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  5. Our Best 20-Minute Dinners for Simple Yet Flavor-Packed Meals

Our Best 20-Minute Dinners for Simple Yet Flavor-Packed Meals

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By Katlyn Moncada Updated May 10, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Turkey Steaks with Spinach, Pears, and Blue Cheese
Credit: Andy Lyons

Say good-bye to takeout and hello to fast, fresh, never-boring meal ideas—all ready in 20 minutes or less. With plenty of quick and easy dinners to choose from, including pork chops, pasta dishes, and hearty stir-fries, our fast recipes will fit right into your busy schedule. Try our 20-minute dinners the next time you find yourself in a dinnertime rut.

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Garlic-Lime Pork with Farro and Kale

Garlic-Lime Pork with Farro and Kale
Credit: Karla Conrad
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This zesty pork recipe is a 20-minute meal the whole family will love. The tender meat gets its bold flavor from a tantalizing mix of peanut butter, honey, garlic, and lime. The quick cooking time is thanks to using thin cuts of pork that require less time in the skillet.

Buy It: Lodge Pre-Seasoned 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet ($25, Walmart)

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Chicken with Parmesan Noodles

Chicken Parmesan Noodles
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Dish up our 20-minute dinner for your next larger gathering (it makes 6 servings). We love the way it combines rich butter, robust Parmesan, and basil pesto to flavor the chicken and angel hair pasta.

Related: These Easy Pasta Recipes Will Be On the Table in Just 20 Minutes

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Apple-Pecan Pork Chops

Apple-Pecan Pork Chops
Credit: Jacob Fox
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This mouthwatering recipe might be our favorite savory way to use apples. Create a full-bodied, flavorful 20-minute dinner with just a handful of ingredients. Brown sugar and butter create the sweet sauce for pork, apples, and pecans to simmer in.

Related: Quick and Easy Fall Dinner Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes Flat

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Lemon-Ginger Fish

Lemon-Ginger Fish
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Make the most flavorful frozen fish you've ever had with this easy 20-minute meal. Cod (or other meaty white fish of your choice) gets a zippy sauce of lemon, fresh ginger, and sugar. After just a few minutes on the stove top, your fish is perfectly cooked and ready for the dinner table.

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Garlicky Zucchini Noodles

Garlicky Zucchini Noodles
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Try our favorite low-carb pasta alternative (zucchini noodles) in your next weeknight recipe. Easy add-ins such as prosciutto, apple, and goat cheese amp up the flavors in our 20-minute dinner.

Buy It: Veggetti Pro Vegetable Slicer ($16, Walmart)

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Turkey Steaks with Spinach, Pears, and Blue Cheese

Turkey Steaks with Spinach, Pears, and Blue Cheese
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Sage-rubbed turkey tenderloins are paired with wilted spinach, sautéed pears, and pungent blue cheese for a 20-minute healthy meal that's super delicious. Not only does it ring in at just 240 calories (for the entire meal!), but it also has a whopping 31 grams of protein.

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Quick Pork-and-Vegetable Fried Brown Rice

Quick Pork-and-Vegetable Fried Brown Rice
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Precooked pork, cooked brown rice, and a mix of frozen veggies cut down the cooking time in our fried rice recipe. Fresh ginger, garlic, and five-spice powder bring big flavor to this 20-minute dinner. Feel free to swap in leftover ham or chicken for the pork.

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Greek-Seasoned Pork with Lemon Couscous

Greek Seasoned Pork with Lemon Couscous
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Oregano, thyme, and marjoram compose the simple Greek-inspired rub for our healthy 20-minute dinner. Couscous pairs with garlic-roasted eggplant and fresh spinach to complete the meal.

Related: Our Fastest-Ever Mediterranean Recipes for Every Meal of the Day

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Smoked Salmon Flatbread

Smoked Salmon Flatbread
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Smoked salmon, radishes, and capers fill these flatbreads to make a tasty and unexpected dinner-ready sandwich. A swipe of cream cheese sets the stage for the indulgent sammies to shine.

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Smoked Chicken Salad with Broken Raspberry Vinaigrette

Smoked Chicken Salad with Broken Raspberry Vinaigrette
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Get ready for a quick and easy 20-minute meal to make all summer. Smoked chicken (or turkey) from the deli serves as the shortcut ingredient to top a bed of crisp greens. The fresh raspberry dressing adds the perfect amount of sweet and tangy flavor to every bite.

Related: 25 Innovative Rotisserie Chicken Recipes You Can Make for Dinner Tonight

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Jamaican Pork Stir-Fry

Jamaican Pork Stir-Fry
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
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Bring a taste of the Caribbean to the table with this spicy stir-fry. Thin cuts of pork and frozen vegetables make cooking a breeze, and a dash of Jamaican jerk seasoning adds irresistible flavor.

Related: 5-Ingredient Dinners You (Yes, You!) Can Create on the Busiest Evenings

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Veggies

Fettuccine Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Veggies
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Our gorgeous fettuccine is delicious enough for company (and they'll never guess it only takes 15 minutes to make). You'll love the four different vegetables, including asparagus and Brussels sprouts, and the creamy homemade Alfredo sauce.

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White Bean Tuna Salad

White Bean Tuna Salad
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Our protein-packed dinner salad features a tasty combination of cannellini beans, tuna, and arugula. Drizzled with a simple red wine vinaigrette, this 20-minute meal is perfect for a quick work lunch or hot summer nights when you don't want to turn on the oven.

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Chicken with Capers

Chicken Capers
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Enjoy this amazing take on chicken piccata from the comfort of your home. Yes—it's even breaded! Chicken breasts are simply coated with mustard, salt, pepper, and bread crumbs for a 20-minute dinner that tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant.

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Salmon-Potato Cakes

Salmon-Potato Cakes
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Here's a delicious fast dinner idea: Combine fresh salmon with precooked mashed potatoes and fresh dill for an easy dinner. Serve with honey-mustard dressing over crisp greens.

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Irish Stout, Beef, and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Stout Beef Cabbage Stir-Fry
Credit: Andy Lyons
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A 20-minute meal with beer? Don't mind if we do. Grab your favorite nutty stout and add it to this fast and filling stir-fry twist on corned beef and cabbage, complete with tender carrots, onions, and crisp-tender cabbage.

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Apricot Pork with Garlic Green Beans

Apricot Pork with Garlic Green Beans
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Apricot wedges cooked with honey and garlic give traditional pork chops a savory-sweet makeover in minutes. Fresh green beans add a crunch (and included side) to your 20-minute dinner.

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Skillet Vegetables on Cheese Toast

Skillet Vegetables on Cheese Toast
Credit: Andy Lyons
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For a healthy 20-minute meal that's filling (and totally meat-free), spread tangy goat cheese on toasted rustic bread and top with a medley of fresh vegetables. Cook baby carrots, button mushrooms, and onion in a skillet to bring out the veggies' flavors.

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Focaccia-Camembert Pizza

Focaccia-Camembert Pizza
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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For a fast new take on the classic pizza margherita, use focaccia instead of pizza dough and sub creamy Camembert for mozzarella. Chopped walnuts and fresh chives highlight the robust cheese.

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Chunky Bean and Chicken Chili

Chunky Bean and Chicken Chili
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Our hearty chili recipe is perfect for a cozy evening meal in 20 minutes flat. It combines green chiles, chicken, and white beans, plus a topping of cheesy tortilla crisps that adds a delicious crunch.

Buy It: Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven ($80, Amazon)

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Chimichurri Chicken

Chimichurri Chicken
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Chimichurri is a traditional Mexican sauce made from parsley, oil, vinegar, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Here it adds bite to grilled chicken for one of our best weeknight recipes. Microwave frozen green beans for a fast side dish.

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Lemon-Caper Tuna and Noodles with Alfredo

Lemon Caper Tuna and Noodles with Alfredo
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Here's a delicious way to use those cans of tuna in the pantry. Our easy, grown-up version of tuna-noodle casserole combines thick egg noodles and tuna with creamy Alfredo sauce, salty capers, and lemon juice.

Buy It: Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Skillet ($40, Amazon)

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Fish Tostadas with Chili-Lime Cream

Fish Tostadas with Chili-Lime Cream
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Instead of making tacos, pile crispy tostadas with flaky fish, shredded cabbage, avocado, and tomatoes. Tangy chili-lime cream lends fresh flavor to the dish.

Related: Fast and Healthy Taco Recipes Worthy of a Fiesta

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Beef and Cabbage Wraps

Beef and Cabbage Wraps
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Shortcut ingredients like packaged veggies make easy work of this quick 20-minute dinner. Barbecue beef with corn is wrapped in a flour tortilla and topped with crunchy cabbage.

Related: These Easy Grill Recipes Call for 8 Ingredients or Fewer (But Are Full of Flavor)

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Air-Fryer Scallops with Lemon-Herb Sauce

Air Fryer Scallops with Lemon-Herb Sauce
Credit: Jennifer Causey
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You're just 6 ingredients (plus salt, pepper, and oil) away from this superb 20-minute meal. The showy, low-carb entrée combines scallops with capers, tangy lemon, and peppery parsley. No one will guess this quick and easy seafood dish came from the air fryer.

Buy It: Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer ($100, Amazon)

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    1 of 25 Garlic-Lime Pork with Farro and Kale
    2 of 25 Chicken with Parmesan Noodles
    3 of 25 Apple-Pecan Pork Chops
    4 of 25 Lemon-Ginger Fish
    5 of 25 Garlicky Zucchini Noodles
    6 of 25 Turkey Steaks with Spinach, Pears, and Blue Cheese
    7 of 25 Quick Pork-and-Vegetable Fried Brown Rice
    8 of 25 Greek-Seasoned Pork with Lemon Couscous
    9 of 25 Smoked Salmon Flatbread
    10 of 25 Smoked Chicken Salad with Broken Raspberry Vinaigrette
    11 of 25 Jamaican Pork Stir-Fry
    12 of 25 Fettuccine Alfredo with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Veggies
    13 of 25 White Bean Tuna Salad
    14 of 25 Chicken with Capers
    15 of 25 Salmon-Potato Cakes
    16 of 25 Irish Stout, Beef, and Cabbage Stir-Fry
    17 of 25 Apricot Pork with Garlic Green Beans
    18 of 25 Skillet Vegetables on Cheese Toast
    19 of 25 Focaccia-Camembert Pizza
    20 of 25 Chunky Bean and Chicken Chili
    21 of 25 Chimichurri Chicken
    22 of 25 Lemon-Caper Tuna and Noodles with Alfredo
    23 of 25 Fish Tostadas with Chili-Lime Cream
    24 of 25 Beef and Cabbage Wraps
    25 of 25 Air-Fryer Scallops with Lemon-Herb Sauce

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    Our Best 20-Minute Dinners for Simple Yet Flavor-Packed Meals
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