Impress with Less: 9 Meals Under 20 Minutes

In the time it takes to wait for take-out delivery, feed your family with one of these 20-minute meal creations. Dinner is made easy with the shake of Spice Islands® Louisiana Style Cajun Seasoning or Spice Islands® Taco Seasoning. Low in effort yet high in flavor, these recipes will help you cross one New Year's resolution off the list by facilitating healthy, homemade dinners. 

Blackened Cajun Catfish with Cole Slaw

Follow the instructions for a Southern take on dinner in Blackened Cajun Catfish, but cook the fish in a nonstick large pan to eliminate the 10 minutes needed to preheat a cast-iron pan. While the fish is being sautéed, combine one 14-ounce bag of cole slaw mix with about ¼ cup mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons white vinegar for a side of homemade slaw.

Fettuccine with Alfredo Sauce and Chicken

Creamy Alfredo sauce can easily be added to your dinner repertoire, and your family will clamor for it. Just stir in 4 cups of chopped, cooked, rotisserie chicken into the Alfredo Sauce as it simmers for a tasty and protein-packed dish.

Chicken Tikka Kabobs with Pineapple-Scallion Rice

A curry and paprika-spiced rub add a flavor boost to chicken tenders in this Chicken Tikka Kabobs recipe. To get this meal on the table in record speed, abandon the skewers and just grill the tenders on their own. Serve with quick-cooking white rice with chopped scallions and a drained can of pineapple chunks stirred into it. 

Greek Lamb Pitas with Tzaziki Sauce 

This play on a gyro is made easy by subbing ground lamb for the gyro meat traditionally cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Stuffed into pitas with a dollop of homemade tzatziki sauce, it creates a Greek dining experience worthy of a restaurant.

Shrimp Tacos

Spice Islands® Taco Seasoning makes tacos for dinner a snap, as in this recipe for Shrimp Tacos. Serve with slices of tomatoes and avocado drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Dilly Salmon with Green Beans 

These salmon steaks are brushed with a buttery dill mixture and briefly cooked in the broiler. While the fish cooks, gently sauté 1 pound of cut green beans in olive oil and Spice Islands® Garlic Powder until done, just a few minutes. 

Pasta with Figs, Olives and Pine Nuts

This vegetarian-friendly pasta featuring dried figs, olives and pine nuts can be whipped up at a moment's notice. Just make sure to have all the necessary ingredients stocked in the pantry for this easy but impressive dinner. 

Sirloin Steak with Blue Cheese Walnut Butter

A compound butter studded with blue cheese and walnuts adds a succulent touch to sirloin steaks, which are quickly broiled for dinner. Serve over couscous, which steams in 10 minutes flat. 

Chicken Cutlets with Chunky Tomato Salsa

Follow the instructions for this warm Chunky Tomato Salsa. As it simmers on the stove top, cook 1 pound of thin boneless chicken cutlets in a nonstick pan until fully cooked, just a couple minutes on each side. Serve the salsa over the chicken and alongside dinner rolls or French bread. 

Andrea Lynn is a recipe developer and cookbook author, most recently of the culinary guidebook/cookbook, Queens: A Culinary Passport.

Spice Islands® spices deliver high quality, authentic flavors from all over the world so you can put the most delicious meals on your table.