Easy 30 Minute Meals (Casseroles, Skillets, and Soups)
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With over three dozen recipes to choose from, these Easy 30 Minute Meals will have you filling out your meal plan in no time! Find skillets, casseroles, soups, and one pot meals to simplify dinner time and satisfy the whole family.
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Easy 30 Minute Meals for Family
Fall and winter are the perfect times for comfort food. But the holiday season keeps us so busy that it’s tough to find the time to create our favorite comfort food meals.
That’s where this list comes in. We’ve rounded up some easy 30 minute meals with recipes for simple skillets, cozy soups, hearty casseroles, and plenty of pasta.
Just as comforting, but on the table in a fraction of the time!
Once you pick out a few favorites, click on the link below the image to open the recipe in a new tab. You can save it, print it, or Pin it for later… just be sure to come back and try another round!
HEARTY SKILLET MEALS
When you need to make dinner fast, the last thing you want to deal with is a stove full of dishes!
Skip the multitasking (and all the clean-up after!) with these easy 30 minute meals that transform simple ingredients into a flavorful dish.
Chicken in White Wine Sauce (Olive Garden Copycat)
This one’s a perfect copycat for the now-discontinued Chicken Bianco from Olive Garden! A light and creamy butter lemon sauce coats tender pasta and pan-fried chicken for one tasty meal.
Sausage Gravy and Biscuits Skillet
When you need easy 30-minute meals for the family, hearty biscuits and gravy is sure to make it into your permanent recipe file. Flavorful sawmill gravy made with sausage and topped with scrumptious biscuits… perfect for breakfast or dinner!
It doesn’t take much to transform humble gnocchi into something fantastic… just garlic, cheese, cream, and spices. All of that coats fluffy, pillowy potato dumplings for a satisfying meal that’s just perfectly cozy too.
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie Recipe with Biscuits
Instead of wrestling with a rolling pin, make a drop biscuit topping entirely from scratch. It turns perfectly golden over tender chicken and veggies in a scrumptious, creamy sauce… no cream soups to be found!
So many easy 30 minute meals are recipes for pasta (hello… look at this list!), but this Mexican rice skillet is one of our family’s all-time favorites. Savory, smoky, and a little bit spicy, it’s everything you love about Taco Night in one delicious dish.
EASY PASTA SKILLETS
When it’s too hot to turn on the oven but you still want a delicious hot meal, the stovetop is where it’s at!
These easy 30 minute meals provide all the comforting flavors of your favorite casseroles and saucy pasta dishes, but you’ll be relaxing at the table in no time.
Easy Chicken Parmesan Pasta (25-Minute Recipe)
Now you can enjoy everything you love about this classic Italian dish in a fraction of the time! Each bite of chicken is the perfect balance of savory, crunchy, and cheesy goodness, served over perfectly cooked linguine.
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
This one has the most incredible flavor, with little pops of tangy-sweet sun-dried tomatoes. The creamy sauce coats every bite of chicken and penne for a light but filling meal.
If you love baked ziti, you’ll love this skillet version! There’s plenty of spicy Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and cheese in every bite. Be sure to use a cast iron pan so you can broil it before serving.
Easy Cheese Lasagna Skillet Recipe
Make skillet lasagna for all the flavor without all the effort! No more waiting for the noodles to boil or trying to get all the layers right. When it comes to easy meals under 30 minutes, this one takes the cake. Just simmer, broil, and serve!
Mexican Spaghetti (Easy One Pot Recipe)
This recipe combines everyone’s favorite Italian dish with the beloved flavors of Mexican cuisine. It’s a little bit spicy with a zippy salsa-inspired sauce and ready in just 20 minutes from start to finish!
One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta Recipe
This is a one-pot wonder packed with all the best Italian flavors. Smoked sausage, plump tomatoes, fresh basil, and plenty of Parmesan. It should make enough for leftovers, but don’t be surprised if you eat two bowls like me!
Best Ever Italian Mac and Cheese
Some easy 30 minute meals for the family work as side dishes too… and this is one of them! Made with just 7 ingredients, it’s the perfect option when you’re short on groceries but still need to get everyone fed.
Make an easy dinner even easier with this recipe. Loaded with seasoned ground beef and mushrooms for an extra hearty meal, everything cooks in the same pan… even the noodles!
Chicken Fajita Pasta One-Pot Recipe
This easy chicken pasta is packed with fajita flavor and fresh ingredients. Dinner is always better when it combines two dishes into one, so everyone leaves the table happy.
Who needs takeout when you can enjoy all your favorite pizza flavors in a cheesy pasta dish? Load it up with sausage and pepperoni, or swap in some vegetarian toppings instead. It’s a delicious spin on Friday night dinner.
CASSEROLES AND BAKES
There’s something so cozy about a warm, baked dish straight from the oven, especially when sharing it with loved ones.
Each of these recipes packs a ton of flavor into one pan, so dinner can be easy and oh-so tasty too!
Layered Chicken Enchilada Casserole
I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to roll enchiladas for the whole family. This recipe takes out all the work by layering ingredients into a casserole pan. You get a little bit of saucy goodness in each slice!
Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake with Chicken and Penne
This one’s a welcome break from heavy, meaty sauces. Pesto adds a vibrant, herbaceous flavor to the dish, while tender chicken makes it extra filling. Get it assembled in 15 minutes or less and let the oven do the rest!
Here’s another dish where two culinary worlds combine! Instead of noodles, arrange your taco-inspired filling ingredients between soft flour tortillas, and don’t forget plenty of cheese along the way. Yum!!
When it comes to easy 30-minute meals for the family, this one’s been a favorite since 2012! Tender chicken and pasta, coated in a creamy roasted red pepper sauce, and topped with plenty of bubbly mozzarella.
Loaded with ground beef, bacon, and Italian sausage links, this recipe is a meat lover’s dream! There’s plenty of ooey gooey cheese in every bite too. Try it for a fun twist on the usual pizza night.
30 MINUTE SOUPS AND STEWS
When the weather starts to cool, I break out all my favorite soup and stew recipes. I love it when they can simmer all day, filling the house with incredible aromas, but I’ve got several that can be ready in a flash.
Even better, these recipes make plenty for large gatherings or leftovers and are easy to double too!
Creamy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Make this one entirely from scratch (no “cream of” soups needed!), including the dumplings. It combines the hearty richness of a stew with the coziness of chicken soup. Warm up with a bowl any night of the week!
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup (25-Minute Recipe)
This soup tastes just like Mom used to make, but it doesn’t need to simmer on the stove all day. Tender chicken, plenty of veggies, and ribbons of noodles in a flavorful broth. One of the best easy meals under 30 minutes when you’re feeling under the weather!
Loaded with pasta, veggies, and homemade meatballs cooked in a light tomato broth, this one is comfort food to the max. Plus, everything cooks right in the same pot, so there’s less to clean up after. Score!
5-Ingredient Chili (Easy One Pot Recipe)
Yes, you read that right… this one’s hearty enough for a bowl and flavorful enough for hot dogs, nachos, and fries. It’s also the quickest recipe on this list, ready in just 15 minutes!
Hearty sausage and white bean soup is just what you need after a long day. There’s plenty of veggies and pasta in there too, proving that easy 30 minute meals can be just as filling and balanced as the ones you spend hours working on.
With cheese-filled pasta, colorful veggies, and fire-roasted tomatoes, this recipe is cozy and comforting while staying light and fresh. A basil-forward broth and freshly grated Parmesan tie it all together.
CHEESY SOUP RECIPES
I firmly believe that cheese makes everything better, but you don’t have to limit it to pastas and casseroles.
Enjoy all that cheesy goodness in a cozy bowl with these easy 30 minute meals. Don’t forget plenty of crusty bread for mopping up every last drop!
How to Make Easy 7 Can Soup (Taco Soup Recipe)
This recipe is exactly what it sounds like… a delicious, hearty meal made with just 7 cans of beans, chili, and veggies. I like to melt in Velveeta cheese too, so it’s extra thick and creamy.
Chicken Bacon Beer Cheese Soup
This is one of our all-time most popular recipes, and with good reason. I mean… bacon and beer and cheese for soup?! It’s amazingly thick and creamy, with tender chunks of chicken and plenty of flavor to tickle your taste buds.
Creamy Chicken Broccoli Soup with Rice
What a delicious way to get a healthy dose of veggies! This easy broccoli cheddar soup will warm you inside and out, and the rice cooks right in the same pot, soaking up all that delicious flavor.
Copycat Outback Baked Potato Soup Recipe
This is one of the best 30 minute soup recipes for chilly winter nights. Imagine all your favorite baked potato and topping flavors in one thick and creamy bite, all from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Bacon Cheeseburger Beer Cheese Soup
Extra beefy, extra bacon-y, with a smoky beer cheese broth that’s out of this world. This recipe’s a favorite for game days, and it goes with all the snackable favorites too.
Enjoy all the flavors of the classic dish in a cozy, slurpable soup. Tender bites of chicken and ham, creamy Swiss cheese, and that signature crunch from garlic croutons, made heartier with diced potatoes in a silky broth.
And there you have it! Dozens of easy 30 minute meals for the family, each one more delicious than the last.
Skillets, pastas, casseroles, and soups… try your favorites and let us know what you think!
Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Originally published December 2013, updated and republished February 2026
Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.
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We’re Donna and Chad, the dream team behind The Slow Roasted Italian. Our focus is on taking complicated OUT of the kitchen. Life is busy enough, making meals should be fast and easy, to help make your life as simple as possible. Read More >>
