19 Dinners I Make When I'm Too Tired To Cook (20 Minutes or Less)

When you're feeling tired and hungry, let these 19 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 January 21, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
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

Some weeks are so busy that the last thing on my mind is what to make for dinner. Whether this sounds like your every day or these kinds of weeks only pop up here and there, let the 19 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.

  • 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, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • 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, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • 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, Simply Recipes Senior Editor

  • 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, Simply Recipes Contributor

    Continue to 5 of 19 below

  • 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, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • 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, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • 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

  • Quick Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

    quick stovetop macaroni and cheese
    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, Simply Recipes Founder

    Continue to 9 of 19 below

  • 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, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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, Simply Recipes Contributor

    Continue to 13 of 19 below

  • 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

    "No rice vinegar? Apple cider vinegar works in a pinch." —Kris Osborne, Simply Recipes Contributor

  • 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

    "If using frozen shrimp, defrost completely in the fridge before using. Drain and pat dry with paper towels." —Julia Levy, Simply Recipes Recipe Tester

  • Quick and Easy Egg Drop Soup

    Bowl of egg drop soup with mushrooms and spring onions

    Elise Bauer

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

  • 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

    "For this recipe, you need to use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips." —Jasmine Smith, Simply Recipes Recipe Tester

    Continue to 17 of 19 below

  • 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

  • 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

  • 5-Ingredient Gingery, Garlicky Ground Beef

    Ground Beef with Rice

    Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

    "If you only have full-sodium soy sauce, don't salt the ground beef. Right before serving, add salt to taste only if needed." —Myo Quinn, Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director

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