7 Quick & Easy 30-Minute Recipes – Meals for the Whole Week!
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These quick and easy 30-minute recipes are simple and nourishing—and just what you need to survive a busy week. Made with pantry staples and real ingredients, these recipes make scratch-made dinners quick, stress-free, and delicious.
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Evenings in our house seem to go by in a flash. One moment, I’m making dinner, and the next, I’m tucking my little one into bed.
If you can relate, you are in good company.
The evenings are a blur, and finding time to cook from scratch seems like a pipe dream. But it doesn’t have to be.
That’s why I’ve rounded up some of my family’s favorite quick and easy meals to help you (and me) navigate those busy weeknights. And as a bonus, I shared some of my top tips for weeknight cooking (more about that below).
These one-dish, 30-minute recipes are cozy, comforting, and made with pantry staples.
I’ve curated seven easy recipes to get you through the week. I recommend doubling up on your favorites for easy leftovers and lunches!
7 Quick & Easy 30-Minute Recipes
Easiest Pizza Dough with Fresh-Milled Flour – No-Yeast Recipe
Hands down, this is the easiest pizza dough with fresh-milled flour. With just four simple ingredients—fresh-milled flour, Greek yogurt, baking powder, and salt—you can have a delicious, 100% whole-grain pizza on the table in minutes, with no yeast or waiting required.
Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin with Gravy
This Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin with Gravy is simple and delicious. Tender pork is combined with pineapple, Hawaiian/Asian-inspired gravy, crispy bacon, sweet red peppers, and fresh cilantro. This easy recipe is ready in under 30 minutes.
Gnocchi with Sage Cream Sauce – 20-Minute Recipe
This sage cream sauce recipe is combined with gnocchi and onions lightly caramelized in brown butter. It is a simple yet decadent dish that is on the table in 20 minutes.
Easy Beef and Broccoli Recipe (Freezer Meal Option)
This easy beef and broccoli recipe can be made the same day or prepared ahead of time as a freezer meal. Delicious tender beef and fresh veggies are tossed in a scratch-made, sweet and savory brown sauce. Serve with rice or udon noodles for a quick weeknight dinner in under 30 minutes!
Easy Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe
Hands down, this is the best homemade sloppy joes recipe–and the easiest. The ingredients are pared down so you can use pantry staples and have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
Creamy Lemon Chicken – (30-minute recipe)
In 30 minutes or less, you can have this creamy lemon chicken on the table. Pan-seared chicken is tossed in a creamy, lemony white wine sauce with fresh spinach. It's a delicious one-skillet dinner that will be a weeknight go-to and a family favorite.
Homemade Cheeseburger Helper
Fast and easy, this homemade cheeseburger helper is ready in 30 minutes or less. It’s a one-pot meal made with ingredients you likely have on hand: beef, noodles, tomatoes, and cheese. This recipe is a hat tip to the classic boxed meal, but made with simple and healthier ingredients.
Why You’ll Love These Quick & Easy 30-Minute Recipes
- Simple Ingredients: These recipes feature simple pantry staples that you likely have on hand.
- Nourishing: Because each meal is made with real food, they are nourishing and filling.
- Family-Friendly: The simple flavors and staple ingredients create classic meals the whole family will love.
- Versatile: All of these recipes are versatile and can be served with simple sides like rice, pasta, or sourdough toast.
Video – More Weeknight Meals
For more weeknight cooking inspo, check out my weeknight meal vlog on YouTube.
And don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel. New videos come out weekly!
My Favorite Tools for Easy 30-Minute Meals
The real trick when it comes to quick meals is to make everything in one dish. So when it comes to easy 30-minute meals, I rely heavily on a few kitchen workhorses:
Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven is my favorite for one-pot meals. They are heavy-duty and can be used on the stove and in the oven.
These are the two I use (though I have a white Cuisinart, which I can’t seem to find online):
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is one of the best tools for 30-minute meals, not only for the recipes in this meal plan but for practically anything.
I prefer the larger Instant Pot because I can make double batches and large pots of bone broth.
Buy Now → Cast Iron Skillet
A well-seasoned cast iron skillet is, I think, the best piece of cookware one can own. I use mine for skillet meals, baking, and everything in between.
I use a 13.25-inch cast iron skillet. If you are in the market for one and aren’t sure which size to get, check out my cast iron skillet size guide.
Lodge 13.25″ Cast Iron Skillet
Buy Now →Tips for Making 30-Minute Meals
- Prep in advance: Chop all of the veggies before you start cooking. Or batch prep them for the week. Check out my Sunday reset video on YouTube to see how I batch-prep chopped veggies.
- Use what you have on hand: Don’t get stuck on the recipe. Use what you have before buying more groceries.
- Plan your groceries: Make a grocery list and get everything you need for these meals before the week starts.
- Batch prep: Double up so you have lunch for a few days and leftovers for dinner.
- Double-duty cooking: Let the Instant Pot do its thing while you cook on the stovetop. That way, you are making two meals at one time.
- Pre-cook sides: Make a batch of rice, pasta, or Instant Pot millet to serve as a side. That way, you don’t have to worry about it for the week.
Let’s Connect!
If you made these 30-minute recipes and loved them, leave a comment!
Also, don’t forget to pin this post and follow Moon + Magnolia on Pinterest. You can save all my recipes on your boards and keep up with the latest happenings!
Share your creations on Instagram and tag @moon_and_magnolia!
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