20-Minute Dinners For When Patience Isn’t On The Menu

When dinner feels like a chore and you’re about two seconds away from dialing for takeout, these 20-minute recipes are your saving grace. Who has the time—or the patience—to spend hours in the kitchen after a long day? Not you. These meals are so quick and easy, you’ll be done before you can even decide which frozen pizza to settle for.

Creamy Tomato Farfalle

This creamy tomato farfalle is a 20-minute dinner that brings a lighter take on traditional cream sauce. With peas and crispy prosciutto, it’s a quick, filling meal for nights when you need something fast.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Tomato Farfalle

Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas

Shrimp and steak fajitas with peppers and onions. — Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Steak and shrimp fajitas make surf and turf effortless. Simply seasoned and cooked on a single sheet pan, this 20-minute dish is perfect for weeknights when patience is running thin.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Steak & Shrimp Fajitas

Air Fryer Cod

This air fryer cod is a simple and fast way to get dinner on the table. With lemon and basic spices, it’s ready in under 20 minutes, giving you a tender and flavorful fish dinner without much waiting around.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cod

Shrimp Lo Mein

Skip the takeout with this quick shrimp lo mein. Ready in 20 minutes, it combines Chinese egg noodles, shrimp, and vegetables in a sauce that rivals your favorite restaurant, perfect for a speedy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Lo Mein

Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Garlic chicken bites with peppers and mushrooms in a skillet. — Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This garlic chicken bite skillet is a one-pan wonder, featuring chicken, mushrooms, onions, and red peppers. Ready in 20 minutes, it’s a straightforward choice when you need dinner done fast.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Sweet & Spicy Mango Shrimp

Mango shrimp served with white rice on a white plate with spoon. — Sweet & Spicy Mango Shrimp. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Sweet and spicy mango shrimp is a 20-minute dish that brings a burst of flavor to your table. The spice is balanced by sweet mango, making it a quick fix for when time is short.
Get the Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Mango Shrimp

Parmesan Lemon Chicken and Broccoli

This parmesan lemon chicken with broccoli is a go-to 20-minute meal. It’s quick, simple, and delivers a balanced dinner without requiring much effort.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Lemon Chicken and Broccoli

Air Fryer Brats

Air fryer brats are as quick and simple as it gets. Ready in under 15 minutes, they’re tender and juicy, making them a no-brainer for a fast and easy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Brats

Chinese Chicken Zoodles

Zucchini noodles with shredded chicken in a stir fry sauce in cast iron skillet. — Chinese Chicken Zoodles. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Chinese chicken zoodles are a 15-minute meal that packs all the flavor of takeout into a healthier option. Quick and easy, they’re perfect for nights when you need something fast and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Zoodles

Korean Sweet Potato Glass Noodles

These Korean sweet potato glass noodles are ready in just 15 minutes. Featuring stir-fried vegetables, beef strips, and a sweet and savory sauce, they make a quick, satisfying dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Korean Sweet Potato Glass Noodles

Air Fryer Skirt Steak

Air fryer skirt steak is a simple, fast way to get a juicy steak on the table when grilling isn’t an option. Perfect for a quick and easy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Skirt Steak

Blackened Cod

Blackened cod is all about simplicity. With pantry seasonings and a quick pan-sear, you’ll have a flavorful fish dinner in no time.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod

Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet

White skillet with buffalo ground turkey and cauliflower rice with a wooden spoon. — Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This buffalo turkey cauliflower skillet is a 4-ingredient, 20-minute meal that’s both quick and versatile. Great for dinner or meal prep, it’s a straightforward choice when you’re pressed for time.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Turkey Cauliflower Skillet

Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry

Ground pork and purple cabbage stir fry in a white pan. — Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This pork and cabbage stir fry is a quick dinner option that comes together in minutes. Ground pork, cabbage, and mushrooms are cooked in an Asian-inspired sauce, making it a simple, flavorful meal.
Get the Recipe: Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry

Air Fryer Sausage

Air fryer sausage is the quickest, most hands-off way to get perfectly juicy Italian sausages. Ready in minutes, it’s an effortless dinner solution for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Sausage

Gina Matsoukas

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.