60 30-Minute Dinner Ideas For When You're Already Starving

With these 30-minute dinner ideas, you'll have an easy, homemade meal on the table in a flash.

Vegetarian Skillet Chili
Photo: Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

There are few things more torturous than trying to figure out what to eat when you're already hungry. With situations such as these in mind, we created a collection of 30-minute dinner ideas that'll help you get a delicious, home-cooked meal on the table in a flash. Skip the drive-through and take a spin through these quick and easy recipes the next time you find yourself scrambling to get dinner ready on time.

From one-pot options to salads and even a casserole or two, there's something for everyone in this tasty roundup. Pasta lovers will adore our Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake. If you're looking for a lighter option, try our Fresh Salmon Cakes With Buttermilk Dressing. Fire up the grill for Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs With Sausage if the weather is nice. If comfort is what you crave, our Instant Pot Chili Mac can't be beat.

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BBQ Chicken Salad

Southern Living BBQ Chicken Salad in bowls to serve

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

Ready in 20 minutes

This quick and easy salad is loaded with protein and vegetables for a well-rounded meal. It's full of textures, from crispy bacon to juicy tomatoes, and everyone's favorite sweet, savory, smoky, and tangy barbecue ingredients that all come together with a creamy white barbecue ranch dressing. There are simple swaps that make it super flexible too: You can use pinto beans instead of black, Fritos instead of tortilla chips, and smoked pork instead of chicken.

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Cast-Iron Salmon With Baby Kale Salad

Cast-Iron Salmon with Baby Kale Salad
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Ready in 25 minutes

This colorful salmon with baby kale salad makes a super healthy and fast weeknight meal. Get your cast-iron skillet out—its nonstick surface and ability to conduct heat make it the perfect tool for cooking the salmon, which takes about 10 minutes. Serve with a bright baby kale salad dressed in a light vinaigrette.

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Greek Chicken Bowls

Southern Living Greek Chicken Bowls ready to serve with more tahini dressing beside

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Ready in 30 minutes

These Greek chicken bowls are a mashup of a Greek salad and Greek chicken pitas. Combine rotisserie chicken, cucumber, red peppers, briny kalamata olives, and lettuce. Just before serving, toss the salad with crispy pita chips and drizzle with a creamy tahini dressing.

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Green Chile Mac and Cheese With Chicken

Green Chile Mac And Cheese With Chicken

ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLIST: LYDIA PURCELL; FOOD STYLIST: RUTH BLACKBURN

Ready in 15 minutes

This speedy mac and cheese has a little heat from poblano peppers. The sauce is extra cheesy, creamy, and flavorful from sharp cheddar, cubes of processed cheese, and a dash of cumin. After combining the pasta, shredded rotisserie chicken, and poblano cheese sauce, broil for a few minutes until browned. 

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Smothered Steaks With Mushroom Sauce

Southern Living Smothered Steaks With Mushroom Sauce served over mashed potatoes with roasted cheddar broccoli

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely 

Ready in 30 minutes

Upgrade your weeknight menu with steaks and a glossy mushroom pan sauce that’s fast, easy, and a little fancy. The sauce gets a major flavor boost from all the bits left behind from the seared, pan-fried steaks. Serve with Roasted Cheddar Broccoli, an easy side included with this recipe, and mashed potatoes. 

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Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Parmesan Crusted Chicken With Mayo
Photographer: Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Ready in 30 minutes

Coat chicken cutlets in a Parmesan and Italian-seasoned breadcrumb crust and fry in a non-stick skillet for about 4 minutes per side. Fry in a combination of butter and oil, this provides good flavor from the butter while the oil prevents burning. Serve with your favorite sides, such as potato salad and coleslaw, or as a sandwich.

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Chopped Salad

Southern Living Chopped Salad assembled on a platter ready to serve with dressing

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ready in 25 minutes

Crunchy, colorful, and surprisingly filling, a Chopped Salad has everything you need for a hearty fresh dinner.

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Ravioli Lasagna

Ravioli Lasagna

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Ready in 30 minutes

You need just six ingredients (including olive oil) to put together this one-dish dinner that kids and adults will love equally.

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Bourbon Chicken

Southern Living Bourbon Chicken on a platter to serve

Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Ready in 25 minutes

Serve this sweet and tangy chicken over rice and pair it with whatever veggies you have in the fridge for a well-rounded meal.

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One-Pan Garlic-Butter Shrimp With Orzo

one-pan garlic-butter shrimp with orzo

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Ready in 30 minutes 

The five-star reviews on this gorgeous dinner recipe are all glowing, but one reader summed up everything you need to know: “Simple, tasty, and one-pan? Perfect! Loved it. Have made it several times.”

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Avocado Chicken Salad

Southern Living Avocado Chicken Salad in a bowl to serve on a bed of greens

Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Rebecca Cummins

Ready in 15 minutes

If you’re looking to switch up your go-to chicken salad recipe, this one includes avocado for creamy texture and pistachios for added crunch.

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Steak Diane

Southern Living Steak Diane on a plate to serve with a baked potato and salad

Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Ready in 20 minutes

Prepare this retro steak supper for a quick but romantic at-home date night. Grab a bag of salad and a bottle of red, and you’ve got everything you need!

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Vegetarian Skillet Chili

Vegetarian Skillet Chili
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Ready in 30 minutes

This quick, one-dish chili has all the comforting flavor of your favorite beef chili recipe with less hands-on time in the kitchen.

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Garlic Shrimp and Herbed Couscous Salad

Garlic Shrimp and Herbed Couscous Salad
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Ready in 27 minutes

This light dinner recipe shows off fresh ingredients like lemon, oregano, thyme, parsley, and cucumber. A lemon-olive oil vinaigrette adds tangy flavor without too many calories. Pearl-shaped Israeli couscous is good for soaking up the dressing, but it can be swapped for quinoa or bulgur.

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Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi With Peas

Skillet-Toasted Gnocchi with Peas
Victor Protasio

Ready in 30 minutes

Frozen sweet peas and a package of potato gnocchi are the power players in this quick dinnertime recipe. The gnocchi gains loads of flavor when crisped in a pan, so skip boiling it and sauté in butter and olive oil until golden brown. This is a pretty flexible recipe, so toss in your favorite vegetables, herbs, protein, or some tomato or pesto sauce to make it your own.

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Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi

Winter Vegetables and Gnocchi
Greg DuPree

Ready in 30 minutes

This savory dish is hearty and flavorful. You can customize the recipe with your favorite in-season veggies. After roasting the veggies for 20 minutes, toss with gnocchi and Parmesan cheese and serve with a sprinkle of fresh, chopped parsley.

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Chicken Bog

Chicken Bog
Greg DuPree

Ready in 30 minutes

It only takes a few bite for this Lowcountry favorite to become your family's new favorite one-dish chicken dinner. Rice, cooked with onions, garlic, and chopped carrots, absorbs all the spices and juices of the flavorful chicken. For added umami, a Parmesan rind cooks with the rice and then gets removed when done cooking.

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Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

Southern Living Broccoli Cheddar Soup in a bowl to serve topped with extra shredded cheddar

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ready in 30 minutes

Tender broccoli is blended with garlic, potatoes, and carrots for a quick-and-easy soup that is ready in 30 minutes. But don't look for a weak, thin soup here. This one, thanks to Cheddar cheese and half-and-half, is rich and cheesy.

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Lemony White Bean Salad With Broccoli

Lemony White Bean Salad with Broccoli
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Ready in 30 minutes

Want a 30-minute meal that happens to be healthy, too? This salad doubles up on greens—with broccoli and baby arugula—and it's all brought together with a bright and briny lemon-honey dressing. To finish, add sliced red onions for a little bite, creamy white beans, and salty Parmesan, then toss and serve.

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Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta

Simple Suppers Challenge: Cabbage, Mushroom, and Bacon Pasta
Greg DuPree

Ready in 25 minutes

A creamy sauce, crunchy savoy cabbage, and earthy Portobello mushrooms make an absolutely craveable combination. The secret to the creamy sauce is reserving a cup of the starchy pasta water, which binds the cheeses to the pasta when combined. Load up more flavors by topping with crispy bacon, fresh thyme, and Parmesan.

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Fried Pork Chops With Peas and Potatoes

Fried Pork Chops with Peas and Potatoes
Greg DuPree

Ready in 30 minutes

We bet you didn't know you could make a meal this company-worthy in just 30 minutes. The prep is a bit more intensive than some of our other recipes, so be prepared to be on your feet until this one is on the table. To make a crispy pork chops that's lighter, coat the chops in flour and fry them in 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

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Sheet Pan Nachos

Sheet Pan Nachos
Greg DuPree

Ready in 30 minutes

We used ground chuck and piled on the toppings to create a sheet pan supper that your family will ask for time and time again. Make sure to use a thick, sturdy chip that can withstand the weight of all those toppings. The fun part comes at the end when you get to add fresh toppings to the cheesy, bean, and meat coated chips.

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Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Greg DuPree

Ready in 25 minutes

Fake a slow-simmering Bolognese by using store-bought tomato sauce such as Barilla or Classico. The sauce becomes hearty and flavor-packed from sweet Italian sausage, peppers, onions, and garlic. To make cooking the pasta even faster, fill up your stockpot with hot tap water to speed up the boiling process.

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Lasagna Soup

Southern Living Lasagna Soup in bowls to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ready in 25 minutes 

Multiple five-star reviews for this quick and comfy soup recipe mention its great flavor. “Solid soup will be a regular in my rotation,” wrote one reader. “Great with a nice, toasty baguette!” We agree!

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Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

Shrimp and Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Ready in 25 minutes

Heating cherry tomatoes in a hot pan will break the delicate skins, releasing the juicy middle. That happens to be the best base for a quick and easy pasta sauce. Toss in sautéed shrimp, spaghetti, Parmesan, and fresh basil, and you have a simple and delicious meal.

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Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs With Sausage

Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Sausage
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Ready in 20 minutes

Now you can enjoy the taste of New Orleans, straight from your grill. Toss smoky sausage, shrimp, cherry tomatoes, peppers, and onions in herbs, Cajun seasoning, and olive oil, thread onto skewers, and grill for about 2 minutes per side. Create a complete Lowcountry meal by serving over rice or grits.

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One-Pan Pasta With Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards

One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards
Greg DuPree

Ready in 28 minutes

If you can't get your hands on collards, substitute your favorite spring veggies into this easy-as-can-be one-pan pasta recipe. After browning the sausage and mushrooms, add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 15 minutes. In addition to being fast and easy, a serving is just 500 calories.

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Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

Mini Black Bean and Cheese Enchiladas
Stephen DeVries

Ready in 30 minutes

Mini tortillas and muffin pans make time-consuming enchiladas effortless. Add beans, cheese, and enchilada sauce to the par-baked shells and bake until the cheese melts. Then, make it a party and set out the toppings so everyone can build their own.

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Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles

Skillet Shrimp Chilaquiles
Stephen DeVries

Ready in 30 minutes

This tasty skillet recipe is the perfect base for plenty of toppings. Making fresh tortilla chips from scratch is key to this recipe and isn't as hard as it sounds, simply fry pieces of corn tortillas in oil, drain on paper towels, and allow to cool. For the finished dish, we added diced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro, but feel free to use whatever toppings you like.

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Fried Brussels Sprout Tacos

Fried Brussels Sprout Tacos
Greg DuPree

Ready in 30 minutes

Fried Brussels sprouts are all the rage, but we bet you've never had them in tacos. These vegetarian tacos come from Houston's popular Eight Row Flint. Fry Brussels sprouts, jalapeños, and shallots in oil, and serve in warm sour cream-slathered tortillas with grated carrots, sliced radishes, and cilantro.

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Spaghetti With Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella

Spaghetti with Marinated Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Alison Miksch

Ready in 20 minutes

This spaghetti recipe is bursting with fresh flavor thanks to mouthwatering, marinated tomatoes and mozzarella. Although this recipe assembles quickly, do allow an additional hour and 45 minutes for the tomatoes to marinate in a delicious red-wine vinaigrette. Use an assortment of tomatoes that are the best quality you can find.

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Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches With Creamy Cucumber Spread

Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread
Alison Miksch

Ready in 20 minutes

If you're looking for a light and fresh summer dinner recipe, you've found it. This recipe makes perfect use of fresh and juicy tomatoes from the farmers' market. Plus, the creamy cucumber spread is a refreshing addition to these sandwiches.

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BLT Salad & Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons

BLT Salad
Alison Miksch

Ready in 20 minutes

We deconstructed everyone's favorite sandwich and created a one-dish-wonder of a salad. The homemade Buttermilk-Parmesan dressing provides the perfect tang to balance the smoky bacon and buttery croutons. To kick up the speed and cut down on steps, bake the croutons and bacon together on the same baking sheet.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Ready in 30 minutes

Getting your kids to eat their greens will be a breeze with this cheesy pasta bake. This dish can be a main or a side served with chicken or porks chops. Use pre-shredded Monterey Jack cheese and a package of chopped fresh kale to cut down on prep time.

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Chicken and Fontina Panini

Chicken and Fontina Panini
Greg DuPree

Ready in 10 minutes

Warm, melty, and crunchy—what else could you want in a 10 minute dinner recipe? Well just five ingredients are all it takes to make this panini complete—ciabatta bread, fontina cheese, pesto, tomatoes, and rotisserie chicken. Plus, you can make use of your panini press.

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Cheeseburger Casserole

Cheeseburger Casserole - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

The kids won't beg for the drive through when you bake their fast food favorite at home with a twist. Even better, this crowd-pleasing dish is portable for those busy weeknight events. To serve, add crumbled bacon and fresh chives on top of the layers of ground beef and cheesy tater tots, and don't forget to have the ketchup nearby.

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Chicken and White Bean Salad With Citrus Vinaigrette

Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Greg DuPree

Ready in 20 minutes

If you already know you'll be strapped for time in the evening, make this recipe ahead of time—it won't wilt when dressed. The citrus vinaigrette is sweet and tangy from fresh orange juice, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey. The rest of salad assembles quickly, and it's just as nice to look at as it is to eat with bits of color from purple shredded cabbage and bright green snow peas.

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Southwest Chicken Tortillas

Southwest Chicken Tortillas
Greg DuPree

Ready in 30 minutes

Use microwaveable basmati rice, pre-shredded Mexican cheese, and rotisserie chicken to make these chicken tortillas in a flash. For the filling, a creamy and smoky sauce combines with cooked chicken, black beans, scallions, and rice. Spoon mixture onto hand-toasted tortillas and top with cheese, salsa, and more sauce—dinner is served.

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Chicken Noodle Bowl With Peanut-Ginger Sauce

Chicken Noodle Bowl with Peanut-Ginger Sauce
Greg DuPree

Ready in 20 minutes

Your family won't believe this came together in just 20 minutes. Simply blend the first nine ingredients in a blender or food processor to create the tasty Peanut-Ginger Sauce. This bowl is veggie packed with carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and cabbage, which can all be prepped the day before.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole With Dinner Rolls

Sloppy Joe Casserole with Dinner Rolls
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck

Ready in 30 minutes

Just trust us: This easy skillet dinner will be a weeknight hit. Instead of King's Hawaiian rolls, you can use crescent rolls or biscuits. After cooking the sweet and savory sloppy Joe filling, top with cheese and rolls, and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is just melted.

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Chicken-Bell Pepper Tacos

Shrimp-Tomatillo Tacos, Black Bean-Corn Tacos, and Chicken-Bell Pepper Tacos
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Ready in 20 minutes

Bell peppers make all the difference in this not-so-typical taco night meal. For the filling, a bold and tangy sauce is made from tomatillos, Serrano pepper, onion, and garlic, to which you add chicken, red bell peppers, and spices. Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings.

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Instant Pot Chili Mac

Instant Pot Chili Mac
Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel

Ready in 30 minutes

Who needs the canned version of this comfort food dish when you can have it on the table homemade in half an hour? Sauté the filling, add the macaroni, and use the PRESSURE COOK setting on your Instant Pot to cook the ingredients. When complete, stir in cheese to bind it all together.

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Sheet Pan Fajitas

Sheet Pan Fajitas
Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin

Ready in 20 minutes

This recipe will be ready faster than it'd take you to pick up your favorite Tex-Mex takeout. While the filling of chicken, peppers, and onions tossed with olive oil and spices is broiling in the oven, prep the toppings. This one-step method to cook the filling is easy but also caramelizes the chicken and veggies deliciously.

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Chicken-and-Broccoli Skillet Pasta

Chicken-and-Broccoli Skillet Pasta
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Ready in 30 minutes

You can always turn to a skillet dinner for a quick weeknight recipe. The creamy, cheesy chicken base is loaded with texture and flavor from hearty broccoli, crispy bacon, and piquant, pickled peppers. The finishing touch to this comforting pasta is to top with breadcrumbs and broil in the oven until toasted.

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Baked Ziti With Meatballs

Baked Ziti and Meatballs
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Ready in 30 minutes

Store-bought sauce and frozen meatballs make this recipe a breeze to throw together. Mushrooms, spinach, and pepperoni make this pasta special, but adding orange juice provides a unique flavor boost that balances the acid in the tomato sauce. This pasta bake might get bubbly—protect your oven from spills by putting the casserole dish on a foil-covered baking sheet while cooking.

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Supreme Pizza

Supreme Pizza
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland

Ready in 30 minutes

Our Test Kitchen calls this "an old-school supreme pizza [like] one at a Pizza Hut, Shaky's, or a classic pizzeria." Baking in a hot oven—500 degrees Fahrenheit—is the key to a crispy crust. If you don't have a pizza stone, you can use a baking sheet upside down.

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Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Ready in 20 minutes

Ground chuck has more fat than ground sirloin, making it an ideal stir fry option that won't dry out while cooking. Adding pre-cooked rice into the stir fry makes this an easy, one-pot meal. Broccoli and peppers bring color while the stir is finished off with a umami-packed sauce.

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Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon With Vegetables

honey mustard baked salmon vegetables
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Ready in 30 minutes

For this recipe, be sure to choose salmon filets that are roughly the same size so they cook evenly on the pan. While preparing the salmon, the potatoes get a head start by roasting in the oven for 15 minutes. Add sugar snap peas and honey-mustard topped salmon sprinkled with panko breadcrumbs to the pan and bake about 10 minutes more.

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Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables With Rice

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Vegetables with Rice
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Ready in 25 minutes

Sheet pan recipes are miracle workers for getting dinner on the table quickly and reducing the after-meal clean up. Shrimp, veggies, and rice create a healthy and balanced meal. This recipes adds new ingredients to the sheet pan every few minutes, so everything cooks evenly.

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Fresh Salmon Cakes With Buttermilk Dressing

Fresh Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Dressing
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Ready in 30 minutes

After a day out on the water, you'll be thankful for this quick, light, and summery meal. After creating the patties, they cook for about 3 minutes per side in a skillet over medium high. Drizzle the cakes and side salad, topped with crunchy snap peas and radishes, with homemade buttermilk dressing.

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Shrimp Cobb Salad With Bacon Dressing

Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Ready in 25 minutes

We went an extra step with this salad by adding bacon drippings to the light and tangy vinaigrette. Hard-boiled eggs and poached shrimp can be made a day ahead to cut down on prep. This salad can be customized too—swap blue cheese for feta, or shrimp with chicken or ham.

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Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon With Veggies and Oranges

Honey-Soy-Glazed Salmon with Veggies and Oranges
Alison Miksch

Ready in 25 minutes

This flavorful weeknight supper will help you fall in love with salmon all over again. The tangy, sweet, and salty glaze pairs perfectly with salmon. The key to building up a thick in sticky glaze is to add a layer of the honey-soy mixture every few minutes under the broiler.

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7-Can Soup

Southern Living 7-Can Soup in individual bowls ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ready in 25 minutes

All you need is seven cans of vegetables, beans, and chili, and almost zero prep work, to get this hearty soup on the table in 25 minutes. Dump a can of chili, corn, chickpeas, black beans, green chilis, tomatoes, carrots and peas, and taco seasoning into a pot and simmer. For extra heartiness, add rice or shredded chicken and serve with your favorite chili toppings.

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Crunchy Potato Chip-Crusted Fish Sticks

Southern Living Potato Chip Fish Sticks on serving tray with tartar sauce

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ready in 30 minutes

Ditch the freezer fish sticks for a fast and delicious homemade version your kids will love. Cut pieces of white fish of your choice into strips, coat with a potato chip-based crust, and bake until crispy. Meanwhile, fish sticks are not quite complete without tartar sauce, which you can put together while the fish bakes.

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Chicken Cutlets With Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

Chicken Cutlets With Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Photographer: Alison Miksch / Food Stylist: Melissa Gray / Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Ready in 25 minutes

This rich yet light sun-dried tomato cream sauce might look difficult to pull off, but it only takes minutes to make using common ingredients. After browning and cooking the chicken cutlets, let them rest while you make the sauce using the same pan. Serve with a green vegetable side like blanched or sautéed asparagus or blistered Brussels sprouts.

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Sloppy Joes

sloppy joes on hamburger bun with pickles and potato chips

Fred Hardy; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke

Ready in 15 minutes

Instead of grabbing a can of pre-made Sloppy Joe sauce from the store, try this better-tasting, homemade version using common pantry items. Cook ground beef, onions, and green peppers, and then add some condiments and spices to make these sweet and savory sandwiches in 15 minutes. Serve on buns with your favorite sides.

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Cornmeal-Crusted Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches

Southern Living Cornmeal-Crusted Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches on a plate to serve with potato chips

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Ready in 30 minutes

Take advantage of soft-shell crab season with these decadent sandwiches. Dredge the crabs in a cornmeal crust and fry until crispy in a cast-iron skillet. Serve on buns slathered with a homemade tartar sauce, lettuce, and sliced tomatoes.

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Orzo Salad With Shrimp And Lemon Dressing

Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist : Chelsea Zimmer

Ready in 30 minutes

Orzo, a rice-shaped pasta, is tossed with shrimp, seasonal vegetables, and a tangy citrus dressing. Perfect for a spring or summer weeknight dinner, the sugar snap peas, English peas, and asparagus will provide a welcoming boost of color to your plate. Serve this balanced salad as a main or as a side with seafood, barbecue, or light summer dishes.

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Chicken Scallopini

Chicken Scallopini
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Ready in 30 minutes

You can plate this Chicken Scallopini over any noodle that you have in your pantry. The star of this dish is a rich, cream-based mushroom sauce brightened up with white wine, lemon, and parsley. Round out the meal by serving with a steamed green vegetable, from broccoli, to asparagus, to green beans.

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Shrimp With Honey-Garlic Sauce

Shrimp With Honey-Garlic Sauce

Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

Ready in 15 minutes

That beautiful dish ready in fifteen minutes? Believe it! Our Test Kitchen pros say this dish would also be delicious served on skewers as an appetizer.

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