28 Dinners That Are Ready in 20 Minutes or Less

Let these recipes pave the way to a quick, satisfying meal.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published May 12, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
overhead view of a plate of Spring Carbonara with a fork

Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

Some weeks are so busy that the last thing on my mind is what to make for dinner, and there's precious little time to do so when I get there. Whether this sounds like your every day or these kinds of weeks only pop up here and there, let the recipes below pave your way to a delicious, satisfying meal in just 20 minutes or less.

Whether you're in the mood to slurp a soup, prep a hands-off sheet pan dinner, or make a casserole (yes, a 20-minute casserole!), there are lots of options.

  • Lemon Orzotto with Spinach and Peas

    Orzo dish with greens and a wooden spoon in a pan

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "While I love classic risotto as much as the next person, I am just not willing to constantly stir a pot of rice for half an hour on a weeknight (call me crazy!). What makes American-style orzotto great is that it cooks in just a fraction of the time, and it requires just a couple of stirs throughout the whole cooking process." —Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

  • 20-Minute Red Lentil Coconut Soup

    Coconut Lentil Soup garnished with yogurt in a bowl with a spoon, naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "I’ve combined some of my favorite tweaks into a soupy spin-off of my favorite dal that’s creamy, hefty, and requires just one pot. If you like dal, you’re going to love this soup, too." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Spring Carbonara

    large bowl of Spring Carbonara with serving spoon and fork

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "This dish comes together lightning-fast. Have all your ingredients prepped and within reach because once the spaghetti is done cooking, you’ll use the heat of the pasta to cook the raw eggs to make a silky sauce." —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites

    Overhead view of a white platter of Garlic Butter Steak Bites

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "Everyone in my family loves a steak dinner, especially when I make these garlicky, buttery steak bites! They come out well-seasoned and tender every time and are impressively delicious, especially for requiring zero marinating time and only three ingredients." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 28 below

  • 20-Minute Tomato Orzo Soup

    overhead view of a bowl of 20-Minute Tomato Orzo Soup

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "If you’re feeling a little lazy (like me!), you can skip the chopping and pick up a tub of pre-chopped mirepoix in the refrigerated section of the supermarket or in the frozen vegetable aisle. Toss a jar of minced garlic in oil in your cart, too, and you’ll have all of the vegetable prep out of the way—meaning the soup will be ready in 20 minutes flat." —Alexandra Shytsman, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Broccoli Pasta

    Overhead shot of a bowl of rigatoni pasta with broccoli and parmesan cheese

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "I often serve this pasta on its own, but if I have a rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted chicken on hand, I’ll toss that into the mix for a dose of protein." —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Hot Honey Chicken

    hot honey tenders on a platter with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas 

    "My preference is to serve the tenders with white rice, but brown rice or another whole grain would also be delicious. I also love to serve them over cold soba noodles or even cooked ramen noodles." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Chickpea Curry

    Easy Chickpea Curry in a bowl with a spoon, naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "The beauty of this chickpea curry lies in its simplicity and adaptability; it is perfect for a busy weeknight. It’s packed with such lovely flavors (ginger! garlic! turmeric!) and the coconut milk gives it creamy depth. Plus, it requires just one pot, making cleanup a breeze." —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 28 below

  • 20-Minute Spaghetti with Tuna and White Beans

    Pasta with tuna, white beans, herbs, and breadcrumbs in a bowl, fork resting on the side.

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "This is the quintessential affordable pantry dinner, made exclusively with staples I keep stocked at all times: pasta, canned tuna, and canned white beans. It’s delicious with just those simple ingredients, but I also love adding a few extra garnishes to make it even more satisfying." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

    Bacon-Wrapped Chicken on a plate with a small side salad and a knife and fork

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "Chicken breasts come in varying sizes, from small to colossal. This recipe works best if you use chicken breasts that are about 7 or 8 ounces each." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

    overhead view of 20-Minute One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas in a skillet with a side of greek yogurt and rice

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time; a definite win for any weeknight." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Thai-Style Chicken Fried Rice

    Thai-style fried rice on a plate with a serving spoon at a table setting with a stack of plates, a table napkin, a glass of water, and a small plate with Thai basil

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

    "For an ultra-quick dinner, go ahead and chop the onion, carrot, and garlic up to a day ahead of time and store it in the fridge." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

    Continue to 13 of 28 below

  • Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe

    Plate of Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe with Some Noodles Wrapped around a Fork, and Next to It, a Kitchen Towel, a Glass of Wine, and Two Small Bowls (One with Cracked Black Pepper and Another with Shredded Parmesan)

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Watch your brown butter closely. It can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly. If you sense that it will burn, quickly but carefully transfer the butter into a heat-proof bowl to stop it from further browning." —Sharon Lehman, Recipe Developer

  • Sheet Pan Salmon With Feta Sauce

    Overhead view of a sheet pan of salmon, vegetables and feta sauce with a bowl of sauce with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Instead of using broccolini, you could go with broccoli florets, green beans, asparagus, or even zucchini. Grape tomatoes can be used instead of cherry tomatoes, but if you happen to have regular tomatoes lying around, go with those. Just cut them into 1-inch pieces before adding them to the sheet pan." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry

    a plate of Chinese tomato egg

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "Chicken bouillon powder is a wonderful way to add a boost of umami with a touch of sodium. My favorite brand is Lee Kum Lee’s Premium Chicken Bouillon. This recipe accounts for the sodium already present in the bouillon, so you won't need any additional salt." —Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer

  • Skillet Pizza Chicken

    A skillet with four cheese covered chicken breasts in tomato sauce, garnished with basil

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "If you want a little extra color and bubbly cheese, move your oven-safe skillet to the oven and broil for a few minutes." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 17 of 28 below

  • Quick Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

    quick stovetop macaroni and cheese

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Cheddar cheese can be notoriously stringy when melted. To keep the cheese from getting too stringy, it helps to coat it lightly with some flour or cornstarch." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Copycat Ronto Wraps

    Plate of Ronto Wraps Topped With Herbs, Slaw, and Dressing, and in the Background, a Bowl of Coleslaw, a Plate With Pita Bread, and a Bowl of Dressing

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "You can simplify this recipe by using store-bought sauce, dressing, and coleslaw mix, if you like. Ranch dressing, sriracha mayo, aioli, or any other zingy and/or creamy condiment could easily take the place of the peppercorn sauce, and you can toss the slaw with your favorite store-bought vinaigrette or coleslaw dressing." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy White Beans and Greens

    Overhead view of a bowl of beans and greens with a chunk of bread all next to a spoon and resting on a blue cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "You can use any canned white bean for this dish, but I prefer cannellini or butter beans as they tend to have a softer texture that works really well here." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Garlic Knot Salmon

    Closeup view of a white baking dish of four salmon fillets topped with garlic butter, panko, and parmesan mixture and sprinkled with parsley

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "If you’re using frozen salmon fillets, be sure to thaw them completely, preferably overnight in the fridge. Drain off any liquid and pat dry before seasoning and baking." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

    Continue to 21 of 28 below

  • Fried Egg Tacos

    Fried egg taco

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "You could add some more substantial toppings to these like crispy bacon, sautéed onions, a little guacamole, or even a crema sauce." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Honey Soy Chicken

    Overhead view of a blue plate with a serving of partially sliced honey soy chicken and white rice topped with green onions along with a fork and knife

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones

    "It’s the dinner I turn to when I want those big, bold takeout flavors without leaving my kitchen (or my comfy clothes). Chicken cutlets are lightly coated in a one-bowl batter, cooked in a skillet until golden, and finished with a sticky, sweet, and savory honey soy sauce." —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer

  • Spanish Garlic Shrimp

    spanish garlic shrimp in a dutch oven at a table setting with forks on a table napkin, glasses of beer, and a serving of spanish garlic shrimp with baguette slices in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

    "Similar to shrimp scampi, this dish utilizes fruity olive oil instead of butter and lots and lots of garlic. A little sherry vinegar at the end amps up the flavors and creates a pan sauce." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Quick and Easy Egg Drop Soup

    Bowl of egg drop soup with mushrooms and spring onions

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "If you can't locate any of the mushroom types indicated in the recipe, cremini (aka: baby bellas) will do just fine. Or, you can just leave them out all together." —Garrett McCord, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 25 of 28 below

  • Easy Taco Casserole

    easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "The crunchy chips add lots of texture when layered with the meat and beans, and the whole dish comes together in just 20 minutes. Kids will love the crowd-pleasing flavors and textures, and they’ll have fun adding their toppings before digging in." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Marry Me Beans

    Marry Me Beans in a white bowl

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "For cooking purposes, I tend to prefer oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes to dry-packed since they stay moist and plump. I also love using the oil for cooking, from frying eggs to using it to make a vinaigrette. In this recipe, I use the oil straight from the jar to add extra flavor to the beans." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Tortellini Soup

    A serving of tortellini soup with a tomato based broth in a bowl, topped with parmesan cheese, with a spoon in the bowl

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "If using dried tortellini, you’ll want to add an extra cup of broth or water to the soup, as they absorb a lot more liquid than fresh pasta." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • 5-Ingredient Gingery, Garlicky Ground Beef

    Ground Beef with Rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    "It's a lightning-fast dinner that comes together in under 10 minutes, especially if you take my recommendation below for 90-second rice. I will gladly go down in family lore with this recipe." —Myo Quinn, Former Associate Editorial Director

Explore More: