10 Meals To Make In 30-Minutes (Or Less) During A Busy Week

After a long day at work, making a meal may feel like a marathon that you won't be able to finish. It's tempting to spread peanut butter and jelly on bread and call it dinner, but there are simpler and more satisfying recipes that will minimize the time you spend in the kitchen preparing dinner.

You may be skeptical of 30-minute meals, but they are possible. These 10 recipes are the real deal — and provide a more satisfying end result than a PB&J. 

Have dinner on the table in 15 minutes with this dish. This recipe requires only a few easy-to-find ingredients — broth, beans, greens, and eggs. You can use any type of mild greens, like spinach, chard, collard, kale, or turnip that you prefer in this simple and delicious recipe that you can make for your family when you're in a bind.

For the 15-Minute White Bean Soup with a Soft-Boiled Egg recipe, click here.

There are really no limits to the ways you can prepare paella. One thing not to compromise on, however, is the quality of the seafood for this recipe. Look for fresh, wild-caught shrimp — they have better flavor. Add in chunks of cod, mussels, or scallops for variation. You'll have a hearty and delicious dish on the table in 30 minutes.

For the 30 Minute Paella recipe, click here.

This recipe is both quick and easy to make for any occasion. To make a sweeter-tasting shrimp, use honey, says special contributor Robin Selden. You can even add barbecue sauce to this recipe for a sweet spicy kick. Add a simple salad on the side and you'll have a complete meal. 

For the Honey Glazed Shrimp recipe, click here.

Need to make a meal out of next-to-nothing? Poof! It's all in the magic of the mushrooms. This recipe couldn't be easier to put together and you can use just about any type of hearty mushrooms. The original recipe called for chanterelles, but you can use cremini or button mushrooms, says special contributor Patricia Conte. Sauté onions, peppers, and mushrooms add them to a tortilla and you have dinner on the table. It only takes ten minutes, max.

For the Mushroom Tacos recipe, click here.

This recipe is delicious, simple, and you can have it on the table in about 20 minutes. The chorizo gives the dish a nice kick which is a great contrast to the sweet mussels says Clodagh McKenna of Clodagh's Irish Kitchen cookbook. This one pot meal is great for a busy week night because you can throw everything in one pot let it cook and serve — it's that simple.

For the Mussels Cooked with Cream, Chorizo, Garlic and Flat-Leaf Parsley recipe, click here.

It just doesn't get any easier or more delicious than this. Sautéed ground beef, onion, beans, and Mexican-style tomato soup simmer together to make a quick and hearty chili that everyone will love. — Campbell's Kitchen

For the Quick and Easy Chili recipe, click here.

It can be hard to motivate yourself to get cooking in the kitchen after a long, stressful day at the office, but I promise this salmon burger recipe is just about as easy as it gets when it comes to creating a quick, healthy dinner. — Carly Goldsmith

For the Quick and Easy Salmon Burgers recipe, click here.

This is a simple salad recipe that you will have on the table in no time. Make your vinaigrette, toss, and serve. For this recipe you can use Perdue fully cooked chicken in order to cut down on cooking in the kitchen. 

For the Sesame Ginger Chicken Salad recipe, click here.

Here's a quick and easy go-to meal for those busy weeknights after work. This shrimp fried rice dish is also a great way to use up leftover steamed rice and incorporate quick-cooking shrimp. — Bee Yinn Low

For the Shrimp Fried Rice recipe, click here.

This baked pasta dish is simple to make and can be made in one skillet. One pot meals are perfect for busy nights — you'll get dinner on the table in no time and clean-up is a breeze.

For the Skillet Baked Penne recipe, click here.