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20 20-Minute Meals

By Katie Workman

on May 05, 2019, Updated Apr 27, 2023

While I am a big fan of recipes that take a few minutes of hands on time, and then get tossed into the oven to bake or roast, or into a pot to braise, sometimes we all just need to get dinner on the table, and NOW. The fact that a pork shoulder roast requires almost no attention from me once it’s in the oven, or that a chili can bubble away largely unattended on the stove is all well and good—when you have the time.

But when the clock is ticking and your people are hungry, minutes count. Here are 20 ways to get dinner on the table in about 20 minutes. (Sometimes you’ll need to add a salad, but there’s time to throw that together in between steps.)

When the clock is ticking and your people are hungry, minutes count. Here are 20 ways to get dinner on the table in about 20 minutes. 

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20 20-Minute Meals

5 from 4 votes

Hoisin Shrimp

You won’t believe how flavorful this hoisin shrimp stir-fry is — and it's ready in the blink of an eye.

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5 from 1 vote

Kale Pesto and Goat Cheese Omelet

Stuffed with good things and lots of flavor.

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5 from 3 votes

Creamy Goat Cheese and Spinach Linguine

A handful ingredients on a crappy cold night when I could not make it out to the store turned into one of the most spectacular pastas.

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5 from 1 vote

Shrimp and Broccoli Stir Fry with Udon Noodles

Plump shrimp, crisp-tender broccoli, and a tangle of udon noodles.

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5 from 2 votes

Pan Seared Fish with Tomato Basil Relish

Fish plus three basic ingredients plus 20 minutes gets you this for dinner. Think of this during tomato season.

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5 from 2 votes

Vegetarian Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is portable and flexible. It's also a nice way to play around with the vegetables of the season.

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5 from 5 votes

Vegetarian Greek Pasta

Feta, zucchini, and tomato are classic Greek ingredients, and they come together in this pasta like they've know each other forever.

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5 from 2 votes

Chicken Sausage Pasta

This flavorful 5-ingredient pasta features chicken sausage (or the sausage of your choice), plus nutritious kale.

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5 from 2 votes

Homemade Mac and Cheese

Forget that box. In about 20 minutes, you can be eating the real deal.

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5 from 2 votes

Creole Shrimp

The kind of saucy shrimp that is served along with plenty of crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.

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5 from 2 votes

Pasta with Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato and Scallion Sauce

Sometimes one of the most appealing things about a recipe is the small amount of time it takes in front of the stove.

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5 from 1 vote

Pasta with Fennel, Bacon and Parmesan

At once elegant and peasant-ish, this 30-minute pasta recipe contains just a handful of pantry ingredients. A perfect weeknight dinner when you don't know what to cook.

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5 from 1 vote

Simple Asian Salmon

This glazed Asian salmon can be ready in under 30 minutes, and has only 5 ingredeints — including the salmon!

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5 from 3 votes

Spicy Lemon Shrimp Over Rice

Like a cleaner, fresher shrimp scampi.

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5 from 1 vote

Cod with Simplest Fresh Herb Sauce

Simple, clean and delicious.

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5 from 1 vote

Sautéed Chicken with Spinach and Red Onions

A delicious weeknight warrior dinner.

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5 from 8 votes

Spinach, Mushroom, and Chicken Quesadillas

This chicken and vegetable quesadilla is satisfying, substantial, and ready for adaptation!

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5 from 1 vote

Chicken with Tomato and Leek Pan Sauce over Jasmine Rice

A summery pan sauce turns a package of chicken breasts into a colorful quick dinner.

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5 from 1 vote

Buffalo Turkey Burger Sliders

I love the idea of comfort-bar food at home, and these have that amazing buffalo-wing flavor.

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5 from 1 vote

Garlicky Shrimp and Broccoli

So simple, it’s almost not a recipe.

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