finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

  • Recipes By Type
    • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Goodies
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes & Veggies
    • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
    • Snacks
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
    • Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist
  • Foods I’m Obsessed With
    • 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook
    • What Bread To Make (Based on Your Time)
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Super Healthy
    • Cooking for One
    • Soup
    • Unleavened Bread Recipes
  • About Me
    • Get In Touch!
    • How-Tos
    • Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
    • Recipes Index
    • Food and Travel—Two of My Favorite Things
    • Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips

30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook

Let’s face it—our everyday lives don’t allow us to luxuriate in stirring a risotto for an hour or tending a boeuf bourgnignon all day.  You get home and realize you forgot to pre-cook ingredients, pick up extra things at the grocery store, or put something in the crockpot before leaving the house.  So here are some 30-minute meal recipes that you can literally whip up in a half hour from start to finish…or less in some cases!

Pizza

Amazing Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza
Traditional Margherita Pizza

Chicken & Turkey:

Super Easy & Healthy “Loaded” Thai Chicken Salad
The Crispiest Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
30-Minute Mongolian Chicken
Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
One-Skillet Thai Ground Turkey Curry with Rice
Maple-Glazed Chicken with Sweet Potato Hash
Apricot Balsamic Chicken with Rosemary
Lemon Shallot Chicken
Chicken with Creamy Feta Sauce
Easy Chicken Nachos
Balsamic Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
Dynamite Grilled (or Sauteed) Chicken
Easy Sesame Chicken
Grilled Chicken with Fresh Herbs
Barbecue Chardonnay Chicken
Grilled Chicken with Barley Corn Tomato Salad & Tomato Vinaigrette
Grilled Balsamic Chicken
Honey Goat Cheese Chicken
Pinterest’s Famous Man-Pleasing Chicken
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chicken
White Wine & Lemon Chicken
Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken
Easy Chicken-Fried Chicken

Fish:

Salmon & Potato Hash with Fresh Herbs
Pan-Caramelized Salmon
Roasted Salmon with Tomatoes & Shallots
Rosemary & Garlic Roasted Salmon
Sesame-Soy Grilled Salmon
Maple & Citrus Grilled Salmon

Vegetarian:

10-Minute Spiced Chickpea Scramble
Grilled Sourdough Bread with Whipped Ricotta & Toppings
Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies & Goat Cheese
5-Minute Healthy Breakfast Tacos
Feta & Sweet Potato Hash with Greens
One-Pot Yellow Cauliflower & Chickpea Curry (vegan)
Roasted Vegetable & Farro Salad with Creamy Shallot Dressing
Creamy Oven Risotto with Spinach & Roasted Cauliflower
Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl
Turkish Red Lentil Soup (corba)
Easy Pad Thai (you could add chicken or whatever if you want)
Ricotta, Tomato, & Spinach Frittata
Frittata with Beets, Leeks, & Feta
Roasted Sweet Potato, Red Pepper, Kale, & Goat Cheese Frittata
Frittata with Baby Spinach, Goat Cheese, & Sweet Potato Hash Crust
Leftover Pasta Frittata
Quinoa with Butternut Squash, Dried Cranberries, & Citrus Honey Vinaigrette 
Frittata with Summer Squash, Tomatoes, & Scallions
Basted Eggs with Shredded Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
Omelet with Caramelized Onions, Kale, Tomatoes, & Goat Cheese
One-Pot Farro with Tomatoes
Barley Corn Tomato Salad & Tomato Vinaigrette

Pasta:

Pasta with Tomatoes, Spinach, & Feta
Kale & Walnut Pesto with Whole Wheat Pasta
Pasta with Garlic Spinach, Chicken, & Goat Cheese
Cavatappi with Goat Cheese, Tomatoes, Kale, & Grilled Zucchini
Easy Pasta with No-Cook Sauce
Pasta with Roasted Peppers, Chicken Sausage, & Goat Cheese
Pasta con Pesto
Traditional Tuscan Pasta with Walnut Sauce (version 1 & version 2)
Pasta with Roasted Garlic, Tomatoes, Spinach, & Ricotta
Pasta with Asparagus, Lemon, Goat Cheese, & Kale
Pasta with Heirloom Tomatoes & Ricotta
Pasta with Sausage, Cabbage, & Kale
Pasta with Mixed Greens & Goat Cheese

Red Meat:

Pakistani Kima
Mexican Meat & Beans (for taco salad, nachos, etc.)
“Crack” Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry

Sides:

Roasted Brussels Sprouts “Rubble”: The Easiest, Fastest, Most Delicious Way
Za’atar Roasted Cauliflower with Dates, Pine Nuts, & Thyme
Easy Fried Baby Potatoes
Cheesy Rosemary Sweet Potatoes on the Grill
Brussels Sprout & Kale Slaw with Maple-Cider Vinaigrette
Grilled Zucchini with Lemon Salt
Breaded, Baked Okra
Roasted Sweet Potato Fries
Oven-Roasted Okra
Corn & Black Bean Salsa
Sautéed Kale & Scallions
Sautéed Kale
Caramelized Shredded Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Cabbage
Pioneer Woman’s Crash Hot Potatoes
Parmesan Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Trackbacks

  1. Meals in 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook – finding time for cooking says:
    February 16, 2014 at 9:17 am

    […] Recipes to Make in 30 Minutes or Less […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

Follow Along!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent IG Adventures!

This gin-based “hard” cherry limeade is the pe This gin-based “hard” cherry limeade is the perfect summer nostalgia…now all I need is some cheddar poppers from Sonic ☀️😜

Tap the link in my IG banner to get the (super easy) recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 

#cherryliqueur #cherrylimeade #summercocktails #sanguemorlacco
Getting to the perfect salted peanut butter chocol Getting to the perfect salted peanut butter chocolate shortbread cookie was QUITE the journey...but I absolutely love this final version.  Even better, the dough log keeps in the freezer so you can slice off a few cookies any time a craving strikes! 

Tap the link in my IG bio to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 

#peanutbuttercookies #cookies #bakingfromscratch #sliceandbake
An easy 10-minute spiced chickpea scramble that is An easy 10-minute spiced chickpea scramble that is full of flavor (I *always* accidentally make it too spicy), versatile, and a great plant-based lunch option. For me on a gut health/candida diet, this has become a go-to recipe when I need something fast!

Check out the recipe by clicking on the link in my IG bio & tapping this photo! 

#chickpeas #veganrecipes #plantbased #candidadiet
This basil gin smash is the summer cocktail you NE This basil gin smash is the summer cocktail you NEED! It’s delicious, ultra refreshing, & so easy…just a couple ingredients (critically, good fresh basil), 1 minute to shake, & you’ll be sipping tart herbaceous goodness.

Click the link in my IG bio & tap this pic to see the (crazy easy) recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking  #summercocktails #ginsmash #freshbasil #gincocktail
I’ve got savory, carb-y goodness comin’ at ya I’ve got savory, carb-y goodness comin’ at ya today, and who doesn’t love that?! A really good authentic focaccia requires at least 18-24 hours to make, but this "quick" Rosemary & caramelized onion version can be done in around 4 hours and is SO good!

See the recipe by tapping the link in my IG bio & choosing these pics! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#focaccia #easyfocaccia #breadrecipe #bakingfromscratch
This delicious spiced Middle Eastern grilled chick This delicious spiced Middle Eastern grilled chicken shawarma is a super easy weeknight meal this summer, whether cooking solo or for a crowd!

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this pic to get the recipe! —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#grillingrecipes #chickenshawarma #healthydinner #weeknightmeals
This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my This adult take on a cherry lemonade (with gin, my true love) is so delicious and refreshing…and has a secret ingredient to get that intense cherry flavor! 

Get the recipe by tapping on the link in my IG bio and choosing this pic—> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cocktailrecipes #sanguemorlacco #cherrylemonade #gincocktails
I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew ho I am OBSESSED with key lime pie, and never knew how easy it is to make at home! This is the best key lime pie recipe around, a perfect balance of tart & sweet, the creamiest custardy filling, and a sweet, buttery graham cracker crust 😍 

Get the recipe yourself by tapping the link in my IG bio & choosing this photo —> @findingtimeforcooking 
#keylimepie #keylime #easydessert #classicdessert
Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loa Looking for a new healthy go-to dish?? This “loaded” Thai chicken salad only takes 15 minutes to whip up and is packed with veggies, texture, & flavor! What really makes the dish is the sweet-spicy-savory dressing… *chefs kiss* 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to see the recipe!
#healthyrecipes #thaiflavors #healthydinner #cabbagerecipe
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Moist Strawberry Shortcake (for a Large Group)

Healthy Apple Butter Pancakes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash with Dijon Vinaigrette

Adapting Ottolenghi’s “Cauliflower Cake”: A Unique, Delicious Vegetarian Meal

Gluten-Free Rosemary Cheddar Biscuits

Recent Posts

  • Summer Nostalgia: Cherry Limeade for Grown-Ups
  • Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Shortbread
  • 10-Minute Spiced Chickpea Scramble

Categories

  • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast Goodies
  • Cooking for One
  • Desserts
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
  • Eating Out
  • Family Secret Recipes
  • Food-Related Miscellany
  • Foods I'm Obsessed With
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Go-To Recipes
  • How-Tos
  • Kitchen Gear
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe Experimentation
  • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
  • Side Dishes & Veggies
  • Snacks
  • Soup
  • Super Healthy
  • Travel and Food
  • Uncategorized

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright 2022 Finding Time For Cooking