Our 20 Best 20-Minute Dinners

Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna
Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna

These quick and easy 20-minute meals are fan favorites for a reason. From protein-packed skillets to creamy pasta dishes, these four- and five-star-rated recipes are perfect for any night of the week. Feel free to customize these recipes by swapping ingredients like pasta shapes, vegetables, grains or herbs to suit your taste preferences or what you have in your pantry for the week. Recipes like our Chickpea Soup and our Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce are so delicious that you'll want to make them forever.

01 of 20

20-Minute Chickpea Soup

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Craig Huff, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Craig Huff, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong.

When dinner needs to happen fast, turn to this creamy chickpea soup that’s pulled together in just 20 minutes. Cream cheese melts right into this zesty soup for a velvety texture that feels cozy and comforting. Garnished with cilantro and crunchy tortilla strips, it’s a one-pot meal that’s weeknight-friendly and crowd-pleasing.

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02 of 20

Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna
Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna

To achieve flavor quickly in this sun-dried tomato pasta recipe, we use the oil from sun-dried tomatoes to create the base of the cream sauce. Meanwhile, the residual heat of the pasta wilts the spinach in record time for a fast weeknight dinner.

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03 of 20

5-Ingredient Avocado & Chickpea Salad

Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.
Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco.

This avocado-and-chickpea salad is a fresh, flavorful dish that comes together in minutes. Made with just five ingredients, it’s as simple as it is satisfying. Creamy avocado pairs perfectly with hearty chickpeas for a filling, plant-based meal. With no cooking required and minimal prep, it’s a perfect quick lunch or dinner.

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04 of 20

One-Skillet Garlicky Salmon & Broccoli

Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

This one-skillet salmon and broccoli recipe is the perfect 20-minute dinner for busy weeknights. This dish combines tender, flaky salmon with crisp, garlicky broccoli and bell pepper, all cooked in one pan for easy prep and cleanup. Packed with lean protein, omega-3s and a generous serving of veggies, this is one recipe you’ll want on repeat!

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05 of 20

No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

This easy white bean and spinach caprese salad features the classic combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil and tangy balsamic vinegar, but adds tender white beans and fresh baby spinach to the mix. If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, cut or tear a fresh ball of mozzarella into bite-size pieces instead. If you like your salad with a little kick, try swapping out the spinach for arugula or use spring mix for a more mild flavor.

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06 of 20

Creamy Pesto Shrimp with Gnocchi & Peas

Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Prop stylist: Shell Royster, Food stylist: Emily Hall
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Prop stylist: Shell Royster, Food stylist: Emily Hall

This speedy dinner recipe combines shrimp with pillowy gnocchi, pesto and peas in a creamy sauce. Feel free to substitute the peas with other veggies, such as broccoli or asparagus. Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper for a bit of heat, or garnish with grated Parmesan cheese to enhance the savory flavor.

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07 of 20

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf;Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf;Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Shrimp and broccoli cook quickly in this easy one-pot recipe, perfect for busy weeknights. Serve this healthy shrimp recipe over whole-grains or rice.

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08 of 20

Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Soup with Ravioli

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This soup is delightfully creamy and flavored with sweet sun-dried tomatoes and cheesy ravioli. We use oil from the sun-dried tomatoes to keep prep simple and enhance the flavor of this quick soup. If your sun-dried tomatoes are not oil-packed, soak them in hot water for a few minutes and then proceed with the recipe, using extra-virgin olive oil in place of the oil from the jar.

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09 of 20

Tilapia Fish Tacos

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

These refreshing and quick tilapia fish tacos are tender and packed with a flavor that will take you straight to the coast. Corn or flour tortillas work well here. We love the mild flavor of tilapia, but any white, flaky fish like cod or haddock will work well in its place.

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10 of 20

Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon

Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Annie Probst
Credit: Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Annie Probst

This cucumber chickpea salad with feta and lemon is tangy and refreshing. You can enjoy it on its own or toss it with greens for an easy lunch or dinner.

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11 of 20

Creamy Lemon & Dill Skillet Chicken

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This creamy lemon and dill skillet chicken recipe is a true crowd-pleaser and makes for a perfect weeknight dinner. Chicken cutlets cook quickly, taking this recipe from skillet to table in only 20 minutes. The drippings and fond from the pan are at the heart of the tangy, vibrant pan sauce that you serve with the chicken. Drizzle any extra over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes served on the side.

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12 of 20

Frittata with Asparagus, Leek & Ricotta

Credit: Photographer / Jacob Fox, Food styling / Sue Mitchell, Food Styling / Kelsey Bulat
Credit: Photographer / Jacob Fox, Food styling / Sue Mitchell, Food Styling / Kelsey Bulat

Serve this spring-vegetable-loaded frittata with an arugula salad and a hunk of crusty bread. Tip: This recipe cooks quickly, so be sure to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go.

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13 of 20

Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Salmon

Credit: Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis
Credit: Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis

For this quick and easy dinner for four, the vegetables and sauce come together in one skillet in a matter of minutes while the salmon broils. Plus, salmon is swimming in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and loaded with vitamins and nutrients like B vitamins and potassium.

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14 of 20

Chhole (Chickpea Curry)

Credit: Andrew Scrivani
Credit: Andrew Scrivani

This healthy Indian recipe is a flavorful chickpea curry that you can make in just 20 minutes. Also called chana masala, this dish is a comforting and delicious dinner.

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15 of 20

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken

Credit: Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
Credit: Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek

Enjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in, so the greens absorb every bit of flavor.

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16 of 20

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

Credit: Jacob Fox
Credit: Jacob Fox

Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe, providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.

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17 of 20

20-Minute Creamy Tomato Salmon Skillet

Credit: Photographer: Carson DowningFood Stylist: Holly DreesmanProp Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Credit: Photographer: Carson DowningFood Stylist: Holly DreesmanProp Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Salmon fillets cook quickly and are coated with a delicious creamy sauce made with tomatoes, zucchini and Italian seasoning. This easy salmon dinner is sure to become a new weeknight favorite the whole family will love. The best news: You can get this meal on the table in 20 minutes flat.

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18 of 20

One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan

This hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami, and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein.

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19 of 20

Grilled Flank Steak with Tomato Salad

Cutting the steak immediately after cooking breaks all the rules on meat cookery, but in this recipe we do it intentionally in order to capture the juices and incorporate them into the dressing. Serve this grilled flank steak recipe with crusty bread to soak up the deliciousness.

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20 of 20

Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry

This tofu veggie stir-fry is quick and easy, making it a great go-to weeknight meal. Baked tofu has a firm, toothsome texture that crisps well in a hot pan. You can find it in flavors like teriyaki and sesame, both of which are delicious here. Or opt for a smoked version, which has the same texture with a more robust flavor. Serve over brown rice.

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Original Source:

https://www.eatingwell.com/highly-rated-20-minute-dinner-recipes-11979521