Chris Kimball’s favorite 30-minute meals

Stir-fried pork with Thai basil, Oaxacan tlayudas, and two speedy spaghetti

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May 28, 2026 2:00pm EDT

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The MeNU

Thursday, May 28, 2026

30-minute meals Chris actually eats

Claire Lower

Digital Editor

Dear reader,

Chris claimed he would never do a 30-minute cookbook, then—as he is wont to do—he broke his own rules. Rather than relying on shortcuts to speed up classic dishes, he started seeking out recipes that were naturally simple and would not be improved with more ingredients or more time. One of his favorites is lemon-almond pesto, which is delicious and fast, and has a short ingredient list. There is nothing forced or gimmicky about it. Toss it with spaghetti and dinner is done in 15 minutes. (The pesto is great on almost any protein, too.)

Get the recipe for Spaghetti with Lemon Pesto.

More (Chris-approved) 30-Minute Meals

Tlayudas

The tlayuda is sort of Oaxaca's pizza-format quesadilla: an oversized tortilla, topped with melty cheese, beans, meats, and abundant fixings. We prefer to fold ours in half to double the volume of filling per bite. We leave no flavor behind, lightly charring jalapeños and scallions in the meaty drippings left by chorizo. Mozzarella melds all of that with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickled onions.

Get the recipe.

Thai Stir-Fried Pork with Basil, Chilies and Garlic (Pad Kraprao)

This mouthwatering pork bowl is ready for the table even faster than takeout—a couple high-impact ingredients do all the heavy lifting, and the cooking comes together in a flash. (This is a case where you really want to prep everything in advance.) In our version of pad kraprao, we add punchy aromatics (garlic, chilies), an umami-packed sauce, and a heap of basil leaves for freshness.

Get the recipe.

Honey and Soy-Glazed Stir-Fried Pork

These tasty pork tenderloin strips absorb tons of salty-savory flavor. We mix the soy sauce into a cornstarch slurry to coat the pork, then glaze the pork at the end with a sticky soy-honey mixture. We toss the juicy meat with tender-crisp bell pepper strips, heap it all on a bed of rice, and add an optional garnish of scallions or sesame seeds.

Get the recipe.

Spaghetti with Pancetta, Parmesan and Herbs

Earthy, woodsy herbs and salty pancetta, both crisped in the rendered fat, infuse this simple spaghetti dish with savory depth. Parmesan cheese adds nutty, umami notes and red pepper flakes add a kick of heat, rounding everything out. Orange is a surprise ingredient in the dish. We love the muted sweetness and acidity of orange zest and juice, which nicely balance the richness of the cheese and pork. Lemon is a fine substitute.

Get the recipe.

Until next time,

Claire Lower

Digital Editor, Milk Street