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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:

Asian-Inspired Ground Chicken or Turkey…Perfect for Asian Chicken Bowls
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:

How to Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer (my go-to weeknight dinner!)
Healthy, Spicy Fish Soup (great for liver detox, gut health protocol, etc)
The Best Pan-Seared Stovetop Salmon…& How To Cook Salmon Without Oil
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:

Charred Cabbage & Cauliflower Salad with Tahini Dressing
Easy & Flavorful Marinated White Beans
Creamy Curried Carrot Soup
Sweet Potato “Toast” with Guacamole & Chili-Lime Black Beans
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:

Lebanese Hushwee (Fragrant, Spiced Ground Beef with Toasted Pine Nuts)
Pakistani Kima
Mexican Meat & Beans (for taco salad, nachos, etc.)
“Crack” Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry

Sides:

Charred Cabbage & Cauliflower Salad with Tahini Dressing
Easy Roasted Tahini Maple Mustard Carrots
Aloo Gobi: Indian-Spiced Cauliflower & Potatoes
The Best, Creamiest Homemade Hummus (+ A Secret Hack)
The Best Easy Cumin Roasted Broccoli Bits in the Air Fryer (or Oven)
Super Easy Onion Pakoras (Without a Deep Fryer)…with Tamarind Chutney
Fluffy, Fragrant Turmeric Rice
Easy Air Fryer Green Beans (Blistered Green Bean Fries)
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

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

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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.

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Recent IG Adventures!

This air fryer frozen salmon is in the running for This air fryer frozen salmon is in the running for "meal I make the most"...once I found a great source of high-quality frozen salmon filets, mastering how to cook them quickly in my air fryer *from frozen* was the next step. No weird thawed mushy watery texture here...just a delicious, healthy, fast weeknight dinner!

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to see how to make it!
#salmonrecipe #airfryer #airfryerrecipes #weeknightdinner
This grapefruit cardamom gin cocktail is the perfe This grapefruit cardamom gin cocktail is the perfect drink to ease our descent from summer into fall...bright, tart, and balanced with a bit of warm spice!

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking

#gincocktails #drinkrecipes #grapefruit #cocktailrecipes
This Asian-inspired ground chicken (or turkey) has This Asian-inspired ground chicken (or turkey) has become a weeknight go-to for me, and makes awesome leftovers that I don't find an excuse not to eat at the office 😜

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this pic to get the (like, 10-minute) recipe!

#mealprep #leftovers #groundchicken #asianinspired
Remember that blueberry simple syrup I talked abou Remember that blueberry simple syrup I talked about a few weeks ago?? Yeahhhh it also makes a pretty awesome twist on a gin smash cocktail. 

To get the recipe, click the link on my IG bio and tap on this photo --> @findingtimeforcooking
#gincocktails #blueberries #easycocktails #drinkrecipes
This super easy coffee cake is packed with fresh a This super easy coffee cake is packed with fresh apricots and dark cherries--the perfect way to use your late summer stone fruit bounty! It's also pure comfort food, with the most addictive cinnamon crumble topping 😍

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the full recipe!
#coffeecake #apricots #brunchgoals #darkcherry
Meet your new summer iced coffee fave 🎉 I'm see Meet your new summer iced coffee fave 🎉 I'm seeing espresso tonic pop up on menus all over the U.S., and this blueberry basil espresso tonic takes things to a whole new level! It's super easy to make, refreshing, and unique...the perfect afternoon pick-me-up or mocktail any day.

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to see the recipe! -->@findingtimeforcooking
#espressotonic #mocktails #icedcoffeerecipe #espresso
Even though I tend to consider blueberries a mid-t Even though I tend to consider blueberries a mid-tier berry at best, I've been a tad bit obsessed with this blueberry simple syrup the past month or so...it's easy & versatile, and makes delicious iced coffee drinks, cocktails, and more. And yes, those recipes are forthcoming 😜

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the (super fast & easy) recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#blueberries #blueberrysyrup #simplesyrup #foodblogfeed
This super easy one-bowl cake is kind of like an a This super easy one-bowl cake is kind of like an all-in-one strawberry 🍓 shortcake...just top with fresh whipped cream! A great way to use up juicy strawberries that are starting to go soft, and a perfect summer dessert.

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to see the recipe!
#strawberries #summerdessert #easydessert #bakingfromscratch
I've been on a roll with new summer cocktails late I've been on a roll with new summer cocktails lately, and this apricot mint gin cocktail is a WINNER. The key is an apricot syrup made from roasting fresh apricots (for a cake, which is also amazing), rather than a brandy or liqueur. Trust me, it's worth that extra step!!

Get the recipe by clicking on the link in my IG bio and tapping on this photo! 
#summerdrink #gincocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #cocktailrecipes
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