20-minute stovetop dinner recipes for busy weeknights

Every single one of these stovetop meals are ready in 20 minutes or less, don’t require a heap of ingredients and taste delicious.

3 min read

November 24, 2023 - 5:00AM

Yet another busy evening, where you just want to get dinner prepped and cooked in a flash. Don’t stress or reach for the takeout menus, because we’ve got the recipes for you – and all you need is a pan or two and your trusty stove top.

Each can be made in 20 minutes or under. So dig into our diverse selection of easy recipes!

Stovetop dinners:

Honey-soy chicken stir-fry with cashews

It takes just 20 minutes to get this sensational stir-fry from the kitchen to the table.

Lemon garlic butter salmon

This eat-with-your-eyes pan is what Fish Friday goals are made of: golden fillets drenched in a buttery, garlicky sauce with spring greens – on the table in 20 minutes!

Stovetop dinners:

15-minute Moroccan lamb on couscous

“Slice the lamb, pile it all onto a platter and tell your family this took you hours to make – they’ll never guess otherwise!” - Nagi Maehashi

Quick turmeric chicken and mango curry

At just $4.50 per serve, this easy chicken curry is seriously delicious and on the table in only 20 minutes.

Stovetop dinners:

Super-quick weeknight omelette

Hungry? Whip up this super-fast omelette in 10 minutes or less.

Crispy sweet chilli beef

Crispy, tender, thinly sliced marinated scotch fillet steak in a sweet and sour sauce, what more could you want in a midweek meal? With a sweet yet savoury tang from the humble tomato sauce, just throw in any vegies of your choice and have this tasty stir-fry on the table in 30!

Stovetop dinners:

One-pot lemon tarragon chicken pasta

One-pot pasta is a game changer! This uses fettuccine which cooks quite quickly, if you use a different pasta just cook for slightly less time than given on the package. Keep an eye on it and taste to test when it is done, adding a little more stock or water, if needed. If tarragon isn’t your favourite herb you could use thyme or chopped chives. Grab a BBQ chicken on the way home from work and have dinner on the table in no time!

Thai chicken and vermicelli salad

Whip up a fragrant Thai dish in 15 minutes with this quick and easy chicken and vermicelli noodle salad.

Stovetop dinners:

Warm paneer and lentil salad with chutney dressing

Enjoy the spicy flavour of this warm vegetarian salad.

Tuna and avocado pasta with golden crumbs

Twirl your fork around this speedy spaghetti.

Stovetop dinners:

Sesame beef and veggie stir-fry

20 minutes is all you need to make this fragrant beef and veggie stir-fry topped with toasted sesame seeds.

20-minute healthy bolognese

Lentils, cherry tomatoes and basil provide a rich colour and flavour for this bright, modern take on beef bolognese that the family will love. The best part is that it’ll be ready in just 20 minutes.

Stovetop dinners:

15-minute Greek chicken

When you need dinner on the table and there’s no time to spare, this one-pan wonder will save the day. It’s ready in 15 minutes!

‘Crazy night’ chicken ramen

We’ve all had them – those crazy weeknights when the kids have come home ravenous from sports practice or you’ve had to work late. Good intentions fall by the wayside and you just need to feed everyone NOW. With a few basic ingredients on hand you can avoid resorting to takeaway. Fill ’em up fast and on budget with this quick and easy recipe! Use any kind of frozen mixed vegetables you like, from a stir-fry mix to basic peas and corn. If you have the odd veg you need to use up, chop it up and throw that in too. Kecap manis is a thick, sweet Indonesian-style soy sauce. The sweetness balances out the saltiness of the noodle flavouring. If you are feeling really exotic you can add a squeeze of lime juice.

Stovetop dinners:

5-ingredient chicken and broccoli pasta

Have this cheat’s creamy pasta on the table in 20! Simply shred a roast chook, add chopped broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, Boursin cheese and voilà. Can’t find Boursin cheese? Replace with chopped cream cheese and 2 crushed garlic cloves.