30 Easy 30-Minute Meals
Feel like you don’t have time to cook? Then check out this roundup of 30-minute meals that can be on the table in 30 minutes. (I repeat: 30. Minutes.)
There’s something for everyone: grilled pork chops, Asian-inspired noodle bowls, oven-baked salmon, salads that eat like a meal, sandwiches, wraps, and more.
We’ve organized them by protein for your browsing ease. Each group features a variety of recipes plus a few tips to make these meals even easier to put together.
Chicken | Seafood | Vegetarian | Salads | Sandwiches and Wraps
30-Minute Meals With Beef and Pork
These quick and easy recipes are best cooked over an open flame, either in cast-iron skillets or in scorching-hot woks. We’ve included savory marinades, Asian-inspired seasoning blends, and tangy salsas to top your beef and pork dinners.
1. Beef and Broccoli With Red Pepper
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, 1 Red, ½ Yellow
2B Mindset Plate It! A great dinner option. Add an FFC for lunch.
2. Grilled Pork Chops With Peach and Jalapeño Salsa
Container Equivalents: ½ Purple, 1 Red
2B Mindset Plate It! Serve with a side of veggies to make a great lunch option.
3. Ginger Soy Flank Steak
Container Equivalents: 1 Red, 1 tsp
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies for dinner. Add veggies and an FFC for lunch.
4. Healthy Sweet and Sour Pork
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, ½ Purple, 1 Red, ½ Yellow, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Serve with a side salad or more veggies to make a great lunch option.
30-Minute Meals With Chicken
Make these simple-to-prepare meals even easier by using a little meal-prepped chicken breast or a pulled rotisserie chicken in place of raw meat.
You can cut down on prep and cook times, leaving more room for some much-needed R&R.
5. Chicken and White Bean Soup
Container Equivalents: ½ Red, 1 Yellow
2B Mindset Plate It! Serve with a side salad or veggies to make a great lunch option.
6. Healthier General Tso’s Chicken
Container Equivalents: 1 Red, ½ Yellow
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies for dinner. Add veggies and an FFC for lunch.
7. Chicken Florentine
Portion Fix Containers: 1 Green, 1 Red, 1 Blue, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies for dinner. Add veggies and an FFC for lunch.
8. Peanut Chicken With Soba Noodles
Container Equivalents: ½ Green, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies to make a great lunch option.
9. Chicken Piccata
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, 1 Red, 1½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or more veggies for dinner. Add veggies and an FFC for lunch.
10. Grilled Chicken Dijon
Container Equivalents: 1 Red, 1½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies for dinner. Add veggies and an FFC for lunch.
11. Hearty Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Apples
Container Equivalents: ½ Purple, ½ Red, 1 Yellow, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Serve with a side salad or veggies to make a great lunch option.
30-Minute Meals With Seafood
If you’re looking for a light lunch or a savory dinner, try one of these easy seafood recipes.
If you can’t find any fresh seafood near you, frozen seafood works too, making these tasty recipes a breeze to prepare.
12. Healthy Fish Tacos
Container Equivalents: ½ Green, 1 Red, 1 Yellow
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies to make a great lunch option. Replace the tortilla with veggies for dinner.
13. Baked Salmon Dijon
Container Equivalents: 1 Red, ½ Yellow, ½ Blue, ½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies for dinner. Add veggies and an FFC for lunch.
14. Garlic Basil Shrimp With Zucchini Noodles
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, ½ Red, ½ Blue, ½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! A great dinner option. Add an FFC for lunch.
15. Shrimp and Coconut Curry in a Hurry
Container Equivalents: ½ Green, 1 Red, 1 Blue, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a side salad or veggies for dinner. Add veggies and an FFC for lunch.
16. Shrimp Noodle Bowl
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, ½ Red, 2½ Yellow, ½ Blue
2B Mindset Plate It! A great lunch option. Replace noodles with more veggies for dinner.
30-Minute Vegetarian Meals
These vegetarian recipes break up the meat in your week with legumes, super grains, perfect plant-based proteins (e.g., quinoa), and a little ingenuity.
They’re easy to prepare and perfectly suited to serve as hearty lunches or satisfying dinners.
17. Black Bean Chili
Container Equivalents: ½ Green, 1½ Yellow, ½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! For the vegan plan, serve with a side salad or veggies for a great lunch option. For non-vegans, serve with a side salad or veggies and replace half of the beans with a protein for lunch.
18. Grilled Veggie Quesadilla
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, 1½ Yellow, ½ Blue, 1½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a protein for lunch.
19. German Potato Soup
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, 1½ Yellow, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add more veggies and a protein for lunch.
20. Rainbow Veggie Flatbread Pizza
Container Equivalents: 1½ Green, ½ Purple, 2 Yellow, 1 Blue
2B Mindset Plate It! Add a protein for lunch.
21. Curried Quinoa and Peas With Cashews and Fresh Mango
Container Equivalents: 1 Purple, 1½ Yellow, 1 Blue, ½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Makes a great FFC side as part of breakfast or lunch.
30-Minute Salads That Eat Like a Meal
Take your salad game to the next level with this set of flavorful salads featuring barbecued veggies, creamy sauces, and tangy dressings.
From hearty protein-rich salads to elegant first courses, this speedy salad selection has your next meal covered.
22. Barbecued Cauliflower Salad
Container Equivalents: 2 Green, 1½ Yellow, 1 Blue, ½ Orange
2B Mindset Plate It! A great lunch option for the vegan plan. For non-vegans, replace beans OR corn with a protein for lunch.
23. Chicken and Black Bean Burrito Bowl
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, ½ Red, 1½ Yellow, 1 Blue
2B Mindset Plate It! A great lunch option. Replace brown rice and beans with veggies for dinner.
24. Healthier Caesar Salad
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, 1 Yellow, ½ Blue, 2 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Add protein for lunch or replace bread with more veggies for dinner.
25. Southwest Chicken and Black Bean Salad
Container Equivalents: 1½ Green, 1 Red, 1½ Yellow, ½ Blue, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! A great lunch option. Replace beans with more veggies for dinner.
30-Minute Sandwiches and Wraps
In the mood for a meal that can fit in your hand? These gourmet sandwiches and wrap recipes are perfect for an anything-but-sad work lunch or an easy, no-fuss dinner.
26. Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese With Arugula and Roasted Red Peppers
Container Equivalents: ½ Green, 2 Yellow, 1 Blue, ½ tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Serve open-faced with a side of veggies and protein for lunch.
27. Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
Container Equivalents: ½ Green, 1 Red, ½ Blue
2B Mindset Plate It! Serve open-faced on a whole-grain hamburger bun with a side salad or veggies for lunch. Serve with veggies for dinner.
28. Italian Bean Burgers
Container Equivalents: 3 Yellow, 1 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! For the vegan plan, serve open-faced with a side salad or veggies for a great lunch option.
29. Greek Chicken Pita
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, 1 Red, 1½ Yellow, ½ Blue
2B Mindset Plate It! Serve with additional veggies for lunch.
30. Turkey and Lettuce Wraps
Container Equivalents: 1 Green, ½ Red
2B Mindset Plate It! A great option as part of dinner. Add an FFC for lunch.