19 Dinners I Make When I'm Too Tired To Cook (20 Minutes or Less)

When you're feeling tired and hungry, let these 19 recipes pave the way to a quick, satisfying meal. All of these recipes takes 20 minutes or less to make.

Overhead view of a blue plate with a serving of partially sliced honey soy chicken and white rice topped with green onions along with a fork and knife — Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones

Some weeks are so busy that the last thing on my mind is what to make for dinner. Whether this sounds like your every day or these kinds of weeks only pop up here and there, let the 19 recipes below pave your way to a delicious, satisfying meal in just 20 minutes or less.

Whether you're in the mood to slurp a soup, prep a hands-off sheet pan dinner, or make a casserole (yes, a 20-minute casserole!), there are lots of options.

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

"Chicken breasts come in varying sizes, from small to colossal. This recipe works best if you use chicken breasts that are about 7 or 8 ounces each." —Sara Haas, Simply Recipes Contributor

One-Pan Beef and Chickpeas

"My favorite way to serve this dish is with steamed basmati or jasmine rice. If you start the rice first, everything will be ready at the same time; a definite win for any weeknight." —Devan Grimsrud, Simply Recipes Contributor

Thai-Style Chicken Fried Rice

Thai-style fried rice on a plate with a serving spoon at a table setting with a stack of plates, a table napkin, a glass of water, and a small plate with Thai basil — Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

"For an ultra-quick dinner, go ahead and chop the onion, carrot, and garlic up to a day ahead of time and store it in the fridge." —Laurel Randolph, Simply Recipes Senior Editor

Brown Butter Cacio e Pepe

"Watch your brown butter closely. It can go from perfectly golden to burnt quickly. If you sense that it will burn, quickly but carefully transfer the butter into a heat-proof bowl to stop it from further browning." —Sharon Lehman, Simply Recipes Contributor

Sheet Pan Salmon With Feta Sauce

Overhead view of a sheet pan of salmon, vegetables and feta sauce with a bowl of sauce with a spoon — Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

"Instead of using broccolini, you could go with broccoli florets, green beans, asparagus, or even zucchini. Grape tomatoes can be used instead of cherry tomatoes, but if you happen to have regular tomatoes lying around, go with those. Just cut them into 1-inch pieces before adding them to the sheet pan." —Theodora Kaloudis, Simply Recipes Contributor

Chinese Tomato Egg Stir Fry

a plate of Chinese tomato egg — Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

"Chicken bouillon powder is a wonderful way to add a boost of umami with a touch of sodium. My favorite brand is Lee Kum Lee’s Premium Chicken Bouillon. This recipe accounts for the sodium already present in the bouillon, so you won't need any additional salt." —Frank Tiu, Simply Recipes Contributor

Skillet Pizza Chicken

A skillet with four cheese covered chicken breasts in tomato sauce, garnished with basil — Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

"If you want a little extra color and bubbly cheese, move your oven-safe skillet to the oven and broil for a few minutes." —Sara

Quick Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

"Cheddar cheese can be notoriously stringy when melted. To keep the cheese from getting too stringy, it helps to coat it lightly with some flour or cornstarch." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

Copycat Ronto Wraps

Plate of Ronto Wraps Topped With Herbs, Slaw, and Dressing, and in the Background, a Bowl of Coleslaw, a Plate With Pita Bread, and a Bowl of Dressing — Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

"You can simplify this recipe by using store-bought sauce, dressing, and coleslaw mix, if you like. Ranch dressing, sriracha mayo, aioli, or any other zingy and/or creamy condiment could easily take the place of the peppercorn sauce, and you can toss the slaw with your favorite store-bought vinaigrette or coleslaw dressing." —Coco Morante, Simply Recipes Contributor

Creamy White Beans and Greens

Overhead view of a bowl of beans and greens with a chunk of bread all next to a spoon and resting on a blue cloth napkin — Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

"You can use any canned white bean for this dish, but I prefer cannellini or butter beans as they tend to have a softer texture that works really well here." —Devan

Garlic Knot Salmon

Closeup view of a white baking dish of four salmon fillets topped with garlic butter, panko, and parmesan mixture and sprinkled with parsley — Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

"If you’re using frozen salmon fillets, be sure to thaw them completely, preferably overnight in the fridge. Drain off any liquid and pat dry before seasoning and baking." —Laurel

Fried Egg Tacos

"You could add some more substantial toppings to these like crispy bacon, sautéed onions, a little guacamole, or even a crema sauce." —Nick Evans, Simply Recipes Contributor

Honey Soy Chicken

"No rice vinegar? Apple cider vinegar works in a pinch." —Kris Osborne, Simply Recipes Contributor

Spanish Garlic Shrimp

"If using frozen shrimp, defrost completely in the fridge before using. Drain and pat dry with paper towels." —Julia Levy, Simply Recipes Recipe Tester

Quick and Easy Egg Drop Soup

Bowl of egg drop soup with mushrooms and spring onions — Elise Bauer

"If you can't locate any of the mushroom types indicated in the recipe, crimini (aka: baby bellas) will do just fine. Or, you can just leave them out all together." —Garrett McCord, Simply Recipes Contributor

Easy Taco Casserole

easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer — Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

"For this recipe, you need to use sturdy, thick-style tortilla chips and not restaurant-style chips." —Jasmine Smith, Simply Recipes Recipe Tester

Marry Me Beans

"For cooking purposes, I tend to prefer oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes to dry-packed since they stay moist and plump. I also love using the oil for cooking, from frying eggs to using it to make a vinaigrette. In this recipe, I use the oil straight from the jar to add extra flavor to the beans." —Laurel

Tortellini Soup

"If using dried tortellini, you’ll want to add an extra cup of broth or water to the soup, as they absorb a lot more liquid than fresh pasta." —Coco

5-Ingredient Gingery, Garlicky Ground Beef

Ground Beef with Rice — Simply Recipes / Myo Quinn

"If you only have full-sodium soy sauce, don't salt the ground beef. Right before serving, add salt to taste only if needed." —Myo Quinn, Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director