Our 20 most popular 30-minute dinners ever

These recipes are guaranteed to save you on even the busiest nights.

What makes for the best weeknight dinners? For us, it’s all about meals that come together quickly, use simple ingredients, and still deliver big on flavor—without turning dinner into a project. That’s why we’ve pulled together this collection of our most popular, top-rated 30-minute dinners ever. From Creamy Tuscan Chicken and Salisbury Ground Beef to Easy Veggie Tacos, these tried-and-true favorites are the ones our readers turn to again and again.

01 of 20

Creamy Chicken Florentine

View Recipe

“With tender chicken cutlets nestled into a creamy spinach sauce, this recipe uses just one pan and is practically a complete meal all on its own.” —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Editor

02 of 20

Homemade Hamburger Helper

View Recipe

“My world was rocked when I figured out it takes about five extra minutes to make homemade hamburger macaroni. The homemade version still has the nostalgia factor while tasting oh-so-much better thanks to beef broth and real cheddar cheese.” —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Editor

03 of 20

Lemon Orzotto With Spinach and Peas

View Recipe

“Orzo—the elongated rice-shaped pasta—has quickly become one of my go-to cupboard staples. It’s quick-cooking, can be paired with many different flavors, and takes on a cozy, creamy texture when simmered. All of these factors make it an ideal stand-in for rice in ‘orzotto.’”—Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

04 of 20

Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts

View Recipe

“This recipe is super simple to make and only requires five ingredients (aside from the oil, salt, and pepper) to pull it all together. If you have a lemon on hand, I suggest adding a squeeze at the end to help cut through the richness of the chicken.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

05 of 20

Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

View Recipe

“If you love the flavors of beef and broccoli, whip up this quick, easy, and affordable version. Ready in only 30 minutes—just enough time to cook up some rice at the same time—it’s an ideal family meal.” —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Editor

06 of 20

20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

View Recipe

“This dish is heavily inspired by keema chole, which originates in the Indian subcontinent and is particularly popular in Pakistan, North India, and Bangladesh. Keema chole is a mix of ground meat and chickpeas, often with onion, tomato, garlic, ginger, and spices.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

07 of 20

Bruschetta Chicken Cutlets

View Recipe

“This is a fast-as-it-gets weeknight dinner, perfect for those midweek nights when you’re ready to cave and order a pizza instead of cooking. Put the phone down, open the pantry, and you’ll have these cheesy bruschetta-topped chicken cutlets ready in about fifteen minutes!” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

08 of 20

Chicken Marsala

View Recipe

“The chicken is cooked in a hot skillet with a bit of oil or butter and then served with a pan sauce made with marsala wine. Today, most chicken marsala is served with pasta, but risotto, mashed potatoes, and roasted potatoes are also excellent accompaniments.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

09 of 20

Easy Ground Beef Taco Casserole

View Recipe

“This taco casserole comes together in no time, but you can break up the prep to make dinnertime even quicker. Make the ground beef mixture ahead of time, storing it in the fridge for up to three days. Just don’t add the chips until you’re ready to bake so they don’t get soggy.” —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Editor

10 of 20

Egg Roll in a Bowl

View Recipe

“This easy 4-ingredient egg roll in a bowl recipe is ready in under half an hour. It’s a quick skillet meal that uses a pound of ground meat and a bag of coleslaw mix to deliver egg roll filling vibes that beg for tons of tasty toppings.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

11 of 20

Salisbury Ground Beef

View Recipe

“Instead of making individual patties and searing each one, simply cook ground beef in a skillet and combine it with sautéed mushrooms and a savory gravy for a 30-minute meal. It has all of the flavors of the original without the hassle.” —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Editor

12 of 20

Sausage White Bean Soup

View Recipe

“I always save the rind from parmesan to add to soups and stews for a big salty, umami boost. Let the rind sit in the soup while it simmers, then pull it out just before serving.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

13 of 20

Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir Fry

View Recipe

“This easy stir fry is a one-pot dinner twist on the classic Chinese takeout beef and broccoli dish. I like to add ramen noodles, along with a homemade savory sauce, to make it a complete dinner on its own.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

14 of 20

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

View Recipe

“Heavy cream will give you the most luxurious sauce here, but if you’d like to lighten things up just a little, you can use half-and-half instead. The sauce will still be creamy but a little less rich.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

15 of 20

Easy Veggie Tacos

View Recipe

“Make a big batch of veggies ahead of time and reheat them in a skillet or microwave for quick meals throughout the week. Beyond these tacos, use your stash of prepped vegetables in frittatas, pastas, quesadillas, and more.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

16 of 20

Chicken Carbonara

View Recipe

“Once you have the method down, it will lose its mystique and become a go-to for when you’re in the mood for a hearty meal that can be whipped up in just 30 minutes.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

17 of 20

Easy Chicken Piccata

View Recipe

“Chicken piccata is nothing more than chicken breast cutlets dredged in flour, browned, and served with a sauce of butter, lemon juice, capers, and either stock or white wine. It can be prepared in 30 minutes or less and is so easy and delicious it should be part of every home cook’s repertoire.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

18 of 20

Shrimp Fried Rice

View Recipe

“Fried rice works best with chilled leftover rice, actually. Fresh rice can fry up a bit mushy. But leftover rice that’s had a chance to dry out a bit? Perfect for frying.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

19 of 20

Chicken Tortilla Soup

View Recipe

“The essential step that distinguishes tortilla soup from other Mexican soups is that you fry strips of corn tortillas in oil first, and then use the tortilla cooking oil to build the soup.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

20 of 20

Chicken Larb Lettuce Wraps (Larb Gai)

View Recipe

“While it’s often served alongside rice and a green papaya salad, serving larb in lettuce wraps adds a pleasant freshness and crunch to the spicy filling. Put on a pot of rice, and by the time it is cooked, the filling will be ready.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

Read the original article on Simply Recipes