20-Minute Dinners: Eggs, Shrimp, And 8 Other Ingredients That Make Cooking A Snap
20-Minute Dinners: Eggs, Shrimp, and 8 Other Ingredients That Make Cooking a Snap
20-minute dinners don't have to come in a to-go bag or out of the freezer section at the grocery store. With just a few basic ingredients and staples, like eggs, shrimp, chicken breast, and more you can have a delicious meal on the table in 20-minutes or less.
Herbs, spices, a can of tomatoes, and you are well on your way to a delicious and filling dinner the whole family will enjoy. So skip the delivery dinner or frozen pizza and satisfy your hunger with quick and easy dinners like this Lemon-Crusted Chicken Breast recipe or try a filling egg dish for dinner like this recipe for Shakshuka, a North African dish with Middle Eastern spices and flavor.
For more dinner ideas, like classic red beans and rice, simple soups, and more and how to stock your pantry for 20-minute dinner success, check out our list of ingredients to keep on hand for simple, fast last minute dinners.
Beans
It is never a bad idea to have beans on hand (dried or canned) for a quick dinner. This shelf-stable ingredient is perfect for soups, stews, and more. Try this recipe for a Simple Black Bean Soup or this simplified, quick-cooking Skillet Cassoulet recipe that uses kidney or cannellini beans. Check out our guide on how to cook every type of bean for more recipe ideas.
Chicken
You won't have time for whole roasted chicken in 20 minutes, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy Crispy Chicken Parmesan or this recipe for the Easiest Chicken Satay, perfect with a side of peanut sauce. Try this recipe for Sticky Sesame Chicken with Broccolini and Brown Rice or check out some of our 35 favorite chicken recipes for busy weeknights.
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Chickpeas
This member of the legume family can be found canned or dried and makes a delicious, protein-packed addition to any weeknight meal. For speed, use canned chickpeas that don't require soaking. Then, turn your chickpeas into hunger-satisfying veggie burgers, like this recipe for a Quinoa and Chickpea Burger or serve the protein-rich chickpeas with curried rice for a filling dinner.
Eggs
Eggs are the ultimate quick-cooking wonder food. You can enjoy them scrambled, boiled, poached, and fried, as well as added to soups for richness, sauces for pasta, and more. Add a fried egg to just about anything for just about anything for even more delicious flavor. For more quick cooking egg recipe ideas, check out our favorite one egg recipes.
Ground Beef
A pound of ground beef can go a long way in the kitchen when you are pressed for time around dinner. Turn ground beef into thick juicy burgers or a Bolognese with the addition of just a few other basic ingredients and seasonings. Simple baked ziti casserole will feed an unexpected crowd or simply serve sautéed ground beef over rice.
Pasta
Dried pasta will keep in the pantry for at least two years. Plenty of time for you to use up this classic quick-cooking ingredient. Serve pasta cooked al dente with browned butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or if you have a few tomatoes and eggplant, make a pasta alla norma. Almost anything can be added to pasta for a delicious dinner from canned tuna to grilled chicken or fresh vegetables. For more pasta ideas, check out our complete guide to pasta.
Salmon
Wild salmon is a delicious way to add more omega-3s to your diet — even better — salmon is quick-cooking for those nights when you want a wholesome meal without the extended cooking period. Try simple roast salmon dishes, and add flavor with glazes and sauces as in this recipe for Baked Salmon with Tangy Glaze. Try a delicious Salmon Burger recipe or Grilled Salmon Teriyaki you can make in 20-minutes or less.
Sausage
Sausage links are just as good for dinner as they are for brunch. Slice and sauté sausage with garlic and red pepper flakes for a spicy addition to rice, beans, soups, or pastas. Additionally, you can remove links from their casing to use the seasoned meat inside to amp up the flavor in a Bolognese sauce or make a quick sausage, veggies, and egg scramble. Try recipes like these Hearty Sausage Mini Quiche that you can make with store-bought pie shells. Add sausage to a Tuscan White Bean and Sausage Chili with Kale or enjoy these quick Sausage and Egg Rolls for a breakfast-for-dinner theme.
Shrimp
Classics like Shrimp and Grits, Shrimp Scampi, and more make for quick, filling, and delicious dinner ideas on the go. Buying shrimp already cleaned will save you some precious prep time in the kitchen or you can boil shrimp in shells for more flavor, turning the peeling into a dinnertime activity. Try some of our favorite easy shrimp recipes like this one for Grilled Shrimp With a Cilantro-Chili Sauce or Shrimp Fried Rice that you can make with leftover take-out rice.
Tofu
For vegetarians and carnivores alike, tofu can be a delicious and filling addition to dinner. Tofu is relatively stable, and most store-bought brands will keep in the fridge for more than a week. A simple Soft Tofu and Vegetable Soup will warm you up in no time, or try this quick and easy Roasted Tofu Stir-Fry recipe.