Easy dinner ideas sound appealing in concept, but too often, we succumb to the convenience of delivery apps. While ordering in occasionally is fine, there is no meal as nutritionally rich as your typical ‘ghar ka khana’. And yes, making elaborate 3-course meals at home does sound arduous; not everyone’s professionally skilled like our moms—there are easy dinner ideas that can turn your dinner from food congealed in packages to fresh and nutritious deliciousness! Making quick weeknight dinners can also help you get into the habit of cooking for yourself—join us as we share fast dinner recipes that are both fuss-free and delicious!
What should my dinner plate look like?
- Include at least half of your plate with fruits and veggies at each meal. Aim for variety and colour, and keep in mind that potatoes aren't considered vegetables on the Healthy Eating Plate due to their detrimental effects on blood sugar.
- Try to fill up half of your plate with healthy grains. Compared to refined grains like white bread and rice, whole grains, including wheat, barley, quinoa, oats, brown rice, and dishes prepared with them like whole wheat pasta, are gentler on blood sugar and insulin levels.
- Powerful protein—one quarter of your dish. Nuts, beans, fish, and chicken are all excellent protein choices, as they are flexible, healthful, and pair well with salads and other vegetables. Eat less processed meats like bacon and sausage, and less red meat.
- Instead of partly hydrogenated oils—which include harmful trans fats—go for healthy vegetable oils like peanut, olive, canola, soy, maize, sunflower, and others. Just because something is low-fat doesn't imply it is healthy.
Easy 30-minute dinner recipes you should try
Chicken and veggies sheet bake
Now, this easy dinner idea is the foolproof way to get your daily protein and micronutrients in! This can be a great opportunity to use seasonal produce and layer it with some chicken thighs for that dose of protein! For this dish, try using chicken thighs to achieve a rich and juicy bite of chicken that pairs well with your veggies.
For an easy marinade, soya sauce, brown sugar, chilli sauce, and some Italian seasoning are a tried-and-tasted (see what we did there?) way to make your chicken taste delicious and healthy! Since you are using the thighs, a drop or two of olive oil is all you need for the chicken to perfectly cook. This fast dinner recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes from prep to bake! Cut up your choice of veggies, marinate in the same seasoning as your chicken, and bake the whole thing for 20–25 minutes max. You have the best weeknight dinner one could ever want!
Easy Chicken Yakhni
Hold up! We may be sleeping on this fast dinner recipe, because it might be your new favourite quick weeknight dinner. Why? This is due to its health benefits, similar taste to biryani, and ease of preparation. You can use pre-made chicken stock for this recipe to create an easy 30-minute dinner, but if you prefer a more authentic approach, you can make the yakhni or chicken stock from scratch. Add in minimal ghee and some whole Indian spices and seasonings, and add rice. Wait for 25 minutes, and you have the most delicate and delicious weeknight dinner! Top it up with a colourful vegetable salad and you have a well-balanced meal!
Spicy and cheesy squash
Showcasing the finest summer vegetables, this meal combines sweet, spicy, and savoury flavours with cheesy squash and hot honey. After roasting sliced yellow squash, the dish is covered with melted cheese and allowed to bubble and become golden. A splash of fiery honey brings a spicy bite that harmonises with the cheesiness and subtle squash flavour. It’s a perfect veggie dinner recipe for folks who want to up their vegetable intake without compromising on flavours!
Egg-salad sandwich
With the advent of alternative options to bread that bloat you or take the taste away, this sandwich is a quick weeknight dinner that comes together in 10 minutes! Chop up your eggs, and dress them the way you like! We love combining mustard, hot honey and some rice-wine vinegar for the perfect balance. Toast your bread and add some arugula to perfectly cap this sandwich. We recommend sourdough or zero-maida bread for this meal to keep any dinner-time bloats away! Trust us, it’s too simple and delicious NOT to try.
Prawn coconut curry with lemon quinoa rice
This less-than-30-minute meal packs both flavour and nutrition! Prawns are an amazing source of protein that hardly takes time to cook! You can prepare both these items together to manage your time. This quick weeknight dinner requires you to just prep and cook your quinoa as per your package instructions and simultaneously make the curry. Don’t worry, it’s fairly simple.
Combine some curry leaves, mustard seeds, kallonji and temper well with a touch of ghee and ginger-garlic paste. Add some tomato paste and braise these spices well till you get a fragrant aroma. Add in prawns and lightly sauté them for 2 minutes and remove, but make sure most of that braised spice is still in the pan. Add in the coconut milk, let all the flavours get to know one another, and then add your prawns- stir well and enjoy them steaming hot with your quinoa. Quick tip: if you have some extra time, convert your quinoa to an amazing dish of mock lemon rice for the full coastal feel!
Veggie Quesadilla
This simple 30-minute dinner recipe is ideal for satisfying your craving for Mexican cuisine! Get some whole-wheat store-bought tortillas, or you can make them if you have the time. Impressively, a cheese quesadilla can be crisply fried in an air fryer in record time! Quesadillas loaded with cheese and vegetables are ready to devour in under ten minutes. For a filling dinner, try it with some guacamole or a side salad. Use colourful veggies, and some cheese and beans for a dose of protein!