Busy days and nights can make it tempting to reach for takeout or just a mishmash of random snacks in lieu of a home-cooked meal (anyone else ever have hummus for dinner? *raises hand*). This collection of 30-minute dinners has your back.
Whipping up a nourishing, delicious meal doesn't have to be a drag. With the help of some simple recipes, a well-stocked pantry, and a few smart tricks up your sleeve, you can be a weeknight dinner warrior and save the hummus for snack time.
5 simple tips for getting a 30-minute meal on the table:
- Multi-task: Try to have a couple of things going at the same time — but don't drive yourself nuts. For example: Make sure your oven is preheating or that your pot of water is heating on the stovetop while you do your meal prep. If you're planning on roasting veggies as a side, make sure those are in the oven while you sear your protein on the cooktop. Efficiency is key.
- Keep it simple: Riff on familiar favorites so you know exactly what to expect as you're putting together the meal. Save the experimental recipes for nights when you have a little more time to concentrate.
- Be prepared: Gather up all the ingredients and tools you'll need before starting the recipe so you're not scrambling as things are cooking. (And so that you know if you're missing anything and have to improvise.)
- Plan ahead: In that same vein, if you are using a new recipe or one you don't have memorized by heart, read it through a couple of times to make sure you understand the order of the steps. It'll also help reduce the number of times you need to stop what you're doing to consult the recipe.
- Stay organized: Place dirty tools in the dishwasher or sink as soon as you're done with them to get them out of your way. Also, put ingredients back in the pantry or fridge once you've taken what you need. The less cluttered your countertops, the quicker you'll be able to navigate your kitchen and keep things moving along.
