Top 10 quick and easy meals in 30 minutes or less
Cooking up an enticing and flavoursome meal doesn’t mean you have to chain yourself to the kitchen for hours on end. From breakfast, lunch, or dinner - we've got you covered. Whether you’re just too busy to devise some quick and easy meals, or you need a backup plan for when those surprise visitors pop over, this one’s for you.
We've compiled our top 10 recipes that promise a quick meal in just 30 minutes or less without compromising your taste buds – so you’ll always be in a good mood for good food!
Breakfast
1. Breakfast Hash
With a diverse set of ingredients such as potatoes, eggs, spinach, onions, garlic, and sausages, what’s not to love about this fast and filling hash? You can do some of the prep work up to 2 days before, so everything is chopped and ready in the morning, making the whole thing even easier! This one is a quick meal fit for a busy morning (and in the unlikely event that you have any leftovers, these can be frozen for another day). Get the recipe now.
2. Grilled Cheese Sandwich
OK so it might not be the healthiest option around, but really – a classic grilled cheese sandwich goes down well at any time of the day, and breakfast is no exception. If you find yourself busy in the morning, just put some cheese between two slices of toasted bread. This breakfast makes for a great classic easy meal, and you can even finish it off in the microwave once you’ve made your toast. Check out this super-fast recipe here.
3. Breakfast Quesadillas
Who says you can’t enjoy Mexican flavours for breakfast? If you’re looking for something a bit different for breakfast, check these quesadillas out. They’re loaded with eggs, beans, cheese and herbs to create a nutritious and delicious way to start the day. Find out how to make these high-protein delights in under 30 minutes here.
Lunch
4. Corn Fritters
These corn fritters are so quick and easy you can whip them up in 15 minutes. Most of the ingredients are kitchen staples (think flour, baking powder, eggs and cream), so if you you’ve got some fresh, frozen or canned corn kernels on hand, you’ll always be ready for a fast but delicious lunch. Check the recipe out here.
5. Garlic Bread Pizza
Just about everyone loves pizza but this one is even easier because it starts with garlic bread from the supermarket (just make sure you buy the type that is split in half lengthways, not the sliced variety). All you need to do is bake the garlic bread, add your toppings and pop back in the oven until the cheese is sizzling. This recipe includes making pizza sauce from scratch, but we’re sure the ready-made variety will be just as tasty for a quick meal!
6. Chicken Caesar Wrap
Caesar salad is one of the world’s all-time great meals. This wrapped-up version comes together in 30 minutes but you can definitely save time by using chicken that’s already been cooked. You can also buy ready-made croutons, but since you can make your own in about 10 minutes, home-made is a much better option. Here’s how to make these delicious wraps.
Dinner
7. Pesto Chicken Salad
This recipe will come together in about 5 minutes, so it’s one of the best easy dinner ideas. Seriously, we’re not joking. It all starts with store-bought pre-cooked rice that just needs to be heated in the microwave. Then you just mix through pesto, chopped chicken (or whatever takes your fancy), spinach and cherry tomatoes. Job done!! Here’s the recipe.
8. Skillet Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
A quick and creamy dinner, this Chicken Tortellini Alfredo starts with ready-made, frozen tortellini and the whole recipe comes together in just one (oven-proof) skillet. Including 15 minutes of prep time, you’ll have this one-pot wonder on the table in just 30 minutes. Here’s the recipe.
9. Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
When you’re craving for something warm and comforting, things don’t get much better than these cheesy chicken enchiladas. Start with a pre-cooked chicken and you’ll pull this one together in just 15 minutes, with another 15 in the oven. Melt your way through this recipe here.
10. Baked Feta Pasta
Super simple, super delicious and with just 5 minutes of prep time, baked feta pasta is an all-time flavoursome favourite! Pretty much all you need to do is throw a block of feta into the oven with some cherry tomatoes, oil and oregano and let it do its thing for 30 minutes. Cook some pasta to go with it and that’s it! Check out the details here.
Wrapping Up
Creating delicious and easy meals doesn’t have to consume loads of your time - our list of quick and easy meals to prepare in 30 minutes or less proves just that!
And if you want to be even more efficient in the kitchen, maybe it’s time to invest in some new kitchen equipment to help you do the heavy lifting. So, if you’ve been eyeing up that new Thermomix or air fryer but can’t afford it right now, we’re here to help. Just take a look at our cash loans up to $5,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, the cash is usually in your bank account within a few hours - so get your game face on for the next time you prepare a meal.