30 Real Food Meals Made in 30 Minutes or Less

In the past month we’ve been talking an awful lot about saving money on real food and simplifying our meals so it’s easier to put home cooked meals on the table.

I have to admit, my inspiration sparked after reading my friend’s ebook Eat Well, Spend Less. The book had such an impact on me and how I thought about my spending that it ignited all sorts of inspiration to create content around it. I know that I can’t be the only one struggling with keeping my food budget under control.

I asked on my Facebook page a couple weeks ago what the hardest thing about getting home cooked meals on the table was. Many folks talked about the cost (hence all the money saving tips) but next in line was the issue about time.

Many said that at the end of the day they were so tired that they didn’t have the energy to cook.

You know, they feel like doing what this little guy is doing.

Listen, I totally get it. I’m a work from home mom which is tiring enough, but there are times when I work outside of home (remember, I clean a house once every other week) and those days totally drain my energy. The last thing I want to do is cook.

Often times I look for leftovers or meals I’ve frozen, I look to my pantry to whip up something quick (Do you have a bare pantry? Check out these 3 tips for stocking your pantry) or I go to my tried and true recipes that I know take little to no time to prepare and cook.

In an effort to help you get home cooked meals on the table, even when you’re dog tired, I’ve gathered 30 real food meals made in 30 minutes or less. I’ve chosen carefully to make sure the recipes include ingredients you would normally have on hand, that don’t require a lot of prep work, and can be made in 30 minutes. There are a few that take 35 minutes and may have an oddball ingredient, but the majority are really simple.

Some of these recipes don’t contain the “whole meal.” Consider adding rice made in bone broth, simple mashed potatoes, steamed veggies with lots of butter (want more info on making veggies taste better? Click here), or a small salad. All of these take very little time and go well with any main dish.

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Breakfast for Dinner

Simple scrambled eggs and toast or an over easy egg on toast

Easy Oven Breakfast in a Ramekin

Baked Eggs with Sausage and Kale

Spinach and Feta Frittata

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Pasta

Creamy Mushroom Spaghetti

Nutrient Dense Mac and Cheese

Zucchini Pesto Pasta

Simple Pasta with Lemon and Walnuts

Tuscan Kale Caeser Pasta Salad

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Fish

Salmon with Lemon and Dill

Easy Peasy Mahi Mahi

Salmon, Spinach and Avocado Salad with Brown Rice or Quinoa

Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

Honey Garlic Salmon

Shrimp Kale and Wild Rice Melody

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Chicken

Garlic Chicken with Rich Mushroom Sauce

Garlic Parmesan Chicken

Grain-Free Chicken Fried Steak

Simple Chicken, Rice and Lentils

Grilled Lemon Chicken with Tomato and Feta Salad

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Easy Soup

Egg Drop Soup

Carrot and Ginger Soup

White Chicken Chili

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Beef

Zucchini Hamburger

Beef and Cabbage Bowl

Burrito bowls with homemade taco seasoning (add whatever toppings you want; we usually just do sour cream and avocado). Alternatively, you could take chips, sprinkle ground beef with taco seasoning on top, then top that with sour cream, cheese, and whatever other toppings you may have.

Cheeseburger Skillet

Real Food Beef and Broccoli

Sear steak on a skillet (seasoned with salt and pepper), add steamed broccoli and rice cooked in bone broth

Mini Corn Dogs

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Pork

Crispy Honey Pork Tenderloin

Simple Pastured Pork Chops

 

What are some of your favorite real food meals that can be made in 30 minutes or less?