Getting dinner on the table during the week can be a feat even in the best of times. Making that happen when you're juggling a busy schedule can feel almost impossible. To avoid ordering takeout, eating a bowl of cereal, or grazing through the pantry, I lean on a roster of reliably quick and easy recipes.

From a one-pot taco soup to brown butter Parmesan pasta, these 20 recipes are just what you need in your back pocket when you want a satisfying dinner but are short on time and energy.

Surprisingly Quick Meat and Seafood Mains

Meaty mains and seafood are not out of the question on busy nights — you just need to lean on recipes with quick cooking methods (like broiling) and smart ingredients (like thin chicken cutlets).

Weeknight-Friendly Soups

Save the slow-simmered soups for the weekend. This weeknight-friendly lineup comes together in no more than 30 minutes, thanks to smart shortcuts like frozen tortellini and rotisserie chicken.

Tacos, Quesadillas, and Beyond

Any meal that starts with a stack of tortillas is guaranteed to be totally delicious. Bonus: You can rely on it coming together in no time without too much fuss.

The Comfort of Pasta

Meet the top five reasons I always keep dried pasta in my pantry. Even when I don't feel like cooking and the clock is ticking, I know I can pull each one of these recipes off.