26 Cozy Winter Dinners in 30 Minutes or Less

December 16, 2020

Skip gallery slides

Enjoy a cozy winter meal with these dinner recipes. Each dinner is packed with hearty proteins and nutritious vegetables to create a balanced meal. With recipes like Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry and Sheet-Pan Maple-Mustard Pork Chops & Carrots, you’re only 30 minutes away from a satisfying and comforting dinner.

Start Slideshow

1 of 26

Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These seared pork chops are topped with a rich and creamy mushroom sauce that gets flavored with fresh herbs.

Advertisement

Advertisement

2 of 26

Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan. If you like a spicy kick, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce at the end.

3 of 26

American Goulash

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can cook in just one pot.

Advertisement

4 of 26

Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Though a chicken cutlet may be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe shows how to make chicken cutlets with double the deliciousness. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner recipe. The flavorful oil they're packed in is used to sauté the chicken, and the tomatoes go into the cream sauce.

5 of 26

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

If you've ever wanted to make a meal out of warm spinach and artichoke dip, this creamy pasta is for you. And here's what's almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

6 of 26

Sheet-Pan Maple-Mustard Pork Chops & Carrots

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You need just one pan for this satisfying weeknight dinner. A sweet and savory maple-mustard glaze livens up baked pork chops, while the carrots are jazzed up with flavor-boosting and anti-inflammatory garlic, ginger and turmeric. Rainbow carrots add colorful pizazz, but regular orange carrots are a just-as-tasty substitute. Pork dries out easily--using an instant-read thermometer ensures meat is cooked safely, but still moist.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

7 of 26

25-Minute Chicken & Veggie Enchiladas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These chicken enchiladas are great for using up any veggies you have lingering in your fridge. Our chicken enchilada recipe calls for zucchini, squash and onion, but you could easily swap in spinach, onions or potatoes.

8 of 26

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This creamy Cajun shrimp pasta dish packs plenty of veggies to lighten up the creamy sauce. The Cajun spice gives this dish a little kick, and the sour cream adds a nice tang to the cream sauce that coats the shrimp.

9 of 26

Lemon-Caper Black Cod with Broccoli & Potatoes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this healthy, 30-minute fish recipe, cooking the fillets skin-side down makes it easy to keep them intact when you flip them. Be sure to pat the fish dry before cooking--it's the key to getting the skin crispy.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

10 of 26

Tofu & Vegetable Scramble

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Feel free to customize this speedy tofu and vegetable scramble with your favorite combination of vegetables and spice. Try to use veggies that will all cook at the same rate, like peppers, green beans and sugar snap peas.

11 of 26

Dijon Salmon with Green Bean Pilaf

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this quick dinner recipe, the delicious garlicky-mustardy mayo that tops baked salmon is very versatile. Make extra to use as a dip for fries or to jazz up tuna salad. Precooked brown rice helps get this healthy dinner on the table fast, but if you have other leftover whole grains, such as quinoa or farro, they work well here too.

12 of 26

Creamy Broccoli Pasta

Credit: Brie Passano

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

If you're looking for a simple weeknight pasta dish, look no further. This vegetarian dinner is done in only 20 minutes and packs plenty of broccoli along with creamy goodness thanks to mascarpone cheese and low-fat Greek yogurt.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

13 of 26

Low-Carb Vegetable Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This low-carb vegetable soup is chock-full of veggies swimming in a creamy coconut broth flavored with Thai red curry paste. It's hearty enough to eat on its own, but feel free to add chicken or tofu to boost the protein.

14 of 26

Italian Fish Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This fish and shrimp stew is often served over crostini or toast. With less than 200 calories per serving, it makes a great diet lunch or light dinner.

15 of 26

Spaghetti Squash Lo Mein

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Swap regular noodles for veggie noodles in this low-calorie, healthy spaghetti squash recipe. For a fun presentation, serve the lo mein in the hollowed-out spaghetti squash boat. If you like it hot, serve with extra Sriracha.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

16 of 26

Chicken-&-Mushroom Marsala

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For the best flavor in this classic one-pan chicken dinner recipe use real Marsala wine, not the cooking-wine kind. Serve with mashed potatoes.

17 of 26

Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy inside-out ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food--no layering or mixing bowls required. Feel free to swap in ground turkey for the beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also called "pearls") in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.

18 of 26

Easy Vegetarian Chili

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit--sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

19 of 26

Creamy Salmon & Sugar Snap Cauliflower Gnocchi

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Tender cauliflower gnocchi combine with a quick cream sauce, tender peas and flaky salmon for an unforgettable weeknight dinner. This one is so good you might make it for special occasions. If you don't like smoked salmon, use fresh.

20 of 26

Salmon Alfredo

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A low-fat white sauce, made with fat-free milk, coats the salmon, pasta, and broccoli in this complete 30-minute meal.

21 of 26

Pork Paprikash with Cauliflower "Rice"

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Cut carbs and calories by using cauliflower "rice" instead of regular rice in this 30-minute pork paprikash recipe.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

22 of 26

Vegan Cauliflower Alfredo

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Unbelievably rich and creamy, this easy vegan Alfredo is bound to become a favorite. Be sure to check the ingredient list on your unsweetened almond milk, as some contain vanilla flavoring even if they aren't labeled as such. For this recipe, you'll want almond milk without any vanilla.

23 of 26

Sloppy Joe-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Take sloppy Joes to a new level with tender sweet potatoes standing in for the bun. Sweet potatoes pair perfectly with the tangy, flavorful filling of ground beef, black beans and spices. Chopped dill pickle sprinkled on top adds crunch to this quick weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

24 of 26

Adobo Chicken & Kale Enchiladas

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Put out your favorite toppings for these quick and healthy layered enchiladas. We like cilantro, sour cream, guacamole and jalapeños.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

25 of 26

Broccoli, Mushroom & Beef Stir-Fry

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy beef and broccoli stir-fry recipe has a Korean-inspired gochujang sauce. Because stir-fries cook up quickly, have all the ingredients prepped and next to the stove before you turn on the heat. Serve over brown rice or rice noodles.

26 of 26

Baked Beans with Ground Beef

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Upgrade baked beans from classic side dish to a meaty main meal by adding lean ground beef. The final result, a superfast hearty casserole, is an easy and fast dinner option. Ground turkey or even sausage would work nicely in this dish. Just watch the sodium.

Up Next