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October Healthy 20 Minute Dinners Meal Plan (Oct 20)

ByStephanie Wilson Updated on

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If your week is packed but you still want wholesome, homemade dinners on the table, this week's plan is for you. Every recipe comes together in about 20 minutes, making it easy to enjoy fresh, flavorful meals without the stress. From quick pasta to savory chicken, salmon, and tacos-plus a cozy fall treat-you'll be set for the week.

Three image collage featuring a skillet of quick lo-mein, sausage pasta in a white bowl, and filet on salmon over white beans and greens.

Dinner Meal Planning

Make weekly dinner planning easy! While nutritional needs differ, I invite you to use these dinner meals as inspiration and adjust as needed. Never miss a meal plan by signing up to receive an email link in your inbox every Sunday morning!

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October 20 Minute Dinners Menu

Monday: Vegetable Lo Mein
A colorful and veggie-packed noodle dish that's ready in minutes. Pair with a simple cucumber salad or steamed edamame for extra crunch.

Tuesday: 20 Minute Sausage Pasta with Veggies
A reader favorite! This pasta is hearty, loaded with veggies, and finished in one pan. Add a crisp green salad with balsamic vinaigrette to round out the meal.

Wednesday: Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
Tender chicken cutlets smothered in a creamy, savory sauce. Serve with a side of roasted broccoli or a mixed greens salad.

Thursday: Salmon with Spinach and White Beans
A Mediterranean-inspired dinner full of protein and fiber. A simple arugula salad with lemon dressing makes a perfect companion.

Friday: Easy Chicken Tacos
Quick, fun, and endlessly customizable. Serve with fresh toppings like shredded lettuce, salsa, guacamole, and a side of Mexican-style corn or black beans.

Treat: Baked Pumpkin Donuts
A cozy fall sweet made with warm spices. Enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee for dessert-or as a weekend breakfast treat.

Have a delicious week!

Signature of Stephanie Wilson, founder and recipe creator and write at 31Daily.com

RELATED: More 31Daily Dinner Ideas >>

October Healthy 20 Minute Dinners Meal Plan (Oct 20)

20 Minute Dinners Recipes

1
A skillet filled with vegetable lo mein-noodles, broccoli, snap peas, red bell peppers, and carrots-served with sliced green onions and sauce on the side. One of our favorite 20-Minute Fall Dinners for a quick, flavorful meal.
www.skinnytaste.com
Monday: 20-Minute Veggie Lo Mein
“This quick and easy, 20-Minute Veggie Lo Mein Bowl is perfect if you need a healthy vegetarian or vegan dinner idea!”
View Recipe
2
Square image of easy sausage pasta in a white bowl with vegetables and parsley garnish.
Tuesday: Sausage Pasta
This Sausage Pasta with Broccoli and Zucchini is a 20-minute wonder that's easy to make with simple ingredients. Delicious, quick and easy, and full of simple flavor.
Sausage Pasta Recipe
3
www.eatingwell.com
Wednesday: Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
“Though a chicken cutlet may be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe shows how to make chicken cutlets with double the deliciousness. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner idea. The flavorful oil they're packed in is used to sauté the chicken, and the tomatoes go into the cream sauce.”
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4
www.tasteofhome.com
Thursday: Salmon with Spinach & White Beans
A 15-minute salmon dinner with garlicky beans and fresh spinach is the epitome of healthy, quick, and easy!
Get the Recipe
5
Three crispy chicken tacos filled with grilled goodness, garnished with cilantro and diced red onions, are placed on a white plate. Lime wedges sit on the side, accompanied by bowls of sauce and a blurred avocado in the background.
Friday: Easy Chicken Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce
Try these irresistible Chicken Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce. Juicy, flavorful chicken thighs with a fabulous green sauce – the ultimate taco delight!
Chicken Tacos Recipe
6
Cinnamon sugar baked pumpkin donuts stacked on plate with another on its side with a bite missing.
Treat: Easy Pumpkin Donuts
These easy pumpkin donuts are flavored with classic fall pumpkin spice and packed with pure pumpkin puree, which makes them moist, tender, and delicious! They're also made a wee bit healthier with Greek yogurt, which adds tenderness to this delicious cake donut.
View Recipe

Fine More Quick Meal Plan Ideas

For more healthy ideas, see our past weekly dinner meal plans!

See more Meal Plans →

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Stephanie Wilson

Cookbook Author, Food Writer, and Chef

Stephanie Wilson is the founder of 31Daily.com, where she shares seasonal recipes, weekly meal plans, and teatime favorites to help readers gather around the table with joy. A certified private chef, cookbook author, and longtime event planner, she brings over 20 years of experience in catering, food writing, and media production—including network television work as a producer, director, and writer. Her work has been featured by Today.com, The Kitchn, Parade, and more.

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