Main dishes
Pan-cooked chicken with honey mustard sauce
Chicken breasts in a creamy honey Dijon sauce with garlic and rosemary. Ready in 30 minutes, with clear steps and a safe cooking temperature.
Collections
Quick and easy dinners for every day
Coming home hungry and deciding what to cook again can feel like a chore. These weeknight dinners offer a starting point: skillet chicken, fish, wraps, pasta and meat-free ideas, using ingredients you can share across several meals.
Start with the time you have. The first recipes take 20 to 30 minutes, followed by 31 to 40 minute dishes and a meat-free selection. Times are the full recipe totals, including preparation. Separate sides or extra batches can take longer.
Choose a few basics for the week: tortillas, pasta, eggs, vegetables and a protein. Vary the fillings in wraps and tacos, or use pantry staples for chickpeas and fried rice. Open a recipe for quantities, photos and instructions, adjust the servings and add missing ingredients to your shopping list.
Selected by chef Néstor Bastidas
When you have 20 to 30 minutes
Chicken, fish, salad and burgers for busy evenings. Add a side to suit your appetite and what is available.
Main dishes
Healthy Air Fryer Salmon with Lemon, Garlic and Honey
Air fryer salmon that is juicy inside and golden outside, with a lemon, garlic, honey and paprika glaze. Ready in 20 minutes with very little oil.
Salads
Chicken and Avocado Salad
Chicken and avocado salad with cherry tomatoes, red onion and cilantro, dressed with lemon and olive oil. Serves 4, ready in 30 minutes.
Main dishes
Juicy Homemade Burgers: Easy Skillet Cheeseburger Recipe
Homemade beef burgers with a golden crust, melted cheddar and toasted brioche buns, cooked in a cast-iron skillet. Ready in under 30 minutes.
Main dishes
Lemon Garlic Trout
Pan-seared trout fillets finished with a garlic and lemon sauce made in the same pan. Serves 4 and takes 20 minutes.
Main dishes
Garlic Shrimp
This garlic shrimp recipe originated in Spanish cuisine and has become a popular dish worldwide. It's known for its bold flavor and simple, tasty ingredients.
Dinner ideas in 31 to 40 minutes
Wraps, tacos, pasta and one-pan or one-pot dishes. Check the ingredients first: some call for cooked beans or ready-made tortillas.
Main dishes
Japanese Teriyaki Chicken: Homemade Recipe with a Glossy Sauce
Japanese-style teriyaki chicken: skin-on thighs seared in a skillet and glazed with soy sauce, sake and mirin. Served over rice.
Main dishes
Chicken and mushroom wraps with cheese
Make chicken and mushroom wraps with peppers, cheese and lettuce. A juicy filling in soft flour tortillas, with clear steps for rolling them neatly.
Main dishes
Easy Homemade Ground Beef Tacos: Juicy Mexican-Style Recipe
Ground beef tacos seasoned with cumin, chili and oregano, served in warm corn tortillas with onion, cilantro, pico de gallo and queso fresco. Ready in 35 minutes.
Main dishes
Quick Chili Con Carne: Easy One-Pot Recipe in 40 Minutes
Fast homemade chili con carne with ground beef, kidney beans, tomato, bell pepper and chili powder, all in one pot. Thick, smoky and ready in 40 minutes.
Breads & doughs
Arepa con Todo (Loaded Arepa)
Arepa con todo is an iconic dish from Venezuela and Colombia: a disc of corn or wheat dough, depending on the region, grilled and stuffed with a variety of fillings.
Pasta
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti carbonara with crisp guanciale, pecorino romano, egg yolks, egg and black pepper, no cream. Serves 4, ready in 35 minutes.
Pasta
Homemade Pesto Pasta: Easy Genovese Pesto Made in a Mortar
Pesto pasta with a homemade sauce of basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, pecorino and olive oil made in a mortar. Ready in about 30 minutes.
Main dishes
Homemade Sloppy Joes, Ground Beef Sandwiches in Tomato Sauce
Sloppy Joes with ground beef, onion and bell pepper in a sweet and tangy tomato and Worcestershire sauce. Ready in 35 minutes in one skillet.
Main dishes
Chicken and vegetable wrap
Chicken wraps with sautéed red pepper, lettuce, tomato and lemon-mustard dressing. Four wheat tortillas filled after the chicken is cooked and rested.
Meat-free ideas with pasta, eggs and chickpeas
Five options taking 25 to 40 minutes. Some contain eggs, dairy or stock: check each recipe if you need a vegetarian or vegan meal.
Main dishes
Creamy Garlic Mushroom Spaghetti
Al dente spaghetti with deeply browned mushrooms, garlic, thyme, a splash of white wine and a creamy Parmesan sauce. Ready in 30 minutes.
Main dishes
Marry Me Chickpeas with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach
Canned chickpeas simmered in a creamy sun-dried tomato, spinach and Parmesan sauce. This one-pan Marry Me Chickpeas recipe makes four comforting portions.
Main dishes
Spinach and onion omelette finished in the oven
Egg, spinach and onion omelette without cheese or flour. Seven stages, a measured centre temperature of at least 71°C and estimated nutrition for four servings.
Side dishes
Vegetable Fried Rice
Wok-style vegetable fried rice: fluffy rice with carrot, peas, egg and scallions, seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil. Serves 4, ready in 25 minutes.
Starters & appetizers
Easy avocado toast with hard-boiled eggs
Crisp avocado toast with hard-boiled eggs, radishes and chives. Ready in 25 minutes, with amounts for two people and simple assembly tips.
Frequently asked questions
What can I cook when I am short on time?
Air fryer salmon, garlic trout and garlic shrimp each have a total time of 20 minutes. Chicken and avocado salad and honey mustard chicken take 30 minutes. Choose according to what is already thawed and ready to cook.
Are there budget-friendly dinner ideas?
Vegetable fried rice, egg and avocado toast and chickpeas make use of pantry ingredients. Costs depend on local prices and portions. Check the ingredient lists before shopping and use the same vegetables across several dinners.
Can I make every recipe without an oven?
Most use a skillet or pot, but the salmon needs an air fryer and the spinach omelet finishes in the oven. Choose wraps, tacos, chickpeas or a skillet pasta if you do not have that equipment.
How can I plan several dinners without overbuying?
Pick three recipes with shared ingredients, adjust the servings and add what is missing to your shopping list. A bell pepper, onion or pack of tortillas can work in more than one dish. Remove anything you already have.
Do the times include ingredient preparation?
Yes. We use the total time stated in each recipe rather than cooking time alone. Cutting size, equipment and batches affect timing. Separate sides and cooking ingredients that the recipe lists as already cooked require extra time.