My Favorite 30-Minute Meals That Aren't Pasta

Pasta isn't the only thing that cooks quickly when you're short on time. Try one of these 14 recipes that are all delicious and ready in 30 minutes or less.

Ground beef and broccoli stir fry over rice in a bowl at a table setting with a glass of water, a bowl of sliced scallions, and a bowl of sesame seeds — Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

I have nothing against pasta. In fact, I love it. But it's often too easy to fall back on pasta when I don't have much time to cook a meal. To switch things up, here are 14 non-pasta recipes to add to your repertoire of lightning-fast meals.

Shrimp Fried Rice

If you have leftover cooked rice, turn it into what one reader calls the "best shrimp fried rice ever!" It's a one-pot dinner that's incredibly easy to customize, making it a total crowd-pleaser.

Italian Greens and Beans

Bowl of Italian beans and greens next to a pot with more, a wooden board with lemon wedges, and a block of parmesan — Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

Using canned white beans makes this speedy meal taste like it's been stewing all day. No one needs to know it only took half an hour!

Chopped Cheese

Turn ground beef into a tasty sandwich with a vibe that's somewhere between a cheesesteak and a burger. It's a New York City bodega classic that's easy to make at home.

Tomato Rice with Chicken and Green Beans

Contributor Stephanie Burt says, "To save time, use shredded leftover or rotisserie chicken. Add the shredded chicken to the tomato rice at the same point the pulled chicken is added to the recipe."

Tortilla Española (Spanish Tortilla)

spanish tortilla in a cast iron skillet — Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Whip up this potato-and-egg dish and dine like you're in a Spanish tapas bar. It takes just four ingredients and gives your cast-iron pan a workout. Serve it with a simple salad for a complete meal.

Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

What's better than beef and broccoli? Thirty-minute beef and broccoli that's made entirely in one pot.

Unstuffed Peppers

spoonful of unstuffed pepper lifted from skillet with more — Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

Enjoy all the flavors of stuffed peppers without having to, well, stuff them! This is a complete, one-pot meal the whole family will love.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Whip up a restaurant-quality dinner on your stovetop in record time. This creamy, cheesy, flavorful chicken is sure to be a hit.

Microwave Shakshuka

For flavorful shakshuka featuring perfectly poached eggs in a fraction of the time, turn to your microwave. Add some crusty bread and dinner is served.

Baked Ground Beef Tacos

Baked tacos on a platte surrounded by bowls of toppings (bowl of shredded iceberg lettuce, bowl of diced onions, bowl of tomatoes, bowl of salsa, and a bowl of sour cream) — Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RD

Make a bunch of tacos at once by whipping up a ground beef filling as the oven preheats, then assemble your tacos and slide the baking sheet in the oven. It'll give you just enough time to set out toppings on the dinner table.

Creamy Chicken Florentine

You can make creamy, dreamy chicken with spinach and mushrooms in under 30 minutes—how cool is that? Enjoy as a protein-packed meal on its own or make some rice as the chicken cooks.

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus

You just need 30 minutes for this versatile meal that you can serve on its own or over rice, which you cook while the asparagus and shrimp are roasting in the oven.

Copycat Ronto Wraps

Overhead: Plate of Ronto Wraps Topped With Slaw and Dressing and a Plate With More Flatbread — Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

This recipe is inspired by an iconic dish at Disneyland, but it's incredibly easy to whip up at home and makes for a delicious weeknight meal.

Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

Four chicken breasts with balsamic mushrooms on a white serving plate — Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Contributor Stephanie A. Ganz says, "If your chicken breasts are particularly thick, consider giving them a light pounding with a meat mallet so that they will cook more evenly and quickly."