The 15 Fastest Weeknight Dinners Ever

They're 20 minutes or less from prep to plate.

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
Updated March 19, 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

In less than 20 minutes from prep to plate, you can make delicious, satisfying dinners that are super fast but don't skimp on flavor or texture. Save some of the 15 recipes below that speak to you and you'll never have to choose between tasty and quick again.

  • Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans

    Angled view of a stoneware bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans next to a spoon and all on a white background

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "For even cheesier beans, use more cheese (duh) or swap for extra sharp cheddar. I also like to add a teaspoon or two of nutritional yeast, which adds a delicious nacho-esque flavor." —Simply Recipes Senior Editor Laurel Randolph

  • Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts

    Garlic Knot Chicken Breasts on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "If you can’t find cutlets or already have whole chicken breasts on hand, just make your own. Lay the chicken breasts flat on a cutting board and carefully cut them in half horizontally using a sharp knife. Alternatively, pound them out with a meat mallet until they’re about 1/2-inch thick." —Simply Recipes Contributor Theodora Kaloudis

  • Chorizo Sloppy Joes

    Chorizo sloppy joe (with avocado slices and crushed Fritos) on a plate with a fork at a table setting with another serving on another plate, two glasses of beer, a bowl of crushed Fritos, and a colorful stripped kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    "Chorizo is slightly spicy, but the spice level can vary from brand to brand. If your chorizo happens to be spicier than you’d like, add a touch of ketchup to your sloppy Joe mixture–its sweetness will help tame the heat." —Simply Recipes Recipe Developer Liv Dansky

  • Red Lentil Coconut Soup

    Coconut Lentil Soup in a bowl with naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Unlike dried beans, you do not need to soak red lentils before using them, but you should always give them a little rinse in cold water right before use to remove any debris or dirt." —Simply Recipes Contributor Devan Grimsrud

    Continue to 5 of 15 below

  • Ground Beef Hummus Bowls

    Ground Beef Hummus Bowl and pita chips

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    "Whenever I’m feeding multiple people (so, every night), I find that including a choose-your-own-adventure element in the meal is my best bet for success. Here are some of my favorite toppings for these bowls: chickpeas, feta, kalamata olives, banana peppers, pickles, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, fresh parsley." —Simply Recipes Contributor Stephanie A. Ganz

  • Sausage White Bean Soup

    A white bowl with kale, white bean and sausage soup, places on a dark green plate on a wooden serving board

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "I like spinach for this recipe because it cooks quickly, but other greens will also work. Chop kale or collard greens and simmer until just tender." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

  • Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives

    Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with garlic

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "If olives are not your thing, swap them with chopped canned artichokes or a tablespoon or two of rinsed capers for the same brininess." —Simply Recipes Contributor Molly Adams

  • 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

    "Start the rice first; it’ll be ready when your chicken is. If you don’t have it in you to make rice, try using 90-second rice packs." —Simply Recipes Contributor Kris Osborne

    Continue to 9 of 15 below

  • Black Bean Toasts

    Black bean toast on a platter with lots more

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "I typically cover my baking sheets with foil or parchment to save time when it comes to clean-up. If you don’t mind doing an extra dish, then you can skip this step." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

  • Tomato Orzo Soup

    overhead view of 2 bowls of 20-Minute Tomato Orzo Soup

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "If you want to take this soup into a creamier territory, finish it with a splash of heavy cream or half a can of full-fat coconut milk." —Simply Recipes Contributor Alexandra Shytsman

  • 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

    "Get your greens in by tossing in a few handfuls of frozen peas or frozen spinach." —Devan

  • One-Pan Ravioli

    Closeup view of ravioli, Italian sausage and spinach topped with Parmesan cheese in a light blue bowl

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "I chose straightforward cheese-filled ravioli for this recipe, but the beauty is that it’s versatile and customizable. If you want to switch up the flavor of the ravioli, go ahead. Both fresh and frozen will work, so choose whatever brand or type you normally buy. Or swap for tortellini." —Theodora

    Continue to 13 of 15 below

  • Easy Chickpea Curry

    3 bowls of Easy Chickpea Curry with spoons, naan on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "The best part is that this dish is mostly pantry-friendly with staples you likely already have stocked. The only fresh ingredients required are spinach, ginger, and garlic." —Simply Recipes Contributor Shayma Saadat

  • 15-Minute Wonton Soup

    wanton soup in a bowl (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

    "If you like the flavor of hot and sour soup, add some tang with rice vinegar and stir in a whisked egg or two to bulk up the broth." —Kris

  • 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." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sharon Lehman

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