🍲 5 Cozy Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less

• 💫 Prep Time: 10–15 min per meal 
• 🔹 Cook Time: 15–20 min 
• 🍽️ Serves: 2–4 (varies by recipe)

🍽️ Introduction

Some nights, dinner shouldn’t feel like a project.
You want warmth without the wait — the kind of meal that fills your kitchen with the smell of garlic and butter before you’ve even kicked off your shoes. The secret isn’t speed alone; it’s about knowing which ingredients do the heavy lifting so you can bring comfort to the table without stress.

I’ve put together five go-to dinners that I make when life feels too loud. Each one takes around 30 minutes (some less), all are family-tested, and each brings its own kind of quiet satisfaction. Grab your skillet, queue up your favorite playlist, and let’s make weeknights taste like weekends.

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🥘 1. Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken

There’s something endlessly soothing about a skillet of sizzling chicken bathed in garlic, cream, and herbs.
This one hits that sweet spot between comfort and elegance — perfect for date nights or rainy Tuesdays.

You’ll need:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• Fresh thyme or parsley

How to make it:
Sear chicken in butter until golden. Add garlic, then pour in broth and cream. Simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Finish with herbs and serve over rice or pasta.

Serving tip: Add roasted cherry tomatoes for color and brightness.

cast iron pan ceramic skillet

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🍝 2. One-Pan Creamy Tomato Pasta

Minimal cleanup, maximum flavor.
You’ll make everything — sauce and pasta — in one pot.

You’ll need:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 cups chicken or veggie broth
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• ½ lb pasta of choice
• ¼ cup cream or milk
• Salt, pepper, basil

How to make it:
Sauté garlic in olive oil. Add broth, tomatoes, and uncooked pasta. Simmer until noodles are tender and the sauce clings beautifully. Stir in cream and basil to finish.

Perfect for late work nights — it tastes like a hug in a bowl.

“I use Barilla protein pasta for an extra boost.”

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🌮 3. Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas

Dinner prep meets minimal effort.

You’ll need:

• 1 lb flank steak, sliced thin
• 1 red, 1 green, 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp paprika

How to make it:
Toss everything on a baking sheet with oil and spices. Roast at 425°F for 15 minutes. Serve with tortillas, avocado, and lime.

Cleanup is done before your Spotify playlist even ends.

Non-stick sheet pan set, tortilla warmer.

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🧀 4. 5-Ingredient Baked Mac & Cheese

No roux, no fancy steps — just golden comfort.

You’ll need:

• 1 box elbow macaroni
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• Salt, pepper

How to make it:
Boil pasta, then mix with milk, egg, and cheese. Bake 15 minutes at 375°F until bubbly and golden.
Add a pinch of smoked paprika or breadcrumbs for extra crunch.

Glass baking dish set Rotary cheese shredder.

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🍛 5. Sweet Chili Shrimp Stir-Fry

Fast, bright, and just enough heat to make you slow down between bites.

You’ll need:

• 1 lb shrimp (peeled & deveined)
• 2 cups mixed veggies (broccoli, peppers, snow peas)
• ¼ cup sweet chili sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp ginger

How to make it:
Sauté shrimp until pink. Add veggies and sauces, stir-fry 3–5 minutes. Serve over jasmine rice.

Pairs beautifully with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc (👀 — see Lina & Ryan’s upcoming “Wine Pairings for Real People” piece).

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🕯️ Final Thoughts

Cooking doesn’t have to be elaborate to feel luxurious.
Some of the best meals happen when you stop trying to impress and start trying to nourish.

Let these recipes remind you that “good enough” is often exactly right. And if you try any of these, tag @SupplyTheRush on Pinterest or Instagram — I’d love to see what cozy looks like in your kitchen.

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A few of the kitchen items I recommend may support the magazine if you decide to explore them — I only share tools I truly enjoy cooking with.