30-Minute Meals to Get You Over That Wednesday Hump

Read Time: 33 mins

30-Minute Meals to Get You Over That Wednesday Hump1/71 Skillet Mac and Cheese 96 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Skillet Mac and Cheese Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This creamy mac and cheese is so simple it’s almost too easy! Kids really go for the rich cheese flavor, but I’ve never met an adult who didn’t love it just as much. —Ann Bowers, Rockport, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 600 calories, 37g fat (23g saturated fat), 144mg cholesterol, 1185mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber),

23g protein

23g protein. 2/71 Tex-Mex Chicken Strips 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Tex-Mex Chicken Strips Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I was looking for a way to amp up the flavor of regular chicken strips so I crushed up some leftover corn chips to create a crispy, flavorful coating. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked chicken: 258 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 351mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein. 3/71 School-Night Sausage Stroganoff 8 Reviews Contest Winner

It’s a savory, creamy dish that’s quick to fix on a busy school night

Test Kitchen Approved School-Night Sausage Stroganoff Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I found this recipe in an old church cookbook about 25 years ago and tweaked it to fit my family’s tastes. It’s a savory, creamy dish that’s quick to fix on a busy school night. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups sausage mixture with 1-1/2 cups noodles: 675 calories, 39g fat (15g saturated fat), 123mg cholesterol, 1204mg sodium, 55g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g protein. 4/71 Mughlai Chicken 8 Reviews

This authentic Indian dish is a favorite

Test Kitchen Approved Mughlai Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I enjoy cooking for my family and try to incorporate healthy new foods into our menus. This authentic Indian dish is a favorite. —Aruna Kancharla, Bentonville, Arkansas Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 367 calories, 23g fat (10g saturated fat), 68mg cholesterol, 93mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 27g protein. 5/71 Refried Bean Tostadas 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Refried Bean Tostadas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 tostadas

Dinner is easy when I

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a change of pace, you can substitute purchased tostada shells for tortillas or add more lettuce and use taco salad shells. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1 tostada: 588 calories, 31g fat (10g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 1250mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 12g fiber), 19g protein. 6/71 Gnocchi with Spinach and Chicken Sausage 26 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Gnocchi with Spinach and Chicken Sausage Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Dinner is easy when I

can use ingredients typically found in my fridge and pantry

can use ingredients typically found in my fridge and pantry. —Laura Miller, Lake Ann, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 604 calories, 28g fat (12g saturated fat), 119mg cholesterol, 1226mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 27g protein. 7/71 Blackened Tilapia with Zucchini Noodles 9 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved MARK DERSE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love quick and bright meals like this one-skillet wonder. The way it tastes, you’d think it takes a lot more effort, but it goes from prep to dinner

table in half an hour

table in half an hour. The recipe works well with any light fish, or even shrimp. —Tammy Brownlow, Dallas, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 203 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 522mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 34g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat. 8/71 Shrimp & Corn Stir-Fry 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Shrimp & Corn Stir-Fry Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I make this seafood stir-fry at summer’s end when my garden is producing plenty

of tomatoes, squash, garlic and corn

of tomatoes, squash, garlic and corn. For a quick supper, we serve it over rice. —Lindsay Honn, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (calculated without rice): 239 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 443mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable. 9/71 Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza 15 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A chicken club pizza topped with lettuce,

tomatoes and dressing?

tomatoes and dressing? You’re in for a treat! Vegetables give the cheesy crust a cool crunch. —Debbie Reid, Clearwater, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 444 calories, 25g fat (13g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 939mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein. 10/71 Chicken Pesto Pasta 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved One-Pot Chicken Pesto Pasta Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When my garden basil goes nuts, I make pesto and keep it frozen in small containers for the right opportunity, like

this saucy one-pot chicken pesto pasta recipe

this saucy one-pot chicken pesto pasta recipe. —Kimberly Fenwick, Hobart, Indiana Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 404 calories, 18g fat (4g saturated fat), 76mg cholesterol, 646mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 30g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 2 fat. 11/71 Chicken Chop Suey 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chicken Chop Suey with a Twist Recipe photo by Kristina Vanni for Taste of Home Total Time 5 hours 50 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you’re in for a busy evening, here’s a great way to ensure you can still have

a healthful supper

a healthful supper. It’s tasty and traditional, and easy, too! Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 178 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 739mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable. 12/71 Pork Chops ‘n’ Pierogi 15 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Pork Chops ‘n’ Pierogi Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The Polish dumplings are traditionally served as a meal, with applesauce or sour cream. This meal in one is a different way to use pierogi. —Greta

Igl, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin

Igl, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 730 calories, 33g fat (18g saturated fat), 154mg cholesterol, 1207mg sodium, 72g carbohydrate (45g sugars, 5g fiber), 36g protein. 13/71 Sausage-Topped White Pizza Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love cooking, and I learned from Nana and Mom. Pizza is easily one of my favorite dishes to prepare. I switched up this recipe to make it my own. —Tracy Brown, River Edge, New Jersey Nutrition Facts: 1 slice: 242 calories, 8g fat (4g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol,

504mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 16g protein

504mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 4g fiber), 16g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 medium-fat meat. 14/71 The Ultimate Fish Tacos 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved The Ultimate Fish Tacos Recipe photo by Leticia Almeida for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe is my favorite meal to prepare. Adding my own personal touch to the marinade makes my fish tacos pop with flavor. I warm corn tortillas on the grill and add salsa, cilantro, purple cabbage and fresh squeezed lime. —Yvonne Molina, Moreno Valley, California Nutrition

Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat

Facts: 2 tacos: 284 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 124mg cholesterol, 278mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 4g fiber), 35g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat. 15/71 Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry 36 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Contest-Winning Thai Peanut Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Here’s a colorful and comforting Thai peanut chicken stir-fry with just a touch of heat from crushed red pepper. If you want even more color, add frozen stir-fry veggies. —Lisa Erickson, Ripon, Wisconsin

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 3 lean meat, 2 fat

Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 384 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 575mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 4g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 3 lean meat, 2 fat. 16/71 Tomato-Basil Baked Fish 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 15 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe works successfully with many kinds of fish, while the rest of the ingredients are things you’re likely to have on hand. Baked fish is so simple and so good for you. I make this often! —Annie Hicks, Zephyrhills, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 serving:

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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