22 Easy 30-Minute Dinners for a Jam-Packed December Calendar

Delicious and fast meals you can lean on this month, whipped up in 30 minutes or less.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published December 20, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
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

The end of the year is a busy time for everyone, between buying gifts, wrapping them, coordinating holiday plans, attending the company party, going to the school choir concert—it can be a lot. If your go-to list of quick weeknight meals is feeling a bit, well, boring, don't worry, we've pulled some of our favorites for you to lean on this month. From our 15 minute Salmon Piccata to our nostalgic Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet, every one of these dinners will be done in 30 minutes or less, buying you more time this month for whatever's still on your to-do list.

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  • One-Pot Sausage and Orzo

    Angled view of a wooden spoon in a skillet of orzo, italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes and baby spinach

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "Once the dish is done, take it off the heat and serve it right away. The longer it sits, the more liquid the pasta will absorb and your dish will go from creamy to dry." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Ground Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

    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

    "For an extra fast meal, buy packaged broccoli florets from the bagged produce section of the grocery store." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Salmon Piccata

    Salmon Piccata wild rice, and lemon wedges on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "I love serving it over farro, orzo, or garlicky sautéed spinach, which catches extra sauce drippings but doesn’t steal any away from the fish itself." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Enchilada Skillet

    A beef enchilada skillet topped with melted cheese, chopped tomatoes, and sliced jalapenos, served with sour cream and additional toppings in dishes

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    "To make this dish feed a few more mouths, you can make a batch of rice and serve the enchilada skillet on top. You can also add pinto or black beans, bell peppers, onion, or Ro-Tel. I also love to mix up a batch of Aldi Southwest Salad and use it as a topping for a more filling meal." —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 22 below

  • Copycat Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo

    Copycat Olive Garden alfredo in a bowl with a fork, and in the surroundings, a white table napkin, a block of parmesan on a wooden board, and a glass with a drink

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Hannah Greenwood

    "If you don't have Parmesan cheese, use your favorite grated cheese instead (though it will taste less like the restaurant version)." —Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor

  • Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Bell Peppers

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "This recipe calls for zucchini noodles (or “zoodles”), which are often available in the refrigerated section of markets and cut down on the dish’s prep time. If your market doesn’t carry them, you can make your own using a spiralizer or a mandoline with a shredding blade, or just cut your squash into ½-inch cubes instead." —Georgia Freedman, Recipe Developer

  • Kielbasa, Potato, and Broccoli Skillet

    Overhead view of a white bowl of Kielbasa, Potato, and Broccoli Skillet with a fork next to a knif,e a skillet, bread on a cutting board and a drinking glass

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "Don’t stir too much. The dish gets much of its flavor and texture from contact with the skillet for minutes at a time." —Myo Quinn, Former Associate Editorial Director

  • Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet

    A top view of a skillet with the Cheesy Hamburger Skillet Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Lean ground beef, such as ground sirloin, works really well here because of its beefy flavor. Plus the cheese and cream bring enough richness to this skillet. You can use ground turkey or chicken; I’ve even subbed bulk Italian sausage in a pinch." —Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 9 of 22 below

  • Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup

    Overhead view of a bowl of broccoli cheddar soup with spoon on a plate with pieces of bread and next to a spoon and drink glass

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "This soup calls for an immersion or standard blender to smooth it out and create a creamy dimension before adding in finely chopped broccoli florets for texture. If you don’t have a blender, don’t worry! You can keep things more rustic (and even quicker) by using a potato masher to mash the vegetables or just skip it completely." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos

    overhead view of a sheet-pan of BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "Fresh pineapple is our top choice (snag a container of pre-prepped in the produce section for ease!), but I also use canned pineapple chunks when I’m short on time. Just make sure to drain them really well and lightly pat them dry with a towel before topping." —Claudia Cash, Recipe Developer

  • Skillet Chicken Puttanesca

    Skillet Chicken Puttanesca

    "The anchovy fillets in this recipe are highly recommended. They add a savory, somewhat salty depth and hardly any fishiness." —Sheryl Julian, Recipe Developer

  • Creamy Lemon Pasta

    creamy lemon riccotta pasta in a bowl surrounded by a table napkin, a glass of water, and a bowl of sliced lemons

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "For some added nutrition and a pop of green, add 3 to 4 cups of fresh baby spinach to the pan after cooking the garlic, stirring until it wilts. Frozen green peas or frozen chopped broccoli are also good choices—add up to a cup." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

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  • Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Sheet pan with cooked chicken strips and assorted vegetables surrounded by bowls of tortilla shells shredded cheese salsa and guacamole

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "My version of this easy sheet pan fajitas recipe calls for chicken tenders for the easiest possible prep. You can also swap in an equivalent weight of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, just plan for a few extra minutes to cut them into strips." —Deborah Koenig, Recipe Developer

  • Grandma Patty’s Chili

    Bowl of Grandma Patty’s Chili with sour cream shredded cheese and Fritos alongside a bowl of Fritos and a yellow napkin

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "While the chili powder in chili is non-negotiable, my grandma wasn’t too picky about what else went in here. Coriander is one of my favorites, but not as common a pantry staple as oregano and cumin. My grandma has even been known to experiment with options like a small amount of cinnamon or taco seasoning." —Joey Firoben, Recipe Developer

  • Pesto Chicken

    Four cooked chicken fillets in a skillet covered with green pesto sauce and garnished with basil leaves

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Abby Armstrong

    "This dish is practically made to be spooned over pasta, preferably long noodles like angel hair, spaghetti, or bucatini to catch all of that wonderful pesto sauce. Otherwise, serve the chicken with crusty bread and roasted vegetables. Zucchini, broccoli, or green beans would all go well with the herby chicken." —Megan Scott, Senior Editor

  • Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Kale

    Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Kale recipe
    Nick Evans

    "I really love kale in this dish (I like Tuscan), but Swiss chard would be a perfectly delicious substitute or even baby spinach in a pinch." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

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  • Quick and Easy Egg Drop Soup

    Bowl of egg drop soup with mushrooms and spring onions

    Elise Bauer

    "For this recipe, it's important is to stir the pot slowly—not rapidly—as you add the eggs. You want enough movement to make ribbons, but not so much that the egg just dissolves into barely-there wisps." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Creamy Tuscan Chicken

    creamy tuscan chicken in a pot next to sliced bread on a wooden board

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Heavy cream will give you the most luxurious sauce here, but if you’d like to lighten things up just a little, you can use half-and-half instead. The sauce will still be creamy but a little less rich." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • 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

    "You can use any color bell peppers to make unstuffed peppers, and it’s fun to use a mix for a colorful dish. For a bit of peppery warmth, add a poblano to the mix, or amp things up with a diced jalapeño." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Creamy Gnocchi With Bacon and Peas

    Creamy Skillet Gnocchi With Bacon and Peas in a skillet with a spoon at a table setting with a stack of plates, a bowl of chopped chives, and a small plate of bacon pieces

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster

    "The Boursin variety to use for this recipe is completely up to you. Shallot and chive, garlic and herb, or caramelized onion and herb will all work well." —Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor

    Continue to 21 of 22 below

  • 4-Ingredient Artichoke and Lemon Pasta

    A bowl of pasta with artichokes lemon and seasonings served with a fork on a white surface beside a beverage glass

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "If you can’t find marinated artichokes, the recipe will still work. Just add some Italian seasoning to compensate for the lack of spice in the marinade." —Amanda Blum, Recipe Developer

  • Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

    Four chicken breasts with balsamic mushrooms on a white serving plate

    Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "Use any mushroom or mix of mushrooms you like. Just make sure the pieces are roughly the same size, about an inch to an inch and a half. Cremini and oyster mushrooms are my favorites for this recipe." —Stephanie A. Ganz, Recipe Developer

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