice meal or snack in a short amount of time!
As a Travelling Foodie, I found that I didn’t have much time at home or my time at home became so dedicated to catching up on work that I ended up neglecting the kitchen.
After making Prosciutto and Cheese Cupcakes, these rekindled my enjoyment for cooking and using the kitchen more so I decided to curate this list of easy 30-minute recipes.
This round up has something for everyone looking to whip up delicious meals and snacks in 30 minutes (or over 20 minutes). Have less time? Enjoy these 20-minute recipes or 10-minute recipes.

Why You’ll Love These 30-Minute Recipes
These quick meals aren’t just convenient. They’re exciting, satisfying, and packed with global flavors. Here’s what makes this round-up extra tasty:
- Speedy prep: All recipes can be made in max 30 minutes (or over 20!)
- Gadget-inspired: I’ve also included recipes that play nice with your kitchen gadgets, whether you’re team Air Fryer, Instant Pot or Ninja Speedi.
- Diet-friendly: I made sure to toss in options for all kinds of diets. Gluten-free? Check. Keto? Yep. Vegetarian? Got you covered
Easy 30-Minute Recipes
Here's the roundup of quick and easy recipes for meals and snacks that take 30 minutes (or over 20 minutes) with a mix of my own recipes and from some of the best food bloggers in the world!
Have less time? Try these 20-minute recipes or 10-minute recipes.
Happy Cooking!
Note: All photos belong to the owners of the respective recipes.
Air Fryer Bacon Cheese Tots
This Air Fryer Bacon Cheese Tater Tots recipe is a quick and easy comfort food recipe to make in under 30 minutes. All it needs are the key ingredients of bacon, cheese and potato tots.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
This easy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken recipe makes tender and juicy barbecue chicken without a grill in less than 30 minutes! Perfect for appetizers and main dishes!
Apricot-Ginger Glazed Chicken
Apricot-ginger glazed chicken is a flavorful chicken dinner that uses just 3 ingredients and less than 30 minutes to make. If you need a quick, last minute dinner recipe, this Apricot-Ginger Glazed Chicken is for you!
Arugula Prosciutto Pizza
Delicious Italian pizza in 25 minutes. This easy Arugula Prosciutto Pizza recipe is perfect for your pizza nights!
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Air fryer sweet potato fries are such crispy and delicious comfort food with a mix of sweet and salty. Make this crispy sweet potato fries in the air fryer in 30 minutes.
Bacon Miso Pasta
A different and super flavorful pasta dish to add to your weekday ideas. It comes together in less than 30 minutes and you make the sauce while the pasta cooks! Easy and delicious recipe!
Beef and Cheese Wrap
This beef and cheese wrap is a fun take on quesadilla using the viral TikTok tortilla wrap hack! It's crispy, cheesy and delicious! An easy meal in under 30 minutes.
Blackened Shrimp and Grits
This easy Blackened (or Cajun) Shrimp and Grits recipe looks super fancy. Shh, don't tell your guests how easy it is. 30 minutes from start to finish (or even faster if you use quick cook grits)!
Cajun-Style Charred Okra and Shrimp
The flavors of gumbo - thyme, paprika, cayenne, garlic - without the fat-laden roux. Ready in 20-25 minutes, this easy one-pot dish requires only a few ingredients and a cast iron skillet!
Caribbean Chickpea and Potato Curry
Caribbean chickpea and potato curry or chana aloo masala is a healthy vegan curry typically served over rice. It’s a family-friendly recipe, so easy to make, and ready in under half an hour!
Cast Iron Keto Ranch Chicken Thighs
This easy Cast Iron Keto Ranch Chicken Thighs recipe is a 5 ingredient dinner made in 25 minutes using frozen and pantry staples. So quick and delish!
Cheesy Broccoli Sausage Pasta Skillet
This Cheesy Broccoli Sausage Pasta Skillet is the perfect one-pan dinner option for when you need an easy 30-minute meal on the dinner table quick.
Chicken Ramen Noodles
Under 30 mins Chicken Ramen- totally customizable, add veggies, whatever you have in hand, homemade stir fry seasoning plus healthy ramen recipe.
Chilled Pea Soup with Snow Crab and Ratatouille
This soup and appetizer recipe from a Michelin Guide Restaurant is light and refreshing, plus easy to make in 30 minutes.
Coconut Chicken Curry Recipe
Ready in 30 minutes, this colourful and easy Coconut Chicken Curry recipe will bring the taste of Asia to your dinner table. A little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, who knew you could make something bursting with so much flavour in 30 minutes?
Coconut Chickpea Curry
This coconut chickpea curry is the ultimate weeknight dinner. Delicious and packed with flavor, this comfort meal is made with easy pantry ingredients and comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Coconut Macaroons
These easy Coconut Macaroons, or Congolais, are four-ingredient gluten-free cookies made in less than 30 minutes. Sweet and chewy, macaroons are so delicious that you might end up double or triple the recipe. It is a fun baking project with kids, too!
Chicken Pasta with Mushrooms and Fresh Tomatoes
Toss together pasta and sauteed sweet tomatoes and mushrooms with tender bites of chicken breast for a quick weeknight meal. This easy pasta recipe can be on your table in less than 30 minutes.
Chicken Curry
This amazing 5-ingredient Indian chicken curry can be done within 30 minutes (or lesser if pressure cooked). It is healthy (no coconut cream or any other cream) with lesser oil and needs just five ingredients for the gravy.
Chicken Francese
Chicken Francese recipe is a gourmet dinner made in about 30 minutes! It’s the ultimate chicken dinner that is budget-friendly and perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a healthy comfort food recipe the whole family will love! An easy dinner idea that’s on the table in less than 30-minutes. This recipe is also gluten-free and dairy-free. Some say it’s even better than PF Chang’s version!
Chicken Tikka Masala Pasta
This Indian fusion Chicken Tikka Masala Pasta is one of those creamy, flavorful and easy recipes to make in less than 30 minutes. Spaghetti cooked in the most delicious tikka masala sauce along with juicy chicken pieces, topped with cilantro. It has all you need for a warm satisfying dinner.
Creamy Chicken Bruschetta Pasta
Creamy Chicken Bruschetta Pasta is a quick and delicious weeknight pasta dinner! Full of fresh tomatoes, basil, and juicy chicken breast. It’s one of those easy simply flavorful meals ready in under 30 minutes!
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken
Chicken cooked in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce that can be prepared in under 30 minutes makes this dish a great weeknight dinner option.
Air Fried Chicken Legs
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs is one of the easy air fryer recipes that only take 30 minutes. They have all the flavor of fried chicken without flour & oil. You simply toss the chicken in seasonings, set the air fryer & go!
Crunchy Black Bean Tacos
These easy Crunchy Black Bean Tacos recipe is ready in about 25 minutes (less if you use jarred salsa). Some simple to make and full of delicious Mexican flavors the whole family will love.
Dijon Baked Salmon
Baked salmon slathered with herbed Dijon is one of my favorite easy salmon recipes. It’s incredibly flavorful and the Dijon topping keeps the salmon moist, light and flaky. It’s the perfect healthy dinner recipe and can be made in under 30 minutes.
E-Fu Noodles with Roast Duck
Make this easy E-Fu Noodles with Roast Duck in just 20 minutes! Robust with flavour, this classic Chinese noodle recipe is always a family hit! You only need 3 main ingredients to have a delicious meal on your table!
French Chard Fritters (Farcous)
Le Farcous, classic French Swiss chard fritters from the Auvergne region, is crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. East French food in 25 minutes.
Fettuccine alla Greca
Looking for an easy fast dish for a weeknight meal? Then you have found the recipe. Less than a half-hour and you will be sitting at your table spinning this wonderful Greek pasta right into your mouth!
Instant Pot Fried Rice
This easy Instant Pot Fried Rice recipe is loaded with flavors and mixed with eggs, and vegetables. So delicious and comforting in less than 25 minutes!
Instant Pot White Urad Dal Tadka With Rice
This instant pot white urad dal and rice gets ready in less than 30 minutes. It is an easy one-pot meal, vegan & gluten-free. This is also protein-rich, healthy and nutritious and helps in completing your protein macro for the day.
Italian Sausage Stew with White Beans
When you need a hearty, flavorful meal in minutes, this Italian Sausage Stew with White Beans fits the bill! This easy recipe is full of hearty beans, greens, and sausage in a rich broth. Serve with crusty bread for dipping!
Italian Wedding Soup
This Easy Italian Wedding Soup recipe is one of the 30-minute quick, easy healthy recipes. This soup uses frozen meatballs and frozen spinach (at only 4 Weight Watchers smart points on the blue plan per serving) with no pre-cooking meatballs required!
Kung Pao Chicken
This easy Kung Pao Chicken whips up in about 25 minutes. If you love take-out Chinese, this may be your one of your new favorite easy chicken recipes!
Lazy Falafel (Vegan + GF)
This Lazy Falafel recipe is super easy to make, will take up less than 30 minutes of your time, and tastes every bit as delicious as the traditional version! Vegan and gluten-free.
Leek and Potato Soup
The whole family will love this creamy & comforting leek and potato soup! Made with 6 ingredients, it's one of the easy recipes that takes only 30 minutes to cook, and has so much developed flavor.
Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes
This Meatballs & Mashed Potatoes meal is straight up one of the easy comfort food recipes. The rich gravy brings it all together for one satisfying meal. The meatballs and potatoes cook at the same time, so it’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Mild Chicken Fajitas for Kids
We love mild chicken fajitas for kids. We set all the prepped ingredients out and let the kids do the rest themselves for 30 minutes.
Mushroom and Pork Stroganoff
Stroganoff is one of the great quick easy beef recipes, my version uses tenderloin to ensure that dinner is on the table in 25 minutes and it is tender and succulent!
Mushroom Stew
This mushroom stew is one of the hearty, family-friendly, easy, one-pot recipes that is ready in less than 30 minutes. You can eat it all year round and it goes well with pasta, quinoa, rice or mashed potatoes.
Ninja Speedi Italian Meatball Soup
Enjoy a delicious Italian meatball soup using the Ninja Speedi in 25 minutes which simmers kale and a variety of vegetables in a comforting broth with meatballs, couscous and parmesan.
Ninja Speedi Mexican Fish & Rice
This Mexican-inspired Fish and Rice with Ninja Speedi is light and fresh! Get a taste of Mexico with one of the easy Mexican recipes in less than 30 minutes.
Ninja Speedi Pork Chop Rice
Pork Chop and Rice with Vegetables is an easy recipe to enjoy with Ninja Speedi! Delicious charred and glazed pork chop with herb-infused rice. Full meal in 25 minutes.
Ninja Speedi Thai Beef Bowl
This Thai Beef Rice Bowl with Ninja Speedi is so simple and gives you a taste of Thailand! Enjoy aromatic spiced beef and savoury rice with vegetables from one of the easy Ninja Speedi recipes!
Penne all’Arrabbiata
Penne all'Arrabbiata is a quick and tasty 30-minute vegan pasta dish made with very few ingredients! Arrabbiata sauce originates from the region of Lazio, Italy, which means “angry” because the sauce is meant to be “angry” spicy!
Pork with Cream of Mushroom Salsa Sauce
This Pork with Creamy Mushroom Salsa Sauce is one of the easy pork chop recipes using pantry ingredients like salsa, canned black olives, rosemary and cream of mushroom soup. It's the perfect economical, quick and easy dinner in under 30 minutes!
Pressure Cooker Mongolian Beef with Rice
Pressure Cooker Mongolian Beef is slightly sweet and a tad bit salty, juicy and flavorful Asian inspired dish. It's one of those easy dump and push start and wait 30 minute recipes.
Red Curry Coconut Baby Potato Stew
In 30 minutes with this easy curry stew recipe, you will have a healthy, colorful, tasty plate that even the kids may become fond of. Come with me into our kitchen and I will show you how easy it is to develop amazing flavors in very little time!
Red Lentil Dahl (dal, dhal)
This delicious Red Lentil Dahl is one of the easy 1-pot recipes ready in just 25 minutes! Pantry ingredients like dried red lentils, canned tomatoes and canned coconut milk come together with warming spices to make a delicious Indian curry.
Sausage and Squash Skillet
This Sausage and Squash Skillet recipe takes 30 minutes and is plenty easy to make with only 3-4 basic ingredients. You can make it two different ways - one using orzo and one without. It's delicious either way!
Seared Scallops and Cauliflower Rice Risotto
This Seared Scallops & Cauliflower Rice Risotto comes together in about 30 minutes. It uses a substitute for rice and sits in a creamy, dream Parmesan sauce.
Shakshuka with Burrata
Shakshuka is a hearty, yet remarkably light all-in-one meal of eggs poached in a thick tomato based sauce, using everyday ingredients. It hails from North Africa, but has long been an extremely popular dish all around the Middle East. Make one of the easy Middle Eastern recipes in just over 20 minutes.
Spanish Garlic Prawns (Gambas al Ajillo)
Gambas al Ajillo is a Spanish Garlic Prawn dish that is mixed with prawn, olive oil, garlic, and paprika. It take less than 30 minutes to make this easy recipe. It is garnished with parsley and is perfect to eat with rice or bread.
Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
These 5-ingredient spinach and ricotta stuffed shells is a quick and simple vegetarian pasta dinner that is perfect for a busy weeknight or a special occasion. These easy stuffed shells recipe provide a comforting, wholesome, flavorful treat and make the perfect 30 minute meal the whole family will enjoy.
Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
Thai Drunken Noodles is a spicy, nutritiously balanced, one-pot dinner meal. One of the easy noodles recipes with prepping and cooking time combined of 20-25 minutes.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini & Halloumi
A great way to add lots of flavour to an otherwise bland vegetable, the whole roasted cauliflower with tahini & halloumi is a show-stopping dish that is healthy and quick! You only need 5-10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven. It’s gluten-free and can be made vegan if you substitute the butter for olive oil.
Yellow Cherry Tomato Pasta
Bursting with vibrant flavors, Linguine Al Pomodorino Giallo is a simple yet elegant vegetarian Italian pasta dish that highlights the natural sweetness of yellow tomato purée. Get a taste of Italy with this 30-minute recipe.
Zucchini Fritters
Easy and healthy zucchini fritters recipe in 30 minutes are perfect for breakfast and lunch! Serve them with yogurt or sour cream.
Hope this roundup of easy recipes inspires you to go back in the kitchen to make these easy and quick meals in 30 minutes or less!
Now you have lots of cooking inspirations while at home, in self-isolation or quarantine!
I’m always looking for new and interesting recipes to try so please let me know what you find are some of the best easy 30-minute recipes!

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Prajakta Sukhatme
Tuesday 7th of April 2020
Very useful collection. Thank you for including our recipe
Raymond Cua
Tuesday 7th of April 2020
Thanks for the recipe! Which recipe are you most excited to try?
Meeta
Tuesday 31st of March 2020
Such a wonderful roundup. So needed at this time!
Raymond Cua
Tuesday 31st of March 2020
Thanks! That's honestly why I thought of doing this recipe roundup since I personally need it as well LOL
Saif
Friday 27th of March 2020
Thanks for including my recipe. I enjoyed reading your roundup recipes since they look simple to make. I think I will definitely try to cook some of them in my kitchen.
Raymond Cua
Sunday 29th of March 2020
No problem! Yay, which one are you going to try first? Let me know how it turns out. :)
Sheeba
Thursday 26th of March 2020
Great roundup with so much variety! Thanks for including my chicken curry recipe.
Raymond Cua
Thursday 26th of March 2020
Thanks, Sheeba!
Paula Montenegro
Wednesday 25th of March 2020
A wonderful round-up for these times! Easy meals is what we all need. Have a great week!
Raymond Cua
Wednesday 25th of March 2020
Yes! I figure it would be very timely for all of us having to stay at home nowadays.