Fast & Fabulous: 7 Quick and Easy Dinners (with Pizzazz!)

1 Comment | Written on May 11, 2012 at 5:00 pm, by The Editors

quick and easy dinner recipes Sometimes the hardest challenge at the end of a long day is coming up with something quick and easy for dinner. This task becomes especially tricky when you add a desire for variety; for many of us, busy weeknights mean even less time to be inventive in the kitchen.

Before you give up and reach for your stack of take-out menus, give one of these quick-and-easy recipes a try. We’ve focused on giving you recipes that not only take less than 30 minutes to prepare, but also offer you something new and exciting to put on the table. From a Cajun-inspired Po’ Boy sandwich to an easy version of classic French cassoulet, we’re sure that these recipes will give you the chance to try something new without having to spend hours (or even very many minutes) in the kitchen.

In fact, these recipes are so quick, easy and exciting, they might just inspire the ultimate time-saving reward: someone else volunteering to make dinner for you!

Maple Pork and Apples

Maple syrup gives this easily prepared dinner a delicious sweetness. Crunchy baby carrots are a great addition to the apples and pork chops.

Easy Salmon Burgers

A exciting (and excitingly healthy) twist on the classic burger, these salmon burgers take only 10 minutes to prepare. Fresh dill is a wonderful compliment to the warm flavor of the fish.

Easy Cassoulet

Traditional Cassoulet takes literally days to make, but you can have this classic French dish on the table in just under 30 minutes. Canned beans and precooked chicken are the key to this speedy yet flavorful variation.

Catfish Po’ Boys

Fried catfish Po’ Boys are one of those savory sensations that abound in Southern cuisine. We love how easy this recipe makes it to bring these flavors to your dinner table.

Garlicky Peppers and Shrimp

As healthy as it is delicious, this recipe features spinach fettuccine alongside sauteed peppers and shrimp. Garlic and a dash of cayenne pepper add just enough heat to keep things interesting.

Beef and Tapenade Open-Faced Sandwiches

Tapenade is a classic Mediterranean spread made from olives, and its savory flavor perfectly compliments juicy roast beef and fresh veggies. Serve it all on a thick slice of crusty bread, and you have a filling meal that takes just 10 minutes to get on the table.

Golden Polenta and Egg with Mustard Sauce

This creative variation on classic Eggs Benedict features polenta cakes in lieu of traditional English muffins and makes for a light but satisfying dinner. A side of green beans adds both color and crunch to this dish.