23 Dinner Ideas That Don’t Take Longer Than an Hour To Make

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23 Dinner Ideas That Don’t Take Longer Than an Hour To Make

Looking for dinner ideas that don’t take longer than an hour to make? You’re not alone. On busy days, it’s hard to find time to cook a big meal. That’s why these 23 quick and easy recipes are a lifesaver. These dishes are all about making your life easier. You can whip up a delicious meal in less time than it takes to watch your favorite TV show, and still have time to relax after a long day.

A casserole dish with broccoli and cheese.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

A baking sheet filled with vegetables and sausages.
Sausage And Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This meal is a mix of roasted sausage and colorful veggies. It’s done in 30 minutes, perfect for when you’re short on time. The sheet pan makes cooking and cleaning up easy, which is helpful on busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Veggies Sheet Pan Dinner

Cabbage and Sausage

Cabbage and sausage in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Cabbage and Sausage. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Make a quick and delicious meal with this cabbage and sausage. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes. This dish is great for a fast dinner, with the cabbage adding a sweet touch and the sausage bringing in some spice.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage

Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

A skillet full of meat and rice with a spoon.
Creamy Ground Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This meal features seasoned ground beef and mushrooms over cauliflower rice, topped with melted cheddar cheese. It’s a one-pan dish that you can make in 30 minutes, offering a fast and easy dinner option. It’s a good pick for a fulfilling meal on a busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Ground Beef Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

A casserole dish filled with broccoli and cheese.
Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This dish combines broccoli, cauliflower, cheese, and bacon. It’s ready in just 30 minutes, making it great for a quick dinner. It’s easy to prepare, which is perfect for those busy nights when you need something fast and filling.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole

Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Cheesy spinach and chicken casserole.
Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Try this Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake for a quick yet flavorful dinner. It’s made with marinated chicken thighs, cream cheese, mozzarella, and spinach, all cooked in 30 minutes. This dish is an easy way to enjoy a protein-rich meal with veggies included.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Spinach Chicken Bake

Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

A fork is being used to take a piece of Philly cheese steak casserole out of a dish.
Philly Cheese Steak Casserole. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

Enjoy the flavors of a classic Philly Cheese Steak in this easy casserole. It’s made with steak, butter, garlic, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and topped with melted provolone cheese. Ready in under an hour, it’s a fast yet flavorful dinner choice.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheese Steak Casserole

Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

Two bowls of sweet potato and red pepper soup with sour cream and parsley.
Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup, Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Make this warm Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup in just an hour. It’s a simple blend of sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, and a hint of spices like cumin and paprika. Add heavy cream for extra richness, if desired. This soup is a great choice for a quick and hearty meal.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup

Sausage Curry

A bowl of rice and sausage curry on a table.
Sausage Curry. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Try this one-pan Sausage Curry for a flavorful dinner. It combines sausages with various vegetables in a creamy curry sauce. Ready in just 45 minutes, it’s an excellent way to use up veggies you have on hand. Serve it over rice or on its own for a filling meal.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Curry

Fajita Baked Chicken

Fajita baked chicken in a baking dish with salsa and sour cream.
Fajita Baked Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Fajita Baked Chicken, ready in 30 minutes, puts a fun twist on traditional fajita flavors. It features chicken breasts seasoned with fajita spices and baked with cream cheese, sweet peppers, and mozzarella. It’s a crowd-pleasing dish suitable for both kids and adults.
Get the Recipe: Fajita Baked Chicken

Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Cheesy spinach and sausage casserole with a wooden spoon.
Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Cheesy Beef Casserole is a mix of ground beef, cauliflower rice, and spinach, all topped with melted cheddar cheese. It’s a simple and quick dish, ready in 30 minutes, making it ideal for a weeknight meal. It’s a straightforward way to include both protein and vegetables in your dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Beef Casserole with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach

Creamy Dijon Chicken

A pan with chicken, spinach and bacon in it.
Creamy Dijon Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Ready in just 30 minutes, the Creamy Dijon Chicken is a quick meal option for busy evenings. Seasoned chicken is covered in a dijon mustard sauce, mixed with spinach and bacon. It’s a dish that combines flavor and convenience, and goes well with cauliflower rice or steamed vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dijon Chicken

Fried Cabbage with Bacon

A pan with bacon and cabbage in it.
Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Fried Cabbage with Bacon is a simple yet flavorful dish. The cabbage cooks until tender and pairs well with the smoky bacon and sweet onions. It’s a quick meal, ready in about 25 minutes, perfect for when you need something tasty and easy.
Get the Recipe: Fried Cabbage with Bacon

Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

A skillet with chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce.
Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce is a quick-to-make meal, ready in 30 minutes. It features seasoned chicken topped with a rich mushroom sauce. This dish is perfect for a fast and flavorful dinner, and serving it with steamed vegetables makes for a complete, nourishing meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Thai meatballs in a skillet with a wooden spoon.
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

These Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs bring a unique flavor to your dinner table. Made with ground turkey, coconut milk, curry powder, and red curry paste, these meatballs are both inventive and tasty. The whole meal can be prepared and served in 30 minutes, making it a standout choice for a quick dinner.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs

Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

A skillet filled with chicken in a tomato sauce.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Try this Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken for a quick weeknight dinner. This one-pan meal features chicken thighs in a sun-dried tomato sauce, ready in 30 minutes. It’s an efficient way to enjoy a flavorful dinner, and pairing it with a salad or steamed veggies makes for a well-rounded meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

A pan with shrimp, tomatoes and spinach in it.
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach dish is a delicious blend of shrimp, garlic sauce, tomatoes, and spinach. It’s a meal that you can prepare in 30 minutes, suitable for special occasions or a cozy evening in. Serve it over rice or pasta to make it a hearty dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Chicken with spinach and cream sauce in a skillet.
Creamy Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

In just 40 minutes, you can enjoy Creamy Tuscan Chicken. This dish combines chicken thighs with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in a creamy sauce. It’s a quick yet elegant dinner choice, and goes well with steamed vegetables or a simple salad.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon

A white bowl of asparagus noodles with bacon and sauce.
Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon is a creative dish that’s ready in 30 minutes. It features asparagus turned into noodles, topped with homemade Alfredo sauce and bacon crumbles. This recipe is both fun to make and delicious, making it a great option for a quick and unique meal.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon

Creamy Garlic Chicken

A white dish with chicken breasts in a creamy garlic sauce.
Creamy Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Creamy Garlic Chicken dish is simple yet special. Chicken breasts are covered in a rich, creamy garlic sauce. It’s a one-pan meal that’s prepared and cooked in 30 minutes, perfect for those evenings when you need a quick yet flavorful dinner. Serve it with cauliflower rice or vegetables for a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Garlic Chicken

Keto Zuppa Toscana

Two bowls of soup with bacon and kale.
Keto Zuppa Toscana. Photo credit: Plays Well With Butter.

If you love Olive Garden’s famous Zuppa Toscana, you can happily enjoy it at home with this recipe. It’s a hearty soup with radishes (in place of potatoes), rich flavors, and is ready in under an hour. This comforting soup is ideal for a quick, fulfilling meal, especially on cooler nights.
Get the Recipe: Keto Zuppa Toscana

Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

A pan filled with chicken in a creamy sauce with artichoke hearts.
Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

Make a delicious dinner with Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts in just 30 minutes. This dish features tender chicken in a creamy sauce, enhanced with artichokes and a hint of lemon. It’s a flavorful meal that’s quick to prepare, perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Skinless Chicken Thighs with Artichoke Hearts

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Chicken pot pie soup in a bowl with peas and carrots.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup, Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Chicken Pot Pie Soup is a one-pot recipe that’s both hearty and comforting. It’s easy to make with simple ingredients, and you can have a cozy meal ready in 1 hour. This soup is a great choice for a family dinner during any weeknight.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Hungarian Mushroom Soup

A bowl of Hungarian mushroom soup with a spoon.
Hungarian Mushroom Soup. Photo credit: Real Balanced.

This Hungarian Mushroom Soup is a warming, flavorful meal that you can make in just 45 minutes. It’s a one-pot recipe, perfect for both quick weeknight dinners and relaxed weekend meals. This soup is easy to prepare, making it suitable for cooks of all skill levels.
Get the Recipe: Hungarian Mushroom Soup

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