Quick Weeknight Dinner Recipes Under 30 Minutes

Weeknights can be super hectic and making dinner is usually the last and the most tedious thing on the to-do-list. But what if you don’t have to stay in the kitchen for hours laboring to make a delicious meal? Our selection of 30-minute meals will help you to cook a delicious dinner. If you can manage to do meal prep over the weekends, it’ll take lesser time. You can make stir-fry veggies or curries and serve it with healthy brown rice recipes. Here’s is our take on some delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.

• Gnocchi in Basil & Sundried Tomato Sauce:

You can use premade gnocchi available in most supermarkets. You can also make it fresh at home using leftover boiled potato and flour. Gently knead the dough and set it to rest. Cut out gnocchi and cook in salted boiling water. In a pan, sauté garlic in olive oil. Add a sprig of thyme, chopped sundried tomatoes and cook for 5-7 minutes. Stir in the gnocchi and finish with chopped fresh basil leaves. Finish with a grating of parmesan and serve hot.

• Spinach Quesadilla:

In a skillet, sauté some garlic and add a handful of baby spinach. When the spinach is wilted, add fresh ricotta and cheddar cheese. Add salt and crushed pepper to taste. In a grill pan, add tortilla bread to toast. Add the spinach mix and fold the quesadillas. Press the top with a spatula and cook until the cheese starts melting. Cut into triangles and serve hot with salsa verde. This recipe literally takes minutes to cook and makes for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

• Halloumi Souvlaki Pita Wrap with Tzatziki

Slice zucchini, bell peppers, red onion, and portobello mushroom into thin strips. Brush the veggies with olive oil, salt & pepper and roast in a grill pan. Cook until veggies get the char marks. Grill cubed halloumi slices in the pan. To make the tzatziki dip, mix some Greek yogurt, lime juice, zest, chopped mint, a pinch of salt and pepper with a fork. Warm the pita bread in a toaster oven. Add the veggies, and halloumi in the pita and drizzle the tzatziki dressing. This authentic Greek street food recipe is delicious and makes for a hearty meal.

• Vegetable Stir Fry with Spiced Brown Rice

In a bowl, mix soy sauce, red chili flakes, brown sugar, honey, miso paste, pepper, salt, and cornstarch. Chop some broccoli, bell peppers, shitake mushrooms, snow peas. Sauté minced garlic and ginger in sesame oil. Add the vegetables and stir fry them for 10 minutes until tender. Slowly stir in the sauce and cook for another 10 minutes. Finish with some freshly chopped coriander. To make the spiced rice, add star anise, cinnamon, and cardamom in boiling water. Add rinsed brown rice and steam as per package instructions. Ladle the brown rice in a bowl and top it with the stir-fried veggies. This is a flavorsome and quick Asian dish and tastes great with noodles.

Even though these recipes take less time to cook, the taste is memorable. Say goodbye to takeout and make these delicious recipes for busy weeknight dinners.