Easy Dinner Recipes to Make in 20 Minutes or Less!

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
June 01, 2012

Get dinner on the table in 20 minutes or less with our 35 easy dinner recipes for chicken, fish, beef, pasta, pork and meatless meals.

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Herbed Chicken, Orzo and Zucchini

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Team basil-seasoned chicken breasts with fresh zucchini and seasoned orzo for a fast and flavorful dinner. Start to finish: 20 minutes.

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Chipotle Shrimp Scampi

Jay Wilde
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This south-of-the-border variation on a classic Italian-American dish has a little smoky heat. It's a quick weeknight dinner, served over hot rice.

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Vegetables

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Ready in just 15 minutes, this easy dinner calls for sautéed vegetables-Brussels sprouts, broccoli, mushrooms, and asparagus-along with a simple homemade cheese sauce.

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Greek Chicken Wrap

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The secret to this simple and nutritious supper wrap: A quick, garlicky stir-together sauce made with yogurt and feta cheese.

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Potato-Topped Beef Bowl

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Also known as shepherd's pie, this comfort-food dish includes beef, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. Start to finish: 19 minutes

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Chicken Cuban Sandwiches

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We traded the traditional roast pork for rotisserie chicken, but kept the signature Cuban flavors-mustard, onion and pickles.

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Linguine in Fresh Tomato Sauce with Garlic-Basil Toast

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Kalamata olives add flavor to the homemade tomato sauce in this vegetarian pasta meal. Start to finish: 20 minutes.

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Chicken Tacos with Avocado Salsa and Ranch Taco Sauce

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Fresh tomatillos and jicama add authentic tartness and crunch to this made-in-minutes dinner. You can find both veggies at large supermarkets or Latin groceries.

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Salmon-Potato Cakes

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Bring a new flavor to salmon with our quick-cooking fish-and-potato cakes. Serve the cakes on a bed of lettuce with honey-Dijon salad dressing on the side. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Black Bean and Corn Quesadillas

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Bottled black bean and corn salsa spices up these quesadillas, ready in just 20 minutes. 

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Spring Scampi with Chives

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These garlicky, lemony shrimp come together in just 15 minutes for a speedy weeknight dinner. Serve with crusty bread for mopping up the luscious butter sauce.Spring Scampi with Chives

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Pork Chops Primavera

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Soy sauce and apple butter lend their salty and sweet flavors to pork chops, green beans and tomatoes in this quick meal. Start to finish: 18 minutes

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Ravioli with Peas and Lemon Pesto

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Peas, pesto, lemon zest and toasted hazelnuts add fresh flavor to ravioli.

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Smoky Mushroom Stroganoff

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This vegetarian twist on a classic Italian recipe calls for a creamy mushroom sauce atop egg noodles. Start to finish: 18 minutes

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Pesto Pasta Toss

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You'll only need six ingredients—and 20 minutes—to whip up this pasta dish. Use chopped leftover cooked turkey, chicken, pork, beef, or vegetables, and whatever kind of pasta you have on hand.

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Fish Tostadas with Chili-Lime Cream

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Top crunchy tostadas with broiled tilapia fillets, veggies and a zesty chili-lime cream. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Greek Chicken Salad

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Toss together deli-roasted chicken, a package of spring mix salad greens, chopped veggies and bottled Greek salad dressing for a main-dish salad. Leftovers? Tuck them into a pita for lunch the next day. Start to finish: 15 minutes

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Buffalo Chicken Pizzas

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Top pita rounds with Southwest-flavor chicken strips, blue cheese dressing, celery and bottled hot pepper sauce for the flavor of your favorite wings. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Orange Chicken Coleslaw Salad

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This unusual recipe combines orange marmalade and soy sauce to make a sweet-and-salty dressing for chicken, cabbage and crunchy ramen noodles. Serve the mixture over a bed of fresh spinach for a nutrient-packed meal.

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Mediterranean-Style Snapper

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Cook fresh snapper fillets or other firm-flesh white fish with an easy tomato-olive mixture and crumbled feta cheese. Serve with rice, pasta or couscous. Start to finish: 15 minutes

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Turkey Steaks with Spinach, Pears & Blue Cheese

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Season turkey tenderloins with a sage rub then top with grilled spinach, juicy pear slices and blue cheese crumbles. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Maple-Glazed Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

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Maple syrup provides a sweet coating to skillet-cooked chicken. Heat refrigerated mashed sweet potatoes for the side dish. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Mexican Chicken Salad

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A tiny bit of taco seasoning mix packs big flavor in this south-of-the-border twist on traditional chicken salad. Try it in a tortilla wrap with crisp romaine lettuce.

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Beef and Blue Pizza

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Red onion, blue cheese, thinly sliced roast beef and chopped sweet pepper top a premade pizza crust for a fast weeknight dinner. Start to finish: 18 minutes

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Sausage and Orzo

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Toss together cooked sausage, orzo, zucchini, green onions and sweet peppers for a one-pot meal. Heat up any leftovers for lunch the next day! Start to finish:16 minutes

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Chicken-Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

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Jazz up classic macaroni and cheese with parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken and broccoli. Start to finish: 20 minutesC

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Turkey Tortilla Soup

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Turn leftover turkey (or chicken) into soup by adding pantry staples, such as salsa, chicken broth and tortilla chips. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Chicken Banh Mi

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Layer rotisserie chicken with crisp veggies, mayo and zippy sesame dressing on a soft roll for this easy version of the popular Vietnamese sandwich.

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Chunky Bean and Chicken Chili

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Crushed tortilla chips, stirred into the chili's base, give this dish a lusciously creamy texture. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Mediterranean Salmon & Noodle Bowl

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Top fettuccine with skillet-cooked salmon, fresh baby spinach, roasted sweet peppers and reduced-calorie dressing for a speedy meal. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Gingered Beef & Broccoli Salad Bowl

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Use a wok or skillet to stir-fry sirloin steak strips and broccoli. Combine with salad greens, chopped sweet pepper and bottled ginger vinaigrette salad dressing to complete the meal. Start to finish: 20 minutes

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Easy Potato Soup

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This quick and easy recipe, from a Halstad, Minnesota, farming family, features just five ingredients. Start to finish: 15 minutes

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Chicken Chutney Salad

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Jarred mango chutney and raisins add sweetness and mild spice to this chicken salad; trading the usual mayonnaise for yogurt makes it healthier.

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com