Home Recipes Meal Types Dinner
ByEmily Racette Parulski
Taste of Home's Editorial Process
Updated: Feb. 20, 2024
On busy nights, it’s quick and easy dinners to the rescue! All of these recipes require either 5 minutes of prep or 20 minutes from start to finish.
1/24
Garlic Toast Pizzas
Between working full-time, going to school and raising three children, finding time-saving recipes that my family likes is one of my biggest challenges. These quick pizzas pack a huge amount of flavor. —Amy Grim, Chillicothe, Ohio
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2/24
I'm a vegetarian, and this is a tasty, quick and healthy lunch I could eat for every meal. At my house, we call these sandwiches HATS: hummus, avocado, tomato and shallots. These are ingredients I almost always have on hand. —Sarah Jaraha, Moorestown, New Jersey
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3/24
Tuna Ciabatta Melts
Use any good crusty bread when compiling this tuna spread sandwich. Top with slices of crunchy cucumber or luscious tomato for extra freshness. —Barb Templin, Norwood, Minnesota
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4/24
Chicken Tostada Salad
If I don't have any tostada shells on hand for this speedy salad, I just heat taco shells, break them in half and lay them flat on the plates. It works just as well. Great Southwest flavor! —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
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5/24
Ranchero Supper
This hearty dish is fast and easy to fix after a busy workday. We like to use hickory and bacon baked beans and serve it with fruit or a green salad for a complete meal. —Karen Roberts, Lawrence, Kansas
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6/24
Quick Tomato Soup
There's nothing like a steamy bowl of classic tomato soup on a cold February day. The addition of sugar puts a sweet spin on this version. For extra loveliness, top with homemade heart-shaped croutons. —Jane Ward, Churchville, Maryland
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7/24
Quick Chili Mac
This combines chili with one of my favorite pasta dishes. I often serve it for company or potlucks and occasionally add taco seasoning or use beanless chili and add black beans. —Lee Steinmetz, Lansing, Michigan
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8/24
Asian Beef and Noodles
Asian beef recipes don't get much simpler. This colorful, economical stir-fry dish takes only five ingredients—all of which you're likely to have on hand. Serve with a dash of soy sauce and a side of pineapple slices. —Laura Stenberg, Wyoming, Minnesota
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9/24
Tortellini Carbonara
Bacon, cream and Parmesan cheese make a classic pasta sauce that's absolutely heavenly. It's a delightful option for company! —Cathy Croyle, Davidsville, Pennsylvania
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10/24
Meat Loaf Muffins
Serve these tangy meat loaf muffins for dinner or slice them up for a take-along sandwich lunch. They’re just as flavorful after freezing. —Cheryl Norwood, Canton, Georgia
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11/24
My first experience with this dish sent my taste buds into orbit. I first made this chicken and waffles recipe into appetizers, but we all love them as a main course, too. —Lisa Renshaw, Kansas City, Missouri
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12/24
Pepper jack cheese adds spicy flavor to these warm, melty sandwiches. —Terri McKitrick, Delafield, Wisconsin
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13/24
Texas Black Bean Soup
This hearty meatless stew made with convenient canned items is perfect for spicing up a family gathering on a cool day. It tastes as if it's made with love and yet it requires so little time and attention. —Pamela Scott, Garland, Texas.
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14/24
Sesame Cilantro Shrimp
On days when I don't feel like spending much time in the kitchen, I reach for shrimp. I can have a hot meal in the table in 10 minutes. —Tami Penunuri, League City, Texas
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15/24
Easy Gazpacho
My daughter got this gazpacho recipe from a college friend and shared it with me. Now I serve it often as an appetizer. It certainly is the talk of any party. —Lorna Sirtoli, Cortland, New York
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16/24
Pizza Quesadillas
When my husband and I needed a quick meal, I fixed this recipe using leftover ingredients. Unlike traditional Mexican quesadillas, it calls for Italian meats, cheeses and seasoning. Serve it with a green salad for a simple dinner for two. —Barbara Rupert, Edgefield, South Carolina
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17/24
Tilapia with Corn Salsa
My family loves fish, and this quick and tasty dish is very popular at my house. Though it tastes like it takes a long time, it cooks in minutes under the broiler. We enjoy it with lemon wedges with couscous on the side. —Brenda Coffey, Singer Island, Florida
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18/24
Korean Beef and Rice
A friend raved about Korean bulgogi, which is beef cooked in soy sauce and ginger, so I tried it. It's delicious! You'll dazzle the table with this tasty version of Korean beef and rice. —Elizabeth King, Duluth, Minnesota
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19/24
Cream of Cauliflower Soup
This mildly cheesy cauliflower soup is a favorite of mine. I make it often in summer, although it's good anytime. —Karen Brown, West Lafayette, Ohio
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20/24
Sweet 'n' Spicy Chicken
My husband and children love this tender chicken with its spicy sauce. Peach preserves add just a touch of sweetness, while taco seasoning and salsa give the dish some kick. —Sheri White, Higley, Arizona
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21/24
Spinach Ravioli Bake
This entree is unbelievably simple to prepare yet tastes delicious. The fact that you use frozen ravioli—straight from the bag without boiling or thawing—saves so much time.—Susan Kehl, Pembroke Pines, Florida
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22/24
Pineapple Barbecue Sauce Pork Chops
These tangy, tender pork chops are moist and simply delicious. And they couldn't be much simpler to make with only five ingredients! Can't find honey barbecue sauce? Substitute any barbecue sauce you like. —Laurie Stafford, Waterville, New York
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23/24
One of my husband's favorite childhood memories was eating his Grandma Barney's Tater Tot Casserole. One day I prepared it using potatoes O'Brien instead. Now I always make it this way. — Heather Matthews, Keller, Texas
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24/24
Tortilla Chicken Bean Soup
Tasty toppings jazz up this no-fuss soup that has Mexican flair. The recipe for this sure-to-please soup was given to me by a friend. I make it often for company, and everyone asks for the recipe. You can substitute pinto beans in red chili sauce for the regular pinto beans and cumin called for in the recipe. —Michelle Larson, Greentown, Indiana
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Originally Published: October 21, 2017
Author
Emily Racette Parulski
As a senior editor, Emily manages Taste of Home’s newsletter and promotions team and edits digital content. She has been writing and editing food and lifestyle content professionally for more than a decade. When she’s not working, Emily can be found in her kitchen baking something sweet or enjoying a scoop of frozen custard somewhere in Milwauk...
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