9 x 30 minute meal ideas to get dinner on the table, fast!
Looking for 30 minute meal ideas?
Preparing healthy meals doesn’t require hours in the kitchen.
When your freezer, refrigerator and pantry are well-stocked, you can put together a healthy meal in less than 30 minutes.
Setting aside some time to prepare a healthy 30 minute meal at home may sound like an impossible task – especially if you think it’s going to require hours of your time. When your life is busy and overbooked, spending a little time cooking at home may not be a high priority – and it sometimes just seems easier to simply eat out or order in. Instead, I’m going to share nine healthy meal ideas that you can get on the table in 30 minutes or less
I’d like to point out that I suggested spending “a little” time cooking at home – not “most of the day”. You really can prepare a healthy, home-cooked meal in 30 minutes or so, as long as you’re willing to spend a little time to plan ahead – making sure that your freezer, refrigerator and pantry are stocked with the everyday basics.
And the rewards can be really great. When you cook your own healthy 30 minute meals, it not only saves you money, but you also have complete control over ingredients, calories and portions. And, when you’ve got all the ingredients on hand, cooking a healthy meal can be a fun and creative way to unwind at the end of the day.
What to Keep in Your Freezer for Quick, Healthy Meals
- Fish filets – so easy to use, since they don’t need to be thawed before cooking
- Shrimp – cooked or raw; I prefer raw, which are less likely to be overcooked. Great for soups, salads, and stir-fries
- Loose-pack vegetables – great for sprinkling into soups, pasta dishes, omelets. My stand-bys are spinach, broccoli and edamame (green soybeans)
- Loose-pack fruit –for adding to shakes and yogurt
- Cooked brown rice or other grains – Make extra when you cook them, then portion into containers and freeze. They reheat quickly in the microwave
- Nuts –last longer if stored in the freezer; nice to add a healthy crunch to salads or vegetables
What to Keep in Your Refrigerator for Quick, Healthy Meals
- Fish filets: So easy to use, since they don’t need to be thawed before cooking
- Shrimp: Cooked or raw; I prefer raw, which are less likely to be overcooked. Great for soups, salads, and stir-fries
- Loose-pack vegetables: Great for sprinkling into soups, pasta dishes, omelets. My stand-bys are spinach, broccoli and edamame (green soybeans)
- Loose-pack fruit: For adding to shakes and yogurt
- Cooked brown rice or other grains: Make extra when you cook them, then portion into containers and freeze. They reheat quickly in the microwave
- Nuts: Last longer if stored in the freezer; nice to add a healthy crunch to salads or vegetables
What to Keep in Your Refrigerator for Quick, Healthy Meals
- Milk or soy milk: For shakes
- Eggs: For omelets, baked egg cups (see below) or added to soups
- Plain Yogurt: Thick Greek-style yogurt stands in nicely for sour cream or works as a great snack
- Tofu: Dice and add to soups and curries, or try my roasted tofu recipe
- Salsa, ketchup, mustard: All low-fat ways to add lots of flavor to dishes
- Citrus fruits and apples are fairly long-lasting. Add fruits to salads for a nice flavor contrast, or use citrus juices in cooking
- Peppers, celery, carrots usually last longer than leafy vegetables, so I think of them as staples
- Pre-washed salad greens, spinach, kale or cabbage: Yes, they are more expensive, but they’re super-convenient for putting together a side salad in minutes
What to Keep in Your Cupboards for Quick, Healthy Meals
- Canned tomatoes: Make a great base for soups, chili and pasta sauce
- Canned beans: Ready to be turned into a soup, curry or hummus dip
- Quick-cooking whole grains: Quick brown rice, millet, quinoa, couscous, whole grain pasta, freekeh (roasted green wheat) for high-fiber side dishes
- Canned tuna and salmon: To add to salads, pasta sauce or turned into ‘burgers’
- Variety of vinegars: Such as rice, balsamic, cider
- Dried herbs and spices: For endless flavor variations
- Broths: Such as chicken, vegetable, mushroom
- Oils: Olive and canola for cooking, others such as sesame, walnut for flavor
- Sauces: Such as soy sauce, Tabasco, steak sauce, Worcestershire
- Onions and garlic: Store these staples in a cool, dark place
30-Minute Meal Ideas Using Everyday Basics
Get dinner on the table fast with these nine 30-minute meal ideas! Once you’ve got all your basics on hand, it’s time to let your imagination run wild. Since none of these basics require extended cooking times, it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes to prepare your healthy meal. Here are some of my favorite meal ideas for putting a delicious, healthy meal on the table quickly.
Curried vegetables and chickpeas
Sauté ½ diced onion and one 1 diced zucchini (courgette) in olive oil until soft. Add two tomatoes, seeded and chopped and season with curry powder, ginger, garlic, cumin, cinnamon and cayenne. Add a can of chickpeas (drained), ½ cup (125mL) chicken or vegetable broth, squeeze of fresh lemon. Add frozen spinach leaves, cover, cook until heated thoroughly. Adjust seasonings. Serve on reheated frozen brown rice and top with a dollop of plain Greek-style yogurt.
Pasta with tomato sauce and shrimp
Drain a large can of chopped plum-style tomatoes and sauté in a little olive oil over medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes, until soft enough to mash with a fork. Season with salt, pepper, garlic and basil. Add frozen shrimp and cook in the sauce until shrimp is cooked through. Serve on top of whole wheat pasta.
Vegetable egg cups
This dish makes an easy, light dinner with a salad on the side. Spray cups of a muffin tin liberally with pan spray or olive oil. In each cup, add a few tablespoons of any chopped vegetables you like (frozen spinach or broccoli, onions, peppers). Beat one egg for each muffin cup you prepare. Pour egg mixture over the vegetables and bake at 375 degrees (gas mark 5) for about 20 minutes until puffed and golden.
Salmon cakes
Mix flaked canned salmon with chopped vegetables, light sour cream, whole grain bread crumbs, Dijon mustard, lemon. Form into patties and cook in a little oil until brown on both sides. (See how to make salmon patties in minutes.)
Quick black bean soup
Sauté ½ chopped onion in a little olive oil until soft. Add a can of black beans (drained), two cups (500mL) chicken broth and season with cumin, garlic, oregano and heat thoroughly. Mash some of the beans with a fork then add to the liquid to thicken the soup. Delicious topped with some plain yogurt, diced avocado, a spoonful of salsa.
Glazed chicken tenderloins
Season chicken tenderloins (goujons) with salt and pepper. Brown chicken pieces on one side in a little olive oil in single layer in a large skillet. Turn chicken over, add a few tablespoons water, broth, wine, balsamic vinegar, or citrus juice. Cover, lower heat and cook for 5 minutes until cooked through. Remove chicken pieces from skillet, turn heat back to high and cook juices until reduced to a glaze. Turn off heat, add chicken pieces back to pan and turn to coat. Serve with veggies and quinoa.
Fish tacos
Rinse frozen fish filets quickly to remove any ice. Pat dry, season with salt and pepper and sauté in a little canola oil until browned on one side. Turn, cover and cook until fish can be flaked easily with a fork. While fish is cooking, mix some shredded cabbage with a little olive oil, lime juice, pinch of sugar, salt and pepper. Top corn tortillas with fish, cabbage mixture and salsa.
Quick soba noodle soup
Heat four 4 cups (one liter) vegetable or chicken broth with a dash of soy sauce, sprinkle of ginger, garlic powder, white pepper and a drizzle of sesame oil. Bring to a boil, then add one bundle (three ounces, 90g) dry soba noodles and cook until noodles are almost done. Add diced tofu, handful of edamame soybeans and some chopped spinach from the freezer and continue cooking until heated through. You can also drizzle in a beaten egg for some extra protein at the last minute—it’ll cook quickly in the heated broth.
Curried tuna and whole grain salad
A nice meal for a warm evening. Toss your favorite cooked and cooled whole grain (couscous or quinoa are particularly good for this) with chopped vegetables (try spring onion, cucumber and carrots) and canned water-packed tuna. Add some diced fruit (apple, orange, mango) and dress with olive oil, rice vinegar, curry powder, salt and pepper.
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