34 Healthy 30 Minute Dinner Ideas

34 healthy 30 minute dinner ideas that will get dinner on the table quickly. Stir fries, tacos, pasta, salads and so many more delicious recipes.

While I used to love taking my time in the kitchen trying out extravagant recipes, once I had kids, I realized I needed to streamline this process. Cooking with a toddler clinging to your knee just doesn't have the same fun factor 😉

30 minute dinner ideas

This post is an update on a 2015 post...we've added brand new easy dinner ideas and more tips to help you get dinner on the table quickly!

Getting a healthy, delicious dinner on the table really doesn't need to take more than 30 minutes.

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Stir fries

When it comes to speed, stir fries are where it's at! You can customize for any protein you'd like, including some delicious vegan options, and it's easy to meal prep components ahead making it even faster to cook up on a week night.

Short Cut- use pre-chopped veggies and store-bought sauce.

Meal prep it- chop your veggies ahead and store in an air tight container for up to 4 days. Prep your stir fry sauce ahead and freeze for up to 3 months

Vegan Ginger Teriyaki Stir Fry

Vegan teriyaki stir fry is a delicious 30 minute plant-based dinner. Veggies and edamame are cooked up in a sticky sweet and savory teriyaki sauce. Works great for meal prep as well!

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Sweet Chili Shrimp Stir Fry (30 min!)

This sweet chili shrimp stir fry has a four ingredient sauce and comes together in under 30 minutes! With tender shrimp, a rainbow of vegetables, a deliciously sticky sauce.

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Egg Roll in a Bowl (30 min, low carb)

Egg roll in a bowl tastes just like your favorite take out and comes together quickly using a single pan. With only 7 g net carbs, this recipe has slaw, ground pork, and a delicious sauce.

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Maple Ginger Cashew Chicken Stir Fry (30 Minutes)

A simple cashew chicken stir fry packed with veggies, sprinkled with cashews, and tossed in a sticky maple ginger stir fry sauce. Works great for an easy weeknight dinner or for meal prep.

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Make it a taco night

Nothing is more crowd pleasing than tacos, amiright? These quick dinner ideas featuring tacos are going to get dinner on the table quickly, and make your family happy, too.

Short Cut- use pre-chopped veggies and store-bought taco seasoning

Meal prep it- chop your veggies ahead and store in an air tight container for up to 4 days. Cook your meat ahead and freeze for up to 3 months.

Instant Pot Taco Meat (fresh + frozen)

How to cook Instant Pot taco meat- from fresh or frozen ground beef! This recipe can be ready and on your table in 20 minutes or less.

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Easy Tofu Tacos (15 Minutes!)

These easy tofu tacos have the BEST texture and are ready in 15 minutes. Ideal for an easy weeknight dinner, they are vegan and meal prep friendly.

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Air Fryer Cauliflower Chickpea Tacos

Air fryer cauliflower chickpea tacos are a fresh, flavorful, and healthy dinner to get on your table quickly. Vegan, clean eating and easily made gluten-free.

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Ginger Beef Tacos with Peanut Sauce (30 minutes)

Ginger beef tacos have spiced beef, crunchy veggies, and tangy peanut sauce. Make this Asian-inspired, 30-minute taco recipe tonight!

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Pasta to the rescue

Another great quick dinner ideas is pasta! I love how versatile pasta is, and how you can mix it up with different proteins, veggies, and sauces.

Short Cut- look for one pot recipes that cook the pasta, veggies, protein and sauce all together! Pro tip- Instant Pot pasta is fantastic!

Meal prep it- pre cook your pasta and re-heat for easy dinners.

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

Saucy and beefy, this Instant Pot spaghetti and meat sauce cooks up together in under 30 minutes! The pasta absorbs a ton of flavor from the sauce, and there's only one pot to clean up.

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Spicy Instant Pot Peanut Noodles

Spicy Instant Pot peanut noodles are an easy veggie-loaded recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes! Works great as a meal prep recipe.

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Spiralized Pasta with Egg and Asparagus

Spiralized pasta with egg and asparagus is a simple, veggie-packed dinner that gets dinner on the table quickly. Top with a perfectly poached egg to complete the meal!

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Ground Turkey Pasta in Romesco Sauce

This easy ground turkey pasta recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and tossed in a Spanish roasted red pepper sauce (romesco sauce)! 

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Sun Dried Tomato One Pot Pasta

This sun dried tomato pasta with chickpeas, mushrooms and spinach cooks up in one pot! Give it a few stirs, and dinner is ready! Easy to assemble ahead and customize with your favorite ingredients.

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One Pot Black Bean Fajita Pasta

One pot black bean fajita pasta is creamy and delicious vegetarian pasta recipe. With bell peppers, onions, black beans and fajita seasonings, it's perfect for weeknight dinners or for meal prep.

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The big salad

This always makes me think of Seinfeld: "it's a salad, only bigger, with lots of stuff in it". End of story! The perfect healthy dinner idea.

Short Cut- pre-chopped veggies, bottled dressing.

Meal prep it- assemble ahead and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. This only works with some recipes, so be sure to refer to directions for specifics.

Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad

Spend thirty minutes making this meal prep sesame chicken pasta salad and you will be good to go for work lunches during the week!  Packed full of healthy ingredients and tossed in a tangy sesame dressing.

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Healthy Greek Chicken Pasta Salad

Greek chicken pasta salad has fresh vegetables, chicken and pasta marinated in a Greek red wine vinaigrette with dill and feta cheese. Tangy, crunchy, cool and refreshing, it's perfect for a picnic, potluck or for meal prep.

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Kale Chicken Pasta Salad

This kale chicken pasta salad is made with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. A healthy meal that works great for meal prep, or an easy weeknight dinner!

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Taco Salad Recipe

Ditch the messy tacos and make this healthy taco salad recipe instead...loaded with delicious turkey taco meat, crunchy tortilla chips, cheese and more! Easy to prep and perfect for a meal prep lunch or dinner.

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Autumn Apple Farro Salad

This autumn apple farro salad contains crunchy Granny Smith apples, pecans, dried cranberries, feta cheese, farro and spinach, all tossed in a tangy vinaigrette. The perfect way to celebrate apple season!

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Refreshing Quinoa Black Bean Salad

Refreshing quinoa black bean salad is a big batch salad you can prep ahead. Perfect for a picnic, pot luck, or meal prep lunch! Gluten-free, vegetarian (vegan-friendly!), and clean eating.

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Strawberry Arugula Salad with Steak & Balsamic Vinaigrette

This delicious salad is packed with fresh berries, almonds, feta and arugula, topped with seared steak, and drizzled with a simple and delicious balsamic vinaigrette! A fast and easy week-night dinner!

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Skillet/One pan recipes

Make the cooking and the clean up easier by sticking to recipes that cook all in one pot or on a sheet pan. Healthy dinner ideas that are made in one pan are my go-to when I need to get dinner on the table on busy nights

Short Cut- pre-chopped veggies. Are you noticing a pattern here? 😉

Meal prep it- pre-chop or spiralize veggies. Note that potatoes and sweet potatoes can not be pre cut. Thaw proteins ahead, mix seasoning blends or sauces ahead. Some of these recipes can be cooked ahead and reheated. Refer to specific directions on each recipe.

Meal Prep Chicken Fajitas (Sheet Pan)

Sheet pan chicken fajitas with tender and juicy chicken, bell peppers, and onions tossed in a delicious homemade fajita seasoning. Ideal for meal prep or for a simple weeknight dinner.

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Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon

Baked lemon pepper salmon with green beans, asparagus and lemon dill yogurt is ready in under 25 minutes, and works for meal prep! Low carb & gluten-free.

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Jamaican Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

This healthy Jamaican chicken sheet pan dinner bakes up with bell peppers, onions and potatoes in a spicy Jamaican spice rub in under 30 minutes. Top with fresh mango!

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Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Sheet Pan Salmon and Broccolini

A simple honey lemon salmon recipe baked up on a sheet pan with broccolini. Serve over rice and drizzle with the honey lemon sauce. Makes a great meal prep lunch.

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Make Ahead Lemon Chicken Sheet Pan Gnocchi

This lemon chicken baked gnocchi has brussels sprouts, broccoli and feta cheese for the ultimate sheet pan dinner! Works great for meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner.

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One Pan Gnocchi With Sundried Tomatoes and White Beans

A healthy vegetarian recipe for one pan gnocchi with sundried tomatoes, white beans, spinach and mushrooms!  Ready in 30 minutes.

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Spiralized Sweet Potato Enchilada Skillet

This enchilada sweet potato noodles skillet is a delicious vegetarian recipe that gets dinner on the table quickly and makes clean up a breeze.

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Misc quick dinner ideas

These recipes don't necessarily fit into a category, but are delicious, easy recipes to have in your back pocket for busy nights. I particularly like salmon as a quick dinner idea as it cooks through quickly. Shrimp is great when you forget to thaw something, as you can thaw in cold water for 15 minutes.

Teriyaki Salmon Glaze

This teriyaki salmon glaze is sweet, sticky, and so easy to prepare! No need to marinate means this recipe is ready in under 25 minutes.

Barbecue Chicken Lettuce Wraps

5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes is all you need to make these barbecue chicken lettuce wraps! Light, full of flavor, and a real crowd pleaser.

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White Bean & Spinach Quesadillas (Freezer Friendly)

Make these smashed white bean and spinach quesadillas ahead of time and stash them in the freezer for an easy and healthy lunch that actually fills you up!

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Healthy Chicken Quesadilla Recipe

A healthy chicken quesadilla recipe that you can customize based on what's in your fridge, and who you are serving! Kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, and ready in minutes.

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Cajun Chicken Wrap Recipe

This cajun chicken wrap recipe is perfect for meal prep! Ready in under 20 minutes, packed full of veggies, and SO delicious for lunches or dinners!

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Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

These Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms make a simple, low-carb dinner you will love! These mushrooms are loaded with marinara, pepperoni slices, veggies, loads of cheese, and herbs!

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