17 Quick Dinner Recipes in 20 Minutes or Less (2024)

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From spicy steamed mussels with 'nduja to a simple stovetop mac and cheese, these recipes are full of flavor and come together in a flash.

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Updated September 06, 2023

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17 Quick Dinner Recipes in 20 Minutes or Less (1)

When was the last time you weren't too busy to make dinner? Being crunched for time seems like the general feeling these days. While preparing something delicious at the end of a long day may seem like a daunting and time-consuming task, it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of dishes—especially those that lean on seafood or pantry staples—that are full of flavor and still come together in a flash. From spicy steamed mussels with 'nduja, to a simple stovetop mac and cheese, and a Chinese-style layered omelette, these are our favorite quick dinner recipes that come together in 20 minutes or less.

Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Nasi goreng, Indonesia's version of fried rice, gets a sweet and savory profile from kecap manis and a big hit of umami from shrimp paste.
Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
XO Mazemen (Broth-less Ramen With XO Sauce)
This take on mazemen, or "mixed noodles," a soup-less variation on ramen, incorporates powerfully savory XO sauce to make a flavorful ramen that takes all of five minutes to prepare. Our vegetarian and bacon and egg versions are also worth trying.
XO Mazemen (Broth-less Ramen With XO Sauce)
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Perfect Egg Fried Rice (On Whatever Gear You Have)
This egg fried rice recipe is designed to work with any cooking setup, whether you're lucky enough to have a true flaming-hot wok burner or are just using a nonstick skillet on an electric cooktop.
Perfect Egg Fried Rice (On Whatever Gear You Have)
3-Ingredient Stovetop Mac and Cheese
This simple mac and cheese recipe has fewer ingredients than the boxed version but comes together in the same amount of time.
3-Ingredient Stovetop Mac and Cheese
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Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)
Quick and easy, this popular restaurant dish is easy to perfect at home with just a handful of ingredients.
Oyakodon (Japanese Chicken and Egg Rice Bowl)
Instant Ramen Fried Rice
Sure, a cup of instant noodles is a quick and easy snack, but with a little effort, you can whip up a delicious, almost-as-instant fried rice that serves two.
Instant Ramen Fried Rice
The Best Moules Marinières (Sailor-Style Mussels)
Inexpensive, elegant, and easy, these mussels are the ultimate one-pot meal.
The Best Moules Marinières (Sailor-Style Mussels)
Spicy Steamed Mussels With 'Nduja
Spicy, funky Calabrian sausage is the perfect companion to briny, sweet, steamed mussels—and they come together in 20 minutes flat.
Spicy Steamed Mussels With 'Nduja
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Stovetop 'Nduja Mac and Cheese
Gooey, spicy, meaty mac and cheese—all it takes is four pantry-friendly ingredients and 10 minutes of your time.
Stovetop 'Nduja Mac and Cheese
Cantonese Slippery Eggs with Tofu and Peas
If you love egg drop soup, you’ll love its comforting, meal-worthy cousin.
Cantonese Slippery Eggs with Tofu and Peas
Spaghetti con la Colatura di Alici (Pasta With Colatura)
This simple pasta dish is like an amped-up sibling to aglio e olio flavored with Italian aged fish sauce.
Spaghetti con la Colatura di Alici (Pasta With Colatura)
Chinese-Style Layered Omelette
With just eggs, salt, scallions, and soy sauce, you can make a luxurious-seeming weeknight meal in about 15 minutes.
Chinese-Style Layered Omelette
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Spaghetti Puttanesca (Spaghetti With Capers, Olives, and Anchovies)
Spaghetti puttanesca packs an aromatic punch thanks to garlic, anchovies, capers, and olives.
Spaghetti Puttanesca (Spaghetti With Capers, Olives, and Anchovies)
Katsudon (Japanese Chicken or Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl)
This Japanese comfort food classic smothers fried cutlets with seasoned dashi and lightly cooked egg.
Katsudon (Japanese Chicken or Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl)
Crispy Pan-Seared Salmon Fillets
Extra-crunchy skin and perfectly tender fish? Believe us, it's possible!
Crispy Pan-Seared Salmon Fillets
Teriyaki-Glazed Salmon, Cucumber, and Avocado Rice Bowls
A sweet, savory, crunchy, and fresh meal for a weekday night? Rice bowls are as easy as it gets.
Teriyaki-Glazed Salmon, Cucumber, and Avocado Rice Bowls
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5-Minute Miso Glazed Salmon
Charred, sweet and savory with a tender interior, this is about as good as salmon gets.
5-Minute Miso Glazed Salmon