20 quick and easy 30 minute dinner recipes

Figuring out what to have for dinner each night can feel exhausting. All you probably want to do at the end of a long, busy day is slip into your coziest clothes, cuddle up on the couch, and order takeaways.

But if you're looking for something a little easier on the wallet (and your figure) then check out these incredible 30-minute dinner recipes. Remember - short on time doesn't have to mean short on flavour!

Family lamb stir-fry

With all the goodness of iron, carbohydrates, and minerals perfect for muscle recovery, this dish is perfect to serve up post-exercise. Quick, easy, delicious. Suitable for toddlers.

Beef Skewers with Asian Slaw

Great for entertaining, these skewers use beef rump threaded with kaffir lime, mint and coriander leaves for a perfectly fresh taste. Serve with crunchy Asian slaw.

Thai Beef Salad

On the table in 30 minutes, this Thai Beef Salad is a great option when you feel like a lighter meal full of fresh, tangy & spicy flavours. Bulk it up with egg or rice noodles for a more filling meal. We love the extra crunch added by the toasted rice mixture, which is surprisingly easy to make.

Jalapeño Double Smash Burgers

Our Jalapeño aioli double patty smash burger is a crowd favourite that we love to make whenever entertaining guests. It’s a quick and easy recipe that tastes great. It’s comprised of two juicy patties topped with two slices of cheese, onion, tomato, lettuce and a spicy jalapeño sauce on a lightly toasted bun.

Lamb Satay Kebabs

These Asian style beef satay skewers are great for entertaining.

Asian style lettuce cups

Delicious and bursting with flavour, these Asian-style lettuce cups are perfect served as a healthy lighter meal. We also like to use smaller lettuce cups to create bite-sized tasty morsels, and serve on a large platter at the next Summer BBQ gathering. If you like to add a bit of heat be plentiful with the chilli.

On top of spaghetti

Mince is a favourite in Kiwi kitchens and we think this recipe will be your new go-to. Get the kids involved to help roll the meatballs and you’ll have dinner served in no time - but don't expect leftovers.

Triple Threat Pickle Lovers Smash Burger

There are those that adore them, and those that passionately hate them… so it’s safe to say pickles are a somewhat controversial burger addition. Well, in this multilayered burger sensation, pickle is the hero! Pickle-infused ‘smash’ patties are layered up with three types of pickle – sauerkraut, homemade picked red onions and sliced pickles, and three cheeses – cheddar, smoked and swiss.

Beef schnitzel

Melt in your mouth beef, complemented by a delicious, tangy crunch - this beef schnitzel is the perfect mid-week meal, and even better with help from little hands in the kitchen.

Beef Steak with Mango Salsa

Delicious beef rump steak is grilled and served with a fresh and spicy mango salsa.

Seared steak with spaghetti

We will happily eat pasta all year round but there is something extra tasty about summer pasta. The fresh tomatoes and herbs complement the seared steak beautifully.

Moroccan meatball feast

This meal is packed full of delicious Moroccan flavors and is sure to satisfy a hungry household.

Lamb and aioli pizza

This lamb pizza is easy to make and easier to eat - a great alternative to takeaways! Perfect for a dinner or lunch for two, or when entertaining - quantities could easily be increased to feed more people. Rump is the perfect cut of meat for this recipe – it doesn’t have too much fat on it so it’s easy to eat.

Nourishing Mexican beef bowl

A delicious and healthy deconstructed Mexican beef bowl, this recipe is sure to tick all the boxes. The mince packs the perfect flavour with just the right amount of spice. We love adding the coriander stalks to the mince for an extra depth of flavour. With a colourful mix of summer veges, don’t hold back on adding any that need to be used up from your fridge.

Cheeseburgers with secret sauce

Our secret sauce is easy and guaranteed to be popular, it makes this cheeseburger that extra bit tasty and satisfying!

Sizzling Chinese-style surf & turf

Take a hot and spicy twist on the classic surf 'n' turf with this Chinese-inspired interpretation. The oysters only need to be warmed through so that they can soak up a soupcon of the flavour and not become tough bullets. Beware Chinese chilli sauce - it's fire-hot and for those who don't care for its tongue-blistering heat, replace it with sweet chilli sauce or a mix of half and half.