Quick dinners in 20 minutes: a week without repeats

Shopping list for the week

• Pasta (spaghetti or penne)
• Chicken breasts
• Pork (sliced for stir-fry)
• Fish fillet (for example, cod)
• Canned chickpeas
• Quinoa
• Avocado
• Eggs
• Tomatoes (fresh or canned)
• Basil, parsley, dill
• Lemon
• Honey, mustard
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Salt, pepper, favorite spices
• Potatoes
• Walnuts (optional)
• Feta
• Pomegranate

1. Pasta with tomato sauce and basil

Ingredients

• 200 g of pasta
• 200 ml of tomato sauce
• Fresh basil
• Olive oil, salt, pepper

Preparation

1. Boil the pasta in salted water for 8-10 minutes.
2. Heat the oil in a pan, add the sauce, and warm for 3-4 minutes.
3. Mix the pasta with the sauce, sprinkle with basil leaves.

2. Chicken breasts in honey-mustard sauce

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp mustard
• Olive oil, salt, pepper

Preparation

1. Rub the mixture of honey and mustard onto the breasts.
2. Fry in a preheated pan for 6-7 minutes on each side.
3. Let it rest for 2 minutes, chop and serve.

3. Vegetable stew with chickpeas

Ingredients

• 1 can of canned chickpeas
• Any fresh vegetables (bell pepper, zucchini, carrot)
• Tomato sauce or tomatoes in their own juice
• Olive oil, spices

Preparation

1. Chop the vegetables into cubes, sauté for 5 minutes.
2. Add chickpeas and tomato sauce, simmer for 8-10 minutes.
3. Season with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs.

4. Quick stir-fry with pork and vegetables

Ingredients

• 200 g of pork (sliced for frying)
• Vegetables for stir-frying (broccoli, carrots, bell pepper)
• Soy sauce, ginger, garlic
• Vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Heat the oil, quickly fry the meat for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the vegetables, fry for another 5-6 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Pour in the soy sauce with ginger and garlic, heat for 1-2 minutes.

5. Fish cakes with mashed potatoes

Ingredients

• 200 g of fish fillet
• 1 small onion
• Potatoes (about 3-4 pcs)
• Butter, milk, salt, pepper

Preparation

1. Boil the potatoes, mash with butter and milk.
2. Pass the fillet and onion through a meat grinder, form patties.
3. Fry the patties in a pan for 6-7 minutes on each side.
4. Serve with mashed potatoes.

6. Toasts with avocado and poached egg

Ingredients

• 2 slices of whole grain bread
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 eggs
• Lemon juice, salt, pepper

Preparation

1. Toast the bread until golden brown.
2. Mash the avocado with lemon juice, salt, pepper, and spread it on the toast.
3. Prepare poached eggs (about 3 minutes in boiling water).
4. Place the eggs on the toast, sprinkle with fresh herbs.

7. Quinoa salad with feta and pomegranate

Ingredients

• 100 g quinoa
• 100 g feta
• ½ pomegranate (seeds)
• Fresh parsley, olive oil, lemon juice

Preparation

1. Rinse the quinoa and boil for 12-15 minutes, then cool.
2. Mix the quinoa with feta, pomegranate seeds, and herbs.
3. Dress with olive oil and lemon juice, then mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute ingredients if something is missing?
Yes, most dishes allow substitutions: rice instead of pasta, turkey instead of chicken, and cottage cheese instead of feta.

How to store prepared dinners?
It's best to cool the dishes to room temperature, then place them in airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for no more than 2-3 days.

How much time does cooking really take?
With all ingredients prepared in advance, each recipe takes about 15-20 minutes of active cooking.

Are these recipes suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, by replacing meat and fish with plant-based proteins (tofu, legumes), it is easy to adapt the menu to a vegetarian diet.

Sources: Recipes from 'Eda' (eda.ru), Culinary portal 'Povarenok' (povarenok.ru), Site 'Gotovim doma' (gotovim-doma.com)

⚠️ This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules and amounts may change — check for updates on official sources. Updated: August 11, 2026. Edited by MegaInet.art.