These 20 minute dairy free dinner ideas are perfect for those weeknights when you’re staring into the fridge after a long day, unsure what to make. As someone who has been dairy free for over 10 years, I’ve learned how to make quick, nourishing meals without the stress of complicated recipes.
I know exactly what it’s like. Some nights, between work, errands, and life in general, cooking feels like the last thing I have energy for. But I also know how much better I feel when I can get an easy, homemade dinner on the table instead of relying on takeaway.
That’s why I’ve put together this collection of quick dairy free dinners. It is full of simple, flavour-packed recipes that get a healthy meal on the table fast. It’s my own go-to collection of recipes and I know it’s going to help you out on those lower energy days as well.
From fresh and light options to comforting pastas and stir-fries, these quick dairy free dinner ideas will help you feel accomplished without adding extra stress.
Keep this post handy for those busy nights when you need dinner sorted in a hurry but still want it to taste amazing.
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26 Dairy Free Dinners You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less!
1. Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta
This 15 minute creamy garlic prawn pasta is a super easy but delicious dairy free dinner that is sure to impress on a busy weeknight. This indulgent pasta dish has a light and creamy, garlic infused sauce with tender, sweet prawns. It’s perfect for when you’re craving a comforting, creaming pasta, or for an easy date night dinner with a glass of sparkling.
2. Bang Bang Salmon
This delicious bang bang salmon is the perfect weeknight dinner, taking just 20 minutes! Serve it up in a rice bowl with your favourite toppings if you like, just make sure to drizzle over that extra yummy bang bang sauce!
3. Cashew Chicken and Broccoli
This 20 minute cashew chicken and broccoli is made with chicken mince, tender broccoli and cashew nuts coated in a rich and savoury sauce and served over rice. It’s the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner that is so satisfying. Skip the takeaway and make this instead!
4. Greek Chicken Rice Bowls
These Greek chicken rice bowls are one of my favourite quick and easy weeknight dinner ideas when I don’t know what to cook. With grilled, seasoned chicken thighs and a generous drizzle of dairy free tzatziki, with fresh salad, they are super simple to prepare and taste so delicious. You’ll love them for meal prep or for an easy family dinner!
5. Korean Beef Bowls
These Korean beef bowls are inspired by the flavour of classic bulgogi but can be on the dinner table in just 20 minutes! Made with an easy and flavourful sauce, this recipe uses budget-friendly beef mince to build a delicious and simple rice bowl perfect for weeknights.
6. Grilled Salmon Tacos
These delicious grilled salmon tacos with avocado crema are so much simpler to make then they sound. With perfectly cooked pieces of spiced salmon, crunchy cabbage, and light and creamy avocado yoghurt sauce served on a soft tortilla, these dairy free tacos are the ultimate weeknight dinner idea.
7. Sausage and Spinach Orecchiette
This simple sausage and spinach orecchiette pasta combines beef sausage with garlic, herbs, baby spinach, peas and fresh lemon to create a delicious and easy dinner.
8. Hot Honey Salmon
This hot honey salmon is a flavour-packed dinner that is quick and easy to make. The salmon is coated in simple spices, baked until flaky and tender, and finished with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. Serve it over rice with cucumber, carrot and edamame for a delicious bowl.
9. Garlic Prawn Noodles
These 15 minute garlic prawn noodles come together quicker than you can order takeaway! With thick and chewy udon noodles coated in a rich oyster sauce with broccoli and prawns, this is one of my favourite meals to make midweek.
10. Taco Bowls
These taco bowls are one of my favourite easy and versatile weeknight dinner ideas when I only have 20 minutes! With a base of rice and shredded lettuce, topped with a flavourful beef mince, corn and avocado, this is such a delicious recipe that you can have on repeat.
11. Easy Smash Burgers
Skip the takeaway and make your own smash burgers at home. With crispy edged beef patties, melty cheese and a homemade burger sauce, loaded up with your favourite toppings on a soft bun these are going to be a staple recipe when you want an easy and delicious burger.
12. Dairy Free Vodka Pasta
This simple pasta recipe is my take on a classic pasta alla vodka but made completely dairy free! This simple sauce is so full of flavour, incredibly creamy, and just a little spicy, plus it’s ridiculously easy to make.
13. Easy Beef and Broccoli
This easy beef and broccoli is a quick and flavourful dish that’s perfect for weeknights! This stir fry combines tender pieces of beef and big pieces of broccoli, with a rich, savoury sauce, all served over steamed rice.
14. Chilli Beef Noodles
These 20 minute chilli beef noodles are the best way to use inexpensive ingredients like mince and instant noodles to create a delicious and flavourful meal, perfect for busy weeknights or late night dinners.
15. Teriyaki Salmon and Avocado Rice Bowls
These teriyaki salmon and avocado rice bowls are one of my favourite easy and healthy recipes to make for lunch or dinner. With tender salmon, creamy avocado, and sticky rice, all topped with a sweet and rich homemade teriyaki sauce.
16. Egg Fried Rice with Prawns
This simple egg fried rice with prawns is perfect served on its own as a main or as a side for a delicious homemade takeaway night! Made in under 20 minutes this fried rice will become a go to recipe for busy weeknights when you want something easy, healthy and delicious!
17. Spinach Pesto Pasta with Chicken
This spinach pesto pasta with chicken is a healthy and budget-friendly recipe that you’ll want to make again and again. With a bright and vibrant pesto made with baby spinach and almonds, served with a perfectly grilled chicken breast.
18. Black Bean Burgers
These black bean burgers are filled with delicious spices, hold their shape and are ridiculously quick and easy to make! Served with a soft bun, avocado, tomato and onion, this recipe is going to be your go to when that burger craving hits!
19. Hoisin Pork Stir Fry
Get dinner on the table fast with this quick 20 minute hoisin pork stir fry. With tender strips of pork, crunchy vegetables and a super flavourful sauce combining hoisin, garlic and ginger, this is the perfect simple and healthy weeknight meal you’ll want to keep on rotation.
20. Old Fashioned Savoury Mince
This easy savoury mince recipe is an absolute classic Australian dish that is perfect for weeknight cooking. This simple mince recipe is so easy to make, and tastes even better reheated! It’s also really versatile, being served over toast, dairy free mashed potato, rice or wrapped in puff pastry for an easy pie or pastie.
21. Bow Tie Pasta
Ready in just 20 minutes, this bow tie pasta with broccoli, peas, lemon and garlic is the ultimate vegetarian weeknight dinner. With just a handful of ingredients and one pot, this is a cheap, fuss free meal that is going to satisfy at the dinner table.
22. Spicy Pork and Peanut Noodles
These spicy pork and peanut noodles takes just 20 minutes and are the perfect easy weeknight dinner. Made with pork mince and a simple sweet, sticky flavourful sauce, this meal comes together quicker than you can order takeaway – and tastes so much better!
23. Teriyaki Tofu
This easy teriyaki tofu is a delicious weeknight meal that takes just 15 minutes to make! Crispy, golden pieces of tofu are cooked with a sticky and savoury homemade teriyaki sauce that is packed with so much flavour, it’s better than anything store-bought. Serve it with rice and broccoli for an easy weeknight dinner that will satisfy that craving for takeaway.
24. Spicy Prawn Rice Bowls
These spicy prawn rice bowls are quick, easy and delicious – perfect for weeknights! This healthy, sushi-style bowl comes together in under 20 minutes and can be easily customised based on your tastes.
25. Hoisin Chicken Stir Fry
This quick and delicious hoisin chicken stir fry is the ultimate dairy free weeknight dinner, ready in just 20 minutes. With chicken mince and crisp green beans, all coated in a rich, savoury hoisin sauce, it’s perfect served over rice for a delicious and simple dinner you’ll want on regular rotation.
26. Mushroom Tagliatelle
I love this simple and elegant weeknight pasta meal that comes together in 15 minutes and uses just 5 ingredients! Portobello mushrooms and tagliatelle are surrounded by rich olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs to make this easy pasta dish full of flavour.
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