Laura Fuentes

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Home » Recipes » Dinner

Dinner Ideas in 20 Minutes or Less

Quick meal ideas that help you get dinner on the table fast without sacrificing flavor or convenience.

Quick Pasta Recipes

When busy nights call for something comforting, keep these recipes on hand.

  • close up view of spaghetti carbonara with pieces of bacon on a plate
    Spaghetti Carbonara with Bacon
  • a plate with rotisserie chicken pasta with fresh herbs
    Rotisserie Chicken Pasta
  • overhead view of a large skillet with homemade alfredo sauce being mixed with cooked fettuccine pasta
    Homemade Alfredo Sauce
  • large bowl of spinach tortellini with large skillet of the same in the background of image
    Creamy Spinach Tortellini in a Skillet

Chicken

Yes, you can have an epic chicken dinner on the table in only 20 minutes.

  • top view of two lemon oregano chicken breasts
    Lemon Oregano Chicken
  • creamy garlic chicken breasts in a skillet with cream sauce
    Creamy Garlic Chicken
  • two chicken breasts with chimichurri sauce on top
    Chimichurri Chicken
  • chicken breasts seasoned with herbs in a grill
    Grilled Herb Chicken Breasts

Bowls

Complete meals in a bowl that are simple to customize and ready in a hurry.

  • large taco bowl with tomatoes, sour cream, corn and avocado
    Taco Bowls
  • two white bowls of buffalo chicken, rice and vegetables
    Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowls
  • close up of pineapple pork stir fry
    Easy Pineapple Pork Stir Fry
  • bowl of squash hash with chorizo and two fried eggs
    Butternut Squash and Chorizo Hash

Tacos

The fastest recipes from The Taco Tuesday Cookbook to make dinner a cinch.

  • top view of three ground chicken tacos
    Ground Chicken Tacos
  • closeup of spicy shrimp taco topped with salsa
    Spicy Cajun Shrimp Tacos
  • BBQ Chicken Tostadas
  • 10-Minute Pineapple Shrimp Tacos
See more Tacos →

Kid-Favorites

Family-approved meals that come together quickly and make busy weeknights a little easier.

  • six chicken nuggets next to a small amount of snap peas
    Paleo Chicken Nuggets
  • rotisserie chicken quesadillas over a wooden board
    Rotisserie Chicken Quesadillas
  • dinosaur chicken nuggets on a plate
    Frozen Chicken Nuggets in the Air Fryer
  • large pile of air fried fish sticks on a cutting board with a lemon wedge
    Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks 

Salmon

One of the quickest proteins to cook, and these recipes show just how versatile it can be.

  • baked salmon in foil with lemon
    Oven Baked Salmon in Foil
  • Seared Cajun Salmon
  • Garlic Butter Salmon
  • close up of salmon bites with broccoli
    Air Fryer Salmon Bites

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Meal-Worthy Salads

Packed with protein, fresh ingredients, and epic dressings, these salads are hearty enough to stand on their own.

  • chicken cobb salad in a bowl
    Chicken Cobb Salad
  • blackened chicken salad
    Blackened Chicken Salad 
  • huge blt salad with dressing in a bowl
    BLT Salad Recipe
  • top view of santa fe chicken salad
    Southwest Santa Fe Chicken Salad
See more Salads →

Healthy & Fast

Good-for-you dishes made with simple ingredients that make healthy eating easier.

  • overhead view of a bowl with deconstructed eggroll containing cabbage, veggies, and meat.
    Deconstructed Egg Roll in a Bowl
  • Cauliflower Shrimp Fried Rice
  • healthy jambalaya with cauliflower rice
    Healthy Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya Recipe

Lettuce Wraps

Fresh, flavor-packed meals wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves for a lighter way to enjoy dinner.

  • blue serving plate of taco lettuce wraps
    Taco Lettuce Wraps
  • Asian Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
  • Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
  • Greek Lettuce Cups: Simple and Delicious. This meal comes together in one bowl and it perfect for the office lunchbox.
    Greek Lettuce Wraps
See more Low Carb →

Pizza

Skip the takeout and get everyone’s favorite dinner on the table fast with minimal prep.

  • greek pizza recipe
    Greek Pizza Recipe
  • overhead view of taco pizza with avocado on top
    Homemade Loaded Taco Pizza
  • large tomato pizza with cauliflower crust
    Cauliflower Rice Pizza Crust for Beginners
  • Easy Pita Pizza Recipe

Meatless

These budget-friendly recipes are a winner with the family and are full of flavor and nutrition.

  • two black bean burgers on a plate with veggie toppings
    Black Bean Veggie Burger Recipe
  • poblano pepper tacos on a square plate
    Mushroom Tacos
  • grilled portobello mushroom burger on a plate
    Portobello Mushroom Burger
  • close up view of fettuccini in a homemade Alfredo sauce made with cream
    Alfredo Sauce with Heavy Cream
See more Meatless →

More Quick & Easy Recipes

Homemade dinners don’t have to take all evening. Check out more recipes that are ready in 20 minutes or less.

  • fettuccine pasta coated with creamy Alfredo sauce on a white dish
    The Secret Ingredient that Makes This Healthy Alfredo Creamy and Delicious
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of mushroom garlic pasta in a white dish
    Mushroom Garlic Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of spicy penne pasta
    Spicy Penne Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of chicken curry with rice in a bowl
    Simple Chicken Curry
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Sheet Pan Nachos
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • top view of pasta with spinach
    Spinach with Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • spinach alfredo served in a white dish
    Spinach Alfredo 
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of cream cheese alfredo pasta in a black dish
    Cream Cheese Alfredo
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of two taco boats
    Taco Boats
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of a protein sald with tuna, eggs, chickpeas and veggies
    Protein Salad
    Cook Time10 Minutes
  • air-fried chicken bites
    Air Fryer Chicken Bites
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • a chicken burgers on a white dish
    Ground Chicken Burgers
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of cubed chicken in a pan
    Cubed Chicken Recipe
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • top view of spaghetti with cottage cheese tomato sauce
    Cottage Cheese Spaghetti
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • curry chicken salad over lettuce
    Curried Chicken Salad
    Cook Time5 Minutes
  • summer squash pasta
    Summer Squash Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • a person holding a philly cheesesteak skillet sandwich
    Philly Cheesesteak Skillet
    Cook Time17 Minutes
  • top view of broccoli pesto pasta in a dish
    Broccoli Pesto Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • tortellini alfredo
    Tortellini Alfredo
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • rotisserie chicken pesto pasta
    Rotisserie Chicken Pesto Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • top view of lemon basil pasta
    Lemon Basil Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • alfredo ravioli
    Alfredo Ravioli
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • Buffalo chicken nachos in a tray
    Buffalo Chicken Nachos
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • cooked salmon fillet served in a dish with veggies
    Air Fryer Frozen Salmon
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • a dish with pesto fusilli
    Fusilli with Pesto
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • cooked chicken thighs topped with Italian seasoning
    Chicken with Italian Seasoning
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • close up of chicken fajita nachos
    Chicken Fajita Nachos
    Cook Time25 Minutes
  • a fork holding pesto spaghetti
    Pesto Spaghetti Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • shrimp pesto spaghetti
    Shrimp Pesto Spaghetti
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • Alfredo with Penne Pasta
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • four chicken strips in the air fryer
    Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders 
    Cook Time15 Minutes
  • pulled pork taco sin a skillet topped with sliced jalapenos
    Skillet Nachos with Pulled Pork
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • large pasta bowl of shrimp alfredo
    Frozen Shrimp Alfredo
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • a platter with rotisserie chicken nachos
    Rotisserie Chicken Nachos
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • two white mugs with macaroni and cheese
    Creamy Macaroni and Cheese in a Mug
    Cook Time8 Minutes
  • tortilla pizza cut into slices
    Tortilla Pizza
    Cook Time13 Minutes
  • a bowl of mac and cheese alfredo
    Mac and Cheese Alfredo
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • close up view of fettuccini in a homemade Alfredo sauce made with cottage cheese so it's high protein
    Cottage Cheese Alfredo
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • pasta alfredo with ham
    Pasta Alfredo with Ham
    Cook Time20 Minutes
  • rotisserie chicken alfredo
    Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo
    Cook Time20 Minutes

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Laura fuentes holding a skillet of food standing in front of a blue door

Hi! I'm Laura.
Known for the internet’s favorite pancake recipes and real-life dinners that make weeknights easier. These are the meals my family loves, and yours will too!

More about me →

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