Dinner/40 recipes

Flank steak marinated in balsamic vinegar and Italian dressing, then broiled to juicy medium-rare in under 10 minutes. Only 4 ingredients stand between you and a seared, tangy steak dinner sliced thin against the grain.

Italian salad pizza on a prebaked crust with melted mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, and a cool romaine-watercress-olive topping tossed in Italian dressing. Vegetarian dinner ready in about 20 minutes.

Pan-fried SPAM slices on toasted buns with mayo, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, and melty cheese. These 20-minute SPAM burgers are the easiest weeknight dinner you'll ever throw together.

Hoosier goulash made entirely in the microwave with ground beef, elbow macaroni, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce. A Midwest one-dish dinner in 20 minutes.

Stir-fried chicken and apples in a honey-curry glaze with raisins, celery, and parsley over rice. A sweet, spiced 20-minute weeknight dinner.

Fettuccine with shrimp in a creamy herb sauce made from soup mix, milk, green peas, and Parmesan. A fast weeknight pasta dinner ready in 20 minutes with pantry staples.

Delicate homemade crepes filled with flaked trout in a creamy sauterne wine sauce with garlic and onion. Makes 20 crepes for an impressive brunch, appetizer, or French-inspired dinner.

Indian-spiced ground beef and wilted spinach stuffed into warm pita pockets, topped with curried sour cream. A flavor-packed handheld dinner ready in just 20 minutes.

Crustless broccoli rice quiche with two cheeses (Swiss and cheddar), mushrooms, and a touch of cayenne. Cooked in the microwave in under 20 minutes for a quick vegetarian dinner with no oven heat.

Shrimp scampi broiled in a bright white wine, lemon, and herb sauce with shallots, basil, and oregano. A light, fast seafood dinner that is ready in about 20 minutes.

Curry stir fried chicken and apples, a quick 20-minute skillet dinner with cubed chicken breast, honey-curry glaze, crisp apples, and plump raisins served over rice.

Elegant sherried baked fruit with layered pineapple, peaches, apricots, cherries, and spiced apple rings in a buttery brown sugar and sherry sauce. Serves 20 for buffets and dinner parties.

Steamed salmon with fermented black beans, ginger, sherry, and sesame oil. A classic Chinese-style steamed fish that cooks in about 10 minutes for a light, clean-flavored dinner.

Steak Diane: thinly pounded sirloin steaks pan-seared in butter and topped with a warm Worcestershire-shallot sauce. Classic 1950s tableside dinner, ready in under 10 minutes.

Microwave salmon and potato platter with broccoli, lemon juice, and a fresh dill-yogurt sauce. A complete one-platter dinner cooked in about 10 minutes with no oven needed.

Seared buffalo tenderloin medallions finished with a Jack Daniels pan sauce of veal stock and cream. A restaurant-quality 20-minute dinner for two that feels like a special occasion.