Top 24+ easy dinner recipes you can make in under 30 minutes
Skip the takeaway tonight, half an hour is more than enough time to whip up something healthy and delicious in your kitchen.
Of course, we love our slow-cooked meals here at BHG. I mean you just can’t beat tender lamb shanks that fall off the bone or a ragu that has been gently simmering on your stovetop all afternoon. But sometimes we don’t have the luxury of time and need dinner on the table pronto. This is where having a few tasty 30-minute meals up your sleeve is helpful.
From pasta to soup, here are our best 30-minute dinners for when you’re pressed for time.

24 easy dinner recipes you can make in under 30 minutes
Seafood pasta always looks impressive, but it is simple to prepare. You can get this light and creamy dish on the table in just 20 minutes. Perfect when you’re entertaining!

quick pumpkin soup
Just pop butternut cubes in the microwave with stock, cook for 20 minutes, puree and you’re done! Too easy!

Easy step-by-step fried rice
Have leftover rice in the fridge? This is an easy, scrumptious way to use it up – your family will be tucking into it in less than 20 minutes.

(Credits: William Meppem)
Fast and full of flavour, pan-fried salmon and chunky guacamole makes a fab weeknight dinner. Just right for two, you can easily double or triple the serves.

(Credits: Ben Dearnley)

Chilli jam chicken and cashew stir fry
Roll out big flavours in a flash with this chicken feast – salty, sweet, garlicky, and with the unmistakable zing of Thai basil.

Angel hair pasta with garlic, olives and herbs
Angel hair is the way to go if you hate standing around watching pasta boil. Tossed with garlic, olives, herbs and pecorino, this zesty dish by Fast Ed is perfect for satisfying any carby cravings.

Sausage and red capsicum frittata
Don’t feel limited by this set of ingredients – frittatas can also be used to rid the fridge of vegetable leftovers.

Spice-rubbed steak and salad
The aroma of meat grilling always makes mouths water. Add a generous amount of spices and a healthy helping of salad, and you’re ready to entertain!
This Asian-inspired dish is delicious served hot or at room temperature, great for when you’re feeding a crowd and ready in minutes – unbeatable! Scatter with micro herbs to make your fish dish look fresh and bright!

quick pasta recipes one-pot sausage rigatoni
Forget grilling snags or boiling spaghetti, this recipe is a game-changer. You squeeze the sausage filling into the pan, fry it up, then add tomato paste, cherry tomatoes and water. When it boils you pop the pasta in, too, giving it a cook and a stir. You’ll never go back!

Kale falafel salad with toasted pine nuts and hummus
Using storebought versions of your favourite Middle Eastern mezze (appetisers) creates a salad that’s much more than a starter. Hummus serves as a creamy base for greens, tomatoes, quick-pickled red onion, herbs and falafel (chickpea patties).

best spring recipes
This tasty stir-fry is perfect for those frantic evenings when you only have 15 minutes up your sleeve to get dinner on the table. Simple and fresh!

chicken hokkien noodles
For a fun serving idea, pack your healthy noodles into takeaway-style boxes, available from kitchenware stores and selected supermarkets.

Beef stir fry

Simple stir-fry
Cheat your way to an easy dinnertime with pre-cut meat and veg, and store bought noodles – nobody will know.

Chicken curry
Love a good chicken curry? This recipe will quickly become your new best friend. Not only is it quick and easy to make, it will take your tastebuds on a flavour-packed trip to India.

(Credits: Rob Palmer)
This is a whole new way of thinking about pasta sauce. The result is stellar, but the work involved is far easier than you might expect. It’s really just you and a good heavy roasting pan.

roast-chicken-rice-bowl
Penne boscaiola is an easy comfort food that can be made in minutes. Combining earthy mushrooms, salty pancetta or bacon, aromatic garlic, and creamy sauce creates a hearty, filling dish with a cosy, home-cooked feel.

Nasi goreng

(Credits: Photography: Con Poulos)
A trusty laksa recipe is just what you need after a long cold day during winter. With a creamy base and a hint of spice, this noodle soup is perfect for warming your soul.

(Credits: (Photography: Phil Castleton, styling Michele Cranston))
Fragrant, fiery and full of flavour, Clarissa’s Nasi Goreng recipe is a classic Indonesian fried rice with a personal twist.

(Photography: Phil Castleton, Styling: Michele Cranston)
Clarissa Feildel has done it again, showing us one of her family recipes that is both heartwarming and ridiculously tasty. This Nyonya eggplant recipe that was passed down from her mum is quick, easy and perfect for those nights where protein is giving you the ick.