30 Easy Dinners with Less Than 30 Minutes of Prep

posted by Gina Dickson on February 3, 2025

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Busy nights call for easy dinners, and we’ve got you covered! If you’re short on time but still want something homemade and delicious, these recipes are perfect for you. Each one takes 30 minutes or less to prep, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meal. From flavorful tacos ready in just five minutes to a hearty no-bake shepherd’s pie, this list is packed with quick and satisfying dinners for any night of the week. Keep scrolling—you won’t want to miss these easy, time-saving meals!

Mexican Chicken Tacos: 5-Minute Prep

Crock pot chicken for taco meat — Mexican Chicken Tacos: 5-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Spice up your taco dinner with this authentic Mexican crockpot chicken tacos recipe. With simple ingredients and minimal prep time, these tacos are not only delicious but also easy to prep in under 5 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Chicken Tacos: 5-Minute Prep

No-Bake Shepherd’s Pie: 30-Minute Recipe

single serving shepards pie with mashed potatoes and cheese on top in a small cast iron skillet — No-Bake Shepherd’s Pie: 30-Minute Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This no-bake shepherd’s pie can be ready in under 30 minutes from stove to table, featuring budget-friendly ingredients that will satisfy even the hungriest eaters, making it an ideal choice for your dinner.
Get the Recipe: No-Bake Shepherd’s Pie: 30-Minute Recipe

Crockpot Mississippi Chicken: 10-Minute Prep

Deliciously creamy Italian Mississippi Chicken with tender chicken breasts, spicy Italian banana peppers, & heavy cream. Quick 10-minute prep!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Mississippi Chicken: 10-Minute Prep

Turkey Breast and Stuffing: 5-Minute Prep

A plate of sliced turkey breast covered with creamy gravy, garnished with fresh rosemary and sage. The dish is served on a white rectangular platter placed on a white cloth. — Turkey Breast and Stuffing: 5-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Juicy and tender turkey breast with this simple crockpot recipe. Perfect for weeknights or as an easy holiday option with stuffing!
Get the Recipe: Turkey Breast and Stuffing: 5-Minute Prep

Chicken With Salsa: 10-Minute Prep

A white oval dish filled with shredded Mexican chicken, seasoned with spices, sits on a wooden surface. Nearby are corn tortillas, a small bowl of shredded cheese, and a dark patterned cloth. — Chicken With Salsa: 10-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

Salsa chicken in the slow cooker is a quick prep, easy recipe that creates tender, flavorful shredded chicken, perfect for tacos, burritos, salads, and more! For an optional creamy twist, stir in sour cream at the end.
Get the Recipe: Chicken With Salsa: 10-Minute Prep

Sirloin Tip Roast: 15-Minute Recipe

Pot roast with carrots celery and potatoes smothered and gravy — Sirloin Tip Roast: 15-Minute Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Easy-to-prep slow cooker recipe for sirloin tip roast with classic vegetables and savory gravy is perfect for a hassle-free, delicious dinner.
Get the Recipe: Sirloin Tip Roast: 15-Minute Recipe

Crockpot Pork Chops: 5-Minute Prep

Pork chops and gravy over mashed potatoes — Crockpot Pork Chops: 5-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality

This simple crock pot pork chops recipe requires only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of preparation! With no effort, you can serve saucy crock pot pork chops that will be a hit with both kids and adults alike.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Pork Chops: 5-Minute Prep

Lemon Butter Tilapia: 10-Minute Recipe

tilapia with lemon butter sauce — Lemon Butter Tilapia: 10-Minute Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Enjoy this pan-seared tilapia with lemon butter that cooks up in 10 minutes. With a hint of tart lemon, cilantro, and sweet creamy butter.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Butter Tilapia: 10-Minute Recipe

Potato Soup Recipe: 10-Minute Prep

Five ingredient crock pot potato soup with cheese and bacon on top — Potato Soup Recipe: 10-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This 5 Ingredient Crock Pot Potato Soup with frozen hash browns takes under 10 minutes to prep and makes a delicious, hearty pot of soup.
Get the Recipe: Potato Soup Recipe: 10-Minute Prep

Yankee Pot Roast: 10-Minute Prep

Super Tender Slow Cooker Yankee Pot Roast—just 10 mins to prep! Enjoy a comfort meal with tender veggies and a thick, creamy gravy.
Get the Recipe: Yankee Pot Roast: 10-Minute Prep

Crockpot Chicken and Dressing: 5-Minute Prep

Four ingredient baked chicken with stuffing — Crockpot Chicken and Dressing: 5-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This 4 ingredient slow cooker chicken with stuffing is a very flexible recipe. Add some extra vegetables for a complete one-pot meal.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken and Dressing: 5-Minute Prep

Slow Cooker Meatballs And Gravy: 5-Minute Prep

Learn how to make tender meatballs with tons of rich flavorful gravy using a slow cooker. Only 5 minute prep!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatballs And Gravy: 5-Minute Prep

Crockpot Chicken Corn Soup: 15-Minute Prep

Chicken corn chowder in a bowl with bacon and sprinkled on top — Crockpot Chicken Corn Soup: 15-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crock pot chicken corn soup makes an easy meal for weeknights! It cooks up mostly unattended until you’re ready to serve it up for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chicken Corn Soup: 15-Minute Prep

Chicken With Ranch: 15-Minute Prep

A plate of creamy chicken alfredo pasta garnished with shredded cheese and green onions. A fork is lifting a portion of the dish. The plate rests on a blue and white striped cloth. — Chicken With Ranch: 15-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Crockpot chicken with ranch is a simple, yummy recipe that combines cream cheese ranch dressing mix with tender, juicy chicken and pasta.
Get the Recipe: Chicken With Ranch: 15-Minute Prep

Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings: 10-Minute Prep

chinese wings — Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings: 10-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Easy to make at home, Chinese Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Recipe has a peppery heat with a drizzle of hot honey for sweetness. Not fried!
Get the Recipe: Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings: 10-Minute Prep

No Bean Chili: 15-Minute Prep

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced green onions, and jalapeño slices. The dish is served in a white bowl on a green plate, with a green cloth nearby. — No Bean Chili: 15-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Thick and meaty chili without beans recipe is made with savory chili seasonings, tomatoes, and chiles all slow simmered in your crockpot.
Get the Recipe: No Bean Chili: 15-Minute Prep

Mexican Taco Soup: 15-Minute Prep

A bowl of chili topped with shredded cheese and chopped green onions. The chili contains beans, ground meat, corn, and diced red peppers, with a rich, thick tomato-based sauce. Tortilla chips are placed beside the bowl on a colorful blue plate. — Mexican Taco Soup: 15-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Quick to prep, slow cooker taco soup is my Pinterest follower’s top favorite. Made with Mexican spices, beef, beans, and veggies.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Taco Soup: 15-Minute Prep

Spicy Thai Chicken: 30-Minute Recipe

thai chicken with coconut on it. — Spicy Thai Chicken: 30-Minute Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This Zesty spicy Thai chicken recipe cooks up juicy, flavored packed chicken breasts in 30 minutes for an easy weeknight meal everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Thai Chicken: 30-Minute Recipe

Slow Cooker German Goulash: 20-Minute Prep

German goulash cooked in a crock pot over egg noodles — Slow Cooker German Goulash: 20-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This hearty and irresistible Slow Cooker German Goulash recipe is full of tender beef and vegetables cooked to perfection in a rich red wine and paprika sauce.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker German Goulash: 20-Minute Prep

Spicy Honey Chicken: 18-Minute Recipe

honey dripping on chicken — Spicy Honey Chicken: 18-Minute Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Make this super easy sweet and spicy honey chicken recipe for a quick weeknight dinner in less than 20 minutes. It’s sure to become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Honey Chicken: 18-Minute Recipe

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes: 15-Minute Prep

Sloppy joe on a bun — Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes: 15-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This made-from-scratch homemade sloppy joe recipe for a crowd has a sweet and tangy sauce, easy to prepare and simmer in a slow cooker.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes: 15-Minute Prep

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork: 10-Minute Prep

Pulled pork on a plate with two forks — Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork: 10-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

I’m going to teach you how to make this super tender, smoky BBQ slow cooker pulled pork in under 10 minutes of prep to cooking time.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork: 10-Minute Prep

Taco Soup with Ranch: 20-Minute Prep

Easy to make Creamy Taco Soup with Ranch Dressing is packed with ground beef, beans, & veggies, all in a cheesy tomato and ranch broth.
Get the Recipe: Taco Soup with Ranch: 20-Minute Prep

Portobello Mushroom Chicken: 15-Minute Prep

Texas Roadhouse chicken — Portobello Mushroom Chicken: 15-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Copycat Texas Roadhouse Creamy Portobello Mushroom Chicken recipe is made with herb infused chicken breasts, in a creamy portobello mushrooms sauce.
Get the Recipe: Portobello Mushroom Chicken: 15-Minute Prep

Cajun Smothered Chicken: 15-Minute Prep

cajun chicken and gravy — Cajun Smothered Chicken: 15-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Using your crock pot and blending your own cajun seasoning, it’s easy to make this Cajun Smothered Chicken Recipe with rich gravy.
Get the Recipe: Cajun Smothered Chicken: 15-Minute Prep

Slow Cooker Mac And Cheese: 20-Minute Prep

Crock pot macaroni and cheese being scooped up with a spoon — Slow Cooker Mac And Cheese: 20-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

My slow cooker mac and cheese recipe uses all the best things in life: butter, Velveeta, half and half, and cheddar cheese. Only 20 min. prep.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac And Cheese: 20-Minute Prep

Chicken and French Onion Soup Casserole: 10-Minute Prep

french onion chicken — Chicken and French Onion Soup Casserole: 10-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

French onion soup mix, a few pantry ingredients, chicken, and a slow cooker, you’ll have a hearty and satisfying one-pot casserole dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and French Onion Soup Casserole: 10-Minute Prep

Crockpot Navy Beans: 15-Minute Prep

Learn how to cook navy beans in a crockpot. You will only need a few simple ingredients like dried navy beans, onion, fresh garlic, broth, and a savory ham hock.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Navy Beans: 15-Minute Prep

Crockpot Whole Chicken: 20-Minute Prep

Whole roasted chicken in the crock pot — Crockpot Whole Chicken: 20-Minute Prep. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This super easy crock pot whole chicken recipe is tender, juicy and delicious. It also lowers grocery budget to roast your own chicken.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Whole Chicken: 20-Minute Prep

Garlic Butter Pork Chops in a Cast Iron Skillet

It takes less than 15 minutes to create the juiciest pork chops flavored with garlic butter and herbs. Pan-seared in a skillet for a caramelized crust and dripping in an herb and garlic infused butter sauce.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Pork Chops in a Cast Iron Skillet

25 Touchdown-Worthy Appetizers for Your Next Watch Party

bbq chicken wings with sauce brushed on — 25 Touchdown-Worthy Appetizers. Image credit: Intentional Hospitality

Score big at your next watch party with these 25 touchdown-worthy appetizers that are guaranteed to impress your guests! From creamy dips like Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip to spicy favorites like Buffalo Chicken Dip and Sweet & Spicy Roasted Cashews, this recipe lineup has everything you need to elevate your snack game. Each dish is easy to prepare, full of bold flavors, and perfect for keeping the crowd cheering long after kickoff. Get All The Recipes: 25 Touchdown-Worthy Appetizers for Your Next Watch Party

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