These 30 Minute Weight Watchers Recipes Will Wow Your Whole Family (And Give You Back Your Evenings!)

I have this battle every weeknight. It’s the battle between ordering some General Tso’s chicken or a meat lover’s pizza or preparing the home-cooked meal that I know will make my bank account and diet happier. Often, I find that it comes down to timing. If that pizza delivery takes 45 minutes and my dinner takes an hour, the struggle becomes real, and I usually give in. On the other hand, if I know that I can get a hearty and scrumptious dinner on my table in thirty minutes or less, I’m less inclined to succumb to takeout temptation. 

So here are 13 top-notch Weight Watchers recipes perfect for those busy weeknights when you can only spare 30 minutes to feed the family.

1. Deliciously Light Salmon Piccata

With just one lone Weight Watchers point per serving and a gorgeous interplay of perfectly cooked fish, citrus, and briny capers, this salmon dish is one that I go to again and again. Plus, you only need 15 minutes to prepare and cook it! It’s also a one-pot wonder, which reduces kitchen clean-up and makes the battle between delivery and DIY kitchen masterpieces even easier.

2. Easy Peasy Healthy Shrimp Pasta

Enjoy this complete, protein-packed shrimp dish in less than 30 minutes from pan to plate. Plus, it will only set you back three Weight Watchers points per serving and keep you full well until your bedtime. Even though it cooks up in a flash, this pasta is packed with MVP flavors like shallots and zingy garlic, and the spinach gives it depth and more nutritional heft, too. 

3. White Chicken Chili Tacos

These tacos are infinitely superior to anything I’ve gotten at the drive-thru, and they’ll only set you back between two to three Weight Watchers points per pop. You can get these on the table in just thirty minutes, and they’re super simple to make if you have some rotisserie shredded chicken on hand. I like my tacos nice and spicy, so I go heavy on the green chiles, but you can tailor it to your tastes, which is another great perk of cooking at home.

4. One Pot Turkey Rigatoni

At just over three Weight Watchers points per serving, this comforting one-pot pasta dish is definitely a major part of my regular rotation. First, it’s stick-to-your-ribs good food, full of turkey meat, a rich tomato base, and plenty of hearty vegetables. Second, even if you don’t have the pasta cooked in advance, it still gets from your stove to plate in less than 30 minutes. Cleaning up the single pot is a breeze, too, making this meal a gold medal winner in my book. 

5. Weight Watchers Friendly Thai Noodles Recipe

Next time you’re tempted to dial delivery for a diet-busting plate of fast food noodles, take a beat and turn to this recipe. It only takes 20 minutes to prepare, and you’ll use about four and a half points per serving. Plus, it’s an excellent way to use leftover veggies. I love the velvety texture of tofu and perfectly sauteed mushrooms, contrasting with the silkiness of the noodles and the welcome crunch of peanuts. It’s perfection. 

6. Philly Croissant Loaf

If you want something that tastes totally decadent but will set you back just five Weight Watchers points and comes together in just 30 minutes, this Philly Croissant Loaf is it. With a fluffy base of Pillsbury crescent rolls, juicy chunks of chicken, creamy provolone cheese, and the tang of Ranch dressing, it’s the ideal dish for a chilly night when you want something familiar and comforting in your belly.

7. Hake in Green Sauce

Ideal for date night or when you just want to give yourself a little love, this hake dish delivers a dose of Omega 3s and clocks in at under a point a serving. Hake is a flavorful, ultra-healthy white fish that shines when you pair it with velvety pea-based green sauce. Garlic takes it to the next level, and some fresh parsley gives it some great brightness. It’s so good, so simple, and so deliciously guilt-free.  

8. Quick and Easy Salsa Verde Chicken

With three points and a cooking time of just shy of half an hour, this super simple chicken dish just tastes like it took all day to cook. The secret is in the Salsa Verde Mexicana sauce and complementary mozzarella cheese. Chicken is a fabulous base for more robust sauces, and you can pair this dish with a zesty salad for a full, nutritious, and flavor-packed quick dinner.

9. Authentic and Easy Weight Watchers Shrimp and Grits

If you’re anything like me, you’re craving something salty, hearty, carby, and full of protein at the end of a long day. Fortunately, you’ll be indulging your tastebuds with this shrimp and grits dish in less than 30 minutes. At five points per serving, this dish is a star, with a foundation of creamy grits, flavorful vegetables, and dense, juicy shrimp mingling in lemony, garlicky seasoning.

10. Delicious Pad Woo Sen (Thai Glass Noodles)

This is another dish I automatically gravitate towards if I’m feeling the pull of the takeout menu. An authentic Thai dish that comes together in a flash and has oodles of texture and rich flavors, it’s only four points per tasty serving and pops from pan to plate in roughly 25 minutes. Plus, you’ll get lots of nutritional mileage from the vegetables and an antioxidant boost from the ginger.

11. Crispy Air-Fried Chicken Milanese

This Chicken Milanese version takes 30 minutes, sets you back three Weight Watchers points, and gives you all of the fabulous mouthfeel of perfectly cooked breaded and pan-fried chicken without the calories. The secret is my kitchen BFF, an air fryer. You can get a crisp Parmesan crust on the chicken that harmonizes perfectly with zippy arugula and a citrus squeeze. Plus, this dish is classy enough for company, although nobody will blame you if you want to keep it all for yourself and heat up the leftovers for a low-point, tasty next-day lunch.

12. Low Point Chicken Chimichurri  

With two Weight Waters points per serving, this riff on Chicken Chimichurri is a spicy, herbaceous meal that showcases juicy chicken and fresh chimichurri sauce. You’ll yield absolutely tons of flavor from the sauce’s vinegar base, which plays well with the other flavors like garlic, citrus, and fiery peppers. Although this dish is big and bold, all the flavors work so well together. It’s one of my signature go-to’s, especially if I want something hot and hearty.  

13. Shrimp Chop Suey

Banish Chinese takeout from your life with this superb Shrimp Chop Suey that features a stellar protein and leftover vegetables. You’ll only use one lone Weight Watchers point, and you can get it from skillet to your dinner plate in 30 minutes if you work quickly and multitask. Mushrooms, baby corn, and cabbage are exceptional in this dish, but you can play around with other ingredients if you have them on hand. 

These rapid recipes for busy nights have saved my diet and bank account more than once. No matter what you’re craving, you can get them all on the table in less time than it takes to order and get a pizza, making them the true stars of your weeknight dinner table.