The Best Superfast Recipes

November 01, 2012
Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
No recipes are more popular than our fastest weeknight successes. Here, the best of the best, according to you.
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Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca

We've got a hunch as to why our Superfast recipes are so popular. They're delicious and quick—certainly a double threat. We've done a little research to find out which of our 20-minute recipes you, our readers, deemed the very best.

 

We'll start with showstopping Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca.

“This dish will be a regular in our household. Fancy enough for company, yet so simple to make!” —EMCULP1

Serve this Italian favorite with sautéed broccoli rabe or haricots verts.

 

 

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Chicken and Mushrooms in Garlic White Wine Sauce

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chicken and Mushrooms in Garlic White Wine Sauce

“The tarragon in this recipe absolutely makes it. Don’t substitute!”
—REDSOX19762

 

If you can’t find exotic mushrooms, sliced button or cremini mushrooms are a good substitute.

 

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Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Lemon Pepper Shrimp Scampi

“Great recipe with amazing results every time! The lemon brightens the flavor in a huge way.” —CWPINATL1

 

If you choose to peel your own shrimp, save the shells to flavor a homemade seafood stock.

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Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Sautéed Apples

“This dish wraps you in a blanket of comfortfood goodness.” —CINNABEAVE

 

The sautéed apples make a great side dish on their own. This spice mixture would also make a wonderful rub for lamb.

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Mongolian Beef

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Mongolian Beef

“Just like takeout, but healthier (and much less expensive)!” —CARACOOK

Serve this slightly spicy dish over wide rice noodles to catch all the garlic- and ginger-laced sauce.

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Loaded Potato Soup

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Loaded Potato Soup

“The search for the perfect potato soup is now over!” —ANNAMSOT

 

Serve this kid-friendly soup with a mixed greens salad for a light dinner.

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Chicken & Summer Vegetable Tostadas

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chicken & Summer Vegetable Tostadas

“Very yummy! You could use the chicken mixture as filling for anything.” —DANIELLELEE

 

Be sure to use fat-free tortillas for the crispest results. To make this a year-round favorite, use frozen corn.

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Cider-Glazed Chicken with Browned Butter-Pecan Rice

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Cider-Glazed Chicken with Browned Butter-Pecan Rice

"So easy and quick to make!!! I will definitely make this again." —DSTARON

With chicken cutlets and boil-in-bag rice, this unique take on the chicken-and-rice dinner couldn’t be easier (or faster!) to make.

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Salmon Croquettes

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Salmon Croquettes

"I love this recipe. I made it as a Saturday early dinner and got rave reviews. Will make this over and over and over!!" —TAMMYRVC

 

Salmon Croquettes are packed with fresh flavors from lemon juice, green onions, and red bell pepper. Easy to prepare and even more easily devoured, if the question around your house is centered on what’s for dinner, then the answer is Salmon Croquettes.

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Creole Shrimp and Sausage Stew

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Creole Shrimp and Sausage Stew

"The broth on this stew is great, and no one would know that it had very little prep and cooking time." —SAECCA

Warm up cool evenings with a delicious stew that's just as delicious on its own as it is when ladled over rice. Serve with crusty bread and hot sauce.

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Spicy Chicken Shawarma

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Spicy Chicken Shawarma

Tangy, yet cool Greek-style yogurt is the perfect counterpoint to spicy chicken tossed in a blend of Middle Eastern spices and sautéed to perfection. Your mouth will by watering from the moment smells begin wafting from your skillet.

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Scallop Piccata with Sautéed Spinach

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Scallop Piccata with Sautéed Spinach

"Simple and easy and came out great and loved the sauteed spinach too!" —TACOMA

 

Serve these quick-cooking scallops over a bed of whole-grain pasta or brown rice for a filling (and impressive) meal.

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Chicken-Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

Credit: Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Chicken-Orzo Salad with Goat Cheese

"Fabulous! I made for a 4th of July picnic and everyone raved over it. About six months later a relative of a close friend called and wanted the recipe, she had been thinking about the salad since the picnic!" —PURDUEKEL

 

Tangy and creamy goat cheese makes a nice partner to starchy orzo in this salad, which comes together in 10 minutes or so. If even that is more time than you have, it can be made ahead, whenever you can find the time. Mix together the dressing and all ingredients except the arugula and tomatoes, then add those just before serving.

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White Pizza with Tomato and Basil

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: White Pizza with Tomato and Basil

"We love this recipe and have added it to our weeknight rotation because it is so easy. I like the techinique of heating the pan in the oven first - it really does make for a crispier crust." —DMT4641

Crushed red pepper is optional in this recipe but, if you can take the heat, it will give the flavors in this pizza a kick. Heating a cookie sheet in the oven before you put the pizza on it gives you a crisper crust.

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Falafel with Avocado Spread

Credit: Photo: Lee Harrelson
View Recipe: Falafel with Avocado Spread

"These are outstanding! My husband is a big meat eater and when I make these there is no complaining where is the beef! They reheat well for a great lunch the next day!" —SAMJ142

The beauty of this Latin twist on the classic Middle Eastern sandwich is its simplicity, and of course, flavor. Garnish with microgreens and sliced red onion.

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Shrimp Cobb Salad

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Shrimp Cobb Salad

"This simple salad was full of flavors that worked very well together, none overpowered the other. It was light but, filling." —ASHLEYAUTUMN

Typical Cobb salads include chicken and hard-cooked eggs; this riff uses shrimp and corn.

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Fettuccine with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts

Credit: Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Fettuccine with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts

"Incredible flavor & texture. Simply delicious!" —PROMOGAL

Fresh pasta pairs well with a simple, barely-there sauce that will gently coat each noodle, highlighting the fresh pasta's uniquely soft, smooth texture without overwhelming it or stealing its shine. This dish makes for a satisfying meatless meal that is sure to please your taste buds.

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Steak Tips with Peppered Mushroom Gravy

Credit: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Steak Tips with Peppered Mushroom Gravy

Briefly cooking the gravy with thyme sprigs saves the time of stripping the tiny leaves from the stem, but still gives you the herb’s woodsy flavor. Serve this rich and hearty beef mixture on a bed of egg noodles and you will find that this comforting meal is just the thing you had in mind.

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Grilled Chicken with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

"Such a great weeknight meal!! Very easy, and the dressing is delicious! I followed the directions exactly. I just wish we had more salad because it went quickly." —SAECCA

 

A tangy sauce enlivens simple grilled chicken breasts; a hint of sugar balances the flavors.

 

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Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pesto

Credit: Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Gnocchi with Shrimp, Asparagus, and Pesto

"I made this for my husband and his family last night and everyone raved about it!! It was a last minute decision to stay in so I needed something quick. This fit the bill and it was super yummy." —CHEFBACCHUS

 

Gnocchi—small Italian potato dumplings—are a hearty alternative to pasta. While making gnocchi from scratch could take more than an hour, premade vacuum-packed dumplings cook in a few minutes.

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