Dinner in a jiffy – five simple-yet-delicious meals you can whip up in 20-minutes or less

Dinner in a jiffy – five simple-yet-delicious meals you can whip up in 20-minutes or less

A lot can happen in 20 minutes, but when it comes to meal time 20 minutes is the difference between hungry and hangry. We’ve all been there – you have the very best intentions of meal planning and prepping and yet all of a sudden it’s dinner time and there’s no dinner to speak of. Before you reach for your phone to order takeaway, take a peek at these simple-yet-delicious meals you can rustle up in 20-minutes or less, which is probably faster than a delivery driver anyway.

15-minute jacket sweet potatoes
If you are anything like us, jacket potatoes are one of those recipes that you never think to cook, but this cheeky little recipe from Delicious is here to change that. This delightfully loaded creation is topped with crispy chickpeas, crumbly feta and coriander so it can be made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and it can be ready and on the table in just 15 short minutes. Feel free to get a little creative and add a little crispy bacon, because everything is better with bacon.
Image: delicious.

Indian Butter Cauliflower Curry
Tucking into a hearty serve of creamy butter chicken is probably one of our favourite things about winter. It’s the epitome of comfort food but this meat-free version could very well give your favourite Indian restaurant a run for its money. It delivers the same satisfying culinary experience without having to deal with uncooked chicken, which is a win in our book. Plus, it can be whipped up in half the time! If you don’t have the desire to bang out a batch of homemade naan bread (who does?), grab some pre-made from your local supermarket, but brush it with a little melted butter, rub a sprinkle of crushed garlic, throw on some chopped coriander and give it a little sizzle in the pan before serving – it will give it a burst of flavour and make it feel homemade.
Image: Whitney Bond

Salmon tacos with pineapple salsa
While tacos tend to be thought of as a seasonal summer staple, for us they’re on the menu all year round. Think about it – who doesn’t love tucking into a little handheld parcel of happiness? That’s rhetorical, obviously, because tacos are life. These salmon-filled wraps are about as fresh and delicious as tacos can can get and make for a nice change from the regular chicken variety. The recipe calls for store-bought pineapple salsa but if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can whip up your own with some diced pineapple, tomatoes, coriander, red onion, a jalapeño or two, fresh lime juice, salt and pepper – it really is that simple. Here’s a recipe from Culinary Hill if you’re keen to get the quantities bang on.

Asian noodle soup
Okay so technically this one is 30-minutes, not 20. However, we’re willing to make an exception for this zingy Asian noodle soup because it’s the culinary equivalent of a big warm hug and honestly, we could probably all do with one of those right now. Whilst it may look simple, this soup packs a real flavour punch and you can mix and match ingredients ’til your heart’s content. If you need it to be gluten free, use gluten-free noods! Vegetarian? Sub the chicken for egg. Allergic to garlic? Swap it for ginger. It’s bloody brilliant and as soon as you have a slurp, you’ll see why we needed to include it.
Image: Well Nourished

10-minute sausage skillet with cherry tomatoes and broccolini
Taking the cake for the speediest meal on the list is this saucy sausage recipe that takes just 10 minutes. Not only is it quick but it’s tasty and budget-friendly, making it the perfect mid-week meal. Grab yourself four cooked Italian sausages, some plump cherry tomatoes, garlic (the recipe says two cloves but feel free to measure that with your heart), thyme, a couple of bunches of fancy broccolini and some basic spices and you’re ready to rock and roll. Whack it all in a pan over medium high heat for a few minutes, stir in some butter and Bob’s your uncle. Serve with some crusty bread.
Image: epicurious

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