Many people believe that delicious food takes time to make. However, that’s not always the case, and it’s possible to whip up something flavorsome without spending hours in the kitchen. Certain foods can be made quickly and require only a few ingredients. These time-saving recipes are perfect for those who have busy weeknights. Knowing some of the best 30-minute dinner recipes can help individuals save time while still enjoying savory meals.
Classic shrimp scampi
The ingredients for this classic recipe include kosher salt, linguine, large peeled and deveined shrimp, minced garlic cloves, red pepper flakes, white grape juice, lemon juice, lemon wedges, pieces of unsalted butter, and finely chopped fresh parsley.
Start by boiling a large pot of water before adding salt and 12 ounces of linguine. Stir the mixture well and let it cook. Reserve a cup of the salted water before draining the rest.
While the linguine cooks, season the shrimp with salt. In a large skillet, heat some olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes to this mix and cook until the former attains a light golden brown color. Add the shrimp to this mix and cook it thoroughly on each side for one to two minutes. Cook the shrimp until it turns pink and reaches a cooked state. After removing the cooked shrimp to a plate, add white grape juice and lemon juice to the skillet and simmer the mixture for around two minutes.
Place the shrimp and linguine back on the plate, then mix in the butter and half a cup of the reserved cooking water. Continue to cook and toss this until the butter melts and the shrimp is hot and soft. Add more reserved cooking water, season with salt, and stir for a few minutes if needed. Serve the shrimp with lemon wedges.
Avocado Alfredo
Many healthy meals incorporate avocado as a key ingredient. One such dish is Avocado Alfredo, which requires kosher salt, fettuccine, peeled and pitted avocado, heavy cream, roughly chopped garlic cloves, finely grated pecorino cheese, freshly ground black pepper, finely grated lemon zest, and thinly sliced fresh basil leaves.
Add a generous amount of salt to a large pot of boiling water over medium-high heat before adding the fettuccine and cooking it till al dente. Retain a quarter cup of water in this mixture and drain the rest. After that, blend a mixture of avocado, garlic, cream, half a cup of pecorino, several grinds of pepper, and two teaspoons of salt until smooth before scraping down the sides of the carafe with a rubber spatula.
Pour the avocado sauce into the pasta pot, then heat and cook the mixture over medium heat. Toss the pasta in the sauce until it is thoroughly coated. Transfer to a plate and serve with lemon zest, basil leaves, and a sprinkling of pecorino.
Quick beef stir-fry
Only a few dishes can be enjoyed at any time of the day, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. One such dish is quick beef stir-fry. The ingredients needed to prepare this dish are vegetable oil, beef sirloin, fresh broccoli florets, red bell pepper cut into thin matchsticks, thinly sliced carrots, a chopped green onion, a teaspoon of minced garlic, soy sauce, and toasted sesame seeds.
To begin making this dish, gather all the ingredients—add vegetable oil in a skillet or large wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the beef and cook until golden brown. Next, move the beef to one side of the wok and add the carrots, bell peppers, broccoli, garlic, and green onions to the center. Stir and cook the vegetables for two minutes, then add the beef to the mixture.
Add the sesame seeds and soy sauce for seasoning. Continue stirring and cooking until the vegetables are completely tender. After letting the mixture simmer for a few minutes, serve the dish hot and enjoy!
Chicken Katsu
This dish is best served with white rice and tonkatsu sauce. If chicken is not available, substitute it with pork. The ingredients needed for this dish include skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, seasonings, one egg, flour, panko breadcrumbs, and oil. Begin by seasoning the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
Place the beaten egg, panko breadcrumbs, and flour in separate shallow containers. First, coat the chicken breasts in flour, dip them into the beaten egg, and press them into the panko crumbs to ensure they are thoroughly coated on both sides. Next, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the coated chicken in the hot oil and fry until golden brown. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. After draining, season the breasts again and serve.
In addition to this dish, other great and quick dinner options include pan-seared tilapia, ravioli, mushroom skillet, air fryer pork tenderloin with lemon pasta, and cast-iron salmon served with a baby kale salad.