58 Easy 30 Minute Meals for Busy Families

With over 50 great ideas for easy 30 minute meals, a healthy dinner will be on the table in no time. No matter what you crave, I have gathered together some marvelous inspiration for chicken, seafood, meat, vegetarian, pasta & gnocchi, and simple weekend meals. 58 Easy 30 Minute Meals for Busy Families

We all have those days where dinner needs to be on the table .... fast! Or days when we are far to tired to make anything fancy. So I have pulled together over 50 quick meal ideas that can be made in 30 minutes or less, and are ideal for busy families. When it comes to quick meals, most of us tend to fall back on pasta. I know I certainly do. And whilst I have included a few pasta recipes here, I have also found a wealth of other easy 30 minute meals from some fantastic bloggers to add a little variety to your dinners. Regardless of your family's taste, you are bound to find something that everyone will love.

Chicken & Duck

Keep chicken or duck breasts in the freezer for super quick meals. Breasts can easily be defrosted in the fridge overnight, ready to be quickly turned into one of these delicious dinners.

Seafood

Seafood is the ultimate in fast food. It cooks quickly, and is extremely nutritious. Frozen fish and prawns are snap frozen at the point of catch, and are handy to keep in the freezer for speedy meals. If you don't live near the sea, frozen seafood may often be a better choice than any available "fresh" fish transported long distances to market.

Lamb, Pork & Beef

Mince and lean cuts of meat cook quickly, allowing impressive meals to be produced in a very short period of time.

Oven Roasted Pork Chops with Mustard Sauce - Girl Gone Gourmet
Sauteed Sirloin Tips with Mushrooms - A Palatable Pastime
Italian Beans and Greens - Simply Healthy Family
Pork Medallions with Tarragon Cream Sauce - Platings and Pairings
Easy Dukkah-Spiced Lamb Koftas - The Cook's Pyjamas
Moroccan Lamb CousCous -Nutmeg Nanny

Vegetarian

Vegetarian meals are often under-estimated when it comes to fast dinners. With no meat to cook, meals come together very quickly and are extremely satisfying. Keep cooked grains in the freezer and a few cans of beans on the pantry shelf for speedy mid-week meals.

Pasta

Pasta is my fall-back when I need a quick meal. At it's simplest, a bowl of spaghetti bathed in garlic and olive oil will satisfy any hunger pains. Or make one of these great recipes.

Gnocchi

Gnocchi cooks much faster than pasta, so keep a bag in your freezer for super-quick, yet substantial, meals. Toss the cooked gnocchi with a simple sauce, and dinner is done.