Garlic Butter Shrimp
Shrimp sear quickly in butter and olive oil with garlic, lemon, and parsley. They are done when they turn opaque and the thickest piece reads 145°F.
20 min · Easy
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Quick Meals
Dinners that land on the table in about half an hour, often less.
Quick here means the clock, not a packet. Most of these are on the table in 20 to 30 minutes, with a few that finish closer to 15.
Read the ingredient list before you start. The speed comes from a short shopping list and a hot pan, not from skipping the sear.
26 recipes
Steak Fajita Quesadillas
Flank steak is cooked to medium, rested, and sliced, then tucked into tortillas with peppers, onion, and cheddar. The quesadillas toast in the same skillet until the cheese melts.
33 min · Easy
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Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas
Chicken is cooked to 165°F, bacon is crisped, and both are folded into tortillas with ranch and cheddar. The quesadillas toast until the cheese melts and the outside is spotted brown.
37 min · Easy
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Pork Schnitzel
Thin pork cutlets are breaded and fried in a shallow layer of oil until the crust is golden and the center reaches 145°F. They rest before a squeeze of lemon.
31 min · Medium
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Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Boneless pork chops sear, then rest after they reach 145°F while a honey, garlic, and soy sauce reduces in the pan. The glaze is spooned over the rested chops.
26 min · Easy
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15-Minute Beef and Broccoli
Thinly sliced flank steak and broccoli cook in a soy-ginger sauce on a hot skillet. The beef is pulled at medium, about 145°F, so the pan time stays short.
20 min · Easy
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Caprese Chicken
Chicken breasts are seared with garlic and Italian seasoning until they reach 165°F, then topped with tomato, mozzarella, and basil. A spoon of balsamic finishes the skillet.
28 min · Easy
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Lemon Pepper Salmon
Salmon fillets sear in butter with garlic, lemon zest, and plenty of black pepper. The fish is done at 145°F, when it flakes and the center is opaque.
20 min · Easy
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Turkey Burger
Ground turkey is mixed with onion, garlic, and breadcrumbs, then seared into patties. The center must reach 165°F and show no pink before the burgers go on the buns.
24 min · Easy
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Shrimp Tacos with Slaw
Shrimp are seasoned with chili powder and garlic and cooked to 145°F, then tucked into corn tortillas. A quick cabbage slaw with lime and mayonnaise goes on top.
25 min · Easy
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Chicken Stir-Fry
Sliced chicken breast is cooked to 165°F, then tossed with broccoli, bell pepper, and snap peas in a soy-ginger sauce. The whole skillet comes together on one burner.
31 min · Easy
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Beef and Pepper Skewers
Sirloin cubes and bell peppers are threaded on skewers and grilled to medium. Pull them when the center of a beef cube reads 145°F.
27 min · Easy
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Twenty-Minute Chicken Lo Mein
Chicken and vegetables hit a hot pan, then soft noodles and a soy-oyster sauce come together in one skillet.
22 min · Easy
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Skillet Chili-Lime Tilapia
Tilapia fillets are seared with chili and salt, then finished with lime and butter so the fish stays moist.
18 min · Easy
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Ginger Scallion Noodles
A warm ginger-scallion oil is poured over wheat noodles with soy and a little sugar. It is a side that eats like dinner with an egg.
20 min · Easy
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Skillet Sausage and Broccoli
Italian sausage and broccoli rabe's weekday stand-in, regular broccoli, share a skillet with garlic and chili flakes.
25 min · Easy
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Black Pepper Tofu
Firm tofu is seared hard, then tossed with a salty, peppery sauce and onion. The pepper should be the thing you taste.
27 min · Easy
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Pan-Seared Lamb Chops
Lamb loin chops are salted, seared in a hot pan with rosemary and garlic, and rested to 135°F for medium.
18 min · Easy
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Sesame Noodles
Noodles tossed with soy, tahini, vinegar, and sesame oil, then cucumber and green onion. A cold-or-warm dinner that does not need a long sauce reduction.
20 min · Easy
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Twenty-Minute Fried Rice
Day-old rice fried with egg, peas, carrots, garlic, and soy sauce. Cold rice is the reason it stays in grains instead of turning into porridge.
20 min · Easy
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Tuna Melts
Canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise, celery, and lemon, then melted under cheddar on toast. A 15-minute lunch that uses the pantry on purpose.
14 min · Easy
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Speedy Tomato Gnocchi
Shelf-stable or fresh gnocchi simmered in a garlic tomato sauce with basil and parmesan. One pan, about 20 minutes, and no meat.
20 min · Easy
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Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp cooked quickly in garlic, butter, and lemon. It is the skillet, not a pasta dish, though a side of bread or noodles will catch the sauce.
18 min · Easy
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Black Bean Tostadas
Crisped tortillas topped with seasoned black beans, lettuce, salsa, and cheese. A vegetarian plate that is done in about 20 minutes.
20 min · Easy
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Veggie Quesadillas
Tortillas filled with sautéed pepper, onion, and melted cheese. Fifteen minutes, one skillet, and a clean way to use a pepper that is about to go soft.
15 min · Easy
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Turkey Club Wraps
Deli turkey, cooked bacon, lettuce, and tomato rolled in a tortilla with a little mayonnaise. It is a 15-minute lunch, not a cooking project.
15 min · Easy
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