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Who doesn’t love an uncomplicated, delicious meal? We rounded up a selection of flavorful recipes that require 35 minutes or less of active prep or cooking time. “Easy” doesn’t have to mean ho-hum — these dishes are short on time but long on flavor. Don’t be surprised if you find some new tricks and shortcuts you’ll want to apply to other recipes.

Cod and Orzo Arrabbiata
Chef and culinary instructor Phoebe Lapine, author of the popular Feed Me Phoebe blog, specializes in healthy, gluten-free and elimination diet recipes, and she’s committed to making them as tasty as dishes laden with less healthy ingredients. Her latest book, Carbivore: 130 Healthy Recipes to Stop Fearing Carbs and Embrace the Comfort Foods You Love, endorsed by Ina Garten, offers recipes that promote balance, so you never sacrifice flavor. In her recipe for Cod and Orzo Arrabbiata, she uses flaky fillets of cod, known for being low-fat and packed with protein and vitamin B12, and layers in extra flavor with juicy tomatoes, fiery chile flakes and vitamin A- and K-packed Swiss chard.
Get recipe: Cod and Orzo Arrabbiata
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Herby White Bean Burgers
Lebanese by heritage, Africa-born Yumna Jawad has found her sweet spot at the intersection of healthy and delicious, evidenced by the more than 8.5 million followers across her social media platforms. For her first cookbook, The Feel Good Foodie Cookbook: 125 Recipes Enhanced With Mediterranean Flavors, she leans into the unfussy recipes of her family, leveraging heart-healthy, flavor-packed Mediterranean ingredients. Whether you’re a vegetarian or simply want to add a plant-based meal to your easy dinner rotation, her Herby White Bean Burgers get protein and fiber from the beans and vibrant flavors from labneh (creamy strained yogurt) and herbs.
Get recipe: Herby White Bean Burgers

Scallion Noodles With Ground Pork
In Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year, Christopher Kimball aims to teach smart techniques that spark creativity and greater confidence in the kitchen. It’s the same ethos he employs at Milk Street, a Boston-based organization that includes a cooking school, magazine and TV and radio show. Rather than simply encouraging home cooks to follow a recipe, the author adds tools and approaches that will elevate everyone’s kitchen game. Try your hand at Kimball’s easy recipe for Scallion Noodles With Ground Pork (add a side of veggies for extra fiber and balance). You can have a satisfying meal on the table in 35 minutes from start to finish — including the time it takes to boil the water.
Get recipe: Scallion Noodles With Ground Pork
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