Best 30-Minute Weeknight Meals

1

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Food / Drink

Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup chicken broth, ½ cup Parmesan, ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, 2 cups spinach, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning. Instructions: Season the chicken and cook it in olive oil for 5–6 minutes per side. Remove it from the pan. Add the garlic, cream, broth, Parmesan and sun-dried tomatoes. Simmer until slightly thickened, stir in the spinach and return the chicken to the sauce until cooked through.

2

Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Food / Drink

Ingredients: 1 pound thinly sliced beef, 4 cups broccoli, 2 tablespoons oil, ⅓ cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 2 minced garlic cloves and cooked rice. Instructions: Mix the soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, sesame oil and garlic. Sear the beef in a hot pan, then remove it. Stir-fry the broccoli with a splash of water until tender-crisp. Return the beef, add the sauce and cook until glossy and thickened. Serve over rice.

3

Shrimp Scampi Pasta

Food / Drink

Ingredients: 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine, 1 pound peeled shrimp, 4 tablespoons butter, 4 minced garlic cloves, juice of one lemon, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, parsley, salt and pepper. Instructions: Cook the pasta and reserve a little pasta water. Sauté the shrimp in half the butter for about two minutes per side, then remove. Add the remaining butter, garlic, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Toss in the pasta, shrimp and enough pasta water to create a light sauce. Finish with parsley.

4

Chicken Fajitas

Food / Drink

Ingredients: 1 pound sliced chicken breast, 3 sliced bell peppers, 1 sliced onion, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, juice of one lime and tortillas. Instructions: Toss the chicken with the spices and half the oil. Cook it in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove it, then sauté the peppers and onion until softened but still slightly crisp. Return the chicken, add lime juice and serve in warm tortillas.

5

Margherita Flatbread Pizza

Food / Drink

Ingredients: 2 flatbreads or naan, ½ cup pizza sauce, 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, 2 sliced tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Instructions: Heat the oven to 425°F. Place the flatbreads on a baking sheet and spread them with sauce. Add mozzarella and tomato slices. Bake for 10–12 minutes until crisp and bubbling. Finish with basil, olive oil, salt and pepper.